‘But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? That accountant gave you the letter and they’ve all been arrested?’
Kim stole a glance at her colleague before answering.
‘I’m afraid not, Mr Dwyer. We’re here because Stephanie told us about your text messages. We’re hoping to search the premises later today, but I’m afraid we have even more bad news. The accountant to whom you passed the letter hasn’t been seen since Monday morning.’
The colour that had reached his face prematurely drained again as though she had turned on a tap.
‘I’m in danger, aren’t I? They definitely know what I’ve done. If they’ve got him, they’re going to come here. They’re going to kill me. I know they are, and now you’ve broken down my door. I’m a sitting duck.’
‘The locksmith and carpenter are already on their way,’ she assured him. ‘We won’t leave until you’re totally secure, but just to be safe, is there anywhere else you can stay, just for a day or two?’
‘I have a nephew who lives in the Cotswolds,’ he said. ‘But I can’t get there without exposing myself.’
Kim ignored the poor choice of words. She got the point. ‘We’ll get you there safely,’ she said. ‘You just need to pack a few things.’
He looked to the front door.
‘We’re not going to leave you alone, Jerry. Go pack,’ Kim said.
He got to the door and turned. ‘You are going to get them for all the hurt they’ve caused, aren’t you? Victor and Celia, I mean?’
‘It depends how much they know,’ she said honestly. ‘They weren’t in the room for every terrible act that took place.’
‘I understand that, but make no mistake, Inspector: every instruction comes from them.’
SIXTY-TWO
Stacey took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Without a doubt, Beth wasn’t going to be pleased to see her and she’d be lucky to get inside. The fact she wasn’t yet able to offer the woman a full explanation wasn’t going to help her case one bit. A search warrant was unlikely given that the link was only a suspicion.
Stacey knocked again. There was a chance that Beth wasn’t going to let her in at all.
She was about to knock a third time when Beth opened the door.
The surprise on her face turned to dismay.
‘Have you come back to sully my husband’s name even further, officer?’
In addition to the anger that Stacey had been expecting there was a tinge of something else: hurt. It was as though she’d let the woman down somehow by not understanding the depth of the relationship she shared with her husband. That she had trusted Stacey to understand that Gabe would never do that to her, and right now Stacey had to concede that she might be right.
‘Beth, there’s been a development,’ Stacey said, hoping the admission would gain her entry.
The surprise was back on her face. ‘There has?’
‘I can’t say much more, but may I come in for a minute?’
Beth nodded and stood aside. ‘I’m in the kitchen,’ she said, closing the door. Stacey followed her to the back of the house.
‘What’s happened?’ Beth asked, taking a seat at a round dining table and indicating for Stacey to do the same.
She seemed to have caught the woman clearing away breakfast dishes. The faint smell of sausages and toast lingered in the air. Stacey applauded the woman’s determination to eat well and stay strong. When Devon was away she lived on Coco Pops and Pot Noodles.
‘I don’t want to alarm you but there may be a clue to Gabe’s disappearance in his work papers,’ Stacey said to open the conversation.
Beth frowned. ‘Excuse me?’
‘I really wish I could tell you more, but at this stage I can’t. I need to ask you if I can look through Gabe’s briefcase.’
‘After what you implied when—’