Convictions by Julie Morrigan Read Free Book Online Page A

lack of evidence means that the magistrate has denied us a warrant to keep Cotter in custody any longer. We’ve had to let him go.’
    ‘You’re joking.’ Derek threw his hands up. ‘How can that be right? He’s guilty, got to be.’
    ‘At least he can look after Annie now.’ It was Tina who had spoken. ‘If he’s the only person who knows where she is, he needs to be free to look after her. She must be hungry, and lonely, and scared.’
    ‘Will he be watched?’ asked Penny. ‘Will they follow him when they let him go?’
    Fitzgerald nodded. ‘He’s on police bail and he remains a person of interest.’
    ‘He might lead them to Annie,’ said Tina. ‘It might be a good thing if they let him go.’ Her eyes glittered and she jumped up and down. ‘Annie might be home for tea.’ She hugged her bunny rabbit. ‘Mum? Mum? Can we have egg and chips?’ Tina turned to Ruth. ‘That’s Annie’s favourite, egg and chips and lots and lots of ketchup.’
    ‘I still want to punch him,’ glowered Derek.
    ‘Don’t get your hopes up, love,’ Ruth said to Tina. The kid was on the verge of hysterics. ‘These things can take time.’
    ‘But the longer it takes, the more chance there is that Annie will end up in his freezer! You’ve got to be quick, you’ve got to be!’
    ‘What’s all this about a freezer?’ asked Penny. ‘I remember you saying something about that the other night.’
    ‘Hilary’s brother said—’
    ‘Let’s all just calm down a minute while we decide what to do next,’ said Ruth. ‘I’ll put the kettle on. Tina, why don’t you come and give me a hand?’ She wanted to get the little girl out of the room so she could talk to her one to one, explain things properly, calm her down a little. She resolved to talk to Penny and Derek about getting some counselling for Tina. At this rate, the kid was headed for a breakdown.
     
    ***
     
    ‘Is that the name you want?’
    Annie fidgeted in the uncomfortable clothing, then nodded. ‘Yes, that one.’
    ‘It’s a good choice. We’ll baptise you soon, my child.’
    ‘Can my family come to my baptism?’
    ‘Yes, we’ll all be there. In fact, I’ll be the one to baptise you.’
    ‘I mean my real family, Mum and Dad and Tina.’
    ‘We are your real family now. Now and always, God be praised.’
     
    ***
     
    Fitzgerald was deeply unhappy about the fact that George Cotter had been released, although in fairness she had to admit that the magistrate had acted quite correctly. On the face of it there hadn’t been sufficient evidence to warrant holding him any longer.
    ‘We had nothing on him, not really,’ she said to Ruth, having put a call in to her when she got home. Fitzgerald was exhausted. She’d kept going on pure adrenaline and now she was about to crash. She planned to sleep for twelve hours solid.
    ‘There should still have been something, surely.’
    ‘You’d have thought so. I can’t believe how unlucky we’re being. The car was showroom-clean.’ She barked out a humourless laugh. ‘Maybe God is on his side, after all.’
    ‘What’s next, Karen?’
    ‘We’re watching him, naturally. Especially at night, when wifie’s asleep and might not miss him. Also to and from work; times when he might conceivably disappear for a period of time and go to do whatever he does with Annie.’
    ‘Do you think she’s still alive?’
    ‘I fucking hope so, mate.’
     
    ***
     
    Annie looked up when she heard the key turn in the lock. She liked the younger people, looked forward to their visits. They made things more bearable. When she saw it was the man, her heart sank. He was carrying some things and he put them on the desk in the corner.
    ‘Come and sit down here,’ he said. ‘I want you to write a letter.’
    ‘Who to?’ Annie closed the Bible she’d been given to read and got off the bed.
    ‘To the people you used to live with. Come on, quickly now.’
    ‘Mum and Dad and Tina.’ Annie sat at the desk.
    The man tutted,