Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(62)

‘It involves Cade?’ Marie almost spat the name out.

Gary sat down heavily opposite his new boss. ‘He has taken personal command of the drinking club investigation, and he’s keeping things very close to his chest. My mate has been drafted into his team to help them.’

‘Does he think Cade is protecting someone?’ asked Jackman.

‘He thought so to begin with, but now he’s really worried. Take a look at this. It’s a scan of one of the pictures that Cade commandeered. My friend emailed it to me.’ He took a sheet of paper from his inside pocket, unfolded it and passed it across the desk. ‘Do you remember it? It’s where young Nick Barley is talking to two men.’

‘The one where you and Marie both thought you recognised one of them?’

Gary nodded. ‘Look closely, sir. This man is obscured by the shadow from the building, but I don’t think it’s one of Cade’s buddies at all. I think it is Cade himself.’

Gary lowered his voice. ‘And guess what? Shortly after my friend got hold of it, the original disappeared. And the CCTV tape met with an unfortunate accident.’ He pointed to the picture. ‘No one knows about this and now, sir, it’s the only copy.’

Jackman snatched the picture up and peered at it. ‘My God! It’s not clear enough to challenge him on, but I’d say you are right!’

Marie leaned over and took it from him. ‘So that’s who it reminded me of,’ she whispered. ‘The bastard!’ She looked up. ‘Boss, I’ve heard that there’s software now available that can compare the shape and dimensions of the man in that picture. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just as long as part of it is complete. The program just fills in the gaps. All we need is another photo of Cade for comparison, and we could identify him.’

‘And do we have that kind of technology?’

‘We don’t, but the university does. Ted was telling me they use a similar package in his department.’

Jackman frowned. ‘We’d be operating well outside the regulations if we did that. We’d have to be extremely careful. Can you imagine the furore if it got out? And supposing we’d got it wrong? We’d all lose our jobs for starters.’

‘The words “shit” and “fan” spring to mind. But if a senior officer is bent, we have to know.’ Marie looked at Gary. ‘You’ve worked for him. We all know he’s a slimeball, but do you think it’s possible he’s mixed up in something as serious as this?’

Gary did not hesitate. ‘Yes, Sarge, I do. I’d stake my pension on it.’

Jackman looked as though he was sucking a lemon. ‘So the next question is, just how involved is he? Is he at the margin, just getting his rocks off watching some dirty sex, or is he in deeper? Although I doubt he had anything to do with the actual abductions. Surely even Cade wouldn’t sink that low?’

‘Young Toni said she’d been to these gatherings several times, but she’d never seen the man who took her to the bogus “party” before.’ Gary raised his eyebrows. ‘This is just a thought, but would Toni recognise Cade if we showed her his photo?’

‘We can’t do that, Gary,’ said Marie. ‘If anyone found out, they’d throw the book at us. They would say we were putting ideas into her head. And she’d recognise him anyway. Don’t forget he’s a friend of her father.’

‘But I’m willing to bet that Cade is only pals with Neil Clarkson because of the money he donates to police coffers. Somehow I don’t think they socialise outside Lodge meetings. They couldn’t be more different.’ Jackman gave a humourless laugh.

‘So are you suggesting that we show her his photo, sir?’ Marie asked.

‘It’s very risky, and we certainly couldn’t do it with her parents around. With all these deaths, we really don’t have time for this, but,’ Jackman shrugged, ‘I do believe we ought to do it.’

He looked at Gary.

‘This will be totally off the record, and you don’t have to be part of it. Your job will be in jeopardy if you’re caught.’

Gary took a deep breath and straightened up. ‘I’ll risk it, sir. I know things about Cade that only a man who’d worked with him would. I’m ready to go out on a limb.’

‘If you’re absolutely sure? Toni really liked you. In the hospital she trusted you more than anyone. Okay, you talk to her, and in private.’ Jackman paused. ‘And I don’t think it’s the right time to tell her about Emily, unless she asks straight out. I’ll leave that up to you.’

Gary gave a nod. ‘I’ll play it by ear. But could I say something before I go?’

‘Of course.’

Gary took a deep breath. ‘All this photo stuff is fine. Of course we must follow it up, and I’m certain we could prove it is Cade. But I know him, and he’ll wriggle out of it somehow. I think the only way is to catch him red-handed. We need to go back undercover, to another one of those illegal parties, and arrest him in situ.’

There was a silence. Then Jackman drew in a long breath. ‘Get Rosie and Max in here.’

‘But, sir?’ Marie half stood, and then sat down again.

‘I know you don’t like this, Marie, and neither will Max, I’m sure, but Gary is right. We need to go back in.’