The Eyes of the Accused: A dark disturbing mystery thriller (The Ben Whittle Investigation Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

looked at the notepad. ‘Hannah Heath. Twenty-five years old. Went missing about four months ago when she was sixteen weeks pregnant. Living with her fiancé. About to get married. Left work one day and just vanished.’
    ‘Does she have any idea what might have happened?’
    ‘It hardly matters, does it?’
    ‘I don’t follow.’
    ‘We’re not going to be working the case.’
    Ben walked out of the office. He felt like slamming the door. Shaking the walls and rattling the windows. Sending shock-waves right into the old man’s brain. Instead, he closed it gently behind him.
    Maddie was waiting in the hallway. ‘I’m sorry, Ben.’
    ‘What for?’
    ‘All this fuss.’
    ‘It’s not your fault. It’s him; he’s like a bloody kid.’
    ‘I ought to go home. It’s youth club tonight. I think I’d be more appreciated there.’
    Ben’s heart dropped into a muddy puddle. ‘Ignore him. He could try the patience of Mother Teresa – and she’s dead.’
    Maddie smiled. A tired smile that slipped away like the sun behind a rain cloud. ‘It is your dad’s business. It’s up to him who he employs.’
    ‘No, it’s not. Maybe before Penghilly’s Farm, but not anymore. He needs me. Needs both of us. He’s just rattling his sabre and trying to lay down the law.’
    ‘So what do we do? We can’t force him to change his mind.’
    ‘We don’t have to. He’s just had a call about a missing girl. He’ll come round when he realises the potential earnings.’
    ‘A missing girl?’
    Ben told her the rather sketchy details.
    ‘She must be just about ready to give birth by now.’
    ‘If she’s still alive.’
    The office door opened and Geoff manoeuvred his wheelchair into the hallway. ‘If you’re interested, the mother lives out at Wheatfield Close. Number fourteen.’
    ‘And Maddie?’
    ‘I won’t stop her if she wants to go along for the ride.’
    ‘Is she getting paid?’
    ‘She can have half of your salary if you want to share.’
    ‘Maddie’s on the same pay as me.’
    ‘For God’s sake! You’ll bankrupt us before you’re finished.’
    Ben wasn’t backing down. If he did, it would set a precedent for any future negotiations. ‘We’ve got the insurance money. And the cash Emily Hunt’s dad gave us for rescuing his daughter from Penghilly’s Farm.’
    ‘And we haven’t worked since Penghilly’s Farm, either. Money vanishes quicker than a liar’s promise.’
    ‘So the sooner we get going, the better.’
    Geoff seemed to consider this. ‘She can work on an hourly rate of five pounds an hour. She’s not on a salary. And I want detailed time-sheets.’
    Ben looked at his father and imagined vinegar running through his veins. ‘That’s slave labour.’
    ‘It’s all right by me,’ Maddie said. ‘I don’t even get paid at the church.’
    Ben thought his father would have fared well in a Charles Dickens novel. ‘It’s not all right. There is such a thing as the minimum wage in this country. It’s to stop tyrants exploiting workers.’
    Geoff didn’t seem too concerned with fairness. ‘Take it or leave it.’
    ‘I’ll take it,’ Maddie said.
    Geoff grinned. ‘Good. That’s that settled. So what are you waiting for? Monica Heath. Wheatfield Close. I called her back and told her you’d be there in half an hour.’
    Maddie touched Ben’s arm. ‘Come on. Let’s go and see her.’
    ‘And make sure you drill down into any family disputes and suchlike,’ Geoff said. ‘Nine times out of ten, these things turn out to be the result of a family squabble.’
    Ben was well aware of the effects of family squabbles.
    ‘Get the boyfriend’s address and speak to him as soon as possible. From my experience, he wouldn’t be the first lover to do away with a partner.’
    Ben wondered if his mother had ever had such thoughts. ‘Okay.’
    ‘I’ll give Andy at Oxford nick a bell. See what the cops know.’
    Not very much, considering she’s still missing , Ben thought.
    ‘And make sure