The Crooked Shore by Martin Edwards

Author:Martin Edwards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Nadine Clarke was a small, plump woman in her early fifties with curly brown hair going grey, rimless spectacles, and a strong Lancashire accent. She explained she’d seen Hannah on the regional news, talking about Ramona Smith.

‘Does my name mean anything to you, love?’

‘You made a complaint against Gerald Lace, a year or so before Ramona disappeared.’

Nadine nodded. ‘Thought you’d do your homework. You look the type.’

Hannah wasn’t sure if this was a compliment. She exchanged a glance with Maggie. ‘DS Eyre has just given my team a detailed briefing on the case. You said that Gerald Lace assaulted you, but shortly afterwards, you withdrew the allegation, and he was never charged.’

‘That’s right, love.’ Nadine compressed her lips into a tight line. ‘Not a day has gone by since then when I haven’t regretted it. Or blamed myself for what it led to.’

Her voice was steady but her knuckles were white. Hannah waited.

‘I was in two minds about speaking to you, but if you’re taking an in-depth look at the whole case, sooner or later you’d come knocking at my door. I’d rather get it over with.’

Hannah said gently, ‘I’m grateful for any help you can give us.’

‘Since Gerry Lace killed himself, some folk have treated him like some sort of martyr. Trust me, he wasn’t. I’m sorry his son died, but I can’t bear the thought of the man who tried to rape me having his reputation whitewashed. It’s bad enough that he got away with killing Ramona.’

‘What would you like to tell us, Mrs Clarke?’

The woman sucked in her cheeks. ‘You’d never believe it now, but in my younger days I was quite something.’

Delving into a capacious handbag, she fished out a photograph. It showed a young woman with frizzy blonde hair and a deep tan, lazing on a beach and winking at the cameraman. She was wearing a tiny swimsuit and sucking an orange lollipop. The picture was crumpled and blurred, but there was no disguising her prettiness. Nadine Bosman, half a lifetime ago.

‘Never believe it was me, would you? The ravages of old age, Chief Inspector.’ She smoothed down an errant curl. ‘I enjoyed myself in those days, far too much. Loads of boyfriends, not a care in the world. Then I went to work for Gerry and Shirley Lace.’

‘Tell me about them.’

‘Shirley didn’t show her face much in the shop. Always having a fit of the vapours about something, that woman. Very intense, not my cup of tea at all. I don’t mean to be unkind, but she enjoyed her ill health. It was the kids I felt sorry for.’

‘And her husband?’

‘Gerry was good company. Nice-looking fellow, liked to crack a joke. A decent boss, turned a blind eye if you came in late after a night on the town. I heard he had a reputation as a Casanova, but that didn’t put me off when he started flirting with me. One thing led to another, you know how it is.’

‘Uh-huh.’

Nadine coloured. ‘He was quite a smoothie, older than the lads I’d knocked around with.

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