Chapter Thirty-Eight

 

Soon, everything had been put in place. In order to catch everyone when they were in, and to avoid Slater finding out too much about what they were up to, early evening interviews had been planned.

Suse and Emma drove together, initially in silence, until Suse spoke. 'We're going to have to approach this carefully, you know.'

'Why? What could be the problem?'

'Well, this is a witness for one thing, so no charging in there like she's a suspect. And, while your information is very useful, we still have no idea why there is a link.'

'I did say--'

'I know what you theorised with Rob Haines. But there's no way to know if that's right or not. Usually we ask people if they have any enemies, anyone who'd be capable of this. But I don't want to tip our hand too early, I don't want them knowing that we're looking at all three of them.'

'Surely we can simply ask if they know the other two, or if they're in regular touch? Some people make friendships at school that last a lifetime.' Emma kept focused on the road ahead, but she could feel Suse turn to study her. It was no secret that Emma had few ties to her past.

'That'd be fine. But we just need to fish, ask how they're doing, see what they remember of Callum Frost, that kind of thing. And we need to make notes, to record as much as we can.'

This was really basic interview technique and Emma would normally have felt insulted and patronised. But she also knew how key these three interviews were going to be. And how nervous Suse must be. They were going behind the boss's back and this was their one chance to get the information before the three women knew that the police had made the connection. Until they knew what that link was, there was no way of preventing the killer from finding out what they knew either.

Finally, they arrived at the house in Coopers End. Where Seaview still clung on to some community spirit, Coopers End was the poor relation. Despite that, Eileen Sanders let them in and soon they were sat on a crushed velour sofa.

'We just thought we'd pop in to see how you were doing after the incident at the hotel,' Suse said.

'Did you now?' Eileen replied, her eyes sliding from one officer to the other. 'Always send out plain clothes to do that, do you? Weeks after the liaison officer has buggered off?' There was a tense silence. 'Well, if you must know, fairly awful. I couldn't work at the hotel any more. Every time I went to open a door, I had flashbacks and started shaking. The boss tried to be nice about it but,' she shrugged, 'it's tough out there. Can't live on benefits, they'd force me to go back to the hotel. Now I'm cleaning offices. The hours and pay are worse, and there's no chance of promotion.' She looked down and sullen. 'I was trying to get it together, you know. The hotel trade, you can work your way up, supervisor, housekeeper.' She stopped talking and looked mutinous. Both Emma and Suse knew that silence was the best way to keep her talking. Eventually she started again, but hesitantly as if the words were dragged out of her. 'Teachers always said I could be something, but well that didn't happen. Thought if I did well at the motel, I might just make something, finally. But now? Cleaning offices, that's a dead end. You know, what can you do?'

There was an awkward pause after the emotion from Eileen, but she was unfazed about laying her heart open. She just picked up a packet, shook out a fresh cigarette and lit it. All the time, her face was hard as she blew smoke up to the ceiling.

'Have you heard of either an Amelia Spark or a Jenny Plover?' Emma asked finally.

Again, Eileen's eyes narrowed and her shoulders tensed. 'Names don't ring a bell, what are they supposed to have done?'

'Are you sure? They would've been in your year at school,' Emma prompted. 'They grew up a few streets away from you on the Seaview. Probably went to the same pubs, hung around with the same friends.'

'The Seaview's a big estate and Bradwick High was a big school. I can't be expected to know everyone there.' Eileen looked defiant. Emma and Suse's silence meant that they weren't impressed. 'Oh wait. Did Amelia get married? Wasn't she Amelia Foyle?' She frowned and her eyes cut left and right. 'Yeah, I think she were in my class. Can't be sure though, it was a long time ago. Don't see many people from back then, if I'm honest.'

'So, you don't remember then?' Suse asked.

'Not really, we left school, went our separate ways. Didn't end up in the same pubs or jobs or whatever.'

'Did you leave school after GCSEs? Or go into further education?'

Eileen laughed, a short bark without much humour. 'Oh yes. I went and got me some fancy degree at a posh university so I could end up living here and clearing up other people's shit for a living. That was always my great life plan.' She took a drag on her cigarette, aggressively blowing smoke to the ceiling.

'So, if you left at sixteen, then that would have been around the time that Callum Frost vanished,' Emma said, picking up the thread.

'Maybe. What of it?' Eileen was suddenly focused on Emma, the muscles in her jaw bunching.

'Well, you were there,' Emma said, then stopped when she sensed the tension in the room. 'On the Seaview Estate, that's where you grew up, isn't it? What were you doing that Saturday?'

'Right, I don't know what you two are playing at but I don't have to answer your questions. I've got to get ready for work.' She stood up and pointedly opened the front door.

Suse and Emma exchanged glances before silently leaving the house.

When they were sat in the car, Emma spoke first. 'Well, that was odd. I mean, she was hiding something.'

'That much is obvious. The real question though is what exactly she is hiding.' Suse got her phone out. 'No word from the other two interviews yet. Maybe the other two witness were a bit more forthcoming. We'll head straight to the pub and wait to meet up.'

Before she could start the engine though, Eileen bustled out of the house. She was carrying a bag, obviously on her way to work. She also had her phone out. But she was scowling at it, stabbing it viciously with her finger. Finally she jammed it into her pocket and stomped off down the street and out of sight.

'Damn!' Suse said. 'What I wouldn't give to have a trace on that phone, know who she's trying to contact.'

'Oh, I think we can make a good guess. Want to bet that she can't get through because the two people on the other end are sat down being interviewed?'

'Yeah, no I wouldn't take that bet,' Suse said. 'Something does link those three women together and they'll want to talk about it.'