Hard Evidence (14 page)

Delaney closed the door behind him. Trapping the
foul air and the stale thoughts inside. Sally's
youthful eyes sparkled with excitement.

'What have you got?'

'Candy Morgan, sir.'

'Go on?'

'She used a cash machine. Took out five hundred
pounds.'

'When?'

'About an hour ago.'

'Could be someone using her card.'

Sally shook her head. 'We got the bank to check
their security footage, it was definitely her.'

'Where?'

'King's Cross.'

'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does
it?'

'Doesn't seem to. Stella Trant didn't move too
far from Holloway either, did she?'

'Spitting distance from where Candy Morgan
just made a cash withdrawal.'

'You think Stella lied to us?'

'I think what Bob Wilkinson would no doubt
tell you.'

'And what's that, sir?'

'That they're all slags. And slags are born lying
and slags die lying. Let's go.'

Sally reacted a little surprised as Delaney
shrugged into his jacket. 'Shouldn't we coordinate
this, boss? We don't want to go rushing
in and lose her.'

'She's just drawn out five hundred pounds.
What does that tell you, Sally?'

Sally shrugged.

'It tells me she's wedged up. She's ready to travel
and now she's got the cash to do it.'

Delaney barrelled through the front door, Sally
hurrying behind him.

Howard Morgan watched through the window as
Sally and Delaney hurried towards the car. He
could see the purpose in Delaney's long stride and
the expectation in Sally Cartwright's nervously
excited face. His fist bunched involuntarily and
the muscles in his biceps strained, stretching the
fabric of his shirt. He turned to his brother. 'Wait
here, Jake.'

'What's going on?'

'You just wait here.' He fished his car keys out
of his overall pocket and hurried after Delaney.

Delaney's fist landed on Stella's front door like
Odin's hammer. Stella opened the door, her wide
green eyes startled with fear.

'What do you want?' Her voice was a nervous
stutter, her previous arrogance dissipated in the
face of his violent glare.

Delaney pushed her back into the room and
stepped in, Sally following closely behind and
shutting the door.

'What the hell is going on?'

Delaney ignored her and swept open the
bedroom door and looked around. There was no
one there. Unless Candy Morgan was hiding in the
kitchen cupboard, they had missed her. Maybe by
minutes.

Delaney turned round and glared at Stella
Trant, who crossed her thin arms defensively in
front of her chest.

'I told you, I haven't seen her. What the hell are
you doing here? You've got no right.'

Delaney ignored her again, opening the drawers
in a small sideboard.

'Where's your warrant?'

'Shut it,' Delaney barked at her. He tipped the
contents of the drawer on the floor and threw it to
one side to smash against the wall.

'Guv.'

Delaney flashed Sally a look and she glanced
away.

Stella laughed humourlessly. 'What is this? Good
cop, bad cop?'

Delaney opened the next drawer and smiled at
her. 'How would you like to go back to taking
your showers communally, Stella? The governor
told us you were popular with the bull dykes.'

Stella shook her head, unfazed. 'I doubt he said
any such thing, but I was popular with everybody.'
She smiled. 'Including the governor. Why
do you think he takes such a special interest in
girls like us?'

Delaney carried on searching through the
drawer.

'Did you think it was just his good heart?' She
cupped her crotch with her right hand. 'The truth
is, this was just as valuable on the inside as it was
on the outside.' She winked at Sally. 'You know
what I mean?'

Delaney tossed the second drawer aside and
opened the third. He smiled sourly as he pulled
out a small clear plastic bag. 'What have we got
here?'

'That's not mine.'

'Whose is it? Candy Morgan's?'

'No.'

'It's yours, then.'

Stella shrugged and folded her arms again. 'It's
a bit of blow. Which is legal now, isn't it? Nothing
you can do about it.'

'No, it's not legal. And that means it's a
violation of your parole.'

Stella shook her head, rattled now. 'I've done
nothing wrong.'

'Then tell us where she is.'

Stella didn't answer, but she gave a small,
almost imperceptible, nod of the head. Most
people wouldn't have seen it, but Delaney played
poker; he could tell a giveaway sign when he saw
one.

He turned round and gestured at Sally. 'Wait for
me in the car.'

'Guv?'

'Just do it, Constable.'

Sally looked at her boss but didn't argue. She
shut the front door behind her as she left and
Delaney focused his attention back on Stella
Trant. 'We can do this the hard way if you prefer.'

'Jackie Malone always said you were a halfway
decent cop. Maybe she was wrong.'

Delaney leant forward and slammed his large
hand round her throat.

'Maybe she was.'

Stella's eyes filled, bright with fear. 'Don't hurt
me.'

'You know anything about Jackie, you tell me
now!'

Stella shook her head. 'I don't know anything.
We shared a cell. We talked, that's all.'

'You talked about me?'

'She did. I just listened.'

'And what did she say?'

'Nothing. Just that she liked you, that's all. I
think she had a soft spot for you.'

'You swear there's nothing else? She didn't tell
you anything else?'

'Like what?'

Delaney let the question hang and Stella shook
her head again. 'She didn't tell me anything else. It
was just that, for the sake of sweet Jesus. Girl talk.
You know?'

Delaney released his grip and stepped back.
'Where is she, Stella?'

Stella rubbed her neck, confused. 'Jackie
Malone?'

'I know where Jackie Malone is. Where's Candy
Morgan?'

Stella sighed and looked up at the ceiling, speaking
in a low voice. 'She's upstairs. The owners are
away whilst the place is having building work
done, and the builders are off on another job.' A
small worm of fear squirmed again behind her
eyes. 'You can't tell her I told you.'

Delaney nodded and threw the bag of dope to
her. Stella's hand flashed out like a cricketer,
caught it and stashed it in her jeans pocket. Then
her eyes grew harder. 'You do tell her, of course
. . . and I might have to have a word with your
colleagues.'

'What are you talking about?'

'Who were we just discussing, Cowboy?'

'Don't call me that.'

'It's what Jackie called you, isn't it? How would
your bosses feel if I told them what I know? About
her? About you?'

Delaney just looked at her without responding.

Stella smiled suddenly, putting more than a hint
of invitation into it. 'That's all right, Cowboy, I
was only messing. I don't talk to the filth.' She
winked. 'I can talk pretty filthy, mind, and I could
whisper in your ear some night if you wanted.'

Delaney opened her front door and looked back
at her. 'I'll be seeing you again, Stella. Don't be
making any calls on your mobile.'

Delaney came out of the house, his face impassive.
Sally stepped over to him. 'Everything all right, sir?'

Delaney took her arm and steered her none too
gently towards his car. He stared straight ahead as
he spoke. 'Don't look at the house. Just get in the
motor.'

They both got into the car. Delaney pulled out
his mobile and called Bonner. He updated him,
told him to put the wheels in motion and hung up.

'We wait here?'

'You wait here. I'm going up.'

'You can't, boss.'

Delaney shook his head. 'Stella may have
phoned her. She might be spooked. I'm not taking
the chance that she might hurt the girl before we
get there.'

'The girl might already be dead, guv.'

'Then I'm not going to let her get away.'

'I'm coming with you.'

'You're not. You're going to stay here and wait
for back-up.'

'You can't go in on your own. She's dangerous.'

'I can't waste time arguing about this, Sally.'

'Let's go then.'

Delaney sighed and opened his car door. He
hurried back to the house with Sally close on his
heels. The door to the upstairs flat was next to
Stella Trant's. Delaney pulled a small pick out of
his pocket and smiled sideways at Sally. 'You
didn't see this.'

He twisted the pick and the lock clicked open.
He opened the door gently just as Howard
Morgan came charging up the street towards
them.

'Is she in there? Is my Jenny in there?'

Delaney cursed. 'Jesus Christ on a fucking
bicycle. Keep him down here, Sally.'

'Sir, I . . .'

'Just do it.'

Delaney hurled the door back – there was no
point in stealth now – and ran up the stairs to the
first floor. It was deserted and completely barren.
He moved from one room to the next. The place
had been stripped back to bare wood and the
walls were ready for renovation. The floorboards
were rotten in places and evidence of water
damage was everywhere. No wonder the owners
had moved out whilst the builders were in. The
place was a death trap.

Delaney moved back into the corridor and
walked slowly towards the back of the house.

'Candy, if you're here, we don't mean you any
harm. We just want to know that Jenny is all
right.'

He listened, but there was no response. 'Talk to
me, Candy. Everything can be sorted out. It's not
too late.'

He heard something, a rustle, a movement, and
edged towards the room at the end of the corridor.
The faded green door was closed and Delaney was
sure he heard something behind it.

'I'm coming in, Candy. Don't do anything
stupid.'

Outside, the sounds of police sirens and
screeching tyres signalled the arrival of at least one
car.

Delaney took a breath and opened the door.
Stepping quickly into the room, he pulled the door
shut behind him.

Into darkness. The windows had been boarded
over and he squinted in the gloom. His eyes, used
to the white glare of the sun, needed time to
adjust.

As he walked slowly into the room, he could see
a woman climbing quickly up a set of steps that
descended from a loft hatch in the ceiling. Delaney
charged after her. She cleared the ladder and tried
to pull it up. Delaney tugged it down, holding it
firm as she disappeared into the darkness above.
'Don't do anything foolish, Candy. My name is
Jack Delaney. I'm here to help.' He took a step on
the ladder and paused. 'We just want to know
she's all right.'

He took another tentative step up, and then
another, raising his head into the loft space above.
His eyes had adjusted now as he scanned the
space, ready to duck below. His heart was racing
but no sign showed in his impassive face. 'It's
okay, Candy. We're not here to hurt you.'

Candy sat in the corner of the room, one arm
wrapped around Jenny, the other holding the
carving knife forward. Jenny looked at Delaney,
her eyes round with fear. Behind them on the floor
were a couple of sleeping bags, some bottles of
water, a blanket, a child's comic, a half-eaten loaf
of bread. Dangling from the rafter was a blue rope.

Candy spoke, her voice a low rasp. 'How can I
trust you?'

Delaney recognised the panic in her voice and
wasn't reassured by it. Frightened people did
stupid things. The impulse to self-protect could be
the most destructive force on the planet, and
Delaney knew that better than anyone.

'We're the police. We're just here to make sure
that Jenny is safe. Look.' He held out his warrant
card. 'Are you okay, Jenny?'

'Yes.' Her voice was tremulous, unconvincing.

'She hasn't hurt you?'

'She's my aunt. She wouldn't hurt me, she's
looking after me.'

'Are you going to put the knife down, Candy?'

Candy shook her head, her knuckles paling as
she tightened her grip on the knife. 'I was only
looking after her.'

Delaney sighed. She wasn't going to make this
easy for any of them. He edged closer, smiling
reassuringly at the huddled, frightened little girl.
'It's okay, Jenny. There's nothing to be scared of.'

He walked forward some more, his foot slipping
a little, and a large section of plasterboard and
ceiling fell into the room below. Candy moved
instinctively back.

'Don't move. You're going to bring the floor
down.'

Delaney held out his hand in a reassuring
gesture. 'Just stay calm.' He edged around the
rotten section of the floor and reached out his
arms. 'All I want is the girl. Just let me take her
and everything is going to be all right.'

Downstairs, Bonner burst into the room and
looked up at Delaney through the newly made gap
in the floor.

'Guv?'

'It's okay, Eddie, stay there. We'll be right
down.' He turned to Candy and smiled, forcing
some reassurance into his expression. 'Pass her
over, Candy.'

Candy shook her head, her eyes nervous, her
breathing shallow. She clung on to Jenny, who
whimpered a little as the floor creaked and
sagged.

Delaney moved slowly forward. Candy backed
further into the eaves, one hand clutching Jenny
protectively to her, the other holding the knife out,
her eyes glittering and skittish. 'Back off.'

But Delaney took another step forward. 'I can't
do that, Candy. You know that.'

'I mean it.'

'And so do I. You how these things work.'

He moved forward again, and Candy held the
knife, straight and unwavering.

Delaney paused for a moment, then calmly
stepped forward and put his hand around the
blade of the knife. Candy glared at him, rage
coming off her like the shimmer of heat on a hot
tarmac road. Her grip on the handle tightened and
Delaney swallowed, his Adam's apple inches from
the tip of the knife. Then, in a heartbeat, the fire
died in her eyes, like the sudden cessation of a
summer lightning storm, and, as tears formed,
Delaney could see the young child Candy had once
been, a lifetime of hurt away. She looked down at
the floor and then back up at Delaney, letting her
hand fall from knife so that he could take it from
her.

'I only wanted to take care of her,' she said in a
whisper.

Delaney fought to keep his voice level. 'I know.'
He threw the knife across the loft and nodded to
Candy. 'Just pass her to me.'

Candy wiped a dusty hand across her eyes and
released her hold on the young girl who stood
frozen to the spot. 'I love you, Jenny.'

Delaney held out his hand to the petrified girl,
fighting to keep it still. 'Come on, Jenny. Take my
hand.'

Jenny took a step forward, and the rotten plasterboard
beneath her collapsed. She screamed as she
was pitched towards the gaping hole in the floor,
and Delaney, bracing himself against the eave
rafters, swung out and caught her. She dangled for
a moment or two, still screaming, as Delaney's
forearm muscles strained, but he held her tight
and swung her back up on to the safe section of
the attic floor.

Eddie Bonner came up the steps into the attic
and gathered the child safely into his arms.

'It's all right, Jenny. Nobody's going to hurt you
now.'

'Take her downstairs, Eddie.'

Bonner led the terrified girl to the ladder as
Delaney turned back to Candy, who was pressed
into the eaves space, the rotten joist creaking
beneath her feet.

Delaney, still braced against the rafter, held his
hand out again. 'It's over, Candy. Take my hand.'

Candy looked at him for a moment and Delaney
could see the defeat in her eyes, eyes that were far,
far old beyond their years. Given what had
happened to her in the past, he wasn't at all
shocked to see the desolation in them. 'I'm not
here to judge you, Candy.'

'You're a policeman, aren't you?'

Delaney gestured with his hand again. 'Not
much of one.'

She stood up carefully and moved slowly
around the gaping hole in the floor, then cried out
suddenly as the footing gave way beneath her,
tilting her forwards. She lurched desperately to
clutch Delaney's outstretched hand and, gripping
each other tightly, they edged step by step towards
the ladder in the corner of the loft.

Delaney held the ladder steady as Candy climbed
down. Sally Cartwright waited at the bottom,
handcuffs dangling from her hands, a triumphant
smile barely held back from her young lips.

Candy looked around, startled at the large
number of police in the room. There was no sign
of either Jenny or Bonner.

'Jenny!' She tried to push past Sally, but the DC
held her arms and a uniformed officer blocked her
way.

'You're going nowhere.' Sally's voice was heavy
with disgust.

Delaney stepped down. 'Where's the girl?'

'Bonner's taken her down to her father.'

Candy struggled, furious. 'You've let him take
her? For Christ's sake, what have you done?'

Delaney stepped in front of her. 'What are you
talking about?'

'Why do you think I took her from him in the
first place?'

'You can explain all that down at the station.
Candy Morgan, I am arresting you—'

Candy screamed in his face. 'I took her away
from him because she's not safe with him. He's ill!
Don't you understand that? Don't you understand
anything? He's going to hurt her.'

Delaney looked at the naked pain in her eyes
and came to a decision. He nodded to Sally and
Candy. 'Come on.'

He ran down the stairs, followed by the two
women. Bonner was talking on his mobile phone.

'Where the hell is she, Eddie?'

Bonner held the phone away from his ear.
'Boss?'

'Where's Jenny?'

Bonner shrugged and looked around. 'She was
with her father.'

'You said she was going to be safe!' Candy
screamed at Delaney.

Delaney glared at Eddie. 'What the bloody hell
were you thinking of?'

'He's her father, isn't he? What's the problem?'

But Delaney had pushed past him, and was
running out the front door.