Brady was sat with Mrs Simmons at the large wooden table positioned in the centre of the spacious kitchen. Both had cups of black, unadulterated coffee. The only difference was Brady had politely drunk most of his, whereas Mrs Simmons’ remained untouched.
‘Thanks,’ Brady replied as he looked at the school mugshot. ‘Pretty girl.’
Simmons didn’t answer. He didn’t sit down either.
Brady followed Simmons’ eye as he distractedly stared through the double-glazed doors that led out onto the patio area and the south-facing lawn.
When Conrad had pulled into Fairfield Drive, Brady had grimly noted that the Simmons’ house backed onto the abandoned farmland. He now realised that the eight-feet-high wooden fence at the bottom of the long garden was all that separated them from what was now a crime scene.
‘So, let me get this straight. Sophie left here at 5.30 pm to go to Evie Matthews’ house—’ Brady began.
‘Didn’t I already say that?’ Simmons snapped as he turned and caught Brady’s eye. ‘For God’s sake! We’ve already been over this, Evie is her best friend. She’s always going over to the Matthews’ house. Those two are inseparable.’
Brady nodded, surprised by this revelation. Matthews had failed to tell him that Sophie Washington was his daughter’s best friend. What was troubling Brady was why Matthews had withheld such vital information.
He looked back at the photograph. He couldn’t dispute it; the long, blonde hair exactly matched the victim’s.
‘What time did you try calling her mobile?’
‘About 2.40 am,’ Simmons answered irritably as he ran his hand through his short hair.
‘That late?’
‘I must have fallen asleep in front of the TV. When I woke up it was 2.30. Louise had already gone to bed and so I naturally presumed Sophie had come home. It wasn’t until I went upstairs that I realised she wasn’t back.’
‘Is that unusual?’
‘Yes,’ answered Simmons quickly.
Too quickly, thought Brady, noticing that Simmons shot his wife a look to silence her.
Brady turned to Louise Simmons.
She looked up at her husband nervously and then stiffly nodded in agreement with him.
‘Could she have run off then?’ Brady tentatively asked.
Simmons shot Brady an exasperated look.
‘What I mean is was there any reason for her to stay away? An argument say, or a disagreement about a boyfriend or something?’
‘No! Sophie had no reason to run away and … as for boyfriends … Christ! She’s only fifteen! She’s more interested in being with her friends than boys.’
‘What about staying the night at a friend’s house?’
‘Don’t you think we’d know? We already told your people where she went and that she left there at 10 pm!’
‘I am sorry about this, Mr Simmons, but these are standard questions I have to ask,’ apologised Brady.
‘Well, just hurry up and get on with it, then. The quicker you finish the sooner you can be out there looking for our daughter.’
‘Of course,’ Brady replied sympathetically.
‘Can you tell me what Sophie was wearing last night?’ Brady asked as he turned and looked at Louise Simmons.
‘A black denim skirt and a T-shirt,’ quietly answered Louise Simmons. ‘Oh yes, and Ugg boots.’
‘Anything else?’ quietly questioned Brady.
She shook her head, forcing back tears.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Oh … she was wearing a black scarf …’ she whispered, biting her lip.
Silent tears trailed down her face as she looked at the school photograph lying on the kitchen table.
Brady acknowledged uncomfortably that Sophie’s clothes matched the clothes found on the victim.
‘Does Sophie have any tattoos or body piercings that you know of?’ Brady gently asked.
‘Why do you want to know all this?’ exploded Simmons suddenly.
‘No particular reason. Like I said, Mr Simmons, these are standard questions,’ Brady calmly replied.
He looked at Louise Simmons.
She numbly shook her head.
‘No … no, she had nothing like that … she’s just a fifteen-year-old girl, Detective Brady.’
Simmons turned his face away from his wife uncomfortably.
‘Sir?’ prompted Brady, realising that Simmons knew something.
‘Sir, does Sophie have a tattoo?’ Brady repeated.
Simmons avoided Brady’s eyes.
‘Like my wife said, she’s just a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl.’
It didn’t take a psychologist to know that he was lying. Brady was certain that Simmons was hiding the fact that he knew about the jade dragon tattoo and the belly button piercing. But why keep quiet?
‘Are you sure, sir?’ persisted Brady.
‘Why? What do you know? What is it that you’re not telling us?’ Simmons retaliated, turning the heat back onto Brady.
‘Just procedure, sir,’ Brady replied as he stood up to go.'I’ll run some checks back at the station. And as soon as I have any news I’ll be in touch,’ he said as he turned to Louise Simmons.
Tearful, she nodded as she looked up at Brady, still hopeful that he could bring her daughter home, alive. The mascara from the day before was smeared under her dark blue eyes and her long blonde hair hung dishevelled and uncombed. Brady was uncomfortably aware of the striking similarity between mother and daughter.
He noted with interest that Simmons who was irritably waiting for him to leave was very together, especially compared to his wife.
Brady tried his best to give Louise Simmons a reassuring look before turning and leaving the kitchen.
Simmons followed and cornered Brady once he’d reached the front door.
‘You know something, don’t you?’
‘No sir,’ Brady replied evenly.
‘You’re lying,’ Simmons hissed, not wanting his wife to overhear.
‘I’m really sorry. I understand this must be very difficult for you.’
‘The hell you do!’
Brady didn’t answer.
‘You want to tell me what’s going on at Potter’s Farm?’
‘Sorry?’ Brady questioned, trying his best not to let his unease show.
‘Your lot are out there. Have been for the past few hours. The farm’s been sealed off and you’ve got police officers crawling all over the place.’
‘I’m afraid that’s confidential, sir.’
‘I’m not an idiot, Detective Inspector Brady. If something’s happened to … to Sophie …’ Simmons stopped himself short.
‘Like I said, let me get back to the station and see what I can find out,’ Brady offered.
Brady waited until he heard the door closing behind him before he took out his mobile to ring the station. He needed to arrange