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JIM
While Emma stepped out to take the call from Rachel Jenner, the rest of the team murmured quietly.
The biscuit tin had been emptied. Energy drinks were scattered around the table and people were
rubbing gritty eyes. Bennett tried to cover up a monstrously large yawn with his case papers. We were
all battling our ebbing energy levels and trying not to be disheartened by lack of progress.
Fraser summarised: ‘There’s two trains of thought here, a twin-track approach: family or nonfamily.
Bear that in mind, please, everybody, as we go forward. The MOs are significantly different
for each.’
She was interrupted by Emma returning. ‘That was the sister,’ Emma said. ‘They’re frightened.
There’s been some abusive graffiti on the wall behind the house.’
Fraser swallowed an expletive. ‘That is not what we need,’ she said once she’d got her vocabulary
under control. ‘How’s the mother?’
‘She’s very upset apparently,’ said Emma. ‘As you would be. And frightened.’
Fraser sighed. ‘We should respond to that. The only problem is that if we station somebody at the
house, we’ll need one out front and one out back.’
DS Martyn shook his head. ‘We can’t commit budget to that at this stage. Once you’ve got
protection there, how do you take it away? What if this lad isn’t found? We’d need the threat to
escalate to justify it.’
Fraser made a note. ‘I’ll ask uniform if they can drive by throughout the night, and check out the
back alleyway too, when they’re there. It’ll help if we’re seen to take some action at least. The family
need to know we’re supporting them.’
‘Have they asked for protection?’ Martyn again.
‘No,’ said Fraser. ‘But I think it pays to pre-empt these things. If we take it seriously now we might
head off a situation where they panic.’
Martyn nodded, approving. Fraser’s solution was neat and free. I wondered if he actually kept the
department budget spreadsheets constantly running across the front of his eyeballs.
‘Did they say what the graffiti said?’ Fraser asked.
‘It says “bad mother”,’ said Emma.
‘Christ,’ said Fraser.
‘I’m not surprised,’ said Emma.
Fraser’s head snapped up. ‘And what exactly do you mean by that?’
Emma flushed deeply. ‘Sorry, I only meant that I’m not surprised because there’s been such a
backlash against her. That’s all, boss. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.’
‘OK then,’ said Fraser. ‘I’m glad to hear it.’
She shot an assessing look at Emma before moving on, and I saw Bennett’s fat lips form into a
sneaky smirk, which I could have throttled him for.
‘Which brings me to the next thing, because I think it would be wise to inform the family of this in
person too.’
The next thing was a big disappointment to everybody. Forensics had reported that they’d found
nothing of interest on the items of Ben’s clothing that were discovered in the woods. Fraser felt it
would be a good idea to send somebody to break the news to the family in person. With a glance at
her watch, she sent Emma back out to Rachel Jenner’s house.
‘Better go now before it gets too late. It won’t do their nerves any good if we go banging on their