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

her wrists. Was it enough? Did he have grounds to arrest Sylvie Delacourt? Was there more to the au pair’s story? Grant was finding it difficult to concentrate because he needed to know about Emily. And Diane.

‘Sir?’ Ruby asked.

Grant watched as Billingham’s officers wound the operation down. Emily had been flown to the hospital by air ambulance. Grant paced. It was only minutes, though it seemed like an eternity before Grant received a message from his paediatrician friend.

I have Emily. She’s in intensive care and it will be touch and go until the antibiotics have a chance to act. She’s slightly conscious which is a good sign, though she is not yet out of danger.

Grant sent his silent thanks skyward.

He tapped a quick ‘thank you’ reply then turned back to Ruby. He trusted her judgement and his own take on the au pair. There was more here. He needed to search for one final piece of evidence concerning the identity of Nick Riley’s true accomplice.

54

Sylvie pushed her hair back from her face. She closed her eyes and listened to the paramedics talking as they went about checking her over.

A lot had happened since she’d followed Nick to the pub and chatted him up. That day, he’d been practically drooling over her by the time she delivered her ultimatum.

‘I know you’re up to something with Maria,’ she’d told him. ‘If that’s even her name. I know she got friendly with me to wheedle her way close to the Glovers. Tell me what you’re up to or I’m going to the police.’

It had been a huge gamble. If they hadn’t been in a public place maybe Nick would have hurt her. As it was, Sylvie had already given him a hard-on by stroking his leg and he had seemed stunned by her mouth and by the threat which came out of it.

‘How do you know? Did Maria tell you?’ he asked.

‘She’s too stupid for that. It was pure chance – I saw Maria take a key. Then I followed her and that’s how I met sweet little you.’

Nick had a mean, pinched face. ‘What do you want?’

‘I want an in.’

It had been a brazen request and Sylvie knew it. The bitter kick in the gut she’d received from Jack Glover spurred her on.

Nick sized her up. She watched him trying to get a handle on her and failing. To give him a bit more persuasion, she slid her hand back towards his dick.

‘How do I know you’re not a cop?’ Nick asked.

‘Give me a break, do I look like one? Besides, I hate the Glovers. So any plans you’ve got to screw them, I’m interested. And I don’t want Maria to know. You and me get to be partners in whatever scam you’re pulling off and we’ll do it behind her back.’

Nick had shaken his head in incomprehension. Of course, he had no idea Sylvie had been on the verge of telling Maria the biggest and most important secret of her whole life only to discover Maria wasn’t a friend at all. She’d been stringing Sylvie along and Sylvie didn’t like feeling a fool, nor being screwed with.

Nick had been cautious and cynical, of course he had, until, a while later, he started to appreciate her.

The paramedic took the blood pressure cuff off Sylvie’s arm. ‘We’ll take you to the hospital for some quick blood tests and then you’ll be able to go, miss,’ he said. ‘You have no physical injuries from your incarceration though you may suffer from the mental stress.’

‘It was horrible,’ Sylvie said. ‘He was a mad man. I won’t ever feel the same again.’

‘Hmm. If you experience worrying symptoms in the next few days, I recommend you make an appointment with your doctor.’

She leant her head back. ‘I still feel so shaky.’

The paramedic tucked the blanket around her. ‘After the ordeal you’ve had, you’ll need to take things slowly.’

‘Thank you, I will,’ Sylvie said.

The detectives were hanging around the back of the ambulance and she needed to get her story straight for when they questioned her. Sylvie hoped she’d be able to shake them off and then get to the money before they did.

55

Blood had been taken from Sylvie to find out what substances Riley had forced into her. Sylvie complained of memory blanks and overwhelming anxiety and the paramedics said she might be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Grant went to Himlands Heath high street. He wanted to question business owners and then he needed to get to the hospital and talk to the children and bring in forensics to check their clothing. Dealing with McGowan’s suspension was in Fox’s hands.

An hour later Grant was sitting at his desk impatient for the lab to contact him when they finally did.

No intoxicants in Sylvie Delacourt’s blood.

Bingo.

Grant’s expression was grim as he read Sylvie her rights. ‘Sylvie Delacourt, I am placing you under arrest for conspiracy to commit abduction, false imprisonment and demanding money with menaces…’

The young woman refused to have a lawyer present. Grant took her to an interview room where Ruby was waiting.

‘I’m going to be recording this,’ Grant said. ‘Let’s start with everyone saying their name for the record and then I want you to tell me how you came to be at Riley’s house.’

‘Why have you brought me here? Why have you arrested me?’ Sylvie asked. ‘I’m the victim here and you’re treating me like a criminal! I have rights. He took me by force. Riley was a mad man.’

‘And now he’s dead and I can’t get his side of the story. I need to piece together what happened.’

‘The stuff he pushed down my throat messed with my mind. It’s all a jumble.’

Grant flipped open the lab report. ‘There were no intoxicants in your blood.’

Sylvie didn’t miss a beat and she started to cry.

‘Perhaps you could begin with how you got to be with Nick Riley?’ Grant asked.

Ruby passed over a box of tissues. ‘Take your time, Ms Delacourt.’

‘All I remember is