by Carol Wyer
‘And you had her back, didn’t you, Jade?’
‘Yeah. She was my mate. She’d have done the same for me.’
‘Did Carrie often threaten girls?’
Furrows appeared on Jade’s forehead. ‘She stuck up for herself and sometimes that meant keeping silly tarts in their places. That’s all. No one messed with Carrie or me.’
They chatted about life at Fairline Academy and Carrie for a little while longer. Jade seemed to appreciate being able to talk about her friend. Eventually she left, escorted by Anna. Robyn stared into space, thoughts ticking over, and jumped up in one swift movement when Anna came back in. ‘Get this Logan checked out. The man has a hunting tattoo and I wonder if there’s any connection between that and Amber’s note with the names of hunting gods. Somebody at Stardust nightclub will know where he lives. We must also track down Siobhan Connors. I’ll phone her boyfriend Adam Josephs after I’ve spoken to Harry McKenzie again. The killer removed a piece of skin from Amber’s forehead. I wonder if Carrie’s head was cut too.’
Anna vacated the interview room, leaving Robyn to reflect on Jade’s words. School could be tough for many pupils, and there appeared to be definite pecking orders at Fairline Academy. To get to the top of that order, Carrie had intimidated others and maintained a rebellious streak to attract hangers-on like Jade. Jade was clearly in awe of the girl. The way she had spoken about her had been almost with reverence. Robyn wondered if the real Carrie was actually a bully or going through the motions for self-preservation. She picked up her notepad and left the room, shutting the door behind her. As she turned to leave a familiar face beamed at her.
‘Ross. What are you doing here?’
‘Sorry to bother you. I might have a missing person. Thought I should report it.’
‘Relatives not gone through the usual channels?’
‘They didn’t know she was missing. They last heard from her at Christmas. She moved away from home in Ireland some time ago, and doesn’t keep in touch. Her friend Lauren raised the alarm. I spoke to the girl’s boyfriend, Adam Josephs, who claims they split up a couple of weeks ago after a blazing row. He hasn’t heard from her since that day. The only person to have had any contact with her is Lauren. She received what she thought was a weird text message, about her friend running off with a new man, thought it was fishy and asked me to look into it. I’ve done all the checks and I think there’s good reason to suspect she has disappeared. Thought I’d run it past you first and see if you thought I should make it official.’
Robyn felt a tightening in her stomach and the lemon dressing she’d had earlier suddenly became acidic in her throat.
She held her breath. Carrie had also messaged her friend Jade to say she’d met a man and gone away with him. This was beginning to sound ominous.
‘The girl’s called Siobhan. Siobhan Connors.’
‘Oh, crap.’
Ross looked up in surprise. ‘This is serious, isn’t it?’
Robyn swallowed to clear the acid she could still taste. ‘Could be. Can you ask her friend Lauren to come in and talk to me?’
‘She might be a little reluctant. I don’t think she has much time for our police force.’
‘I’ll go to her, then.’ She checked her watch. ‘It’s almost six. Will you come with me? Might help if she already knows you.’
‘Sure. Come on. I’ll call her first to make sure she’s in.’
‘You drive. I have to talk to Mitz before we go. Where are we headed?’
‘Gallow Street, Derby.’
Ross led the way to the car, Robyn behind him punching numbers into her phone, her yogurt and flapjack now completely forgotten.
Thirty-Six
Lauren sat on the floor next to the kitchen table with Brandon, brightly coloured bricks between their outstretched legs.
‘So, if you don’t mind talking to Robyn, she’ll be able to look into Siobhan’s disappearance for you.’
Lauren cast a look at Robyn and nodded. ‘She’s really gone missing, hasn’t she?’
‘We’re not certain but you’ve given us enough cause for concern.’
The back door opened with a whack and an excited Staffordshire bull terrier entered, dragging its owner, Susanne. ‘Oh, sorry, love. Didn’t know we ’ad guests. I’d have come home quicker. Hi, Ross.’
Princess snuffled at the guests then plonked down next to Brandon, tongue out, content to be part of the proceedings.
‘So what’s up? Why’re you here?’
Robyn spoke up. ‘Siobhan Connors.’
Susanne snorted. ‘She’s a fiery one. She’s probably deliberately gone off to wind everyone up. I told Lauren that after she asked Ross to check it out. I didn’t like ’er wasting ’is time.’
‘She’s not like that,’ said Lauren, standing and folding her arms.
‘She’s exactly like that. I’ve made my feelings clear about that madam in the past. She’s wild, to say the least, and I’m not that keen on her. Still, you’re not a kid, and you can make friends with ’oever you want. I’m not the best person when it comes to judgement of character. Made me own mistakes often enough.’
‘Is it okay if I chat to Lauren somewhere quiet?’ Robyn asked Susanne
‘Course. Want to use the sitting room? I’ll fix the little’un some dinner.’
Robyn, Ross and Lauren moved through to the sitting room, stylishly furnished and dominated by a dark grey corner sofa on which bright-yellow plumped cushions stood to attention.
‘Could you go back through what you told Ross, please, Lauren? It might help us work out what’s happened to Siobhan.’
Lauren gazed at her with clear grey eyes. ‘Siobhan’s been with Adam for over a year. They live in Uttoxeter. A couple of weeks ago, they split up and we arranged a girls’ night out to cheer her up. She was well up for it, and we arranged to meet for a few drinks and then go on to the nightclub where we first met. I turned up at Derby railway station but she didn’t. I thought at first she might have missed her train and then I got pissed off cos she hadn’t let me know, so I rang her. She didn’t pick up. I sent a text asking where the hell she was and that I was freezing me tits off waiting for her at the station. I got one back almost straight away saying she was sorry, she’d forgotten about the meet-up. She’d found a new bloke and they’d been shagging non-stop. I rang her again, and again it went to answerphone. I was majorly cheesed off with her by now and went home. I didn’t bother about her after that. It wasn’t that she’d not turned up, it was that she never told me about this boyfriend. She usually told me everything. And it was well odd that she’d even got involved with him. She’d been going on about Adam before that and how they’d get back together. She was just keeping him waiting a bit. I thought she really loved him. And then I got a message a few days ago saying she was going away with this new bloke. I rang her and got the answerphone again. I tried Adam but he’d no idea where she was, and said he didn’t care anyway. I rang Tesco and her manager said Siobhan had gone to Ireland to stay with her family, which I knew wouldn’t be true. She doesn’t even like talking about them, so I went round her flat but she weren’t in, and her neighbours had no idea where she was. I’d have rung her mum or dad if I’d known their numbers, but I don’t and nor did Adam. It didn’t seem right her going off like that so I asked Ross to find her.’
‘Which day had you arranged to meet Siobhan?’
‘Last Friday. Friday the thirteenth. I waited at Derby station for ’er train. It was due in at half seven.’
‘And she texted you after you sent your message?’
‘Yeah, but like I said, she didn’t pick up the phone and speak to me when I rang her straight after I got it. That’s odd, isn’t it?’
‘You received the second text two days ago, on Wednesday the eighteenth?’
Lauren nodded and passed the mobile to Robyn who read out, ‘“Hi Lauren. Having great time. New bloke is awesome. Won’t be back for a while.”’ She paused. ‘Do you think Siobhan might be winding yo
u up, as your mum put it?’
‘No, and I don’t believe she’d go off with another fella. And, I don’t think she’d pretend to either. She loves Adam. I know she does. That’s why I think something has happened to her. This doesn’t sound like her at all.’
‘How did you meet her?’
‘At a nightclub in Derby. We met at the bar. Ended up sharing a bottle or two of wine and crashing at my house.’
Robyn nodded and continued making notes. ‘And that was where you were going again on the thirteenth?’
‘They’ve got a good DJ on Fridays, and it’s half-price drinks until nine.’
Robyn suddenly realised she knew the answer to her next question. ‘Which nightclub was it?’
‘Stardust.’
Thirty-Seven
DAY SIX – SATURDAY 21 JANUARY
Robyn had held an emergency meeting with her team at 6 a.m. Siobhan’s name had been added to the whiteboard and she’d explained what she’d learnt from Lauren. She’d then driven to Uttoxeter at seven o’clock and spoken to Lucy, Siobhan’s manager, who’d confirmed Siobhan had an unblemished record of attendance, so when she’d phoned in tears, saying she had to take time off on compassionate grounds, Lucy hadn’t hesitated to agree.
Robyn made notes as Lucy answered her questions.
‘You last heard from Siobhan a week ago?’
‘It was last Saturday morning – the fourteenth – I was about to go on shift and Siobhan rang me. At first I thought she had a cold, because her voice sounded rough, and then I realised she was crying. I asked her if everything was okay and if I could assist in any way, but she said it wasn’t anything I could help with. She needed to go to Ireland for a couple of weeks. There was a family crisis – something to do with her mum and dad – that she couldn’t discuss, and she asked if she could take compassionate leave. I told her of course she could.’
Robyn already knew that the Connors family weren’t experiencing any problems. Earlier that morning Mitz had spoken to both parents, who’d confirmed what they’d told Ross: they hadn’t heard from Siobhan. Mr Connors, now living with his second wife, hadn’t heard from Siobhan since Christmas, and her mother had last spoken to her on New Year’s Day.
Neither of them had any idea where their daughter might be, but following Ross’s call, said they’d checked with other members of the family in case she’d turned up. They showed little concern about her sudden disappearance. Her father had declared Siobhan was a free spirit who did whatever she fancied without thought to others. Robyn gathered they weren’t a close-knit family. Siobhan’s only anchor appeared to be Adam.
‘Does Siobhan have any friends at Tesco?’
Lucy shook her head. ‘Siobhan isn’t close to anyone here, but that’s not unusual. There are full- and part-timers of all ages. As you can see it’s a twenty-four seven store so we’re all on different shift patterns and spread about all over the store, taking different meal breaks; it’s not a place for hanging about chatting or making new friends. You manage a few words with each other and that’s about it. The customers seem to like her. I think it’s her Irish accent. She comes in on time, does her job well, and leaves the minute her shift is over. She usually spends break times outside with a cigarette, on her mobile. Is everything okay? Is she all right?
‘I hope so,’ said Robyn. ‘We’re checking up to make sure she is where she says she is.’
‘You’ve got me worried now. I’ll give her a ring when I clock off.’
Robyn gave a small shake of the head. ‘I don’t think you’ll find she’ll pick up, but if she does, let me know straight away.’
She left Lucy and headed directly to Hamilton Road, a short drive away, where Siobhan’s ground-floor flat was in a surprisingly smart residence with a cream and brown brick frontage and wide parking spaces allocated to each flat. Adam Josephs was waiting outside the block, cigarette between his nicotine-stained fingers. He greeted Robyn, ground his cigarette underfoot and rubbed a hand across his stubbled face. He tried to suppress a yawn. ‘Sorry, I’m not on form. I’m working nights at the moment – ten till six,’ he said, ‘so I’ve not had any sleep yet. After you called, I couldn’t help but wonder if Siobhan is okay. She might be a prize bitch at times, but I hope nothing’s happened to her.’
He unlocked the main entrance and turned left, stood in front of the flat and hesitated. ‘I’ve not been back here since she kicked me out a couple of weeks ago. I took my gear and left. I forgot I still had the key to the flat. It was with my car keys. I nearly turned and shoved it through the letter box but I didn’t want her to try and talk me round. Every time we row and she chucks me out, I say sorry and we patch it up. I wasn’t going to this time. I’d had enough of Siobhan’s tantrums.’
The door opened to a reasonable-sized sitting room. A three-seater, cream, faux-leather sofa was pushed against the far wall, and standing on a red rug was a wooden coffee table.
Robyn wandered into the kitchen, which was untidy by comparison, with piles of crumpled garments stacked on a chair, and cluttered kitchen worktops. A large wine glass with a blue glitter exterior and silver interior, and emblazoned with a diamante letter ‘S’ was on the small round table squeezed into one corner. Robyn donned plastic gloves, picked up the glass and sniffed, the sour, vinegary smell making her stomach churn and reminding her she hadn’t eaten any breakfast.
‘I bought her that glass. It’s what they called a diamanté dazzler. She saw one like it on Big Brother and loved it. She went on and on about it. I bought it for her for at Christmas.’ Adam’s heavy eyebrows lowered and creases formed between his eyes. ‘Maybe she’s staying over with friends. She might be having the mother of all parties and be out of her head. I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s done that before, especially when she’s pissed off with me.’
‘Adam, would you mind waiting outside? I might want to take prints. I’ll check the rest of the place on my own.’
Adam stared at the glass as if it might divulge the whereabouts of his ex-girlfriend. ‘You don’t think something horrible’s happened to her, do you?’
‘I don’t know, Adam. It’s a precaution at this stage.’
Once he’d gone, Robyn headed for the bedroom where a silver skirt, black strappy top and a pair of skyscraper-heeled shoes had been tossed on the bed in a jumbled pile, along with a blue jumpsuit and a stretchy jersey dress – outfits that Siobhan had chosen not to wear. The scene suggested somebody had been preparing to go out – a bath towel thrown onto a stool next to the dressing table, hair straighteners resting on a stand, hairdryer on the floor, make-up and brushes lined up on a dressing table and several pairs of earrings that had probably not matched her outfit, discarded. Robyn closed her eyes to assimilate the information. Could Siobhan have been packing to go away? Robyn opened the wardrobe and alighted upon a small red suitcase on the top shelf. Unless Siobhan owned two cases it was unlikely she’d suddenly gone off. This scenario smacked more of preparing to go out for the night rather than away. Outside, Adam, sitting on a low wall, smoking, confirmed he’d taken the only other suitcase.
Back inside, Robyn rooted about for a handbag, keys, purse or mobile phone, but none were to be found. Everything pointed to the fact Siobhan had gone out for the night, but where had she gone and why had she not returned by now? As she shut the door to the flat, Robyn’s gut told her Siobhan was most likely in the hands of the murderer.
* * *
Judging by the way he glowered at her, DCI Flint wasn’t in the best of moods.
‘So, Miss Connors upped and left following a break-up with her long-term boyfriend?’ He sniffed several times as if he had a cold, a habit Robyn found infuriating. ‘She called her supervisor, explained she wanted compassionate leave, and told a friend she was going away with a new boyfriend. This is not unusual behaviour. According to Mr Josephs, Miss Connors has left on several occasions, usually after disagreements, only to return several days later. Her neighbours have witnessed arguments, raised v
oices through walls and slamming doors in the past.’
‘Yes, guv. But we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of her being snatched because of her past actions. Carrie Miller also stormed off on a few occasions.’ Robyn waited while he picked up the statement made by Adam Josephs and studied it again. Robyn knew what it said. She’d been present when they’d taken it.
‘I’m not convinced this woman has any bearing on your case. As far as I can tell, Miss Connors is a few years older than our victims, is or was in a relationship, and held down a steady job. Her employers believe she is trustworthy and have no reason to disbelieve her story that she’s gone back home to Ireland. It seems logical to me that she might do just that if she were upset enough about her boyfriend leaving her. She doesn’t necessarily have to be staying with her parents. Remind me again of her parents’ reaction to the news she’d gone off?’
Robyn inwardly cursed the man. ‘They weren’t overly concerned, but they haven’t seen her in a while and don’t know much about her life.’
‘And how many of her friends and work colleagues are worried about her?’
‘One, sir.’
‘And as we’ve established she’s gone off before, hasn’t she? According to Adam Josephs’ statement, she’d go off in a right huff every time we had a major row. One time, she went to Derby and didn’t come home all weekend. She liked to make me sweat it out.” Miss Connors could well be deliberately hiding out, hoping to cause anxiety.’
‘She hasn’t taken a suitcase and her clothes and make-up are scattered on the bed as if she was preparing to go out.’
‘Or, go away for a few days, DI Carter. She could have been rummaging for outfits to take away, put the clothes and items she needed into a small holdall, or even a plastic bag.’
Robyn refused to give in. ‘I think there are sufficient similarities between her disappearance and that of Amber and Carrie to be concerned. She’s not answering her mobile and she’s sent a text to a friend saying she’s with a new boyfriend, just like Carrie did.’
