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

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“Oh, he won’t speak to you,” Magda told him flatly. “He is shy around strangers.”

“I don’t care. Where can I find him?”

“He lives in a small house at the back of the Rectory. Be careful with him. If Reuben decides not to tell you anything, he won’t, even if he has seen something.” Magda rounded the desk. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“If he does see something, will he be able to relay it to me in detail, or is he likely to be confused about facts?” Justin persisted, waving away her offer.

“He can tell you anything in detail if he wishes. His memory is sound. That was never in question. It is just the social side of his character that seems to be lacking, if you know what I mean? He cannot read or write but gets by because people are aware of his condition. It might be best if I speak to him with you. If he has seen something he will be more inclined to tell me.”

“This is a government investigation into multiple counts of kidnap, possibly murder,” Justin replied crisply. “I am afraid nobody can get involved in it. If Reuben has information, he will tell me or is going to spend a very long time behind bars.”

When Magda opened her mouth as if to protest, Justin cut her off by bidding her a brisk goodbye and taking his leave. He didn’t slow his stride as he cross the road and headed straight over to the church. Once there, he tried the church door, and was a little surprised to find it locked in the middle of the day.

“So much for being open to all,” he mumbled as he stood back to study the rectory next door; a large, rather resplendent building tucked away to the right of the church itself.

Justin studied the silent churchyard. Before he left, he contemplated what he had learned this morning, the most compelling being was that the three women from the village who had vanished had all been connected to the orphanage.

“It can’t have anything to do with the other women who have gone missing from the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border,” he m

urmured aloud. “They can’t be connected.”

To him, it felt like someone had learned of the disappearances, and had decided to use the kidnappings as a cover to carry out crimes of their own.

“Are they getting rid of a few enemies perhaps?” Justin discounted that because he knew Vanessa was probably the last person to have enemies. She was too pretty, too clever, and far too kind to annoy anybody that much.

Justin sighed, and was immensely relieved, if a little wary, when Niall entered the churchyard and stalked toward him.

“Do you know something?” Niall growled. “I have learned nothing. Not a bean. The man, and victim, have just vanished again.” He winced and looked apologetically at his colleague. “I am sorry – Vanessa.”

“There is no trace of them.” Justin whispered with absolute certainty.

Niall shook his head. “Weeks has nearly finished his search and has found nothing either. Angus has half the village looking but nothing has been found so far.”

“It’s the orphanage,” Justin murmured quietly. He felt Niall tense but didn’t remove his gaze from the building opposite.

“What are your thoughts? Do you think it is the gardener?”

Together, the men watched the old man disappear into an out building.

“He doesn’t look like he can fight his way out of a paper bag much less wrestle with a frightened woman,” Niall scoffed, but continued to watch the man when he re-appeared and began to amble around the lawn. “He can see who is leaving and entering from the garden, so will know who is there. He also has direct access to the road.”

Justin nodded. “He could snatch someone, drag them over that low stone wall and they would be gone in a thrice.”

Niall pursed his lips. “How would he get them across the lawn without being seen?”

“Wait until nightfall?”

Niall lifted his brows. “Wouldn’t that make his wife suspicious? I mean, leaving the house late at night to go out into the orphanage garden is not a two-minute job, is it? Surely, she would realise something was wrong, especially when he stepped outside at the same time the women disappeared.”

“It doesn’t sound feasible, does it?” Justin clenched his fists in temper.

“It is worth searching the outbuildings over there anyway. It won’t hurt,” Niall replied with a shrug.

“I think they have been searched already,” Justin replied.

“Well, we can search them again,” Niall huffed, and set off to find the others.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN



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