Chrissie had hoped the morning would put her in a better mood. At breakfast her brother and Robin had seemed particularly optimistic about their chances of resolving Billie’s situation. They expressed a confidence in their new ally, Detective Inspector Emily Blake, and the promise of support in some form or another from a commander who was based at Scotland Yard. But he was now absent from the scene. Having spent the night in closer circumstances with Emily, Chrissie had reservations she wished she could air with Ed, but now she was alone again with the woman who insisted on being addressed as ‘Em' in the passenger seat, speeding on the M61 towards Preston.
‘How are we for time?’
Emily didn’t look up from her phone. ‘We’re doing fine. Don’t worry about it.’
‘When you’re finished chatting, I want to run something by you.’
No answer. Just a two-thumbed tap-tap-tapping that went on for some seconds before the phone was left aside. ‘Right. What have you got?’
‘Nerves,’ came the one-word answer. Then she supplied the longer version. ‘One thing worries me. No! Two things… several actually. Sorry, I’m just not good in these sort of situations.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I know I’m joining the Glasgow train at Lancaster, then getting off at Preston to meet Billie with a ten-year-old girl in tow, but we don’t actually have one. Plus, assuming this Meredith person is pretending to be Billie, how are we supposed to arrange a rendezvous on a busy station? You know, like meet under the clock on platform 12 and wear something purple. All he’s said is he’ll meet me off the train, but while I do know Billie, I’m not supposed to be expecting someone in his place, who doesn’t know me, and there’s no Tina, so what does—’
‘Hold it, Chrissie! Take a breath. And watch your speed, we’ve plenty of time yet.’
Chrissie was amazed that her companion could sound so calm, but she did as she was told and eased off the gas. She tried breath control, willing herself to count to four as she exhaled, using the speed of the wipers as a metronome.
‘You’re going to have to trust me on this,’ said Emily. ‘You’re doing fine, and I know it must be difficult for you, but things will be okay, I promise. We’ve almost an hour before I need to leave you at Lancaster, and we should get there in half that. What I would suggest, if it bothers you, is once you’re on the train, send Billie another message asking him where to meet at Preston. I’m guessing you may get one anyway sometime soon, as fixing something specific is in their interests as much as ours. Then copy me in on whatever is said.’
‘Where will you be?’
‘I’ll be taking good care of your rental car. And then, hopefully, of Billie.’
*
Chief Superintendent Tanner’s morning was also under strain. ‘A landslide? What is this? Some sort of political joke?’ He pressed the phone to his ear, tapping his pen onto a pad in front of him, feeding his natural cynicism like peanuts to a monkey. ‘So that gives us an ETA of what? … Oh, wonderful…’ Scribbled notes on the pad. ‘Thanks for that. I’ll go and break the news now. This just gets better and better.’
He stood up and tore off the top sheet, took a pace towards the door and then did an about turn. Picking up his phone, he speed-dialled a contact.
‘O’Brien? Tanner again. You’re going to love this. Network Rail just reported a landslide on the line near Wilmslow, affecting all services to Piccadilly from Crewe. And as the PM’s train was coming from Birmingham, it’s going to have to be diverted… I know… I’m telling you because you asked me to keep you posted. I don’t know whether it affects the situation or not, all I know so far is they’re routing him up to Preston instead.’
*
‘I’ll be glad when I can drive myself.’ Ed Fersen was feeling distinctly grumpy as he eased himself into the passenger seat beside Robin. ‘Feels like an age since I drove down here.’
‘Ach. Just be grateful you’re still drawing breath and enjoy the ride. We’re off to explore the countryside.’ Firing the ignition, Robin headed for the car park exit.
‘Yes, well just be careful. I don’t mind taking the scenic route, but I don’t want to end up having to pull you out of floodwater again. I haven’t got the Discovery this time!’
‘You never forget, do you? No way was that my fault. And you know how you love playing the cavalry.’
Ed pulled a face at the memory. ‘This time we’re both going to have to play rescuer. Our poor wee boy is up to his neck in it.’
‘Have you checked his phone?’
‘Yeah. Still the same. If they move him, I’ve got details of that car too, thanks to the commander. Silver Audi. Last year’s plates.’
‘Good, then you can relax for a while, I reckon. If we’re going to come across any of the bad guys, I’d say any time after the A59 would be favourite.’
*
The Glasgow train was running approximately ten minutes late, which did nothing to calm Chrissie’s nerves. She paced up and down on the platform, glancing at the screen of her phone every few seconds. Should she try and message Billie/Meredith now? Or just wait and see if he contacted her? Why had she agreed to do this? Why did Emily have such a perfect figure? That had been one helluva put down. The girl had just cast her robe aside and climbed into bed like being nude in front of a stranger was nothing. But then she’d been a porn star, hadn’t she? They were the same age, but …
Her phone was ringing. Emily’s name on the display. Shit.
‘Yes?’
‘Anything yet?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Are you on the train?’
‘No. It’s running late. Should be here… oh, hang on a sec.’ The tannoy above her head announced the immediate arrival of the Virgin train service from Glasgow Central. ‘It’s coming now! I can see it approaching the platform.’
‘I’m in position. Give me a call back when you hear something.’
*
‘We’ve got a signal again… must be back in a 4G area.’ Ed was focused on his phone while beside him Robin was peering through a rain-spattered windscreen, trying to overtake a pair of cyclists on a narrow country road.
‘Still no movement?’
‘No… wait! Yes. Yes, it’s moved… east, I think. No! West. He’s… hang on. I need to zoom in. Why am I cursed with such big fingers?’
Robin saw his opportunity on a straight stretch of road, taking note of a road sign. ‘We’re just coming into a place called Longridge. We can’t be far off now, can we?’
Ed looked up, checked the satnav image on the dash, and then his phone. ‘You’re right. Signal’s disappeared again, but I think we could come across them somewhere, so keep a lookout. Could do without this rain, though.’
Robin slowed right down as they followed their route through the village, pedestrians trying to cross the main street impeding their progress further. The satnav offered spoken advice: At the next junction, turn right onto Inglewhite Road.
With his indicator flashing as he neared a mini roundabout, Robin’s attention was caught by another vehicle approaching from his right.
‘Silver Audi. Is it… YES!’
‘And look who’s driving,’ Ed contributed, hardly able to believe their luck.
‘Is that Meredith?’
‘No, that’s the guy who put me in Salford Royal. Female front seat passenger.’
The Audi drove straight across in front of them, followed by two more vehicles, provoking an expletive from Robin as he switched his indicator and prepared to follow. ‘Isn’t this the way to Preston?’
‘I don’t know,’ admitted Ed. ‘Could be. I was trying to see if there was anyone in the back, but it’s tinted glass. Doesn’t help with all this rain and the wipers on.’
‘Are we doing the right thing by following? You’re sure it wasn’t Billie next to the driver?’
‘I am, yes! Not unless he’s into wearing a grey wig and lipstick since I last saw him. Fuck! What do we do?’
‘Check where this road is heading. Whoa! Hey, there’s our answer. See?’
They were approaching a second mini roundabout. Painted in large black letters on a wall opposite was the word PRESTON, an arrow indicating the exit now taken by the Audi. A Volkswagen SUV immediately ahead took a right, and Robin moved up to narrow the gap.
‘Now we just have to stick with him, but I’d say it’s a fair old bet he’s going to the station. Better update Emily.’
‘I will in a minute. Signal’s back again and that’s definitely our boy in front. Or his phone, at least.’ Ed kept his eyes glued to the vehicle he was now certain contained his friend. ‘Hold on, Oor Wullie. We’ve got your back.’
*
Chrissie was not surprised to find all the carriages full. The train’s final stop would be London Euston, and this was peak holiday time. If she’d wanted to co-opt a ten-year-old girl and prise her off the train at Preston, she wouldn’t have had much difficulty. Her chosen carriage at the rear of the train, designated a Quiet Zone, seemed to hold several of the species on what was presumably a school trip. Chrissie stood near the internal doors with her bottom resting against a pile of sundry luggage items, grateful that the girls in question were mostly observing the advice to keep noise to a minimum. So it was with some embarrassment that, seconds after entering the compartment, her phone began to ring.
She snatched it up to her ear at the same time as hitting the release button on the sliding doors, stepping out to join three weary passengers grouped near the toilet. The name on the display hadn’t registered. ‘Yes?’
‘Chrissie? Hi, it’s me.’
She nearly dropped the phone. ‘Billie!’