Page 51
Story: Storm Child
16
‘What time is it?’ asks Evie, without opening her eyes.
‘Almost seven.’
‘When can we go home?’
‘Soon. Florence is coming.’
Sarcastically, ‘You make her sound like a superhero.’
‘Be nice.’
‘What if she takes you away from me?’
‘She won’t.’
A fresh-faced constable brings us coffee and tea. He’s young and new to the job and he doesn’t know whether to treat us as suspects or witnesses. Later, he escorts Evie to the Ladies and waits outside. ‘I had to run the taps,’ she says afterwards, annoyed at being so closely chaperoned.
Ogilvy enters at nine, looking showered, shaved and rested. A torn piece of toilet paper is sticking to a bloody spot on his neck.
‘Your lawyer is here,’ he says. ‘I can’t tell if she’s modelling for Ducati or the real deal.’
‘She’s the real deal.’
‘Lucky you.’
Florence steps around him, ignoring his comment. Her motorcycle leathers are stained with road grime and splattered with bugs. She has ridden through the night to be here.
‘I’d like to be alone with my clients,’ she says.
Ogilvy leaves reluctantly, his gaze lingering as the door closes.
Florence motions me to the far side of the conference room, away from Evie. Her fingers brush the back of my hand, and she pecks me on the lips. Not very professional but welcomed.
‘Did Finn Radford make any admissions?’ she asks.
‘He admitted to smuggling. That’s how he got the gun.’
‘That’s not enough.’
‘Evie was there. She was on board the Arianna II.’
‘Nobody is going to trust the memories she had as a child.’
‘We can get more evidence,’ I say, but can’t think how. The Arianna II sank in deep water. Even if we could locate the wreckage, what would be left after twelve years?
‘What have you told the police?’ asks Florence.
‘I told them that Angus Radford and his brothers were involved in human trafficking.’
‘Did you identify Evie?’
‘They know.’
‘Well, my advice is to say nothing more. This is bigger than the local police. You should talk directly to the National Crime Agency or to Border Force.’
A knock on the door. Ogilvy again. ‘You’ve had your twenty minutes,’ he says.
We all stand. He points at me. ‘Stay here. I’m interviewing you separately. Miss Cormac is first.’
I begin to protest, but Florence stops me. ‘I’ll take care of her.’
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51 (Reading here)
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70