Demonstrating a superior level of patience, Bryant responded. ‘We’d certainly like to make sure she’s safe and well.’
‘She looked okay when she went out about twenty minutes ago,’ he offered. ‘Looked very nice, in fact, wearing jeans and a smart blue jacket.’
‘Did she get into a car?’ Bryant asked, making more progress with his easy manner than she would ever have managed.
The man shook his head. ‘Don’t think so.’
‘Which way did she go?’ Kim asked, feeling a surge of hope if she was travelling on foot.
‘Turned right out of the gate but don’t know where she went after that.’
‘Okay, thanks for your help,’ Kim said, heading for the car and taking out her phone.
SEVENTY-THREE
‘Stace, we’re here. The neighbour saw her go out on foot twenty minutes ago,’ Kim said when the constable answered the phone. ‘Get on to her social media. I want to know the last thing she posted.’
‘She’s got no Twitter,’ Stacey said. ‘Hang on while I check Facebook.’
A few seconds dragged by while she logged in.
‘Nope, her last post was…Hang on, Penn might have something.’
‘Speaker,’ Kim said.
‘On speaker now, boss,’ Stacey said, sounding as though she’d moved into a tunnel.
‘Penn?’
‘Got a post on Insta two hours ago. Two outfits and a question. She asks, “What works best for getting ruined?”’
‘Ruined?’ Kim asked.
‘Drunk,’ Bryant said, as though she needed the translation.
‘Pub,’ Stacey added, already tapping away. ‘In that immediate area we’ve got The Fox, The Talbot, The George and—’
‘But that would only be a meeting place,’ Kim said, feeling the frustration build. ‘None of the other meetings have taken place in such public places.’
‘If she’s on foot there’s not much else in walking distance,’ Stacey offered, tapping away on her keyboard.
‘Or not a pub at all,’ Penn said.
‘Go on, Penn.’
‘Ruined, ruins. Wenlock Priory is just a couple of minutes away.’
Jamie had been hanged in a park.
Liam had met the Jackal in the woods.
Sarah had met her attacker at a nature spot.
The priory sounded much more plausible.
‘Thanks, guys,’ Kim said, ending the call.
‘I’ve been there,’ Bryant said, starting up the engine. He pulled away from the kerb. ‘It literally is just down the road, but if I remember, it’s a pretty decent size.’