Beyond Reach (28 page)

He gazed down at the screen for a moment, framing a reply. Then he had second thoughts, knowing how much more fluent he’d be after a glass or two of wine. The
Sangster
file was waiting for him in the kitchen. He’d yet to read the various appendices but knew it could wait. Time, quite suddenly, was the least of his problems.

TUESDAY, 27 MAY 2008. 03.54

Marie took the call. It was four in the morning. She recognised the voice. It was Esme’s au pair, Evzenie. She was sobbing.

‘What is it? What’s happened?’ Marie rolled over in bed, shielding the conversation from her slumbering husband.

‘The police …’ Evzenie broke down again.

‘What about them?’

‘They’re here. Everywhere. Please come. Quickly.’

The line went dead. Marie got out of bed. With the light on, Mackenzie sat up, rubbing his eyes. Automatically, his hand went down to the carpet. Under the bed he kept a baseball bat.

‘What the fuck … ?’

‘We’ve got to go, Baz. It’s Evzenie. Something’s happened.’

‘Where?’

‘Esme’s.’ She looked round for something to wear. Tracksuit bottoms. A sweater. Anything. Mackenzie was standing beside the bed, still naked. Befuddlement was giving way to anger. He watched Marie stabbing a number into her mobile.

‘What now? Who are you phoning?’

‘Paul. We’ll pick him up on the way out.’

 

Winter was waiting for them outside Blake House. He got into the back of the Bentley and gave Marie’s shoulder a little squeeze.

‘It’ll be fine,’ he said. ‘We’ll sort it.’

‘Sort what?’ Mackenzie had jumped the lights outside Gunwharf.

‘Whatever’s happened. Maybe the girl’s had a bad dream. Maybe she’s got stuff all out of proportion.’

‘Sure, Paul.’ It was Marie. ‘And maybe she hasn’t.’

It took less than half an hour to drive deep into the Meon Valley. Esme’s property lay up a narrow country lane. From the main road on the valley floor, Winter could see lights on. At the final bend before the house itself, a traffic car blocked the lane.

Mackenzie’s window purred down. A face appeared from the darkness.

‘And you are?’

‘The name’s Mackenzie. My daughter lives here. What’s going on?’

The officer didn’t answer. His torch had settled on Winter’s face. ‘Well, well …’ A soft laugh. ‘Mr Winter.’

‘Yeah. The gentleman here asked you a question. What’s happened? ’

The officer told Mackenzie to follow him up to the house. The two vehicles drove in convoy. There were two more cars and a white van parked on the big semicircle of gravel outside Esme’s front door. Winter recognised the van. Scenes of Crime, he thought. Something horrible had definitely kicked off.

Marie was out of the Bentley first. Another uniform managed to intercept her before she made it to the front door. Only then did she spot the au pair in the passenger seat of the unmarked Escort. Two of Esme’s kids were in the back, their pale faces pressed against the glass.

A tall figure got out of the Escort and extended a hand.

‘D/C Yates. Evzenie tells me you’re Mrs Mackenzie.’

‘That’s right. What’s going on? What’s happened?’

Marie had been joined by Bazza. Winter was still in the Bentley. Yates spared Mackenzie a nod.

‘There’s been a bit of an incident,’ he said. ‘I wish we could do this inside but Scenes of Crime have the place secured.’

Mackenzie stepped very close. His patience had run out. He spoke very slowly, the way you might address a child.

‘Just … tell … me … what … happened.’

‘I’m trying, Mr Mackenzie.’

‘Good, son. So?’

‘The au pair belled 999 about an hour ago. She’d had an intruder in the house. The long and short of it is the oldest boy. The intruder took him. He’s gone.’

‘Guy?’ Marie let out a gasp, a small animal noise. Winter had joined them by now. He squeezed her arm.

‘
Took
him?’ Mackenzie wanted to know more.

‘We’re assuming he broke in. A noise woke the au pair. She found him in Guy’s bedroom. He had the boy out of bed, hands bound behind his back, mouth taped, blindfold, the lot. She says he’d even sorted some clothes for the lad.’

‘And?’

‘He gave Evzenie a bit of a shove. The next thing she knew, he was carrying the lad out of the house. They must have had a car outside. She heard it drive away.’

‘They?’

‘She says she heard voices, just a snatch of conversation. She was pretty upset, as you might imagine.’

‘Yeah?’ Mackenzie wasn’t listening. ‘So who’d want to do a thing like that?’

‘Very good question. I’m sure we’ll find out.’

‘You’re not wrong, son.’ Mackenzie turned round and shot Winter a look. ‘You know any of these clowns, Paul?’

Winter and Yates exchanged glances. They’d worked together on countless jobs over the years. Now this.

Marie was squatting beside the Escort. One of the rear doors was open and she was talking to the kids. One of them clambered out, bare feet on the cold gravel, and put her arms round her. She was still wearing her pyjamas. Marie carried the child to the Bentley and wrapped her in a blanket from the boot.

Winter wanted to know about descriptions. First, the intruder. Yates pulled a face.

‘She says jeans, army-style sweater, socks, no shoes. He was also wearing a black balaclava. Apparently the guy didn’t say a word inside the house.’

‘And the motor outside?’

‘She never saw it. Just heard it driving away. Control have put out an alert but don’t hold your breath. The guy cut the landline and nicked the au pair’s mobile. She knew the owners keep a spare but it took her a while to find it.’ Yates turned back to Mackenzie. ‘Where are the parents, sir?’

‘Ezzie’s in Spain. Stu’s in London.’

‘You want to tell them? Or shall we do it? Either way we need to talk to them. Sharpish.’

‘I’ll sort it,’ said Winter. He caught Mackenzie’s eye and they stepped away from the house into the darkness.

‘What happens now, mush?’

‘They’ll want statements. Evzenie, obviously. Then you and Marie, and Ezzie and Stu, and anyone else they can lay their hands on. They need to build a picture, Baz. They need to try and put some names in the frame.’

‘But it’s obvious, isn’t it? Big house? Money? Take a hostage? Earn yourself a few bob?’

‘Not necessarily.’

‘No?’

‘No.’ Winter looked him in the eye. If anyone was prime suspect here he knew exactly who it was. Mackenzie didn’t get it.

‘Tell me, mush. Tell me what I’m missing.’

‘Who have we pissed off recently?’

‘Is that a serious question? You want the full list?’

‘Very recently.’

‘You mean Spain?’ It was beginning to dawn on him. ‘The contract? That silly fucking woman?’

Winter nodded. ‘I’ve been here, Baz. I know how these guys work.’

‘You mean Garfield?’

‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘The Bill. They’ll be looking for motive. Garfield’s perfect.’

‘But you only did the lawyer a couple of days ago … and Garfield’s inside on bloody remand. You think they’re
that
organised?’

‘I’ve no idea, Baz, but it smells right. Ez had dinner with the wife on Saturday night. She says they got on really well, had a proper chat, all that bollocks. Ez might have told her about the kids, the house, the horses, the whole set-up. Fuck knows, if she had a few to drink she might even have told her about - you know - the situation … about what’s going on with lover boy and about Stu being up in London all week. The place was wide open, Baz, as you can see.’

Mackenzie nodded, thoughtful. Then his gaze returned to the house.

‘You’re right,’ he said quietly.

Winter went across to the Escort. Yates was back behind the wheel making a phone call. Catching Winter’s eye he gestured for him to hang on. He nodded a couple of times and muttered something Winter didn’t catch. Then the conversation was over.

‘Good news, mate.’ He was still looking at Winter. ‘The duty D/I from Major Crimes is still dealing with a murder in Waterlooville. Guess who’s picking this lot up?’

Winter gazed at him a moment. ‘Faraday?’

 

After the phone call Faraday took a moment to get his bearings. A stripe of grey light at the edge of the curtained window suggested it was dawn. He reached for the mobile again. 04.51. DCI Parsons wanted a meet in half an hour at Kingston Crescent. Faraday headed for the bathroom. A kidnap?

Parsons was already at her desk by the time he finally got to Major Crimes. She must have made him the coffee a while ago because it was nearly cold.

‘It’s Mackenzie, Joe. I don’t know whether I told you on the phone. One of the grandchildren. A little boy called Guy.’

She briefly recounted what had happened. The property would be in the hands of Scenes of Crime for a while yet. They were starting at the front entrance and working slowly towards the boy’s bedroom.

‘Professional job?’

‘Definitely.’

‘How many people in the property?’

‘Four. Three kids and an au pair.’

Parsons explained about Esme and Stuart being away and Faraday nodded, wondering how much she knew about Perry Madison. Maybe Willard really was keeping the info under wraps.

‘Was the property alarmed?’

‘Apparently there’s an alarm installed but it doesn’t seemed to have functioned. The au pair only woke up when the intruder was in the next bedroom.’

‘So the place was unprotected?’

‘It would seem so.’

Faraday scribbled himself a note. Only hours ago Willard had been doing his best to point Faraday in Winter’s direction. Now he had no choice but to lift the phone.

‘So how do we play this, boss?’

‘I’m SIO, Joe, for the time being. You’re Deputy. SOCU will end up managing it, of course, assuming it runs and runs.’

The Serious Organised Crime Unit worked from three centres across the county. Normally, they’d have taken ownership from the off. So why were he and Parsons in the driving seat?

‘It’s Mr Willard’s decision, Joe.’ Parsons reached for a notepad. ‘Maybe you should ask him.’

 

Ten minutes later, Faraday was back in his office. Between them, he and Parsons had agreed the ground rules for Operation
Causeway.
A total media blackout, pending developments. Examination of traffic cameras along the various approach routes to the Meon Valley. House-to-house calls in the surrounding villages. A trawl through the Sex Offenders Register to chase up local paedos. And, most important of all, an in-depth examination of the family’s lifestyle. Friends. Enemies. Feuds. Debts. Anything, in short, that might trigger a post-midnight visit to the family home.

While it was true that some kidnaps were the work of predatory strangers attracted by rumours of wealth or paedophiles after the fuck of their dreams, most - in the parlance - were Bad on Bad: drug dealers after outstanding debts, criminals using flesh and blood to settle old scores. This, Faraday quickly realised, was why Willard had decided to retain
Causeway
within Major Crimes, at least for the time being. Faced with the loss of his grandchild, Mackenzie could hardly complain about intrusive questioning in the bid to get the lad back. And given his relationship with Winter, Faraday was the obvious choice to ask those questions. Willard had also stipulated that D/S Jimmy Suttle would head the intel cell over the coming days. Suttle, of course, had been very close to Winter while the disgraced ex-cop was still in the Job. Another piece of inspired casting on Willard’s part.

Faraday checked his watch. Half six was early to be phoning Suttle and so he found a pad in the desk drawer and began to list his immediate lines of enquiry. Top of that list was a single name. Perry Madison.

 

Mackenzie, back home in Craneswater, had the same thought. Marie was upstairs, trying to get the kids to sleep. In the kitchen Winter had made a pot of tea.

‘Do you think it’s a runner, mush? Do you think he’s that crazy?’

Winter wasn’t convinced. ‘He hates kids, always has done. He and his missus never had any of their own and that’s why.’

‘So what’s he doing with my fucking daughter? Didn’t she ever mention she had three of them?’

‘I’ve no idea, Baz. But why would he nick Guy?’

‘Maybe Ez put him up to it. New life in Spain. Trophy kid to remind her of the old times.’

‘Then why not take all three? Just put them in the car and head for the ferry?’

‘Fuck knows. You’re right, though. Doesn’t fly, does it?’

Winter found a loaf and fed the toaster with slices of Hovis. To his surprise, he was famished. Mackenzie wanted to know about the FLO mentioned back at Esme’s place. What the fuck was an FLO?

‘Family Liaison Officer, Baz. She’ll turn up first thing, probably with Faraday.’

‘But what’s her game?’

‘She’s there to hold your hand. These days they call it Victim Support.’

‘Fuck that.’

‘Play along, Baz. Number one, you want Guy back. Number two, we want to keep these people at arm’s length. That’s not going to be easy. There are blokes I know in the Job who’ll be creaming themselves at an opportunity like this. They’ll be crawling all over you, Baz. We have to plan for that. We have to be ahead of their game.’

‘Yeah?’ Mackenzie was watching the curl of blue smoke from the toaster. ‘So what about Spain?’

‘We tell them.’

‘Tell them what?’

‘Tell them about the hotel, about the apartment block, about the deal with Garfield. Either we do that upfront or they’ll find out anyway. ’

‘You’re off your head, mush.’ Mackenzie was staring at him. ‘We’ve just bust a gut making sure that bloody deal never happens. Why make it easy for them?’