Deadly Lies by Ann Girdharry (book recommendations .TXT) 📗

catch the first perpetrator. The father told me they can’t afford to have it not working which is why the son checks it regularly. And he says his son is one hundred per cent reliable.’

‘And you don’t think the son could have slipped up?’

‘Unlikely. He told me himself he checks it pretty much every day. I know the obvious is it stopped working and nobody noticed except I can’t help thinking – what if the abductor took out the camera in advance so he wouldn’t be spotted exiting this roundabout?’

‘Show me,’ Grant said.

‘There are three possible exits and on this road,’ Diane followed it with her finger, ‘there’s an old site which used to house storage units…’

‘Are you certain you’re not latching on to it because it’s the only pointer we’ve got?’ Grant asked. ‘You’re sure the fish and chip story checks out?’

They were valid questions. Child abduction cases piled on the pressure. The heat was on to get something.

Diane shook her head and her voice betrayed her excitement. ‘Sir, I think it’s worth a shot.’

Everyone stared at him.

Grant kept icy cool. Diversion to a search took resources away from the house to house. It was always more attractive to be taking action rather than searching for leads. Yet false action was wasteful – and it was a trap he could not allow the investigation to fall into. Plus they had new suspects to question.

If the son had messed up and not wanted to tell the father, Grant knew Diane would have suspected. And the lock-ups would be a perfect hiding place.

The buck stopped with him. Grant nodded to himself and swooped up his jacket.

‘We search the lock-ups. McGowan, get working on the Badawi girls. Silver, I want you back at the Glovers keeping tabs on the parents. Collins and Delaney, you’re with me.’

14

Tom drove and he took Grant and Diane with him. The tension in the car had ratcheted up the scale and neither the boss nor Diane talked much. Were the girls still alive? What would they find at the lock-ups? Tom’s hands were sweating on the wheel and a team of six constables followed behind them, without sirens, on Grant’s orders.

The lock-ups were deserted. It was a disused site, surrounded by a chain-link fence yet with the front gate removed. They drove in along a battered tarmac road. Tom counted twenty storage units in all. Organised along two separate roads, they were giant metal containers each bigger than your average double garage. Given the scale of them, they must have been used for business or industrial storage. The metal sides of the units were deep rust coloured and weeds broke up the tarmac, giving the place a desolate air. Diane told them the site had been bought by the local Council with a view to building start-up pods for new businesses.

It would be an ideal place to hide out. Tom couldn’t help thinking it would be even more ideal for stashing a body. He pushed that thought away.

Each unit had giant metal doors with metal retaining bars. They’d brought crowbars and heavy cutting equipment. The council had acquired the site when the storage company went into liquidation and they’d given the police permission to enter. The council had informed Diane there were no items in the lock-ups or if there were, the council wasn’t aware of it.

If there were any nasty surprises, they’d soon find out.

Grant gave the orders. ‘We’ll split into two teams. Collins you lead one and take Delaney with you and three of the constables. If you find anything or any traces of recent activity, be careful not to contaminate the scene. Our first priority is preservation of life, our second is evidence.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Diane said.

‘Remember to listen at each container. If the children are here, they might try to signal,’ Grant said. ‘Once we start cutting in, no one will be able to hear a thing.’

The adrenalin was pulsing so strong, Tom felt like he wanted to rip open the units with his bare hands. Even Grant had started sweating and he had ordered paramedics to stand by. In case.

Diane led her group. Tom knew the chief had given Diane a lead as a mark of his approval. Grant was good at recognising when people had done well. Sifting through hours of footage would have been like hell. This was Diane’s win.

Diane’s team grouped around her. ‘We’ll first check the perimeter of each unit,’ Diane said. ‘We’re looking for footprints or tyre tracks or discarded items. Notice if weeds have been trampled or if there are any signs of recent activity. Once we’ve searched the outside of each one and listened, then we try to enter.’

Diane patted Tom on the shoulder. ‘Let’s you and me check the first one.’

At the first unit in the row Tom pressed his ear against the cold metal. He called the children’s names and tapped on the sides all the while looking for signs of recent entry.

‘Emily? Lisa? I’m a police officer.’

He heard other officers doing the same at the containers on Grant’s side. Was it possible the abductor was holed up inside one of the units? Tom felt ready for anything.

‘Nothing,’ Diane said. ‘Let’s check the next one.’

The doors of the second storage were practically hanging open. They followed the protocol and called out and inspected the area for signs of activity. Again there was nothing.

On the next unit the doors were firmly closed with the metal retaining bars kept in place by two giant, rusted padlocks. They were no signs from the inside in response to them calling.

When they reached the fourth lock-up, Tom pointed. It had rusty bars which were held in place with two brand new giant locks.

Diane called to the rest of the team. ‘Bring the equipment! One of you run and tell Grant we’ve got something.’

Tom’s heart started beating harder. Pressing his mouth close, he called out. ‘Emily and Lisa, I’m a police officer and I’m here to help