Chapter Fifty-Two
Josie
Ihang up from my call with Gil and make myself a coffee before heading to the evidence room.
‘I need to check something regarding the Neal case,’ I tell the clerk.
He taps on his computer keyboard. ‘That case is closed. Do you have clearance?’
Shit. ‘I’ll get it,’ I say.
Burrow isn’t exactly helpful when I call him.
‘We’ve discussed this, Josie.’
‘I know,’ I say, ‘There’re just a few things niggling me. It’s just for my own peace of mind.’
He sighs.
‘The case is closed.’
‘I’m not trying to reopen it,’ I assure him.
‘Fine. I’ll phone through and give you clearance, but then let it go, Josie’
I almost shout with relief, but I keep my voice calm.
‘Thanks, Roy.’
It’s not hard to find the file labelled Joanna Neal.
I shuffle through the papers until I find the envelope with the photo and the flash drive.
I slip them into my pocket, along with a notepad found at King’s rented flat.
There isn’t much else of interest. His laptop was checked and turned up nothing incriminating, but I still feel like we’re missing something.
When I get back to the office, I discreetly slide them into my handbag. No one’s likely to notice they’ve gone missing, not now that the case is closed.
***
The first thing I notice when I step inside Gil’s flat is the birthday cards lined up on the windowsill.
‘When was your birthday?’ I ask.
‘Yesterday,’ she smiles.
She lifts a chain from around her neck. It’s a beautiful gold heart with a ruby embedded in the centre.
‘Danny gave me this. It was Jo’s. I swear it still smells of her perfume. God, I miss her so much. When I wear it, I feel close to her. Would you believe she even bought my card weeks in advance? Look, Danny must have posted it.’
I can’t help wondering how many people would buy a card that far in advance, but then Joanna Neal does seem to have been over-organised.
Gil picks a card from the windowsill. It has hearts and roses on the front. I open it and read the message inside.
To my darling friend Gil. I don’t know how I ever got through life without you. Happy birthday to the sister I never had. I love you. Jo xx
I stare at the words for what feels like a lifetime. When I finally hand the card back, I notice my hands are shaking.
This can’t be right…
‘I’ll make tea,’ says Gil.
I wait until she’s in the kitchen before removing the envelope from my bag.
I’m not mistaken. The handwriting on the envelope from the kidnapper matches Joanna Neal’s writing inside the birthday card.
***
The handwriting mystery keeps me up most of the night.
Is it Joanna’s? Or has someone copied her writing?
But if so, why? What would be the point of sending Gil a birthday card?
Or was Joanna Neal so very organised that she bought and wrote the card a few days before her kidnapping? It seems highly unlikely.
***
The next morning, I decide to visit Daniel Neal at his office. He’s late arriving and looks perplexed to see me in reception.
‘This is a surprise,’ he says.
‘I thought you’d like an update on the investigation.’
He raises his eyebrows. ‘Have you found something new?’
I decide not to mention the envelope.
‘No, nothing new.’
‘I thought the investigation was closed.’
I glance over at the receptionist, then back at Daniel.
‘Shall we talk in your office?’
He leads me to the lift. Once we’re inside his office he offers me a coffee, which I politely decline.
He seems uncomfortable. The thoughts I mulled over last night return.
Were Daniel and Joanna somehow working together, to get money out of her father?
However, sending a photo of her body doesn’t make sense.
And how does Stuart King fit into any of this?
‘The investigation remains open,’ I say. ‘We still haven’t found your wife’s body. I’m sure that if we could, it would give you some closure.’
He turns to the water dispenser, his back to me. ‘Yes, it would. Very much,’ he says.
‘And, of course, there are the bloodstains that we haven’t accounted for.’
He then turns and looks at me. ‘I’ve put the house on the market. The memories are too painful.’
I nod. ‘Of course. We don’t need access to the house. I just want you and Gil to know we haven’t given up on finding your wife.’
‘Gil?’ he asks, surprised.
‘She asked if we were still following leads.’
He sighs. Something about Gil contacting me seems to bother him.
‘We need to get on with our lives,’ he says. ‘Joel, especially.’
‘Absolutely,’ I say with a smile, walking to the door. I turn before leaving. ‘Oh, by the way, did Joanna have a habit of buying and writing out birthday cards well in advance?’
If I had hoped to catch him unawares, it doesn’t work. He just looks confused.
‘What? I don’t understand. What’s that got to do with anything? Anyway, Jo was the worst at remembering birthdays,’ he says.
His response suggests he has no knowledge of the card. I force a laugh. ‘Sorry, I’m getting confused, too many cases. Thanks for seeing me.’
I walk to the lift, my mind buzzing.
Something’s not right.
If Daniel Neal didn’t send that card, then who did?