He Knows Your Secrets

by Charlie Gallagher

  ‘Sorry. Force of habit! Your investigation.’

  Rhiannon stepped past her and knocked the door. Wendy Battle opened it almost before she had time to remove her knuckles from the glass.

  ‘Oh!’ Rhiannon stepped back. ‘Mrs Battle . . . are you just on your way out?’

  ‘Do you have news? About my Elizabeth?’

  ‘News?’ Maddie could see that Rhiannon was caught out. The woman could see it too.

  ‘You don’t even know?’

  ‘Know? I’m sorry, Mrs Battle, I think she might have come to see me this morning. At the police station—’

  ‘She’s missing! I called it in. Twenty minutes ago. They told me she wasn’t missing yet, that I should call back later. But I still assumed that was why you were here?’

  ‘Ah, okay. That call would have gone through to our control centre who would speak with my uniform colleagues first. I wasn’t aware. But maybe I can take the details on their behalf?’

  ‘Take details? They said they wouldn’t do anything until she had been missing at least forty-eight hours! As soon as I mentioned that we had been arguing recently, they weren’t interested. But you should be out looking for her, you all should . . .’

  ‘I know they have their guidelines. Sometimes people aren’t missing. They’re just getting some space. When—’

  ‘She’s missing! A mother knows. She’s not been right for the last few days — not since she came back on Saturday night. And she got worse after you came around yesterday. What is going on?’

  Rhiannon glanced over to Maddie. ‘Can we come in, Mrs Battle?’ Maddie said. When the woman turned to her, she felt she should introduce herself. ‘I’m Detective Sergeant Maddie Ives. I work with Rhiannon. You called the police because you need help, so let us help you. We just need some information first.’ The woman still hesitated, but only for a moment. She moved back and the door swung open. Maddie gestured for Rhiannon to step in first.

  They moved through to a lounge area. Wendy Battle stood in the middle. She made no attempt to sit or to invite the officers to do so. She was a picture of anxiety, made worse perhaps by her already frail build. Her posture was poor and she looked a little hunched. She kept shifting her hands from holding them in front of her, to her hips and then dropping them to her sides. She eventually settled on holding them across her front.

  Rhiannon started. ‘Okay . . . so Libby is missing?’

  ‘Elizabeth. Yes, she wasn’t in her room this morning when I got up. I’m always up early. I sleep light — if at all. I always take her in a tea when I hear her moving around, but this morning I checked on her because she still seemed so upset last night. She wasn’t there!’ She sniffed and dipped her head further forward.

  ‘Have you tried phoning her?’

  ‘Of course I have!’ Her head snapped back, her tone suddenly short. Then she seemed to check herself. ‘The phone she gave you . . .’

  ‘It’s okay, I know,’ Rhiannon cut in. ‘It’s an old one. Maybe two years, at least. I have it here to give back. We wasted a few hours of police time downloading that. I intended on talking to Lib . . . Elizabeth about that.’

  ‘I don’t know what’s got into her recently. I knew when she threw it to you that it was an old one. I didn’t know what to say.’

  ‘It’s no problem. Really. So her phone — her current one — did it connect at all? Did it ring out? What happened?’ Rhiannon’s tone had softened. Maddie found herself biting her tongue, desperate to jump in. She would only have asked the same questions.

  ‘It’s switched off. I’ve never known her to have her phone off. Once she ran out of battery and it was like the world was coming to an end. She’s sixteen — you know what they’re like. The phone is their only window to the world these days, it seems.’ Wendy sagged before them.

  ‘Maybe we could sit?’ Maddie couldn’t keep quiet any longer. She knew the value of something simple like sitting down. It could change the whole mind-set of a person. Wendy Battle looked relieved to flop into the nearest seat. Both detectives followed her lead but they sat straighter, perched on the edge.

  ‘Is this out of character?’ Maddie asked.

  Wendy waved her hand. ‘Six months ago, definitely. Six weeks ago even. They change so quickly, you know? I can’t keep up with it. Sometimes I convince myself that I can remember being sixteen, that I remember what it was like and maybe understand what is going on, but I’m just kidding myself. I have no idea! They change so quickly . . .’ She seemed to run out of steam.

  ‘Where do you think she would go?’

  ‘I don’t know. I really don’t. All of her close friends, the people she spends some time with, I’ve spoken to and they haven’t even heard from her. They sounded quite concerned. That was what prompted me to call it in. At first I thought with the way she had been acting that she had gone round a friend’s house without telling me. She lied about Saturday night, after all. I didn’t know where she was or who she was with then. But I’ve called everyone that I know of.’

  ‘Have you checked with the hospital? To see if she has visited her boyfriend?’

  ‘Boyfriend!’ She shook her head. ‘You mean the one I only just discovered existed? No. I mean, I don’t even know his name.’

  ‘Okay, well, that’s something we can do straight away.’

  ‘I didn’t even think of that. I guess she could be by his bedside, couldn’t she? That would make sense!’ She was suddenly animated, her whole demeanour changing in front of them like they had already found her daughter. Maddie wasn’t so sure. Rhiannon took her phone out and excused herself to step away and make the call. Wendy’s eyes followed her. Maddie was drawn to the same door. A young boy had entered. He was wearing a blue dressing gown that had seen better days and furry slippers. His cheeks were flushed and his breathing loud as if through a blocked nose. Maddie guessed he was around twelve years old.

  ‘Not now, Thomas,’ Wendy sighed.

  ‘Did you find Libby yet?’ the boy said.

  ‘Not now!’

  ‘Mrs Battle, do you mind?’ Maddie turned to the boy. ‘Is Libby your sister?’

  ‘Elizabeth!’ Wendy snapped, then immediately backed down. ‘Sorry, I’m fighting a losing battle with that, I guess. Thomas here is off school with a rotten cold. This is the last thing he needs.’

  Maddie turned back to Thomas. ‘Did your sister speak to you? Before she left the house?’

  ‘She was crying.’ Maddie noticed Wendy’s head jerk; this was clearly news to her. The boy suddenly looked awkward.

  ‘Do you know why?’ Maddie said.

  ‘Why didn’t you say anything to me?’ Wendy snapped.

  ‘Mrs Battle, do you mind if we let him speak? He might know something important.’ Maddie again addressed the boy directly. ‘It’s okay. Your mum’s very worried. We all are. Do you know anything that might help? Why was she crying?’

  ‘I don’t know. Last night I wanted to use the toilet and I didn’t want to come downstairs. The upstairs toilet is supposed to be for both of us. She was in the shower. She’s always in there for ages but she was in there for like an hour. She wouldn’t even answer. I mean, why should I go downstairs?’

  ‘What happened then?’

  ‘I opened the door. The shower was on. I could hear it. It had been running for ages. The room was all steamed up and she was still in there.’

  ‘In the shower?’

  ‘Yeah. I went in. I thought she would be angry. She gets really angry. But she wouldn’t answer so I just went in there. She was sitting in the shower — just sitting down. I didn’t look or anything!’

  ‘It’s okay. Did she talk to you?’

  ‘She was crying. She didn’t even shout at me. I thought she would.’

  ‘What did she do?’

  ‘I only opened the curtain. I put it straight back. She was all curled up anyway. She turned the shower off and she said she was sorry. She said she was just coming out. I asked her why she was crying and she s
aid she couldn’t talk to anyone about it. I said to talk to mum, but she said “even mum”. I gave her a towel then I went back to my room. I heard her door go a little bit later so I thought she was back in her room.’

  ‘She can talk to me about anything!’ Wendy spat.

  ‘Did you see her again?’ Maddie said to Thomas. He shook his head. ‘What time was that do you think?’

  ‘After ten? It was late. I couldn’t sleep ’cause my nose is all blocked up.’

  ‘Okay. Thanks for that. Where do you think she is?’

  Thomas shrugged and looked to his mum.

  ‘He wouldn’t know any more than me. Less, even.’

  ‘She’s a teenager, Mrs Battle. You would be surprised how little they share with the parents sometimes. All teenagers, that is. I wouldn’t take it personally. But was she behaving like this before Saturday?’

  ‘Not this badly. She’s changing fast, like I said. But just disappearing like this? The Libby I thought I knew would never do that.’

  ‘She’s not been to the hospital as far as anyone knows.’ Rhiannon stepped back into the room and took her seat next to Maddie. ‘She hasn’t made contact with James’s family either. Apparently she sometimes messages his mother but there’s been nothing since Saturday. The mother assumes she has been ignoring her and thinks she knows more about what went on.’

  Wendy had her hand to her mouth. Her eyes were fixed wide and her focus seemed to flick between the two detectives. ‘So where is she? My Elizabeth?’

  Maddie was suddenly aware of her phone ringing. It was on silent but the noise of the vibrations was enough to drop all eyes to her pocket. She left Wendy’s questions hanging in the air as she gestured at her phone and moved out into the hallway. It didn’t matter who was left to speak with Wendy anyway — they had no answers for her right now.

  The call was on her personal phone, and it was an anonymous number.

  ‘Hello?’ she said. Libby’s brother came past her to go back up the stairs. He was carrying a plate of biscuits and he grinned like maybe he shouldn’t be. Maddie smiled back.

  ‘Mads.’ Just one word. But it was enough. Her instant recognition was accompanied by a wave of emotion. She reached for the banister and swivelled to a sit on the bottom step. ‘This a good time?’ That voice again. She was going to have to reply, but she didn’t know if she could.

  ‘Adam?’ she managed.

  The last time she had spoken with Adam Yarwood he had been leaving her flat as her lover. Her secret lover. It had to be secret; he was so closely associated with an organised crime group based in the North West of the country that he had once been the target of an undercover policing operation. Maddie had been tasked with getting close to him, something she had taken a little too far.

  When he last left her flat he was supposed to be taking her out to dinner later that night. She didn’t know where. She never knew much where he was concerned. They had never made their reservation. From what she could piece together, Adam had been set upon by a number of angry men with baseball bats. The reason given was a dispute over a plastering contract but she had never been able to confirm that either, and she had come to accept that she might never find out what had happened. Adam suffered terrible head injuries and none of the medical staff had given out much information about his condition. She had tried to stay in the loop, find out what was going on through casual conversations with her colleagues in Greater Manchester about who was still active in running the drug scene up there. But it had been useless. It seemed that the Yarwoods had quickly been replaced not long after Adam sustained his injury. His brother had been the main player and he had fled to Spain to try and start again. He might have done, for all Maddie knew, but certainly his grip on the Greater Manchester drug scene was relinquished and, with it, any interest in the family. She had managed to find out that Adam was back at the family home and being looked after by his mother but that was about it. And now he was calling her direct.

  ‘You remember, then?’ he said.

  Maddie let out a sound as she released her breath in a rush. She looked around, suddenly aware of her surroundings. She could hear Rhiannon’s voice from the next room. It was raised and cheery where she was saying goodbye. She would be out in a moment.

  ‘I can’t talk.’ Maddie got back to her feet. She paced a little then turned back, suddenly unsure what to do with herself.

  ‘What now or never?’ There was a subtle difference in his speech. It wasn’t quite slurring, just more deliberate, perhaps — slower.

  ‘Now, just now. Can you call me back?’

  ‘Well you know, I get busy.’

  ‘Midday.’ Maddie had to end the call. Rhiannon was in the hall with her now. She pulled the door open and looked closely at Maddie.

  ‘You okay?’

  ‘Yeah!’

  Rhiannon called out to say goodbye to Wendy again. Maddie didn’t. She dipped her head and stepped out. Rhiannon waited for the door to close behind them before she spoke again. ‘Did that call upset you?’

  ‘No! Although it was about a case file, so it probably should have.’

  ‘A case file?’

  ‘Some bits missing. Nothing I can’t sort but I am going to need to head back.’

  ‘Well, okay then. Me too — seems I have a missing person report to file.’

  Chapter 19

  Maddie looked up to the sound of Harry crossing the floor. He was holding a small box that rattled as he walked. It looked to her as though he was trying to suppress the noise and conceal the box at the same time. He didn’t look over as he slipped into his office. She left it a minute then padded across the floor, arcing out so he wouldn’t see her approach. She leaned around his doorway. He was turned away from her, her voice made him jump.

  ‘Are those dog treats?’

  ‘DS Ives!’ Her voice had made him jump. ‘Can I help you with something?’

  ‘Is there no dog food in the kennels?’

  ‘There is.’

  ‘So those are treats?’

  Harry shrugged. ‘Biscuits. The tins down there are just some bland supermarket’s own stuff. I’m sure Jock is more accustomed to a bit of variety.’

  ‘Jock?’

  ‘Jock, yeah. That’s his name.’

  ‘I know. You told me. I just didn’t realise you were on first name terms.’

  ‘Was there something I can help you with?’

  ‘You like him, don’t you?’

  Harry huffed. ‘Contrary to popular opinion, I am aware of the feelings of others. He’s had a bad few days. A box of biscuits is hardly going to fix it, but I was in a shop anyway . . .’

  ‘He’s a dog, Harry! Feelings of others?’

  ‘I prefer dogs. They don’t answer back.’

  ‘That is true.’ Maddie was still grinning.

  ‘Was there something I could help you with?’

  ‘No, I was just pleasantly surprised, is all. I thought I would come in and share it with you.’

  ‘Well, thank you for that.’

  Maddie turned to leave but was called back by Harry almost immediately.

  ‘Maddie, how are you getting on with your cliff-fall case? Still taking up your time?’

  ‘Some. I’m heading out this afternoon for some enquiries.’

  ‘Enquiries?’ Harry frowned.

  ‘The address book we found in the bag. I gave it to Mitch. He’s done some work around the contents. It’s interesting, actually. All seven properties are registered to the same property company. Then he did voters and guess who lives in them?’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘No one. According to that database there’s no one living in any of them. DWP said the same — at least, no one living there is claiming benefits and they’re generally at the lower end of the housing market. So, who do you think owns these seven properties without renting out a single one, thus missing out on thousands a month in income?’

  ‘I’m sure I could guess.’

  ‘Freddie
Rickman. He owns the property company. Everywhere I look I see his name. I swear he will be invading my dreams before long.’

  ‘Well, there you are then.’

  ‘What do you mean there you are, then?’

  ‘Freddie Rickman, the man linked to running drugs and sex workers — among other things. And a dead prostitute with seven of his addresses in her book. It’s a list of addresses where she can take in-calls. It is good intel, so I assume you will be submitting it?’

  ‘Good intel? That’s it? So you’re saying chuck a report on the system and then move on?’

  ‘I didn’t say that. I do appreciate that you need to follow things up, Maddie. I also think that you don’t need to be taking too long. There are other things that may be a better use of your time.’

  ‘Something isn’t right here. I don’t swallow the sex act on top of a cliff gone wrong theory, no pun intended. I mean, how badly wrong does it have to go to drive off a cliff?’

  Harry shrugged. ‘What else do we have? You can find no associations between the two, no motive for either to be unlawfully killed by an external source and no motivation for one to kill the other. There are two theories that make sense . . . sex act gone wrong or maybe this Holly had something over on the driver. Maybe she was extorting him or threatening him. He presented himself as a deeply religious man with a loving family. It would have been quite a fall from grace if he had been exposed as liaising with a sex worker. There might be a reason to drive her off that cliff in there somewhere. He had his belt off, didn’t he?’

  ‘Have you ever seen a taxi driver wearing a seatbelt?’

  ‘No, but his belt was off. Maybe he was supposed to jump out and didn’t quite make it in time.’

  ‘I don’t like it, Harry. I don’t like not knowing.’

  ‘We may never know what was going on in that car that led to it going over that drop.’

  ‘I can’t accept that. Surely the detective in you wants to know?’

  Harry shrugged again. ‘Sometimes you’ve got to let these things go. They can eat you up. Be choosy with that obsession you have for knowing, Maddie.’