Cold as Ice (35 page)

She smiled, shrugged. ‘It’s all comparative, isn’t it? If I was a child growing up in Sierra Leone I’d think my childhood over here was a piece of cake. But – yeah
– it wasn’t ideal.’

He looked at her curiously; his smile was back. His eyes were focused on her and affectionate.

‘It’s how things affect you personally, isn’t it?’ he said. She nodded. ‘And . . . it looks like it didn’t do you any harm. You’re doing the best you
can for Archie.’ He looked around. ‘Where is Archie?’

‘My aunt’s looking after him for me. He’s got chicken pox.’

‘Un-lucky. Does she live far from you?’

‘Not far.’

‘Will you be able to get out again? It’s just that there’s another really nice group who you didn’t meet and they’re meeting up tomorrow evening for a Christmas
drink if that’s any good for you? It will start at the Pear and Peach on Upper Street. Saturday nights are always quite lively in there. Could be fun.’

‘Yeah. I should be able to get out. Shall I let you know on Facebook?’

‘Or text me. I don’t really like spending hours on Facebook. I’ve got better things to do with my time.’

‘I know what you mean. I’ll message you,’ Ebony answered.

‘I better get back to work now.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Coffee break is over.’

‘Of course. Thanks for meeting me.’

‘Not at all. I’m glad you’re going to be around next year. Should be fun.’ Ebony watched him as he struggled to say something. ‘You know, I didn’t mean I
wouldn’t date someone with a child. I just meant . . . well . . .’ He shrugged. ‘You know?’ She nodded. ‘I’d like to ask you out. I’m into opera –
don’t laugh . . . or we could take in the ballet if you’d like? The Nutcracker is on at Sadler’s Wells?’

‘You picked the only one I know! I’d love to, Yan, but I can’t at the moment.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry.’ She could see it had taken a lot of guts
to ask her out. ‘Could I get a rain check on it?’

He smiled, embarrassed, and disappointed.

‘Of course. I understand. Christian seems to get all the women.’ He has a right to be pissed off, thought Ebony. ‘Be careful of him, if you know what I mean,’ Yan added.
‘I’d hate it to put you off coming on to the course – you know, if things went badly?’

She nodded. ‘Point taken. Just friends. I’m not going to hurry into anything.’

‘Yeah – wise choice to stay friends. His girlfriends have a habit of disappearing from the course and one of them was in the news recently – Emily Styles?’ Ebony felt a
surge of adrenalin but tried not to show it. She frowned and played with her coffee cup.

‘Yeah, well, it was so sad. I wondered what happened to Emily. I thought she’d just dropped off the planet.’ Yan was putting his coat and scarf on. ‘She turned up in
Regent’s Canal. Such a shock. I wonder where she’s been all that time. Her Facebook page is open. People have posted things on there. We all thought she’d just had enough after it
didn’t work out with Christian but all that time she was in real trouble.’

‘That’s really terrible. Did you know her well?’ Ebony knew that Yan was in group photos with Emily.

‘Yeah, I saw her all the time, at social events. Lovely girl. She was a bit mad and a lot of fun. But not my type.’ He blushed.

Back at the flat Ebony skyped Robbo. Ebony thought how tired he looked.

‘Phone records are in,’ he said. ‘Christian Goddard seems to be the common denominator with our victims. On all of their Facebook pages.’

‘Has anyone posted anything new on Emily Styles’ page since the news broke about her death?’

‘Yes, there are over twenty messages. Just basic RIP ones.’

‘Did Christian post?’

‘No. Yan did, though. How did coffee go?’

‘It went okay. He seems to have a low opinion of Christian Goddard.’

‘That’s a male ploy to big himself up in your eyes. Men always slag one another off to women. We’re like builders. We always blame the last man on the job. I am getting your
GPS signal by the way.’

‘My pendant?’

‘Yes. And the transmitter in your shoe.’

‘So you heard the conversation anyway. Why did you ask about it then?’

‘I didn’t want to appear rude.’ She smiled to herself and rolled her eyes. ‘You’re doing a damn good job, Ebb. Keep it up.’

‘I’d rather be back in Fletcher House in my comfort zone.’

‘You’re doing a great job and you’ve responded really well to everything. You are the one who has a real hope of finding Danielle in time.’

‘I understand, Robbo. I’m going to do everything I can. I met one of Christian’s conquests yesterday evening – Julie. I think she’d open up to me.’

‘Julie Lynton, friends with Selena Tibbs? I see they’re friends on Facebook. Yes, she confirmed your friend request.’

‘I’ll see if she’s on chat.’

‘Yes she is. IM her. Instant Messenger is definitely the safest way to ask sensitive questions. Any direct messages might be read if you’re hacked into. Facebook hang on to data,
even deleted messages sometimes. They’ve had criticism for it in the past. You ready? I’ll chip in if I think it’s helpful.’

‘Okay.’ Ebony typed a message in the chat box:

‘Hi Julie, any hangover?’

‘Not too bad. What about you?

‘No. I had an early night.’

‘Are you coming out tomorrow night?’

‘To the Pear and Peach?’

‘ Yes.’

‘I think so – finding out about a babysitter.’

‘Who else is going, do you know?’

‘Not sure, sorry. Yan told me about it.’

‘Christian?’

‘Don’t know. Is there a thing between u 2?’

‘Sort of.’

‘Oh. Didn’t know, sorry.’

‘Don’t worry. Don’t think you’re his type.’

Ebony smiled to herself. She knew Robbo would be hiding a smile behind a coffee mug.

‘What about Danielle Foster, people say they are seeing one another? Do you know her? I haven’t met her.’

‘I heard her name mentioned in connection with his. They def were not together. I haven’t seen her for a week or two. Who knows? Maybe she’s seeing someone else? She missed
her classes.’

‘You care about Christian?’

‘Not care as in love. Just think we’re good together.’

‘A player isn’t he?’

‘Yeah – bad boy – always fall for them. LOL. He isn’t really that bad. He’s a really nice guy underneath.’

‘Have you spent some time with him? Been to his house?’

‘He came to mine.’

‘Why didn’t he take it further?’

‘He hasn’t yet.’

Ebony could see Robbo on webcam giving her the ‘wind it up’ sign. He was telling her that Julie was going to take more time to loosen up. Christian had just come on as available to
chat.

‘Got to go now, Julie, Archie’s crying. Glad we had a chat.’

‘And me’.

Christian was waiting to talk to her.

‘You going out tonight?’

‘Yes. Joining Yan and a few others at the Pear and Peach on Holloway Road. Are you coming?’

‘Yeah. I’ll be there. How’s Archie? I heard he had chicken pox.’

Yep, thought Ebony, that’s the power of social media – word gets around.

‘Who told you that?’

‘Yan. He also said to leave you alone. LOL he wants you for himself. Take a photo of Archie’s spots. I want to see if it’s as bad as when Elsie got it.’

‘Okay – will do.’

Ebony was trying to work out if she could get Tina to paint some spots on Archie’s face when she babysat.

‘
Christian, can I ask you something?’

‘Ask away.’

‘Are you seeing anyone at the moment?’

‘Nope. I’m young free and definitely single.’

‘Yan mentioned you were seeing someone on the course named Danielle?’

‘Danielle who?’

‘Very funny – the Danielle who’s with you in several photos.’

‘You’ve been checking up on me? ;-)’

‘Not checking, just making sure I know what I’m dealing with. Julie has already staked her claim on you. I don’t want to be in a queue.’

‘No queue. Julie is a bit of a bunny boiler.’

‘She knew about Danielle.’

‘Yeah. I know who you mean but Danielle wasn’t my type.’

Ebony looked across at Robbo on the webcam. ‘I noticed he said “wasn’t?”’ she said to him.

‘Yes interesting,’ he replied. ‘Let me take over the typing for a minute.’

‘So you haven’t seen her?
’ Robbo typed.

‘No. I told you. She’s dropped out of the course. I think she’s left. She’s a nice girl but not my type.’

‘Do you have a type?’

‘I like dusky maidens with deadpan expressions who look like they trust no one.’

‘Can’t be many of those around.

‘LOL, tell you what. I’ll be happy to give my medical opinion about Archie. I make home visits. What’s your mobile number?’

Robbo signalled to Ebony to take over again. She typed in her number and then finished the conversation with Christian.

‘What do you think?’ she asked, looking back at Robbo on the webcam.

‘Yeah, he described you quite well. He is bright. Astute. He’s definitely keen. You have to keep it on the simmer, Ebb. There must be no sign of entrapment. Not that I think
you’d allow it to go too far anyway.’

‘Absolutely no chance of that. He makes me feel slightly queasy when he comes near me.’

‘Does he make you feel scared?’

‘Not so much. But he’s good at this part – the chase.’

‘Yes. I guess if he is Hawk, he probably has this part of the game off to a tee.’ Ebony’s other phone rang from her bag across the room. ‘You answer that. I’ll take
over for you,’ Robbo said, as Ebony got up to answer the call.

It was from the institution where her mother was being held. Ebony listened to the member of staff telling her that she needed to visit more often and that her mother had started
self-harming.

Whilst Ebony was on the phone Yan came on to IM and wrote Ebony a note.

‘Still coming tomorrow night? How’s Archie?’

Robbo answered for her.

‘Archie’s not as bad as he could be – a bit miz, but I’ll make it tomorrow – you had a good day? You been talking to Christian about me?

‘Just general chitchat. He’s interested if you are!!! You and Christian? I said he had no chance; he seems to think otherwise. Which is it?’

‘Maybe,’
replied Robbo.

There was a longish gap with no reply.

‘Who’d have thought it?

Ebony finished her phonecall and came back over to her laptop as Yan replied:
‘Shame.’
And signed off.

Ebony looked at the screen and what Robbo had written.

Bugger
, she thought. She knew Yan would wonder why she said that. Maybe he’d question whether he’d understood her at all. She was just as shallow as all the others then.

Robbo watched her reaction: he saw her face drop as she stared at the screen and what he’d written.

‘You understand what’s at stake here, Ebb? I’ve sent Christian and anyone else who’s interested, a clear message that you’re a maybe. If he’s the killer
he’ll need it. He has to think you’re ready. He might like a bit of superficial competition but he also likes a conquest.’

‘Do you think Christian could be our man?’

‘Yeah, I do. He’s working a familiar pattern through picking up a certain type of woman attending the classes.’

‘Do you have an address for him?’

‘Yes. We can’t risk getting too close to it. I think he’ll spot surveillance if we’re not very careful.’

‘Do you think he’d risk keeping the women at his house?’

‘Not there. He could have a lock-up somewhere. We are having him followed. We have a surveillance team on him. The injuries on the women suggest that they didn’t get fed, looked
after regularly: they were starved and dehydrated. Someone could be visiting them less than three times a week.’

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Gain his trust. Go so far. Keep a GPS signal transmitting and for God’s sake keep your wits about you. He loves to play games. He loves to hurt. He may say he does, but he
doesn’t have a “physical type”, only an emotional one. All the women had in common was their circumstances in life. All of them deserved better than life dealt them and they were
realizing it, they were striving for a better life and going it solo. They let their guard down with him. I don’t know why. Maybe his good looks, charm, some flattery that they never got. I
expect most of them had trust issues like you. Most of them would have been wary. But as tough as these women had had it, they still craved acceptance, adoration from a guy like him. That’s
the kind of women he goes for – ones where he understands their weak point.’

Tracy opened the door for Jeanie. Jackson went to sit at the table. Jackson picked up his crayons and began drawing. Jeanie called Tracy into the kitchen to talk. Tracy spoke
first before Jeanie had chance to:

‘Can I go out? I need to go and see Steve. I’ll be about an hour and I’ll be back by the time Jackson’s ready for bed.’

‘Okay, Tracy, if it’s important to you then you must go, but take the phone and try not to stay out too long. It’s much better if Hawk thinks you are here when he calls. If he
does call, try and quickly find somewhere quiet to speak.’

‘What should I say?’

‘Try and make him feel like you could be a friend – a mother figure. Try and think of him as a victim, Tracy. As hard as it is I need you to be kind to him. I need you to be
motherly.’

Tracy nodded. She looked down to see Jackson, who had come into the kitchen and was mirroring her own worried expression.

‘Jackson needs some fresh air, I think. We’ll go for a little walk, maybe to the library to read some books,’ said Jeanie.

Jackson nodded his head but his eyes stayed on Tracy, worried.