Without a Trace by Bettany Jane

Author:Bettany, Jane [Bettany, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Suspense, Thriller
ISBN: 9780008494810
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2021-10-28T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Alfie Moss looked far from happy when he opened the door to Dan and Zoe at ten past seven that evening. He stood with his feet apart, arms folded, bracing himself.

‘What do you want?’ he said, his voice cold and unwelcoming. ‘Come to stir up more trouble, have you?’

‘We’re just doing our job,’ Dan said. ‘We’ve got a few more questions for you and your partner.’

‘I’ll bet you have.’ Alfie stood firm, filling the doorway. ‘I gather you asked more than enough questions when you were here earlier. You’ve upset Becky; now you’re upsetting me. I’m asking you to leave us alone.’

‘Sorry,’ Dan said, even though he wasn’t. ‘Can’t do that, I’m afraid. We won’t keep you long, but we need to step inside. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to have a conversation here on the doorstep … let your neighbours listen in?’

Alfie turned down the corners of his mouth, expressing reluctance, but stepped aside anyway and let them in. Becky was sitting on the couch, biting a fingernail. Her eyes were red and her cheeks blotchy.

Zoe sat next to her. ‘Have you talked to Alfie?’ she said. ‘About what was discussed earlier?’

Becky nodded, fresh tears brimming in her eyes. ‘I didn’t have any choice. Your colleagues made sure of that.’

On the other side of the room, Alfie threw himself into the leather armchair. There was no sign of the children.

‘Are your kids not here?’ Zoe asked.

Becky shook her head. ‘Alfie’s mum came and got them. They’re having a sleepover at her house tonight. We thought it was best … you know, give us some time to talk.’

Alfie sat up, his knee jigging as he glared at them. ‘You think you’re clever, don’t you?’ he said. ‘Happy are you? Now that you’ve put the cat among the pigeons?’

‘If you’re referring to us asking Becky about the messages she sent to Kevin Spriggs, our intention wasn’t to be clever,’ said Dan. ‘Far from it. We found out she’d been in touch with him, so naturally we were obliged to ask her about it. It’s hardly our fault she hadn’t told you about the messages.’

‘Well, she’s told me now,’ Alfie said, his voice strong and blustering. ‘I can’t say that I’m happy about it, but we’ve discussed it, and I know Becky … so I understand why she did it.’

‘Why’s that then?’ said Dan.

‘Because she’s got a kind heart and she felt sorry for him. Becky cares about people. It’s one of the things I love about her, as a matter of fact. So, if you’ve come here thinking you’ve managed to drive a wedge between us, you can think again.’

‘It was never our intention to cause problems between you,’ Zoe said. ‘And I’m glad you’ve talked things through.’

‘Don’t patronise me,’ Alfie said. ‘I don’t care whether you’re glad or not. What I want to know is, why have you come back? What do you want now?’

‘To ask Becky whether anyone can confirm that she was here, at home, on Wednesday afternoon.

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