Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
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Beth saw their boss, DS Scrivener, glance pointedly at the clock on the wall as she and Matt returned to their office in Coleshaw Police Station.
‘Seeing Mrs Slater took longer than expected, sir,’ Beth said, pausing by his desk.
‘We had to interview her neighbour, Mrs Jennings, the one who lost the baby,’ Matt added.
‘Why?’ DS Scrivener asked.
‘Because Mrs Slater’s new evidence is that the baby was alive when it was taken from the house,’ Beth explained. ‘She’s claiming she heard it cry. If she’s right then its death should have been registered by now, but it hasn’t been. We spoke to the mother, Emma Jennings, but she isn’t sure what happened. She was too distressed at the time. I’m going to phone the midwife who was involved to clarify the position.’
‘OK,’ DS Scrivener said. ‘Then I want the two of you to return to Mr Bates and arrest him. We have the evidence we need now.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Matt said.
He and Beth went to their desks. They sat opposite each other, their computer screens back to back.
‘I’d better check the registry records first,’ Beth said, logging on to her computer. ‘Just in case Mrs Slater’s friend, Nora, has got it wrong and the death has now been registered.’
‘Good idea,’ Matt said, then turned his attention to his screen and the case he was working on.
Beth began by checking the register of births, then deaths and finally stillbirths. Fifteen minutes later she had the confirmation she needed. Nora was right: there was still no record of David Jennings ever having been born or dying. Beth then spent a few moments finding the contact details for the midwife, Anne Long. Her name appeared as a member of staff at Coleshaw Health Centre. Beth keyed in the number for the centre.
‘Coleshaw Health Centre,’ a trim voice announced.
‘Good afternoon. I’m Detective Constable Beth Mayes, Coleshaw CID, I’d like to speak to one of your midwives, please – Anne Long.’
‘I’ll put you through to midwifery.’
‘Thank you.’
Beth waited, then a female voice sang, ‘Midwifery. How can I help you?’
‘Good afternoon. It’s Detective Constable Beth Mayes, Coleshaw CID. I’d like to speak to one of your midwives, Anne Long.’
‘She’s out at present on a call. I could ask her to phone you on her return.’
‘Does she have a work mobile?’ Beth asked.
‘Yes, but she won’t be able to answer it if she’s with a patient.’
‘No, I appreciate that. If she doesn’t answer, I’ll leave a message.’
‘No problem. Just a moment, please.’
A few seconds later she came back on the line and read out the number for Anne Long as Beth made a note. ‘Has Anne worked there for many years?’ Beth asked.