Deadly Lies by Ann Girdharry (read me a book .TXT) 📕

It was exactly what he needed to pin down Glover and yet using unofficial intelligence would prejudice any future conviction. Was there any way around it?

‘Goddamit.’ Grant yanked open the door of his office and shouted at McGowan. ‘Where the hell are Jack Glover’s details!’

McGowan almost dropped his coffee mug. ‘I’m working on it, guv. They said they’d send them over and that was…’ McGowan checked the time, ‘…two hours ago.’

‘Get them on the phone.’

When the call connected, Grant snatched the receiver from McGowan’s hand.

‘This is Detective Chief Inspector Grant. I’m in charge of the search for Emily and Lisa Glover – you know, the kidnapped little girls who are all over the news? My sergeant requested vital records and we’re still waiting! If anything happens to those children I’m holding you responsible.’ The person on the other end of the line made faint apologetic sounds. Grant didn’t listen. ‘We need Jack Glover’s banking details. Now!’

Grant glowered at McGowan who had the good sense to keep his attention fixed on his computer screen.

‘As soon as they send the email, guv,’ McGowan said, ‘I’ll pop it straight through to the printer.’ The seconds ticked by. ‘Bingo!’ McGowan tapped a few keys.

The machine in the corner of the room sprang to life and it had barely finished spitting out the sheets before the DCI grabbed them.

‘About bloody time,’ Grant said.

At Sylvie’s coffee bar, Ruby ordered an orange juice and Diane took a cappuccino and Ruby carried them to a table. Grant had sent them down to Brighton to question Sylvie. They cleared the interview with Sylvie’s boss and Diane beckoned Sylvie over.

‘Hello Sylvie, I’m Detective Sergeant Collins and this is my colleague, Ruby Silver. I know you’ve already spoken to DCI Grant about the Glover children. We need to have another chat.’

Sylvie gave a friendly smile. ‘I can’t right now, I’m working. I’ve been watching the news and I didn’t see anything. Have you found Lisa and Emily?’

‘Not yet,’ Diane said, ‘and I asked your boss nicely and got you a fifteen-minute break. I want to talk to you about the Pregnancy Guidance clinic.’

‘I-I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Yes you do. I spoke to them myself and they remembered a young Australian woman who fits your description. I think it might be better if you told us what was going on.’

The PG clinic had admitted they recognised Sylvie although they had not been willing to reveal details which would, as they explained, compromise patient confidentiality.

‘It’s none of your business,’ Sylvie said.

Diane patted the seat next to her. ‘It is when we’re investigating a child abduction. Please don’t make me bring you in for questioning.’

Ruby noticed red flush marks on Sylvie’s cheekbones. The young woman was either embarrassed or annoyed or both.

‘What do you want from me? I haven’t done anything wrong.’

‘Come on, Sylvie,’ Ruby said. ‘You told DCI Grant you weren’t having a relationship with Jack Glover yet he paid for you to visit the PG clinic.’

Sylvie dropped her gaze to the tabletop. ‘I’m not proud of what I did but it wasn’t terrible either. What?’ She looked at Ruby and then at Diane. ‘Are you going to make me spell it out?’

‘If you simply told us it might help,’ Diane said.

‘Jesus. Okay, I’m pregnant, and Jack is the father. Happy?’

‘How did he take the news?’ Ruby asked.

‘Cliché, isn’t it? The young au pair who gets seduced by her employer. I never thought I could be so stupid. I was dumb enough to fall for him. Then, when I told Jack I was pregnant, he offered money for a termination. He even made an appointment. I thought he’d be pleased and all he wanted to do was get rid of it.’

Ruby took out a packet of tissues and pushed them across the table. ‘It wasn’t what you were expecting?’

‘What do you think? He went from being all over me to offering me cash. I was stunned. Didn’t know what to do. Like I said, he even made the appointment for me though, of course, it didn’t occur to him I might want him to come along too. He expected me to go on my own. Did you know they give you a consultation and a counselling session? The termination happens by you taking two pills and if you swallow the first one you have to take the second otherwise your baby can be born with horrible defects. When they told me how it worked I realised I couldn’t go through with it.’

‘You changed your mind.’

‘I never really made up my mind in the first place because I’d been expecting Jack to be pleased. He’d told me plenty about how he liked me and he bought me gifts and made me feel special and all the time he was using me. Jack said he and Alice hadn’t done it since Lisa was born and he wanted to leave. I was dumb enough to believe him.’

‘You thought he’d make a new life with you,’ Ruby said.

Sylvie gave a rueful smile. ‘Turns out Alice’s money is worth more and Jack is a liar. A baby will spoil my life and ruin my plans – except I couldn’t go through with getting rid of it. Now I’m stuck.’

‘Does Alice know?’ Diane asked.

‘Only if Jack told her and I’m pretty certain he didn’t. Her jealousy was bad enough – I wouldn’t have been able to face her once she found out Jack didn’t want me anymore.’

‘You fell into a trap,’ Ruby said. ‘What about your family? Will they help you out?’

‘Are you mad? I can’t tell them. And you know what? I’m glad you know. Jack Glover doesn’t deserve me protecting him. He turned out to be a shit, and right afterwards he allowed his wife to dismiss me. I did leave the children unattended for a few seconds and I could see them the whole time. It was Alice’s excuse and Jack didn’t back me up. How many other au pairs has Jack had