Free Next Of Kin (Unnatural Selection #3) by Ann Somerville Page B

Nick’s.”
    “And if it
isn’t? The victim had his wallet.”
    “Which he
could have stolen.”
    “So where is
Nick?”
    “I don’t know.
But is there anything you can do here but not back in England? You
can track his bank activities and so on back there. The police have
his photo, and the name and description of the man he was
travelling with—”
    “Gregorio Goncalves,” I said, unable to resist the
temptation.
    “Yes. A
Portuguese citizen. I understand he entered the country four days
ago.”
    “And where is
he?”
    “Anton, be
reasonable. You’ve given the police a great clue to follow up. Let
them do their job.”
    “Can’t
Scotland Yard take an interest?”
    “Not
until they’re asked. Of course I’ll keep the relevant parties
informed of progress here. You too, naturally. But you can’t do any
more. Look, I’ve seen families beggar themselves hanging around in
a foreign country waiting for investigations to resolve. Don’t do
that to yourself. If Nick, God forbid, has been murdered, you can’t
help him. If he’s alive, then he’ll emerge somewhere, and you’re
more likely to discover that first than anyone else.”
    “His
passport will be on a watch list?”
    “Yes, and his
name will be flagged at car hire venues and so on. No one can exist
without leaving a trace. Even if he faked his own death—”
    “He wouldn’t
do that. There’s no reason for him to.”
    “All
right. I’m only saying that even those people who do, are usually
eventually found.”
    He was talking
perfect sense, and I’d promised myself to act sensibly. “All right.
I want to stay a couple of days just to make sure the police have
all they need. I have to arrange my flights and so on anyway.”
    “I understand.
And I’m available for you to call if you need any help or
information.”
    ~~~~~
    Two days later
Gabriel drove me back to Rio to catch my flight. He’d offered to
pay back the money I sent him to retain his assistance, but I
refused. “Then I will be at your service here if you need it, any
time.”
    “Thanks.
You’ve been a good friend, Gabriel. Not much fun for you.”
    “It has been
exciting, but sad. I wish you had had better fortune.”
    So did
I. The police had made no more progress by the time I left Beagá,
not that I’d expected them to. I’d called Nick’s father to give him
the bad news, which he took stoically. I thought it was almost as
if he’d expected it. On my instructions, Andy had already retrieved
Nick’s hair and toothbrushes from the house to collect DNA from. I
didn’t want the Brazilians to have the slightest excuse for delay.
Until we knew whose blood was in that alley, I couldn’t make any
decisions about what to do next.
    At the
airport, Gabriel hugged me, and his eyes were red as he said
goodbye. “I wish I knew you would be coming back here with
Nick.”
    “Me
too.” I swallowed against the lump in my throat.
“ Obrigado.
Muito obrigado, meu amigo .”
    “'Good
luck, Anton. I hope you find him soon. Força !”
    I shook his
hand and he hugged me again. I waved as he headed back to the car,
and resisted the temptation to call him back and tell him I had
changed my mind. I had reasons to go back home. Staying would be
pure self-indulgence, and of no use to anyone. Not even me.
     

Chapter
6
    My first four
days back in London could only be described as ‘bloody’. Calls to
Nick’s family, calls to my family, calls to his snotty boss, and
back and forths with the police and the Foreign office, providing
information, paperwork, and trying to get answers, the tiniest hint
that Nick’s whereabouts were known one way or another.
    But once
the shock, the phone calls, and the raw worry had subsided a
little, I was left twiddling my thumbs. George Adeyemi said their
investigation would have to be suspended given the involvement of
the police, and that considering they hadn’t found Nick, there
would be no charge for the search. I felt a little guilty about
that,