Deadly Lies

arm around Joan Hardman’s shoulders and Grant called over one of the paramedics.
Joan closed her eyes. ‘No, I don’t need help. Forget about me. We have to concentrate on the children. That’s what Ronnie would have wanted. Please, when is my daughter going to arrive?’
She stuck her chin out and Grant caught a glimpse of a steely determination. He admired her for being able to face the horror. He had met all sorts in his long career and Joan Hardman had a lot of guts.
Joan’s decision not to go to the hospital had been the right one because it had given him a head start on the details. Though likely the decision would haunt her for the rest of her life because it meant Ronnie Hardman had died without a loved one by his side.
Grant felt sad for her but he could not let his sympathy get in the way. He must stay focused. That was what he was good at and it was the only way to help this family.
He was about to leave Joan Hardman when a taxi pulled up and out spilled a man and a woman. Grant could hear the woman panting as she ran towards them. From the terror on her face, Grant felt sure she was the children’s mother. She was dressed in an emerald-green evening dress, with a coat draped around her shoulders. It fell onto the dirt and she trampled over it, then one of her high-heeled shoes came off and she almost fell.
Grant went to help.
‘Oh God. My children.’
The woman clutched at him, her eyes desperate. Her voice came out like a croak, which sometimes happened when people were in shock. He could hardly understand a word she said.
Grant put his hand over hers. ‘I’m Detective Chief Inspector Grant and I’m in charge of this investigation.’
The woman stared at him, her eyes two dark pools of fear.
Diane Collins picked up the woman’s coat and Grant encouraged her to put it on.
The man, who was presumably the father, was wearing a dinner jacket. A waft of alcohol came Grant’s way. The father’s eyes were wide and bulging, as if he’d just had the fright of his life – which, of course, he had. Grant watched them both very carefully. Harsh though it might seem, family members always had to be in the frame.
‘Inspector Grant, we got a call,’ the man said. ‘We were told Emily and Lisa have been taken.’
‘I’m afraid that’s true. And you are?’
‘Jack and Alice Glover, Lisa and Emily’s parents. My wife and I were out for the night and Joan and Ronnie were looking after the children…’
‘Alice,’ Joan Hardman said, and her voice broke.
‘Mum!’ Alice shrieked.
‘It’s so dreadful, I’m so sorry, my darling.’
‘It’s h-horrible.’ Alice was embracing her mother when she seemed to suddenly sense there was more. She pulled back and stared at Joan. ‘Mum, you’re shaking. You’ve gone white. Is there any news? What’s going on! Somebody tell me!’
Alice Glover grabbed at Grant again and she shook him by the shoulders. Grant let her.
‘For God’s sake tell me!’
‘Oh Alice, it’s your father…’ Joan said.
Grant cleared his throat. ‘There’s no easy way to say this. I’m sorry to tell you there’s been terrible news from the hospital. Ronnie Hardman has passed away. He suffered a major heart attack on his way to Himlands General.’
Alice’s mouth dropped open then she tipped back her head. Out came a high-pitched scream of pain. It whipped through Grant, and nearby crime scene personnel stopped to stare in their direction before getting back to their tasks. Well, Grant thought, either that’s genuine or she’s one hell of a good actress.
‘Alice,’ Joan said in a firm voice. ‘I want you to concentrate on Emily and Lisa. Are you listening to me? They are the priority.’
‘Your mother is right,’ Grant said.
Alice’s head flopped down, her blonde hair hanging in a mess. She was struggling for breath and on the verge of hyperventilation. ‘I can’t, I can’t… Please h-help me. Y-you’ve got to find them.’
‘That’s my job, ma’am,’ Grant said and he used his voice to help anchor her. ‘I need you to think very carefully because I’ve got important questions to ask, can you do that?’
‘I’ll try.’
‘Good. And you, sir, look dressed for an occasion, was it something special?’
‘A dinner party,’ Jack said.
Alice gave her husband a scathing look. ‘Yes we abandoned our children for a party. I hate those dinners anyway.’
‘No you don’t, darling.’ Jack seemed to recover from the news about his father-in-law. ‘The police will get them back. They’ll find them, I promise you,’ he said. ‘Won’t you, officer?’
False promises weren’t in Grant’s vocabulary.
‘I need a list of people who were at the dinner party with you. I also need a list of anyone who might have a grudge against the family or anyone you can think of with a reason to take your children. Can you do that for me? And who knew the children would be here tonight?’
‘It’s a regular date every other weekend,’ Jack said. ‘I guess only us and Ronnie and Joan know about it.’
‘Don’t be stupid! It’s not just us. What about the old au pair? Inspector, I sacked Sylvie. What if she was involved?’ Alice said.
Jack took hold of his wife’s hand and he patted it. ‘Don’t be silly, Sylvie was an ordinary girl. She’s not capable of kidnapping.’
‘You don’t know that. You didn’t see the look on her face when I asked her to leave.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Jack said. ‘I think my wife’s emotions are clouding her judgem–’
‘Shut up! And don’t talk about me like I’m not here. Sylvie isn’t the type of girl we thought she was.’
‘When did you last see her?’ Grant asked.
‘Three months ago, just after Christmas,’ Jack said.
‘I’m going to need Sylvie’s name and contact details please.’
Jack squared up against Grant. They were about the same height and Jack was clearly used to getting his own way. ‘You’re wasting time. Some maniac has driven off with our children and you want