‘Wyre and I spoke to Annabel’s neighbour again, Evan. I know you just interviewed him, didn’t you, O’Connor?’
He nodded.
‘We need to track down a boat by the name ofFreedom. Can you call up Bidford boatyard and make enquiries, Jacob, before we visit. Also, this is Grant’s brother’s number. His name is Seth and he’s probably in the Netherlands at the moment. Could you call him too? We need to fill him in with what is happening and confirm his location.’
‘Yes, guv.’ He looked distantly at his cup.
‘Has Taylor’s aunt been informed of her murder?’
‘Yes. PC Kapoor broke the news to her.’
‘That’s good, because I’ve noticed that the news has broken on social media already. This information hadn’t been released to the public, yet they already know. The only way this could happen is if someone at the scene shared it. I’ve taken a look at the commenters. From the way the comments flow, it looks like one was deleted. Can you investigate those, Jacob?’
Jacob was staring at his coffee cup.
‘Jacob? Are you okay?’
Jacob shrugged. Everyone in the room turned to face Jacob. He shook his head. ‘No. I’m so not okay but I need to be here and I will call the boatyard and check out what’s happening on social media. I’m not resting until whoever is behind all this has been found. Annabel is still missing and now a girl has been murdered. Jennifer is still lying in a hospital bed.’
Gina tilted her head and dropped her shoulders. ‘Have you had any updates?’
He paused and slammed his cup on the desk. ‘No, there’s no change.’
Gina could tell that Jacob was holding something back. They’d worked closely for a long time and she knew him well. ‘If you need anything, just ask. Ask any of us. We’re here for you.’
Wyre and O’Connor nodded.
Briggs barged in through the door at the back. ‘Right, that’s the statement prepared. Just to give you all warning, the media are invited here at seven this morning so the news will break almost immediately after. Be prepared as I’ll be appealing for witnesses. The phones will be red hot.’ He paused and looked around as if taking in the silence in the room.
Gina cleared her throat and took a swig of coffee. ‘Right, we all know what we have to do. Let’s get to it. Thank you for the time you’re putting in. I know you’re tired and I know that we’d all love to go home, shower, have a sleep but there is a woman out there and we need to find her. There is a murderer on the loose and we need to bring that person in. We need to find out who put Jennifer in hospital and I for one will not stop to rest until we get results. I know we’re on the edge of something, don’t lose it. Are you all good to go?’
A wave of enthusiastic yeses filled the room as everyone left except Jacob who turned back to his computer and began scrolling through Facebook. Briggs waved her over so she followed him into the corridor. ‘We need to talk.’
She shook her head so hard, her tied up hair began to slip out of the clip. ‘We don’t. What you do, who you’re seeing, it’s none of my business. I know that. I shouldn’t have come to your house and I feel so embarrassed at my behaviour. Can we just forget it and move on?’ She couldn’t look at him and focused on his chest.
‘I should explain.’
Gina paused, waiting for him to talk. He rubbed his eyes. As he went to open his mouth, Jacob popped his head around the corner. ‘Sir, I’ve just had a call. The press are waiting.’
‘This will have to wait. Damn,’ Briggs called back, leaving the door swinging.
In her mind, Gina saw Briggs touching her, hugging her. Briggs simply wanted to be loved. This woman was filling a hole in his life that Gina never could. She hurried back into the incident room and saw Jacob sitting back in front of the computer, his head in his hands. ‘Jacob.’
‘She’s losing the baby.’
Sitting beside him, Jacob gripped her arm and leaned his head on it. She placed an arm over him, offering all she could, the tiniest bit of comfort in a heartbreaking situation. She only hoped that the next bit of news wouldn’t be that they were losing Jennifer too.
FORTY
Omar
‘But, Mum. I’m sick.’ I’m sick with nerves and so tired. After going to Whittle’s house when Mum had fallen asleep, I spent the first hour waiting for the police officer to go. Just like Annabel’s house, they kept coming all the time. I know they’re looking for him. I’m looking for him too. If I find him, I will have the answers I need, but I’m scared. I look into my mum’s blue eyes and I wonder if Mr Whittle would really follow through with his threats. What did he mean by my mum having an accident if I told the police or anyone what I’d seen? Annabel begged me to keep quiet about what I heard and Mr Whittle threatened me. I’m stuck. I look up at my mum as she picks up some of my washing, really taking her in and there’s no way I could ever have anyone hurting her.
An accident, just like what happened to that woman in hospital. That’s the type of thing he would do to my mum. It’s all over the news. She’s in a coma and will probably die. Will he run my mum over and leave her to die? Will he set fire to our house, taking care of me at the same time? He won’t let me live, I know he won’t, not after what he did to the childminder. It had to be him. Will he tamper with my mum’s car? I don’t know and I’m so confused.
‘You don’t look sick and you haven’t got a temperature. You look tired and that’s because you were out so late last night. I’m still not happy about that. I’m deciding how you should be punished. I have to get to work and you, my lad, you’re going to school. You’re not vomiting and you don’t have a temperature, so get your butt out of that bed and get your uniform on.’
‘Mum—’
