‘Okay, guys it’s almost ten and we've been at it for fifteen hours. Time to call it a night.’
Kim rubbed her forehead. There was little else they could do at this stage.
Everyone began tidying up their work area.
‘Leave it. I'll do it later.’
Bryant gave her a look which she ignored. The last few hours had been spent poring over the old case notes, re-reading witness statements and trying to find some kind of geographical link.
‘You coming, Matt?’ Bryant asked from the doorway.
‘Nah, got detention,’ he said.
Bryant smiled and hesitated. She knew he was looking her way but she didn’t look back.
Everyone took a moment to bid Matt goodnight. Bloody traitors. He had gradually been wheedling his way into the team; making a fresh pot of coffee here, fetching a takeaway there. It might work on her feckless team but it wouldn’t work on her.
‘So, what's your strategy?’ she asked, as they faced each other across the table. ‘And don't say it's none of my business ’cos it bloody well is.’
‘Well, since you asked so nicely I'm going to tell you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, you need all the help you can get. I'm going to get Stephen to make an offer first thing in the morning.’
‘You do know they've got no money?’
‘You caught that too?’
‘Hard to miss. Obviously Robert knew as well, which is why he started trying to negotiate for both girls. I can't hold that against him even though he pissed on your chips.’
‘But see, you're using emotion again and not logic.’
Kim felt the familiar irritation growing inside her. ‘I'm acknowledging his generosity, not giving him a gold star.’
Matt shrugged. ‘You're getting a bit close; a bit involved.’
‘Don't be bloody ridiculous,’ she snapped.
‘Really? Why did you take Stephen Hanson outside?’
‘I didn't appreciate his reference to body bags in front of the others.’
‘Nothing to do with him slapping his wife around?’ Matt asked.
‘The family dynamics of each couple are nothing to do with me.’
He tutted. ‘You know, I hear the words but I just don't feel the conviction behind them. You're getting attached.’
‘I'm not, but even if I was, would that be such a bad thing?’
He thought for a moment and then nodded. ‘Yes. You were right to take Stephen outside for what he said but Stephen is an easy man to confront. He's an arsehole and you don't like him. But would you have had the same conversation with Robert?’
‘Yes,’ she said, immediately. And she knew it to be true. She never got too close to anyone, as demonstrated by the contact list on her phone.
‘Hmmm … we'll agree to differ on that one.’
Kim offered a mock yawn. ‘And now I'd like to go to bed.’
She looked pointedly at the door.
Matt gathered up his folders and left the room without speaking.
She didn’t appreciate his observation, not least because it echoed Bryant’s words to her earlier. She was not emotionally involved in the case. She was driven and determined to bring Charlie and Amy home. And she would not allow herself to think otherwise.
The dining table resembled an explosion in a printing factory. She began tidying Bryant's pile first.
‘Err … we appear to have a problem,’ Matt said, coming back into the room.
She rolled her eyes. ‘I told you …’
‘There appears to be a man in my bed.’
‘Excuse me …’
Matt closed the door but still spoke quietly as he placed his folders back on the table. ‘Stephen Hanson is sleeping on the sofa so I'm guessing his wife knows about the money.’
She looked at the folders and then back at him. ‘I’ve spotted at least four sofas, five armchairs and a giant bean bag. I’m sure …’
His words trailed away as her phone began to ring.
It was not a number she recognised. Her first thought was of the kidnappers and a fresh phone, but the number began with the area prefix.
‘Stone,’ she answered.
Silence greeted her at the other end.
Kim cast a glance at Matt, who had stopped messing with his papers.
‘Stone,’ she repeated.
Still nothing but the line was active. Behind the silence was the background hum of traffic.
‘Hello,’ she said, softly.
‘Is that the police lady?’
The voice was soft, young and scared.
‘This is Kim Stone.’
‘It's Emily … Emily Trueman. I've run away.’
‘Oh Jesus,’ Kim said. Matt was watching her intently. ‘Emily, where are you?’
‘I caught a bus. I think I'm in Lye.’
‘Tell me what's around you. What can you see?’
‘There's a pub called The Railway. There are three men standing outside smoking. There's an Indian restaurant on the corner and a pizza takeaway on the …’
‘Okay, Emily, I need you to go into the pizza place and stay there.’
Kim knew the takeaway well. It was brightly lit and busy on the corner of a four-way intersection. The Railway pub was tiny but decent enough.
‘I don't have any money,’ Emily said.
‘Just tell them you're lost and that the police are coming to get you. Can you do that for me, Emily?’
‘I th-think so.’
‘Listen, you must do what I tell you. Don't move from inside that shop. I'm coming to get you but you must stay there. Do you understand?’
‘Yes.’
The voice was small and frightened and Kim realised that despite everything Emily had been through, she was dealing with a ten-year-old who was younger than her years. On the Hollytree estate alone she knew of five kids that age who were the proud owners of ASBOs, but it was dark and late and the girl was away from her mother for the first time in months.
‘Don't worry, Emily. Everything is going to be okay. We'll sort it all out when I get there. Now go to the pizza shop and I'll be there in a few minutes.’
‘Okay,’ Emily said.
Kim ended the call and turned to Matt. Her options were seriously limited.
‘Do you have a car, because you're coming with me.’