The Loner by Rachel Ennis Page B

compartments, including sleeping quarters, flooded. Two men drowned in their bunks. An electrical fire caused arcing of the main power cables and the flames rapidly spread.’ Jess’s voice cracked and she paused to drink more tea as nightmare images filled her head.
    â€˜Lieutenant Kirby sent various teams to deal with the fires, seal the leaks – or the compartments if the leaks couldn’t be stopped – and make sure the reactor was safe. After informing the exercise commander and the admiralty, he handed control to his deputy. Then he went to his cabin and drank himself unconscious.’
    â€˜He’d have known it was the end of his career,’ Tom murmured. ‘How long was his sentence?’
    â€˜Twelve years. His wife had filed for divorce during his court martial.’ Jess covered her mouth with her fingertips. ‘Then his parents were killed in a car crash on their way to visit him in prison.’
    Tom simply shook his head.
    â€˜In prison he was beaten up several times. He also received threats from relatives of the men who died.’ Jess clicked on another book-marked page. ‘Following his release in February 1999, after serving eight years of his sentence, he was attacked in the street and ended up in hospital. After that I couldn’t find any mention of him. He must have decided that his only chance of surviving was to become invisible.’
    â€˜So he came to Polvellan and took his dead uncle’s name.’
    â€˜Tom, you don’t think –?’ Jess broke off, shaking her head.
    â€˜Think what, bird?’
    â€˜What if a relative of one of the men killed on the sub found out where he was living?’
    Tom didn’t say anything for several moments and she wanted to hug him for taking her question seriously. He finally shook his head. ‘He wouldn’t have let a stranger in so there would have been some sign of a struggle. You said yourself the police was thorough when they went over the place. If there’d been anything to find, they’d have found it. It was an accident, bird. Just a sad, stupid accident.’
    She nodded. Tom was right. ‘I’ve been wondering about Briar Cottage. Did he inherit it, or was it on a lease? If it was leased, how was he paying rent?’
    â€˜You said his wife divorced him,’ Tom reminded. ‘If they owned a house and it was sold, or she bought out his share, he’d have had money from that. Maybe his solicitor looked after it and paid the rent.’
    â€˜It’s a thought.’
    â€˜Plenty more where that came from.’ He smothered a yawn. ‘Sorry, bird. Come on, let’s get they dishes done.’ He levered himself off the sofa.
    â€˜I’ll do them when you’ve gone.’ She opened one of the kitchen cupboards and handed him a cake tin. ‘Your saffron buns.’
    Tom prised the lid off and inhaled deeply. ‘Look at that. Proper ’andsome.’ Jamming the lid back, he dropped the tin on the sofa and reached for her. ‘You’re some rare maid, Jess.’
    As his arms went round her she rested her hands on his shoulders. ‘Because I made saffron buns?’
    â€˜Well, it don’t hurt that you can cook. And you’re a lovely looking woman. But I was thinking how you discovered all that about John Preece. Now you know who he really is, what are you going to do?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’
    He drew her close. ‘See you soon?’
    â€˜I hope so. I want my tin back.’
    His kiss was long and lingering. When he raised his head it was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to stay. She hesitated and the moment passed. That was a major step and she wasn’t sure she was ready for it yet. There was plenty of time.
    He lifted his jacket from the hook. ‘’Night, my lover. And thanks.’
    â€˜What for?’
    â€˜Tonight. I like your company.’
    She kissed him. ‘And I like