Murder Club - Mark Pearson [96]
Delaney nodded to Sally, who held out the photo to the distraught woman.
‘Do you recognise this man?’
‘No, should I?’
‘He matches the description of a potential rapist. Someone else was attacked on the hill.’
‘Poor woman.’
‘Do you have any connection with someone called Michelle Riley?’
‘She runs a rape victims support group, not far from here.’
‘And were you a member of that group?’
‘I went once, on the advice of a friend. But it wasn’t for me. Talking about it made it all come back. Can I see that picture again, please.’
Sally handed her the photo.
‘He does remind me a little of someone though,’ said Stephanie Hewson.
‘Of whom?’ asked Jack Delaney.
‘The guy who took me to the group.’
‘He was a friend?’
‘No. Well, sort of. I had had a blind date with him on the night I was attacked. But he came too … I don’t know. He was always turning up with gifts asking if I was okay. He knew I didn’t want a relationship. I told him that but he said he was happy just being a friend. In the end I told him to stop calling.’
‘And he did?’
‘Yes.’
‘What’s his name, Stephanie.’
‘John Smith.’
‘Jesus!’ muttered Jack Delaney.
‘Do you know him, sir?’
Delaney gave Sally a withering look. ‘I should think there’s a good few million people know a John Smith, Constable.’
‘Sir.’
‘Do you have his address?’ he asked Stephanie.
‘He did give me a mobile phone number but I threw it away. Sorry. Do you think he was part of this group then?’
‘Possibly.’
‘My God. I had him in the house. All that time.’
‘I told you I’d take care of you, Stephanie, and I will. No one’s going to hurt you again. Not on my watch.’
Sally Cartwright thought about commenting on the expression, then decided against it.
‘Come on, Sally,’ Delaney said to her. ‘We need to go back a step.’
Kate Walker looked anxiously at her watch. The traffic had been horrendous. She was already twenty minutes late and had had to park quite a way from the hall where Siobhan’s dancing classes were being held. She’d be looked after in the hall, but, even so, Kate felt guilty for keeping her waiting.
She tightened her coat and was walking briskly along the pavement when a voice called out to her.
‘Excuse me.’
Kate swivelled round to see a figure in a hat, a scarf wrapped around his face and a knife in his hand.
‘Be very careful what you do. I know you are pregnant.’
‘What do you want?’
‘I want you to follow me back to my vehicle and keep very, very still.’
‘Just don’t hurt me, or the baby. I’ll do anything you want.’
‘That’s a very good attitude to have.’
The man took her arm and marched her along to a black van parked behind her car. The sliding side-panel was open. ‘Get in,’ he said, then followed Kate inside, and shut the door.
67.
DELANEY RANG THE doorbell for a second time, long and insistent.
‘She said she was going to her mother’s, sir,’ said Sally.
‘I guess we’ll just have to let ourselves in then.’ Delaney kicked at the door. There was a cracking sound, but it remained closed. Another kick shattered the lock and the door flew wide open. It was dark inside. Delaney flicked on the light switch and hurried down to Michelle Riley’s office. He went straight to the filing cabinet while Sally checked the desk.
‘Stephanie said she had to register to join the group and John Smith likewise. Find his details, quickly.’
‘I still say we should wait to get a warrant, sir,’ she said.
‘And I say you look good in uniform, Cartwright. So shut it or I’ll bounce you back to the beat before you can say due legal process.’
‘Sir.’
‘Also we’re not going to be arresting Michelle Riley, are we?’
Sally opened the left-hand drawer and took out a wooden box wrapped in a red silk handkerchief. She unwrapped it and looked inside. ‘Are you sure about that, sir?’
‘What is that?’
Sally held up a pack of tarot cards. ‘Maybe somebody crossed her palm with silver?’
‘Count them. There’s supposed to be twenty-six Major Arcana cards. See if there are two missing.’
Sally took out the cards, separating them