Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(37)

‘Excited? Apprehensive?’

‘Bit of each, I suppose. This mission of Rosie’s could provide a lot of information, but at the same time, men who do that sort of thing make me feel almost homicidal, as well as sick to my stomach.’ Marie made a disgusted face.

‘I empathise with that, believe me. That’s why we have to nail them, as soon as we can.’

Marie nodded. ‘Yes, I know. I just hope that we are not sending Rosie into a situation that’s too dangerous.’

‘We’ll all be close by. If she has the slightest trouble, that club won’t know what hit it.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘But I get the feeling that she will just test the waters tonight. She’ll gather as much intelligence as she can without blowing her cover, and leave with an option to return, should it be necessary.’ He smiled at Marie. ‘For once, I don’t share your concerns. I think Rosie will be ace at this. She’s done undercover before and apparently very well.’

Perhaps it was their two genders that was the cause of this rare difference of opinion between her and Jackman. Marie fervently hoped she was wrong, and it would be Jackman saying, “I told you so!”

‘Now, would you like a coffee before we plan tonight’s strategy?’

‘Perfect, thank you.’ Marie took a deep breath and decided that as the evening was going to go ahead anyway, she might as well be prepared. ‘Let’s get it sorted.’

*

As ten o’clock approached, Jackman began to feel the same mix of apprehension and excitement. The arrangement was far from perfect. As they had no idea where they were going, they couldn’t plan a suitable recce, or back-up. They were going to have to wing it.

Rosie, wearing an outfit that would have scandalised Jackman on any other occasion, stared unblinking at Chloe’s phone, willing it to ring.

Marie paced the CID room, as did Max Cohen. In fact, Jackman thought, Max was even more worried than Marie, which was not like him. Usually he loved this sort of thing.

‘Bingo!’ whispered Rosie and grabbed the mobile.

Everyone held their collective breaths.

‘Jubilee Lane, the old rowing club near the mill.’ Rosie snapped the phone shut and jumped up. ‘Anyone know it? Because I don’t.’

‘Relax, flower,’ said Max, feeding the data into his computer. ‘It’s only about twenty minutes away, on the road to Harlan Marsh. I used to go fishing near there with a mate of mine. The mill is derelict and all sealed up. I’m getting a satellite picture of the area now.’

‘As far as I remember, the clubhouse is closed too. There was a fire there a few years back and they moved the rowing club to new premises.’ Jackman nodded to himself. ‘There are no residences in the lane, and everything else is abandoned, so it’s the perfect place for a party.’ He turned to Gary. ‘Go and give uniform the exact location. I want a unit well out of the way, but close enough should we need them. And softly, softly, please. No blues and twos under any circumstances.’

‘Here we go.’ Max brought up an aerial view of the rundown clubhouse, and scanned the surroundings. ‘If we drop Rosie here,’ he pointed to a narrow lane, ‘she could walk through and tie up with the main path to the venue. I should think most of the partygoers will come from this direction, from the main road.’ He traced his finger further along the river edge. ‘I think we could find some pretty good cover along the towpath and around the mill. We need to be as close as possible.’

Jackman straightened up. ‘I agree. Everyone ready? So let’s get out there. Rosie? Still up for it?’

‘Am I ever! Bring it on.’

Jackman smiled at those bright intelligent eyes looking out from behind false eyelashes. Rosie’s choice of clothing and clever make-up made her look about sixteen. The only one of them who wasn’t all revved up was Marie. She had said pretty well nothing since they’d arrived. It worried Jackman, but he knew that she would be behind them all the way if the shit were to hit the fan.

‘Check her wire, Max. We can’t afford to lose contact.’

‘Already done, guv. And it’s not standard issue. I’ve adapted it myself. It’s top of the range. She has the best signal and range available.’

Jackman looked around. ‘Then let’s go, folks. And good luck. We have some seriously bad men to get the dirt on.’ He touched Rosie’s shoulder. ‘Be careful in there, Rosie. The slightest problem and you get out. And I mean it. No heroics, just leg it, fast.’





CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Rosie slipped in behind a group of four or five youngsters and tried to listen to their conversation. It was clear that they were already pretty pissed, even before they got to the free booze. Rosie felt her anger mount. These silly kids were such easy prey for the perverts. She took a deep breath. She needed to keep her concentration. She couldn’t afford to miss a thing.

One the girls ahead of her was hanging onto a skinny, spiky-haired youth, jabbing a finger at him as she lurched unsteadily along beside him. ‘And you can keep your leery eyes off that ginger slapper if she turns up again tonight. I saw you, Calvin, with your tongue hanging down to your belly button.’

Calvin shrugged. ‘Dunno who you’re talking about. Do you, Billy?’

The other boy kicked at an empty drink can as he sauntered along, hands stuffed deep into his jeans pocket. ‘Nah. Unless you mean the tart with the tramp stamp?’