Chapter 83

Chapter 83

She looked down from her lofty vantage point, watching as the tiny figure of PC David Reynolds hurried away from the station, deep in conversation with his lawyer.

‘So what do you want to do next?'

Helen didn't reply immediately, savouring the fact that for once Rebecca Holmes wasn't questioning her judgement. The station chief seemed troubled and uncertain today, no longer querying the direction of travel.

‘Well, with your permission, I'd like to keep the heat on Reynolds,' Helen replied diplomatically.

‘You're convinced he's responsible for these girls' disappearance?'

Holmes' tone suggested she was desperately hoping that Helen might retain some doubt, so she was quick to put her superior straight.

‘Completely. I know that's not the answer you want, that this will make things very difficult for us, for the Force …'

‘You think? I've just spent the past half-hour trying to convince the local press that we're not rotten to the core.'

‘Even so, we can't risk any suggestion of a cover-up, of special treatment, we have to see this through to the end.'

Holmes nodded soberly, but looked deeply unhappy.

‘So what now?'

‘Well, we're going to mount round-the-clock surveillance on him,' Charlie chipped in, keen to change the mood. ‘If he's rattled, if he feels we're closing in on him, he might try to take action to cover his tracks, which could lead us to Naomi.'

‘It's a big risk. What happens if he shakes off his tail? Or, conversely, does nothing at all?'

‘We don't have a choice,' Helen replied quickly. ‘Reynolds has been cautious, careful. So far, we've found nothing in his vehicles or property to link him with these crimes …'

Holmes looked up sharply, concern clouding her expression, so Helen continued briskly:

‘… but we will, in time. We're also widening the search for Graham Armstrong, following up every past friend or associate, every family member, investigating anyone who might be shielding him. I'm convinced he's still local and in contact with Reynolds, so if we find him—'

‘There's a lot of "ifs", Helen. A lot of hunches …'

‘I'm not wrong about him. I just need to prove it. I'd like to draw in his family too, up the pressure that way. I'm convinced Jackie Reynolds knows more than she's letting on, perhaps was even abused by her husband when younger. There's obviously violence in the family too, we can use that as well.'

‘His son had a stonking great bruise on his face when we pitched up earlier,' Charlie concurred, provoking a further grimace from the station chief. ‘A fresh one at that.'

‘However we skin it,' Helen added, ‘I think our best bet now is to keep a close watch on Reynolds, apply pressure to the family, let him know that we're not going to give up. He's been used to operating with impunity – let's see how he reacts now that the heat is on, when everyone's gossiping about him, when nobody will look him in the eye …'

Holmes looked sick at the mention of the word gossip, as if the very concept offended her, so Helen returned her gaze to the car park, watching on as Reynolds shook hands with his lawyer, before taking his leave. Moments later, two plainclothes officers emerged from a parked car, separating quickly and setting off in pursuit of him.

‘I'm convinced he'll crack,' she continued firmly. ‘Convinced he'll finally give himself away. And when he does, we'll be waiting for him. PC David Reynolds is living on borrowed time.'