‘Fuck you.’ McCafferty’s hands curled into fists. His arrogance had grown to aggression, and Donovan knew he had touched a nerve.
‘Because you like them young, don’t you? She must have been something special for you to have travelled all that way.’
‘I don’t have to listen to this shit,’ McCafferty roared, pushing back his chair.
‘Steady on.’ Steve rose alongside him. ‘We’ll be writing up a report. How’s this going to look for you?’
McCafferty scowled in Steve’s direction, a sheen of sweat breaking out on his skin. ‘Well, it’s him, making all these accusations. I’m sick of it.’
Pulling back his shirt sleeve, Donovan checked his watch. He wouldn’t get anything more from McCafferty now. ‘I’m done here.’ He turned to Steve. ‘I’ll meet you out the front when you’ve finished up.’
As he closed the door behind him, Donovan only hoped his game-playing would pay off. It was a tactic long used in police circles. Bad cop was exiting the building. Now it was time for the good cop to get him to open up.
‘Any joy?’ Twenty minutes had passed since Donovan left them to it. Just enough time for him to have a catch-up with Chowdhury followed by a wander outside.
Steve was smiling, which was hopeful.
‘Got some stuff off the record. Had to butter him up first. It turned my stomach, but it did the trick.’
‘Should I ask?’
‘The usual. I called you a tosser and sympathised with him.’
Donovan smiled. ‘He’s the tosser from what I’ve heard.’
‘I sympathised with him about that and all.’ Steve pulled a face. ‘I’m just glad we weren’t on tape.’
Donovan was not entirely familiar with how Steve worked, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know. ‘He could have been recording you. Best not to compromise yourself.’
‘It’s fine. We went along the lines that his interests weren’t breaking any laws if he wasn’t physically hurting anyone.’
Donovan’s frown deepened as his unease grew. This method of policing would have to be addressed in the car on the way home.
‘Boss,’ Steve said, catching his wary expression. ‘My daughter is probably the same age as the girl McCafferty went to meet. You think I didn’t want to punch his lights out?’ He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘I don’t for a second sympathise with that bastard, but I’ll do what it takes to help those kids.’
‘What did you get?’ Donovan relaxed, happy in the knowledge they had the same train of thought.
‘He went to Blackpool to meet someone for sex, he didn’t pick them up off the streets.’
‘Young?’ Donovan turned and they both walked in the direction of the car park.
Steve nodded. ‘Although he wouldn’t admit to it. I’d say she was early teens.’
‘How did he arrange it?’
‘There’s no way he was telling me that. Chowdhury’s already seized his phone and iPad. My guess is that McCafferty has something stashed away. I reckon it was set up online. He made a comment about being ripped off, so he must have paid up front for it.’
‘Why? Couldn’t he have arranged for it locally?’
‘Nah,’ Steve said. ‘Too close for comfort. He was scared of getting caught. Again, that’s what I picked up between the lines.’
‘Sounds about right. What about the overdose? Did you ask him about that?’
‘Yeah, but he denied taking anything. Just said that he was hit from behind. He froze up when I mentioned the assault, twigged I was asking too many questions. At least we got that much from him.’
‘And you’ve told Chowdhury?’
‘He’s putting it on the intel system now.’
‘Good man.’ Donovan slapped him on the back. ‘I owe you a pint.’
‘I don’t have sympathy for the victims,’ Steve said. ‘They got what they deserved. But McCafferty’s a big bloke. Who do you think is bringing them down?’
‘The biggest bloke can be toppled if you hit him from behind,’ Donovan pondered. ‘It’s a decent lead, and it helps focus the investigation. It won’t be long before we get a result.’
‘I hope so,’ Steve said. ‘We need to find those kids before they’re moved on again.’
Donovan agreed with the sentiment, but he had one more job to do. There was somebody else living in Leicestershire that he had to see. ‘I’ve got a quick PJ. We’ll find a pub, you can grab yourself some lunch. I shouldn’t be long.’ Steve registered his surprise before agreeing with a nod. Donovan guessed what he was thinking – that it was doubtful he had a personal job in this neck of the woods. But he had someone important to see – and he needed to do it alone.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Today, Donovan felt that he was getting somewhere under his own steam. For once, he wasn’t part of a double act with Amy or having to justify his actions on TV. He was picking up where Carla left off. She would have wanted that. Her diary had left him feeling awkward about what to say to her husband. It wasn’t as if he had done anything wrong. But if something happened to Amy and he’d found her diary declaring her admiration for another man . . . He frowned at the thought. He would reach out to Shaun when the dust settled. Tell him that Carla’s allegiance was primarily to her family, not him. Nobody should live their life feeling like second best.
He opened the black metal gate, dismissing thoughts of Shaun as he walked up the flower-lined drive. His visit was expected. It was one Carla had made before she died. Donovan had been careful to hide the entry in her diary where she mentioned the visit. The proverbial bull in a china shop, Amy did not always tread lightly when she was hungry for answers and this visit needed kid gloves. Tasha had been upset to hear of Carla’s death, but appreciated Donovan taking up where Carla had left off in the quest to find her daughter.
Tasha opened the door
