Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(33)
‘We just need to check out the last of the meeting places that Nicholas Barley told us about.’ Charlie threw them a tired smile. ‘You never know, we may get lucky.’
‘Okay. You guys were here at the crack of dawn, so finish those and get home. There’s little more we can do now.’
‘Are you getting away too, sir?’ Marie noted the dark patches beneath Jackman’s eyes.
‘I need to talk to this Benedict Broome guy first, and then I thought I’d go see Toni Clarkson at her home, and try to find something, anything, that might give us a clearer idea of the identity of Emily.’
‘I’ll go with you,’ said Marie.
‘No, you finish up here, and then for God’s sake take the opportunity to get some rest. I get the feeling that things are about to hot up.’ He stabbed a finger at the grainy photographs. ‘It’s all about these sick bloody parties, isn’t it? Nick Barley helped to organise one of the venues, Toni went willingly to one, Emily too, and Asher Leyton told us that Shauna Kelly said she had been to a weird party and was going to another. We have to find a way to stop them before more kids disappear, or get killed!’
Marie thought about Emily. Time might be running out for her, wherever she was. Whoever she was. ‘If only we could get someone inside one of these parties,’ she murmured.
‘You find me a venue, and I’ll get in.’ Rosie McElderry stood in the doorway, a determined look in her eyes.
‘The problem is finding the next venue,’ said Gary flatly. ‘Don’t forget, we’ve been one step behind these guys for months and we’re no nearer catching them.’
‘But you didn’t have Nick Barley, did you?’ Rosie looked down at the photographs of the boy. ‘As long as no one knows that he’s helping us, he could be our way in.’
Jackman puffed out his cheeks. ‘He told us he did a runner when he found out he was dealing with a load of pervs. He may not find it easy to get in again.’
‘Maybe not, but I’m willing to bet he knows some of the kids that do go,’ Rosie said doggedly. ‘At least let’s talk to him.’
Max frowned. ‘Well, if we do manage to get a location and a time, why don’t we just raid the place? Avoid any risk to Rosie and lock the bastards up, job done!’
Rosie smiled. ‘So sweet of you to care. But think it through, Max. It may not be job-done if a vanload of flatfoots charges in. What if the bosses aren’t there? I doubt the organisers attend every rave. Or what if they leg it and we lose them? I’m one hundred per cent certain they have an escape route worked out. And the place could be full of minors. It’s too iffy. We need more intelligence before we can hit them.’
‘Rosie is right,’ said Jackman quietly. ‘We do need to infiltrate one of these damned parties.’
‘Maybe I can help you, sir.’
Marie saw a tall figure standing behind Rosie. A stony-faced Danny Page, the desk sergeant, stepped into the dimly lit monitor room. ‘Sorry to butt in, but I think you ought to hear what a new witness has to say about your parties.’
Jackman stood up. ‘Someone has finally come forward?’
‘After a fashion.’ He ushered a blonde teenage girl into the room. ‘Detective Inspector Jackman, meet my daughter, Jasmine. I think you’ll find she has quite a lot to tell you.’
*
Half an hour later Sergeant Page, arm around her shoulder, escorted his daughter from the station. Jackman and the others discussed their next move.
‘So, all we need is Jasmine’s friend Chloe’s mobile phone, and as soon as the text comes through, we’ll have the location of the next venue. We’re in! We’ve got her address. Shall Max and I go pick it up, sir?’ Rosie sounded excited.
Jackman nodded. ‘Yes. From what Jasmine heard, there are sometimes several parties a week, which could make the next one anytime, tonight even!’ He looked at Rosie. ‘Go! And I don’t have to tell you how to handle Chloe and her brother, do I? There are lives at stake. You can scare the shit out of them for all I care, just make sure they co-operate and keep their mouths shut, okay?’
Jackman and Marie walked back upstairs, leaving Gary and Charlie to check the last of the CCTV films.
‘I guess you’d better hang on now until Rosie and Max get back. I want us all to be in close proximity to that party, wherever it is, if our flower is going in undercover.’
‘I’m not sure I’m happy about her doing this alone,’ said Marie.
‘Well, sorry to say this, but I hardly think any of the rest of us would pass for teenagers anymore.’
‘Why not send Max in with her?’ asked Marie. ‘He seemed pretty worried about her taking this on.’
‘Max isn’t very good at getting down and dirty.’ Jackman gave a little laugh. ‘Remember the last time we tried to rough him up a bit? He still looked as if he’d walked off the cover of GQ. He’s a trendy young man alright, but certainly not the kind to attend a party of this nature. He’d stand out like a sore thumb. And anyway, I think Rosie will attract less attention if she plays this one solo.’
‘What about a wire?’ asked Marie.
‘Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let her do it without one. We need to know what’s going on every step of the way. She’ll be fine, Marie. You know Rosie. This is all part of the job, it’s what we do. She’s a tough cookie when she needs to be, and she can take care of herself, so stop fretting.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’m going to ring Benedict Broome. And I’m still hoping to visit Toni Clarkson, but I guess that rather depends on whether one of our nasty parties will be taking place. Perhaps you’d see if PC Andy English has had any luck with Broome’s planning permission?’