The Ladykiller (11 page)

Kate had never attempted to put her daughter wise about her father. Instead she allowed him to come into their lives when it suited him and then gritted her teeth and smiled until he breezed out again. Kate could even sympathise with Lizzy; once upon a time he had had the same effect on her. She was living for the day when Lizzy found out her father’s shortcomings herself. Then she would pick up the pieces and breathe a sigh of relief.

Lizzy came back in the room with a mug of steaming tea. Dan had ensconced himself on the sofa and Kate watched from the easy chair as Lizzy gave him the mug, careful not to let one drop fall on to her father’s natty outfit. She would bet her last pound that every bit of money he had was already spent. His presents would be large and as expensive as possible. Now he wanted somewhere to recuperate and relax that did not cost anything. Kate knew he was mugging her off and it annoyed her.

‘So how’s Anthea?’

‘Oh, she’s fine, fine. Got her boys home for Christmas, so I thought I’d come and see my poppet.’ He ruffled Lizzy’s hair as he spoke and she smiled at him.

Kate felt an urge to be sick but fought it down bravely. ‘When’s she expecting you back?’ It came out sweetly but Dan and Evelyn, who had walked into the room, both knew it was a loaded question. He was saved from answering by Lizzy.

‘Oh, Mum! He’s only just got here and you want to know when he’s going?’

The phone rang and Kate went out to the hall to answer it, glad of the respite.

‘Hello, DI Burrows speaking.’

‘Kate? Ratchette here. Bit of bother, I’m afraid. Could you sort it out for me, please?’

‘What’s up, sir?’

‘It seems that one of the town’s leading citizens has mislaid his daughter.’

‘Who?’

‘Patrick Kelly.’ Ratchette’s voice was flat. ‘I’ve had the Chief Constable on to me. It seems the girl went missing at eight this evening. The boyfriend was supposed to pick her up from Portaby Road and when he got there she was nowhere to be seen. She’s not a girl to go off without telling anyone apparently, so the Chief Constable himself wants the matter thoroughly investigated.’

Kate could hear the annoyance in Ratchette’s voice.

‘I’ll go and see him, don’t worry. It’s probably nothing. How old is the girl, by the way?’

‘Twenty-two. I think she had a row with the boyfriend and is holed up at a friend’s but the boy’s too frightened to tell the father.’

Kate laughed softly.

‘Well, you can’t really blame him for that, can you? Patrick Kelly isn’t exactly a calm and caring individual.’

‘No, Kate, he’s not. But he’s very friendly with the Chief Constable. At least, that’s how it seems to me anyway.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll sort it out.’

‘Thanks, Kate. Give the girls my best, won’t you?’

‘Of course. I’ll let you know what happens, sir.’

The line went dead in her hand.

She walked into the living room and smiled her best smile.

‘I’ve got to go in, I’m afraid. A girl’s gone missing.’

‘Oh no . . . Who?’ Lizzy’s face was concerned.

‘No one you know. Look, I’ll be as quick as I can, all right?’

‘Mum’s on the murder-rape, Dad, she’s in charge.’

‘Really, Kate?’

‘Yes. Look, you lot catch up and I’ll be back soon.’

She went from the room and pulled on her coat quickly. Evelyn followed her out with Lizzy.

‘I hope the girl turns up, Mum.’

‘I think she will, love, don’t worry.’

‘You make sure you ring me as you’re coming home and I’ll have something hot for you when you come in. Wrap up now, it’s bitter cold out there.’

‘Mum, I’m forty years old, you know.’ This was said playfully.

‘You don’t look that old, Mum. You only look about thirty-eight.’

‘Thanks a million, Lizzy, I feel much better!’

‘You don’t mind Dad staying really, do you?’

Kate looked into the lovely face and felt a twinge of guilt. ‘No, of course not.’

Lizzy kissed her and went back into the living room. Kate and her mother looked at each other for a few seconds.

‘She’s growing up at last, Kate.’

‘So it would seem. See you later, Mum.’ She kissed the tiny woman in front of her.

Evelyn held her daughter’s arm. ‘You be careful out there now, with a maniac on the loose. I’ll sort out his lordship if he starts his antics.’

‘’Bye, Mum.’

Picking up her car keys Kate went out into the cold night air. She felt a strange sense of relief to be out in her car. As she pulled away her mind was once more full of the investigation. They were nowhere near solving the case. It had not been planned but was a spontaneous act. Geraldine O’Leary had been murdered by a random killer. Those were the worst kind of cases. In almost eighty-five per cent of murders the killer was known to the victim, the percentage was even higher in rape cases. She honestly believed that whoever had murdered Geraldine O’Leary had not known who their victim was going to be. But even knowing this brought her no nearer to solving the case; quite the opposite in fact, it made everything harder, much harder. The door to door had not been much use, though there were a few leads they were following up. A sighting of a dark coloured car in Vauxhall Drive at about six fifty-five. They did not know the make, only that it was a saloon. It was like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. She turned right at the crossroads that led to the outskirts of Grantley and Patrick Kelly’s house. She did not need to find out his address. In Grantley, everyone knew where Patrick Kelly lived.

Especially the police.

Kate felt a flicker of annoyance, even though this call had got her out of the house and away from Dan. If Frederick Flowers was so worried on Patrick Kelly’s behalf, why the hell didn’t he come out here and investigate the matter himself? Normally a person had to be missing for over twenty-four hours before the police were interested, especially when it was a grown woman. It was different with children, but this Mandy Kelly was twenty-two, for Christ’s sake. She pulled into the sweeping gravelled drive and stopped in front of the large Georgian house, set in three acres of parkland. It was lit up like Battersea Power Station. Seems that massage parlours and repossessions paid well and earned friends in high places as well. Kelly’s electric bill came to more than her mortgage by the looks of things.

The entire house was floodlit and even the trees had lights in them. You’d have no chance of creeping up to Patrick Kelly’s door without being seen. Nursing her resentment she walked up to the front door and rang the bell.

One of the first things Kate noticed was that the house was decorated in superb taste. Not what she expected at all. She looked around, impressed despite herself. Obviously Kelly’s money ran to interior designers. She followed Kelly into the drawing room and took a seat on the chesterfield. The room was beautiful, with the original ceiling roses and cornices; the walls were lined with books, everything from leather-bound volumes to garish paper-backs. It was predominantly silver grey with dusky pink carpets and curtains. It was a room designed by a woman, Kate was certain. It had a woman’s feel for colour and space. Men tended to put things in the first place available and just leave them there. Women thought a room out, knew how a room would look at its best. Women, Kate had observed, took time with details. Small details that could make a room like this.

Despite its immense size, it was a homely room and obviously well lived in. A sleek black cat lay asleep before the fire. Her eyes rested on Kevin Cosgrove, who sat whitefaced and subdued. Kate guessed, rightly, that he was the boyfriend, and that he had been having a hard time from Kelly.

She took the Scotch Kelly offered and sipped it gratefully. This was the last thing she had wanted tonight. Even with Dan, the long lost father’s return, this was still not what she needed. The Scotch was good and she savoured it for a second before she looked at Kelly directly.

‘What makes you think that your daughter’s gone missing? She could be at a friend’s, anything.’

Patrick stared at Kate as if seeing her for the first time.

‘What did you say your name was?’

‘Detective Inspector Burrows.’

Kelly put his tongue between his lips and stared at her for a long moment as if committing her to memory. The action and the tone of voice were not lost on Kate and she felt her temper rising. He was trying to tell her she was here at Flowers’s express command and she had better take this seriously. Kate fought down the urge to confront him. Instead she broke his gaze by putting her drink on the small occasional table beside her and rooting around in her bag for her notebook and cigarettes. It was going to be a long evening.

As she put a cigarette in her mouth, Kevin Cosgrove gave her a light, his hands shaking. Kate put her hand over his and held her cigarette to the flame. His eyes held a warning and he shook his head imperceptibly.

Kate breathed in the cigarette smoke and sat back, crossing her legs.

Kelly watched her from his chair and approved of her. She had a bit of spunk and he liked that. Providing she didn’t ‘come it’ with him, she was a woman he’d want in his corner if the time came. He looked into her eyes as she spoke.

‘Why are you so worried about your daughter, Mr Kelly?’ As she spoke, Kate realised that the man really was worried. This was not an over-anxious father throwing his weight around, this was a genuinely worried man.

‘This prat here was supposed to pick my daughter up at eight.’ He flicked his head at Kevin, who kept his eyes firmly on the carpet. ‘He had her motor, her car. He went to pick her up and she wasn’t there. I’ve rung her mates, her aunt, the fucking manageress of the shop where she works, I’ve rung everyone in Grantley and I can’t find her. This is no girlish prank, Ms Burrows. My baby is definitely on the missing list. Now then, what are you going to do about it?’

Kate took another drag on her cigarette and met the dark blue eyes full on.

‘Has Mandy ever gone missing like this before?’

Kelly shook his head. ‘Nope. Never. Me and Mandy are like that.’ He crossed two of his fingers together. He licked his lips and took a large gulp of brandy.

Kate pushed her hair off her face and watched Kelly. He was handsome all right. In other circumstances she would have given him a second glance. This was the first time she had seen him in person. Oh, she’d seen pictures of him, everyone had. But in the flesh, he had a presence. He was a man who was all there, was alive. He crackled with energy and vitality. Now, seeing his concern for his daughter, Kate felt a stirring of pity for him.

‘Have you and Mandy had an argument, Kevin?’ She looked at the boy; his face was ashen and he still stared at the carpet as he shook his head dismally. With one bound, Kelly was out of his chair and had dragged the unfortunate boy from his seat. Holding him up by the hair he pushed him towards Kate and shouted.

‘Tell her anything she wants to know, boy, I’m warning you. If Mandy turns up here and her story differs from yours I’ll snap your bastard neck for you.’

Kate jumped up and separated the two men.

‘Mr Kelly, please! This is not doing anyone any good. Now calm down, will you? Can’t you see you’re frightening the life out of him? How can you expect him to tell you the truth when he’s so obviously terrified of you?’

Her words crept into Patrick’s brain. It was after eleven now and Mandy had still not been in touch. He could feel a panic inside him like the day Renée died. When she hadn’t been home at five thirty, he had known, deep in his gut, that she’d never walk in again. He felt the same now. He forced down the panic and went back to his seat. His haunted expression tore at Kate’s heart. If it was her Lizzy, so soon after the murder of Geraldine O’Leary ... she shuddered.

Kevin Cosgrove was crying silently. Kate led him back to his chair and, without asking, poured them all another drink. Patrick took the glass from her and drained it, his handsome face haggard.

‘You don’t know my Mandy, she wouldn’t stay out without letting me know. No way.’ The last was said with the finality of a father who knows his child.

Kate glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece; it was nearly eleven thirty.

Patrick saw her looking and exploded again.

‘Want to get home, do you? Am I boring you or something?’

As he opened his mouth to speak again, Kate held up her hand for silence.

‘No, Mr Kelly, you’re not boring me, you’re annoying me. Until you calm down and speak rationally, we will get nowhere. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to ask you some simple questions. If you could just bring yourself to answer them, we might start getting somewhere.’

Kelly’s eyes were like slits. The cheeky mare, she was talking to him as if he was a naughty little kid. He felt a surge of annoyance and something else as well. Admiration. She was not intimidated by him and he was glad. If his Mandy had gone missing, then this woman would find her. The cold fear that had engulfed his body for the last two hours gradually let go its hold.

‘I’m sorry, Ms Burrows.’ He emphasised the Ms.

Kate looked at him and smiled slightly. ‘That’s all right, Mr Kelly. I have a daughter too. I can imagine what you’re going through.’

‘Can you?’ It was a question they both knew she could not answer.

‘Right, Kevin, what were your exact arrangements with Mandy?’

As Kate questioned the boy, Kelly watched her from his seat. Even in his agitated state he could see she was an attractive woman. What he really liked about her though, was her sass. He did like a woman with a bit of spunk in her. Mandy’s mother had had that. She was as quiet as a church mouse till you set her off, then you’d better watch out. This Ms Burrows was interesting. She was taking his mind off his child for a few minutes and for that, he was grateful.

Kate felt his attention and shrugged it off. She wanted to get her job done and get back home. This house was too fraught for her liking.

‘Listen you.’ Caroline’s voice had a smile in it. ‘I am not having it off in an old shed.’

Barry laughed with her.

‘Well, there’s one thing for certain, girl. My wife and your husband ain’t gonna let us use their beds, so it’s the back of the motor, or the shed. I’ve got a sleeping bag in me boot. We’ll be as snug as two bugs in a rug!’