Where Is She?

by Roger Rapel

  He wanted to wait until he had spoken with Sandra before having a go at Sumner. He wanted to be on the front foot rather than the back one. It was whilst thinking of previous jobs that he remembered an investigation from another force where the boyfriend gave an impassioned television plea for his missing girlfriend to come home or make contact; when in fact, he had killed her. The SIO had shown the recording to psychologist who was also a body language expert, who stated in his opinion the boyfriend was definitely lying. It was at that point they turned all their attention on him and finally found the body whereupon he confessed.

  Jim approached Langton suggesting the scenario of using a psychologist if his enquiries failed to turn up anything substantial; Langton thought and gave a nod of approval indicating he would research it.

  Jim got home; Jackie had left a message on the answer machine ‘going to be late; sort a dinner out for yourself.’ Jim made a sandwich, then instead of working he sat and watched a film; it got to 10 o’clock and still no sign of Jackie. Jim tidied up and was just going to bed when he heard the door go, Jackie came in looking whacked out; she threw her coat over the chair and just flopped down on the sofa. ‘Oh Jim get me a large vodka.’ ‘Had a hard day sweetheart?’ ‘Oh god I could kick it all in and get an office job somewhere; I’m sick of dealing with kids who have been abused; no one gives a fuck about those poor kids.’ Jim handed over the vodka and poured a scotch for himself. ‘You hungry Jack?’ ‘No thanks; I grabbed something on the hoof.’ She lay on Jims lap and drifted off as Jim stroked her hair.’ Jim knew her pressures so just let her lay there and relax.

  Jim then helped her to the bedroom where he eased her out of her clothes then she flopped into bed the curled up into the foetal position pulling the duvet around her. Jim lay beside her spooning her till morning. They both woke up at about the same time Jackie looked absolutely knackered. He looked at her thinking she has to get out of the department and on to something else. ‘You want breakfast Jack?’ She nodded. Jim then cooked breakfast with all the trimmings. They sat and ate, then Jackie began to surface and show signs of life, there was no good talking to her till she was ready as she would only bite his head off; she was awful till she had eaten and had coffee. Jim looked at her as he nodded; she smiled and nodded back which meant she had surfaced.

  ‘You look whacked out babes.’ ‘Oh Jim I am just about burnt out.’ ‘Okay babes let’s have a week-end away somewhere just us, no phones.’ She smiled ‘perhaps we could go to that spa again?’ ‘Okay leave it with me.’ Jackie got showered and dressed; then asked why Jim wasn’t dressed; he indicated he had an interview at 11am; he would go straight there. Also would give him a chance to research the spa week-end. He arranged the same spa hotel they had been to before. He texted Jackie ‘get Friday afternoon off as before I’ve booked same hotel.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Jim arrived at Sandra’s address he was just about to ring the bell when the door opened; although he had noticed how attractive Sandra was when he first saw her, but now she was fully made up and dressed in casual but smart clothes she looked ravishing.

  ‘Please come in, what shall I call you?’ ‘Please, call me Jim.’ Sandra led the way to the kitchen, she clicked on the kettle; the mugs were ready with instant coffee in. The kettle quickly boiled then she poured the water in and bought the mugs over.

  ‘Thank you Sandra very kind of you.’ Jim then went through some rapport building questions which broke down some of the tension; it also gave him a chance to admire Sandra’s body which was his favourite pass time, watching beautiful women. Sandra had brilliant blue eyes which radiated as she smiled.

  ‘Now Sandra the reason I’m here.’ ‘Look Jim I know who told you about me, it was Christine wasn’t it?’ ‘I’m sorry Sandra I can’t confirm or deny anything that was given to me in confidence the same as I won’t reveal anything you tell me.’ Sandra nodded. ‘Okay tell me about Charles Sumner?’ ‘Look Jim, he is a nasty piece of work, he had a real nasty streak inside him. Yes I dated him and moved in with him, but then he became controlling and began forcing his will on me, he wouldn’t let me go out on my own and when I did, he would grill me as to who I had met and where. If I didn’t answer he would hit me.’ ‘How long did this go on for?’ ‘I suppose about a year, I used to go out with Christine and some friends, but then he stopped me from doing that. I could only ring her. I decided to run; I’d had enough of his violence. I found this place and just ran when he was at work. I have never heard from him again I changed my phone number so no could reach me. I knew he was looking for me as Christina told me when I called her, she said he was asking where I was. That’s about it really.’ ‘You were frightened of him?’ ‘Not frightened I was petrified. He had such a vicious streak in him. I had the thought at one time he was going to kill me, as the look of hatred in his eyes as he hit me was evil.’

  ‘This has been really helpful Sandra, thank you very much. I may have to come back so take my card and if you think of anything else please call me.’ ‘You won’t tell him where I am?’ ‘I told you, this is in the strictest confidence.’ ‘Thank you, I was worried but, you have been so kind.’ ‘Please call me anytime if you need to talk; can I take your number just in case something else comes up.’ Sandra nodded as she wrote her number down; she looked knowingly at Jim; she had seen him admiring her body and had absorbed his attention. Jim got to his car and thought; no I can’t, that would be a potential disaster; although she has got a lovely body.

  Jim got back to HQ’s then went to see Langton enquiring if he had made any headway on the psychologist for the broadcasted plea. Langton informed he had the go ahead to use one that had been used on many such occasions. Jim stated he was going to interview Sumner later when he would request that he should be part of the reconstruction and the plea for Janet to come home, or at least make contact; Langton nodded in approval.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Jim knocked on the door of Sumner’s house, the door opened there stood Sumner, Jim looked at him; he knew him from somewhere. He tried to wrack his brain, but had to let it go for the moment. ‘Yes what you want.’ ‘Charles Sumner?’ ‘Yes who wants to know?’ ‘I am detective sergeant Broadbent I am reviewing the case of Janet Crosby can I come in and have a chat.’ Sumner looked at Jim also with a hint of recognition.

  Jim sat down and went over the normal questions in relation to his relationship with Janet including their friends, parties, nights out, including favourite restaurants. He wanted to get him on his side, but he didn’t like him, there was something about him, he had a devious look in his eye, which Jim picked up on.

  ‘Okay thanks; have you any idea where she might have gone?’ ‘Not a clue I went to work when I came home she had gone and haven’t seen or heard of her since.’ ‘Okay thanks; we are considering a televised appeal for her to make contact or for anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward; we would like you to be part of the appeal as it would give an impact to the audience; would you do that for us please?’ Sumner had no choice as he looked at Jim. ‘Of course I would be glad to help all I can.’ Jim took a contact number for him.

  Jim got back in his car and thought where the hell do I know him from, his mind was doing summersaults as he jumped from one thought to the other, but nothing came to the fore.

  As soon as he saw him he got that sixth sense feeling, as the hairs were standing up on the back of his neck again; he kept saying to himself ‘he is definitely not right, there is more to this.’

  Jim went back to his old division and checked through the records for Sumner, but found nothing; he was clean. He then chatted to his old team; then he took Vicky to one side ‘hi Vic how’s Tim doing?’ ‘Yeah really good, he’s put up some really tasty work lately.’ ‘Good well done; can you get him to check out the name Charles Sumner, he was the boyfriend of missing girl Janet Crosby, I think he might have done her in?’ ‘Okay will do.’

  Jim then called it a day and went home and saw Jackie boppi
ng in the kitchen again as she listened to music and cooking, she turned around hearing the door, and went to meet him planting a big kiss on him. ‘Come here Jim’ as she hugged him tightly ‘right get changed dinners nearly ready.’ She turned as she went back to the kitchen he patted her bum as she wiggled in response.

  Dinner eaten Jim sat feeling full as they discussed their day’s work. Jim then said ‘don’t forget tomorrow be here for 3pm, then we are on the road to the hotel.’ ‘Oh Jim good job you mentioned it I nearly forgot.’

  Jim then sat at the table looking over his notes but, he just kept coming back to Sumner and where had he known him from but, he kept drawing a blank.

  He then heard Jackie call him ‘Broadbent get in here now.’ Jim closed his book stretched and went into the bedroom where Jackie stood in her black Anne Summers kit, then another night of passion commenced. Jim had his head pulled between Jackie’s thighs again, which was her favourite. The night was full of lust which ended in them both crashing till the morning.

  Jim arose feeling exhausted from the night’s exertion, but satisfied, he patted the bed but Jackie had already gone to work; she left a note saying she had forgotten to ask for the time off so had gone in early.

  Jim looked at the mess in bedroom as he picked up the Anne Summers kit as he remembered the night. Then he showered and shaved and dressed as he made toast, he sat drinking coffee. He still couldn’t get Sumner out of his head.

  He went back to Sumner’s house and made sure he was out, then went around the back and emptied paperwork from the dustbin. He hoped that his visit may have panicked him to throw something away. He put all the papers into a black sack then got into his car and drove to a quiet location; he sifted through the contents. It stank of decaying odours; then he found a piece of paper outlining some common land with a number of small wooded areas. Jim knew of it, it was on the edge of the Larches estate, popular with courting couples, dog walkers and ramblers.

  Jim went back to HQ’s he looked through the papers in the file of Janet Crosby to see if the previous search had included the common. He shuffled through the papers and discovered the search just fell short of the common. He went into to see Langton explaining his findings. They sat and poured over the benefits of undertaking a search of the area. Jim then said ‘let’s do the appeal then do the search afterwards, especially if the body language expert confirms Sumner is lying.’ Langton nodded. ‘Just to let you know guv I need to be away early as I’m taking Jackie away for a week-end, is that okay?’ ‘Bugger off then, see you Monday.’ Jim smiled nodding; just as he was about to leave, Langton went for the scotch drawer Jim put his hand up stating he had a long drive. Langton nodded as he pulled out a glass, pouring himself one.

  Jim arrived home and packed a track suit, tee shirts and a pair of slacks just in case they went out; but, knew it was unlikely. With that Jackie came home huffing and puffing having run up the stairs. Jim said ‘woe slow down babes.’ ‘Come on lets go Jim, I’ve escaped.’

  The town roads were busy, but moving; then they hit open road which meant he could open it up a bit. The long meandering drive down to the hotel was like Déjà vu; the same girl was at the reception desk, she smiled welcoming them back. Once the itinerary was sorted they went to their room and unpacked the few clothes they had, then they went down for a quick swim before the evening buffet. The coolness of the water washed away some of the cobwebs. The evening meal consumed they had a quick drink then to bed, they were both knackered.

  The morning came with a light fruit breakfast eaten; they had a massage. This was Jackie’s favourite just being pampered under professional hands. She was pummelled and squeezed as she felt the tension leaving her shoulders.

  Jim was undergoing the same procedure, but his mind was still on Sumner, he had to be the killer of Janet; he also kept thinking where he knew him from. The young masseuse said to him ‘please try to relax sir, you’re so tense.’ Jim took the advice as he drifted off under the young expert hands. The masseuse then said ‘that’s better.’ He could feel the tension being worked out of him. The hour was soon up the masseuse said ‘please stay still for five minutes then drink a glass of water.’ Jim lay there just day dreaming then got up, as he did so he felt light headed so did as he was told and drank a full glass of water.

  He sat outside in the communal area waiting for Jackie; he sat marvelling at the wood panelling. He thought if only walls could speak. The old stately home must have seen some sights.

  As he was day dreaming; Jackie came out of her treatment room. She looked completely different as she saw Jim she gave a relaxed radiating smile. They exchanged a kiss then, they both went for a swim releasing all their cares as they swam gently through the warm water; they hugged in the shallow end; then into the sauna room. They sat soaking up the steam and glowing. After the hot steam they had another swim before a shower then a casual walk around the grounds before lunch.

  Jim checked the itinerary as he said ‘you’ve got reflexology and I’ve got a sports massage; now that is going to hurt.’ Jackie laughed ‘good job; they wouldn’t touch your feet.’

  They went to lunch as they sat talking about their sessions and how relaxing it had been so far; they walked around the grounds admiring the well-kept gardens, Jim checked his watch, “oops better get going babes, see you later.”

  Jim arrived at the treatment room where he was met by a slender woman. Jim said ‘be gentle with me please.’ The woman laughed as Jim slipped off his track suit. Then lay on the treatment table in his shorts as the masseuse began her massage, slowly and gently at first then, she really kneaded the deep underlying muscle groups. Jim groaned under the pressure of the power being exerted on him. He wondered how such a slim girl could exert so much power. When she had finished he felt like he had done ten rounds in the ring. The masseuse again instructed him to lay still and to drink water before he stood up.

  He met Jackie who looked radiant, ‘wow I’ve never had one of those before; that was good, I never knew the feet could be so relaxing.’ She looked at Jim who was really suffering from the massage, then she burst out laughing, ‘oh Jim you look awful babe’s.’ ‘Oh man she pounded me, she said in a couple of hours I would feel the benefit.’ Then he burst out laughing as well.

  The weekend went by too quickly. No sooner had Sunday arrived they were on the road home again. The journey back was relaxed as they chatted about all and nothing. When they arrived close to home the sun was setting and just getting dusk. Rather than cooking they grabbed a takeaway from their favourite Indian; then went to bed with a sense of satisfied exhaustion.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Langton had been utilising the force press officer making the most of his contacts to set up the date for the televised appeal. The media circus always liked these events, as it sold papers also the television viewers got to see the distraught family, and in this case the boyfriend as well.

  Jim went to see Janet’s parents; albeit they weren’t too happy about sharing the platform with Sumner, but if it helped to make an impact they would; hoping beyond hope it might jog someone’s memory and get them to come forward with any information or that Janet might see the appeal and make contact herself.

  Jim and Langton had sat down with the psychologist and the press officer; he discussed the way the appeal should go. The psychologist suggested that the parents go first to make their own heartfelt appeal then let them go; once they had left the arena, get Sumner to make his appeal; he wanted certain questions asked, not direct impact questions, but subtle ones which should unnerve him which, if he was lying, the tell signs would show through.

  The day of the appeal came, the seating arrangements were made with the parents on one side then Langton and lastly Sumner furthest away from the parents. Langton would open the proceedings then introduce the parents; he would let them go after their appeal, as the emotion would be too much for them to remain. Then he would introduce Sumner to the press where he would make his appeal.

&nb
sp; The awaiting press were present with TV cameras; there were cables running everywhere attached to numerous microphones on the desk. The press officer then directed Langton on a countdown 3, 2, 1 he then pointed his finger at Langton.

  ‘Good morning, I am Detective Superintendent Langton and the reason for this press conference is to appeal to the public for help in relation to a missing person Janet Crosby. Janet went missing from her boyfriend’s house over a year ago now and hasn’t been since. We would like anyone with any information to come forward. He then handed over to the parents; Mrs Crosby was so overcome with emotion she broke down in tears. Her husband took over saying ‘please Janet if you’re listening to this, please come home or just call to say you’re alright please, or if anyone has any information let the police know.’ Then he also broke down as they both left in tears holding each other for comfort as they were led out by a female officer.

  Langton then introduced Sumner, who started off with a plea for Janet to come home or make contact, but the news hounds had already smelt a rat and began asking their own in-depth questions which was good. ‘What time did she leave the house and what was she wearing? Did she walk or go by car? Had you argued before she left or fought beforehand? Was she dressed for work? Has she ever gone before?’ The questions came thick and fast.

  Even Jim could see he was lying he didn’t need a psychologist to tell him that. The psychologist was out of sight watching from the wings and making notes on the questions asked and Sumner’s reactions as he answered.

  Jim could see by Sumner’s hand movements and shuffling feet he was lying, his eyes were darting from place to place, his hand gestures making the subtle movements which coupled with the other movements showed he was lying; he had nowhere to hide, he was in the spotlight and he knew it. He had tried as hard as he could to keep his composure, but he was on the point of losing it.