Strings Read Free

in there,’ Melissa asked.
                  ‘Yes, don't worry, my love. The keys are in the front pocket of your bag.’ He pointed at the purple holdall on the chair in the corner.
                  ‘Thanks, Dad. Did you speak to Ray?’
                  ‘Ray’s taking care of it. Stop worrying. Nobody will take anything from your home. They can't do that without your permission.’
                  ‘I don’t want anyone touching his stuff, and I don’t trust many people right now.’ She knew it sounded as though she was being paranoid, but until Luke was found safe and well, she was on edge about everything. The police had already been to the flat to investigate and take fingerprints. The thought of strangers in their home bothered her, perhaps more than it should have. But it was their personal, private space, and it made her nervous, even though it wasn’t particularly significant at a time like this.
                  ‘OK, but don't worry. They won't take anything, honey, I promise.’
                  Melissa smiled slightly as Liz returned to check her over. She liked Liz, who seemed to genuinely care for her well-being and nothing else.
                  ‘Melissa, darling, the police are here to take your statement. Are you ready?’
                  ‘Not really, but do I have a choice?’ Melissa asked.
                  Liz shrugged. ‘Probably best to get it over with sooner rather than later. Putting it off will only drag things out.
                  ‘You’re right,’ Melissa agreed, messing with her sheets to cover herself up properly. She started to look for a mirror to check her hair and make-up, something which had become an almost unconscious habit, but she stopped herself when she thought how pointless that would be while lying in a hospital bed. But it made her realise that life in the public eye had changed her, even though in every way that mattered she was still the same girl she had always been.
     
    *****
     
    Two men came into the room and stood at the side of the bed. One was around fifty, with grey hair and a matching grey suit that might have fitted him twenty years ago, but was now too small to accommodate his impressive beer belly. The other was younger, probably early thirties, with short brown hair. He was much more smartly dressed in a black suit and cufflinks. Beer Belly was clearly in charge.
                  ‘Miss Webb, I’m Detective Inspector Fox and this is my colleague, Detective Sergeant Noels from Thornvale CID. We are in charge of this investigation.’
                  ‘Hi,’ was all Melissa could think of to say.
                  Mick stood up and shook hands, and offered them seats. ‘You might need them. I believe this is a long story.’
                  They thanked him and sat down. Their training taught them to ensure that a witness felt at ease in an interview situation – it helped them to establish trust and obtain complete and honest responses to their questions. In an investigation like this the key witness was the most valuable source of information and must be handled extremely carefully. Melissa assured them she felt well enough to be interviewed, and so they began.
                  ‘Miss Webb, can you explain, in your own words, the events that led up to Mr Black's disappearance and your admission to hospital yesterday?’ DI Fox asked.
                  ‘Luke. His name is Luke.’
                  DI Fox leaned forward in his chair. ‘I’m sorry. I know this is difficult, and we’ll try to make it as easy as we can for you. But you must understand that in order to find him, we need to know everything that you know. I understand that there have been some tough times between you since—’
                  Melissa cut him off before he