The Death Messenger (Matthew Ryan Book 2)(97)

‘Or any that might be missing?’ Ryan added.

O’Neil nodded her thanks.

‘Most of these were on set at one time or another.’ Rebecca ticked off names and gave the list back to O’Neil. Barring Gillespie, Laura’s music composer, every crew member’s name had a tick against it. It had been immensely useful talking to her. On day twelve of the enquiry, they were finally making headway.

O’Neil wrote something on a sheet of paper and then lifted her pen. ‘I’ll be straight with you, Rebecca. We’re very much in the dark. What I’m about to share with you is highly confidential. I’d like you to keep it that way. Can you do that? Laura’s life might depend on it.’

‘Of course.’

‘We’re convinced that other people have died as a result of that documentary, at home and abroad.’ O’Neil handed her a second list. ‘I’d like you to examine the names I’ve written here and tell me if you recognize any of them. Take your time, there’s no rush.’

Rebecca stared at the sheet of paper, making no comment before passing it back. ‘Is Dean the guy who’s been in the news lately? I watch a lot of telly these days. His murder has been on a news loop for days. I’ve never heard of the rest.’

‘They’re all dead.’ O’Neil said. ‘Except, in their case, they’re not happy about it and neither are their families.’

Rebecca flushed slightly.

Ryan was shocked. That was quite a dig.

O’Neil received his non-verbal warning shot. ‘I’m sorry if that sounded harsh.’

‘No need to apologize,’ Rebecca said. ‘You make a fair point.’

‘You care, Rebecca. The documentary is evidence of that. DS Ryan and I now know how these people died. If we don’t find out why they died, their relatives will spend the rest of their lives trying to make sense of it.’

‘I understand, but please don’t judge me, Superintendent. It’s a nightmare living with this disease. I had no children of my own because I wouldn’t wish the condition on my worst enemy. Before Laura approached me, I didn’t know anyone else affected, only those I met online.’

‘Online?’ It was out of Ryan’s mouth in a flash.

‘A support group, if you could call that. I don’t go on it much now. It depresses me.’

‘Can you write down the name of it?’

‘I can do better than that.’ Rebecca got up.

Ryan followed as she moved towards a laptop lying on her bed. Pulling it towards her, she staggered slightly, losing her footing. He caught her before she landed on the floor. She didn’t say anything – falling was obviously a frequent occurrence – and neither did he. She sat down, logged on and tapped a few keys.

‘Sorry, my hands don’t always obey my thoughts.’

‘Want me to do it?’ Ryan said.

‘No, I’m fine.’

The website in question arrived on screen. Ryan read over her shoulder, taking down the URL, noting that there were 354 members listed on the right-hand side of the home screen, as well as links to similar sites and medical blogs. He met O’Neil’s gaze from across the room. Flicking his head towards the door was enough of a prompt for her to thank their host and go. Their interviewee was tired now.

‘Thanks.’ Ryan stood up. ‘We’ll let you know if we find Laura. Are you going to be OK?’

‘No, I’m not.’ Rebecca stared at him with an intensity that made him realize how inappropriate the question was, however well intentioned. ‘Laura was an amazing woman,’ she said. ‘Very sensitive and caring. I liked her a lot. I hope you find her safe and well.’

As Ryan shook hands with her at the door, Pedersen’s voice entered his head: I’m not a doctor but my sister is painfully thin. She has a disease . . . the man with the phone looked like her. Pedersen had been talking about the suspect she’d seen loitering in Kastelsvej, near the British Embassy in Denmark. Rebecca also had that appearance and, suddenly, Ryan understood. It was a light-bulb moment. Spielberg’s accomplice – whoever he was – was a sufferer too.





54


At twelve o’clock on the dot, O’Neil FaceTimed Grace and Frank from St Albans police station, having made considerable progress. They had viewed the documentary and were up to speed on its focus.

It was time for a remote briefing.

O’Neil kicked the meeting off. ‘Rebecca Swift was very helpful to us. She told us that Laura Stone had no knowledge of Sauer’s Syndrome before the two met. It was only after Rebecca agreed to take part in the documentary that Laura began her research, advertising in a national newspaper for sufferers willing to talk about their experience.’

‘How many takers were there?’ Grace asked.

‘That’s where it gets interesting. Rebecca is adamant that four, not three, people got in touch. Grace, you need to talk to every member of her film crew again to see if any of them know who was left out and why. Now we have their contact details, that shouldn’t be too difficult. Ryan thinks that Spielberg’s sidekick may have been that person. There’s a fifty per cent chance of inheriting the disease. If her accomplice is her brother, the likelihood is that Spielberg has that same devastating DNA marker. If it turns out one of them was that reject, it would not only link them to Laura but provide a motive for killing her.’