Mallory nodded. “Yes, she’s in number twenty-seven. Nice lady. Very knowledgeable about plants.”
Rob couldn’t care less about her plants.
“Did she mention anything about Tessa Parvin’s missing daughter?”
Mallory frowned. “No. Did I miss something?”
“It’s something the Maplin’s said. Apparently, Tessa’s daughter went missing a couple of years back. The police thought the husband had taken her back to the Middle East.”
“Sylvia didn’t mention it.” He ran a hand through his thinning hair, clearly agitated with himself.
“Not your fault,” Rob said. “It’s probably not relevant. Is she there now?”
“Yep.”
“Let’s have a quick word and get her take before we go and see Tessa Parvin.”
They walked back up the lavender-scented street and knocked on Sylvia’s door. It was a dove grey, like her name.
She opened the door with a warm smile. “You’re back DI Mallory. Did you forget to ask me something?”
She was younger than Rob had expected, late thirties with a heart-shaped face and chocolatey brown eyes fixed on his partner.
Mallory smiled back. “Yes, sorry to disturb you, Miss Grey.”
“Please, I asked you to call me Sylvia.”
Was Mallory blushing?
Rob cleared his throat. “Excuse us for interrupting, Miss Grey.” The first-name bases did not apply to him. She shifted her melting gaze onto him. “We want to ask you about Tessa Parvin. I believe you know her?”
“Oh, Tessa, yes. Do you want to come in?”
They followed her into a tastefully decorated hallway consisting of a narrow bureau with a lamp, a basket for her keys and a wrought-iron coat stand. It was pleasantly bright and uncluttered, a total contrast to the kitsch design of the Maplin’s place.
“Please, sit down.” The living room was equally cheery, with sheer curtains lifting in the breeze from the open window. The furnishings were all light-coloured and minimalist, but of good quality. Rob sat on a tastefully upholstered armchair, leaving Mallory to sit beside Sylvia on the L-shaped sofa.
“Could you tell us what you know about her daughter’s disappearance?”
The smile melted off Sylvia’s face. “Oh, that. I’m not sure I should mention it. Tessa doesn’t like people to know.”
“It would really help our investigation,” Mallory said.
Her gaze flickered back to him and softened. His partner had made quite an impression.
“Okay, well if you think it will help.”
Mallory gave her an encouraging smile.
The interplay between the two of them was interesting. Did he detect a spark there?
“What do you know?” Mallory asked.
“It was shortly after Tessa moved into the neighbourhood.” Sylvia clutched her hands in front of her. She had thin, elegant fingers. No wedding band. “I met her at the nursery, she was buying some petunias for her garden and we got talking. She used to be a botanist; did you know that?”
“No.” Rob resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
“Anyway, I went to hers for a cup of tea and commented on the photograph of her daughter. A pretty little girl. Mixed-race, that was a surprise. That’s when she told me.”
“Yes?” Rob leaned forward in his chair.
“Well, she fell apart. She said her daughter lived with her ex-husband in Iran, and she couldn’t see her. It was very sad. I felt so sorry for her.”
“Did the father abduct the child or was it an agreed arrangement?” Mallory asked. Rob was content for him to take over the questioning. Sylvia responded better to him, anyway.
“Just between you and me, I think he took her without permission. Tessa was distraught, it was still very raw. She admitted she’d moved because she couldn’t stay in that house anymore, not without her daughter.”
“Do you know where she used to live?” Mallory enquired.
Sylvia scrunched up her forehead, then gave a soft sigh. “No, sorry. I can’t remember. I think it was the same county, though.”
“Okay, that’s fine.” Mallory smiled. “Thanks Sylvia, you’ve been amazing.”
Amazing? That was a strong word.
She beamed. “I’m happy to help.” Then, she gasped. “You don’t think that’s got anything to do with Katie’s disappearance, do you?”
“Oh, no,” Mallory assured her. “It just came up in our enquiries and we’re obliged to check it out.”
She nodded, the smile firmly back in place. “Okay, well if you’re ever in the neighbourhood, do pop in for a cup of tea.”
Rob masked a grin as his partner coloured. “I will, thank you again, Sylvia.”
“She’s nice,” Rob remarked, as they left the neat, double-story house with the grey front door.
“Don’t.” Mallory held up his hand.
Rob laughed. “Okay. Come on, it’s time we paid Tessa Parvin a visit. She’s only a block away.”
Mallory raised his eyebrows. “Wasn’t she the one at the volunteer search party? I remember taking down her name.”
Rob nodded. It had come back to him too. “That’s the one.”
He didn't need to say it. He knew Mallory was thinking that same thing he was.
Tessa Parvin lived in mock-Tudor turmoil. The house seemed slightly off kilter, like it was listing to the side. Faded wooden beams gasped out for varnish, while the paint on the exterior walls had disintegrated in exhausted chunks.
The garden was wild and chaotic. Nettles drooped in the heat, while out of control lavender collapsed forward, unable to hold their purple heads upright. Rob and Mallory navigated the overgrown path, careful not to sting themselves, and rang the doorbell.
It chimed a low melody, then footsteps on the floorboards and the chain rattled.
“Hello?” Tessa Parvin’s aquiline nose poked through the gap.
“Mrs Parvin? It’s the police, could we have a word?”
There was a pause.
The door closed again while the chain was removed. A bolt slid back, and the door opened.
A stale, musty smell assaulted them, like when you walk into a house that’s been closed up for months.
“DCI Miller and DI Mallory from Richmond CID. May we come in?”
“What’s this about?”
She didn’t move, didn’t invite them in. Her body planted firmly in front of the door. Behind her was a dark hallway. So dark, Rob had to strain to see anything beyond a few meters.
“Katie Wells.”
Rob held up his warrant card. If he’d hoped it would intimidate her into letting him in, he was wrong. Her back
