partner as well as my business partner. We email several times a day, and we skype.’
Now it was Ambrose’s turn to look puzzled.
‘It’s a way of making phone calls via the internet,’ she said. ‘It’s cheaper than using your mobile to make international calls.’
‘Are you expecting to hear from him later today?’ Ambrose said.
‘I would think so.’ She seemed to brighten at the thought. ‘Do you want me to get him to call you?’
Ambrose took a card from the inside pocket of his jacket and handed it to her. ‘My mobile’s on there.’
‘West Mercia Police,’ she said. ‘I didn’t register that before. You’re a long way from home. It must be serious if you’ve come all the way up here.’
It didn’t surprise him that she was on the ball. You didn’t get to own an operation like this without an eye for detail. ‘It’s just routine,’ he said, not expecting it to fool her for a moment. ‘We take all crimes seriously.’
‘I’m sure you do,’ she said drily. ‘Well, I’ll pass your details on to Warren and tell him to get in touch.’
It was clearly a dismissal. They put down their mugs and headed back to the car. ‘What do you think?’ his driver asked as they drew out of the gate.
‘I think it’s very interesting that Warren Davy’s out there in the wind somewhere. Right off his usual patch. And with all the cyber-capability he’s got at his fingertips . . .’ He turned to look at the farm receding in the distance. ‘. . . Frankly, I’m wondering if he ever went to Malta.’
CHAPTER 34
Sam rang the doorbell and took a step back, taking in the expansive double front of Nigel Barnes’s house. ‘Doesn’t look like the recession’s hit Nigel yet.’
‘Is he still in banking?’ Carol asked.
‘No, he moved into insurance five years ago. I’ve no idea what that means. Who knows what those bastards actually do?’
Carol grunted. She didn’t want to be here. When Sam had walked into her office and proposed they deal with Nigel Barnes here and now, she’d protested. ‘It’s nine o’clock on a Sunday night.’
‘Exactly. He’ll be off his guard. And besides, we’ve hit the quiet before the storm in the murder investigation. We’re waiting for the guys on the ground to come up with actionable information. We’re waiting for Stacey to find something to move us forward. We’re just sitting around fretting because we can’t do anything to stop this bastard in his tracks. We might as well be out there doing something useful.’ He gave her a sidelong grin. It might have been sexy if she’d been remotely interested in Sam. As it was, she read it as his attempt to get under her guard. ‘Think how nice it would be to hand it to Blake all tied up in a bow, totally out of the blue.’
It had been the perfect line and so here she was. Instead of catching up on her sleep or reading the reports coming in from the divisions, she had Sam’s back on a doorstep on a fourteen-year-old case where they had next to no evidence. ‘He’s not in,’ she grumbled.
Just then a light turned on in the hallway. Sam gave her a triumphant smile before rearranging his face for the man who opened the door.
Judging from the photos in the file, the years had been kind to Nigel Barnes. Forty-three years old and still no trace of grey in the heavy shock of blond hair whose style was reminiscent of Michael Heseltine at the height of his Tarzan reputation. Smooth skin, no bags under his light blue eyes, his jawline still taut. His mouth and chin were too weak, his nose too fleshy, but he’d made the most of what he had. Carol thought he looked as if he’d spent more time in a facial spa than anyone should. He looked politely baffled at the sight of them. ‘Yes?’
Carol introduced them. ‘I’m afraid we have some bad news for you, Mr Barnes. I think it might be better all round if we were to come inside.’
His face seemed to harden. His lips barely moved as he said, ‘You’ve found them.’
Carol dipped her head. ‘Yes. We have.’
‘Where?’ He shook his head, as if he couldn’t take it in.
‘Where you put them,’ Sam said, his voice cold and clipped.
Barnes took a step backwards, instinctively trying to put the door between them. ‘I don’t understand,’ he said. ‘What are you talking about?’
Sam stepped forward and put his foot in the doorway. ‘We’d like you to come down to the station with us and answer some questions.’
Barnes shook his head. ‘Are you out of your mind? You tell me you’ve discovered the bodies of my wife and child. And you want me to come to the police station? As if I was a suspect? ‘
‘I never said anything about bodies,’ Carol pointed out. ‘I just agreed that we’d found them.’
Barnes’s eyes narrowed. ‘You said you had bad news. That’s hardly what you’d say if they were alive and well and living in Brighton.’
‘There’s more than one kind of bad news. You’re the one who jumped to the conclusion I was talking about your wife and child. Please get your coat, Mr Barnes. This will all be much easier in the police station than on your doorstep.’
‘I’m not coming anywhere with you.’ He tried to close the door but Sam leaned into it. His muscles were more than a match for Barnes, who had gym bulk but no real strength.
‘You can come voluntarily or I’ll arrest you,’ Carol said.
‘Arrest me?’ He sounded incredulous. ‘I’m the victim here.’ He was still pushing against the door.
