Chapter 2
Lincoln, present day
Swann rested his car keys on the hook in the hall.
They’d only lived in Orchard Cottage for three months, but the peaceful Nettleham location suited them better than his previous apartment on the Brayford Wharf.
The silence that greeted him confirmed that the twins were down for the night.
Alice had given up trying to keep them awake for when he came home.
Most men his age had grandchildren, but his eighteen-month-old sons made him feel young.
At least that’s what he told Alice. His job tainted his perception of the world, leaving him forever terrified that something awful would happen to his boys.
Love gifted fear when you sampled evil in the world at first hand.
He hung his coat on the hook in the hall and kicked off his shoes, his mood lifting as the smell of garlic bread enticed him inside. Entering the kitchen, he cast an eye across the pan warming on the stove.
“Spaghetti Bolognese,” Alice said, as Swann watched her prepare the food. Alice made everything from scratch.
“Spag Bol? My favourite. You must be after something.”
“It’s a celebratory meal,” Alice said, blowing her long fringe from her eyes.
Her brunette hair was piled into a messy ponytail, and splodges of baby food decorated her shirt, but to Swann it made her even more endearing.
How she managed to raise the twins and cook proper food every day was beyond him.
He turned to take a bottle of Merlot from the wine rack before looking for the corkscrew in the drawer. “What are we celebrating?” he asked, as Alice handed it to him. He watched her pull a knife from the block.
“Sophie Miller turning up, of course. It’s amazing news. You must be so relieved.” She began to top-and-tail onions on the wooden chopping board.
“I’d be happier if we were the ones who’d found her.
Her kidnapper should be behind bars.” The cork of the wine bottle gave a satisfying pop.
“But she’s alive, and that’s a start. God knows what she’s been through, but we’ll keep pressing on.
” He sat the bottle of Merlot on the kitchen counter to breathe.
Not many families ate such heavy meals at midnight, but Alice was used to shift work and scheduled their meals around them.
She didn’t eat a lot, but she enjoyed the adult company after a long day with the twins.
“Hasn’t she spoken to anyone yet?” Alice resumed her chopping.
Swann nestled his chin in the dip of her shoulder as he hugged her from behind.
The rising stench of onions didn’t quite mask the faint scent of baby lotion on her skin.
Alice lived by routines and always gave the twins a bath before bed.
He would check in on them later, if they didn’t wake in the meantime.
His urge to keep them safe from the world was growing day by day.
“Not a word. I’ve just come from the hospital.
She’s dehydrated, so they’re keeping her in overnight.
” The sight of Sophie’s frail body attached to a drip had filled him with guilt.
Her abductor must have been right under their nose all along.
He wanted to ask Alice about the twins, and how her day had been.
But he knew where the conversation was leading, and he allowed it to take its course.
“Does this mean you won’t be hiring Elea now?” Alice’s voice became strained. Swann watched his partner chop the onions with a little more force than necessary.
He poured two glasses of wine. A large one for Alice. “No, she’s due to start tomorrow. We still need to find Sophie’s kidnapper. And there are other elements of the case that she can help us with.” These were elements he couldn’t share with anyone, not yet.
“Yes, Elea is very helpful, isn’t she? An all-round helpful kind of gal.” She was taking her frustration out on the onions, hacking them into minute pieces.
Swan gently rested his hand on Alice’s, before taking the knife and exchanging it for her glass of wine. “Why don’t you bring this up to the bath and have a soak? I can take over from here.”
Sighing, Alice sipped the wine before resting her glass on the counter.
“I shared a bath with the twins.” Her annoyance evaporated as she turned to face him.
“I’m fine. And you look beat. Let’s enjoy our meal, because I have a feeling I won’t be seeing a lot of you over the next few days.
” She turned back to the onions and plopped them into a sizzling frying pan, along with some garlic and other ingredients she had to hand.
Alice was usually understanding, being an ex–police officer herself.
But it wasn’t his long hours that was bothering her; it was Elea.
He was about to speak when his mobile phone rang.
Saved by the bell. He saw his former boss’s name on the screen and answered quickly.
“Commissioner Heikkinen,” Swann said, being careful not to call him “Heineken,” as Alice had nicknamed him.
“I’m at home if you want to ring my landline. It’s cheaper than a mobile call.”
“No need,” Heikkinen replied. “This won’t take long. I just wanted to congratulate you. I hear your missing child has turned up safe and well.”
Swann was pleased that his old boss kept in touch. He still addressed him formally, but considered him to be a friend.
“I’d like to take the credit, but I’m afraid I can’t. She managed to escape all by herself.”
“But she’s all right?”
“Physically, she appears unharmed, apart from some flesh wounds. Mentally, she’s traumatised. She hasn’t spoken a word.”
“Hence why you need Elea?” he said, with a smile in his voice.
“She might be able to get through to Sophie.” Swann cast a cautious eye over to Alice.
She might have her back turned, but he knew she was listening to every word.
“And I’d like her to profile the kidnapper.
Strike while the iron is hot.” But the iron wasn’t hot.
Sophie Miller had disappeared almost three weeks ago.
Whoever took her had covered their tracks well.
“Indeed,” Heikkinen replied, a clink of a bottle against glass. “Lincoln won’t know what’s hit it. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
The comment elicited a smile. “Is anyone ever ready for Elea?” Swann said, noticing that Alice had stopped stirring, her wooden spoon held in mid-air.
“Seriously, though,” Heikkinen replied, his Finnish accent shaping his words. “She’s been on a destructive path since you left. If she wasn’t such a gifted detective . . . Well, I’m hoping the distance will help her to see sense.”
“I see. I didn’t realise things had got that bad.” He knew his boss would not offer specifics, as he was not interested in gossip or small talk.
“While I have every respect for her, I urge caution when it comes to allowing Elea to take a lead role in the investigation. Keep her under supervision. Don’t leave her alone.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Swann replied.
“I thought it only fair to warn you, although I’d appreciate it if you keep this call to yourself.”
“What call?” Swann said good-naturedly.
“Excellent. In that case I will say farewell. Have a nice evening, Swann.”
“And you.” Heikkinen never thought to ask about family because he had always lived alone.
Not for the first time, Swann wondered how he’d cope after his retirement, which was due soon.
He paused to digest his former boss’s words.
He hadn’t spoken to Elea in months. Had he done the right thing in hiring her to consult on his case?