Deadly Lies

to speak to the au pair? Are you crazy? She’s got nothing to do with it.’
A wave of alcohol and aftershave came Grant’s way. ‘Let me be the judge of that.’
Against the weight of Grant’s calm power, Jack backed down.
‘We need to set up a centre of operations and I’m wondering if that might be possible at your house, sir?’ Grant asked.
Alice swayed slightly. ‘Why?’
There was no point mincing his words and he needed to be straight with Alice, however difficult it was for the mother of two abducted children to hear reality.
‘We’re treating this as a kidnapping and I’d prefer to have a permanent base at your house in case the abductor makes contact. It will be disruptive because we’ll have to move in specialised technology and we need officers present twenty-four hours. Frankly, it’s the best place to be if we want to move quickly in response to how this evolves and it means we can keep in continuous communication with you both.’
‘Absolutely,’ Jack said. ‘Anything you need.’
‘I’m sending out a Child Rescue Alert so as soon as people wake up and switch on this morning, they’ll hear a news flash or see a ticker tape message at the bottom of their television screen. There will be a special police hotline and all information will be collected and sorted and come straight to me.’
‘Th-thank you,’ Jack said.
Police units, border control, council services and especially members of the public via television and radio – they were often the best means of tracking down missing children. Grant would be circulating photographs of Emily and Lisa and the vehicle details within minutes.
He put his hand on Joan Hardman’s arm. ‘Once again, my condolences.’
And Joan Hardman gave a small nod, which broke Grant’s heart.
‘Shall I go with Mum to the hospital, or should I stay here?’ Alice asked. ‘What if you get news? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I should be with Mum or… I don’t want to be away if…’
‘I’ll be in contact every step of the way,’ Grant said. ‘If you want to see your father please don’t be frightened because it’s my job to keep you informed and that’s something I take very seriously. I’ll ask DS Collins to take you.’
He wanted Diane to see how events panned out at the hospital and to get a view on the family dynamics. Family members had to be in the frame of the enquiry. All his sergeants understood the rules of the game and Grant knew he could trust Diane to sniff out any trace of suspicion concerning the parents or even the Hardmans. Better than that, Diane’s cosy image meant people didn’t feel threatened and they tended to let their guard down. Many a suspect had been fooled by DS Diane Collins.
Daylight was filtering through the sky and soon the sun would be coming over the horizon. DCI Grant borrowed the SOCOs van as a temporary hub and crammed his team into the back of it. They were joined by Grant’s third detective sergeant, DS Steve McGowan. McGowan brought a tray of takeaway drinks with enough for the SOCOs and it got him plenty of slaps on the back. It was a chilly early morning and everyone was grateful for a warm-up and a caffeine infusion, except Delaney who had a herbal tea.
‘Sorry I’m late, guv,’ McGowan said.
Grant scowled because he hated tardiness, especially on a case like this. But McGowan was a veteran and worth his place on the team. Steve McGowan wore his usual open neck shirt, scruffy jeans and leather jacket. He handed Delaney’s cup over without a smirk, and without a jibe about vegetarians or herbal tea drinkers – of which Delaney was both. McGowan was known for his dry wit and he had a sarcastic comment for most people though not many for Delaney. Why not? Because although Steve McGowan was by far Delaney’s senior, he had a respect for their newest recruit, especially since the team’s last case. It had thrown up the suspicious death of Delaney’s father and had put Delaney through the wringer.
The aroma of coffee filled the van. Diane, Delaney and McGowan sipped their drinks and Grant brought everyone up to speed. He ticked the major points off on his fingers.
‘What I want to know is – did the perpetrator have a key to the kitchen door,’ Grant said. ‘Find out. Three sets of keys to the Hardman house have been accounted for and they belong to Joan, Ronnie Hardman and Alice, and each set is where it’s expected to be. Jack has the Hardmans’ front door key on his clip but he doesn’t have the back door one. It’s supposed to be hanging on a board at the Glover house. I’ve sent a constable to check. And if the kitchen door was left unlocked, which is an option, was it deliberate or an accident – keep that in mind.’
‘Ronnie Hardman might have made a mistake,’ Diane said. ‘Maybe he thought he locked it but he didn’t.’
‘Joan told me Ronnie was scrupulous. But we keep that option open too.’
‘Yeah, well Ronnie Hardman can’t give us an update now, can he?’ McGowan said.
‘The cleaner is the only other person who has keys and she’s been with the Hardmans for seven years.’ Grant glanced at his watch. ‘It’s four o’clock. McGowan, get over there and wake her up. Find out if she’s left her keys anywhere in the last six months. Find out if anyone has even touched them and if you sense anything, bring her down to the station for further questioning.’
‘Right, guv.’
‘Uniformed division have arrived and the constables will be kicking off a door-to-door in the area. Delaney, you’ll be our point of contact on that. Our first priority with the public is identifying the vehicle and any witnesses to the abduction. Then any suspicious activity in the street in the last few weeks. On the door-to-door, make sure they check for discarded clothing or a