Ralph felt a wave of emotion. It shook him to hear how this young girl who had wanted nothing more than to be with her boyfriend, and now it had all slipped away. He thought of others he knew who had far more devious plans, but because of their position and education, or perhaps guile, they had succeeded where she had failed; her Danny was in the morgue, and she was frightened.
“Dad found wha’ Danny was up to. They ‘ad one a their rows. Dad wanted to beat ‘im up, but when I told ‘im what Mum would ‘ave wanted, he just told ‘im to get out; said he’d shoot ‘im if he came back.”
Ralph saw that she was near to tears.
“Danny told me he’d got some money and was goin’ off to Lunnon. I found the photos in an envelope in his cottage. I was goin’ t’ burn ‘em. Then I thought I’d make that bitch pay.”
She reached up to a shelf at the top of a glass-fronted dresser and handed Ralph an envelope.
“They’re all there. I know I should’n ‘ave done it, but I was upset like, see. Dad don’t know. Don’t tell ‘im; he’d kill me.”
Ralph put the envelope in his pocket. “One last question, Ann. Do you have any idea what happened to Daniel?”
She looked at him in surprise. “He turned his bike over. You lot found it up the woods. Why you askin’?”
“Thank you Ann. I’d best be going.”
He felt like a heel as he went out. His intention had not been to deceive the girl. He had not actually lied, but neither had he been honest. As he started down the narrow lane he rationalised that at least he had achieved something. His approach had been slightly unethical, but at least the blackmailing would stop and Marian would get her photos back. And of course Ann would not be in trouble with the police; so it was not a bad result overall.
As he drove back towards the cottage, he stopped in Barnstable and put the photos in an envelope addressed to Marian. When he telephoned to tell her what had happened, she sounded very grateful. He assured her that the envelope with the photos was sealed when the girl had handed them to him. He phoned Katie to tell her what had happened.
“Chicken pie, tonight, your favourite,” she said.
“I’m on my way.” Life could be worse, he smiled as he got back in his car and headed home.
As he drove along listening to Devon Radio, he thought about Ann’s father. There was a man driven by hate, a widower caring for a willful teenaged daughter who was prepared to shoot trespasser. Could he have been so enraged at Daniel’s behavior that he had caused the accident that killed him? Or, had he been afraid that his daughter would go off with her boyfriend and that he would be left alone: a bitter man with two dogs as his only companions. ‘Bloody hell Ralph get a grip boy.’ He could practically hear his father shouting at him if he had showed the slightest emotion. Get over it and move on, son.’ He smiled. Dad was from the old school. He pushed the throttle to the floor and the car responded. As if on cue, The Ride of the Valkyries resounded from the radio. As he swung through the twists and bends, his mood lifted. As promised, Katie had his supper ready and waiting when he got back to the cottage.
“How did you get this Ann Bishop to give you the photos? What about the camera card?” Katie asked. “I know Marian will be relieved. Now it looks like everyone except James Bradley’s in the clear. There’s not a lot more we can do to help”.
“I think she just wanted to get things sorted. So far as I know, she only had the photos. My guess is that Daniel took the chip to one of those places that does the printing and whoever cleans his place out before they sell it or rent it will probably toss it out.”
“But I still don’t understand why she just gave you the photos.”
“I think she just wanted to get the whole mess behind her. Sensible girl.”
“So what happens now?” Katie asked.
“I suppose that once the police get more evidence, there’ll be a trial,” Ralph replied. “So unless something turns up, poor James will be in limbo with his bail. The conditions vary, but I don’t think he’ll be allowed to leave the country and it’ll have an effect on his business. You know, even if he’s not convicted, just the fact that he was a suspect tends to frighten clients off.”
“Will Marian have to testify? If so, all of that sordid business about her and Daniel will come out, and it could ruin her career.”
“Not necessarily. It’s already been in the papers and if there is any kafuffle, the Union will back her. You managed to turn your career around, and you were coming from a lot further back than she was.” As he said it he wished he hadn’t. He was relieved that she made out that she had not heard.
“You don’t think you’ll get in trouble for interfering with a police enquiry, do you? It’s a shame you don’t have someone like Inspector Linham that you know.”
“There was that Inspector over at Barnstable, and of course the Chief Constable
