J. Carter - In Safe Hands - A D.C.I Anna Tate thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat

She explained to Nash how the men had gained access to the building and what had happened once they were inside. She showed him the storeroom and the Quiet Room. And while in the playroom she drew his attention to the dozens of pictures on the walls that had been drawn or painted by the children. Names were scrawled on the bottom of each one, and Anna spotted works of art by some of those who’d been taken, including Daniel, Liam, Simone, Molly and Grace.

And there were a few group photographs of the kids with the staff. They were gathered in the garden on a sunny day, standing in front of a large Christmas tree and sitting around a table containing a birthday cake with four candles on it.

‘I’m pretty sure that those men knew what to expect before they came in here,’ Anna said to Nash. ‘So the question is, had they been here before to look around? Or did someone provide them with all the information they needed?’

‘So what’s your impression of the owner?’ Nash asked.

‘I haven’t yet formed one,’ she said. ‘But I intend to speak to her again before I get the troops together for a briefing. I want to ask her about an incident last year at one of the Peabody Nurseries. Apparently she was fined three hundred thousand pounds after a child choked to death on a grape.’

‘I can vaguely recall that case,’ he said. ‘But I didn’t realise the nursery involved received such a whopping fine.’

‘Well it could mean that she’s got serious money problems,’ Anna said. ‘So maybe she decided to arrange for the kids to be taken so that she can now hold them to ransom?’

Nash shrugged. ‘It sounds a bit far-fetched to me, Anna.’

‘Perhaps, but we shouldn’t rule it out. After all, this wasn’t a difficult crime to commit. All those blokes had to do was get inside the nursery and she made it bloody easy for them.’

Back at the community centre, Nash said he was satisfied that Anna had everything under control.

‘I’ll bring the Commissioner up to date and make sure you get everything you need,’ he added. ‘But before I go, I want to know that you’re happy to remain at the helm of this one. I know the circumstances are close to your heart and I saw the news clip where the reporter put you on the spot earlier. It won’t surprise me if the press continue to make a big thing of what happened to you. I can see the headlines now – detective whose own daughter was kidnapped by her ex leads hunt for the nursery school kidnappers.’

‘I can live with it, sir,’ Anna said. ‘And I guarantee that it won’t be a distraction.’

Nash gave a stiff nod. ‘And that’s exactly what I intend to tell anyone who asks me if it’s an issue, including those reporters out front. But if it does become one, then you need to tell me, Anna.’

‘You’ll be the first to know, sir, but please don’t hold your breath.’

Nash grinned, showing white, even teeth. ‘Just keep me updated,’ he said. ‘And rest assured that I’ve got your back.’

After Nash went off to speak to the media Anna went to find DI Walker. She told him to round up the team for a full briefing in the hall.

‘I’ll be along as soon as I’ve had another word with Sarah Ramsay,’ she said.

Sarah Ramsay had opted to sit at one of the tables in the rear courtyard so that she could smoke. This suited Anna because it gave her the opportunity to have another one herself.

‘I started smoking for the first time nine years ago when I was thirty-three,’ Anna said as she took a seat opposite the nursery owner. ‘It was a shame because I’d steered clear of them up until then, mainly because my dad died of lung cancer.’

‘I began puffing on the buggers five years ago after my marriage ended,’ Sarah said as smoke trailed languidly from her nostrils. ‘Now I can’t kick the habit no matter how hard I try. And days like this don’t help.’

Anna took out her pack of Silk Cuts and plucked one from it. While lighting up, she studied the other woman. Sarah was sitting stiffly in the chair, her pert breasts thrust forward beneath her tight T-shirt. Anna now noticed that the words ‘Peabody Nurseries’ were printed just below the neckline of her polo shirt. It was the staff uniform, she realised, which was why the teachers were also wearing it.

The sun was still strong and bright but they were in the shade so it was bearable. Anna inhaled a lungful of smoke and said, ‘So have you thought about those questions, Miss Ramsay? First I need to know the names of everyone who has access to the nursery, including part-time staff and cleaners.’

Sarah put her burning cigarette in the ashtray on the table and reached down to pick up a leather handbag that had been placed on the ground between her legs. From it she extracted a small notebook. She tore out a page and passed it to Anna.

‘I’ve jotted down the names of all the staff here and at my other nurseries, both full- and part-timers,’ she said. ‘Only those staff based here can access this building. More details about them are in the office but I’m not able to get to them at the moment. I’ve also included the names of the local cleaning company we use and the firm that carries out maintenance work on all the buildings. Plus former staff going back six months. I’m not allowed to keep their details on file for any longer than that. I hope that’s enough.’

‘This is exactly what I wanted,’ Anna said. ‘In a moment I’ll have someone accompany you back to your office to dig out the detailed paperwork.’

‘A lot of it’s on my computer so I’ll have to print it off for you.’

‘That won’t be a problem. Now, we don’t yet know what the motive is behind the abductions so I need to ask if it’s possible that it was carried out by someone who wants to get back at you, or even the parents? Someone who holds a grudge for any reason or perhaps has made threats.’

Sarah picked her cigarette up, drew on it, and said, ‘Well, there’s only one person who fits that bill, inspector, and I’ve written his name and address below the others.’

Anna glanced at the sheet. The name ‘JONAS PLATT’ was written in capital letters and underlined.

‘There was a tragic accident at my establishment in Lewisham early last year,’ Sarah explained. ‘Mr Platt’s three-year-old daughter Kelly died after she choked on a grape. Mr Platt holds me personally responsible and ever since he’s harassed me and even made threats. It got so bad that the court issued a restraining order against him and he’s not allowed within two hundred yards of any of the nurseries.

‘I’m not accusing him of being involved in what’s happened today. He wasn’t one of the three men. But he has been a source of great concern to me, my staff and the parents.’

‘Has he made threats against them?’

She shook her head. ‘He hasn’t threatened them directly, but he has intimidated them. On five separate occasions he turned up at the Lewisham premises and stood outside with a placard accusing the staff of murdering his daughter. He also came here three times because it’s where I’m based. He shouted at the parents and told them they were stupid to leave their children here. Plus, he went to the county council demanding that all my nurseries be closed down. The story was picked up by the local press and spread around on social media.’

‘I gather you were given a hefty fine for gross negligence,’ Anna said.

‘That’s right. It was totally unexpected and I felt that it was unfair because up until then our safety record had been impeccable. It was an unfortunate accident and we were all mortified. But I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s impossible to ensure that children don’t ever get bits of food stuck in their throats.’