Page 33 of The Girl in the Grave
Sam took over. ‘We don’t think she’s missing of her own accord; we believe someone may have abducted her. Now we need to see the CCTV footage from last night. Can you show it to us?’
He nodded vigorously. ‘Of course, I can download it onto a pen drive for you as well.’
Josh said a silent prayer; for once they might be about to catch a break. Pete led them through to a cramped back office where the monitors were stacked on top of each other. He sat down at the desk on a stool and began to load the recordings from the night before. He pulled over a coffee-stained notebook and opened it to the latest page of writing. He then began typing the time of the incident into the system.
Josh was impressed. ‘You made a note of it?’
‘We’re supposed to record anything that happens in the incident book, that way the licensing officers from the police and council can see what’s been going on. Just because Estelle’s old man owns the place it doesn’t mean she gets any special treatment down here. She’s just another customer; she has nothing to do with the club. Her old man was quite insistent about that.’
Several images from around the club began playing on the different monitors. Pete pointed to one of them. ‘That’s their table; it’s not a brilliant view but if you watch you’ll see everything that happened.’
They watched in silence as the group of people who were laughing and enjoying themselves sipped at the champagne. Josh felt a chill run down his back; it was always this way, moments before watching something terrible captured on film. How he wished he could have been there and been the one to have gone to Annie’s assistance.
Pete’s thick index finger filled the screen as he placed it on a woman’s head. ‘That’s Annie, she’s really nice. I hope she’s okay. I’ve never seen her get in a state like that before.’
As Annie fell and the glasses and champagne flew everywhere, Pete came into sight as he marched towards the table.
‘What a state, she can’t even stand up.’
Sam nudged Josh with her elbow. ‘I’ve been drunk, but never like that. Look at that guy by the bar, he’s taking a keen interest in what’s going on.’
They watched as the guy, whose image wasn’t very clear, finished his drink, put his glass down and strode towards where Estelle was trying to hold Annie up.
Josh jumped out of his seat and rushed out of the room into the club, to see if the dirty glasses were still on the bar, but the surfaces were clear. He felt as if someone had taken the air from his lungs; they could have had him: his DNA could have been on the glass.
Pete’s voice filled the air. ‘Sorry, mate, I always make sure the glasses are washed before I leave for the night. Habit.’
Josh nodded. He didn’t really expect it to be that easy. But just this once… especially for Annie Potts.
Forty-Seven
They left Pete in the club and went back upstairs into the hotel, Josh clutching the pen drive.
‘Would you do me a favour, Sam? Can you return this to the station and get it downloaded and circulated to everyone on an email? Then you can go home, it’s been a long day and you must be tired.’
‘What about you?’
He pointed to the PCSOs who were still guarding the entrance and exits to the hotel. ‘I’ll go and speak to Estelle then hitch a lift back with them.’
‘Are you sure?’
He nodded; taking the keys from his pocket, he passed them to her with the pen drive.
‘Call me if you need me, right? I don’t mind. As long as I’ve sorted the kids out I can be back at work in no time.’
‘I won’t need you; go home and get some rest.’
She didn’t need telling again. Walking off in the direction of the car, she left him to it.
Josh spoke to the PCSO. ‘Ashley, whatever you do don’t leave here without me. I need a lift back.’
She smiled at him and unhooked the set of car keys she had dangling from her radio antenna.
‘I can get a lift back with Helen, you take the car, Josh.’
‘Thank you, I owe you one.’
He went inside the hotel, which was deserted, much to his relief. Leaning against the reception desk he massaged his temples and yawned; he needed paracetamol and a large shot of something strong to knock him out tonight. A second yawn escaped his lips just as an equally tired-looking Estelle came out from the back office.
