Locked Away (DI Sara Ramsey Book 13)

by M A Comley

  “That’s sacrilege. I take mine black, you appreciate the full richness of the flavour, then.”

  “Go on then, you’ve persuaded me to try it,” Sara replied. “Carla?”

  “White for me.”

  Mr Calder finished making the drinks and carried them on a tray out onto the patio.

  “I want to report my daughter missing. It’s unusual for her to disappear like this, plus, she was due to have dinner with me last night. She always shows up, or postpones if she can’t make it. I’m worried sick about what might have happened to her.”

  “I’m presuming you’ve tried calling her?”

  “Yes, dozens of times. The first time I tried, about seven last night, the phone rang and then went dead after a few rings. I haven’t been able to get through since. I’ve rung every thirty minutes or so, even during the night.”

  “When was the last time you contacted her and actually spoke to her?” Sara asked.

  Carla withdrew her notebook to take down what was being said.

  “Yesterday, just before she left the boutique. She told me she was going home to get changed and couldn’t wait to see me for dinner. Does that sound like someone who would go AWOL without telling me?”

  “No, you’re right, it doesn’t, sir. Did she sound okay during the call, not under duress?”

  “No, very excited. My daughter and I adore our time together. Please, you have to start searching for her. You know when something is wrong with your child, you just know it. That’s how I feel right now. She’s missing, and I’m sat here thinking all sorts that I’d rather not be thinking.”

  “It’s best not to go down that route, sir. There could be a simple explanation for her disappearance.”

  “Like what? I’ve been out there all night, driving around, looking for her. I went to the boutique first, of course. Her car was still in the car park out back.”

  “Okay. Do you know if there are any CCTV cameras in the car park?”

  “Sadly not. She didn’t feel the need for there to be any installed, not with the type of clientele she gets.”

  “I see. Are there any connecting shops which share the parking facilities?”

  “No. None at all. Bugger, this isn’t looking good, is it? Her car is still there, and yet she’s gone, without a trace.” He pushed his cup across the glass table and placed his head in his hands.

  “Don’t give up on her just yet, Mr Calder. Give us a chance to at least try and find her before you do that.”

  “I won’t give up on her, I can’t. She’s my baby, but you know when all is not well with a situation. I had the same feeling of uselessness when her mother died.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. When did she pass away?”

  “Two years ago. Some idiot, I’m not one for swearing otherwise I’d call him a lot worse, was driving under the influence of drugs and rammed into her, sent her car spinning out of control and into a brick wall which collapsed, killing her outright. Tore me and my daughter apart, took us months to recover, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.”

  “Does your daughter live with you, sir?”

  “No, Ashleigh has her own flat. And yes, I’ve been there to check to see if she’s there, she isn’t. Nothing was disturbed at the flat either.”

  “We’ll need her address.”

  “Flat ten, Thompson House, Wainwright Close. It’s in the centre of town, overlooking the river.”

  Thoughts of finding her dead brother’s body in a similar location fleetingly entered Sara’s mind. She cast the memory aside. “I have to ask if your daughter is seeing anyone, dating or if she’s married even.”

  “No. She’s been let down by men a lot and is now giving them a wide berth.”

  Sara snuck a quick look in Carla’s direction. Her partner’s head was down, concentrating on the notes she was taking.

  “Understandable. Has Ashleigh mentioned having to deal with any form of trouble in her life, recently? An irate customer, someone close to her work who has been causing her problems, perhaps? Anything of that nature?”

  He paused to consider the question, and with a few shakes of his head, he replied, “No, nothing that I can recall. Do you believe someone she knows has taken her? Oh God, I can’t even… I don’t want to believe this is happening. You hear so many bad things like this on the news, and they never turn out okay, do they? I just want my baby back, and no, I haven’t called her that in years, but that’s what she is, my baby, and I love her very much. Her mother would be mortified to know that she’s missing. Maybe she’s up there now, watching over her. I hope so. Please, tell me you’re going to find her?”

  “All we can do is our very best. I’m due to hold a press conference when we get back to the station.”

  His expression was one of confusion. “You are? You’d already arranged that without even speaking to me? That’s not how I predicted things would work, I must say.”

  “No, this is unprecedented. I have to tell you that we’re dealing with an ongoing investigation. This week we’ve had three other women reported as being missing in strange circumstances.”

  He gasped and clasped a hand to his chest. “Are you telling me someone is possibly kidnapping these women to order? Please, don’t tell me that. I couldn’t bear to think of what may lie ahead of her. I’ve heard about people being trafficked, taken out of their native countries and sent into a world of slavery. You have to do something. You’ve got to find her before it’s too late and she ends up on a boat, heading for Lord knows where. Oh, no, my head is spinning now. Why did I even consider that could be a possibility?” Sweat broke out on his brow.

  Sara covered his hand with hers. “Please, Mr Calder, try and not get yourself worked up. There’s no point getting yourself into a state. As I said, we’re already dealing with three other cases, therefore, if you like to think of it this way, we’re ahead of the game. Meaning that my team and I have a few leads we’re chasing up. Putting out an appeal will hopefully bring us more avenues to follow up on.”

  “Do you know why these women have been abducted? Has anyone seen anything, anyone taking these women?”

  “We’re at a loss to know why or who is behind the abductions at this stage, but we’re doing our very best to try to find out. Is there anything else you can tell us about your daughter that you think will help us?”

  “Only that I believe Ashleigh will put up a fight. She’s a very spirited girl. One of her exes, well, he was pretty nifty with his hands, shall we say. After she got away from him, she threw herself into keeping fit, joined a gym, started lifting heavy weights. She’s far smarter than any woman I know, which is why her disappearance has hit me so hard.”

  “Okay, that’s good to know. I have to ask if you can tell me the name of the boyfriend who abused her.”

  “I’m not likely to forget it. Luca Martinelli, he’s an Italian. His parents run the Italian restaurant in Hereford. Do you know it?”

  Sara shook her head and glanced sideways at Carla for affirmation.

  “I know of it,” Carla admitted.

  “Good. Okay, we’ll pay Luca a visit. I will have to ask you not to contact the man or his family, just in case.”

  “Of course I won’t. Do you really think he could be behind this?”

  “It’s another angle we have to delve into, sir. Every piece of information we can gather at this time will be of great importance in solving the case. We have to get back to the station now, the conference is due to take place in twenty minutes.”

  “Yes, I don’t want to hold you up longer than is necessary. Thank you for coming out personally to see me today. I’m hoping, and I’ll be praying that you’ll bring my daughter back safely to me.”

  Sara finished her drink and rose from the table. Carla flipped her notebook shut and tucked her chair away.

  “We’re going to do our utmost for you and the other families concerned with this investigation, sir, you have my word.”

  “I believe you.” He
showed them back through the house to the front door where he shook their hands in a firm grip.

  Sara and Carla drove back to the station in their separate cars. Carla arrived first with Sara not far behind her. Des Williams exited his car and approached her partner. Sara stayed in her vehicle, keenly watching the exchange. Carla appeared embarrassed to see him and began fidgeting on the spot and tucking her hair behind her ears while she spoke. Hmm… signs of flirtation, good to see. Sara chuckled. She glanced at the clock on her dash and tutted. Ugh… I can’t hang around here for long.

  She leapt out of her car and approached the couple who stopped chatting when they saw her.

  “Umm… I’d better get a wriggle on now,” Carla said, eyeing Sara shiftily.

  “I’ll be around for a few weeks, I reckon. Maybe we could go for a drink after work one evening, Carla? Or maybe the three of us could go?” Des corrected himself.

  “Oh no, you two go ahead. My social calendar is mega full at present.” Sara sniggered and walked on ahead.

  The pair joined her a few seconds later. Sara noted the excess colour in Carla’s cheeks surrounding the grotesque bruising that was still showing. Des ran up the stairs ahead of them.

  Carla turned to Sara, pointed and shook her head. “Don’t start. I can see the cogs turning from here.”

  Sara hit her chest with her flattened hand. “I don’t know what you mean. He’s a lovely man, though, don’t you think?”

  “He’s okay, I guess.”

  “There are some women I know who would be fawning all over him, you know, given his hero status.”

  “What the hell are you going on about?” Carla shot back, her frown prominent.

  “Him, being a hero, or have you forgotten how he helped to rescue you?”

  “No, I hadn’t. Bloody hell, Sara, he was doing his job, for fuck’s sake.”

  “Was he? All right, if you say so. Changing the subject, I have a conference to attend. You go upstairs, bring the team up to date and start digging into the ex-boyfriend’s background for me.”

  “I know what to do. I’ll see you later. Oh, and good luck.”

  “You, too,” Sara muttered.

  Carla cast her a wary look over her shoulder and then ascended the stairs.

  Sara sought out Jane Donaldson, and together, they entered the conference room where Sara addressed the waiting journalists. She covered the fact that four individual women had been abducted since Saturday night. She went over the details of all four cases, keeping the specifics sketchy. Then she had to battle through the bombardment of questions. Most of which she didn’t have the answers to.

  “That’s it, folks. All I have for you. We really appreciate you helping us out at such short notice, let’s hope it does the trick.”

  Jane thanked the journalists for attending and dismissed the hungry pack.

  “Thanks, Jane, you’ve worked wonders again.”

  “You’re always welcome. I hope it works out and important information comes your way soon, Sara, for the women’s sakes.”

  “So do I. The longer this investigation goes on, the more worried I’m becoming for their safety. That’s between you and me, of course.”

  “Of course. Mum’s the word. Horrible situation. Are none of us safe to walk the streets any more?”

  “Hard to tell. Maybe the abductor is targeting particular women. We’re doing our best to uncover that side of things. Hopefully, we’ll get some calls soon which will help piece more of the puzzle together.”

  “I’ll have my fingers firmly crossed and hope you solve the cases soon. I have every faith in you.”

  Sara heaved out a breath. “I wish I had as much faith as you do, hon. I have to say I’m struggling with this one.”

  “You’ll come good in the end, you always do.”

  “Thanks. I have a niggling doubt you could be wrong, though. Time will tell in the end, right?”

  “It will. See you soon.”

  Sara walked upstairs, her thoughts with the women at risk. I hope the public can help us on this one, I really do. If not…

  8

  Libby returned to the lockup the next morning. Today, the fun would begin. She had every intention of returning the previous evening to implement the next stage in her plan, but exhaustion had overwhelmed her, and she fell asleep on the sofa, not waking until the early hours.

  Refreshed, she decided she had done the right thing, holding off until this morning. This way, they would have the whole day ahead of them to enjoy what was about to take place. The girls would be horrified when the truth came out. That knowledge alone sent a thrill of mammoth proportions surging through her.

  She entered the building quietly, keen to hear the conversations going on between her captives, the women who had made her life hell during her teenage years. Well, revenge is in sight now. They’re going to regret treating me the way they did, when I was down and crying out for others’ support and help. I’ll see how they deal with the kind of helplessness that seeped into my bones back then.

  The door opened, and she picked up on the hushed voices.

  “What do you think is going to happen to us?”

  “She seems okay, not violent, well, not really,” another voice murmured.

  “She was to me,” replied another.

  “Oh, shit! I’m petrified. Nothing ever good came of someone kidnapping a person, let alone four women at the same time. I wonder what she has planned for us.”

  Not long to wait now, my pretties.

  Libby slammed the door shut behind her. The chattering ceased.

  “Who’s there? Please, can you help us?”

  Libby tapped the length of iron bar in the palm of her hands and then went around the room, dragging the bar across each of the doors. “No one will ever find you. I intend to keep you here for a long time to come, so get used to it.”

  “Why?” two of the women shouted in unison.

  “Because I can, that’s why. Do I really need another reason?” Libby laughed, a demonic laugh that escalated the more she thought about what she’d said. It had taken her a while to slot everything into place. To find this hideaway, to locate all of the women. She had it in mind to pick up the other woman later on, but for now, the eagerness for the punishment to start took over. She’d been on tenterhooks all week, waiting for this day to arrive, and now, here it was.

  She collected the two chairs in the room and placed them in the centre, a few feet apart, facing each other. Back to the days of social distancing. Her mind racing with the plans, she had to take a steadying breath to calm herself. Enthusiastic to begin, she put down the holdall, with the equipment she’d brought with her, in between the two chairs. She opened it, extracted two pieces of rope and set one on the seat of each chair. Then she laid out the other equipment, always keen on organising things to be exact and tidy.

  With everything arranged, she walked over to the first cell and peered through the spyhole. Jennifer was sitting on her bed, tucked against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her head swivelled to look at the door as it opened.

  “Are you ready? You’re up first.” Libby smiled at the terrified woman.

  “No, please. Whatever you’re intending to do, please don’t do it.”

  “No amount of begging is going to wash with me, Jennifer. Get off the bed or I’ll drag you off. Which is it to be?”

  Jennifer stayed tucked up in her position for another few seconds until Libby took a step towards her. Jennifer tried her best to back away, but her attempt proved futile.

  “Get up! Now!” Libby ordered, her hands balling into fists at her sides.

  Jennifer shook her head. “No. I can’t move. I’m sorry.”

  Libby pounced. Her fists connected with Jennifer’s head several times until her arms relinquished their hold on her legs. “Get up. I won’t tell you again. You’re only making matters worse for yourself by refusing to budge. Hey, sweetie, it’s no skin off my nose if you want to play dumb. I’ve wa
ited a long time for this. I have no intention of backing down now.”

  “Please, why are you doing this to us? Why now, after all these years?”

  “If you keep asking dumb questions, it’s only going to make your punishment worse. Now shift your backside off that bed and come with me.”

  “I can’t. I’m afraid my legs aren’t going to work properly. You’ve had me cooped up in here for days, far longer than the others. You’ve given me minimal food in that time. I’m weak, and I don’t think my legs will hold me up.”

  Libby growled and grabbed the woman by her hair. “Only one way to find out.” She dragged her to her feet.

  Jennifer clutched her hand, pleaded with her to let go, but once Libby’s mind was set on something, her determination to see it to its conclusion came to the fore.

  Jennifer’s legs held her frame enough for Libby to drag her from the room without needing to support her. Once they reached the centre of the corridor, Libby forced Jennifer into the chair and wrapped the rope around her torso, leaving her arms and legs free.

  “Don’t go anywhere, will you?” Libby goaded her captive.

  Jennifer’s gaze dropped to the implements lined up on the floor. She wriggled in her seat, almost toppling the chair in her haste to break free.

  Libby slapped her around the face. “Don’t fight the inevitable. Accept it, like I was forced to accept it, all those years ago.”

  “I’m sorry. Please, how many times do I have to say it? I’ll do anything to make things up to you.”

  “Oh, I’m confident about that. The pair of you will be bending over backwards to please me, in time.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “Stop with the inane questions. All will be revealed soon enough.” Libby marched across the open concrete floor to the cell opposite Jennifer’s. She peered through the peephole and stared at Brittany who was staring back at her. Libby opened the door and entered the room. “Right, are you going to come willingly or are you going to kick up a fuss, risk being hurt, just like Jennifer did?”