She could be angry that I didn’t tell her we were running the DNA test again. She has every right to be, I could’ve let her know but she’s already been on a roller coaster of emotions this week and I didn’t want to put her through another wait if it turned out negative. I’ve probably blown any chance of a date now.
He turned off the engine and checked his reflection in the rear-view mirror. Dark stubble covered his chin and his hair looked in need of a cut. Oh, what does it matter what you look like, you’re not here to impress her.
Daisy was stood outside her flat door when Meadows reached the top of the stairs. Her long dark hair was loose and cascaded in waves over her shoulders. Her creamy complexion was accentuated by the red jumper she wore.
‘I’m sorry to call on you so late.’
‘I take it this is not a social call.’ Daisy returned his smile. ‘Come in.’
The flat was lightly scented with vanilla, the source of which came from a candle that burned in a glass jar on the coffee table. The room was cosy with a large brown suede sofa. Landscape pictures of mountains, sea, and forests were hung against cream painted walls.
‘Lovely place you have,’ Meadows said.
‘Thank you. You better sit down and tell me what’s on your mind.’ Daisy sat on the end of the sofa.
As there didn’t appear to be any other seating Meadows took a seat on the opposite side of the sofa and sat at an angle facing her. He wasn’t sure how to start.
Better get straight to the point.
‘When we didn’t get a match for our little miss in the garden we started interviewing the previous occupants of the house. We looked into their backgrounds hoping to find some discrepancy with the children that were living there, perhaps one of them missed by the authorities. Or maybe a child was born and not registered for whatever reason. We ran DNA tests on some of the parents to compare them to the child we found.’
‘And you found a match?’ Interest sparked in Daisy’s eyes. ‘I knew I could count on you to get our little miss an ID.’
‘Well, now we know the identity of the mother of the child, a child she claimed to be still alive. So, we ran another test, this time against two of the grown-up children of the previous occupants and compared them with the parents of missing children. We got a match – to you and your father. We found Poppy, she is alive but living under a different identity.’
Daisy stared blankly at Meadows. It seemed to take a few moments for the information to sink in.
‘Are you telling me that some woman killed her child and took Poppy to replace her?’ Her voice trembled.
‘Yes, it looks that way, I don’t have all of the facts yet. I’m sorry, this must be quite a shock for you. I didn’t tell you that we were running the tests because to be honest I had no evidence that this would be the case. It was just a slight possibility.’
Meadows tried to pick his words carefully, he didn’t want to give away Poppy’s identity until he had made an arrest.
‘There was more than one family that we suspected of being responsible for concealing the child in the garden and more than one family that had a child abducted during that time. It was a little complicated. I didn’t want to put you, your father, and the other parents involved through the wait and disappointment of another test.’
‘It’s okay, I understand, it’s just a lot to take in now. I do appreciate that you came to tell me.’
Meadows felt his body relax. ‘Can I do anything for you? Make a cup of tea?’
Daisy smiled. ‘The answer to all problems, a cup of tea.’
‘If you rather I left so you can be on your own, I won’t be offended.’
‘I’d very much like you to stay.’
Meadows felt his skin tingle. ‘Then I’ll make you that cup of tea.’ He walked into the kitchen which was small and neat. There were a few dishes on the draining board and a solitary cactus on the windowsill. Meadows flicked the switch on the kettle and took two mugs from the mis-matched set hanging on the mug tree.
‘There are some biscuits in the cupboard if you’re hungry,’ Daisy called from the sitting room.
‘I’ll bring some in,’ Meadows called back as he opened the cupboard door and rummaged around.
When the tea was made, he carried it through to the sitting room and handed Daisy a cup before placing his on the table. He quickly grabbed the biscuits from the kitchen then took up a seat on the sofa. He was pleased to see that Daisy looked a little more composed although he was certain that she would be bursting with questions.
‘Have you seen her?’ Daisy took a biscuit from the packet and dunked it in her tea.
‘No, Blackwell and Paskin took her sample. I’m going to arrest the mother in the morning. I guess then we will learn the whole story.’
‘I know you can’t give me any specific details, but does it look like she had a nice family?’
‘Yes, well, a nice home at least, and both parents seem to be protective of her.’
‘That’s something, I suppose.’ Daisy sipped her tea. ‘Her whole life has been a lie. I can’t imagine what that's going to do to her. She’s not going to know me or Dad, she was too young to have any memories of us. She has her own family.’
‘I think you’re going to have to be patient and give it a little time. I’m sure she will be eager to meet you and your dad once the initial shock has worn off. Would you like someone with you when you talk to your dad?’
‘No, I think it will be better if it is just the two of us. I’ll do it in the morning.’
‘As soon as I can, I will give you all the details. There will obviously be some press interest so take what help you need.’
‘Thank you, and thanks for staying.’ She reached across the sofa and placed her hand on his.
Meadows felt the tingle run up his arm. He leaned back against the sofa, at this moment in time he was happy to stay all night if that was what Daisy wanted.
Chapter Twenty-seven
The rain hammered down on the windscreen as Meadows pulled the car into the Andersons’ driveway. He looked in the rear-view mirror and could just about see Blackwell and Paskin pull up behind.
‘Lot of cars here, I guess they have visitors ready for the wedding,’ Edris said.
‘I don’t like what we are about to do to that poor girl, but I guess we don’t have a choice.’ Meadows yawned.
‘Tired? Late night, was it?’ Edris grinned.
‘Yes, because I was still working when you were tucked up in bed.’
Well, keeping Daisy company most of the night but he doesn’t need to know that.
‘Working?’ Edris laughed. ‘If that’s what you call it.’
‘Come on, let’s get this over with.’ Meadows opened the door and stepped out into the rain.
They ran for the cover of the porch and Meadows rang the bell as Edris shook the rain from his hair. Blackwell and Paskin stayed in the car keeping a watchful eye.
The door opened and Dr Anderson immediately pulled back his shoulders. ‘What are you doing here again? This is harassment.’ His eyes narrowed.
‘Is your wife home?’ Meadows asked.
‘It matters not if she’s home. You’re not coming in.’ Colour rose in Dr Anderson’s cheeks. ‘We have a house full of guests, so you’ll have to come back some other time.’
‘We have a warrant for your wife’s arrest so if you’ll step aside, sir.’ Meadows stepped forward.
‘I’ll do no such thing. Just because you imbeciles can’t do your job properly doesn’t mean I’ll let you in to ruin our day.’ Dr Anderson stepped back and started to close the door.
Meadows quickly slung his arm out and the door bounced back. He turned his head and nodded at Blackwell. ‘Step aside or I’ll have you arrested for obstruction,’ Meadows said.
Blackwell and Paskin appeared at Meadows’ side.
‘What’s it going to be? I can cuff you and take you to the station or you can let us inside to do our job,’ Blackwell said.
Dr Anderson puffed out his chest and his face took on a purple hue.
‘Let them in.’ Sally appeared behind her husband.
Dr Anderson stood back and all four officers entered the hallway. Sally stood with an envelope clutched in her hand, she was dressed in a pair of jeans and a soft pink jumper. Her hair was coiled and pinned on top of her head.
‘I thought you would take longer.’ She looked at Meadows.
‘What are you talking about?’ Dr Anderson’s voice boomed around the hallway.
‘What’s going on?’ A young woman appeared at the top of the stairs with two young girls.
Meadows looked up and immediately saw the resemblance to Daisy. She was a little taller but had the same heart shaped face and creamy complexion.
‘Stay upstairs, Jade, and look after the girls.’ Dr Anderson waved his hand. ‘It’s nothing for you to worry about.’
Jade ignored her father and shooed the two girls away before coming down the stairs. ‘Mum, what do these people want?’
‘I’m so sorry, love.’ Sally turned to Meadows. ‘Why couldn’t you have waited? It’s not fair, she doesn’t deserve this.’
She would have let the wedding go ahead even though she knew she’d been found out. Let her daughter get married under a false name.
‘Sally Anderson, I’m arresting you on the suspicion of the murder of George Williams, for the murder of Jade Matthews in June 1992, and the abduction of Poppy Moore on the second of July 1992. You have the right to remain silent–’
The rest of Meadows caution was drowned out by Jade’s and Dr Anderson’s protests.
‘Mum, say something,’ Jade pleaded. ‘Say it isn’t true.’ She turned on Meadows, her fists clenched and face drained of colour. ‘You’ve made a mistake. You said she murdered Jade Matthews in 1992. I’m Jade Matthews, or I was before Dad adopted me. I can show you my birth certificate.’
‘Jade, maybe we should find somewhere quiet for you to sit down.’ Paskin put her hand on Jade’s arm.
‘No, I don’t want to sit down.’ Jade shrugged off Paskin’s hand. ‘Mum, will you please tell them they have made a mistake.’
‘Is any of this true?’ Dr Anderson asked.
Sally handed the envelope she was clutching to Jade.
‘I’m so sorry, I have explained everything in the letter. Your real name is Poppy, but you’ll always be my Jade.’ She turned to Meadows. ‘I’d like to go now please.’
‘No.’ Jade threw her arms around her mother.
Meadows looked at Dr Anderson who had a bewildered expression on his face.
‘DS Blackwell and DS Paskins will stay with you to explain what will happen next and answer any questions you may have.’
‘Come on, love.’ Dr Anderson pulled Jade away from Sally.
‘Jade, I’m sorry you had to find out this way,’ Meadows said.
Tears ran down Sally’s face and mixed with the rain as she was led to the car. She kept silent on the journey, the only sound was the occasional sniff. When they arrived at the station she answered the custody sergeant’s questions with her eyes downcast and hands clutched tight.
‘Would you like to contact your solicitor now?’ Meadows asked. ‘As soon as your legal representative arrives, we can start the interview.’
‘I doubt Laurence will pay up for a solicitor. It doesn’t matter anyway, I don’t want one. What’s the point? They can’t do anything for me. Let’s just get this over with.’
‘That’s fine by me, but we can provide a duty solicitor for you,’ Meadows said.
‘No, I don’t want one.’
While they waited for Sally to be processed through custody, Meadows and Edris headed to the canteen.
‘She seems very calm,’ Edris said as he stirred sugar into his tea. ‘I expected a little more protest.’
‘She’s had enough time to prepare.’ Meadows sat down at a table. ‘She knew we’d be coming after we uncovered the baby in the garden. She must’ve been living for years with the guilt, and the fear of being found out hanging over her head. All it would’ve taken is a simple blood test for Jade, well Poppy, to find out the truth. Maybe in some ways it’s a relief. I suppose if Ella hadn’t gone missing the truth may never have surfaced.’
‘Yeah and that poor girl would’ve lived her whole life as someone else.’
‘I expect she’s wishing now that she didn’t know. The look of shock on her face said it all.’ Meadows shook his head sadly. ‘It’s going to take a long time to adjust.’
‘Imagine finding out you have a different identity and a family you knew nothing about,’ Edris said.
‘A family that’s going to be desperate to see her after all these years.’ Meadows drank down his tea. ‘Come on, let’s go and see why Sally chose to destroy a family and murder George.’
Sally didn’t look up when Meadows and Edris entered the interview room. She sat with the sleeves of her jumper pulled over her hands and her shoulders hunched as if trying to keep a chill out. She kept her eyes downcast as Meadows read out the time, date, and those present for the recording device.
Meadows pulled the chair forward. ‘Sally, I have to remind you again that you are entitled to legal representation, either one of your choice or we can provide a solicitor for you.’
Sally looked up. ‘No, I’m happy to proceed without a solicitor.’
‘Okay, but you can change your mind at any time,’ Meadows said.
‘We would’ve been having fun now.’ Sally sighed. ‘I arranged for a professional hair and make-up artist to come to the house for a practice. It was going to be a wonderful day. I guess I won’t get to see how beautiful she looks in her wedding dress.’
‘But it’s not Jade that’s getting married, not Jade that’s in your house. Jade died twenty-four years ago, didn’t she?’
‘Yes.’ Sally nodded. ‘That Jade died.’
‘Would you like to tell us about that?’
Sally shrugged her shoulders and looked down.
I hope she is not going to clam up, Daisy and her father deserve an explanation.
‘We know you were on your own at the time with no support from your family. What about Jade’s father? Did he support you and Jade? Was he a part of your lives?’
Sally looked up. ‘No. Why do you think his name was never put on the birth certificate? I met Mark when I was sixteen, he was twenty-three. I didn’t know at the time that he had a girlfriend. He said we needed to keep our relationship a secret because he was worried that my father would object to the age difference. It made sense at the time. When I got pregnant, I had just started my driving lessons and was taking my A-levels. I had my whole life planned and suddenly my life was turned upside down. I was afraid of what was going to happen, how I would cope, and tell my parents. They were very strict and my father had a temper. I was sure Mark would look after me.’
‘I got all dressed up and did my hair and make-up to perfection. I arranged to meet Mark by the river, it’s where we always met. I remember the day clearly, the sun was shining, it lifted my spirits and I thought everything would work out okay. When I told Mark he was furious, even accused me of sleeping around to try and trap him. Then he told me about his girlfriend and that they had just got engaged. I only saw him twice after that. Once when he came to see me to say he was happy to carry on our relationship as long as no one found out. I told him I didn’t want anything to do with him, and the baby and me would manage without him. It hurt me but I couldn’t bear the thought of being with him and knowing he would go home to his fiancé,’ she continued.
Meadows tried to imagine what it must have been like for Sally. He wanted to understand what would drive her to kill her child.
Pregnant and alone with a broken heart. She must have ended up hating Mark. Did Jade remind her of the hurt? A constant reminder?
‘I guess you had to tell your parents.’
‘Yes, they wanted to send me off to stay with my auntie and have an abortion,
but I couldn’t. Part of me hated Mark but a part of me loved him and I couldn’t take it out on the baby. Maybe if it had been my decision, I would’ve considered my options. Maybe it would’ve been for the best. My father gave me an ultimatum, have the abortion or leave. So, I left.’
‘You moved to Coopers Wood estate,’ Meadows said.
‘Yes, I was lucky to get the house so quickly. I’d been sleeping at a friend’s house, but I could tell she was getting fed up with me, didn’t want to hear my problems every day. I knew I had to leave school, so I confided in one of the teachers. She was very good to me. Helped me get the house, wrote to the council.’
‘Was George living next door when you moved in?’ Edris asked.
‘Yes, he was okay at first. Went out of his way to help. He brought around vegetables he’d grown in his garden, helped me get furniture. When I moved in I had nothing, just my clothes. George managed to get hold of some second-hand furniture from a mate, even helped to move it. I had no money or job, so I had to take what I could. Even the cot and pram were freebies. Jade’s clothes I picked up from jumbles sales.’ A bitter laugh escaped Sally’s mouth. ‘Hard to think I once lived like that.’
‘So, you were worried about money, no boyfriend or family, and a baby on the way. You must’ve been feeling pretty low,’ Meadows said.
‘Not at that point. I was excited and scared at the same time. I was going to be a mother but I didn’t have a clue about looking after a baby. George drove me to the hospital the night I went into labour. There was no one else to ask.’
‘What about your friends? Couldn’t one of them have gone with you?’ Edris asked.
‘No, they were all still at school, going out and enjoying themselves. They would’ve found the idea of sitting through a birth appalling. It was just the midwives and me, they were very nice but it was a horrible experience. The labour went on for hours and it was an unpleasant delivery. They kept me in for a few days but then I was on my own. I had visits from the health visitor and George popped in but that was it. I felt so lonely.
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