Believing the Lie - Elizabeth George [258]
“What sort of trouble?” Freddie was asking in the meantime.
“These streets are lined with private homes and B & B’s. There’s a fire station there and, like I said, a business centre as well. We can’t go barging in left and right without something to go on. The laptop’s filled with it, aye, but how d’you make the connection between the laptop and this map aside from the user having found the map online? D’you see what I mean? Now you’ve brought us some excellent information, and Superintendent Calva will get onto it directly. And when we know more— ”
“But the boy is missing,” Manette cried. “He’s been gone for over twenty-four hours. And with this on his computer and a blatant invitation to be part of a film in which God only knows what is about to happen… He’s fourteen years old.”
The constable said, “Got that. But we’ve the rule of law— ”
“Bugger the law!” Manette cried. “Do something.”
She felt Freddie, then. His arm went round her waist. “Ah yes,” he said. “We see.”
She cried, “Are you mad?”
“They’ve got to follow their procedure.”
“But, Freddie— ”
“Manette…” His gaze shifted to the door, and his eyebrows rose. “Let’s let them get on with it, eh?”
She knew that he was asking for her trust, but in that moment she trusted no one. Still, she couldn’t take her eyes off Freddie, who was on her side in all things. She haltingly said, “Yes, yes, all right,” and once they’d given every possible piece of information they could to the constable and to Superintendent Calva, they went out to the street.
“What?” Manette said to Freddie in anguish. “What?”
“We need a map of the town,” Freddie told her, “which we should be able to find in a bookshop easily enough.”
“And then?” she asked him.
“Then we need a plan,” he said. “Either that or one monumental, excellent piece of luck.”
WINDERMERE
CUMBRIA
They had the latter. The police station was on the outskirts of town, straddling Bowness-on-Windermere and Windermere itself. When they left the station, Freddie drove further into Windermere, and they were traveling up Lake Road just coming upon New Road when Manette spotted Tim. He was leaving a small grocery, a striped blue and white plastic bag in his hands. He was inspecting its contents, and he fished inside to bring out a bag of crisps, which he proceeded to tear open with his teeth.
Manette cried, “There he is! Pull over, Freddie.”
“Hang on, old girl.” Freddie drove on.
She cried, “But what are you— ” and she squirmed in her seat. “We’ll lose him!”
A short distance along, Freddie pulled to the kerb, once Tim was safely behind them and walking in the opposite direction. He said to Manette, “You’ve got your mobile?”
“Of course. But, Freddie— ”
“Listen, darling. There’s more involved here than just scooping up Tim.”
“But he’s in danger.”
“As are a lot of other children. You have your mobile. Set it to vibrate and follow him. I’ll park and ring you. All right? He should lead us to wherever they’re going to film, if that’s what he’s here for.”
She saw logic in this, cool and clear-headed Freddie logic. She said, “Yes, yes, of course. You’re right,” and grabbed her bag and made certain of her mobile. She started to get out of the car but then she stopped and turned to him.
“What?” he said.
“You’re the most wonderful man, Freddie McGhie,” she told him. “Nothing that’s happened before this moment matters as much.”
“As much as what?”
“As my loving you.” She shut the car door smartly before he replied.
ARNSIDE
CUMBRIA
Nicholas Fairclough made very short order of letting Deborah feel his wrath. He jerked his car to a halt in the driveway and leapt out onto the gravel. He strode towards her saying, “Who the hell are you, then? What are you doing here?” For a man whose previous meetings with her had been conducted in such a mild-mannered fashion, Fairclough was completely transformed. If eyes could be said to blaze, his were doing just that. “Where is he? How much time