The Ex (DS Jenna Morgan)

by Diane Saxon

  Before either could make an objection, not least of all Mason, who definitely wouldn’t want to be around Sylvia for long, Jenna turned to Ryan, who, for once in his life remained quiet, without question, evidently sensing the atmosphere.

  Impressed with his development, Jenna afforded him a sly wink. ‘DC Downey. You’re with me.’

  His perfect white teeth gleamed as his grin spread wide.

  37

  Tuesday 13 July, 10:50 hrs

  She may never be forgiven, but Mason had been the best option. The wintry gaze he’d turned on her would soon be softened when he spent more time with Joshua. She hoped.

  Whatever, he’d forgive her.

  Eventually.

  She’d saved him a couple of hours of pure paperwork by going back to the station and completing it while she gave Sylvia and Mason enough time to visit the hospital with Joshua.

  She kept a close eye on the progress of the hunt for Emily, but she’d needed to let go of that side of things for the time being. Her immediate priority was Joshua and Zak. DI Taylor had firm control of the search for Emily and identifying Fern.

  Once Mason confirmed they were on their way to the safe house, she’d been able to make her move.

  As she drew up outside Zak’s parents’ house, Jenna sent Ryan a quick glance. ‘One step at a time, Ryan. We don’t give him everything at once. We give him hope without desperation.’

  ‘He’ll be ecstatic to hear his son is okay.’

  ‘He will. But we must be careful. Ryan, I’m 99 per cent sure that little boy is his, but we have to consider there’s an outside chance he’s not.’

  ‘He’s very distinctive-looking,’ Ryan argued.

  ‘Yes.’ Jenna held a finger up, kicking strength into her voice. ‘But what if we go in and tell Zak we’ve found his son and it turns out on the wide off chance not to be? We’d cause more devastation and heartache by giving him false hope. So, Ryan, it’s softly softly. We can’t go in gung-ho.’ She turned her head and pointed out of the side window at the figure lurking along the street as though his instinct had already led him there.

  Damn him.

  ‘Kim Stafford,’ She spat out his name.

  ‘He was outside Emily’s house when we were there.’

  Jenna nodded. ‘If he gets wind of this, it will be splashed all over the nationals in tasteless, over-sensationalised media panic. We don’t know the full story yet. We have no idea where Emily is, and we haven’t identified the victim. All we can do is go through our police procedures step by step, Ryan, without the media frenzy the likes of Kim Stafford promote.’

  As Ryan unstrapped his seatbelt, Jenna reached out and touched his hand. ‘Say nothing and don’t respond to anything he says. Understand?’

  Ryan grinned. ‘Yes, Sarg. Don’t let him see the whites of my eyes.’

  Jenna smiled back at him and then opened the car door, letting the blast of heat whip away any benefit the air con had given. As she stepped out, Stafford was on her in an instant.

  ‘Jenna.’ She tilted her chin and stared down at him. Just shorter than her, when she drew herself up, she made a point of towering above his stooped stance. ‘DS Morgan,’ he corrected himself. ‘What news do you have? Have there been any developments?’

  She shot him a tight smile. If there had, she’d rather walk over him than give him any information. ‘Nothing at this stage, Mr Stafford. Sorry, you’ll have to contact our press officer if you want any information.’ Short, sharp, professional.

  She strode away without a backward glance, Ryan at her side.

  The slight woman who answered the door had an abundance of black curls, just like her grandson’s, but the eyes were a deep, dark brown filled with exhaustion that welled from her in a tangible cloud of sadness.

  Jenna flashed her badge. ‘DS Jenna Morgan, DC Ryan Downey. Mrs Cheetham-Epstein?’

  ‘Just Epstein. Simi. Simi Epstein.’

  ‘Simi. Is Zak home?’

  ‘Yes.’ She took a weary step back into the dark hallway and beckoned them forward. ‘Come in. Do you have news?’ As Jenna opened her mouth to reply, Simi pursed her lips and shook her head as though she didn’t want to hear, just in case it was bad. ‘It’ll keep for Zak. He’s in the living room.’

  As Jenna had no intention of imparting information to Simi before she saw Zak in any case, she puffed a short sigh of relief. She followed the delicate woman into the cool of the Victorian, stone-built house, and without looking back, heard the door close on Kim Stafford as Ryan stepped up behind her like a faithful shadow.

  A relief from the unforgiving sun, the darkness in the hallway almost robbed her of her sight after the brilliant light outside. Pale green light filtered through the high-ceilinged living room with its overstuffed chairs and sofas and wide breadth of windows looking out across a vast expanse of tree-lined garden.

  North-facing, Jenna imagined the huge inglenook fireplace would be well used in the winter months, but she could only be grateful for the cool air that played across her skin, to wipe away the sweat she’d managed to work up before they were even halfway through the day.

  Zak surged to his feet from the pale floral sofa, handsome face etched with lines of worry and hope. Bloodshot eyes met hers in a frantic appeal. ‘Do you have any news?’ The exact question his mother asked, but he wanted to know. Needed to know, although the desperation in his eyes begged for it not to be bad news.

  Time and again, Jenna had been in this same situation, more often than not with bad news. It was the job, what she’d been trained to do. Training, though, didn’t negate a certain compassion and sympathy, which some officers lacked. Since Fliss had disappeared, Jenna had learnt so much about herself and the personal experience had moved her to a whole different level of understanding when she dealt with delicate situations.

  She narrowed the gap between them and took hold of one of Zak’s large hands in both of hers. ‘Zak. Shall we sit down?’ She gave a gentle tug on his hand and sank down onto the sofa with him, their knees bumped as they settled. Without releasing his hand, Jenna ran her quick gaze over him. Worry and fear for both his wife and son had taken its toll and his unshaven face was slack with exhaustion. Although the line of enquiry had taken a sharp diversion down another route, Zak’s innocence would remain in question until such a time as they proved he’d had no hand in his wife’s attack.

  Lips tight, Zak squeezed her hand and the kindest thing was to put him out of his misery, but Jenna held back, unwilling to see the pure excitement she knew would be there as soon as she mentioned Joshua’s name. Excitement borne of hope. Hope she held precious in her hands.

  She’d steady him first. Find out about his wife, because once she released the information about Joshua, she’d probably have no further sense from Zak.

  ‘Do you have any news about Imelda?’

  Zak’s leg jigged up and down, vibrating through his hand into both of hers. Nerves destroyed his ability to stay still. ‘We were there last night. Southmead.’ His voice trembled as he waved his free hand in the air. ‘They’re going to try and bring her out of the coma this morning.’ He glanced up at his mum, who hovered at the doorway, her fingers linked together at her waist, twisting in non-stop agitation. ‘Her parents are staying in a hotel there, so I could come back and forth here. They’ll ring us soon. We’re just waiting to hear.’

  ‘Waiting.’ Simi stepped deeper into the room. ‘Waiting all the time. Just for news. Anything. About Imelda, about Joshua…’

  Jenna nodded her understanding as Ryan stepped closer to Simi. Not yet fully comfortable with imparting bad news, Ryan nevertheless had the natural inbuilt personality to offer sympathy without cutting him to the bone and ripping out his heart.

  Jenna gave a gentle squeeze to Zak’s hand and as his tortured gaze returned to her, she offered him that little snatch of hope. ‘This morning we were called to a house in Lawley where there were reports of a child crying.’

  Zak’s fingers flexed in hers
and his spine went rigid as he sat upright, wholly focused on her.

  ‘When we arrived, we came across what we believed was a little girl.’

  His forehead furrowed as his dark brows drew together, disappointment already turning his straight lips downward.

  ‘However, when DC Ellis changed the child’s nappy, we discovered it to be a little boy.’

  Zak’s eyes popped wide until Jenna could see the white all the way around the deep blue iris. He turned his hand over in hers and squeezed tight enough to take her breath away.

  ‘Zak.’ She kept her voice even. ‘We have no idea why this child was dressed as a little girl, other than to disguise him.’ She paused as his grip slackened. ‘We believe this may be Joshua. We think he’s your son.’ She felt the move as he considered leaping to his feet, but she held onto his hands. ‘Zak!’ His gaze shot and held onto hers. ‘I need you to prepare for it not to be Joshua. Do you understand?’

  He nodded, but the pure electric vibration shimmering through his body said he was prepared for no such thing. Jenna recognised the sheer desperate hope, had experienced it herself when news that Fliss had been found had reached her.

  Decision made, she untangled her fingers from his, pulled out her iPhone and checked the time. It was time to put them all out of their misery.

  ‘DC Downey and I will take you to the safe house, where we’ll go and take a look at this little boy.’

  ‘Safe house?’ His panicked gaze dashed between his mum and Jenna.

  ‘Yes. The same one you went to initially.’ It had other names: the rape centre, the crisis centre. The same unit with a multitude of uses. It was West Mercia’s designated safe house for anyone who needed counselling, protection, assistance.

  ‘Right.’

  They came to their feet together, him patting his pockets in frenzied confusion.

  ‘I need my phone. I should take my phone in case the hospital call.’ He turned his head. ‘Mum…’ Just as Simi swiped his phone off the coffee table and handed it to him.

  Pale and fragile, she raised shaking fingers to her lips. ‘Could I come too? Would it be okay?’

  Jenna took her lead from Zak. It was, after all, his call. He may rather be on his own when he met the little boy, but Zak was already nodding before his mother had finished her question. ‘Yes. I want Mum with me. We should let Dad know.’

  ‘Your dad? Where is he?’

  ‘He went into work. He… found all the sitting around tough. I think he just needed to… occupy his mind.’

  Jenna nodded as her gaze caught Ryan’s. Smooth as silk, he moved over to Simi. ‘Would you like to come with me?’

  Flustered, Simi raised her hand to her hair, and then gave a quick glance around the place. ‘I need my glasses. My phone. Oh, I’m such a mess. I haven’t…’

  ‘Mum. Joshua’s not going to care what his Nana looks like. He’ll just be glad to see you.’

  Eyes shiny with barely suppressed tears, Simi grabbed a glasses case from the sideboard and unhooked her phone from its charging cable, slipping both into the deep pockets of her tan trousers. ‘I’m ready.’

  For the first time, Zak’s lips kicked up in a small smile. ‘Perhaps lose the slippers, Mum.’

  ‘Oh.’ She slapped her hands against her ruddy cheeks, the quick rush of blood flushing them. ‘Of course.’

  She disappeared from the room and, when she returned, hair scraped back in a bun and feet firmly ensconced in a smart pair of leather brogues, she gave a nervous laugh.

  ‘Now, I’m ready.’ She stepped close to her son and ran one hand down his arm in a show of motherly affection as she brought her other hand from behind her back, a fluffy grey rabbit clutched in her fingers. ‘Do you think he’d like Fluffy Butt?’

  Zak choked and the sharp prick of tears hit the back of Jenna’s eyes as he took the soft toy from his mother’s hand and cradled it to his chest without speaking a word.

  Eyes full of tears, Simi plastered on a smile and craned her head upwards to peer at Ryan. ‘Shall we try again?’

  ‘Certainly. This way.’

  Jenna raised her hand to stop them for a brief moment. ‘As a word of warning, Zak, Simi. There’s a journalist outside, there will be more.’ Like bees to a honeypot. ‘I would ask that you don’t engage with them at all. Not a word.’

  With strained faces, they both nodded their agreement.

  As Ryan took the lead, guiding Simi from the room, Jenna turned to Zak. ‘I don’t want to give you false hope. I do believe this is Joshua, but please be prepared for it not to be.’

  Zak grimaced. ‘That’s not possible. I have to hope it is him. Hope is all I have left.’

  With an understanding deeper than he could ever imagine, Jenna held out her hand for him to precede her. ‘Let’s do this, then.’

  As they stepped outside the door, Kim Stafford rushed forward, iPhone in hand, presumably with the recorder on. ‘Zak, Zak! Would you care to give a few words? Have there been any developments?’

  Ryan spread his arms wide, turned his back on Stafford and used his body as a shield as Jenna guided Zak and Simi to the police vehicle. She opened the door for each of them and nudged them inside, noting the tight lines of their similar mouths as they avoided eye contact with Kim Stafford.

  38

  Tuesday 13 July, 11:25 hrs

  Jenna’s nerves fluttered deep in her stomach as she drew the car up outside the safe house. Nerves in case it was Joshua, nerves in case it wasn’t.

  Zak had spent most of the journey in tense silence, his fingers tap, tap, tapping on his knees as he hugged the grey rabbit to his chest and sat bolt upright in the front seat of the police-issue vehicle. His mother in the back with Ryan, uttered not a word. As Jenna slid the car into park, she left the engine running to keep the air con on.

  Zak turned his gaze on her. ‘What was he doing in that house?’

  She’d wondered how long it would take him to ask that question and she didn’t have the answer. No one did at this juncture. ‘We’re not sure, Zak. First thing’s first. Let’s see this little boy. Identify him if we can.’ As he reached to unlatch his seat belt, Jenna stretched out to touch the back of his hand. ‘Zak. Whether this child is Joshua or not, you must understand that he has been through considerable trauma. I would ask you to show some restraint in your reaction. This needs to be a very positive encounter, no matter what.’

  Zak’s breath trembled as he drew it in while he gave a vigorous nod. ‘Yep. Yep.’

  Jenna raised her radio to her lips. ‘Are you ready for us, Mason?’

  Barely a split second passed when the radio crackled straight to life. ‘Ready and waiting.’ She tried to read Mason’s tone, but there was nothing. Just flat-out business.

  Jenna cut the engine and all four of them climbed from the vehicle together, slamming their doors in unison. The high-pitched beeping noise from the car stopped when she clunked the lock on the doors as they made their way along the side path to the front of the house. The soft whine in her head continued.

  Mason stood with the door wide open as they approached. He raised his forefinger to his lips. ‘He’s asleep.’

  Jenna’s heart gave a stumble before it raced on again. Asleep was probably the best thing for the child after crying for so long. Even though the doctor would have made the experience as painless as possible, he’d still had to endure strangers handling him. At least if it wasn’t Joshua, while he was asleep he’d be unaware of yet more strangers coming into his world.

  Sylvia rose to her feet as they entered the downstairs room. Kitted out in bright primary colours, it served as both a nursery and playroom for those children who needed to visit or stay. Its design cultivated to distract and soothe. Although, in truth, given the trauma some of the children experienced, the task was impossible, and the long-term effects, the physical and mental scars they suffered couldn’t be forgotten with a dash of paint and a burst of colour.

  Jenna sent Sylvia a quick nod and apprecia
ted the other woman’s cooperation as she stood by as witness, her participation not required at this point.

  Asleep in the cot, the child lay under a thin patchwork sheet.

  Tempted to approach, Jenna held off and let Zak move towards the cot on his own. His mother stood silent next to her, hugging the toy Zak passed over as he went, her nerves vibrating the air while she waited for her son’s reaction.

  Jenna’s breath strangled in her throat as Zak peered over the cot at the youngster. He flung both hands up to his face as tears sprang to his eyes and leaked down his cheeks. ‘Josh. Joshie,’ His hoarse whisper barely made it from his lips.

  If she’d had the strength to stop him picking up the sleeping infant, Jenna wouldn’t have. It was Joshua and all the caution in the world couldn’t keep a father apart from his son.

  Zak leaned over and swooped the child up in a hug so tender it belied the man’s desperation. With tears streaming down his face, he squeezed his eyes closed and ignored everyone else in the room as he rocked the still sleeping infant in his arms. The little boy’s head tucked into his neck, the cotton sheet dangled from Joshua’s body as Zak buried his face in his son’s hair.

  With a sob choking her, Jenna’s heart couldn’t take the tenderness of the scene. Bursting with joy and relief and every kind of elation imaginable, she turned her back to let Zak have his privacy with his child, only to have Simi throw herself in Jenna’s arms.

  It took a split second for Jenna’s exploding heart to respond and she wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and let her sob into her shoulder, knowing it was the best thing she could do for her at that moment.

  With tears blurring her vision, Jenna glanced over the top of Simi’s head at Mason’s broad grin, the same emotions she had inside plastered all over his face. Relief. Elation. The deep satisfaction.