Steven Dunne - Deity

‘He knew Yvette at the orphanage,’ said Brook softly.

‘Christ,’ said Noble. ‘She got pregnant at the orphanage, while Poole was on the Board. She was only fifteen.’

‘Older than many,’ said Brook, trying not to think of Terri, falling into the clutches of her stepfather, at the same age.

‘You think Russell Thomson could be Poole’s kid.’

‘It’s possible. Or at least it’s possible Poole thinks he is.’ Brook nodded at the folder. ‘Presumably Len and Yvette didn’t move to a new area on the same day.’

Noble scanned the documents. ‘Len moved first. Yvette Thomson followed a month or so later.’ He looked up at Brook. ‘So he sets himself up and sends for her. That explains the telly in her house.’

‘Telly?’

‘She had a brand new 3D-ready TV — thirty-two inches, by the look of it. Must be a thousand pounds’ worth of kit right there — and she reckoned she couldn’t afford insurance.’

‘A lot of money for a mature student who works as a barmaid,’ agreed Brook.

‘So Poole’s set her up in that house,’ said Noble. ‘He moves. She follows after Poole’s sorted out a place to live. No wonder she’s hardly worked a day in her life.’

‘Let’s not jump to conclusions, John. When I saw them together there was a degree of hostility that didn’t feel right.’

Noble tapped a finger against his chin. ‘There would be hostility if she was blackmailing him. If Russell is Poole’s son, conceived when Yvette was a fourteenor fifteen-year-old orphan and while he was in a position of trust. .’

‘. . he pays up for maintenance or she goes to the authorities.’ Brook narrowed his eyes. ‘It makes sense except for one thing. He’s engaged to be married and Alice Kennedy lives round the corner from Yvette. If Yvette was his mistress, would Len really move her that close? Would he even be getting married? If Poole and Yvette are lovers, why not just move in with her? Apart from the age difference, no one would raise an eyebrow.’

‘So what do you think?’

‘I think Yvette’s dogging Len’s every move to make sure he keeps paying for his mistake.’

‘So she’s got her hooks into him and she’s not letting go,’ said Noble.

‘It would explain the envelope that Poole was carrying that night I saw him call round — and why he didn’t have it when he left.’

‘It was full of money,’ concluded Noble. ‘Which explains the new TV.’

‘But if Russell’s eighteen years old, presumably Len’s been giving her money on a regular basis for most of that time,’ said Brook.

‘Seems reasonable.’

‘Then why all the drama?’

‘What drama?’

‘You weren’t there, John. It didn’t feel like a routine visit. The way he banged on the door, Poole had an agenda. He was shouting at her for some reason.’ Brook thought for a moment before a look of enlightenment filled his face. ‘ All these years . .’ he said softly. He turned to Noble. ‘That wasn’t money in that envelope.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Because I had a word with Donald Crump this morning.’

Noble’s curiosity was piqued. ‘Really? You’re getting very brave all of a sudden, running around talking to colleagues on your own.’

Brook shrugged to accept the mocking. ‘Before I realised it must be Grey who tipped off Poole, I thought it might be Crump — he is one of the old guard.’

Noble raised an eyebrow. ‘Don can’t stand him.’

‘I know that now,’ conceded Brook. ‘But here’s the thing — Poole went to see him to ask him a favour.’

‘What favour?’

‘Crump told me Len wanted someone to run a DNA comparison for him. He wouldn’t give details until he’d agreed to do it.’

‘Don agreed to do it?’

‘No. He told Len to- go elsewhere.’

Noble laughed. ‘I’ll bet. But surely Len would’ve expected that reaction, so why not get the test done elsewhere to start with?’

‘I suspect he didn’t want the results stored anywhere so he took a chance.’

‘Why would he worry?’ said Noble. ‘Those private firms are hysterical about client confidentiality. He must know that.’

‘Perhaps, but suspecting he’s the father of an illegitimate child born of an underage girl in his care might induce a little paranoia.’

‘I suppose. Do we know which firm he used?’

‘No idea. All these years . . that’s what I heard Len shouting at Yvette.’

‘Meaning what?’

‘Meaning he got the results which told him Russell wasn’t his son.’

‘ All these years . . shelling out for a son who isn’t mine ,’ finished Noble. ‘Makes some kind of sense. One thing doesn’t though.’

‘What?’

‘Scene of Crime went through Russell’s room with a finetooth comb and they didn’t find any DNA. Where did Poole get it?’

‘Well, Poole and Yvette have been living in close proximity for nineteen years. Maybe Len already had something of Russell’s with his DNA or. .’ Brook smiled suddenly. ‘Toothbrush.’

‘Toothbrush?’ repeated Noble.

‘When I searched Yvette’s bathroom, there was one brand new toothbrush which belonged to her. Russell’s was missing.’

‘So Len stole it to get a sample.’

‘Why not? He was in the business. A toothbrush is the first thing a professional would go for.’

‘There’s another possibility,’ said Noble. ‘Maybe Poole’s got Russell locked up somewhere.’

Brook pulled a face. ‘Abduct him just to avoid a paternity?’

‘He’d go to prison if it came out,’ answered Noble.

‘And Adele and the others walk in so he takes them too? I don’t think so.’

‘Okay, it’s a stretch, but we should at least bring him in and ask him.’

Brook considered for a moment. ‘You’re right but we may have lost the element of surprise.’

‘Why?’

Brook looked at his watch. ‘We left Yvette’s house an hour ago. What’s the betting she rang him the moment we were out the door?’

‘Honestly, Inspector Brook, I can’t be sure.’ Alice Kennedy watched the CCTV images come to an end then peered back at the still photograph of the boy on the bridge. She looked haggard and had large bags under her eyes. ‘That’s definitely Kyle’s hooded top, but I can’t tell if it’s Kyle. This boy looks too tall and he doesn’t walk like Kyle.’

‘Okay,’ said Brook, looking at his watch. ‘There may be further footage in this afternoon’s broadcast. We may need you to look at it, at some point.’

‘Okay — I’ve nothing better to do. You say this person was watching Wilson’s body being recovered.’

‘On Exeter Bridge this morning.’

‘Poor Wilson. I didn’t know him. Kyle never mentioned him. Terrible. I didn’t even know he was missing.’

‘No one did,’ said Noble. ‘He wasn’t reported because he moved between his mum’s, his dad’s and his grandmother’s houses.’

‘So he fell between the cracks.’ Alice sighed. ‘It’s terrible, I know, but I just thank God it wasn’t Kyle.’

‘When did you find out we’d recovered a body?’ asked Brook.

‘PC Patel came round first thing, she was very comforting. Where are my manners? Would you like some tea, Inspector?’

‘We have to get back,’ said Brook. ‘Is Len not here? I didn’t see his car.’

‘No.’ She hesitated, unable to look at Brook. ‘I’ve moved back in now your people have left. I need to be on my own for a while. It’s not fair to Len,’ she added unconvincingly.

‘I see.’

‘You know he’s renting a house on Station Road. Have you tried there?’

‘We will. Sergeant Noble is going to give you his mobile number. If Len shows up here, could you ask him to phone?’