Back at Stafford Police Station, Maggie saw that Bethany was still at work trying to get the information from the security team that had installed the camera outside of Kate’s flat. Bethany rolled her eyes and pointed at the headset. Maggie left her to it but didn’t hold out much hope.
‘Any news from the crime scene?’ DI Rutherford walked into the office.
Nathan recounted the information they had so far, and DI Rutherford’s face was strained. Dark circles danced around her eyes and Maggie noticed she’d stopped trying to cover them with make-up lately. She made a note to check up on her once they had a solid lead – any sooner and Maggie knew that she would just be fobbed off. The focus would be on getting Kate back safely; anything else would take a back seat.
‘Has anyone contacted the DAHU yet? I know they’ve been informed of Kate’s situation, but it might help if we heard first-hand the last thing people remember before Kate left the office. Who did she talk to? Where did she say she was going? We know she received a text from her neighbour, but her colleagues may be able to tell us a bit more about her demeanour at the time.’
‘I’ll do that now, ma’am.’ Maggie sat at her desk and dialled the direct number to the DAHU.
‘Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit, PC Fielding speaking. How can I help?’
‘Hi Mark, it’s Maggie here. I’m calling about Kate.’
‘Hey. What the hell is happening? Did you find her?’
‘No, we haven’t. I’m afraid I don’t have much time to talk, but I’d like to know if you or anyone spoke to Kate before she left work yesterday?’
‘Yeah. She asked me to pass on a message to DI Calleja. Said her neighbour called about her cat and she had to rush to the vet?’
‘Wait. She said she went to the vet or to her neighbour’s to take her cat to the vet. This is important.’
‘Sorry. She was getting her cat to go to the vet. From her neighbour.’
‘OK. How did she appear? Was she nervous? Did she seem off in any way?’
‘Just upset. Like I would expect someone to be if they were worried. If I thought it was anything more, I would have contacted you.’
‘Shit. I know, Mark. Sorry. We’re none the wiser then. Oh, one more thing. Did Kate have her mobile phone with her?’
‘Hang on. I’ll check her office.’
Maggie waited a few minutes before Mark returned to the phone.
‘It was on her desk. She’s always forgetting it. Do you want me to drop it up to you guys on my way to HQ? I am heading up there shortly.’
‘That would be great. See you soon.’
Maggie ended the call with Mark placing the receiver back in its cradle.
‘Any luck?’ Nathan queried.
‘No. Only that Kate doesn’t have her mobile so we won’t even be able to see if we can locate her through that. Dammit. I kept reminding her to keep that with her. Mark is dropping it up shortly. Maybe Bethany can find something useful on it – though I hate to breach her privacy this way.’
‘I know what you mean, but right now, we need to focus on Kate’s abduction and whatever we need to do, will get done.’
Maggie hoped they reached Kate in time. There was no telling what the killer would do to her or how long he would hold her before she ended up another one of his living dolls.