‘Have they asked for money?’
‘Daniel’s already paid half,’ Gil says.
I lean forward. ‘How much?’
‘A million.’
Nicola inhales sharply.
‘Her parents paid,’ Gil adds. ‘We should go to the police, right?’
I frown. ‘Well, you’ve told me, haven’t you? That’s enough. I’ll need to alert the anti-kidnap and extortion unit.’
‘But Daniel…’ Gil says, visibly distressed. ‘He’ll go mad.’
I reach over and take her hand. ‘From what I’ve seen – and it’s not much – very few kidnap victims make it out alive. Especiallyonce ransom money starts changing hands, things can quickly go wrong. All it takes is her seeing a face or overhearing a name. The kidnappers have nothing to lose now. They already have a million.’
‘She’s right,’ Nicola murmurs, dabbing at her eyes.
‘I’ll make the call,’ I say, standing. ‘Then we’ll head over to Daniel Neal’s.’
Panic flashes across Gil’s face. ‘But the kidnappers said they’re watching him. You’re a police officer.’
‘You and Nicola go in first. I’ll follow later. We could be visiting anyone in the block. I’ll bring someone from the unit. We’ll look like friends dropping by. Don’t worry, they say they’re watching, but they usually aren’t.’
Gil still looks unconvinced, but I don’t have time to convince her. She reluctantly gives me the address.
I ring Marg next door. ‘Police emergency,’ I tell her.
‘Ooh, how exciting! I’ll pop over now,’ she chirps.
Next, I call the kidnapping line and give them all the details. DI Roy Burrow says he’ll be with me in twenty minutes.
‘Right,’ I say. ‘You two, head over to Mr Neal’s. We’ll follow soon after.’
‘Daniel’s not going to like this,’ Gil says anxiously.
He won’t like it if his wife ends up dead, I think.
DI Roy Burrow and I worked on a child abduction case years ago, when I lived in Leeds. I remember his weathered face, the five o’clock shadow and that calm, velvety voice that could settle a storm. He was divorced back then, and I find myself briefly wondering if he’s since remarried.
When I open the door, I see that he hasn’t changed a bit. Still rugged, still rumpled, but steady. Unlike me. That’s what kids do to you. They age you.
‘No kids then?’ I say with a smile.
‘Nice to see you too, Josie,’ he grins. ‘No kids. How’d you guess?’
‘You still look young.’
‘That’s not kids. That’s no woman.’ He winks. ‘Alright, where are we headed?’
That’s Roy. Always straight to the job.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Daniel
The buzzer startles me. I’ve just settled Joel for the night, and I’m willing to bet it’s Gil again. She left abruptly, and now she’s back. I press the button, my frustration mounting.
