Snared by Ed James

it for a few seconds before crushing her can. “We need to speak to her.”

Chapter Twenty
    C onsidine slowed as they entered Cupar, his dark grey Subaru hitting heavy traffic. “I still think you should have spoken to the boss about us going to see these boys.”
    “He was away.” Vicky cleared her throat. “What’s the point in having sergeants if you don’t let them get on with it?”
    “Your grave.”
    Considine drove past the council buildings, the new home of the police station, turning left onto what passed for a main shopping area in the town, parking outside a bakery.
    Vicky got out and raced ahead to the station.
    Considine caught up with her. “That baker’s back there looks amazing. I’m getting a sausage roll for my piece today. Maybe get a pie as well.”
    “It’s your cholesterol.”
    “Hey, I work out.”
    “Really?”
    “Aye. Hulk’s Gym in Forfar. Free weights three nights a week.”
    “I didn’t know that.” Vicky opened the door to the station, eyes sweeping around the waiting room.
    A large man got to his feet. Shaved head, dark suit filled by his bulk. “Sergeant Dodds?”
    Vicky nodded. “DC Reed?”
    “Aye.” Reed motioned to the security door. “Got us a room through the back.” He led them through the station. The wallpaper was already torn and frayed beside fist-sized holes in the plaster. He opened the door to an interview room and collapsed into the nearest chair. “Take a seat.”
    Vicky sat opposite. “You came up from Glenrothes?”
    “Aye, the least I could do given you’re coming down from Scumdee.”
    “Says a man from Glenrothes.”
    “Aye, but I live in Anstruther.”
    “Must eat a lot of fish suppers.”
    Reed scowled at her. “Are you wanting me to help or what?”
    “Tell us about the case.”
    Reed got out a notebook and flicked through it. “The victim’s name is Irene Henderson. Back in 2010, November fifteenth to be precise, she was abducted from outside her home and chucked in an industrial waste bin at a factory on the outskirts of the town.”
    Vicky crossed her legs. “Did you catch anyone?”
    “At the time, we thought it was just some local neds who’d maybe been egged on by their girlfriends.”
    “At the time?”
    “Aye.”
    “Well, what about now?”
    “I’d say the same. We never caught anyone.”
    “Was there a note?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Anyone leaving a message? Maybe taking credit for it?”
    Reed shrugged. “Mrs Henderson got a lot of notes through the post, as I’m sure you can imagine. Over a hundred. Luckily it wasn’t me who had to go through them.”
    Vicky winced — another job for Considine. She raised an eyebrow at him. He nodded. She looked back at Reed. “Was a black car spotted near her house?”
    “No.”
    “What about by the bin?”
    Reed shook his head. “Not that I recall.”
    “We’re talking about an exec saloon, like a Mercedes or a Lexus.”
    “Sorry, but no.”
    Vicky scribbled it down just as her mobile rang — Forrester. She held a hand up in apology.
    Reed got out his own phone, chubby fingers stabbing at th e screen.
    She left the room, pressed her mobile to her ear. “Sir?”
    “Where are you, Vicky?”
    “In Cupar.”
    “What on Earth are you doing over there?”
    “We’re investigating a case potentially linked to ours. DS MacDonald raised it.”
    “Well, can you get back here? I’ve just finished up with Raven and I need to get an update from you.”
    “Fine. It doesn’t really look like it’s linked anyway.” Vicky ended the call and re-entered the room. “Sorry about this but we’ve been summoned back to Dundee.”
    Reed stood up. “No problems. I’ve got to take a statement in St Andrews anyway, so it’s not like it’s a wasted trip.”
    Considine got to his feet. “Have you got the original case file with you?”
    Reed chuckled. “I’m not in the habit of carrying cold case files on my person.”
    Considine stood taller, towering over Reed. “Any