I called Dave with my prepared plan, and he agreed to meet us after the guide dog center, which meant we’d be making our first steps towards helping Morrie.
That done, I rose to help Heathcliff when someone banged on the window.
“Argh!” I jumped up, tipping Quoth off my shoulder.
“Croak.” He glared at the window, then fluttered into the hallway to head upstairs.
I spun around and came face-to-face with Detective Hayes through the glass. I yelled for Heathcliff to move the bookshelf from the front door so he could come inside.
“I didn’t know you were back already. I was just about to head down to the station to make my official statement before my appointment in Crookshollow.”And then go meet my guide dog and interview Dave Danvers, but you don’t have to know that.I managed a wobbly smile. “I’m still a bit shaken up.”
“Of course you are. This case… I’ve been sent back to work from here, while Yorkshire police continue the hunt.” Hayes pulled up a chair to the opposite side of the desk. “I think this is better, if you’d like to make your statement here. We can talk where you’re comfortable.”
“So you haven’t found the kidnapper yet?” I knew he hadn’t because Sherlock ensured they were looking in completely the wrong place, but I needed Hayes to believe I was ignorant.
Hayes shook his head. I reached across the desk and flicked on the two lamps I kept there, lighting up his face so I could see the dark circles under his eyes and the slump of his shoulders. “We’ve got nothing. Even the GPS in the squad car the kidnapper stole has stopped working. It’s as though the vehicle vanished into thin air. The working theory is that they dropped you where they did deliberately to throw us off the scent. While we’re fooling around on a wild goose chase, Morrie and his accomplice have already skipped the country.”
Panic shot through me. “I don’t think this guy is his accomplice. Morrie seemed pretty scared.”
Hayes gave me a sympathetic look that made my blood boil. “You’re not the first girl to be taken in by a charming con artist. Men like Morrie can be excellent actors. But we’re keeping our minds and options open, for now.”
Quoth came downstairs with a tray of tea and scones for all of us. He slid out of the room and a moment later, a black raven fluttered in and settled above the chamber door.
I’m here if you need me,his voice appeared inside my head.
I appreciate it, I thought back.
As Hayes directed a tape recorder at me and made notes, I explained the story we came up with – I was blindfolded and driven to some large building, possibly a barn, judging by the smell. Morrie and I were tied up alone for hours before our kidnappers decided to release me. They threw a bag over my head and tossed me into the trunk of a car and drove me into the middle of nowhere. They rolled me out and left me on a country lane. I trudged toward civilization and found myself in York, where I took the bus back to Argleton.
Hayes asked a hundred questions, each more difficult than the last.What time was my bus? What did the lane look like? Did I remember anything about the sound of the car or the trunk? Did Morrie say anything to the kidnappers? Why hadn’t I gone to the police in York?I piled lies on top of lies, doing everything I could to make Morrie sound as innocent as I believed him to be.
“We’d like to place a trace on your phone line.” Hayes showed me the equipment he brought along with him. “If Morrie or the person who took him try to contact you at the shop, we’ll be able to figure out where they are. We’ll do the same with your mobile.”
“That’s fine, although the kidnappers destroyed my phone. I’ll let you know when I replace it.” I knew Morrie wouldn’t be stupid enough to call the shop, so I shoved the old-fashioned landline phone toward Hayes. “Do you have any idea how the kidnapper managed to infiltrate the police station?”
“Rest assured, we’re investigating every angle.” After a few more questions, Hayes left us, grabbing one of Quoth’s scones for the road. He met my mother at the door.
She backed him against the shelves and launched into a tirade. “Howdareyou let my daughter be kidnapped on your watch. It’s disgraceful. You must have the lout in custody now. Let me at him. I’ll give him a right thumping. No one messes with my Mina. He’ll know the fury of a mother’s wrath—”
Hayes tried to duck around Mum. “I can assure you, Ms. Wilde, we’re doing everything we—”
Mum knocked the scone out of his hand. “Oh really, then why are you getting crumbs all over my shop when you should be out there hunting down my daughter’s kidnapper?”
Heathcliff made a choking noise. “Yourshop?”
Mum advanced on Hayes, her arm drawing back her tote bag as though she intended to whomp him with it. Hayes, sensibly, abandoned his scone and backed out of the door. “I’d better get back to the station. Lots of bad guys to bring to justice. Mina, thank you for your time. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Thanks, Detective Hayes,” I called as his figure dashed past the window, safe from my mother for another day.
Mum leaned out the door and waved her fist in the air. “You’d better run!”
Above the door, Quoth’s body trembled. He made thehyuh-hyuh-hyuhnoise that meant he was laughing.
Heathcliff stormed in and fixed my mother with one of his terrifying glares. “You’re early.”
“I thought I’d be a responsible employee and arrive in plenty of time.” Mum peered into his hands. “What are you doing with the armadillo?”
“Oh, he’s… got fleas.” Heathcliff whipped the stuffed armadillo behind his back. “I’m putting him in a cupboard so he doesn’t infect the customers.”
