Martha began to murmur in her sleep and, instead of laying her down on the sofa, he held her closer and closed his eyes. He wouldn’t ever let her be on her own again when she needed him. ‘I’ll always be here for you, Martha, I promise,’ he whispered in her ear, then closed his eyes. He was tired, so tired after the months of sleepless nights.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Before long the caravan park was sealed off and surrounded with armed police. The manager had been shocked when Will had asked about the young woman and older man who always wore a cap.

‘Yes, well, of course I noticed them, but they were just doing their own thing. They didn’t bother anyone or cause any trouble so I left them to it.’

‘But you didn’t think to speak to them or ask them where they had come from or how they had access to the caravan they were stopping in.’

She shook her head at him.

‘No, because it was none of my business.’

Will felt his fingers curl into tight, white fists. He wanted to slap the woman who had no concept of what they were dealing with. She had a stack of women’s magazines and a half-eaten box of chocolates next to her on the desk.

‘How did they pay for it?’

‘Ah well, you see that caravan was bought for cash three years ago and five years’ worth of ground rent was paid up front, so there was no need to bother, whoever they were. You don’t go bothering customers like that who pay up well in advance. Why would you want to upset them?’

Stu pushed Will to one side before he leant over and shook the woman until her head fell off.

‘Look, it’s a very serious matter. We need to locate the couple who were stopping in that caravan before something happens that we might be able to stop. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?’

‘I’m not stupid. Of course I do, but I can’t help you. They sold it back to us for a very good price last month on the provision we paid them cash. Which we wouldn’t strictly do, but it was too good an offer to refuse.’

‘How much cash?’

‘Ten thousand pounds. They said they were going back home. It was too quiet here for them.’

‘For fuck’s sake, I don’t believe this.’

Will stormed out, about to explode, and the woman looked after him, shaking her head once more.

‘Is he normally so angry? You know, I do a very good job of running this place. I keep an eye on the people I think need looking out for, but those two didn’t. I thought they were father and daughter. There was never any intimacy between them. I assumed that something had happened and they’d come here for a break. How was I supposed to know he was that serial killer guy? They didn’t exactly wear T-shirts stating the fact. You just don’t expect people like that to come to Barrow of all the places. I mean, come on, it’s the biggest cul-de-sac in England.’

Stu had to agree with her. If they had kept a low profile, why would she be bothered about them? But it was so fucking unbelievable that they had lived here and gone about their daily business without anyone so much as raising an eyebrow. She pointed to a large map on the wall. ‘They lived in that van there, near to the shore. Number 189. But it’s empty now. They took everything with them. Left it clean as a button. I didn’t need to send in our cleaner. They even emptied the bins.’

That was something. At least it hadn’t been professionally cleaned. If they could get a print to prove it was them that would be good, but he doubted they would. Henry knew what he was doing. He’d had a long time in his padded cell to think it all through.

‘Have they been back since the day they left?’

‘Not that I’m aware of. Why would they?’

‘Could they still have a key? They might be hiding in there.’

Her face paled at the thought of them still being here. ‘I guess they could. I don’t know how many keys there were. I haven’t seen them around or that silver van they used, but you never know.’

Stu went outside to speak to Will who was pacing up and down, his hands still clenched into tight fists.

‘Look, she wasn’t to know, was she? You need to calm down, boss.’

‘I know that. I’m just so angry that he snuck back here. Right under our bloody noses and we didn’t have a clue. He must have been laughing his socks off at us. We give the Keystone Cops a good name. It’s shocking, Stu. Why did we not know or realise? I’ll tell you why – because we buried our bastard heads in the sand hoping he’d go somewhere else and be some other poor bugger’s nightmare, because we certainly didn’t want him back. I let him in, Stu. I should have kept a closer eye on things and now, because of my stupidity, I don’t know where he is. But I do know one thing. The clever bastard knows we’re running around like headless chickens. He’s probably watching us right now. If he gets hold of Annie…’

He couldn’t finish his sentence because the words wouldn’t come out. Stu, who didn’t know what to do and was still in shock after his outburst, grabbed hold of his arm.

‘Look, he might have got one over on us for now, but we’ll find him – and before he has a chance to even think about hurting any of us. Don’t crack up on me, boss. I need you to tell me what to do because you know I can’t think shit-all for myself.’

Will looked at Stu and nodded his head.

‘Come on, Will, you figured it out the first time around. You were the one to realise that Sean Black, one of us, was a killer, and you will be the one to find Henry fucking Smith and finish it before he does something we’ll all regret. And I swear to God I’ll be with you all the way. I’ll hold him while you kick the bastard to death if I have to, and I promise I won’t let go.’

Will inhaled. ‘Thank you, Stu. I don’t know what to say.’

‘Say that you’re all over it, that now you’ve had that little outburst you’ve cleared your mind and we’re ready to rock and roll, because I want to find him, and the sooner we do it the better for everyone who ever had the misfortune to cross Henry Smith’s path.’

‘Right then, let’s get the caravan secured and then CSI can come in and do their stuff.’

Stu nodded. ‘Yes, boss, task force are on it. They’re just waiting for the say-so from you to go in.’

‘Right, good then. What are we waiting for? Let’s do it.’

Stu stuck his thumb up at Will and ran off to the armed response vehicle, which was parked on the opposite side of the office. Will breathed out a long sigh of relief. His insides were a complete mess, but for now he was on top of it. He never thought he’d see the day when Stu would be the one giving him a pep talk, but today he was grateful that he had been here to do it. For once it was Will who was in Stu’s debt and he’d make it up to him somehow.

The caravan was empty and very clean. Will pulled on the white overalls and shoe covers, even though two armed officers had been right through it to secure it. Anything was worth a try. As he stepped inside he could picture Henry and Megan sitting at the small table eating. They had been here, right under his nose. Living like any other normal couple, except they were far from normal. Who in their right mind wanted to kill another person for pleasure? Will cursed Henry because the man had turned him into an emotional wreck.

He opened the small bedroom doors and wondered which room had been Henry’s. Or had they shared the same bed all along? Will didn’t think that they had. Before he’d met up with Megan, Henry had been a loner and was used to being on his own. He doubted he could go from that to happily almost married in such a short space of time. Why Megan Tyler? What did she find so attractive in a burnt, shrivelled-up man that made her want to throw her whole life away to help him escape? He didn’t understand, but he hoped to God he would get the chance to ask her once she was in handcuffs and in interview. He needed to know so he would be able to answer the questions that were swirling around in his brain every time he closed his eyes. He wondered if this was what it was like to lose your mind, because he didn’t feel like the usual Will Ashworth any more.