Free Cut to the Bone by Alex Caan Page B

his.
    ‘And then?’
    ‘I struggled with him, told him I wasn’t his property. He said it again, kept saying it. I was his; I was his. You are mine , and he grabbed me, and was pushing me towards the balcony. I fought him off as best I could. He isn’t strong, but it must have been the drugs, I don’t know. And then he picked me up and threw me over. And all the way down, as I fell through the air, while I was screaming, I swear to you, I could hear the bastard laughing.’

Chapter Twenty-four
    Kate drove past the Miss Saigon signs, past Balans. Seeing the restaurant made her hungry. She had breakfasted there at 3 a.m. once. Scrambled eggs, bacon bits, maple syrup, washed down with hot black coffee.
    From Old Compton Street, the heart of Soho, she turned sharply onto Frith Street. A ‘No Entry’ sign barred her way. She ignored it.
    The MINDNET offices were a block away from Ronnie Scott’s. The glass doors and clean lines of the lower floors were topped off by listed red brick above: a building from two different centuries.
    The wind picked up as she stepped out of her car, blowing hair into her face. She pulled it away, over her ear, smoothed down her suit.
    Ruby Day was out there somewhere; somebody must know her location. Truth was, Kate was paddling. Her instincts were directed towards Dan, yet she was worried about ignoring the other possibilities. It felt like going through the motions, picking up everything she could, throwing it up in the air and seeing what landed.
    Would MINDNET land? She was about to find out.
     
     
     
    The receptionist had been chosen for her looks, Kate could tell. She was blonde, perfectly made-up, wearing a smart shirt that revealed her figure. Kate caught the look of slight judgement crossing the girl’s face as she took in the detective’s sombre ensemble.
    Kate felt a burning rush through her. Even now, even from the heights she had reached, the things she had done, some chit of a girl was going to judge her for hair, make-up and clothes. Really? I have a doctorate from Brown University, she shouted in her head, and it helped her to smile and be polite.
    ‘DCI Kate Riley. I would like to speak to your CEO, please. Jed Byrne?’
    ‘I’m sorry, but Mr Byrne isn’t available,’ the receptionist said.
    Kate looked at the nameplate on her desk. ‘Carrie, is it? I don’t think you understand. This is a formal police matter. I’m sure if you informed Mr Byrne, he would be more than happy to oblige me with some of his time. It concerns Ruby Day.’
    There was a look of recognition, then excitement, on Carrie’s features. ‘Please, take a seat. I’ll check for you,’ she said.
    Kate perched on an uncomfortable chair in a corner given over for waiting clients. Magazines, mainly media and trade titles, were spread like a fan over a small table. Kate checked her phone and answered a couple of emails. DS Rob Pelt with confirmation that Windsor Court only had two exits. Unless Ruby abseiled down the building. Possible, but unlikely.
    Unless it was indeed all a hoax? Kate didn’t understand this world, where young people posted videos online and it was an actual profession. Where was the talent? What were viewers and subscribers buying into?
    Shadows formed in her mind, then fell across her face, as a woman in jeans and a smock dress held out her hand.
    ‘I’m Siobhan Mann,’ she said. ‘MINDNET’s head of communications. Mr Byrne isn’t in the office today, but he left instructions for us to help in any way we can. Such a tragic case. We were all so shocked when we saw the video. Anything we can do to help get Ruby home safely, please just ask. I’ve arranged a room for us to talk in, and I’ve asked our head of security, Bill Anderson, to join us.’
    ‘Thank you, Siobhan,’ Kate said, following her past the security barrier that Carrie released. Kate felt the receptionist’s eyes burning into her back as she headed to the elevators, and deep into the MINDNET