wished she could ring DI Marshall but knew he wouldn’t tell her anything. Quinn made some lunch, threw in a load of laundry, and stared at the same page in a book she’d been trying to read for a full ten minutes before finally giving up and ringing Drew. He picked up immediately, his voice surprisingly cheerful.
“Guess you heard the good news,” he said. “Dan’s got them to reopen the case, and he’s heading the investigation.”
“Is that because he’s the best man for the job or because he’s best placed to hide where the information came from?” Quinn asked.
Drew chuckled. “The information I provided will never be used in a court of law, Quinn. I used it to show a direct link between Brett, Jo, and the car. The case Dan builds against Brett will be meticulously documented and supported by legitimate evidence that can be used in a murder trial.”
“I hope you’re right,” Quinn murmured. “Have you heard from him? I can’t stand not knowing.”
“You are going to have to be patient. This could take months.”
“Really?”
“Really. This is not a TV program, where a case gets solved in a few days.”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Quinn said.
“Yeah, I’ve heard from him. They’ve impounded the car and have been in touch with the New Orleans PD.”
“Why?” Quinn asked, surprised by this turn of events.
“To request Brett Besson’s fingerprints and a copy of his psychological evaluation.”
“Is the NOPD obligated to comply?” Quinn asked. She had no idea how an investigation involving a foreign national worked.
“They can make things difficult if they choose to, but generally, police officers are happy to help each other, especially in a murder inquiry.”
“Is there any chance they might be able to lift his prints off the car more than two years after he’d driven it?” Quinn asked.
“I wouldn’t bet on it, but they have to try. That car will be taken apart by a forensic team, and if there’s anything to find, they will find it. Quinn, I know this advice will fall on deaf ears, but you should really put this whole thing out of your mind. Concentrate on your own life. If there are any major developments, you will be apprised.”
“Will I?” Quinn muttered.
“Yes. If you don’t hear it from Marshall, you’ll hear it from me. I still have my sources at the station.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Thanks, Drew. You’re a star.”
“That I am,” Drew said with a chuckle. “They don’t shine brighter than me. Now, I’ve got work to do, and if I remember correctly, you have children that need collecting.”
“Right. Bye,” Quinn said. If she didn’t leave now, she’d be late.
Drew was right, Quinn thought as she hurried to get the kids. She had to put the case out of her mind for the time being and concentrate on her own life. Mia’s birthday was a week and a half away, and she needed to prepare. There were still the cake and balloons to get, the presents to wrap, and the snacks and drinks to purchase. She also had to check with all the invitees to make sure they were still coming. She hoped Logan, Rafe, and their surrogate, Chrissy, would be able to attend. Quinn hadn’t seen Logan in weeks and genuinely missed him. She couldn’t really say the same for Sylvia, but she’d invited her, nonetheless. Mia was Sylvia’s granddaughter, regardless of how Quinn felt about her birth mother.
She wished her own mum and dad could come. It’d been too long since she’d seen them in person, when they’d come to London the previous summer for a fortnight before heading to Scotland for a week. Strange how spread out her family was these days. She supposed this was the new normal for many people, especially those whose families had as many branches as hers now did.
Once Mia’s birthday was planned, Quinn would concentrate on Jocelyn’s story. She didn’t have time to dither if Rhys hoped to turn the narrative into a Christmas special. She still had no inkling how the ring had come to be buried in Hertfordshire but meant to find out. She’d miss Jocelyn once the case was done, Quinn thought as she took her place by the gate, waiting for the children to be brought out. She identified with the young American woman, maybe because, at the moment, she felt as lost and unsure of what was to come as Jocelyn had. At least she had a good man by her side, unlike Jocelyn, who seemed to have inspired admiration but