Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(35)

Lauren turned to Toby. ‘Toby?’ He was standing at the far side of the room. The couple had become disconnected. They seemed to have no way of sharing their crisis. There were bags packed at the front door.

Jeanie looked at him.

He nodded and went to stare out of the window. As fidgety as Lauren seemed, Toby was the opposite. He seemed to have gone into shock and was barely breathing.

‘Toby and I have agreed that we aren’t helping one another. He has decided he can’t bear to leave this flat. But I’m going to get out and look for Samuel.’

‘I don’t recommend it, Lauren. You need to show a united front.’

‘I’ve made up my mind. I can’t stay here with Toby. I’m sorry, but I can’t cope with the breakdown of my marriage as well as the loss of my son.’

‘Lauren, please let’s sit down and talk about how we can help,’ Jeanie suggested.

‘I can’t stand it here any more. If Toby won’t leave, then I must. I’m going down to Cornwall. If that’s where Carter and Willis have gone, then I’m going there too. My bag is packed. I’m going down to see if I can find my son there,’ said Lauren.

‘It is only one more line of enquiry. They may be back tomorrow,’ Jeanie said reassuringly.

‘I’d still rather not be here. I feel like I’m dying in this flat.’

‘Shall we move you to a hotel near here?’

Lauren shook her head. ‘It’s up to you, of course,’ said Jeanie, still looking at Toby, who didn’t move. ‘We will need to know where you are staying, though.’

‘Yes – I’ll stay at Toby’s father’s house in Penhal. I’ve made up my mind.’ She walked past Jeanie and picked up the cage with the dog in it. Russell crouched low in his basket inside.

‘Please, Lauren, wait while I talk to the boss.’ Lauren set the dog back down with an irritable sigh and Jeanie stepped outside to phone Carter.

‘Lauren wants to come down to Cornwall,’ Jeanie said from the landing outside the flat. ‘There’s such a lot of tension here between her and Toby, she wants to be away from it all. I think they will have to be split up for now – they’re not helping one another. If she had a relative nearby, I would suggest she go there, but she hasn’t. She wants to go down to Penhal. She wants to stay in the house. Is that possible? She’s determined.’

‘It’s possible,’ Carter said. ‘It’s been searched. I suppose it won’t hurt to split them up, especially if they’re at one another’s throats. We don’t have time to nursemaid her. We will need to find a Family Liaison Officer for this area. Or do you want to come down?’

‘I’m better off staying with Toby, I think. He knows me now. He’s not as tough as Lauren. I’ll be able to support him better.’

‘Okay, but tell her she has to be escorted down: she can’t drive herself. If you don’t get anywhere with Toby today, I want him brought in for questioning,’ Carter said. ‘We can’t afford any mistakes. He still isn’t painting the whole picture for us. Now we know he’s been lying about his trips to his dad’s apartment with Gareth too.’

‘I’ll work on him the minute Lauren is gone, and, if I don’t get the information we’re looking for, I’ll bring him in,’ Jeanie promised.

When Jeanie went back into the lounge neither Lauren nor Toby had moved.

‘It has been approved, Lauren. You can go to Cornwall in your car but with a police driver. I’ve phoned and that’s being organized right now. He will be with us shortly.’

‘I don’t want an escort.’

‘It’s a long drive and you’re tired, stressed. You could have an accident. Plus, we are in the middle of this investigation. We need to know where you are all the time. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it has to be. Believe me, it’s for the best; we need to protect you now.’

Jeanie looked at Toby. He was still staring out of the window. ‘Toby, are you all right about Lauren going to Cornwall?’ He nodded but he didn’t turn.

‘It’s not up to Toby,’ Lauren snapped. ‘I can’t stay in this flat a moment longer and do nothing. The press is camped outside. We’re prisoners here,’ Lauren said as she walked out of the room.

Jeanie looked at Toby. ‘Toby?’ He nodded. ‘I’ll stay here with you.’

His hands were raised to the window as if to reach out for someone. He leaned towards the glass, with his forehead touching.

‘Toby?’ He didn’t answer. Jeanie walked towards him. The sky was a swirl of grey cloud. ‘Toby?’ Jeanie’s phone rang. The police driver had arrived to escort Lauren.

Lauren came back into the room. She picked up her keys. ‘I saw a police car arrive outside; I presume that’s for me? I’ll phone you,’ she said in Toby’s direction.

‘Lauren, Ebony will be down there to meet you and stay with you in the house. Okay?’

Lauren looked about to object but then nodded. A detective from the local police station walked up the stairs as Lauren was collecting the last of the things together at the door. He showed his badge.

‘Mrs Forbes-Wright? I’ll be driving you to Cornwall today.’ He picked up the dog cage. ‘I’ll give you a hand to the car.’