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At Persford Police Station the atmosphere was frenetic. They were still awaiting the detailed forensic reports from Alistair but they now had a name and a probable location of Jessica’s captivity to investigate. The fact that Ron Radford was the owner of Brensford Manor also convinced Andy Walters that The Flamingo club was connected with this affair. Could Scott Briggs and Lee Percival be the identities of the two male bodies, he would bet on it. To be able to charge Ron Radford with a serious offence was the stuff of his dreams. That local business magnate had eluded the police for too long and nobody truly believed that his huge wealth had all been obtained legally.
Andy and Mike were planning the best way to go about interviewing Ron Radford and investigating the lap dancing club. They needed to conduct enquiries at the same time to avoid anyone being alerted on either site. Initially, they planned to question Ron Radford on the premises but if he proved to be uncooperative they could insist he came into the station. A magistrate was expected to sign a search warrant for his property this afternoon. As Shani Patel had identified the site of Jessica’s incarceration Andy thought it only right that she should be on the team paying a visit to Brensford Manor. He also thought it would be more appropriate if she didn’t visit the lap dancing club. Therefore, she would accompany him to interview Ron Radford, along with a team of uniformed officers who could search the extensive grounds. Andy had looked at Ron’s property on Google Earth and it was an impressive pile. A sprawling house with numerous outbuildings and large gardens.
The other team led by Inspector Mike Harris would visit the lap dancing club. DC Dave Goodman would be the other member of CID, again accompanied by a team from the uniformed branch. Home office officials had also been notified in the event that they found any illegal immigrants without the necessary documents working there. They were planning both visits for 7 p.m. this evening. Without due reason, visits very late in the evening could constitute harassment. So far they only had Jessica’s testament that she had been held captive. Surely someone with a responsible job in the city wouldn’t make all of this up. Her boyfriend had been courageous enough to come forward and admit buying illegal drugs so it seemed very unlikely that this was an elaborate hoax.
Andy had also actioned one of his team to contact local dentists to find out whether either Scott Briggs or Lee Percival were patients in order to access their dental records. So far examination of road traffic cameras had not proved useful. There were very few near to the field where the van was found although several vans had been seen to pass through the last main road junction on the most likely route to the field. One of the registrations was shown to belong to a fifteen-year old Nissan Micra car so someone had obviously stolen the plates from the car and affixed them to the stolen van. These details were now being cross-checked against any reports of stolen vehicles and the owner of the Nissan Micra was being traced.
Donna Peters knocked on Andy’s office door.
‘Sir, I’ve a voicemail from Erin Jones. She left a message saying that her boyfriend Scott was in hospital and she was going to visit him. She asked me to phone her back.’
Andy Walters frowned. ‘But I thought we checked all the hospitals and no-one of that name had been admitted?’
‘We did check. I’ve just had someone check again, well the three nearest hospitals and he’s not in any of them. I keep phoning her mobile but it just connects to her voicemail.’
‘So what do you think has happened?’
‘Well, I’ve just phoned the university where she works and a colleague says she took a call on her mobile and then rushed out without explanation. They heard Erin say Scott’s name and then she asked if he was OK, but that’s all they could tell me.’
‘She works at the university?’
‘Yes, admin assistant apparently, chemistry department.’
‘Oh, no, I don’t like the sound of this.’ Andy leaned back in his chair. He had a bad feeling about this. Someone else was connected with the university. Somehow this investigation seemed to be spreading like an oil slick, encompassing more and more victims. He didn’t want to speculate but it sounded as though Erin had been duped.
‘What do we do?’
‘OK, Donna, keep me posted. Keep trying her number. See whether we can trace any numbers which have phoned her mobile. Although if you do trace anything it will doubtless be from an unregistered mobile. See if we can check CCTV at the university,’ he sighed. ‘That’s all we can do for the moment.’
‘OK, will do,’ and Donna left Andy to his thoughts.
**
Shirley had been shocked when she’d taken Natasha her breakfast. She was used to seeing Natasha in pain and ready for her next set of painkillers but this morning she was barely responsive. Her speech was indistinct and she was holding her head, occasionally thrashing it from side to side and against the pillow. It was a distressing sight. Shirley had immediately phoned their on-call nurse who said she would contact the consultant but in the meantime, Shirley should increase the dose of steroids and she would attend as soon as possible to administer a pain-killing injection.
**
‘How sure are you that we can get some forensic evidence of Jessica’s incarceration?’ Chief Superintendent Leighton asked Mike and Andy.
‘Well, if there was as much blood as Jessica claims both from her and her captor, then there should still be traces. The floor is tiled, it could have soaked into the grouting. Also, Luminol should show up blood stains.’
‘Well that’s true, providing she’s not exaggerating,’ said the superintendent.
‘Jessica has agreed to accompany us and try to identify where she was held captive. She has been very reluctant as it seems she’s suffered some sort of post-traumatic incident today. Her GP had to give her some medication. Thankfully our Family Liaison officer Jill has managed to persuade her and will accompany Jessica to give her some moral support.’
The Chief Superintendent stood to gaze out of his office window. ‘You do know how serious it will be if nothing is found? Ron Radford plays golf with the Assistant Chief Constable. They’re good pals. Also, Ron is involved in a lot of charity work, Rotary, lots of health charities, youth clubs. He’s a pillar of the community as far as many are concerned.’
Mike and Andy both rolled their eyes at this latest comment.
‘Yes, I know, there have been accusations and allegations before and nobody in this room believes his wealth has been obtained through legitimate businesses. But suspecting is one thing and proving it is another. We still have no idea why he might have wanted this chap to steal that chemical compound from the university do we?’
‘Well, not exactly but someone thinks they saw something in a local paper about his daughter being ill with cancer and the family have been fundraising for cancer charities. It’s unlikely we could obtain a court order to access her medical records as she’s unlikely to be involved in any crime.’
‘But what was he planning to do with it? Treat her with it? It sounds preposterous. It might have killed her if it is a prototype treatment.’ Peter Leighton started to pace back and forth.
Mike and Andy decided it was best to remain silent rather than to argue their case. Their boss didn’t like to feel he was being pressurised or being badgered into making a decision.
After what seemed like an age, Peter turned around and sat down again. ‘OK, I’ll authorise you to take a forensic team and Jessica along to Ron’s place. Make sure you are organised, we don’t want any fuck-ups. But I’m telling you, if this all goes wrong then it’s not going to look good for you at all.’
**
Later that day Ron returned from a business meeting. He rushed into the lounge to find Shirley in her familiar pose on the sofa drinking a gin and tonic.
‘How is she now?’ he asked.
‘Better than this morning, comfortable, I guess you would say. She’s sleeping.’
‘I phoned Dr Fitzwilliam, he’s arranging another scan early next week. I’ve organised an ambulance to take Natasha.’
‘I’m just afraid what the scan will show,’ said Shirley.
‘Listen, I’ve something interesting to tell you. Wait, whilst I get a drink.’
Ron poured himself a couple of fingers of whisky and sat down facing Shirley. He took a large gulp. ‘There’s a doctor in Switzerland who has just developed a new surgical technique for treating glioblastoma tumours, particularly those in the same location as Natasha’s. I didn’t understand it all but it’s to do with how they can guide the laser to cut away the tumour, it’s more accurate, less chance of brain damage.’
Shirley raised her eyebrows. ‘He didn’t mention it before.’
‘Well, it’s very new, as I said and Dr Fitzwilliam was waiting to see how this latest patient recovered. He didn’t want to get our hopes up.’
‘And, how is the patient?’
‘Well, it seems the young man is better than expected. He’s expected to leave hospital soon. Although he will have a long recovery. It’s amazing,’ he finished his drink and poured another one.
‘Has he agreed to take Natasha as a patient?’
‘Well, not yet, but I’m flying out next week, once I’ve been able to set up a meeting with him. I’m trying to contact him, but it’s the weekend now, so I might not be able to get in touch with him until Monday,’ he paused. ‘It’s our last chance, we’ve got to take a gamble on this.’
Shirley finished her drink, ‘OK, let’s do it,’ she said and poured herself another drink.
They sat in companionable silence for a while. Then Ron’s mobile buzzed.
‘Sorry to bother you, boss,’ said the voice, ‘the police are here to speak to you.’
