‘We don’t know that for certain, sir.’
‘She’s got plenty of money, her mother’s loaded, so soliciting must be like some sort of hobby to her.’
Reid thought it best not to argue the point as Douglas had formed his opinion and wasn’t likely to be budged on the matter.
Douglas clicked his fingers and then pointed towards Reid. ‘What about that Simon Boatly character – you tracked him down yet?’
‘No, sir.’
Douglas yanked open the door. ‘Get onto it; my money is on him. He’s close to the family, and loaded, and Amy likes the high life.’
‘We believe he’s still in the Bahamas, sir…’
‘Believing is not the same as proving it. If he’s abroad, or in this country, track him down and bring him in.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Get the parents to do the Crime Night appeal.’
Reid interrupted him to say that Lena Fulford was probably not going to be fit enough.
‘What the hell is the matter with her? Her daughter’s been missing for nearly a week, and what, she’s lost interest in helping us find her?’
‘I’ll talk to her, but her therapist said she was very distressed.’
‘Therapist, I’ll be bloody needing one after this load of shit. Just see if she’s capable of shedding a few tears. We need to get a result on this, Reid. At the moment it’s like a steam train running out of coal.’
Douglas slammed the door shut after him and Reid slumped down onto his chair. He was loath to think like his boss, or describe the situation as preposterously, but the truth was, the more they uncovered, the more it was starting to look as if Amy Fulford had multiple reasons to disappear.
Chapter 23
The Crime Night producers had agreed to do the filming on the Saturday afternoon for release on the Sunday evening. The surprise was that everything went smoothly. Marjory Jordan accompanied Lena, who wore a demure dress and her hair drawn into a chignon, and looked very elegant. Marcus Fulford appeared to be more nervous than his wife as they sat apart in the waiting room. The producer had spent time with them, going over procedures and explaining there would be a short interview with them before the footage of their daughter was shown. They would then interview DI Reid, who would make the request for anyone with information to please come forward or phone the incident room.
At this, Marcus became emotional, but Lena remained downcast and silent. The only time she showed any tension was when she watched, on the screen in the waiting room, the footage she had provided them with from the family tapes. It was not the content but the fact it was so short, literally only one and a half minutes. Everyone involved, from camera crew to sound and lights, could not help but be moved by the stunning young teenager, and the director had chosen a section when Amy was on the beach smiling, and wearing the bikini, but without the sunglasses and large straw sunhat.
At one point the producer took Reid to one side, asking if there was also footage of their missing teenager taken by the vice squad. Reid curtly refused to answer but was unpleasantly taken aback that someone had leaked the fact that it existed.
Sunday evening proved to be exactly as Reid had feared. The office phones were ringing virtually nonstop from directly after the programme had aired, and he had nothing but gratitude for his dedicated team who had volunteered to work for no extra pay but a day off in lieu.
The majority of calls were a waste of time, but everything had to be checked out and logged. The programme had also brought about a new round of press interest and the station was inundated with requests for more photographs, as the journalists began to describe Amy Fulford as a Lolita because of the glamorous footage from Crime Night.
Reid was under mounting pressure, as all of this activity had still not brought any further leads, and so he was immensely relieved when DS Lane received a call from Simon Boatly’s lawyers. They had been able to contact Boatly and confirmed that he was out of the country when Amy disappeared, but nevertheless he would be willing to speak to the investigating officers. Boatly had agreed to return to England a week ahead of his schedule, and would make himself available as soon as he arrived. They now had a new mobile phone number for him and an address in Henley where he would be staying.
It was early Monday morning when the forensic tests finally came in. There was a DNA match to Marcus Fulford from semen on the underwear belonging to Justine Hyde, Gail Summers and the prostitute Tanya. There was no DNA from Marcus on any of his daughter’s panties, clothes or bed sheets. A profile from Amy had been raised from the hairbrush in the overnight bag, and matched menstrual blood and faeces on her school cotton knickers.
Reid felt it was dead end after dead end with Marcus Fulford: now there was nothing from forensics to support the idea that he was abusing Amy. Wey had also double-checked and confirmed his alibi for his movements over the weekend Amy went missing. Reid knew the evidence suggested Marcus couldn’t have murdered Amy, but there was still the possibility that she might have run away because she was being sexually abused by him.
As the calls still continued to come, with many apparent time wasters, he was certain that if Amy Fulford were still alive she would have made contact. Even if Amy herself had not wished to come forward, if she were with someone who knew who she was, surely they would have been in touch. An alternative of course was that she had not run away but had been abducted by someone. If that was the case then all the publicity surrounding her disappearance might mean it was too much of a risk for an abductor to keep her alive.
Reid had spoken with Chief Superintendent Douglas who, after much deliberation, had agreed to give him one more day before calling in the murder squad. Reid protested, demanding to know why he couldn’t work the case with his team, but Douglas said he wanted the case cleared up once and for all and it would be done a lot quicker by a bigger, more professional and experienced team from the murder squad.
Now Reid sat in a sullen mood, sifting through the mass of data that had been accumulated, returning to day one in his notes. The good news was that Simon Boatly was at last available and Reid decided he would drive out to speak with him later that morning.
But first he drove to the Fulford house, where Agnes had the front door open even before he’d managed to park. Harry was outside with the Lexus, waiting to take Mrs Fulford to her warehouse.
Agnes rang through to Lena’s office upstairs and then showed Reid into the drawing room, pursing her lips. ‘She is being a bit difficult at the moment,’ she confided, ‘although it’s understandable in the circumstances. It’s good that she found Amy’s journal, as maybe it will help you find out what’s happened to her.’
At that moment Lena walked in and heard what Agnes said, realising immediately that her housekeeper had seen the journal. She had not intended to tell Reid about it, but knew she had to now. ‘Thank you, Agnes, I am quite capable of informing the inspector about the journal.’
Agnes scuttled out, shutting the door. Lena looked rested, and immaculate as ever, as she gestured for him to sit down. Waving her hand, she said that she was concerned about the contents of the journal, but nevertheless if he gave his word that none of it would be made public he could have it.
‘I just need to read it, Mrs Fulford, and I will return it as soon as possible.’
‘I don’t want any copies made. It is a very personal journal and after reading what some of the press are saying about her, describing Amy as a Lolita, it has made me feel very anxious and obviously distressed.’
He gave her a polite nod. She walked out and after a moment returned.
‘Here it is,’ she said, handing him a manila envelope, her name and address printed on it in red. He took it and, eager to leave, moved to pass her. She rested a hand on his arm.