Cold as Ice (Willis/Carter #2)(87)

‘Yep.’ She lifted up the pot towards the webcam at the top of her screen and tipped the last of it into her mouth.

He watched her flip open the top on a can of Coke; she crossed her legs and frowned at the screen as she read her messages.

‘You looking at your Facebook?’ asked Robbo. He pushed down the plunger in his cafetière.

‘Yeah. I can’t believe how some people’s whole life is on Facebook.’

‘If you really were a single parent living in that high-rise hell, you’d thank the heavens for Facebook,’ he said.

‘Yeah, you’re absolutely right. I couldn’t have made this many contacts on the courses this quickly without it.’

‘Right. Today I’ve sent your friend requests out to thirty more people who are connected with the course. I’ve seen a lot of photos of Christian on other people’s pages. He seems to be the male student everyone has a photo with.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Ebony. ‘Although on his own pages most of his pictures are with his daughter.’

‘Although he does have pictures on his page of him with Emily Styles and Danielle Foster – he’s there in photos even if there are no obvious couple shots. Do you know much about the way he lives? Does he go to the gym?’

‘Yeah – he runs. I know because he told me. He also told me he makes a good living from playing online poker.’

‘Entrepreneurial,’ said Robbo, drinking his coffee. ‘I’ve checked him out. He travelled a lot at one time. He ran a bar in Thailand; he’s been a roadie for a rock band. Before he came to North London five years ago, he was the manager of an online exotic pets store based in Brighton.’

Robbo sat back in his chair and looked at her.

‘Do you think you’re getting anywhere with him, Ebb?’

Ebony took a drink of Coke and thought before she answered.

‘Yes. I think he goes for the new girl every time. I just happen to be that. I don’t think it’s hard to get somewhere with Christian. I talked to one of the girls that knows him well but I need to talk to one of his exes to find out what he’s really about.’

‘Keep vigilant Ebb. Keep your wits about you. Never relax. Never presume it’s safe.’

‘Of course.’

Robbo came off the phone and opened a new pack of Haribo’s. He pulled out the jelly rings and lined them up on the top of his keyboard. He thought about what was best for Ebony now and the job she had to do. From now on he wouldn’t share all the information with her.

Carter came into Robbo’s office.

‘Did you hear the phone call?’

Robbo nodded. ‘Did you listen to it?’

‘Yeah, and earlier this morning a woman was attacked, petrol thrown in her face and she was set alight – it happened fifty metres from the spot where we found Pauline Murphy. It’s got to be Hawk, he spelt it out for us,’ said Carter. ‘He said he’s been jogging.’

‘Did anyone see him? Did we get a description?’ Robbo asked.

‘Not from the woman who was attacked. She never saw his face. No one else has come forward. What’s he doing, Robbo?’

‘He’s showing us he’s all-powerful.’

Carter hung his coat on the hanger by Pam’s desk and loosened his tie. ‘It’s almost like he’s a bit bored and wants to see how much trouble he can cause. And, Robbo? He mentioned us by name in the call.’

‘Yes . . . he saw you at the press conference. He could have found me as the crime analyst assigned to MIT 17.’

‘He could have and he did. He randomly sets fire to two people and he promises a pièce de résistance. He’s escalating till even he can’t control it,’ Carter said.

‘We need to concentrate and stay calm and focused with this. Our panic will feed his ego. I’ve decided it’s better we don’t tell Ebony any more than necessary.’ Carter was nodding in agreement. ‘We need her in there more than ever but we don’t need her to be scared witless.’

‘I agree. But I wish I’d never said yes to her going undercover.’

‘We have to bring this to an end fast. This is the only way now. Ebony has to make it work. Everything we can do to help her is vital.’

Carter looked up as Jeanie came in the office. She had heard the news.

‘You all right, Jeanie?’

‘Yep – let’s get on with it and catch this bastard.’

‘Christian Goddard.’ Robbo turned the screen to show what he was looking at to Jeanie.

‘Alias Mr “I have a passion in my pants and I’m not afraid to show it”. He must consider it his best feature; he’s obviously keen on showing it off. He sent this picture to Ebony. We just got hold of his phone records. He had some recent conversations with Danielle Foster. It looks like she phoned him on the day she went missing.’

‘Who else did she phone?’

‘A number that isn’t registered and it’s out of service now.’

He turned the screen so Carter could see the photo.

‘That puny thing?’

Carter winked at Pam, who hid a smile as she turned and busied herself at her desk.

‘Must be,’ answered Robbo. ‘Because he sends this and another twenty or so pictures just like it to all the women he knows. He texts pure filth to just about anyone. Goes way beyond sexting.’