He sees them exchange a nervous look and Matthew suddenly feels the full force of the risk he’s taking here. There are cathedral staff and volunteers on site. They’ve been told to retreat to the shop area but there’s still a risk. Uniformed have explained this is a key arrest but he’s breached protocols. He should probably have spoken to the verger’s office himself but there wasn’t time.
She’d better not be armed. If anyone gets hurt . . .
‘Just us then,’ Wendy adds, clearly as a signal to Matthew. ‘Expected it to be busier on a Friday. Maybe people cancelled. With the guide being ill, I mean.’
Matthew feels a tiny flicker of relief. At least no other visitors are nearby. Good.
‘I looked it up online and they said noon’s the best time for the clock but I don’t quite know what to expect. Any idea?’
‘I’ve seen it before. It’s charming.’ Laura’s voice again. Still very quiet. Clipped too. Matthew worries that it’s stress, which will make her more unpredictable.
‘Oh, so not your first visit then?’
‘No. I came years ago. Long time ago.’
‘Oh right. Is that an American accent? Sorry to be nosy. I love an accent.’
‘Canadian.’
‘Oh right. I’m quite local really. From the south-west. Devon actually. Staying with a friend nearby. She’s working today so I’m just killing time.’
Matthew’s almost smiling at how good Wendy is.
‘Actually, I’ve been walking miles this morning. Feet are killing me. Just need to sit down a bit. Would you mind awfully if I move your bag? Take the weight off.’
This is it. Matthew raises his arm to the two officers as a signal to stand by. He’s already warned them that Laura’s unstable. That they’ll need to tread gently.
And then – Wendy’s voice is much louder as if she’s pulled the phone from her pocket. ‘I have the bag. Move now. Target’s isolated.’
‘Go, guys.’ Matthew sweeps his hand as a signal.
‘Laura,’ Wendy continues. ‘I need you to stay calm. I’m actually an investigator and these two policemen you can see just want to have a little chat with you. No one’s going to hurt you, I promise. Stay right where you are. And please raise your arms in the air for me.’
Wendy’s now walked backwards and is just visible from Matthew’s vantage point. She’s holding Laura’s bag at arm’s length. Matthew moves forward himself.
‘What’s going on? Give my bag back! Give me my bag back!’ Laura’s shouting and can be heard across the cathedral as Matthew watches the two officers close in, urging her to stay calm.
We just need to talk to you, ma’am. Both arms in the air, please. That’s it.
‘Any weapon?’ Matthew’s heart’s beating fast as one of the officers examines the bag and then Laura’s coat pockets.
‘No weapon.’
Matthew feels a wave of relief. He stares up at the magnificence of the cathedral’s stonework as he dials Mel’s number.
He’s already thinking of the security sweep under way at the other cathedral. And he needs to know if they’ve found Sam’s wife.
CHAPTER 61
THE MOTHER
I am again trawling through the laptop, trying to find anything else Gemma wrote that might be important. Help us.
I have to struggle not to torment myself; to re-read the entries that hurt so much.
I keep thinking about my mum and how I couldn’t in a million years have this kind of conversation or this kind of relationship with her.
‘You OK? What are you looking for?’ Ed looks worried.
‘Just looking through photographs.’ I’m not ready to share what I’ve found. I don’t know why. Shame? Or maybe the same old, same old. Not wanting or knowing how to talk about things.
There’s a noise outside our cubicle and I look up through the window to see a nurse talking to the guard. He nods and there’s a tap on the door.
‘Your sister’s here to see you. Shall I let her through?’
‘I don’t have a sister.’ I feel a punch to my gut and put the laptop down.
I stand. Ed stands.
‘My wife doesn’t have a sister, Officer.’ Ed is glancing between the guard and the nurse. ‘So – what does she look like, this woman? Does she have long, strawberry-blonde hair?’
I feel a wave of terror. Laura?
‘No.’ The nurse looks puzzled. ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t let her through. She’s out in the corridor. I followed the rules.’ She looks petrified. ‘She seemed very nice. Very convincing.’