Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(22)

‘And another thing, what the hell did she mean by saying that the club she went to “wasn’t that straightforward?”’

‘Well, I think I can answer that.’ Jackman muttered a curse and accelerated past a slow-moving vehicle. ‘The Harlan Marsh officers have been chasing a venue that constantly changes location.’

Marie sat and listened with growing distaste as Jackman told her about the drinking club. ‘Sounds like a pretty nasty set-up, sir.’

‘It does. And because the venue moves about, it has been difficult to nail them. Every time they get close, it moves off again.’

‘I see, so that’s what Toni meant. Maybe she’ll feel like telling us a bit more when the seriousness of what happened finally hits home. It might even be something of a turning point for her.’

Jackman raised an eyebrow. ‘Let’s hope so. I think it’s scared her senseless.’

‘Oh well, let’s hope Gary gets a lucky break with the kid. He’s a good man, isn’t he?’

Jackman nodded. ‘He’s not that old, but he reminds me of the old-style proper coppers.’

‘Exactly,’ said Marie. ‘Give me that any day rather than the lads who go in with one finger on the CS gas canister.’

‘And that leads me neatly to another point, Marie. If you agree, I’m going to be asking the super if we can have Gary temporarily transferred to our team. What do you think?’

Marie nodded. ‘Excellent idea, sir. His local knowledge could help.’

‘Good, then let’s get back and I’ll get that sorted.’

It was dusk by the time they got back to the incident room, but Max, Charlie and Rosie were still heads down at their computers.

Jackman grinned at them. ‘Okay, you guys. Get home, get some rest, then get back early tomorrow.’

Rosie looked up. ‘I’m happy to give it another hour, sir.’

Marie smiled at her. How come a mature woman, sharp as a butcher’s knife, managed to look like an eighteen-year-old school prefect?

Jackman shook his head. ‘Thanks, but no. You get away. Take the opportunity to rest while you can.’

Rosie gathered up her coat and bag. ‘Okay. See you tomorrow.’ She glanced across to Max, hunched over his keyboard. ‘Are you coming?’

Max leaned back, stretched his arms above his head, and groaned. ‘I guess. This search is going nowhere anyway.’ He stood up. ‘Hang on for me, flower, and I’ll walk down to the car park with you.’

Jackman watched them go, then went off to see if the office manager had left him any messages before he too went home. Marie was left to think over what had happened in the last few hours.

She was certain of one thing at least. There was an Emily.

But where was she?

*

Jackman was just hanging up the phone when Marie walked into his office. ‘That was Gary. Toni has calmed down considerably, and when her parents went for a coffee they had “a bit of a natter,” as he put it.’

Marie smiled, glad that they’d chanced upon PC Pritchard. ‘And?’

‘First, she confirmed that Shauna Kelly was at one of the parties. They weren’t friends but Toni knew her by sight. And Emily does exist. They’d never met before that night, and because of the drink and the drugs, her description of the girl was vague. Long, dark hair and beautiful eyes was the best Toni could come up with. Apparently the man who was molesting them got very excited when Emily told him her date of birth, and soon after that she was dragged away. Then Toni only has vague memories of being manhandled into a car and dumped miles from anywhere.’

‘Well, at least we know we’re not chasing shadows.’

‘That we do. The uniforms are there with Toni now. Gary’s going to hitch a lift back to Harlan Marsh with a mate of his who is a porter in A&E. He said he’ll stay with Toni until his friend’s shift finishes.’ Jackman leaned back in his chair and Marie saw how weariness had darkened his eyes.

‘The main thing is that now we know Emily is real. And it looks like she’s been abducted.’

A shiver rippled across Marie’s shoulder blades. When you’d seen what supposedly civilised people were capable of, it was almost impossible to stop your imagination settling on the very worst scenarios.

Jackman abruptly stood up. ‘I know it goes against the grain to walk out when there is a girl missing, but we have uniform both on the streets and checking out any “old and creepy” properties, as Toni put it. Let’s go get some rest.’

Marie nodded. He was right. It went against the grain, but they were going to need to keep their wits about them, and you couldn’t do that on no sleep.

*

Asher Leyton pushed back his office chair and stretched. He had intended to work on for another hour or two, but he was having trouble concentrating. He kept seeing the face of that kid on Brewer Street. She was dead, and it was bothering him deeply.

He picked up his Parker Duo fold pen from the polished desk, tucked it into his jacket pocket and stood up. He should go home. It would be nice to surprise Lynda. Maybe he’d take her to supper at Lorenzo’s. She’d like that. She liked the finer things in life. And he knew that was why she had got engaged to him, and why she had agreed to live with him before they were married.

When he was with Lynda he was the perfect gentleman. He acted honourably, and with old-world decorum. Just what she expected and wanted.