Free Gone by Rebecca Muddiman Page A

her now and then, I think.’
    ‘Right. Diane Royle. You mentioned her. And you were right, someone interviewed her when Emma disappeared.’ Freeman made another mental note to read Diane’s statement. She doubted there was anything useful in it if the girls had no longer been close. ‘Was Diane in trouble too? Did she—’
    ‘No, no,’ Ray said, shaking his head. ‘Diane was good as gold. But I know she came around a bit even after my Emma started with it all. She might know something about this other girl.’
    ‘Do you know where I could find her?’ Freeman asked.
    Ray closed his eyes and shook his head as if he were angry with himself. ‘Not Diane, but I used to see her dad down the club,’ he said. ‘Frank. Frank Royle. That was it. I think he still lives down by the hospital.’
    ‘Thank you, Ray,’ Freeman said. ‘You’ve been very helpful. I’ll be in touch.’
    Freeman got back in her car, hands frozen from just the short walk from the house. She dialled Lloyd.
    ‘All right, boss,’ he said.
    ‘I need you to find a number for me. Diane Royle. I’ve got no idea if she’s still local but you could try her dad, Frank Royle. Apparently he’s still living by the hospital.’
    ‘Okay,’ Lloyd replied. ‘Who’s this, then? Another smackhead?’
    Ignoring his comment, she asked, ‘How’re you getting on with Jenny Taylor? Emma’s dad’s never heard of her.’
    ‘Still working on it, boss.’
    ‘Let me know when you’ve got it,’ she said. ‘And if Routledge’s asking for me, I’m going to see Ben Swales. Just like he asked.’

Chapter 20
     
    15 July 1999
     
    ‘Take a seat,’ Gardner said and Lucas Yates slunk into the chair. The last thing he wanted to be doing this morning was talking to some smug little shit about a girl who’d probably show up in a couple of days anyway. But here they were. His head was pounding and Yates was pissing him off already. He really wished he hadn’t finished off that bottle of vodka the night before.
    ‘Where’s Emma?’ Gardner said.
    Yates looked up at Gardner; his eyes creased as if he were staring into the sun. ‘Emma who?’
    Gardner dragged out the chair opposite Yates and sank into it. ‘Emma Thorley.’
    Yates shrugged. ‘Don’t know,’ he said and pulled his pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Gardner just stared at him and Yates grinned, turning the box round and round in his hand.
    ‘When was the last time you saw her?’
    Yates shrugged slowly. ‘Who knows?’ He smiled again, showing his crooked teeth, and Gardner wanted to reach over and punch them down his throat. Yates wasn’t the most obnoxious person he’d sat across from in this room – he’d have to go some to win that title – but he’d chosen the wrong day to piss Gardner about.
    ‘Emma was living with you for about a month in February. That right?’
    ‘Yeah. And?’
    ‘Is she living with you now?’ Gardner asked.
    ‘No.’
    ‘You mind if we check your flat?’
    Yates’ jaw clenched. ‘You got a warrant?’
    ‘No,’ Gardner said, slowly. ‘I’m asking your permission.’
    ‘And I’m telling you she’s not there,’ Yates said, each word slower than the last.
    ‘Prick.’ Gardner stood up and went to the door.
    ‘Can I go?’
    ‘No,’ Gardner said and slammed the door behind him. He’d already spoken to Ben Swales that morning and he’d pretty much agreed with him that the most likely place to find Emma was with Lucas Yates. Yes, she’d tried to get off the drugs, but according to Swales it hadn’t gone as well as Ray Thorley had suggested.
    He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed for the hammering in his head to stop. When he opened his eyes he saw PC Griffin walking towards him. ‘Any luck?’ he asked.
    Griffin shook his head. ‘Nothing.’
    Gardner sighed. He knew full well that Yates wasn’t going to let them into his flat without a fight. Hence bringing him in for a while so that Griffin could go and take a look unhindered. It was