Missing: Michelle Cromack: A captivating Homicide and Major Enquiry Team Cases novella (The West Yorkshire Crime Thrillers) by Lee Brook

Author:Lee Brook [Brook, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Middleton Park Press
Published: 2023-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

It was raining. Again.

Pulling their jackets around them, DS Williams and DC Blackburn made for the cover of the porch. Then Tashan thumped the door and stood back. It was solid and painted a glossy emerald green.

Erin Cromack answered the door, not Cathy Hoskins, as Yolanda had been expecting.

“Good afternoon, I’m Detective Sergeant Williams, and this is my colleague, Detective Constable Blackburn,” Yolanda explained, and both detectives held up their warrant cards. “The SIO, DS Wood, sent us to speak with you.”

Erin scrutinised the detectives’ identification.

“Where’s Cathy?” asked DS Williams.

“Reuben sent her home,” Erin explained. “We didn’t really need her, and you’re not exactly making much progress, are you.”

The woman looked defeated as she led them into a reception room decorated entirely terracotta. Yolanda couldn’t imagine losing a child. She had plenty of nieces and nephews and would hate if anything happened to them. Yolanda and her partner, Cynthia, had considered adopting or seeking a donor, but they’d decided to wait until after the wedding.

“Why are you here?” Erin asked. She didn’t offer them a drink.

Yolanda frowned. “Is Reuben home?”

Erin’s face darkened. “Why?”

“Because we went to his place of work, only to be told he was working from home today,” Tashan explained.

“First, we wanted to inform you we have a suspect in custody,” Yolanda said, referring to Harinder Bains. DS Wood had strategised with the pair on how best to proceed, especially considering they were now suspicious of Reuben and Erin.

A look of relief washed across Erin’s face. “Thank you. Thank you for coming. Who did it? Who has my daughter?”

“We’ll get to who we have in custody in a moment, Ms Cromack,” Yolanda said, “but first, we need to ask you and Reuben some further questions.”

Her dark eyes turned cold. “You just told me you had a suspect, yet it appears you still suspect us. Why?”

“Do you mind if we record this?” Tashan asked, placing Yolanda’s Dictaphone on the coffee table.

Erin pursed her lips but eventually said, “Fine. Go ahead.”

Reuben Sykes entered and sat next to his fiancée. Yolanda noticed the man was limping and looked as if he were in a lot of pain.

“Mr Sykes, I’m Detective Sergeant Williams, and this is my colleague, Detective Constable Blackburn,” Yolanda explained, and both detectives held up their warrant cards. “The SIO, DS Wood, sent us to speak with you and Erin.”

“Call me Reuben,” he said.

Yolanda said, “Thank you, Reuben; we have some follow-up questions regarding Michelle’s disappearance.”

Reuben frowned, closed his eyes, and then gave a curt nod. “Fine, ask away.”

“Firstly, are you OK? I noticed you limping.”

Reuben grimaced. “I’m fine.”

“OK then. Can you tell us where you were between 5 and 10 pm on Tuesday, Reuben?” Yolanda asked.

Reuben scratched his dark beard. “I’ve already been through this.” He paused and held up two fingers. “Twice.”

“I appreciate that, Reuben,” Yolanda said, “but I’d like to hear it from you if you don’t mind.”

There was a slight hesitation, but otherwise, Reuben appeared unflustered. He shook his head. “I do mind, actually.”

“We can do this back at the station if you prefer?”

Yolanda saw the man grind his teeth.

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