Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(31)
‘Bless him. He does try.’ Her smile faded. ‘So what do you have in mind regarding Kenya Black?’
‘I think we should ring the mother, Grace Black, and go and see her — right now, if she’s in.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I’m going to throw myself on her mercy, tell her that we are reopening the case, but that there are other girls missing. I’m going to try to get her to see our problem, and promise to give our full attention to Kenya the moment we have a breakthrough on our present case.’
Marie thought for a moment. ‘I think you’re right. If we at least make contact, it will give her something to hold on to, and keep the super off our backs.’
‘Then I’ll get Clive to telephone her.’ He lowered his voice. ‘We have to tread very warily with Grace Black. From what I’ve read in the files, she has never given up on finding her daughter. And as you’ve probably heard, she never misses any opportunity to criticise the police. And frankly, I don’t blame her.’
Marie nodded. ‘I’ve read the reports too, sir. We need to do everything by the book where Grace Black is concerned.’
‘Right. So what are the others up to while we’re away?’
‘Don’t worry about them, they are all gainfully employed, including Gary Pritchard. He’s down in the dark room with Charlie, staring at the CCTV screens.’
‘Ah, Nicholas Barley’s info.’
‘Yes, they are looking for Nick and the guy who was the parties’ main man.’
‘Excellent,’ said Jackman. ‘Then I’ll see what we can arrange for this visit.’
*
Grace Black had said that she would be at home for another two hours, so Jackman and Marie left immediately.
They were shown into a large lounge that looked more like a city trader’s office than a comfortable living area. Cardboard document boxes were stacked along one wall, and reams of printouts, letters, desk diaries, and newspaper cuttings littered every surface. Video and CD cases, all with spidery writing on the spines, were balanced in untidy towers beside the television. Marie spotted a computer, a laptop, and at least three telephones.
Marie knew that Grace was in her early forties. She had a thin, wiry body, piercing brown eyes and short dark hair, cropped, Marie assumed, for ease of care. From her rather creased appearance, it looked as though Grace Black spent little time on herself.
They were not given a drink, merely an impatient command to sit, not an easy task amid the clutter.
Marie carefully removed a copy of the Yellow Pages and a local phone book from a hard-backed chair, and perched herself uncomfortably on the edge. Jackman eased his tall frame in between a heap of box-files and an open gym bag full of dirty rugby kit.
‘Throw that on the floor. It’s only there so I don’t forget to sort it out before tomorrow night.’ She made an irritated huffing sound. ‘Not enough hours in the bloody day.’
Jackman smiled. ‘We won’t keep you long, Mrs Black, but there is something that we would like you to know.’ He launched into his semi-prepared speech, and then waited.
Marie waited too. They were both expecting an angry tirade but to their surprise, she remained silent. Then she said, very softly, ‘I’ve heard all this before, you know.’
‘Not from me, you haven’t,’ said Jackman, sincerely. ‘We have one case to tie up first, and then, I promise you, we will not let this go again until we have found out what happened to your daughter.’
‘I want to believe you, but—’
‘You can. You have my word.’
‘Frankly, I don’t think you are in a position to give it. If the powers that be pull the plug on you, you’ll do what all the others did and give up, making the same old excuses. And believe me, I’ve heard them all. Manpower, budget, priorities, you name it.’
‘This time it’s different, Mrs Black. I have their assurance that I can stay with this case until its conclusion. And I will use every tool and every officer available to me.’
‘Forgive my scepticism, but this sounds as if your top brass need this nasty little mess swept away. They’ve probably got wind of the fact that I intend to start making serious waves again. They don’t really care about me or my family’s grief, DI Jackman. I’m just an embarrassment and an inconvenience and they want to shut me up.’
Marie felt that she was probably right. ‘Does it actually matter about their reasons or their politics, Mrs Black? The main thing is that the case is going to be re-investigated from the very beginning, and they’ve chosen the best detective in the whole of the region to deal with it.’
She tried not to look at Jackman. ‘Plus, if DI Jackman gives you his word, then accept it. If anyone can find out what happened to your little girl, he’s right here.’
Grace was silent for a moment or two.
‘My! Maybe things will be different this time.’
‘Then can we rely on your support?’ Jackman asked quickly. ‘Even if it means dragging up all the old pain again?’
‘Do you think it ever went away?’ Grace replied.
‘No, I’m sure it didn’t. But I will want to go over every report, every statement, every move of every person involved — times, dates and what they had for breakfast. We might ask questions that seem irrelevant or very painful, but I’ll want answers to all of them. Can you cope with that?’