I dialled the number, but it rang and rang and rang without anyone answering it or even going to voicemail. I frowned as I hung up. Maybe Haruto had heard of it. “We should get back to the station,” I said. “Maybe we can dig something up on this Allraise Ventures.” I was willing to bet it was some kind of shell company, but if we could figure out what pies they had their fingers in, maybe we could figure out what they wanted with Haruto.
Eleven
My phone rang as we drove back to the station, and I quickly pulled it from my pocket, hopeful that it would be Allraise Ventures calling me back, as unlikely as that was.
“MacBain,” I said by way of greeting.
“DCI MacBain? It’s Lena Taggert.”
My pulse jumped at the sound of her voice. I cleared my throat and tried to force the fatigue from my words as I replied. “What can I do for you?”
“This morning, when I spoke to you, you had a man in custody. He had red hair; the constable said something about him being a thief?”
“I remember.” I was pretty sure he was a new hire, with the department for less than a year.
“Well, there was something familiar about the man. I didn’t realize what it was until just now. I think he’s the one I saw trying to speak with Finn.”
Instantly, all my aches and pains disappeared, fire racing through my veins at Lena’s words. I sat straight up and quickly put the phone on speaker, holding it up between Fletcher and myself. “Are you sure?” I asked.
“He was far away and wearing a hat, but I’m pretty sure it’s him. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.” Lena’s voice drooped over the phone, and I rushed to comfort her.
“No, that’s okay. You did well to remember at all. Thank you. That’s really helpful.” I hesitated, then continued. “I’m sorry if this is out of line, but is everything okay with your ex?” Fletcher made a faintly judgemental face in the mirror.
There was silence on the other line for a beat. “He’s, ah, he’s called me twice already today, but I just let it go to voicemail. I appreciate your concern, DCI MacBain.”
“Callum,” I said before I could stop myself. “And if you ever need help with him, please let me know.”
“I will. Thank you, Callum.” I heard the hint of a smile in her voice before she said goodbye and hung up.
“Flirt on your own time,” Fletcher said, grinning. “She really thinks she recognized Finn’s father?”
“There’s only one way to find out. Step on it.”
Fletcher put her hand on her chest and gave me a mock aghast look. “How dare you? I would never speed.
“You’ve been going ten over since we left the station,” I reminded her, and she shrugged shamelessly.
This felt good. This felt like we finally had something tangible to hold on to, a lead that we could act upon, information we could pass along to Ainslee so she would know that we weren’t just spinning our wheels.
Fletcher parked a little haphazardly but didn’t bother to correct it since we both wanted to jump on this as quickly as we could. I climbed from the car, Lena’s tip giving fresh life to my limbs, and led Fletcher into the station, eyes seeking out the constable who’d brought in the red-haired man. I spotted him at the desk he shared with another, off-duty constable and made my way over to him, trying not to break into a jog in my excitement.
“Owens, isn’t it?” I said, reading the name off the badge pinned to his uniform.
Startled, Owens glanced up, eyes widening even further when he saw two DIs standing over his desk. “Uh, yessir,” he stammered.
“The thief you were questioning this morning, what’s his name?”
“Alec MacGowan. Why?”
“What did you bring him in for?”
“He was caught breaking into a townhouse on Crown Drive.”
“What did he take?”
“A few jewels, a deed to some old castle. Vince thinks he might be linked to some other thefts in town.”
“I just got a tip that he might be connected to my missing persons case. Do you mind if we speak to him?”
Owens rightfully looked worried that we might take his collar away from him, but he swallowed and nodded. “He’s still back in holding. Do you want to bring him out for you?”
“That would be great,” I said. “Just don’t tell him what it’s about.”
Owens handed me the case file then disappeared to do my bidding while Fletcher and I went to wait behind the glass in the interrogation room. I wanted to take a look at MacGowan, Smith, or whatever his name was before we sat down to talk to him. I glanced into Dunnel’s office as I passed, but Haruto vanished, hopefully to somewhere safe. We would have to check in with him about Allraise Ventures as quickly as we could.
“You really think Finn’s father was under our noses the whole time?” Fletcher asked, folding her arms and leaning up against the wall beside the mirror.
“It would be a wild coincidence,” I said
“If he’s a criminal, it would explain why he bailed, why Ainslee hasn’t seen him in so long, why he might be connected to those thugs that attacked us.”
It would, and I wondered if it was a little too neat.
Owens didn’t keep us waiting long. Just a few minutes later, he pushed MacGowan into the interrogation room and sat him down in the metal chair, leaving the man’s handcuffs on. Owens gave us a small nod through the mirror and then left.
I crossed my arms and studied Alec MacGowan. He was slender, on the shorter side, and his red hair certainly matched Finn’s, though it was cut short, hiding any evidence of curls. His eyes were calm, maybe a
