Cold as Ice

by Lee Weeks

  ‘Will do.’

  Robbo stopped working and waited for Carter to report back about what he’d found.

  He shook his head.

  ‘It seems anyone can own a spider that bites or a snake that can strangle. If you wanted to breed your own food for it, you need never go near a pet shop or a vet’s, I suppose.’

  Robbo nodded. ‘James has been contacting all the vets in North London. We’ve found three people with registered snakes and we’ve sent officers round to check them out . Meanwhile I’ve been looking at the CCTV footage of the roads around Tracy’s home; looking for the van driver.’

  Jeanie walked in at that moment.

  ‘May I?’ she asked as she picked up Robbo’s fresh cafetière from on top of the cupboard.

  ‘Yes. Help yourself, pour me one.’

  ‘I’ll do it.’ Carter said. He walked across to Jeanie and put his hand on her arm. ‘You okay after yesterday?’

  She smiled. ‘I’m fine, honest.’ Carter could see she wasn’t. ‘Okay, I’m a bit shaken but I’ll be all right. What’s worrying me is what if it was Hawk who tried to run us over, and what if he knew it was me – a police officer. Then he tried to kill me, personally. He knew who I was.’ Robbo rocked in his chair. He looked across at Jeanie and Carter.

  ‘Yes – if it was Hawk then we know he knows who is on our team.’

  ‘But does that mean he knows Ebony?’ Jeanie asked.

  Robbo shook his head.

  ‘He can’t know about her. He knew about you from the press conference. He knows about me because he’s looked into crime analysts in the MIT teams and maybe he takes a lucky guess.’

  ‘Maybe he’s very smart,’ said Jeanie.

  She sat in Pam’s empty chair and watched Robbo scan through grainy black and white images of a night shot of the local shops near Tracy’s home.

  ‘I went to see Steve Collins about returning to the family home to provide extra security for Tracy and Jackson,’ said Jeanie. ‘It was the weirdest meeting with him. He’s not interested in moving home. He wants nothing to do with any of it. I’d say Steve is preparing to do a runner.’ She joined them at Robbo’s desk and pulled up a chair. ‘I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt but I’d say he’s a player. Tracy told me he has a history of bad debts. I wonder what it would take for him to jump ship. This might be the excuse he’s been waiting for.’

  ‘He works for a storage company, right?’ Robbo asked.

  ‘Yes, area manager – Tracy says.’

  Robbo started typing: ‘Let’s have a quick look at what the company say about him.’ He clicked on the relevant division and scrolled the list of employees. ‘Surprise, surprise, he’s not on the list of current employees. Let’s try twelve months ago . . . Yes. There he is – Stephen Collins. I don’t know why but he lost his job and he hasn’t told his wife.’

  ‘Could he have known something?’ asked Carter.

  ‘He could have been watching the house in the build-up to Danielle going missing,’ said Jeanie. She was trying to think back to what Tracy had said about Steve. ‘He’s pretending to go somewhere to work because she irons his shirts, has his suit dry-cleaned. Tracy thinks her husband is finally making good from having fucked up and smashed her dreams of owning her own beauty salon. They already lost their home because of his bad debts.’

  ‘He hasn’t wanted to put yet another nail in the coffin of their relationship maybe.’ Carter shrugged.

  ‘What’s that?’ Jeanie pointed to the CCTV footage.

  ‘It’s just over a week ago,’ answered Robbo.

  Jeanie watched the screen as a young, slim female figure in a fur-trimmed coat came into view. She was pushing a buggy. Jeanie pulled her chair close to the screen.

  ‘That’s Danielle,’ she said. ‘Freeze it for me, zoom in. Yes, that’s Danielle, I’m sure. We’ll need to look at the footage more closely but it looks like the photos I’ve seen. There’s Jackson.’ She touched the screen. ‘Look! You can see Scruffy’s tail. It’s definitely them.’

  ‘What’s she doing?’ Carter moved in close to Jeanie as he stared at the screen.

  Jeanie turned to Robbo. ‘What day is this?’

  ‘It’s the day Danielle disappeared,’ he answered. ‘Hours after this was taken she was abducted from her flat.’

  Carter looked at them both and back to the screen. ‘She came to Tracy’s house that day?’

  ‘Tracy didn’t mention it. She definitely didn’t know. Can we follow her route, Robbo?

  They watched Danielle cross the road by the shops and turn down Tracy’s road.

  ‘There’s no way that she’s going anywhere else,’ said Robbo.

  ‘So why would Danielle visit Tracy a day before she was due to meet up with her anyway?’ Carter sat back from the screen to think.

  ‘Did Tracy invite her?’ asked Robbo.

  ‘No. Tracy was working. She told me how busy she was because of the Christmas rush,’ said Jeanie. ‘She could only meet Danielle because she was on a late shift that day.’

  ‘So for some reason Danielle decided to pay Tracy a visit, or just come and see where she lived maybe?’ Robbo moved the image on.

  ‘Wanting to see if Tracy’s house meant she had money?’

  ‘We know she tried to ring. She didn’t get through on Tracy’s phone. Tracy told us Steve said the home phone wasn’t working. Either she tried there and didn’t get through and decided to come and see Tracy or she got through to Steve and made an arrangement to come over.’

  ‘So she went there and either Steve saw her hanging about outside or he knew she was coming? He recognized her from the description that Tracy had given him? He saw Jackson?’

  ‘And what? He invited her in?’

  ‘Maybe.’

  ‘He was there because he hasn’t got a job any more, so he waits till Tracy leaves and then he returns home and lies low till she returns.’

  ‘But Danielle was still fine when she left there because she called in that afternoon for her lessons in college.’

  ‘Ring Tracy,’ said Robbo. ‘See if she remembers something.’

  ‘No, don’t,’ answered Carter. ‘Let’s bring Steve Collins in.’

  Robbo nodded his agreement.

  ‘What about outside the college on the day Danielle disappeared?’ asked Jeanie. ‘Can we place him anywhere else?’

  ‘No. We didn’t see him there, but then we weren’t looking for him at the time.’

  ‘Run through the footage again while I ring Steve’s workplace.’ Robbo got through to Betty on reception. They listened to his one-sided conversation. He finished up and told them:

  ‘She says Steve Collins was suspended six months ago. He still has the keys to the warehouse and a set of keys to a works van.’

  ‘Why haven’t they got them off him?’ asked Carter.

  ‘It’s all a bit tricky, according to the new manager. It boils down to Collins’ word against the boss’s wife and she’s a slag, according to Betty. They’re frightened he’ll go for unfair dismissal so they’re taking their time. Everyone’s jumpy. Plus he has paid for storage facilities there and he’s entitled to use them.’

  ‘So shall we bring him in, Guv?’ Jeanie asked Carter.

  ‘No, change of plan. We’ll go talk to the new manager again and get hold of the keys for the van and the warehouse where Collins has stored stuff. We’ll get inside there and have a look around.’

  ‘Now?’ asked Robbo.

  ‘Yes. Now. Jeanie, can you come?’

  Jeanie looked Carter.

  ‘Wouldn’t miss it.’

  Chapter 46

  It was nearly five p.m. when Ebony started getting herself ready to go out.

  She stood in front of the bathroom cabinet mirror above the basin and made a face at herself. She was tempted to say ‘tart’ to her reflection but didn’t. Why did she have such a problem with putting on make-up, creating another look for herself? Maybe because her mother had so many faces and only
Ebony knew which one was real. It was the bi-polar condition in her mother that sent her high as a kite or down into the depths of despair. She was unable to take care of herself, let alone another. ‘You can go home and live with your mother’ had never been an easy thing for Ebony to hear. ‘She’s stable now. She’s taking her meds.’ Ebony had packed her bag in silence and her foster mother Mrs Bennet had come into the room and said, ‘It’ll be all right, Ebony. Things will be different this time.’ She had kept her eyes on the ground as she shut her heart once more and prepared to meet the mother no one else knew except her. Ebony looked in the mirror and she saw herself as an eight-year-old, make-up on her face. Her mother dancing round the room drunk on cheap red wine that turned her lips crimson red. Ebony watching from the corner of the mirror.

  ‘That’ll do,’ she said to herself as she turned away from the mirror and shuddered. Now they said her mother was ill and undergoing tests and they would be able to tell her more shortly. Ebony felt worried but she didn’t know what for. She knew she didn’t love her mother when the thought of her death made her feel nothing but relief.

  Mike Holland, the new district manager at the storage company, was waiting for Jeanie and Carter with keys outside the office reception.

  They took the keys from him and asked him to stay where he was.

  ‘Just to clarify,’ asked Carter. ‘The van that Stephen Collins has keys for . . . is it here in the car park now?’

  He looked around. ‘Yes. It’s that one over there.’

  ‘Have you seen him here today?’

  ‘No. He comes here most days, stays for a while. I’m not usually here when he leaves. I think sometimes he stays most of the day in there. Don’t know what he does. I mean he’s entitled to come and sort out his stuff when ever he likes.’

  ‘Is it his lock-up? His stuff?’

  ‘Yes, he took it on when he first started working here. Him and his wife sold up and downsized in a hurry. He put the contents of their old house in here.’

  ‘Has it got a water supply? Electricity?’

  ‘Oh yes. It’s comfortable enough – I mean, you couldn’t live in there.’ He laughed. ‘I wouldn’t anyway.’

  ‘Thanks. We’ll drop the keys back to you once we’ve had a look. I’d be grateful if you didn’t allow anyone else to come into that area for now.’

  Carter and Jeanie walked towards the compound behind the main office block. There were twelve large storage facilities units. The place was well lit to discourage thieves.

  ‘You and me out on surveillance duty together. Feels like old times, Jeanie.’ Carter looked Jeanie’s way. ‘That’s when we first hooked up, do you remember?’

  Jeanie looked across at him. ‘How could I forget? I notice you didn’t include the word good when you said old times.’

  ‘They were good.’ Carter looked across at her as he held the keys in his hand.

  ‘Really?’ asked Jeanie. ‘Good for whom?’

  Carter didn’t answer. He waited until Jeanie was in place ready behind him and then he unlocked the door.

  In the darkness the massive empty space opened out around them. Jeanie shone her torch into the warehouse and looked at the locked containers. The sensor lights started coming on as they stepped further inside.

  ‘Which one has he got the keys for?’ Jeanie shone a torch down at the list she’d been given.

  ‘Third row to our left. Row J. Container 2037.’

  They walked along until they cut down left and walked along the dirt floor until they found the relevant row.

  Carter slipped the key in the padlock and turned it. The lock dropped to the floor. Jeanie moved it out of the way as Carter pulled back the right-hand door. They felt the heat coming from inside.

  The corners of the container were not lit. Fluorescent strip lighting flickered on and off. Carter shone his torch into the container. All around him were cases stacked high. There was furniture stacked to the ceiling, three-piece suites upside down on top of one another. At one side was a laid-out living area, a foldaway bed and sleeping bag. There was a mini fridge and a microwave.

  ‘Someone’s been fully living here.’

  Carter shone his torch down towards the far end and it was there he saw eyes glinting back at him. A stuffed fox looked poised to strike. The place was a jumble of belongings.

  ‘We need to search the place thoroughly. We’ll split up. You start on the left of the door. I’ll start on the right.’

  Chapter 47

  Tracy thought it would be Jeanie at the door when someone rang the bell. Jeanie had promised to come back and check on her and Jackson before she went home to her own house for the night. Tracy had put Jackson to bed early – he was so tired. She was just about to settle down for the evening. She called at the door to ask who was there before she opened it.

  ‘Steve.’

  ‘Steve?’

  ‘Yes – your husband. It’s my house, remember? I’ve already been quizzed by the police outside; now let me in.’

  She opened the door straightaway.

  ‘Sorry. Just a bit jumpy. I didn’t think you wanted to come home?’

  She looked at him and looked back towards the inside of the house and Jackson’s room. Something was making her nervous. She didn’t know if it was the amount of booze she smelt on his breath.

  ‘You all right, love?’

  ‘Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?’ He strode into the lounge and sat in his favourite chair. He turned to glare at her, his eyes red-rimmed. ‘I’m starving. Have you got anything here to eat?’

  ‘Of course. I’ll make you something.’

  Steve picked up the remote control and turned the television on loud. Tracy looked towards Jackson’s room. She wanted to tell Steve to turn the volume down. But she didn’t.

  Tracy walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on. She looked at Steve. There had been times when she’d learnt about what he’d done that made her wonder if she’d ever really known him. Now was one of those times.

  Tracy made him a sandwich and a cup of tea and stood in the lounge doorway with the tray in her hands. She looked to the chair; he was gone. She looked to Jackson’s room and saw the door was open.

  She quickly put the tray down, opened the bedroom door and saw Steve sitting on Jackson’s bed. Jackson was sleeping soundly.

  ‘What are you doing, Steve?’ Tracy’s heart started racing.

  Steve turned to look at her. His eyes were shining in the dark.

  ‘Poor little fella. He’s had a tough time of it, hasn’t he?’ He looked from Jackson to her.

  ‘Yes.’ Tracy stepped forward. ‘Leave him alone now, Steve. Don’t touch him. He needs his sleep. He’s just a baby.’ Her voice was beginning to rise in pitch.

  Steve didn’t move. He reached out and stroked Jackson’s head. Jackson’s face twitched in his sleep and he turned over.

  ‘I want you to leave him alone.’ Tracy was surprised at the tone of her own voice. It was deep now – steady, calm. ‘Get out now, Steve.’

  Steve turned and looked at her as if he didn’t recognize who was speaking.

  ‘Tracy? What do you think? Do you honestly believe I would harm him?’

  ‘I don’t know you any more. You’ve been lying to me for months, maybe years. You could be capable of anything because I don’t know who you are. I went in to your work and talked to Betty.’ Tracy felt her anger rise even though she was trying very hard to keep control of it. ‘I got the whole story how they would have liked to sack you but they couldn’t, even though you were screwing the boss’s wife, letching after college students.’

  He shook his head. He was still sitting on the bed. Jackson was beginning to wake up. ‘I wasn’t, Tracy . . . I admit I kept things from you but we’d been through such a lot and you’ve been so strong through it all but I know there’s only so much you can take. It’s all lies, especially about the boss’s wife. I’ve been waiting to see what they’d do about reinstating me. I will take them to a tri
bunal otherwise. I swear to you, Tracy, that I would not be unfaithful to you.’

  Tracy started to back out of the room. ‘Leave Jackson alone then. He doesn’t know you; he’ll be frightened if he wakes up and finds you sitting on his bed.’

  ‘Why would he be? I’ve met him before.’ Tracy stared at him as she shook her head.

  ‘Danielle came around here looking for you when you were at work. I saw him then.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘We had enough things on our plate.’ She shook her head. Tracy wasn’t ready to believe what Steve was saying. ‘I admit it, Tracy; I’ve been depressed. Every day for six months I’ve been sitting in the warehouse, waiting for you to leave for work so that I could come home. I’ve been hoping that things would work out on their own. The last thing I thought we needed was this.’ He looked at Jackson. ‘But maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.’ Jackson opened his sleepy eyes and looked at Steve and then at Tracy, who smiled and nodded her reassurance. Jackson looked back at Steve and gave him a big smile.

  Jeanie and Carter walked back in to see Robbo behind his desk.

  ‘It was just bits of furniture and a collection of all kinds of junk,’ said Jeanie, taking off her coat. ‘Memories – it looks like his whole life is in there. He must have been living there in fear of really telling Tracy what the matter was.’

  Carter shook his head. ‘I think he’s had a breakdown, looking at the stuff in there. He’s collected all sorts of junk. Must have spent a fortune on it: stuffed animals even – a weird collection. If that’s what’s in his head – he’s lost the plot.’

  ‘You searched all the way through it?’ asked Robbo.

  ‘We opened every box.’

  ‘Bowie thinks we should bring Christian Goddard in now,’ said Robbo. ‘He thinks it’s time to get heavy-handed.’

  ‘What do you think?’ asked Carter.

  ‘It’s got to be him. From what we know of him he will be aware of how far we’ve got because he’s fed us all the clues. If he thinks we’re getting too close to him we run the risk that he’ll go out in a blaze of glory and take Danielle, and whoever else he might have in there, with him. I’ve been looking into his history.’ He showed them the page of search engines he had working on Goddard. ‘There must be something on him somewhere. He needs to have had a journey to this point. You don’t start killing overnight.’ Robbo looked at his Facebook page. ‘He’s travelled a bit. I’ll run a check with Interpol again.’