‘Any idea what triggered it?’
‘I heard her shout something about him only caring about money.’ Belmar shook his head in wonder. ‘Can you imagine what it must be like waking up one day and finding out you’re worth fifteen million quid?’
‘I’m not sure I’d like to. I’d hate to have to give up my job for one thing. I think I’d get bored not working.’
Belmar scoffed. ‘What, you’d prefer to carry on doing long hours and drowning in paperwork when you could be lying on a sun-drenched beach all year round? Nah, not me, I’d love my numbers to come up. I think most people would.’
‘Have you spoken to them since?’
‘They’ve shut themselves away upstairs. I did ask them again on the way back about talking to Victim Support but they’re not interested.’
‘We can’t force them to, but let’s keep suggesting it.’ She picked up her bag. ‘Right, I’ll go next door to see Sarah Stockton. If either surfaces, ask them about any other computers Rosie has access to.’
‘Why are you going round? Just call Sarah. She gave us her number.’
‘No, I want to see Kathryn’s reaction when she finds out Umpire wants to speak to her himself.’
‘Why?’
‘I want to see if she’s rattled. She’s doing a good job of pretending she and Rosie are as close as sisters but there’s only so long a person can keep up a lie.’
27
A woman calling herself the Stocktons’ housekeeper let Maggie in through the front gate. As she walked the length of the bricked driveway, cold air needled her skin and the blue sky they’d basked beneath for almost a week was now blanketed by thick, grey cloud. The downturn suited her mood and she knew the rest of the investigative team working out of the incident room in Mansell would share her frustration that Rosie still wasn’t found.
The housekeeper, who said over the intercom that her name was Janice Gifford, was waiting for Maggie at the front door. She might’ve looked the part in a single-breasted black coatdress with white lapels and grey-streaked brown hair pulled back into a chignon but as a welcoming committee she fell short. Her round, plump face, marked by a smattering of fine lines, was set with suspicion, and when Maggie fished her warrant card from her bag to prove she was who she said she was, Janice studied it through narrowed eyelids.
‘I’m here to see Mrs Stockton,’ said Maggie.
‘Is she expecting you?’
‘No, but she knows me. We met yesterday at the Kinnocks’ house.’
Janice’s face pinched with concern. ‘Such an awful business. You’d better come in.’
The contrast between the Stocktons’ entrance hall and the one at Angel’s Reach was startling. The floor was covered in small black and white diamond-shaped tiles, the effect of which was dizzying, while the walls were starkly white and decorated only by large prints of abstract monochrome shapes. Unlike the Kinnocks’ staircase, which was flush against one wall, here it rose imperiously from the middle of the room, and the steps, which looked like they were made from some kind of marble, had been left bare. Maggie suspected Janice’s uniform had been chosen deliberately to blend in.
‘You must know Rosie pretty well,’ she ventured. ‘I understand she and Kathryn are very close.’
‘I wouldn’t know, I’m afraid,’ said Janice, clasping her hands in front of her.
‘Doesn’t she come round often to see Kathryn?’
‘I suppose.’
‘Have you been questioned by my colleagues yet?’
‘I spoke to an officer last night,’ said Janice. ‘I told him I didn’t see or hear anything.’
‘Are you certain? I know these gardens are big but some noise might carry.’
‘I was collecting some dry-cleaning for Mrs Stockton in the village and then did a bit of shopping. I must’ve been out for a couple of hours. I did explain this to the constable who came round.’
Maggie detected a trace of annoyance in Janice’s reply.
‘I’m not here to double-check your statement,’ she placated her. ‘Have you seen much of Kathryn today?’
‘She’s been in her room most of the day. I haven’t really spoken to her about what’s happened.’
‘Not even to ask how she’s coping?’
‘Why would I do that?’
Her attitude was starting to grate on Maggie. She forced a smile.
‘I just thought you might have said something, what with it being her best friend who’s missing.’
‘That’s not how we do things in this household,’ said Janice, stony-faced. ‘Now, please let me escort you to the sitting room. You can wait there while I see if Mrs Stockton is available to see you.’
Maggie let Janice lead her into an imposing room where the monochrome theme continued. Along one wall was a black leather corner sofa that could seat seven and next to it was a glass-topped, metal-legged coffee table the size of a door upon which a pile of magazines was neatly stacked. The top one was a pristine copy of The Economist. Fixed to the wall above a white marble mantelpiece was a flat-screen TV even bigger than the Kinnocks’ and several colourless prints of landscapes Maggie didn’t recognize were hung on the wall around it. The only splash of colour was from a waist-high crimson glass vase in one corner. Was it Sarah’s choice of decor or her husband’s, thought Maggie? It certainly wouldn’t have been hers. There was also the marked smell of air freshener in the room and Maggie spotted a plug-in device in a socket on the wall nearest the door.
‘Is Mr Stockton at home?’ she asked Janice, who told her to take a seat.
‘No, he’s in New York for work. He left on Monday morning and won’t be back until Friday night. I told the constable that as well.’
‘Right. Thank you.’
Janice nodded stiffly then left the room.
Sarah burst in two minutes later. She greeted Maggie like a long-lost friend.
‘Detective Neville, how lovely to see you again,’ she said, clasping Maggie’s right hand between both of hers. Her skin was dry and papery to the touch. ‘How can I be of help? Is it Lesley, would she like me to pop round and stay with her for a bit?’
Sarah’s eyes were slightly unfocused and Maggie, who had yesterday spotted the signs that pointed to her drinking, thought she might be tanked up on something other than alcohol. She was jiggling from foot to foot in a pair of scarlet mules that were too tight for her feet – her toes were blanched white from being squashed – and a sleeveless shift dress in the same colour.
‘No, but I’ll tell her you offered. I’m here because DCI Umpire, the officer leading the search for Rosie, would like to interview Kathryn and he’s asked me to set up a convenient time this evening to come round.’
The jiggling stopped abruptly.
‘Why does he want to question Kathryn?’
‘Some new information has come to light that she might be able to clarify for us. It’s important he speaks with her as soon as possible.’
The frown darkening Sarah’s face was replaced by a smile.
‘Oh, that’s fine. You let him know we can see him right away and I’ll have Janice call her down. I thought you were going to say she was in trouble again. I never know with that girl.’
Maggie bit back a retort, knowing it was for Umpire to bring up Rosie’s accusation of bullying, not her. But she couldn’t let it go completely – she wasn’t happy Kathryn might’ve deceived her during their chat yesterday.
‘Has she been in trouble with the police before?’
‘Heavens, no.’ Sarah giggled. ‘When I said trouble I meant the usual nonsense: unsuitable boys, staying out past her curfew, not doing her homework, answering me back. But I can’t really talk, as I was exactly the same at her age. Let me get Janice to fetch her.’
Watching her skip out of the room, Maggie knew the bad behaviour Sarah had just reeled off was unexceptional and that of a typical teenager. Would her mum even know if Kathryn was bullying others? Few kids would admit that kind of thing to their
parents.
A few moments later Sarah returned.
‘She’ll be down shortly. Can I get you anything, Detective Neville?’
‘No, thank you. And call me Maggie,’ she said, wanting Sarah to think they were on the same side because they were on first-name terms. It might make it easier to deal with her in the long run.
‘Did you see us on the news earlier, Maggie?’ Sarah chirruped. ‘I wasn’t sure whether we should say yes to appearing, but Kathryn’s so upset about Rosie being gone that I thought it might help.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ Maggie replied noncommittally.
‘She’s worried you think badly of her because of the row they had. It was just a silly argument. They really are the best of friends.’
‘Do they argue a lot?’
‘Certainly not. Kathryn looks out for Rosie. That girl is such a tiny scrap of a thing, there’s hardly anything of her. She looks more like eleven than fifteen.’
Sarah spoke with such conviction that Maggie was convinced she was telling the truth. Or at least what she believed was the truth.
‘So I can call DCI Umpire to let him know he can come round now to interview Kathryn?’ she said.
‘Of course. We want to do anything we can to help. I can’t imagine how Lesley must be feeling,’ said Sarah. Her face twisted into a scowl. ‘If anyone hurt Kathryn, I’d kill them . . . Oh, the look on your face! I’m joking, of course. I wouldn’t really kill someone. You know what I meant.’
Maggie wasn’t sure that she did.
28
Umpire took only ten minutes to arrive because he was already in Haxton when Maggie called him, overseeing a search of the river that wound around its perimeter. So far the divers had nothing to report.
He insisted that Sarah stay with Kathryn while he spoke to her. Given how hyper she was, Maggie wasn’t sure Sarah fitted the bill of an appropriate adult and took Umpire to one side when he arrived to explain why.
‘She might be under the influence of something, sir.’
‘But you don’t know that for sure?’ he whispered back.
He stood so close to her that Maggie could see a tiny pinprick in his right earlobe that suggested at some point it had been pierced. She edged backwards, unnerved by his proximity.
‘Well, no,’ she said.
‘Then it’s fine. It’s not her I’m interviewing.’
‘Are you sure? She tends to go on a bit as it is. If she’s lubricated, we’ll never shut her up.’
‘Good. If she prattles on for long enough, she might let something useful slip.’
Umpire didn’t waste time with preamble as the interview began.
‘We’ve uncovered an email Rosie sent to a friend on Sunday evening, two days before she went missing. In the email she claims a group of girls, of which apparently you’re one, have been bullying her and she makes an allegation of assault. Not against you specifically, but someone who was with you that day.’
Kathryn’s eyes widened. ‘Which friend?’
‘She didn’t say.’
‘No, not who hit her. I meant who was the email sent to?’
‘Darling, I don’t think it matters who Rosie emailed, just that she did,’ said Sarah, showing a better grasp of the situation than Maggie presumed she would. Kathryn frowned at her mum.
‘You don’t actually think I’ve been bullying her?’
‘Of course not, darling,’ said Sarah, reaching for her daughter’s hand and squeezing it.
‘I haven’t done anything to Rosie.’
Maggie eyed Kathryn suspiciously. Her outfit was virtually the same as yesterday’s – jodhpurs, another T-shirt but blue this time, the same silver Superga trainers – but her demeanour was markedly dissimilar. Dry-eyed, sitting bolt upright, she didn’t appear rattled by the accusation she’d bullied Rosie, just annoyed.
‘She’s lying,’ said Kathryn, shrugging her slim shoulders to convey her apparent bewilderment. ‘It’s just not true. Are you sure the person who says they got the email isn’t just making it up? Is it someone she used to know in Mansell?’ she asked astutely. ‘Because it won’t be anyone from around here.’ When neither Maggie nor DCI Umpire answered her, Kathryn pulled a face. ‘They’re lying to stir up trouble. Rosie told me they’re jealous because she’s rich now and she won’t have anything to do with them.’
‘Officers, I have also heard Rosie speak disparagingly of the girls she used to go to school with in Mansell,’ said Sarah. ‘They sound like a horrible bunch, always swearing and smoking and bunking off school. They’d be far more likely to bully her than someone from round here.’
‘Rosie didn’t name the person who hit her,’ said Umpire, ‘but she said, and I quote, “They were all there waiting after my last lesson, even Kathryn. When I tried to get away, I was smacked across the nose with a book.”’
A strange look crossed Kathryn’s face, like she knew what he was talking about but was also scared. Had Umpire seen it too? Maggie glanced over at him but his expression gave nothing away.
‘I never stay behind after school – I always go to the stables to ride my horse. The staff there can vouch for me. I don’t know anything about Rosie being attacked.’
‘And you’ve never assaulted her yourself?’
Kathryn looked horrified. ‘No way. God, how many more times do I have to tell you? Rosie’s my best friend.’
‘You’ve only known her a year,’ said Maggie.
‘So? We see each other every day. She’s the person I’m closest to in the whole world.’ Kathryn turned to her mum, her long ponytail swinging across her back. ‘I don’t understand how this is helping find her, Mum.’
‘My daughter’s right. She’s told you she hasn’t bullied Rosie. Are we done?’
‘Not quite. Tell me about the row you and Rosie had yesterday morning.’
Kathryn glowered at Maggie, which this time didn’t go unnoticed by Umpire.
‘I know you went through it with DC Neville, but I would be grateful if you could tell me again.’
The teenager repeated the same account she’d given Maggie but this time there were no tears, no wailing, no hand-wringing. Her voice was a monotone as she listed the names she’d called Rosie for refusing to go with her to the stables. If Maggie hadn’t heard her tell the same story the day before she’d have thought it was rehearsed.
‘What about Rosie self-harming?’ he asked.
Sarah looked appalled. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘Kathryn told DC Neville that Rosie cuts herself.’
‘It’s the truth,’ said Kathryn indignantly. She shot Maggie a dirty look.
‘If she says it’s true then it is,’ said her mum.
‘Where does Rosie cut herself?’ Maggie interjected.
Kathryn hesitated. She pulled her hand out of Sarah’s grip and folded her arms across her body. ‘I’m not sure.’
‘You’re certain she does, though?’ said Umpire.
‘Lily told me she does.’
‘You mean you’ve never spoken to Rosie about it yourself, or actually seen her do it yourself or seen any cuts on her person?’
‘I never said that I had.’
Maggie tried to interrupt again but Umpire held his hand up to silence her. Annoyed, she sank into her seat. She could’ve sworn Kathryn had said she’d seen Rosie cut herself. Why was she backtracking now?
‘How was Rosie when you left her?’ said Umpire.
‘Upset because we’d rowed and stressed about our exam tomorrow because she hates science. That’s why I thought she should come riding, to take her mind off it.’
Umpire changed tack again.
‘Does Rosie ever confide in you about boys she likes?’
‘I guess,’ said Kathryn, glancing at Sarah again, who nodded at her daughter to continue. ‘But she talks about pop stars she likes, like Liam from 1D, not real boys. Rosie doesn’t really know any boys who live round here, as her dad is really weird about her going out.’ The teenager sudd
enly turned on Maggie. ‘I told you all this yesterday. Why do I have to say it again?’
‘Because DCI Umpire wants you to,’ said Maggie simply.
‘Does Rosie ever talk about boys she knew when she lived in Mansell?’ he asked.
‘No.’
‘So,’ he began carefully, ‘as far as you know, Rosie isn’t sexually experienced.’ When Kathryn and Sarah both reacted with shock, he held up his hands. ‘I know, it’s a very personal question, but it’s an important one. Is she?’
‘No way. Rosie hasn’t even kissed anyone properly yet,’ said Kathryn.
‘Properly?’ queried Umpire.
She stared at him. ‘With tongues.’
The DCI was lost for words and Maggie would have found his embarrassment amusing were it not for the feeling of unease creeping over her as she watched Kathryn bat his questions away. Where was the girl she met yesterday, the one who cried so hard trails of phlegm ran from her nose and she never noticed to wipe them away? Even allowing for people’s emotions seesawing in cases like this, she couldn’t recall seeing anyone so effectively turn theirs off.
‘Can I ask you something?’ said Kathryn.
Umpire nodded. ‘By all means.’
‘All these questions you’re asking me about being a bully – do you think I’ve got something to do with Rosie going missing?’
Umpire didn’t miss a beat before answering.
‘We have to explore every avenue that presents itself while we search for her,’ he said. ‘It looks like you were the last person to see her yesterday, you’ve since admitted to rowing with her and then this email turns up. My job is to ask difficult questions.’
Clever, thought Maggie. He’d made it sound like he’d answered the question when in fact he hadn’t at all. Sarah seemed to buy it, but Kathryn stared at him blank-faced for a moment then burst into tears.
‘I do understand why you’re asking. I want her home too. I can’t bear the idea that someone’s hurt her.’
Maggie couldn’t hold back any longer.
‘You think someone’s hurt her now?’ she blurted out. ‘Yesterday you thought the blood was caused by Rosie cutting herself. Have you changed your mind?’
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