by Lisa Stone
As they passed the corridor of the second floor they saw a uniformed officer knocking on residents’ doors. Seven in the evening was generally a good time to find people in, as those who were employed had usually returned from work and those with kids were home for the evening.
They nodded hello to the officer as they went by but didn’t speak. He was talking to a woman who’d just answered her door. They’d be told straight away if anything significant came to light, otherwise they’d be updated at the daily management meeting in the morning.
One of the lights in the stairwell wasn’t working, adding another layer of gloom to the flats. Outside it wasn’t any better. The estate was shrouded in a dank November mist.
‘Now to have a chat with Mike Doherty and Jason O’Leary,’ Matt said.
They were in their usual place on the other side of the play area, out of view from the entrance to the flats and the road but visible from the higher-level flats. Matt had seen them from Kelsey’s window. Their regulars knew where to find them. ‘We’ll leave the car here so we have the element of surprise,’ he added.
‘Agreed,’ Beth said.
Instead of walking in a straight line across the play area where their approach would be seen, Matt and Beth took the path that led to the left and came in behind the sheds housing the bins, in front of which Jason and Mike were dealing. The mist also helped conceal their arrival and, Jason and Mike, facing away and busy dealing, didn’t look round and see them until it was too late.
‘Gotcha,’ Matt said, grabbing Jason, the larger of the two, and forcing him into an arm lock up against the wall. ‘Shouldn’t you be at home doing your homework?’
Beth similarly forced Mike up against the wall. The other lads scattered and an approaching punter saw what was happening and turned and fled.
‘Get off, you’re hurting me,’ Jason groaned.
‘Sorry,’ Matt said, keeping on the pressure. ‘Would you like to empty your pockets or shall I?’
‘I’ll do it! Just get the fuck off me! You’re gonna break me bleeding arm.’
Matt released the pressure and turned Jason around so they were face to face, keeping his hands on his shoulders in case he tried to make a run for it.
‘Have you got anything on you?’ Beth asked Mike.
‘Nah.’
‘You won’t mind if I take a look then.’ She patted him down and took several packets of white powder out of his pockets. Matt was removing more drugs and a roll of bank notes from Jason’s pockets.
‘Why do you keep picking on us?’ Jason moaned. ‘The boss is gonna kill us this time.’
‘Nothing personal,’ Matt said. ‘It’s just that you’re on our patch and we don’t like what you do.’
‘Can I go now?’ Jason asked as Matt bagged up the drugs and money to take to the police station. ‘I promise I won’t do it again.’
Mike sniggered.
‘So you think it’s funny?’ Beth asked.
‘You know the procedure,’ Matt said, his hands still on Jason’s shoulders. ‘I’ll caution you and then we’ll take you to the police station and call your parents. But before we go, what do you know about Leila Smith’s disappearance?’
‘Nothing,’ Jason said with bravado.
‘What about you?’ Beth asked, turning Mike around to face her.
‘I don’t know nothing about anything,’ he replied.
‘Very true,’ Matt said dryly. ‘But you were both here last night around the time Leila went missing. You must have seen something – possibly saw her leaving with someone.’
‘No,’ Jason said. ‘Didn’t see a thing.’
‘Neither did I.’ Mike nodded in agreement.
‘And what about Kevin Bates?’ Matt asked, his hands still firmly on Jason’s shoulders.
‘Who?’ Jason asked, feigning ignorance.
‘He had a run-in with Kelsey last night,’ Matt said.
‘Did he? Wouldn’t know. Didn’t see anything,’ Jason returned.
‘Nah. That’s right,’ Mike agreed. ‘We didn’t.’
‘Do you know where Bates is now?’ Matt asked.
‘At home, doing his school work,’ Jason replied cockily. Mike sniggered again.
‘Got more sense than you two then,’ Beth said. ‘You’re off for an uncomfortable night in the police cell.’ She began cautioning Mike as Matt did the same with Jason. ‘You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’
TWELVE
As Mike Doherty and Jason O’Leary were being arrested, Colin sat in his flat, disillusioned and deep in thought, an unread newspaper on his lap. The kid was hard work, he had to admit. Far more demanding than he’d ever imagined a kid of her age could be, especially a girl. He’d assumed Leila would be grateful for a warm home and decent meals – somewhere she was safe and well looked after. Not so. She was sulky and uncooperative, and complained about everything: having to clear up, not being able to watch television, not liking the dinner he’d made. She’d refused point blank to help him wash the dishes or play the games he’d bought specially for her.
He felt hurt after all the trouble he’d gone to and had told her so – that he’d looked forward to the two of them sitting together like father and daughter and playing a game. She’d laughed, which had made him angry, so he’d grabbed her by the arm and shouted that she was an ungrateful brat and it was little wonder her mother didn’t want her. She’d started to cry then, and he had felt bad. It brought back unhappy memories of the times his father had hit him and made him cry.
He’d tried to make it up to her and went to give her a cuddle, but she’d pulled away and called him a pervert. That had made him even more angry – some of the kids on the estate called him a pervert – so he’d slapped her. Not hard, but enough to leave a red mark. She had to learn! That was the problem with children today. No discipline. Spare the rod and spoil the child had been his father’s motto, and he hadn’t spared Colin at all.
He’d sent Leila to her bedroom for a cooling-off period and to give him a chance to read the paper as he liked to do in the evening. But he couldn’t concentrate. He turned a page, then started as a knock sounded on his front door. A firm and insistent knock that expected a response. He glanced at his watch. It was seven-thirty. Who on earth could it be? He never had visitors, just salespeople trying to sell him something. Hopefully they would go away.
He kept very quiet and still, praying Leila wouldn’t make a noise. She knew what would happen if she did. There it was again. Another knock as firm as the first, then a female voice: ‘Police. I’d like to talk to you. You haven’t done anything wrong.’
His heart began drumming loudly and sweat pricked the back of his neck. What to do? The lights were on in his flat. He couldn’t just ignore them and sit it out.
He stood and took a couple of steps across the living room. The police – yes, it would make sense that they were knocking on all the residents’ doors, asking them what they knew. He’d seen them on the estate when he’d come back from work. If he didn’t answer they would come back later or another day when only Leila was in or wasn’t so quiet. Better to deal with it now.
He glanced around the living room, checking nothing of Leila’s was in view from the door, and went down the hall. ‘I’m coming!’ he called. ‘Just a minute, I was in the shower.’ Was his voice steady? He thought so.
He quietly opened Leila’s bedroom door. She was standing in the centre of the room, staring at him, petrified. ‘Don’t tie me up,’ she pleaded. ‘I won’t make a noise, I promise.’
‘So you know what to do when someone comes to the door. Come on, hurry up,’ he hissed.
Leila immediately dropped to her knees and scrambled under the bed, sliding the door of the storage compartment closed. He went over and adjusted the bed covers so they were over the doors. He picked up Leila’s teddy bear and nightwea
r and threw them in the wardrobe. If the police did come in, he’d say his niece stayed with him sometimes. With a final glance around he went quickly into the bathroom where he rubbed cold water into his hair to make it look as though he’d been in the shower. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Colin opened the front door.
‘Sorry to keep you waiting. I was having a shower. How can I help you?’ He smiled politely at the uniformed officer as she flashed her ID.
‘We’re making door-to-door inquiries in connection with Leila Smith. She’s eight years old and went missing yesterday evening. She lives in the flat above you.’
He shook his head. ‘Sorry, I don’t know her. I’m out all day at work.’
‘Were you in yesterday evening?’
He paused to think. ‘Yes, from about five-thirty.’
‘Your flat is one of those that directly overlooks the play area from where Leila went missing. Do you remember seeing a child there, maybe talking to older children? She was wearing her school uniform and carrying a school bag and possibly a teddy bear.’
He shook his head slowly as if trying to recall anything that might be of help. ‘Sorry, no. I didn’t see her. I close the blinds once it’s dark outside.’
The police officer nodded. ‘OK, thank you. If you do remember anything, please contact Coleshaw Police Station.’
‘I will. I hope you find her safe and well soon. It must be very upsetting for her mother.’
‘It is.’ The officer paused.
What now? Had he said something wrong?
‘So you know the child’s mother is a single parent?’
‘Not really,’ he said with only the briefest of hesitations. ‘I just made that assumption. They’re mostly single mothers around here, so I assumed she was too.’
The officer nodded, apparently accepting this. ‘Thank you for your time. If you do think of anything, please get in touch.’
‘I will.’
Colin closed the door and leant against it, his heart racing and his knees weak. It was a stupid mistake to make, one that could have easily given him away – mother instead of parents. Another slip like that might jeopardize everything. Take it as a warning, he told himself, and be more careful in future. You’ve planned this in detail; don’t mess it up now. Thankfully he’d had the presence of mind to think on his feet and deal with it. He waited by the door a few moments longer and when he heard the officer leave his neighbour’s flat and move on again, he opened Leila’s door.
‘You can come out now,’ he said, taking a step in.
The doors beneath the bed slowly slid open and Leila crawled out and stood. ‘They’re looking for me,’ she said. ‘I heard. You said Mummy didn’t want me any more, but I think she does. The police are looking for me. I hate you. I want to go home now.’
‘Not possible,’ Colin said. ‘As I’ve told you before.’
‘I won’t tell anyone I was here. I promise. I’ll just say I ran away like I did before. They’ll believe me.’
Her plaintive, whiny voice irritated Colin.
‘Forget it. You’re not going home now or ever. You are part of my plan. You are going to have a much better life far away from here, and so am I. You’ll have a proper two-parent family who will take care of you and teach you right from wrong. In the meantime, it would be better if you and I got along, so do as I say. Understand?’
Leila gave a small nod.
‘Good, now let’s play one of those games I bought for you, like a proper father and daughter.’
He saw a look of defiance briefly cross Leila’s face, but only for a moment and then she clearly thought better of it. She gave another small nod.
‘Excellent, good choice. You see how much easier it is for us both when you do as you’re told? You’ll learn in time. We don’t want you ending up like your mother, do we?’
THIRTEEN
In the flat above Colin’s, Kelsey had succeeded in getting rid of her sister and was now looking forward to the remaining gram of coke to help ease the pain of everything that was wrong in her life. Worryingly for her, it would be her last until she could work again, and at present there was sod all chance of that happening. She was sure that none of her regulars would visit the flat while the police were swarming all over the estate. And she could hardly go out and work her usual patch under the bridge on the canal in case she was spotted or the police came back to find her gone. Decent parents didn’t give blow jobs while their kid was missing; they stayed at home waiting anxiously for any news. But, of course, she wasn’t a decent parent, as she’d been told plenty of times. Did she have anything more to lose? Probably not.
Kelsey looked at the packet of white powder and savoured the moment. Snort, smoke, ingest or inject it? The choice was hers. If it was as good as the last one, she’d be out of it for hours. Welcome to oblivion. She couldn’t wait. She picked up the packet and began to open it carefully. Her phone, on the sofa beside her, bleeped with a text message. Probably Sharon checking on her again to make sure she wasn’t using. She’d only been gone half an hour and she’d already texted twice.
But no, as Kelsey looked at her phone she saw the text wasn’t from her sister. The caller’s number hadn’t been recognized by her phone, so it wasn’t in her list of contacts. But the message was clear and just what she needed. On my way up now. Hope you’re ready for me!
Wonderful, she thought. Money on its way. It must be a client; it couldn’t be anyone else. Clearly she’d forgotten she was seeing someone tonight – not surprising with the worry of Leila going missing. Slightly odd that he wasn’t in her contact list, though. Perhaps he’d got a new phone. He clearly knew who she was and where she lived and had braved the police on the estate to come and see her. Must be keen, she thought, and her spirits rose. They were usually generous when they were desperate, and a bonus would be if he’d brought some coke with him to share. Some of her regulars did.
The doorbell rang – a short, firm blast. Tucking the small bag of white powder behind a cushion – she wouldn’t be sharing hers – Kelsey stood and smoothed her clothes. She would have liked to have showered, changed and cleaned her teeth first. She knew good hygiene and sexy clothes were important to most of her clients, but there wasn’t time for that now.
Going quickly down the hall, she went into her bedroom and straightened the duvet. The old sheets were still on, stained with blood and semen from the pig’s visit, but with the lights down low and what her client had on his mind, hopefully he wouldn’t notice. The bell rang again and Kelsey peered through the security spyhole. As often happened, her visitor was out of view. If they stood to the side, they weren’t in range. Setting her face to a seductive smile, Kelsey began to open the door.
It didn’t get wider than a few inches before it was slammed back into her face. Her nose burst and she staggered sideways. A man came in, looming large above her. Shit! She was in trouble now. It was the pig, her last client, the one she’d stolen money from.
‘No husband or mates on their way?’ he growled, kicking the door shut behind him. Kelsey turned to run but he grabbed her by the hair. She cried out in pain. ‘I doubt you even have a husband. Who’d want you? Slut! But we’ll check the flat to make sure.’
He was a big bloke, built like a house, his face scarred from his boxing days. He dragged her by the hair in and out of the rooms, checking the flat was empty. Kelsey tried to follow his movements by bending her neck to ease the pressure on her scalp. She had to take little running steps to keep up and held her hair to stop it from coming out.
‘This place is filthy, like you,’ he spat.
‘Sorry.’
He paused as they entered Leila’s bedroom and did a double take. ‘So you have a child. The poor kid. Where is she now?’
‘Missing. The police are looking for her. They could come back at any time.’
‘Yeah, and I’m the tooth fairy.’ He dragged her into the living room and threw her on the floor.
‘Didn’t you see
all the police cars as you came in?’ she asked in desperation.
‘Shut up!’ He kicked her in the stomach and she squealed in pain.
‘Make a fool of me, would you? Forty quid you stole from me. Where is it?’
‘I haven’t got it, honest. You can check my purse.’
He grinned malevolently. ‘No need. You’re going to pay it back in kind, and with interest. It may take a while, and I like rough sex as you already know. But this is going to be rougher than you could ever imagine. I hope you’re up to it, but then again I’m not bothered if you’re not.’
Forcing Kelsey to her knees, he pulled the leather belt from his trousers and bound her arms tightly behind her back. He stood in front of her – legs slightly apart – and unzipped his trousers. ‘Payback time. Open wide. Deep throat.’ She gagged and tried to pull away, but he held her fast. ‘No one gets the better of me,’ he said. ‘As you’re about to find out.’
FOURTEEN
Leila was in bed, petrified, with the covers pulled up over her face, trying to block out the sounds coming from her mother’s flat above. She knew her mother was in trouble as soon as the noises started. She’d told Colin her mother was being hurt and that she needed to help her, but he’d said it wasn’t her problem any more, and that her mother was an adult and could take care of herself. She’d made a fuss and said she had to go and help, but Colin had got very angry and sent her to her room.
Now, two hours later, she was still wide awake, listening to the sounds coming from the flat above, more worried than she had ever been in her life before.
Leila knew what the noises meant and guessed Colin did too. That’s why he’d looked embarrassed. The grunting, gasps, cries, slaps, and then her mother’s screams, growing louder until she’d begged the man to stop. Leila recognized some of the sounds from when her mother had brought men home, but this was far worse than anything she’d heard in the past and it seemed to go on forever. If her mother couldn’t deal with a man and Leila was at home, she’d cry out for her help. ‘Leila! Come quickly!’ Then she would dash into her mother’s bedroom and accuse the man of raping her. It didn’t matter what time of day or night it was. If her mother needed her help, she would be there for her. But now all she could do was listen and will it to stop.