Mark Pearson - Hard Evidence

'No, it's not legal. And that means it's a violation of your parole.'

Stella shook her head, rattled now. 'I've done nothing wrong.'

'Then tell us where she is.'

Stella didn't answer, but she gave a small, almost imperceptible, nod of the head. Most people wouldn't have seen it, but Delaney played poker; he could tell a giveaway sign when he saw one.

He turned round and gestured at Sally. 'Wait for me in the car.'

'Guv?'

'Just do it, Constable.'

Sally looked at her boss but didn't argue. She shut the front door behind her as she left and Delaney focused his attention back on Stella Trant. 'We can do this the hard way if you prefer.'

'Jackie Malone always said you were a halfway decent cop. Maybe she was wrong.'

Delaney leant forward and slammed his large hand round her throat.

'Maybe she was.'

Stella's eyes filled, bright with fear. 'Don't hurt me.'

'You know anything about Jackie, you tell me now!'

Stella shook her head. 'I don't know anything. We shared a cell. We talked, that's all.'

'You talked about me?'

'She did. I just listened.'

'And what did she say?'

'Nothing. Just that she liked you, that's all. I think she had a soft spot for you.'

'You swear there's nothing else? She didn't tell you anything else?'

'Like what?'

Delaney let the question hang and Stella shook her head again. 'She didn't tell me anything else. It was just that, for the sake of sweet Jesus. Girl talk. You know?'

Delaney released his grip and stepped back. 'Where is she, Stella?'

Stella rubbed her neck, confused. 'Jackie Malone?'

'I know where Jackie Malone is. Where's Candy Morgan?'

Stella sighed and looked up at the ceiling, speaking in a low voice. 'She's upstairs. The owners are away whilst the place is having building work done, and the builders are off on another job.' A small worm of fear squirmed again behind her eyes. 'You can't tell her I told you.'

Delaney nodded and threw the bag of dope to her. Stella's hand flashed out like a cricketer, caught it and stashed it in her jeans pocket. Then her eyes grew harder. 'You do tell her, of course… and I might have to have a word with your colleagues.'

'What are you talking about?'

'Who were we just discussing, Cowboy?'

'Don't call me that.'

'It's what Jackie called you, isn't it? How would your bosses feel if I told them what I know? About her? About you?'

Delaney just looked at her without responding.

Stella smiled suddenly, putting more than a hint of invitation into it. 'That's all right, Cowboy, I was only messing. I don't talk to the filth.' She winked. 'I can talk pretty filthy, mind, and I could whisper in your ear some night if you wanted.'

Delaney opened her front door and looked back at her. 'I'll be seeing you again, Stella. Don't be making any calls on your mobile.'

Delaney came out of the house, his face impassive. Sally stepped over to him. 'Everything all right, sir?'

Delaney took her arm and steered her none too gently towards his car. He stared straight ahead as he spoke. 'Don't look at the house. Just get in the motor.'

They both got into the car. Delaney pulled out his mobile and called Bonner. He updated him, told him to put the wheels in motion and hung up.

'We wait here?'

'You wait here. I'm going up.'

'You can't, boss.'

Delaney shook his head. 'Stella may have phoned her. She might be spooked. I'm not taking the chance that she might hurt the girl before we get there.'

'The girl might already be dead, guv.'

'Then I'm not going to let her get away.'

'I'm coming with you.'

'You're not. You're going to stay here and wait for back-up.'

'You can't go in on your own. She's dangerous.'

'I can't waste time arguing about this, Sally.'

'Let's go then.'

Delaney sighed and opened his car door. He hurried back to the house with Sally close on his heels. The door to the upstairs flat was next to Stella Trant's. Delaney pulled a small pick out of his pocket and smiled sideways at Sally. 'You didn't see this.'

He twisted the pick and the lock clicked open. He opened the door gently just as Howard Morgan came charging up the street towards them.

'Is she in there? Is my Jenny in there?'

Delaney cursed. 'Jesus Christ on a fucking bicycle. Keep him down here, Sally.'

'Sir, I…'

'Just do it.'

Delaney hurled the door back – there was no point in stealth now – and ran up the stairs to the first floor. It was deserted and completely barren. He moved from one room to the next. The place had been stripped back to bare wood and the walls were ready for renovation. The floorboards were rotten in places and evidence of water damage was everywhere. No wonder the owners had moved out whilst the builders were in. The place was a death trap.

Delaney moved back into the corridor and walked slowly towards the back of the house.

'Candy, if you're here, we don't mean you any harm. We just want to know that Jenny is all right.'

He listened, but there was no response. 'Talk to me, Candy. Everything can be sorted out. It's not too late.'

He heard something, a rustle, a movement, and edged towards the room at the end of the corridor. The faded green door was closed and Delaney was sure he heard something behind it.

'I'm coming in, Candy. Don't do anything stupid.'

Outside, the sounds of police sirens and screeching tyres signalled the arrival of at least one car.

Delaney took a breath and opened the door. Stepping quickly into the room, he pulled the door shut behind him.

Into darkness. The windows had been boarded over and he squinted in the gloom. His eyes, used to the white glare of the sun, needed time to adjust.

As he walked slowly into the room, he could see a woman climbing quickly up a set of steps that descended from a loft hatch in the ceiling. Delaney charged after her. She cleared the ladder and tried to pull it up. Delaney tugged it down, holding it firm as she disappeared into the darkness above. 'Don't do anything foolish, Candy. My name is Jack Delaney. I'm here to help.' He took a step on the ladder and paused. 'We just want to know she's all right.'

He took another tentative step up, and then another, raising his head into the loft space above. His eyes had adjusted now as he scanned the space, ready to duck below. His heart was racing but no sign showed in his impassive face. 'It's okay, Candy. We're not here to hurt you.'

Candy sat in the corner of the room, one arm wrapped around Jenny, the other holding the carving knife forward. Jenny looked at Delaney, her eyes round with fear. Behind them on the floor were a couple of sleeping bags, some bottles of water, a blanket, a child's comic, a half-eaten loaf of bread. Dangling from the rafter was a blue rope.

Candy spoke, her voice a low rasp. 'How can I trust you?'

Delaney recognised the panic in her voice and wasn't reassured by it. Frightened people did stupid things. The impulse to self-protect could be the most destructive force on the planet, and Delaney knew that better than anyone.

'We're the police. We're just here to make sure that Jenny is safe. Look.' He held out his warrant card. 'Are you okay, Jenny?'

'Yes.' Her voice was tremulous, unconvincing.

'She hasn't hurt you?'

'She's my aunt. She wouldn't hurt me, she's looking after me.'

'Are you going to put the knife down, Candy?'

Candy shook her head, her knuckles paling as she tightened her grip on the knife. 'I was only looking after her.'

Delaney sighed. She wasn't going to make this easy for any of them. He edged closer, smiling reassuringly at the huddled, frightened little girl. 'It's okay, Jenny. There's nothing to be scared of.'

He walked forward some more, his foot slipping a little, and a large section of plasterboard and ceiling fell into the room below. Candy moved instinctively back.