Betrayal of Innocence (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 1)

“I am not saying that. Don’t put words into my mouth or make assumptions. We just have to rule out every possibility,” Justin warned. “It is highly unlikely you would know where to look if you did decide to search for her. If Curtis has done anything to your sister and you alert him to your discovery before you notify the authorities-” He shook his head.

Vanessa paled and nodded.

“It’s foolish,” Justin warned.

“He might move the body if he thinks you are likely to find her,” Aaron interrupted. “You can’t search a farm in a day. If he does move her he will hide her a bit better the second time, and we might never find her.”

“You would also be highly unlikely to reach the authorities before he struck again,” Jasper added.

Vanessa sighed. “I refuse to simply sit at home and sew while I wait to learn the fate of my sister. All I am doing is going to my sister’s farm to see if she is there. What harm could there be in that?”

“None, as long as Curtis isn’t the one who has killed your sister,” Justin warned.

“If this disappearance is out of character for your sister, and you were as close as you say you are, there is no reason for your sister not to contact you even secretly, is there?” was all Oliver said.

Vanessa blinked at him and allowed that thought to sink in for a moment before she nodded slowly.

“He needs to be put behind bars,” she whispered.

“We will do that – if, and only if, he is responsible,” Niall warned.

“You are not to get yourself involved in our investigation,” Justin added.

“I am going to continue to visit the farm,” she assured them all, not caring who they were or how powerful they seemed. She refused to stop until she knew for definite what had happened to Geraldine.

Justin bit back a curse.

“Look, how about we assign Justin to help you then?” Oliver smothered a smirk when Justin jerked and lifted his brows. There was an angry glint in his colleague’s eye that warned Oliver he would be having sharp words with Justin later, but it was too late to take the offer back now.

“We are here to try to find out who is behind the kidnaps. Thank you for what you have told us today. For the time being, I think we still need to assume that your sister is one of the kidnapped.” Oliver lifted a hand when he saw the young woman looked about to object. “I am not saying your brother-in-law isn’t guilty, please don’t misunderstand. It is just that we have had several other disappearances. As you say, your brother-in-law is dedicated to the farm. It is highly unlikely he would put it all at risk to kill your sister. After all, he knows you were close. You would know instantly if Geraldine disappeared. Why would he risk being suspected of murder if he wants to keep the farm? We will, of course, investigate his potential involvement in Geraldine’s disappearance but, for the time being, we will add your sister to our list of kidnapped young ladies who have been taken from this area. We will leave no stone unturned and will ensure that the culprit is stopped as soon as possible. Meantime, I want you to think about the times you have met Curtis and write down anything you think is unusual. I want to know everything you know about him; his family, his past, his friends. Who he is most likely to turn to. He has to have had a history before he married your sister. I want to know what he has said to you, and your father, when you have met him.”

“Any anecdotes from your sister would help so add those too,” Niall ordered.

“We will get to the bottom of it but have to be careful. The culprit is around here somewhere. We don’t want to rattle him until we have to because we don’t want him hiding any evidence or leaving the area,” Justin warned.

“So, our conversation today has to remain strictly confidential, I am afraid, Miss Clarkson,” Aaron warned her.

“Of course,” Vanessa replied. “I am just pleased you are willing to take me seriously.”

“Your invaluable information gives us a very good place to start,” Oliver assured her.

“Tell me, Miss Clarkson,” Angus interrupted. “Does your brother-in-law go to Derbyshire?”

“His family’s farm is in Derbyshire.”

Brows lifted as the men looked at each other.

“Do you have a map, Weeks?” Justin asked.

Weeks nodded and hurried over to his desk. He drew out a map adorned with dots marking the locations of the disappearances to date and placed it on the desk so they could all see it.

Justin ran a long finger around in a huge circle that encompassed all the red dots.

“The central point is here: Bicester,” Aaron murmured.

When Vanessa looked at him enquiringly Justin stepped in.

“When people who commit serial crimes operate they rarely kill on their own doorstep. They travel, but only within a certain distance. It creates something of a comfort area they feel confident they can work in,” Justin explained.