The Boy Who Lived with the Dead (Albert Lincoln Book 2) by Kate Ellis

Author:Kate Ellis [Ellis, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780349418346
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2018-12-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

Tears pricked Albert’s eyes as he gazed down into the little grave. He had hoped, prayed, that Patience Bailey’s baby had somehow survived and now he despaired at the heartlessness of the killer. To kill the mother was one thing but to slaughter an innocent baby and bury its body was nothing short of evil. And the fact that his own unknown son would be around the same age as the dead infant made him turn away, unable to bear the sight.

It seemed an age before Gwen returned with the doctor. Michaels’ manner was businesslike, but Albert wondered whether he was hiding his emotions behind a professional façade. Perhaps it was the only way to deal with such an event, he told himself as he wiped his eyes with his handkerchief. A breeze had got up and was blowing the dry soil around so he pretended he had some grit in them, although he was sure the doctor could see through this minor deception.

Gwen joined Albert as Dr Michaels performed his examination.

‘It looks as if this little one was buried with some reverence, unlike his mother,’ she said.

‘That’s true. Look, if you want to go … ’

She said nothing for a few seconds. Then, ‘Would you like me to tell the Rudyards?’

‘Thank you but that’s a job for the police.’ Albert glanced towards the doctor. ‘Perhaps it would be best if you went, Miss Davies. Besides, I wouldn’t like you to be late for your pupils. Thank you for your help.’ He knew his words sounded formal but that was his intention. As he watched her walk off towards the gate, he sighed with relief. The emotion of finding the tiny corpse had left him drained and he couldn’t summon the energy for conversation.

Arrangements were made to transport the baby’s body to the mortuary at the Cottage Hospital to join that of Joan Pearce, and Albert waited until it was taken away because if he’d left while the child was still lying in the cold earth he would somehow have felt as though he was abandoning it. Constable Mitchell was barely able to keep his emotions in check and when Sergeant Stark arrived Albert saw him give the young man’s shoulder a comforting pat. Albert suspected that this was the first time Mitchell had encountered the death of a child in the course of his duties and he couldn’t help remembering how he’d felt when he’d seen the lifeless body of Jimmy Rudyard in the mortuary; overcome with a father’s grief even though the child was no relation of his.

Albert asked Mitchell to visit the cemetery lodge to tell the Rudyards what had happened – if they hadn’t already observed the activity from their windows. There was relief on Mitchell’s face as he hurried off and Albert felt as though he’d done his good deed for the day.

‘I can’t understand why the killer buried mother and child separately. Why not throw them both into the newly dug grave? It

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