Nas sat in the chair facing the door, then changed her mind, standing up and dragging another so that she could sit with her back to the door, facing two empty chairs, the windows behind them. Freddie thought she wasn’t going to answer, then something akin to grief quivered across her face. This one had hurt.
‘Two boys had a set-up going where they’d sell drugs – hash mostly – to other kids. Then when they’d pocketed the money, they’d pull a knife on the other kid and steal the drugs back. Small time, but they probably would have built on it.’
Would have? Freddie had a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.
‘The girlfriend of one of the boys had set up a mark. Unfortunately the mark was also carrying a knife. There was a struggle, and the buyer, the one who’d come for the hash, was stabbed. He was seventeen.’ Her eyes were distant. Was she reliving it? Did Nas have nightmares?
‘Did he make it?’
‘He bled out. By the time the paramedics arrived it was too late. The two lads did a runner, but the girlfriend didn’t do a bunk with her boyfriend. She cradled the dying lad in her arms. Afterwards she said she couldn’t leave him on his own, even though she knew she’d be in trouble.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘She knew what they were up to. She knew they would rob him, and that they were carrying knives. Under the joint enterprise law, a person may be found guilty for another person’s crime if the suspect knowingly assisted in it.’
‘But she stayed with a dying boy – that must count for something?’
‘The law is the law.’
‘But that’s not right.’
‘It’s not our job to prosecute and sentence people. We gather the evidence; we charge them.’
‘And you’re okay with that?’ Freddie believed in justice for victims, but how could Nas think that was a fair outcome? What did she think should happen to the person who’d kidnapped Lottie? Did she even care?
‘She was fifteen. And pregnant.’
Freddie started at a knock at the door. Ms Bradshaw poked her head round. ‘Okay if we come in?’
Nas banished the detached look from her face, replacing it with a warm smile. ‘Of course.’
Behind Caroline were two girls in navy blazers, pleated navy skirts and opaque tights. Freddie immediately recognised Melisha Khan from her Facebook profile photo. Youth clung to her full cheeks, highlighted rather than hidden by the carefully contoured make-up she wore.
‘Nasreen, this is Melisha and Ruby,’ Caroline said.
Melisha nodded. ‘Hello,’ the girl behind her said. Ruby Dawson had long hair like her friend, but where Melisha’s was jet black, Ruby’s was bleached blonde, and worked into curls. She was wearing less make-up, only mascara framing her green-blue eyes. She reminded Freddie of a mermaid.
‘Nice to meet you. Do sit down.’ Nas indicated the two chairs that faced into the room and Freddie realised what she’d done: the girls wouldn’t be able to see Ms Bradshaw, or the window, without twisting backwards. They only had one place they could look: straight at Sergeant Cudmore.
Seconds ago Nas had been talking about a dying seventeen year old and a pregnant girl who’d been convicted for a crime she didn’t commit. Minutes ago they’d received a shocking warning from the kidnapper. Yet Nas was smiling at the young girls as though everything was fine. Freddie couldn’t do it. The hairs rose on the back of her neck. Sitting in this calm room, in a sheltered provincial school, Freddie was scared. The first Snap from Lottie had been a grenade. This second photo a pulled pin. She’d been here before. Who would get destroyed in the explosion?
Chapter 14
Wednesday 16 March
14:00
T – 19 hrs 30 mins
‘Thank you for coming to see me today,’ Nas smiled. The girls moved in unison, unconsciously mirroring each other. Freddie recognised the intensity of teen friendships. Ruby was hugging her large purple leather satchel. Now Melisha was closer, Freddie could see that her eyes were rimmed red. She’d been crying recently. And not sleeping.
‘I’m sorry for what happened to Chloe.’ Nas deliberately avoided the word suicide. ‘I understand you were close?’
‘We were best friends,’ Melisha said. Ruby nodded, still staring down at the carpet tiles.
‘You must miss her very much.’
Ruby’s lip trembled. Melisha’s eyes dropped to the floor too. ‘Yeah.’
‘I understand Chloe told her parents she was staying at yours on Friday the eleventh of March, Melisha?’ Nas said gently.
‘She never told me.’ Melisha’s sentences carried the silent but implied teenage duh! This girl didn’t see them as equals. Ms Bradshaw: the teacher. Nas: the cop. Adults. Melisha and Ruby were in a different generation. She felt old.
‘I wondered if you could help me put together a better picture of what Chloe was like before she died. What kind of person was she?’
Ruby’s face lit up. ‘She was brilliant. Like not just at school, and sports and all that, but, like everything she did, you know?’
Nas nodded. ‘What kind of things – I mean apart from school?’
‘She had this summer job last year, in the Pepper Pot – the tearoom near the abbey. She started as a waitress, but she was so good at it, talking to all the old ladies that went there and stuff.’ Freddie guessed Ruby was the quietest of the three under usual circumstances. Shy. ‘She persuaded the manager to let her start making and selling gluten-free cakes. Then everyone started going there and wanting to eat these cakes – it’s better, like for your weight and stuff.’ Neither Ruby nor Melisha needed to worry about their figures. ‘The cakes were so good the manager promoted Chloe. Gave her a job at weekends when school started up again.’
Melisha shot a glance at Ruby, whose face dipped suddenly behind her hair again.
Nas caught it but didn’t react. ‘And was Chloe still working at the Pepper Pot recently?’
‘No.’ Melisha shook her head.
‘That’s a shame. Why was that?’ Nas asked.
‘I dunno. Got bored, I guess,’ Melisha said.
‘She quit a job she loved?’
‘She didn’t really talk about it,’ Melisha said.
The two girls were sitting so close they were almost touching. They had that tactile ease many teen girls have with each other. They also had that ability to communicate with just a look – she’d seen it pass between them. They knew something else about why Chloe left her job, but they weren’t saying anything.
‘Did Chloe have friends from the cafe?’ Nas pushed.
‘Don’t think so,’ Melisha said.
‘What about anyone else outside school – any friends, boyfriends from anywhere else?’
‘Don’t think so.’ Melisha was doing a fine impression of a stereotypical monotone teen.
‘What about you, Ruby, did you know of anyone outside of school that Chloe was friends with?’ Nas’s tone was upbeat, friendly. Ruby shook her head. ‘No one new in her life?’
Melisha shrugged.
‘And would she have said? Did she tell you her secrets?’
Ruby’s face snapped up. ‘We didn’t have secrets. We were best friends.’ Her voice wavered on the last words. Melisha put an arm round her and hugged her friend. Freddie remembered putting an arm round Nas when they were at school, comforting her over some slight. Though their friend, their third wheel, hadn’t died. Just.
‘Did Chloe ever take drugs?’ Nas asked.
Caroline shifted so she wasn’t leaning against the glass anymore. ‘We don’t have a drugs problem at this school, Sergeant.’
Melisha twisted to look over her shoulder at the teacher.
‘Chloe would never do that – she didn’t even like taking paracetamol.’ Ruby’s face was panicked. ‘It made her gag. Tell them about her – you know,’ she whispered at Melisha, her eyes dropping down to the floor again.
‘She got stomach cramps,’ Melisha said. ‘And she really struggled to swallow tablets. Lik
e it almost made her vom.’
‘We used to get her a Maccy D’s milkshake – try with that.’ A wistful look took over Ruby’s face.
‘Did anyone Chloe knew take drugs?’ Nas said. ‘A boyfriend perhaps?’
‘She didn’t have a boyfriend,’ Melisha answered too fast.
‘Oh,’ Nas said lightly. ‘I thought she was going out with William Taylor?’
‘That was a mistake.’ Melisha developed two pink spots on her cheeks.
Ruby’s fingers tightened around her bag. ‘It was nothing. You wouldn’t call them boyfriend and girlfriend.’
Nas puckered her face in an act of confusion. ‘I’m sure someone mentioned in the report – to my colleagues – that Chloe and William were dating? So he wasn’t her boyfriend?’
‘He wished!’ Melisha’s pink spots radiated.
Nas lowered her voice and leant forward, as if she were telling a friend they had spinach in their teeth. ‘Melisha, why did you say Chloe’s death was William Taylor’s fault on his Facebook page?’
Ruby flinched and Melisha’s mouth clamped shut. Her lips pursed into a sulk. She folded her arms and slumped back in the chair, staring at Nas. Nas waited. Freddie felt the urge to fill the silence, to say something. Anything. Nas was trying to draw it out of them. Ruby moved, her mouth open. Melisha put a hand on her knee – a warning? Ruby gave an involuntary shudder, and Freddie saw that she was crying, mascara snaking down her face in black streaks.
‘I want to help,’ Nas said softly. ‘I need to know the truth about Chloe. To build a picture of what she was really like. Any detail you have could be important, though it might not seem it.’
A sob juddered out of Ruby.
‘I think that’s enough, Sergeant,’ Caroline said. ‘The girls are clearly distressed.’ She passed a tissue to Ruby, who took it and blew her nose.
Nas took cards from her pocket and placed one on the table in front of each of the girls. ‘If you ever want to talk to me, about anything, you can contact me here.’
‘I think we better get you girls some fresh air. Come on.’ Caroline’s voice was cool. She turned and looked at Nas. ‘Please do not speak to William until I’m back.’
Ruby’s eyes went very wide, twisting to see Nas over her shoulder.
As soon as the door closed Freddie hissed, ‘When she said you were talking to William, Ruby looked petrified.’
‘Why deny William was Chloe’s boyfriend? It makes no sense. Her parents are on record saying they’d recently split up.’
‘Because they’re teenagers?’
‘Perhaps.’ Nas chewed on the inside of her cheek.
The door opened and Caroline Bradshaw came back in quickly. ‘Those young girls have been through a very traumatic experience, Sergeant. They’re still in shock. You said this was just a few background questions?’
‘We were led to believe, by Chloe’s parents, by you, that Chloe and William had been in a relationship together.’ Nas’s voice was unwavering.
‘These children are my responsibility and I will not have them upset.’ Ms Bradshaw, perhaps used to dealing with difficult teens, was holding her own. ‘I think it’s time we put a stop to this. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get complaints from the girls’ parents.’
You have twenty hours to save luscious Lottie. ‘But they were lying!’ The words flew out of Freddie’s mouth. If she just knew what was at stake.
‘I will be sensitive with William, but we do need to talk to him,’ Nas said.
‘No, you don’t.’ Ms Bradshaw’s arms were crossed. Defiant.
She couldn’t let this woman stand in their way. Melisha had felt sure enough to accuse William Taylor of killing Chloe in public. What if he was wrapped up in Lottie’s disappearance too? They couldn’t drop this now. ‘This is important,’ Freddie said. ‘Life or death!’
Ms Bradshaw looked at her incredulously. ‘What are you talking about?’
Nas glowered at Freddie, and stepped towards the teacher, her palms open in supplication. ‘Ms Bradshaw, another girl has sent a suicide note. Similar to Chloe’s. But this time it looks like it might have come from someone else.’
‘What do you mean?’ Ms Bradshaw asked.
‘There is the possibility that the girl has been taken. That the note was sent against her will.’
‘Oh my god!’ Ms Bradshaw’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Do you think that’s what happened with Chloe?’
‘This information is not in the public domain, and we ask that you keep it that way,’ Nas replied. ‘I need to speak to Chloe’s friends to try and find out if there was anyone worrying in her life. I would very much like to speak to William, please, Caroline.’
Caroline nodded, her face the same shade as the walls. ‘Okay.’ There was a knock at the door. The teacher composed herself, before opening it with a smile on her face and only the faintest wobble in her voice. ‘William. Come in.’
Chapter 15
Wednesday 16 March
14:31
T – 18 hrs 59 mins
William Taylor was instantly recognisable from the profile picture Freddie had shown her. But unlike the bold teen making an LA gangland sign at the camera, this kid looked shrunken, pale under his naturally tanned skin. He had a battered Jack Wills rucksack slung over one shoulder, a play at nonchalant, which was undermined by his eyes hurtling rapidly between her, Freddie and Ms Bradshaw. Melisha had been petulant, but Ruby was a people pleaser – smiling at her and the teacher on the way in. With a bit more time Nasreen might have got her to talk. Though time wasn’t on their side. There were eleven missed calls on her phone. The voicemail notification flashed a livid spot on her screen. How many of those were from Saunders? Had Chips given her up when the photo came in? Time was slipping like silk through her fingers. There was something here, something the girls were trying to hide from them. If she could just find out what before she was recalled, before she had to face Saunders. Whatever it was the girls didn’t want them to know had something to do with William. They’d become defensive as soon as his name was mentioned.
She indicated for the lad to take a seat and laid her warrant card on the table between them, watching his gaze fix on it. His chest was heaving under his white school shirt, the sleeves rolled up, blazer shoved in his bag in what she guessed passed as a rebellious disregard for uniform in this school. He’d closed one strong hand over the fist of the other, but it wasn’t an aggressive stance, more as if he were trying to fold in on himself, fingers first.
‘Thanks for coming to talk to me.’
William was still staring at her ID, his knuckles stretched white with tension.
‘Nice watch.’ She pointed at the expensive designer piece on his wrist.
He covered it with one hand, as though she’d accused him of stealing it. ‘Birthday present.’
He’d never come in contact with the police before. Green had done a PNC check on all three kids. ‘Shall I call you William, or do you prefer Will?’
‘Either.’ He cleared his throat. His blond wavy hair was long, brushing his ears, like Harry Styles’. They would have looked a picture perfect pair, him and Chloe.
‘I’ll call you William, then.’ It said Will on his Facebook page. She didn’t want him to feel comfortable, she wanted him on edge. ‘I asked you here today, William, to see if you can help me with some questions about Chloe Strofton.’ His forearms pulsed. ‘I also spoke to Melisha Khan.’
His head jerked up. ‘What’d she say?’ His Adam’s apple bobbed.
‘Quite a lot.’ She let her hand rest on the table, next to her warrant card.
William ran his hand through his hair. Fidgeted. He was rattled.
‘She had a …’ Nasreen paused, watching as his eyes grew wider. ‘Lot of interesting things to say.’ His eyes were wide, panic danced across his eyebrows.
‘I didn’t do it!’ he said.
Ms Bradshaw made a small noise, but Nasreen didn’t let her gaze drop from the lad. ‘Didn’t do wha
t, William?’
‘The pictures. I’ve told her. Melisha. But she just won’t believe me.’ He looked at Ms Bradshaw, as if asking for her help. All credit to her, she didn’t move, but Nasreen saw her hand brace against the window behind.
‘What pictures, William?’
He looked back at her. ‘The ones online. The naked ones. I swear – it wasn’t me!’
Ms Bradshaw took a sharp intake of breath. Nasreen saw Freddie’s mouth fall open. Naked photos? ‘Tell me about the pictures.’ She leant back as if she already knew what he was going to say; gave him space to talk.
‘It wasn’t me. I never sent them. I never even seen them till one of the lads on the rugby team showed me.’ His words spilled over themselves, as if he’d been trying to hold them in. ‘It was fucked up. Sorry, Miss,’ he said in the direction of the teacher. ‘Shouldn’t I have a lawyer or something?’ All the sheen of impending adulthood washed away, he looked like a little boy.
‘This isn’t a formal interview, William. I’m just trying to find out what happened to Chloe in the weeks leading up to her death.’ He nodded, relieved. This had clearly been a burden for him. If there were naked photos being shown round of the fifteen-year-old girl then no wonder Chloe had been distressed – why hadn’t the local force picked up on this? ‘Do you know who your friend – the one on the rugby team – got the photo from?’ They’d have to turn this over to the CEOP. Taking, possessing, and sharing indecent images of anyone under the age of eighteen was illegal.
‘I tried to delete it – took his phone off him. But there were more of them.’
‘More than one photo of Chloe?’
‘Yeah. Loads. And the whole team had them. They were all online. I tried to speak to Chloe. Like she was making herself look easy taking pics like that.’ Nasreen heard Freddie blow air through her teeth. William was still going. ‘But she went crazy. Screamed at me. She thought I took them. But I never. I mean, me and Chloe, we didn’t even have sex. I didn’t think she was that kind of girl.’
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