And now the latest case he is involved in. The kidnapping of two eighteen-year-old identical twins. Such cases could have a happy ending or the opposite.
Either way it would require a great deal of manpower and resources. Not something the powers-that-be like to hear. But they have to go along with things otherwise the publicity can easily turn things against them.
Now he is sitting in the kitchen of the parents’ house coordinating the investigation. Although he has assured the parents he has a lot of experience in such matters, the truth is he has only dealt with two such cases, both in London.
However, he is in contact with two officers with over twenty years’ experience in such matters and are available at the end of the telephone to assist him twenty-four hours a day.
He's spoken to Malcolm Upwood who is a member of the National Crime Agency task force and one of the most experienced police officers when it comes to kidnapping who thinks it may well be a tactic to ensure when the ransom demand comes, the family is willing to pay the amount without hesitation.
They can’t risk having too many officers at the house in case it is being watched. Far easier for two people to stay hidden rather than a handful of people moving all around the house and risk one of them being observed by someone watching from outside.
As Eden stands, assessing the case, he is aware his every move is being scrutinised by the lady of the house. He can almost hear her thinking, Why aren’t you doing more to save my two children.
He is asking himself the same question but until the kidnappers get in touch again there isn’t too much he can do.
He and his team, including the ten people at the police station are working hard to find something, anything to help work out who is behind this and why.
As Eden stands to decide if there is anything he can do or say to help alleviate the situation his police radio crackles.
It is a plain-clothed officer watching the house from across the road in a neighbour’s front bedroom.
“Sir, we have a motorbike rider approaching the house.”
Eden acknowledges the officer and walks towards the front door and waits to one side. He hears the bike come to a halt and someone walking up to the front door and ring the bell.
As Diane walks to the door, Eden stands back so he can’t be seen.
“Package for Mr and Mrs Mitten. Sign here please.”
The rider hands over a clipboard and pen pointing to where it requires a signature.
Once signed, he hands over the brown-wrapped package to Diane and turns back towards his bike. He puts on the crash helmet resting on the seat and drives off.
Meanwhile, police officers have been alerted and the courier will be stopped once he has reached a reasonable distance from the house and he will be questioned about where he has collected the package from.
“I’m sorry, Diane, but we need to examine this before you open it.”
Wearing PVC gloves, Tracy takes the package into the lounge and over to the table the family has given them to use. Tracy asks one of the phone technicians for a pair of scissors and once handed over, she gently cuts along one side of the parcel and pulls out the contents.
There are two items of clothing. One is a white sleeveless broderie top. The other is a low-cut V-shape t-shirt. Both size eight. There is also a note that had been produced using a computer printer. The note reads ‘You decide which one comes home alive.’
Tracy takes the note and all of the packaging and puts it into a plastic evidence bag and seals it.
She lays out the clothes, side by side, and then calls Mrs Mitten.
“Mrs Mitten, can you identify these items as belonging to your daughters?”
Diane took her time to check both items. "Yes, yes I think so. I can't be sure, they have so many clothes but they are the type of thing they would wear."
“No need to be alarmed, Mrs Mitten. This is the kidnappers’ way of proving they have the girls. Possibly a scare tactic to ensure when they demand a ransom you will pay up.”
Tracy doesn’t bring the note to Diane’s attention. After the way she reacted to the phone call, Tracy believes not telling her is for the best.
Chapter Forty
Tracy Archer has come up through the ranks of the police. Her father, Larry Archer, had been a detective until eight years ago when he disappeared in the middle of an investigation into corruption at the local council.
It was suspected two local politicians and a property developer were involved in plots of land being sold at reduced prices and contracts awarded in return for favours and cash payments.
One day Larry had gone to meet a potential whistle-blower and was never seen again. The theory is he had been led into a trap and killed.
His detective colleagues James Sheldon, Phil Jones and Gerry Payne had tried to find out what happened but hit a brick wall and the investigation petered out after six months, although the case has never officially been closed.
Towards the end of a recent case Tracy was involved in, she had interviewed Sadie O’Connor, the wife of Kevin O’Connor, a member of the travelling community who had been killed.
The couple’s two sons had also died in separate incidents at the time. During an interview, Sadie had shouted at Tracy that she knew something about her father’s disappearance.
Tracy has visited Sadie in prison over the past few weeks in the hope she would reveal further information but so far Sadie has refused to say anything more.
After the latest briefing at the police station, Tracy is heading back to the Mitten residence. The family cleaning lady has been told Diane has flu and to stay at home but
