Land Rites (Detective Ford), Andy Maslen [best way to read ebooks .txt] 📗

house and galloped across the stone terrace straight towards Ford, Lucy clinging to the reins.

He just had time to take in the fact that she was riding bareback.

With a hoarse yelp, Kessler lurched forward. Johnno took a long step to keep his balance, but as Kessler’s weight snapped the leash tight, he came up on to his hind legs so he was taller than his handler. The dog’s ragged barks echoed off the front of the house.

The stallion swerved and reared, front hooves pawing the air.

Ford watched, horrified, as Lucy flew up and back, arms windmilling. Screaming, she sailed through the air, a clear ten feet from the ground, before landing on the flagstones with a sickening thump.

She came to rest on her back with her arms flung wide and one leg bent under her. Ford thought he’d heard the sharp snap of a bone breaking. Richen spoke into his radio, standing down the AFOs.

Ford ran over to where Lucy lay and pressed two fingers into the soft flesh below her jaw.

‘Get an ambulance!’ he yelled.

Richen jerked his chin at Lucy. ‘Why do they run, Ford? They must know it’s hopeless.’

‘I don’t know. A woman like her, facing life behind bars? Losing her reputation, her friends, her status? I’ve seen people run for less.’

Richen sighed. ‘Me too. Silly cow. I’ve got to go. See you back at Bourne Hill for the debrief?’

‘Yeah, see you, Gordon. And thanks.’

After the ambulance had left, Ford called Sandy and filled her in.

Her parting words were reassuring. ‘You did it by the book. The accident isn’t on you. There’ll have to be an enquiry but I’ll make sure that’s how my report reads.’

His phone rang. It was Jan.

‘We just arrested him, guv. No shots fired. They’re searching the car now. How did it go your end?’

Ford told her.

‘Bloody hell, guv. I’m sorry. Are you all right?’

‘I’m OK. Look, when you get him here, do a Route One.’

He knew she’d think his order odd. Normally, only violent prisoners were whisked straight from the Black Maria along the intake corridor and into a cell, bypassing the usual custody procedures until they were safely locked up.

‘He’s not violent, guv. If anything, he looked resigned to his fate.’

‘I’m sure he is, but I want him where I can control who he talks to. I don’t want him hearing the news about Lucy from anyone except me.’

‘Got it. Anything else? I can see the van pulling in.’

‘Are you all right, Jan?’

‘Me? I’m fine. You know what these hard stops are like,’ she said. ‘Apart from nearly choking to death on testosterone and Aramis, I just sat in my seat like a good girl while the boys and their toys did what they do.’

‘Funny. Got to go. Let me know when you’re five minutes out.’

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

The hospital consultant led Ford to a private room off a corridor.

‘I’ll leave you here, then,’ he said. ‘She took a nasty knock to the head and cracked a couple of ribs, and she broke her collarbone, but she’s going to be fine. Not even a concussion. Luck of the devil, I’d say. We’ve given her light sedation, so don’t expect her to make much sense.’

Ford closed the door behind him. Lucy lay hooked up to drips, monitors and an oxygen line clipped to her nostrils. The light was low, throwing the bright greens and reds of the digital monitoring devices into sharp relief. Ford smelled disinfectant.

Sitting at the bedside was Coco. She held her stepdaughter’s left hand in hers, patting and stroking it rhythmically. She turned tear-streaked eyes towards Ford. They flared with hatred.

‘What are you doing here?’ she hissed.

‘I came to see how she was doing.’

‘Lucy is extremely poorly. The consultant said she could have died.’

‘I’m very sorry.’

‘So you should be! What on earth were you thinking, arriving with all those armed men? If you really felt you had to arrest her, you could have asked to her – oh, what do they say – attend the police station.’

Ford decided this wasn’t the time to explain the finer points of his arrest strategy. He backed away. ‘As soon as Lucy’s well enough to leave hospital, I’ll be arresting her for murder. In the meantime, I’ll be stationing an officer outside her room.’

Coco shook her head. She frowned, then half-smiled. To Ford it seemed as though her features couldn’t agree on what sort of expression would fit best.

‘Sorry? Murder? Lucy hasn’t killed anyone. And why do you need a guard outside? You don’t think she’s in danger, do you?’

Ford thought of JJ, and of Rye. Danger was exactly what he thought Lucy was in. ‘Just a precaution.’

‘And where is my husband? I’ve been trying to reach him but it just goes to voicemail.’

‘We arrested Lord Baverstock this afternoon. Also on suspicion of murder.’

Her eyes widened until Ford saw white all the way round the irises. ‘You’re insane! You’ve made a terrible mistake. Bumble hasn’t murdered anyone. And neither has Lucy.’

‘Coco?’

Coco turned away from Ford and leaned close to Lucy.

‘Oh, my darling, you’re awake! I’m here, Lucy. I’m right here.’

‘It’s true. I—’

‘No, darling. Don’t try to speak. You’re confused. They gave you some strong painkillers and a sedative. The consultant explained it to me. I’m sure—’

‘Please,’ Lucy murmured. Even at the reduced volume, her voice carried a sense of urgency that silenced her stepmother’s pleading.

Coco got up from her chair and advanced on Ford. She closed the distance between them to a foot. No more.

‘Anything she says to you in here won’t be admissible in court, you know that. She’s confused.’

‘Just let me talk to her, please.’

‘Just go,’ Lucy said, her voice stronger now. ‘I need to talk to him alone.’

Coco’s lips twitched, and Ford could see her instinct to protect the injured young woman warring with her desire not to upset her. He would have done the same. But in the end, Lucy’s force of personality wore her down. Coco turned on her heel and left, shooting Ford a glance of