She joined him on the bench looking out over Bordeaux Bay, the ruins of Vale Castle behind them. It was the same spot where she’d first met him, what felt like a lifetime ago. It was strange even to think of a time before she’d known Michael.
Fishing boats dotted the horseshoe-shaped harbour, their hulls splashes of bright blue and red against a pale sea. A haze hovered over Herm and Sark in the distance; seagulls rose high over pockets of warm air looking for the first of the day’s catch to arrive.
‘It’s ice-cream weather.’ Michael stretched his legs in front of him. He’d already rolled up his shirtsleeves, and his jacket lay across the wooden tabletop.
‘I’ll get them.’
She ordered two cones from the kiosk. Guernsey ice cream was like the butter, dense, dark yellow, the rich cream providing most of the flavour, just a hint of vanilla. She carried them carefully back to the picnic bench.
‘You’re just about wrapped up, then?’
Michael nodded. ‘Suppose you want an exclusive?’
‘I’m a bit tired of them, to be honest. Everyone hates me at work. No one else has had a look-in at front page for days.’
‘No one else was running around Sark like a lunatic getting the stories.’
‘There is that. Did you confirm the identity of the woman? Luke’s mother?’
He shook his head. ‘We’ve only got a first name and Helen’s description of her, which was vague to say the least. We’re going through missing person reports. Although, Helen seemed to think this woman had been in and out of foster care, had spent some time homeless. There might not even be a report.’ Michael looked troubled at the thought. ‘Doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? Walking this earth for how many years and leaving no trace, no one to miss you.’
‘Plenty of people would miss you, Michael.’
‘I wasn’t talking about me.’
‘Weren’t you?’
He gave her one of his looks.
‘What about Fallaize and Langlais? Anyone going to miss them?’
‘Hm. Sure Langlais’s wife will miss him. No kids thank God. As for Fallaize.’ Michael sighed. ‘Always had him down as a bit of a wally, but I actually thought he had the makings of a good copper. Beneath all the bragging and bravado. Never for a minute thought him capable of—what happened with your dad. And then the lies. So many lies.’ He shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, love.’
She and Michael had not talked about Charlie since she’d sat with him in the hospital and he’d told her what Tanya had said, what he’d seen, out on the cliffs.
‘You think he’s dead.’
‘I do.’
‘Something must be looking out for you Michael.’
‘How so?’
‘Three men went into those woods. Two of them likely wanted you dead. And yet you were the only one who made it out. Maybe all that praying really works.’
‘Don’t joke about things like that Jenny.’ He looked rattled.
‘I’m not joking.’ She said, gently. ‘How’s your recovery going? The recovery after the recovery you messed up, that is.’
‘Didn’t mess it up. Not unusual to have a wound like that re-stitched. Even the nurse said.’
‘Passing out cold after an interview usual as well, is it?’
‘That was the concussion. The trip to Sark was potentially a little too much movement for my already-jarred brain. All fine now, though. I’m officially allowed to be out of the house for an ice cream.’
‘How is Luke doing?’
‘As well as can be expected having basically lost three parents in as many weeks. He’s gone to Shropshire to try and sort things out with his wife. He’s been carrying around too many secrets, Jenny. Could never tell his wife about Helen, or about what happened all those years ago. You can’t build a marriage on that. Now everything’s out in the open, maybe they can start again. He’s only young.’
‘He’s older than me.’
‘You’re still a baby.’
They finished their ice creams in silence, the sounds of the water rippling on the shoreline tempered by the hum of traffic on the road behind them. The sharp, tangy scent of seaweed drying in the late-morning sun carried on the breeze.
‘I’m moving out of Mum’s.’
‘About time.’
‘Hey!’
‘I’m only joking, love. But your mum needs to start managing by herself. You know that.’
‘Hm. I’m pretty sure Mum can manage fine. She’s been different, since she found out what happened to Dad.’
‘Different how?’ Michael sounded worried.
‘Not in a bad way. Just, more settled. I think she needed to know, just as much as I did. It’s not in her nature though, to ask questions, to challenge authority.’
‘Lucky she’s got you then isn’t it? You moving in with Elliot, are you?’
She sighed. ‘We’re having a break. I think it might be permanent.’
‘Told him that, have you?’
‘It was sort of his decision. I need my own space anyway. At least for a while.’
‘Well. Good for you.’ He gave her one of his reassuring pats on the shoulder. Cleared his throat self-consciously. ‘I’m taking your mum out this weekend.’
‘I know.’ She smiled.
‘Thought we might go to that new Italian place at the top of Mill Street. Think she’d like that?’
She laughed. ‘No way. Absolutely not. I am not giving you tips on dating my mother. You’re on your own there.’
‘Well, don’t be asking me any more favours! Bloody ungrateful you are.’
‘Pretty sure we’re even on the favours front, DCI Gilbert. Seem to remember you being pretty grateful for your airlift to hospital earlier this month.’
‘Fair point. Suppose we’re even. And you can drop the “DCI”.’
‘Since when?’
‘Since I finally decided it’s time to retire.’
‘Is this official?’
‘Will be in an hour or so. I’m heading to the station after this.’
‘Oh.’
‘You sound disappointed. Prefer I work myself to death, is it?’
‘No! But I’ll miss this. And where will I get all of my exclusives? I have a reputation to uphold now.’
‘You might want to start being nicer to that cousin of yours. I’ve a feeling a promotion might be in the works for him.’
‘The dog shit!’
‘That’s no way to talk about DC Marquis.’
‘You know what I mean! I can’t believe I nearly forgot about it. Was it that guy who worked for the seigneur? And why was he doing it?’
‘You’ll love this. Turns out Len Mauger, Reg Carré and Sir William had a long-standing card game. Sir William had been on a losing streak, ended up heavily in debt. Accused the other two of cheating. Apparently decided the best way to retaliate was to throw dog crap all over the place. There was a lot of it on the path outside Reg’s house—Luke even mentioned it when I first spoke to him. I should have connected the dots.’
‘What a horrible man.’
‘He’s not admitted it. He’s blaming his private secretary. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Sir William was responsible for the spate of vandalism on Sark. I think losing his role on the island unhinged him. Too much time on his hands. He decided to settle old scores.’
‘There’s a story there.’
‘I’m sure there is, Jenny. Right. I’ve got an appointment with my pension. See you later, love.’ He walked, slowly, back to his car.
Jenny looked out at the bay.
Just knowing what had happened to Charlie had quieted the hum in her brain. She was still angry, that he was gone, that he had been taken from them. Angrier still that his killer would never stand before a judge. But Michael was right. Fallaize was dead. He had to be. Maybe his body would wash up somewhere along the French coast. Maybe he was lost, for ever, to the sea. Either way, she had to accept that not all justice was handed out in a courtroom.
She went back to her car, opened the window, let the warm air in. She followed the coast road towards town. The sea shone. The traffic slowed behind a group of cyclists, bikes laden with buckets and spades. A cruise ship was moored in the harbour. Tonight the bars and restaurants would be full, people would spill out onto the streets, drinking chilled wine, eating freshly caught seafood, and for the first time in so long, Jenny felt like joining them. Guernsey in the height of summer. There was no better place to be.