The Long Call (Two Rivers #1) - Ann Cleeves Page 0,74
ago. It was too big for the letter box and it had to be signed for, so the postie brought it in here. One of the juniors was on and took it. If I’d been around, I’d have told them there was no point because we never saw the tenant and we didn’t have a key.’
Another question answered.
She disappeared into a room at the back and emerged with a large white envelope. He took it from her and left the warm, comfortable room. Ross and Jen were still on the pavement, miserable now. He put his hands on both of their shoulders, felt that their coats were sodden. ‘Come on! What are we waiting for?’
* * *
They sat in his office. He made them coffee, because he’d never wanted to be the kind of boss who demanded that his minions wait on him, and anyway, he knew he’d never get a decent brew if he left it to them. He’d sent Ross and Jen ahead of him in her car, and had sat in the one Ross had been using in the car park at the end of the lane until he got the text from the CSIs saying they were there and needed to be let in. Now he set the envelope, still unopened, on the desk between them.
‘This was left for Walden in the bookie’s. I’ve checked the post mark. It was sent just over a week ago.’
He took a paper knife and slit it across the top of the envelope rather than pulling it open at the flap. These days most envelopes were self-sealing, but if it had needed licking there could be DNA in the saliva on the gum.
The bulky content was an A4 brochure, glossy, explaining the services provided by a firm of solicitors called Morrish and Sandford based in Exeter. With it was a letter on thick, cream paper, written by Justin Cramer, one of the solicitors in the firm.
I write to confirm the appointment made today by telephone and enclose some details of our services. I look forward to discussing your concerns and to seeing you on March 11th at 10.30 in our offices.
The date of the appointment was less than a week away. There was no explanation of the concerns that had prompted Walden to contact the lawyer. Matthew was wondering why Walden would have needed a solicitor. Perhaps Walden had decided to buy a property with all his money. But why would he choose a solicitor in Exeter, at least an hour’s drive away? Part of a fancy firm who provided potential clients with glossy brochures? Matthew was about to phone the number on the letter to find out, when Vicki, the young PC, who’d taken responsibility for the search for Christine Shapland, knocked on the office door. She looked flushed, excited.
‘I thought you’d like to know. There’s been a sighting. A passenger on the Lovacott bus thinks he saw Christine. Might be nothing. He said it was just a glimpse as the bus went past. There’s a patch of woodland near a pool. There was a big house there once but it burned down years ago and nothing much is left. Someone was sitting there, next to the water. It was too far away to see the face but he recognized the clothes, described them exactly.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
THE RAIN STOPPED AS THEY DROVE towards Lovacott. The clouds ripped apart to let through shafts of sunlight when they climbed out of the vehicle. It was wet underfoot, though, water dripped from the trees and Jen’s coat was still damp after she’d stood outside Walden’s flat in Braunton. She was starving, couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. She’d wanted to stop to pick up some chocolate or a sandwich from the canteen, but the boss had said there was no time. Jen thought he cared about this missing woman in a way that was personal for him.
They’d parked by the side of the road, pulling the car right into the verge on the long grass so traffic could still pass. Matthew had got her to drive and sat beside her, an OS map on his knee, shouting directions. He was old-fashioned that way and never trusted the satnav. They’d left Ross back at the station to phone the solicitors’ in Exeter and they’d all been pleased with that arrangement. Matthew had said they shouldn’t go mob-handed; if Christine Shapland was really there, she’d be terrified enough as it was.