Stalker

Chapter Twenty

‘Flint’s haunting me,’ Beth said when she saw the Home Security logo on the alarm box at the rear of Mr and Mrs Saunders’ home. They’d been called here to investigate a burglary while the homeowners had been out.

‘But you can hardly blame Flint for this one,’ Matt said. ‘The alarm wasn’t switched on, and it’s almost certainly the cleaner. She had keys to the house, knew their routine, and has now disappeared, likely to have returned to her home abroad.’

Beth nodded.

‘But I’ll tell you what is odd,’ Matt continued as they looked around the outside of the property for any sign of a break-in. ‘That our Mr Flint installed the cameras in The Mermaid Massage Parlour that was raided yesterday.’

‘Why is that odd?’ Beth asked, glancing at him.

‘The place was empty, not a girl in sight. Just Betty sitting with a cup of tea in front of the television as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. She’d been tipped off.’

Beth laughed. ‘Oh, come off it, Matt! And you accuse me of seeing connections where there aren’t any! Half the force has visited The Mermaid at some point. It’s almost on their rounds. Any one of them could have given Betty the nod. She looks after her girls and they like her. There’s a lot worse.’

Matt smiled, a twinkle in his eye. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, I thought it was a massage parlour.’

‘Of course you did. Anyway, I think we’re about done here, aren’t we? They haven’t even got a photocopy of the cleaner’s passport. I’m assuming she gave them a false name so there’s little chance of catching her or recovering the stolen goods.’

‘I’ll let you tell them that,’ Matt said, and led the way into the living room.

Mr and Mrs Saunders were sitting side by side on the sofa, he comforting his wife. ‘Did you find anything?’ she asked hopefully as they entered.

‘Nothing to suggest a break-in,’ Beth said.

‘So it was my cleaner.’ Mrs Saunders sighed, pressing the tissue to her face. ‘I can’t believe it. I trusted her. She was so nice. She showed me photographs of her family and children. Her mother was very ill.’

‘They always are,’ Matt said sceptically.

‘I’m afraid you’re not the first person to be taken advantage of like this,’ Beth said more sensitively. ‘We’ll try to trace her with the details you’ve given us but I have to tell you it’s unlikely we’ll find her.’

Mrs Saunders gave a little cry and dabbed her eyes. ‘The jewellery box was my grandmother’s. It had sentimental value. She knew that. She could have just taken the jewellery and left the box. That was so cruel.’

‘The box was valuable,’ Matt said bluntly.

Beth threw him a look. ‘I appreciate how upsetting this is. I think that having your trust taken advantage of is in some ways worse than being robbed by a stranger.’

‘It is,’ Mrs Saunders agreed. ‘I won’t ever trust anyone again.’

‘We’re having extra security installed today,’ Mr Saunders said. ‘They’re on their way here now. They’re very efficient and the owner oversees the work personally.’

‘Would that be Derek Flint?’ Matt asked.

‘Yes, you know him?’

‘A little,’ Beth said. ‘We’re finished here so if you could send in that description of the jewellery as soon as possible, we’ll get it circulated. Hopefully we’ll strike lucky and recover some of it if it’s being sold here.’

‘Thank you,’ Mr Saunders said and stood to show them out. As she opened the front door a blue van emblazoned with the Home Security logo was parking in the road. ‘Good. Prompt as usual.’

Matt and Beth began down the path. Derek saw them and hesitated, uncertain what to do for the best. As they approached he went to the rear of his van and busied himself with something inside.

‘So we meet again,’ Matt said, going up to him.

‘Oh, hello,’ Derek said, turning and feigning surprise.

‘Business picking up then?’ Matt asked.

‘A little,’ he replied, flustered.

Beth got into the car as Matt hung around Derek Flint, watching him fumbling amongst the various tools in the back of the van. Taking out a toolbox, he straightened and closed the rear doors. ‘Done then?’ Matt asked.

‘I have to go to my clients. Did you want something?’

‘No. Just saying hello. Have a good day then.’

Matt watched him scuttle up the path to where Mr Saunders was holding open the front door.

‘Why does he always look so bloody guilty?’ Matt asked as he joined Beth in the car. ‘You’d have thought he’d pinched the jewellery himself, he’s so bloody shifty.’

‘It’s you, you intimidate him,’ Beth returned lightly.

‘I hardly said a word!’ Matt protested.

‘You don’t have to.’ She fastened her seatbelt.

‘Only those with a guilty secret have anything to fear,’ Matt said, raising an eyebrow.

Beth paused thoughtfully, staring straight ahead through the windscreen at Derek’s van. ‘What say we pay him a home visit? See where he runs his business from.’

‘What, now?’

‘Yes.’

‘But he’s not there, he’s here.’

‘No, but his mother should be in. Paul said she rarely goes out. Come on, Matt; keep up.’

‘OK, I get it.’