I Am Watching You(46)

She leans forward.

‘OK. So I am only talking to you because I trust you, and because right now I feel like doing the same as you did, and throwing in the towel.’

Matthew tries to read Melanie’s face properly. He is praying she is not serious. Just sounding off . . . Should he tell her that he often regrets it? That some days he wishes he could press rewind?

‘You do not quit, Melanie, you hear me? You are worth three of this DI what’s-his-face.’

‘Yeah . . . but we both know that makes no difference.’

Matthew just sighs, wishing he could say this were not true.

‘OK, Matt. So listen to this . . . strictly between us?’

‘. . . hope to die.’ They both know they have long since crossed all the lines; that this only works because they trust each other.

‘Our local office gets a call from Anna’s dad, right? He wants to speak to me. He says he will only speak to me. Turns out he’s in his barn with a shotgun.’

‘Christ.’

‘Exactly. So what does DI Halfwit decide? He decides not to tell me. Worse – he arranges sneakily for me to be given the day off to keep me out of the picture, then he marches in with both left feet, and winds Ballard up by refusing to let him see me. Cocks the whole thing up so badly that Henry Ballard waves his gun at all and sundry and very nearly shoots himself in the process.’

‘Good grief. And now?’

‘They have the dad in custody and won’t let me anywhere near the place. One of the uniforms tipped me off and I’ve just spoken to the family liaison officer who’s with the mum, Barbara, at home.’

‘So why are they keeping you out of it?’

‘Who knows? Probably because I’ve sussed what an incompetent, jumped-up waste of space he really is.’

‘Please tell me you haven’t said that to his face.’

Melanie blushes.

‘Oh, Mel.’

‘Well the word is he’s also working on some serial killer case and, as far as I can see, doesn’t really give a damn about finding Anna Ballard. He’s lazy, just waiting for a body to turn up so forensics can sort it all out. He’s only down here because he has some mate locally to look up.’

‘Right. And they really think the dad is in the frame now? I mean – do you think he could have done it? What about the two guys just out of Exeter? I thought they were still the key suspects.’

Melanie leans back in her seat. ‘You and me both.’

Just at that moment, her phone rings. A new jazzy ringtone, which does not surprise Matthew. Mel has always been nuts about jazz. To celebrate passing out after their initial training, she organised a night at a fantastic local jazz bar. That was a seriously good evening.

Melanie takes the phone from her pocket, and Matthew nods that he understands as she gets up to walk away and take the call privately.

Matthew finishes his coffee and takes a sugar sachet from the ceramic bowl in the centre of the table. He is thinking of pyramids but checks himself. Stop fiddling. Not today. He replaces the sachet and waits for Mel to return to her seat.

‘It gets better. You are seriously not going to believe what’s happened now.’

Matthew says nothing, just raises his eyebrows.

‘OK. So first. I am up to see the chief. The little creep has reported me. Formal complaint.’

‘Oh God, I’m sorry Mel. Is this because of me?’

‘Hell no. They don’t know I’ve been talking to you. Anyway – never mind me, I can handle myself.’ She takes a deep breath. ‘Matt – they’re pushing for a media blackout, but I kid you not, there is no way they’re going to keep a lid on what’s going down now.’





CHAPTER 29


THE FATHER

‘Why does this man have no socks on?’ The DI is staring at the sergeant escorting Henry into the room.

‘I’ve already told my solicitor I don’t want to wait for socks. I just want to get on with this.’ Henry takes his seat next to his solicitor.

The inspector mentions ‘for the benefit of the tape’ that Henry Ballard has made no complaint about the interview going forward while barefoot, though his tone and expression make it clear he remains personally unimpressed by this state of affairs.

‘So have you checked out what I told you?’

‘I do the questions, Mr Ballard.’

Henry bites into his bottom lip while the inspector skim-reads two sheets of paper in front of him. Henry, trying to read upside down, can just make out the name, which suggests they have indeed followed up the new version of his alibi.

April.

‘So – does your wife know about your affair?’

‘No, she doesn’t.’ Henry will not add that he is already on his final warning with Barbara. He had a stupid fling when the girls were small – when Barbara seemed more interested in Anna and Jenny and their friends than she did in him. It wasn’t serious and he deeply regretted it. When Barbara found out, she gave him a second chance but made it clear there would be no more chances if he let her down again.

‘And you really think she believes this nonsense about you sleeping in your car, Mr Ballard?’

‘I don’t know, but I would really rather she wasn’t told about April . . .’