Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(32)

Grace Black straightened her spine, and pulled her shoulders back. Her whole demeanour altered. ‘Yes! Yes, I can, and what’s left of my family will too. Just how long will this other case take? The one you have to tie up first.’

Marie wished Grace hadn’t asked that question. They were making such good progress.

‘You should know that it’s a missing person case, Mrs Black,’ said Jackman. ‘Not a child, but a teenage girl, and under the circumstances I’m sure you will bear with us for a short time. Initially there were three missing girls, but we have found two already. One is safely back with her family, but the other, sadly . . . she is back with her family but not the way we hoped. I’m sure we will be able to find the third girl very soon. We do have leads that we are following.’

Grace shook her head sadly. ‘Then I wish you all the luck in the world, for the missing girl and her family’s sake, and for ours too.’

Jackman stood up. Marie felt an overwhelming urge to run from the room. There were just too many children torn from their homes, too many daughters lost to their mothers, too many heartbroken families looking for answers.

As they moved towards the door, Jackman paused and said, ‘We do appreciate your time, Mrs Black. You’ll be hearing from us just as soon as possible.’

Grace Black stood and tilted her head to one side. Marie was reminded of a bird. Then she gave them a sad smile and said, ‘Do you know? For once, I believe I will.’





CHAPTER TWELVE

Charlie Button, Max Cohen and Gary Pritchard sat in the flickering darkness of the monitor room, their eyes trained on the CCTV footage that flashed across the screens.

‘I hope you three are working and not hiding down here eating Big Macs and fries.’

Jackman flopped into a spare chair and Marie looked over Max’s shoulder at the monitor.

‘No such luck,’ said Max, eyes on his screen. ‘We are still looking for Nick Barley’s meeting with the leader of the Sicko Society.’

‘Well, while you look, I have a bit of good news for PC Pritchard here.’

Gary paused the footage and swung around to face him. ‘Sir?’

‘As from ten minutes ago, you are on our team.’

Gary face creased into a smile. ‘That’s great, sir! I just hope I can be of help.’

‘I’m sure you will, Constable. Now are you happy to commute, or can we organise somewhere temporary for you in Saltern?’

‘He can have my guest room, boss.’ Marie turned to Gary. ‘If you want it?’

‘That would be perfect, as long as I’m not putting you out, Sarge?’

Marie smiled. ‘No problem. It’ll be good to have someone else around, other than the cat.’ And she meant it. Since her husband’s death, she had preferred to be on her own, but having only old memories for company was sometimes depressing. She liked Gary and believed that he was lonely, and that it also stemmed from tragic loss.

‘That’s settled then,’ said Jackman.

Gary was grinning from ear to ear. ‘When I get home tonight I’ll sort out a few things and get some clothes together. I can move in tomorrow, if that’s okay? It’ll be much better to be on hand if I’m needed.’

‘My thoughts precisely,’ said Marie. ‘Although perhaps I should fill you in on some of my eccentric habits before you commit yourself to becoming my lodger.’

Gary raised an eyebrow. ‘Sounds intriguing, but I’ll take my chances, Sarge. When you’ve lived out on Harlan Marsh you’ve seen it all. That place has characters that make eccentric look normal!’

Marie laughed. ‘Well, I don’t think I’m that bad!’

‘Don’t you believe it,’ said Max. ‘I’ve heard the rumours in the mess room.’

Marie cuffed him across the back of the head, suddenly feeling very pleased with her new domestic arrangement. She’d been on her own for too long.

‘Sarge! Boss!’ Gary stopped his machine and ran it back a few frames. ‘Got them!’

Marie stared at two dark figures, both staying well back in the shadows, while young Nick Barley, blissfully unaware, stood right in front of the security camera.

‘Damn! They could be anyone,’ she cursed.

‘Hang fire, Sarge. The one on the left turns in a minute. Look, just there.’ Gary pointed to the screen.

‘That taller one, he’s familiar. I think we know him,’ murmured Jackman.

‘Maybe, but . . .’ Marie squinted as she tried to make out any recognisable features.

‘The quality is crap. Even if he were the biggest villain in town, we’d never get an ID from that.’

‘I’ll get some stills printed off. Maybe they’ll show something more.’ Gary went to talk to the IT operator and returned in a few minutes with a batch of printouts.

Jackman sighed. ‘These are no better. Max? Can you clean them up, make them clearer?

‘No, sir. I can tell that the IT operator has done his best with them. Young Barley’s face is clear as crystal, as you can see. But the head honcho and his side-kick keep close to the buildings and in deep shadow.’

‘If they’re local, they probably know the exact positioning of the cameras,’ Jackman muttered. ‘Is this all we have?’