
A missing girl. A disturbing secret. A race against time.
When 14-year-old Holly Jardine disappears on the way home from school, the first question is did she run away or was she abducted? DCI Jones canât be sure but instinct and experience tell him he needs to act quickly. Every minute counts in a case like this. Can he find Holly before time runs out?
When Jones discovers entries in Hollyâs diary describing a mysterious older man known only as âEâ, he fears the worst. This solitary initial is all Jones has to go on but heâll do whatever it takes to identify the man behind it and bring Holly home to her parents. He knows first-hand the pain of losing a child.
At first it seems like an impossible task. But a search into local sex offenders sparks a sinister trail that leads Jones and his colleague Alexandra Olganski all the way to Brittany where they make a discovery more disturbing than they could ever have anticipated...
DCI Jones: a series of page-turning crime novels with unexpected twists from bestseller Kerry J Donovan.
(This novel was previously published as DCI Jones Casebook: Ellis Flynn)
Chapter 1
Young Love
Early afternoon, Birmingham.
Harsh light from an early summer sun bounced off the pavement and dirty shop fronts. Ellis Flynn leaned against the railings outside Joeâs Piercing Salon with a hand raised to shield his eyes and scanned the street for his latest target, Hollie Jardine. She had long, strawberry-blonde hair, blue eyes, and the innocent, open smile of a new teenager. She fitted the requirement to perfection.
The time on his Rolex knock-off showed her as fifteen minutes late.
He kept the pleasant smileâthe one he practised in the bathroom mirrorâpasted in position.
Two long weeks heâd spent working this one. It hadnât been difficult. Heâd been charming, attentive, drawing her to where she accepted the belly button piercing. It was yet another way to bind her to him. A couple more trinkets and sheâd be ready, hooked.
Hollie, the one Flynn thought of only as âThe Hottieâ, had hesitated at first when he suggested a belly piercing would look wonderful on her softly rounded stomach.
âAll the women are wearing them these days,â he told her.
âI canât have a piercing,â she whispered, but he could tell by the glint in her eyes the idea excited her. âDad would have a fit.â
âWhenâs your father gonna see your stomach?â he asked as they strolled hand-in-hand in the park on the other side of town, well away from her home. âYou walk round the house half naked, do you?â
She blushed, eyes wide, hand covering her mouth. âIâd never be allowed to show my tummy like that ⊠not in my house. Dadâs too ⊠old, stuffy.â
âWell, thatâs okay then. Itâll be our little secret. Meet me after school tomorrow and Iâll buy you a silver bar. Deal?â
She hesitated for a moment, daft bitch, but then smiled. âDeal.â
âDonât be late. You know how I hate waiting.â
Sixteen minutes. Sheâd fucking pay, slowly.
There she was. Finally.
The Hottie tottered around the corner twenty-five metres away, on black four-inch heels, looking awkwardâa newborn lamb taking its first steps toward the slaughterhouse.
She wore the top heâd bought her last week, yellow to match her hair, and short enough to expose a belly with enough puppy fat to raise the blood pressure. Another of his presents showed through the semi-transparent top, the silk braâ34Câbarely holding the girlâs assets in place.
He widened the smile and strode towards her, soon drawing close enough to catch sight of the make-upâmascara, grey eye shadow, blusher, and plum lipstick. Subtle it wasnât.
The Hottie drew the attention of a beggar camped in the doorway of a derelict off-licence. The tramp mumbled something as she passed and tried looking up her short skirt. She skittered sideways and rushed towards him, towards her man, her protector.
One of her heels caught in a broken paving slab. She stumbled. He raced forward, caught her, and pulled her close. Her breasts mashed against his chest. She looked up and smiled through the travesty of makeup applied with a ladle.
âHi, babe,â he said. âYou look fantastic.â He smoothed the wavy blonde hair. âDid that bloke say something to upset you?â He pointed at the derelict in the doorway.
The Hottie sniffed and buried her face in his chest. He prayed she didnât fuck up his shirt with that god-awful paintjob. He placed an index finger under her chin and raised her head with the gentlest pressure.
âIt was horrible, Eddie,â she sniffled, dabbing her eyes with his offered handkerchief. âSaid heâd ⊠heâd give me a fiver for a ⊠blow job.â She mouthed the last two words.
âDid he now?â
Eddie gritted his teeth, dropped the smile, and affected an expression of quiet concern.
âThatâs terrible, but we mustnât blame him. Probably the drink talking. Iâm sure heâs a good man under the grime. Letâs forget about him. Right ⊠you sure youâre okay?â
âIâm fine now Iâm with you, babe.â She smiled and grabbed his upper arm.
Eddie bunched his bicep. Girls loved ripped muscles and he worked the weights hard to keep in shape. He took the handkerchief back and dabbed her eyes some more, removing another three coats of lacquer.
âReady for your present?â
âAre you sure theyâll do it? I ⊠I mean donât you have to be over sixteen for a piercing?â
âWhat? Are you kidding? Nobodyâs going to ask your age. You look twenty if youâre a day.â
The Hottie lifted her chin higher and beamed. âDo I really?â Her eyes widened. âYouâre not just saying that?â
âHollie, babe,â he whispered, and kissed her smooth foreheadâthe only place clear of war paint. âTrust me. Iâd never lie to you. Now, câmon, youâll miss your appointment. Iâve already chosen the perfect little silver barbell. Youâre gonna love it.â
He took her hand and escorted her into the shop.
The piercer and tattooist, Joe, a fifty-something biker and former âassociateâ of Ellisâs late unlamented father, winked at him before turning to the girl. âHello, Ms Jardine. Please take a seat. This wonât take but a minute. Lift your blouse a little please ⊠and lower the skirt ⊠yep, thatâs perfect. Now, Iâm going to clean the area with an alcohol wipe, it might feel a little cold at first.â
The Hottie gave Ellis a nervous smile and gripped the arms of the chair. She looked like a child at the dentistâs, preparing for a filling. He nodded encouragement and stepped forward to hold her hand.
#
Evening, Hollieâs House.
Hollie Jardine peeled back the dressing protecting the livid puncture wound at her navelâher adult badge of honour. Five days, and it still hadnât healed properly. She didnât expect it to take so long, but she could put up with the irritation. It was no worse than the curse. Sheâd put up with anything for her Eddie. Wonderful man. So big, strong, and handsomeâand that six-pack made her go weak. Caring too, the way he looked after her and never asked for anything in return. And as for those smouldering eyes with the power to stop her heart?
The clothes he bought were revealing, like the magazines she hid in the closet, grown-up. They were lovely, soft against her skin. So much nicer than the cheap cotton rubbish mum made her wear.
She remembered the fight the day they went to buy new underwear. The old-maid things Mum wanted to buy were hideous. Hollie had to make a stand. Growing up with ancient parents was such a cross. They didnât understand what it was like growing up in the twenty-first century.
âI canât change for games wearing those, Mum. I donât go to a convent school,â she whispered, to keep the discussion from the snooty shop assistant. âThe girls will call me, âSister Hollieâ. I wonât be able to concentrate during lessons. And you know how hard I work to keep my grades up.â She picked up a modest matching set in pink lace.
âBut, those are too ⊠old for you, baby.â
âOh, please, Mum. You wouldnât want the girls to bully me, would you?â
Mum had wrinkled her nose and held the garments up to the light between finger and thumb as though sheâd catch something from them âYou donât want to look like Amy, do you?â sheâd said. âSheâs become a little tart with her make-up, short skirts, and the smoking. Yes, your father and I have seen her light up the moment sheâs out of sight of her house. That girlâs a bad influence.â
âAmyâs my best friend. Donât talk about her like that.â
âAnd I donât like the way her older brother looks at you, either. Like youâre a piece of meat. Evil, that one. All boys that age are the same.â
âWas Dad the same?â
That stopped her dead. âYou father is a good man, darling.â
âI know, Mum. Can I have them? Please?â
Her mother relented eventually, and after the first time, the rest was easy. Over the following few months, Hollie built a nice little wardrobe of underwear and short skirts. Dad didnât approve, but he never argued with Mum, not ever. He was a good man. Ha!
Not long after that, she met her Eddie, with his long hair, and his muscles, and his car. He treated her with respect, and as though she was a grown-up. Walking home from school one day, there he was. So different from all those boys in school who stared at her, and tried to brush against her in the halls. Even the Deputy Head, kept looking at her with the same expression Mum warned her about. Grey eyes, they were. Looked right into her. Made her feel naked and exposed. He suggested things too when no one else could hear. Animal. Hideous man.
She couldnât say anything thoughâno one would believe her. After all, he was the Deputy Head. Above reproach.
âHollie, dear. Breakfast is ready,â Mum called from the kitchen. âHurry, or youâll be late for school.â
School, school, bloody school. Whatâs the point in school when sheâd already found her man?
Mum and Dad had nagged her forever:
âWork hard, baby. Keep your grades high.â
âYes, Mum.â
âWeâve never had a doctor in the family, Hollie love. Now wouldnât that be a fine thing.â
âYes, Dad. Iâll work hard, make you proud.â
âThatâs my girl.â
But she wasnât Daddyâs little girl any more. She was Eddieâs woman.
Hollie closed the bedroom door behind her, and padded down the stairs, schoolbag slung over her shoulder. âComing, Mum.â
#
Afternoon, Birmingham City Centre.
A light shower drove a giggling Ellis Flynn and the Hottie into the cover of a glitzy shopping arcade. Her eyes shone as she stared through the window of a cut-price jewellerâs. She cooed at the shiny baubles. Ellis, patience itself, indulged her whims.
âSee those?â He pointed to a tray of silver bracelets on the bottom shelf. âChoose one and itâs yours.â
âOh no, I couldnâtâtheyâre far too expensive,â she said, eyes big as hubcaps and just as intelligent.
âHollie. Youâll upset me if you refuse.â
âTheyâre all so beautiful. I canât choose.â
The cool of the arcade made the Hottieâs breath fog the glass.
âSee that one? The one with the teardrops?â Eddie pointed at a mid-priced bracelet, silver with glass beads inserted between the links. âMatches the colour of your eyes. What dâyou reckon?â
âItâs gorgeous, but the price âŠâ
âNot a problem. Youâre worth it.â
Ellis bent forward and tapped a finger to his cheek. When she moved in for the kiss, he turned his head and their lips met. The Hottie giggled and pressed hardâtoo hard. He darted out an exploratory tongue and met little resistance. She responded and their spit mingled.
He broke the embrace. âOh my gosh, I ⊠Iâm so sorry, Hollie,â he whispered. âDonât know what came over me. Iâm never that pushy. Itâs ⊠just that youâre so ⊠sweet.â
The Hottieâs face creased into a pout. âPlease donât be upset. That was lovely. I donât mind, really I donât. In factââshe lowered her eyes to his chestââwe could go to the next level. If you like.â
Gotcha.
âAre you sure? Youâre so young.â
The Hottieâs chin dimpled, and her eyes watered. âThe other day you told me I looked like a twenty year-old.â
âWell, yes ⊠but youâre only thirteen.â
âNo. Iâm fourteen,â she shouted, loud enough for a passing elderly couple to hear. The wrinklies shook their heads before scurrying deeper into the mall.
Fuckâs sake Ellis. Way to keep a low profile, dumbass.
âKidding, babe. I know exactly how old you are. Counting the days âtil your sixteenth birthday, when we can be together, forever.â
He dragged out the winning smile once more. His cheeks were starting to tire.
The Hottie sniffled. âWhy do we have to wait so long? Iâm ready now.â
Double gotcha.
âNo, it wouldnât be right. I couldnât. Now câmon. Letâs go get that bracelet.â
Hottie kept playing with the shiny trinket. Couldnât stop thanking him. Ninety fucking quid it cost, but the shop offered a cash-back arrangement. They held hands again and Hollie skipped.
The stupid kid was actually skipping for fuckâs sake.
âLook,â she said, and yanked on his hand. âA photo booth. Can we, please?â
Shit. Not a good idea.
âSorry, Angel. Iâm all out of change and we donât have the time.â
âOh please, Iâll pay.â She fumbled in her handbag and yanked out a little pink purse. âPlease, it wonât take long.â
âSo long as I get to keep the film so Iâll have something to look at when weâre apart.â
âOh, Eddie. Youâre so sweet.â
âI know.â
#
Late afternoon, Edgbaston.
Arthur always made Ellis nervous, deliciously nervous. Older and wiser than Ellis, Arthur expected obedience and reverence. In return, he gave Ellis a sense of belonging and hopeâand safety. And of course, love. Ellis would do anything for Arthur, anything.
He messed the gear change and crunched when dropping into second as he pulled the old camper van to a halt at a T-junction. The big old diesel idled at high revs.
âWhy the disguise?â Ellis asked.
âWhy not? And the nameâs Jenkins this trip, right?â
âJenkins?â
âRight. Donât forget.â
âI wonât, but the blond wig and those green contacts. Scary. The real Jenkins must be one ugly mother.â
âHe was.â
âWas? Heâs dead now?â
âYes. Kept askinâ too many questions.â
âSorry, Art⊠er, Jenkins.â Ellis swallowed hard, and pointed out the window on his side. âThere she is. Told you she wouldnât let me down. On time too, for once.â
In the front passenger seat, Jenkins scrunched lower and followed the line of Ellisâs finger. Hollie Jardine, still wearing her school uniform, walked along the path and came to a halt at an empty bus stop. A small white suitcase, gripped tight in both hands, rested against her thighs.
âDamn it, boy. You didnât tell me weâre picking her up outside a school. This camperâs too bloody conspicuous.â
âPlease donât be angry with me,â Ellis said, rushing his words. âI had to. She thinks weâre going on holiday. Could hardly make her walk too far, could I.â
The older man rested a hand on Ellisâ thigh, his skin tingled under the touch. âEasy, pet, Iâm noâ mad. I could never be mad at you. You should have given her the money for a cab, but weâre here now, and the ferryâs waiting. Letâs go. Mustnât keep the wee tart waiting.â
The traffic cleared, Ellis engaged first gear, and made a right. Hollie started waving the moment the van completed the turn.
âDonât forget, she calls me Eddie.â
âEddie? Thatâs a bit Freudian.â
âHuh?â Ellis frowned as he pulled the vehicle to a stop alongside their prey. âOh, see what you mean. You think itâs about my dad, right?â
âNeâ mind, boy, just get on wiâ it.â
Ellis unbuckled his seatbelt, scrambled into the back, and slid open the side door. âHi, darling. Toss me the case and câmon inside.â
The Hottie took half a step forward but hesitated when she caught sight of Jenkins.
âWhoâs he?â
Ellis saw doubt in her eyes for the first time since heâd raised the subject of their trip. She hugged the case to her chest and twisted her head toward the school entrance.
âDonât worry, babe,â Ellis said, using his soothing voice. It usually worked. âHeâs a friend of mine. Needs a lift to the station is all. Itâs only a couple of miles out of our way. Wonât take long. Weâll drop him off, and have the van to ourselves.â
He offered his hand but she refused it.
âI ⊠I donât know. Maybe we should wait ⊠like you said?â She made a half turn.
âGrab her,â Jenkins barked.
Ellis obeyed.
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COLLAPSE
Kerry J Donovan says:
Neil Tarbotton says:
Kerry J Donovan says: