The air was heavy with the smell of sea salt as Kate pulled into the South Beach car park, the uneven ground crackling beneath the tyres as she strained to see anyone who might have turned on Daisy’s phone. Completing a circle of the car park, she spotted two empty cars, parked at the far side, and as she continued around, the headlights finally fell on a shadowy figure just beyond the wooden railing that ran the perimeter of the cliff top. Parking as close as she could, Kate left the lights on as she forced open her door against the rushing wind, feeling the bitter chill as soon as it scraped her cheeks.
Shielding her eyes from the snow that continued to fall, though not settle, she moved unsteadily forward, turning on the torch from her phone, trying to make out whether Vardan or Phillips had summoned her. But as she moved closer, the headlights causing her shadow to shrink as she neared the figure, the breath caught in her lungs as she recognised the blue and green woollen lumberjack’s coat, and the fur hat with the ear flaps pulled firmly down. If Neil Watkins had noticed her arrival, he hadn’t shown it.
‘Neil?’ Kate called out over the wind. ‘It’s Detective Matthews. Do you remember me?’
His shoulders tensed, and he looked back at her over his shoulder. ‘Yes.’
‘What are you doing here, Neil? Are you okay?’
‘I’m cold.’
Kate took a tentative step closer, not wishing to cause him alarm, remembering what Mrs Kilpatrick had told her about Neil’s apprehension around people he didn’t trust. ‘It is cold, Neil. Why don’t we get into my car where it’s nice and warm?’
‘No,’ he said pulling an angry face.
Kate took another step closer, her legs brushing the wooden railing. She wouldn’t be able to get any closer without climbing over it, and to do so, might raise alarm, and he was far too close to the edge of the cliff to risk sudden movement.
‘Will you at least come away from the edge, Neil? It’s dangerous.’
‘No. I like it here.’
Kate struggled not to shiver as the wind continued to blow snowflakes into them. ‘Just take a couple of steps backwards. I’m worried you might fall.’
His head turned back to the sea beyond the cliff face, but rather than moving away from the edge, he carefully sat down, dangling his legs over the edge. It wasn’t ideal, but was a fraction safer.
‘What are you doing out here, Neil?’
‘I like it here.’
‘But it’s so dark and cold. It’s not a very safe place to be.’
‘I come here to think.’
‘Yeah? What do you think about?’
‘Stuff.’
‘Like what, Neil?’
‘Can’t tell you.’
‘Why not?’
‘Not allowed.’
‘Why aren’t you allowed?’
‘It’s a secret.’
‘What’s a secret, Neil?’
‘Can’t tell you,’ he said, the anxiety growing in his voice.
‘But I’m a detective, Neil. Do you remember? Like Sherlock Holmes. You’re allowed to tell me secrets.’
‘No. Not allowed to tell you.’
‘Someone told you you’re not allowed to speak to me?’
‘Yes.’
‘Who, Neil? Who told you not to speak to me?’
‘Can’t say.’
Kate began to slowly lift her leg, but he noticed the movement of the shadow in the light, and turned back to face her. Kate quickly lowered the leg, holding her hands out passively. ‘Do you remember what you told me when we first met, Neil? You said you wanted to be a detective. Do you remember, Neil? You said you were smart enough to be like Sherlock Holmes.’
‘I am. I am smart.’
‘I know you are, Neil. You are smart. That’s why you turned on Daisy’s phone, isn’t it? You wanted me to find you.’
He didn’t answer, but his eyes told her she was on the right track. It triggered a fresh flurry of thoughts in her mind: someone connected with the school and Abbotts Way; someone who would use a shearing implement – like secateurs – to cut out Petr and Maria’s lifeless hearts; someone who wouldn’t be able to cope with the guilt of his actions; someone who couldn’t communicate what had happened because he had been manipulated into keeping quiet; someone who, in a final cry for help, did the only thing he thought would bring the police to his door.
‘You sent me the hearts, didn’t you, Neil?’
Again, he remained silent, but his eyes began to water.
‘You can trust me, Neil,’ Kate beckoned. ‘I’m one of the good guys. Like Sherlock Holmes. He does what’s right, doesn’t he?’
Neil nodded slowly.
Georgie Barclay’s description of the man she’d seen speaking to Daisy in the darkness echoed through Kate’s mind. ‘Do you know where Daisy is, Neil?’
Another nod.
‘Will you tell me?’
‘Can’t.’
‘You can tell me, Neil. I want to help Daisy. Is she still alive?’
‘She’s not safe.’
‘Not safe from whom?’
He screwed up his face as he fought against the building tears. ‘Can’t say.’
‘Is that why you took Daisy? To keep her safe.’
He nodded rapidly.
‘I want Daisy to be safe too. I promise you, Neil, I can protect her against whomever you’re afraid of.’
He blinked against the tears, his expression softening slightly.
‘You can help me make her safe, Neil. You could take me to her, and then we could protect her together. What do you think?’
He was starting to nod when a squeal of tyres shattered the silence behind them. Turning, Kate saw the flashing blue lights of Patel’s car skidding into place alongside hers. When she turned back to reassure Neil that there was nothing to worry about, he gave her one final look, shuffled forward and was gone. Kate’s scream disappeared with him into the darkness below.
55
Staggering forward, Kate’s legs were like jelly as she hoisted them over the wooden railing, stumbling perilously across the uneven ground, craning her neck forward as much as she dared. She held her arms out to maintain her balance, her feet edged slowly forward, but the buffeting wind wouldn’t allow her conscious mind to move any closer. Daring to look down at where she could hear waves crashing against rocks, she could see nothing but the abyss-like darkness, stretching forever.
Kate finally let air back into her lungs, as loose rocks trickled off the cliff face, as her foot edged her closer to peril.
‘Ma’am, ma’am?’
Kate wobbled at the calling of her name.
‘Ma’am – Kate – come back!’
Kate stumbled backwards, adrenaline flooding her system as her outstretched arms made contact with the wooden railing again.
Laura gripped Kate’s arms and held her in position. ‘Ma’am, I thought you were going to… never mind, what’s going on? Why were you staring over the edge? Who was here? Where’s Daisy?’
Kate stared wide-eyed at Laura. ‘I-I-I don’t know. He didn’t…’
‘He? He who, ma’am? What happened here? Was it Phillips? Was Phillips here?’
Kate shook her head vigorously.
‘Was it Vardan?’
Kate searched Laura’s face for answers. ‘Didn’t you see?’
‘See what, ma’am?’
Kate gesticulated to the edge of the cliff, but the words couldn’t escape her mouth. ‘He-he-he…’
Laura leaned over the railing as much as it would allow. ‘Someone went over?’
Kate nodded frantically, not even believing her own memory of events. ‘One minute he was there, and then…’
‘Ma’am, you should come back to this side of the railing. It’s not safe out there.’
Patel rushed over to them, each taking one of Kate’s hands and helping her back over the top. Kate bent forward, away from the cliff, willing herself not to throw up, as the adrenaline began to subside and her mind came to terms with what had happened.
Patel crouched down in front of her, tiny glitter-like snowflakes catching in his beard. ‘Can you tell us what happened? Take your time.’
The image of Watkins leaping flashed through her mind again, but she still couldn’t bring herself to admit what she’d witnessed.
Laura lowered Kate so they were sitting on the railing. ‘Who was here? Where’s Daisy’s phone?’