‘I’m going back to the station to update DCS Fox.’
‘What’s the next step, boss?’
‘You sit tight. I need you and Ruby here for the next call. Jack Glover, Natalie, Zofia Kaminski – the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together.’
Tom scratched his head. ‘Are they?’
‘You bet they are,’ Grant said, slapping Tom on the shoulder.
It took a long while for the family to calm down. Jack didn’t seem to be able to function. Eventually he went to his study and Tom noted how Jack always left the door open. He had a similar anxiety to his wife – that news would come through about the children and he might miss it. Both parents looked dreadful yet the phone call had given them a breadcrumb. It was something to hang on to.
Tom tried to coax Alice to eat and he went to the kitchen to make a plate of toast. He carried it through for her.
‘It’s important to keep your strength up, even if you don’t feel like it.’
‘You’re very kind. Making food isn’t your job, you know.’
‘That doesn’t matter.’ Tom pushed the plate towards her.
Alice picked up a piece and stared at it a few moments before taking a tiny bite. ‘Last night I dreamed of Lisa calling out for me. And I couldn’t reach her.’
Ah, thought Tom, that was a nightmare not a dream.
‘Why wasn’t Lisa on the call?’ she whispered.
Tom could see her mind straying to the worst possible scenarios which would not do her any good at all. ‘Try not to dwell on it. We must stick with the facts. You heard Emily’s voice and you said she was trying to be brave. That means she’s in good spirits. And a demand is a positive sign.’
Joan Hardman was sitting on the sofa staring out the window and Tom looked across to include her.
‘My Inspector has spoken to Daniel Pearson and Pearson mentioned an ex-employee of Hardman Construction, a woman called Zofia Kaminski. Have either of you heard of her?’
‘The name’s familiar although I can’t give you any details,’ Joan said. ‘She probably worked in the office.’
Alice had put down the toast and gone back to tugging at her own hair. ‘Why is she important?’
‘I’m not sure. I think she worked with your husband.’
‘Then why don’t you ask Jack?’ Alice said.
Because we wanted to see your reaction first, Tom thought.
Ruby was reading from her screen. They’d received Emily’s phone call over an hour ago. It had been terrifying when Alice ran into the room, white in the face. Alice had not been able to express herself, staring at her phone and unable to respond to anyone.
Ruby had felt the emotion of the mother in every sinew of her body.
Had the parents’ reactions been genuine, or rehearsed? Grant had asked Ruby the question. Alice had seemed genuinely distraught whereas Jack had jumped straight into over-controlling mode. They could both be natural responses although there was something terribly strained between the husband and wife and it had been from the beginning. Was it relevant? Was it caused by Sylvie Delacourt? Or by Natalie next door? What was going on with this couple?
Now Ruby had a vantage point to observe Alice talking to Tom. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen how Tom’s calm manner helped people when they were in distress. He had a way too of being able to slip the questions in with no one noticing. He’d asked about Zofia Kaminski without causing a ripple. No wonder Grant respected Tom.
The lounge went very quiet and Ruby continued working until she was suddenly startled by the constable at the front door arguing with someone.
‘No, ma’am, you cannot walk in unannounced.’
Then Ruby heard Natalie’s voice raised in protest.
‘It’s all right, officer,’ Alice called out. ‘Natalie can come in whenever she wants.’
At the commotion, Jack came out of his study.
‘Oh good, I’m glad you’re both here,’ Natalie said, and that was when Ruby started to have a bad feeling. She exchanged a worried glance with Tom.
‘This is not the best moment, ma’am,’ Tom said. ‘Alice and Jack have had upsetting news and I think it might be best if–’
‘No you can’t shut me up.’ Natalie flicked back her hair. ‘I’ve had enough hiding in the shadows. It’s time to own it. Tell her, darling.’
Jack stared at her. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
‘Tell me what?’ Alice said, and Ruby was sorry to see how Alice seemed genuinely bewildered.
Jack ran his hand through his hair. ‘I think Detective Delaney is right. This isn’t the time.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Alice said. ‘It isn’t the time for what?’
‘Oh come on, Alice, don’t act the poor victim. Surely even you can’t be so dense you haven’t realised? Jack and I are in love.’ Natalie presented it like a triumphant announcement. She linked one arm with Jack’s and placed her other hand on her hip.
Coming after Emily’s call it was absolutely horrendous. There was a terrible silence. Everyone was staring at Alice as she tried to grasp what was going on.
‘This is nonsense,’ Alice said. ‘What the hell are you talking about? Have you gone mad?’ She turned to her husband. ‘Tell her Jack and tell her to get out of my house.’
Jack shook his head. ‘This is very awkward and it isn’t like it looks…’
Her husband’s floundering said it all. Realisation dawned and Alice picked up the plate of toast and hurled it at Jack, missing by miles.
‘You bastard!’ She rocketed up and in a few strides reached Jack and slapped him across the face. It made good contact and the sound bounced off the walls. Alice rounded on Natalie.
‘Get out! Get the hell out of my house.’
23
Grant was in DCS Fox’s office. He played Emily’s message through twice and Fox took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
‘Goddam it.’
‘He’s making a specific demand which we can respond to and I’ve instructed Alice to ask for proof of life when the next contact is made. Getting the call has pulled the mother back from the brink of despair.’
Ever since DCS Fox transferred to the Sussex force, she and Grant hadn’t seen eye to eye. Grant thought Fox felt threatened by him and for once, since the children were taken, Fox hadn’t mentioned his retirement nor his last birthday – two things which were usually on the top of her conversation list because the one thing she could always trump him with was his advancing age.
‘Lab reports have come back,’ he said. ‘Forensics went over the inside of the lock-up millimetre by millimetre and they didn’t find a thing. Alice has positively identified the hair tie as belonging to Lisa so it places the children there. The pyjama hasn’t given us anything so far. And we’ve got a recent tyre track at the lock-up exit – it could belong to the vehicle the perpetrator used to leave.’
‘What about saliva on Joan Hardman’s arm?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Damn. That would have been bloody marvellous. Anything from the Child Rescue Alert?’
Grant shook his head. ‘Not so far and I’ve called it off as the abductor requested. We’ve several reports of blonde children and none of them have yet been flagged as a positive sighting. On phone records and financial details – they’re still trickling in for our persons of interest. Then there’s the next-door neighbour’s bombshell announcement in the Glover lounge. I’ve no idea how that will pan out, although Delaney and Ruby are on top of it. We need to keep concentrated on the next call.’
‘I’ve got the armed response unit on standby for the exchange.’
‘Ms Silver thinks it’s someone who knows the family.’
‘Does she now. She’s always coming up with flashy ideas, isn’t she? And what do you think?’
‘It fits with the back door entry. There must be an insider connection.’
‘And you’re telling me you don’t have anyone on the radar? I kno
w that look on your face, you’ve got your suspicions.’
‘I’m working on it. Jack keeps getting flagged up and his history with women might be important.’
‘Might! I’ve got Treadgold demanding progress and all you can give me is Jack Glover’s sex life!’
The tension was mounting. From experience, he knew Fox could be much worse than this. Grant braced himself for the whiplash.
‘What the hell are you playing at! I want results. I want this maniac behind bars. I want those children found.’
‘As I said our next move is asking for proof of life.’
‘I can see that, what do you take me for, an idiot? Don’t make me regret putting you on this case and don’t imagine Treadgold hasn’t dragged up the issue of your age because he has.’
Of course he bloody had.
‘The ACC feels a younger DCI would be sharper and have more energy. He’s pushing for you to be replaced.’
That was pure madness. Halfway through a critical case a substitution could mean the difference between life and death. Grant felt the heat rush to his face and he jumped to his feet. ‘Then he’s a goddam idiot.’
‘And he’s baying for your blood.’
‘I’m the one who can solve this case.’
Fox whipped off her glasses and leaned back in her chair. ‘For once we’re in agreement. Now get the hell out of here.’
The pressure was on and he didn’t envy her dealing with demands from the top. She’d kept the media and Treadgold off his back, and for that Grant was grateful.
Fox turned a glacial stare on Grant. ‘I hope I don’t have to remind you safe return of Emily and Lisa is the priority here not prosecution. If anything happens to those children, everyone is going to be holding you responsible.’
24
It was bad luck for Ruby she was the second to arrive in the incident room and DS Steve McGowan was the first. He was filling the tray with a pile of fresh doughnuts and they smelled sweet and sugary. McGowan helped himself without offering her one.
‘I hope we don’t have to listen to more of your psycho-bullshit,’ McGowan said.
Ruby reached and helped herself. She bit off a huge mouthful. ‘Like I said, I’m here to stay. Have you made progress?’
McGowan gave her a scathing look. ‘I report to the chief, not to you.’
‘Oh grow up, isn’t it time you learned how to share.’
He wagged his finger. ‘You’ll see it’s detective work which will find those children, not your fancy theories and mind-bending crap.’
‘What is it with you? Why are you so defensive?’
‘Are you kidding? You’re the one acting like madam-superior as if a few years studying makes you better than us lot.’
‘That’s crap. Why don’t you admit it? You feel threatened.’
McGowan almost choked on his doughnut and she wished he had done. Bits spluttered out.
Grant walked in. ‘No time to waste. Are we playing nicely?’
‘Always,’ McGowan said, and he gave Ruby a death-look which dared her to say otherwise.
She shrugged it off. What an idiot.
Diane and Tom came in together and Grant slung his jacket over the front chair. He looked like he hadn’t slept since the beginning of the investigation.
‘Right, forensics have found a tyre track in the mud at the lock-up. It doesn’t match the blue estate so we’re assuming it came from the second vehicle. It fits with new information uncovered by DS McGowan.’
McGowan shot Ruby a victory glare. Coming from him, it was like a finger.
Give me a break, Ruby thought.
‘Damn well done, Steve. What have you got?’ Diane said.
McGowan stroked his moustache. ‘It was one of the locals who came up with the info. He’s a dog walker. He told me he always goes out at half six and there’s hardly anyone about at that time. His route takes him behind the storage units and he noticed a van pulling out the morning of the abduction. It didn’t have its headlights on, which was odd because it wasn’t daylight. He described it as a white utility van and he took note of where it was heading.’
‘Yes!’ Delaney said, slamming his hand onto the desk.
Grant gave a rare smile. ‘The witness said it went south onto the Brighton road. Brilliant, McGowan.’
McGowan cut Ruby a sly glance. Try not to sink to his level, she told herself.
‘Next,’ Grant said. ‘Daniel Pearson. He’s got motive because he lost his job and he puts it down to Jack although Pearson’s health rules him out. Pearson claims he found out Jack was sexually harassing female colleagues and there was an allegation of attempted rape made against Jack by an employee, Zofia Kaminski. Tracking down the women is a priority.’
‘Perhaps Pearson is in collusion with the abductor?’ Tom said.
‘It’s a possibility. Anything on Zofia Kaminski yet, Diane?’
‘I got a staff shot from Hardman Construction. Here she is.’
It came up on the screen.
‘She’s got long dark hair,’ Delaney said.
‘Yup, though I’ve not been able to locate her yet.’
Grant nodded. ‘Keep on it. And check with the retired science teacher and see if Kaminski is the woman seen hanging around the Hardman’s street.’
‘Our science teacher witness hasn’t got as good eyesight as I hoped,’ Diane said. ‘When I showed her a picture of Natalie, the Glover’s next-door neighbour, she wasn’t sure.’
‘It’s still worth checking. What else, people?’
Ruby felt the tension in the room edge up and she gripped the edge of her desk.
‘There’s the fallout from Natalie,’ Tom said. ‘She’s caused a rift between Alice and Jack and there’s a very difficult situation at the house now because Alice is refusing to speak to her husband.’
‘You’ll have to work around it. Do everything you can to keep communication going. We can’t let tensions jeopardise the response to the second phone call.’
‘Right boss.’
Grant rapped the pen on the board. ‘Think outside the box, people. What about you, Ruby?’
‘I’ve completed my profiling of the family. What’s standing out is the difference between Jack’s public image versus his private behaviour. There’s his suspected infidelity with Sylvie and his infidelity with Natalie. The statement from the woman who alleged rape, Zofia Kaminski, is going to be an important one.’
‘It doesn’t take a fancy diploma to work that out,’ McGowan said. ‘I could have told you the same.’
Grant silenced McGowan with a frown.
The message from Emily had been written on a board and Ruby pointed to it.
‘I’ve analysed the abductor’s message. Emily said – Mummy, it’s Emily. You’re not allowed to interrupt you have to listen. Here are the demands – you have to have half a million pounds in cash ready. The Child Alert must be called off. If you don’t comply I will kill both your children. I’ll phone again with some in… instructions for the exchange.’
She wrote another phrase on the board and tapped her pen on it.
‘The structuring of the message doesn’t include something like this – if you do as I say they will not be harmed – I think the omission is significant.’
‘Why?’ Grant asked.
‘Kidnappers who demand a ransom purely for financial gain frequently include a phrase in their messages telling loved ones the hostage will come to no harm if their terms are met. On the other hand, abductors who have taken someone for personal reasons tend to omit this phrase. Why? Because in those cases they want the family to suffer. Financial gain is not their only aim. They want to inflict torture on the parents. This means the abductor wanted to achieve maximum fear in the Glovers without giving any assurances.’
‘It’s like I’ve been thinking all along. You’re saying this is personal,’ Grant said.
‘Yes, it says the abductor has a personal motivation, such as revenge or spite. This isn’t only abou
t money.’
McGowan guffawed. ‘It’s a message sent by a madman. What a load of rubbish.’
‘DS McGowan,’ Grant warned. ‘I won’t be telling you a second time. Stop taking cheap shots.’
‘This sort of psychological analysis isn’t set in stone,’ Ruby said. ‘There’s no hard and fast rule for using it to predict outcome in kidnap scenarios, but my take is, the omission is important. What someone doesn’t say is as significant as what they do communicate.’
‘Everyone keep the personal angle in mind.’
‘We’re moving closer, aren’t we, sir,’ Diane said.
‘Stay focused. Ruby and Delaney, I want you back with the family. Collins, keep working on the Kaminski angle. McGowan, continue following up leads, financial records and background checks. Have we made any progress with the phone records?’
‘Some but not all,’ McGowan said. ‘You know what the phone companies are like. They’re trickling in and the credit card checks are even slower.’
‘Keep pushing. Jack Glover’s records are the priority and if this turns out to be an inside job, then somebody in this big mess of a picture might have made a slip-up and if they have, we need to notice.’
McGowan leaned close to Ruby’s desk. ‘Aren’t you the little favourite,’ he sneered.
The escalating tension between Ruby and McGowan was helping to make Grant’s choice between the two of them easier.
The team’s previous case had dug up skeletons from the past, and unearthed Assistant Chief Constable Treadgold’s misjudgements in investigating the murder of two young boys. As far as Grant was concerned, it was Treadgold’s mistakes which had allowed a serial murderer to keep on killing.
During their last investigation, Grant had suspected McGowan of being a leak. Had McGowan passed information to Treadgold, behind Grant’s back? Information which allowed Treadgold to cover his tracks? Grant’s instincts told him – yes. Although he had no proof against McGowan and the bigger fish was Treadgold. Grant intended to nail ACC Treadgold for corruption. All he needed was one scrap of intelligence and he could trigger an investigation of the man.
Deadly Lies Page 13