Sarah opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
‘So, you think you know better than me, because I’m the one who gave the order after all and I’ve been in the job twenty-five years … how long have you served again?’ Gabby knew full well that Sarah had not been long out of probation before joining CID.
‘Well,’ Sarah said, ‘I have some information about the case, and I wanted to run it by you first.’
‘In that case I’m all ears.’ Gabby came to a halt outside the vending machine full of chocolate, energy drinks and crisps.
‘You asked me last night who my informant was. It’s Elliott Carter.’
‘Uh-huh,’ Gabby said, non-committally. ‘I know of the boy.’
Sarah felt encouraged by this news. Was there a grain of truth in Yvonne’s words? ‘The first time Elliott spoke to me, he said something about the Midnight Man, and that an angel was dead.’
‘Right,’ Gabby said shortly, sorting through her change. She deposited some coins into the machine and pressed the code for a Mars bar. Sarah watched as the bar of chocolate dropped with a clunk.
‘On Saturday night, I went to see him and he mentioned the chestnut tree that borders the fence in Blackhall Woods. That’s how I knew where she was.’ The sting of a memory made itself known: her father, telling Robin not to be scared of Blackhall Woods because it was really the Hundred Acre Wood. Her little brother’s eyes alight as their father relayed that chestnut trees were rare in such a crowded forest, so ithad tobelong to Mr Owl. She pushed the memory back to the deepest chambers of her mind. It was one of many too painful to touch upon.
‘In here,’ Gabby directed her into a side office used by the neighbourhood policing team. It was mercifully empty, and a place that offered more privacy than the corridor which echoed their words.
‘You’ve been questioning a vulnerable young boy about a murder investigation without any instruction from me?’ Gabby looked at her curiously as she leaned against a desk.
‘Well … I wouldn’t quite put it like that,’ Sarah replied.
‘Was he your informant or not?’
Sarah nodded, unable to meet her gaze.
‘So, you had me beg the senior investigating officer to divert the PolSA team on the basis of the dreams of a seven-year-old boy?’
‘Um … I guess that’s correct.’ Sarah couldn’t see her sergeant’s face as she turned to close the door, but she wasn’t encouraged by her tone.
‘And according to Elliott, the Midnight Man took Angelica? A supernatural entity is our number one suspect.’
‘Well …’ Sarah paused, failing to sense the enthusiasm that Yvonne had spoken about. ‘It’s how Elliott interpreted him.’
Gabby levelled her with a hard stare. ‘We are in the middle of an investigation into the murder of the daughter of Slayton’s most prominent businessman.’ She paused only to draw breath. ‘You took it upon yourself to involve a vulnerable young child who has a history with social services in the investigation. While you’re at it, Detective Constable Noble, why don’t you ring the papers and get them involved too?’ Gabby smiled, but it was a cold smile. There was a fire of fury behind her eyes.
‘So, you don’t believe in psychics?’ Sarah said quietly, her cheeks burning as she inwardly cursed Yvonne for putting the idea in her head.
‘No, Sarah, I don’t. What would give you that idea?’
Sarah felt the cold realisation that she had been played. She could have told Gabby that Yvonne had tried to set her up, but that wouldn’t improve her plight. She wished the ground would swallow her up. Her day could not get any worse.
‘Now tell me the real reason why you ignored my instructions to go to Blackhall Manor?’
‘I can’t,’ she said. ‘I’ll do anything you want, but please don’t send me there.’
‘You’re in CID! I don’t sugar-coat shit. I’m not Willy Wonka.’ Gabby looked at her gravely. ‘But maybe you were right. Maybe you’re not up to the job.’
‘What?’ Sarah said, her eyes moist with tears. ‘No … I …’
‘It’s not your fault.’ Gabby took a soothing breath. ‘I overestimated you. Maybe youshouldgive your notice in, Sarah. Let the job go to someone who’s more capable.’
‘You don’t understand,’ Sarah said, her voice low.
‘No, I don’t understand.’ Gabby matched her tone. ‘I thought I saw something in you, Sarah. Saw potential way beyond your present situation. I respected you for climbing out of that hole your husband pushed you into. I really thought you’d make a go of this. But this … Elliott … what is going through your mind? Was it seeing Angelica’s body? Do you need more time off? Because if you do …’
Sarah knew she was on the verge of losing her position in the team. ‘There’s something you need to know,’ she mumbled. ‘I can’t go back to Blackhall Manor because part of me died there.’
