‘You police?’ he called.
‘Yes, do you live here?’ Caroline asked.
‘I do. You got a badge?’
Caroline showed him her ID card.
‘Alright. Good,’ the man said. ‘I figured you was either police or criminals, the way you’re looking round the car.’
Caroline noticed he’d given a particular look in Dexter’s direction, and sincerely hoped it wasn’t connected with his race. ‘Did you see who parked it here?’ she asked him, keen to get to the point.
‘Happen I did, aye. A woman. Attractive, like. Pretty young thing.’
‘What time was this?’ Dexter asked.
‘Oooh, I reckon not long before nine. Quarter to, perhaps. Seemed odd, because most of the cars leave not long before that. Off to work, see. Bit strange to see someone arriving at that time.’
‘And did you notice what she looked like?’
‘Aye. Blonde hair. Extraordinary buttocks.’
As much as she found the man’s description distasteful, Caroline had to admit it did at least confirm it was Amie Tanner he’d seen.
‘Did you see where she went?’
‘Aye. Off with her friend.’
Caroline and Dexter exchanged a look. ‘Friend?’
‘The bloke in the other car. They both pulled in together, got out and looked at her car just like you was there, stood around for a minute or so, then she got into his car and off they went.’
‘Did she seem to go willingly or was there a struggle at all?’
‘Seemed alright to me,’ the man replied. ‘He didn’t have to bundle her in or anything, if that’s what you mean.’
‘What sort of car did they get into?’
‘Blimey, all these questions. She a wrong’un or something?’
Caroline could feel herself losing patience quickly. ‘Please just answer the questions. What sort of car was it?’
The man shrugged. ‘Dunno. I dunno cars, me. It were blue, I can tell you that. Estate, I think. You can always tell them from the side.’
‘And the man? Did you get a look at him?’
‘Not with these eyes,’ the man replied. ‘Sorry. Wasn’t really paying much attention to him, if you know what I mean.’
‘Okay. Thanks. Which way did you say they went?’
The man pointed down the road. ‘Down that way,’ he said. ‘Towards Uppingham. Maybe have a look down there.’
46
Caroline and Dexter got back into her car, glad for the warmth. They’d put out a call for local units to keep eyes open for a blue estate car, as well as sightings of Amie Tanner. Although their instinct might’ve been to head straight off in the direction of Uppingham, it had been quite some time since Amie and her abductor had left, and they could’ve been absolutely anywhere by now.
Officers were already on their way to the scene, where they’d be able to search the car properly and take an official statement from the man they’d spoken to, who’d eventually identified himself as Eric Darnforth.
‘It’s got to be someone she knows,’ Dexter said. ‘She’s not the sort of woman who’d get into a stranger’s car on a whim. She’d sooner beat him black and blue.’
‘I’ve got to agree it narrows the field somewhat,’ Caroline replied. ‘Hang on.’
Caroline got out of the car and walked back over to Amie’s. She peered through the windows, careful not to touch anything. Then she crouched down onto the floor and looked under the car before getting up and knocking on Eric Darnforth’s door.
‘Sorry to bother you again,’ she said as he answered, ‘but I don’t suppose you saw either of them using a mobile phone, did you?’
‘Don’t happen I did, no, love. Why’s that?’
‘Just wondered. Did either of them put anything anywhere? Throw something into bushes, perhaps? Anything else suspicious?’
‘No, not that I noticed. Like I say, they parked up, right where you are now. She got out of her car, he got out of his. They looked round hers for a bit, then got into his, sat for a minute or so then drove off.’
‘Did you see what they were doing for that minute before they drove off?’
Eric almost laughed. ‘No, no chance. Like I say, these eyes aren’t what they used to be. Plus the light’s too low that time of morning. Get all that glare off the glass, you know.’
Caroline forced a smile, said her goodbyes then headed back to her car. If nothing else, it would be a fun hour or two for whoever got to take that statement.
47
Caroline’s head was a mess. Focus was impossible. She didn’t know how much of it was down to the case itself and how much was caused by her recovery and her present mental state, but it wasn’t entirely out of the ordinary for her at the best of times. It was almost the opposite of the calm before the storm: it was the fog and confusion that came before the moment of clarity which would unlock everything else. And she felt she was getting close to that point.
‘We’re halfway there anyway,’ she said as she pulled back out onto the road and headed towards Uppingham.
‘They’ll be long gone by now. They were probably heading for the A47.’
‘Probably. But I don’t think it’s them I’m looking for.’
Dexter looked across at her. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine. There’s just… Just something I need to check.’
A few minutes later, they pulled up outside the offices of Allure Design. They were met by Monique, who quickly hid her initial awkwardness and embarrassment with an over-the-top show of enthusiasm.
‘How wonderful to see you again,’ Monique said, welcoming them with a little too much energy. ‘How can I be of assistance?’
‘We just wanted to ask you a few more questions, if we may. I hope it’s not too inconvenient.’
‘No, of course. Audentes fortuna iuvat.’
‘Sorry?’
‘Fortune favours the bold.’
‘Alright, Doris. I’ll be honest, I’ve never really understood that one in English, never mind a language that doesn’t exist anymore.’ Caroline watched as Monique shrunk like a snowball in the Sahara. ‘Quick question. Is your IT chap in today? Tom Mackintosh.’
‘He’s not, I’m afraid. I can ask him to give you a call when he’s back in, though?’
Caroline smiled. ‘That’s fine. Don’t worry.
