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They climbed out and then walked up the five wide stairs to the large entrance.
They went in through automatic doors and found themselves in a reception area. Extravagantly decorated in designer style, and with a marble reception desk and chrome detailing, it looked more like a five-star hotel than an office.
The blond receptionist looked as if she might be a part-time model. She stared at them, surprised, when they walked in.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Deputies Moore and Lovell,” May said. “We’re looking for Mr. Jessop.”
The glance she gave the elevator immediately gave away that he was upstairs.
“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked.
“No, we don’t,” May said.
“Er, I need to check he’s not in a meeting.” She smiled apologetically. “If it’s about a sponsorship deal, you will need to speak to the relevant person in our marketing department.” For a moment, she sounded as if she was on autopilot.
“This is urgent police business,” May reminded her politely, showing her badge to make up for being in plainclothes today.
The blonde blushed. “Oh my goodness,” she said, looking worried. “Of course. My apologies. You did say you were deputies. I’m sure Mr. Jessop will see you. Please take a seat and I’ll let him know you are here.”
She got on the phone and spoke in a quiet voice.
After a short conversation, she nodded and hung up.
“He’s just finishing off a meeting, and he will see you in his private office. It’s on the top floor, at the end of the corridor. You can wait there for him.”
“Thank you,” May said.
They walked to the elevators and stepped into the mirrored car, lush with a thick green carpet.
It rode smoothly up, and when the doors whooshed open, May saw a marble-tiled corridor stretching to a large wooden door at the end. They walked along it. May knocked, and when there was no answer, she pushed the door open. Butterflies were fluttering inside her.
The office was enormous, with a gigantic oak desk, a large boardroom table, two leather sofas, a shelf lined with trophies, and a photo wall that was covered in framed shots of key moments during matches, trophy ceremonies, and team photos.
The chair behind the oak desk was empty. May guessed the other meetings were taking place elsewhere on this floor.
“Look at all these trophies!” Owen exclaimed, walking over to see the silverware. “Football league, Champions League, and even an Olympic medal.” He whistled. “This guy must be good. And these photos of all the teams he has managed—he has a history of success.”
“Yes, he’s clearly very good at what he does,” May said. She guessed that would also make him a trusted figure. Had he abused that trust?
“That’s him again,” Owen said, pointing to a large framed photo of a man shaking hands with another premier league manager.
May ambled over and looked more closely, taking in his appearance and his confident, white-toothed smile. Everything about this man reeked of success.
“I wonder how long he’ll be. I guess we sit and wait,” May said.
“I guess so.”
There was a table with a coffee machine, cream, cookies, pretzels, and even a decanter of brandy. Clearly, guests were encouraged to make themselves at home while waiting for the busy manager. She was sure potential sponsors would enjoy the spread, and feel as if they were going to get a great bang for their bucks. May thought this was all part of the show, giving the impression that Jessop was one of the state’s most sought after businessmen and sports leaders.
But under all these trappings of success, was a monster hiding? Who was Jessop really, behind this moneyed facade?
She looked at the sofa, comfortable and squashy, wishing she felt more like relaxing on it, and not as if every moment counted.
She could see Owen didn’t feel like sitting down either. Instead, May paced around the large space, taking a look out of the enormous window.
There was a magnificent view over suburbia that stretched as far as the sports fields of the training center down the road. So Jessop could sit here and watch his teams train, May thought. There was even a pair of binoculars on one of the tables. Right now, that gave her the creeps, because she didn’t know if Jessop was a murderous predator. Were the binoculars there for looking at his teams, or had they been used to single out victims?
