Chapter Twenty-One
‘Are you OK to drive?’ Ruby threw Richard the car keys from across the desk. She felt bad for judging him for being boring. Unlike his predecessor, Richard actually cared about the people he dealt with. Job-weary Ash had failed to see outside his own problems when it came to ownership of the cases on his hands. To him they had just been the means to an end, making light of the tragedies to get through the day. Richard may not be the most talkative of people, but he held a quiet dignity that carried to every aspect of his work. Regardless, Ruby knew that it took time to build up a level of trust and having a new member on the team could be unsettling at first. It had also occurred to her that he could be a mole. Such people rarely formed friendships because it made their betrayal much harder later on. The professional standards department regularly placed people into various departments, and she would not have put it past them to give Richard such a role. Had someone reported her for her criminal associations? Her connection with the Crosbys that made her feel paranoid. A team was only as good as its leader; had Richard been sent in to keep an eye on them all?
She gave Richard a curious glance. He drove as he worked: slow and steady with careful consideration. She wondered what the ladies down the golf club would make of his old-fashioned side burns and his M&S suit. She took a slow, soothing breath, her thoughts solemn. It felt strange not to be racing around like when she was at the wheel. The mood in the office was at fever pitch as they investigated the latest leads. A courier had been sent to the home of Gordon Barber with a small padded package from an unknown source. The arrival of the second photo and what was believed to be Cheryl’s amputated ring finger had confirmed her worst fears. This case was connected to the last. And given the previous photo had arrived the night before, they were now on day two. Thankfully, it was intercepted before it reached Cheryl’s husband’s letterbox. If they didn’t catch the killer, there would be one more photo to come. It brought with it a chilling conclusion. They had less than twenty-four hours to save Cheryl’s life.
She had known before she saw the photo that it would be grim. Just like the previous victim, Cheryl was tied up in submission, the rope connected behind her back to her ankles and wrists. Could it be the same rope used to murder the previous victim? Was he playing with the police, teasing them with similarities known only to very few? Cheryl’s face still haunted Ruby’s memory. Streaked with tears, her eyes were puffy from crying, her screams contained in what looked like a ball gag stuffed into her mouth. But just like before, the photo offered few clues of her location. They would come in the next photo, when it was far too late. It gave Ruby scant relief to see Cheryl’s fingers still intact, but there was a damning sense of inevitability that she had tried hard to shake off.
A flash of her police warrant card gained them access to the golf club. According to Facebook, the ladies in Cheryl’s circle of friends were allowed special out-of-hours entry. This was no doubt facilitated by their hefty membership fees, as well as the sponsorship provided by their spouses’ companies for the various tournaments that took place over the year. Highfield Country Club catered to many people, and judging by the glitzy decor, they were all well above Ruby’s pay grade. Heads turned as she strode to the function room that overlooked the course. The damp and drizzly morning brought few golfers out today. But despite the early hour, the bar was open for business. It was also manned by a barman who would not look out of place on the cover of Esquire magazine. No wonder these old lushes come here at this hour with talent like this serving them, Ruby thought, as their eyes briefly met.
‘They’re over there in the corner, near the back door,’ Richard said, pointing to the group of women he recognised from social media.
Sipping their gin and tonics, the women did not appear to notice Ruby until she was halfway across the room. Dressed in a mixture of linen trousers, floaty dresses and butterfly print chiffon tops, they turned to greet her with curious glances as she approached their table. After introducing herself, Ruby allowed the flutter of excitement to die down before taking a seat. Her nose twitched as the cloud of expensive perfume enveloping them threatened to make her sneeze.
‘Are you here about Cheryl and Melissa?’ a petite auburn-haired woman enquired. Her face was tight and worried, as she clasped her glass in both hands.
‘Yes,’ Ruby confirmed, shocked that news of Cheryl’s disappearance had spread so quickly. ‘I was wondering if any of you can shed any light on their whereabouts?’
But questioning seemed fruitless as the six women gathered stated they knew nothing of the plans of either woman on the day of their disappearances. ‘Friends’ seemed to be a loose term as they preferred to gossip over Melissa and Cheryl’s financial status rather than show empathy and genuine concern.
‘How did you come to know each other?’ Ruby said, aware of their eyes raking over her as they made their own mental calculations. Designer suit, expensive watch, and ooh a pair of Jimmy Choo suede ankle boots: Ruby could almost hear their thoughts. But such items had been gifted by Nathan, and were not as a result of her mediocre sergeant’s wage.
‘We’re the golf widows,’ a woman named Amelia replied with a smile. ‘We meet up once a week as our husbands are often away on business. Gordon rang us this morning to ask if we knew where Cheryl was. We’ve not known poor Melissa for very long. She was very quiet. Didn’t seem very interested in what we had to say.’
‘She’s a good twenty years younger than us, Amelia,’ a dark-haired woman named Shirley piped up in a cynical tone. ‘Of course she wasn’t interested. But we were all shocked to hear of the kidnapping. That’s what it was, wasn’t it? A ransom gone wrong?’
‘I’m afraid I can’t say,’ Ruby said, sensing their hunger for the truth. Richard had excused himself to use the bathroom and seemed to be taking an incredibly long time. Ruby wondered how an introvert such as Richard could be attracted to a role in the police.
‘But what about Cheryl?’ Amelia said, pausing to sip her G & T. ‘Has she been kidnapped too?’
‘I was hoping you might be able to help me with that. Do you know of any other social groups? Meeting places? Social events she could have attended recently?’
The women shook their heads, all delivering a blank stare.
Ruby inhaled a deep breath as she took the decision to share some information on the case. ‘What about clubs? Nightlife? Any of you go out on the town while your husbands are away?’
Shirley’s eyes flickered momentarily before she swiftly shook her head, staring into her empty glass. ‘I’m going to get another round,’ she said. ‘Can I tempt any of you ladies? It’s been quite a shocking week…’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Ruby said, quickly recognising the appeal for privacy.
They were barely at the bar before Ruby swooped in. Richard would not be too pleased at being left to deal with the gaggle of women upon his return, but there was no fear of them getting very much out of him.
‘You know, don’t you?’ Ruby said firmly, as Shirley placed her order from the Adonis at the bar. ‘You know where Melissa and Cheryl went.’
Shirley paled, clearly shaken. ‘If they find out I’ve told you…’
‘If you don’t cooperate then Cheryl could die. Is that what you want?’
‘You can’t tell my husband…’ She hesitated, checking over her shoulder before lowering her voice. ‘I know I’m getting on, but there’s life in this old girl yet.’
‘Nobody will know. I’ll put you down as an anonymous source. Please, Shirley, Melissa’s dead and Cheryl might not have long left.’
Plucking a card from the back pocket of her trousers, Shirley slid it across the bar. Ruby cupped it with her hand. ‘I’m never recommending that place again,’ Shirley said. ‘If Melissa died because of me…’
‘Melissa died because a psychopath strangled the life out of her.’ She ran her thumb over the velvety black embossed card, the words Debauchery styled in red. Underneath was an unusual-looking web address and beside it what looked like a password. ‘Who gave you this? What else do you know?’
‘That’s as much as I can tell you,’ Shirley said, smiling sweetly at the barman as he approached to take payment for her drinks. She seemed reluctant to speak until he turned away, then looked at Ruby as if to ask what she was still doing there.
‘You’re hiding something. Who’s your source?’ Ruby said, pocketing the card.
‘I don’t remember,’ Shirley said, glancing over her shoulder at her group of friends. ‘Someone slipped me some cards at a party. I don’t know who they were.’
‘A woman’s life is at stake,’ Ruby said, gripping Shirley’s wrist as she reached for the tray of drinks.
‘You think I want this?’ Shirley jerked back her arm, her eyes wide. ‘Cheryl was my friend. If I could help you I would, but I’ve told you all I know.’
Ruby took the hint, leaning over to deliver one last piece of advice. ‘Don’t even think about using them again, and not a word of this to anyone.’
‘You don’t need to worry on that score. From now on it’s monogamy all the way,’ Shirley said, fixing a stiff smile as the barman returned with her change.
The urgent buzz of Ruby’s phone cut into her thoughts as she and Richard returned to the car. It was the ringtone of a person sure to gain her immediate attention. But Cathy knew better than to contact her at work. A call from her meant something was wrong. Ruby clicked in her seatbelt, preparing to ring back as a text popped up on her screen.
‘Help me, I’m being kept a prisoner. Come quick.’
Ruby balked as she stared at the screen. She had hated her daughter living with the head of the Crosby family, and now it seemed that her worst fears were coming true. There was nothing in briefing this morning about a raid on their home address. It led to a far more frightening conclusion. Had the Crosby’s underworld connections turned upon them? If so, just what kind of danger was her daughter in? Her heart hammering, Ruby’s hands trembled as she tried to call Cathy’s number. The dead ringtone that ensued made her blood run cold.