Spiritwalker (20 page)

“I wish I did.” He said rather sadly. “I assume you know that Jane and I are separated. It's totally my fault. I took her for granted. I played away. I'm not going to make excuses for my behaviour. Jane is a fantastic woman, not one who only wanted me for my position or money. We have two daughters together and she was always my best friend. The one I could discuss anything with. It's easy to see now to see how badly I treated her, and I'm sorrier that you could ever imagine. But whatever happened between us, it’s the girls I'm worried about. They need their mother, they are desperately worried for her. Do you think she is alive? Do you think someone still has her?” He asked this last part fearfully, hoping that she wouldn't say that Jane was dead. Hoping that she could give him some hope, something to cling to.

“I do think she's alive.” Anna said gently. “Things have happened lately that give me great confidence that she is. As I'm sure you’ve been told, I'm not the usual type of investigator people hire. I received some information this morning that Jane is alive. I am currently trying to verify it”

“Who from? The police haven't said anything to us.” He had a glimmer of hope growing in him.

“They don't know. It’s, how can I put this...... from a rather unconventional source. To do with my type of investigative method. I need to check out my source, to see if she is trustworthy so to speak. That's what I'm hoping to find out this evening.” Anna leaned closer and took his hand in hers. “I promise you that I'm for real. I wouldn't try to lead anybody up the garden path.”

“I know you are. I can see that you are.” I had my doubts until Eva and the girls convinced me. Even then I wasn't totally convinced until now. You don’t look like a charlatan”

“Tell me” Anna asked him. “Did you speak to your wife since the separation?”

“We spoke a few times, but as you can imagine it was only about the girls or the house, things like that. She refused to discuss us or our relationship.”

“Do you know if she met anyone else, was dating anyone else?” Anna asked as delicately as she could. Ian looked pained, he didn't like to think of Jane with anyone else.

“Not as far as I'm aware. Oh she had plenty of admirers. She was the kind of lady that made one want to look after her. I know a lot of guys who admired her.”

“Was there anyone in particular. As you know she was getting a lot of calls and texts from someone. Do you have any idea who it was?”

“I can give you a few names of guys who asked her out, but as for more than that I really couldn't say. Friends or gossips you might call them, often told me if she was at a particular party. They loved to be able to inform me when she was spending more time than usual talking to someone in particular. Oddly enough it was always men they told me about.” He said dryly.

“Do you have names? Everyone is a suspect at this stage, anyone who stood out more than others. Maybe someone you heard mentioned more than others?”

Ian thought for a moment before answering. “I remember Sylvia mentioning a few guys. I rang her sometimes, just to make sure Jane was okay, she wouldn't speak to me I roped in Sylvia. She did mention a couple of guys that seemed to hang around. “Like a bad smell,” was how Sylvia put it?”

“Do you remember names?” Anna probed

“I remember she mentioned Stanley Okham and Richard Kingston and there was someone else.... oh yes and Hamish McGregor. They’re the only ones I remember. I know them all. London can be a small place sometimes. I can't imagine Jane having anything much to do with any of them. Stanley is a complete bore, middle-aged and fat. Richard is handsome enough I suppose, but a bit of a ponce, I always thought he was a bit too touchy feely. Hamish reminds me of that guy on the T V that jumps around the place chewing some brand of sweets. All bushy hair and kilts.”

“The thing is Ian, Jane doesn't have to fancy him. He just has to think she does. Maybe whoever it was thought she was coming on to him. It’s all in their heads, that's what makes it harder to understand.”

“I just can't imagine it being any one of them.” Ian was looking baffled, trying to recall something that Sylvia might have said that might implicate someone. He couldn't think of anything.

“More often than not It's the person we least expect. The one who seems normal, acts normal.” Anna said. She was feeling more optimistic now that she had some names to follow up on. “Can you get me the phone numbers and addresses of those men? I think I should give them a call.”

“Sure, I’ll get them right now.” He took out his phone scrolled through his contacts. He walked to the desk and found a pen and paper and wrote down the three names and numbers for her. Handing it to her he said with a passion.

“If anyone of these guys has harmed Jane I'll kill them with my own bare hands.”

“Listen Ian, It might not be any of them, but maybe they know something. Promise me you'll let me question them first. Whoever has Jane might harm her if they think we are getting close. Will you promise me not to contact them until we know for sure? “Anna said firmly.

“I'll let you do your job. But the minute you find out anything I want you to tell me first. Deal.”

“I’ll think about it” Anna said. She had no intentions of telling him first. Morley would be her first port of call when she had information. Ian relaxed slightly.

“I just want her back.” He said softly.

“We'll get her back. I won't give up until we do.” Anna promised.

Chapter twenty eight

It was close to seven-thirty when Anna was finally able to go to her room and get ready for her dinner date with Inspector Morley. She had butterflies in her tummy, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She scolded herself not to be so silly that it was only a casual date. She warned herself not to read too much into it. Still she couldn't help thinking about Gary and caught herself with a ridiculous smile on her face in the mirror. Eva had noticed the subtle change in her guest and had asked her outright who she was dining with. Anna had blushed and told her. She explained to her about Morley’s sister being married to her cousin. Eva had smiled wickedly at her, obviously sensing that Anna was hoping it could lead to something more. The two women had grown very close in the short time since they had first met and each of them had the greatest respect for the other .

At eight on the dot, Morley arrived at the door.

“He seems keen.” Eva whispered to Anna as she wished her a lovely evening. Anna opened the door and was immediately greeted by a low appreciative whistle as she emerged.

“I feel a little under dressed now.” He said as he took in her the way the material of her dress hugged her figure in all the right places.

“You certainly scrub up well too.” Anna replied noting that he had had a recent haircut. His shirt was crisp and white under a charcoal two piece suit. “You look like you’re going for an interview.” she teased him.

“Maybe I am.” He smiled at her. “Would you give me the job?” He was flirting with her.

“Brad Pitt eat your heart out. He's not a patch on you.” She flirted right back. He held the door open for her as she sat into the car.

“Afraid the transport isn't of the highest quality. Can't afford a Porsche on my salary.”

“It’s great.” Anna said sincerely. “So where are you taking me.”

“The best restaurant in Canterbury. Actually a good mate of mine owns it. We were in school together. The only way to get reservations there on short notice is to have contacts. It’s very popular.”

“I feel honoured.” Anna said. They drove to Canterbury chatting comfortably together as though they had known each other all their lives. As they stopped at traffic lights a blue Ford Escort rocketed straight past them at speed breaking the red light and narrowly missing a car that was turning legally at the junction. Morley frowned and muttered something that Anna couldn't make out. The car screeched to a halt, smashing into a bollard. Morley braked hard, and they both reacted swiftly jumping out of the car and rushing up to the crashed vehicle. As they ran they could hear police sirens in the distance. Up ahead they spotted the doors of the car open and two men got out and began to run.

“Police, Morley shouted. Stay where you are.” He knew from experience that the only reason these two were trying to abscond was due to the sirens he could hear in the distance. Behind them horns were blaring. Drivers trying to get Morley to move his car which was still parked in the middle of the road.

“Anna, would you mind moving my car and telling the police when they get here that I'm chasing two suspects.”

Anna nodded and watched as he took off after the two men. Within seconds a police car with the sirens blaring was stopped at the crash site. Anna had pulled Morley's car in to the side of the road and went over to them. After explaining what had happened and that Inspector Morley was in pursuit, she returned to the car and sat in. Within seconds she was out of her body and hovering above the streets and searching for Gary and the two men. It didn't take her long from her vantage point to locate the two men. They were ducking and diving down the back streets trying to evade Morley who was pursuing them. It was easy to identify him in semi-darkness, his aura gave off its own signature glow. It was as familiar to her as that of any of her friends or family. She followed the two men closely, they were totally unaware of her presence. Then it happened, an elderly woman was in the ally, putting rubbish into her wheelie bin. The two men rounded the corner into the alley and almost careered straight into the elderly lady. One of the men grabbed her and pulled her back, dragging her through her back garden and pulled her in back door of her house, the other man followed and slammed it shut behind them. Anna watched in horror as the old woman tried to struggle free. She saw her being slammed onto the couch and ordered to shut up. She looked absolutely terrified. There was nothing Anna could do but watch helplessly as the two men made themselves at home, waiting for the police to give up the search. The old woman was whimpering and asking what they wanted. She told them she hadn’t any money. Anna admired her, terrified as she was she was trying to stand up for herself. Seeing that the woman wasn't in any immediate danger Anna left and went in search of Morley. She was fairly sure that he hadn't seen where the two men had gone. She was hoping to find a way to tell him. She spotted him two streets away standing, puffing and panting. He was looking up and down the street hoping to catch a glimpse of where they had gone. He pulled out his mobile and rang someone, she couldn't make out what he was saying but gathered that it was probably the police he was talking to. Sure enough within moments the two officers she had spoken to earlier spied him and hurried over. Then Anna saw him, a scrawny looking mongrel was watching warily from a distance. He had been foraging nearby for food, now he was crouched behind a bin, waiting for these humans to leave. Anna went over and whispered in its ear. The dog whimpered but went obediently over towards Morley and began whining and barking at him. The three men stopped talking and looked at the stray not understanding. Anna tried again she whispered to the dog. It obeyed and tried pawing at Morley’s pant leg. He still didn't comprehend and shooed it away. She had never told him that dogs could sense and hear her and nearly always did her biding. Even if she had it might not have clicked. She gave up and whispering to the dog to follow she went back to the old lady's house. She made a mental note of the address where the two men had hidden themselves. Satisfied that she had it correct she went back to check on the old woman. She was still on the couch but she didn't look well. She had a cut over her right eye and it was bleeding profusely. She was doing her best to stem the flow with a handkerchief. Anna stayed with her, cursing the men, one of them had surely hit her over the head with something while she was absent. Anna sat beside her and whispered softly to her. She knew that the woman wasn't aware of her presence but hoped that on some subconscious level she might hear and be comforted.

Anna was torn from the woman's side by the urgent calling of her name and returned to her body, to find Morley shaking her gently. She opened her eyes and before he could say anything she gave him the address of the house and explained that they had an old woman held hostage. He looked at her amazed, it took him a moment to digest this information but to his credit he believed her, and immediately he got out of the car ran up to the two officers who were just getting into their squad car. He explained that he had just received information about the men they were searching for, He told them to call for back up. They did and within minutes two more cars had arrived and the police had surrounded the house, the two men startled by the sudden unexpected arrival of the police tried to escape out the back door. They were immediately captured and arrested. An ambulance arrived and the old lady was taken away to have her injury looked at and to spend the night in hospital.

“You're better than any blood hound.” Morley said as he sank into the driver’s seat beside her. “Sorry about that. Once a policeman always a policeman. I had to act.”

“That's okay, if you hadn't I’d be worried.” She assured him

“Do you still want to go for dinner.” he asked looking at her hopefully.

“Of course, I'm hungrier than ever now.” She replied indignantly.

At the restaurant they settled gratefully into their seats. Morley explained to the head- waiter the reason for their tardiness. The place was jointed but their table had been held for them. They were assured that it was not a problem and he handed them menus.

“They had barely time to open them when they were approached by a man dressed in a chefs whites he stopped at their table.

“Morley you sly old dog, where have you being hiding this beautiful creature. Morley grinned and stood up.

The two men embraced and shook hands. To Anna he said

“May I introduce my old school friend? Geoff Huntley.” and to Geoff he said this is a dear friend, Anna Cotter.”