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

“If it is someone from around here, why snatch people from Derbyshire as well?” Justin sighed because he felt as though they were missing something that was right in front of them.

“We need to find out who in the village has links with Derbyshire,” Oliver declared. “That won’t really help us, though, will it? Not if the kidnapper is randomly choosing his victims.”

“There must be at least three hundred people in this village. We don’t have the time to go door-to-door and question everybody,” Niall replied.

“Well, we can’t just sit here and wait for someone else to disappear. We already look idiots for having lost Jemima while we were on watch,” Phillip snapped in disgust.

“Weeks might be able to help us,” Justin replied. “Vanessa and her father have lived in the village all of their lives. I am sure they will have some idea if someone – anyone – has links to Derbyshire. If they can’t come up with at least six people, we will have to think of something else.”

“Well, Weeks isn’t happy about this at all. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to understand that six of us can’t guard everyone in this village day and night,” Niall replied.

“Not if there is a villager doing this, and they know the village like the back of their hand,” Jasper warned, staring at Jemima’s house.

“What in the Hell could have happened to her between here and home? I mean, look at it. We can see the house from here, and the orphanage – just. The track is empty, I will grant you, but these low stone walls won’t have been enough to stop anyone from seeing a struggle.”

“It hints that Jemima knew her kidnapper,” Phillip murmured.

“So, either there was someone around who Jemima knew but didn’t tell her parents about, or the culprit is in the village somewhere,” Justin grunted.

His thoughts immediately turned to Vanessa. If he was honest, he hated the thought of her being in a place like this. It was too quiet, too remote, and had far too many suspicious people in it.

“The odds are mounting against us,” Niall grumbled. “I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit.”

“None of us do,” Oliver replied. “I am afraid to say that I think we need to go back to the drawing board and take a good look at the evidence we have, preferably without Weeks being involved. Then we can decide on the best way to deal with all of this by ourselves.”

“Keep Weeks out of the investigation, you mean?” Justin murmured with a nod.

“Well, he can keep searching, and deal with the families. He will be kept busy, and we are at least then free to keep investigating the way we are used to,” Oliver argued.

“Undercover?” Angus frowned.

“It’s damned impossible in a place like this,” Justin growled. “No, we need help from the locals, but not Weeks.”

“Why are we keeping Weeks out of the investigation again?” Aaron asked as he followed his colleagues back toward the village.

“Because he won’t agree to our methods,” Justin replied with a smirk.

“What do we do first?” Aaron asked.

“I am going to search that farm. There is something mighty odd about all of that. I think we are going to have to question that husband of Geraldine’s. It is strange how the woman has left no trace of her presence in the house whatsoever. Even someone who decides to run away would leave some of their personal belongings behind. There is something odd there that doesn’t sit at all well with me, and it needs investigating,” Justin replied.

“Trust your gut, my friend,” Niall murmured, clapping his friend on the back.

“We will all go. Many hands make light work. We can include a search of the woods while we are there,” Oliver agreed. “Just in case Jemima has ended up like Felicity.”

“I am off to see if the search parties have found anything new,” Angus said before he left.

“Who is that?” Aaron asked with a nod at a departing figure hobbling toward the church.

Justin peered down the road.

“That’s Reuben.” He briefly explained what Vanessa had told him.

“He may have something to tell us,” Aaron suggested.

Together to men wand

ered over to Reuben.