‘It’ll be worth it.’ Carter looked up as the spiky-haired constable entered the office. ‘Thanks, Kieran. Did you get something for yourself?’
The lad nodded and waved another small bag. ‘Thank you, sir. Iced Belgian bun.’ He left, pulling the door closed after him.
‘Door! Leave the bloody door! How many times do I sodding well have to tell you?’
Marie took a deep breath. She’d heard it a hundred times since the accident, and every time she cursed the youngsters for their thoughtlessness. It was a small thing, after all.
‘Sorry! Sorry, sir.’ Kieran pushed the door right back against the wall and beat a hasty retreat, clutching his bag to his chest.
‘Okay, so where are we meeting Joanne?’
‘Uh? Oh yes, she works for the big DIY store on the Fenton Estate.’ Marie could see him pulling himself together. ‘There’s a garden and a seating area on the river bank, right next door to the store. I said we’d meet her there.’
‘Do you have any idea what you are going to say? Or are you winging it?’
‘I’ve got a vague idea, but I guess it’ll depend on how she reacts. She’s a down-to-earth sort of girl. I think she’ll be pretty overwhelmed by it all.’
Marie puffed out her cheeks. ‘Yeah, a year and a half down the road, and she suddenly gets given a bag of money that she never knew existed. I’d certainly be overwhelmed.’ She shook her head. ‘Just keep it simple, okay. It’ll be a shock, so don’t overdo the explanations.’
‘Fair enough. That’ll make it easier for me too.’
Marie sighed. It was going to be awful. She wished he had decided to mail the bag to the girl anonymously. She took a bite from her Danish and chewed thoughtfully. ‘So who is next?’
‘Jack. Jack’s next.’
‘And?’
Carter shrugged. ‘I haven’t a clue, but—’
‘No, Carter! Don’t say it. I’m really struggling with your bloody conversations with the dead.’
He bit his lip. Immediately Marie felt bad. ‘I’m sorry, that came out all wrong.’
‘Nothing to apologise for.’ He sighed. ‘I expect far too much from you, Marie. It’s me who should be saying sorry. I just assume you’re going to understand, even when I do and say things that are completely off the wall.’
Marie gave him a weak smile. ‘Forget it. It’s okay. We’ll go see Joanne, and then we’ll deal with Jack’s unfinished business, whatever that is. Okay?’
Carter nodded. ‘By the way, the super has kept Leah at home today. By all accounts she’s practically walled her up. Luckily, she’s working on her dissertation, so she can do it from the safety of Crooke’s house.’
Marie snorted. ‘I bet she loves that! She struck me as being a pretty independent kid, even though this has shaken her up.’ She thought for a moment. ‘Has anyone interviewed the boyfriend yet?’
Carter sipped his coffee. ‘Uniform had a word, but they have no concerns about him. He’s a bright student, well adjusted, with no weird hang-ups. Plus he has watertight alibis for most of the occasions when the stalker was at work. He seemed genuinely concerned for Leah’s welfare.’ He set down his coffee. ‘Another dead end.’
‘I have a feeling our creepy crawly will relish all the attention and take it as a challenge, don’t you?’
‘Almost certainly,’ agreed Carter. ‘He’ll bide his time but he will act again.’
‘And we just wait?’
Carter shrugged. ‘I can’t see what else we can do. I tried to check on the money he used in the chocolate shop, but it had already been banked.’
‘That was convenient!’
‘A bit too convenient, if you ask me,’ muttered Carter. ‘He timed it perfectly.’
‘Just like he timed gaining access to her car in the university car park. He’s damned clever.’ Marie stirred her coffee slowly, then looked up. ‘But maybe a bit too clever? Carter, don’t you think this is all a bit calculating for a stalker?’
‘How so?’
‘Well, if he’s just some student, isn’t all this perfect timing and detailed planning a bit extreme? Doesn’t sound like some nerdy creep in an anorak to me. You don’t think we may be dealing with something a bit more sinister, do you? Someone with a bigger agenda than just trying to get into a pretty girl’s knickers?’
Carter frowned. ‘Like someone intent on actually doing her harm?’
She shrugged. ‘Or maybe abducting her?’
‘Whoa! Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.’ Carter held up a hand. ‘There’s been no indication of anything that serious.’
‘Yet.’
‘You really do have a bad feeling about this, don’t you?’ Carter stared into his coffee. ‘I still believe it’s some horny kid who is infatuated with Leah and is prepared to confront the wrath of Lincolnshire’s finest to get his girl. Just relax, I’m certain this will all blow over really soon.’
Marie didn’t answer. Usually they worked together well on a case, and occasionally they were so in tune that there was no need for discussion. She wondered why this case was so different. ‘Well, I sincerely hope you are right, Detective Sergeant, I really do.’ She stood up. ‘And now I need to tie up with Jackman before he takes the morning meeting.’
‘How goes it with Suzanne’s case? Has he said?’
His voice was even and his tone casual, but she saw the keen glint in his eyes.
‘Badly, by all accounts. His exact words were that they were up the proverbial creek, and not a paddle in sight.’
‘If there is anything I can do, he should ask me. I didn’t know Suzanne well, hardly at all in fact, but I might know some of the people who were around her and Tom at the time. It could help provide more background.’
‘Thanks. I’m sure Jackman will talk to you if things don’t get any better.’
Marie left Carter’s office. At the door, she glanced back briefly. There was a very strange expression on her friend’s face.
*
The small park was almost empty, and Carter recognised Joanne Simms immediately. She was sitting alone on a bench close to the river’s edge. She wore a shapeless, beige jacket over a minty green blouse and a calf-length floral print skirt. She was considerably thinner than the last time he had seen her. When was that? Six months ago? Could be longer. Initially the victims’ nearest and dearest had clung to each other like debris caught up in a tornado, bound to each other by the memory of their dead loved ones and the awful thing that had happened to them. Then, as each one began to rebuild their lives, they drifted apart. They grew awkward with one another. After three months, Carter avoided all of them.
He strode towards her, hoping his fear and panic didn’t show. Beside him, Marie squeezed his arm. ‘It’ll be alright,’ she whispered.
He swallowed. ‘Hey! Joanne! You look great.’ He hugged her briefly. ‘I don’t think you ever met Marie? She’s my old partner Bill’s wife. She’s a detective too.’
Joanne shook Marie’s outstretched hand, and they sat down. ‘You said you had something to tell me?’ Carter sensed that Joanne didn’t want this meeting any more than he did. The discomfort came off her in waves.