Seven Days(66)

‘That’s the only person who posted a letter Wednesday afternoon?’ Wynne said.

‘Yes,’ Dales replied. ‘As I say, others posted things, but they were multiple letters, or smaller format ones.’

DS Chan looked at Wynne. ‘Probably passing through. Stopped here to post it then moved on.’

‘Oh, he’s not passing through,’ Dales said. ‘That’s Fred Taylor, lives in the village. Would you like his address?’





4


Wynne rang the bell of a large detached house. It was the perfect place – big, private, secluded – to hide someone away. She didn’t want to jump the gun, but she felt they were getting closer. If this man had sent the letter, even if he wasn’t the one who took Maggie Cooper, he must have some connection to whoever had.

She and DS Chan waited as the echoes died down. She was about to ring it again when she heard the drawing of a bolt.

The door opened. A man – almost certainly the one from the CCTV – looked at them.

‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Can I help you?’

‘Mr Taylor?’ Wynne said.

‘Yes.’

‘I’m Detective Inspector Wynne,’ Wynne replied. ‘This is DS Chan. We were wondering whether we could ask you some questions?’

‘Of course,’ Taylor said. ‘Could I ask what it’s about?’

‘A letter you posted,’ DS Chan replied.

Taylor frowned. ‘A letter? What letter?’

‘Perhaps we could discuss it inside,’ Wynne said. ‘It’ll all become clear.’

They sat in a large living room. Even though it was summer, the room was chilly.

‘So,’ Taylor said. ‘A letter?’

Wynne took a folder from her bag. She pulled out a photocopy of the envelope that had arrived at the station.

‘Do you recognize this?’ she asked.

Taylor studied it. When he looked up, his expression was puzzled. ‘I do.’

‘We have CCTV footage of you posting a letter that looks a lot like this one,’ DS Chan said. ‘Did you post it?’

‘Yes, I did.’

He didn’t seem concerned. Didn’t seem like a kidnapper who had been caught out.

Wynne shifted in her chair. ‘Do you have anything to say about it?’

‘I do,’ Taylor said. ‘It’s quite an odd story, as it happens. I didn’t think too much about it at the time, but now I see there’s more to it than I thought.’

‘Didn’t think about what?’ Chan said.

‘The letter. You see, I found it.’

‘Did you open it?’ Chan said.

‘Of course not. I don’t open other people’s letters.’

‘Mr Taylor,’ Wynne said. ‘I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but I think you should know that we have tested the letter for DNA and there is some on it. If that matches your DNA then we will be questioning how you came into contact with the contents of an envelope you did not write or open.’

‘Fine. It won’t. I found the letter, and I posted it. I assumed someone had dropped it.’

‘Where did you find it?’

‘In Leeds, near the town hall. I had a meeting there last week.’ Fred Taylor folded his arms. He clearly prided himself on knowing how to deal with petty officials. ‘Is there anything else? Would you like some of my DNA for your tests?’

‘We would,’ Wynne said. ‘Just in case. An officer will arrange to collect it.’ She felt deflated. Taylor was nothing to do with this. Still, it was worth asking. ‘Mr Taylor, does the name Maggie Cooper mean anything to you?’

Taylor thought for a second. ‘It rings a bell.’

‘She was a girl who went missing,’ Wynne said. ‘Eight years ago.’

‘Yes,’ Taylor said, drawing out the word. ‘The teenager?’

‘That’s right.’ Wynne let him ask the obvious question.

‘What has this got to do with her?’

‘That letter was from the person who took her. They send one every year. To me. Mocking me.’

She was pleased to see him go pale.

‘Thank you, Mr Taylor. We’ll see ourselves out.’





5


They drove in silence. Wynne didn’t want to talk. It had been a waste of time.

After a while, DS Chan spoke. ‘We’re not much further along. All we know is it was someone who was in Leeds on Wednesday.’

‘Or the day before, or the day before that,’ Wynne said. ‘The letter could have lain there for a while.’ She tapped the steering wheel. ‘It does solve one mystery though.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Why there isn’t a letter for every year. If his method is to drop them and hope someone picks them up to post them then sometimes it won’t happen. Sometimes the letter will be trampled or kicked down a drain or put in a bin.’

‘It’s smart,’ Chan said. ‘He drops the letter somewhere and waits. It’s almost impossible to trace.’

Wynne stared at the road ahead. She’d been hoping this was the lead that would break the case open. She wanted Maggie back.