straightening his tie in the reflection from the window when Millie walked in. ‘Very nice, sir,’ she said, grinning, and Mariner had a flashback to the occasion a couple of years earlier when he and Millie had worked together on the disappearance of a young Asian girl. It, too, had been an emotionally charged time and on one memorable evening they had ended up in bed at her flat.
Mostly the incident went unspoken between them, a brief, impulsive episode, but she never quite let him forget it. Mariner caught sight of her ring. For the last six months Millie had been engaged to a man her parents had ‘found’ for her, something she’d always sworn she would resist. ‘But he’s actually okay,’ she’d confided to Mariner shortly after she and her intended had met. Turned out he was more than okay.
The train of thought reminded Mariner that he should try again to speak to Anna, but there really wasn’t time before the conference.
Minutes later, under the glare of the pressroom spotlights, Mariner flanked DCI Sharp as she read out a prepared statement, looking directly into the camera and appealing to Jessica’s abductor. She was good, thought Mariner. And Emma O’Brien alongside them needed no coaching to look suitably distraught. She wept intermittently throughout. Peter Klinnemann remained composed, his arm around his partner, but Mariner could see the milky gleam of his knuckles as he clutched her hand.
The efit compiled with Christie’s help was flashed on to the screen while Mariner gave a more detailed description of Jessica’s abductor, omitting a couple of details so that they could rule out the hoax calls that would inevitably result, and giving the phone number of the incident room. He appealed to the public to come forward if they noticed any sudden new additions to the families of friends or neighbours, or anyone acting suspiciously. The whole performance would be broadcast on local and national evening news. As Millie ushered the Klinnemanns out of the pressroom, he and Sharp then took questions.
‘DCI Sharp, this has happened very close to the maternity hospital. Do you see a parallel with the Naomi Carr case?’
‘It’s just one of many possibilities we’re exploring.’
But as the Klinnemanns were exiting through the side door, another of the journalists called after them: ‘Mr Klinnemann, am I correct in thinking that you are the same Peter Klinnemann who works for Hamilton Sciences? And if so do you think this could be the work of animal rights activists?’
The question took them all by surprise, horror spreading like a domino effect across their faces. Someone had either made a huge unfounded assumption or had thoroughly done his homework. Judging from the look on Klinnemann’s face it was the latter. Before Klinnemann could say anything, Mariner cut in with the standard reply: ‘At this early stage we’re not ruling out anything.’ His eyes locked with DCI Sharp’s. Christ, if that journalist was right then it took this case to a whole new level.
After he’d finished his stint in the pressroom Mariner went to see the Klinnemanns. Millie was approaching from the opposite direction.
‘You’ve got them in somewhere?’ Mariner asked.
‘The Cedar Wood Hotel.’
‘Good.’ It was a couple of minutes drive away, and discreet. The Klinnemanns would need a break from the press attention. As Mariner and Millie drew nearer to the room they heard raised voices.
‘If this is down to them, I’ll never forgive you!’ Emma O’Brien shrieked. As Mariner tapped on the door, the voices ceased abruptly and Mariner went in to see Klinnemann and Emma O’Brien both on their feet, just inches apart, Emma O’Brien leaning in aggressively towards Klinnemann. Seeing the police officers her whole body seemed to deflate as the adrenaline subsided, and she looked shattered.
‘I’m sorry to have put you through that,’ Mariner said, referring to the press conference and ignoring the
Mostly the incident went unspoken between them, a brief, impulsive episode, but she never quite let him forget it. Mariner caught sight of her ring. For the last six months Millie had been engaged to a man her parents had ‘found’ for her, something she’d always sworn she would resist. ‘But he’s actually okay,’ she’d confided to Mariner shortly after she and her intended had met. Turned out he was more than okay.
The train of thought reminded Mariner that he should try again to speak to Anna, but there really wasn’t time before the conference.
Minutes later, under the glare of the pressroom spotlights, Mariner flanked DCI Sharp as she read out a prepared statement, looking directly into the camera and appealing to Jessica’s abductor. She was good, thought Mariner. And Emma O’Brien alongside them needed no coaching to look suitably distraught. She wept intermittently throughout. Peter Klinnemann remained composed, his arm around his partner, but Mariner could see the milky gleam of his knuckles as he clutched her hand.
The efit compiled with Christie’s help was flashed on to the screen while Mariner gave a more detailed description of Jessica’s abductor, omitting a couple of details so that they could rule out the hoax calls that would inevitably result, and giving the phone number of the incident room. He appealed to the public to come forward if they noticed any sudden new additions to the families of friends or neighbours, or anyone acting suspiciously. The whole performance would be broadcast on local and national evening news. As Millie ushered the Klinnemanns out of the pressroom, he and Sharp then took questions.
‘DCI Sharp, this has happened very close to the maternity hospital. Do you see a parallel with the Naomi Carr case?’
‘It’s just one of many possibilities we’re exploring.’
But as the Klinnemanns were exiting through the side door, another of the journalists called after them: ‘Mr Klinnemann, am I correct in thinking that you are the same Peter Klinnemann who works for Hamilton Sciences? And if so do you think this could be the work of animal rights activists?’
The question took them all by surprise, horror spreading like a domino effect across their faces. Someone had either made a huge unfounded assumption or had thoroughly done his homework. Judging from the look on Klinnemann’s face it was the latter. Before Klinnemann could say anything, Mariner cut in with the standard reply: ‘At this early stage we’re not ruling out anything.’ His eyes locked with DCI Sharp’s. Christ, if that journalist was right then it took this case to a whole new level.
After he’d finished his stint in the pressroom Mariner went to see the Klinnemanns. Millie was approaching from the opposite direction.
‘You’ve got them in somewhere?’ Mariner asked.
‘The Cedar Wood Hotel.’
‘Good.’ It was a couple of minutes drive away, and discreet. The Klinnemanns would need a break from the press attention. As Mariner and Millie drew nearer to the room they heard raised voices.
‘If this is down to them, I’ll never forgive you!’ Emma O’Brien shrieked. As Mariner tapped on the door, the voices ceased abruptly and Mariner went in to see Klinnemann and Emma O’Brien both on their feet, just inches apart, Emma O’Brien leaning in aggressively towards Klinnemann. Seeing the police officers her whole body seemed to deflate as the adrenaline subsided, and she looked shattered.
‘I’m sorry to have put you through that,’ Mariner said, referring to the press conference and ignoring the
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