Sugar And Spice – Part 4
"Well…" Smithy sat on the edge of Mickey's desk, scratching his chin. "Something's been bothering me…"
"Oh?" Mickey tilted his head, folding his arms to listen.
"Well. You said she chased after the car, yeah?" Smithy paused as Mickey nodded. "And it narrowly missed her…"
Mickey nodded again. "Yeah, and…?"
"And…if it was that bothered about getting away-"
"Why didn't they run her over?" Both men finished in unison.
"That's a fair point." Mickey puckered his lips. "Maybe they didn't want to draw attention to themselves?"
"Snatching the kid in broad daylight's already done that, and besides, the street was empty."
"Do you think there's something in the stuff with the dad?" Mickey asked.
"Honestly? I don't know…the kid was underage, he should be on the sex offenders register." Smithy looked thoughtful.
"Except he's not." Mickey scowled and sighed. "There was just a comment tacked on the bottom like it didn't matter cos the kid was dead!"
"Dead?" Smithy blinked and looked up.
"Yeah, there wasn't enough evidence, the kid's body was found in the squat she'd been living in with a group of others, she'd injected herself and overdosed with no evidence of foul play. There was no evidence of Paul having been near her at the time she was examined, he was just seen trying to pick her up."
Smithy sighed and shook his head. "She was 13! Little more than a baby!"
Rebecca barely lifted her head as the door opened, flashing her mother a grin, but quickly turning her gaze back to the TV.
Charlie chuckled as she watched the little girl sprawl over the settee, sitting beside her. "You hungry?"
Rebecca shook her head and shuffled along the settee, resting her head in her mothers lap.
Charlie smiled and gently brushed her fingers through Rebecca's hair, "You're tired…"
"Not."
"Oh yes you are…" she chuckled, lifting her up a little more to cradle her. She leant back and rested Rebecca against her shoulder, gently rocking her.
Rebecca fought to keep her eyes open and concentrated on the television, before her eyelids began to droop and close, soon falling fast asleep.
Her mother smiled and gently kissed her forehead, turning the channel over and lowering the volume, settling back herself for a nap, cuddling her daughter tightly.
"Mickey!" Hannah's eyes shone with recognition and she immediately clasped his hand.
"Hiya sweetheart," he smiled, acknowledging Jess and her husband. "Mr Parker, can we have a word please?"
Jess blinked and looked at Paul. "Has something happened?"
Mickey shook his head. "Just some questions, no need to worry."
"But-"
"I'll be back soon…" Paul rested his hands on Jess' shoulders, softly kissing her. "You stay here with Han."
Jess nodded reluctantly, cuddling her daughter to her after Mickey had managed to get her to let go.
"What is this about now?" Paul hissed as soon as the door closed.
"Mr Parker." Mickey said solemnly. "I was talking to my DI about your previous…offence." He said sternly. "And I'd like to ask you a few more questions."
"You think I've-"
"Mr Parker…" Smithy appeared beside Mickey, towering over both men. "If you'd like to come with us, the sooner you'd be able to get back to your wife and Hannah."
"You're wasting our time!" Paul spat. "Instead of looking for Rachel, you're looking for trouble that isn't there!"
"Paul." Mickey said firmly, closing the door behind them all. "This is being recorded but you are free to leave at anytime"
Smithy stood by the door as Paul made a beeline to it, "Mr Parker, if you help us now, we won't have to do this at a later date, when your wife may be present."
Paul stopped and glared at Smithy, cursing under his breath, "What is it you want?" he spat, still glaring at the other man.
Mickey started the tape, got Paul to sit down and read him the caution. "Do you understand?"
Paul sighed and nodded, his arms folded. "What is this about?" he repeated.
"At the time of your previous arrest in …1999." Smithy read from the sheet.
"Is that what this is?" Paul snorted. "You're obsessed!"
"…you were suspected of being part of a group, yet nothing was proved."
"'Cos it was bullshit!"
"Mr Parker, I'm sure you understand the urgency of our questions…"
"Are you bribing me?" Paul snorted, looking more on edge than ever. "What is it, I answer your questions and you'll look for Rachel, if I don't-"
"Of course not!" Mickey insisted. "Paul, our investigations so far have led us to conclude that Rachel was specifically targeted. The road was deserted, the children alone…they didn't attempt to abduct Hannah, she tried to stop them and they swerved to avoid her…"
"You think I'd put my daughter at risk?" Paul snorted.
Smithy frowned and sighed. "Mr Parker, all we are trying to do is find your-"
"Do you have kids?" Paul snapped.
"No…" Mickey sighed.
"You?"
Smithy sighed and folded his arms, nodding.
"Then you'll know what it's like!" Paul snapped. "You know that they are part of you, that you'd do anything to protect them!"
"Is that what this is?" Smithy asked softly. "Is someone trying to put pressure on you?"
"You never give up!" Paul glared at them both, glancing nervously at his watch.