In Plain Sight

by In Plain Sight (epub)

  ‘Oh God! He’s not staying all week, is he?’

  The door opened and Susan Clancy’s face fell. ‘Not you two again.’

  ‘Afraid so,’ Clare said. ‘Can we come in?’

  Susan stepped back to admit them. ‘What is it this time? I’ve still not stolen any babies.’ She led them into the sitting room and motioned to them to sit. Clare and Chris sat on the edge of the sofa while Susan remained standing, her arms folded. ‘Well?’

  ‘It’s like this,’ Clare began. ‘I don’t believe in coincidences, Susan.’

  Susan stuck out her chin. ‘So?’

  ‘So this: last night a pharmacy two streets away was broken into.’

  ‘And you think I did it?’

  ‘No,’ Clare said, ‘but we think you visited it earlier the same day.’ She reached into her bag and produced a print of the CCTV image from Sunday morning. ‘This is you, isn’t it?’

  Susan studied the photo. ‘So? What if it is me?’

  ‘Mind if I ask why you were there?’

  ‘Bit nosey, Inspector. I had a prescription to pick up.’

  ‘For?’

  ‘I don’t think I have to tell you that. In fact, I’d like you both to get out now. If you don’t mind.’

  ‘Look, Susan,’ Clare said, ‘we’re up against it here. We’re no nearer to finding that baby and, with every hour that passes, she’s in more danger.’

  Susan exhaled. ‘Yeah, okay.’ She walked over to a wooden dresser and reached into one of the drawers. ‘It was this,’ she said, holding out a blue inhaler. ‘I’m asthmatic.’

  ‘Still got the box?’ Chris asked.

  ‘Hold on…’ Susan left the room and they heard the bathroom door open. A minute later, she returned with the inhaler box and handed it to Chris. ‘Happy?’

  He checked the date and nodded to Clare. ‘Thanks, Susan. That’s fine.’

  But Clare wasn’t done. ‘Are you in the pharmacy a lot?’

  ‘Depends. Why?’

  Clare ignored the question. ‘How often?’

  ‘I dunno. Maybe every couple of weeks.’

  ‘Did you see anyone particular when you were there on Sunday?’

  ‘Like who?’

  Clare reached into her bag and withdrew a printout of the pharmacy burglars. ‘Recognise either of these two?’

  Susan gave the photo a cursory glance. ‘Nope.’

  ‘Look more carefully, Susan. Please. We need to find that baby.’

  Susan sighed audibly and looked again at the photo.

  ‘We think this one is a woman,’ Clare said, indicating the figure with the hank of red hair.

  Susan stared at the figure for a few seconds. Then she handed back the photo. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Sure?’

  She didn’t meet their eyes. ‘Yeah, sure.’ She stood and walked to the door. ‘Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve things to be getting on with.’

  They followed her to the door. Clare took out a card and handed it to her. ‘If you do think you know either of the figures, please contact me.’

  As Susan moved to open the door, Chris said, ‘Did you hear anything about the break-in? I mean from friends or neighbours?’

  Susan glared at him. ‘I’m no’ a grass.’

  ‘A baby’s life, Susan.’

  She shook her head. ‘You’ve seen it round here. Not exactly Mayfair, is it? Could be any one of fifty.’

  ‘The thieves knew what the baby needed,’ Chris went on. ‘Do you know anyone round here with medical knowledge?’

  ‘Nope. And now, if you don’t mind…’

  Susan held the door open, waiting for them to leave, but Clare stopped on the threshold. ‘Susan, can I ask what you do? For a job, I mean?’

  She folded her arms. ‘What do you think? You reckon they’re queueing up to give ex-cons jobs, Inspector?’

  ‘So you’re not working just now?’

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘And before?’

  ‘Bit of this, bit of that.’

  Clare waited.

  ‘Christ, you do not give up! Right. Left school at sixteen and worked in a shop. Kept that till I was eighteen then started doing bar work. Oh, and I had a paper round when I was twelve. Okay?’

  ‘What kind of shop?’

  ‘Eh?’

  ‘When you left school. What kind of shop was it?’

  Susan stared at them. ‘Like it matters? If you must know, it was a newsagent’s.’

  ‘You’ve never worked in a pharmacy? Or any kind of medical role?’

  ‘Pfft. I wish. Not brainy enough, Inspector.’

  ‘Okay, thanks Susan. We’ll leave you in peace.’

  The door slammed behind them and they began walking down the steps. Chris said, ‘Believe her?’

  ‘Yes, I think so.’

  They emerged into the sunshine. Clare said, ‘I think she has an idea about the woman in the photo but she’s either not sure or too scared to tell us.’

  ‘We could take her in. Lean on her a bit.’

  ‘I doubt it would make much difference. She’s a tough cookie, that one.’

  They found the car surrounded by kids with Lyall still in the back, pretending not to notice them.

  ‘Beat it,’ Chris said to the kids and they began to drift off, the entertainment over.

  ‘Any luck?’ Lyall asked.

  ‘No,’ Clare said, ‘but it’s as important to rule things out as in.’

  Lyall typed this into his tablet.

  Clare checked her watch. ‘Chris, get onto the station while I drive. Get them to chase up any medical staff sacked in the last six months. Tayside and Fife.’

  As they drove on through the streets, Lyall continued tapping away at his tablet. ‘Will you put the parents on TV?’

  Clare had been thinking the same thing. The sight of devastated parents often brought results. And if the Mitchells did know something about Abi’s abduction – however unlikely that seemed, given the measure of their distress – it would be an opportunity to see how they reacted on camera. ‘We may do,’ she said, ‘but it won’t be my decision.’

  ‘Should I suggest it to that DCI? Tommy, is it?’

  ‘You do that, Lyall.’ Clare turned her head so he couldn’t see her grin. ‘I’m sure Tommy would be grateful.’

  * * *

  The station was buzzing with activity when they arrived back. Sara was talking on the phone and waved Clare across. ‘Human Resources from the hospital.’

  Clare took the phone and explained they were looking for any doctors, nurses or other medically trained staff who had lost their jobs recently.

  ‘I’m afraid we can’t give that information without a warrant,’ a female voice said.

  Clare was about to protest when the voice carried on.

  ‘However, I can tell you there’s been nothing like that for the past year.’

  ‘Anyone undergoing disciplinary proceedings just now?’

  There was a pause then the voice said, ‘Nothing that would result in being struck off or even sacked. Minor stuff, mostly – timekeeping, complaints from difficult patients. All nonsense of course, but we have to investigate. But if you do get a warrant, we will prioritise it.’

  Clare thanked her and ended the call. She sat thinking for a minute. Another dead end. And where the hell was Ashley McCann? ‘Any news of Ashley?’ she called.

  Sara’s face fell. ‘Sorry, boss. I should have said. She rocked up at her flat about half an hour ago.’

  Clare called Chris over. ‘Can you think of anything for Lyall to do?’ she said, her voice low. ‘We need to see Ashley now and I do not want him tagging along.’

  ‘Leave it to me.’

  * * *

  The street was more congested than it had been on Sunday, thanks to a cable company whose vans were parked nose to tail. Tall orange cones had been placed on the pavement across from Ashley’s flat where a yellow-jacketed man was breaking up the tarmacadam with a powerful Hilti gun. As Clare killed the
engine she said, ‘Not a word about the phone Lisa’s hidden in the bathroom, okay? I don’t want Ashley telling her we know about it.’

  As they waited for Ashley to answer the door, Clare said, ‘What did you give the boy wonder to do?’

  ‘He’s entering the data from the traffic survey into the computer.’

  ‘Weren’t you supposed to do that when I was on holiday?’

  Chris was saved from answering by Ashley opening the door.

  Ashley’s face was set in a scowl. She’d had one too many spray tans, Clare thought. The mahogany tinge to her skin made her blue eyes look pale and watery. Her eyebrows were plucked into thin lines and her ears pierced with scaffold bars. Her hair was short, cut in a pixie style and needed a wash. She looked from Clare to Chris, one hand on the door, the other planted on her hip. ‘Yeah?’

  Clare held out her warrant card and introduced herself and Chris. ‘Mind if we come in, Ashley?’

  Ashley’s response was to turn and walk up the hall. Clare and Chris followed her, closing the door behind them. Ashley had resumed her seat on a sofa that had seen better days, a cigarette burning in an ashtray on the arm. The television was on and she was watching a quiz show.

  Clearly, she wasn’t going to invite them to sit so Clare took a seat anyway. Chris opted to stand.

  ‘We’ve been trying to get hold of you since yesterday, Ashley,’ Clare said.

  Ashley continued staring at the television. ‘Found Abi yet?’

  ‘Not yet,’ Clare said, ‘but we’re doing everything we can. We hoped you might be able to help.’

  Ashley’s eyes never left the television. ‘Dunno how.’

  ‘Have you seen Lisa today?’

  ‘No. She’s out of it. Too many happy pills. Best thing for her, probably.’

  Clare tried to tune out the television. ‘Ashley, we know you went round to see Lisa on Sunday afternoon. After Abi had been abducted. Can you tell us what the two of you talked about?’

  Ashley sighed. She muted the television. ‘What do you think? She was crying about Abi. What d’you expect? Fucksake!’

  ‘Must have been a shock,’ Chris said.

  Ashley scrutinised Chris. ‘Seen you before, haven’t I? You got a girlfriend?’

  Chris ignored this. ‘What did you say to Lisa?’

  ‘Asked her who did it and she said she didn’t know.’

  ‘And you believed her?’

  ‘Why wouldn’t I?’

  ‘And since Sunday? Have you been back to see Lisa? Phoned her?’

  ‘Not really. I pop in, you know. But can’t do much.’ She glanced back at Clare, her eyes narrowed. ‘You’d better get the bastard. I love that wee girl.’ Her eyes flicked across to the window. ‘Since you’re here, why don’t you do something useful and get that lot out there to stop their drilling? It’s doin’ my fuckin’ head in.’

  Clare threw Chris a glance that said This is hopeless, her eyes indicating the door.

  Chris tried again. ‘Ashley, we know you’ve done a bit of time…’

  ‘Yeah, so?’ She eyed him. ‘What are you, twenty-eight, twenty-nine?’

  Chris continued, avoiding the question. ‘Is it possible you could have upset someone?’

  Ashley frowned. ‘You think they’ve taken Abi to get back at me?’

  ‘Is it possible?’

  She shook her head. ‘Nah. Snatching a kid, you’d do major time for that. If they wanted to get back at me, they’d just set fire to the house. Wouldn’t be the first time.’ Her eyes strayed once more to the television and she picked up the remote control again, clicking to show subtitles.

  ‘You’re sure no one’s threatened you recently?’

  Ashley shook her head. ‘I’d remember.’

  Clare swallowed. This next bit was going to be difficult. ‘Ashley, I’m sorry to have to ask this, but you’ve rubbed shoulders with a few dodgy characters in your time. You come across anyone with an unhealthy interest in children?’

  Ashley turned from the television and stared. The first real reaction. ‘You mean paedos? Jesus! You think it’s a paedo that’s taken Abi?’

  ‘We can’t discount the possibility.’

  Ashley shook her head. ‘Nope. Not met any. Not round here at least. They tend to stick together, not mix with the rest of us.’

  Clare handed her a card. ‘If you do remember anything will you give me a call?’

  ‘Yeah sure, whatever.’

  As they walked to the door, Ashley called to Chris, ‘What time do you get off tonight?’

  ‘You’re well in there,’ Clare said as they walked back to the car.

  ‘Fuck off.’

  ‘Fuck off, Inspector,’ she corrected him.

  ‘Fuck off, Inspector.’

  * * *

  Tony was holed up in Clare’s office with a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

  Clare looked at the door then at Sara, who mouthed, ‘Hiding from him.’

  She jerked her head towards Lyall, still typing traffic data into the computer.

  Clare grinned and tapped on her office door. Tony looked relieved to see her.

  ‘Thank Christ it’s only you. That boy has been driving me mental. This is the last day I spend with him.’

  ‘And he’s here all week,’ Clare said.

  Tony shook his head. ‘Waste of bloody time. Anyway – progress?’

  Clare sat down. ‘Not much, to be honest. Just back from seeing Susan Clancy again.’

  Tony raised an eyebrow.

  ‘She’s the ex-offender who had her baby taken away by social services. She popped up on the pharmacy footage on Sunday. Picking up a prescription – all checked out but we took the chance to show her the CCTV photo of the two burglars.’

  ‘Did she recognise them?’

  ‘No, at least I don’t think so.’

  ‘She holding out on you?’

  ‘I’m not sure. She might be.’

  ‘Okay. What else?’

  ‘Sara was checking up on ex-offenders but I’ve not caught up with her yet. There was one who did time for dodgy images on his phone. He’s out on licence.’

  Tony shook his head. ‘No go. Guys have been to his house and turned it over. No sign of any kids, let alone a baby.’

  Clare sighed. ‘I don’t know whether to be glad or not. Oh, and no doctors or nurses have been struck off in the last six months, or are about to be. Have the guys had any luck following up on calls from the public?’

  Tony rose. ‘They’re probably skiving in the incident room. Let’s see…’

  As they walked through the main office, Tony’s eye fell on Chris and Sara who were deep in conversation. ‘Check Romeo and Juliet,’ he said to Clare, his voice a little too loud.

  Chris’s face darkened but Clare pulled Tony towards the incident room before Chris could reply.

  ‘Cut it out,’ she warned him. ‘We’ve enough on without you provoking one of my officers.’

  ‘But he’s my favourite,’ Tony said. ‘You know that.’

  The heat from the extra computers and the radiator, which seemed to be stuck on High, hit Clare and Tony as they walked in. Someone had pulled back the blinds to open windows but the room was airless. A few heads looked up as they entered, while others carried on taking phone calls. Bill, whose sweaty armpits were even more apparent on the dark red shirt he was wearing, gave Clare a smile.

  ‘Any luck with the miscarriages?’ she asked.

  Bill shook his head. ‘All checked out okay so far.’ He lifted a printout. ‘Only a few more then we’re done.’

  ‘Another dead end,’ Clare said. ‘What about Paul Sinclair? Have they tracked him down?’

  ‘The lad that burgled the pharmacy? No, sorry. No one at his flat. They’re checking known associates but nothing so far.’

  ‘Okay, thanks Bill. Keep me posted.’ She looked round the room and saw Nita, waiting to speak to her. ‘Nita? What have you got?’

  ‘Nothing at all with the Mitchells’ own parent
s. Lisa’s mum’s living through in Paisley with her stepdad. Lisa hasn’t been in touch with her and there’s certainly no sign of a baby there.’

  ‘And Kevin?’

  ‘His mum died five years ago. Dad’s in Aberdeen, out of his head with drink. He can barely look after himself, never mind a baby.’

  ‘Okay, thanks Nita.’ She stared at the whiteboard. One by one their leads were drying up. ‘I’m thinking we need to put the parents on TV, Tony.’

  ‘Yeah, I agree. I’ll get onto the press office.’

  ‘The mother will be a problem, though. She’s drugged up to the eyeballs.’

  ‘That’s okay. Might melt a few hearts. Stick her up there, but let the dad do the talking.’

  Clare checked her watch. ‘Could we get that arranged for tomorrow? I really need to get home. Let the dog out.’

  ‘Aye, go on,’ he said. ‘Plenty of lads out doing house-to-house and the news have stepped up coverage. I’ll set up the press conference for tomorrow, hopefully midday. If that doesn’t bring anything in, then we’ll really start to worry.’

  * * *

  Clare’s hopes of some progress with the central heating at Daisy Cottage were to be dashed again. Another section of the floor had been taken up and a scribbled note said, as far as she could make out, that the existing pipework wasn’t compliant. She surveyed the chaos of her house, with its crumbling plasterwork, single-glazed, draughty windows and now a network of planks across an ever-increasing number of gaps in the floor.

  ‘Remind me why I moved here?’ she asked Benjy, who simply wagged his tail in response.

  Her phone began to ring. She swiped to take the call. ‘Hi, Geoff.’

  ‘You sound tired,’ he said. ‘I’m guessing the missing baby’s taking it out of you.’

  ‘Just a bit.’

  ‘Still okay for dinner tomorrow night?’

  Clare sat down on an easy chair and kicked off her shoes. God, her feet hurt. She flexed them back and forward. ‘I’m not sure. We’re putting the parents on show tomorrow and that usually generates a hell of a lot of calls. It could be a late one. I can’t really justify taking time off with a missing baby.’

  ‘Oh, but they’re all dying to meet you,’ he said. ‘Nicola phoned today to ask if you had any dislikes or allergies.’