‘I’ll get onto the US State Department and see if we can track Miss Daisy,’ said Chips, taking the papers from Nas’s hand. Freddie looked at her phone screen: it’d taken time to interview Cynthia Warner and get to grips with the information she had. They had less than eight hours left. Less than a working day. Her heart was hammering against her ribcage. Her palms were sweaty. If Alex Black had been at Romeland School then they could find him. They could find Lottie. But something was niggling at her, something Cynthia had said about Black inspiring obsession.
‘This must be more than coincidence.’ Nas’s cheeks were flushed, and Freddie recognised she was excited: this was their big breakthrough. ‘If we keep digging through the threads and find where the heroin came from, we might be able to trace that back to him. The CPS would have enough for assisted suicide, manslaughter or maybe even murder for Chloe? The links between the two girls’ cases show Black’s criminal activity has been increasing. For whatever reason, he’s got bored of engineering things from the sidelines. But there are enough similarities between the two girls that suggest we’re looking at the same guy. And that gives us an advantage.’
Saunders was nodding his head, but his mouth was turned down, as if he still wasn’t sure. Nas looked at her: she wouldn’t confess about the link between the Stroftons and them would she? Nas held her gaze for a second and then kept going. ‘Chloe went to Romeland High. The first victim of Alex Black’s website was Daisy Jones, who also went to Romeland High. I think that’s where this all started. This could be our chance to get him.’
Saunders nodded. ‘It makes sense. Get onto the school and see what you can find out.’
‘I’ll see if there are any previous jobs at Romeland High on the PNC: if they’ve ever reported a burglary, vandalism or anything, then there should be contact details on the system.’
‘And try the alarm as well. If we know which alarm system they use, we can speak to the company – they’ll have keyholder details,’ Saunders said.
‘Great,’ Nas nodded.
‘When you get through, get a full list of students in the same year as Daisy Jones. And the ones either side, in case Alex Black is an alias,’ Saunders said. ‘I’ll brief the guv and let him know what we’ve got. Let’s cross-reference this with Green’s work from the PNC. The tracker was picked up heading for the M11. She could have easily been taken to North Hertfordshire from there.’
‘Freddie, could you show Cynthia Warner out – is that okay?’ Nas said.
‘Sure.’ Freddie felt them gearing up around her; she’d keep going through the printouts, see if there was anything that linked back to Romeland High.
‘Thanks.’ Nas looked relieved to have it off her list. They were assembling the pieces of the puzzle. Aligning everything. Closing the net. They could do this.
Something was bugging her and she couldn’t place her finger on it. Finger. Fingers. She was sure it was something to do with that. She opened the door to the room where Nas had left Cynthia Warner. The woman was staring at the wall, a distant look on her owlish face. Freddie coughed. ‘Hi!’
Cynthia looked up, startled. ‘Hello.’
Freddie looked at Cynthia Warner’s hands, which were covered in tarnished silver rings; her fingers looked like stacks of coins. Something was making Freddie uncomfortable. What was it? Cynthia Warner was looking wary. Freddie forced a smile onto her face. ‘I’ll show you out.’
Cynthia pulled her leather handbag towards her as she stood. Freddie kept smiling, willing her not to ask what was going on. The woman scuttled through the open door.
‘You don’t have to see me out, I’m sure I can find my way,’ she said.
‘Security’s tight.’ Freddie’s face was aching.
Spots of colour appeared on the woman’s cheeks. Freddie didn’t trust herself to say anything else. The horror of it all pushed up from under her skin. They rode in silence in the lift, Cynthia merely nodding goodbye to Freddie, lost in her own thoughts about Alex Black.
‘Ms Warner!’ Lorna the receptionist called. ‘PC Goldstein is waiting outside to give you a lift.’
Cynthia didn’t turn. Outside there were still photographers. As soon as the woman stepped out the flashbulbs started. Freddie tried to breathe normally. Her jaw hurt. Lorna was still staring at her. She held a palm up in acknowledgement and the girl smiled and waved back. And Freddie saw it: fingers. She fought to keep the smile on her face, she fought not to run, but as soon as she was out of sight she pressed the lift button agitatedly and reached for her phone. She knew she’d seen that ring before. She pressed play on the video. What was it Cynthia had said: Alex Black inspires obsession. The screen sprang to life. Oh shit. They were making a mistake. Freddie sprinted from the lift. She had to warn them. Now.