CHILDHUNT: A Mystery & Suspense Thriller in the Bestselling Diana Rivers Series (The Diana Rivers Mysteries Book 5) by Faith Mortimer Page A
Authors: Faith Mortimer
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details, but she was set up by another police officer. Of course, it was all thrown out of court, and she was released. But you see, Adam, as officer in charge, always felt guilty because a member of his team was so utterly despicable in trying to frame a young woman. And more so, especially as her children were so brutally murdered. When I was finally convinced that Debbie was actually Yvonne, I let him know and suggested he join us here and ask her for an interview. He has always felt she didn’t tell the court everything there was to do with the case. He still believes she was holding something back. Anyway, he agreed, and said he and his girlfriend could make a holiday of it and see you and Steve at the same time. Now all this has blown up. It’s terrible.”
Diana was silent as she pondered his words. She stood up and paced the room for a minute or two deep in thought. “It’s more than that. I can’t imagine anything more horrendous than losing your children.” She stopped and spun round to face him. “We’ve got to help William and Debbie. We can’t interfere with the local police and their search, but we can do our own research. And I’ve just had an idea. Adam Lovell is the perfect person to enlist to help as well.”
“Absolutely spot on. They should be on the island by now, shouldn’t they?”
“Yes. Steve and I haven’t heard from them yet, but I expect they’re unpacking or exploring the village. I’m going to go upstairs to see if there’s anything I can do to help Debbie, even just sitting with her and holding her hand if it helps. Perhaps you could make some more tea for all of us? My God, look at the snow now! Can you believe we’re in Cyprus and not somewhere in the Swiss Alps?” She wandered over to the window, and they both looked out at what was now a blizzard.
“When I was out walking this morning I met Andreas up near his fruit farm. He went through all that sniffing the air palaver, looking up at Mount Olympus and sagely nodding. It was almost comical, but he was right, I’m afraid—the wind chill was terrible. Apart from him, I saw no one else. By the way, I nearly forgot. I did see our resident bird fancier. But he wasn’t braving the elements on foot, he was snug in his car. By Jove, it is a bloody awful day. Those poor kids…”
Roger looked troubled, and Diana knew what he was thinking. How on earth were they going to find two small children in weather like this? Tiny little bodies couldn’t retain much heat. If they were exposed to the elements for even a short time, they would soon freeze to death.
Time was not on their side.
Chapter 15
William sat at the table in the den and buried his face in his hands. He couldn’t believe it was only a few hours since he had left his wife and children, warm and happy in the kitchen while he set off for work. The three of them looked so contented. Debbie had agreed to try and integrate more into the community, and the kids were busy playing.
What happened? Had he pushed her too far? What about the email? Had it generated something…?
“By God, no!” He jumped up just as the inspector came into the room.
“What? What have you remembered?” he asked, looking expectant.
William blinked at the policeman as if in surprise. “My wife is incapable of harming our children. I have no idea what’s happened, but I’m sure she hasn’t done anything to them.”
The Cypriot office pursed his lips and made a sucking noise between his teeth. “Perhaps not…normally. But maybe she went a little mad…it happens all the time. I’ve seen other women go completely crazy, and of course, there is the history of last time…” He waved a folder in his hand, and William guessed he had obtained a copy of the case concerning Debbie and her first two children, faxed over from England. William almost groaned in despair. Sometimes, technology these days worked against you.
William bent over the table and clenched his hands into
Diana was silent as she pondered his words. She stood up and paced the room for a minute or two deep in thought. “It’s more than that. I can’t imagine anything more horrendous than losing your children.” She stopped and spun round to face him. “We’ve got to help William and Debbie. We can’t interfere with the local police and their search, but we can do our own research. And I’ve just had an idea. Adam Lovell is the perfect person to enlist to help as well.”
“Absolutely spot on. They should be on the island by now, shouldn’t they?”
“Yes. Steve and I haven’t heard from them yet, but I expect they’re unpacking or exploring the village. I’m going to go upstairs to see if there’s anything I can do to help Debbie, even just sitting with her and holding her hand if it helps. Perhaps you could make some more tea for all of us? My God, look at the snow now! Can you believe we’re in Cyprus and not somewhere in the Swiss Alps?” She wandered over to the window, and they both looked out at what was now a blizzard.
“When I was out walking this morning I met Andreas up near his fruit farm. He went through all that sniffing the air palaver, looking up at Mount Olympus and sagely nodding. It was almost comical, but he was right, I’m afraid—the wind chill was terrible. Apart from him, I saw no one else. By the way, I nearly forgot. I did see our resident bird fancier. But he wasn’t braving the elements on foot, he was snug in his car. By Jove, it is a bloody awful day. Those poor kids…”
Roger looked troubled, and Diana knew what he was thinking. How on earth were they going to find two small children in weather like this? Tiny little bodies couldn’t retain much heat. If they were exposed to the elements for even a short time, they would soon freeze to death.
Time was not on their side.
Chapter 15
William sat at the table in the den and buried his face in his hands. He couldn’t believe it was only a few hours since he had left his wife and children, warm and happy in the kitchen while he set off for work. The three of them looked so contented. Debbie had agreed to try and integrate more into the community, and the kids were busy playing.
What happened? Had he pushed her too far? What about the email? Had it generated something…?
“By God, no!” He jumped up just as the inspector came into the room.
“What? What have you remembered?” he asked, looking expectant.
William blinked at the policeman as if in surprise. “My wife is incapable of harming our children. I have no idea what’s happened, but I’m sure she hasn’t done anything to them.”
The Cypriot office pursed his lips and made a sucking noise between his teeth. “Perhaps not…normally. But maybe she went a little mad…it happens all the time. I’ve seen other women go completely crazy, and of course, there is the history of last time…” He waved a folder in his hand, and William guessed he had obtained a copy of the case concerning Debbie and her first two children, faxed over from England. William almost groaned in despair. Sometimes, technology these days worked against you.
William bent over the table and clenched his hands into
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