He falters, looking as if he might collapse. His eyes meet mine, full of disbelief.
‘She was held here? In our home?’
I give a small nod.
He hesitates, then slowly makes his way up the narrow steps. I follow closely.
Upstairs, officers in protective suits are sweeping the house.
‘I want to see her body,’ he says, voice cracking.
‘There’s no body,’ I say gently. ‘What he said on the memory stick was true.’
***
Outside, I breathe in fresh air. ‘He left behind a lock of her hair. And her wedding ring,’ I tell Daniel. Forensics needs toexamine them.’ I place a hand on his arm. ‘The house and garden must be sealed off.’
His gaze remains fixed on the house.
‘Do you know anyone who calls you Danny boy?’
He shrugs. ‘Maybe a few people. I’m not sure.’
Roy joins us. ‘Mr Neal, you said the basement was being turned into a gym for your wife?’
Neal nods.
‘What did it look like, the last time you saw it?’
He frowns. ‘It was empty. We hadn’t bought the equipment yet. Then Jo went missing. Why are you asking this? Shouldn’t you be out there catching whoever did this?’
‘We are,’ I say. ‘But we need every detail. So it was just an empty basement?’
‘I’d had a shower and toilet installed for post-workout use. That’s all.’
‘No furniture? No couch or table?’
‘It was meant to be a gym.’
‘Did you install the intercom down there?’
He shakes his head. ‘What intercom?’
‘Okay. We’ll need the name of the builder and your interior designer.’
A bead of sweat rolls down his temple despite the chill.
‘Logan Builders Ltd,’ he says, pulling a card from his wallet. ‘Neville Logan. Good guy.’
‘Would you like someone with you right now?’ I ask gently.
He shakes his head and hands me the card. ‘I need to tell her parents.’
‘You’ve had a shock,’ Roy says. ‘We’ll send an officer with you. We’ll arrange to have your car brought home.’
Neal doesn’t argue. He slides into the back of a patrol car.
‘Alice Myleen,’ he says. ‘The designer. Jo kept her info. I’ll find it.’ Before the car pulls away, he lowers the window. ‘I want her body found,’ he says, his voice hollow.
