‘She was excited. She asked whether I could get a ticket for her friend Georgie too, and that she’d get Georgie to pay me back. I said that was fine, and she could give the money to Daisy to pass on.’
‘And Daisy didn’t say she was unhappy about anything? Or give you reason to believe she was upset?’
‘No. She was her usual self. In fact, she was even more excited than usual because of the birthday present. That’s what I’m telling you: there’s no way she would have run away.’
‘Did she hint that anything might be wrong between her and her boyfriend Alfie?’
He paused and watched her. ‘No. Why? What’s he got to do with this?’
‘Nothing, we don’t think. But a witness in a café said she saw them arguing on the afternoon she disappeared. We’re trying to determine what the argument was about, but Alfie’s not saying.’
The anger boiled in his eyes. ‘You think he hurt my sister?’
Kate widened her own eyes. ‘No. But we want to establish whether the argument could be a contributing factor to her running away. I take it you’re not Alfie’s biggest fan?’
He snorted. ‘She could do so much better than that lowlife.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘It’s not right, is it? An eighteen year old dating a fifteen year old. He’s got no prospects, and he’s just going to end up holding her back. She’d be better off getting rid and concentrating on her studies. She has her GCSEs to sit in a couple of months.’
Kate was relieved he’d stopped referring to his sister in the past tense, though she wasn’t sure how long the resolve would hold out. ‘Was Daisy sleeping with Alfie?’
The question was raised innocently, but it pushed Richard over the edge. ‘I told you: she was a good girl. She wasn’t stupid enough to sleep with him. Wait, do you know something I don’t? Was he forcing her to have sex?’
Kate quickly backtracked. ‘No. There’s nothing to suggest—’
‘That’s rape, though, isn’t it? If he pressured her to have sex, as a minor, that’s rape. Why haven’t you arrested him?’
‘Calm down, Richard. I was merely asking. We haven’t been told that your sister is sexually active, I just thought she might have confided in you, her big brother.’
‘If he laid a hand on her, I’ll—’
Kate raised both palms in a calming gesture. ‘Whoa there, I don’t want you going anywhere near Alfie Caplan. The last thing your parents need is you getting yourself into trouble with the police. Let us handle the investigation.’ She pushed the spare mug of coffee towards him. ‘Have a drink and calm down.’
But he wasn’t listening, brushing the mug away with the back of his hand, so it hurtled into the wall where it smashed in an explosion of light brown liquid. ‘Why haven’t you lot done one of those Crimewatch reconstructions yet? You want to appeal for witnesses? Then get my sister’s story on the television.’
Kate looked at the mess on the wall, and took a deep breath. ‘We’re considering all of our options.’
Richard stood, sending his chair crashing into the wall behind him. ‘If you lot won’t do what is necessary, I’ll do it myself.’
Kate was on her feet in a second, her voice loud and firm. ‘I understand you’re worried, but if you do something that interferes with this investigation, I won’t hesitate to arrest you. Am I making myself clear? Leave this to the professionals, and we will find out what has happened to Daisy.’ She exhaled, lowering her voice. ‘Would you like me to arrange for someone to give you a lift home?’
He moved away, yanking open the door. ‘I can look after myself.’
Kate hurried after him, but he wasn’t willing to speak to her, banging the door impatiently until the desk constable buzzed him out. Kate watched as Richard slipped out of the station and down the stairs, fearing this wouldn’t be the last she would hear from him.
21
‘You wanted to see me?’ Kate asked, poking her head around the lab door.
‘Come in, come in,’ Ben ushered, lowering his face mask.
‘Do you need me to change?’ Kate asked, pointing at her unprotected clothing.
‘No, the foot is away.’
Kate continued further into the laboratory. ‘What is it about?’
‘Xander Garcia phoned me back after his conference, and we think we may have something else to help you.’
Kate looked casually around the room for a computer screen. ‘Is he…?’
‘No, no.’ He looked at his watch. ‘He’ll probably be fast asleep as we speak. No, it’s just me here.’
‘Okay, so what have you got for me?’
‘Based on the tests Xander proposed, I estimate the victim was aged in her early to mid-twenties, but I now believe the blistering I mentioned to you yesterday wasn’t caused by sudden sporting activity, instead an extended period on her feet in uncomfortable shoes.’
Kate considered the statement. ‘There’s evidence to suggest she may have been a prostitute. That tattoo scarring you found links to a crew operating out of St Mary’s. I take it you haven’t found our killer’s DNA or can give me any clue what he might have done with the rest of the victim’s body?’
He shook his head sadly. ‘Sorry.’
Kate dangled her notebook. ‘Not to worry, I’m sure this will help. Thanks, Ben.’
*
Kate returned to the incident room and was writing Ben’s findings on the board when DC Freeborn hurried into the office.
‘Ma’am? Can I have a word?’ he asked.
Kate returned the lid to the pen and followed him down to the viewing suite, where he was inserting a DVD into the machine. Four security feeds appeared in each corner of the screen, showing different angles of the parcel delivery depot. ‘You found who left the heart?’ she said, the excitement rising in her voice.
‘Not exactly.’ He paused the playback, and offered her a sheet of paper. ‘This is a print out from their system showing the name and address details provided by the person who deposited the box, however, as you’ll see, he’s given what I can only presume are fake credentials.’
Kate read the page. ‘Joe Bloggs. Is this a joke?’
Freeborn shook his head. ‘Apparently, they don’t ask to see identification for deposits, only collections. I asked the guy on the counter if he remembered who left this particular box, but he said he sees hundreds of faces every day and hundreds of boxes so has no memory of who left it.’
‘And this address?’
‘Is just around the corner from the depot, so I decided to stop by there on my way back: it’s a library. Best guess is the killer walked past the library on his way into the depot and clocked the address. Their computer system searches for addresses from postcodes, and the customer is then asked to confirm which number. It wouldn’t be too difficult to find the library’s postcode online.’
‘Didn’t they question it when he gave them the library’s address?’
He shook his head. ‘The guy I spoke to said as long as the computer doesn’t flag the address as incorrect, they don’t ask any further questions.’
Kate’s frustration was growing. ‘They didn’t mind you taking their security footage with you?’
‘They ran me off a copy,’ he said, starting the player again. ‘Not that it’s going to be any use. Here we have the view of four of the firm’s cameras. They have twelve in total around the site, the majority of which are out the back watching their employees, rather than the desk. Apparently, they had a spate of thefts last year and so they set up the additional cameras to catch the employee responsible. They got him in the end, but the site manager is still paranoid about someone else repeating the offence. So, anyway, the twelve cameras go to one box in his office, but are on a loop.’ The four images on the screen changed to four new locations. ‘Each rotation lasts approximately thirty seconds, before switching.’ He paused the playback. ‘Note the timestamp in the bottom corner. According to the print out, our perpetrator deposited t
he parcel at 11:01 yesterday morning. The image in the top left corner is the main door to the collections office, and the one next to it is the counter.’
He started the playback, Kate’s eyes darting from the timestamp to the two images at the top of the screen. Just as the clock changed to 11:01, she saw the door to the room opening, but in that moment, four new images appeared on screen.
‘The rotation of camera views occurs at zero, thirty, and sixty seconds into the minute.’ He skipped the playback through the next rotation, slowing it as the clock turned to 11:02.
Kate stared at the two top images as they changed back to the front door and desk. ‘Wait, where is he? The room is empty.’
Freeborn pointed at the bottom left image. ‘You can just see the guy on the counter carrying the box out back. He’s gone.’
‘Gone where?’
Freeborn shrugged apologetically. ‘He had a sixty-second window to get in and out of the office before the camera returned to him.’
‘Sixty seconds isn’t long. How did he manage to give all his details in that time?’
‘He pre-booked it online. Then all he needed to do was go in, give his order number and leave the item.’
‘So, this footage is—’
‘Pretty useless, ma’am.’
Kate’s head dropped. ‘I don’t suppose they have a camera in their car park?’
‘They do, but it’s part of the same loop. In the thirty-second view of the car park leading up to his entrance, no new cars arrive, and none leave when the view returns. That’s why I think he arrived on foot. The Bitterne train station is only a five-minute walk away, and there are multiple bus routes passing the library too. I’ve already contacted the bus company and station to see what feeds they can give us. Waiting for a call back, but thought I should get this here for logging.’
‘So, somehow our suspect managed to avoid detection when depositing the box.’ Kate stood, keen to sustain his motivation despite the lack of usable footage. ‘Can you keep me posted about what the public transport people say?’
Ejecting the DVD and returning it to its case, Freeborn nodded.
22
Kate called Patel over as she returned to the incident room and took a seat. ‘Ben says we’re looking for a woman in her early to mid-twenties. And our tattoo artist tells us she had fair hair and possibly worked as a prostitute out of St Mary’s at one point or another. Why did he target her?’
‘Maybe he was one of her punters?’
‘Maybe. Did he target her because she was vulnerable or because she was a prostitute? Or did he happen to see her walking and pounced opportunistically?’
‘And what did he do with the rest of her body?’
Kate sighed, pulling out her phone as it beeped in her pocket. Opening the message, she quickly stood and moved away from Patel. She hurried to the safety of the bathroom, before daring to read the message. It was from Tara, thanking Kate for putting her up for the night, and advising that she was heading home to face the music. Kate was tempted to remind Tara not to mention her own involvement, but settled for a ‘Good luck’.
Kate’s mind was racing, as she retook the seat next to Patel.
‘I keep asking myself what would drive Daisy to run away, assuming that’s what happened. We’ve exhausted the possibility that she was unhappy with her life. Every friend and teacher we spoke to said she’s an intelligent and well-liked girl. Even her brother couldn’t give any insight into what would have made her want to run away.’
‘I’m the last person who can offer an insight into the mind of a teenage girl.’
Kate thought about the message she’d just received, and how terrified Tara had been last night. She’d said the words before she could stop herself. ‘What if Daisy was pregnant?’ she whispered to him.
He mouthed the word ‘pregnant’ back to check he hadn’t misheard, and she nodded quickly. ‘If she was too scared to tell her parents what had happened, or even her best friend, what does she do? Under pressure to pass her exams, but not wanting an abortion.’
Patel frowned. ‘I think you’re reaching, ma’am. We have Caplan on record saying he wasn’t sleeping with her, and none of her friends, teachers or family have even hinted at the possibility. I know you’re desperate to figure out where she’s gone, but I think that’s too big a leap, even for your instincts.’
She knew he was right, and had virtually dismissed the idea the moment she’d said it, but even so, it had triggered something in her mind. ‘Think about it: she’s fifteen, so if it was revealed that she was pregnant, her boyfriend Alfie would be in trouble with us, she’d be terrified of messing up her academic potential, and the possible shame it would bring on her family. I’m not saying Barry or Val wouldn’t have supported her, but at that age, you assume the worst, right? I don’t know, maybe I am just seeing links where there aren’t any.’
‘I suppose that could explain what the argument with Caplan was about earlier in the afternoon. And the reason why he didn’t want to tell us what they’d been arguing about.’
‘Of course. He’s eighteen, and she’s only fifteen, but he expects us to believe that they weren’t sleeping together.’
‘But something that big? You really think she wouldn’t have told anybody?’
Kate narrowed her eyes. ‘Georgie Barclay is her best friend; there’s no way she could have kept it a secret from her.’
‘You want me to come with you?’ Patel asked, already knowing where Kate’s next stop would be.
‘No, you keep reviewing our Missing Persons and see if you can find any links between them. It’ll be easier if I speak to Georgie alone.’
*
Kate couldn’t ignore the fact that her recent experiences with Tara were what was driving this new line of enquiry. But there was some relief in the possibility it might have been the reason Daisy had run away from home.
Kate had yet to meet Georgie Barclay, or her parents, and she wasn’t sure calling round unexpectedly on a Sunday afternoon was the best way to endear herself, but she couldn’t waste any more time. Kate was certain Georgie wouldn’t open up with her parents around, so would need to find a way to get her alone for an off-the-record chat. If anything came of it, she would arrange for Patel or Laura to take a formal statement.
Kate was just pulling up at the kerb when the front door to the Barclay house flew open and Georgie emerged, pulling a dark hoodie around her shoulders.
‘I’m going out,’ Georgie shouted as she stomped down the path to the small wooden gate.
A harassed looking woman wearing an apron appeared at the door a moment later. ‘What time will you be home? For dinner?’
Georgie paused long enough to scowl back at her. ‘I’ll be back when I’m back. Stop fussing.’
The woman, whom Kate guessed was Mrs Barclay – Georgie’s mother – looked like she wanted to say something else, but gave up and went inside as Georgie disappeared out of earshot.
Edging the car forward, Kate couldn’t believe her luck as she wound the window down as she arrived at Georgie’s side. ‘You want a lift somewhere?’ she asked, holding her identification out so Georgie knew she wasn’t a threat.
‘I’m supposed to be meeting someone,’ Georgie countered, without dropping her pace.
‘You wouldn’t be meeting up with Daisy, would you?’
Georgie stopped still. ‘Do you really think if I knew where she was, I wouldn’t have told her mum and dad?’
‘Where are you off to in such a hurry, then? Come on, Georgie, we both know there’s something you’ve been keeping from my team. Get in now and tell me and then I’ll drop you wherever you’re going. What do you say?’
Georgie didn’t move.
‘Alternatively, I can go back and drag your parents down to the police station with us, which I’m sure is the last thing they want to do on a Sunday afternoon.’ Kate softened her tone. ‘Please, Georgie, I just want to talk off the record.’
Georgie rolled h
er eyes before opening the door and climbing in. ‘Fine. I don’t know what else you think I can tell you.’
Kate pulled away from the kerb, keen to put some distance between them and the house. ‘You going somewhere nice?’ Kate tried, keen to establish an open conversation.
Georgie shrugged, focusing on the raindrops starting to catch on the window.
‘It looked like your mum was baking something.’
Another shrug.
‘Do you bake?’
‘No.’
‘Me neither. I tried a couple of times when I was younger, but just couldn’t get the hang of it. I think people either can or they can’t.’
Georgie remained silent.
Kate needed a way to get through to her, but engaging with teenagers was not one of her strengths. ‘I bet you’re missing Daisy.’
Still no response, but Georgie’s hand shot up to her face as she discreetly tried to wipe away a tear.
‘Have you two been friends for long?’
‘Forever,’ she said, her voice cracking under the strain.
‘I’m sorry, Georgie, you must be just as terrified for her. How are you coping?’
Georgie shrugged again.
Kate sighed loudly. ‘I wish I knew what had triggered her to run away like that. It just seems so out of character. If only we knew why she went, it might help us find her.’ Keeping her eyes on the road, Kate glanced occasionally in the rear-view mirror to see Georgie’s expression. ‘I’m sure you feel the same.’
‘I just want her home,’ Georgie admitted, wiping a second tear from her face.
‘I know you’ve already given us a statement about that night, but is there anything else that you’ve remembered? Did Daisy give any clue that she was planning to run away? Anything at all?’
‘No.’
‘And you don’t know where she would go if something was troubling her?’
‘Her brother’s, maybe.’
‘No, we’ve spoken to him and he’s as worried as you are.’ Kate sighed audibly again. ‘I just worry that she’s out there all alone in danger. Was there anything playing on her mind? Were things between Daisy and Alfie okay?’
Georgie fired Kate a look. ‘Ask him, how would I know?’
Cold Heart: Absolutely gripping serial-killer fiction Page 11