“Owt else in the box?” he asked.
“Stuff that belonged to Millie.” She smiled. “After a few months, her form teacher at Leesdon High contacted us and brought in a PE kit belonging to Millie that had been left in her locker.”
“How does it help us now?” Calladine asked.
Ruth lifted out the bag. It was made of heavy cotton with a drawstring fastening, the type of thing kids made in needlework. “It contains a pair of shorts, gym shoes, a T-shirt and a hairbrush.”
Calladine was just about to pick it up when Ruth slapped his hand. “Gloves!” she said. “We’re hoping Julian might get valuable information from this. The hairbrush has strands of blonde hair stuck in the bristles. Millie was blonde. Even after all this time, Julian might still be able to get DNA from them.”
“I wonder why we didn’t know about this box?”
Ruth shook her head. “Down to Long most likely, you know how sloppy he is. The stuff was brought in after the first investigation, catalogued and stashed in the archive. We don’t know that Long even knew about it. But when those bones were found he did do an investigation of sorts and discovered that the granny’s cousin, Florence Reed, didn’t exist. The letter must have been left to stop people looking for Millie.”
“That makes the granny appear the guilty party,” Calladine said. “The bag’s a good find, something independent of that house that possibly links to Millie. We get DNA from the brush or one of the other items, match it with the blood on the skirt fragment and we know it’s her bones that were found.”
“No thanks to Long. This box has been here years. When Long investigated those bones, he should have checked.”
“I’ll speak to him. It’s looking like those bones are the girl’s. Shame. I wonder how she died.”
“We’ll probably never know, Tom.”
“Anyway, on with something we can get to the bottom of. We need another chat with Jade. Julian found trainer prints on the floor of Becca’s flat. They belonged to someone with small feet.”
“We search her place?” Ruth asked.
“We’ll have to. I’ve organized a warrant. We can drop the PE bag off on the way,” he said.
While Ruth and Calladine had been talking, Rocco was on the office phone. He put down the receiver and looked at both of them. “That was your daughter, sir,” he told Calladine. “She tried your mobile but no joy.”
Calladine checked, it was on silent. “What did she want?”
“She wouldn’t say, but it sounded urgent.”
“I’ll ring her now. Give me a minute,” he told Ruth and hurried off to his office.
Chapter Nineteen
Zoe Calladine was in tears. “I didn’t even see him, Dad,” she sobbed. “It was all too quick. One minute we’re strolling through the park, then the next . . . This man chucks some liquid from a bottle into Maisie’s pram.”
Calladine’s stomach knotted in horror. Not . . . What the hell was going on? “Is Maisie all right?”
“She’s fine. She’s been checked over. It was only water, but I completely panicked. For a few seconds I was terrified it might be acid or something.”
“Was Amanda with you?” he asked.
“Yes, but she was a few yards behind, talking on her phone.”
Calladine was annoyed. These young women were taking this far too casually, especially Amanda. As FLO she ought to be more on her guard. Perhaps he should have been more honest with them, impressed upon them just how dangerous Lazarov was.
“Did you get a look at him?” he asked.
“Young. Jeans, dark hoodie top and trainers. He had the hood up and pulled well down over his face. After he’d thrown the water, he legged it fast towards the road. Amanda went after him, but he disappeared among the shoppers on the High Street.”
First the toy and now this. What was Lazarov’s game? Both had been geared to scare, not to harm, but Calladine couldn’t be sure what the next incident would bring. “Are you at home now?”
“Too right we are, and I doubt I’ll ever leave it again.”
“Don’t worry, Zoe, we’ll sort this. I’ll make some enquiries and get the protection beefed up. Try and sit tight until I get back to you, and certainly don’t take Maisie outside.”
“That could be a problem, Dad. Julian wants to have her tomorrow afternoon. He’s planning an outing to the park followed by a trip to the Duggan to show her off.”
“Leave Julian to me and relax. That particular outing won’t be happening.”
A grim-faced Calladine left his office and, without a word to the team, went to find Greco. He knocked on his office door and marched straight in. “I want a safe house organizing for Zoe and her family immediately,” he demanded.
“Something’s happened?”
“Too bloody right it has. Earlier today someone threw liquid into the pram. Thankfully, it was water — another warning from Lazarov I don’t doubt. Next time we might not be so lucky.”
“I’ll arrange a safe house,” Greco said at once. “Amanda Knight can go with them. Will you tell your daughter, make sure she knows what to expect?”
Calladine nodded. “I’m going round there now and I’m not leaving until I know they’re safe.”
“I’ll arrange transport and they can be on their way later today. Once it’s done, I’ll ring your mobile,” Greco said. “Who else knows?”
“No one, just you, me, Zoe and Jo.”
“Keep it that way.”
“I intend to, but Julian will be a problem,” Calladine said.
“Oh, yes. He’s the child’s biological father and is involved in her life. It might be difficult to keep him out of the loop,” Greco said.
Calladine heaved a sigh. “I’ll deal with him. Do me a favour, get on to Manchester again, will you? See if you can prise anything else out of them regarding Lazarov. Tell them what’s happening, make sure they understand. We’re attributing this to him because of the note on that first gift, but we could be wrong, and if we are, we need to know what this is about.”
“I’ll make some calls, find out all I can. Meanwhile, see to your family, Tom.”
Calladine made his way back to his office, picked up his coat and a couple of files. The team, particularly Ruth, were giving him curious looks. “I doubt I’ll be back until much later,” he told them. “Anything urgent comes up, ring my mobile.” He looked at Ruth. “Get that warrant and search Jade O’Brien’s flat. If you find the bloodstained trainer, bring her in and speak to her again under caution.”
“Don’t you want to be involved? It could be the breakthrough we need,” she said.
“You go with Rocco, you’re both more than capable,” he replied.
“Is everything all right, Tom?” she asked. “You look as if you’ve just had a shock, and your face has that grey tinge again.”
Was it any wonder? Calladine shook his head. “I’m fine,” he lied. “I’ll speak to you later. Right now, I have something urgent to do and it’s personal.”
On the way to his car, Calladine rang Ronnie Merrick. “It’s okay, I won’t be needing you. It’s a safe house instead,” he said. “I’ll be in touch if anything changes.”
Chapter Twenty
Ruth and Rocco picked up the warrant from the magistrate on their way to Angel Court. Ruth was preoccupied, worried about Calladine. She’d not seen him look so bad in a while.
“What’s up?” Rocco asked her. “You seem distant.”
“It’s Tom, there’s something wrong. He’s acting weird, and not saying anything.”
“The case probably,” he replied.
“There’s always a case, Rocco. This is different, more serious. He looks dreadful. Worry doesn’t suit him. He won’t discuss what it is, so all we can do is be there when he needs us.”
“Hope it’s nowt serious, like he’s sick or something,” Rocco said.
Ruth didn’t know what to think. He’d been fine the night before when they’d eaten their late tea together. �
��He’ll come round soon enough. You know what he’s like.”
“How’s this Jade likely to react to the visit?” Rocco said.
“Jade is a bit unpredictable, to say the least. We tread carefully. The last thing we want is her losing it with us. She has a temper that hasn’t got any better over the years.”
“You know her?” he asked.
“Hardly, Rocco, but she was at school the same time as me, so I know her by reputation. She was a bully, didn’t care who she hurt. Most kids were scared to death of her, and one of them was Millie Reed.”
“Could Jade have killed that girl?” Rocco said.
“It’s possible. What happened that afternoon twenty-five years ago is still a mystery, but Jade had been in a fight, that much I’m sure of. Jade hated to lose face, she’ll have wanted to come out on top and for everyone to know about it. It’s possible that she went back up there, scared the granny, and hurt Millie. Unless Jade chooses to tell us, we’ll never know.”
“What about Jade’s injury?”
Ruth shook her head. “Whatever did the damage didn’t kick in for a while. Jade must have been unaware of how ill she was. A slow bleed formed a blood clot . . . it put pressure on her brain and eventually led to her falling unconscious. If Jade did get her own back on Millie, it would have to have been that same day.”
“She sounds like a right piece of work.”
“Back then she was, Rocco. The entire school was scared of her.”
“So who saw Millie last, do we know?”
Ruth shrugged. “Probably her granny. Then she slipped through the net. It happens, Rocco.”
“You’re saying no one really knows when Millie was last seen?”
“Exactly.”
* * *
“Can’t you leave the woman alone?” Mary Kershaw grumbled. “How long is this going to go on for? It’s not doing Jade any good. You know she’s delicate.”
Ruth showed her the search warrant. “Delicate or not, we need to search Jade’s room. Once we’re done, we’ll be out of your hair.”
“What’re you looking for? Jade hasn’t done anything.”
Ignoring her, the pair headed for Jade’s flat and Ruth knocked on the door.
“If you have to do this, then I’ll take her for a walk, get her out of the way,” Mary said following them. “Jade doesn’t like people going through her things.”
Jade O’Brien opened the door and immediately tried to close it again, but Rocco stuck his foot in the gap.
“Nothing to worry about, Jade,” Mary said. “Come downstairs and wait with me while these have a look round. The sooner they’re done, the quicker they’re gone.”
But Jade was furious. She scowled at them. “I don’t want them touching my stuff,” she said. “I don’t want them in here. Why won’t you listen? I’ve done nothing. You have no right to come in like this.”
“I’m afraid you’ve no choice, Jade,” Ruth said.
“Get your coat on,” Mary Kershaw told her. “I’ll take you for a walk while these two get on with their search.”
Looking daggers at them, Jade pulled on a navy puffer jacket, thrust her hands in the pockets and followed Mary out.
Ruth made straight for the bedroom and rummaged around in the wardrobe. She found plenty of shoes but no trainers. Rocco was looking through the cupboards in the kitchenette. “Checked under the sink?” she asked.
“Yep, but there’s nothing,” he said.
Ruth stood in the centre of the sitting room, her hands on her hips. “She didn’t have the things on when she went out just now, did she?”
“No,” Rocco said. “I looked, and she put on a pair of wellies.”
“This place is tiny, where the hell would she hide a pair of trainers?”
“Given she knew they might incriminate her, she could have chucked them away,” Rocco said.
“If she has, we’re back to square one.” Ruth had a last look round. It hadn’t taken them long, but they’d searched everywhere. “You did the kitchen — check the washing machine?” He screwed up his face, he obviously hadn’t. “Go on then,” she said.
Minutes later, he appeared, grinning broadly. “Bingo! One pair of trainers with blood on the soles. Just what we were looking for.” Carefully, he put them in an evidence bag.
“Right. Now for the tricky bit,” Ruth said. “We have to take Jade in to interview her.”
Rocco looked out of the window. “They’re just outside, wandering round the gardens.”
“We’ll get Mary Kershaw to come,” Ruth decided. “Responsible adult and all that. She can organize a solicitor for her, too. If Jade has no explanation for the blood, she’ll be staying with us.”
Jade and her minder returned, and Ruth told them they were taking Jade to the station for questioning. At once, Jade made a dash for the door, but Rocco was already standing in front of it. Mary tried to calm her but didn’t have much luck. Jade really kicked off then, threatening to blacken both Ruth’s eyes.
“You behave yourself, Jade,” Ruth said firmly, “or Rocco here will put you in handcuffs, it’s up to you.”
Jade glared at her. “You wouldn’t dare. I’ll bash your bloody ’ead in.” She thrust her face into Ruth’s. “I can, you know. I’ve done it before.”
“When was that, Jade? Up at Gorse House or round at your mother’s the other night?”
Jade curled her lip. “Both. But I’m a nutter, aren’t I, so you can’t believe a word I say.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Mary Kershaw sorted a solicitor for Jade, and within the hour, the two of them with Mary faced Ruth and Rocco across a table in one of the interview rooms.
“Jade, we were searching your flat for a particular item. Well, we found it.” Ruth raised an eyebrow.
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“The trainers in your washing machine,” Ruth said, “the ones with blood on the soles?”
“Oh, them.” Jade shrugged. “Must have stood in summat.”
“Any idea what or where?” Rocco asked.
“No. Could have been anywhere.”
“I think it was your mother’s place. You stepped in her blood the night she was murdered,” Ruth said.
“You’re off your head, you. Why would I hurt my mum? She wasn’t much cop, but it doesn’t mean I’ve done owt to her.”
“We’re having the blood on your trainers tested, Jade. If that blood turns out to be your mum’s, you’re in big trouble.”
Jade glanced furtively at Mary and started to cry. “It wasn’t me,” she insisted. “Okay, I was there, I went to see her. I was angry after I had that argument in the library. I wandered around town for a bit and then thought of going to hers. She was dead when I got there.”
Now they were getting somewhere. “You were there,” Ruth said. “You have a history of violence and your mother was bludgeoned to death. That’s your style, Jade, isn’t it? It’s what you do.”
“No! I’ve changed. I don’t do that anymore.” Jade leaned towards Ruth. “I’m not that angry cow from school. I’ve been ill, and it’s changed me.”
“Did anyone see you at Heron House, Jade? Did you speak to anyone?” Ruth asked.
“By the time I got to the flat, Johnno was already there. It should be him you’re speaking to — not me,” she hissed. “He told me to leave, said I should go home and not to say a word. He said he’d keep quiet about it too. He walked me to the bus stop.” Jade fell silent. Fixed her eyes unflinchingly on Ruth. This was her version of events and she was sticking to it.
“Why write the word ‘sorry’ on the wall, Jade?” Ruth asked, deliberately omitting to mention the drawing of the heart. She waited for Jade’s response.
Jade shook her head. “What d’you mean?”
“‘Sorry’ was written in your mother’s blood. Was that down to you? Doing the same thing you did all those years ago when you hid Millie’s body?”
Jade seemed genuinely puzzled. “No. I
wouldn’t do anything as weird as that. Anyway, there was nothing on any wall — ask Johnno. And I never hurt Millie that much. I cut her, I think, trying to get that bloody mole off her face.” She turned to Mary Kershaw. “What’s that cow saying about me? I never hid no body.”
“You admit to cutting Millie’s face?” Ruth asked.
“I don’t know, I can’t remember properly. But she did annoy me, I know that.”
“Was Johnno with you?” Rocco asked.
Jade shook her head.
“Did you tell him what you’d done?”
“I don’t remember, it was too long ago.”
Ruth looked at Mary Kershaw who sat in silence, impassive. “I don’t believe you. I think you remember very well what happened that day. I think you remember what suits you, what fits in with your version of events.” She turned to Mary Kershaw. “Until we clear this up, satisfy ourselves that Becca’s death isn’t down to Jade, she’ll be staying with us.”
Mary Kershaw looked horrified. “What? You’re going to lock her up? You can’t do that. You know how she is.”
“We’ll only be keeping her while we check out her story,” Ruth said. “She’ll be comfortable enough and we’ll keep a close watch on her.” Ruth stood up and went to the door. “One thing, Jade. Did you take your mother’s mobile phone that night?”
“No, I didn’t see it. Thing’s usually glued to her hand, too.”
* * *
The pair made their way back to the incident room. “She won’t like it,” Rocco said.
“Can’t be helped. Until we can prove otherwise, Jade O’Brien is our prime suspect,” Ruth said. “Get uniform to bring Higgs in. I’m just going to give Tom a ring, make sure he’s okay.”
DEAD SORRY a totally addictive crime thriller with a huge twist (Calladine & Bayliss Mystery Book 11) Page 8