“These are people in a position of trust,” Rob muttered. “Fathers, uncles, step-fathers. It’s shocking how they abuse it.”
“And how their partners are oblivious or turn a blind eye.”
Rob shook his head.
“The worst part is, my Uncle Hubert’s still out there. God only knows what he’s been up to since, how many young lives he’s ruined.”
Rob told her that Angie Nolan’s father’s DNA was found under her fingernails. “At least we can prosecute him,” he said. “That’s one more predator off the street.”
“That’s good.” She gazed at him. “When this case is over, I might just look up my uncle and make sure he’s behaving himself.”
Her mouth was set in a grim line. He knew that look. Uncle Hubert better watch out.
“I need to trace this Michael Robertson,” she told him. “He’s the last person to see Rachel alive. He might be able to tell us something.”
“I’ve got Celeste working on it.” He recognised the name. “But twenty years is a long time. He could be anywhere by now. He could have left the country, be living in America. He could be dead for all we know.”
“I know it’s a long shot,” she said. “But it’s the only lead I have.”
“Not the only one…”
She raised an eyebrow. “Have you been keeping something from me, DCI Miller?”
He grinned. “No, but I was mulling over it before you arrived.”
“Do tell.”
“Well, Anna Dewbury had a social worker, so did Angie Nolan. Tessa told me she brought home a flyer for a children’s charity, but it went missing. She thought her husband had destroyed it. I was wondering if Arina hadn’t found it and decided to contact a helpline to tell them what was happening.”
Jo studied him intently. “Go on…”
“Arina didn’t have a mobile phone, she was only twelve, but she could have used the landline in the house.”
“And–?” She raised her eyebrows.
“I went through their phone records in the weeks before Arina disappeared and there is one call to a free number. I Googled it and it belongs to Homestead, a registered children’s charity.”
Jo crinkled her forehead. “So, she called a helpline. Do you think that’s how he’s targeting them?”
“I’m not sure yet, but it could be via the social care system. Daisy, that’s Chrissy Macdonald’s friend, told me Chrissy called a helpline too. That’s four out of the seven victims who reached out to a social worker or a helpline. More than just a coincidence, don’t you think?”
“Is it the same charity?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Haven’t got much farther than that.”
“It’s definitely worth exploring,” she acknowledged. “Have you checked the other girls’ phone records for the same number?”
“No, I haven’t had time. We’ll get on it first thing.”
Jo stifled a yawn. It was nearly midnight.
“Come on, let’s go to bed.” Rob took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “You look done in.”
“I feel it,” she said, following him out.
They switched off the lights and traipsed upstairs, Trigger at their heels.
48
Loose and casual, that’s the way she wanted it. He thought that’s the way he wanted it too, but something had changed since she’d got back from Manchester. This morning, she’d held him a little tighter, kissed him a little longer, and made love to him more tenderly than ever before. Now, as they walked to work together, their fingers loosely entwined, Rob had never felt so content.
As soon as they reached the austere brick building, Jo released his hand. He winked at her and let her go up the stairs ahead of him. They walked in one at a time, mentally switching into work mode.
“Today, I want us to focus on finding out as much information as we can about the social workers that Anna Dewbury and Angie Nolan spoke to. Find out which agency they’re from, how they got in touch with the girls, and where they’ve worked before.”
Jenny and Will nodded.
Rob told the team what he’d discovered. “It’s just a theory at this point, but I want us all to focus on it. Celeste, I know you’re off to the mortuary again today, please keep me updated.”
“Will do, guv.”
“Evan, Harry, go through the phone records and look for any calls to children’s helplines. If we don’t have the relevant call logs, get them. I’m happy to sign off on any warrants needed. That means landlines and mobile phones for all members of the family, including siblings, if there are any.”
“Yes, boss,” they said in unison.
Now Harry was calling him boss too.
“Should we carry on looking for other victims?” Mike motioned to himself and Jeff.
“Please. We still have an unidentified girl in the morgue. She must have come from somewhere. Let’s find out who she is so her mother can rest easy. Also, it’s possible our killer’s been active for nearly twenty years, so look into unsolved cold cases as well as those where a conviction was secured.”
He’d had a situation before where a man had been wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his girlfriend. Ron Studley, his name was. Rob would never forget it. The false conviction had led them to believe the murdered girl wasn’t a victim of their serial killer when, in fact, she was his first. The poor guy had served six years of a life sentence before the outcome of their investigation had given him grounds for an appeal. Now he was a free man.
There was a lesson to be learned there. Rob wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
“I’m going to try to find this boy my sister knew, Michael Robertson.” Jo glanced around the room. “If anyone comes across that name, or any variation of it, let me know.”
They nodded. Everybody liked Jo. Her management style was relaxed and efficient, kind of like she was. Even the Chief Superintendent didn’t mind her bouncing back and forth between the National Crime Agency and here. She’d proved her worth.
He smiled at her now, then glanced down at his phone as it began vibrating in his hand.
“Excuse me.”
“Tony, about
