Her Perfect Family(78)

‘So our target wanted them to come back here for their anniversary?’ Wendy is now taking in the cathedral.

‘Yes. As I say – a long shot. But if she turns up, we need to keep her inside the cathedral. Until we’re sure she’s not armed.’

Wendy nods.

‘Not too late to change your mind.’ He turns to look at her, to be clear he means this.

‘I’m fine. Let’s get this done.’

Matthew moves off again. ‘I wish to God she didn’t know what I look like. I’ll have to keep back with uniformed. Keep your phone line open in your top pocket – I need to know the moment you have her bag.’

‘I know what I’m doing.’ Wendy sounds a little cocky but Matthew can see that in truth she’s a little nervous which is no bad thing. She needs to be cautious, not overconfident.

Once they reach reception and the shop, Matthew moves behind a display and Wendy directs a member of staff to speak to him.

‘Are the police on the premises? My name is Matthew Hill. You should have had a call from my inspector?’

‘Yes.’ The woman looks very worried. ‘We’re trying to get hold of the verger to handle this. I don’t have the authority—’

‘Please don’t be alarmed. We haven’t got much time. I’m going to keep everyone safe but we need to make an arrest as discreetly and as quickly as we can. Have you cancelled the midday tour?’

‘Yes. We’re telling people he’s off sick. But like I say, I need to speak to someone more senior—’

‘No time. Just don’t allow anyone else through. Unless there’s a woman with long, curly hair. Like this.’ He takes out his phone to show her the picture of Laura. ‘She can go through if she turns up. No one else. Understood?’

The woman picks up the phone, clearly concerned about protocols.

‘Where are the officers?’

‘Through there.’ She points.

‘Thank you.’ Matthew turns to Wendy. ‘I’m going to speak to them. Keep your phone line open like I said. You got enough battery?’

‘What do you think I am, an amateur? Of course I’ve got enough battery. Does the vest show?’

Matthew shakes his head, still wishing he could step up himself. ‘She may not even turn up.’

Wendy shrugs and heads off through the cathedral to get in position near the clock. Matthew retreats to the centre of the cathedral, out of sight, to brief the two uniformed officers who’ve been discreetly asking visitors to leave – allegedly for a staff fire drill. Fortunately, it’s quiet. Just a few tourists who leave without a fuss.

Now they just have to wait.





CHAPTER 59


THE FATHER – NOW

Ed puts the two coffees on the bedside cabinet and turns to Rachel.

‘Sorry I was so long. Spilled the first coffees. Stupid of me. But I just spoke to the police. There’s a lot going on, apparently. They hope it will be over soon. Ahead of the ceremony, I mean.’

Rachel still looks terrified. ‘Did they check you coming in? Was the door security good?’

‘It was fine. They checked.’

‘Good. Good.’ She’s sitting on the chair alongside Gemma’s bed, her right foot flipping up and down furiously with the tension. She seems to notice him staring at it and uncrosses her legs, putting both feet on the floor, clearly struggling to sit still.

‘So what exactly’s going on? What did they say?’

‘No specifics. Just that there’s a live operation. More arrests imminent, by the sounds of things. It’s going to be all right, Rachel.’

‘Is it?’ She looks out on to the now empty ward. ‘Why’s there no armed guard?’

‘DI Sanders said there should be a team downstairs soon. Just a precaution. I don’t know if they’ll come up to the ward. I don’t know how they do these things. Maybe they’re waiting to see if they pull off these arrests.’

‘What arrests?’

‘I’m not sure. She said they have two strong leads. She’s going to call and update us as soon as anything happens.’

‘Is it Laura? Have they found Laura?’

Ed hasn’t told Rachel about the anniversary; that today would have been his and Laura’s silver wedding anniversary. That Laura had once said they should go back to the place they met to celebrate. He feels so stupid and so guilty for not thinking of it before.

What if this really was the trigger for it all? What if Laura, in her delusions and her illness, somehow latched on to the date? What if all of this really is . . . his . . . fault?

And then he notices Rachel’s expression changing. She’s looking at Gemma’s bed, at first frowning. Next, her whole face darkening. ‘Ed. Look.’

He turns to their daughter, the headphones still in place, and something inside him shifts. Breaks. Gemma’s eyes remain firmly closed. She’s as still as ever. Skin pale.

But trailing across each cheekbone is a haunting but unmistakable line – the droplets catching the light from the fluorescent strip overhead.

Gemma is crying.





CHAPTER 60


THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR


Matthew and the two uniformed officers are waiting, concealed behind pillars in the central area of the cathedral called the Quire. They can’t be seen from the clock area, which is off to one side, but it also means Matthew can’t see what’s going on.