Bill followed Kate out of the flat. They’d got as much information as they could out of May Fraser before they left with a promise the search for Megan would take priority.
Kate turned to him as soon as the door slammed shut. ‘Looks as if Diane Carnegie has some explaining to do.’ She fastened her top button before thrusting her hands into her pockets.
‘Seems like it.’
‘Is that all you’re going to say? I’d like to know what you’re thinking. Is Diane Carnegie our killer?’
‘It certainly looks as if things are pointing that way, but somehow I can’t quite see it.’
‘You said she was mentally unstable.’
Bill shrugged. ‘Yes, but it’s more in the nature of a fragility rather than a full blown mental condition.’
‘Whatever, we still need to bring her in for an interview.’ Kate strode off down the walkway until she reached the blue police tape.
‘I’m sorry, ma’am, but I have instructions not to let anyone pass.’ The young constable shuffled his feet, his uncertainty showing in his posture.
‘You know who I am?’ Kate snapped.
‘Yes, ma’am, but I have instructions . . . ’
‘Rubbish,’ she said. ‘Give me a pair of those bootee things so I can go inside.’ She grabbed them from him, lifted the tape and ducked under it, then vanished out of sight into Paul Carnegie’s flat.
Bill stared after her. He felt sorry for the guy, but the constable had been no match for Kate. She was a strong, determined woman and Bill wasn’t even sure he was a match for her. However, he was starting to respect her, because of the competent way she handled things. He just wished she wasn’t so black and white in her outlook.
She seemed convinced Diane was responsible for the murder but, despite his earlier suspicions, Bill wasn’t sure. He thought about how Diane had presented, and all he saw was a vulnerable woman grieving so much for her missing daughter it had affected her mental state. What he couldn’t see was Diane lifting her hands to hurt anyone. She was more of a victim than a perpetrator. Taking her in for questioning would only increase her anxiety levels and might flip her over the edge into a deeper depression. He would have preferred the questioning to take place sympathetically and in a place where Diane would feel safe. Or at the very least prepare her for the ordeal ahead. But he doubted Kate would agree to that course of action.
Kate rejoined him after a few minutes. ‘Nothing for us to do here until the SOCOs are finished.’ She peeled the bootees off her feet and handed them to the constable.
‘What about the computer? We promised Mrs Fraser the search for Megan would be our top priority.’
‘It’s taken care of. Colin sent it to Headquarters as soon as he’d taken his photos and dusted it for prints.’
Bill noted Kate’s use of the chief crime investigator’s first name with interest. It hadn’t taken Kate long to build that bridge. He wondered if she’d ever get round to using his first name, or whether he was fated to be Murphy forever.
‘I’ve alerted Jenny to start looking for Megan among the girls in his photo collection, and to pinpoint where the photos might have been taken. After that we can look at the other photos in his file and see if we can identify any of them.’ Kate headed for the stairwell. ‘Come on, we need to get back.’
* * * *
Sue hesitated with her hand on the car door handle and turned to look back at the house. ‘Well, that was interesting,’ she said.
‘She’s weird.’ Blair walked round the bonnet of the car, opened the door and subsided into the passenger seat.
‘Oh, I see you’ve found your tongue. I’d begun to think I’d brought along a puppet.’
‘No need to be sarky,’ Blair muttered, fastening his seat belt. ‘You were doing so well, I didn’t want to butt in and maybe shut her up.’
‘OK, what did you think?’
‘Weird. I wouldn’t want her for my mother.’
‘Apart from that. What did you think about her assault complaint?’
‘She didn’t appear to have any bruises, seemed more concerned about her wig. But it does indicate that the victim’s ex-wife was looking for him. I suppose we should be looking to see if she had a motive to kill him.’
Sue started the engine, made a three point turn, and drove down the drive. ‘Better get back to the office, and start looking for that motive.’
She screeched out of the drive onto the main road, grinning when she noticed Blair bracing himself and clutching the edge of his seat.
* * * *
Jenny was already hard at work studying the photo files on Paul’s computer when Bill and Kate got back to the office. ‘Nothing yet,’ she said without looking up.
‘D’you know what you’re looking for?’ Bill placed his hands on her desk and leaned over to see the screen.
‘I got a photo of Megan from the file.’
‘I’ll get you a photo of Jade Carnegie as well, in case she’s on there.’
‘Is she the one from the old case you’ve been looking at?’ Jenny continued to concentrate on the screen.
‘Yes, Jade’s been missing for a long time, but I have a feeling it links to our murder case.’ Bill cast a final look at the monitor before straightening and crossing the room to his own desk. He rummaged in the top drawer for the filing cabinet key, unlocked it and pulled out the Carnegie file. Removing the photograph of Jade he took it to Jenny and placed it on her desk beside the photo of Megan.
Kate joined them, she was in her shirt sleeves, and looked as fresh as she had first thing in the morning. She studied the two photographs. ‘You really think there’s a connection to Jade Carnegie?’
‘I think the whole case hangs on her,’ Bill replied. ‘If we get the answer to Jade’s disappearance, I think we can crack both murders.’
‘All right, but we’ll need to assess where we’re at, and make a plan of action,’ Kate said. ‘Do we know when DS Rogers will be back?’
DC Sid Nolan looked up from the file he’d been studying. ‘She phoned in, they’re on their way.’
‘Keep searching the computer, Jenny. Murphy you can get started on a report of the interview with Mrs Fraser, while we’re waiting for the others to arrive, then we’ll see where we’re at and draw up a plan of action.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ Bill said. He walked over to his desk, but as soon as Kate vanished into her office, he grabbed his jacket.
‘Going somewhere?’ Jenny kept her eyes on the computer screen.
‘I’ve got something to do. I won’t be long.’ Bill thrust his arms into his jacket and left the office.
* * * *
It was dark again, and cramp gripped one of her legs in a painful spasm. Megan shifted her position, trying to ease it, but that made it worse. She’d lost track of time and how long it had been since she’d woken here. It seemed like an eternity.
There had been that moment when he’d returned, and she’d thought he would set her free.
‘Please,’ she’d said, her voice no more than a croak, but he’d ignored her. It was as if he hadn’t heard. ‘Please,’ she’d said again, raising her voice, but it had no effect, although he seemed to hesitate for a moment and she’d felt, rather than saw his eyes looking at her.
He left. There was the rasping sound of a key, the thump of a lock hitting the wooden door, and she was alone again. Alone in the dark with spiders and insects for company.
So much time had passed since then, and she’d waited for him to come back. She rehearsed in her mind what she would say and what she would do. She would beg him to let her go, tell him she would keep his secret, that she wouldn’t go to the police. Who would believe her anyway? He’d want something in return, of course, and she’d decided whatever he asked for she would give him, provided he untied her and allowed her to go home afterwards.
A tear dribbled down her cheeks onto her neck, wetting the collar of her blouse which was already damp and cold.
But time passed and he
didn’t come back. Maybe he wasn’t going to return. Maybe he was going to leave her here to die, in the dark and the cold. She closed her eyes and willed sleep to come. If she could sleep she wouldn’t have to think about the spiders and creepy-crawlies sharing her prison.
When she opened her eyes again there seemed to be a sliver of light in the area where she guessed the door to be. She watched it, willing the door to open, but it remained closed, and the only sounds breaking the silence, were the swishing of wind and the patter of rain. She would give anything to be outside to feel the rain on her face and the wind blowing through her hair.
She’d heard it said your life flashes in front of your eyes when you’re dying, and now she couldn’t get the image of her mother out of her mind. She wasn’t the best mother in the world, and it had been a long time since she’d given her any thought, thinking she didn’t need her now she was growing up. But she was her mother, the only one she had, and she desperately needed her now.
The sliver of light had vanished and she thought she must have dozed, because she was back in the dark, and the cramp in her leg was excruciating.
Chapter Thirty-Five
‘He’s in a hurry.’ Sue pulled hard on the steering wheel to avoid a collision with Bill who didn’t even seem to notice she was there. ‘Where d’you think he’s going?’
Blair shrugged. ‘How should I know? He’s always off doing his own thing, never thinks to keep anyone else informed.’
Sue reversed into the space Bill had vacated. What Blair had said was true, but she detected a note of disapproval in his voice. ‘You don’t like Bill much, do you?’
‘I never said that.’ He got out of the car and slammed the door with more effort than was required.
She joined him on the pavement. ‘OK, keep your hair on.’ But she reckoned she was right and Bill would have to watch his back when Blair was around.
Blair strode out in front of her, leading the way into headquarters. The smell of his aftershave was overpowering in the confined space of the lift and Sue was glad when they exited into the corridor.
Kate was studying the whiteboard when they walked into the team room. ‘How did you get on with Mrs Carnegie?’ She didn’t look round.
Sue flung her coat and bag on the chair and joined her. ‘She’s some weird lady,’ she said, ‘and she seems to think her daughter-in-law, Paul’s ex-wife, killed him.’
‘That was to be expected, she certainly has no love for his wife and family.’
‘It’s more than that. Apparently Diane Carnegie went to see her and there was a brawl which resulted in Patricia Carnegie handing over Paul’s address to Diane. Mrs Carnegie wants to press charges.’
Kate tapped the pen she held against her teeth. ‘Everything seems to lead back to the Carnegie family. I think we need to pull Diane Carnegie in for questioning. See if you can find Murphy, and the pair of you go and bring her in.’ She looked round the team room. ‘Where is Murphy, anyway? He’s never here when you want him.’
Jenny looked up from the computer screen. ‘He left a short time ago, said he’d something he had to do.’
Sue looked away, it was evident Kate was annoyed. But she said nothing, although Sue would have laid bets she wanted to.
‘Saw him driving out of the car park as we arrived.’ Blair had a self satisfied smile on his face.
Sue glared at him. The man was a prick.
‘He’s probably following up a lead.’ Sue knew she should have stayed quiet.
‘Then he should have shared it.’ Kate’s response was swift.
‘It’ll be something he’s not sure about and he’s checking it out first.’
‘Your loyalty is admirable, but perhaps misplaced.’
Sue bit her tongue. She wanted to tell Kate that Bill was one of the best investigators on the team, even though he often went out on a limb because he was focused on the investigation. But she knew Kate wouldn’t be receptive, and it would probably make things worse for him. Instead, she said, ‘What’s our next plan of action.’
‘We bring Diane Carnegie in for questioning. As Murphy isn’t here, it’ll have to be you and Armstrong again.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Sue would rather have had Bill with her than Blair Armstrong, but Bill wasn’t here and she was stuck with Blair.
* * * *
Jade lay on her bed, relishing the emptiness of the house where not even the tick of a clock broke the silence. It was at times like this when the family were gone she felt at her most free.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. The room hadn’t changed much since she’d slept there as a child. Her fingers brushed the tiny teddy bears pinned to the headboard, and she smiled at the memories they invoked. Emma’s bed looked different though, with the more up to date duvet covering it while hers still had the candlewick bedspread, pink with embroidered roses. She’d always thought it looked prettier than Emma’s yellow one. When it was time to reveal herself to her family she would make sure she got a duvet as well. It wouldn’t do to live in the past.
The old computer still sat on the table in the corner of her side of the room, large and beige with the chunky monitor, not like the modern one downstairs in the study with its sleek flat screen. She preferred the study one and used it when the house was empty, like it was now. There were times she’d nearly been caught when Emma came back unexpectedly, and she often wished she could stay around to witness Emma’s puzzlement.
She wandered through the house touching things, finding out their secrets, the things they hid from each other. Like Ryan’s silk pyjamas and undies, she could imagine him wearing them. But he’d always been on the effeminate side, although he usually managed to hide it.
When the doorbell rang, Jade debated whether to answer it, or whether she should return to her hiding place, but what did she have to lose. She swung the door open before she had a change of heart.
When she saw the policeman standing on the doorstep, her eyes narrowed. Bill Murphy his name was, and he had a thing for her mother. She didn’t like that, and she didn’t like him. Her mother needed protecting, because all men were predators. Maybe her day wasn’t going to be wasted after all.
Bill smiled. ‘Is your mother in, Emma?’
Jade smiled back. ‘No, but she won’t be long. You can wait if you like.’ She stood back to allow Bill to enter. ‘I was about to put the kettle on if you fancy a cuppa.’
‘That would go down a treat.’ Bill followed her to the kitchen.
She flicked the light switch, the kitchen was always in semi-darkness because of the large tree outside the window, then she smiled again and nodded at the table. ‘Sit down and I’ll get it.’ Her fingers closed on the two jade beads in her pocket and the pill nestled beside them.
‘I wanted to talk to you anyway, Emma.’
‘Oh, and what would that be about?’
‘I wanted to ask about your father. How you got on with him? When you last saw him? That kind of thing.’
Jade’s hand tightened on the kettle’s handle. ‘I have no interest in him, and I haven’t seen him since he left.’ She poured hot water into two mugs, each containing a teabag and one of them with the added pill.
‘What about your mother? I understand she went to see him.’
‘I don’t know anything about that.’ She laid a mug in front of him. ‘Why would she want to go and see him?’
‘I don’t know, Emma. You tell me.’
She watched him sip the tea.
‘Ryan’s the one who missed him. Maybe you should talk to him.’
‘Oh, I intend to. But we need to talk to your mother first, because she was seen outside your father’s flat.’
Jade shrugged. ‘She went to ask him about Jade. She thought he’d know where she was.’
Bill nodded.
Jade noticed his eyes were unfocused. It wouldn’t be long now.
His hand slipped on the cup’s handle and he seemed to be having trouble holding it.
‘Something the matter?’ She removed the cup from his hand. ‘Better put that down before you spill it.’
‘That’s better.’ She sat on the chair opposite and studied him. She had plenty of time to do the needful. Her mother was at work and Ryan had said he’d wait for her to finish before he returned. It would be hours before they came back.
Bill slumped further down in the chair. His eyes had a puzzled expression but they seemed to bore into her, and she didn’t like it.
‘Time for your injection.’ She patted his arm. ‘I won’t be a moment.’
She left the kitchen, went to the hiding place where she kept her stash, and selected a syringe and a packet of the pure white heroin that had cost her so much. The white was better than the rough brown stuff the druggies used, because she could mix it with water and didn’t need citric acid.
Returning to the kitchen, she put the heroin and water in a spoon, flicked her lighter on and held the flame under the spoon. It was a moment before it bubbled and reached the constituency she wanted. She flicked the lighter off and replaced it in her pocket. ‘It won’t be long now,’ she said, avoiding Bill’s eyes.
While she filled the syringe she hummed a tune her mother used to sing to her when she was a child.
‘Ready now?’ She walked over to Bill. ‘We’ll need to get your arm out of the jacket though.’ She lifted the arm and pulled it out of the sleeve, unbuttoned his shirt cuff and rolled the sleeve up. ‘That’s better. You won’t feel a thing.’ She plunged the syringe into his arm. ‘There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?’
Chapter Thirty-Six
Phil nudged Ryan’s back with his shoe. ‘That’s your initiation over, mate,’ he said. He grinned at Gus who was adjusting his trousers. ‘Time to celebrate.’ He slung his arm round the younger man’s shoulders, and the two of them left the gents washroom, leaving Ryan on his own.
Ryan didn’t move. He lay face down on the floor with the smell of disinfectant so strong in his nostrils he wanted to puke. The marble tiles sent chills coursing through him, and he struggled to pull his trousers up to hide his shame. Pain burned in his nether regions, increasing as he pulled his knees up to his chest. He felt sticky and unclean and was shaking all over. How could he ever face anyone again. He wanted to die.
Missing Believed Dead Page 18
