‘Maybe he’s decided to take a holiday and gather his thoughts,’ Sian suggested.
‘You’re not convinced, are you Faith?’ Matilda asked, looking up at the stern expression on the young DC’s face.
‘I’m not, no. I think this whole Ryan Asher case is bizarre, and now we have a person going missing. From what the nurses have said, John Preston’s life revolved around his son. He wouldn’t just stop visiting without saying something.’
‘Faith, give Norfolk police a ring and ask them to send a couple of uniforms around to this John Preston’s house. If he’s not at home, ask them to have a word with the neighbours.’
A smile spread across Faith’s lips. ‘I’ll do that right now. Thank you, ma’am.’
Faith turned and bounced away, her ponytail swishing with every step.
‘I think MIT merging with CID has been the making of Faith,’ Matilda said. ‘She was a bit of a fish out of a water in the Murder Room but in CID she’s come into her own.’
‘Well, I’m glad someone’s seen a benefit from it.’
‘Are you still not happy?’
‘I’m not happy that we’re cramped into the corner as if we’re something to be ashamed of, and I’m not happy that some thieving bugger is nicking stuff from my snack drawer.’
‘You know what, you’re right. It does look like we’ve been thrown into a cupboard, doesn’t it? When we get some free time I think we need to open this place up a bit. Get rid of a few of the filing cabinets and really merge with the CID. We need to be one unit.’
Scott dragged himself into the office looking just as tired as when Matilda had left him at the Northern General the night before. He slumped into a chair and made no apology for being late.
‘Any news on Rory?’ Sian asked before Matilda could.
‘I went to see him on my way in. He’s looking a lot better. He’s awake and sitting up in bed. He’s not happy he’s had to have his head shaved.’
‘That’s a shame, he’s got gorgeous wavy hair,’ Sian said. ‘It’ll soon grow back though.’
‘He’ll make a full recovery then?’ Matilda asked.
‘It looks like it, yes,’ Scott smiled.
‘That is good news. Seeing him unconscious in that interview room yesterday covered in blood; my heart almost stopped,’ Matilda said. ‘I never want to see any of my team in that situation again.’
‘He wanted to try and understand the inmates better. This case has really got under his skin,’ Sian said by way of an explanation. She turned to Scott. ‘How are things with him and Amelia? Any chance of a reconciliation?’
‘No. I think this has actually given him a bit of a confidence boost … ’
‘Yes, that’s just what Rory needs, more confidence,’ Matilda laughed.
‘I was talking to his mother and she said Amelia felt guilty for neglecting Rory while she was studying and would like to give it another go. Rory just turned around and said no. He said it was definitely over. If she’d have said that before he was attacked, I think he would have jumped at the chance of them getting back together.’
‘Good for Rory. Why should he make her feel better? She shouldn’t have taken advantage of his good nature,’ Sian said, ever the protective mother.
‘Well, I’m going to grab myself a coffee. Have I missed the briefing?’
‘You have but never mind. You can go with Sian back to Starling House and interview what is left of the staff there. I can’t believe none of them knew what was going on,’ Matilda said.
‘Apart from that, the inmates of Starling House are still locked up downstairs waiting to be scattered around the country. Richard Grover is waiting to go to magistrate’s court, as is Callum Nixon, and Fred Percival has been released without charge as he hasn’t done anything wrong. He immediately tendered his resignation and plans to go back to … I can’t remember where he said he lived,’ Sian added.
‘Oh, well I might grab a bacon sandwich while I’m at it if there’s nothing to rush back for,’ Scott added.
‘Don’t go slacking; we’ve Sian’s chocolate thief to hunt down,’ Matilda smiled.
‘I get the feeling,’ Sian said once they were alone, ‘that you’re sitting here running out the clock. What’s going on?’
‘I’m waiting for some information from the ACC, and I want to be here when she calls before she changes her mind.’
‘Sounds ominous.’
‘It is.’
‘But you’re not going to tell me?’
‘It depends. Do you have a dark chocolate Bounty in your drawer?’
Adele sent Matilda a text just after midday saying she would be unable to meet for lunch as two elderly residents at a nursing home had died within twelve hours of each other and she was helping Claire with the Digital Autopsies. Matilda was relieved. She wasn’t in the mood for small talk and the endless questions from Adele about her well-being. She knew she had her best interests at heart, but, for one day, she wanted to be alone.
The irony wasn’t lost on her. At home she hated the loneliness and the silence but when company was offered she tried everything to get out of it.
You really are weird, Matilda, do you know that?
The phone on her desk rang before she could answer herself.
‘DCI Matilda Darke?’
‘Yes,’ Matilda confirmed reluctantly.
‘I’m Emma McDermid … ’ began a thick Scottish accent. Matilda wondered if she was any relation to Val McDermid, who was rapidly becoming her favourite crime fiction author. Suddenly she remembered she was on the phone and hadn’t been listening to the conversation.
‘I’m sorry, can you repeat that? It’s a bad line.’
Emma spoke louder and slower. ‘I’m Emma McDermid. I’m a reporter with the Daily Mail. As I’m sure you’re aware the book about Carl Meagan written by his mother has been released and is selling very well. I was wondering what your thoughts on the book were. Have you read it?’
Matilda’s blood ran cold. Before
