‘In the fridge,’ says Star. ‘Why?’
‘Can I see?’
Star’s father, Dave, is in the kitchen. When he hears Judy’s request he goes to look in the ‘small fridge’, which is hidden behind one of the shiny units. The other fridge is a massive chrome American affair with a mechanism for making ice. A two-fridge family, thinks Judy.
Dave opens the door and gives an exclamation.
‘What’s wrong?’ says Annie.
‘Star’s expressed milk. It’s gone.’
Chapter 27
‘So whoever took Ava took the milk too,’ says Nelson. ‘That means they knew where to look. In this second fridge.’
‘It also means they want to keep Ava alive,’ says Judy. She’s in her car, a few streets away from Star’s house. It’s a grim, grey day and starting to rain.
‘True,’ says Nelson and Judy can almost hear him pacing. ‘It may be someone who thinks they have a claim on Ava. What about her father?’
‘Star says he’s abroad. I don’t think they’re in touch.’
‘All the same, check him out. And his family. They might resent the fact that they’re not involved in Ava’s life.’
‘There’s another thing, boss.’
‘What?’
‘Star’s been seeing Leif Anderssen.’
‘Bloody hell. Seeing as in having a relationship?’
‘I don’t think it’s that serious. But they’ve been out a few times.’ Judy guesses that Nelson will be even less au fait with dating terminology than she is.
‘Where did she meet him?’
‘At Cathbad’s meditation class.’
‘Jesus. I don’t like this. Leif’s a coincidence too far. He was the one who discovered Margaret’s body, for God’s sake. One of his team, anyway.’
‘I know.’
Nelson is silent for a few minutes, then he says, ‘Leave Leif to me. You check out Ava’s father and his family. Briefing at five.’
‘OK, boss.’
He rings off, leaving Judy sitting in her car staring at the rain.
*
Clough doesn’t like to admit it but he misses having Judy alongside him. Karen and Pete seem utterly shell-shocked by Ava’s disappearance and he needs Judy’s calm empathy to get the interview back on course.
‘Who would take a baby?’ Karen keeps asking, as if he could possibly know the answer.
‘She’s only tiny,’ adds Pete, unhelpfully. ‘A newborn.’
‘We’ll find her,’ says Clough. ‘We’ve got officers from four forces searching. We’ll find her. But it would help if you could tell me what happened yesterday. After the . . . after Margaret’s funeral.’
‘The burial was terrible,’ says Karen, ‘seeing her coffin go into the ground. It was as if I’d lost her all over again. But, when we got back to the wake, I don’t know . . . it seemed almost joyful. All the family together. It’s a long time since I’ve had Annie and Luke in the same room.’
‘Why?’ asks Clough. ‘Don’t they get on?’
‘They’ve always rubbed each other up the wrong way,’ says Karen. ‘Annie’s always been a bit prickly and, after Margaret went, it got worse. She’s always been a bit . . . well, forceful, and she used to niggle away at Luke all the time, saying that he was lazy, didn’t pull his weight at home, that sort of thing. Luke went away to university, got a job in London and hardly ever came home. But, this weekend, they seemed really close, talking together for ages. Don’t you think, Pete? You went to the allotment with them on Saturday, didn’t you?’
‘Yes, they seemed to be like a proper brother and sister for a change,’ says Pete. His own sons, Bradley and Richard, quiet men with tattoos and closely shaven heads, sit silently in the background.
‘Can you remember what time Star left the wake?’ asks Clough.
‘I think it was after six,’ says Karen, ‘because it was getting dark outside. She came to say goodbye. She wanted to get home to feed Ava. She’s such a lovely mum.’ She dabs at her eyes, Pete pats her on the back, ever the comforter.
‘Luke drove Star and Ava home, didn’t he?’
‘Yes,’ says Karen. ‘He’s got a company car. It’s very comfortable.’
‘Did you notice what time Luke got back?’
‘After Star left, we all decided to go home,’ says Karen. ‘Annie stayed behind to help clear up. She’s good like that. But the rest of us – me, Pete and the boys – came back here.’
‘And did Luke join you here? What time was that?’
‘I couldn’t say,’ says Karen. ‘We were all sitting in here, looking at photos of Margaret.’
‘Had you been home for some time?’ Clough knows that he has to persist on this. It’s vital to know whether Luke had time to abduct his great-niece before returning to the family party.
‘I don’t think so,’ says Pete. ‘I remember Bradley asking Luke if he’d go out and get some more beer. He wasn’t drinking, you see.’
‘So Luke went out again?’
‘No,’ Bradley cuts in. ‘He was just about to but then Dave got the call from Star.’
‘Dave’s Star’s dad?’
‘Yes,’ says Karen. ‘They’ve always been close. Dave got the call and he and Annie left immediately. Luke went too, to see if he could help.’
Why? wonders Clough. Why was Luke, the man who hadn’t bothered with his family for years, being so helpful all of a sudden? He hopes that Tanya is making some progress with Luke and his wife. They’re staying at a smart hotel near the quay. None of this mucking-in sleeping-on-sofas stuff for them.
‘Do you have any idea who could have taken Ava?’ he asks. ‘Any idea at all?’
‘I thought Star was making it up at first,’ says Bradley. ‘She always used to make things up when she was little.’
‘How can you say that?’ says Karen. ‘Annie says that she’s devastated.’
‘She’s a good actress,’ says Bradley.
‘No one’s that good an actress, son,’ says Pete.
But Clough is married to an actress and he knows that the audience believe what they want to believe.
*
Nelson knows that he should stay at headquarters, masterminding the search for Ava. It’s not the role of a DCI to go out interviewing suspects. And Leif’s not a suspect or even a person of interest. But by early afternoon he’s going stir-crazy. The rain has set in and he’s pretty sure that Leif won’t be doing any digging today. He tells Leah that he’s popping out and takes the back stairs to avoid bumping into Super Jo.
Leif is staying in a flat overlooking the river. In fact it’s very near the place where Margaret was last seen by Kim Jennings, crossing the narrow bridge in front of the Custom House. There’s an entry phone but someone is coming out of the double doors so Nelson just pushes past and barges up the stairs. He always likes to take people by surprise if he can. He hammers on Leif’s door, one of four identical doors on the second-floor landing. He has to restrain himself from shouting ‘Police!’ After a few minutes the door is opened but Nelson does not shoulder his way into the apartment. Instead he stands there, mouth slightly open.
‘Dad!’ says Laura. ‘What are you doing here?’
Chapter 28
‘Laura,’ says Nelson. ‘I was looking for Leif Anderssen.’ For a moment he really believes that he’s come to the wrong address.
‘Leif’s out,’ says Laura. ‘He went to the university.’
Nelson stands there staring at his daughter. He tries to frame a question but the words won’t come.
‘Well, if that’s all . . .’ Laura goes to shut the door.
‘No!’ With instinct born of years of policing Nelson gets his foot in the gap. ‘We need to talk.’
Laura looks as if she wants to refuse but then shrugs and stands aside to let him in.
The small flat shows signs of dual occupancy. Laura’s laptop on the coffee table, her trainers on the carpet. She’s wearing leggings and a T-shirt as if she’s just bee
n to the gym.
‘No uni today?’
‘No,’ says Laura. ‘I start my first placement in a school next week.’
His daughter is nearly a teacher, a role Nelson regards with utmost respect. He feels the familiar surge of pride in his first-born followed immediately by an equally familiar urge to protect her.
‘Why are you living with Leif?’
‘Don’t tell me you’re going to give me a moral lecture,’ says Laura. ‘You of all people.’
‘Laura . . .’ He takes a step towards her.
‘Don’t,’ says Laura, backing away. ‘I don’t want to talk to you.’
‘I’m sorry, love. Please come home.’
‘No,’ says Laura. ‘I’m happy with Leif.’
‘You don’t know anything about him,’ says Nelson. ‘Do you know why I’m here? Because a baby has been abducted and we’ve been told that the baby’s mother is Leif’s girlfriend.’ He wants to shock Laura and he succeeds. She stares at him, eyes wide. ‘What?’
‘She’s called Star. Apparently she met Leif at Cathbad’s meditation class.’
‘Star?’ Laura sits on the sofa. ‘Oh my God.’
‘Do you know her?’ Nelson sits next to his daughter.
‘Of course I do. I go to the same class, remember?’
But Nelson has never sorted out all of Laura’s extra-curricular activities: gym, spinning, weight-training, hot yoga. She always seems to be dashing off somewhere with a mat under her arm. And it turns out that she was dashing off to one of Cathbad’s lunatic fringe activities. Now he dimly remembers Laura saying that Cathbad was kind to her after the shooting last year, that he had listened and understood, something to do with them both being scientists. Nelson has never thought of Cathbad as a scientist although, when they first met, he was working at the university as a lab technician.
‘Leif’s not going out with Star.’ Laura sounds quite contemptuous. ‘They’re just friends.’
‘He’s got a friend at UNN too,’ says Nelson. ‘She’s called Chloe Jackson and she teaches history.’ He thinks that this is news to Laura. Her eyes narrow but she says nothing.
‘How do you know Leif anyway?’ he asks.
‘I met him outside the class one evening,’ says Laura. ‘Then, that day . . . when you told us . . . I went to talk to Cathbad but he was out. Leif was there, he was calling on Cathbad too. We went for a walk and we talked. He was kind, he listened.’
Then he lured Laura back to his flat, thinks Nelson. That good listener act is the oldest trick in the book.
‘I need to interview Leif,’ says Nelson. ‘When’s he back?’
‘In an hour or so,’ says Laura. ‘He’s organising some sort of trip for tomorrow.’
‘Tell him to call in at the station later today,’ says Nelson. ‘It’s important.’
‘OK.’ Laura isn’t looking at him.
‘Look, love,’ says Nelson, trying for the tone that often works with Laura, though rarely with Rebecca. ‘I’m just thinking about you. I’m worried about you. Mum is too.’
Laura turns towards him, her eyes full of tears. ‘How is Mum?’
‘She’s OK. But she misses you. George does too.’
‘Rubbish.’ But this draws an unwilling smile. ‘He only worries about his next feed.’
Nelson thinks about Ava. Is she missing her mother? Is she thinking about her next feed, delivered by the person who stole expressed milk for her?
‘Bruno really misses you,’ he says. ‘He’s pining.’
‘Stop trying to stop me being cross with you.’
Nelson reaches for Laura’s hand. ‘I’m sorry. I really am. If I could change the past, I would.’ But, even as he says this, he wonders if it’s really true.
Laura pulls her hand away. ‘I went to see Ruth yesterday,’ she says, in a tight, hard voice that he hasn’t heard before. ‘At the university.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes. I was angry with her. I wanted to tell her that she’d broken up our family. But, when it came to it, I couldn’t. She’s just an ordinary woman. She said that she always knew that you weren’t going to leave Mum. I actually felt a bit sorry for her.’
Nelson says nothing. Laura is having spiritual guidance from Cathbad, she’s visiting Ruth at the university. It’s as if all the separate areas of his life are suddenly colliding, making him feel jolted and uneasy.
‘I’d like to see Katie again,’ says Laura. ‘I remember the time you brought her to the house. I didn’t realise why you were babysitting Ruth’s child. I must be so stupid.’
‘Of course you’re not stupid. You’re a hundred times cleverer than me.’
‘That’s not difficult,’ says Laura. Then, softening slightly, ‘Katie was sweet though.’
‘I think you’d like her,’ says Nelson carefully.
‘Ruth told me to talk to you,’ says Laura. ‘She was quite nice really.’
‘Come home, love,’ says Nelson. ‘Then we can talk. All three of us. You can’t stay here. I don’t trust this Leif. I knew his father and he was a very strange character.’
This is a mistake. Laura stands up. ‘You don’t know anything about Leif.’
‘He’s too old for you.’ He falls back on an old favourite.
‘He’s only thirty-five. Anyway, age is just a number.’
‘Is that one of Cathbad’s pearls of wisdom?’
‘Get out,’ says Laura, flaring up. ‘Go away and leave me alone.’
‘Please, love—’
‘Just go,’ says Laura. ‘I never want to see you again.’
*
Tanya is finding Luke and his wife, Rina, rather hard going. She interviews them in their room at the charming Bank House Hotel which makes the occasion seem oddly intimate. Tanya sits in a chintzy armchair while the Laceys perch on the bed. She is distracted by an open suitcase on the floor. Why can’t they hang their clothes up like civilised people? She and Petra have a wardrobe each.
Luke seems very nervous and keeps getting up to pace the room, once knocking his head quite hard on the sloping ceiling. Rina seems calm, almost too calm. She’s a poised, elegant woman who, in Tanya’s estimate, is about five kilos underweight.
‘Can you tell me what happened after you left Star at her parents’ house last night?’ Tanya asks Luke. ‘Any detail, however seemingly insignificant, might be important.’
‘I saw her inside the house,’ says Luke, fiddling with the tassels on one of the numerous cushions on the bed. ‘Then I went back to Mum’s house. I knew everyone was meeting up there.’
‘Why didn’t you go in with Star?’ asks Tanya.
‘I got the impression she wanted to be alone,’ says Luke. ‘She’s very self-contained although she’s so young.’
‘Did you see anything unusual near the house? Any cars parked outside it?’
‘No.’ Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘What did you do next?’
‘Drove straight to my mum’s house.’
‘What time did you get there?’
‘About seven, I think.’
‘Who was there?’
‘Mum, Pete, Bradley and Richard. Annie and Dave arrived at about the same time as me. They’d been clearing up in the church hall.’
‘What happened next?’
‘Bradley wanted me to go out for some beer. I thought he’d had enough but I said I would.’
‘Nothing’s ever enough for Bradley,’ says Rina. ‘He’s a borderline alcoholic.’ Tanya thinks this is interesting. She gets the impression that Rina is not close to her in-laws.
‘But, then, just as I was leaving, Dave said he’d had a call from Star saying Ava was missing. He and Annie left immediately. I followed them in my car.’
‘Why?’ says Tanya.
‘Why?’ Luke looks bemused.
‘Yes, why? What could you do?’ Tanya realises that sounds rather rude and amends it to, ‘Weren’t her mum and dad enough?’
‘I thought they might need to someone to drive somewhere,’ says Luke. ‘Talk to the police, that sort of thing.’
‘Luke’s a professional, you see,’ says Rina. ‘He’s used to talking to people in authority.’
But Dave is a teacher and Annie is a nurse, thinks Tanya. Both highly responsible, professional jobs. Why would they need Luke to liaise with the authorities?
‘At what point did you call the police?’ Tanya asks.
‘Almost immediately,’ says Luke. ‘Star was hysterical. Annie and I had a quick search of the house. It was obvious the baby wasn’t there. Dave called the police. They came very quickly,’ he adds, in a conciliatory tone.
‘Do you have any idea who could have taken Ava?’ Tanya addresses both of them.
‘No,’ says Luke. ‘Who would do a thing like that?’
‘That’s what we’re trying to find out,’ says Tanya, hoping that she doesn’t sound too pompous. It’s hard work, being nice to irritating people.
*
Ruth, popping into the cafeteria at lunchtime, is surprised to see a long blond ponytail in the queue in front of her.
‘Leif! What are you doing here?’
‘Ruth!’ Leif turns in apparent delight. ‘How are you?’
‘Fine,’ says Ruth, conscious of looking sweaty and untidy in her crumpled shirt and dark trousers. It’s cold and rainy outside but, for some reason, the temperature in the Natural Sciences block is tropical.
‘Did Cathbad mention tomorrow to you?’ says Leif. ‘Visiting Stanton Drew.’
‘Yes,’ says Ruth. ‘It seems a long way to go.’
There’s a hiatus while Leif pays for his lentil salad and carrot juice and Ruth tries to hide the fact that she’s having a ham and cheese toastie. While Ruth’s waiting for her food Leif turns to her with the full force of his blue-eyed charm; so like Erik, so horridly, wonderfully like Erik. ‘Please, Ruth. I can’t explain but I really think it’s important that we do this tomorrow. Bring your daughter if you like. Surely the school will understand if it’s educational?’
Shows how much you know about the British education system, thinks Ruth, collecting her toastie, steaming gently in its greaseproof paper. ‘Kate’s been invited on a sleepover,’ she says.
‘Well, then,’ says Leif, spreading his arms wide. ‘What’s stopping you?’
The Stone Circle: The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 11 Page 20
