Hard Truth

by Jay Gill

  “Cut your shit. You have my little girl. Where is she?”

  “Last time I checked, Alice was fine. Do you really think I would harm your little girl? You disappoint me, James. I thought you knew me better than that. Alice is close by; hopefully, you’ll get to her in time. Though we do need to avoid any further delays, as I cannot vouch for her safety indefinitely. Let’s take a seat, shall we?”

  Chapter Seventy-Six

  I couldn’t believe my ears. From across the table, I stared at Lyle in disbelief and said, “What are you talking about?”

  Lyle didn’t take her eyes off me for a second as she enjoyed her moment. She was calm in a way that told me she had been planning her speech for a long time and was in total control of herself and this situation. She spoke soothingly. “It’s very straightforward. I want you, James Hardy, retired detective chief inspector, a man who holds himself in such high esteem, to kill someone for me.”

  I jumped to my feet, and the chair I was sitting on screeched and fell backwards with a disturbing crash.

  I shouted across the table at her, “Listen to me. You’re playing games with a little girl’s life. If you don’t tell me where my daughter is right now, I’m going to – ”

  Lyle remained expressionless. “No, you’re not, James. You’re not going to lay one more finger on me. If you do, your little Alice dies. Unless I tell you where she is you will never find her. No one will. Alice will die a slow, agonising death. Now sit down and listen to what else I have to say.”

  I had no choice. I picked up my chair and sat back down. My mind was racing, trying to think ahead. I needed to find a way to get an advantage or some sort of leverage. I could think of none. There was nothing for me to do but to sit and listen.

  “Tick-tock, tick-tock, James,” said Lyle. “I see your brain trying to find a way out. It’s time to accept your predicament and stop wasting precious time that Alice doesn’t have.”

  “Who is this person that you want dead?” The words sounded like a foreign language coming out of my mouth.

  Lyle rubbed her hands together excitedly. “Good. Let’s get down to business. First, I just want to say, I know you want this person dead. I can deliver the person in question right into your hands. It can be our little secret. I can mentor you. Tell me that wouldn’t be exciting.”

  I felt my face go pale at the word ‘mentor.’ Her face broke into a wide smile, and then she changed course. “Did you, and dishy Detective Cotton ever figure out the clues I left you? All those who died as part of this game were stepping-stones leading to this moment. I want you to take a moment to appreciate the special gift I’m giving you.”

  My brain was overloaded with worry, and Lyle’s words weren’t making any sense. “Will you please get to the point.”

  “Okay. All this time you thought the mother of your children, Helena, was killed by Tony Horn. The truth is he was only the man who stuck the blade into her belly. The little man who had no choice. The man I want you to kill is the man who was really behind your wife’s death. The man who gave Horn no choice. Now doesn’t that sound like a win-win situation?”

  My mind was being pulled in all directions. Was this just another of Lyle’s games? Why was she saying these things? What did she have to gain from tormenting me?

  I said, “Why do I have to kill him? Why don’t I just arrest him and let him face life imprisonment?”

  “James, you haven’t asked me who it is. You know, don’t you? You’ve always known, or at least had your suspicions. You poor man. Carrying that burden. How do you face your children every day while knowing the truth all this time? I want to relieve you of that pain.”

  I thought about the Scrabble pieces and let my mind put them in order.

  R-I-C-H-T-E-R.

  I felt my eyes widen.

  Lyle was watching my face carefully. “That’s it, James. It was Edward Richter who really killed Helena.”

  A wave of nausea hit me as all the missing pieces from the last few years finally slotted into place. Richter was behind Helena’s murder. He was the man who had destroyed my life and the lives of my children, and now Lyle was insisting I kill him to get Alice back.

  Chapter Seventy-Seven

  Lyle looked at her watch. “I just need a ‘yes’ from you. More importantly, Alice needs a ‘yes’ from you. I promise this will be our little secret. You know I always keep my promises. No one will know, ever. You kill him however you want; I don’t care how. I know you’re a man of your word. Just say ‘yes’ and you get Alice back, and I’ll be on my way.

  “A word of warning. If I give you Alice and you fail to kill Richter, I will come after you. First, I’ll kill your dog. Then your mother, and then your children, and then I’ll make you watch while I kill Monica.”

  My mind was frantically trying to navigate a way out of this. All I could think of right now was how to get Alice back. I said, “There must be another way?”

  “There isn’t another way. I give a life; you take a life. It’s as simple as that. I’ll make it simpler for you. Tell me you want Alice back and let me walk out of here. Say yes, and our deal is done. You’d better hurry.”

  She had left me no choice. I bowed my head. “Yes, I want Alice back.”

  Lyle jumped to her feet. “Excellent. I am so excited about our future together. I’ll be in touch with more details very soon. You sit there and don’t move. I will step outside and get Alice for you. If you move, you will never see your little girl again.”

  I pressed my hands flat down on top of the table. I’d done a deal with the devil, and I had to force myself to stay seated as I watched Lyle leave the room.

  Everything about this felt wrong, and as I heard Lyle close the front door, I was desperate to go after her. I sat in silence, waiting to hear Alice’s voice. My eyes scanned the room, my ears taking in every sound. I prayed Alice was still alive and that Lyle would keep her word. I sat motionless for five minutes, then ten minutes. I looked at my watch; twenty minutes. Doubt crept in. She’s lied to me. Lyle’s not coming back. I let her walk out that door. I entrusted Alice’s life to a crazy woman. What was I thinking? Lyle was never going to keep to her side of the bargain. What have I done?

  I got to my feet and raced through the farmhouse. I threw open the front door. The rain was lashing down. I stepped outside and looked around frantically. I called Alice’s name. I called and called but heard nothing back. I sank to my knees and begged. I clawed at the muddy soil and cried in despair.

  I felt my phone vibrate. It buzzed again. I searched through my pockets and grabbed the phone from my inside pocket. One new message.

  The message was from Lyle. I clicked on it and read Alice is in the water tank xxx.

  I jumped to my feet. Water tank? What water tank?

  I looked around in all directions, but it was difficult to see anything in the darkness and with the rain beating down. I switched on my phone’s torch to give me some light. Pointing it ahead of me, I ran along the side of the farmhouse until I came to the corner, then sprinted along the rear side until I reached the farthest corner. Nothing. I turned again and again and kept going until I found myself back where I started. No water tank.

  I opened my phone and replied to Lyle’s message with one word: WHERE?

  I waited.

  No reply.

  I ran to my car and found my torch in the glovebox. I turned on the car headlights.

  Running back to the farmhouse, I shone the torch around. The beam picked up the shape of the stable block. I ran over and shone the light inside each window. The stables were empty. I ran to the left side and shone the torch around. No water tank. I ran back to the right side of the stable block. I shone the torchlight along the wall and there, halfway along, was a bulky shape. I ran closer and could make out a row of large barrels.

  What would I find? Knowing what Lyle was capable of, I feared the worst. My legs felt leaden and reluctant to move. I had to force myself to get closer.

  I c
alled Alice’s name as I ran. The barrels, three in total, were raised off the ground on concrete blocks. I climbed up and tried to prise the lid off the first barrel. A metal bar lay across the top. At the end of the bar was a latch keeping the lid down, held in place with a metal pin. I slid out the pin, flipped up the latch and lifted the lid. I shone the torch inside and found nothing but water.

  I dropped the lid and moved on to the second barrel, which had the same locking mechanism on its lid. I repeated the process, my hands numb with cold. As I peered into yet another empty barrel, I heard a faint voice calling me.

  I looked over at the third barrel and said, “Alice? Is that you?”

  I shone the torch on the third barrel and couldn’t believe my eyes. Little wriggling fingers poked through from under the lid. A weak voice called, “Daddy?” Then stronger and more fearful, “Daddy, I’m here! I’m here! Please, I’m here!”

  I wrenched off the lid and looked down at the heartbreaking sight of my little girl, up to her neck in freezing water. Barely able to form words, I reached over the lip of the barrel towards her. “Come here, sweetheart. You’re safe now.”

  Alice put up her arms and said, “You came. I knew you would. Please hurry. I feel so cold.”

  Chapter Seventy-Eight

  I sat beside Alice while she slept. I held her hand and couldn’t take my eyes off her. No child should have to go through what she’d been through.

  Monica, Faith and Mum were on their way. I needed them to see her. I had this inescapable feeling that once they had seen her and our family was back together, this nightmare would be finally over.

  Alice’s doctor came onto the ward and stood beside me.

  I had a million questions but merely asked, “How is she?”

  “She’s going to be fine. She’s a fighter. She has mild hypothermia, which we’re treating. And she needs plenty of rest.”

  I didn’t want to ask, but I had to. “You said earlier, Doctor, that she is suffering from exhaustion and shock. I sensed something else, something you weren’t telling me.”

  The doctor looked uneasy and said, “Yes. I didn’t want to say anything because we can’t be certain. We ran some tests, and it seems your daughter was drugged.”

  The words hit me like a train. I looked at Alice and then back at the doctor and said, “Drugged? With what?”

  “The tests were inconclusive, but it’s possible she was given something like Valium or Rohypnol. Rohypnol is also known as the date-rape drug…”

  “I know,” I snapped. “I know what Rohypnol is.” I was angry and didn’t mean to snap at the doctor.

  Neither of us said anything for a moment.

  “I’m sorry. Thank you, Doctor,” I said. “Will there be any side effects?”

  “Alice may have limited or no memory of what happened to her. There should be no long-term side effects. My advice is to keep an eye on her, and if you think she’s behaving in any way out of the ordinary then speak to your GP. We’ll monitor her progress, and when you leave, you should schedule a follow-up with her GP.”

  Voices behind me caught my attention, and I turned to see Mum leading Faith and Monica towards me. “This way. I can see them,” said Mum.

  Everyone crowded around the bed and looked at Alice. Seeing the shock on their faces brought home to me how frail Alice looked, and how the outcome could have been so tragically different. We all took turns kissing and comforting each other and talking to Alice as she slept.

  “She’s going to be fine,” said Monica out loud. Whether she was talking to us or trying to convince herself, I couldn’t tell.

  “She is,” said Mum. “She’s a Hardy. She’s as tough as they come. She’ll be out playing with her friends again before you know it.”

  Over Mum’s shoulder, outside the ward, I could see Emma Cotton hovering. I excused myself and joined her. She looked as tired as I felt. Her usually bright complexion was pale, and she had dark rings under eyes. Her clothes looked creased, and I felt sure she hadn’t slept for at least forty-eight hours. I wasn’t sure how I would ever be able to repay her efforts in getting Alice back safely.

  “How’s Alice?”

  “She’s going to be okay, thanks to you,” I said.

  “That’s wonderful news. Give her my love. It was a team effort. You know how it is,” said Emma modestly.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “Hardy, I didn’t want to bring this to you now, but I also know you’d want to know.”

  I could see from Emma’s face she had news but was unsure whether to break it to me.

  “We know where Lyle’s been living,” she said. “She’s been living right under our noses. I discovered it because the place was purchased by the same business that owns the chain of care homes her mother is in. It’s a property on the Sandbanks peninsula. I’m on my way there now to take a look.”

  “Give me a minute. I’m coming with you. I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” I said.

  As I turned to go inform Monica I was leaving for a while, I thought I caught the slightest glimpse of a smile on Emma’s face. She had known I’d want to be there and knew she’d made the right call.

  I looked at Emma as we drove at speed across town. We both had a feeling of determination that this was it, that Lyle wouldn’t slip through our fingers again.

  I couldn’t wait to see the surprise on Lyle’s arrogant face when I once again had her in cuffs. This time there would be no deal on the table.

  Chapter Seventy-Nine

  Emma parked the unmarked Ford Focus across the street. Nodding towards the house, she said, “It’s that one. The second floor is pretty much all glass. The back of the property backs out onto the beach. All the properties do on this side of the street.”

  I reached for the door handle.

  Emma said, “Do you want to call for backup?”

  I wasn’t about to wait. Lyle could be long gone by the time backup arrived.

  I said, “I’m going to take a closer look. You’re welcome to stay here.”

  “Not a chance,” said Emma. “You go, we both go. Just hold on one second.” She passed me a black leather wallet. I flipped it open to reveal my warrant card. I looked at her and smiled.

  Emma said, “I know the timing isn’t great, but welcome to the Dorset Major Crime Investigation Team, MCIT. You’d better carry a badge in case we enter the property.”

  Holding a warrant card in my hand again felt better than it ever had, somehow. I tucked it into my jacket and said, “Thank you, Cotton. Come on, let’s go get her.”

  Staying together, we checked the front before continuing around to the back of the property. The ground-floor sliding doors at the back of the house were open. Looking up, I could see the upstairs windows were tilted open. I led the way as we stepped into the house.

  Downstairs, the property was open-plan with white leather sofas, a large dining area and a modern-looking kitchen. To our left and right, stainless steel and glass staircases with thick glass steps led to a landing area where I could see two Mulberry suitcases. Silently, I motioned for Emma to take the right staircase while I went left.

  We took a closer look at the suitcases as we reached the top. Tags on both bags indicated Lyle intended a trip to Vienna. I couldn’t let her leave the country. She had to be stopped.

  Working together and watching each other’s blind side, Emma and I moved from room to room in silence. Before we entered the last room, I already knew we’d find it empty. Lyle wasn’t here. The house was empty, and once again she’d slipped away.

  Emma went back downstairs while I read the tags on the suitcases again before checking the upstairs room one more time.

  From downstairs, Emma called out, “Hardy, I’ve got something.”

  I ran down to where she stood in the kitchen. She handed me two ticket printouts that showed Lyle and another passenger by the name of Sienna Lasota were booked on a flight to Vienna out of Heathrow Airport. “They were among the cookbooks,” sa
id Emma. “There are also other printouts, including pre-booked tickets for the Vienna Opera House next week.”

  I read the tickets and said, “We must have disturbed Lyle as she was preparing to leave. Maybe she saw us as we arrived and out went the back way. The suitcases suggest we couldn’t have missed her by long.”

  “We could set up surveillance. There’s a chance she’ll come back,” said Emma.

  “It’s possible and worth a shot. My guess is Lyle left in a hurry.”

  “There is a chance we could catch her at the airport,” said Emma. “The tickets are printouts. With her passport and another copy of the tickets, she can still get out of the country. I’ll get onto the airports; we might still get lucky.”

  Disappointed, I wandered around the house while Emma made phone calls. I wondered how Lyle was always able to stay one step ahead. It was as though she had telepathic abilities. In reality, I knew her enormous wealth enabled her to buy any information she required. Frustrated, I realised how close we had come to finally catching her.

  I thought about the suitcase tags and wondered who her companion was. Sienna Lasota. Did Sienna have any idea who Lyle was? Once Lyle was bored with her, would Sienna be disposed of like so many others had been? Would Sienna become yet another victim I would have on my conscience?

  I thought about how Lyle had planned every step of her game. I considered the suitcases, the tickets and the unlocked house.

  Emma was about to make another call when I said, “It’s all too easy. What do you notice about this scene?”

  Emma looked at me, puzzled. “I’m not sure I follow.”

  “It’s been staged.”

  “Staged in what way?” asked Emma. She looked at the ticket printouts, which were now on the kitchen worktop.

  “We’re being spoon-fed what Lyle wants us to believe. The open house, the cases neatly placed at the top of the stairs with tags on. The tickets that were almost hidden. She’s not catching a flight to Vienna – I’d bet my life on it.”