Deadly Lies

opinions though deep down once she’s sussed you out she’s basically easy too. I enjoyed my work.’
‘Did they have a good relationship with the grandparents?’
‘Oh yes Lisa and Emily love their sleepovers with Mr and Mrs Hardman.’
‘Alice Glover suggested you were angry about the dismissal.’
‘Of course I was because it was unfair and I’d been there for six months working like crazy for that family with hardly any time off. I’ve never met such a stupid, vain, suspicious woman as Alice Glover. If she can’t stand younger women then why hire an au pair? Alice couldn’t wait to get rid of me, slinging accusations left, right and centre when she’s the one who isn’t fit to be alone with her own children. I bet she didn’t tell you about that, did she?’
‘Perhaps you can fill me in.’
‘Sure I can.’ Sylvie leant forward. ‘Lisa had to be rushed to hospital to have seven inch-long spines removed from her leg. Why? Because Alice left her alone in the stupid hothouse with the butt-ugly giant cactus. Alice was on the phone in another room and Lisa fell onto one of those prickly fuckers. She could easily have been much more seriously injured. And Alice has the nerve to call me irresponsible? She’s the one who’s a bad mother. That’s not the only accident either. The outgoing au pair told me Lisa almost drowned in the bath when Alice was supposed to be looking after her.’
‘I see,’ Grant said.
‘Yeah and not even Alice’s friends know the real details because Jack and Alice keep it secret. Jack knows she’s not a fit mother. They had a huge row about the cactus incident, both screaming at each other and hurling abuse.’
Was this the reason for the conflict between the Glovers? And could there be any link to the abduction?
‘Did you have a reason to come to Brighton? It’s a bit of a way from Himlands Heath, isn’t it? Though this is a nice place.’ Grant glanced around at the décor of the café. It was very Brighton – with a hippy vibe.
‘You’re exaggerating aren’t you because I’d say this is a bit of a dump.’ Sylvie shrugged. ‘At least it’s a job and I was lucky to get it. As for why Brighton? Simply because I had more chance of work here. It’s much larger than Himlands Heath. Besides, I like the sea.’
‘Jack told me you have plans for setting up your own business.’
‘Had – with no finance, no job and nowhere to live it all went on hold. Still, I have my dreams and I’ve got ideas and I haven’t given up yet even if Alice got the knife in. If you must know I was thinking of setting up my own au pair agency.’
‘That’s a big idea.’
‘And why not? I know I can do it, all I need is a loan to get started. I want to set it up online where families interview candidates via the internet and I’d ask girls to post video snippets to present themselves and the families can do the same. I’d start small and grow as I go. I think I could build a reputation and work my way in.’
Sylvie was getting fidgety and she kept glancing towards her boss behind the counter. Perhaps she was worried about being told off? Grant didn’t think so. He’d already got permission to speak to Sylvie and the manager had been fine about it. No, Grant was betting there was something else on Sylvie’s mind. She wanted to get away from him. The question was, why?
Sylvie had lived with the Glovers which meant she’d been an insider. What did Sylvie know? Perhaps there was a reason for Alice to feel insecure? But if there had been something between Sylvie and Jack, how could it be connected to the abduction?
Every detective had their own strategy for questioning persons of interest. Grant’s favourite was squeezing people like a lemon except he knew going in hard would make Sylvie clam up. She was independent and strong-minded and she’d already denied a relationship with Jack. Besides, Sylvie wasn’t underage, so that was her business.
‘We’re working on all possible angles,’ Grant said. ‘The more time passes, the greater the danger for Emily and Lisa. If anything comes to mind, anything at all which might help, please contact us straight away.’ He passed Sylvie his card.
‘I liked those children a lot. Sure, I was disappointed about how I was treated but like the rest of the country, I want to help find them. If I think of anything I’ll call.’
On his way back, Grant contacted DCS Fox.
‘A quick update for you, ma’am. The au pair stays as a person of interest.’
‘You’re not striking her off the list?’
‘No.’
He could hear Fox musing this over. ‘Nothing to move her further into the frame?’
‘Not yet, but I have my doubts which means I’m not ruling her out. Sylvie Delacourt is resourceful. She’s come all the way from Australia. She was thrown out of the Glovers and without knowing anyone she’s found herself a new job in a new town. The agency told me she came on a youth visa so she has no recourse to public funds and they said she refused financial support from her family.’
‘She sounds like a strong-willed young woman. And?’
‘I’d say the chances of her having a close relationship with Jack Glover are pretty high, based on Jack’s behaviour as well as Sylvie’s. It doesn’t mean the two of them were necessarily intimate. Maybe they got on well and it may have been enough to give Alice grounds for suspicion.’
And if this was true, the big question for Grant was why would Sylvie feel the need to conceal it? It made Grant take notice and meant he’d come away with more questions than answers.
‘We’ll be running full checks on Ms Delacourt.’
‘Understood.’
Grant rubbed the back of his neck. It would soon be ten o’clock. Eight hours since the children were taken and he was still