Taken

by Lisa Stone

  ‘Take care,’ Sandie called.

  ‘Love you, Mum.’

  ‘Love you too.’

  Kelsey headed up the road towards the bus stop, zipping up her jacket as she went. Despite the chill in the air, she always felt warm after leaving Sandie’s, from seeing her daughter and being made to feel welcome. It gave her a frisson of hope for the future, that one day Leila might be able to live with her again. But in the meantime, she was satisfied that Leila was being well looked after. Sandie was a lovely person – none better, she thought.

  Yet what Leila had said about Gawping Goodman was bothering her. It seemed incredible that Goodman, squeaky-clean and moral gatekeeper of the estate, would in any way be involved in anything illegal, let alone Leila’s abduction. The police had interviewed Goodman at her home a number of times during the investigation. Surely they would have picked up on something if she’d been involved? But why would Leila lie? It didn’t make sense. There was only one way to find out the truth and that was to visit Goodman and ask her outright.

  Twenty minutes later, Kelsey alighted from the bus and made her way across Hawthorn Estate in the direction of Doris Goodman’s home. At 6.30 p.m. the sun had just set and teenagers were hanging around the swings in the play area. Kevin Bates, Mike Doherty and Jason O’Leary were unlikely to appear. They hadn’t been there dealing for some weeks now, not since the police had cracked down and cleared them out. Not that Kelsey would need them any more. The last drugs she’d bought – or would ever buy again – had been on 2 January when, consumed by despair and believing Leila would be better off without her, she’d intended to take her own life. When Leila had phoned, everything had changed. That time in her life had passed.

  Kelsey arrived at Doris Goodman’s door and faltered. What on earth was she going to say to the woman? Now her brain had recovered from the drink and drugs she could think more clearly and appreciated just how rude she’d been to her in the past. She could hardly come here now and accuse her of having played a part in Leila’s abduction. Unless, of course, it was true – then she could.

  Not giving herself any more time to think and change her mind, she quickly pressed the doorbell and waited, her heart drumming loudly and her palms hot and clammy.

  ‘Oh!’ Doris said, opening the door, clearly shocked to find Kelsey on her doorstep. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I’ve come to apologize,’ Kelsey said.

  ‘Really? What for?’ Doris looked even more worried and unsure.

  ‘For being rude and not listening to you when you tried to tell me I wasn’t looking after Leila properly. I’ve just come from seeing her.’

  ‘Oh, I see. How is she?’ She relaxed slightly.

  ‘Good.’ Children’s voices came from inside the house.

  ‘Do you want to come in? I’ve got Tilly and Freddie Miller here. They’re just finishing off their supper.’

  ‘Thanks.’ It was like coming from one foster home to another, Kelsey thought as she went in.

  ‘Have a seat in there,’ Doris said, pushing open the door to the front room. ‘I’ll just check on the children and then I’ll join you.’

  Kelsey went in and looked around the spotlessly clean and meticulously tidy front room. It was the first time she’d been inside Doris’s home, but Leila had been in plenty of times – to Kelsey’s shame. She knew children weren’t allowed in the front room – Leila had told her – and now she saw why. The light-beige furnishings, glass coffee table and display cabinets crammed with dozens of china ornaments were delicate and wouldn’t stand boisterous and energetic children.

  Kelsey perched on the sofa as Doris’s voice floated in, telling Tilly and Freddie they could play now they’d finished their supper. ‘If you want me, I’ll be in the front room,’ she said.

  ‘Would you like a hot drink?’ Doris asked a moment later, coming in.

  ‘No, I’m fine, thanks,’ Kelsey said. ‘I had dinner at the foster carer’s. You’ve got a nice place here.’

  ‘Thank you. It’s home.’

  Doris sat in the chair opposite Kelsey and there was an uncomfortable silence before Kelsey said, ‘The court case starts on Monday.’

  ‘Yes, I know.’

  ‘Leila’s evidence has been taped. She doesn’t have to go to court.’

  ‘That’s good.’ Another awkward silence. Was it Kelsey’s imagination or was Doris guarded, watchful, ill at ease? Hardly surprising with the grief Kelsey had given her in the past, she thought.

  ‘Both Colin and my sister are pleading guilty,’ Kelsey said.

  ‘Yes, I know,’ Doris said again.

  Another silence as Kelsey prepared to say what she had come to. ‘Mrs Goodman,’ she began, taking a deep breath.

  ‘Please, call me Doris.’

  ‘OK. Doris, in the past you’ve always talked straight to me. Been honest, even if I didn’t appreciate it. Leila has given me a good talking to and I can see the error of my ways.’ She gave a little smile. ‘There’s something I need to know, something that doesn’t make sense. If I ask you a question, will you give me an honest reply?’

  ‘I’ll do my best,’ Doris said stiffly, her guard going up again.

  ‘Colin Weaver is claiming you knew Leila was at your cottage and that you were in on planning her abduction. While Sharon maintains you had no idea.’

  A long pause before Doris said, ‘So I understand.’

  ‘Leila didn’t mention you in her video statement,’ Kelsey continued. ‘But when I saw her this afternoon she said you knew all along she was at your cottage and you visited her while she was at Colin’s flat.’

  ‘I see.’ Doris nervously touched the corner of her mouth. ‘Do you believe her?’

  ‘Yes, I think so. There’s no reason for her to lie. She made me promise not to tell anyone.’

  Doris looked away and then back again. ‘I suppose you have a right to know the truth. Goodness knows I’ve nearly confessed enough times. It’s been weighing heavily on my conscience.’

  Kelsey watched and waited, her senses tingling, as Doris prepared to speak again.

  ‘I made a huge error of judgement,’ she began. ‘I’ve been paying for it ever since. I don’t sleep at night, worrying about you and Leila. It’s me who needs to apologize to you. I hope you can forgive me. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing.’

  ‘So it’s true?’ Kelsey gasped. ‘You were in on Leila’s abduction?’

  ‘Yes and no. I’ll tell you what happened and then you can decide what to do with the information. At the beginning of November last year, Sharon came to see me out of the blue. I’d never met her before. She was very agitated and kept saying it was only a matter of time before the social services took Leila and that would be the last she saw of her, just like all your other children. I sympathized with her because I knew you weren’t looking after Leila properly. Sharon said she’d been denied the chance to have children of her own but wanted to save Leila at all costs; that drastic situations needed drastic solutions. She said she had a plan to save Leila but needed somewhere remote to hide her for a few weeks until she was allowed to officially foster her. She knew about my cottage from the advert I’d put in the newsagent and asked if she could use it. She said it was better if I didn’t know all the details but promised me Leila would be well looked after – much better than she was being looked after by you, which wouldn’t have been difficult.

  ‘I wasn’t sure to begin with, but Sharon convinced me it was the only way to save Leila, so I agreed to her using my cottage. I wasn’t supposed to see Leila after Colin took her on the evening of the thirteenth of November, but the police were everywhere so I went to his flat to warn him. It was only then I realized it was Colin, not Sharon, who would be staying with Leila at the cottage, and it was clear he had no idea about looking after children. I was worried for Leila and phoned Sharon. Call me a foolish old woman but she persuaded me everything would be all right. It was only much later I realized Sharon had issues. I didn’t hear
any more from her until Leila disappeared from the cottage. That hadn’t been the plan and I was worried sick. I was about to go to the police and tell them what I knew when Leila turned up at your flat. The rest you know. Obviously I did wrong and you have every right to go to the police, but I promise you I acted in good faith. All I’ve ever wanted to do is help children.’

  Kelsey continued to stare at Doris, amazed by her confession.

  ‘But didn’t the police suspect you?’ she said at length.

  ‘I think Beth Mayes might have done for a while; she certainly asked plenty of questions. But they can’t prove anything. There’s no evidence that I knew Leila was at the cottage or I was involved in her disappearance – only what Colin Weaver is saying.’ She paused. ‘Do you think I should confess?’

  Kelsey saw the humility in her eyes. This once-formidable woman, who’d so often chastised and lectured her on her morals and for being a bad parent, was now asking for forgiveness, and wondering if she should hand herself in to the police, which would very likely result in a prison sentence. Kelsey knew she held all the cards and Doris’s fate lay in her hands.

  ‘No,’ Kelsey said after a moment. ‘I don’t see that you confessing now would do any good at all. Leila is safe. I’ve learnt a very difficult lesson the hard way, and I think you have too. It’s better if you stay here and continue to look after the Freddies, Tillies and Leilas of the world. Sharon was the one who masterminded Leila’s abduction, and you and Colin fell in with her plan. I know how persuasive she can be.’

  Doris’s eyes filled. ‘Thank you so much. I don’t think I’d survive prison at my age. I am sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Have you seen Sharon?’ Doris asked, wiping her eyes. Tilly and Freddie’s laughter drifted in from the other room as they played.

  ‘Not since her arrest.’

  ‘I have. She’s full of regret and remorse. If you can find it within your heart to forgive her, I’m sure she would appreciate a visit.’

  Kelsey sighed. ‘I’m not sure. Maybe one day, after the court case.’

  Doris nodded. ‘And Leila is doing well with her foster carer?’

  ‘Yes. She’d like you and me to be friends.’

  ‘She’s a good kid,’ Doris said. ‘Do you think we could manage that, for her sake? I would like it if we could.’

  ‘Yes, I think so.’

  FORTY-EIGHT

  A month after the court case, in which Colin Weaver and Sharon Kern both received custodial sentences, Kelsey entered Silverlight Prison for women. The prison offered good psychiatric care, but it was over an hour’s train ride from Coleshaw. However, it wasn’t the journey that had delayed Kelsey from visiting, but the ordeal of seeing her sister again. Now she was here, unpleasant memories of her own two spells in prison for drug offences returned. With each security check, her feelings of guilt and unease increased, and she had to remind herself she had nothing to feel guilty about now. It was Sharon who’d done wrong and was in prison.

  Having completed the final security check, Kelsey continued into the visiting hall. She stopped just inside the door and surveyed the rows of tables and chairs. It was a moment before she spotted Sharon – seated at a table on the far right-hand side. She seemed smaller now, less confident and authoritative. Kelsey made her way over. Sharon was looking out for her, and as Kelsey approached their eyes met.

  ‘Hello,’ Kelsey said quietly, sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the table. ‘I never thought I’d be visiting you in prison.’ She laughed nervously.

  Sharon managed a small smile. ‘Thank you for coming. I was surprised you wanted to see me.’

  Kelsey shrugged awkwardly. ‘I bought you some chocolates, but I had to leave them in reception to be checked. I hope you get them in the end.’

  ‘That was kind of you.’

  ‘It’s OK.’ She stopped, unsure of what to say next. ‘How are they treating you in here? It looks better than the one I was in.’

  ‘It’s not bad. I have therapy twice a week, in a group and one to one with the psychiatrist.’

  ‘Is it helping?’

  ‘I think so.’

  Kelsey nodded. ‘Doris said you could be out in a couple of years.’

  ‘Yes. Thanks to you.’

  ‘Why thanks to me?’ Kelsey asked.

  ‘It was your evidence that swung it for me in court. Mad not bad.’

  ‘Oh, I see.’

  ‘I know how difficult it must have been for you to stand there in the witness box and relive our stepfather’s abuse. I’m very grateful.’

  ‘It needed to be done,’ Kelsey said dismissively. ‘And you’re not mad, Sharon, any more than I am. We just lost our way, only differently. I should have been there for you.’

  ‘Whatever do you mean?’ Sharon asked, confused. ‘You were there for me right through our childhoods, protecting me.’

  ‘No, I mean later. Since then. It never occurred to me that you were as damaged as I was, and suffering in your own way. Pity we didn’t get the help we needed earlier. I’m seeing a counsellor as well as part of my rehab programme. And Leila’s going to start play therapy soon.’

  ‘Good. How is she? Doris said she was with a foster carer.’

  ‘Yes, Sandie. She’s nice. I didn’t want to like her. I really resented her to begin with for having Leila, but she’s kind and caring, and Leila likes her. I see her at Sandie’s house three times a week and we speak on the phone in between. Leila can stay with Sandie until she’s eighteen if I don’t get her back.’

  Sharon looked down, her face clouding. ‘I hope you get her back. I expect Leila hates me,’ she said quietly.

  ‘A little. For the way you treated me. She’s very loyal. She always has been. But she’s young, she’ll get over it.’

  ‘Will you tell her I’m sorry?’

  ‘Yes.’

  There was another awkward silence and then they both spoke at once. ‘Go on,’ Kelsey said.

  ‘I was just going to say that Doris told me you and she had become friends. I was surprised.’

  ‘So was I!’ Kelsey laughed, more easily this time. ‘I’ve been to her home a couple of times and I’ve invited her to mine. She seems a bit reluctant to come. I told her it was clean and there wasn’t a syringe in sight.’ She laughed again.

  Sharon looked at her carefully. ‘She explained her involvement to you?’ she asked, glancing at the prison officer keeping watch over the room. ‘She said she’d told you.’

  ‘Yes. But don’t worry – your secret is safe with me. Leila thinks the world of Granny Goodman. She’d never forgive me if I told.’

  There was another silence before Sharon asked, ‘Have you heard anything about Colin Weaver?’

  ‘No. Have you?’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t in here. I feel bad about the way I treated him, used him as I did. You have too much time to think in here. I was a real bitch to you both.’

  ‘You were ill. At least you admitted what you did in court,’ Kelsey said. ‘The judge said you would both have got much longer prison sentences if you hadn’t told the truth. Weaver could be out on parole in three years with good behaviour. And besides, he didn’t have to do what you told him.’

  ‘I suppose not. Has Doris seen him?’ Sharon asked. ‘She said she might go. He hasn’t got any relatives who can visit him.’

  ‘She was going to, but I warned her off it. The prison authorities note who is visiting who, and she doesn’t want to raise police suspicion now. She said DC Beth Mayes had asked her a lot of questions during the inquiry. I know what it’s like being inside. She doesn’t.’

  ‘OK.’

  With that out of the way Kelsey felt the conversation got easier, and when the klaxon sounded signalling the end of visiting hour, Sharon’s face dropped. ‘Will you come and see me again?’ she asked imploringly.

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘And please tell Leila I’m sorry.’

  ‘I
will.’

  Blinking back tears, Sharon stood, and Kelsey watched her file out of the hall with the other prisoners, humble and remorseful. The little sister she had protected all those years ago was now in need of her love and support again. Kelsey was glad she’d come and said what she had. She would visit her again.

  FORTY-NINE

  At Coleshaw Police Station, the team of officers set up to find Leila Smith and catch those responsible for her abduction had returned to their usual duties – investigating burglaries, sexual offences, assaults and so forth. Bringing Colin Weaver and Sharon Kern to justice had been good teamwork, but DCI Aileen Peters had made a point of singling out and thanking DS Bert Scrivener, DC Matt Davis and DC Beth Mayes for the parts they had played.

  Although the team was now working on other cases, today Beth had reason to retrieve one of the archived files on the Leila Smith case so she could add a piece of paperwork. Even though the case had been closed with the sentencing of Colin Weaver and Sharon Kern, good record-keeping dictated that such paperwork should still be filed. It was impossible to know if it might be needed in the future, possibly in connection with another crime or one that hadn’t yet been committed. It was a mundane but necessary part of police work. Beth sat at her desk and opened the file with the letter that needed to be inserted.

  The letter had arrived at Coleshaw Police Station the day before. It was a copy of Colin Weaver’s letter of resignation, sent by Abby Conway, head of Human Resources at Sparks Electronics. On the attached compliments slip Mrs Conway had written: Apologies for not sending this sooner. I have been off sick. Beth had spoken to Mrs Conway on 27 November, when Leila had been missing for two weeks. However, illness wasn’t the only reason the letter had taken four months to arrive at Coleshaw. She’d addressed it to the wrong police station and it had bounced around a number of police forces and now showed the franking stamps of West Midlands police, Devon and Cornwall, Humberside and the Met, before finally arriving at Coleshaw.

  Beth turned the pages in the file – one of the many physical files relating to the Leila Smith case, in addition to those stored digitally – then picked up the copy letter of resignation, ready to insert it. The next letter in the file was Colin Weaver’s fake suicide note: