Part 23 (1/2)

Jesse strode through the busy fish market, full now of Alfie's iced and boxed catch, shouting greetings to the customers he knew. 'Don't touch Alfie's lot. Mine's unloaded in a minute. It's the best catch Trevay's ever seen.' Laughter followed him to the small office in the corner of the market. He knocked on the door and walked in without waiting for an answer. His father was sitting clutching a cup of coffee. His face was strained but he looked relieved when he saw Jesse.

Jesse was scared. 'What's the matter, Dad? Is it Mum?'

'No. Not Mum. It's Grant.'

Jesse's mind's eye flew to a scene in a hot desert where the bodies of British soldiers lay mutilated. Blood seeping into the dust and sand. He could see his brother lying wounded, lifeless ... and he felt a surge of relief. Grant, the only person who might know something about him and Loveday, was dead.

'What's happened, Dad?'

'He's in trouble.'

Relief left Jesse, to be replaced by guilt that he could possibly have felt so good about his brother dying.

'Trouble for what?'

'We're not sure of the details. Someone from his base is coming to see us this morning. Your mum wants you there.'

'Of course. Can I unload the boat first?'

'No. Leave it. I'll get the lads to do it. Your mum's in bits.'

The officer from 42 Commando spared none of the details.

'It would appear that your son formed an attachment with a local girl whilst on deployment. Her family tried to stop her from seeing him and he went to the family home where he attacked her father. Her father is currently in a British field hospital and in a coma. The medical team are deciding whether to evacuate him to a hospital here in the UK.'

Jan pulled her crumpled tissue through her fingers, too shocked to weep. 'Are you sure Grant did it?'

'We have witnesses who would appear to be reliable.'

'But Grant has wanted to be a Marine since he was little. He worked so hard for his green beret. Why would he risk everything he loved?'

The officer, looking embarra.s.sed, pulled at the sleeves of his immaculate uniform. 'His commanding officer has had previous cause to be concerned about Private Behenna's att.i.tude. It was only a matter of time before he was facing a lot of trouble.'

Jan stared at him from her dry eyes. 'But he had been brave, hadn't he? He told us he'd been on a raid against the bad men he always called them the bad men and had saved his friend's life.'

The officer coughed and crossed his feet, his gleaming boots winking like mirrors.

'Ah.'

'That's what he told us.'

'Private Behenna has not been on active duty in the field. His unpredictable behaviour caused serious concern that he might be a danger to other men; he has been confined to base for some time. There seems little veracity to the story he has told you.'

'You mean it's not true?'

'I couldn't comment; I am sure his commanding officer will be able to give you more information.'

Jan's heartbroken face spoke clearly of her pain. 'He's always been a liar. Ever since he was a little boy.'

Edward, sitting next to her at the old kitchen table, put his arm around her. 'Jan, let's get him home and then we'll know more.'

The officer shuffled his feet again. 'When he returns to the UK he'll be held at the barracks until his court martial.'

Jan stood up so fast that she knocked the chair over behind her. Her voice rose in an ascending scale. 'Court martial?'

'Yes. I know this must come as a terrible shock to you.'

Now Jan's tears came thick and fast, in a torrent that made her breathing difficult. Jesse went to her and held her as tightly as he could. She pressed her face into his dirty fis.h.i.+ng smock and allowed Jesse to absorb the shock waves of her sobs.

The officer stood. 'I very much regret having to make this visit.' He took a card from an inside pocket of his jacket and handed it to Edward. 'Here are my details if you need any more information. I'll endeavour to be of a.s.sistance in any way I can.'

Edward took the card and placed it on the kitchen table, not knowing what to do next.

'I'll see myself out,' said the officer.

Edward went on a bender like no other. He sat in a dark corner of the Golden Hind, rebuffing all overtures from friends and colleagues, and drank solidly and efficiently until Pete, the landlord, refused to serve him any more.

'You've had enough, mate,' he said, taking the pint gla.s.s from his hand.

'Not yet,' Edward replied thickly. 'I don't think I'll ever have had enough.' He left the pub and, after deciding that he wasn't going home, he staggered up to the sheds and let himself into his old office. It was dusty from misuse, but he quickly laid his hands on the litre-bottle of Scotch he always kept hidden for emergencies. This was an emergency.

Jan had gone to bed, leaving Jesse not knowing quite what to do.

He needed to go home and get his head round what was happening. If Grant was found guilty, he could go away for a few years. If he knew anything about Jesse and Loveday, that secret would be locked up with him. Despite himself, and the evident distress all of this was causing his parents, Jesse felt a shot of elation.

'Mum?' He stuck his head round her bedroom door. 'Mum. You awake?'

His mother didn't answer. Shock had closed her down and she was in a deep sleep.

Jesse wrote a note and left it by her pillow. It said Mum, You're sleeping and I need to get home. Give me a call when you wake up.

Love you Jesse.

The late afternoon suns.h.i.+ne surprised Jesse. He was expecting it to be much later. Had it been only this morning that all this had unfolded? He walked back to the harbour and hesitated outside the Golden Hind. Should he go in and join his father? He had no doubts he was in there already. He was tempted, but decided he needed a clear head to think over what had happened.

He pa.s.sed the Hind and turned left into the lane where Pencil Cottage stood. The small front courtyard was merry with spring flowers, basking in the late suns.h.i.+ne. Greer had been doing a distance-learning certificate in garden design; she had planted up dozens of terracotta pots of differing sizes with daffodils, blue hyacinths and cherry blossom trees. Their scent, and the news of his brother's downfall, made Jesse almost cheerful.

'I'm sorry to say it, but your brother is a horrible person,' said Greer, swinging Freddie into his high chair and popping his pelican bib round his neck.

'Yeah, but can you believe he would hurt someone so badly that he'd put them in a coma?' asked Jesse, pa.s.sing the bowl of freshly made broccoli gratin to her.