Seven Days(82)

‘My God,’ Martin said. ‘I don’t believe it.’

‘Mr Cooper? Are you all right?’ The nurse walked over to him, frowning in concern.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I got some – some unexpected news.’

Wynne spoke again. ‘You should go. I’ll ring as soon as I have any kind of update.’

‘Thank you,’ Martin said. He cut the connection and stood up. His legs were still weak and he steadied himself against the arm of the chair. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘Let’s go.’





Wynne


The first few hours were critical. Best would likely have a place he could go to ground. Once he was there it would be hard to find him. It was while he was on the move that they had the best chance of catching him.

They had found a passport photo of him in a drawer in the house and that, along with the make, model and registration of his car, was now circulating among every police force in the country. Border Control also had the photo, as well as an alert on his passport. In case he had a fake, they had been told to look out for a man in his sixties travelling with a girl in her late twenties.

Wynne didn’t think he would try and leave the country, though. It was too risky, especially since the description didn’t stop at a man in his sixties and a woman half that age.

It also included a toddler.

There wasn’t much in the room under the garage, but what there was included a child’s clothes and some toys. She hadn’t mentioned to Martin Cooper that he might have a grandchild, but it looked as though he did.

There was also a lot of blood, which must have left someone with some injuries. Such an unusual group travelling together, one of whom would look like they’d been in a boxing match, would draw a lot of attention to them.

So he may have got rid of them.Wynne doubted it. Not after so much time. Still, she’d make sure that the alert included the instruction to look out only for Best.

All in all, Wynne didn’t think Best would be leaving the country. Where he was going, she didn’t know. But it was important they find him before he got there.





Martin


Sandra’s room was at the end of the corridor. Martin felt dazed as he walked along it, the nurse by his side.

Maggie had been held captive by Best? It was impossible. He’d been at their house. James had been at his house. He was their friend.

He felt sick. If it was true then it meant Best had done more than simply take their daughter. He had taken some perverse pleasure in watching them suffer.

And he still had her.

But she was – or at least might be – alive.

First, though, he had to see Sandra. He put his hand on the door, and pushed it open.





Wynne


There was a knock on the door of DI Wynne’s office. DS Chan walked in. He was holding his car keys.

‘They found it,’ he said. ‘They found Best’s car.’

‘Where?’

‘On the Sparkedge industrial estate. It was parked behind a warehouse. There’s a canal that runs past it and someone was jogging on the towpath. They called it in.’

‘And?’

‘No sign of them. The industrial estate is abandoned. Been that way for years.’

‘Do we have anyone there?’

‘Two officers. Another two are on the way. We’ve also called in the armed response gang. You never know.’

Wynne nodded. ‘Let’s go and check it out.’

Best’s Ford Focus was hidden from the road. Wynne walked around it, taking in the details. Two forensic technicians were working inside it, methodically collecting whatever evidence there was to collect.

She looked around the industrial estate. There was a car park, grass growing through the tarmac where it had buckled and split, and four large buildings, their corrugated rooves rusting. Beyond them was a brown, fetid-smelling canal.

She gestured at the buildings. ‘Have you been in?’

‘All locked up,’ said one of the PCs. He took off his helmet and scratched the back of his head. ‘We’ve contacted the owners. They’re sending someone who can open them.’

‘There may be an entrance,’ Wynne said. ‘A side door, or window.’

‘We had a good look,’ the officer said. ‘But it’s possible.’

‘Let’s have another look,’ Wynne said. ‘Best must have brought them here for a reason.’

They divided the buildings up. Wynne and Chan took the one nearest. There was a double door at the front. The glass was grimy, but they could make out a reception area through it. The name of the company was still on the wall above the desk.

The door was secured by a chain.

‘They didn’t come through here,’ Chan said. There was a large window to the left. At some point the glass had been broken and it had been covered with a board. ‘And I don’t think they got in there, either.’

They walked down the side. There were a series of high windows at least thirty feet above the ground. At the far end was a loading bay. It too was secured with a padlocked chain. Wynne picked up the padlock. She pulled it; it was locked.

‘Not here either,’ she said. She looked down the other wall of the building. There was a door about halfway along.