Tony Hill u Carol Jordan 08 - Cross and Burn

people get around cops. And around the opposite sex. I thought there might be more between him and Bev McAndrew than he was letting on, but he seemed more concerned than guilty to me.’ He speared a mushroom. ‘I know what you’re thinking. “That’s what people said about Ian Huntley during the Soham murder hunt.” And it might have been what the punters and the hacks said, but I bet it’s not what the cops said behind closed doors. We get a smell off the bad guys, don’t we?’
    ‘Not always,’ Paula said, recalling the killer who had come so close to ending her life. ‘But this time, I think you’re right.’
    He nodded, satisfied. ‘I also did a formal interview with your nephew —’
    ‘My nephew?’ Paula squeaked.
    Okeke looked surprised. ‘I thought with you and his auntie being civil partners, you’d think of Torin as your nephew too. Did I get that wrong?’
    Her first thought was that Torin was a cheeky little bugger, telling lies to keep out of the hands of social services. Then it dawned on her that he was alone and afraid and clinging to her and Elinor because he didn’t really have anyone else. Hastily, she backtracked. ‘No, no, you’re fine. I never think of myself as an auntie, that’s all. More like a big sister.’ Her smile felt false. Okeke was trying to keep his face stern, but one corner of his mouth kept twitching in a half smile.
    ‘Anyway, I spoke to Torin but he didn’t have anything of substance to add to your report. To tell you the truth, I’m worried.’ It didn’t stop him shovelling another forkful of food in his mouth.
    ‘We all are.’ Paula sipped her coffee. ‘What’s your guv’nor saying?’
    ‘If she’s not turned up by tomorrow morning, he thinks we should do a media appeal. Not with Torin, obviously. Just a release with a photo and a request for sightings.’
    Paula nodded. It was what she’d been going to suggest. ‘What’s your gut feeling?’
    He wouldn’t meet her eyes, concentrating instead on cutting up a sausage. ‘Not good. Woman her age, no history of depression or abusive relationships, decent job, decent home, no significant debt that we can pinpoint. And a kid.’ He took a swig of coffee. ‘Women like that don’t generally take off. And they definitely don’t take off without their passport or their driving licence.’
    ‘I didn’t find the driving licence,’ Paula said.
    ‘It was in her desk drawer at work.’
    ‘You think something bad has happened.’
    Now he looked her square in the face. ‘Don’t you?’
    Paula stared into her coffee. ‘Yeah.’
    ‘I’m sorry. But there’s no point in pretending.’
    Paula pushed her chair back and stood up. She wasn’t a small woman but she was barely taller than Okeke sitting. ‘Keep me in the loop, would you?’
    He dabbed his lips delicately with a napkin and nodded. ‘Likewise. If Torin remembers anything…’

    Paula stood outside the back door in the lee of the building, huddled with the other smokers. She’d checked upstairs and Cody hadn’t returned yet. One short encounter with Cody and she’d already have put money on him taking a detour via one of the outlets in the shopping-mall food hall. Out here by the car park, she’d see him when he finally showed up. She lit up and called Elinor’s mobile, half-expecting it to go to voicemail. But she was in luck. ‘It’s your wife,’ she said. ‘Torin’s auntie.’
    ‘Ah,’ Elinor said. ‘It was his idea. He’s desperate to avoid being taken into care. Even if it’s only for a night or two. And your very charming colleague seemed willing to accept me as the half-sister of his absent father. He told me his family is also complicated.’
    ‘And you call him charming. Sounds like you had PC Okeke eating out of your hand.’
    ‘Police officers and their weak spots. I’m an expert. I’m presuming since you didn’t begin this call in a burst of enthusiasm that there’s no news?’
    Paula tried not to sound as glum as she felt. ‘In my job, no news is good news.’
    ‘That’s tough. Listen, I’m perfectly happy to keep Torin with us, but I think we’ve reached the point where we need to talk to his dad, to put this on an official footing. Not to mention his grandmother and his real auntie. Torin says there’s a facility called ArmyNET that lets him communicate with his dad in real time, so we’ll use that. Are you happy to let me take care of it?’
    Again, Paula remembered why she loved Elinor.