“Which is what I said to Donna, and I stand by that. Did you have someone in mind?”
Charlie scrolled through the article she had on the screen, about the crash, and circled a section right near the end. “I found this more up-to-date piece regarding the crash. The daughter, Megan, was four at the time, she escaped the crash with just cuts and bruises. However, her brother, who was seven at the time, was in a coma for several months. When he emerged from the coma, he was paralysed.”
“Oh fuck! That’s a shocker! What are you saying? You think it’s Megan?”
“I don’t want to believe it, but it would be interesting to track her down and have a chat.”
Katy nodded, her head gaining momentum the more she mulled over the plausible development. “If she’s close to her brother, maybe seeing him suffer all these years has finally taken its toll on her. Add to that the fact their parents died in the crash and…” She puffed out her cheeks. “I have no idea how that woman must be feeling. What if she’s her brother’s carer? It might have finally sent her over the edge. What do you reckon?”
“Possibly. Want me to dig a little more?”
“Yes. Try and find her address, it’ll be worth paying her a visit. Maybe, if she is the guilty party, we’ll find the missing child at her home.”
“If she’s the primary carer, wouldn’t she be taking a risk?”
“Kidnapping is a risky strategy full stop, whether you’re caring for someone with disabilities or not.”
Charlie rolled her eyes. “Yep, I get that. Give me ten minutes.”
Katy brought the nearby computer to life and stared at the article about the case, her eyes focussing on Ethan. She punched his number into her phone. It went to voicemail. She left an obscure message about him contacting her and waited for him to call back. That call hadn’t materialised by the time Charlie asked for her full attention once more.
“I’ve located an address for Megan. Is it worth us popping around there?”
“Where is it?”
“A flat in Islington.”
“What level, do we know?”
Charlie suggested it might be on the seventh floor, which made Katy a tad wary.
“Would she be able to care for a disabled person if she was seven flights up? What if the lift broke down? Don’t they usually place vulnerable people on the ground floor?”
“Possibly. We won’t know until we get there and see for ourselves.”
Katy sprang out of her chair and glanced up at the clock. “It’s already eleven o’clock, I promised AJ I’d be home by one without fail.”
Charlie twisted her mouth. “It’ll be pushing it.”
“Sod it. I sense we’re close, Charlie. We need to follow our instincts on this one. I’ll dodge the bullet with AJ when I get home. Use my womanly powers to disarm him if need be.”
Charlie sniggered. “You’re such a courageous woman.”
Katy slapped her on the top of the arm. “Stop taking the piss. Let’s go full throttle on our quest.”
They switched the computers off and tore down the stairs. Outside, the sun was poking its head through a thin cloud. It was good to feel its warmth on Katy’s back, it had been a long winter they’d had to contend with. Spring and the summer ahead were something to look forward to. She’d make it up to AJ and Georgie in the coming months.
They arrived at a run-down block of flats that was at least ten storeys high. Katy stared up at the dark grey monstrosity and tutted. “They don’t make them like they used to, thank God. What was the architect bloody thinking when he designed this atrocious excuse for community living?”
“I dread to think. Maybe it was a bet.”
Katy laughed. “Come on. Let’s go have a chat with Megan Johnson.”
Charlie paused. Katy peered over her shoulder. “Cold feet?”
“Not really. Maybe we should have brought backup with us, or at least we should tell someone where we’re going. As it stands, only you and I know we’re here, we’d usually have the rest of the team armed with that knowledge.”
“Good point. I’m guilty of racing ahead as usual. I’ll let the desk sergeant know, get him to ring me if he doesn’t hear from me within the next thirty minutes, how’s that?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
Katy continued walking towards the lift at the same time she placed the call. The sergeant agreed to spring into action if he hadn’t heard from her at the allocated time.
“Ah Jesus, I should have known the frigging lift would be out of order; it always is in dives like this,” Katy complained. They trudged up the concrete stairs. Each time they reached another level, she glanced out at the dismal view, grateful that she lived in a semi in a nice street with her family. This estate truly was the pits.
“It’s a good job we’re fit. Can you imagine trying to get someone confined to a wheelchair up and down these stairs?”
“I doubt if it would be possible. Maybe the brother prefers to be indoors all the time. Let’s face it, this estate isn’t really conducive to going out for a nice stroll around the neighbourhood, is it?”
Charlie cringed. “You said it.”
Once they reached the seventh floor, they paused for a moment or two to catch their breath. “I think it’s this way.” Charlie pointed to the right as the landing split off in both directions.
“I’m happy to take your lead. Have you got your pepper spray handy?”
They’d already donned their stab vests after leaving the vehicle. “Yep, in my jacket pocket. Maybe we should have brought a Taser with us as added security.”
“Too late for that now. And that’s another thing we need to sort out, your Taser training.”
“I’m up for that, although I’d rather have a K9 to hand.”
Katy grinned. “I’m not usually keen on being so close to a German Shepherd, but I’d gladly have one standing alongside
