A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith (great books of all time .TXT) 📕

Willow’s phone.’ Beth opened her briefcase and lifted the evidence bag and held it where Mrs Brown could see the mobile. ‘Do you recognise this?’

‘Yes. That’s our Willow’s.’ Mrs Brown lurched forward. ‘Give it to me. That’s my daughter’s phone and I want it. You have no right to keep it.’

Kieran moved so he was between Beth and Mrs Brown. ‘We’re sorry, but now you’ve identified it as being your daughter’s it’s evidence. We’ll need to keep it for a while, but only so we can use it to find Willow for you.’

Mrs Brown collapsed onto a chair. Her hands hid her face, but they couldn’t conceal her whimpers.

Beth gave Kieran a mental gold star for the way he’d handled Mrs Brown. After his performance at the river, he was still in negative equity, but at least he’d prevented an ugly scene. She may have refrained from offering false hope, but once he’d received a tongue-lashing from an aggrieved relative when he failed to live up to his promises, he’d learn.

Beth eased herself down until she was crouched at Mrs Brown’s eye level. ‘I’m sorry, I know this is a tough time for you, but I have a couple of questions I’d like to ask you.’

‘What is it? What do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything if it helps you find my daughter.’

With as much consideration for Mrs Brown’s sensibilities as she could inject into her words, Beth put her questions forward. When she asked if Willow had complained about any men who’d creeped her out, Mrs Brown had shaken her head so violently Beth could hear the woman’s neck crack.

Having seen how fragile Mrs Brown could be, it didn’t surprise Beth that Willow hadn’t mentioned anything to her mother. The woman was the type of person to worry herself about things that would never happen, and such news would likely have triggered sleepless nights.

For a moment she wondered where Willow’s father was, and then she thought of what her own father would do in the man’s position. He’d drive round looking for her. He’d recruit all the friends and family members he could, and set up his own search parties.

Mr Brown had seemed to be cut from the same cloth as her own father and as such, he’d be unable to wait at home. He’d have to be out, doing something. Looking for Willow himself rather than sit at home feeling useless.

With her last question answered, Beth nodded to Kieran and then stood to leave. The next part of the trail had been mapped out, and all she could do was hope it wasn’t a dead end.

Sixty-Four

The woman who opened the door to them wasn’t what Beth was expecting of Willow’s closest work colleague. She’d anticipated the Natalie that Willow’s mother had referred to would be of a similar age to Willow.

Natalie appeared to be retirement age, but regardless of the lines on her face and the grey in her hair, she dressed and styled herself as if thirty years younger. It was a hard thing to do, but she pulled it off. Her home was also furnished in a modern and stylish way.

Beth explained why they were troubling her as it was obvious from Kieran’s uniform who they were.

‘I’d heard she’d gone off. It’s not like her, I have to say. She’s dependable and not at all impulsive.’

‘We’d like to know if she complained to you about anyone who made her feel uneasy. You know, creeped her out?’

Natalie rubbed at her chin as she thought. ‘There’s a few people who pissed her off, but that’s part of the job. When you’re giving financial advice to folk, there’s always some who think they know best or have unrealistic expectations.’

‘That’s not what I’m looking for, unless they lost a fortune. She’s a good-looking woman and I’m after anyone who may have been inappropriate to her. Can you think of any names she might have mentioned?’

Beth fell silent and shot a warning look at Kieran in case he spoke and interrupted Natalie’s train of thought.

‘There were a couple of people she asked me about. One is a right charmer, or at least he thinks he is; truth be told he’s more of a lech than anything else. He’s on his fourth or maybe fifth wife. Believe me, he chases anything in a skirt. One time I was there he openly ogled me when his wife was sitting beside him.’

Natalie scrunched her nose. ‘I never liked him. I can’t say he was ever anything but polite with me, but I always got the sense that he was undressing me in his mind. He never did anything about it, never flirted or asked me out, but he was the type to always be trying to sneak a look down your blouse if you know what I mean?’

‘I do indeed.’

The way Kieran blushed made Beth like him that little bit less.

As much as Beth liked what she was hearing, the fact this man had been married a few times suggested that he didn’t have a problem meeting and seducing women. This was at odds with every psychological profile she could think of for the Lakeland Ripper. All the same she jotted down his name and address.

‘And the other guy?’

‘If it’s the guy I’m thinking of, he’s a farmer, well he used to be. Now all he does is rent his fields and sheds out. Other than keeping the fences and hedges in good order, he doesn’t do much at all. He tried to flirt with me every time I had to visit him, and I’m sure he’ll have done the same with a bonny lass like Willow.’

‘Did he have a wife, a girlfriend?’

‘Not as far as I was ever aware.’ Natalie’s nose gave a rabbit wrinkle. ‘Tell you the truth, he’s not an attractive man. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not physically ugly, more that he tries too hard with his flirting and makes inappropriate comments all the time.’

Beth’s pulse raced