‘Did you leave Melody’s bracelet at the day centre?’
‘What bracelet? Did Melody Jones have a bracelet? There was no mention in the press of any missing jewellery.’
‘Mr Harte…’
‘Steven…’
‘Mr Harte…’
‘Steven, I insist,’ he said, pushing back his chair.
‘Okay, Steven,’ she said, gritting her teeth. ‘I repeat the question: did you abduct Grace Lennard and leave Melody Jones’s silver bracelet at the scene earlier today?’
‘Another girl has been abducted?’ he asked with surprise.
‘You already knew that.’
‘How would I have known that?’
‘You told me earlier that I was about to become very busy.’
‘You’re a detective inspector – I would imagine you’re very busy most days.’
Kim had the sudden feeling she was a piece of meat being mauled by a lion. It was not a sensation she relished.
‘Mr Harte… Steven, this is becoming tiresome. I’m not sure exactly what game you’re trying to play with us but—’
‘Have you spoken to Melody’s family?’ he asked, tipping his head.
‘Why would I do that?’
‘You should do a follow-up. Talk to them, understand her life. I think you’ll be surprised.’
‘Are you saying that Melody’s family were involved in her disappearance?’
‘I’m telling you that you should peel back a layer or two of that particular onion so that you understand.’
‘How does that affect Grace Lennard?’
Her focus had to remain on the child who was missing now.
‘Most lost children turn up eventually, unharmed, don’t they?’
‘Are you saying…?’
‘I’m simply stating a statistical fact.’
‘Look, Mr Harte, I am not going to be led a merry dance. If you have Grace Lennard, I will find her and—’
‘Your voice is rising, Inspector. You’re losing control. That won’t help anyone. Your stress level appears to be high. I think we should resume first thing in the morning.’
He pushed back his chair again, but this time he stood. Her hand itched to slap a pair of cuffs on his wrist and drop-kick him into a cell until he gave her a straight answer, but he had said nothing she could hang an arrest warrant on.
‘Thank you for the tea, and I look forward to speaking to you again at 9 a.m. tomorrow.’
Kim replayed both conversations in her head, desperate for any reason to detain him.
He paused and regarded her for a minute.
‘I’m guessing you’re used to being the one in control, Inspector, but for now you’re going to have to accept that’s not the case. I have a great deal to share with you, but we’ll do this my way or not at all. I’ve proven my good faith and patience by staying here while you attend to other matters. I understand your focus is on Grace Lennard, and I’m sure we’ll talk about her at some stage.’
He paused at the door. ‘But tomorrow we’ll talk about the others.’
Eight
Kim tore back into the squad room.
‘Can someone find some charge in the damn PACE manual that I can throw at this bastard? I don’t care what it is. Go medieval if you need to. Tell me he walked his ducks through the village on the wrong day of the week or that he was once drunk in charge of cattle. I don’t fucking care, just get me something.’
‘Boss, he hasn’t admitted—’
‘I damned well know that, Stace, and I also know I’ve got to let him just walk out of here when my gut tells me he’s done something bloody wrong.’
The room was silent.
‘Sorry, Stace, but the man is infuriating.’
Bryant handed her a black coffee.
‘Keep it on tap,’ she said, taking a swig and a good deep breath.
‘Okay, guys, given that we couldn’t prevent him from walking out the door, we need to keep him under watch. If we ask for a surveillance operation, it’ll take days to arrange, as all available resources will be directed to the search for Grace. But we still need to follow him wherever he goes. He might just lead us to her.’
Penn stood. ‘I’ll take first shift. Jasper’s over at Billy’s.’
Kim knew that Penn’s teenage brother spent many nights over at his friend’s house. Billy’s mum was a registered carer and was well read on Down’s syndrome. ‘Okay, I’ll take the middle shift and relieve you at midnight.’
‘And I’ll be there at five,’ Bryant added.
‘You’ll be following him in when he returns at nine in the morning,’ Kim advised.
‘He’s coming back?’ Penn asked as he reached the door.
‘Oh yeah, now get after him. I don’t want him without cover for even a minute.’
Penn nodded and left. She’d check in with him later.
‘Boss, I could get someone to drop me—’
‘No, Stace, we need someone to be fully functional.’
As she had no car due to not having passed her driving test, Kim couldn’t consider her for a shift.
‘What was that about Melody’s family?’ Bryant asked, reminding her that the rest of the team had been watching and listening.
‘I don’t know but it’s hard to know what to take seriously and what to disregard, especially that last crack about “the others”.’
‘Boss, for what it’s worth, this guy has done so much for good causes. He supports all kinds of charities, small ones that can’t get much funding as well as major projects in the local area. He sponsors wildlife programmes, donkey sanctuaries, nature reserves, and apparently Hawne Park would have closed decades ago if he hadn’t stepped in and saved it.’
Kim knew Hawne Park well. It was located just one mile out of Halesowen town centre.
‘Doesn’t mean he’s not a killer, Stace,’ she said.
They all knew that murderers came in all shapes and sizes and from every point on the socio-economic spectrum.
Yes, he was good-looking. Yes, he was rich, and yes, he was a generous benefactor, but none of the above precluded him from being a murderer. It just offered him more opportunity.
‘We should go and see them,’ Bryant said thoughtfully.
‘Who?’
‘Melody’s family.’
‘Bryant, the case is twenty-five years old. I’d love to know what happened to Melody Jones but I’m more concerned about Grace Lennard, and I’m not sure how Melody’s family can help.’
‘There’s a reason Harte mentioned Melody specifically.’
‘And if he told us to dress up in costume and dance the funky chicken, would we do that too?’
Stacey raised an eyebrow. ‘Boss, what’s the funk—’
‘Doesn’t matter. He’s not going to pull our strings, Bryant.’
‘We should still go,’ he pushed.
‘Why?’
‘There was talk. Nothing concrete but locker-room stuff. I had no involvement but apparently there was something about the family that was a bit… off.’