wanda1969

Rebecca- Chapter 5 (part 3)

Dawn was breaking as Ianto and Jack reached Manderley. DC Andy Davidson was waiting for them in the hall when they arrived. Ianto couldn’t even remember what had been said, but an hour later he found himself waiting in a corridor outside the morgue at the hospital in St Ives. Eventually the doors opened and Jack walked out with Owen and Davidson, and nodded his ‘thanks’ to the Coroner. All colour had drained from Jack’s face, and his cheeks were pinched and drawn.

“Andy, it seems I did make a mistake last year. I’m sorry...”

Jack knew virtually everyone in the town so it didn’t surprise Ianto to hear the policeman address him by his Christian name. “Jack, it wasn’t your fault. It was two months afterwards- the body- it was hard to identify, and you weren’t well at the time.”

“Of course I was well,” Jack snapped.

“Sorry. The trouble is Jack, there’ll have to be another inquest,” Andy said, looking at the Coroner. “I’m afraid it’s going to drag all of this up again.”

“Just because Jack made a mistake it doesn’t mean the circumstances are any different,” Owen said.

“Well, no. But we’ve had to ask Mr Tadd from the boatyard to inspect the wreck- we’ll have to look at his findings, too,” Andy said quietly.

“Mr Tadd? What do you need him for?” Jack turned quickly back to Andy.

“Mr Tadd’s the expert around here on boats and at the last inquest, we didn’t have the boat. We have to have the boat examined. Like Owen said, there’s no difference- it’s just that you misidentified the bod...Rebecca...last time. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Ianto got up from his seat and walked over, placing an arm around Jack’s shoulders. “Jack needs some sleep now. He’s been awake all night, helping with the rescue- all of this can wait until the Inquest.”

Andy looked at him. “Yes, you’re right. Go and get some rest, Jack. I’ll get in touch as soon as we have a date set.”

Harper drove them back to Manderley, as Jack rested, half-asleep, against Ianto on the back seat of the car.

***

Chapter List: http://wanda1969.dreamwidth.org/17042.html