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‘Well, I’ll see you in the week, no doubt?’ He was looking at Erin rather than both of them. Molly felt a pang of jealousy.
They said goodbye and watched him drive away.
‘I’ve had a great night,’ Erin said.
‘You were gone ages!’
Erin’s hand went to her mouth. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Max got me another glass of wine and I didn’t realise the time after that.’
Molly waved away her comment. ‘I want to know if you’re seeing him again, on your own.’
Erin sighed. ‘I’m not sure. He didn’t say. So whatever happens, we’re both going to the party next month, okay?’
‘I was a bit bored by myself.’
‘You weren’t on your own. You were with that man.’
‘Chad? He was dull.’
‘Oh.’
Molly nudged her. ‘I’m joking. He was nice to talk to. So yes, we’ll go again next month.’
‘Cool!’ Erin beamed.
They linked arms and walked the last few metres home.
‘Are you okay with me seeing Max, if he asks me?’ Erin questioned as Molly got to her front gate.
‘Of course I am.’ She gave her friend a hug. ‘I think you should go for it. He seems really nice.’
‘Yeah, he does.’ Erin staggered around a bit and then stopped. ‘I’m a little drunk. Have you got any mints?’
‘You’ll be lucky to hide it with a sweet.’ Molly rummaged in her bag until she found a packet. ‘Here you go. Blame me if your mum says anything. Say it was me who wanted to go.’
‘But they’ll both go mad then and you’ll be in trouble too.’
‘It’s better than her grounding you. Let’s hope my mum and dad are both asleep on the sofa when I get in, so I can pop my head around the door and then sneak off to bed.’
‘I suppose.’ Erin flung her arms around her neck again. ‘Oh, Molly, what a great night. I feel like I could fly!’
‘Best get you into bed then before you do yourself an injury.’
‘Yes sirree. G’night.’
Molly waited at her gate until she could see that Erin had gone into her own garden. They waved to each other and she went inside.
How she wished she was as pretty as Erin. Sometimes having ample confidence for the two of them wasn’t enough. Because no matter what she had said to Erin, she couldn’t stop thinking about Chad.
At least she would have sweet dreams that night; that is, if the room would stop spinning.
Awake early the next morning, Erin thought about the night before. She stretched out in her bed, her smile wide as she recalled everything about Max. The way he winked at her to reassure her, the curve of his lips, the sultriness in his eyes.
She hoped he didn’t think she was too young for him. His kisses had been keen when they’d been alone, but he hadn’t given her one at the end of the night, like she’d hoped. She’d wanted him to. Maybe it was because she was with Molly. They had both been in the car. But he could have shouted her back.
She knew she would always be second best to Molly. She didn’t mind though. Molly was outgoing to her shy; extrovert to her introvert, daring to her scaredy-cat.
She knew she wouldn’t have as much fun in her life if it weren’t for Molly. When Max had invited them to Trevor’s party, she never would have gone unless Molly had agreed to go as well.
Even though they were only fifteen, it was Molly’s encouragement that had made Erin that little bit bolder. Going for a walk around the house with Max had been daring for her, and she wouldn’t have done it if Molly wasn’t there to rescue her if things got heavy.
They’d been lucky growing up together and becoming good friends. Erin remembered her mum saying something like ‘You can choose your friends but you can’t pick your family.’
Yet, as they grew older, both of them realised that things would change. Boys would come on the scene, serious boyfriends and then perhaps marriage. Their bonds would either be broken or strengthened, and only time would tell. But for now, Erin knew she was lucky to have Molly to look out for her.
When Molly had said she wanted to go to the next party, Erin had been relieved. Max had taken her phone number but she wasn’t sure if he would call. He was nine years older than her and at fifteen that was a massive age gap. But she and Molly were mature for their age, both well developed and level-headed.
She couldn’t wait for the next party to come around, was looking forward to it so much. But first she would hang around at the chippie to see if Max came in again.
‘Erin, are you getting up this morning?’ Mum shouted from downstairs. ‘The hoover will be on in five minutes whether you’re out of bed or not.’
‘I’m up!’ Erin pulled the duvet back with a sigh. She was glad there was no school today. She couldn’t wait until next May when she was done with it for good. She had a life waiting for her outside of Stoke.
She and Molly were planning on going to Spain after school finished. They were going to work there through summer.
But for now, she hopped into the shower. She couldn’t wait to see Molly and talk about it all.
FIFTEEN
The mood was sombre as everyone gathered for a team briefing a few minutes after eight a.m. DCI Jenny Brindley was present and she’d asked Allie to update everyone. Although Jenny was the one who got her knuckles rapped if their team didn’t come up with the goods quick enough, she was always one to stay on the periphery. She believed the team worked well without her, so she let them get on with it and only ever interfered when absolutely necessary.
‘Welcome to Operation Doulton,’ Allie started.
When Grace had started to work in Stoke-on-Trent, the first operation had been named Wedgwood. She knew of Josiah Wedgwood, but it wasn’t until she’d found out the fourth operation name that she’d queried the other cases she’d worked on and discovered that Middleport, Spode and Doulton had also been known names in the pottery industry.
Allie relayed the findings from the previous night and then got everyone up to speed with what had happened since.
‘Molly Redfern identified the mugger as a white male of medium build and height. It doesn’t give us much to go on. The description could match a lot of men, but she did mention seeing a tattoo. She said it was like a flame rising up the right side of his neck and cheek. Does anyone come to mind?’
There were a few murmurs around the room, lots of shaking heads.
‘Okay, let’s search the usual intel to find anything that might be useful – personal sources, suspects we have on record, anyone who might know something, that kind of thing. We also found a mobile phone in a black leather case at the bottom of a hedge. Sara Ellis has confirmed it belonged to Erin so that’s gone off to the tech team for analysis.’
‘So the mugger left the phone behind?’ Grace questioned.
‘Perhaps he panicked after he saw what he’d done and threw it?’ Perry suggested.
‘That’s possible. What’s next?’ Allie checked her list. ‘Molly mentioned a chip shop – Potteries Takeaway. Perry, can you go and speak to the owner? See if he has any knowledge of them, what they were doing in there last night?’
‘Yes, boss.’
‘We’ll also need to search the house this morning. I’d like you to help with that, Grace. Can you see what you can find in Erin’s room, leave the team to do the rest? It will make it a little less intrusive.’ Allie paused. ‘The press release goes out this morning at nine. Speculation is already rife and I don’t want to put pressure on Molly Redfern, so I authorised it to go out as soon as possible. Everyone will be asking her what’s gone on, I assume.’ She glanced at Sam. ‘Anything from CCTV yet?’
DC Sam Markham had been looking through the footage in Leek Road last night and again as soon as she’d got in that morning.
‘I’ve already gone through who went in and out of the walkway around the time Erin Ellis was murdered,’ Sam replied. ‘I’ve followed the two girls from Potteries Takeaway, which is a few minutes’ walk from their homes. They go into the walkway and between that time and when the ambulance goes past to get to Sampson Street, no one else has entered to follow them, nor come out afterwards. CCTV doesn’t cover the other end of the path so I’m hoping there will be home security footage on one of the houses. I’ve also got stills of anyone seen going into the walkway from Leek Road from up to two hours earlier. There are three lone males, and I’ll be sharing the images on social media in the hope people can rule themselves out soon. It’s a busy main road with a lot of footfall.’
‘Do you think someone was already waiting for them?’ Perry asked.
‘There are hedges either side,’ Grace said. ‘What’s behind them?’
‘One is a border to a residential property and the other is next to a spare plot of land,’ Sam added.
Allie paused. ‘That’s interesting.’
‘So is a bit of footage I’ve picked up nearby too from a business opposite.’ Sam glanced over at Grace quickly. ‘It’s of Leon Steele.’
Grace moaned. ‘What’s he been up to now?’
‘He’s seen talking to Erin outside Potteries Takeaway.’
‘For a long time?’
‘A minute at the most. You can see them laughing about something and then he goes into the back of the shop.’
‘I wonder what they discussed?’
‘We all know the influence the Steele family have around here, and Erin Ellis can be linked to him because of the takeaway,’ Allie said. ‘Someone needs to go and speak to him.’
‘But it’s near to where he works,’ Perry said. ‘Surely we can’t question him just for being there?’
‘We can’t, but let’s see if he knows anyone that uses the gym who has a flame tattoo. That should cover us. And it won’t hurt to keep him on his toes. Leon Steele is never far from trouble.’
‘I’ll go, boss,’ Perry said.
Allie nodded and then looked at DCI Brindley. ‘Anything else to add, ma’am?’
‘No, I think you have everything covered,’ Jenny said. ‘Just keep me informed of developments as they happen.’
‘Thanks.’ Allie turned back to the team. ‘For now, I’ll get the house-to-house gang looking for any further camera shots too.’ She swept her eyes around the room. ‘Let’s crack on then.’
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