by M A Comley
“I can imagine. What about the bank?”
“I’m on my way over there first thing. I wanted to bring you up to speed on things before I left.”
“I’m so sorry. It’s not fair to burden you with this, Sean.”
“It’s not a burden. I’m willing to help. Just not sure I’m going to be able to come up with the funds. We took a large loan out last year for an extension, and our credit cards are maxed out as it is.”
“Damn! Is the bank likely to lend you the money in that case?”
He held his hands out to the side. “Who knows? Maybe if I put the house up as collateral.”
Lorne gasped. “Seriously, you’d do that? Risk losing your family home?”
“What other option do I have? The Lansburys are going to lose their house as it is if they go down the bankruptcy route.”
“Holy crap! What a dreadful situation to be in. That poor family.”
“This is a cheeky request, Lorne, but I don’t suppose you have a spare few grand lying around, do you?”
Her eyes bulged. “Umm… no, sorry. Everything I earn goes on running and maintaining the kennels as it is. I wish I could help you guys out, Sean.”
He smiled briefly. “It was worth a shot. Sorry I put you in such an awkward position. It’s not your responsibility to come up with the funds. We’ll sort it, but whether we’ll be able to do that before the twenty-four hours are up is another matter.” He heaved himself out of the chair. “I better get a move on. I want to be outside the bank the minute the doors open. Wish me luck.”
“That goes without saying. Good luck. I’m going to chase up a few people today. Hopefully, we’ll have some news we can act upon soon.”
He nodded and left the room.
She thought over the scenario they had been dealt for the next five minutes before she placed her first call of the day, which was to chase up the PM on Gillian Knot. “Hi, Patti. It’s Lorne. Can you talk?”
“You’re mind-reading again. I was going to ring you in about an hour. I was hoping to throw myself into my paperwork while it was quiet. I suppose you’re chasing me about the Knot girl?”
“I am. Do you have a cause of death yet?”
“I do. She was stabbed several times with a small knife, no bigger than a penknife, I’d say. I also found a few footprints near the scene, plus a number of hairs that didn’t belong to the victim were found on her clothes. My team are in the process of searching the DNA database to see what they can find—unless you can give us a name for the suspect, as that would make life easier for everyone.”
“You’re in luck. We think—actually, we’re pretty sure—that we’re looking for a homeless man by the name of Frank Parker. We’ve linked him to both Gillian and Emma through a homeless centre where both girls were volunteers.”
“Whoa! Someone is bumping off volunteers. Any idea why?”
“Nope. Something came to light yesterday regarding the man losing his wife to breast cancer a few months ago. That might have been the trigger that set him off on this destructive path. He used to be an odd-job man at a church. I called to see the landlord where he lived with his wife, and apparently, he was behind on his rent, and when the landlord demanded payment by the end of the week, Parker moved out, wrecking the flat in the process.”
“Ouch, that poor landlord. Okay, does this Parker have a rap sheet?”
“Yes, one charge against him for sexual assault from fifteen years ago.”
“That doesn’t sound good. I wonder if his wife was aware of the charge.”
“I guess we’ll never know. I don’t think the vicar where he worked was aware. I should have asked when I was there yesterday, not that it matters. I have to tell you I’m pretty fearful how this is going to all pan out. The family received a ransom demand last night.”
“How much?” Patti asked glumly.
“A hundred grand. Not much really, except it’s an astronomical amount to the family since they’re filing for bankruptcy soon.”
“Damn. I wonder if the kidnapper knows that.”
“No idea. My DCI is scrabbling around, trying to find the funds now. It’s not looking good, Patti.”
“Okay, get Parker’s details over to me. I’ll see what I can find out regarding DNA and get back to you. If he turns out to be the one guilty of killing Gillian, then I don’t hold out much hope for Emma. Of course, that’s between you and me.”
“The same thought crossed my mind. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Ring me when you have something definitive to go on. I’ll get Karen to send over the file now.”
“You’ll be the first to hear as soon as I have something. Take care and good luck, Lorne.”
She ended the call and rushed out to the incident room, where she requested Karen send everything she had found on Parker over to the pathologist. Katy had just arrived and looked like death warmed up.
“Hey, you. Everything all right?”
Katy withdrew a paper hanky from her sleeve and blew her nose. “Nope, I have a cold from hell.”
“Bugger. Well, stay away from me. I’m too busy to fall ill. Are you okay to work?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? I’ll survive. I’d rather be spreading the germs around here than let Georgina pick them up.”
“Thanks, that’s good to know. Get some bloody Lemsip down you. That usually does the trick for me. I’ve got a packet in my desk if you want to help yourself.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it,” Katy walked into the office and returned, shaking a packet of cold remedy, before heading towards the vending machine. “Does this thing do a cup of hot water?”
“Not sure it does. Put the powder in a cup, and I’ll run along to the DCI’s office to use his kettle.”
“How come you have an answer for everything?” Katy mumbled nasally.
Lorne laughed and shrugged. “I just do. Graham, we seriously need to get some word back from your contacts. This guy has rung the family with a ransom request, so time is against us now. We have until eight fifteen this evening to locate this bastard. Otherwise, he’s threatened to end Emma’s life.”
“Shit! I’ll get on the blower right away, boss.”
“Thanks. Let me know when you have something positive to go on.” Lorne moved to stand in front of the newest team member’s desk, aware that she had been neglecting him lately. “How’s it going, Pat?”
“I’m doing well. Is there anything in particular you want me to focus on?”
Lorne contemplated his question for a second or two then clicked her fingers as she thought over what Carol had relayed to her the previous evening. “Bear with me on this one and don’t ask me who my source is. I was told yesterday to look out for a cardboard city, if you like, close to the river.”
His eyes widened. “And you expect me to find that location for you, ma’am?”
“I’m not necessarily expecting results but give it your best shot. Look, to narrow things down, I would suggest you focus around the Abbots Langley area, as everything else seems to be pointing in that direction. How’s that?”
“Okay, I can see that. Glad I don’t have to search the whole of the London area. I’d be at it for the next decade.”
Lorne chuckled. “You have a valid point. Forgive me for frightening the life out of you. Do your best. I know I haven’t given you a lot to go on. Sometimes we have to go along with the hand we’ve been dealt, no matter where the information came from.”
“I’m intrigued to know who your source is. Are you sure I can’t tempt you to tell me?”
Graham coughed and picked up the phone to place a call.
“Something you want to say, Graham?” Lorne asked.
“No, nothing, boss. Your source has always come good in the past, I seem to recall.”
“Indeed,” Lorne agreed. “Pat, let’s see if you come up trumps first, and then I’ll reveal all. Is that a deal?”
He eyed her suspiciously. “I suppose so. Hopefully, I’ll get back to you soon.”<
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Katy approached and held out a cup. “I could run along and do it. It’s no bother.”
“You sit down. I’ll do it. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Lorne raced along the hallway to Sean’s office and almost barged into him as he rushed out of his secretary’s room. “Did you want to see me?”
“Not really. I want to pinch some water from your kettle. Katy has a stinking cold and is in dire need of a remedy.”
“Feel free. I’ll be back soon, I hope.”
Lorne watched him trot up the hallway, feeling sorry for him for a change. He didn’t deserve to be under the pressure piling up on his shoulders. No one did.
She boiled the kettle in Trisha’s office and returned to the incident room just as Katy was hanging up the phone. “This should interest you.”
Lorne joined Katy. “I’m up for news, of the good variety, preferably.”
“I’ve just been informed that uniform attended a scene where a car was burnt out in a field in—”
Lorne raised her hand. “Don’t tell me—Abbots Langley, right?”
Katy clapped her hands. “Correct. I’ve instructed the officers at the scene to call out the forensic team.”
“Is it Emma’s car?”
“It’s the same make and model, but the plates had been removed. Too much of a coincidence not to be.”
“Okay, I suppose that’s good news, although it begs the questions why he’s burnt the car and what he’s using for a vehicle now.”
“Good point. If he’s demanded a ransom, he’s probably thinking about his escape. I’ll search the database to see if any cars have been reported missing in the area in the last few days.”
“Brilliant. I can sense we’re closing in on him, guys. Let’s keep the momentum going.”
“Patti has been sent the file, boss,” Karen called out.
Lorne punched the air, buoyed by her team’s enthusiasm and success so far at such an early hour. Let’s hope it continues and that our hopes aren’t dashed any time soon.
~ ~ ~
Around eleven fifteen, Sean walked into the incident room. Lorne noticed he seemed in a foul mood. “Oh dear, I take it the bank wasn’t very obliging.”
“Nope. I called into several while I was out, and after running a credit check on me, they said I was too much of a risk. Shit! How do I break the news to Nerys and Warren? They’re counting on me to come good on this for them.”
Lorne closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Sean. I don’t know what to say other than that.” Although her mind was spinning out of control, an idea was demanding her attention. “All you can do is keep trying. Look, the team have upped the ante today. We think Emma’s car has been discovered, and it has been burnt out.”
“Damn! Where?”
“Abbots Langley. Go back to your office. The minute I have anything positive to share, I’ll report to you. Keep your chin up. I sense we’re closing in on him.”
Dejected, he turned and left the office. Lorne rushed into her own office and closed the door. She picked up her phone and rang home. “Hi, Tony. How are you feeling?”
“You just caught me. I took it easy getting dressed, as you suggested. Joe has just arrived to pick me up. Now don’t shout at me, but between us, we’ve decided to go out looking for this creep.”
“Christ, are you sure? We need all the help we can get on this one. There’s been a development this morning—a couple, actually. First thing, we were notified that Emma’s car—at least we believe it’s hers—was found torched in a field.”
“Crap! Where?”
“Out in Abbots Langley. To be honest, a lot of clues are being highlighted in that area. Parker used to rent a flat there, and he did odd jobs at the local church. Also, you’re aware that Gillian’s body was located in the forest around there too.”
“We’ll head out that way and scout around. Do you have anything else to go on?”
“Only what Carol mentioned last night about a possible cardboard city close to the river. I have a member of my team trying to locate where that might be now. If Pat comes up with anything, I’ll get back to you straight away. Perhaps you can check it out for us if you’re over that way.” Lorne sighed.
“Okay, that sounds like a great plan. Why the sigh, love?”
Lorne smiled. Her husband knew her so well. “The second overnight development is that a ransom demand has been made. We’ve got until eight fifteen tonight to come up with a hundred grand, or he’ll kill Emma.”
“Shit! Hang on… you said we. What exactly does that mean?”
“Well, the family is about to go into bankruptcy and doesn’t have the funds to cover the ransom.”
“I still don’t understand what this has to do with us, Lorne. You need to spell it out for me.”
Lorne ran a worried hand over her face and closed her eyes. “Sean has been at the bank this morning, trying to raise the funds, but he took out a large loan last year for an extension on his house—”
“Lorne!”
“I know, I know… I’m waffling. Well, I thought we could help them out. What do you think?”
“You’re asking me to use my compensation money to pay the ransom?”
“Not to pay it as such. Maybe to use it as bait to entice Parker out of his hiding place. We’ll pick him up once the drop-off has been made.”
“Jesus, and what if he gets away with the money and kills Emma in the process anyway? What then, Lorne? Where will that leave us? That money is our pension pot, our security for the future, and you’re expecting me to hand it over to this lunatic?”
Lorne covered her eyes with one hand and shook her head. “Okay, I know… it was a damn foolish idea. You know what I’m like, love. If I can help someone out, I’ll do it. Don’t worry. I haven’t mentioned any of this to Sean. I have to tell you, though, he’s a broken man. At the end of his tether, unsure where to turn next to ensure Emma comes home safely.”
“Stop! Enough with the effing emotional blackmail. Do it. If anything happened to that girl, knowing that we had the funds to prevent that from happening, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
Lorne screeched. “Tony Warner, you’re a hell of a man. Selfless, compassionate, the best man a woman could possibly have in her life. Have I told you lately how much I love and adore you?”
“Give me a break, woman. Go and tell Sean he can have the money and let me know if he’s agreeable. If he is, I’ll drop by the bank and pick up the funds this morning.”
“I’ll ring you back, you adorable creature.” Lorne hung up and flew out the office, up the hallway and into Sean’s office, bypassing a stunned Trisha on the way. “Sorry for bursting in like this, Sean. I have news.”
He propelled himself out of his seat and ran towards her. “Is it Emma? Have you found her?” he asked, grasping Lorne’s arms.
“Sorry, no.” She tried to catch her breath. “There’s no need for you to be concerned about the money.”
“What? I don’t understand, Lorne.”
“I’ve just rung Tony, and he’s agreed we can use his compensation money, the money he received from MI6 for the injuries he incurred on duty, for the ransom.”
He pulled her into his arms and sobbed. Lorne froze, unable to move, not sure whether to throw her arms around him or push him away after what had happened in her office a few days ago. In the end, she stepped back and placed her hands on his upper arms. “Sean, I know this is relief, but you’re going to have to get a grip. We need you to be at your best, not a crumbling mess. That’s not going to help Emma, is it?”
He nodded and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “You’re right. I’m sorry. After being rejected by several banks this morning, I’ve been sitting here, worried that we’ll never see Emma again. At least now we have some hope. I can’t thank you and Tony enough for this.”
“Save your thanks until we’ve completed the mission to bring her back. Look, the kidnapper warned her parents not to inform the p
olice, so we need to play along with that, and to me, there’s no better way of doing it than to involve two former MI6 agents.”
His eyes widened, and he began to nod slowly. “You’re telling me to get Tony and Joe involved in this, right?”
“Glad you’re keeping up to speed. Yes, I know it’s against protocol. I see it as a necessary risk if we want to get Emma back in one piece before Christmas.”
“I wholeheartedly agree with you. So, what do we do next?”
“Once Tony gets the all-clear from me that you’re agreeable to accepting the funds, I’ll call him back. He’ll go to the bank straight away. It’ll probably take them a few hours to come up with the money. In the meantime, Tony already told me that he and Joe were heading out to Abbots Langley to scour the area. I’m not sure I should tell you this or not…”
He cocked his head to one side and furrowed his brow. “Go on.”
“I’ve asked my psychic friend, Carol, also, to lend a hand on the case, as it is proving to be so frustrating.”
“We should be open to all the help we can get. What did she say?”
“Some of the clues were sketchy, but I connected the dots. Others, I found really interesting. I never tell her about any of the leads we have on a case before she confers with the spirits around her. She picked up about the perpetrator being homeless and that his cardboard city is down by a river.”
“But he wouldn’t keep Emma there, surely.”
“I doubt it. However, we really need to find out where he’s been living since he left his flat. Maybe one of the other homeless guys can tell us what he’s been up to the last few months since his wife’s death, which I believe is what has sent him over the edge.”
“Don’t tell me you’re feeling sorry for this bastard.”
“No, not in the slightest. We have to take on board how losing his wife has probably affected him, though, as it gives us an insight into what actions he might have taken. It would be totally foolish of us to disregard that, Sean.”