DI Ward had got hold of CCTV footage of the street corner that faced Acton Green.
‘I’ve been trawling this,’ she said, the images running behind her. ‘The whole of Saturday.’ She looked worn.
I watched people heading to and from the Green, toward Acton Green Tube and some heading back up toward Acton. It was strange to see people going about their business, probably totally unaware they were being watched.
‘I had just about given up,’ she continued, grabbing a rancid-looking coffee and drinking deeply, ‘and then I saw this.’ Her voice was cool and she barely made eye contact.
She paused the image.
I leant in toward the screen, not really sure what I was looking at.
‘There. Is that the woman you were talking about?’
I stared hard at the grainy image and as DI Ward zoomed in, I shot bolt upright, my legs starting to tremble. ‘Yes, I think that’s her.’ It was hard to be sure, the image was so fuzzy, but her outline now looked so familiar.
‘Unfortunately, I haven’t found any footage of her face but it seemed to match the description you gave me.’ She glanced down at her notes; my statement. ‘A woman, five foot seven-ish inches, black coat.’ She tapped the screen. ‘I haven’t seen Paul and Amy, though.’ She glanced at me.
‘Yes, but you haven’t seen me either?’ I challenged.
‘Well, you know I was there so that doesn’t prove Paul is telling the truth.’ My breathing had quickened. ‘Can you zoom in a bit more?’
‘It wouldn’t make much difference. I mean this is sadly not much to go on but at least we have a positive sighting. And you’re sure this is the woman you saw talking to Amy?’
‘Yes.’ I was sure because the same sickly dread washed over me.
‘OK, well I’ll keep looking. Get one of the PCs to scan the day before and after too.’ She nodded, rubbed her eyes with her forefinger and thumb. ‘Any more thoughts on the therapy? We need you to help us here.’
I shook my head. ‘I told you I’m not going down that route. You just push Paul on why he’s lying.’
She gave a nod. ‘Fine.’
‘Are you pushing him?’
‘We’re doing everything we can.’ She stood up. ‘Though, I’m not sure you’re doing everything you can.’
I left the police station feeling like time was running away like sand in a timer, yet nothing had changed. As I emerged on the steps I looked up and down the road. I felt like someone was watching me. Perhaps exhaustion was taking its toll and, with it, I was becoming increasingly paranoid. But a sixth sense told me I wasn’t. I looked up and down the street, my gaze searching the buildings, the passers-by. As I scanned the road, my eyes caught a movement in one of the windows above me and my eyes came to rest on the second floor of the police station.
DI Ward stood in the window watching me. My breath caught and, seconds later, the detective moved away. Her belief in me was ebbing away; sadly my own belief in what I thought to be true was ebbing too.