Look Closer

by Rachel Amphlett

  ‘Enough that he’ll know I’m serious,’ said Will. ‘Is the email ready?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She moved out of the way so that Will could see the laptop computer and the email that they’d drafted together over the past half an hour, with a single file attached.

  ‘Okay. Here goes.’

  Will hit the ‘send’ button on the phone and it chirped in his ear as it dialled the number and then began to ring.

  He was hoping the policeman would keep his mobile phone next to his bed during such a high profile case, and he wasn’t disappointed when a sleepy voice answered.

  ‘DCI Lake. Speak.’

  ‘It’s Will Fletcher.’

  ‘Will?’ There was a moment’s pause, a shuffling at the other end of the line, and then the policeman’s voice returned, a little clearer. ‘It’s three o’clock in the morning. What do you want?’

  Will’s insides twisted as he wondered whether it had been a good idea to phone the detective at home. The man didn’t sound like he had had much sleep.

  ‘Do you have access to a computer there?’

  ‘Yes. Why?’

  ‘Go and switch it on.’

  Will waited while the detective cursed under his breath, and then heard him mumble something to his wife.

  Her reply was muffled, but her tone terse.

  Will heard the other man walking through his house, before a door squeaked on its hinges and a light switch was pressed.

  ‘All right, Will,’ said Lake. He exhaled as a chair creaked under his weight and a computer beeped to life. ‘It’s three in the morning. I haven’t even had time for a coffee. You’ve been impossible to contact, and then you phone me in the middle of the night? What do you want? What the hell’s going on?’

  ‘Check your emails.’

  Will turned and nodded to Erin, who reached over and tapped the ‘send’ button on the screen.

  At the other end of the line, Lake started up his email programme, the light touch of his fingers on the keys filtering down the line.

  ‘I presume you want me to open this?’

  ‘Yes. Tell me when you’ve downloaded the attachment, too.’

  ‘Okay. Done.’

  ‘All right. Bear with me. This is going to take a bit of time.’

  ‘This had better be good,’ the detective growled.

  Will took a deep breath, and then began.

  When he had finished, the detective remained silent, until Will could bear it no more.

  ‘Are you still there?’

  ‘Shut up a minute. I’m taking some notes.’

  Will bit his lip and waited while the silence dragged out. Erin held up her hands, her head tilted to one side. He shrugged, and then held up his hand as the detective returned to the phone.

  ‘It’ll take me some time to look into this,’ he said. ‘I need to corroborate the evidence before I can do anything else.’

  Will glanced at his watch. ‘You’ve got three hours,’ he said.

  The policeman hissed through his teeth. ‘You’re not in a position to make demands,’ he said.

  ‘In three hours, Amy’s editor is going to print this story,’ said Will. ‘He has the original photograph.’

  He heard a loud bang at the other end of the line and realised Lake had kicked a filing cabinet.

  ‘What the hell?’

  ‘I needed some insurance. In case you didn’t take me seriously.’

  ‘You put me in a difficult position.’

  ‘That was the idea.’

  ‘I could have you arrested.’

  ‘I’m aware of that.’

  ‘Stay near the phone.’

  The line went dead, and Will lowered his mobile to his lap.

  ‘What did he say?’ asked Erin, her voice breathless. ‘Is he going to help us?’

  ‘I hope so,’ said Will. ‘Otherwise we’re really in the shit.’

  39

  Will reached out and squeezed Erin’s hand, her fingers cold under his touch.

  When he’d first parked the rental car and switched off the engine and lights, their breath had fogged up the windscreen. In the darkness of the lane, damp air had slowly seeped into the vehicle.

  They’d passed an abandoned vehicle a mile away, and Erin had cried out in surprise, before explaining it belonged to Mack.

  Will had shaken his head. ‘That means they didn’t find him.’

  They had stared at each other in shock.

  ‘He went to them,’ exclaimed Erin. ‘Why would he be so stupid?’ She’d bashed her fist against the upholstery of the car while tears coursed down her cheeks. ‘He must’ve known what they’d do to him.’

  All Will could do was hold her while she sobbed.

  Now, his whole body ached with its attempts to keep warm, despite the extra layers of clothing he’d thrown on. He glanced sideways at Erin as he felt a shiver move through her body under his touch.

  ‘How long do you think they’ll be?’

  ‘I don’t know. It’s been an hour,’ he said. ‘They can’t be far away.’

  ‘Do you think he believed you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What makes you so sure?’ She twisted in her seat to face him, pulled down her sleeves to better cover her fingers, and then took his warmer hand in hers again.

  He placed his other hand over hers and rubbed, trying to keep the circulation moving. ‘Because I do,’ he said. ‘I’m sure as soon as DCI Lake put the phone down, he would have made a call to Kirby Clark to see if he’s really going to publish the story this morning.’

  A shiver wormed its way down his spine. ‘And when he hears that they are, he’s going to have to wake up the Chief Constable and give him the news that they have to arrest the favourite candidate to run this country after next week’s election.’

  Erin leaned her head against her seat. ‘I don’t envy him that.’

  ‘Me neither,’ said Will. ‘Either it’s the best career move he’s ever going to make, or he’s finished.’

  ‘He’ll be fine.’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Will. ‘He will. He just won’t realise it right at this moment.’

  Erin looked out the passenger window into the dark woodland to the left of the car. ‘I hope he’s okay.’

  Will squeezed her hand. ‘Me too.’

  She turned back to him. ‘He really likes you, you know. I don’t know – there’s something about you. He doesn’t often open up to people like he has to you. Or Amy.’

  Will flexed his legs under the dashboard and flinched as his knee muscles threatened to cramp. ‘That’s why we have to do this,’ he said eventually. ‘I can’t leave him there. I can’t let Rossiter do this to him.’

  He caught movement out the corner of his eye and turned his head as a pair of headlights flared in the distance and began barrelling along the main road.

  ‘I think they’re here.’

  ‘What do we do?’

  ‘Wait until they go past, then follow.’

  ‘Will?’ Erin’s eyes were wide in the gloom of the car. ‘Are they going to arrest us?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  His eyes opened wide as Erin snatched her fingers from his grasp, leaned across, and took his face between her hands.

  ‘Thank you,’ she whispered and kissed him.

  Will closed his eyes, lost in the moment. Beyond the sensation of Erin’s soft lips moving with his, he tried to recall when he’d been kissed so intensely, his heart racing.

  Months? Years? When had he last really let go like this? Trusted someone with his life?

  Erin pulled away as the police car flashed by, its siren silent, the blue and red beams from its emergency lights echoing off the trees that lined the road.

  ‘Will?’

  ‘I know.’

  He reached down and turned the ignition key away from him, the engine powering to life. He was about to switch on the headlights when a second and then a third police car shot by, followed by an armed response
vehicle, its navy panels silhouetted against the red and blue flash from the vehicles ahead of it.

  ‘I think they took you seriously.’ Erin watched the last of the vehicles shoot past them, then reached out and squeezed his hand. ‘We should go.’

  Will flicked the lights on, and pushed his foot on the throttle pedal, easing the car out of its hiding place and onto the lane. The brake lights of the armed response vehicle in front of them flickered once, and then disappeared as it turned the final corner in the road before the house.

  His throat felt dry as he considered the implications of his decision to approach the police, wondering if DCI Lake and his superiors could be trusted. His thoughts turned to Mack and whether the old man knew they were coming, that he’d soon be free.

  He couldn’t – wouldn’t – consider the fact that Erin’s father might already be dead.

  ‘Will!’

  He slammed on the brakes as the car exited the corner.

  The police vehicles were stationary at the side of the road, lights flashing. Silhouetted figures stood next to open car doors, and as Will edged the car forward, he realised the game was up.

  He had to stop.

  He indicated left and pulled behind the armed response vehicle, then wound down his window as a burly figure hurried towards the car, closely followed by two armed officers carrying MP5 submachine guns.

  He blinked, then shielded his eyes with his hand and looked away as a flashlight shone across his face.

  ‘Will Fletcher. Fancy seeing you here.’ DCI Lake lowered the beam. ‘Get out of the car. Who else is in there with you?’

  ‘Erin Hogarth.’

  ‘Out. Both of you. Now.’

  Will turned, his gaze meeting Erin’s. ‘In case I don’t get the chance to say this, thank you.’

  She nodded, her eyes bright. She wiped at them with her sleeve, then reached out and pulled him closer.

  ‘No, thank you,’ she said and kissed him.

  ‘Now!’ barked the police officer.

  Will pulled away from Erin and opened his door, placing his hand on the roof of the vehicle to steady himself, his legs shaking.

  Lake waited until Erin had joined them, then glared at Will. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’

  ‘My father’s being held by Ian Rossiter,’ said Erin. ‘He’s been tortured.’

  The policeman’s gaze flicked from Erin to Will. ‘Is that true?’

  Will nodded. ‘We got a phone call from Rossiter. Mack – Erin’s dad – was screaming in the background.’ He held out his mobile phone and replayed the voicemail message on speaker.

  The detective paled, and then motioned to one of the junior constables standing on the periphery of the group, his eyes wide.

  ‘Constable – an evidence bag please.’

  Lake shook out the plastic bag and held it open to Will. ‘Put your phone in there.’

  Will did as he was instructed. ‘Why?’

  ‘It’ll be used as evidence in the case,’ said the detective. ‘If this ever gets to court…’ he added under his breath.

  He turned to one of the armed officers next to him. ‘Brief your men. Make any changes to your plan you need to, but we’re going in in two minutes.’

  The man nodded and ran back to the group of men standing by the vehicles watching the exchange, his colleague at his heels.

  Lake waited until they were out of earshot then turned back to Will and Erin.

  ‘You’re coming with me.’ He held up his hand. ‘You’re staying in the car with my driver. I’m not having you running around while we’ve got a potential armed suspect, or the future leader of this country under suspicion of murder. If you as much as open a window to get some fresh air, I’ll have you both arrested, understand?’

  They both nodded.

  The detective pointed to his car. ‘Get in.’

  40

  Will rubbed his sleeve on the fogged-up window of the vehicle and peered through the glass.

  Next to him, Erin stared at the back of Lake’s head, her features calm, although Will knew she was as worried as he was, by the way her fingers clutched at his, entwined on the seat between them.

  The driver leaned forward and adjusted the volume as the police radio crackled to life, then turned to the detective next to him.

  ‘Confirmation received that Mr Rossiter is at home, sir.’

  ‘Good.’ Lake raised his mobile phone to his ear. ‘We have a positive identification, team. Both cars are to follow mine. Car three – when we reach the house, you drive round to the back and stop anyone from leaving that way. Car two – you’ll be entering the house with me. Drivers to stay with their vehicles, engines running at all times, is that understood?’

  Will bit his lip and thought of Kirby putting the final touches to the front-page news article.

  Whichever way Ian Rossiter chose to run, his life as a politician was over.

  As the sun crested the horizon, Lake nodded, and the vehicle lurched forwards into the road. The driver manipulated the steering wheel with an efficiency that startled Will.

  After half a mile, the car swept up to the gates of the house and slid to a halt on the loose gravel.

  The driver lowered the window and pressed the security intercom.

  It fizzled once, before the static gave way to a male voice.

  ‘Rossiter,’ hissed Erin.

  Lake held his hand up and nodded to the driver.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said. ‘This is Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Lake of the Metropolitan Police. Kindly open the gate, please. We have an urgent matter to discuss with you, Mr Rossiter.’

  The occupants of the car held their breath as the silence stretched on before the voice returned.

  ‘Proceed up to the house, please.’

  A click ended the call, and then the gates began to swing inwards.

  The detective raised the mobile phone to his lips. ‘Now.’

  The two police cars that had been following at a distance suddenly raced into view, placing themselves in a convoy behind the lead vehicle.

  Will hung onto the armrest of the door as the driver floored the accelerator, sending up a spray of gravel under the wheels.

  The three cars sped up the winding driveway towards the house, branching off as they approached into their agreed positions.

  As the car stopped, Lake turned to Will and Erin.

  ‘No matter what happens, you stay here, is that understood?’

  Will nodded mutely and squeezed Erin’s hand.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but a glare from the police officer silenced her.

  ‘You’re here to identify Mackenzie Harris. Nothing else,’ he added. ‘If you leave this vehicle, my colleague here will arrest you – clear?’

  ‘Yes.’ Will nodded.

  Erin sighed. ‘Yes, okay.’

  The detective climbed from the vehicle, signalled to his men, and began to walk towards the house.

  Will watched as he approached the front door.

  He stepped back as the door opened before he’d had a chance to knock, and Ian Rossiter glared out at the police officer on his doorstep.

  Will wound down his window, ignoring the glare from the police driver, the men’s voices faint, but audible.

  ‘What do you want?’ asked the politician, his voice carrying across the driveway, full of pomposity. ‘What on earth could be so important that you have to disturb a man at this time of the morning?’

  His face betrayed no sign of stress, and instead, he stood with his hands on his hips, his hair slightly ruffled as if he’d only just awoken. He wore beige trousers and a navy polo shirt, and Will noticed the shirt was untucked, giving the impression the man had dressed in a rush.

  Rossiter frowned as three police officers climbed from the second car and began to walk up the path towards the house.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he demanded.

  ‘Mr Rossiter, this is a warrant to search your house,’ said Lake and handed t
he paperwork over. ‘We have reason to believe that one Mackenzie Harris is being held here against his will.’

  ‘This is preposterous!’ shouted Rossiter. ‘I’ll have your bloody career for this!’

  His gaze turned to the vehicles at that moment and his jaw dropped. ‘That little conniving bitch,’ he said and looked at the police officer. ‘Is she the one that’s told you this? You know she’s a pathological liar?’

  His lip curled as he stared at Erin, and Will felt her tremble under his touch.

  ‘It’s okay,’ he whispered. ‘He can’t get you here.’

  He heard her swallow. ‘He still terrifies me, Will,’ she croaked. ‘None of you know how dangerous he can be.’

  She leaned forward to the driver. ‘They’re armed, aren’t they?’

  He gave an almost imperceptible nod. ‘We took Mr Fletcher’s story seriously, Miss Hogarth, don’t worry.’

  She fell back into her seat, and Will pulled her close. ‘Not long now,’ he murmured. ‘Hang in there.’

  He turned his attention back to the house.

  ‘If you could move aside, sir,’ said Lake. ‘We’ll make a start. Is there anyone else on the property with you?’

  Rossiter’s jaw bobbed up and down before he regained his composure. He seemed to take a deep breath before speaking. ‘My press secretary Malcolm Gregory. Two friends that stayed last night – we were drinking quite late. Didn’t seem worth the risk for them to drive home, so I invited them to stay.’

  He smiled, and Will shuddered at how quickly the man could turn on the charm.

  ‘Right, well if you could please ask your guests to join us, that would be appreciated,’ said Lake. ‘Shall we come in?’

  Will watched as the police officer led the way into the house, the last man through placing an umbrella stand against the front door to keep it open.

  The driver drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as all three of them stared at the gaping maw of the entranceway to the house, wondering what was going on inside.

  ‘What happens if something goes wrong?’ asked Erin. ‘Have you thought of that?’

  The driver glanced in the rear-view mirror and caught Will staring at him. ‘There are two more cars back at the lay-by now,’ he said. ‘And an ambulance.’