Eeny Meeny

92

Charlie stared at the computer screen, her stomach knotted with tension. Skype was doing its trilly ring tone thing and Charlie was praying someone would answer. The fate of Stephanie Bines hung in the balance.

It had been an exhausting search, but Charlie had never given up hope. Accompanied by DCs Bridges and Grounds, she’d trawled every low-rent pub, café and nightclub in Southampton and beyond. The conversation always went the same way:

‘Yeah, we know Stephanie. Used to work here few months back. Very popular, especially with the fellas.’

‘And do you know where she is now?’

‘No idea. Just didn’t show up for work one day.’

Initially this had made Charlie extremely nervous. Any mention of sudden disappearances was likely to do so in this case, but slowly Charlie formed a picture of a naturally itinerant young woman, not comfortable in herself, who didn’t form strong attachments to people or places. She was a traveller who had dropped anchor on the south coast, but something told Charlie that this was only a temporary mooring. So she’d stopped pounding the streets and returned to the incident room to run a check on international travel. The last trace of her in Southampton was in September, so she started there. Aided by her DCs she bashed the phones to Qantas, British Airways, Emirates, before eventually hitting the jackpot with Singapore Airlines. October the 16th, Stephanie Bines, one-way ticket to Melbourne. Further checks revealed that Stephanie had a sister living in a suburb of Melbourne and Stephanie had now been traced – alive and well seemingly – to her home there.

But Charlie was taking no chances, hence the Skype hook-up. The killer’s ability to mislead and deceive was such that Charlie wouldn’t, couldn’t relax until she’d seen Stephanie with her own eyes.

And there she was. More tanned than before, blonder than before, but definitely Stephanie. A small victory for Charlie, Helen and the team. They had saved one at least. Had Stephanie’s sudden decision to return home spoiled the killer’s best-laid plans?

Stephanie didn’t need much encouragement to get travelling again. She’d only been at home a few weeks, but already was feeling suffocated and belittled. Charlie had to think on her feet, inventing a mild security risk connected to the gangland trial Stephanie had helped to conclude. She was calm and reassuring, but suggested it might be best for Stephanie and her family if she took a little trip – to Queensland, the Red Centre, wherever – whilst they got to the bottom of things over here.

Charlie ended their Skype session with a sense of optimism – perhaps the killer wasn’t so invincible after all.

Her attention was suddenly caught by Mark, gesturing to her from across the incident room. She hurried over.

‘Station have just taken a call. Tanner’s been spotted begging near the old kids’ hospital on Spire Street.’

‘When?’

‘Five minutes ago. Mum with a buggy called it in. She’d given Tanner a quid and nearly lost her whole purse into the bargain.’

They were on the road and heading to the city centre. Was Tanner their killer? They would soon find out. Charlie felt her pulse quicken, as she and Mark sped to the scene. It was good to be back in the saddle together and closing in for the kill.