‘The lads would poke fun at her and shout names because of her weight. As time went on, she slimmed down and got more confident. We started going to pubs and clubs, enjoying ourselves. We had some good fun. She was loud and flirty to the point of causing embarrassment. I think she had problems with her dad and it made her unhappy and rebellious. She has a sister. They were always arguing and fighting. She never told me, but I think she hated living with her family. After the packaging job, she worked in a nightclub and went out with a bloke she met there.’
‘Did you lose contact after she’d met him?’
‘We still saw each other and kept regular contact by phone. I even spoke to her when she was sent to prison.’
‘Prison? How long for?’
‘Two years. No parole.’
Kayla faked a shocked expression. ‘I can’t believe it. Kim doesn’t have a bad bone in her body.’
‘You’re right, but she wasn’t Kim Robins back then – she was Janet Seddon.’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jenny heated pasta for her daughter, lifted her into a highchair and left her to eat it.
‘You won’t be aware of her past life,’ she said, sinking in a shabby chair.
‘She never even mentioned it.’
‘She wouldn’t want to. I doubted her version of events when she first told me. I often look back at all the good times we had. I’m reminded of the genuine, caring person she was. She was a bit wild when she’d had a drink. Many of us were. Such a pity she ended up with a complete bastard … To be honest, those early doubts niggle at me occasionally.’
‘Who was this bloke?’
‘Ethan Baines was the bloke she met. They moved into a poky flat. She’d no idea he was a bit of an alky and had a violent temper. He was into drugs and used to burgle houses for money and things to sell. He was a lowlife with a criminal background. He’d paid fines and done community work. I also found out he’d been investigated over allegations of underage sex. Most of the charges against him were dropped.’
‘Was Kim aware of this?’
‘I couldn’t say. Baines was jailed for three-and-a-half years for grooming and sexual activity with an underage girl. In the light of what happened, a lot of people couldn’t accept she didn’t know he’d served time. I don’t think she would have stayed with him if she knew what he’d done. How she put up with all the abuse and beatings I’ll never know.’
‘She was probably scared of him.’
‘It wasn’t enough to keep her away from him. He was a control freak, loved dominating her on a day-to-day basis. Baines was obsessed with young girls. It makes sense why he took a fancy to Kim. She looked younger than she was and he saw her as the perfect sex partner.’
‘And it all turned to disaster.’
‘Their relationship spiralled out of control. Baines wanted her all to himself, didn’t let her off the leash. She craved for her freedom. During the first few months, he let her go drinking with me every Sunday night. Then it stopped for a while. He was jealous and possessive. He used to answer her phone calls and scare her friends away, or at least he tried to. I was having none of it. He hated me and I didn’t give a shit. All the possessiveness and cruelty made her worse. She snapped, went overboard. I couldn’t believe it.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘On the few occasions we went out, she threw herself at other men. If a bloke wanted sex she would do it anywhere – toilets, car parks, bus shelters, shop doorways. If taxi drivers were up for it she would blow them in return for a free journey.’
‘Did Baines know what she was up to?’
‘Yes. He used to drag her all over the place by her hair. He punched her black and blue, stamped on her, treated her worse than an animal. I pleaded with her to leave him. She wouldn’t listen, said she loved him too much. She was hoping to settle down and have kids of her own … What a disastrous relationship they had. The way it ended came as a massive shock.’
‘What split them up?’
‘Baines was a paedophile who kept his disgusting fantasies well hidden. Their flat wasn’t far from St Peter’s Primary School. One day, one of their pupils, Sarah McEnery, went missing on her way home from school.’
‘Was this in Grenthorpe?’
‘Yes. I’ll never forget the girl’s face. It was in all the papers. She had lovely blonde hair and beautiful eyes. She was eleven years old. Detectives went to all the houses in the area, asking questions and searching for her. They even sent divers to look in the canal. It wasn’t long before Baines came to their attention because of his conviction and jail sentence. They questioned him, asked him where he was on the day of the abduction.’
‘Did they question Kim?’
‘Yes. If I remember rightly, Kim said they were in the flat all day long when Sarah went missing. Nobody saw Baines on the day of the abduction. They had to accept his alibi.’
‘Why did Kim lie for him?’
‘He had complete control over her. She knew he was a thief and druggy. He said that on the day of the abduction he’d robbed two properties and didn’t want to get done for it. Kim believed him. She had no reason to think he was involved in the abduction.’
‘What happened to the girl? Did they find her?’
‘Nine days after she went missing, the police found her body. There’s a moor on the outskirts of Grenthorpe called Goresbreck. It’s a damp, soggy place, bleak at the best of times. A couple of lads went to the moor. There used to be a single row of old, dilapidated cottages there. They were abandoned back in the nineteen-sixties. Most of the doors and windows were missing and one of the walls was kept in place by a wooden support. The council should have had them demolished. Anyway, the two lads crossed the moor and went inside the cottages.’
‘And they came across the girl’s body?’
‘No, they came across Ethan Baines’ dead body lying in the rubble of a ground-floor room. They ran home and told their parents what they’d seen. The police were called and carried out a search. Sarah McEnery was in the room above. Her naked body was covered with a blanket. She’d been raped and strangled to death. They reckon she was kept there for over a week.
‘The stairs leading up to the room were hanging off the wall. Baines had taken her to the room above and kept her as a prisoner. He obviously took a risk, didn’t think the stairs might give way with his weight, but they did. Part of the structure came away from the wall. He fell and broke his neck. He died quickly, so they said. Pity he didn’t suffer more. If Kim hadn’t provided the alibi for him, maybe the girl would be alive today.’
‘I bet she was devastated when she heard what he’d done.’
‘Devastated and traumatised. She was arrested and charged with perverting the course of justice. There was a lot of anger in the community. The anger got worse. Kim’s DNA and fingerprints were found in the room where the girl was murdered. Sarah’s family believed she was involved in the abduction and watched him kill her. Kim’s defence said food wrappers and empty drinks bottles had her prints on them because they were taken from the flat she shared with Baines. A single hair belonging to Kim was also found at the scene. They said it could have been transferred from Baines’ clothes and deposited there. They convinced the jury she was not involved in the abduction and murder of the little girl and had no idea Baines was at the cottages during the period of her captivity. A lot of people thought the judge was too lenient in the sentencing.’
‘Was she hounded after her release?’
‘On two or three occasions, the authorities had to move her to a different location. She suffered abuse and death threats. To be honest, I can understand how Sarah McEnery’s family must have felt. While Kim was awaiting her trial a rumour spread in the area where the little girl lived. An investigating officer let it slip that a pathologist found drugs in her body.’
‘I suppose he could easily have put a drug in her food.’
‘To make her compliant, maybe?’
‘Yeah. From wha
t you’ve told me it seems they’re punishing Kim for what she’s done.’
‘There’s more than one involved?’
‘Could be. Did Kim ever mention a woman called, “Gillian”?’
Jenny thought for a moment, shook her head.
‘I think Kim has been given a deadly drug without her knowledge,’ Kayla went on. ‘How do they know what she looks like? She’s not Janet Seddon any more. Her appearance will be different. Right?’
‘Yes. New appearance. New identity.’
‘How would you recognise Kim if you saw her?’
‘H’m … She has freckles and thin lips.’
‘Freckles can be covered. Lips can be made to look thicker.’
‘The shape of her eyes is distinctive. Her voice sounds dry, a bit hoarse. You can disguise your voice, but for how long?’
‘Yeah, true. How do you think they found out she was living in Eaton Cross?’
Jenny sighed, released her suppressed guilt. ‘It was something I said. I unwittingly betrayed her. We were close. She trusted me. I was one of very few people who knew she’d been moved to Eaton Cross. One night, I went to a popular pub in Grenthorpe town centre. I drank too much, got hammered on shorts. Some of the lads talked about a programme they’d seen on telly, to do with rapists and serial killers. The murder of Sarah McEnery and a newspaper article on Janet Seddon came up in the conversation. The article said she was living on the south coast. I said they’d got it wrong and knew exactly where she was. A couple of months later a man came to see me. He was polite and quiet in his manner. He said he was a member of Kim’s family and they were missing her and eager to know if she was happy and settled. He said he had some of her jewellery and personal belongings of sentimental value. He thought it unlikely she would travel to Grenthorpe for the items because of the bad feeling and hate against her. He said a friend of his was in the same pub as me and overheard the conversation. Somehow, this bogus relative found out where I was living. I believed his story and gave him the name of the town, but I didn’t have her address. He urged me not to tell her because she might have notions of being attacked or even killed. What made his story more believable was him saying I could go with him and help find her. I said no. I had a full-time job, you see, and couldn’t afford to lose it by taking time off.’
‘What was his name?’
‘I didn’t think to ask … After the trial, me and Kim drifted apart. I rang her once or twice to see how she was doing. She sounded depressed. I wasn’t surprised, considering her state of mind. The last time I rang her was in April. I was out with friends all night, got sloshed and decided on impulse to speak to her, see if she was okay. She wouldn’t speak. Or couldn’t.’
Jenny stood, wiped her daughter’s mouth and hands, lifted her out of the high chair.
‘I’ve told you everything. How do you feel now?’
‘I’m stunned. It’s a shock to the system.’
She thanked Jenny for being open with her.
‘I’m glad you came. Kim needs your help and protection … And watch out for yourself. The polite man I spoke to might be the one who drove a car at her.’
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The drive back to Eaton Cross was hindered by the disturbing revelation of Kim’s harrowing experience and dire consequences. Try as he might, Jay’s concentration lapsed several times. Kayla’s outburst of profanity, induced by Kim’s lies and attachment to Baines, made the journey more difficult. Back home, he flopped down on the sofa and lost himself in deep thought.
Kayla headed for the bedroom and slept for an hour. Jay was sitting at his writing desk when she walked into the living room.
‘You look worried. Got mixed up with the wrong woman, didn’t you?’
‘We still have a job to do.’
‘We?’
‘Kayla, I’m not going to let this drop. Her life is at risk.’
‘Yours too, if you’re not careful. I’m going out and I’ll be home late.’
‘Don’t be telling your friends about Kim and the little girl Baines murdered.’
‘What harm can come of it?’ Jay scowled at her. ‘Calm down, dad. I won’t say a word. It’s all in the past, isn’t it?’
‘The past has caught up with her … Did you ask Jenny to describe the man who visited her?’
‘No. I had a hard enough time trying to remember everything. It wasn’t easy.’
‘It can’t have been. You did a good job, Kayla.’
She switched the computer on, tapped the keys. An image flashed up on the screen. ‘Bloody hell,’ she said under her breath. ‘Come and look at this.’
Jay peered over her shoulder. ‘Who is it?’
‘Ethan Baines. Has a look of you, don’t you think?’
‘Nothing like me.’
She typed another name. ‘Recognise her?’
‘It’s not …?’
‘She was prettier before she changed her looks.’
Blue eyes stared back at him. Her hair was long, sleek and black. If it was a mugshot taken by the police, she didn’t appear to be stressed.
‘I suppose you think she had nothing to do with the murder of Sarah McEnery?’ Kayla said.
‘We shouldn’t jump to conclusions. She stated her case and the jury went along with it. They believed her.’
‘She’s hated. They should have thrown her inside a filthy cell for the rest of her life.’
Jay shot up, grabbed her shoulders. ‘Ethan Baines is dead. The public reacts badly if a woman is even remotely connected to a child rapist and murderer. All the anger directed at Baines has shifted onto Kim. She is the monster, the fiend everyone wants to punish. Even if she hadn’t provided an alibi for that sadistic pervert she would still be despised. Don’t become like the rest of them.’
She pushed him away, contempt rising high. ‘Could you love her, knowing what happened?’
He looked down, gave a sigh. ‘I don’t know … I wouldn’t want to see her harmed.’
‘You can’t protect her forever.’
‘Am I supposed to pretend she never existed?’
‘Do what’s best for you. I’m going.’
She stormed out of the house. An unsettling silence filled the room. As the evening progressed, a sense of foreboding dampened his resolve.
***
Erica was relaxed, eyes closed, lost in the harmonic drama of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony. The music stopped playing. Edward stood in front of her. She glowered at him. ‘Why have you turned it off?’
‘Are you aware how long Kim has been with us?’
‘What does it matter? She’s a lot calmer and in better shape. You wouldn’t have noticed.’
‘I am not blind, Erica.’
‘So?’
‘You have taken advantage of this poor girl. She is still unwell in my opinion. Only proper medical care can cure her.’
‘You’re overreacting, so you are.’
He snorted. ‘Am I? I’ve heard her talking in her sleep. It’s my belief she is carrying a huge emotional burden. I wonder if she’s in some kind of trouble, perhaps with the law?’
‘I’m aware of her nocturnal rambling. Folk say all kinds of nonsense in their sleep.’
‘Maybe they do. However, I will take her away from here tomorrow and –’
‘You will do no such thing.’
Anger twisted his mouth. ‘I’ve had enough of your insolence, Erica. Your days here are numbered. You saw an opportunity to indulge your depraved lust and you took it. You have no shame. Furthermore, you have no respect for me. I’ve been good to you over the years. You have gone too far this time.’
‘I don’t believe you would dismiss me,’ she hissed. ‘I’m your cook, clerk, housekeeper.’
‘Yes, and very efficient you are, too. If I have to employ a housekeeper and cook, then so be it. I’m sure I can manage the clerical work.’
Erica jumped out of the chair, slapped his face. His glasses fell onto the floor. Tears glistened in her eyes. He
r mouth fell open with the shock of her violent outburst. ‘I’m sorry, Edward. Can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done, what I am?’
He stood rigid for a moment, picked up his glasses and retired to his study.
Erica ran into the kitchen. Through watery eyes, she saw the fragmented shape of Kim walking in the garden.
***
Edward switched the table lamp on, squinted against the glare. The clock showed eleven-thirty. He wearily pulled back the sheets, sat on the edge of the bed and worked his feet into his slippers. The large glass of wine he drank earlier ensured a full bladder. On his way to the bathroom he decided to check on Erica. He slowly pushed the door open. The sound of gentle snoring satisfied him. At least she was where she should be.
He entered a bathroom in disarray. A crumpled towel and scissors were on the floor. The cabinet door was wide open. He bent his creaky knees, examined clumps of brown hair lying next to a towel. The sink contained a scattering of the same hair. He rushed to Kim’s bedroom. In the feeble glow from the outside street lamp he saw an empty bed. He resisted the urge to call out her name, rushed to Erica’s room and shook her bare shoulders. She woke up, startled.
‘Kim’s not in her room. Where is she?’
Erica sat upright, exposing her breasts.
‘She’s probably downstairs.’
‘There are chunks of hair in the bathroom,’ Edward said, his head turned to the side.
Erica got into her dressing gown and they hurried downstairs. The front door was locked. Kim was nowhere to be seen. They eyed each other. Edward remained calm, in control.
‘Where is she, Edward? I will not be tricked.’
‘As God is my judge, I have not deceived you.’
He ran into the kitchen, opened the door and shouted, ‘Kim, are you there?’ He walked over to the kitchen cupboard and grabbed a torch. They went outside into the cool night air. A breeze whispered amongst the trees beyond the boundary fence. Edward shone his torch, directed the beam along the garden perimeter. They were drawn to a small area of flattened flowers. Edward knelt, examined the soil. ‘Look at this,’ he said. ‘A bare footprint.’ He shone the torch at the fence and gasped. ‘Blood. She’s injured herself … Dear God, please protect her.’
All Your Fears Page 20