Stop At Nothing by Tammy Cohen

Author:Tammy Cohen
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473542655
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2019-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

24

‘There’s not much I can tell you, Mrs Hopwood.’

There was an open pack of Tesco chicken-salad sandwiches on Detective Byrne’s desk, the plastic film ripped off. Inside was one whole triangular sandwich and a second that had been half eaten. A packet of salt-and-vinegar crisps lay beside it, also open. I got the definite impression I’d disturbed him mid-lunch.

‘The girl was walking home from the Tube just before midnight down Bounds Green Road and a man came out of nowhere and pulled her off the main road and assaulted her. But apart from that, we know nothing more at this stage.’

‘But there’ll be CCTV on the street, won’t there?’

I was trying to keep my voice steady, but I could hear how it cracked with excitement. This might be a breakthrough. If Stephens had attacked again and been picked up on CCTV, they’d have to charge him this time, wouldn’t they?

Especially if this girl was able to positively identify him.

‘The camera wasn’t working.’

‘What?’

‘The CCTV camera for that part of the road wasn’t recording.’

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’

Detective Byrne’s eyebrows lifted a fraction at my reaction, but he didn’t say anything.

‘At least you’ll be able to pull him back in, won’t you? St—’ I stopped myself, before I said his name. ‘I mean, the guy you picked up from the CCTV footage after Em was attacked? You can recall him and then the girl can ID him, right?’

‘At this stage the girl is unsure if she wants to take things any further.’

‘Pardon?’ I stared at him, totally taken aback. ‘But that’s ridiculous. She has to take it further. She owes it to the other girls out there. You must persuade her.’

‘Mrs Hopwood.’ Detective Byrne’s voice had a new, hard edge I hadn’t heard him use before. ‘Please remember this young girl is just fifteen years old and has been through a traumatic experience. How would you feel if it was your daughter?’

I felt ugly with shame then, seeing myself through his eyes. This vengeful mother so bent on getting back at the man who hurt her daughter she lacked the imagination to see what it might cost someone else’s child.

Or worse, she could imagine, but just didn’t care enough.

‘Well, you can bring your own prosecution, can’t you? Without the girl’s assistance?’

‘Only if the evidence is there, Mrs Hopwood. Look, I know you’re concerned, but rest assured, finding this creep is a priority for us. We are taking all the steps we possibly can and that might well include bringing our initial suspect in your daughter’s case back in for questioning. But you must also understand that this isn’t the only serious case we’re investigating. Do you know how many stabbings we’ve handled over the last six weeks alone? Last week, a sixteen-year-old kid was shot dead, just a few hundred yards away from here, standing on the pavement minding his own business. We had his mother collapse right where you’re sitting now. Had to rush her to hospital. Suspected cardiac arrest. So yes, this case is a priority, but it’s not the only priority.

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