by Linda Coles
“Hi, Chloe. Had a rough day, eh? I see you’ve met Jack, the friendly detective.”
“Yes, I have. To both.”
Jack and Billy exchanged a look in the rear-view mirror as if to say “Oooh, touchy,” and smiled knowingly. They knew Chloe would come around later when she’d calmed down and stopped feeling so sorry for herself.
“I’m only giving you two kids a lift home before it gets much later. Thought you could do with a long chat together, or else I’m going to be in the poo if Chloe ends up back at a police station. Plus, it’s cold as all hell now.”
“We appreciate it, Jack. Thanks. Don’t we Chloe?” Billy prodded her.
Chloe offered a begrudging “Yes, thanks.” It was clearly going to take a while for her to thaw out and relax before their talk could begin. Jack turned up Pitt Street.
“What number?”
“Here’s fine, thanks,” said Billy, and Jack got the hint. No matter. He could find out which garage if he needed to. He could only see half a dozen in total. He pulled over and let them both out.
“Now remember, as much as I’d like to see you both again, let’s not meet at a police station, eh?”
Billy saluted and Chloe kept her head hung low, and again Jack wondered what the girl was hiding. He watched them for a moment as they made their way down the pavement before he turned and headed back towards the station. At least he had a warm house to go home to later, and more than likely Janine would have cooked something hot to tuck into. He hoped it was a turkey supreme or a curry, and he hoped for a quiet night. After missing most of Christmas Day, he could do with a break, a quiet night in with Janine and whatever was on the TV. Perhaps they could watch the recording of Morecambe and Wise, and make a start on that box of Quality Street – yes, this sounded good. He was almost back at the station when his phone rang again.
“Oh, what now?” Scrambling before it rang off, he retrieved the phone from his inside pocket. “DC Jack Rutherford.” He pulled into the curb.
“Jack, it’s DS Julie Ford, Horsham, Sussex Police. Sorry to bother you on Boxing Day but thought you’d like to know.”
“No problem. I appear to be working anyway.” Jack could see his evening about to slip away into the distance like a twig on the surface of a river. “What do you have?”
“A young girl was found today by dog walkers, half buried in leaves and whatnot and barely alive. She’s in the hospital here in Horsham, but she matches your description of a missing girl. Lesley Raby, possibly? She’s heavily sedated but we could do with someone to tell us if it’s her first off, then we can notify her parents. I’d hate to get their hopes up and drag them out here if it’s not her. I’ll fax you a photo over.”
“How badly hurt is she?” Jack asked, with his eyes firmly shut in an effort to keep the barrage of horrible images out of his head.
“She’s suffering from hyperthermia; there’s evidence of sexual abuse and she’s pretty banged up. The doctors say they’re hopeful she’ll come round and make a full recovery, but they’re keeping her sedated for now. She needs rest.”
“Well, that’s a good thing then. Poor kid. Fax it over. I’m nearly at the station now so I’ll call you straight back.”
In his heart, he already knew it was Lesley, and while it was a good thing she was alive, having seen little Kate and Leanne, he knew it would be a long journey to recovery for Lesley too.
Now all he had to do was figure out exactly what had happened and find the animals responsible before anyone else got hurt.
Chapter Sixty
With both Kate and Lesley now reunited with their parents and being cared for in hospital, things were looking up. Kate was still unable to talk about what had happened. The trauma of it all was too much for her to cope with, and a team of professionals were on standby to aid her recovery. It was going to be a long journey for her and her parents.
Lesley was also extremely lucky to be alive. By the time the dog walkers had found her and called the ambulance, it was estimated she’d only had a matter of hours left before her body would have finally given out. Luck had been on her side but, like Kate, she was unable to speak and give the police any information whatsoever. While it was frustrating that the culprits were still out there, more than likely getting out of town, there was nothing much the police could do. They really had nothing to go on.
Jack fixed himself another mug of coffee and headed to his desk. Surely SOCO had something by now from the burned-out building, something they could use. He dialled and waited. When he finally got through, there wasn’t too much to tell.
“It’s a bit early yet, Jack,” Janice Coop told him. He’d met her at the burned-out house that night though he hadn’t been able to talk with her for long; the call about Kate had come through. “As you can imagine, the fire being extinguished compromised the scene, as always happens with fires. It can’t be helped. But we did manage to get some items of interest. We’re waiting for results on them.”
“Anything you can tell me you’re working on?”
“Two main things – prints and DNA. I reckon we’ll be extremely lucky to find any of either with the amount of soot and water and ash. But we did find what looks like a piece of gum. Now while I don’t expect any usable DNA to be left on it now, there is an interesting imprint on the surface. Can’t say much more except it will be processed soon and I’ll let you know. The condoms we found in the bins outside again should tell us something. There were also a couple caught in the toilet drain, but I’m not optimistic that we’ll get anything useful from them. They may have been flushed clean over time. We’ll see, though.”
“And the body. What does the pathologist say? Have you heard?”
“No, you’d need to speak to her on that.”
“Right. Yes, of course. Keep me posted, won’t you? Those three girls need some good news.”
“Will do. And Jack?”
“Yes?”
“Get the animals that did this, won’t you? My niece is the same age as little Kate and I couldn’t repeat what I’d do to those men if it was her in a hospital bed.”
“Oh, I intend to, Janice. You mark my words.”
Eddie approached his desk as he was hanging up. Jack figured he must have had a guilty conscience and decided to check in and do some work. He’d probably heard down the pub that Jack had missed most of his own Christmas. The smell of stale whiskey wafted into his airspace, and Jack held his breath for a moment. Eddie slapped his back like an old chum, or someone pretending to be one.
“What about the starting line-up for Chelsea then, Jack? Not a single British player amongst them in a Premier League side. What is the world coming to? Wish I’d been at The Dell to see it.”
“I’ve not been to a game in a long while. Don’t seem to get the time,” Jack said pointedly. “I always enjoyed a bag of chips afterwards. Used to go with my dad. He was a Red Devils fan, and Manchester isn’t exactly local. I hear it worked out for Chelsea, though. Maybe they could spread some luck on our case.”
“Well, I’ve just heard back about the body in the burned-out house. Seems it is a male, and by the age and height, it could be our Martin Coffey, though we’re still waiting for confirmation from the pathologist. Bloke was almost burned to a crisp. Did you see it?”
Biting back his distaste, Jack ignored the question. “Well, if it is him, that’s both good and bad. It leaves us sod-all now if he’s gone. All we had on him was a van, and the traffic cops let that drive off with two blokes in it. Numpty lot. Probably wanted their Christmas pies at the end of their shift and couldn’t be arsed doing anything useful about it.”
“That may be so. The van was empty. But it’s not over yet. There’s no fat lady singing in my ears.” Eddie was doing his best to sound positive, because it was obvious Jack wasn’t.
“No. I suppose not.”
“Well, then. That van might still be out there. All three girls are back to safety, albeit in hospital. Our wanted man is possibly dead, and
we know there were two men in that van when it was pulled over. But we should get some DNA evidence from the house, so even if we get a match there, we have someone to talk to. So there’s still plenty to go on, Jack. Plenty.” He slapped Jack’s back again making him lurch forward slightly.
“Now why don’t you go round to Leanne’s house and see if she’s up for a few more questions? Something may have jogged her memory since you saw her yesterday. Then go home, get some rest. You look like you need it. Tomorrow, we’ll both go over and see Lesley in the hospital. She may be awake and talking.”
While Jack hoped so, he didn’t fancy their chances. And he certainly didn’t fancy taking Eddie with him. The man was like a bull in a china shop.
Chapter Sixty-One
It was almost dark when he pulled up outside the Meadows’ place on Cedar Road. A creamy glow emanated through the net curtains from a lamp in the front room. Jack glanced up at the upstairs window above it and noted it was in darkness. But that wasn’t unusual in this style of house. It was more than likely the parents’ room; the children’s rooms were usually at the back of the house. He wondered if Leanne was awake and ready to chat some more, preferably without either Mr or Mrs present. If something had gone on in that house that Leanne didn’t want them to know about, she certainly wouldn’t say so in front of them. Right now, Jack needed every morsel of information there was to have. He was about to push the buzzer when the door opened. Someone must have seen him arrive.
“Hello, Detective,” Penny Meadows said politely. She sounded a good deal cheerier than the last time he’d seen her. “Come on in.”
“It’s good to see you looking happier,” he commented as he stepped into the hallway.
“It’s so good to have my baby back home. I can’t thank you enough, Jack.”
“Well, I’m glad she’s back and in one piece. It’s what we always hope will happen. And the best Christmas present for you all, being back together. How’s she doing?”
“Really good. No real injuries, thank goodness, but some emotional scars to contend with, I expect. But one day at a time. She’ll be back on her cycle before we know it. Would you like to pop up and see her?”
“If I may, thanks. You may have heard we have the other two girls from the house. They weren’t quite as lucky as Leanne, but they’re recovering well in hospital.”
“Well, that’s good news, then. I’m glad their parents have them back with them. These last few days have been the hardest days of my life. I wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemy, I can tell you. But you didn’t come to listen to me prattling on. Go on up. She’s awake. First door on the right at the top.” And with a flick of her hand, she encouraged him towards the staircase while she made her own way back towards the kitchen.
Jack detected the warm, comforting smell of something sweet baking in the oven, a cake maybe. He could hear the low murmur of a TV as he approached Leanne’s room at the back. The door was partly open, and a pink china nameplate was stuck to the outside of it; it read ‘Leanne’s Room.’ He knocked lightly on the frame so as not to make her jump and smiled her way. She was sat up in bed, her blond hair looking darker as it fell around her shoulders. She looked somewhat different from the photo they’d pinned up on the board back at the squad room.
“Hello, Detective.” She managed a smile. “Come on in.” The room was pink, but not chintzy. At fifteen, she’d gone for a more modern twist on her room décor; miniature bicycles were dotted here and there on various surfaces, as well as paraphernalia from famous cycle races gone by. There was a pink cycling jersey in a frame hung on the wall, and Jack ventured closer for a better look. It was signed with a black squiggle from a marker pen.
“It’s the Giro d’Italia shirt, signed by Gotti himself after winning the 1997 Tour, though it’s only a replica. I won it at an event last year,” Leanne offered.
Jack searched for something light-hearted to say in return, keep her chatting. “Gotti, eh? He doesn’t sound like he’s from around these parts – south London, I mean. Where’s he from, then? Up north?”
She laughed at his naivety. “He’s Italian, actually. Won it a couple of times. But you’re right to an extent. He’s from up north, but the north of Italy, not the UK.”
This seemed to brighten her up, anyway; she was clearly happy to talk cycling with anyone who took an interest.
“Will you compete in the Tour one day?” he enquired, glancing at the framed photos of Leanne on her bike. In some, she wore medals around her neck.
“Doubt it. You have to be male, for starters, and a pro rider, so I’m out on both fronts. And I suspect you didn’t want to look at my room, Detective. What do you want to ask me about?”
Jack grinned at her, “Well, if you don’t make it as a pro cyclist, perhaps think of becoming a detective eh?” He pulled up a chair that was by her bed and sat down. “First, I wanted to check how you are doing, and I see you’re well on the mend, sharp as a paper cutter, in fact. And second, the mind is a funny thing, and I wanted to give you the opportunity to tell me if anything else has surfaced about your ordeal since we last spoke. A smell perhaps, or the faint sound of something – anything at all. Anything.”
He let the silence stretch for a minute without filling it himself, hoping she was regurgitating something from her own files in the back of her head. This tactic usually worked, and he waited patiently for her to speak. He tried not to look at her too intently while her brain was hard at work; instead, he returned his attention to some of the photos dotted about her room. In them, her summer tan, natural smile and almost golden hair made her look like a young actress from the seventies. The Americans would have called her an ‘all-American girl.’
“Have you found the others yet? Lesley and Kate?” she asked instead.
“We have, yes. They are both in hospital, though they will need a little more recovery before they will be allowed home yet. But they are safe now, in good hands.”
Leanne nodded her approval. “I’m glad. Poor things. Were they found nearby where I was, or at the house?”
“Neither, actually. But I can’t tell you much more than that for the time being.”
“And what about the third one, the young woman? The woman that gave me the spoon? Have you found her yet?”
Jack blinked. With everything that had happened in the last 48 hours, he’d not given the woman another thought since Leanne had mentioned her back in the hospital. How the hell had that happened? “We haven’t found her as yet, no. Can you tell me about her again? There may be something new you remember.”
“There’s very little to tell, but I’ll try.”
Obligingly, Leanne went through all she knew about the other young woman, Jack making notes as she spoke. By the time they’d finished and he looked up from his pad, Leanne looked like she’d gone backwards a little; the memory of her ordeal was clearly a little too painful for her to relive yet again. Her head was bowed and she seemed to be struggling not to cry. He turned to see Penny Meadows watching at the door.
“I think it’s time for you to go, Detective.” Her voice had lost its friendly tone. He nodded; there was no point asking Leanne anything further. He stood and said his thanks and goodbyes, and wished Leanne a speedy recovery. He was halfway down the stairs when he saw Dave Meadows at the bottom, about to climb them himself. He let Jack descend and said hello as he arrived at the bottom. He was chewing something, wincing slightly as his jaws moved.
“Tooth still bugging you, Mr Meadows?” Jack asked brightly.
“I really should go back to the dentist and get it re-filled. Hurts like hell.”
“They should all be back to work now Christmas is over. I’ll see myself out,” he called as he vanished through the front door.
Back in the peacefulness of his car, he sat there thinking about the third missing girl and recalling Leanne’s face as she spoke. It reminded him of something. Or someone.
Where had he seen that look before, he wondered?
; Chapter Sixty-Two
Eddie was back at the helm again, and much of the team had returned from holidays. This was a welcome change from the smattering of resources over recent days. Jack was glad things were returning back to normal. He felt like he’d been running the show on his own. When he’d grumbled about it to Janine, she’d told him it was because he had been, then pecked him on his cheek as a sign to get out the door and solve the damn case.
While Eddie made a start now, Jack smiled to himself about his wife. Not many coppers had a marriage as good as his, a woman as understanding as his. It made all the difference. He scanned the faces around the room, watching their body language, their facial expressions, their interest, and was glad to see the focus they showed after the brief holiday break – a break Jack was still to get in. Movement in the corner of his eye made him turn his head. DI Morton entered the room behind him and stood with his arms crossed.
“And of course,” said Eddie, “we believe there is still one girl, said to be around eighteen years old, out there somewhere. From how Lesley and Kate were found, she is more than likely bound, gagged and with a pillowcase or similar over her head.” He pointed to the map, which was dotted with red pins. “These pins indicate where the three girls we’ve found so far were located. As you can see, they were all not far from the M25 in an area that stretches east and west of it.” He pointed to the house’s location. “If Leanne was found here after escaping on foot, and the house was here, and the other two were here and here, it seems reasonable to assume the other girl will also likely be around here.” He was pointing to a wide area southwest of London. “And since the van we’d been looking for was stopped here,” pointing to a blue pin at Cobham, “we again can assume she could be around this area here.”
While it was still a huge area, at least it had been narrowed down by the position of the empty van. “I know,” he went on, “that she could be anywhere, and since nobody has reported seeing her, that’s not good. It’s been as cold as hell. We were lucky to find Lesley alive, so let’s pull out all the stops and bring this girl home too.