Deadly Lies

‘Can you tell me about your uncle, Philip Hardman, and his son, Harry. I heard they’ve been asking you for money.’
‘More lies. Jack’s always hated Uncle Phil and you shouldn’t listen to a word Jack says.’
‘Have Philip Hardman or his son ever asked you for funds?’
‘I knew it. Jack’s such a shit stirrer. Uncle Phil and Harry have never asked me for money not one penny. When I was younger, and I went on trips out with Uncle Phil and cousin Harry, it was Phil who paid for everything. He spent time with me, which as you’ve so rightly said my dad never did. It was thanks to Phil I did normal things like other kids – learn to ride a bike, go to the park, go to the cinema. That’s worth more than money. You know, when I was little, sometimes I used to pretend Uncle Phil was my dad – how sad is that? And I did it because my own father was never there.’ She was shouting again. ‘Once at a school concert, Phil came and I told my friends he was my father, because my own father was too busy to turn up even when I was singing my first solo. Do you know how that felt?’
Grant could only imagine how Ronnie had hurt Alice.
She angrily yanked her hair back from her face. ‘Yes, and I don’t care how cheesy it sounds. Of course I put in a good word for Phil and for Harry when they tried to get financial backing from my tight-arsed father, why shouldn’t I? And you know what? If they ever asked me for money I’d give it to them if I could.’
Her voice had gone up so much Alice was practically shrieking. ‘Jack hates them. Why? Because they like me. Because they look after me. So don’t believe a fucking word my lying husband tells you!’

13
Ruby had her own office at the police station. It was on the second floor, with no window and space for a desk and a chair and nothing much else. Visitors had to squeeze around the door to get in. Detective Chief Superintendent Fox had told Ruby she’d move her to a more appropriate space once one became available, if it ever did. Oddly enough, DCS Fox had taken a liking to Ruby. Why was this strange? Because Fox, pretty much across the board, took a dislike to most people. Perhaps Fox made an exception because Ruby had found the breakthrough on the serial killer case, or improved the station’s conviction rates? Well, Ruby thought, it didn’t get me any favours with the room.
Still, Ruby wasn’t complaining. She loved having her own space. It was fitted with wall-to-wall whiteboards where she scribbled coded thoughts. Ruby gathered her files, squeezed around the door and headed for the team briefing.
As usual, Grant had managed to wrangle one of the best incident rooms. It was larger and positioned at the end of the corridor so less noisy. McGowan was already waiting.
‘Not again,’ McGowan said rudely. ‘I was hoping we got rid of you.’
Unfortunately, McGowan wasn’t joking. Ruby had done nothing to start the fight between them, except of course to exist, she thought wryly. Though she’d be damned if she bowed to bullying from him. It wasn’t her fault McGowan was a traditional, insecure, son-of-a-.
She plonked her files on a desk. ‘DCI Grant has asked for my input which means you’ll have to put up with it. Get used to it because I’m here to stay.’
‘Bloody hell.’
‘I’ve earned my place. Anyone would think you felt threatened.’
The exchange stopped as Grant and Tom walked in. Grant swiftly took in her face and McGowan’s.
‘I won’t tolerate tension. You both got that?’ Grant said. ‘We’re focused on one thing and one thing only and that’s Emily and Lisa. Everything else gets left at the door. Understood?’
‘Yes, guv,’ McGowan said.
‘Everything all right, Ruby?’ Grant asked.
‘Fine, sir,’ she said, as she connected her laptop to the system.
Besides, she could fight her own battles. When she first arrived it hadn’t been like that but these days she didn’t need McGowan’s approval to exist.
Grant had caught the tone of the exchange. Goddam it, if McGowan made this into an issue, he would have to tackle it but really, now was not the time. He hoped McGowan was professional enough to be able to focus on the task and if he wasn’t, well, no one was indispensable.
‘We’re twelve hours into it so throw out your ideas and questions. We need to take this to the next stage.’
Ruby sent her slides to the big screen. They detailed the movements of the children. Who, what and when were mapped out – preschool every weekday morning, a dance lesson for Lisa on Tuesdays, a riding lesson for Emily on Thursdays, a birthday party Emily had been to the previous Saturday, an unexpected trip to the supermarket and so on.
‘A team of detective constables has been assigned to speak with everyone the children have been in contact with,’ Grant said. ‘Did you see any suspicious patterns? Or did the parents mention anything we need to flag as a priority?’
‘No, it was all routine stuff – no new faces or changes in schedule.’
‘There’s the red camisole we found in Emily’s room and there’s three new persons of interest – Phil Hardman, who is Ronnie’s brother, Harry Hardman who is Phil’s son and so Ronnie’s nephew, and the man accused of embezzlement at Hardman Construction, Daniel Pearson,’ Delaney said.
Grant wrote the names at the top of the board. ‘Good work. Diane will join us soon. We weren’t lucky with the tyre marks outside the Hardmans’ property. As for the forensics, the lab results have come back and the handprint is Emily’s blood group. It’s possible the abductor has the same blood group so it’s not definitive she’s the one injured. We won’t get the DNA result for another twelve hours.’
‘That’s bad news,’ Delaney said.
Grant slung his jacket over a