DS Jenny Bird slid over. “I’ve looked into Tessa Parvin’s properties like you asked, but the house in Barnes is the only one listed. There doesn’t appear to be anything else. Could she have used a false name?”
Felons masked their identities by using fake driver’s licences and PO boxes to rent or hire vehicles or property. Would Tessa Parvin go that far? Would she even know how?
“Thanks Jenny. Let’s look into her financials. If anything suspicious pops up, let me know.”
It was a hell of a coincidence that Tessa’s own daughter had gone missing. If it wasn’t for that, Rob may have dismissed her entirely from the investigation. If she had rented a property in a false name, she wouldn’t be able to hide the money trail.
Rob sighed. Realistically, though, there hadn’t been enough time for her to secrete Katie away. In a way he was relieved. Tessa Parvin had had a tough time of it. He didn't like to think of her as the kidnapper.
“Also, the voice analysis is back from the tech guys,” Jenny was saying. “They’ve emailed you a copy.”
“Yes! Thanks Jenny.”
He spun around, logged on to his work laptop and opened his email. There, at the top of his inbox, marked “urgent”, was the voice recording report. He couldn’t open it fast enough.
The analyst had enhanced the audio and managed to isolate the woman’s voice. Rob read the transcript first.
“Are you alright, dear? Are you lost?”
Then Katie’s voice, “No, I’m waiting for my friend.”
That was it.
The analyst reported footsteps in the background, but she couldn’t isolate them enough to determine whether there were one or two sets. The dog bark was very clear in the enhanced file, and it was likely the lady who stopped to ask Katie if she was lost was a dog walker.
Disappointment hovered. A dog walker concerned about a little girl standing alone on a busy street corner was entirely plausible. It was a friendly neighbourhood, after all. The recording might have nothing to do with the abduction. Just a coincidence, a good Samaritan. There was no way of knowing for sure.
Mallory, who’d been copied on the email, skulked over. By the expression on his face, Rob could see he was of the same opinion.
“Might not be our kidnapper,” he stated glumly, perching on the edge of Rob’s desk.
“I hate bloody coincidences.” Rob rubbed the strain out of his temples. “Would a dog walker kidnap a child?”
“She might have used the dog to lure Katie in,” Mallory suggested, but his voice lacked enthusiasm. “Studies have shown kids are more likely to talk to strangers if they have a dog or puppy with them.”
“I want to listen to the enhanced file?” Rob scrolled down to the attachment. He pressed play and they both leaned in.
The woman’s voice was louder than before, less obscured by traffic.
Are you alright, dear? Are you lost?
She sounded concerned.
Then the dog barked, making them both jump back. That was loud. It sounded like the dog was next to the phone, which would have been in the little girl’s hand or pocket.
“That doesn’t sound like a puppy to me,” Rob stated. A year ago, he wouldn’t have had a clue, but since he’d had Trigger, he was an expert on barks.
Mallory concurred. “It’s close enough to be the woman’s dog. It must have been sniffing around Katie at the time.”
Rob sighed. “Shit, there goes another theory.”
“We still don’t know if we’re looking for a man or a woman, then.” Mallory stated the obvious. “It could be anyone.”
“Back to bloody square one,” snapped Rob.
His mobile phone buzzed on the desk in front of him. Jo’s name flashed across the screen. Mallory returned to his desk, giving him some privacy.
“Yeah,” he said, still thinking about the concerned citizen.
“Hello to you too,” said Jo.
He cringed. “Sorry. I’ve just received some bad news. How are you?”
“Regarding the case?” She dispensed with the pleasantries.
“Yes, but it’s not your problem. How are things? It’s good to hear your voice.” She was a breath of fresh air, dragging him out of the quagmire he was drowning in. “I miss you.”
She laughed. “That’s good to know. Hey, I’m in the area and I’ve got an hour free. Can you meet for a quick coffee?”
He hesitated. He shouldn’t really leave the squad room, but after that last blow, he could really use a decent espresso, and Jo always made him feel better.
“I’d love to. Text me when you’re downstairs and I’ll meet you across the road.”
“I’m downstairs.”
He grinned at his reflection in the laptop screen that had faded to black. A bit like this case. “Great, see you in five.”
He hung up.
Being with Jo these last few months had made him realise what a train smash his previous relationship had been. It had disintegrated so slowly; he hadn’t seen it coming. Before he knew it, he was dancing to Yvette’s tune, pandering to her every whim, placating her increasingly paranoid demands, while trying to focus on his career at the same time. No wonder he’d been so stressed.
He used to hate going home. Now, he couldn’t wait to rush downstairs and see Jo. He told Mallory to contact him on his phone if anything came up and dashed out, taking the stairs two at a time.
“You have no idea how good it is to see you.” He kissed her full on the lips outside the coffee shop.
She broke into a wide smile, the kind that reached her eyes and stayed there. “Ditto, DCI Miller.” It had been a few days since they’d last been together.
A gust of wind threw up a mini dust storm. It was a blustery day and people hurried past them to take cover inside.
“Let’s go in.” He held the door open, then followed her inside. Not even the smooth jazz playing in the background
