Seven Days(85)

‘No. We had a lot of officers on the scene and they did a thorough search of the premises and the surroundings. There was nothing. We think Best left his car there and switched to some alternative means of transport.’

‘He had a second car?’ Martin said.

‘That seems the most likely explanation.’

‘So he was planning this?’ Sandra asked.

‘Perhaps not for today,’ Wynne said. ‘But it wouldn’t be a surprise to find out that he had a contingency plan should he need to flee. And this could be it.’

‘So where is he?’ Martin said. ‘Where are you looking?’

‘We have a description of Best out nationally, along with what we think Maggie would look like now. All border control officials have been alerted to stop any couple who fit their description.’

‘He might have changed his appearance,’ Sandra said. ‘And Maggie’s.’

‘They’re looking for any older man and younger woman.’ Wynne cleared her throat. ‘There is something else.’

Martin glanced at Sandra. From her expression he could see that she too had picked up on the tone of Wynne’s voice.

‘What is it?’ he said.

‘There was evidence in the room where Maggie had been held that she might have had a child. A toddler. Aged from two to four.’

The world seemed to stop. For a second there was only silence.

‘A child?’ Martin said. ‘Maggie has a child?’

‘Possibly. If so, then it should make them easier to identify.’

Sandra was shaking her head. ‘No,’ she said. ‘No. She can’t have. He can’t have done that to her. Not my little girl.’

‘I’m sorry to break the news this way,’ Wynne said. ‘But it’s important you know the facts. You should also know that we are looking into every aspect of Best’s life to see if there are any indications as to where he might have gone. We will have all available resources on this. You can be assured of that.’

‘Thank you,’ Martin said. ‘And please call if you have news. Anytime.’

He ended the call and turned to his wife.

‘Holy shit,’ he said. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’

‘She has a child,’ Sandra said. ‘Our grandchild.’ She closed her eyes. ‘They have to find her, Martin. They have to.’

‘It’s his child too,’ Martin said. ‘We need to think about that.’

‘I don’t,’ Sandra said. ‘I will love any child of Maggie’s. But we need her back. That’s all that matters now.’

‘I’m going to tell James. I want him here with us.’

‘OK,’ Sandra said. ‘Good idea.’





James


James wrapped the rubber band around his bicep and cinched it tight. His pulse sped up. Saliva filled his mouth. God, he wanted this.

His phone rang. He looked at the screen. Dad. He rejected the call. It rang again. He ignored it. Nothing mattered any more.

There was a buzz as a text message arrived.

Call now. Urgent.

Shit. Was it mum? She’d been ill. Maybe she was sick again. Well, if she was, all the more reason to go through with this. He picked up the needle and looked at the point, examined its sharpness, got ready for the prick and the rush.

His phone buzzed again.

Call me. It’s about Maggie.

Maggie? What the fuck was this? He put the needle down and called his dad.

‘Dad? It’s me. What’s up?’

‘Where are you?’

‘At the flat.’

‘I’m on my way. I’ll pick you up there.’

‘No.’ He didn’t want to see him. ‘What did you mean, it’s about Maggie?’

There was a pause.

‘They found her.’ His dad sniffed. ‘But then they lost her again.’

‘They what?’

‘It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when I see you.’

‘Tell me now.’

‘James—’

‘Dad! Tell me now! I want to know what happened!’

‘OK.’ He heard the sound of an engine starting. ‘I’ll be there in a few minutes, but I’ll fill you in on the way.’

‘Best,’ James said. He was sitting in the front seat of the car. ‘That fucking bastard. If I ever get my hands on him I’ll rip his fucking throat out. I was at his house, and she was there, under his fucking garage.’

‘That’s what DI Wynne said,’ his dad replied.

‘And he ran away?’

‘Yes. He had a plan. He must have wondered if this day would come. They found his car at the Sparkedge industrial estate. He must have had a spare one hidden there.’

‘So now he still has her but no one knows where he is.’

His dad drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘I know. I feel like someone has their hand in my stomach and is twisting it around and around.’

‘Can we go to Sparkedge? I want to see.’

‘I don’t think there’s much—’

‘Just go, Dad. I want to have a look. She’s my sister.’

His dad nodded. He turned left at the next roundabout. Ten minutes later they were approaching the gates of the industrial estate.