The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter #2)(47)

Amy’s spirits plummeted. How did Lillian know so much about her? But she would not give her the satisfaction by asking. ‘I’m warning you. Quit contacting me, or I’ll have you done for harassment. If you’re arrested, it will go against your appeal – another conviction to add to your long line of offences. You’ll never get out of here.’ Amy leaned forward, driving her message home. ‘I have proof. Plenty of my colleagues have received calls from you in recent weeks.’

‘They got a call from someone claiming to be your mother, and I believe the number was blocked. Now, I know that poor delicate Flora won’t be up for testifying in court to say it wasn’t her. And I also know you won’t slap a harassment order on me because you won’t want the intrusion into your private life. You can’t kid a kidder, Amy.’ Lillian’s lips parted in a sly smile. ‘I’m your mum. I know when you’re lying, and it’s my guess they don’t know about us yet.’

‘This is the last time I visit.’ Collecting herself, Amy prepared to leave. There was no point in wasting any more time here today.

Another titter in response. ‘And how many times have you said that? Yet here you are. Like a boomerang, finding your way back to me.’ The air between them cooled as Lillian met her gaze. Her body tense, Amy found herself unable to look away.

‘You can blame me all you want, but you can’t resist the pull. Poppy Grimes still lives in a little dark place inside you and she’s crying out to be free. Can you imagine living life without limits?’ She took a slow breath. ‘Maybe one day you’ll realise that and maybe you won’t, but mark my words: I will always be part of your life. It will be you making sure of that, not me.’ Satisfied, she sat back in her chair. ‘So why don’t you start by telling me why you’re really here?’

Blinking, Amy inhaled a sudden, quick breath. It was as if she had been entranced, and she hated herself for allowing the woman to creep under her skin. She was loath to ask Lillian for help, but they were no further on with finding Ellen and she needed all the assistance she could get. Lillian listened intently as she ran through details of her communications with Luka to date. Spent, she leaned back in her seat, hoping Lillian would provide her with the answers she desperately needed right now. ‘Why? Why are they doing this? I don’t understand what the kidnapper is getting out of it.’

‘You’re asking me for help in my capacity as a serial killer?’ Lillian regarded Amy with mistrust.

‘No,’ Amy replied, knowing such accusations would not get her on side. ‘But you’ve lived with one. You know how they work. What’s the best way to handle Luka?’

‘Just like I handled your father?’ The smile returned to Lillian’s face.

Amy nodded. She knew Lillian was equally culpable but she would pretend to think otherwise if it meant helping Ellen. Her parents had done untold damage. This was her way of putting things right.

‘Then let me tell you. It’s the game this Luka is getting off on, not the actual kill.’

It was said with such authority that Amy struggled to maintain eye contact. She clenched her fists beneath the table and the sudden sting of pain from her fingertips brought her firmly back in control. ‘Go on.’

‘All this drama, pretending to be Luka, setting up the call. He’s enjoying the attention. Killing the child will bring it to an end.’

‘So you think she’s alive?’

‘I didn’t say that. He wants you to think she is, though. He probably saw where they had marked that concrete pillar and pinned her nightdress to the other side. Not that difficult to do, if you can distract the workers long enough to sneak in.’

‘How would he distract them if he was trying to get on site at the same time?’

‘Oh, come on, hasn’t it occurred to you yet? He’s not working alone.’

Amy frowned as she considered the implications of Lillian’s words.

‘How else has he been able to watch you, stay one step ahead?’ Lillian continued. ‘And he’s had a lot of time to brood on this . . . years, by the sound of it.’

For once in her life Amy was speechless. She had never for a moment considered there was more than one person involved.

Lillian’s voice lowered as she leaned forward, speaking so only they could hear. ‘Tell me, do you think about the murder victims when you’re in bed at night?’ Her eyes glittered with dark intent. ‘Do you touch their faces, gain a little bit of pleasure from the coldness of their skin? Does your pulse quicken at the prospect of attending a murder scene?’

‘Is there anything else?’ Amy replied, briefly snapping her eyes shut. She knew she should stay for longer, try to tease out what she could. But the words leaving her mother’s lips made her sick to the core.

‘Ooh, I’m right, aren’t I?’ Lillian’s eyes grew wide, following her daughter’s movements as Amy folded her arms tightly across her chest. ‘The only difference between you and me is that you have the law on your side.’

Amy shook her head in amazement. How quickly this woman could change, one moment playing up the fact she was falsely accused and the next trying to reel Amy into her games. Did she have dual personalities? Amy wondered why she was pandering to the type of predator she had spent her career trying to protect people from. Then the alarm activated, telling them visiting time was up. ‘Goodbye, Lillian,’ she said firmly as she stood to leave. She did not wait for a response before turning and walking away.