Buried Secrets: The Freeman Files Series: Book 11 by Ted Tayler (that summer book TXT) 📕

left his photos behind. I thought he must have wanted a photo to brighten up his office and took it without mentioning it.”

   “The pocket diary could prove useful, guv,” said Blessing. “We might have found those missing contact details. Alan Duncan filled in records for an Andy, a Smudger, a Taff, a Gooner and three or four more. Wayne Phillips is here too, plus several business contacts.”

“What about the diary?” asked Gus.

“Alan logged times of meetings at work, dental appointments, statistics for his Wednesday night run and Saturday afternoon cycle ride. Birthdays and anniversaries for Maddy and his parents. Nothing for Wayne. Perhaps Maddy handled them. It’s still more comprehensive than any diary I’ve ever tried to keep.”

“We’ll take it with us, Mr Duncan,” said Gus. “It could provide useful leads. Those ex-colleagues could be the key to solving this mystery.”

“We should ask whether either of them was in that Happy Valley photo, guv,” said Blessing. “Maybe there’s a name scribbled on the back that’s in this diary. Maybe not. If that photo wasn’t in his office, or at the house in Biddestone, then Alan removed it from the mantlepiece and got rid of it. Why?”

“Good thinking, Blessing,” said Gus. “We’ll ring Maddy Telfer when we get back to the office. I wonder if she can shed light on when it got moved, and what happened to it? Also, we should check when this box got delivered to Biddestone.”

“Is that it then?” asked Bob Duncan.

“I think we can let you get on with your day,” said Gus. “Many thanks for your co-operation. This pocket diary somehow bypassed the detectives in the original investigation. Alan’s boss wouldn’t have known the possible importance of the addresses it holds. Maddy did what she thought was right and delivered the box to you. The police had finished their questioning. The names in the diary meant nothing to her. It was too easy to dismiss them as business contacts or acquaintances. Alan shared little detail of his Navy life with Maddy. We’ll see where those names and addresses lead us, Mr and Mrs Duncan. Thank you for the coffee. Good afternoon.”

Bob Duncan saw them to the front door. Elizabeth stayed in her seat, staring into space.

“You will let me know how you get on, won’t you?” asked Bob.

“Of course, Mr Duncan,” said Blessing. “We can’t promise good news, but we’ll do our best to find Alan’s killer.”

Bob closed the door when Gus and Blessing reached the car.

“What did you make of that, Blessing?” asked Gus.

“A step in the right direction, guv,” she replied. “We’ll understand more about what made Alan Duncan tick once we interview the people he served with.”

“Let’s hope they can explain why Alan left the Navy when he did, and why he worked for a small company on an Industrial Estate in Corsham.”

Gus drove them to the Old Police Station office and asked the rest of the team to update their progress.

“I scoured social media for more information on Kyle Ellison, guv,” said Lydia. “As Blessing said, he doesn’t give much away. No photographs, just the occasional post, or a share of something topical.”

“What does that suggest?” asked Gus.

“Why does it have to suggest anything, guv?” said Luke. “Ellison could work long hours, have a wife and family to support, and not have the slightest interest in joining in with the crowd.”

“You don’t have several social media accounts, guv,” said Neil. “Ellison doesn’t have a criminal record either. We checked.”

“Nothing?” asked Gus. “Not even a speeding fine?”

“He’s Mr Clean, guv,” said Luke.

“Did you believe the story that Maddy Telfer told us, Lydia?”

“Yes, guv,” said Lydia. “It sounded genuine to me.”

“Me too,” said Gus. “Which makes the fact that Ellison has stayed out of trouble for twenty-five years remarkable.”

“Maybe the beating he got from Darren Forsyth showed Kyle Ellison the error of his ways, guv,” said Neil.

“Darren Forsyth?”

“They were the only family on the census for Marsden matching the information Maddy Telfer gave, guv,” said Neil. “David and Mary Forsyth, mother and father; Darren and Jennifer, their two children. Jenny Forsyth left Marsden at eighteen to move to Chippenham. Darren is still single and lives in Leeds. Dave and Mary haven’t moved from the village. They’re both retired now.”

“Right, at least we know where to find them if we need them,” said Gus. “Although I can’t see that they can offer us anything at present. Blessing, can you call Maddy Telfer, please?”

“I tried her number as soon as we got upstairs, guv,” said Blessing, “but no reply. The school run is almost over. I can try again later, or do you want to speak to her?”

“Leave it to me, Blessing,” said Gus. “those photographs have given me an idea.”

Gus waited until after four o’clock, and then he made the call.

“Maddy, it’s Gus Freeman from the Crime Review Team. Can you spare me two minutes?”

“I suppose so, what is it you need to know?”

 “We visited Bob and Elizabeth Duncan this afternoon. Bob mentioned Alan's photograph with a group of his colleagues taken when they were in Hong Kong. Can you recall it?”

“Yes, they had several photos on display in various parts of the living room, dining room, and hallway. Why do you ask?”

“Bob hadn’t seen that photo since before Alan died. He thought Alan might have taken it to work, to put on the desk in his office. I know it was a long time ago, but can you remember when you saw it last?”

“Now you’re asking,” Mr Freeman,” said Maddy. “I’ve got photos in our home that I walk past a dozen times every day. I’d spot if someone moved them, but I can’t swear that I’d notice if one disappeared. They become part of the furniture, well, you know what I mean.”

“I