‘So how did it go with Dr Blake?’ Nathan queried when Maggie arrived back.
‘Can we go into your office?’ Maggie looked around at her colleagues. It wasn’t that she wanted to keep them out of the frame, but she needed to get things clear in her mind.
‘Sure.’ Nathan let Maggie lead the way. She sat down and took a breath. ‘I’m worried I did the wrong thing today. You should have seen Kate’s face, looking at the pictures and hearing what happened to those women. She crumbled.’
‘Hang on, it was Kate’s idea. How could you possibly have known how she would react?’
‘I know, but you didn’t see her. It’s like the penny dropped and she knew she’d be next. I felt so helpless.’ Maggie rubbed her knees. ‘I shouldn’t have made her go. I was being selfish. I thought if she saw the pictures, saw what he did to them, she would … I don’t know. Fuck, Nathan. I messed up big time.’
‘Hey. Calm down. I played a part in this too, OK. I allowed it. I thought it would help her form a profile. No one forced her to go; it was her suggestion in the first place. Where is she now?’
‘I dropped her at Markston.’ Maggie then remembered that Kate said she would text her when she got up to the office. ‘Hang on. Let me check my phone.’ No text. ‘Shit. I need to call Kate. Two secs.’ Maggie called her mobile, but it went straight to answerphone. ‘Shit. Shit. Shit.’ She called Markston Police Station; this was feeling a bit like déjà vu. Mark Fielding answered the phone.
‘Mark. It’s Maggie. Is Kate there? I can’t reach her on her mobile.’
‘Actually, you just missed her. She left about twenty minutes ago. I think she has a bug. She was heading back to yours.’
‘Did anyone take her, do you know?’
‘I offered as I’m just on my way out to Police HQ, but she just left.’
‘Fuck. Thanks, Mark.’ It frustrated her that Kate wasn’t taking her own personal safety seriously or even considering how her blasé attitude was affecting others … well, affecting Maggie, to be exact. Maggie ended the call and dialled her landline.
Just when she was about to panic, a familiar voice answered the phone.
‘Shit, Kate. Why didn’t you let me know you were leaving work?’
‘Sorry. Look, I feel like I’m a prisoner with all these check ins. First someone is stalking me and now I have to call you every time I leave a room. I can’t do it.’
Her voice cracked.
‘No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m just really concerned. You’re right. I need to back off.’ Maggie recalled the conversation she’d previously had with Nathan. She could be full-on and it wasn’t helping the situation. ‘I just panicked when you didn’t answer your mobile. Your safety is more than just a job to me – you’re my friend. Anyway, do you need anything brought back? My treat.’
Kate laughed and Maggie relaxed.
‘I know you mean well. All good here. In fact, I’ve been working on a profile, something that might help when you have some persons of interest in your sights. I’ll show it to you when you’re back. Oh …’
Maggie heard some mumbling in the background. ‘Is someone there?’
‘Yes. Your brother just got in. We’re all good now. I’m going to go, OK?’
Maggie steadied her voice. There was something there between Andy and Kate. It unnerved her. ‘Yeah. See you soon.’
The call ended and Maggie looked at Nathan. ‘Do you mind if I head off soon?’
‘Actually, I do. Why? Is everything OK?’ Nathan sat back in his chair.
‘Yeah, sorry. Of course I need to stay. I don’t know what I was thinking. Ignore me. Kate’s fine and my brother is with her now, so at least I know someone’s around.’
Nathan eyed Maggie suspiciously. ‘And there’s nothing else you want to tell me?’
‘No. If we’re through here, I’m going to go and speak with Bethany to see if she’s found anything on the social media accounts she’s been looking at.’ Maggie saw Kat out of the corner of her eye. ‘Ah, there’s Kat. She was interviewing the agency manager. I’ll check what he had to say too.’
‘Sounds good. Keep me posted.’
***
‘Kat! Do you have a few minutes to catch me up on your interview?’
‘Yep. Not much to tell, really. The guy admits to perving on Kelsey Gilbey and was worried if we kept asking questions his wife would find out.’
‘I knew there was something off with him. Can we add him to our persons of interest list?’ Maggie held her hands out, waiting for Kat’s response.
‘’Fraid not. He was at an anniversary dinner in London with his wife and then a show. Even had the ticket stubs in his wallet. He was at a conference in Sheffield when Tracy disappeared. Can you imagine all the slimy suited bastards there? I just confirmed it with the hotel. It was a week-long, team-building conference. Who does those things?’ She shrugged.
‘Damn. Thanks, Kat. Back to the drawing board then. Maybe Bethany had more luck with the social media profiles.’ Maggie’s excitement had quickly deflated, and if they didn’t find something soon, Maggie feared she’d lose more than just her pride.