The Blackness (The Mac Maguire detective mysteries Book 4)

by Patrick C Walsh

  ‘Look at all the forty mile an hour signs and here’s the hill…’

  All of a sudden they were at the top of a steep hill. Hitchin was spread out below them to the right. Tommy had to brake hard on the way down to keep within the speed limit. At the bottom of the hill a set of traffic lights suddenly turned red.

  ‘And these bloody lights, they always turn red when you get close but nothing ever comes out.’

  Mac’s last words were almost drowned out by the growl of three large earth movers as they passed by carrying soil from the massive earthworks being carved into the hillside.

  ‘Well, almost never,’ he corrected himself.

  He felt the need to explain.

  ‘I used to love driving down that hill, just letting the car coast to seventy. It reminds me of a hill in Birmingham near where I used to live. When I was a kid we used to freewheel our bikes down it. Nearly came a cropper a few times but it was so exciting. For some reason having to crawl down it at forty really annoys the hell out of me.’ He glanced over at Tommy. ‘It’s silly I know…’

  ‘What are they doing there?’ Tommy asked as they passed a block of portacabins that was three storeys high.

  ‘They’re building a new rail link on the Cambridge line. Apparently there was some sort of bottleneck at Hitchin. They’ve been at it for quite a few months now and I don’t think it’s going to end anytime soon.’

  They got stuck in the traffic on the Cambridge Road. It was ten past five when they pulled up outside the shop. Mac could see Jo and Gerry filling the window full of ‘Have you seen this girl?’ flyers. Natasha’s face looked out at him many times and again he had that little tickle at the back of his brain. What was it? Something like this had happened to him before and it had turned out to be from an old case of his. He made a mental note to send a copy of the photo to his old sergeant to check just in case.

  Dan and the rest of the team were all there when they entered the shop. Desks and phones had already been installed as well as copiers and other office necessities. Two men were working in the corner.

  Dan saw Mac looking at the men.

  ‘They’re setting up the wireless router for the computers,’ Dan explained. ‘Okay now we’re all here I want us all to present what we’ve found and Jo will write down any salient points on the white board. I’ll start if that’s okay. Adil and I interviewed Mrs. Barker first. She was obviously very upset and unfortunately couldn’t add anything to what we already know. The Family Liaison Officer Stella Ajunwa confirmed that there’s still been no contact from Natasha. We spent more time with Julie Waddington though. She and her mother are keeping Mrs. Barker company while she waits for news. Julie told us that the row in the pub was about a boy called Adam Oakley. He’s an ex-boyfriend of Natasha’s who Julie had started going out with and Natasha didn’t take the news well. She also gave us a long list of people who she says are friends of Natasha’s. Andy and Leigh have been working their way through them but they’re going to need some help. I’ll talk more about this when everyone’s finished. Okay, Andy and Leigh.’

  They both stood up and took their place by the white board which was still blank.

  ‘Unfortunately Natasha seemed to know quite a lot of people mostly through school and college,’ Andy said. ‘We managed to interview seven of them and so far we’ve drawn a total blank. We interviewed this Adam Oakley first and Natasha’s disappearance was all news to him or so he said.’

  ‘You sound a little doubtful,’ Dan said.

  ‘Yes for some reason I thought he didn’t ring quite true. I think that we should definitely keep him in mind. However everyone we spoke to confirmed that it would have been totally out of character for Natasha to disappear without informing her mother. One of them, a college friend called Wanda O’Leary, told us that she’s been working hard on a fashion project that she’s supposed to be presenting this week. She said that Natasha was very excited about it as some people were coming down from London to view her work, another reason for her not to go missing. Anyway we’ve still got another thirty or so of her friends to interview so any help would be appreciated.’

  ‘Okay next up Mac and Tommy who I believe have had a busy day,’ Dan said smiling.

  Mac and Tommy stood up.

  ‘We started at the Hen and Chickens where a barmaid called Kelly Harris confirmed the fact that Julie and Natasha had a row and that it was about Julie going out with this Adam Oakley. Most of the bar staff saw Natasha at the pub but couldn’t remember anyone taking an especial interest in her. Unfortunately Natasha told Julie in a very loud voice that she was going to the Millstream so anyone in the pub might have known where she was going. The taxi driver confirmed that he dropped her at the Millstream but he didn’t see her actually go in. No-one at the Millstream remembers seeing her and some of the bar staff there knew her from college. There was also something of a coincidence, if that’s what it was. One of the taxi drivers who also picked up at the rank in Bancroft, around nine forty he said, is called Tony Hamilton. The punter he claimed he picked up was severely hungover when we saw him so it’s unlikely he’ll be able to confirm Mr. Hamilton’s story. Mr. Hamilton also said that it was his last job of the night so he’s not got much of an alibi. Now he’s a retired teacher and he knew Natasha, in fact he taught her English. We also spoke to his wife Carol, who is another retired teacher, and she taught Natasha Art and Design at the same school. They both appeared to be above board but it’s still a bit of a coincidence.’

  Mac and Tommy sat down.

  ‘Yes and well worth following up. Now I’m sure you’re all aware that Mac and Tommy, ably assisted by Chris and Martina, have also been responsible for taking a major weirdo off the streets. I had a very nice message from Child Protection an hour ago and they were very pleased indeed. As well as a ton of evidence found in the outbuilding they’ve got a load of names from a laptop found there. Luckily Mr. Braithewaite wasn’t too hot on computer security and just kept them on a Word document. So well done all of you, you haven’t done the reputation of this unit any harm believe me. Okay, Chris and Martina.’

  Chris stood up.

  ‘We’ve been going through the Sex Offenders Register for any likely suspects but we’ve found nothing definite as yet. We’re just looking at the Three Counties area at the moment but if we don’t get anything soon we’ll expand the search to include London, Essex and Buckinghamshire too.’

  Chris sat down.

  ‘Jo and Gerry have you anything to add?’ Dan asked.

  ‘I’ll just be glad to start doing some proper police work,’ Gerry muttered grumpily.

  ‘Me too,’ Jo chimed in.

  ‘You’ll get your chance starting in about ten minutes. Thanks though for helping to get everything set up here. You’ve done a good job.’ Dan’s face turned serious. ‘I’m going to ask you to carry on for another few hours and I don’t need to tell you how important an early lead can be. However, we may be in this for the long run so pace yourself, make sure you get enough sleep and eat regularly. We may be at this for a while.’

  He thinks she’s dead too, Mac thought.

  ‘Okay if you see Andy he’ll supply you with the names and addresses of some of Natasha’s friends. He’ll give you four each. Do the interviews then go home and get some sleep. I want you back here at seven sharp. Coffee and danishes will be available here every morning so we can get on with it straight away. Any questions?’

  ‘What about her phone?’ Jo asked. ‘Has there been any activity?’

  Dan shook his head.

  ‘I’ve got an expert monitoring it but the phone appears to be dead. We’d be able to get a location if it was live but I suspect that her phone may have been destroyed. By the way the expert I mentioned will be joining us on attachment for this case tomorrow, I’ll introduce him then. Right I think that Andy and Leigh have been good enough to split the names and addresses and put them on separate sheets of paper. If you find anything ring Jo immediately and she’ll
ensure that everyone else gets the message too. Otherwise I’ll see you all here tomorrow morning. Best of luck everyone.’

  Leigh gave Mac a sheet with four names and addresses.

  ‘We’ve given you Corinne Obiah as you’ve already interviewed the staff at the Millstream.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  He thought that was very bright of Andy and Leigh, otherwise he’d have had to ask.

  ‘Come on Tommy let’s try Corinne first and see what she has to say.’

  Chapter Four

  They drove back to the Purwell estate and stopped outside a house in Bradley’s Corner. Like all the others it was a small brick sixties ex-council house and, like all the others, quite neat and tidy.

  A young girl with huge dark eyes partially opened the door. They could only see her head peeking around the edge.

  ‘Is Corinne in?’ Mac asked.

  The girl just gave them a solemn look.

  Mac showed her his warrant card.

  ‘Can you tell her that it’s the police. We need to speak to her.’

  She gave them another solemn look and shut the door.

  A few minutes later a teenage version of the girl opened it again. She was no less solemn though.

  ‘I’m Corinne Obiah. I take it that it’s me you want to talk to,’ she said.

  ‘Is there somewhere we can talk?’ Mac asked.

  ‘The living room.’

  She led them into a small room that contained two two-seater sofas and a large TV. A box of tissues was open on the coffee table and a number of them lay crumpled up on the table top.

  ‘There’s still no word?’ she asked once they’d all sat down.

  ‘I’m sorry no. Do you want anyone to join us, your mother or father?’

  ‘Dad left years ago and Mum’s at work, she’s a nurse. There’s just me and my little sister here.’

  ‘Okay. What can you tell us about Natasha?’

  ‘I met her when we both joined the course…’

  ‘That’s the Fashion and Textiles course at the college?’

  Corinne nodded.

  ‘We got on straight away. God she was so much fun…’

  She stopped herself mid-sentence and gave Mac a bleak look.

  ‘She is so much fun I meant, I mean she’s not dead or anything…is she?’ she said, looking fearfully at Mac and Tommy’s faces for confirmation.

  ‘I’m afraid we can’t say anything for certain at the moment.’

  Corinne’s bottom lip started trembling. Mac knew he’d need to move fast or she’d be in tears.

  ‘How do Natasha and Julie usually get on?’

  ‘Great mostly but when they fight you’d better watch out. They’re like sisters really, I mean Nat and me are good friends but Julie and her are just so close. They even finish each other’s sentences, it’s just like they’re telepathic or something.’

  ‘Why did Natasha say that she might meet you in the Millstream when she was with Julie in town?’

  ‘She said that if it was a bit slow in town she might try and persuade Julie to go back to the Millstream around ten,’ she said as she removed a tissue from the box and blew her nose.

  ‘Were you by yourself?’

  ‘Oh no there was a gang of us, about eight I think, all from the college.’

  ‘Is it possible that she could have come in without you noticing?’

  She shook her head with certainty.

  ‘Jonny Aldis was with us, believe me he’d have noticed if she’d have come in. He was looking out for her all night.’

  ‘Why’s that?’

  ‘Because he’s mad about her that’s why. He’s a bit shy but he’s been helping Nat with her project and anyone could see he fancies her. I felt that she was warming to him a bit too. I thought that might have been the real reason why she wanted to drop by the pub last night.’

  ‘What time did Jonny leave the Millstream?’

  ‘He was still there when I left, it must have been well gone eleven. Still hanging around in case Nat turned up I’d guess.’

  ‘Do you know where he lives?’ Mac asked.

  ‘Yes, down on Purwell Lane,’ she gave him the number.

  ‘That’s the road with the field on one side?’

  ‘Yes that’s right,’ she confirmed.

  ‘Tell me, how do you know his address?’

  ‘We’ve been around to his house a couple of times during the lunch break. His mum’s quite nice and she does us all sandwiches.’

  ‘Why would she do that?’

  Corinne thought for a while.

  ‘Well Jonny’s a bit shy as I said. I guess that his mum was just happy that he’d made some friends.’

  Mac thought on this, a boy who was a bit of a loner who had a fixation on a girl. It was sometimes a recipe for tragedy.

  ‘Would you say that Jonny’s liking for Natasha was, well, normal shall we say?’

  She looked puzzled for a moment until Mac’s meaning dawned on her.

  ‘You don’t think Jonny had anything to do with Nat’s disappearance do you?’ She thought about it for a moment and then shook her head vigorously. ‘No I can’t believe that. Jonny’s one of the sweetest boys I’ve ever met. I wished he fancied me to be honest, he wouldn’t have had to chase so hard. No not Jonny, I can’t believe that he’d ever harm Nat.’

  Despite her protestations Jonny’s house was definitely going to be Mac’s next call.

  ‘Is there anything else you can tell us that might help?’ Mac asked at the end.

  ‘Sorry, I wish there was.’

  Mac got Tommy to give her a card.

  They’d all stood up when Mac remembered something, the three sides of the rectangle.

  ‘By the way is there some sort of short cut that you can take to Natasha’s block of flats from Purwell Lane?’

  ‘Yes there’s an entryway just a couple of doors up from Jonny’s house. It takes you in between the houses and into the car park that belongs to the old people’s home. You walk up the path past the home and it brings you straight to where Natasha lives.’

  The address he’d been given proved to be that of a very large bungalow. Mrs. Aldis opened the door a split second after Mac rang the bell.

  ‘Jonny where… Oh! Who are you?’ a woman in her late thirties asked with some surprise.

  Mac showed her his warrant card.

  ‘Is this about Natasha?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes we’d like to speak to your son Jonny if that’s alright?’

  ‘Well, it would be alright but he’s not here I’m afraid.’

  ‘Can we come in?’ Mac asked.

  She showed them into a tastefully furnished living room with a very comfortable looking sofa. He was glad to take the weight off his feet for a while.

  ‘Would you like some tea or coffee?’ she asked.

  They both asked for coffee.

  ‘So what do you think? Are we looking at this Jonny?’ Tommy asked.

  ‘God yes, a shy loner hankering after the most popular girl in the class. He gets rebuffed and takes his revenge. A bit of a cliché but unfortunately it has been known to happen. There was a case…’

  Mac had to stop talking as Mrs. Aldis returned sooner than he’d expected. She carried in a tray with a large cafetiere, a milk jug and three cups.

  ‘I hope no-one takes sugar,’ she said. ‘We don’t use it normally.’

  Mac and Tommy assured her that it was okay as it was.

  ‘So no word at all about where she is?’ she asked as she handed the coffee cups around.

  Mac shook his head.

  ‘Her poor mother, what must she be going through?’

  ‘When did Jonny hear that Natasha was missing?’ Mac asked.

  ‘Last night. We’d both just gone to bed when I heard Jonny’s phone ring. He told me that it was Julie Waddington asking him if he’d seen Natasha.’

  ‘How did Jonny take it?’

  ‘Not well I think but I can’t always be sure. He doesn’t let
his feelings show that much if you know what I mean.’

  ‘What did he do last night?’

  ‘He just sat in the living room all night.I found him asleep in the armchair this morning with his phone on the table next to him. I guess he’d been hoping that Julie would ring during the night and tell him that Natasha was okay. Anyway he rang Julie straight away when he woke up and, when she said there was no news, he drank some orange juice and went straight out. He didn’t come back until this evening when he grabbed a sandwich and went out again.’

  ‘Have you any idea where he’s gone?’ Mac asked.

  ‘God knows, he never really tells me anything if I’m honest.’

  ‘When was the last time that Natasha was here?’

  She thought for a moment.

  ‘Yes, it was about a week ago. She and Jonny are working on this fashion project together but he persuaded her to take some time out and sit for him.’

  ‘Sit for him?’ Mac asked, wondering if she meant what he thought she meant.

  ‘Yes, he wanted to sketch her.’

  ‘He’s an artist then?’

  ‘He could be if he ever took it seriously. You know I think he quite likes Natasha because he could have always sketched her from memory. He only needs to see something once and he can sketch it, even days later. ’

  ‘Can we have a look?’ Mac asked.

  She led then down the hallway and into one of the back rooms.

  ‘We gave this to Jonny as a sort of studio. It gets a lot of light during the day you see.’

  There wasn’t any easel or canvasses but there was a stack of large sketch pages. Mac leafed through them. A lot of them were abstract designs, some quite good and others quite unsettling for some reason. Then he came across Natasha.

  It was just a pencil drawing but there was some magic there. Mac had never met Natasha but looking at the sketch felt like a sort of introduction. It was a profile drawing but the eyes were glancing to her right and they looked straight out of the drawing. She had a playful and knowing sort of smile on her face. If the look was meant for the artist Mac reckoned he was definitely on the inside track. There was real subtlety in the drawing and something else as well. Mac could only think it was love.