Wey looked surprised. ‘It’s been pretty thoroughly checked out, gov – football match all afternoon and then spent the evening and night at his girlfriend Justine’s; she also verified it.’
‘Have we looked at CCTV outside and inside the ground, or asked him where he sat?’
‘He told me he thought he sat somewhere in the west stand. The ground holds nearly forty-two thousand spectators so it would be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack even if we viewed all the CCTV, which could take weeks.’
‘I don’t care. Get it done asap.’
‘Yes, sir. Do you really think he’s involved?’
Reid nodded, but by now was too tired to go into details, and arriving back at the station simply said he was going home. Wey watched DI Reid drive out and then went upstairs to write up his notes of the interview with Salver. Finally, having completed it, he was on the point of leaving for home himself when he noticed DC Burrows pull up in a taxi. He waited for her to pay the fare and realized when she came over to him that she seemed ill at ease, asking if Reid was still there. Wey explained he’d taken off and he was about to do the same. She hesitated and then asked Wey if he thought she should write up her concerns about Lena Fulford.
‘She was very upset on the way back from the lab; she thinks that all the stuff that was going down was because we – well DI Reid – believe Amy’s dead,’ she said. ‘I kept on telling her that although we have not found Amy she shouldn’t think like that. She became really distraught, asking me over and over why it was necessary to bring in her husband’s girlfriends if we hadn’t found a body. I did try to explain the reasons, but she suddenly went crazy, saying she was sure her husband had something to do with Amy’s disappearance. I asked why she thought that but she had a total meltdown and was in floods of tears. I offered to stay with her, but she refused.’
‘Well you can always call Reid and tell him, but you know we’ve all been working twenty-four seven on this and he needs a break to recharge his batteries as well.’
In fact, Reid was doing just that, running a bath and frying up eggs and bacon, having already got into his dressing gown. But before he could enjoy either the bath or the food his mobile rang. He listened to Burrows and asked her to repeat what Lena had said. Reluctantly he turned off the bath taps, put his fry-up onto a plate with a mug of tea and called Lena Fulford. The phone rang four times then went to answer machine; he tried again as he began to eat and at his third attempt Agnes Moors answered with an unusual and abrupt tone.
‘Who is this?’
‘It’s DI Reid, just checking how Mrs Fulford is as DC Burrows said she was very distressed earlier.’
‘Yes, she certainly was, but she’s gone to her bedroom and I will be staying overnight to keep an eye on her. I’ll call her therapist and hopefully she will come and see her in the morning.’
A starving Reid forked in his egg and bacon, and wanting to end the conversation, said he would call in the morning. It was a relief Agnes was there as the last thing he wanted was to get re-dressed, drive over to Lena Fulford’s house and have to comfort her.
In her bedroom Lena’s mood was spiralling down and down. Agnes had brought in a glass of warm milk and having been told in no uncertain terms to get out had placed it on the bedside table and returned to the kitchen. Harry had stayed on late, telling Agnes that it was just in case Mrs Fulford wanted to be driven anywhere, but the reality was he was interested to know what was going on.
‘Do you think the detectives know something and they’re not telling Mr and Mrs Fulford?’
Agnes lit a cigarette. ‘Like they found a body, but don’t know who it is yet?’
‘Dear God, don’t say that, but it’s getting to be nearly a week, so it’s no wonder Mrs Fulford’s in such a state.’
Lena sat in front of her dressing-table mirror, wearing only her underwear, talking to herself as she robotically removed her makeup and brushed her hair. In front of her were numerous pairs of panties she had cut to shreds. She stared at her reflection as with a sharp pair of scissors she cut through the small satin bow that held the cups of her bra together. Removing it and cutting the strap, she threw the two pieces aside as she got to her feet. Next, she cut through the satin ribbon of her underwear on both sides of her hips, and now totally naked she began to wave the scissors side to side. Some years before she’d used small razor-sharp nail scissors to snip nasty cuts on the inside of her thighs and around her wrists; now she used the larger pair to gouge her forearm. Moaning at the intense pain, she watched in fascination as the blood began to trickle in tiny rivulets like red tentacles, taking with it all the tension in her body and mind. After repeating the cutting action on her other arm, she lay down on her bed, closed her eyes and felt much calmer as she drifted into sleep.
Chapter 22
Reid arrived at the station early Saturday morning to work on the Crime Night TV appeal. DS Lane told him that Marcus Fulford had agreed to do the show and be interviewed, but he didn’t know if his wife would accompany him after the fracas over Gail Summers. Reid said he would call and ask her as he also needed some video footage of Amy from her. He was checking over his reports from the previous day when his office phone rang.
‘It’s the front counter officer here, sir. I’ve got a psychologist called Marjory Jordan wanting to speak to you about your investigation.’
‘Thank you,’ said Reid, trying not to show his surprise. ‘Would you get someone to show her up to my office please?’
Marjory Jordan was in her mid-forties, well dressed, very attractive and curvaceous, with shoulder-length highlighted blonde hair, and her makeup was rather thick, with dark red glossy lipstick. Reid registered that she was quite a forceful presence as she shook his hand, thanked him for seeing her and took a seat opposite his desk. Opening her wallet, she brought out her business card and handed it to him, before telling him that as the psychologist treating Lena Fulford she was bound by the rules of client confidentiality. Reid was confused by her statement and asked why she come to see him. Miss Jordan explained that a distressed Agnes Moors had asked her to go to Mrs Fulford’s house. Now, having seen and spoken with Lena, she had serious concerns and felt it was necessary to speak to him.
‘I am aware of the situation regarding her daughter, so under the circumstances I was there within half an hour of receiving Mrs Moors’ call.’
‘Is Mrs Fulford all right?’
Miss Jordan sighed. ‘Again, I have to consider my client’s confidentiality, but it was very fortunate that I was able to see her so quickly.’
Reid wanted her to get to the point. If she had bothered to come and see him he knew that there was something she wanted to tell him, irrespective of client confidentiality. He asked her again if Lena was all right.
Miss Jordan took a deep breath and exhaled before continuing. ‘Well, it could have been a lot worse; Lena has self-harmed before, but last night she gouged deep wounds to both her arms. Obviously the distress over her daughter, and the forthcoming divorce proceeding, brought it on as she had been well for months. I discovered Lena hasn’t been taking her medication – without it her mood can swing from being very agitated one moment to severely depressed the next.’
‘I know she has been diagnosed as bipolar,’ he said quietly.
‘Yes, but I am here to warn you that I do not think she will be able to handle the interview on the Crime Night show which she told me you are arranging.’
‘I would obviously like her to be present, but I will be guided by your advice and thankfully her husband has agreed to take part.’
She nodded, and hesitated before asking if there had been any news of Amy’s whereabouts.