‘But there’s definitely two sets of prints on the note?’
‘Yep, which is what we were hoping for. Unfortunately, though, we’re no further to knowing who the other set belongs to, I’m afraid. Whoever it is, we’ve not got their prints on the database, so I can’t identify them. Sorry, mate.’
‘Bugger. Oh well, never mind. Thanks for trying anyway, Ewan. I really, really appreciate it.’
Maya hung up feeling deflated but curious that there was a second set of prints on the note. Her instincts had been right. Elaine, who appeared to have heard Maya’s side of the conversation, looked at her inquisitively. ‘What are you up to?’ she asked with a wry smile.
‘Nothing,’ Maya replied a little too quickly, aware that she had a defensive edge to her voice.
‘Really?’ Elaine leaned towards her conspiratorially and lowered her voice. ‘Spill.’
Maya sighed. She had hoped that examining Celeste Warren’s suicide note would be something that would stay between her and Ewan, but Elaine’s interest was clearly piqued, and she wasn’t going to give up on finding out what the conversation had been about. Maya quickly and quietly explained, hoping no one else would overhear the conversation. If Kym found out, she was sure there would be hell to pay.
‘Well, don’t dismiss your sudden death theory too quickly,’ said Elaine. ‘According to the rumour mill, Aiden Donnelly is on the missing list. If you’re right that there’s someone going around bumping off our most notorious criminals, then I expect Donnelly’s body to pop up somewhere very, very soon.’
Maya didn’t have a chance to reply or question Elaine about Donnelly’s disappearance as Kym swept into the office.
‘Everyone well?’ she asked rhetorically. ‘I’ve just had Andy on the phone, he’s going to be off for a few days. Nothing you all need to concern yourself with, he has just cited personal problems. Amanda, could you update the rota please to show him absent and let me know if anyone is interested in overtime to cover his shifts.’
Kym headed into her office as the others looked at each other questioningly.
‘Personal problems, eh? More like a fucking personality problem,’ said Elaine.
‘Oh well, I could do with the overtime. Put me down for his weekend shift please, Amanda,’ called Chris, ‘That’s unless anyone else wants it?’
Elaine leant across the desk towards Maya. ‘You should put your name down too, make sure you’re on duty for when Donnelly’s body turns up, then you can say “I told you so”, and be as smug as you like.’
Maya rolled her eyes at Elaine, refusing to engage in the conversation any further. She was curious though. Donnelly was the prime target of Operation Chrysalis. From what she knew of the investigation, she was under the impression a surveillance unit had been tailing him. So where was he and how could he have just disappeared?
69
Spence was getting ready for the late shift at The Eagle. He should have been covering the lunchtime shift but had asked Lisa for a swap so he could see his solicitor. He had been assured that his alibi would leave him with no case to answer, yet the fly in the ointment was still the knife and bloodstained clothing that had been removed from Spence’s room.
He gave his niece a cuddle and headed out of the house for work. He had texted Maya earlier to see if she wanted to come and join him for an hour in the pub later. He desperately hoped she would. He was longing to see her, as just the thought of her made him smile. He instinctively reached for his phone to see if she had replied when a sudden movement caught his eye.
A figure was crouching down behind the thick rhododendron bushes which lined the border of the quiet avenue. Although the bushes were well adapted and quite overgrown, they were not large enough to disguise Lurch’s huge bulk. Knowing he had been spotted, the man quickly got up, brushed himself down and began to stride hurriedly away through the estate.
Spence was temporarily stunned at the sight of the giant man emerging and then disappearing off. What on earth was he doing skulking outside his sister’s house? They lived nowhere near The Eagle so he couldn’t just have been passing. It was one hell of a coincidence that he should see him here. Spence didn’t believe in coincidence. Could this man have something to do with the arrest?
‘Oi, hey, mate, come here a minute. I want a word.’
Lurch glanced slightly over his shoulder before picking up his stride and disappearing out of sight. He moved surprisingly quickly for such a giant of a man.
‘Hey, come back!’ Spence called again. He must have heard him. He started to chase after the man and rounded the corner of the estate in no time, but there was no sign. The estate was like a maze, there was no way of knowing which direction the man had gone. And if he was in a car then it would be near impossible to spot him. Spence jogged forward, wondering which of the avenues to take his chance at searching first. Choosing the nearest one, he rounded the corner but again, there was no sign.
He quickly doubled back and chose the second closest avenue. He picked up speed, determined to catch up with him and get some answers. He had to find him. There was no way he had just been passing. He had clearly been hiding in the garden. He recalled Bella’s nightmares and claims that a man had been looking through the window. Clearly Spence was being watched or followed, but why?
He frantically scoured the quiet street. Nothing. His desperation mounting, he turned to retrace his steps when he encountered a flurry of movement in front of him. Lurch appeared from the middle of nowhere. His huge fist smashed into Spence’s face with such ferocity, he
