Free Indian Summer by Elizabeth Darrell Page A

her safety along with the children.’
    As if on cue, George Maddox entered Section Headquarters, coming directly to Tom’s office. He stopped dead on seeing Max. ‘Hallo, sir. I thought you were on leave.’
    â€˜So I am, George,’ said Max, guiltily aware of the fact. ‘What news?’
    â€˜Negative, I’m glad to report. We’ve checked all likely dumping areas and found nothing. No bodies, no evidence of trampling or digging; no baby shoes, dummies, scraps of fabric or strands of hair lying around. We haven’t searched accommodation blocks, looked in wardrobes and cupboards, and so on. Before I start the lads on that I thought I should check that you want it.’
    As Maddox had addressed Tom, Max let him reply. It was his case, after all.
    â€˜Call a halt for now. Evidence at the house strongly indicates the woman made a normal departure with the kids. Until we have cause to think otherwise it’s pointless to search the base. We do, of course, need to discover where Keane was actually killed. There’s no certainty that it was on the base; but I’d say it’s most likely. Soon as we get confirmation on that I’ll let you know. The Polizei are watching out for the car, or a woman with two small kids getting on a bus or train. Meanwhile, I think you should contact Starr’s mother in the UK for some idea where or whom she might have gone to in an emergency. You know the drill.’
    Maddox had been gone a mere five minutes when the team members began returning. Each one expressed surprise on seeing Max. ‘I thought you were on leave, sir,’ was the common cry that began to irritate him because he knew he should return to Livya and leave them to it. However, so greatly was he intrigued by this case, he wanted to hear their reports before heading for his apartment and the planned holiday tour.
    Connie Bush teed off. ‘Sarah Goodwin is a meek, unfulfilled young woman compensating for the absence of her husband, who surely pulls her strings, by comfort eating. Her description of Starr Keane as loud-mouthed and overbearing to the point of keeping her man under her thumb became extreme when she said women who produce babies are cliquey and have an unpleasant smell. I then recognized her unwilling envy of a woman totally her opposite, which she can only handle by hating Starr.
    â€˜Focal points: before Keane deployed to Afghanistan Starr did her utmost to make him leave the Army. Made life grotty at home. He eased that by fixing for the kids to attend a crêche a couple of days a week, and by agreeing to fund the family’s holiday with her mother while he was away. He apparently promised to consider giving up his career when he got home. Possible root of violent row on Friday night heard by Mrs Goodwin? The other significant point is that she heard both Keanes talking normally while she ate breakfast on Saturday morning. She said the kids were playing up and it sounded as if he was trying to pacify them. Time, eight thirty. The witness left home at nine. Couldn’t say whether or not the car was in the Keanes’ drive. Said she didn’t think either of them departed before she did because they always slammed the door so hard it made her ornaments rattle on the shelf along the shared wall.’
    She glanced around. ‘My conclusion is that the Keane family was alive, well and reasonably stable at the start of the Open Day.’
    Piercey said, ‘I can strengthen that assumption. Breakfast dishes had been washed and left in the drainer, cereal packets were closed and neatly stacked. Whatever the cause of the row, there was a ceasefire in the morning.’
    Beeny came in on that. ‘Although other neighbours disclaimed seeing anyone leave the house that morning, they all reckoned it was an uneven marriage. Starr had the upper hand. When she was worked up her voice could be heard several houses away, but Keane usually calmed her