‘The point is, she told me an interesting location for one of the “recuperation centres”, as she called them. There’s one right here in the Lake District. They choose remote and obscure locations for the assets who survived.’
‘Survived what?’
‘Whatever they were given, I guess,’ Kate said.
Chapter 48
Kelly checked in with Johnny at home.
She was getting jumpy.
She’d tried several times to locate Lee Lovett, but his phone had gone to voicemail each time and now it was switched off. She’d called Heron Hall and she’d been informed by a cleaner that it was still closed. He still hadn’t sent her the CCTV footage of the back stairs.
Last night had spooked them all but more than that it had lit a fire in Kelly’s belly, and she was more determined than ever to nail the people behind the web of lies and the layers of deceit. Del Booker could go to hell. This was her investigation, and she didn’t take intimidation lightly.
She was still buzzing from the brief with her team.
‘You should come home,’ Johnny said. ‘If you feel unsafe then you shouldn’t be there. You need to get some protection guarantees before you pursue this, Kel.’
‘That’s why we’re going to do as much work here as we can at Eden House. Everyone knows not to go charging round until things have settled down. It’s being taken seriously here.’
‘Good.’
‘How’s Lizzie?’ She fiddled with her ruby ring as she spoke to him, and she found comfort in his voice.
‘We’re both good. Your dad is under strict orders to sit and do as he’s told. He’s a cantankerous old codger and I know where you get it from.’
Kelly laughed.
‘Funnily enough I was contacted by a very old army associate of mine. I had no idea he was here in the Lakes. We go backyears; he was intel when I was in Iraq. He’s only in Rydal. I was thinking of taking Lizzie over there, for a change of scenery.’
‘No, please, Johnny, don’t take her out.’
‘Hey, it’s all right, if that’s what you want, I’ll pass, it’s no problem. I’ll do whatever makes you feel safe.’
‘What’s his name?’ Kelly asked him.
‘Mel. Melvin Stone. He was a colonel when I was a major. He was a stuffy old geezer but a good sort.’
Kelly’s stomach hit the floor.
‘Kel? Maybe you should come home?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Look, how about you come home for some lunch?’
‘The Sunday tourist traffic is crazy.’
‘So, we could meet over there,’ he said.
‘No!’
‘OK, don’t bite my head off, Kel.’
She felt awful. Cruel. Bad tempered. Unhinged. But she knew if she told him the truth he’d rage and get involved and that was the last thing she wanted. She needed him taking care of Lizzie. He was the only person on the planet she trusted to do that one thing right now. Ted was hurt and Millie was too young.
Indecision gripped her. Suddenly she missed him, and she stared at a photo on her desk of Lizzie. She was in her carry backpack, though she and Johnny were cut out of it and it was zoomed in on their daughter. Kelly recalled the day, the hour, the exact spot it was taken. It was summer last year, and they enjoyed a moment of isolated abandon, one where no one else in the world could penetrate.
