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‘For God’s sake don’t shout!’
‘Why won’t you just m-m-make me increase again?’
‘I can’t, you don’t understand, I can’t—’
‘You’re sc-sc-scared!’
Robin heard rapidly receding footsteps and was certain the girl was running away, Will in pursuit, because his voice sounded further away when he spoke again.
‘Lin—’
‘If you’re not g-g-going to make m-m-me increase—’
The voices became indistinguishable. Robin continued to lie still in her hiding place, heart thumping, ears straining to hear what was going on. The couple were still arguing, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying any more. How long she lay and listened, she didn’t know. Another car swished past. At last, the voices and footsteps died away.
Robin lay where she was for a further five minutes, scared the couple was going to return, then gingerly sat back up again.
Strike’s note was still crumpled up in her hand. She took a few deep breaths, then turned the torch back on, smoothed out the letter and read it.
Thursday 14th April
Hope all’s going well in there. Dev’s going to drop this off and he’ll be in the vicinity until Saturday, checking on the rock until you’ve put a note in. If nothing arrives, we’ll see you Sunday.
I’ve met Abigail Glover, Jonathan Wace’s daughter. Some very interesting stuff. She claims Daiyu wasn’t Wace’s daughter, but Alexander Graves’. Apparently when she died, there was a custody battle for her going on between the Waces and Graves’ parents. Abigail witnessed and suffered plenty of violence in there, and was personally shut in the pigsty, naked, for three nights after Daiyu drowned, but isn’t keen on testifying, unfortunately.
On Tuesday I’m meeting Alexander Graves’ parents. Will let you know how that goes.
Still trying to trace Cherie Gittins, the girl who took Daiyu swimming. I’ve been looking into Daiyu’s death and I’ve got questions. Anything you can find out in there would be helpful.
Might also have found a way of persuading Jordan Reaney to talk to me – Shanker’s got mates inside with him.
Littlejohn is worrying me. He didn’t tell me he worked for Patterson for 3 months before coming to us. Trying to find a replacement.
The Franks remain freaks and might be planning a kidnapping.
Look after yourself. Any time you want to come out, say the word. We’ll batter down the door if necessary.
Sx
Robin wasn’t sure why the note had made her cry, but a tear now dropped down onto the paper. The connection with her outside life had affected her like medicine, fortifying her, and the offer to batter down the door and the single kiss beside Strike’s initial felt like a hug.
Now she took out the pen, propped the small pile of paper on her knee and began to write, clumsily, with the torch held in her left hand.
All going well. Tonight I joined the church. Total submersion in the pool in the temple.
Will Edensor’s here and I’ve just overheard a conversation between him and Lin, Deirdre Doherty’s daughter. She was begging him to make her ‘increase’ again, to stave off having to sleep with ‘him’. No idea who ‘him’ is. Lin even suggested leaving but Will sounds completely indoctrinated, says it would mean damnation. I can’t be certain, but if she’s already had a child in here it might be Will’s. If so, I’m sure she’ll have been underage when she gave birth, because she doesn’t look very old now.
No violence witnessed as yet but the sleep deprivation and underfeeding is real.
Tonight I saw the spirit of Daiyu materialise out of thin air, moving and waving at us all. Jonathan W conjured her. No idea how it was done but I have to say it was effective and I think it convinced nearly everyone.
Robin paused, trying to remember anything else Strike might think significant. She was now shivering with cold and so tired she could barely think.
I think that’s everything, sorry there isn’t more. Hopefully now I’m a real church member I’ll start seeing the bad stuff.
Sounds like a good idea to get rid of Littlejohn when you can.
Robin x
