Chapter 36

Stuart watched as an ambulance, with a police escort, took Frank, Laurel, and David to a hospital in Ipswich. Tucker’s house was swarming with police.

Revie put down the phone in the hall. ‘Ansell, the pathologist, is on his way.’ He pointed to the pile of large envelopes on the hall table. ‘What’s all this about?

‘I was wondering that, myself,’ Stuart said. He rifled through the pile. ‘Seems every major newspaper’s been covered. Shall I open one?’ He was dying to know what they contained.

Revie frowned. ‘Best if I do it.’ He opened an envelope addressed to the editor of the Daily Telegraph. He pulled out a sheaf of papers and photographs. He moved away from Stuart, shielding the contents. But his face showed disgust, astonishment and then concern.

‘Can I have a look?’ Stuart asked.

Revie shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Elderkin. This is really bad. I wish I hadn’t opened it. Left it to my chief constable. This is going to cause a stink.’

He picked up the telephone. ‘Sorry, I need to make this call in private.’

He’d never seen Revie so serious or so worried. What was in the envelopes? Blackmail details? Why send them to newspapers? He couldn’t imagine what the contents were to cause Revie such consternation.

Stuart returned the car he’d borrowed from Mabel’s son at the fish and chip shop in Aldeburgh, and got into the police car which had followed him from Tucker’s house. They drove to the Pemberton’s, and pulled up outside. Frank, with Revie’s permission, had asked Stuart if he would go to the Pembertons to give them the good news David was alive and well.

Stuart opened the police car door. ‘I think it’s best if I go by myself. I don’t think there’s any need for you to come with me,’ he said to the PC at the wheel. ‘I’m presuming they’ll want to go directly to the hospital to see David, so I shouldn’t be long. OK?’

The PC looked disappointed. ‘Pity. Makes a change to bring someone good news, I was looking forward to doing that.’

‘Sorry, mate, but the sight of a uniform might give them the wrong impression, at least to begin with. You can have a chat with them on the way to the hospital. Remember this was our case, and we did find him.’ Even if it was inadvertent, he thought.

He rang the bell. He was looking forward to seeing the Pembertons in the flesh, and especially Carol Pemberton. Was she as beautiful as her drawing? He didn’t suppose she’d fancy him: too old and too fat for her tastes. He wondered if Mr Pemberton had any inkling of what she was up to.

The door opened.

‘Mr Elderkin! Stuart! What a nice surprise.’ Ann Fenner beamed at him.

‘Can I see Mr and Mrs Pemberton, please? It’s urgent, Ann.’

Her smile disappeared and a hand covered her mouth. ‘Is it David?’ she whispered, moving back and letting him into the hall.

Stuart patted her hand. ‘I need to tell his parents first.’ She tried to compose herself, but he could see she was near to tears. She must have a real soft spot for the lad.

‘Mr Pemberton’s in the library. Mrs Pemberton isn’t in.’

Just my luck, he thought.

Ann led him to the library and opened the door. ‘Mr Elderkin from the detective agency to see you, Mr Pemberton.’

Adam Pemberton was seated in an armchair before a lively fire, a newspaper in his hands. He shot up, his face paling, the paper trembling. ‘David? Is it David? You’ve found him?’

He moved towards him, holding out his hand. ‘I’m Stuart Elderkin, Mr Pemberton. Frank Diamond would have come to give you the news, but he—’

Adam Pemberton grasped his arm. ‘My boy, where did you find him? Where was he buried? Was he murdered?’ His body was shaking, his eyes filled with tears.

Stuart took hold of him and held him firmly by the shoulders. ‘Hold on, sir. We have found David, and he’s alive. He’s been taken to the hospital in Ipswich. I’m here to take you to him.’

Adam Pemberton stared at him, his mouth open, he shook his head from side to side. ‘No. It’s not possible. Are you sure? Is it really David?’ His chest was heaving and he staggered backwards, taking Stuart with him.

Stuart manoeuvred him back to his chair, looked around, saw a whisky decanter on a sideboard and poured out a good measure into a glass. He gave it into the shaking hands of Mr Pemberton, hesitated, then poured one for himself. He wasn’t driving.

The glass chattered against Mr Pemberton’s teeth as he swallowed the whisky.

‘I helped myself, hope you don’t mind, but we’ve had a hell of a time today.’

Adam saluted him with his glass. ‘If what you say is true you can have as much whisky as you like.’

He’d remember that.

‘Why is he in hospital? Is he injured? Where did you find him? What has he been doing all this time? Why didn’t he contact us? Does he want to come home? Dear God, how I’ve prayed for this day. A day I never thought would happen. I was sure if we ever found him, it would be his body.’ He put down his glass and buried his face in his hands, great sobs shaking his body.

Stuart put an arm round his shoulders and blinked back a few tears himself. ‘He’s alive, and as far as I can see, he’s in pretty good shape. He couldn’t contact you. He’s been imprisoned all the time he’s been missing. He’s looking forward so much to seeing you and his mother.’

Adam Pemberton looked up, tears still running down his face. ‘Imprisoned? Who did that?’

Stuart stepped back. ‘Why don’t you get ready? There’s a police car waiting to take us to the hospital. I’ll tell you as much as I can on the journey there.’

Mr Pemberton found a handkerchief and wiped his face. ‘Yes. Yes. Let’s go at once.’

‘What about Mrs Pemberton? Can you contact her?’

He shook his head. ‘I don’t know where she is.’

He decided not to pursue where, and who, Carol Pemberton was with. ‘Would you mind if I told Anne Fenner about David? She’s thinking the worse at the moment.’

Adam Pemberton’s expression was changing as the news finally sank in. There was a smile on his lips and a laugh came bubbling up from his chest. ‘No, ask her to come in. I want to tell her. I want to see the look on her face.’ He was hysterical with happiness.

Stuart found her in the kitchen, sitting on a chair, her head in her hands. She’d been crying.

‘Ann, Mr Pemberton wants to see you.’ It seemed cruel not to tell her, but it was Adam Pemberton who wanted to make her happy.

She wiped her face, straightened her hair and silently followed him into the library. When she saw the look on Mr Pemberton’s face, she turned to Stuart. ‘What’s happened?’

He shook his head.

Adam Pemberton came up and took her hands. ‘Ann. They’ve found David and he’s alive.’

She raised her head, a look of astonishment on her face, then she threw back her head and laughed and cried at the same time. ‘Praise be to God. Where is he?’ She turned to him. ‘How can we thank you for finding him?’ Then back to Mr Pemberton. ‘Oh, sir. I’m so happy for you.’

Adam Pemberton regained his composure as Ann lost hers. ‘There, there, Ann. I’ll have him back as soon as possible, and you can make him one of the puddings he loves so much. I’m going with Mr Elderkin to the hospital in Ipswich. There, don’t look worried. Mr Elderkin says he’s well. I’ll tell you everything when I come back. If I decide to stay in Ipswich, I’ll phone you.’

She withdrew her hands from his. ‘Thank you, sir. Will you give him my love?’

Adam smiled. ‘I certainly will. Right, Mr Elderkin, shall we go?’

There was no mention of Mrs Pemberton.