Erika Foster 04 - Last Breath by Robert Bryndza

Author:Robert Bryndza [Bryndza, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Just before five o’clock, Crane knocked on her door.

‘I’ve got a man who’s called the helpline wanting to talk to you. Says he’s Ella Wilkinson’s father.’

Erika put down her pen and followed him over to the suite of phones. Two male officers were sitting working and looked up when she came over. A blonde officer handed Erika a headset and she slipped it on.

‘Is this Erika Foster?’ demanded a clipped northern voice.

‘Yes. May I ask who’s calling?’

‘Didn’t that girl tell you? It’s Michael Wilkinson. My daughter is Ella Wilkinson.’

‘Hello, Mr Wilkinson. I’m sorry to hear your daughter is reported missing.’

Erika could see that word had spread, and Moss and Peterson along with John had crossed to her side of the glass partition to watch the call. She signalled to Moss, who grabbed a spare headset, pulled it on and plugged it into the phone.

‘I watched your press appeal, DCI Foster. What I can’t understand is why you didn’t include Ella?’

‘Mr Wilkinson, we’re still trying to confirm if your daughter’s disappearance is connected with—’

‘Don’t lie to me woman!’ he shouted. ‘I’m a retired Detective Chief Superintendent!’

Erika looked at Moss, who pulled the computer keyboard towards her and started typing.

‘I didn’t know that, sir. I’m sorry…’

Moss indicated the computer screen, where she had pulled up a picture of Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Wilkinson, a thin greying man with soft brown eyes. He was wearing a dinner suit at an official function. Erika mouthed shit.

‘I have spent the past few hours trying to raise someone in the Met who knows what they’re talking about! I’ve been passed from pillar to post…’ His voice cracked. ‘It’s a shambles! As a last resort I took to calling the fucking helpline on the news report.’

‘I can call you back, sir, if—’

‘Why would I want you to call me back? We’re talking! Now tell me all you know.’

‘Sir, we’re not—’

‘Spare me the bullshit. I’ve had a look at the casework on the two girls and I have the information about my daughter’s disappearance. Tell me the truth. That’s all I want, and I think I deserve it!’

Erika looked around and saw that the two officers had now ended their calls and were staring at her.

‘Sir, can you just hold on for thirty seconds. I want to transfer you to my office where I can talk to you in private.’

Erika, Moss and Peterson moved quickly to her office and closed the door, where she resumed the call. She explained what she knew, and told him that she had been informed of his daughter’s disappearance less than ten minutes before she had to talk to the media.

He calmed down slightly. ‘I’ve had little contact from local police… Two officers came around to the house just as the press appeal went out on the news. It seems that Ella has been added to the long list of runaways and missing persons… I’ve had to get the doctor in for my wife… I’ve spent years working within the force and now I find myself on the other side of things.

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