‘Guv.’
His boots sent loose gravel flying into the air as he tore past her and disappeared from sight.
She moved closer to the ground floor window of Natalie’s office and shielded her eyes from the weak sunlight that reflected off the glass.
Inside, the room was empty, with no sign of Natalie, or Amber.
Gavin returned a moment later, a key in his hand. ‘No-one’s gone out that way – it’s blocked off with a wheelie bin. I found a key under a flowerpot, though.’
She glanced over her shoulder as a patrol car slid to a halt behind Gavin’s vehicle, and two uniformed officers hurried towards them.
Kay walked over to meet them as they approached. ‘We believe Amber Fitzroy’s life is in danger and she may be held in the Stocktons’ house against her will. Piper’s found a spare key, so in the circumstances, I’m taking the decision to go in. I want you two to stay out here. If anyone turns up, yell.’
‘Guv.’
She followed Gavin as he made his way around the building, and then pulled the wheelie bin out of the way and extracted his telescopic night stick as he opened the door.
‘Natalie?’
The house remained silent in response.
Kay pulled out two pairs of disposable gloves from her pocket and tossed one pair to Gavin. ‘Okay, you take upstairs, I’ll stay down here.’
She followed him into the hallway, then moved through the living room door at the foot of the staircase as he climbed from view.
Thick rugs lined a slate floor, a large television hanging on the far wall in front of a wraparound sofa. Strategically placed cushions covered alternate seats, and a wooden toy chest sat beside it.
An open magazine lay discarded on a coffee table next to a half-empty mug of coffee.
Gavin appeared at the door. ‘Upstairs is clear – no sign of her.’
‘Let’s see what’s in her office.’ Her phone began to ring, and she saw Giles Stockton’s number displayed. ‘Thanks for phoning back.’
‘What do you want, Detective? I’m not talking to you without my solicitor being—’
‘Shut up and listen, Giles. Where’s Natalie?’
‘What the hell is going on?’
‘When was the last time you saw your wife?’
‘This morning, when I left for work.’
‘Your wife isn’t at the house. Where else might she be? Do you own any other houses?’
‘What? What are you doing in my house? How dare—’
‘Do you own any other property?’
‘With the size of our mortgage? Of course we bloody don’t.’
‘A woman’s life may be in danger. Where else might Natalie be?’
‘She’ll be collecting the kids from day care. The centre closes soon, and they charge extra if we’re late.’
‘Which one?’
Kay hung up after Stockton had given her the details, and hurried outside. She handed the scrawled note to one of the uniformed officers. ‘Get onto them and find out if Natalie Stockton showed up to collect her kids. Let me know what you find out.’
She ran back inside, and caught up with Gavin in Natalie’s office.
‘She must’ve taken Amber somewhere else. Giles confirmed they don’t own any other property, and I’m sure Natalie is paranoid about what she thinks Amber might know. We have to hurry, Gav. I think Amber’s in danger.’
‘The notes on the database say that when you and Barnes first spoke with Natalie, she was working on two commissions.’
‘Right – rental properties were one of her specialities, she said. So, somewhere in here, there’s a note of where Amber might be.’
‘What do you think happened?’
‘Maybe it was Natalie who called Jamie late that night. I don’t think she knew that her future husband and brother knew each other – I think she was worried Jamie was going to tell their parents about her drug habit.’
‘But surely, she could have simply counter-threatened him with the supply chain he had set up?’
‘Not if she knew he’d told Amber he was planning to end it, and report it to his commanding officer two days later. He had nothing to lose. But what if Natalie panicked? She was an addict; she was about to lose her supply, and their parents would find out.’
‘How does that tie in with Jamie’s death?’
‘I don’t know.’
She turned as one of the uniformed officers entered the room, his hand on his radio.
‘We’ve heard from the car sent to the childcare centre, guv. No sign of Natalie Stockton. Both her kids are still there. We’ve made arrangements for them to be looked after until we find their mother.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Guv – I think I’ve got something here.’
She moved back to the desk where Gavin was sifting through a sheaf of pages. He handed one to her as she joined him.
‘This is one of her commissions. It’s for a rental property over at Windmill Hill. The tenants moved out two weeks ago, and the photography session for the rental agent isn’t due until two days’ time. She’s got the key while she sorts out all the furniture and everything to stage the rooms.’
‘Let’s go.’ She paused at the door and turned to the uniformed officer. ‘Stay here. If Natalie Stockton turns up, don’t let her disappear again. Gav – with me.’
They dashed to the car, Gavin flooring the accelerator as Kay clipped her seatbelt into place.
‘What about Harrison? Where does he fit into all of this?’ he said.
‘Maybe he realised that if Jamie’s death was properly investigated the way Sharp wanted it, he’d be exposed for dropping the cannabis possession charges against Giles.’
‘But then why make accusations against Sharp that he was covering this up?’
‘Because his career is over, Gav – and he wants to take down Sharp with him, or at least discredit him in any way he could so that no-one would believe Sharp’s accusations against him.’
‘If Natalie knew Harrison was involved in her husband’s charges being dropped, why didn’t she say anything?’
‘Perhaps she was too scared.’
‘So, what’s changed?’
‘I don’t know. I hope to hell we’re not too late, and we get the chance to ask her.’
Forty-Six
As Gavin drove towards Windmill Hill, Kay scanned the pages from Natalie’s notes regarding the property, and then cursed under her breath.
‘There’s no phone number for the agent, and I can’t get a signal for my phone apps.’
‘Wait until we pass Mereworth – the signal will be better by the time we get to the top of Seven Mile Lane.’
‘I bloody hope so.’
Kay folded the pages, the content committed to memory.
A two-bedroom Victorian end-of-terrace, the rental property was expected to attract a significant number of interested buyers now that its tenants had moved out, which was why the owners had opted to have the whole place staged with Natalie’s interior design skills. She had been tasked with sourcing furniture, artwork, and other bric-à-brac to bring out the best in the home in order to help secure the highest price possible. Her fee for this, in Kay’s opinion, was extortionate.
She hoped for the owners’ sake they got a good price.
Gavin indicated left, tore along a straight narrow lane, and then accelerated past a Georgian farmhouse that displayed signs inviting the public to visit its ornate Italian gardens. He slowed for a sharp right-hand turn, and braked.
‘This is Windmill Hill.’
‘Okay. The rental property is about halfway down on the left. See if you can park before we get to it, and we’ll walk the rest of the way.’
‘Guv? Can I make a suggestion?’
‘Yes.’
‘Natalie hasn’t met me. She’ll spot you a mile off, so why don’t I have a walk past first, and see what I find before we go barging in there?’
Kay nodded. ‘Don’t hang about, Gavin.
We might not have much time.’
He spun on his heel and took off at a jog, slowing as he approached the row of houses.
Kay moved to the grass verge, out of the way of any passing traffic, and craned her neck to watch as the detective constable ambled past the terraced cottages as if out for a stroll.
Luckily, he was wearing a leather jacket over his suit and tie, and with his blonde hair sticking up in unruly tufts from time spent surfing, he didn’t draw untoward attention.
She hoped.
He disappeared from view over the brow of the hill, returning five minutes later, and breaking into a run once he’d passed the house.
‘No sign of anyone inside,’ he said, joining her on the verge and turning back to face the terrace. ‘There appears to be one bedroom at the front, and a living area below that – the front door opens straight into it, I would think. The curtains to the bedroom are closed.’
‘Hiding something, do you think?’
‘Or someone, perhaps. There’s a phone number on the “For Sale” sign in the front garden,’ he said, and recited it for her.
‘Good work,’ she said, as she waited for the call to be answered.
‘Hodges and Wilkes Agents, can I help you?’ a male voice said.
‘Who am I speaking to?’
‘Howard Wilkes, the owner. Who’s this?’
‘This is Detective Inspector Kay Hunter of Kent Police. Do you have a spare key at the property you’re currently advertising for sale on Windmill Hill?’
‘Why?’
‘A woman’s life may be in danger. I can either open the front door with a key, or have one of my officers use a battering ram, Mr Wilkes. I don’t have time to mess around.’
‘There’s a loose patio tile – fourth one from the right as you’re facing the back door. The key’s underneath it.’
‘Thank you.’
‘What’s going on, Detective?’
Kay ended the call, having no time to explain herself to the property agent. ‘All right, Gav. Let’s stick together this time, shall we?’
He gave her a grim smile. ‘Sounds good to me. Back door?’
‘Yeah. Let’s go.’
They took off at a sprint, Gavin’s longer legs putting him out in front within seconds.
He vaulted the garden gate, Kay opting to open it rather than trip and fall, before hurrying down the side of the cottage in his wake.
By the time she reached the back garden, he was already crouching next to the patio, lifting the paving slab the agent had indicated.
The cottage had been extended at the back, a wrap-around conservatory now adding another dimension to the original kitchen floorplan, and Kay peered through the windows.
Nothing moved.
‘Got it,’ said Gavin, launching himself at the back door.
Kay extended her baton, and nodded. ‘Do it.’
The key turned with ease, and Kay noted that the door sported a new lock, no doubt replaced by the agent to ensure previous tenants could no longer enter the property. The door opened without a squeak, and they eased into the light space.
Natalie’s skill as an interior designer was apparent.
Indoor plants had been strategically placed around the conservatory, hugging the low walls under the windows without encroaching on two armchairs that sat side by side in such a way as to give the impression that the owners took their morning coffee ritual on a regular basis.
Magazines had been placed on an ornamental glass table, and as Kay moved into the kitchen, she sniffed the air.
A faint trace of vanilla clung to the walls.
‘Perfume?’ said Gavin in a low voice.
Kay shook her head. ‘It’s an old trick. Put a vanilla pod in the oven and warm it up before a viewing – makes the place smell like you’ve been baking, so it feels homely. They’ve obviously had a viewing within the past day or so.’
‘Oh.’
After checking the bathroom, which like many Victorian houses was downstairs, Kay and Gavin moved to the right of the kitchen, passed through a small dining area and into the living room.
Again, Natalie’s handiwork transformed the space into one of domestic bliss.
Pine cones had been stacked in the fire grate, while next to it a pile of logs had been placed next to an iron poker hanging from a rack. The two sofas had cushions piled on them, the bright colours a stark contrast to the muted tones of the walls.
However, there was no sign of Natalie – or Amber.
‘Where are they?’ said Gavin.
‘Okay, let’s check upstairs.’
Kay made her way out to the dining room. A door had been constructed in the left-hand wall to hide the staircase, and she rested her hand on it a moment, listening.
Then she wrenched it open, and called up the stairs.
‘Natalie? Are you here? It’s Kay Hunter.’
A dull thud reached her ears, and she glanced over her shoulder at Gavin.
‘What was that?’ he said.
In response, she raised her baton and charged up the stairs.
At the top step, she was faced with two doors – both closed.
She shoved open the one to her left, and discovered a single bed and nightstand, the back window providing a view over a long winding garden that led down to a footpath and, beyond that, a golf course.
She turned on the threshold, and saw Gavin had his hand on the door to the main bedroom.
‘Go.’
He pushed open the door, and Kay barrelled into him.
He stepped to one side, and as she peered around his shoulder, she saw why he’d stopped so suddenly.
Amber Fitzroy sat on a chair next to the window, her wrists and ankles bound, and a gag that had been tied so tight across her mouth, she was having difficulty breathing.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the two detectives.
Kay breathed a sigh of relief as tears streaked down the woman’s cheeks.
Forty-Seven
Gavin found a knife in an ornamental block in the kitchen and slit the gag away from Amber’s mouth, then placed his hand on her shoulder as she gulped in deep breaths.
‘I thought she was going to kill me,’ she gasped.
Gavin glanced over his shoulder at Kay. ‘There’s another knife missing from the block.’
Kay began to search the room, then crouched onto the rug that had been laid across the polished wooden floorboards and peered under the bed.
‘Got it.’ She dropped the bedclothes back into place; there was no sense in distressing the woman further, and they would retrieve the knife later. ‘Where’s Natalie?’
‘She’s gone,’ said Amber, while Gavin began to loosen the bindings at her wrists and ankles.
‘Did she say where she was going?’
‘No – she kept saying it was all my fault, that if Jamie hadn’t fallen in love with me, he would have been more careful hiding the drugs. She said that if I hadn’t given the earrings back, he wouldn’t have had second thoughts.’
‘Why did you agree to leave the farm with her?’
‘She said she wanted to talk, that’s all. I believed her.’ Fresh tears welled in her eyes. ‘I can’t believe I was so stupid. Oh my God, I really thought she was going to kill me.’
‘Why did she want to bring you here?’
Confusion flittered across Amber’s face. ‘This is her house. She said she wanted me to meet her husband and kids.’
Kay exchanged a look with Gavin, then crouched down next to Amber and reached out for her hand. ‘This isn’t Natalie’s house, Amber. This is an empty property that she helped to style while the owners are trying to sell it. No-one lives here.’
A shudder ran through the woman’s body, and she gripped Kay’s fingers. ‘She brought me here on purpose?’
Kay nodded. ‘I think so.’
The woman’s pallor whitened even further. ‘Oh my God.’
‘Do you have any idea why she would attack you now?’
Amber rubbed at her wrists where the rope had dug into her skin. ‘I think she panicked – she wasn’t acting rationally after we’d left the farmhouse. At first, I took pity on her. That’s why I agreed to give her a lift. I thought it’d give us a chance to talk about Jamie away from her parents.’
Gavin pulled a clean paper tissue from his jacket pocket and handed it to her, and they waited while she tried to compose herself.
‘When we got here, she was going on about how happy she was that I’d get to meet her kids – everything was normal until we got up here. She said they were playing in that other room, but as I was following her up the stairs, I thought it was weird that I couldn’t hear anything. You know what kids are like when they’re playing – it’s usually bedlam.’ She shook her head. ‘I was so stupid to believe her.’
‘What did she do?’
Amber rubbed at the goose bumps that were forming on her arms. ‘The moment we reached the top of the stairs, she changed. We struggled; she overpowered me – it was as if she had something like this planned all along.’
‘Did she say why she assaulted you?
‘It turns out she thought Jamie had told me she was involved with the drug smuggling all those years ago, that I had told you, and had planned to tell her parents. I had no idea she was selling the drugs for Jamie until she told me when we got here. She was pacing up and down waving that knife in front of me.’ A sob escaped her lips. ‘When I said I didn’t have a clue what she was going on about, she got confused and started muttering to herself, and that’s when she took my car keys and left.’
Kay placed a hand on Amber’s shoulder. ‘You’re safe now. Gavin will take care of you. We’ll need to get a formal statement from you, too.’
Amber sniffed, then nodded, colour returning to her features. ‘Okay.’
‘Where are you going, guv?’ Gavin moved towards her.
‘Stay here. I’ll get Carys to catch up with me. I need to find Natalie.’
Forty-Eight
Kay spun the wheel and eased the car over the cattle grid that separated the Ingrams’ farm from the lane. A smudge of bright blue had caught her eye in the rear-view mirror, and she breathed a sigh of relief as Carys braked to a standstill beside her in another pool car.
Call to Arms Page 18
