by Sally Rigby
‘You’re welcome,’ the woman said.
They left the café and Birdie turned to Seb. ‘Well, that was a waste of time,’
‘If you’re running a busy café, you’re not going to see a little girl sitting quietly on a bench over the way. There would have been people milling around and going in and out of the café all the time, so we can hardly blame her.’
‘I’m not, it’s frustrating, that’s all. Come on, let’s go to the newsagent, we might have better luck there.’
The shop was empty and towards the back there was a man stocking shelves. He looked at them as they approached. ‘Good morning. Do you need any assistance?’
‘We’re revisiting the case of the little girl who was found over the road by the Old Grammar School, last year. Do you remember the incident?’
‘Yes, I do. It was shocking. I was working that day and when the police came to see me, I told them that I’d noticed her sitting on the bench, but didn’t really think anything of it as there were lots of people around. I assumed she was with one of them. If only I’d have known the truth, I might have spotted something.’
‘So, you only saw her when she was sitting, not before then?’
‘That’s correct. I did explain all this twelve months ago.’
‘Yes, we know, but we’re going over it again to make sure we haven’t missed anything. Thank you for your time.’
‘You’re welcome. I wish I could’ve helped you further.’
After they’d left the shop, she grimaced. ‘I think we’re clutching at straws. I expect everyone we speak to will say the same.’
‘Don’t dismiss it straight away. We’ll go to the crystal shop, now, and then call it a day until we visit June Charles this afternoon,’ Seb said.
A wind chime jangled as Birdie pushed open the door and they stepped inside. She could smell sandalwood incense and breathed it in. It was one of her favourites. There was no one around and she headed over to the glass cabinet in the centre, displaying a variety of crystals.
‘Look at that fuchsite, isn’t it beautiful?’ She pointed at the piece of green sparkling crystal and then glanced at the price. ‘Whoa, it’s expensive.’
‘The green colour is because there are small amounts of chromium in there.’
‘You know about crystals? Forget that question. What you don’t know is what I should be asking.’ She grinned in his direction.
‘It’s named after a German mineralogist named Johann Fuchs and it’s the stone of rejuvenation and renewal. It will help you achieve balance in your life, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.’
‘Impressive,’ a voice came from behind them.
Birdie recognised the woman from when she’d been in the shop previously. ‘You get used to his knowledge once you’ve known him for a while. We’re looking into the case involving the little girl who was found over by the grammar school a year ago.’
‘Oh, yes, I remember it very well. The police came to see me on the day it happened and I told them that I hadn’t seen anything.’
‘Have you remembered anything since?’
‘If you look out of the window, you’ll note that it’s not easy to see anything from this angle. Nothing has changed, for me, from that day—’
‘But,’ Birdie said, pre-empting what the woman was about to say.
In her peripheral vision she noticed Seb giving her a funny look. She shouldn’t have interrupted. It was questioning 101.
‘But … my next-door neighbour’s daughter, Ruby, was working here on work experience at the time the child was found, and we happened to be discussing the case a few months ago when I was at her house having coffee with her mother. We were wondering what had happened to her. It was then that Ruby mentioned seeing a car driving around a few times.’
Birdie’s skin prickled. ‘Did she mention the colour or the make?’
‘No, sorry.’
‘Did she say whether she’d recognised the car as belonging to anyone she knew, or that it had been hanging around at all?’
The woman shook her head. ‘No.’
‘This isn’t in the files. Did she tell the police?’
‘She’d already gone home when they came, so maybe not. I also think she would’ve told me if she had when we were talking about it.’
‘Did you give the police her contact details?’
‘Um … from memory, no, I didn’t. It’s a long time ago. I remember a police officer in uniform came in and asked me if I’d seen anything that morning and I said no.’
‘Is that all he asked?’
‘Yes. He was only here for a couple of minutes, if that, because he got called away.’
Which is why he didn’t ask whether there was anyone else working in the shop. Birdie bit back a frustrated sigh. How bloody annoying was that?
‘Please could we have Ruby’s details?’
‘I can let you have the address and her mother’s phone number. Ruby will be at school now … you are the police, aren’t you?’
‘I am an officer, but this is a private investigation,’ Birdie said.
‘That’s okay then.’
After taking down the details they left.
‘How annoying that the original officer got called away and didn’t remember to go back to the shop. But at least we’re now getting somewhere. I’ll call the girl’s mum.’ She pulled out her phone and keyed in the number she’d been given.
‘Ava Weatherall, speaking,’ the woman answered.
‘This is Lucinda Bird. I’ve been speaking to your neighbour at Crystal Haven, because we’re looking into the case of the little girl who was found in the town centre twelve months ago. We understand that at the time your daughter, Ruby, was doing some work experience at the shop. We’d like to have a chat with her after school, if that’s okay with you.’
‘Um … I suppose so. But I don’t know how she’ll be able to help.’
‘We have some routine questions. Nothing to worry about.’
‘Okay. We’ll be home after three-thirty.’
‘Thank you. We’ll see you then.’
Chapter 16
June Charles lived in a Victorian terraced house in Clarence Street. Seb knocked on the dark red painted door which fronted onto the road, and a woman in her fifties, wearing a uniform from one of the large supermarket chains, answered.
‘Hello, Mrs Charles, I’m Sebastian Clifford. We spoke on the phone on Monday. This is my colleague, Birdie.’
‘Come on in. I was about to put the kettle on. Would you like a tea or coffee?’
‘Tea with a splash of milk would be lovely, please,’ Seb said.
‘Same for me,’ Birdie added.
‘We’ll talk in the kitchen, this way,’ Mrs Charles said.
Seb gestured for Birdie to go first, and they headed, single file, down the narrow hallway, which had the stairs going up the right-hand side, and into the galley kitchen. They stood in the doorway, as it wasn’t large enough for them all to be in there, while the woman put tea bags into a stainless-steel teapot, took out three china cups and saucers from the cupboard and placed them next to the kettle. She then leant against the kitchen cupboards and faced them.
‘Thank you for agreeing to see us,’ Seb said.
‘I must admit, I was surprised when you phoned. I didn’t realise the police were still looking into the matter.’
‘The case has remained open the whole time, but lack of evidence had meant it wasn’t able to progress. Until recently, when the little girl saw something which we suspect could be linked to her past. We’re investigating, unofficially, to see if there was anything missed at the time, or not reported if it wasn’t viewed as relevant by the person who witnessed it,’ Birdie said.
‘I see. How is the little girl? Wasn’t she called Lacey?’
‘Yes, that’s the name she was given by social services. She’s still in foster care and progressing very well under the circumstances.’
‘Poor little thing. Who wo
uld abandon a child of that age? It sickens me what some people do. Thank goodness it was me who found her and not some paedophile. You hear all sorts of stories about what goes on. And right under your nose, too.’ The kettle pinged, and she filled the teapot with water.
‘She was indeed lucky that you were the person who found her,’ Seb said, leaning against the doorway, his arms folded. The woman was right. It could have been so much worse for Lacey if the wrong person had got hold of her.
‘Please could you run through exactly what happened that morning. In as much detail as you remember.’ Birdie pulled her notebook and pen from her jacket pocket.
‘It’s ingrained in my mind like it happened yesterday. It was a few minutes before nine o’clock in the morning. I wasn’t working that day and I’d gone into town early to do a few bits and pieces. I wanted to drop off my coat at the dry-cleaner because I’d spilt beer on it, and then I had planned to buy some wool from the shop in St Mary’s Place. My niece had announced she was pregnant, and I wanted to knit something for the baby. People don’t seem to do that nowadays, do they? When I had my children, I was inundated with cardigans, matinee jackets, and blankets that had been knitted specially for me.’ She poured the tea into cups, added the milk and passed one each to Birdie and Seb, while continuing to talk.
Ten minutes later she reached the moment when she’d come across Lacey.
‘I was walking down High Street and noticed a small child sitting on her own, wearing a thin, cotton short-sleeved dress. It wasn’t a very cold day, but it still appeared strange so early in the morning. That’s what caught my attention. She was staring ahead, her hands clutched together in her lap. There were people around but from where I was standing it didn’t look like any of them were with her, so I went over to see if she was okay. I thought that maybe she was sitting on her own while her parent or carer had popped into one of the shops. Then I saw the … you know … hanging round her neck. I was asked by the policewoman who interviewed me not to mention it to anyone. Which I haven’t. Literally to no one because I knew how important it was for identifying her. It would stop anyone from saying she was theirs when she wasn’t.’
‘Thank you for complying with the officer’s request, it was extremely important that you did, for Lacey’s safety. What happened after you went over to see how she was?’ Seb asked.
‘I didn’t want to scare her, so I crouched down to her level and asked where her mummy was, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she stared at her knees. Her legs were like little white sticks. It was as if she hardly got any fresh air, she was so pale, and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on her.’
Seb coughed. He’d asked for detail, but the woman kept going off at a tangent. At this rate, she wouldn’t have finished before she was due to leave to collect her granddaughter.
The woman gave a wry smile. ‘Sorry, I do have a habit of chuntering on as my Eddie always says. He’s my other half, in case you wondered.’
‘I thought he might be,’ Seb said, giving an encouraging nod. ‘You were saying?’
‘I asked her again if she was with anyone but she still didn’t answer. There were two women standing fairly close having a chat, and I interrupted and asked if Lacey was with them but they said no. So, I phoned the police and stayed there until they arrived with social services. I sat next to the child on the bench and talked the whole time wanting to reassure her that everything was going to be okay, and also to make sure that she didn’t run away. In all the time we were waiting she didn’t say a single word. At first, I thought she might not understand me, but there was the occasional look in her eye that made me realise she probably did. Anyway, that’s everything that happened and it’s exactly what I told the police when they asked me at the time it all happened.’
‘We’re very grateful for what you did. It was very kind of you,’ Birdie said.
‘It was nothing. I did what any other decent person would have in the situation.’ The woman’s chest puffed out, clearly appreciating the praise.
‘Did you notice whether there was anybody watching you while you were with Lacey? Maybe from a distance,’ Birdie asked.
The women chewed on her bottom lip. ‘Um … I don’t think so. But other than trying to work out if anyone recognised her, I wasn’t looking around. It didn’t even enter my head that someone might be watching us. I’m sorry.’
‘There’s no need to apologise, you did a great job. The fact that you went over to her, instead of carrying on with your shopping, and that you phoned the police and waited, meant she didn’t come to any harm.’
‘And you say that she’s doing very well now.’
‘Well, considering what had happened to her, she’s improving in many areas. In particular with her schoolwork,’ Birdie said.
‘That’s so good to hear.’
‘Back to when you were sitting with Lacey, did she look anywhere in particular or show any indication that she recognised anyone or anything?’
‘She looked at me when I first sat next to her, and a couple of other times, but other than that she didn’t look anywhere other than at her knees. When the two women from social services arrived, she didn’t try to run. After they told her who they were, and one of them offered her hand, she went with them. She was compliant and didn’t cry or get upset. She didn’t look back at me at all.’
‘What happened after they took her away? Did you notice anyone paying particular attention to what was going on?’ Seb asked.
‘I have no idea. Once she’d gone, the police came over and I gave a statement. That took about twenty minutes and then I left and carried on with my jobs. Obviously, I followed the story on the news and waited to see if anyone had come forward, but after a few days the story seemed to disappear, so I had no idea what happened to the child. I did think about phoning the police to ask but didn’t want to waste their time.’
‘We wouldn’t have minded,’ Birdie said.
‘So, you say she’s still in foster care. Doesn’t anyone want to adopt her?’
‘She’s happy with her foster carers, as she’s been with them since she was found.’
Seb was pleased that Birdie didn’t mention the child was with her aunt. It wasn’t relevant, and he didn’t want the woman attempting to contact the child.
‘That’s good. The main thing is that she’s settled and healthy.’
‘She’s very healthy and we have high hopes for her future. That’s all we need from you. Thank you for taking the time to speak to us.’
‘Actually, before we go, I’d like to return to the sign around Lacey’s neck,’ Seb said.
‘Yeah, that was really weird, wasn’t it? I’ve never seen anything like it before.’
‘Did she touch it at all?’
‘No. She took no notice of it which made me wonder if it was something that she always wore. Speak No Evil is something from the Bible, isn’t it? She might have come from a religious house. Not that I’ve heard of children wearing signs like that around their necks.’
‘It doesn’t originate from the Bible, but that’s a common misconception,’ Seb said.
‘Oh. I didn’t know. Is it something more sinister and creepy? Was she in a cult or something, do you think?’ The woman’s eyes darted from him to Birdie.
‘We don’t know, but nothing is off limits during our investigation.’
Chapter 17
‘After we’ve interviewed Ruby Weatherall, I’ll go back to work and download the CCTV footage from when Lacey was left. I’ve got cricket practice tonight so can’t get out to you later, but I can do tomorrow after work, if that’s okay?’ Birdie said, after they’d left June Charles’s house and were standing beside her car.
‘I’m afraid not. I’m returning to London to go to a charity event at The Savoy Hotel with my father. While there, I’m going to schedule a catch-up meeting with Rob to discuss the case we’re investigating.’
‘The Savoy. Wow. That sounds fun,’ she said, unable to hide the envious tone in
her voice. Why didn’t she ever get invited to go to places like that?
‘I’m not there for pleasure. My father needs me for support.’
‘I thought your older brother, the future Viscount Thingy … sorry, I can’t remember the name … doesn’t he do all of these posh affairs?’
‘Worthington. It’s Worthington. Hubert’s not too well, so I’m stepping in to help.’
‘Is it serious?’
‘I don’t know yet. I’ll find out more when I’m in London.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. I hope he gets better soon. And remember, I’m always available to accompany you, if you want to make it more bearable,’ she said with a grin.
‘Tempting. But no thank you. I’m not sure my father would be able to cope with your little idiosyncrasies, as you’re definitely an acquired taste.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment … I think. Say hi to Rob for me. Tell him …’ she hesitated. ‘Actually, never mind. He’s a superior officer so I better not risk saying anything out of order in case it jeopardises my future in the force.’
Seb laughed. ‘I’m sure he won’t hold anything against you, as he knows what you’re like having already met you.’
‘Well, I don’t want to risk it just in case. When will you be available for us to get together? I know we’re missing something. It got to be in the files. Or in the old footage we haven’t yet looked at. We’ll have to go through everything again.’
‘I’ll be returning sometime Friday afternoon at the latest. Come over to the hall after work and I’ll cook again.’
‘That works for me. What are we going to have?’
‘I have no idea. Do you really need to know now?’
‘No. I just wanted to know what to expect, so I can get the taste for it during the day. Come on, let’s go and visit this girl and see what it is she saw. Follow me, I know a shortcut.’
She waited for Seb to fetch his car and then drove to Douglass Drive, with him keeping his distance the whole journey. The houses were 1970s semi-detached, brick and tile properties and the one belonging to the Weatheralls had gravel instead of a front lawn, like several houses in the street, designed to provide extra parking. There was a red Toyota Corolla on the drive and Birdie parked on the street close by. Seb pulled up behind her.