Maggie hadn’t got more than two steps towards the hotel again when someone else called her name.
She turned to see Lyndsey Shepherd, the consular officer, bearing down on her.
‘How’s it going with the family?’ Lyndsey asked.
‘Good. I’m getting a lot of info from them – now it’s a case of deciding what’s relevant and what isn’t. What brings you here?’
‘I wanted to see how they’re bearing up and to discuss rearranging their return flights and accommodation in case Jade doesn’t turn up by the time they’re due to go home. It’s not going to be the easiest of conversations, so it would be good if you were there while I had it.’
‘Agreed. Let’s go up together.’
They walked into the reception and Maggie revelled in its air-conditioned coolness after the heat of outdoors.
‘I passed George Pope and his dad a moment ago,’ said Lyndsey. ‘The dad looked upset.’
Maggie felt her cheeks warm and cursed herself for reacting to the mere mention of George’s name.
‘That’s my fault. He wanted me to introduce him to Clive and Mandy so he could offer his support. I told him it wasn’t a good idea. George was walking him back to his apartment.’ She caught the look of disquiet on Lyndsey’s face. ‘Philip meant well.’
‘I’m sure he did. It’s a shame the same can’t be said of his son.’
‘You really don’t like George Pope, do you? What’s up with that?’
Lyndsey pulled a face. ‘Is it that obvious?’
‘Blindingly,’ Maggie laughed.
‘I know I should be kinder because of his sister, but I find him obnoxious. The way he talks down to people really grates on me.’
‘I can’t say I’ve noticed myself.’
‘He’s on his best behaviour for the anniversary. But George is a regular visitor to Majorca and he’s not a nice person to deal with, trust me. The last time he was in Palma the police had to be called when he threatened a jeweller at his store – the same one your boss tracked down over Katy’s missing ring. I was called in to smooth things over and the way he spoke to me was so awful I should’ve let the police arrest him.’
Maggie felt a spike of alarm.
‘Why was he there?’
‘He said he wanted to see if the jeweller could remember anything else about the man who came in asking about the value of a ring like Katy’s.’
It sounded like a plausible reason for him being there, Maggie thought.
‘He wants his sister’s killer to be caught. There’s nothing wrong with that,’ she said.
‘He called me a stupid bitch for doing my job,’ said Lyndsey.
Maggie was shocked: she couldn’t imagine George calling anyone by that name, let alone a consular officer.
‘No, you’re right, that’s indefensible.’
The lift pinged to announce it was on the ground floor and the doors slid open for them to board.
‘Exactly. He’s got a nasty streak, so watch yourself with him.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ asked Maggie abruptly.
Lyndsey shot her a look. ‘George Pope is all charm when he wants something, that’s all I’m saying.’
Maggie squirmed under the woman’s hard stare. ‘How regularly does he come over here?’ she asked, wanting to deflect it.
‘Once or twice in the spring usually but this year it’s been four times since April. Each time he’s stayed in Orquídea.’
The lift rose smoothly, taking them towards the top floor.
Maggie was shocked. George hated the place so much, why would he stay there on a regular basis? ‘How do you know all this anyway?’
Lyndsey gazed up at her reflection in the lift’s mirrored ceiling as though she was mulling something over, then looked back at Maggie. ‘I’ve been keeping tabs on him. There’s something about him I don’t trust.’
‘Is that based on anything specific besides how he was at the jewellery shop?’
‘No, it’s just a gut feeling I have.’
Maggie knew all about trusting gut feelings – normally hers never let her down. But right now it wasn’t sharing Lyndsey’s concern about George; nothing he’d done so far had alarmed her, other than being too attractive for his own good. She decided to deflect the conversation.
‘What happens if Jade isn’t found in the next few days? Do you think we’ll be asked to stay on?’
‘If the police here put in a request to the Home Office asking for that, then yes. But they might not want outside help.’
The lift glided to a halt and the two women got out.
‘Why wouldn’t they?’ Maggie asked.
‘People have long memories and they haven’t forgotten the kicking that the British press gave the police here over their handling of the original investigation. It still smarts. Plus Brexit being dragged out hasn’t helped. Police from non-member states can ask for cooperation on investigations involving nationals in EU countries but it’s not as easy when you’re one yourself.’ Lyndsey explained. ‘I suspect Inspector Jasso will bide his time before any invitation is issued. That doesn’t mean you can’t stay on though – whether you do is up to you, as long as DCI Walker remembers that it’s not in any official capacity.’
As though aware he was being talked about, Walker chose that moment to text Maggie demanding she return to the team’s hotel as a matter of urgency.
‘I’m being summoned,’ said Maggie, closing the text. ‘Can you let Clive and Mandy know I’ve been called away? They can ring my mobile if they need anything. I know I’m not officially their FLO, but I’m here to help them for whatever reason. It’s bad enough being the victim of a crime at home, but it must be bewildering when it happens abroad.’
‘It really is,’ said Lyndsey. ‘I’ve never dealt with a missing person’s case involving a British national before, but I’ve had my fair share of sexual assaults, robberies and fatal car accidents to deal with. Magaluf alone is a nightmare for incidents involving tourists. People say to me it must be lovely working on an island where there’s pretty much sunshine all year round but I get to see the darker side of life on Majorca and, believe me, it’s no holiday.’