her as the couple both said, ‘No.’
‘Then, could this be a revenge attack one step removed? Has either of you “pissed anyone off enough” for them to abduct your niece?’
She focused on Jason as she asked the question, but it was Susan who said firmly, ‘No! Certainly not.’
Pete picked up on this. ‘Jason? No disgruntled creditors, people you’ve let down or annoyed enough for them to want payback?’
Jason shook his head. ‘Not that I can think of.’
‘Well, if you do think of anything, let me know right away, yes? We don’t know where Rosie is or what she’s going through, so the sooner we can find her, the better.’
‘Of course.’
‘And I’ll need the details of that call you were making this morning.’ Pete turned over the page of his notebook and handed it over, with his pen.
*
Pete watched Annie running towards her friends at the bus stop and felt suddenly reluctant to let them out of his sight. Danger was stalking these streets. Tommy was gone, so was Rosie Whitlock and there was the Jane Doe, down by the river. The thought of losing Annie too was more than he could bear. He watched as she merged into the cluster of uniformed girls and boys on the grass behind the shelter, waiting until he could no longer see her in the crowd, then drew a long, shuddering breath and turned away. Much as he would have liked to, he couldn’t stay here until the bus came.
As understandable as it was for a father to want to protect his little girl, it wouldn’t be good for her, or for him. Or for Rosie Whitlock.
By the time he got to Risingbrook School, the rest of the team were already on-site and the road, which would be near deserted in another hour, was beginning to get busy. He pulled up behind a patrol car and climbed out. Jane was across the road, talking to a mother who had just sent her daughter into the school with a couple of others. She waved to him without pausing in her conversation. He crossed towards her and waited a few feet away until the woman stepped away and Jane turned towards him.
‘How’s it going?’
‘Still quiet, yet. And early. Another ten minutes to when Rosie was dropped off.’
An Audi saloon turned into the top of the road as a BMW pulled up across from them. Pete crossed the road. A woman in her early thirties, long blonde hair hanging loose over her shoulders, looked up as he approached.
Pete flashed his badge. ‘DS Gayle. Can I have a moment of your time, please?’
‘What’s this about?’
‘A young girl went missing here yesterday morning. We’re checking to see if anyone saw anything unusual or out of place.’
‘Missing? You mean she was abducted?’
‘We’re not sure at this point.’
‘Well, I don’t think I saw anything unusual here yesterday. It was just a normal morning. Sarah?’
‘Nor me. I met Angie and Richard at the gates and we went in together. You saw us.’
‘That’s right.’
‘Richard said later that he hadn’t seen Rosie all day. Is that who’s gone missing?’
‘Rosie?’ Pete countered, seeking confirmation.
‘Rosie Whitlock.’
Pete pursed his lips. This was going to be all over the school by lunch-time, whether he announced it or not. ‘Yes, I’m afraid it is.’
‘Oh my God! I take history and maths with her.’ The young girl’s eyes went wide. ‘What happened?’
‘We don’t know yet, but myself and another officer will be coming into school later to speak to everyone.’
‘Can I go in now?’
Pete nodded.
‘Yes, but be careful,’ the mother said. ‘I’ll pick you up later, as usual. Don’t come out of the gates until you see me, all right?’
‘Yes, Mum.’
‘Love you.’
‘You too.’ The girl leaned over the seat to give her mother a quick peck on the cheek, then climbed out and ran across the road, her satchel clutched to her chest.
‘You were here at the same time yesterday?’ Pete asked.
‘Yes.’ The woman checked her watch. ‘Pretty much spot-on. I drop Sarah off on my way to work.’
‘I see. And where’s that, Mrs . . . ?’
‘Taylor. Jeanette. I work in Exmouth, at Diehl and Slaughter, solicitors.’
‘Oh, you’re a lawyer?’
‘No, no,’ she laughed. ‘I’m the receptionist.’
‘Ah. And you didn’t, perhaps, see a girl in school uniform walking away from the school yesterday morning?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’
‘OK. Well, thanks for your time, Mrs Taylor.’ He stepped back as she pulled away. Turning around, he saw Jane’s Audi moving away, too, the two cars purring off in opposite directions. Up and down the street, other officers, some in uniform, others not, were approaching vehicles as they stopped or pulling over those that looked to be driving straight past. He saw Dick Feeney, in his customary grey suit, flag down a black VW Golf and lean down to the passenger window as Dave Miles straightened up from a bright blue Porsche and waved it on.
Five months ago, these same things would have been happening outside the swimming pool. Cars and pedestrians being stopped. Questioned. Asked if they’d seen anything relevant to the disappearance of a young boy. Signs would have been put up, asking any witnesses who hadn’t been questioned to come forward. The difference was that another crew had been handling that case. Pete and his team had been specifically excluded, in accordance with standard protocol.
And the other difference, he thought, was that they would find Rosie Whitlock. Her parents would not go through the protracted hell that he, Lou and Annie were suffering. He would not allow it.
‘Right, what have we got then?’
Pete stood by the whiteboard that Dick had set up the night before and surveyed the team as the last uniformed PC closed the door behind him. None of them looked pleased with themselves or glad to be here. ‘Dave, what did the street search turn up?’
‘Bugger all, basically, apart from the remains of a mobile phone that may or may not have been the victim’s. It was smashed to bits. Looked like it had been chucked out of a moving vehicle and run over by an artic. But we’ve sent the bits to the tech boys, to see if they can do anything with
