‘I mean, I know all this is just supposition, and I could be wrong, but it sort of makes sense, do you agree?’
‘Yeah, in a way. Do you think there was anything sexual going on between the two of them?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know for certain, but I think Jack’s feelings for Mandy may have been stronger, possibly an infatuation.’
‘And hers for him?’ Blane pressed.
‘Well, more sort of friendly, platonic even – she respected him in some ways, like his ability on the piano, but also felt sorry for him.’
‘He may not have interpreted it that way,’ Blane added.
‘Exactly, and that’s why I believe something may have happened at his house, not premeditated but something that caused a spur-of-the-moment reaction and ended in her death.’
Blane thought about what Anna said and nodded in agreement.
‘So if Mandy did die in the Brennan house then Jack and Carl are lying about being out on a driving lesson all afternoon,’ he said quietly.
‘Yes. Carl’s involvement is where I really doubted my thoughts. I even considered that he might have abducted Mandy and persuaded or duped Jack into creating an alibi for him.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with that, you’re right to consider every possibility.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, more than ever aware of what a different creature he was to Langton, prepared to listen and not constantly challenge her views or suspicions.
Anna took hold of his hand and led him over to the dining table. She pointed to the underlined names of the people apparently searching different areas at the same time. He picked up on it straight away.
‘Unless these people have clones of themselves this is impossible.’
‘I think Carl Brennan knew that Mandy was buried in that section of woodland and deliberately falsified the search report so she wouldn’t be found,’ Anna said.
‘So Carl may have returned home to find Mandy’s body and then moved her to the woods.’
She nodded. ‘Or Jack buried her in the woods, and then told his father what had happened. Either way, Carl had to falsify the search records to conceal the crime.’
Blane spent quite a while intently studying the search record and map again. Anna, knowing he didn’t doubt her, just watched him as he slowly moved his index finger across the maps and then sighed deeply as the realization of what she had uncovered set in.
‘Dear God, this is unbelievable. Why did no one check over this search record two years ago?’ Blane said despairingly.
‘Mistakes happen, Don, we both know that.’
‘The damn answers were staring them in the face and they missed what was on the surface all along. Peter and Sally Anderson suffered because of incompetence and shoddy detective work and poor Mandy deserved better as well!’
Anna could see that Don was angry yet deeply moved by how the outcome would affect the Andersons.
He had returned to the fireplace and was resting his hands on the mantel as he stared into the blazing logs.
‘Why, Anna, why didn’t Carl come forward if it was an accident?’
She moved closer and rested her hand in the small of his back.
‘I don’t have the answers, but I do know when it comes to family, or in this case father and son, the saying “blood is thicker than water” is very pertinent.’
He nodded in agreement, but she could feel his sorrow.
‘We will need to inform the local Sheriff and get a warrant to search the Brennan house and the woods, but we can’t do that until morning so we may as well get a couple of hours’ sleep until then.’ He straightened up and headed towards his bedroom. Anna very much wanted to follow him, but sensed that he wanted to be alone with his thoughts, so she began to clear up the case file papers and map from the dining table. Not feeling at all sleepy she decided to put some more logs on the fire and soak up the warmth while resting on the sofa. She had just settled herself comfortably when she heard his bedroom door open, and looked up to see him come back into the room carrying an envelope.
‘Bill Roberts, the drug-enforcement agent in Jamaica, e-mailed some documents just after you went to bed. I’ve printed them off,’ he said and put the envelope on the dining table, next to her handbag.
She knew that he was feeling guilty about the missed opportunities during the FBI investigation into Mandy’s disappearance.
‘If you want to talk I’m a good listener,’ Anna said, moving along as he sat on the edge of the sofa.
‘I’m dreading telling Sally and Peter Anderson we screwed up. It will totally destroy them.’
‘You didn’t screw up, your colleagues did.’
Blane leaned forward and put his head in his hands. ‘If only I’d checked the statements and search records.’
‘If you hadn’t asked me to look at the case then I’d never have spoken with the Andersons, gone to the church or met Julie Collins. Call it fate or whatever you like, but you instigated it, not me.’
He gave a soft chuckle and then got to his feet. ‘I’m keeping you up and you haven’t had any sleep yet.’ He leaned forward, kissing her on the cheek.
Anna grabbed his hand. ‘I’m happy here on the sofa, but I’d feel even happier if you stayed with me.’ She drew him towards her as she lay back on the cushions. He knelt down beside her and looked into her eyes as they both nervously savoured the moment before he slowly drew her towards him, kissing her, a kiss that was passionate yet tender. Anna had no fear – this was a man who respected and cared for her. Even though the feelings between them were intense and she wanted their embrace to go further, as she was certain he also wanted, something held them both back. He lifted her gently to sit on his knee and put his arms around her. She knew that she had finally moved on from the loss of Ken as she snuggled her face into his neck.
Smelling bacon and eggs frying, Anna sat up and saw that Don was already awake and cooking. He looked over his shoulder and on seeing her he came and leaned over the back of the sofa and kissed her gently on the lips.
‘I phoned Sheriff Mitchell and the District Judge, who will do a special hearing at eight a.m. for search warrants.’
‘Is it okay for me to come with you?’ Anna asked.
Blane smiled and told her she would be the star of the show and moreover would have to tell the Judge what she had uncovered so that he could see that ‘probable cause’ evidence existed that Jack and Carl Brennan killed and/or disposed of the body of Mandy Anderson.
Everything went smoothly at the District Court and the Judge duly issued both arrest and search warrants for the Brennans and their house and vehicles. Sheriff Mitchell went with Blane and Anna to the Brennans’ address. When they pulled up at the house there were no cars in the driveway, although they realized the vehicles might be parked in the double garage. Blane had possession of the warrants and rang the doorbell but there was no answer, so he knocked loudly. Anna, who was standing back from the porch, noticed the net curtain of a front window move and Jack Brennan peep out from behind it. She told Blane what she had just seen.
‘Jack, it’s me, Don Blane,’ he called. ‘Is your father in?’
At first there was no reply and then they heard a voice from behind the front door.
‘He said I wasn’t to let anyone in until he got back.’
Don glared at Sheriff Mitchell, wondering if someone in his office had let something slip.
‘Jack, you need to let me in.’
‘I can’t or my dad will be mad with me, like he was last night ’cause I spoke with that English lady.’
Although the warrant allowed Blane to force entry he was loath to scare Jack by doing so. ‘It’s okay, Jack, I promise you he won’t be mad, but he’s in a bit of trouble and you can help him.’
The door opened and Jack Brennan appeared wearing knee-length shorts, a T-shirt and trainers. He was visibly agitated, a look of anxious concern on his face.