Cold as Ice (Willis/Carter #2)(34)
‘Okay, big man?’ Ebony knelt back down with Jackson. ‘Can I take a photo of you?’ He stared at her curiously and didn’t answer. Ebony took photos of the top of Jackson’s head and his hair. She took out a swab and took a sample of the blood in his hair. His eyes followed her. He stood absolutely still as she wiped his hands and face to pick up the tiniest traces of foreign DNA. She finished and placed the samples in labelled, brown paper specimen bags. She filled in the crime log and entered the codes from the bags and a description of what and where and then she knelt in front of him again She made a face at him and he almost smiled.
‘You’re such a good boy, Jackson. Have you got any sore bits anywhere? Does anything hurt?’ He shook his head.
Tracy came back in, changed; she handed the bag to Ebony and had one of her sweatshirts in her hand for Jackson.
‘We’ll need to roll up the sleeves.’
‘That’s fine, thanks. Can you give me a hand to undress him?’ They stood Jackson on a towel and took off his things.
Ebony smiled at him. ‘Look, Jackson’s wearing Nanny’s clothes.’ He didn’t look happy about it. Scruffy came into the kitchen and barged into him. Jackson held onto him, put his thumb in his mouth and rested his head on Scruffy’s back as he worked his fingers into the dog’s fur and sucked his thumb.
They finished and Ebony closed up the kit and packed it away. Tracy took Jackson into the lounge and Carter came off the phone and went to sit with him. Tracy left him flicking through the channels. Ebony was waiting to speak to her again back in the kitchen but Tracy had something she wanted to ask first.
‘Do you think something awful has happened to my daughter?’ Tracy asked as she walked in and pulled the door halfway closed.
‘We don’t know any more than you at this stage, Mrs Collins. But we are working fast to find out. You say you’ve met her just a few times before?’ Tracy nodded. ‘What did she tell you about her life?’
‘She was trying to make a real go of it for her and Jackson. She was taking classes to get into teacher training.’ She looked at Ebony, her eyes hopeful. Ebony nodded encouragingly. In her head she was going through similarities to Emily Styles: one small child, going back to school to better herself. ‘She’s doing it all for Jackson really,’ said Tracy. Ebony thought how Tracy was looking shell-shocked. She seemed to be in a daze. ‘She’s a good mum. Definitely. She loves him to bits. She’s had difficult times though, I know that.’
‘Did she talk about anything specifically?’
‘She said she had problems with the couple who adopted her. Her mum Marion is dead. She told me that she died of cancer not that long ago. I think whatever relationship she had with Gerald, the father, evaporated then.’ Ebony made a note to find out more about the Fosters.
‘What about the little boy’s father?’
‘She didn’t seem very keen on him. They’d fallen out. I don’t know how much involvement he has in Jackson’s life now.’
They could hear the television on in the other room and the high-pitched voice of a character on children’s television.
‘I don’t know how you’re going to find him.’
‘Don’t worry about things like that, Mrs Collins. I’m sure the forensic officers will find out what we need to know. What about a boyfriend? Did she talk about her private life?’
Tracy shook her head as she spoke. ‘Not really. We’d just begun . . . as I said.’ Tracy thought for a few seconds. ‘I did get the impression there was someone – you know – there were a lot of texts. She came back quite merry the night I babysat. Seemed like she’d had a good time. I just don’t know. I’m so sorry – I know so little to help you.’ The doorbell rang.
‘I’ll get it,’ Carter called out, opening the door. Jeanie stood in the doorway, blowing into her hands with the cold. She smiled across at Jackson.
‘Thanks, Jeanie, I appreciate you coming,’ Carter said as he led Jeanie into the kitchen. ‘Come and meet Mrs Collins, Danielle Foster’s mother.’
‘Mrs Collins, this is Jeanie. She is a Family Liaison Officer, which means that she’ll be the one to explain things to you and help you through all this.’ Jeanie gave Carter a look that said, ‘That wasn’t what I said and you know it.’
Tracy shook Jeanie’s hand. ‘Pleased to meet you,’ she said, her eyes going from one detective to another. ‘Everyone – please call me Tracy.’
Jeanie smiled. ‘Hello, Tracy. I know it’s all a bit overwhelming, but we’ll take things one step at a time. What I’d like us to do now is leave the officers to find Danielle and you and I will concentrate on looking after Jackson.’ Tracy smiled, relieved. ‘I need to make a list of the practical things we need for Jackson and we’ll start putting it together for you, just in case he’s here for a couple of days. I’ve brought over some crayons and some paper for Jackson. It’s important that we get him settled and secure and, at the same time, we encourage him to open up about what he saw. Drawings are a great way for us unlock things in his head. I also picked up a pair of pyjamas and a tracksuit for him on my way over. I hope it’s the right size.’ Tracy didn’t answer. She took the packets from Jeanie and stared at the label. It didn’t mean anything to her. Jeanie took them back from her and put them on the worktop. ‘But I’m not just here for Jackson. I’m here to help you, Tracy.’