Hours had passed since they talked to Bill. Alex contemplated going to the desk sergeant again but didn’t want to annoy the man – more than she already had.
‘At last,’ Hugh said when Bill came from a corridor behind the front desk. ‘Let’s try to stay calm.’
Bill stopped to speak to the sergeant, spoke in a low voice and glanced over at them. Alex clasped her hands in her lap.
Hugh got up and went forward, said quietly, ‘Annie’s had a bad couple of years, Bill. She’s been in there for hours. What she needs is some peace and for all this uncertainty to be over.’
‘I’m sure,’ Bill said. He looked away as if deciding what to say next. ‘But you do recognize that we’ve got two suspicious deaths and a missing woman and Annie has been in the area and closely involved with all these events?’
‘No,’ Hugh said flatly. ‘She hasn’t been involved with any of it. Just because Annie was in Folly when both Percy and Wells died, doesn’t mean she’s involved in any way. Or with Sonia’s disappearance.’
Bill waited, then said, ‘Just tell me anything you think would help.’
Without further hesitation, Hugh said, ‘Annie just opened up about seeing Sonia that night. But so what, she went up to talk to her about visiting Elyan? That was it. Annie loves Elyan – deeply – and tries to ease what’s happened to him. Sonia hasn’t been to see him but she has sent him messages. She told Annie she would try to go to visit him. Apparently she’s very disturbed at the thought of seeing him incarcerated.’
‘Right,’ Bill said. He didn’t seem surprised or very interested.
‘That was all she said,’ Hugh added.
‘Thank you,’ Bill said.
Alex went to join Hugh. Their anxiety had to be obvious but she couldn’t just sit there anymore.
‘There’s nothing to worry you too much. This is all routine. I suggest you go home and get some rest. We’ll let you know when there’s something to report. I’ll drive Annie back when that’s appropriate.’
‘I don’t want to go until I see her,’ Alex said.
Bill’s smile looked forced. ‘Of course you don’t. But we can’t know how long we need Annie here with us.’
Alex snapped, ‘You said she wouldn’t be here too long. That was hours ago.’
‘You will help her the most by being supportive of the important part she’s playing in our investigation,’ Bill said. ‘If you choose to stay, that’s your prerogative, but I don’t think it will help her to find out you’re making scenes out here. But that’s up to you.’
Hugh took Alex’s arm. ‘Let’s go home. You’ll let us know when we can do something for Annie?’ He glanced at Bill who nodded, yes.
‘We’ll come back when they’re ready to release her. Come on, Alex, please.’
She looked to Bill who nodded agreement.
‘Inspector,’ the desk sergeant said. ‘Just an update. Still no sightings. She hasn’t been seen on CCTV footage from Folly-on-Weir. They don’t have much there—’
Bill swung around and the man stopped talking.
Hugh said, ‘Bill?’
‘Are you talking about Annie?’ Alex asked. She caught at Hugh’s arm. ‘Are they?’
Bill faced them again and he wasn’t hiding his anger as well as usual. ‘We have everything under control.’
‘That isn’t the way it sounds,’ Hugh said in level tones. ‘Why not be honest with us? Lying doesn’t help.’
‘Hugh and Alex,’ Bill said. ‘Please go home and let us do our work. Check back in the morning.’
‘And ask what?’ Alex said. ‘If you know where Annie is yet? Bill, we’re her close friends and we feel responsible. How can we just go away and sleep?’
He sighed. ‘If you think I feel any better than you do, you’re wrong. I suppose, despite going against official protocol, I’ve got to say we’re all very worried.’
‘She’s left this building?’ Alex said. ‘She ran away from you and you don’t know where she is?’
‘We’re wasting time,’ Bill said.
‘Can’t we start searching?’ Hugh asked. ‘The more eyes, the better, and we know who we’re looking for.’
Bill sighed. ‘We have ways of conducting this kind of search – we’re pretty good at it and I don’t think she’ll have got very far. We’re already on it.
‘No one will get any sleep here, but please, go home and get some sleep yourselves tonight so you can be at your best for Annie. Will you do that?’
Hugh and Alex looked at each other and nodded faintly. ‘Yes,’ Alex said.
‘We’ll do our best,’ Hugh responded. ‘We’re in this for as long as it takes.’
‘Good,’ Bill said. ‘That’s great. We’re pulling out all the stops. Probably best not to raise alarm in Folly. Our people there already know and they’re on the lookout. If Annie is heading there, we don’t want to put her off with an agitated welcoming committee.’