by D. S. Butler
Toby shook his head. “I have no idea. We haven’t got any money so they can’t have targeted her for that. What about the other girl you mentioned? Ruby, wasn’t it?”
Mackinnon nodded. “Yes, Ruby Watson. We are not sure why she was targeted yet. We have been keeping the abduction quiet and out of the press. If things are made public, it could hinder the investigation. Although members of the public will want to help and phone in information, we will get inundated with calls and we won’t know which ones are genuine. Right now, we think it’s sensible to keep the press out of it, and that means keeping people who know about Lila’s disappearance to a minimum.”
Janice appeared in the doorway. She was trembling and crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself tightly as though she were worried she might fall apart.
“Do you know if Lila was caught up in anything? An estate feud? Or drugs?”
Janice let out a bitter laugh. “She doesn’t get involved in stuff like that. Just because we are not hoity-toity snobs doesn’t mean our Lila is involved with drugs. She might do a little bit of pot here and there, but doesn’t everyone?”
Mackinnon guessed that was a rhetorical question.
“Ruby Watson’s parents are very wealthy. So far, they have only had one text message the same as you. It’s possible we may get a ransom demand in the next few hours.”
Janice put a hand to her forehead. “Oh, God. What has Lila got herself involved in? I knew she had been hanging around with someone who was filling her head with daft ideas for the future. I told Lila she should just settle for what she had and make the most of it. But Lila’s always been a dreamer. She just wanted to better herself. Our daughter is a hard-working, sweet girl. Please find her for us.”
Charlotte reached out and squeezed Janice’s hand. “We will do our very best.”
Chapter 7
When Mackinnon and Charlotte left the Towers Estate, they went their separate ways. Charlotte returned to Wood Street Station to report back to DI Tyler, and Mackinnon headed to the Rose Hill community centre.
He knew DC Collins would already be there, accessing the centre’s CCTV, but as both girls were last seen just outside the community centre, Mackinnon wanted to talk to the staff himself. People attending the centre may have witnessed something important without realising it at the time. Things that may have seemed innocent to a casual observer could now take on a new meaning.
The Rose Hill community centre was set at one end of a pleasant square. Numerous young trees had been planted to try and improve the landscaping in the area and bring some greenery and interest to the concrete blocks surrounding the square.
There were a couple of new, glass-fronted buildings scattered around the square, but the majority of the buildings had been built in the late sixties and looked like ugly, grey concrete slabs.
The community centre itself was a single-storey, red-brick building, partially covered by a facade decorated with primary colours.
The community centre had been funded by one of the big banks in the city. They described it as their contribution to supporting the local community. The difference in wealth was huge in this area of the city. On the one hand, wealthy traders and bankers were conducting multi-million-pound deals, and on the other, some residents were struggling day-to-day to make ends meet.
The glass front doors were open, and Mackinnon walked straight in.
The entranceway was a large room in itself. The long windows let in plenty of daylight, and the walls were painted a brilliant white, making everything seem bright and cheerful. There were a couple of bookshelves lining either side of the room, and there were bright yellow tables and chairs set out along the edges of the room.
The room was empty apart from a young woman with pink hair, who had her head bent over a book, muttering to herself.
To his right, there was another door, and through the small glass panel, Mackinnon could see there were many more people in that room.
He opened the door and went inside. The murmur of voices trailed away, and a number of heads turned his way, looking at him curiously. Most people at the centre were dressed casually, and Mackinnon stood out in his suit and tie. They probably had pegged him immediately as a police officer, but he didn’t mind that.
A woman, who Mackinnon guessed to be in her mid-fifties, made her way towards him.
“Can I help you?”
Mackinnon nodded and pulled his ID out of the internal pocket of his jacket. “Yes, I’m Detective Sergeant Jack Mackinnon. I believe my colleague is already here?”
The woman smiled. “He is. We’ve set him up in a room where he can look through the CCTV footage. My name is Diane Swanson,” she said and held out her hand for Mackinnon to shake.
“He’s actually working in my office at the moment as we’ve got a course on today. The centre isn’t usually so full.”
Mackinnon nodded. “I can see you’re busy. But if you could spare the time, I would really like to ask you some questions about the centre and Lila George and Ruby Watson.”
Diane frowned and tucked her grey curls behind her ear. “Has something happened to the girls?”
Although nobody wanted a tidal wave of press complicating matters right now, there was no point in a complete information blackout. The police needed to ask questions and they needed answers urgently. People were much more likely to try to help if they knew the police were trying to help two girls in danger.
“They haven’t done anything wrong have they?” Diane asked.
Mackinnon shook his head. “No, they haven’t done anything wrong.”
Diane Swanson seemed to appreciate the fact Mackinnon didn’t want to talk about the situation in front of a room full of people. She nodded to the door behind him. “Let’s go through there, into the kitchen. We can talk privately.”
Mackinnon followed her into the kitchen area which was very small, but functional. There was a toaster, microwave and a kettle all lined up next to a tiny sink.
Diane picked up a mug from the draining board and asked Mackinnon, “Would you like a coffee?”
Mackinnon shook his head. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“You won’t mind if I make one while we are in here?” Diane asked. “I don’t usually get time to make myself a coffee when I’m working, so I’m going to take advantage of this.”
Mackinnon leant back against the kitchen counter. “We’ve been looking at other CCTV in the area and we found that both Lila and Ruby were just outside the building this morning, but it doesn’t look like they entered.”
Diane nodded as she spooned some instant coffee into a mug. “That’s right. Your colleague said they’d been seen outside, but neither of them turned up for work this morning. It was most unusual. This is the first time they’ve missed a shift.”
“How long have they been working here?”
“Just for the summer. So about three weeks now. Ruby is in the middle of her A-level course, and I think Lila is hoping to go to college next year so they’ll both be leaving us in September. They’re working here as volunteers so it’s not paid employment, but it is the kind of thing that looks good on a CV, and in Ruby’s case, I’m guessing she’s going to use it for her university application.”
She switched the kettle on and then opened the fridge, taking out a pint of milk and then looked up at Mackinnon. “You think something bad has happened to them, don’t you?”
“Both girls are missing. Their parents are understandably very concerned. I need to know anything you can tell me that might help us find them.”
Diane put a shaking hand to her mouth. “God, how awful. Their poor parents.”
She closed her eyes and ignored the kettle as it came to the boil. “I can’t understand why anyone would want to hurt them. They work hard, they’re cheerful, and they’re great with the regulars who visit the centre.”
Diane shook her head as though she was lost for words.
“Were you aware of any arguments between the
girls themselves or anyone in the centre?”
Diane shook her head. “No, I’d never heard a cross word between them. They got on very well with everyone here.”
There was an abrupt knock and the door was flung open. A young woman with dark, spiky hair and a diamond stud in her nose pushed past Mackinnon to get to Diane.
“You said that CV would work. You said if I put down everything you told me, they’d give me a job. Well, they didn’t.” The young woman almost spat the words at Diane.
Mackinnon had to fight the urge to order the young woman out of the kitchen.
There wasn’t much room in the kitchen area as it was, and although the young woman was only petite, her anger seemed to fill the room. She folded her arms over her chest as she stared accusingly at Diane.
“I don’t have time for this now, Charlie,” Diane said. “I’m sorry you didn’t get the job. If you can just wait five minutes, we’ll talk things through.”
The girl narrowed her eyes and turned to look at Mackinnon, no doubt blaming him for the fact Diane didn’t have time for her.
“Oh, I see. I guess I’m not your favourite pet project anymore.”
The girl turned and whirled out of the room.
Diane smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry about that. Most of the people we help here are grateful, but sometimes their frustrations can get the better of them. Sorry, I’ve lost my thread. Did you ask me a question?”
“Have you ever seen anyone waiting for one of the girls outside? Or did either of the girls mention a boyfriend?”
Diane put a hand to her forehead and was quiet for a moment, trying to think. Then she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I wish I could be more help, but they didn’t really confide in me about things like that, and I don’t think I ever saw anyone waiting for them outside. Even if there had been someone waiting for them, I’m not sure I’d notice.”
Mackinnon opened his mouth to answer another question but before he could there was another knock on the door.
He turned angrily, expecting it to be the young woman again, but instead he saw Collins standing in the doorway.
“Sorry to interrupt, Jack, but I’ve got something you should see.”
Mackinnon turned back to Diane and apologised before following Collins through the centre and into a small office area at the back of the building.
Inside the office, there was a desk piled high with papers and a garish abstract print in fluorescent pink and green hung on the wall behind the computer.
Collins sat down at the chair in front of the computer station and pointed at the screen.
Sometimes it was easier to use CCTV in situ because there were multiple playback systems and not all of them were compatible. It would cost the police a fortune if they had to acquire playback software and machines for every single system.
“Have you found them?” Mackinnon asked as he leant down to take a closer look at the screen.
Collins nodded. “Yes, and they are not alone.”
Chapter 8
Mackinnon and Collins didn’t talk as they watched the video playback on the computer screen. They watched as a large man approached Ruby Watson and Lila George. The man didn’t attempt to hide his face or shy away from the cameras. Either he didn’t know they were there, or he didn’t care.
“He’s a big lad,” muttered Collins.
Mackinnon tensed as he waited for the inevitable confrontation between the girls and the man approaching them. He immediately had a very uneasy feeling about this. They were watching something that had already happened, something that couldn’t be changed.
Mackinnon frowned as the video playback continued. There was no altercation, no fear shown by either of the girls.
“They know him, Mackinnon said. “Look how she touches his shoulder, and they’re both smiling.”
Collins nodded in agreement. “Do you think he is someone from the centre?”
Mackinnon straightened. “Let’s ask Diane if she can identify him.”
He walked around the desk and then stuck his head out of the office door and caught Diane’s gaze. She was standing a few feet away, cradling her mug of coffee.
“Could you spare us a minute?” Mackinnon asked. “We’d like you to identify someone if you can.”
Diane nodded and put her coffee mug on the table beside her before walking towards him. “Absolutely.”
She shuffled behind the desk and joined Collins in front of the computer screen.
She didn’t need to look at the screen long before she said, “Oh, yes, I know who that is. It’s Benny Morris. He’s a nice lad and….” Her voice trailed off, and her face paled as Collins continued the playback, which showed Benny Morris leading the girls away.
Diane looked up at Mackinnon, blinked a couple of times and then swallowed hard. “Benny didn’t show up for his IT class this morning,” she whispered.
“What can you tell us about him?” Mackinnon asked.
Diane shook her head as though she were overwhelmed. “I think it’s better if you ask Eddie, Eddie Longbridge. He spent a lot more time with Benny than I did. He takes the IT classes, you see.”
Mackinnon nodded, and Diane scurried off to go and find Eddie.
After she left the office, Collins turned to Mackinnon and said, “He’s got to be involved, hasn’t he?”
“He’s a person of interest, for sure,” Mackinnon said. “Even if he had nothing to do with the girl’s disappearance, he’s the last person we know who saw the girls before their mothers got the text messages. So we need to talk to him as soon as possible.”
The door open behind Mackinnon, and he stood to one side as Diane walked into the office followed by a short man with large muscular arms. Eddie Longbridge had a crewcut and carried himself with an angry air. From his build, Mackinnon guessed Eddie worked out many of his frustrations at the gym.
“What’s all this about then?” Eddie asked brusquely.
There was a section of society who didn’t particularly like helping the police. People who had had a brush with the law in the past and felt hard done by, or people who felt let down or victimised by the police. From the way Eddie was glaring at them, Mackinnon sensed that Eddie was one of those people.
They were going to have to tread carefully to get the information they needed from Eddie Longbridge.
“They want to know about Benny,” Diane said, looking at Eddie.
The frown didn’t leave Eddie’s face as he spoke. “Benny’s a nice lad. He’s got learning difficulties, but he’s a gentle giant. He’s been coming to the centre for years and he loves doing the IT classes. I don’t imagine he’ll ever get a full-time job, but it does him good to get out and about.”
“Lila George and Ruby Watson have gone missing. When was the last time you saw them?” Mackinnon asked.
Eddie visibly tensed and paused before answering. “Yesterday. When they came to the centre.”
“Have you ever seen anyone hanging around waiting for them, or did they ever mention any problems?”
“Problems? Like what?”
“Problems with ex-boyfriends or anyone at the centre? Would they have told you if they were worried about someone here? We think someone has taken the girls and we’re trying to discover who that may have been.”
Eddie shook his head.
“Do you think Benny would have taken the girls against their will?” Collins asked.
Eddie scowled. “No! Benny knows right from wrong. He would never hurt those girls. About a year ago, he found a bird outside with a broken wing. Benny was in tears over it. He couldn’t hurt a fly.”
“Do you have his address? We’d like to have a word with him?” Mackinnon addressed the question to Diane, but it was Eddie who answered.
He drew himself up to his full height, which compared to Mackinnon wasn’t very tall. He folded his arms and said, “I don’t think I like the way this is heading.”
“We need to speak to him because—” Collins started to say.
But Eddie interrupted, “Oh, yes, I’m sure you do. So you can railroad the poor sod into confessing to something he didn’t do.”
“No,” Mackinnon said coldly. “We want to speak to him because he was the last person to see Lila and Ruby before they went missing.”
That shut Eddie up, but he still didn’t look happy.
Mackinnon turned to Diane. “We can get a warrant so we can access your records, or we can find out his address by other means, but all that’s going to waste time. And as we think Ruby and Lila could be in danger, time is a luxury we don’t have.”
Diane shook her head. “A warrant won’t be necessary. You can have his address.”
Diane moved back towards the computer, and Collins vacated the chair so she could sit down.
With a couple of taps on the keyboard, she accessed the information from the computer.
“Benny used to live in sheltered housing, but he moved in with his brother last year after their mother died.”
She hit print, and the small printer beside the potted plant on the desk hummed to life.
She handed Mackinnon the printout. “My gut feeling is that Benny is not involved. He’s never been violent… He’s never shown any anger towards women at all. Please, treat him gently. He’s a sensitive soul.”
Mackinnon took the address printout, but he didn’t reply. He wasn’t going to make any promises he couldn’t keep.
Chapter 9
When Mackinnon and Collins left the community centre, Collins went directly to meet Charlotte at Wood Street. Tyler was organising the visit to Benny Morris’ property. They needed to speak to him as soon as possible as he was their first major lead.
Mackinnon would have liked to go himself, but he had been given another job to do. He had a printout of Benny Morris and the girls from the CCTV to show Ruby Watsons’ parents.
He entered Drake House, walking into the cool marble lobby from the street level entrance this time. The luxurious apartment block was less than a five-minute walk from the community centre. The contrast struck Mackinnon again. There was a stark difference in wealth between different sections of society in this area. In this building, each apartment cost millions of pounds. The community centre, less than a quarter of a mile away, helped the most deprived population.
