‘Hi, Sophia, what have you got for me?’ After finishing with Padraig Daly, Ridpath had driven straight back to the coroner’s office.
‘I went through the missing person file you sent me for Jane Ryder.’
‘And? What do you think?’
‘It’s a bit weak, isn’t it? No follow-up with the friend, Rose Gray, and I noticed there was a referral to Social Services, but again, no report. Are you sure you sent me everything?’
‘It’s all there is in the file. I forgot to ask Chrissy if she’d found more documents when I saw her this morning, but I’m sure she would have told me if she’d dug them up.’
Sophia checked her notes. ‘I googled Rose Gray. Of course, there were over two and a half million results.’
‘Not helpful.’
‘Not at all. So I checked the missing person file and her address was give as 24 Earlington Road, Sale. I cross-checked the name on the electoral register for 2009 and found a family with the surname Gray living at the address. It was a Mr and Mrs Alfred Gray.’
‘Great, Sophia, we need to go round there.’
‘I already checked it out, Ridpath.’
‘I thought you might. And?’
‘And… they aren’t living there anymore.’
‘Not surprising, it was nearly twelve years ago. Well done, at least we know she existed. Why didn’t the police check with her? The parents certainly did.’
‘I’m not finished yet. I guessed Rose may have married in the meantime and perhaps changed her last name. So I went to the registrar of marriages and found three Rose Grays had married in England in the period between 2009 and 2020.’
‘You’re going to tell me you found her, aren’t you?’
‘I rang all three possibilities and found the girl we were looking for living in…’
‘Manchester?’
‘Right first time. One of the new developments on Palatine Road. She’s now known as Rose Anstey and she works for ITV at Salford Quays. I’ve arranged for you to see her tomorrow during her lunch break. I hope it was the right time for you?’
‘Perfect.’
‘There’s more. I went to see Mr Roscoe, Jane’s old teacher, this morning at the school. He basically said she was the perfect student: bright, attentive, hard working and punctual. She was expected to go straight into the sixth form, studying History and English. He seemed genuinely devastated she disappeared.’
‘Did you check up on him?’
‘Of course. The school secretary had nothing but praise, said he doted on his pupils. Perhaps a little too much.’
‘Interesting, worth following up. It wouldn’t be the first time a teacher had a relationship with a young female pupil.’
‘I can ask around.’
‘Do it. You asked him to make himself available for the inquest?’
‘He wasn’t too chuffed, neither was the school secretary. They were complaining about having to arrange a substitute teacher.’
‘It’s a hard life,’ said Ridpath, without any sympathy. ‘How about the other friend, Andrea Briggs? She’s not mentioned in the misper report.’
‘Perhaps the police didn’t talk to her? Anyway, nothing so far. Couldn’t find any Briggs listed in the electoral register and I forgot to ask the school.’
‘No worries, keep looking. Have I ever told you, you’re a bloody marvel, Sophia.’
‘No.’
‘Well, you are.’
An awkward silence stretched between the two of them for a second before Ridpath pointed over his shoulder. ‘I’d better be off. Time to see a copper about a missing girl.’
‘Take care, Ridpath.’
‘Will do, but it’ll be easier to take the car.’ He blushed. ‘Sorry, one of my daughter’s jokes.’
‘The old ones are still the best.’