he was waiting and then walked out. As she paid the bill, Sharon was also ready to leave. She asked if that was who she was going to marry and Gail had said that he was her finance's father. Sharon had followed her out of the salon and seen her getting into Charles Wickenham's Jaguar.
Anna surmised that it must have been quite a shock for him, not only to see Louise Pennel's flatmate, but for her then to have come over to the car and say she was looking forward to seeing Gail again.
However, Gail had told Anna she had never seen or heard from Sharon again. Charles Wickenham had shown her the diamond-and-emerald jewellery as a taster of what she could be expecting when she married into the family, but when she was given the large white satin box, there was no brooch.
Langton closed his eyes. 'So what do you think happened?'
Anna hesitated. 'Well, I think Sharon smelt big money, for one; for two, she had to have recognised Charles Wickenham, and he must have known it.'
'But she was not seen at the Hall?'
'Gail denies she ever saw her again. She also denied ever seeing Louise Pennel at the house. I can have another go at her — up to you.'
'Mmm, okay.'
'We've not got a lot to hold her on. She says she had no idea where Charles Wickenham could have gone, perhaps Milan to his wife. She is very distressed and crying.'
'Let her cool off for a while; keep her until I've finished with Edward Wickenham.'
'How's that going?'
'So far fuck all, but let me get back in there.'
Anna nodded. She collected her notes and followed him out to the Incident Room. There was still no news on the whereabouts of Charles Wickenham.
Lewis approached Anna and told her that Gail had asked to speak with her. They had actually had a doctor to see her as she had become hysterical, and he had prescribed a light sedative.
'Why does she want to see me?'
'I dunno, but if you want to go down there, you'd better ask the Gov if it's okay.'
Langton was wary about any conversation with Gail not being monitored at this stage, and without a solicitor present. Then again, if she did have anything that could give them a clue to Wickenham's whereabouts, Anna should perhaps agree to see her, on the condition that she was accompanied by either Lewis or Barolli.
Anna waited outside Gail's cell as the duty sergeant unlocked the door. Anna glanced towards Barolli to stand aside for a moment.
'You wanted to see me,' she said quietly, standing in the doorway. She was shocked by how haggard and sickly Gail appeared. She was sitting on the edge of her bunk bed, her body was trembling and her eyes were red- rimmed from weeping.
'Do you know where Charles Wickenham is?'
Gail shook her head; she was biting her lower lip as the tears welled up.
'Do you perhaps have any idea where he may…?'
'No, no I don't know,' Gail interrupted, and wiped her face with the back of her hand as the tears trickled down her cheeks. 'If I knew I would tell you, but I don't know, I really don't. I have no idea where he would be; I mean, he could be anywhere but I don't know, I swear to you. I have said this over and over again; I don't know where he is!'
Gail glanced towards Anna, and then hunched her shoulders as she saw Barolli standing behind her.
'You asked to see me, but you must understand that without a solicitor present…'
Again she was interrupted as Gail clasped her knees and bent forwards. 'I am telling you the truth! It must be obvious why. Because if he found out it was me, that I called and gave you his name…' She suddenly straightened up and began brushing her skirt with the flat of her hand. 'That's why I wanted to talk to you, because I want to know if it will help me. I called the police, I gave you his name. If I hadn't, you might never have even questioned him.'
'Yes, that is correct; I know your solicitor is aware of the assistance you gave by calling the station with the information.'
'So it will help me, won't it? You will testify that I did speak to you. I mean, I know I tried to remain anonymous, but that was because I was afraid of what he would do to me if he found out.'
'We are obviously aware of how important that call was, and I am sure it will be made very clear to the court.'
'I can't go to prison, you have to help me. I can't, I'd rather kill myself.' Gail stood and took a step closer to Anna who immediately stepped back. She then felt guilty as Gail held out her arms as if she needed to be comforted. 'Please help me.'
Anna turned to Barolli who indicated they should leave.
'I have been so frightened for so long; Edward is almost as afraid of his father as I am. He's not a bad person; if we'd been able to leave and live our own lives, we'd have been happy. Charles wouldn't let him go; whatever you might say Edward has done is because he was dominated by his father and forced into helping him…'
Anna gave the signal for the cell door to be closed. Gail seemed not to notice. Whether or not it was due to the sedatives, she seemed unable to stop talking; her voice had dropped to a monotone. Anna turned away, walking beside Barolli; they could hear Gail continuing from behind the cell door. 'He had to work so hard on the estate and he was paid a pittance. He loved his sisters and tried to protect them, especially Emily. He really cared about Emily. He wanted to have children and it was such a lovely place for a child to grow up with the horses and the woods…'
Anna headed up the stone stairs towards the Incident Room, Barolli behind her. As Gail's voice faded, so did Anna's compassion for her. Barolli felt nothing; no amount of horror had made Edward Wickenham man enough to stop his depraved father from committing heinous crimes against young women, even his own daughters. The fact that Gail had made the call to the Incident Room, giving them Charles Wickenham's name, would be used by her defence, and might be enough to persuade a judge not to give her a prison sentence. As it was, they still had to find Charles Wickenham and until they did, neither his daughter-in-law nor his son would be released.
The forensic team were still taking samples and collecting evidence from the cellar. The stable boys had been allowed to exercise the horses, but there were police officers surrounding the house and estate. Charles Wickenham had not shown.
Edward Wickenham constantly conferred with his solicitor in whispers. He then became morose and wouldn't answer any questions. Like his fianc?e, he paled visibly when shown the horrific photographs of the victims. Asked about the contents of the cellar, he denied knowing what went on down there, as he was never allowed access. Asked about his own sister's abortion, he denied that it had ever happened. He persisted in saying that Emily was mentally unstable and that no one could believe a word she said. He became agitated when shown the sexual photographs of himself with his own stepmother, but said that she was willing and there was nothing illegal about what happened.
He continued to say over and over again that he did not understand why he was being held or why they were asking him about the two girls that he had never met.
'Because these two girls, as you describe them, were brutally murdered, Mr Wickenham.'
'I don't understand. I have nothing whatsoever to do with either of them.'
Langton pressed on; all the while, he knew he was jumping the gun. He was desperate to get the forensic evidence to back up his accusations. After two hours, he decided to end the interview. He still refused to release either Edward or Gail because of their relationship with his prime suspect, much to the anger of their solicitors.
It was eight o'clock when Langton called a briefing. He was looking very tired, as they all were. He said to call it quits for the night, and reconvene first thing in the morning.
The team started to pack up. Anna could sense the depression and just wanted to get home. They had issued a press release and photographs of Charles Wickenham, asking for the public to be on the alert. The Red Dahlia yet again featured in all the papers.
