The Death Messenger (Matthew Ryan Book 2)(96)

‘Shocking, isn’t it?’ She shut the cupboard door, pointing at the dining table with her walking stick. ‘Please, if you’ve seen enough, take a seat.’ There were only two chairs at the table and no sign of any more in the room.

‘You two sit,’ Ryan said. ‘I’d rather stand.’

‘How very gallant,’ Rebecca said. ‘Would you like something to drink? You’ve come a long way.’

Both detectives declined.

O’Neil sat down, introducing herself. Ryan had already called ahead to make sure it was a convenient time to visit. Rebecca knew only that they were Northumbria Police officers, not the reason for their visit, or why it was vitally important that they speak to her on this, the first day of the Christmas holidays.

O’Neil cut to the chase. ‘Rebecca, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but I’m investigating the disappearance of Laura Stone.’ Swift showed no emotion, so O’Neil carried on. ‘We wanted to tell you in person rather than give you distressing news over the phone. From our attendance here you’ll have worked out that we have grave concerns for her safety. Have you had any contact with her recently?’

‘Why would I?’

‘She made a film about you.’

‘And I’ve not seen her since. We knew each other. We weren’t that close.’

‘I understand the two of you met while on holiday?’

‘Yes, she was kind to me. Very understanding.’ She looked out of the window and then back at the detectives. ‘That was before I realized that she had an ulterior motive for keeping in touch.’

‘You didn’t have to agree to her demands,’ O’Neil said.

Rebecca pouted. ‘You don’t know Laura. She has a way about her.’

‘You felt you couldn’t refuse?’

‘She didn’t coerce me, Superintendent.’

‘That’s good to know. Did you meet here, in this flat?’

‘Initially, yes. Is this about the documentary?’

‘We think so. You two seemed to have quite a rapport on screen. We watched it last night and found it moving and very brave.’ Ryan was nodding his agreement with O’Neil. ‘We have no idea how, but we believe her disappearance is connected in some way to the making of this film. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t feel pretty sure about that. We’re hoping you might be able to help us with our enquiries.’

Rebecca had drifted off.

‘Rebecca? Are you OK to carry on?’

‘Yes.’ She rubbed at her forehead as if the action would generate more energy from within. ‘Sorry, I sleep a lot. I get exhausted if I don’t get my rest. It’s very frustrating.’

‘I’m sorry,’ O’Neil said. ‘We won’t keep you long.’

‘What do you want to know?’

‘I’ll be honest with you, neither of us had heard of your condition before we viewed the documentary last night. Am I right in thinking that you agreed to go public to raise the profile of the disease?’

‘To make people aware, yes. That was the objective.’

‘Then you achieved it. Did you know the other sufferers who took part: Jo Nichol, Martin Schofield and Sandie Knox?’

‘Not beforehand.’ Rebecca lifted her chin, her face set in a scowl. ‘Sandie’s the lucky one. She died already.’

‘Yes, we know.’

Ryan was fighting the urge to give the woman a hug. He couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to wish your life away or, in her case, wish you’d never been born. He still couldn’t see how this documentary could have led to the death of Laura Stone. He wanted to ask a question but O’Neil was on a roll . . . Then Rebecca cut in: ‘Why would you think I’d know the others?’ she asked. ‘There are less than a thousand cases of Sauer’s worldwide. Fewer than a hundred in the UK. Laura had a lot of trouble finding people, I know that much. It’s not like the PNC.’ Reference to the Police National Computer system threw O’Neil, but Rebecca didn’t stop for breath. ‘You can’t trawl a medical database and come up with a list of names. And before you ask, when I was fit to work, I was a civilian indexer in a murder investigation room just like the one you’re running. Laura is dead, isn’t she?’

‘We don’t know the answer to that question,’ O’Neil said. ‘Did you help Laura with her research?’

‘I did much of it for her. I wasn’t so ill then but registered disabled, so not working. I’m not surprised you hadn’t heard of it. Not many people know about the disease. Laura put an advert in a national newspaper to attract others with the same diagnosis. She only had four hits.’

‘Four?’

‘That’s what she said.’

‘And yet she only used three.’

Rebecca shrugged. ‘Maybe the fourth was too ill.’

Or maybe there was another reason, Ryan thought, but didn’t say. Surely Laura hadn’t been murdered for leaving someone out of her documentary? There must be another explanation that linked her to the murders of Dean, Trevathan and Tierney, something that hadn’t yet clicked into place.

O’Neil passed Rebecca a list of names. ‘According to the executive producer, this is a full list of cast and crew. Can you identify which ones you personally came into contact with?’ She handed over a pen.