He waited until Mitch had finished before calling Elea into his office. He’d had enough of her negativity when his team was doing their best. Theoretically she shouldn’t be working on this case, not when she was so heavily involved. But there was no official link between her daughter’s disappearance and Swann’s victims. They’d managed to keep it under the radar so far and she’d been given the all-clear.
“What is it?” she asked, pulling on her coat. “Because if you’ve brought me in here to tell me off, then make it quick.”
Swann sighed, wishing he could reach out and give her a soothing hug. He’d whisper in her ear and tell her to breathe, before saying that everything would be all right. “It’s about the doll,” he said gently. “The forensic results have come back.”
Chapter 19
There were moments in Elea’s life when darkness dropped in on her unexpectedly. The first time was when her mother called saying that her daughter was nowhere to be found. It came again when she learned that her mum’s tyres had been slashed. The next heart-stopping moment was when her daughter was officially declared missing. The visits had become less frequent, but even now, when darkness stopped by, it had the power to suck the breath from her lungs. She squeezed her fists, her fingernails pressing crescent-moon shapes into her palms. She had made it this far and would cope with whatever news Swann was about to impart. She recognised the look on his face, as she’d seen it many times before. The “I hate to hurt you, but you need to know” pitying expression that made her want to turn and walk away.
“What is it?” she blurted, wishing he’d get on with it.Pull the damned plaster off, she thought.
Swann crossed his legs, calm as always when delivering bad news. “We rushed the tests through on the Martta doll that Sophie was holding when she was found.”
Elea raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t have the budget.”
“So did I,” Swann admitted. “But I requested it anyway and, to my surprise, the powers-that-be accepted it. A lot of money is being thrown at this operation because of the pressure for results.”
“Or maybe you don’t want to see me suffer any more than I already am,” Elea said knowingly.
Swann’s brown eyes were deep with understanding. “Either way, the tests came back inconclusive. We don’t know if it was Liisa’s doll.”
“Of course it was hers,” Elea insisted. “Where is it now?”
“Property department.” Swann watched her closely. “But it has to stay there for the duration of the case.”
“Obviously.” Elea smirked. “What do you take me for? A rookie?” She glanced out of the window at his team and felt a surge of determination. “Just because Sophie has been found doesn’t mean this case is any less urgent. There’s still Chelsea Hobbs to consider.”
Swann sighed, the weight of his worries deepening his frown.
Once, several years ago, Elea had held the power to make him smile. “You never answered me before. You think she’s dead, don’t you?” She couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice.
“If I’m honest, yes,” Swann replied. “Why else would her kidnapper take another child?”
“Because Chelsea isn’t twelve years old anymore.” Elea stared into the distance, as if searching for an answer that would bring her daughter back. “That age is significant to him. But it doesn’t mean he’s murdered any of them.”
“He’s not the child-catcher fromChitty Chitty Bang Bang, Elea. It’s hard enough keeping one child hidden, never mind a whole clutch of them.” They exchanged a glance. “Is that what you really think? That Liisa is part of some band of kids being moved from pillar to post? Because he murdered Jenny Flynn—strangled the life out of her. We...” His tone saddened, carrying more than a hint of regret. “We’ve just not found the rest.”
“Liisa’s alive. A young woman now. And I know that sounds ridiculous,” Elea conceded. “But all I’m asking is that you keep an open mind.” She stood up then, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I won’t be long.”
“Want company?”
Elea shook her head, steeling herself for what lay ahead. She left Swann’s office without looking back. Her footsteps echoed in the sterile hallway as she made her way to the property department. Voices echoed from further down the corridor as officers went on with their work. For them, it was another ordinary day.
She approached the uniformed officer behind the property counter, flashing her temporary pass. “I need to see an item from the Sophie Miller case.” She reeled off the exhibit number. By the look of recognition on the young officer’s face, it was evident that Swann had called ahead.
The officer scanned the logbook and handed her a pen. “Sign in here.”
As Elea signed her name, she glanced at the clock on the wall. She handed the pen back to the officer, who disappeared into the depths of the evidence room. When he returned, he brought a clear sealed exhibit bag that contained the small Finnish Martta doll. Darkness dropped in again. Elea forced her hand to remain steady as she took the bag.
“Kiitos,” she said in a low voice, because in that moment she’d forgotten where she was. The man acknowledged her thanks regardless, and she straightened her spine as she turned, shoulders back, head held high.
Elea made it to an empty side-room before opening the sealed bag. It was all right to handle it, now that it had been tested. She would keep up the chain of continuity and sign, seal, and bag it upon her return. Her chest constricted as she stared at the seven-inch wooden doll nestled on her palm. She barely made it to the plastic bucket chair before her legs almost gave way. An anguished cry escaped her lips as she cradled the doll against her chest.
“No. It can’t be,” she whispered to herself. She blinked beneath the fluorescent light, turning over the doll in her hand. The small peg-like toy was made from one piece of wood, painted and marked withmarttaon the bottom. But there was an extra feature on the doll, one she had overlooked: eyelashes. This doll had lashes. A long-buried memory bloomed, suddenly vivid in her mind. Liisa had drawn them on with permanent marker—delicate lashes on this small family heirloom, making her one of a kind. How could she have forgotten? “Herranjumala.” Elea whispered to a God she had given up on. Despite everything she had said to Swann, part of her had wondered if there really was a connection or whether the presence of the doll was merely a weird coincidence. The feather she’d received had been one thing, but this...This was physical proof.
She stared at the lashes that Liisa had taken great pains to create. “See? I’ve made her pretty!” her daughter had said with pride.
“So you have.” Elea had stroked Liisa’s fine blonde hair, unable to be angry at the unexpected defacement. “Take care of her now. She’s a very special gift.”
