Put it back up and I’ll talk to you.
And you’ll answer my questions?
I’ll answer some of them. I guess we’ll both have to work out how much I want to watch this. And you need to work out how much you want an answer to any question that might make me quit.
I guess we do.
Salgado looked to Geisler and jerked a thumb towards the video. The feed resumed.
But here’s my line, unless you’re here talking to us, every hour on the hour, this feed is turned off. And you should know, we’re coming after you. Hard.
Good luck with that. You don’t know who I am. You don’t know where I am. Neither did Ethan. I’ll talk to you. As long as it suits me. As long as he is alive. When he’s dead, I’m gone.
You’re a sick piece of shit.
We’re all different, Detective Salgado. Different wiring, that’s all. Maybe I’ll find out how you’re set up. That could be interesting.
Salgado slammed his hand against the keyboard, twice. He then banged it hard a third time before deleting the resultant letters one by one. O’Neill pretended not to notice, staring ahead at the screen and waiting for the sentence he’d actually send.
We have a different view of what’s interesting, Matthew.
Seems that way. But I think maybe people aren’t as different as some would like to make out. What I do, what you do. Different sides of the same coin. Maybe you’re not so much better than me as you like to think, Detective.
Salgado raised his hand again, flat above the keyboard ready to smash it down, before O’Neill cautioned him. ‘Don’t rise to him. Going to do none of us any good.’
‘I won’t. Okay, I am. But I won’t.’
‘Want me to talk to him?’
‘No.’
‘Then type. Ask him straight out where the hell this kid is. He must know something.’
Where is this, Matthew? Where is this guy being held?
I wouldn’t know. And I wouldn’t tell you if I did.
‘He’s lying. No way Garland hasn’t told him at least the kind of dump spots he uses.’
Come on, Matthew. I could just switch it off. Might have to if you’re no use to us.
A pause. They could see him begin to type then it went blank again. Finally, he answered.
I don’t know where he is. Telling you and ending this would make it completely pointless for me to talk to you. But I have no idea where he is. This one is Ethan’s.
O’Neill reached for Salgado’s shoulder and began to talk, but he’d caught it too.
This one? That means there’s more? And if this is his, does that mean some are yours?
There was a long break. Perhaps Marr regretting a hasty use of words.
Let’s pass over that for now.
Maybe we don’t want to.
We?
I’ve been joined by my partner. Detective Cally O’Neill.
Quite the party. Anyone else there I should know about?
Oh, there are lots of us. Might as well be an army as far as you’re concerned. Are there more like this guy on the video? And are some of them yours?
It was Ethan’s turn. That’s all I’m telling you. For now, at least.
His turn.
Salgado pounded the keyboard as he tried again.
You must know something about where this guy is. The kind of places Garland would use.
What I can tell you is that no one else will know where this guy is. No one else will have fed him or given him water. Only Ethan. It’s very unlikely anyone will stumble across him. Ethan will have made sure of that. Wherever he is, he won’t be easy to find.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
How long has he been there, Matthew? How long has he been without food?
I think four days now. That was the plan. And now he’s almost out of water. I’m not sure he’s got the strength to pick up what’s left even if there is any.
‘Fuck this shit!’ Salgado shouted as he typed.
So, tell me why I should let you keep watching this. What am I going to gain from it if you have no idea where this man is?
I don’t know where he is, Detective. But I know other things. Lots of other things.
Salgado turned to O’Neill, mouth half open. ‘You think that’s a good thing or a bad thing?’
She exhaled hard. ‘I’m almost sure it’s both.’
CHAPTER 13
Narey and Giannandrea were parked outside the tenements in Midlock Street for forty-five minutes before Harkness turned up. Giannandrea saw him first – black jeans and T-shirt, leather jacket – turning the corner at the whitewashed cafe, and nudged her.
He hadn’t noticed them in the car and had got to the door entry system before he heard their footsteps approaching. He looked warily over his shoulder, his face crumpling angrily when he saw who it was.
‘Can we have a word please, Mr Harkness? Inside would be best.’
‘What the hell do you lot want now? You’ve been told to stay away. My lawyer has spoken to your boss and you’ve been told. Just fuck off. You’re getting nowhere and you’re getting nothing from me.’
He turned away from them and punched numbers into the security panel before reaching for the door handle.
‘There’s been a development, Mr Harkness,’ she told him. ‘The rules have changed.’
She regretted not being able to see his face, but it had been the only way to stop him. She could still see the effect it had. He froze on the handle, his shoulders tensing then slumping. He slowly shifted round till he was facing them, his face set to neutral but the eyes giving away the anger.
‘What development?’
‘I think we should talk inside. The street isn’t the place for it.’
‘Fuck this. I’m phoning my lawyer. He says this is harassment. I’ve not to say a word to you unless he’s present.’
They tag-teamed him.
‘Really? Are you worried you’ll incriminate yourself, Tam? Or is he?’
‘If you haven’t done anything then you’ve nothing to worry about. No reason not to talk to us.’
Harkness looked from one to the other, the heat rising in his cheeks, his brow tightening.
‘What development?’ he repeated.
She held his stare, trying to work out if he knew or he’d guessed. He was angry and scared but that might be the case whether he knew they’d found Eloise or not. She wasn’t for giving him any clues just yet.
‘We need to talk to you. It can be here or it can be at the station. Make your choice now.’
At that, she felt the same vibe she’d got from the man a few times before. A barely suppressed rage that was on the point of snapping. His arms were crossed over his chest and he gripped his own biceps as if to hold them in place.
‘My lawyer said you had to back off.’
‘Things have changed. Your flat or the station?’
‘Neither without my lawyer.’
She’d had enough. ‘Then phone him. You can make the call from the interview room. Sergeant.’
Giannandrea moved to the man’s side. ‘Let’s go, Mr Harkness. And let’s not make this unpleasant.’