Nightshade

32

Hopkins moved away from the door and over to Fisher. ‘I can hear voices, but it’s muffled,’ he said.

‘What do we do?’

‘It’s the Super’s call,’ said the inspector. He took out his phone and called Superintendent Wilkinson.

‘What do you think?’ asked the superintendent after Hopkins had brought him up to speed.

‘It’s the same make as the van in the CCTV footage. This one has signs on the side but they’re magnetic. And I can hear voices inside. I think this is it, sir.’

‘Where are you?’

‘In the garage. The door was open.’

‘Well, get the hell out of the garage and wait for armed support. I don’t want this turning into a hostage situation. Hang back and wait for the ARV. Hang on a minute.’ Hopkins heard the superintendent shout over to someone and then someone shouted back. ‘Fifteen minutes. Maybe twenty.’

‘We’ll be in the van,’ said Hopkins.

‘They’ll radio you direct with an ETA,’ said the superintendent. ‘This had better be right or we’re going to look bloody stupid.’ He ended the call.

The inspector nodded at Fisher. ‘Back to the van,’ he said. ‘Quietly does it.’

That was when they heard the scream from inside the house.