Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(12)

Marie looked at him with interest. He wasn’t exactly what she had expected. Asher Leyton was in his mid to late twenties. He was of medium build, with thick wavy fair hair and had a rather old-fashioned appearance. Wearing beige cord trousers and a tweed check waistcoat, even his clothes looked dated. Some new retro trend she’d missed out on?

‘Mr Leyton, we have reason to believe that you were on Brewer Street, three nights ago. Can you tell us if that’s true?’ asked Jackman.

‘Most likely, Inspector. I work flexi-hours and I walk down Brewer Street to get home.’ He looked at him calmly. ‘Why? What happened?’

Marie reached into her pocket and took out a photograph of Shauna Kelly. ‘Did you see or speak to this girl, sir?’

Asher took the picture, and immediately smiled. ‘I certainly did.’ He handed back the photo. ‘In fact, I’ve spoken to her a couple of times recently.’

Jackman’s eyes narrowed. ‘And why would that be?’

Asher Leyton’s smile faded from his face. ‘Has something happened to her? Is that why you’re here?’

‘Do you know her by name, sir?’ asked Jackman quietly.

‘It’s something like Shona? Or Sheena? I can’t remember exactly.’ He ran long, narrow fingers nervously through his hair.

‘How do you know her, Mr Leyton?’ Jackman’s voice was getting colder by the minute.

‘I don’t know her. I’ve just talked to her on a few occasions, that’s all.’ The man almost squirmed in his chair.

‘And why would a man of your age be talking to a fourteen-year-old girl that he doesn’t know?’

‘Fourteen? Oh my God, but she looked . . . she said . . . you’ve got the wrong end of the stick, really you have.’ Asher Leyton swallowed. ‘I saw her one evening on Brewer Street. She was alone, standing on the edge of the pavement, and for a moment I thought she might be a, a . . .’

‘Prostitute?’ filled in Marie. ‘You’d know about those, wouldn’t you, Mr Leyton?’

The man’s face suffused with colour. ‘I’ve never been in trouble with anything like that! Check your records! You won’t find me on them. I have no convictions!’

‘We’ve already checked, Mr Leyton, but our patrol officers have had a quiet word with you in the past, haven’t they?’ Marie said calmly.

‘Oh Lord. But I explained all about that at the time. Those girls worry me. I talk to them, try to help them, that’s all. I’m a clean-living, honest, working man. I’m engaged to the most beauti—’

He stopped mid-sentence, and his red face paled. ‘Please tell me you haven’t mentioned this to Lynda?’

‘Your secret is safe with us, sir — unless there is anything we should know about you and Shauna Kelly?’ Marie stared coolly at him.

Asher Leyton exhaled. ‘But there’s nothing to tell. I only spoke to her because a car splashed her as it went past. She jumped back and swore at the driver, and I asked her if she was alright. She then swore at me, until I picked up the handbag she’d dropped, and offered her my handkerchief to dry herself.’

‘Quite the knight in shining armour,’ said Jackman.

Asher ignored the comment. ‘She told me she was waiting for friends and was on her way to a party. And that’s all.’ He shrugged. ‘I saw her a few days later and she smiled, so I asked her if she’d enjoyed her party. She said it was different, but no more. I assumed it had been a washout. I only saw her once after that, a few days ago. She said she was going partying again.’ He looked from Marie to Jackman. ‘Has something happened to her?’

‘I’m afraid Shauna is dead, Mr Leyton.’

Asher’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Marie was pretty sure it wasn’t faked. If it was, he was damned good.

‘Dead?’

‘I’m afraid so. Perhaps you can now appreciate why we are so interested in her recent movements.’

Asher nodded dumbly, and Marie thought he might cry. After a moment or two he said, ‘Poor little kid. She was really sweet.’ When he looked up his eyes were moist. ‘How did she die?’

‘I’m afraid we can’t say until certain formalities have been completed, sir.’ Jackman’s tone was softer and more compassionate. ‘And that is really all you know about her? Just a few passing words in the street?’

‘You have my word, Inspector. And I swear to God that I never knew she was only fourteen.’ He hung his head. ‘In this sad day and age, I wouldn’t have dreamed of speaking to a girl that young without being introduced.’

Jackman nodded to Marie, and they both stood up. ‘I’ll give you my card in case you think of anything else. Now you have my direct number, Mr Leyton.’

Leyton walked them to the door and as they left, he said, ‘About that other matter? If she heard about what happened and got the wrong idea, my fiancée would be devastated.’

‘As I said, sir, that’s not our affair. We are only interested in Shauna’s last movements.’ Marie levelled her gaze at the rather odd young man. ‘Just give those “chance meetings” some careful thought, would you? Anything she said to you may be of use to us, okay?’

Marie glimpsed the face of a very troubled soul as Asher closed the door.