‘I didn’t mean Angelica,’ Elsie continued, her cat arching as she stroked his fur. ‘I’m talking about last night. Honestly, if my Christian hadn’t found her when he did … I dread to think what could have happened to that poor girl.’
Sarah stared at her as if she was speaking a foreign language. ‘I’m not with you.’
Elsie looked at her curiously. ‘Didn’t you know? I figured with you being in law enforcement an’ all … My Christian. He’s a hero. He saved that missing girl.’
‘What missing girl?’ Sarah’s brows knitted together. ‘Saved her from what?’
Elsie appeared tickled by Sarah’s lack of knowledge on the matter. ‘I thought you were a detective?’ Her gaze fell on Christian as he returned downstairs. He was holding a black leather briefcase, a dab of bloodstained tissue stuck to his chin. Pride swelled in her bosom. She didn’t know he had it in him. ‘Tell her,’ she instructed. ‘Tell her what a hero you’ve been.’
‘Mom …’ His cheeks burned as he was put on the spot. ‘I was just in the right place at the right time.’ He opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a lint roller.
‘He’s being modest,’ Elsie said, happy to share his glory. ‘Last night, he was in Blackhall Manor checking security after the police finished with the place. Then he heard this banging coming from the walls!’ She raised her hands theatrically. ‘Most people would have upped and ran from that creepy old place. But not my Christian. He went to investigate. Next thing you know, that Libby girl crashed right through the wall! She was bleeding and bound. Would you believe it?’
‘Is this true?’ Sarah turned to Christian. Her mouth was parted in disbelief as she waited for him to answer. ‘Christian?’ she repeated as he shifted from one foot to the other.
‘Yes,’ Christian eventually said, barely able to meet her gaze. ‘She was trapped in a gap in the walls. Police are crawling all over the place.’
Elsie watched as Sarah stood, stunned.
‘Who knows what would have happened if Christian hadn’t been there to save her,’ Elsie piped up, when it was apparent Christian wasn’t going to elaborate. He had always been shy around women, but today he looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. But that was OK. She could talk on his behalf. ‘That poor gal would have been killed.’
‘All I did was call the ambulance, Mom,’ Christian said, pressing the roller against the cat hairs which clung to his trouser legs.
Sarah looked aghast. ‘I’d better go, sounds like I have a busy day ahead. I’ll let myself out.’ She mumbled her goodbyes before marching out the front door.
‘She’s strange,’ Christian said, throwing the roller back in the drawer.
‘So is the world we live in.’ Elsie looked him over with a concerned eye. He had paled in Sarah’s presence and there was a tremble in his hands. ‘Honey, are you sure you’re OK, going back to work today? You could have been killed last night.’ Her son was a sensitive soul. He would feel the effects for a long time to come. Christian delivered a weak smile.
‘I’m fine. Just glad I could help.’ He checked his watch. ‘I have to go.’
Elsie straightened in her bed. Just a few more minutes of company would make her day. ‘It must have been scary, her jumping out on you like that.’ She was dying to hear the all the gory details, but Christian couldn’t get away quickly enough.
‘I’m gonna be late. I’ll be back at lunchtime to check on you.’
As the door slammed behind him, Elsie was left alone. Her eyes trailed over the care package and she heaved a mournful sigh. She would have preferred cake.
30
When Sarah scurried into the office just after 8 a.m., the edge in the atmosphere was enough to silence the jibes of previous days. She was old news now. Once, she would have been grateful, but not like this. Officers were working every available hour as they scrutinised the case. Sarah rooted in her desk drawer for a spare phone charger. Pens rolled around the space, along with half-used boxes of staples and a curled-up block of Post-it notes.Typical,she thought, finding the tail of the charger lead and pulling it from the drawer.The one night I stay at Maggie’s and all hell breaks loose.
The information she had gleaned about Libby had come too late. While they were at the town meeting, Libby had been abducted, her brother barricaded into his room. It was only thanks to their indoor sprinkler system that the whole house didn’t go up in flames. Now Libby was in hospital recovering from her injuries. At least she’d managed to get away.
Bernard, their DI had attended the hospital with Richie to obtain her account but the information she’d imparted was vague. As with any serious investigation, persons of interest had been flagged but that did not make them suspects. Angelica’s father, Simon Irving, and her brother, Ryan, had been marked on the board for further intelligence checks. Christian Abraham was also there. Given he had access to so many places, that was no surprise. As Sarah approached her desk, she noticed Gabby looked stressed. With the Midnight Man still on the prowl, she had good reason to be. She spoke in low tones as she updated Sarah on Libby’s abduction and recovery.
‘We’ve got intel to say she’s one of four other girls who played this Midnight Game.’
Sarah’s eyebrows rose. ‘Just like the letter said. Who’s the informant?’
‘A source from Angelica’s school. They’ve got an online system where students can report things to the school anonymously.’
‘Can the school narrow their source down?’
‘It came from a school library computer. I’ve been told the only kids in there at the time were twins – Bethany and Isobel Clarke.’ A chill swept through the office. Open windows meant clear minds. Given the hours officers must have been working, they needed all the help they could get.
‘Do you want me to speak to them?’
‘Not yet. The school wants to talk to their parents first.’
