All the Rage

Adam Fawley
5 April 2018
17.50

I get in the car and dial Somer. She must be expecting something like this `“ at some level we all have `“ but fearing it and knowing it are still worlds apart, and no one's going to feel that more than her.

`˜Somer? I'm at the Marston Ferry Road. We found her.'

A breath in. And then out. If Sasha was alive I'd have said so by now.

`˜Look, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to land you with talking to Fiona.'

This time, even I know I don't have a choice: I have to talk to the Super, and fast. Because the time it takes for this news to get out is measuring in minutes, not hours, and when it does, it's going to be open season on the Roadside Rapist case. Parrie's lawyers will see to that.

`˜I need to brief Harrison ASAP, so can you get over to Windermere Avenue? The press are all over us here and I'm worried Fiona will find out before I get back. Take Ev with you if you can.'

`˜What do you want me to tell her?'

Her voice sounds dry, half-choked.

`˜Say we haven't yet made a formal identification, but given the age of the victim and where she was found, it's very unlikely it's someone else.'

`˜OK, I understand. I'll make sure she's prepared. But you're certain, are you, sir? You don't think there's any doubt?'

`˜No. I'm sorry, but I don't think there's any doubt at all. It's definitely Sasha.'

`˜OK, sir. Leave it with me.' Her voice is stronger now. The police officer in her is winning. At least for now. `˜Will you want me to bring her in for the ID?'

`˜Actually, I think `“'

Again I hear the intake of breath; she knows what that means.

`˜Let's just say dental records may be the best bet. For all our sakes.'

* * *

BBC News online5 April 2018 | Last updated at 18:24BREAKING: Body found in search for missing Oxford girl, 15Residents in the Marston area of Oxford have reported that the missing local teenager Sasha Blake may have been found in an area of open ground close to where she was last seen. In the last hour, a number of people have tweeted pictures of a white police tent being set up on a site alongside the river Cherwell. An undertaker's van has also been spotted in the nearby car park, adding weight to speculation that it is indeed a body that has been found.Thames Valley Police have not issued a statement as yet.More news on this as we hear it.25 commentsSylvia_Meredith_245How truly terrible `“ such a tragic loss of a young life before it even began. My heart goes out to her familyShani_benet_151My daughter is at the same school as Sasha `“ her year group are just beside themselves. She was so popular and so talented. She even got some sort of internship with Vogue for next summer. They had 100s of applicants but they picked herAmber_Saffron_RoseThey'll probably have a memorial service, won't they?Johnjoe_84_WantageThe mother was on the news on her own. So where's the bloody dad, that's what I want to know. He'll have something to do with it. Just you waitShani_benet_151How can you say something like that? Don't you think her family and friends are going through enough without you chiming in `“ what if they're reading this, have you thought about that? You have NO IDEA what you're talking about so just zip it why don't youJohnjoe_84_WantageJust because you don't like what Im saying doesn't mean its not true. You see if Im not right* * *

As soon as Everett and Somer turn into Windermere Avenue they know they're too late. The press are three deep opposite the house already; cameras trained on the door, ready for the police, relatives, the Tesco delivery `“ they don't care who it is as long as it gets Fiona Blake to the doorstep. Others are homing in on anything that might be Sasha's `“ a bicycle just visible down the side return, a sticker in a bedroom window. There's no sign of life inside: upstairs and down, the curtains are drawn, but there are still people crowded behind the officers on the pavement, and on the top floors of the adjacent houses the neighbours are straining for a better look.

`˜Bloody vultures,' says Somer, turning off the engine. `˜Can't they see the damage they're doing?'

`˜They don't care,' says Ev, staring out of the window. `˜Why let tact get in the way of a good story?'

The Sky reporter is talking live now, gesturing back towards the house with a practised one-quarter twist.

`˜Thames Valley Police have yet to issue a statement, but speculation is growing that the body of fifteen-year-old Sasha may indeed have been found, less than two miles from this house, which she shares with her mother, Fiona Blake, forty-three.'

Ev looks across at Somer, who's gripping the steering wheel just a bit too hard.

`˜Look, Erica, I know this is easy for me to say, but try not to take it too personally. Cases like this `“ they'll break your heart if you let them. But that's not what Fiona needs. She needs us to find this bastard. That's all. Find him, lock him up and do our damnedest to lose the key.'

Somer nods. `˜I know. Sorry. Didn't mean to `“'

`˜It's OK. You don't need to apologize. Not to me, anyway.' She loosens her seat belt and reaches for the door handle. `˜Right. Time for me to give those shits a piece of my mind.'

* * *