by El Edwards
Without waiting for a reply I got up and went to the ladies room to splash water onto my face. My mind was racing. Ryan had Toby. Or, he was willing to go out on a limb and collect cash on the promise of delivering Toby. But how had Ryan and Toby met? Ryan went to school here but Toby had to be at least ten years older than Ryan. Ryan would only have been five the last time Toby came to Barnstaple as a kid. And then there was Bill and Toby’s connection to his company. I didn’t know if Ryan and Bill knew each other. Was it plausible to think Bill and Ryan cooked this whole plan up together? I didn’t believe so but what other explanation was there?
Thoughts were still whirring around inside my head when I heard the door open and Rob walked in.
“This is the ladies.”
“I know. But you were taking ages and I was worried about you. Come on.” He took me gently by the arm and led me back through the bar to our table. “Let’s get you somewhere private. You need to ring Abigail.”
Feeling thankful that we’d chosen to drink within walking distance of our hotel, I followed Rob as he guided us back. When we got to the hotel we stepped into the lift without saying a word and together we rode in silence to the second floor where Rob reached into my bag, took out my keycard and let us into my room. I kicked off my shoes and sat on the edge of the bed. It was only then that I allowed myself a momentary wobble. As I thought about Abigail and her children, a solitary tear traced its way down my cheek. I wiped it away and then reached into my bag for my phone.
I dialled Abigail’s home number. It rang just three times before she answered.
“Hello?”
“Abigail it’s me, Charlie.”
“I knew it! What did he say?”
“How did you know? Never mind … he wants you to bring the money to Barnstaple, to the woods where he nicked my van.” I paused for a moment, desperate to remember if I’d told her that bit.
“Who does? Your van was nicked? What’s going on Charlie?”
Guess not. I took a deep breath and as quickly and succinctly as possible, filled her in on all that had happened during my visit to Barnstaple. When I finished she didn’t say anything. “Abigail? Are you still there?”
“You did all that, for me?” She sounded like she was crying.
“Well yeah, but it’s my job.”
“Does your mother know you do this job?”
“Please don’t get me started on my mother. The point is, we know he has Toby.” If he’s telling the truth, whispered a voice in my head. “And we know where he’ll be on Saturday. So we have between now and then to figure out a way to get you and the money safely to Barnstaple so we can nail this creep once and for all and get your husband home.”
I looked up and saw Rob waving wildly at me, desperate to get my attention. “Hang on a minute would you Abigail.”
I raised an eyebrow at Rob and he handed me a piece of paper with the note he’d just scribbled. Tell her the police are already looking for Ryan. Get her permission to tell them about Toby. I gave him a thumbs up and a smile.
“Abigail, Rob’s with me. You remember my friend the policeman I told you about? He says to tell you the police are looking for Ryan because he beat up an old lady. He thinks we should tell the police about Toby and get their help with the drop.” The line was silent. “Abigail? Do you hear me? I think Rob’s right. It’s for the best.”
“No Charlie, you promised.”
“But they could help us …”
“I said no!” And with that the line went dead.
FIFTY-TWO
When I woke the following morning it was still dark outside. I didn’t know what had disturbed my sleep but when I heard someone banging on my door, I got my answer. I pulled on my dressing gown and looked through the spy hole to see Rob standing outside my room, fully dressed, holding two coffees. I opened the door for him and then climbed back into bed.
“Don’t you know what time it is?” I groaned. “The one time I have a perfectly nice sleep and you come banging on my door.”
He handed me one of the coffees. “Brought you coffee didn’t I? Stop complaining! Besides, you’re usually up and dressed by now. What’s with the lie in?”
“It might have something to do with the fact I’m not sleeping very well. Why are you up so early anyway?”
“We’ve got work to do.”
“We do?”
“Yep, we need to go back to the nick and find out how they’re getting on. Ryan’s now a suspect in a kidnapping investigation. This isn’t just assault and battery anymore. Not that that’s not bad enough of course.”
“But they don’t know about the kidnapping Rob. And we can’t tell them,” I added quickly.
“You can’t, but I can. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. You don’t want to break your promise to Abigail and risk losing her trust but we need the boys and girls in blue on the case if we’re going to catch him on Saturday.”
“Rob no!”
“I wasn’t asking your permission.”
I was furious! This was absolutely bloody typical of him. He’d play along, let me do all the running around, getting myself stranded in the woods and stolen from and then, when the finish line came in sight, he’d try and swoop in and steal the glory. Well not this time Rob, no way. I did need to get an update from the local police before heading back to South Wales, but if he thought he was going to swan in there and take over he could think again.
“We’re not telling them.”
“But …”
“And if you can’t respect my decision then you’re not coming with me.”
“Coming with you? You’re kidding right? It’s my bloody car!”
“Well it’s my bloody case so either back off and play nice or you can wait outside.”
He didn’t say anything.
“Well, what’s it going to be?” I was out of bed at this stage, pacing around the room, picking up my stuff and shoving it back into my overnight bag.
“Have it your way.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, okay, I’ll play nice. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Noted.” I smiled. “Now bugger off back to your room so I can get in the shower.”
By the time we pulled into the car park outside the police station two hours later we’d thawed any remaining tension with breakfast and more coffee. The car park was as full as last time and so yet again we found ourselves circling round and round, searching in vain for somewhere to park.
“Guess you got your wish after all,” Rob said, a wry smile on his face.
“What wish?”
“We’re never going to find a place to park. You might as well run in on your own for the update. I’ll wait here with the car and move it if anyone complains.”
“You sure?”
He nodded. “Sure.”
“You know I don’t mind you coming in right? It’s all fine now.”
“I know. This is purely about logistics. We might never get home if we wait until a parking space opens up.”
I didn’t need telling twice. “Thanks Rob.”
I jumped out of the car and was soon inside. I spoke to a man behind the same glass panel as last time only to be told that Paul was out of the station. He called one of Paul’s colleagues down to speak to me instead, assuring me that everyone on the team had access to the same information. Ten minutes later a man in a similarly boring shade of grey appeared and took me through to one of the interview rooms.
“What can I do for you Ms Diamond?”
“Please, call me Charlie. Did Paul not explain my interest in the case?”
The man looked at his notes. “There’s nothing in here about you at all.”
“Muriel Flangan is an old family friend, but I’m also interested in Ryan on a more professional level.”
“And what profession would that be?” His eyes narrowed and I didn’t like his tone of voice. I handed him my card. “Private investigator,” he read aloud.
“That’s right. I’ve been following Ryan’s movements for some time and …”
“Well you can stand down now, the professionals are on the case.” He gave me a sickly sweet smile and stood up. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll show you out.”
“Now wait a minute detective, I don’t think you understand …”
“I understand very well thank you Ms Diamond. Your work here is done. Leave this to us.”
“But …”
“Visit your old family friend if you must but if I find you sniffing around Ryan Taylor I’ll arrest you for obstruction. This way please.”
With that he opened the door and led me back to the main entrance where Rob was waiting for me, his car on the pavement, hazard lights on. “And you can tell your friend if he parks there again I’ll book him.”
I got into the car and slammed the door before turning to Rob. “Don’t say anything, just drive!”
Rob did as he was told and we were soon back on the motorway, heading towards home. For the first thirty minutes I sat in silence, boiling with rage but not saying a word. We stopped for fuel about forty miles in and Rob came back to the car with two bottles of water. He started the engine and moved the car away from the pumps to a parking area then turned to face me.
“Are you going to tell me what happened then or what?”
And starting from the moment I entered the interview room until I was back outside and by the car, I told him everything.
“If you say ‘I told you so’ there’s a better than average chance I will physically maim you!”
“I didn’t say a word.”
“Good!” I paused and drew a breath. “What are you thinking?”
“Are you sure you really want to know?”
“Go on, you might as well get it over with.”
Rob smiled. “I was just thinking that if you let yourself be intimidated by a silly little jobsworth fuckwit like him, I may just have to arrest you myself!”
“Oh!”
And with that he put the car in gear and drove us the rest of the way home while I sat and plotted my next move.
FIFTY-THREE
We arrived back in Gloddfa Bont by mid-afternoon. We hadn’t made firm plans about what day I’d be home so the girls were still at Jonathan’s house. Despite the big breakfast I’d had earlier my tummy grumbled.
“Have you got time for a bite to eat in The Bont before you go?” I asked Rob.
“I should really be getting back. Got washing to put on, unpacking to do.”
It sounded like a hollow excuse to both our ears but I let it slide and we said goodbye. Walking into an empty house just a few days before Christmas felt miserable and I wished we hadn’t arranged for the girls to take Missy with them. I turned the heating on then quickly went round and switched on all the lights. Surrounded by the glow of fairy lights I was soon feeling festive and I decided it was time to devote some time to my trusty white board again.
The one piece in all this that I still couldn’t get my head around was how Toby and Ryan knew each other. However I joined the dots, I still wasn’t seeing the full picture and it was bothering me. When I’d been home about an hour I phoned Rob.
“How did Toby and Ryan meet?” I asked as soon as he answered.
He didn’t miss a beat. “Dunno. Is it important?”
“Course it’s important. We’re assuming Ryan’s the kidnapper cos it was him on the phone and he nicked my van.
“Don’t forget that he also admitted it.”
“Okay yeah, that too but …”
“And he beat up Muriel.”
“Alright, I’ll give you that but …”
“And Roland gave a positive ID.”
“Okay, but listen, what if he’s not working alone?”
Rob was silent for a moment. “Who would he be working with?”
“Dunno, but that’s why it’s important.” I sat back in the chair, a grin on my face. “Have you finished your washing?”
“Why?”
“I need you to come with me on another road trip.”
“But we’ve only just got back.” I could hear him sighing in the background, huffing and puffing, trying to talk himself out of it. I just waited, knowing what was coming next. “Where are we going this time?”
“You’ll see. Just pick me up in an hour, and bring your phone.”
While I waited for Rob to get to my house I worked my magic on the laptop so that by the time he beeped his horn to let me know he’d arrived, I was able to wave a photo of Ryan at him from my phone.
“Is that him?”
“Yep.” I grinned.
“How’d you get that?”
“Google. It’s amazing what you can find online these days if you know how to look for it.”
“Witchcraft!”
“You’re just jealous because you don’t know how to touch type.” I got into his car and gave him Abigail’s address. It was time to start moving some of those dots closer together and Abigail’s house was the perfect place to start.
I knocked Abigail’s door impatiently, willing her to hurry up and let us in so I could get to work. When the door finally opened, a pair of eyes looked up at me.
“Hello Alexander, is your mummy home?”
While we waited for the boy to get his mother, Rob leaned into me and whispered. “Is he old enough to be opening the door to strangers?”
“We’re not strangers. I met him on Sunday.”
“Yeah, but his mother didn’t know that before she sent him to open it.”
I shrugged. “It’s a quiet street. I’m sure it’s fine.”
Abigail’s arrival at the door interrupted our conversation. “Hey Charlie, come on in. Who’s your friend?”
“This is Rob, the policeman friend I told you about,” I said. “Rob, meet Abigail.”
The two shook hands then Abigail led us into the kitchen where we were greeted by a riot of colour. “You’ll have to excuse the mess. School holidays.”
She shrugged and gave me a look I recognised only too well from years spent cleaning up and running around after twin girls. I wanted to assure her that it would get easier, that soon they’d be old enough for her to pack them off to stay with their dad for a bit but I caught myself just in time and kept my mouth shut.
“How’d it go in Barnstaple? Any news?”
I didn’t quite know what to say in response to that. The last time I’d spoken to Abigail was to tell her that the drop-off for the ransom demand was all arranged. She’d hung up on me and we hadn’t been in contact since.
“Other than the drop-off thing I mean, obviously.” She laughed nervously.
“Well that’s kind of why we’re here. Have a look at this photo would you?” I showed her the picture of Ryan on my phone. “Have you seen this man before?”
“Man? Looks like a kid to me!”
“Well yeah, but that kid is the person responsible for making demands on your husband’s life so it’s important we don’t underestimate him.”
“That’s him?” She sounded shocked. “That’s who has my Toby?”
I nodded.
“But that can’t be right. He’s so weedy looking. You’ve seen my Toby. Well, photos of him at least. He could take that kid down like a shot!”
“Maybe under normal circumstances that might be true.” I hesitated, trying to be delicate. “But these aren’t normal circumstances are they? We don’t know the condition Toby’s being kept in. It’s possible that he’s been given some kind of narcotic maybe.”
“Drugs? He’s given him drugs?!?”
“It’s possible, we just don’t know. But that’s why I need you to look at his photo carefully and tell me if he looks familiar.”
She took my phone and looked at Ryan’s face again. It was from a press release announcing a grant McDonald’s had given to one of the local schools. Ryan must have happened to be duty manager that day because he was caught on camera presenting a super-sized cheque to the school.
The specifics were irrelevant. I was just thankful that once again Google had made my job easier.
Abigail handed me back my phone. “Never seen him before in my life. Sorry.”
It wasn’t exactly the answer I’d been hoping for but it was one more line of enquiry I could rule out. I thanked Abigail for her time, telling her I’d be back tomorrow to take her to Barnstaple. She needed to start packing and make arrangements for someone to look after the children. In the meantime, I had one more place I needed to visit and this time I needed Rob’s phone.
FIFTY-FOUR
Before we made our final visit of the day I wanted to call back at the building site with Ryan’s photo. I knew that the chances of him having been seen either working on site or loitering about were slim but I wanted to cover all angles. It also gave me the perfect excuse to check if Bill Winkleman was on site. When we arrived I asked Rob to wait for me in the car.
“Think I’ll cramp your style?” he teased.
“Yes actually.”
He pulled a face.
“Don’t be like that,” I said. “I’ve just built up a certain rapport with the lads here now and with those shoes, you scream copper from a mile away.”
“Charming!” He shrugged and pulled out his phone. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll just sit here and wait.”
“Thanks Rob.”
I jumped out of the car and headed over to where the men were working. A few of them looked up and gave me a wave when they saw me coming so I waved back.
When I got close enough I called out to them. “Afternoon gents.”
“Charlie Diamond, well this is a pleasant surprise.” It was Mike, one of the general managers.
“Good to see you Mike.” I shook his hand. “Just a quick visit. I wondered if you could take a look at this photo and tell me if you recognise the lad?”
I took my phone out of my pocket and showed him Ryan’s picture. Mike looked at it but soon shook his head. “Can’t say I do. Should I?”
“He’s just a line of enquiry I’m following up.” I turned to the other boys who were standing around now listening to our conversation. “What about you guys?”
