by Damien Boyd
‘I thought you were doing it.’
‘You need to be there,’ said Potter. ‘You are part of it, whether you like it or not.’
The Incident Room on the second floor was packed – standing room only at the back – a ripple of applause starting at the front when Dixon reached the top of the stairs.
‘That’s for you,’ whispered Potter over his shoulder.
Dixon was blushing when he perched on the corner of Louise’s workstation.
‘Well done, Sir,’ she said.
He smiled.
‘Right then.’ Potter clapped her hands. ‘Today has been a good day, thanks to DI Dixon and DS Winter. But, we’re only halfway to where we need to be. We still have to find Hatty Renner.’
‘Are you sure about the press blackout, Ma’am?’ asked Guthrie.
‘Yes. And if anybody, and I mean anybody, is found to be leaking anything to the press, that’ll be treated as gross misconduct. Is that clear?’
Some nodded; some said, ‘Yes, Ma’am’ – almost in unison, but not quite.
‘We have Sonia Lamm in custody. She’s Alesha’s grandmother. There’s no evidence yet that she abducted Alesha, but she knew where she was being held and certainly conspired with person or persons unknown in her abduction. She’s been looking after Alesha since Sunday morning, according to what we have so far. I think most of you know the details. So, interviews . . .’ Potter’s phone buzzed on the table next to her. She picked it up and looked at the screen. ‘Tanya’s woken up at Weston hospital. Sally?’
‘Yes, Ma’am.’ Guthrie turned to the officer sitting next to her and nodded.
‘It would be useful to know what she’s saying before we interview Sonia.’
‘Yes, Ma’am.’
‘Nick Dixon and I will be interviewing Sonia in an hour or so and a child team are down from Bristol to interview Alesha. That’ll be taking place elsewhere, of course, but the footage will be available on the system pretty much straightaway. Where did you get to with the bungalow, Bob?’
‘It belongs to a Jeffrey Alexander Savage, Ma’am,’ replied Bob, standing up. ‘There’s a photo of him on the system, but it’s a couple of years old now. He’s known to us – three convictions for crap, really: two theft and a possession of cannabis. He’s unemployed, drives an old VW Passat estate, according to DVLA, although the insurance and MOT have run out so it may be off the road.’
‘Is it a caravan store or a graveyard?’
‘A store, Ma’am. It’s registered with the Caravan Club, although the registration is in the name of Edith Savage. She died five years ago, so it’s probably Jeffrey’s mother and he inherited it.’
‘Anything on social media?’
‘Nothing yet, but we’re working on it. Traffic cameras, mobile phone, the usual stuff. We’re targeting known associates too, and he has a sister in Clevedon. It’s all on the system and there’s a shout out for him too.’
‘He must be known to Sonia somehow,’ replied Potter. ‘See if you can find out how.’
‘Yes, Ma’am.’
‘We’re extending the search to all narrowboats on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal from dawn tomorrow, and the Tivvy probably. I’ve put a call in to Devon and Cornwall.’
‘What about the motive, Ma’am?’ asked Guthrie. ‘Do we know why Alesha was taken?’
‘Not yet. The best theory we have so far is that it was a diversion, the real target being Hatty, but we’ll see what Sonia’s got to say for herself.’
‘A diversion?’
‘Nick, maybe you can chime in at this point?’ asked Potter, turning to Dixon and raising her eyebrows.
He stood up and turned to face the officers sitting behind him. ‘We thought we were dealing with random child abductions: unconnected children, the motive sexual, the work of a predator. Great care was taken to send us in Buckler’s direction, don’t forget, and that was a dead end.’
‘We don’t know that,’ said Guthrie.
‘Buckler was set up, a diversion; and so is Alesha – she was just sitting there watching DVDs and playing Candy Crush while her grandmother made a few quid out of it, a smokescreen to hide the fact that Hatty was deliberately targeted. Think about it: kidnap another girl and then point us in the direction of a known child sex offender.’
‘Why, though?’
‘We can rule out a sexual motive. If that was it then Alesha would’ve been attacked too, particularly given that she was snatched first.’
‘He’s talking out of his arse.’ A man’s voice, whispering, somewhere near the back.
‘Have we had the results of the medical examination?’ asked Guthrie.
‘Yes, and she’s fine,’ replied Potter.
‘Maybe they just hadn’t got to her yet.’ The same man, whispering.
Dixon grimaced. ‘I can’t believe even Sonia would’ve cooperated if the motive was sexual.’
‘Good point,’ said Potter.
‘So, why would you kidnap a ten year old child?’ continued Dixon, frowning. ‘Ransom perhaps, but there’s been no sign of a demand so far and the family don’t appear to be unusually well off. Hatty’s father works for a bank, though, so it’s possible. That leaves an attempt to get at the parents somehow – revenge possibly – or the grandfather even. Remember, he’s the Home Office pathologist for this area so maybe someone has a grudge against him.’
‘A grudge against a pathologist?’ asked Guthrie.
‘You’re assuming she’s still alive, though, Sir?’ said Louise.
‘I am. Because if they were just going to kill her, why bother kidnapping Alesha at all? Why the smokescreen?’
‘Has anyone told the family?’ asked Potter.
‘I’ve told Roger there have been some developments and I’ll get over there as soon as I can.’
‘So, you think she’s being held by someone to get at the family?’ asked Guthrie.
‘Let’s hope so,’ replied Dixon. ‘Because that means she’s still alive.’
‘You’ve declined a solicitor, is that right?’
Potter was sitting in between Dixon and Sonia, all of them facing the tape machine.
‘I don’t need one.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I’m going to go “no comment” to all your questions anyway, so . . .’ Sonia’s voice tailed off. She was busy peeling the red polish off her nails and flicking it on the floor.
‘And why is that?’
‘No comment.’
Potter turned to Dixon and sighed.
‘Tanya has regained consciousness and given a statement confirming your involvement in the abduction of her daughter. What have you got to say about that, Sonia?’
‘No comment.’
‘Perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to do God-knows-what. I’d suggest you start talking.’ Potter puffed out her cheeks. ‘Still, it won’t be the first time you’ve gone to prison, will it, Sonia?’
Silence.
‘Theft. You were a carer stealing from an elderly patient with dementia that time, weren’t you?’
‘No comment.’
‘How d’you know Jeffrey Savage then?’
‘No comment.’
‘How much did the paedophile ring pay you, Sonia,’ snapped Dixon, ‘to set up your own granddaughter?’
‘Paedophile ring?’ She sat bolt upright.
‘That’s what this is about, isn’t it? Selling your own granddaughter for sex with the promise of an iPhone.’ Dixon dropped an evidence bag on the floor in front of Sonia. ‘This was at the post office for collection. We found the card at Tanya’s flat.’
‘What is it?’
‘It’s a cover for an iPhone 7.’
‘I . . . I got it on eBay. It’s got The Walking Dead on it.’
‘The same iPhone 7 that we found in the car that Kevin was driving.’
‘He found out about it and flew off the handle. He said he was going to be blamed for it.’
‘And when did Tanya fi
nd out about it?’
‘That night.’
‘Which is why you’ve kept her sedated ever since?’
Sonia nodded. ‘Just a few sleeping pills, that’s all.’
‘How much were they paying you?’
‘It wasn’t for sex. I’d never do that. I love Alesha.’
‘What was it for then?’
Sonia took a deep breath. ‘Nothing. I just had to keep her there for a week at most, they said.’
‘Who said?’
‘Jeff.’
‘Did he say why?’
‘No.’ Sonia shook her head. ‘Just that Poland had a lot to answer for and was going to suffer.’
‘Poland?’
‘I thought he meant the country. I didn’t fucking know what he meant, did I?’
‘D’you know what he meant now?’
‘No.’
‘How d’you know Jeff?’
‘He used to have his boat on the canal, till his mum died and he took it out of the water. We used to have a thing going.’
‘Bit young for you isn’t he?’ Potter raised her eyebrows.
Sonia grinned, revealing at least three missing front teeth, although it was difficult to tell in the reflection on the tape recorder.
‘Look, he’s a nice lad. All right?’ Sonia glanced at Potter and then looked away. ‘He’s just easily led, y’know.’
‘Who by?’
‘No comment.’
‘You still haven’t said how much he was paying you.’
‘Five grand.’
Sonia had moved on to the skin at the base of her nails now, tearing it off and dropping the strips on the floor, thin streaks of blood licked off as soon as they appeared.
‘Are you still in contact with Jeff?’
‘I’ve not seen him since last week.’ Sonia shook her head. ‘Look, he told me he’d leave Alesha in the boat and I just had to keep her there for a week, maybe more.’
‘And he’d tell you when she could go?’
‘No. I’d just know, he said.’
‘And Alesha knew about this?’
‘I told her it was my plan to try and shock Tanya into stopping the drugs. She loves her mum and would do anything for her. I even told her to scream when Jeff picked her up to make it sound realistic. I left some food and a duvet on the boat for her and she was fine with it.’
‘Wasn’t she worried about what Tanya might think? That she might panic?’
‘Alesha said she probably wouldn’t notice, but if she did it might give her a reason to stop the drugs.’
‘So, Alesha doesn’t know about Hatty?’
‘Who’s Hatty?’
Chapter Twenty-Two
Potter waited until the door closed behind the custody officer collecting Sonia from the interview room. ‘You crossed a line,’ she said, turning to Dixon.
‘It was a perfectly reasonable theory to put to her based on the information we have available to us.’
‘A paedophile ring?’ Potter frowned. ‘But you don’t believe it yourself.’
‘That’s not the point.’
‘What is?’
‘A girl is missing.’
‘All right, all right. You heard what she said about Poland?’
‘I’ll speak to him. I’m going over there now.’
‘But it’s nearly midnight.’
‘He’ll be up,’ muttered Dixon.
‘I’ll see how far we’ve got with Savage.’
Jane left Monty eating his supper in the kitchen and slumped down on to the sofa with the living room lights off. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of a metal dog bowl scraping across the kitchen floor. Then a strange knocking. Either Monty was pushing it up against the kitchen units, or someone was at the back door. Then the scraping stopped and the barking started.
‘Priorities – finish your food first, then start barking.’ She shook her head as she walked into the kitchen, a figure visible behind the frosted glass of the back door.
‘Who is it?’ she asked, leaning over the sink and peering out of the window.
‘Rob from the Red Cow.’
‘I thought you’d be closed,’ said Jane, opening the door. ‘Otherwise I’d have popped over for a gin and tonic.’
‘We are closed,’ replied Rob, ‘But we’ve got someone you might be interested in. She came in earlier looking for you and has been asleep in the corner ever since.’
‘Looking for me or Nick?’
‘You. She says she’s your sister.’
‘Lucy?’
‘I could only give her Diet Coke because she’s fifteen. Fed her, though. She was starving.’
Jane sighed. ‘How much do I owe you?’
‘Nothing, really. She’s a nice kid. Been on the road all day.’
‘On the road?
‘Hitched down from Manchester, she said.’
‘I’d better come and get her.’
‘Thanks,’ replied Rob, smiling. ‘We can’t close up and leave her there.’
Jane leaned over the bench seat in the pub and looked down at Lucy. She hadn’t dyed her hair since their mother’s funeral, that much was clear from the blonde streak under the jet black. No more piercings, by the looks of things. A shower and some clean clothes might be an idea too.
She was about to wake Lucy up when Monty leaned over the seat and licked her nose.
‘What the—?’ Lucy sat up with a start, rubbing her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘Oh, hi.’
‘What are you doing here?’ asked Jane.
‘I thought I’d come and see you.’
‘Do your foster parents know you’re here?’
‘Yes.’
‘Really? They let you hitch-hike down here just like that, did they?’
‘You don’t want me here?’
‘I didn’t say that.’ Jane took her phone out of her pocket and handed it to Lucy. ‘Ring them now and tell them where you are.’
‘And if I don’t?’
‘Then I’ll have to ring them myself.’
‘You haven’t got their number.’ Lucy smirked.
Jane raised her eyebrows. ‘Have you forgotten what I do for a living?’
Lucy snatched Jane’s phone and dialled the number, making the call as they walked back across the road to the cottage.
Jane listened to Lucy’s end of the conversation.
‘It’s me.’ . . . ‘Somerset. With my sister.’ . . . ‘I hitch-hiked.’ . . . ‘I was fine. Stop worrying.’ . . . ‘Well, you can’t stop me.’
‘She wants to speak to you.’ Lucy was holding the phone out to Jane as she opened the front door of the cottage.
‘Hello, Judy.’
‘Jane, look, I’m sorry about this. She just took off. We didn’t know she was—’
‘It’s fine, really. I just got home from work and found her in the pub over the road.’
‘The pub?’
‘They know me in there and looked after her. They even fed her.’
‘Good, because she’s got no money.’
‘It’s just a bit of a bad time, that’s all,’ said Jane. ‘We’re right in the middle of a big case.’
‘We saw it on the news.’
‘I’ve just got in from work and I’ve got to be back at seven in the morning. Nick’s putting in even longer hours. Any other time and it’d be fine.’
‘I did try to explain that to her.’ Judy sighed. ‘Dave can’t get down till the weekend to pick her up, though, that’s the problem. Can you put her on a train?’
Lucy was sitting on the sofa next to Monty, scratching him behind the ears. ‘I’m not going back,’ she said. ‘They can just piss off.’
Jane held the phone to her shoulder. ‘We’re going to be out at work all day, every day, Lucy. What are you going to do? Sit here and watch DVDs all day?’
‘Yes.’ Lucy slid off the sofa and crawled across to the DVD rack next to the TV. ‘Maybe not,’ she muttered, looking it up and down.
‘Th
e weekend is fine, Judy,’ said Jane. ‘If we put her on a train she’ll just get off at the next stop. I would.’
Lucy grinned.
‘It’ll be Sunday then if that’s OK,’ replied Judy. ‘Dave’ll leave about nine and get to you for lunchtime, I expect.’
‘We’ll see him then.’
‘And tell her not to get in any bloody trouble.’
‘She’s going to be staying with two police officers, Judy.’
‘I know, I know.’
Jane rang off. ‘Sunday it is then.’
‘Judy said two girls have been snatched now.’ Lucy was sitting cross legged on the floor with her back to the TV.
Jane nodded as she dropped on to the sofa.
‘And you know one of them?’
‘She’s the granddaughter of a friend of ours,’ replied Jane.
‘Is she still alive?’
‘Nick thinks so.’
‘Are you two getting married then, or what?’
‘God knows.’
‘I’ve never been to a wedding,’ said Lucy, smiling.
‘You were going to tell me about our mother,’ said Jane. ‘I only met her twice.’
‘Lucky you.’ Lucy’s smile evaporated in a sneer. ‘There’s nothing to tell. You know what she was.’
‘What about you?’
‘Judy and Dave are my fourth foster family. I get by.’
‘It’s not about getting by, though, is it. There’s more to life than “getting by”.’
‘Is there?’
‘When are your exams?’
‘In a couple of months, but I’m not doing ’em.’
‘Good thinking,’ muttered Jane. Her eyes were closed and she was leaning back on the sofa. ‘Drop out, leave school, then you can be a fuck up just like our mother.’
‘Fuck you. What d’you know about our bloody useless mother?’ Lucy jumped up.
‘Nothing,’ replied Jane. ‘I was hoping you might tell me.’
‘You’re just like the rest of them. What d’you want me to do, pass my exams so I can be a pig like you?’
‘You don’t have to be a police officer.’ Jane opened her eyes and smiled. ‘I just want you to be happy, that’s all.’
Lucy sat on the arm of the sofa.
‘You’re my sister,’ Jane said, shaking her head. ‘Takes some getting used to, doesn’t it?’
‘My sister, the copper.’ Lucy grinned. ‘Yes, it bloody well does.’