‘Let’s hope he’s gone back to bed.’ Wyre began to sniff; her nose beginning to run. She grabbed a small pack of tissues from her pocket. ‘I hope Kapoor isn’t cold like this.’
Gina had been thinking that exact same thing all evening, along with all manner of other disturbing things. ‘I can’t stop thinking about her. I keep imagining her trapped and bound, just like Amber had been. It sickens me to think of her lips being glued and—’ She paused, imagining a knife plunging into their colleague’s heart. ‘We have to do something. Vincent’s in bed. Let’s head over and take a look. We might be able to see through a window or hear something.’ A flash of light came from behind the bungalow. ‘What was that?’
Wyre reached for her gloves. ‘I’ll grab the torch.’
Barely making a sound, both detectives crept out of the car and stealthily made their way through the trees, staying off the road that led to Vincent’s bungalow.
‘Ouch, rabbit hole ahead.’ Wyre bent over to rub her ankle then continued. After leaving a footprint trail in the snow, Wyre stopped in Vincent’s garden, remaining in the darkness of a tall conifer. The light behind the bungalow flicked off and all was silent.
Gina led the way around the edge of the garden. ‘If he comes out, we just needed to follow up on our interview and I don’t care that it’s the middle of the night, okay?’
Wyre nodded and followed.
‘I can hear muffled voices. Listen.’ They both stopped.
Wyre scrunched her brow. ‘Sounds like there’s a few people. What the hell is going on? Should we call for backup?’
‘Send a message to Jacob. Get someone down here just in case. It can’t hurt.’
As Wyre tapped away, Gina walked up to the dark windows but could see nothing at all. Either the windows were blacked out or the curtains were closed. The light in the hall flicked on. ‘Keep back.’ It looked like Vincent was walking back and forth through his bungalow. They ducked under the window as more lights went on. The tiniest crack in the curtains became visible as the light flooded through. Vincent might see them if he came closer. Gina flinched as the window cracked open. A cigarette butt flew out and fizzled in the snow until it had been extinguished.
Somewhere in the house, Gina could hear a woman’s voice, not clear enough to make out if it could be Kapoor or anyone else. Vincent cleared his throat and pulled the stiff window closed again and the light went back out.
‘That was close.’ Wyre pulled her phone back out of her pocket and hit send on the message that she’d typed out for backup.
‘I heard a woman’s voice. It might be Kapoor. We have to get around the back, see what’s going on.’ Gina pushed her way through the bushes, cracking and crunching as she moved slowly. ‘They’re going to hear us. Damn.’ As she reached the end, she caught sight of two figures who began to scarper towards the back of the garden. Gina gave one last push through the bushes. ‘Police, stop.’ They continued to run. Vincent stood in his back doorway, illuminated by the security light as it flickered back on. She turned to Wyre. ‘You go after them.’
‘On it.’ Wyre burst from behind her. Being fitter, Gina was sure that Wyre would catch up with whoever was out there.
‘Vincent Jordan, what’s going on here?’
The man scurried inside and locked his door.
‘Open up. We have reason to believe that a police officer’s life may be in danger which would give me reasonable grounds to enter.’ She felt the slamming of her heart in her chest.
He glared through the window in the top of the back door. His wide eyes almost looking bloodshot in the corners. ‘You haven’t got a warrant.’
‘I don’t need one if a life might be at risk.’
He opened the door and took a couple of steps forward. ‘You’re not coming in. Get away from my door.’
‘Stand back, Mr Jordan.’
He began to seethe and took another step forward. ‘Just get the hell away from my house. I said you’re not coming in.’
‘Don’t step any closer.’
He ignored her warning, lifted his hand and went to grab her. Just in time, she blocked his arm and twisted him around, before grabbing his other arm and cuffing him. ‘Attempted assault on a police officer.’
Seconds later, she heard Wyre scrambling back through the bottom of the garden. ‘What happened here, guv?’
‘He stepped towards me in an aggressive manner, then went to grab me so I cuffed him.’
‘I wasn’t going to grab you.’ The man kicked the wall a couple of times.
‘There will be plenty of opportunity to tell your side of the story down at the station.’ She turned to Wyre. ‘I gather you lost them?’
‘I hate to admit it, but, yes. I recognised one of them, it was Tyrone Heard. At least we can bring him in later.’
