‘They could, but then the entire city would potentially be at risk, instead of—’
‘Instead of a small number of women definitely at risk,’ Nick finished. ‘We’re between a rock and a hard place.’ He stood up, his whole body energised, and Kelly realised how much he thrived on the adrenaline of a fast-moving investigation. ‘Right, we need a statement from your CCTV contact, and I want that cleaner nicked for unauthorised access to computer systems with intent to commit crime.’ He looked around for the HOLMES loggist, who was already entering the actions into the laptop in front of him. ‘And get Andrew Robinson here. I want to know where that CCTV feed is being copied to, and I want to know it now.’
32
There’s no time to do anything but stand there and wait for Simon to come up the stairs.
I reach for Katie’s hand, only to find it already sliding into mine. I squeeze it tightly and she squeezes it back. It’s something we used to do when she was little, walking to school. I’d squeeze once, and she’d do the same: she’d squeeze twice and I’d mirror it. Morse code for mother and child.
‘Three means “I love you”,’ she told me once.
I do it now, not knowing if she’ll remember, listening to the sound of footsteps on the wooden stairs. Instantly Katie returns the message, and I feel the hot stab of tears.
There are thirteen steps from the landing.
I count the footsteps as they grow closer. Eleven, ten, nine.
My hand is clammy in Katie’s, my heart beating so fast I can’t distinguish between its beats. She squeezes my fingers so tightly it hurts, but I don’t care – I’m squeezing hers just as hard.
Five, four, three …
‘I used my key; I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Melissa!’
‘Oh my God, you almost gave us a heart attack.’ Relief makes Katie and me laugh hysterically.
Melissa looks at us strangely. ‘What are you two up to? I called you at work and your boss said you were off sick – I just popped round to see if you were okay, and I was worried when you didn’t answer the door.’
‘We didn’t hear it. We were—’ Katie breaks off and looks at me, unsure how much to share.
‘We were looking for evidence,’ I tell Melissa. Suddenly sober, I sink on to the chair by Simon’s desk. ‘It sounds crazy, but it looks like it was Simon who put all those women’s commutes online – who put my commute online.’
‘Simon?’ I see in Melissa’s face the disbelief and confusion I know still registers on my own. ‘Are you sure?’
I explain about the Espress Oh! receipt; the email from PC Kelly Swift. ‘Simon lost his job in August – right before the adverts started. He lied to me about it.’
‘What the hell are you still doing here? Where’s Simon now?’
‘He’s got an interview at Olympia. I’m not sure what time – early afternoon, I think he said.’
Melissa looks at her watch. ‘He could be here any moment. Come to mine; we can call the police from there. Did you have any idea? I mean – God, Simon!’ I feel my heart rate soar again; my ribcage thudding and my pulse singing in my ears. I’m suddenly convinced we won’t make it out; that Simon will come home while we’re all in the attic. What will he do, once he knows he’s been found out? I think of Tania Beckett and Laura Keen, unhappy casualties of his sick online empire. What difference would another three make to him? I stand up and grip Katie’s arm. ‘Melissa’s right, we need to get out of here.’
‘Where’s Justin?’ Fear grips me and I want my family together; I need to know that both my children are safe. Once Simon discovers we know what he’s done, there’s no way of knowing what he’ll do.
‘Relax, he’s at the café,’ Melissa says. ‘I’ve just come from there.’
My relief is momentary. ‘He can’t stay – Simon will know to find him there. Someone will have to take over.’
Melissa has snapped into business mode. She reminds me of a paramedic at a major disaster, issuing practical help and soothing words. ‘I’ll call him and tell him to shut up shop.’
‘Are you sure? He might—’
Melissa cups my face between her hands. She puts her face close to mine, forcing me to focus on what she’s saying. ‘We need to get out of here, Zoe, do you understand? We don’t know how much time we’ve got.’
The three of us clatter down the stairs on to the carpeted first-floor landing and continue down to the ground floor without stopping. In the hall Katie and I take our coats from where they’ve been slung over the banister. I look around for my bag but Melissa stops me.
‘There’s no time. I’ll come for it once you and Katie are safe next door.’
We slam the front door and run down the path without bothering to lock it behind us, turning immediately in through Melissa’s garden gate. She unlocks the door and ushers us through to the kitchen.