‘Not much, Guv. I’ve been in touch with the community centre but they only keep records for certain events. Most of the activities am run by third parties and the centre just provides a venue. Still working through ’em to see if I can find out where Charlie Cook went.’

‘Do we still think it’s the youth club?’ Bryant asked.

Kim shrugged. ‘I don’t like it,’ Kim said, honestly. ‘Anyone involved in youth clubs has to be DBS’d, but we all know the problems with that.’

The Disclosure and Barring Service had taken the place of the Criminal Records Bureau check and was required for anyone working with children. The name change hadn’t sewn up the hole in the net.

‘Anything back on the fluid and hair?’

Stacey shook her head. ‘Sent ’em a reminder this morning.’

Kim wondered what part of ‘ASAP’ the lab didn’t understand.

‘What about the bloke at the car parts, Guv?’

Kim shook her head. There had been something a bit loose, but her only issue was his lack of emotional response. And as Bryant had pointed out more than once, she wasn’t the best judge of that.

Kim could feel the despondency weaving through her team. They all preferred a case that was logical and methodical, where one clue lead to another. But not all cases were that obliging. Some were messy, like trudging through quicksand in wellington boots. Even worse was reworking a case that had already been solved. The same people were being interviewed and questioned and nothing was breaking free. It killed morale quicker than a pay freeze.

‘Listen, guys, I know how hard you’ve been working for very little reward. I feel your frustration. But we’ll get there. This team doesn’t quit.’

They all nodded in her direction.

‘But this team also needs a bit of downtime. Get out of here and don’t come back until Monday. And then we’ll start bringing them in.’

‘Go on, get out,’ Kim growled.

Dawson was first out of the door, closely followed by Stacey.

Kim glanced behind her. ‘That means you too, Bryant.’

‘You gonna do the same, Guv?’ he asked, reaching for his jacket.

‘Of course I am,’ she said, looking away.

It was time to start rattling some cages. Someone knew more than they were letting on. It was time to shake something loose.

FIFTY-SIX

Alex’s eyes went to the door each time it opened, awaiting the arrival of her new best friend. Their relationship had changed during the last meeting. Now they were on first-name terms and the project was progressing nicely.

When Kim had called her earlier that morning and asked to meet for coffee, she had been thinking the exact same thing. Further proof of their mutual curiosity. Kim had suggested the cosy coffee shop fifty feet from Alex’s office and she’d been more than happy to agree.

The door opened and Alex watched as Kim approached in her trademark black. Alex wondered if the woman had any idea of the attention she commanded. Her walk was purposeful and decisive. Her eyes set a path that her feet dared not deviate.

‘Doctor,’ Kim said sitting down.

Alex noted that Kim had reverted to titles. During their last meeting they had graduated to first names and Alex wasn’t one to move backwards.

If Kim noticed the faint scratch marks below the concealer she chose not to mention it.

‘It’s good to see you, Kim. I took the liberty of getting you a latte.’

Kim folded her legs beneath the table. ‘Thank you, Doctor, but it’s Detective Inspector and I have a few questions for you.’

There was no effort to soften the rebuke with a smile and Alex felt oddly disappointed. Whether Kim’s impromptu visit to her office had been genuine or not, it would have been more satisfying to play with the woman by simulating friendship. But no matter, she’d work with what she had.

‘I take it we’re not discussing sleep disorders this time?’

‘Well, we can if you’d like. Didn’t yours start after the death of your family?’

Alex tipped her head and said nothing. That sounded like a rhetorical question.

‘Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot; they’re not your family and they didn’t die.’

Alex contained her surprise. She briefly considered allowing her eyes to fill and talk beseechingly about loneliness, her career and all the sacrifices of a personal life, but they had passed that point. Kim wasn’t going to fall for it, so Alex wouldn’t waste her energy on that game play. Ultimately, she was flattered that Kim had gone to the trouble of finding out.

‘It’s a lie, isn’t it?’

Alex shrugged. ‘A harmless one. My patients are reassured by both my extensive education and my life experience.’

‘But it’s not an accurate reflection of you, is it, Doctor?’

‘Very few of us are ever completely ourselves; I would imagine you know that as well as anyone. The photograph on my desk is there for people to make assumptions and they do. We all present a façade to the world. And it suited me to present a family. Even to you, Kim.’

Kim’s eyes flamed at the use of her first name, but she held herself in check.

‘So, it’s a manipulation?’

‘Yes, I suppose, but as I said, a harmless one.’

‘Are all your manipulations harmless?’ Kim asked, tipping her head.

‘I have no idea what you mean.’

‘Do you manipulate your patients in other ways?’

Alex allowed the corner of her lips to turn up slightly, aiming at bemused. ‘What exactly are you accusing me of?’

‘It was a question, not an accusation.’

So, the detective was analysing every word she said. Good. Take this, Alex thought.

‘Kim, I have many patients. I deal with conditions along the whole spectrum of mental health, from a bout of stress to paranoid schizophrenia. I treat people who will never recover from childhood trauma. I treat people with all types of guilt, survivor and otherwise.’

Alex wasn’t sure how many points she’d scored, but a slight stiffening of the back confirmed that one or two poison darts had found the target.

‘So, if you’d care to be more specific, I’ll help you in any way I can.’

‘Ruth Willis.’

Alex was intrigued by what Kim thought she knew.

‘Sometimes people cannot be fixed, Kim. I would imagine that you have unsolved cases in your past; incidents that, despite your best efforts, you were unable to bring to a successful conclusion. Ideally I would have liked to move Ruth to the next stage of her life, but she is a very troubled young lady. You see, sometimes there is safety in the anger, and often vengeance is the glue that holds them together.’ Alex lowered her eyes. ‘Ruth will never recover from what she’s done.’

‘She’s doing quite well, actually,’ Kim shot back at her.

As expected, Alex had learned what she wanted to know. The detective had been to see Ruth. But it was of no concern. No one would ever believe Ruth if she dared speak out.

‘It was an interesting visualisation exercise you used during your last session.’

Alex shrugged. ‘It is a technique used widely for many reasons: stress relief, goal achievement, and it works well for letting go of negative emotions. It is symbolic.’

‘Or a blueprint for an unstable mind?’

Alex laughed. She hadn’t enjoyed herself this much since she’d convinced a chat room full of bulimia sufferers that they’d been getting the best of both worlds.

‘Oh, please, visualisation techniques can include all manner of things but people don’t actually go out and do them. It’s a technique, not an instruction.’

‘And you couldn’t have known that Ruth was too unstable to act out the symbolic role-play?’

Alex thought for a moment. ‘You believe wholeheartedly in the integrity of your profession and the individuals within the police force that uphold the law?’

‘You’re answering a question with a question, but yes I do.’