While Frankie wasn’t overly keen on letting a stranger in her house, the last thing she wanted was someone passing out in her garden. ‘Look, would you like to come inside where it’s cool while I fill your bottle for you. I’ve got a water chiller in my fridge so it should stay nice and cold.’
Looking relieved, the woman wiped her forehead. ‘Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out or intrude, but I do feel a bit odd.’
‘Honestly, it’s no trouble.’ Stepping back, Frankie pushed open the screen door and beckoned to the woman, noticing her lovely auburn hair when she removed her baseball cap.
‘Phew, it’s lovely and cool inside and what a gorgeous home you have! How long have you been here?’ The woman had removed her rucksack, unzipping it as she spoke, stuffing her cap inside.
‘Oh not long, a couple of months and thank you. It’s just been refurbished but there’s still a lot to do, you know, painting and adding a few finishing touches. Would you like a cool drink now, a glass of juice perhaps? It’s no trouble.’
‘No, it’s fine, I wouldn’t want to impose, but thank you for asking.’
‘Okay, I’ll fill this for you, then.’ Frankie wasn’t going to force her, but it was polite to ask and it was so hot out there.
From their cage under the stairs Oscar and Belle growled, which surprised Frankie as they usually loved to meet new people. Maybe they were sulking because she’d locked them in. ‘Stop it, you two! I’ll let you out in a minute. Let me see to this lady first.’
Belle and Oscar’s ears pricked up and for a second they were silenced as Frankie reached out and took the bottle from the woman’s hands. Then turning her back she headed over to the fridge in the corner of the room, ignoring the Frenchies who were going crazy in their cage.
32
When Jenny appeared in the kitchen, phone in hand, rather than looking relieved that she’d found it she wore a frown and there were tears in her eyes. Barnes sensed something was wrong, then realised it was all too much for her, having some woman conning her while her family were far away. He reminded himself to tread carefully and do his best not to distress her further.
‘Are you all right, Jenny? Look, I know this has all come as a bit of a shock but once I speak to Frankie we can relax, and your boys will be home later tonight. Shall I make that cup of tea you promised me, I don’t know about you but I cou–’
Jenny interrupted, her voice cracking as she spoke. ‘I’ve made a terrible mistake, DC Barnes, I’ve just realised what I said to that woman. Oh God, what have I done? What if she told someone? It’ll be my fault won’t it, if something happens to Frankie?’
Dread began to spread its way slowly through Barnes’ body as he stepped towards her and took her arm, feeling her body trembling beneath his hand. ‘What do you mean, Jenny? Tell me what you said. Take your time.’
‘I was in such a fluster, you see, because of Beryl being poorly in hospital and I’d rushed straight from A&E to hers to get her some clothes, then here so I could change. We’d been there for hours and I was tired and mithered. I’d gone to the office to get some change for the car park, you know, from the cash tin, and when she turned up I was in a rush and didn’t think what I was saying.’ Jenny placed a shaking hand over her mouth as a tear leaked from her eye.
The last thing Barnes wanted was her keeling over and ending up back in A&E like her sister. ‘It’s okay, I understand, and I can imagine you were in a state but just tell me what you think you said wrong. Take a breath, nice and slowly.’
‘I was nattering on and I said that my Ken and Jed were with Frankie and that they’d gone to France to fit her kitchen. Because it was a woman I was talking to I didn’t give it a thought, you know, that she could be a nutter or a friend of a nutter. I trusted her and now I’ve messed up, haven’t? My Jed’s going to go mad when he finds out.’
Barnes was processing everything Jenny said and while he knew she was distressed, he had to be sure. ‘You definitely didn’t mention Frankie had changed her name… try to think back.’
Jenny was wide-eyed. ‘No, one hundred per cent, I didn’t, why?’
‘Because if Tibbs knows that, and that Frankie’s in France it could make things easier for her to track Frankie down.’ Then an idea. ‘Jenny, could we go over to the office, so we can check that there’s nothing missing or been disturbed. I know you said you didn’t leave her alone but it’s best to be sure.’
Jenny nodded and without speaking turned, picked up the set of keys from earlier and with a jerk of her head, hurried towards the door.
The small office was warm and musty when they stepped inside, and a trapped fly buzzed against the window as Barnes followed Jenny over to the desk and watched as she walked around the other side. Everything looked in order, neat and tidy: a computer monitor and keyboard on the desk, a pot of pens, a pile of invoices in a tray.
‘See, it’s all as I left it. And anyway, I use the computer. I don’t even think Ken knows the password let alone how to work it. I do all the bookwork but he takes phone numbers, does the quotes and all that, then I log them on here.’ Jenny motioned to the computer. ‘He’s a sod for leaving stuff all over. He’s always losing things.’
While she spoke Barnes cast his eyes over the rest of the office, taking in the map of Manchester behind Jenny. It was attached to the wall with drawing pins, faded and peeling at the edges and must have been there for yonks. Then to the right, a noticeboard covered in leaflets, a chippy menu, loads of business cards, more receipts. Then he saw it and his blood ran cold. Jenny must have sensed something was wrong and followed the direction of his gaze, letting out an anguished cry when she spotted the neon yellow Post-it note pinned to the board.
‘Oh no, on no, I swear I didn’t put that there. It must have been Ken. I bet he stuck it on after Frankie gave it to him. I remember she wrote it down when she was in our kitchen.’ Jenny’s hand seemed glued to her face, eyes wide.
The silence as they both stared at the note was broken when his phone began to ring, causing Barnes to give Jenny a hurried instruction
‘Jenny, you need to ring Frankie again and keep ringing until you get hold of someone… Anyone, try Ken and Jed, too.’
‘And Spud, my nephew, he’s there as well?’
‘Yes him. I need to take this.’ Barnes watched as Jenny raced back to the house to get her phone while he answered the call from Langley.
‘Did you get them?’ Barnes’ heart was racing and he could feel the skin on his face had tightened, his whole body caught in the grip of tension.
