by Lisa Stone
‘And if Colin was the man in the play area and he took Leila,’ Matt said, ‘then surely Doris Goodman would have recognized him? Even if she didn’t know him to talk to, she would have known him from sight. She knows virtually everyone on the estate and his flat is directly opposite hers.’
‘Precisely,’ Beth said. ‘This will be Kevin Bates trying to get rid of us, and not very imaginatively. I think I’ll pay Bates a visit on my way home and I can look in on Colin Weaver at the same time. Then we can eliminate him from our inquiries.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Matt said. ‘I’m done here for today and you don’t want to be visiting the Bates clan alone after dark.’
Beth smiled. ‘That’s very chivalrous of you, Matt, thank you.’
Twenty minutes later, Matt and Beth stood at the Bates’s battered front door, waiting for it to be answered. A dog they knew to be a pit bull terrier barked from inside, but as yet no one had appeared. The Bates family were notorious on the estate, individually and collectively. They had the dubious reputation of having clocked up more convictions than any other family in Coleshaw. There were four siblings – three lads and a girl, all adults now. Three lived at home at present and the eldest was serving ten years for grievous bodily harm. Mr Bates boasted he’d given a whole new meaning to the term ‘absent father’ by being in prison for most of the time his children had been growing up. His partner had cleared off when the youngest of the children was six and they were old enough – as she saw it – to look after themselves. Various ‘aunts’ had moved in while Bates Senior served time, but he’d continued to rule from prison through smuggled-in phones. On his release, his idea of taking his kids on an outing was to pile into a stolen car and rob a corner shop. Kevin Bates and his siblings had never stood a chance. But was he capable of harming Leila? Undoubtedly, Beth thought.
Another blast on the doorbell and it was finally opened by Bates Senior dressed in vest and shorts as though he’d just got up.
‘Late night?’ Matt asked.
‘None of your bleeding business.’ He scratched his stubbled chin and then adjusted himself through his shorts, while leering at Beth. With a crookedly set broken nose, deep eye bags, an ugly scar running across his left cheek and a belly overhanging his shorts, he looked hard and haggard – a good fifteen years older than his forty-five years.
‘Is Kevin in?’ Beth asked, ignoring his leering gaze. ‘We’d like to talk to him.’
‘So would I. Haven’t seen him for ages. What do you want him for?’
‘To ask him some more questions in connection with the disappearance of Leila Smith,’ Matt said.
‘He’s already told you lot he had nothing to do with it. He might be bad, but he’s not into kiddies.’
‘Do you know where we can find him?’ Beth asked.
‘No.’
‘When he does return, tell him we would like to speak to him at the station,’ Matt said. ‘We’ll give him twenty-four hours and then come back here with a search warrant.’
‘Tell him your fucking selves,’ Bates Senior said, and slammed the door.
Matt drove around the perimeter road to the block of flats where Kelsey and Colin lived.
‘I wonder if Kelsey knows Colin Weaver,’ Beth said, glancing up at Colin’s flat window as Matt parked. ‘She hasn’t mentioned him.’
‘Perhaps he was one of the clients in her contacts list we haven’t been able to identify,’ Matt suggested.
‘It’s possible.’
They took the stairs up to the third floor to flat 317. Matt rang Colin Weaver’s doorbell. There was no answer. Beth glanced at her watch. ‘Nearly seven o’clock. Perhaps he’s not home from work yet. Let’s go and see Kelsey and then call here again on our way out. If he’s still not in, we can ask the neighbours what time he usually gets back.’
Kelsey answered her door straight away. The bruises and cuts had gone but the lines on her forehead were even deeper now from all the worry. ‘Have you found her?’ she asked as soon as she saw them.
‘Not yet,’ Beth said gently. ‘But we need to talk to you.’
They followed Kelsey into the living room.
‘You’ve had a tidy up,’ Matt said, unable to hide his astonishment. The room was far neater and cleaner than he’d ever seen it before.
‘I have to keep busy,’ Kelsey said, wringing her hands. ‘It stops me from thinking about Leila, and I’m trying to keep off the drink and drugs.’
‘Well done,’ Beth said, genuinely impressed, although Kelsey was clearly suffering from the effects of withdrawal. She couldn’t keep still and kept twitching and scratching her arms. ‘You know you can get help from a doctor?’ Beth asked.
‘Yeah, I know.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘I’ve got this far before.’
Beth knew that Kelsey had tried to get off the drugs and drink many times before, but it had never lasted, and one by one her children had been taken into care.
Matt positioned himself by the window as Beth sat next to Kelsey on the sofa, unusually not having to move rubbish to do so.
‘Sharon’s not staying with you then?’ Beth asked.
‘No. I can’t be around her for too long. She’s a bit self-righteous for my liking, and being with her reminds me of how I should be.’
Beth smiled sympathetically. ‘Are you still sure you don’t want a liaison officer?’ Kelsey shook her head. ‘All right, the offer is there if you change your mind. The reason we’re here is to ask you about the man who lives in the flat immediately below you. Three-one-seven, Colin Weaver. Forty-eight, average height and build, balding. Do you and Leila know him?’
Kelsey looked thoughtful for a moment and then slowly shook her head. ‘I know who you mean. I’ve seen him around, but I don’t know him. Should I?’
‘A witness said Colin used to talk to Leila in the play area and bought her presents. Did she ever mention a man buying her gifts or going to his flat?’
‘No, but then I doubt she would.’ Kelsey’s eyes glistened with regret. ‘To be honest, Leila and me hardly ever saw each other, and if she did tell me I probably wasn’t listening. You don’t think he has her, do you?’
‘It’s just another lead we’re following up. We’ve had hundreds of them, Kelsey, and it will probably lead to nothing,’ Beth said.
‘Was it Doris Goodman who told you?’
‘No. We’re going to try to see Colin now, but we wanted to check with you first. Has he ever been a client of yours?’
‘No. Never, I’m sure. Although there’s some around here who are.’
‘Can you give us their names, please?’
‘Some of them were in the phone contacts list Sharon sent to you, and I’ll need time to remember the others.’
‘OK. Let us know when you do, please. It could be important.’
‘Kelsey, you can see the play area from here,’ Matt said, looking out of the window. ‘Have you ever seen a man hanging around down there?’
‘No, but when Leila was out amusing herself I was usually occupied in the other room, if you know what I mean.’
Matt nodded.
‘OK, thank you,’ Beth said. ‘That’s all for now. We’ll keep you informed of any new developments. And please let us have those other contacts as soon as you remember.’
‘I will.’
Beth stood to go and Matt moved away from the window.
‘Do you think she’s still alive?’ Kelsey asked Beth anxiously.
‘Until there is any evidence to the contrary, Leila is a missing person,’ Beth said tactfully. ‘We’re doing all we can to find her.’
‘Thank you.’
Kelsey went with them to the front door. ‘Peter, our social worker, was here today,’ she said as Matt opened the door. ‘He’s taken out a court order, so when Leila is found she’ll go straight into care.’
‘That was sensitive of him,’ Matt said sarcastically. ‘You didn’t need to hear that right now.’
‘Well, it’s his job, I g
uess,’ Kelsey said with a resigned shrug. ‘If parents can’t look after their kids then social services has to.’
‘I do feel sorry for her,’ Beth sighed as she and Matt made their way down to the floor below. ‘She’s trying to get clean, but what has she got left to aim for?’
‘Strange that her sister appears to be so different,’ Matt said.
‘There is a back story, but I don’t know the details.’
They arrived outside 317, Colin Weaver’s flat, and Matt pressed the bell, then knocked on the door. They waited, but there was still no reply or any sound coming from inside to suggest someone was in.
‘It’s seven-thirty,’ Beth said, glancing at her watch. ‘Let’s speak to his immediate neighbours and then call it a day. You try the neighbour that side and I’ll take this.’
Matt knocked on the door of flat 315 and it was immediately opened by a teenage boy on his way out. ‘Detective Constable Matt Davis,’ he said, showing his ID. ‘Do you know the guy who lives next door at three-one-seven?’
‘No. My mum might, but she’s not back until ten.’
‘And there’s no one else in your flat who might be able to help?’
‘No. Just me and Mum.’
‘OK, thanks.’
The lad jogged off as Matt joined Beth outside flat 319. On the second ring, a woman opened the door.
‘Sorry to trouble you. I’m Detective Constable Beth Mayes,’ she said, flashing her ID. ‘This is my colleague Matt Davis. ‘Do you know the man who lives in the flat next door – Mr Colin Weaver?’
‘A little. Why?’
‘He hasn’t done anything wrong,’ Beth said quickly. ‘But we’d like to talk to him. What time does he usually get back from work?’
‘Around five-thirty, but he hasn’t been in the flat for some time. At least, I haven’t seen or heard him. Perhaps he’s away on holiday.’
‘When was the last time he was home, do you know?’ Beth asked.
The woman paused to think. ‘It must be over a week now. He’s a bit of loner and I only really see him to say hello on our way in and out.’
‘I don’t suppose you know where he works?’ Beth tried.
‘Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. It’s the same firm where my brother works. Sparks Electronics in Coleshaw – he’s a clerk in the office.’
‘Thank you, that’s most helpful.’
TWENTY-TWO
‘There’s a Mr Kevin Bates in reception, asking for you or Matt,’ the desk duty officer said as Beth answered the phone. ‘It’s in connection with Leila Smith.’
‘Really?’ Beth’s pulse immediately stepped up a few beats. ‘Thank you, I’ll be right down.’
Beth stood. Slipping on her jacket, she crossed the office, then hurried down the stairs. Matt was out following up a new lead, but they’d both fully expected to have to issue an arrest warrant before they saw Kevin Bates again. Yet here he was, and it was only 10 a.m. Far too early for any of the Bates family to be out unless it was crucial to their well-being and advanced their own interests. That Kevin was here at all, and the morning after they’d spoken to Mr Bates Senior, suggested it could be highly significant and possibly the breakthrough they’d been waiting for. Was it possible that Kevin, pressurized by his father, had come here with valuable information about the disappearance of Leila Smith? Or even to confess?
Beth keyed in the code to release the security door that led into reception. Straight away she saw Kevin Bates slouched in a chair in the waiting area, legs spread wide open. He saw her and stood – not out of any respect, but so he could tower over her and have the advantage.
‘Good morning, Kevin,’ Beth said, unfazed. ‘Thank you for coming in so promptly.’ In the police station, surrounded by CCTV, she didn’t feel threatened, regardless of how much he glared menacingly at her.
‘What do you want with me?’ he snarled, his scarred face a younger version of his father’s. ‘You’re harassing me and my family. We’re all pissed off with you. I didn’t have anything to do with that kid going missing, so get off my back or else.’
‘Or else what?’ Beth held his gaze as the duty officer looked over from the counter, checking everything was OK. ‘It wasn’t our intention to make you feel harassed,’ Beth continued evenly. ‘You were one of the last people to see Leila before she vanished. I have a witness who says you assaulted Kelsey and made suggestive sexual remarks about her daughter.’
She saw his jaw clench, causing a vein to stand out in his neck as he fought to keep control. ‘Kelsey had a go at me first. She deserved it! But I haven’t touched her kid. She keeps away from me.’
‘Sensible child,’ Beth said. ‘But you were there on the evening Leila disappeared.’
‘I might have been.’
‘You were. Come on, Kevin, I’m very busy. Tell me what you came to say or go home and we can do this there.’
The vein in his neck pulsed. ‘I saw the kid leave with a bloke, Colin. He lives in the same block as Kelsey.’
‘You actually saw them leave together?’
‘Yes. Ask Mike and Jason if you don’t believe me. I had nothing to do with the kid going missing.’
‘I have spoken to Mike and I’m struggling to believe what you’re telling me. Mr Weaver has no previous convictions. And if what you’re saying is true, why didn’t you tell me before?’
‘Like I’m going to help you lot unless I have to. But this has got serious.’
‘A missing child is always serious, Kevin.’ Beth looked at him carefully. ‘What I think happened is that you – or possibly all three of you – were responsible for Leila disappearing and have concocted this story about Colin. I think maybe you panicked and didn’t intend to kill her.’
‘Bullshit!’ he spat angrily. The duty officer looked over again. ‘Think what you like, but it wasn’t me. You don’t have a shred of evidence, so keep away from me and my family if you know what’s good for you.’
‘I hope that wasn’t a threat,’ Beth said in the same calm manner. His face tightened as he struggled to keep control. ‘Was that all you wanted to tell me?’ she asked. She could see from his expression that it was.
‘You’ll be sorry,’ he said and turned to let himself out. The door swung shut behind him.
That was a strange meeting, Beth thought, as she went up to the office. Kevin Bates had bothered to come in, and early, but had nothing new to add. She supposed Mr Bates Senior had put pressure on him so they wouldn’t return with a search warrant. But it was a wonder Kevin hadn’t thought up a better alibi for the night Leila went missing, one that relied on more credible witnesses than Mike Doherty and Jason O’Leary. Unless of course they were telling the truth and Colin Weaver had taken Leila.
Beth picked up the desk phone and drew her notepad towards her, where she’d written the number for Sparks Electronics. She’d been about to phone the company when the duty officer had called to say Kevin Bates was in reception. Sparks Electronics was a well-established firm on the industrial estate, manufacturing electrical items and employing approximately forty staff. Beth listened to the recorded message telling her the number to press for each department – one for sales, two for billing and so forth. She pressed five for general enquiries.
‘I’d like to speak to the head of Human Resources,’ she said. ‘It’s Detective Constable Beth Mayes calling from Coleshaw Police Station.’
‘That will be Mrs Conway. Can I tell her what it’s in connection with?’
‘A member of your staff,’ Beth said. ‘Sorry, it’s confidential.’
‘I’ll put you through.’
Beth listened to a few seconds of hold music – ‘The Blue Danube’ – then a clipped but slightly hesitant voice said, ‘Abby Conway speaking.’
‘DC Beth Mayes, Coleshaw Police Station. I believe Colin Weaver is an employee of yours?’
‘Was. He left without any notice nearly two weeks ago.’
‘Really?’ Beth picked up her pen.
‘He w
as in one day and didn’t show the next. We tried phoning and emailing him, and we were going to call the police when we received his letter of resignation in the post.’
‘I see.’
‘Why? Is there something wrong?’ Abby Conway asked.
‘I’m not sure. When was the last time Mr Weaver was at work?’
‘Fourteenth of November. He didn’t show on the fifteenth and his letter of resignation arrived a few days later.’
‘Did his letter give a reason for him leaving?’ Beth asked, making a note.
‘No. It was very short and formal. It just said, “Please accept this as my resignation.”’
‘I don’t suppose you know where he is now?’
‘I don’t know where he’s working now. We haven’t received a request for a reference. Do you want his home address?’
‘I have it, thank you. It seems he hasn’t been at home for a while.’
‘Oh dear. I hope he’s all right. He was a good worker, but he kept himself very much to himself. He’d didn’t socialize with his colleagues outside of work, but even so, it was a shock when he suddenly left.’
‘How long had he been working for your company?’
‘Seventeen years. Hardly missed a day. It was completely out of character, him leaving so abruptly. I replied to his home address accepting his notice and wishing him well for the future.’
‘I don’t suppose you noticed the postmark on the envelope his letter came in?’
‘No, sorry, I didn’t. The letter is on file, though. Would you like a copy?’
‘Yes, please.’
Beth thanked Abby Conway for her time and replaced the handset. She studied the notes she’d made, deep in thought, then swivelled her chair round to see who was in the office. She needed permission – someone of a more senior rank – to authorize a search warrant, but Detective Sergeant Bert Scrivener wasn’t around. Grabbing her jacket, Beth crossed the office and went up a floor in search of DCI Aileen Peters. The door to her office was open but Beth knocked anyway.
