The Doll's House

122

‘I don’t expect your forgiveness and I don’t deserve it. I could try to explain myself, my reasons, but I won’t embarrass myself. What I did was wrong, pure and simple, so I’ll get my things, write my resignation letter and be out of your hair.’

Lloyd Fortune hadn’t once looked up as he said this, the words tumbling out in a sudden rush. He clearly wanted this to be over as quickly as possible.

Even though he and Helen were closeted away in her office, Lloyd could tell the team outside had half an eye on proceedings and he wanted to be away from their curiosity and censure.

‘I would like to know why, Lloyd,’ Helen replied slowly. ‘Because I think you’re a good copper and basically a decent guy, so I would like to know why.’

Lloyd hung his head – he had been afraid she might take this line.

‘But we don’t have time for that now. I’ve had officers resign on me before because of personal indiscretions, officers who I miss now, so I’m going to ask you not to write that letter.’

Lloyd looked up at her, suddenly wrong-footed.

‘We have a major investigation going on which you should be helping me lead. But your focus has been elsewhere – that is what is truly unforgivable.’

Lloyd took the hit – he knew it was justified.

‘However, we need every available officer on this now. And I believe in second chances. So first we find Ruby. Then we deal with you. Ok?’

‘Keys. Let’s focus on the keys.’

The entire team had been called to the incident room. Helen, flanked by Lloyd Fortune and DC Sanderson, led the discussion.

‘We think this is how he gains access, so we need to check out every key-cutter in Southampton. It’s a big job but we don’t have any other choice. We’ll start centrally and work out. To narrow the search a little, let’s start with shops that Isobel Lansley passed on her route to and from university. McAndrew?’

‘So this is a full breakdown of her route,’ the reliable DC responded, handing out stapled A4 sheets to the assembled officers. ‘You’ll find a breakdown of the route by street name, plus a map showing her route in red. She left her flat in Dagnall Street, turning right on to Chesterton Avenue past a small parade of shops. She would then walk to the city centre along Paxton Road, before cutting through the WestQuay and on to Lower Granton Street. From there…’

McAndrew ran through the rest of her route, highlighting possible points of interest. Helen had hauled in a couple of bodies from the data analysis unit and they proved to be a godsend now. They speed-typed, bringing up several possible key-cutting shops en route. Sanderson wrote them up on the board and detailed officers to check them out. Though they were only inching forward, Helen was pleased to see the team finally pulling together. Even Sanderson and Lucas seemed to be getting on.

As the selected officers snatched up their jackets and hurried off, Helen addressed those that remained.

‘The rest of you will focus on the other girls now. We need to find overlaps with Isobel’s route that will narrow the search still further. Pippa might have walked down Chesterton Avenue to get to the city centre and we know she worked in the WestQuay shopping centre, so there’s two possibles for starters. Let’s forensically examine their routines and see what that throws up. Roisin didn’t work and neither did Ruby, so where did they go, what did they do?’

Helen paused a moment before she finished, pleased by the sense of determination that shone from the faces of her team now:

‘Find the link and we find our man.’