Stacey knew it was likely an idle threat, but it gave her an opening. She typed quickly.
Do it. Call Halesowen police station and ask for DC Wood. Your brother and Ava are in danger.
The three dots appeared again. Then stopped. Then started again. Then stopped.
‘Call, call, call,’ Stacey chanted at her phone.
They waited in silence.
‘Come on,’ Penn urged.
Like her, he knew this was their only chance to find out where Daniel was heading. From that, they could plot the quickest route for the boss to follow.
The minutes stretched on.
‘Shit, Penn, she’s not going?—’
Her phone rang. She snatched it up.
‘Got a woman who?—’
‘Put her through, Jack.’
‘Hello,’ said a voice on the other end.
‘Thanks for phoning. I’m sorry to have messaged you from Ashley’s account.’
‘You said Danny’s in danger?’
‘He and Ava are on the way to you, but his phone is off.’
‘But he lost Ava.’
‘He’s got her back.’
‘He would never do?—’
‘We know, but someone is after Ava.’
‘Oh God, why?’
‘It’s a long story, but I need to know where you live. My boss is tearing up the motorway to try and catch them before someone else does.’
‘I live in Dundee. What can I do?’
‘Stay put, but I need to know if there’s a particular route he takes.’
‘Er… hang on, let me think, let me think. He’d do M6, then A74, M74, M73, M80, hang on, then the M9, the A9, then the A90.’
Penn was nodding his understanding as he jotted down the numbers. ‘Thanks.’
‘Please, tell me what I can do?’ the woman asked urgently. ‘Should I drive to meet him?’
‘No, stay where you are,’ Stacey said. They didn’t need to put anyone else in danger. ‘Just keep your phone close by, and if he calls, tell him to ring DI Stone immediately.’
‘Okay, please keep me updated.’
‘Will do,’ Stacey said before hanging up.
