Chapter Twenty-Four
Josie. Following the kidnap.
‘Twenty minutes on your iPads, then homework,’ I say.
The boys groan in unison.
‘Yes, yes, I’m a terrible mother,’ I mutter.
Geoff’s gone to the pub for another darts match.
I’m half-tempted to go down there myself, to see if there is an actual match, but that would mean asking Marg next door to babysit, and anyway, I’m not in the mood for a public row with Geoff.
More importantly, I don’t want to risk seeing her.
His bit on the side. God forbid she’s slimmer or prettier than me.
I pour a glass of wine and collapse onto the couch with my book. I’ve barely made it through one chapter when the doorbell rings.
For some reason, I’m not surprised to see Gil on the doorstep. I have a sense that I’ve been expecting her. I don't recognise the woman beside her, but they both look dreadful. Eyes red and raw from crying.
‘Come in. You both look frozen,’ I say, stepping aside. ‘I’ve just opened a bottle of wine. Want some?’
‘This is Nicola,’ Gil says, nodding towards the other woman.
‘Hi,’ I say. ‘Make yourself at home. I’ll get the glasses.’
When I return, they’re both sitting rigidly, hands clenched. The nerves are practically bouncing off them. I hand each woman a glass of wine. Gil takes a long gulp.
‘You two okay? You look like you’ve had a shock.’
They glance at each other. Gil speaks first.
‘We, well… we’re unsure if we should go to the police. So we thought we’d ask your advice.’
I raise my eyebrows.
‘But you have come to the police, Gil. I am the police.’
Nicola sets her glass carefully onto the coffee table. ‘I’m the nanny for the Neal family. Joanna Neal, the surgeon,’ she says, her voice trembling. ‘She didn’t come home the other night and…’
She’s been kidnapped,’ says Gil, finishing the sentence for her.
I wasn’t expecting that. ‘Wait, how do you know this?’ I ask.
‘They contacted her husband, Daniel.’
This only confuses me more. ‘Then why hasn’t he called us?’
Gil exhales heavily. ‘He thinks the police will come in all guns blazing.’
‘Have they asked for money?’
‘Daniel’s already paid half,’ Gil says.
I lean forward. ‘How much?’
‘A million.’
Nicola inhales sharply.
‘Her parents paid,’ Gil adds. ‘We should go to the police, right?’
I frown. ‘Well, you’ve told me, haven’t you? That’s enough. I’ll need to alert the anti-kidnap and extortion unit.’
‘But Daniel…’ Gil says, visibly distressed. ‘He’ll go mad.’
I reach over and take her hand. ‘From what I’ve seen – and it’s not much – very few kidnap victims make it out alive.
Especially once ransom money starts changing hands, things can quickly go wrong.
All it takes is her seeing a face or overhearing a name.
The kidnappers have nothing to lose now. They already have a million.’
‘She’s right,’ Nicola murmurs, dabbing at her eyes.
‘I’ll make the call,’ I say, standing. ‘Then we’ll head over to Daniel Neal’s.’
Panic flashes across Gil’s face. ‘But the kidnappers said they’re watching him. You’re a police officer.’
‘You and Nicola go in first. I’ll follow later. We could be visiting anyone in the block. I’ll bring someone from the unit. We’ll look like friends dropping by. Don’t worry, they say they’re watching, but they usually aren’t.’
Gil still looks unconvinced, but I don’t have time to convince her. She reluctantly gives me the address.
I ring Marg next door. ‘Police emergency,’ I tell her.
‘Ooh, how exciting! I’ll pop over now,’ she chirps.
Next, I call the kidnapping line and give them all the details. DI Roy Burrow says he’ll be with me in twenty minutes.
‘Right,’ I say. ‘You two, head over to Mr Neal’s. We’ll follow soon after.’
‘Daniel’s not going to like this,’ Gil says anxiously.
He won’t like it if his wife ends up dead, I think.
DI Roy Burrow and I worked on a child abduction case years ago, when I lived in Leeds. I remember his weathered face, the five o’clock shadow and that calm, velvety voice that could settle a storm. He was divorced back then, and I find myself briefly wondering if he’s since remarried.
When I open the door, I see that he hasn’t changed a bit. Still rugged, still rumpled, but steady. Unlike me. That’s what kids do to you. They age you.
‘No kids then?’ I say with a smile.
‘Nice to see you too, Josie,’ he grins. ‘No kids. How’d you guess?’
‘You still look young.’
‘That’s not kids. That’s no woman.’ He winks. ‘Alright, where are we headed?’
That’s Roy. Always straight to the job.