Page 103 of Maybe Tomorrow

Pauline and Leo had no idea. Neither did Jennifer. But she knew one person who might be able to help.

‘Thanks for agreeing to meet me,’ Jennifer said when she looked up and saw WPC Freya Sloan standing in front of her.

Jennifer had phoned Freya and asked if they could meet incognito for a brief chat. Freya didn’t want to meet locally and bump into someone from the station, so they arranged to meet that evening in a pub near Hawsker, just off the A171.

Jennifer arrived first. The pub was quiet, and the few drinkers dotted about the place looked like seasoned regulars. She ordered a glass of wine from the battle-hardened barmaid, all dyed blonde hair, dark eyes and no smile, and went to sit by the fireplace in the corner. She was halfway through her drink when she saw Freya heading towards her, coat buttoned up to hide her uniform.

‘Can I get you a drink?’ Jennifer asked.

‘I’d love a strong gin and tonic, please.’

‘Bad day?’

‘They’re all bad,’ she said, taking a seat.

Jennifer noticed the look of dejection on her face and went to get her drink, and herself a second.

‘Is everything all right?’ Jennifer asked when she returned.

‘Do you want the truth?’

‘Of course.’

‘Then, no, everything isn’t all right. I’m being given every shit job going.’

‘Why?’

Freya raised an eyebrow. ‘Because I spoke my mind over the way Anthony was treated. God forbid anyone question the great DI Bishop. Chris did and look what happened to him.’

‘How is Chris?’

‘Close to the edge. He’s working as a mini-cab driver and sinking into a bottle of whisky every night.’

‘Ah.’

‘It’s not right what they’ve done to him.’

‘I know. I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?’

‘Can you get him his job back? Can you get DI Bishop sacked? Can you fight the corruption that’s running through North East Police?’

Jennifer looked down. She didn’t know what to say.

‘I’m sorry,’ Freya said. ‘I’m just venting. It’s… it’s been a tough day. And it’s the last thing you want to hear. Anyway, you wanted to see me. I’m guessing it’s about Anthony Winstanley.’

‘Yes. He’s appealing his sentence, obviously, but in the absence of new evidence, there’s nothing much we can do. Anthony doesn’t have an alibi for the night of Alice’s murder. However, his story has remained the same throughout. It hasn’t changed once.’

‘Why do I get the feeling you’re going to ask me to do something I’m not going to feel comfortable with?’

Jennifer took a breath and gave a tight smile. ‘The thing is, we all know that the majority of people are killed by someone they know. I know after the Yorkshire Ripper everyone thinks murderers are complete strangers, but they’re not. I really do think Alice knew her killer.’ She stopped but maintained eye contact with Freya, allowing her to finish Jennifer’s thought.

‘Her father?’ Freya asked, eyes wide in astonishment.

‘It is possible.’

‘No. I’m sorry. It’s not. I was with her parents all night when she went missing. Her father was not acting. He was genuinely concerned for her.’

‘Could Geoff and Judith have been in it together?’