It was three thirty. In an hour and a half, London would fall into rush hour. Soon, grim-faced commuters would be pouring from work, while cars, taxis and double-decker buses would drive bumper to bumper, stalling Ruby’s journey. If she was going to hit the streets, she had to do it now.
Immersed in viewing CCTV, DC Ludgrove jumped as she tapped his shoulder.
‘Are you game for a trip out?’ Ruby said, casting her eyes over his desk. To his right was a wad of well-thumbed paperwork and beside it a pad imprinted with hastily scribbled notes. Fresh from the briefing, she knew his workload was high, and the physical paperwork was nothing compared to the masses of statements, exhibits, and crime scene photos uploaded online. But she reasoned with herself that if they got a quick result, his enquiries could be cut in two.
‘Sure,’ he said, appearing relieved to get the opportunity to leave the office for a while. She laid out the list in front of him. The names had already been brought up during briefing but she went over them again to refresh his memory.
‘There’s nothing to link Lisa Caldwell to the escort agency, but I figure if we concentrate on Tanner’s association with Ellie and April then we can build evidence of a case and go from there. You never know, he might admit to Lisa’s death if he’s banged to rights for the others.’
Luddy nodded. ‘So we’re only looking at women that Tanner knew who worked in the agency?’
Ruby nodded; she would have loved to have had the manpower to investigate all their leads at once, but time was precious and they had to prioritise. ‘Ellie Mason was the most recent person to leave, followed by April Meade. There’s nothing to say he won’t target the girls currently working for the Crosbys, but given their reputation in the community, it’s doubtful.’
‘Then why are they fair game once they’ve left?’ Luddy said. ‘Surely, if the girls are acquainted with such a force, that should offer them some protection?’
‘It doesn’t work like that,’ Ruby said. ‘Lenny Crosby sees the girls as his property. Think of it as owning a fleet of cars: once you trade them in, you’re no longer interested. He’s the same with his girls. Once they leave he doesn’t care what happens to them. That’s why I think Tanner’s only targeting girls who have left – they’re easy targets.’
Luddy grabbed his black suit jacket from the back of his chair. ‘Either that or the Crosbys bumped them off because they knew too much.’
Ruby felt a prickle of annoyance. Luddy had an inkling of her friendship with Nathan after the last high-profile incident. If he of all people was thinking this, what were the rest of the team saying? ‘It’s not Nathan Crosby. Haven’t you been listening to briefing?’ she snapped.
‘Sorry, Sarge, it was just a thought,’ he said, straightening his jacket and fixing his collar.
‘Call me Ruby,’ she muttered, taking a folded piece of paper from her trouser pocket. ‘Now, we’ve only got two names on this list: Sharon Connors and Mandy Prentice. Mandy was the last to leave so my guess is that Sharon is next. Initial searches have brought up nothing for Mandy. She could have got married, moved abroad, or—’
‘Or already be dead,’ Luddy said.
‘God, you’re a bundle of laughs today, aren’t you? Hopefully, Mandy’s alive and well. I do know where Sharon is though. So, if you’re up for it, I’d like to pay her a visit.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Luddy said, his words echoing down the corridor as they headed out to the car park. ‘Hang on, wasn’t there a team set up to speak to the working girls?’
Ruby nodded, impressed by his knowledge. ‘Yes, I’ve spoken to the liaison officer. Sharon’s down on her list as being spoken to – for all the good it did. All of our street girls have been on high alert since the murders, and even more so now that two of their own have been killed. Unfortunately, their addictions overrule any reservations. For most of them, it’s business as usual. Given Sharon’s told the officer where to shove their help, I’d like to approach it in a different way.’ She threw him a grin. ‘Don’t look so worried, it shouldn’t take long.’
Luddy glanced from left to right before lowering his voice. ‘Something tells me this visit isn’t by the book.’
Ruby shrugged. ‘I’m not asking you to do anything that’ll get you into trouble. I can go on my own. . .’
Luddy grinned. ‘You’re joking me, aren’t you? Anything to get out of the office.’
Ruby smiled. Once the most cautious of the group, Luddy was developing an adventurous streak. She was a bad influence.
‘Good,’ she said, unable to stop the smile spreading over her face. ‘I’m going to the loo. Here are the keys of the motor. You’re driving, I’ll see you out there.’
A quick pit stop was needed at their local convenience store. A box of chocolates, milk, bread, soup, ham and tomatoes were contained in her shopping bag, along with a six-pack of beer.
‘Bit of an odd time to do your shopping,’ Luddy said, casting an eye over her grocery bags as Ruby shoved them in the footwell of the car.
‘They’re not for me.’ Clicking her seat belt into place, she did not elaborate further. Buying alcohol on duty was strictly forbidden, but it was a small rule that Ruby was willing to break if it helped her carry out her plan.
Minutes later, they were at their location. ‘I recognise this street,’ Luddy said as he turned the corner. ‘It was in briefing.’ Boarded-up shops lined the road, their windows daubed in purple and red graffiti tags. Frayed from the wind, a tattered British flag hung from the window of the occupied flats above. On the pavement below, a man in a beanie hat and combat jacket sat slumped with eyes open, high on whatever cocktail of drugs was racing through his veins. Ruby could not imagine what it must be like to have drug users and prostitutes walking the streets outside your home all day.
‘It’s where the toms hang out,’ she said. ‘Uniform is patrolling a few times a day, but they’re still out here. Look…’ She pointed to a hard-faced brunette hanging around the corner. ‘Ten flippin’ degrees and she’s wearing a T-shirt and skirt.’
Her elbows clamped to her side, Sharon Connors peered at their car as it approached, most likely in the hope of business.
‘Pull in next to her, and wind down your window,’ she said to Luddy. ‘And for God’s sake, relax. I don’t want her running off.’ Ruby cast a sideways glance to see his knuckles tightening over the steering wheel. He would make a terrible undercover officer; Luddy always wore his heart on his sleeve.
As the car came to a halt, Sharon approached. She stuck her head in through the window of their vehicle.
‘You’re bleedin’ Old Bill, aren’t ya?’ she muttered. ‘I’m not on the game, I’m waiting for a friend.’
‘Sure you are,’ Ruby said, as Sharon spun off the same old line. That was what they always said. It was unfortunate that she recognised them – it meant having to go straight to plan B. ‘Get in the car.’
Sharon hesitated, her eyes flicking left to right. But Ruby had caught sight of her ridiculous heels. She would not be running anywhere in that get-up.
‘C’mon,’ Ruby said, ‘I just want a word. You must be freezing your tits off in this weather.’
‘Get lost! All you give me is grief.’ Sharon swivelled on her heel far more eloquently than Ruby would have given her credit for.
But Ruby wasn’t ready to give up on her just yet. ‘Stay here,’ she said to Luddy, before jumping out of the car. Taking three sharp strides, she grabbed Sharon by the forearm, tightening her grip as the girl squealed in annoyance.
‘Gerroff me!’
Ruby gave her a shake, almost sending her toppling into the gutter. ‘What’s it gonna take to get it through your thick skull that you’re in danger?’ She tapped the side of Sharon’s head three times, and the girl flinched as she pulled away. But Ruby was quicker and caught her by the wrist. ‘We’ve tried it the nice way, now we do it my way.’ Dragging her over to the car, she opened the back door.
Luddy’s eyebrows shot up in anticipation of Ruby’s next move.
‘I ain’t going with you,’ Sharon said. ‘Get your filthy copper hands off me!’
‘Just chill,’ Ruby said, bundling her into the back. She slid in beside her, grateful she had thought to check the child locks were in place before they left. ‘I’ll pay you for your time, twenty quid for twenty minutes. Now, do you want the money or not?’
‘What choice do I have?’ Sharon bleated, pulling at the car door handle, which wouldn’t open. Folding her arms, she flounced back on the seat, her lips in full pout. ‘If I don’t go with you, I’ll end up being nicked. Isn’t that right?’
‘Totally,’ Ruby said, with a satisfied smile. ‘So what’s it going to be?’
‘Forty quid,’ Sharon said, still pouting.
Ruby snorted with laughter. ‘Pull the other one. I’ll give you twenty and no more.’ She turned to Luddy. ‘Drive on if you will. Oh, I’ve always wanted to say that.’
Luddy turned on the engine and the weathered Ford Focus grumbled into life. Lately, there had been a ticking sound, and Ruby made a mental note to report it, but for now her aim was to get Sharon to safety.
‘Where are we going?’ Sharon said, peering through the smudged window. Needles of rain began to tap the glass, and she shrank back in her seat and wrapped her arms around herself.
‘You’ll find out soon enough,’ Ruby said, turning up the heating dial.
But by the time they reached Ruby’s flat, Sharon was swearing like a drunk.
‘She’s got an impressive repertoire,’ Luddy smirked as he parked up outside Ruby’s block of flats. ‘Her and Ash would get on just fine.’
Ruby imparted a tight smile, knowing that Sharon and Ash would get on a bit too well. Had he used her services too?
Sharon didn’t like surprises, Ruby could see that; the irony was that she was laying herself open for the biggest surprise of all by touting for business on the street where a murderer prowled.
Luddy had been to Ruby’s flat just once before, and his expression spoke volumes as he walked through the door. But it was easy for him, brought up in a nice semi in the suburbs. He had a somewhat privileged background, unlike Ruby, who had to fight for everything she got. It was healthy to live where she did, she told herself. Helped keep her feet on the ground.
‘Blimey,’ Sharon said, her annoyance temporarily forgotten. ‘Is this your place? It’s worse than mine.’
‘Have a seat, this won’t take long.’ She took the shopping from Luddy. His face paled, suggesting his enthusiasm for bending the rules had melted away.
Ruby prodded at the remote control until the television came to life. Her thirty-storey block of flats was a concrete mammoth. Satellite dishes sprouted from the side like mushrooms, with the occasional hanging basket softening the outlook. Ruby had only invested in Freeview, and she flicked on some random music station playing hip-hop loud enough to drown out their conversation. It competed with the usual thump, thump, thump of drum and bass from next door.
‘Sandwich?’ Ruby said, quickly making one up from the groceries she had just bought. ‘Here,’ she placed it on the cigarette cratered coffee table. ‘It might do you some good.’
But Sharon sat with her eyes on the door like a rabbit captured for sport.
‘Time we got down to business,’ Ruby said, taking a seat beside her.
She turned to Luddy, who was still hanging around near the door. Hands deep in pockets, he bounced on the soles of his feet. His discomfort was painful to watch. Ruby decided to put him out of his misery. ‘Can you wait in the car, mate? This won’t take too long.’
Slowly, Ruby checked her appearance in her compact mirror, running a line of lipstick over her mouth. She smacked her lips together, smiling to check that none had trailed against her teeth. She liked red – it made her feel empowered, in control.
As Luddy left, Sharon raised an over-plucked eyebrow. ‘What’s the real reason you’ve brought me here? You want me all to yourself, is that what it is?’
‘I’ve got a proposition for you,’ Ruby said with a sigh.