The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter #2)(80)

‘All right, all right,’ she replied. ‘Whatever you say.’

‘So you’re ready?’

‘I’m ready.’

‘Good. You know what to do.’

Luka had wanted Stuart to suffer, but Stuart hadn’t chosen the poison – fate had given him a helping hand. If he was fair, then Toby would be returned to him. But Luka was teaching him a lesson: that promises were often broken and life could be cruel. Unless DI Winter had superhuman powers, she would not be winning today. Like Ellen, Toby was as good as dead.





CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

As she walked the route to Holland Park tube station, Amy used the time to reflect. She had declined the offer of a lift. The journey was short and she could not afford to be seen arriving with backup in tow. Safety evaluations had taken place and deemed her to be at low risk. Luka fed off her empathy. He would not cause her harm.

Above her, the sky was slate grey, the pavement edged with frost. She walked head first into the icy breeze, her heart burning with the need to bring Toby and Ellen home. Luka could prove to be slippery, disappearing into the ether from which he had come. She had made her wishes clear. No arrests until they had extracted Toby’s location.

Approaching the station, she stood at the traffic lights and surveyed the crowd. The sketch artist’s composite had been released just in time. Amy glanced at the beggar sitting on the pavement, his back against the tube station wall. He looked a little too clean for someone who lived outside. Was he undercover? What about the man tying his shoelaces at the entrance? She drew her gaze away. Luka could be watching too, and she didn’t want to bring attention to either of them.

Crossing the road, she stood on the pavement as a stream of pedestrians flowed around her. She checked her watch, tapping her right foot. The phone in her hand felt like a bomb about to detonate and she gripped it tightly as it rang. ‘DI Winter.’ Her words were sharp and to the point. ‘Where is Toby? I need to speak to him.’

‘What’s the rush?’ Luka replied. ‘Ellen is such an annoying, whiny child. I much prefer Toby. He’s quiet and insightful.’ He chuckled, but the laugh sounded bitter and forced. ‘At least I don’t have to worry about him running away.’

‘Ellen is?’ Amy picked up on his use of the present tense. ‘Is she with you? Can I speak to her?’

‘Careful,’ Luka replied, an edge to his voice. ‘If I hang up, then you’ll never find out. You don’t want that on your conscience, not with everything else you’ve done.’

‘We’re not here to talk about me.’ Amy lowered her head, imagining the look on her colleagues’ faces. Today, Pike had insisted she wear a recording device. They could hear every word.

‘We are if I say we are,’ Luka replied. ‘Because the way I see it, I’m the one in the driver’s seat.’ Another forced laugh. ‘There’s a clue there. Can you figure it out?’

Amy frowned. A clue? Is this how they were playing today’s game? At least she wasn’t alone. Right now, her colleagues would be unpicking everything he said.

‘We’re very alike, you and I,’ Luka continued. ‘Both of us have come back from the dead. How does it feel to resurrect Poppy Grimes?’

Amy stilled. Another clue. She had been right about Luka. Like her, he had shed his skin and become someone else. But when? How much of his life had been spent in captivity with someone else at the helm? They may have something in common, but she was dedicating her life to helping others. She was not like him at all.

‘What a contrast, your parents being serial killers and you a detective inspector in the police. The psychologists must be having a field day with it all.’

Each word dug like sharpened nails into her skin. She knew her colleagues would have thought the same thing. But this case had taught her that being different was not so bad. From now on, she would hone her skills, put them to good use by helping those unable to help themselves. It would not be easy taming Poppy Grimes, but she was no longer going to spend the rest of her life hiding her away.

‘Go to St Paul’s Cathedral,’ Luka said, issuing his next demand.

Amy stood firm. Two children were in danger. She would not be Luka’s puppet anymore. ‘No,’ she said. ‘Not until I know Ellen and Toby are safe.’

‘Take the Central line eastbound . . .’ Luka continued, ignoring her outburst.

‘I said no!’ Amy shouted, attracting the glance of a passer-by as she raised her voice. But the shopper did not register on Amy’s radar. ‘I saw the blood on Ellen’s nightdress. Is she dead? What have you done with her?’

‘Ellen’s with Toby. But if you don’t believe me, then to hell with you.’ His words were followed by silence as he ended the call.

Immediately, Amy’s police radio beeped as she was alerted to another call. It was Pike, her tone shrill as she voiced her disapproval. ‘Why didn’t you stick to protocol? What have you done?’

‘He’ll call back. I’m sure of it,’ Amy said. ‘He’s planned for this. He won’t hurt those kids until he’s had his fun.’ She’d thought long and hard about what she was going to say. No longer would she take his demands lying down. The beep of her mobile phone signalled a picture message from an unknown number. Her hand fell to her chest as she exhaled in relief. It was Toby and Ellen, playing Lego together. There was no way of knowing when the picture had been taken, but at least it was proof that Ellen had still been alive after her nightdress was found. ‘Go,’ Pike said, as Amy described the photo. ‘Don’t wait another second. Go and bring those kids home.’