Free Backlash by Lynda La Plante Page B

one would remember,’ Emily said.
    As she replaced the photograph into her file Anna asked them if the name Henry Oates was familiar to them but they both said no. She sipped her coffee and looked over to the extension.
‘How long ago was your extension built?’
    Stephen hesitated, and it was Emily who said that it was six years ago and completed just before Rebekka went missing.
    ‘I designed it and brought in the builders,’ she added.
    ‘Can you recall who dealt with the planning permission at your local council?’
    ‘We didn’t need planning permission because of its size. I applied for a certificate of lawful development and the building inspector visited a few times and that was it.’
    ‘Were you still living here while it was completed?’
    ‘Yes. In fact we redesigned the kitchen at the same time and it was all done at once. We sort of camped out in the other rooms.’
    ‘Do you remember the name of the building company?’
    Emily turned to her husband, who said he would have the details in his office upstairs. Left alone with Emily, Anna asked about the photographs.
    ‘I did them,’ said Emily. She went over and stood by her daughter’s picture. ‘The boys made these daisies.’
    ‘They are at boarding school, aren’t they?’
    ‘They are both at university now. When Rebekka went missing I became very protective and wanted to change their school so they would be at home, but Stephen felt it was better they were
away – you know, kept to a routine as it was such a terrible time. They have both been traumatized by what happened to Rebekka, she was such an adorable child and they worshipped her. She
went to a school that specialized in learning difficulties, as she was dyslexic, but not badly. She was such a physical child, sports and athletics and . . .’ her voice dropped ‘. . .
horse riding.’
    Stephen returned with a folder and placed it on one of the worktops.
    ‘The building company brought in a team of men to dig out the garden as there was a stone patio and some trees directly outside the old kitchen. I’m not sure who they hired, but I
have the builders’ names. I gave the detectives copies of these when Rebekka disappeared.’
    Anna smiled, thanking him as he passed her a neatly written note with all the contact numbers and addresses.
    ‘Do you think this Henry Oates might have worked for them?’ he asked.
    ‘It’s possible he used a false name but we’ll be making new enquiries.’
    Anna closed her briefcase and stood up, about to leave, just as the phone rang. Stephen answered. He spoke briefly to someone and then turned to his wife.
    ‘Show DCI Travis her room, darling. I’m going to have to take this call upstairs. Will you put it through for me?’
    ‘Yes of course.’
    ‘It won’t take long. Then maybe you’d like to come up and see my office, top floor, I keep all the press cuttings up there and . . .’
    ‘Thank you,’ Anna said, not really wanting to prolong her meeting, but having no real reason not to.
    ‘How is Detective Langton?’ Emily asked.
    ‘He’s well, thank you. Well, not that well actually, he’s had some knee surgery which is why he is not here personally.’
    ‘He was so good. I don’t know how we would have coped without him. He was such a support and his kindness meant so much to us. We also appreciate that he has kept in touch
since.’
    Emily seemed to find it hard to refer to her daughter’s disappearance and her slender hands constantly toyed with a delicate gold chain bracelet on her wrist.
    ‘I know he did everything possible, I know that. Please pass on our regards to him and I hope he makes a full recovery.’
    ‘I’ll most certainly do that.’
    Emily gestured for Anna to go ahead of her into the hall.
    ‘You have a lovely home,’ Anna said.
    ‘I was a designer, and may even return to work soon. Stephen is very encouraging about me starting again, so maybe one day.’
    They headed up a winding staircase with polished