by M A Comley
Jack shook his head in despair. “Whatever. Want me to check through the other neighbours in the area at that time when we get back?”
“Yep, either this afternoon or first thing tomorrow. I want to work on the other case with Jordan over the next few days, at least until Simon formerly identifies the remains.”
“I think you have the easier job,” he grumbled.
“You’re so wrong there. If you had dealings with this Christopher Abbott, you’d be begging me to get involved in the Ryland case.”
“I guess we’ll never know.”
The rest of the journey was spent in virtual silence as a mixture of emotions ran through Sally. On the one hand, she hoped the remains would turn out to be Jeff Ryland’s, enabling the rest of the family to get on with their lives finally. On the other, she hoped it wouldn’t be him because she feared what knowing the truth would do to both William and Janet. She imagined the guilt they were probably feeling could intensify tenfold.
They arrived back at the station around four thirty, and by the time they had divulged to the rest of the team what they had learnt from the Rylands, Sally was exhausted, both mentally and physically. “All right, guys, I don’t know about you, but I’m done in and ready for home. I feel drained. Let’s call it a day and begin afresh in the morning. Jordan, how has your research gone today on the Hathaway case?”
“Fair to middling, boss. Want me to go through the details with you now or in the morning?”
“In the morning. My brain is frazzled beyond comprehension right now.”
She dismissed the team and collected her handbag and coat from the office then jumped back into her car to venture home. She’d only travelled a few streets when she had the strangest feeling that someone was following her.
Don’t be an idiot, there’s no one there, looking in her rear-view mirror. She really was tired if she was imagining such a thing.
Simon greeted her at the front door when she arrived home. He gathered her in his arms immediately, sensing that she needed a cuddle. He smoothed a hand over her head and lovingly kissed her forehead. “Have you had a tough day, baby?”
Tilting her head, she glanced up at him. “How could you tell? I’ll be fine after a few glasses of wine.”
They shared a kiss, then Simon released her and led her through to the kitchen. He stopped at the cupboard under the stairs, opened the small door and took out a bottle of vintage red wine he’d been saving from one of the racks. In the kitchen, he gestured for her to have a seat at the table and poured them both a glass of the fruity wine.
Sally sipped from her glass and savoured the fabulous taste before she swallowed. “Wow, that’s really rather special. What year is it?”
“It’s a two thousand and seven. A special Californian wine I’ve been saving. I heard the price was about to skyrocket and bought a case of it.”
Sally turned the bottle around to read the label. “Saxum James Berry red. I have to admit I’ve never heard of half the wines you have in your collection.”
“Good. I love sharing something new with you each day.”
Sally smiled, all the tension of the day evaporating, the way it always did when they were together. “What’s on the menu tonight?”
“I have a couple of steaks in the fridge if you fancy one?”
“Steak and chips? ”
“Why not? Let’s enjoy a glass of wine first, and you can help me prepare the dinner, if you’re up to it. You look exhausted, love.”
“Sounds like an exceptional plan to me, and yes, I’m up for it. This will go a long way towards putting things right, though, I hope. How was your day? Any point in me asking how the Ryland case is going? Damn, I almost forgot. I have something for you.” She left the table and went back into the hallway to retrieve her bag. She extracted the plastic bag, which she had asked Jack to pop inside a proper evidence bag along with the necessary paperwork and placed it on the table in front of Simon.
“What’s this? I know it’s a comb and some teeth, but why are you giving it to me?”
“It’s a long shot. I asked the Rylands to supply something that would likely have Jeff’s DNA on, in case you needed it in the future.”
“Good thinking. You’re not just a pretty face after all.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. “Hope it helps. The mother and father are still beside themselves after all these years. Mrs. Ryland actually passed out when she first laid eyes on us.”
“Oh no. Was she all right?”
“Yes. I wasn’t going to tell them about the remains, but when I started asking questions about the neighbours, the son sort of twigged where I was leading and forced me into a corner. The father has early signs of dementia. I hope the news doesn’t worsen his condition when we eventually reveal the truth.”
“Maybe it was wrong to visit them until we’re a hundred percent sure.”
Sally shrugged. “I had to. You know what the media are like. Once they get wind of something like this, it’ll be out there in a flash. I’m sure the family would have been forming a lynch mob if I hadn’t gone to see them, yes?”
“You’re probably right. It’s a tough call to make for you. Sorry for adding to your stress.”
She reached across the table and placed a hand over his. “You haven’t. You couldn’t add to my stress even if you tried.”
“What about the other case you’re working on? You’ve travelled a fair few miles today, haven’t you?”
“You’re not wrong.” She shuddered as the memory of visiting Abbott in Norwich entered her mind. “He’s such a slimy bastard. He was testing me all the time I was with him. ”
“Sounds horrendous. Will you have to return to the prison to see him again?”
Sally turned her glass by the stem, and his hand tightened over her other hand.
“Sal? What is it?”
“He wants me to go back with the crime scene photos of the three girls he murdered.”
“That’s gross. Why?”
“I’ve heard of it before. I’m sure there’s a name for the condition somewhere in the psychologist’s handbook. Some prisoners choose to do it, so they can relive the crimes and the sensations they felt when they committed their heinous acts.”
“You can’t bow to that kind of pressure, surely?”
Sally dropped her gaze to the table and shrugged. “He has me over a barrel.”
“How? Sally, look at me.”
She glanced up. Concern swam in his eyes. “One of his victims —at least we think she is—the girl’s mother is terminally ill with cancer. She needs to know where her daughter’s body is so that she can hold the girl’s funeral before she dies.”
He threw himself back against his chair. “Oh crap, that’s awful. I still don’t get why he has you over a barrel, though, love.”
“If I supply him with the crime scene photos, then he’s going to tell me where he buried the girl’s body, and possibly the other girls he was suspected of killing at the time he was sentenced.”
“I see. Wow, I don’t know what to suggest in that case.”
“Not only that, but talking to him today, I managed to glean from him that there are probably more victims out there. The original case suspected that he was guilty of possibly killing six girls. However, by what he said today, I believe that there may be another four girls he likely abducted. Who’s to say whether he killed them or not?”
“Jesus! He sounds a twisted individual. I’m worried about you going back to prison to see him. Can’t you pass the baton over to Jack? I’d feel happier if you did.”
Sally tutted. “Hey, we’ve broken a golden rule tonight by discussing our workload. I’m starving. Let’s crack on with dinner, yes?”
“You’re impossible to deal with at times, Sally Parker.”
She smiled and winked at him. “I know. That’s why you love me.”
Chapter 7
The rest of the team were all seated at their desks when Sally arrived at work the followi
ng morning. “Wow, you guys really do make an inspector proud, without even realising it.”
Each of them looked at her, wearing a puzzled expression.
“Oh, right, you mean by showing up for work before you,” Jack said as the penny dropped.
“Doh! Yes. Let me grab a coffee and check through the dreaded post, and I’ll be with you in a tick.” Waiting in her sun-filled office was a pile of letters, which she swiftly opened and sorted into piles of importance, promising to deal with them during the course of the day. After finishing her coffee, she rejoined the rest of the team in the incident room.
“Okay, let’s discuss where we are. Joanna, any news on tracking down the neighbours from back in eighty-five?”
“I’ve found a few, boss. Not many, but enough to be going on with, I reckon.”
“It’s a long shot, but how many of those are still living in this area?”
“Three of the five I’m searching for, so far.”
Sally nodded. “That’s better than nothing. Try and find the others today, and Jack and I will make arrangements to visit them tomorrow.”
“Don’t forget we’ve got the family to interview, as well,” Jack reminded her, scratching the side of his head.
“I hadn’t. What are you trying to say, Jack?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
Sally laughed. “There’s no need for you to do that. Let’s get things organised first, and then, if I find we’re snowed under with people to visit, I’ll divide the workload up. How’s that?”
“Sounds like a mighty fine plan to me, boss. I’d hate for us to get overwhelmed. ”
“Quite right. Once the research element has been carried out, if it turns out there are dozens of people to interview, we’ll all get involved in that side of things. I’d already thought about that, Jack, so don’t worry. It’s not as if we need to keep a member of staff here all the time, manning the phone like in the good old days, is it?”
“Fair point.”
“Good. Now that’s sorted. Anything else we need to highlight on the Ryland case before I move on?”
The team all shook their heads. Sally had arranged with the desk sergeant for the delivery of another whiteboard to the incident room. She stepped towards the clean one and picked up the black marker pen. “Okay, if the rest of you want to crack on with the Ryland case, Jordan and I will start on the Hathaway case. Just ignore us.”
Jack grumbled. “Will it be all right if we overhear something and want to chime in now and again?”
“As per usual, you mean, partner? Sure it is.” Sally winked at Jordan, who sniggered in response.
“Right, Jordan. I left you researching any possible missing young women or girls around the time of Abbott’s arrest. What did you manage to find out?”
Jordan pulled a sheet of paper off his desk and handed it to Sally.
She let out a long whistle. “Bloody hell. You did all this yesterday?”
Jordan nodded. “I might have taken it home with me to finish, but basically, yes. I jotted down most of that during my shift.”
“Did anything jump out at you once you’d completed the task?” she asked, scanning the information.
Jordan had placed each of the women’s names in circles, along with the date she was reported missing and the day that particular woman’s body had been discovered. Only three of the names had the last snippet of information alongside them.
Sighing, Jordan tapped his pen on the desk. “I guess the thing that truly struck me was that all the women ranged from the ages of seventeen up to twenty-one. All except for the little girl, Lynn Jackman.”
Sally nodded her understanding as to what he was referring to. “And she was only ten, if I recall correctly.”
“Exactly. Why did he change his MO? ”
Sally nodded. “It’s something I should ask him when I next visit him.”
“It would be interesting to find out, boss. Maybe something we can look at for future cases.”
“Good thinking. He’s going to be a tough one to crack, that’s for sure. I’ll need to have my wits about me when I visit him again. There’s no doubt about that. Maybe I should have a word with the governor. See if Abbott has had any visits from a psychiatrist since he was convicted. Anyway, let’s stick to the facts for now.” She scribbled the information that Jordan had supplied on the board. “Here we go then. According to your research, Karen Pitts, nineteen, disappeared on March eleventh. Her body was found four days later in a boggy area not far from her home by some walkers.”
“Strange that he didn’t try to bury the body, boss.”
“Mark of his inexperience, perhaps?”
“Maybe. All the signs are telling us that.”
Sally wrote down the second name in capital letters. “Sophie Johnson. This is one of the girls from the missing list, right?”
Jordan nodded.
“We’re unsure at this point if she has anything to do with this case or not. Judging by the timeline, I’m inclined to think along the same lines as you and say yes. Do me a favour, Jordan, will you print off photos of all the suspected victims for me while I write up the rest of the details? It might be good to see if there’s a pattern in the girls’ appearance.”
“Damn. I knew I had to do something first thing. Sorry, boss. I’m on it now.”
“No need to apologise. You’ve already gone the extra mile on this one.”
Jordan tapped his keyboard, and seconds later, the printer sitting next to Joanna churned into action. He jumped out of his chair, collected the sheets of paper and took them back to his desk. With a pair of scissors, he cut around the girls’ heads and stood alongside Sally as he stuck them to the board with Blu Tack. Before long, between them, they had filled the board with all the information. Sally stood back and folded her arms. Tilting her head from side to side, she reread the details.
“Let’s dispel the doubts and take what you found out about the girls as being fact from now on, okay? ”
“I researched it thoroughly, boss. Considered what you said about Abbott’s priorities for picking up a girl a few days after he’d disposed of the previous one. I must admit, some of the girls were guesswork only because the previous victim’s body hadn’t shown up. If that makes sense?”
“Perfect sense to me. Also, how many young girls tend to go missing around the same time? It seems wise to note down the names that showed up on the missing persons list going by the dates. We can always swap the names out in the future, however, I trust your research to be accurate.”
“Thanks, boss. That means a lot.”
“So, Sophie Johnson is twenty-one. She went missing on March seventeenth but was never found. Which leads us on to Tania Thomason. What do we know about her?” Sally picked up the original file and flicked through it. “Ah, here we are. Again, her body has never been discovered. What we do know is that her handbag was found tucked under the passenger seat of Abbott’s car when it was forensically examined.”
“At least we can point the finger at him on that one. Did he offer her a ride, perhaps?”
“Possibly. There was nothing in the file to say how he chose his victims. Maybe he trawled the streets, on the lookout for girls in need of a lift and pulled up alongside them to offer his services. Who knows? I’ll add it to my list of questions to ask the pervert when I see him next. Right, we have another new victim that you added to the list—Millie Potter, eighteen. Reported missing four days after Tania disappeared.”
“Again, we need to put a question mark alongside her name.”
Sally did just that. “Then we have Emily Norton, who was seventeen. Again, I recognise the name from the file.” She picked up the folder and jotted down the details alongside Emily’s name. “More evidence located in Abbott’s car. This time, a half-smoked cigarette. Her body has never been found, but she went missing on the twenty-seventh of March. Moving on, we have Michele Denton, aged twenty-one. She was reported missing on the thi
rtieth of March. Her body was extracted from the River Yare on April tenth. Examining the timelines, that seems a long gap in between, compared to the other girls.”
“I suppose it depends on when he dumped her in the river and how long it took for someone to find her,” Jordan chipped in .
“Excellent point. Let me try and find the PM documentation.” She studied the notes, and according to the pathologist, Michele could have been in the water up to five days before her body was found. “Five days, give or take. Which makes sense timewise. Then we have another girl from your list, Carina Sanders, nineteen, who went missing on April the twelfth. After which, we have poor Katrina Hathaway, eighteen, whose mother is dying of cancer. She disappeared on April seventeenth.” Sally sighed heavily before she continued. “The penultimate victim is yet another girl from your list, Jasmine Winkleman, also eighteen, who vanished on April twentieth. Which leads us to Lynn Jackman, whose body was found in Abbott’s car when his vehicle was stopped by the police for having bald tyres, thankfully. If that hadn’t happened, Lord knows how many more victims we would be searching for today.”
“Doesn’t bear thinking about, boss. So, where do we go from here?”
“We need to phone each of the families of the girls who are still missing. Just to make sure the girls haven’t contacted them since.”
“Shall I tell the families that we’re reinvestigating the cases?”
“Yes, tell them we’re tentatively looking into things at the moment and hope to have some good news for them in the near future.”
Jordan chewed the inside of his mouth before he spoke again. “It’s bound to raise their hopes, isn’t it?”
“Judging by the Rylands’ reaction, yes, you’re right. Just ensure you tamper that down to begin with, and we should be all right. The last thing we want to do is cause any more unnecessary heartbreak to these people.
“Of course. If you’re up to it and if you think the relatives would welcome a face-to-face visit, perhaps go and see them today. Although I’d steer clear of the new names you added to the list until after I’ve had a chance to gauge Abbott’s reaction to them.”