‘Maybe she’d arranged for someone to collect her, and she was waiting for a lift,’ Rogers suggested.
‘But who?’ Laura countered. ‘Certainly not her parents, and her boyfriend was in London.’
‘I wouldn’t be so quick to rule out her parents,’ Humberidge interjected. ‘Barry said he was out with friends on Friday night, but that’s not what one of his friends says.’
‘What?’ Kate blurted, before she could stop herself. ‘But we’ve already checked his alibi. Two of his friends confirmed he was with them playing pool and drinking until the early hours.’
Humberidge fired her a knowing look. ‘I know all that, but a third friend who was at said engagement, told me off the record that Barry was not there.’
‘Who?’
‘My source doesn’t want to be named, as he doesn’t want to be seen to be the one to let the cat out of the bag.’
‘Humberidge, we don’t have time—’
‘Seems Barry has been having it away with one of his former employees behind Val’s back. His mates all know about it and have frequently provided him with an alibi so he can see this other woman. My source says Barry contacted them all and swears blind he was with his mistress all night, until he returned home, and asked them to stick to the story so Val won’t find out he’s been playing away.’
‘Who’s his lover?’
‘The guy didn’t want to give me a name, but did say it was someone Barry used to work with. I’m still digging, but I’ll find out who. I told you there was more going on with them than they were letting on. Of course, the question is, if he wasn’t where he said he was, can we really be sure he was with that other woman all night, and didn’t stop by to collect Daisy?’
‘That’s a big leap.’
‘Not as big as you thought though, hey, ma’am?’
Kate could feel her cheeks starting to redden. ‘Okay, keep digging, but be discreet, Humberidge. We don’t want to add to Val’s heartbreak for no reason. As for the rest of you,’ Kate continued, ‘I want you to go home and spend what time you can with your families. Do your best to switch off all thoughts about Daisy Emerson, just for the night, and try to relax. Tomorrow, we’ll be back on it.’
As the team pulled apart, computers were turned off and coats grabbed, Kate remained where she was. She’d been so sure that Barry and Val Emerson were innocent bystanders in the unfolding circus, but could she have been wrong about Barry?
‘You should take your own advice, ma’am,’ Laura offered, tying a scarf around her neck.
Kate smiled warmly, appreciating Laura’s concern. ‘You’re probably right. I’ll just finish up here...’
‘Well, don’t stay too late. And don’t forget to eat! Even the world’s best detective has a proper meal every now and again, you know.’
Kate gave her a tired smile which ended the moment she felt her phone ringing in her pocket.
‘Tara? What’s wrong?’ But she could barely make out the words through the sobs. ‘Just tell me where you are, and I’ll come at once.’
34
Pulling into the car park of the fast-food restaurant on the outskirts of Southampton, Kate quickly fired a message off to Ben, apologising that she would be late for dinner. Inside the restaurant’s main window, Kate could see Tara staring forlornly into the milkshake in front of her, her face in stark contrast to the excitable and vibrant girl she’d first met last summer.
Kate knew deep down she should call the supe and ask him to meet her here, but she wanted to give Tara one last chance to do the right thing. Tara nodded as Kate approached, but made no effort to smile.
Sliding in behind the table, Kate passed Tara a paper napkin to dab her eyes with. ‘What am I doing here, Tara?’
Tara picked up the napkin and wiped her swollen cheeks as fresh tears fell. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know who else to call.’
‘Why are you so far from home?’
Tara stared out of the window as she tried to blink away the tears. ‘I went home after college, and the place was empty, but when Mum came back at lunchtime she had another go at me about staying out. She accused me of wasting my education, of trying to throw away all the hard work she and Dad have done for me. I tried to explain but she wouldn’t let me get a word in edgeways.’
Kate was sure she was the last person who could judge another mother on her parenting technique. ‘I’m sure it’s only because she’s worried about you,’ she tried, weakly.
‘She’s the reason I’m not right,’ Tara spat back bitterly.
Kate was tempted to remind Tara that her mum wasn’t the cause of Tara’s current predicament, but opted for a more civil approach. ‘You need to try and put yourself in your mum’s shoes. She loves you and she’s worried about you and fear makes people behave in strange ways.’
Tara’s head snapped round, rage in her eyes. ‘If she loved me, she wouldn’t have locked me in my room!’
Kate looked surprised. ‘She did what?
Tara’s gaze returned to the window. ‘She was going on and on, saying how I would be lucky to get into any university if I didn’t get my head down, and I’d had enough, so I told her I was going to my room and slammed the door. The next thing I know, I hear a key turning. What kind of person does that?’
One who is terrified of losing their daughter, Kate wanted to say, but she could already see the hurt in Tara’s eyes. ‘What happened next?’
‘I banged and banged on the door, but she refused to open it. She even put on the radio to drown out my screams. So I escaped through my window.’
‘The window? You’re on the second floor!’
Tara gave Kate a half smile that said it wasn’t the first time she’d left the property undetected and Kate tried not to think too hard about the risk to the little life now growing inside Tara.
‘That still doesn’t explain how you wound up all the way out here. We’re miles out of the city.’
‘I ran from the driveway and caught a bus to town. I decided to take your advice and called the father. He works in town, so I phoned him and told him we needed to meet. I figured it was about time I told him. I know he has his own flat, so I thought if I spoke to him about what’s going on with my parents, he’d let me crash at his for a bit – I didn’t want to keep bothering you, because I know it’s awkward for you and my dad – but he refused to take my calls at first. So I went to where he worked and kept calling until he came out to meet me. He drove us here so nobody we knew would see us.’
Kate wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to the next question, but her imagination was already performing somersaults. ‘How old is he?’
‘What difference does it make?’
‘You said he works in town, has a car and his own flat. I’m guessing he’s not someone you met at college.’
‘He’s in his twenties, so not that much older than me.’
‘You’re seventeen, Tara.’
Tara glared at her. ‘And?’
Kate bit her lip. ‘Is he married?’
‘No! What do you take me for?’
Kate breathed a sigh of relief. ‘What happened when you got here?’
‘He drove us through the drive-thru, and then parked up. I told him we should go inside, but he had this… this look of revulsion on his face, like he didn’t want to be seen dead with me. And then when I explained what had happened with Mum, he told me I should have an abortion. He just came out with it: you should have an abortion. Like it was so simple, like it was his choice. What an arsehole!’
Kate was tempted to agree, but stayed silent.
‘I was so angry that I told him I’d decided to keep the baby and would be naming him on the birth certificate, and then he’d have to support the two of us. He called me a stupid little child, shoved me out of the car and left me stranded. I never should have involved him in the first place. I’m better off without him in my life.’
Kate’s anger simmered. ‘Where does this guy work?’
Tara frowned. ‘Why?’
‘I want to have a word with him.’
Tara reached out for Kate’s hand. ‘No! Listen, I wish I’d never told him. I don’t want him involved anymore. Besides, I’ve decided I’m going to have an abortion anyway.’