Free Shattered by Gabrielle Lord Page B

ciggies as well. Come down with me and you can catch Karen now.’
    Gemma followed Gerda downstairs. It wasn’t only Karen she wanted to catch. Julie would know where Steve was – if he wasn’t somewhere on a job. She realised that she was at least beginning to consider telling Steve about the baby.
    Outside the front door, the tall transsexual turned to her, putting out her hand. ‘Sorry to rush off like this, dear. I do hope you can do some good with that little girl. They come here, and then God knows where they go. After a few months or so, often in even less time, they seem to drop off the screen. I don’t know what happens to them.’
    Gerda waved goodbye and walked towards the little shop at the other end of the lane, hips swaying, tossing her regal head. Gemma watched her progress for a moment, smiling.
    ‘Hey, Julie!’ she called, turning back and waving to the approaching pair. Julie paused in her conversation and looked straight at Gemma. But instead of smiling a greeting or waving back, Julie dropped her gaze, touched Karen’s arm in a farewell gesture and abruptly turned in the opposite direction, hurrying away, hands in her jacket pockets, until she vanished round the corner.
    Gemma stopped dead. What on earth had made Julie snub her like that? She and Julie weren’t close, but they were amiable acquaintances who’d met socially on several occasions.
    Hesitantly, she continued towards Karen, a small woman who appeared weighed down by the equipment hanging from her belt. As Gemma approached, Karen Lucky frowned, wondering what she might have to deal with next, only lowering her eyes briefly when Gemma passed her business card to her and introduced herself.
    ‘Julie certainly seemed to be in a rush,’ Gemma said, trying to make the remark sound bright and casual, as the hazel eyes lifted once more and looked into hers.
    ‘You know Julie?’ Karen asked.
    ‘I do,’ said Gemma. ‘I know most of the Central Area forensic services people and some of the detectives. I used to be in the job and Angie McDonald is a great friend of mine.’
    ‘I know Angie,’ said Karen, relaxing. ‘Julie suddenly remembered an urgent appointment. You know how it is. Understaffed, overworked.’
    ‘Keep my card,’ said Gemma. ‘I’m working in the area.’
    ‘What are you working on?’ Karen asked.
    ‘A missing girl. Maddison Carr. I’ve got a photograph.’
    Karen waved it away. ‘I don’t need a photograph. I know the girl you mean. I’ve been dealing with her father over the last month. He’s employed a private investigator now?’
    Gemma nodded. ‘That’s me,’ she said.
    ‘Better you than me,’ said Karen. ‘I mean, I feel sorry for the man, but he just won’t face the facts.’
    ‘Which are?’ Gemma prompted, although she knew already.
    ‘You know how it is. We had Missing Persons leaning on us until one of them came out from Parramatta and had a talk to Maddison. Then they got the picture too.’
    ‘She doesn’t want to go home,’ said Gemma. ‘And her father doesn’t want to know about that.’
    ‘That’s right. The girl is adamant. She says no way will she go home again. When we asked her how she was supporting herself, she told us she was waitressing.’ Karen shrugged. ‘Maybe she is. And I’m Jemima Puddleduck.’
    Karen pointed to a youth and girl, both wearing jeans and polar fleece hoodies, holding hands as they dawdled up the lane. ‘Here come Romeo and Juliet,’ she said. ‘Another pair of runaways. Watch this. As soon as they see me, they’ll bolt.’
    Gemma watched as the two youngsters looked up from their conversation, saw Karen and took off back down the lane, disappearing around a corner.
    ‘You get to know the faces on the street after you’ve been working round here as long as I have.’
    Her portable radio suddenly said something that changed the atmosphere. ‘Good luck with Dr Carr,’ Karen said, turning to deal with the call. ‘You’re going to