Page 139 of Dying Truth

‘But whyhere?’ Mrs Winters insisted.

‘Because everything that’s happened this week is linked to an event more than twenty years ago when a girl named Lorraine Peters was murdered right here.’

Mrs Winters covered her mouth with her hand.

‘I remember her,’ whispered Mr Winters. ‘But wasn’t it some kind of accident?’

Mrs Winters looked at them blankly with no recollection at all.

Kim shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. Now stay behind me,’ she advised, as she placed her palm on the door handle.

Mr Winters tried to get in front of her. ‘No, Inspector, if my daughter is in there, I want—’

Kim jostled and pushed him out of the way, forcefully.

Exactly her point. She had no idea what they might find beyond this door, and she didn’t want either parent going in there first. She had chosen not to share with either of them the depth of her fears for Saffie’s safety with each moment that passed with no phone call from her colleagues. As yet the girl had not been found.

‘Mr Winters, you need to do what I say,’ she hissed, turning the door handle.

Kim stood still as the scene before her illuminated.

Saffron Winters was bound and gagged at the opposite end of the swimming hall.

A figure stepped out of the shower room.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he asked.

Kim quickly realised that the figure wasn’t looking at her.

One Hundred One

‘Any luck finding Geoffrey?’ Bryant asked, meeting Dawson in the hallway back at the staging area of the show, hoping for a fifty per cent success rate at least.

Dawson shook his head. ‘You find Saffron?’

‘No.’

‘And she’s not been back here,’ Stacey said, joining them in the doorway.

‘Officers, where is she?’ Principal Thorpe cried, thundering towards them.

‘Sir, we’re doing everything we can to find her,’ Bryant answered.

‘Well, I hope you do it soon,’ he interrupted. ‘She’s supposed to be opening the show in ten minutes’ time.’

‘Not our highest priority,’ Bryant snapped. ‘When compared with her physical safety.’

‘Of course, of course,’ Thorpe said, checking himself. ‘But I really do think that she’s just having a moment somewhere and doesn’t realise the time.’

‘The boss is out looking for her, too,’ Bryant offered.

He nodded. ‘Yes, she has Mr and Mrs Winters with her right now. They all took off at speed,’ he said before moving away.

‘Well that answers that,’ Bryant said.

‘What?’ Stacey asked.

‘Wasn’t sure whether to head off and look for the guv but if she’s got the Winters with her…’