by Joy Kluver
‘Ma’am, we’re already getting messages in on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram,’ he said. ‘Most of them are the usual “hope you catch the bastard and cut his balls off” replies. I was wondering if “Chloe” should respond online before messaging Luke.’
Bernie turned to Matt. ‘What do you think?’
Matt nodded. ‘I think that’s a great idea. Will hopefully help with the credibility of my message to Luke in a few minutes’ time. I checked with the school what time lunch is. Real Chloe is due back in class in about ten minutes so we need to act fast now.’
‘OK, I’ll let you get on with it then,’ said Bernie. She picked up a cold cup of coffee from her desk and took a few mouthfuls. It was bitter but she needed the caffeine.
‘Anderson, how are you doing?’ she asked.
‘Good. Alice and Kerry have found a good place for a meet up. There’s a cul de sac a few roads away from the school. So, with only one way in and out, we should be able to corner him.’
‘Have you checked for footpaths?’
His eyes lit up. ‘Yes, there aren’t any.’
Bernie could sense the excitement on Anderson as he stepped from one foot to another. This was the kind of police work he was used to. He needed to be leading his own team again and if they did become an item, he would have to leave MCIT anyway. She’d put some feelers out for him after this case.
‘Good, carry on. The DCI wants a detailed plan by fourteen hundred hours,’ said Bernie.
‘Ma’am?’
Bernie looked across the room. Matt was signalling to her.
‘I’ve just put up a comment on Instagram. It says, “OMG, I can’t believe that some evil bastard has Laura. I’m so scared for her. Praying she comes home safe and well.” Does that sound OK? I’m going to message Luke next.’
Bernie quickly made her way over to Matt’s desk. She pulled up a chair and sat next to her DC.
‘That’s fine. You’d better do the message fast if she’s supposed to be in lessons in a few minutes.’
Matt pulled up Chloe’s WhatsApp on his computer and found Luke. He spoke and typed at the same time. ‘“Shit Luke! Have you seen the news?! Police think Laura’s been abducted…”’
‘Wait, would Chloe say abducted? Would “taken” or “kidnapped” be better?’
Matt deleted the word and wrote ‘kidnapped’ instead. ‘“Police think Laura’s been kidnapped by a murderer! I’m so worried for her I want to go look for her after school. Can you come with me? It’ll be quicker on a motorbike.”’
‘Yes, that’s good,’ said Bernie. ‘Send it now.’
They waited a couple of minutes. Beads of sweat appeared on Bernie’s top lip. She licked them away and tasted the salt. If Luke didn’t respond then the whole thing would be a waste of time.
The grey ticks turned blue.
‘He’s typing,’ said Matt, loudly.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened.
‘Yes,’ said Matt. ‘Here we go. “Babe, you’re right, that’s so scary but I don’t know where we could look. I’m sure the police are looking everywhere.”’
‘Damn,’ said Bernie.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Matt. ‘It wasn’t going to be easy.’ He thought for a second before typing. ‘“The police are shit! They don’t know where to look. Pleaaase Luke it will take me forever if I have to walk.”’
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence there,’ said Bernie.
‘Hey,’ said Matt, ‘I’m just thinking like a twelve-year-old girl.’
Bernie stared at the computer screen, eagerly waiting for the ‘Luke is typing’ phrase to appear. A few seconds later, it showed and a message appeared quickly.
‘“OK babe, just for u. Can meet u after school as I get out of college early today. Where shall I meet u?”’
‘What’s the name of the road, Anderson?’ Bernie asked.
‘Potters Close.’
‘And what time does school finish, Kerry?’
‘Fifteen hundred hours. Tell him to meet Chloe at the close at three ten p.m.’
Matt typed quickly. Luke’s response was almost immediate. ‘“See u then, babe.”’
Bernie looked at her watch. ‘It’s thirteen twenty hours. We have an hour and a half before contact. Let’s get going.’
57
Bernie was about to leave MCIT when her mobile rang. She didn’t recognise the number and thought about ignoring it but she’d given her card out to so many people recently she didn’t want to risk leaving it.
She answered briskly. ‘DI Noel.’
‘Hello, it’s Father Adrian. Is now a good time for a very brief chat?’
‘I’m about to go out but I can talk as I walk to my car.’
‘I’ll be quick. I’m sorry I haven’t called you earlier but I had to take advice about Rosa’s confession.’
Bernie decided not to correct him about the young woman’s true identity.
‘I ended up talking to the bishop and we agreed that I absolutely can’t reveal her confession – even in death.’
Bernie inwardly sighed. She thought it would be the case.
‘However, other than telling you that she was frightened, I think the other thing I can say, and it does sound a little odd, if you can find her teddy bear then that should help you. I’m sorry I can’t say any more.’
Bernie smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Father. You’ve said more than enough. Thank you. I must go now. Bye.’
As she walked over to her car, Bernie mentally rearranged her main suspects. Manetti moved into third, with Rupert Fox and Luke Davidson vying for the top. Was it the man caught by the camera or the one who provided it?
‘Everyone’s in place. Over.’ Anderson’s voice was clear on the radio.
‘OK. Waiting for visual confirmation. Over.’ Bernie put her radio down. She was further up the road from Anderson and the others. Alice was with her. The new DC had proved herself competent but hadn’t really impressed Bernie.
‘So,’ said Bernie, ‘is your baby better?’
Alice turned to Bernie, seemingly startled by her DI’s personal question. Her mousy hair swayed gently in the breeze from the open window.
‘Oh, he’s much better, thanks. It was a twenty-four-hour bug.’
Alice turned her head to look out of the window again. Bernie contemplated probing her about Worth, knowing she had worked more cases with him. Bernie hadn’t really wanted DC Hart with her. She had wanted Kerry but Worth had ordered her to have Alice.
‘I’ve heard Kerry has a bit of a reputation with martial arts,’ the DCI had said. ‘Better to have as part of the arrest team. A puff of wind could blow Alice over.’
Bernie had thought him unkind but as she sat next to the young female DC, she thought Worth was probably right. Bernie glanced at her watch. It was 3.08 p.m.
She lifted her radio up.
‘This is DI Noel. Any visuals yet? Over.’
She waited as each patrol reported back. There was no sign of any motorbike, let alone a BMW.
‘Matt, could you check Chloe’s WhatsApp, please?’
A few seconds later, Matt said, ‘Nothing here. But if he’s going to be late and he’s riding then he won’t be messaging.’
Bernie watched the digital clock on her dashboard as it flashed away the minutes. Luke was now five minutes late.
‘Checking visuals again. Over,’ she said into the radio.
Again, there was no sign.
‘Ma’am, it’s Mick. How long do we wait?’
Bernie sighed. ‘Until fifteen thirty hours.’ She closed her eyes. She’d gone out on a limb and she could almost sense Worth peeling her fingers off as she desperately tried to hang on. She heard a beep. She opened her eyes to see Alice staring at her.
‘The DCI has just texted. He wants to know what’s happening.’
So that’s why Worth wanted Alice with me, he wanted a spy.
‘Tell him we’re still waiting for the target. We’ll reassess
at fifteen thirty hours.’
A few pupils from Chloe’s school were walking down the road. The local infant school would be finishing soon and Bernie was keen to avoid a confrontation with small children around. An idea popped into her head. She spoke into the radio.
‘This is DI Noel. Just thinking that Luke may be deliberately waiting for the infant school to finish, in case he thinks Chloe has gone to the police. Much harder to give chase with lots of small children around. Over.’
‘Anderson here. That’s a possibility. He’s now ten minutes late.’
Bernie tapped her fingers on the steering wheel but then stopped. Her skin prickled. She knew Alice was watching. Everything would be reported back to Worth.
The minutes continued to flash away until the clock on the dashboard read 15.30. Time to reassess.
‘This is DI Noel. Need to reconsider. Matt, anything from Luke on Chloe’s phone?’
‘Let me just see… no, nothing. Do you want me to message him?’
Bernie held the radio against her cheek for a few seconds before making her decision.
‘Message him.’
Bernie’s stomach was churning. The thought of going back to headquarters empty-handed was demoralising, especially with Worth there to greet her.
‘Ma’am. Message has been sent.’
‘Thanks, Matt.’
Bernie’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to find a text from Anderson.
You OK?
She quickly typed, keeping her phone tilted away from prying eyes.
No, not really. Think I’ve got Worth’s spy with me.
The radio crackled. ‘Ma’am.’ It was Matt. ‘He’s typing back… no! Shit.’
‘What?’ Bernie almost screamed down the radio.
‘Oh God, I don’t believe this. His reply is “What you talking about babe? You’re already with me.”’ Matt gasped. ‘And he’s just sent a photo. He’s got Chloe. She’s gagged and tied up.’
Bernie parked her car in the school car park and ran into reception with Alice behind her. She’d sent the others out to search the area and Matt had emailed the photo to her and Tom, in the hope maybe he could spot something. She’d felt sick just looking at it. Kerry had the task of contacting Chloe’s family. How had Luke Davidson got hold of Chloe when her mum was supposed to be picking her up?
She nearly collided with a teenage girl who was fastening a necklace.
‘That’s your final warning, Zoe. Next time your jewellery will be confiscated and your parents will have to collect it. You know the rules. Oh!’ The receptionist looked slightly alarmed at the sight of Bernie as she held her warrant card out.
‘I need to see Mr Travers now.’ She was breathing heavily.
‘Oh, he’s in a staff meeting. I’ll see if he can leave—’
‘He has to leave it.’
Bernie started to pace up and down. How could she have been so stupid? Somehow Luke must have known it wasn’t really Chloe who was messaging him. They were the ones being played. She thought about Clive Bishop. She grabbed her phone and rang Jane Clackett.
‘Jane, hi, it’s Bernie.’
‘Hi, are you all right? You sound stressed.’
‘Yeah… I’ve had better days. Look, I want you to release the CCTV photos of the motorbike. We need that out now. Can you put it on social media too, please?’
‘Yes, of course. Was it a no-show?’
‘More than that.’ Bernie lowered her voice. ‘He has Chloe.’
‘Oh shit. Does Worth know?’
Bernie glanced behind her. Alice was on her phone. ‘I think he’s about to find out. I have to go. Talk later.’
She hung up as Pete Travers came through the automatic doors.
‘DI Noel.’ He extended his hand. ‘Do you have news?’
‘Yes, but not the good kind. Was Chloe Hampton in school today?’ asked Bernie.
‘I think so but we can check. Mrs Horley, can you look up today’s records please?’
The alarmed receptionist tapped away quickly. ‘Yes, she was here for both morning and afternoon registration.’
‘And for all her afternoon lessons?’ asked Travers.
‘Yes. She’s marked in for everything. Her mother called about two thirty p.m. to say she’d be late picking her up and asked for Chloe to stay on site until she arrived. I sent a message to her class.’
‘What was her last lesson?’ asked Bernie.
Mrs Horley looked up from the screen. ‘Computing with Mr Gardener.’
Bernie was puzzled. ‘Isn’t that her form tutor?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ replied Mr Travers. ‘Is there a problem with that?’
‘I could have sworn he told me he taught Geography.’
Mr Travers smiled. ‘Yes, he does. But he worked in London, in the City, and was, by all accounts, a computer whizz-kid, so he covers IT too, sometimes.’
Bernie’s eyes widened. ‘What?’
The head teacher stared at Bernie. ‘He’s very good at computing, especially in security. He’s helped with our website. He organises the online safety talks for year seven and their parents. DI Noel, is there something I should know about Ben Gardener?’
Bernie’s phone buzzed. It was a text from Kerry.
‘Excuse me a moment, please.’
She read the message. Chloe not at home. Trying to get hold of her parents.
Bernie tapped the phone against her mouth, wondering what to do next.
‘We need to talk to Mr Gardener now and find out what happened to Chloe at the end of the lesson. Can you get him out of the staff meeting, please?’
‘He’s not in the staff meeting. He messaged earlier to say he had an appointment he’d forgotten about.’
Things were rapidly slotting into place for Bernie. ‘How does Mr Gardener get to school?’ she asked.
‘Well… um, I think he comes by car,’ said Pete Travers.
‘Although he sometimes comes on a motorbike,’ said Mrs Horley.
Bernie turned to the receptionist.
‘Don’t suppose you know what make it is?’ asked Bernie.
‘No, I’m afraid not but’ – Mrs Horley blushed – ‘he does make a rather dashing figure in his leathers. He’s got a very snazzy jacket. All black with some special silver buttons down the front.’
Bernie’s face dropped, her fears confirmed. She scrabbled on her phone and found the pictures of Luke Davidson, dressed in his biker gear, and then the one with him and Laura on the motorbike. She showed them to Mrs Horley.
‘Like this?’
‘Yes, that’s him and that’s his bike.’
58
Alice contacted the others by radio as Bernie turned the car round and put out the car registration details given to them by Pete Travers. The tyres screeched as they left the car park. She stuck her lights on but only used the siren when other cars didn’t move out of her way. They had Ben Gardener’s address but it seemed far too obvious to Bernie. Worth was getting the warrant sorted anyway.
She heard Anderson’s voice on the radio.
‘Close to the location. How do you want us to approach? Over.’
Bernie paused. ‘Wait for back-up and the OK from the DCI. I have a feeling Gardener won’t be there. But he can’t be far away. There wasn’t much time between him taking Chloe and the photo being sent.’
Ben Gardener lived on the other side of town. It would normally be a short journey but school traffic was clogging the roads. Bernie resorted to using her horn when the siren didn’t appear to be working.
‘I suppose it’s because we’re not in a normal police car,’ she said to Alice. ‘People don’t realise.’
Alice gave a tight smile. ‘Always the way when you want to get somewhere fast.’
‘DS Allen to DI Noel.’
‘Go ahead, Kerry.’
‘I’ve had to leave a message for both of Chloe’s parents. I heard Gardener’s address and I’m on my way there now with Matt. What’s your ETA,
ma’am?’
Bernie glanced at her dashboard. It was almost four p.m.
‘We’re probably about six or seven minutes away. Anderson and Mick are almost there now and waiting for back-up. Uniform should be joining them. It feels too obvious though.’
The traffic was still snarled up and Bernie spotted a broken-down car further along the road. Oh great, that’s all we need. She thought again about the photo of Chloe. Tape over her mouth, her eyes terrified. She pulled out her phone and looked once more. Something bothered her about it but she couldn’t quite work it out.
The cars began to move a little so Bernie put her siren on. Space opened up and within a minute they were past the blockage. She nudged the car to forty mph but was reluctant to do more in a built-up area. The picture came back into her mind and suddenly she realised what was wrong. She slowed down and pulled over.
‘Ma’am?’ Alice looked confused.
‘Need to make a phone call.’
Bernie searched for a number and it quickly connected.
‘Devizes Girls’ School. How can I help you?’
‘Mrs Horley, it’s DI Noel again. Did Chloe Hampton pick up her necklace at the end of school?’
‘Chloe? No, she’s one of the good girls when it comes to jewellery. Make-up, on the other hand—’
‘What about Laura Moffatt?’ Bernie didn’t have time to discuss cosmetics with the receptionist.
‘Oh, she’s a nightmare. On her final warning. She has a necklace with an—’
‘Owl pendant,’ Bernie finished. ‘Thank you.’ She hung up and looked at Alice.
‘What’s going on, ma’am?’
Bernie showed her the photo. ‘I think this is fake. That necklace belongs to Laura. I remember her playing with it when I first met her. Can you get on to Tom and tell him, please?’
‘Sure, but how does this help us? Does it mean he hasn’t got Chloe?’
‘I don’t know about that. But it does mean he could still be driving and be nowhere near his home. He only had to send that photo, not tie her up and gag her and then photograph her. And he has a lot of photos of Chloe to choose from. He probably had it already prepared. He knew we’d try something like this. Shit. He’s been playing us all along.’