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

sex with? I reported him to the agency. They can’t do anything for me but at least they can protect other girls from the same fate.’

‘You should have told the DCI,’ Diane said. ‘It would have saved us a lot of time.’

‘It was private and I didn’t see how it would make a difference.’

Diane took out her phone. She swiped the screen and brought up a photo of the red camisole. ‘Do you recognise this?’

Sylvie sniffed. ‘Sorry, I’m so tearful these days it’s annoying. Yes, it’s one of the gifts Jack gave me.’

‘Any idea how it got into Emily’s room?’

‘I’ve no idea but I guess she came across it and thought it was pretty or liked the colour or something. Kids are funny like that.’ Sylvie gave her nose a loud blow. ‘You must think I’m really naïve.’

‘That’s not at all what I’m thinking,’ Diane said. ‘So don’t put words in my mouth.’

‘A married man fooled you and then left you to deal with being pregnant. What are you going to do?’ Ruby asked.

‘Like I always do – I’ll sort it out on my own. Jack doesn’t know I didn’t go through with it. Once it’s born I can prove paternity if I want to. Jack was willing to give money though he hinted how could he be sure it was his, the bastard.’

‘You’ve signed up with a doctor?’ Ruby asked.

‘Yes and I’ve found a nice one who doesn’t judge. Please don’t think badly of me. Jack can be an absolute charmer and he knows how to get women to do what he wants.’

‘But he didn’t force you?’ Ruby said.

‘No I wanted it as much as he did.’ Sylvie placed a hand on her belly. ‘And now I’m going to have to live with the consequences.’

27

Grant took a good look at Jack Glover. The man wasn’t bothering to shave and he slunk around in the same clothes, his expression haggard. Jack’s study was littered with uneaten bowls of snacks and half-drunk mugs of coffee. It smelled faintly of Jack’s body odour which made Grant want to fling open the window. Grant sat on a sofa and Jack on his comfy desk chair.

‘I spoke with Natalie Karnik and she made it clear your relationship with her has been going on for months,’ Grant said.

Time to open up Jack like a tin of beans.

Jack tried to straighten his crumpled trousers. ‘Did Natalie tell you that? So what?’

‘It’s obstructive if you withhold information. Every detail has its importance. It doesn’t help if you don’t tell me the truth.’

‘I don’t see what difference my personal life makes.’

‘The priority here is finding your children and I need your co-operation.’

‘And you’ve got it. Okay, so I cheated on my wife. It’s not a bloody crime. And please don’t believe my wife’s silly accusations about Natalie stealing the children.’

‘So Natalie has never mentioned wanting to be in a couple with you?’

‘We’ve never talked that way. It’s an affair.’

‘And you don’t plan to leave your wife.’

‘For God’s sake, no. I made a mistake.’

‘I see. And what about Sylvie Delacourt’s pregnancy, does your wife know about that?’

It was as if Grant had punched Jack in the face.

‘Wh-what,’ Jack stuttered.

‘Please don’t deny it,’ Grant said. ‘We don’t have time to waste.’

‘I don’t know what Sylvie’s said to you.’

Jack was digging except Grant wasn’t going to provide. He kept his eyes locked on Jack.

‘Okay, okay. Sylvie came to me after Christmas and told me she was pregnant. She said it was mine except I wasn’t certain about that.’

‘Though you’re not denying having sex with your au pair?’

‘Once. I had sex with her once. Then she tells me she’s pregnant.’

Grant turned the screws. ‘And you offered to pay for a termination.’

‘Shit, you’ve been digging. Okay, yes I did. I felt sorry for her. She was in a state. Are you going to shoot me for helping her out?’

Grant remained silent.

Jack shrugged. ‘Like I said, I didn’t know for sure if I was the father or if she…?’

‘You’re suggesting Ms Delacourt had sex with another man and he could be the father?’

‘Exactly. I don’t want to sound judgemental only… she was that type of girl.’

Grant didn’t let his dislike of Jack cloud his judgement. He was here for facts which could lead him to the children. Nothing more and nothing less. Jack’s sex life and his lack of morals was only relevant if it could relate to Emily and Lisa.

Jack rubbed his hands over his face. ‘For God’s sake just get my children back. Shouldn’t you be out there searching?’

Grant flicked through his notes. ‘That’s exactly what we’re doing, sir, I can assure you. In your banking details there are transactions which relate to the purchase of an apartment on the other side of Himlands Heath. Bought five years ago it’s registered in your name. Is your wife aware this apartment exists?’

‘No.’

‘We’ve spoken to the concierge and he says you go there occasionally with women. Is this true?’

As soon as Grant discovered the existence of the apartment from Jack’s records, Grant and several officers had questioned the doorman and neighbours and they had scanned foyer security camera footage to check for any sign of Emily and Lisa. There had been no trace of the little girls, otherwise Grant would have forced an entry.

‘Jesus. Can’t a man have any privacy?’

‘I need to get inside. Are you willing to show me?’

‘Yes! Okay, I use it for sex. So what? You think I’ve got Emily and Lisa holed up there? Are you mad! Why do I get the feeling you’re treating me like a suspect?’

Why, Mr Glover? Because you’re a damn liar and people didn’t tell the truth for a reason.

‘Have your children ever been there?’

A light sweat had broken out on the man’s top lip. ‘Never.’

‘Keeping the apartment secret was a very bad mistake.’ Grant stood and felt like dragging Jack up by his collar. ‘Get up! You’re taking me there immediately. I want it swabbed for their DNA.’

28

A few months ago

Sylvie