I had my breakfast in front of the telly, watching the early news. I’d done my morning blood sugar test and despite all the excitement yesterday, and a large, iced bun, my number was okay today, so I took my usual pills and made a nice bowl of porridge.
They have segments of local news every now and again, but there wasn’t really anything to report. They just showed the same footage as yesterday evening. As much as I wanted to be out there looking with everyone else, my legs needed a rest. There would be plenty of other people searching for her and I needed a quiet day after yesterday. The best-laid plans and all that, though – before I’d even finished my second cup of tea, there was a knock at the door.
I checked that my dressing-gown buttons were done up and went to the door, keeping the chain on as I opened it. I peered through the gap. It was Jodie, the female police officer.
‘Morning, Kath!’ she said, cheerfully, although her face was drawn and pasty. ‘Can I have a word?’
‘Oh, yes. Of course. Hang on a minute.’
I shut the door and unchained it, then I glanced in the mirror in the hallway and patted my hair down. When I opened the door again, Jodie smiled. ‘Sorry to call so early.’
‘Is there any news?’
‘We haven’t found her yet. Can I come in?’
I hesitated. It felt uncomfortable letting someone into the house in my nightie and dressing gown, even a nice policewoman.
‘It won’t take long. There’s been a couple of developments.’
That was enough for me. I showed her into the lounge. My breakfast things were still on the coffee table, but apart from that it was tidy enough. I could see her taking in the room, just like Naz had done yesterday – I suppose when you’re in the police you’re trained to be observant. I sat on the sofa and Jodie took the chair. I muted the telly but didn’t turn it off.
‘I’m wondering if you might be able to help us,’ Jodie said.
‘Of course. Anything.’
‘We’d like Sandy to do a press conference this morning. When people go missing, appeals for information are so much more powerful coming from the relatives than from the police.’
I’d seen plenty of appeals like that on the news – distraught parents, or partners, usually sitting behind a desk reading a few words out. Jodie was right. They were always emotional, tugged at your heartstrings. Mind you, with the partner or husband, you always wondered if they were putting on a show, that at the back of their minds they were thinking about the body they’d stuffed under the floorboards. A horrible thought entered my head. Was that what Sandy would be doing? Putting on a show?
‘Sounds like a good idea to me.’
‘Exactly, but she wasn’t keen last night. You can understand it, can’t you? It can be intimidating in front of a bank of cameras and she’s got no one with her to support her.’
She looked at me meaningfully and the penny started to drop.
‘Honestly, Jodie, I don’t really know her. I’m ashamed to say it, but we didn’t talk before all this.’
‘I think it really helped having you there yesterday. She seems to trust you. Maybe you could just have a word with her? Offer to be at the press conference with her?’
Be at the press conference? This was all getting a bit out of hand. I hardly knew the woman. I’d feel like a fraud sitting by her side or whatever, being filmed for the telly. I could feel my heart fluttering – it does that sometimes – and I put my hand up to my chest.
‘I don’t know,’ I said.
‘I know it’s a lot to ask, but I do really think you could make a difference. We need to search the flat properly too.’ That was interesting. ‘Easier when she’s not there. It’s all about Mina, Kath. Getting her back safe and sound. Will you do it?’
Well, how could I refuse when she put it like that?
‘’Course I will,’ I said. ‘I’ll need to put some clothes on and make myself look presentable.’
‘Sandy’s still asleep. We’re letting her lie in for a bit, but maybe you could come round at about ten, and then, if we can get her to talk to the press, we’ll try to do it at eleven, so it’ll get on the lunchtime news bulletins.’
‘All right. I’ll come next door at ten.’
Jodie stood up to leave. ‘Oh, one other thing. The young man at the café – you spoke to him yesterday, didn’t you?’
‘I did. I called in there when I was on my way to the school. It was blowing a gale. Don’t know what I thought I was going to find.’
‘How did he seem when you spoke to him?’
‘Den? He was lovely. He could see I was upset, and he got me a chair. He’s a good listener, really nice young man. His dad’s a bit of a tyrant, but I think it’s all bluster.’
‘So, he just seemed normal to you?’
‘Yes. Well, some people might think he’s a bit … over-friendly.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘In what way, Kath?’
‘Well, when I was in the café yesterday, he—’ I stopped. Maybe it was nothing.
‘Yes? He what, Kath?’
‘He put his hand on me, on my shoulder. Kept it there a bit too long. It probably wasn’t anything but I felt a bit uncomfortable. I’m probably oversensitive. Like I said, he’s a nice friendly lad. Why do you ask?’
Jodie smiled. ‘We’re just putting a picture together of Mina’s last known movements.’
She moved quickly towards the hall. ‘I’ll be next door. See you in a little while, Kath. And thank you.’
As she closed the door, I was left musing. It had all been a bit Columbo, if you asked me. ‘One last thing.’ That’s what he always said, didn’t he, when he was onto something? A casual throwaway question that revealed a killer clue. Sounded like Den was a ‘person of interest’. And what were the ‘developments’ she’d mentioned before? She’d never actually told me. Aching legs or not, perhaps I’d take a walk round the estate today, maybe call in at the café, see what I could sniff out.