‘Take care of her,’ he called after them.
She was carried to the stairs and Grant waited until Billingham was on the roof before he tackled McGowan. It was always good practice to have a reliable witness.
‘Detective Sergeant McGowan you will go straight to the station and report to Detective Chief Superintendent Fox.’
‘What’s wrong, guv?’
It took huge willpower for Grant to rein back his fury. ‘You endangered the abductor’s life and your fellow officer’s. You ignored my command – I told you to stay where you were.’
‘I didn’t hear you because of the wind. I saw a chance with Riley and took it.’
McGowan was a damn liar and now Grant knew it. His phone pinged. Whipping it out of his pocket, Grant read the message from Delaney.
We have Emily and Lisa.
The wave of relief was physical. A second message came through.
Emily in a critical state.
‘They’ve found the children.’
‘Jesus, I thought we’d blown it with Riley out of the picture,’ Billingham said.
‘Me too,’ Grant said, his tone dark.
‘Brilliant work. The chemist tip-off was the right one then?’ Billingham asked.
‘I don’t have details. Lisa and Emily have been taken to hospital and Delaney says Emily is critical.’
‘At least she’s alive, sir. Sounds like Delaney got there just in time,’ McGowan said.
Grant gritted his teeth. And it was lucky for McGowan Delaney had made it because with Riley splattered below there was no chance to squeeze him for information, was there? Without Delaney, those children would have been dead.
‘Like I told you,’ Grant said, ‘go straight to the station and report to DCS Fox.’ Grant’s tone was deadly dark and he turned and walked away. He sent a message to DCS Fox – Urgent. DS McGowan is to be relieved of duty. Bring Hector Mason into protective custody. I’ll explain later.
52
In the back of the ambulance, Sylvie overheard people talking about Nick Riley jumping from the roof. It meant she had a chance. Now there was nothing to connect her to Riley. Maria, the only other loose end, was also taken care of. It had been useful Maria was the one to risk dropping off the phone and after that Maria was disposable. Sylvie congratulated herself on her idea of giving Maria an overdose.
It seemed ages ago that Sylvie had seen Nick Riley meet with Maria in Himlands Heath. After Maria had handed him the key from the Glover house, Sylvie had followed him and spotted him entering a pub. It had been dark inside with the usual British pub smell of beer and old carpeting. She had got to the bar just as he was handed a pint.
Sweeping back her hair, Sylvie smiled at him and then at the barman.
‘A white wine please.’
Apart from a pockmarked face, the most notable thing about him was the way his ears stuck out. He stared at Sylvie like she was an alien. When she went to pay, she deliberately dropped her purse. He retrieved it for her.
‘Gosh that’s kind of you. There aren’t many gentlemen around these days.’
It had been funny to watch confusion spread across his face. That’s when she realised he wasn’t used to attention from women. Which meant he would be easier to manipulate. Sylvie had cut him another smile.
‘Looks as if I’ve been stood up.’
‘A nice girl like you. I can’t believe it.’
She raised her glass. ‘Cheers.’
When he introduced himself he fumbled his drink and beer slopped over.
‘Pleased to meet you too,’ Sylvie said. ‘I suppose it’s my bad luck you’re probably meeting someone special.’
As her chat-up line met him head on, he froze, a band of froth clinging to his upper lip as he stared at her.
‘I’m not meeting anyone. I only popped in for a quick pint.’
He had a rasp to his voice and his eyes were cold and hard yet she sensed a weakness in him. She guessed he didn’t get many offers like hers.
She shimmied up onto a bar stool and crossed one leg over the other. ‘Oh, really? At least something’s turning in my favour.’
53
Ruby got to Brighton as quickly as she could. She waited while Sylvie Delacourt was treated by paramedics. They had Sylvie in the back of an ambulance, checking her over.
‘Ruby,’ Grant called, as he jogged towards her.
‘I heard what happened to Riley,’ Ruby said.
‘Listen,’ Grant said. ‘We found them. We’ve got Emily and Lisa.’ Grant led her away from the ambulance.
‘Thank goodness,’ Ruby said.
‘Yes, though…’
‘What is it, sir?’
‘Emily might not make it.’
Ruby watched as Grant wiped at the corner of his eye.
‘Delaney got there just in time,’ Grant said. ‘Emily was in a critical state and I’m waiting on news.’ Grant glanced at his phone as if willing it to ring.
‘Oh no.’ She clutched his arm. ‘What happened on the roof, sir?’
‘It’s complicated. Diane lost a lot of blood and I’ve sent McGowan back to the station – I’ll explain later. How is Sylvie?’
‘Sylvie’s in a state of shock,’ Ruby said. ‘She told me she’s been kept prisoner. It seems Riley ambushed her. He kept her handcuffed to the bed and Sylvie says he drugged her.’
‘Does she need to go to hospital?’
‘I don’t think so. The paramedics told me she doesn’t have any physical injuries.’ Ruby scrunched her nose. ‘I’m not certain Sylvie’s story is as straightforward as it seems.’
Grant raised an eyebrow. He thought back to when he was in the bedroom with Sylvie. Her wrists had not been sore from the cuffs. It had struck him as odd.
‘I’ve not got time for nuances right now. Care to elaborate?’
‘Why would Riley keep Sylvie locked up? The man already had Emily and Lisa so what did he want with the au pair?’
‘I agree her story doesn’t make sense. That’s why I wanted you here.’ Grant ran his hand through his hair. ‘Sylvie is saying she’s the victim in this but maybe it’s not as straightforward as it seems. Give me a minute.’
Lack of a red mark on
