‘Wendy? No way. I don’t want that woman anywhere near this, Matthew. Have you gone mad?’
‘Mel. You have to trust me. We’ve talked it through on the drive. If Laura is there, she’ll respond to her. I know she will. This will work. Laura must know what I look like. Wendy’s our best bet. If Laura sees uniforms, she could panic.’
Matthew thinks of the message in the note given to Amelie, now in the forensics lab. You have to help me, Matthew. No one believes me. He’s not who he says he is.
‘Did you get through to Laura’s mother?’
‘Yes. And she confirms that Laura’s been talking about the anniversary – silver wedding. Obsessing again about finding the real Ed. But she didn’t take it seriously.’
‘Right. So this could be more than a hunch?’
There’s a very long pause during which Matthew gets out of the car and moves to his boot. He signals to his backpack and Wendy nods. He watches her take out his bulletproof vest and take off her jacket to put it on underneath. He’s worried it will show but thankfully Wendy’s jacket has a high collar.
‘Any progress with Sam’s wife?’ Matthew checks his watch as he moves off, Wendy following as she buttons up her jacket. Eleven o’clock. They need to move.
‘Her car’s been picked up on motorway cameras. We’re on it. Local car tailing.’
‘Good. That’s good. So will you message uniformed to let me take charge of this here? Please, Mel. I’ve got this.’
There’s another pause.
‘I want you both in vests. Do you have a spare?’
‘Yes.’ Another lie. But he needs to be there too, albeit out of sight. He’s thinking of Amelie. The doll with the bleeding eyes. Laura at the school boundary. He needs this to be over.
‘We need clearance from the cathedral.’
‘There isn’t time, Mel. Laura could get away.’
‘I can’t have the public put at risk.’
‘If Laura’s about with a gun in her bag, they’re already at risk. I can handle this, Mel. I’ll keep everyone else away. Keep it nice and calm.’
‘It’s risky, Matt.’
‘Look. You need to trust me. Message uniformed to stay out of sight – and let me know where they are. And can you tell them they answer to me? Can you do that?’
‘OK.’ She pauses. ‘Matt. Good luck.’
Matthew releases a breath and can feel his adrenaline pumping. Wendy has a good plan but if it backfires, it will be Mel’s head on the block.
He puts his phone back in his pocket and updates Wendy as they head to the cathedral. There’s a market en route; a lot of people about. He remembers the chaos at the graduation ceremony. Everyone running . . .
‘So our target wanted them to come back here for their anniversary?’ Wendy is now taking in the cathedral.
‘Yes. As I say – a long shot. But if she turns up, we need to keep her inside the cathedral. Until we’re sure she’s not armed.’
Wendy nods.
‘Not too late to change your mind.’ He turns to look at her, to be clear he means this.
‘I’m fine. Let’s get this done.’
Matthew moves off again. ‘I wish to God she didn’t know what I look like. I’ll have to keep back with uniformed. Keep your phone line open in your top pocket – I need to know the moment you have her bag.’
‘I know what I’m doing.’ Wendy sounds a little cocky but Matthew can see that in truth she’s a little nervous which is no bad thing. She needs to be cautious, not overconfident.
Once they reach reception and the shop, Matthew moves behind a display and Wendy directs a member of staff to speak to him.
‘Are the police on the premises? My name is Matthew Hill. You should have had a call from my inspector?’
‘Yes.’ The woman looks very worried. ‘We’re trying to get hold of the verger to handle this. I don’t have the authority—’
‘Please don’t be alarmed. We haven’t got much time. I’m going to keep everyone safe but we need to make an arrest as discreetly and as quickly as we can. Have you cancelled the midday tour?’
‘Yes. We’re telling people he’s off sick. But like I say, I need to speak to someone more senior—’
‘No time. Just don’t allow anyone else through. Unless there’s a woman with long, curly hair. Like this.’ He takes out his phone to show her the picture of Laura. ‘She can go through if she turns up. No one else. Understood?’