Shivering, Gardner and Rice listened intently to O’Brien and Barnett as the snow swirled down around them.
After finding out that Mary Evans, Clara’s mother, had been murdered to protect the lie, Gardner shook her head and sighed. So much tragedy because of James Sykes.
It was saddening to think that he’d never see a courtroom.
She glanced over at Jen Atkinson and thought of Robert and Cassandra Thwaites. She also thought of all those other as-yet-unidentified people who’d purchased stolen children.
Not everyone would escape the judge’s hammer.
‘It was clear Jen wasn’t backing down,’ O’Brien said. ‘You could tell from her eyes. She was locked into her plan. It was clear she’d die rather than let Clara know the truth. And just like her husband, we were expendable.’
Gardner felt a shiver run down her spine. How close I came to losing you…
She glanced at Barnett.
Both of you.
‘She planned to burn everything,’ O’Brien said. ‘I told her it wouldn’t solve anything. But she was locked in, you know. Like I said.’
‘So, you went for the shotgun?’ Gardner said, shaking her head.
‘There was no other option,’ O’Brien said. ‘It went off, but no one was hurt. Then, Ray restrained her.’
She stared at Barnett. He looked embarrassed about ignoring her instructions, lowered his head, and said, ‘I’m sorry, boss.’
‘Not now,’ Gardner said, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. ‘At least you survived. Against shit odds, too. Right now, you’ve been through enough.’ And you’re about to find out that Robert Thwaites paid your mother off, and you’ve a half-brother or sister out there, somewhere. Heavy. ‘But later, Ray. We need a serious talk.’
He nodded.
‘Okay, briefly,’ Gardner said. ‘This is what we now know after speaking to Robert Thwaites.’
She explained what they knew and looked at Ray as she told him that his mother, Amina Ndiaye, was given a settlement. ‘But Robert assures me she didn’t know about her child being alive.’
Barnett nodded as Gardner spoke, trying to keep himself stoic, but he looked as if he’d crumble at any second. ‘It’s true. She’d never have walked away from a child.’
‘I believe that too,’ Gardner said. ‘But you can’t blame her for taking the money. Think about how desperate she was. How much she must have longed for a way out of that life.’
Barnett continued to nod before looking up at Gardner. ‘But do you think my father knew about the NDA?’
‘I don’t know.’ Gardner put her hand on Barnett’s shoulder. It was hard to be angry with him now. She could only imagine the turmoil.
Barnett thanked her with a gentle smile. ‘Don’t worry, boss. I’ve an older brother or sister to hold it together for.’
She returned his smile.
‘Before, I was convinced that whoever set this in motion and possibly killed Sykes had to be a mother,’ Gardner said. ‘But there were six mothers.’ She looked at Barnett again as she said the next part and softened her tone. ‘And they’ve all passed. Mary was the last to die, and judging by her remains, that wasn’t that recent.’
Gardner looked over at Jen. Dead behind the eyes. ‘You said, Lucy, that Jen had said someone had told Mary she had a daughter. That because of this, she came here, and well… unfortunately… Did she give any clearer sign of who that might be?’
‘No. Just that someone told Mary.’
Gardner sighed. ‘I’ve a feeling that we’re not going to get much out of Jen Atkinson, but we’ll have to try. But first, we need to check out this quarry.’
‘Do you think it could be one of the fathers?’ O’Brien said.
‘Possibly. Who knows who Sykes’ potential murderer has told? Shit… the field just keeps widening. We need to narrow it down.’ She pointed over towards Jen. ‘Let’s hope she can do that, or there’s something at the quarry.’
Or that lying bastard, Neville Fairweather, comes good.
‘Now both of you two over to the paramedics,’ Gardner said.
‘I’m fine…’ O’Brien said.
You’ve just had a shotgun waved at you. ‘Now. Then, after the all-clear, Lucy, can you grab Cam, and interview Jen? Doctors may pull the “she’s in shock” card, so you may have to throw some weight around.’
Barnett glanced at Gardner.
‘Don’t even ask,’ she said and then looked at Rice. ‘Ready for the quarry?’