‘And what good would that have done? Social services didn’t do much and you’ve spoken to Natalie, you must realise that lying is second nature to her, I doubt even she knows the truth half the time.’
‘Yes, I did get that impression. But I don’t understand what you thought you could achieve by doing this. You couldn’t have kept this up for much longer. How long could you pretend that Ella is a little boy?’
‘We had a plan.’
‘You and Nia?’
Leanne nodded.
‘And Dylan?’
‘No, Dylan wasn’t involved. I hated causing him so much distress but it was better that no one else was involved.’
‘What about your husband?’
‘I told him the same story. That I was looking after a friend’s son. I told him it would be for a few weeks as she was very ill.’
‘Didn’t he get suspicious when Ella was reported missing?’
‘No, why would he? Like I said, the less people who knew the better,’ Leanne said.
Edris came into the room and placed three mugs on the table before taking a seat.
‘We know from social services, Nia, and what you told us that there were concerns about Ryan. Did something happen to make you take such drastic action?’
‘We had concerns long before she shacked up with Ryan. I don’t think Natalie ever wanted Ella. Well, maybe to start with but she was like a child with a puppy or kitten that gets bored. She went back to work as soon as she could, and Mum looked after Ella most of the time. We suspected that she wasn’t working all the hours she claimed. She certainly didn’t have the money judging by the debt she was in. Mum paid her rent, bought clothes for Ella and made sure there was food in the house. Things got worse when she got with Ryan. She was more interested in him than her own daughter. Then the bruises started to appear on Ella. There was always some excuse, even for the so-called accidents that put Ella in hospital.’
‘We’ve read the reports,’ Edris said.
‘Did you talk to Natalie about your concerns for Ella’s safety?’ Meadows picked up a mug from the table and took a sip.
‘Yes, both me and Nia tried. Even Mum had a go at her, but she ignored us. She’d walk out of the room. Every time I visited, things were worse. It was obvious from her appearance that Nat was taking drugs. She lost weight and her face was drawn, dark circles under her eyes. It was Mum that went there every day. Cleaned the house and washed the clothes. Then Mum got ill and it all fell on Nia. Nia couldn’t keep up with looking after Mum, her own family and working. Nat’s house was stinking. I don’t mean untidy, I mean filthy,’ Leanne said.
Edris grimaced. ‘We’ve seen.’
‘Yeah, I wouldn’t want an animal to live there let alone a child. Nia made a call to social services and I made a follow-up call a few weeks later. Social services sent a letter to make an appointment to see her. Nat took a few days off work. Made an effort to clean although I doubt it would have made that much of a difference. She then presented herself as a perfect mother struggling to raise a child on her own,’ Leanne continued.
‘I know the police raided the house and found drugs. Nat told social services that she had split with Ryan, they believed her. She even left that druggy to look after Ella when she worked on the weekends. I told you what happened when I visited at Christmas. Then Nia found a letter from social services stating that they were satisfied and would no longer need to visit. We were so afraid something would happen to Ella, but no one would take us seriously.’
‘So, you decided that your only option was to take her away from your sister,’ Meadows said.
‘We thought if we could do something that would make social services and the police look properly into Nat’s life, they would see that she wasn’t a fit mother. Dylan was going to apply for custody and we were going to support his case in any way we could. We didn’t involve him because we needed Ella to have a safe home when all of this was over. Better for her to have her dad.’
‘We know you travelled on the Saturday evening ferry with your son,’ Edris said. ‘But we haven’t figured out how you managed to get Ella out of the house, back to the cottage, then on the return ferry without being detected. It must have been quite difficult with two children just to make the journey, let alone conceal Ella on the boat. You only had a ticket for one child.’
‘I didn’t take Eli, he stayed with his father. You can now buy life size replicas of your toddlers from the internet. I suppose some parents want them for memories, a bit like footprints. I bought a doll, strapped it into the car seat and put a blanket over it. It was getting dark when I caught the ferry so it looked like a sleeping child. I held my breath through the check-in but I didn’t have any problems. The guy took a quick glance in the back and wished me a pleasant crossing,’ Leanne said.
‘When I drove on the boat I took the doll from the seat and laid it on the floor under the blanket then joined the other passengers. It was late when I arrived at the cottage, the lady met me at the door and I carried the doll in the blanket straight upstairs to the bedroom. She thought she saw a sleeping child. I slept all day Sunday then I drove to Nia’s house. The family was asleep when I arrived and no one noticed Nia slip out of the house,’ Leanne continued.
‘Nia had a key to Nat’s so she let herself in, grabbed the car keys, put on Nat’s pink coat then looked in the sitting room. They were all crashed out, naked with clothes strewn across the floor. She grabbed Ryan’s trainers then got Ella from her cot. No one woke up.’
‘Why go to the trouble of burying the clothes in the woods?’ Meadows asked.
‘Because we wanted the police to think something had happened to Ella and we needed to implicate Ryan and Nat. It also gave us more time for me to get back to the cottage. Nia was convinced that Ryan had an unhealthy interest in children. We got into Nat’s car and drove to the footpath. Nia ran into the woods to throw in Ella’s toy, then we drove in through the main track. The woods were deserted at that time of night. I changed Ella and Nia put on Ryan’s trainers and we went into the woods to bury the clothes. We dropped the trainers and the keys back at the house and I dropped Nia home before driving back to the cottage. Ella slept all the way back,’ Leanne explained.
‘I cut Ella’s hair then just waited in the cottage until I drove back to see Nat. It was a bit of a risk especially when you turned up to speak to me.’ Leanne smiled. ‘The return ferry wasn’t a problem. No one was looking for a little boy. I had booked a cabin so once we were aboard we went to sleep. Didn’t see any other passengers until it was time to go to the car deck.’
‘So, what did you plan to do with Ella? You couldn’t keep her indefinitely,’ Meadows asked.
‘No, we were going to wait until things calmed down. We knew Ryan was in custody and hopefully would be given a sentence so at least he would be off the scene. I was to bring Ella back, call Nia from a phone box. She would tell the police that she had received a call telling her where she could collect Ella but was warned not to call the police or she wouldn’t get the child back. Ella of course would never have been left alone.’ She stopped and looked at both officers in turn. ‘What’s going to happen now?’
‘We are going to have to take you and Ella back with us,’ Meadows said.
‘But you’re not going to give her back to Natalie, are you?’
‘I’m sorry, that’s not up to me.’
Meadows looked across at the little girl happily playing with a car. I wish it was.
Chapter Thirty
‘Are you sure you’re happy with tea?’ Meadows asked. ‘I’ve got a bottle of wine someone gave me.’
‘Tea is fine.’ Daisy smiled as she took the offered cup, from her position on the sofa.
‘I need to get some shopping done.’ Meadows sat down on the armchair opposite.
‘Lovely place you’ve got,’ Daisy said.
‘Thanks. I was hoping to get the decorating finished but haven’t found the time. I bought it from my mum so
she could get a flat. I was going to do some work on it, then sell but I kinda got used to living here now.’
‘I think you should stay, it has a nice feel to it. Perhaps I can give you a hand with the decorating.’
‘I might just take you up on that,’ Meadows said.
‘I’m sorry I haven’t called around sooner. Things have been complicated with Poppy coming back into our lives. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to see you outside of work.’ Daisy smiled coyly.
‘It’s fine, I did expect things to be difficult for a while and you would all need some time to adjust. How are things with Poppy?’
‘She still insists on being called Jade. Dad is trying his best, but she still thinks of Laurence as her father and Sally as her mother. She’s even been on prison visits. You’d think she would be angry and blame her but I guess it’s the only mother she’s known. Things have been better since Jade Matthews’ funeral and that’s down to you.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes, she told me what she said to you. That the name on the grave should have been Poppy Moore and not Jade Matthews, that Poppy stopped existing the day she was abducted.’
‘Yeah she said something like that,’ Meadows said. ‘I don’t think she meant it.’
‘Oh, I think she did, but you told her that Poppy existed for me and Dad all these years, that we never forgot her. That’s what made a difference. She’s even invited me and Dad to the wedding.’
‘Well, I’m glad things are improving.’
Daisy reached into her handbag and took out an envelope. ‘I got this for you to say thank you.’ Daisy stood and handed Meadows the envelope.
‘Thank you for what?’
‘For everything you’ve done, reuniting me with Poppy.’
‘But that’s just my job.’ Meadows squirmed with embarrassment.
‘It’s more than that. The calls you made to me, the visits to my father. Don’t think I don’t know about the funeral and service you arranged for Jade Matthews. No one else would care enough to give that child a decent burial. The little white coffin and the flowers, organising Sally Andersons’ leave to attend, even gathering the team so there was enough people to give our little miss a send-off. Then you spoke at the bail hearing for Nia and Leanne so they could stay with their children until the trial. Shall I go on?’
‘No, please, you’re embarrassing me and I’m beginning to think you’re stalking me.’ Meadows laughed.
‘You’re a good man and I just wanted to show that your kindness is appreciated. Now open the envelope.’
‘Okay.’ Meadows tore the seal and took out the contents. Excitement fizzled in his stomach when he saw the two tickets to an AC/DC concert.
‘It’s been my dream since I was a teenager to see them, I never got around to going.’
‘It was Edris’ suggestion.’
‘Are you going to come with me?’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ Daisy said.
Meadows stood up and scooped Daisy into his arms. He was about to kiss her when his phone rang.
Oh great, perfect timing. This better not be work.
He took out his phone and saw Folland’s name flash across the screen.
‘What’s up?’
‘I thought you would like to know that an ambulance was called out to Coopers Wood estate this evening. Ella Beynon was pronounced dead at the scene,’ Folland said.
Meadows felt his stomach twist.
‘I’m on my way.’
Ella’s smiling face flashed across his mind along with Leanne’s words. “It’s too late when the child is dead. Asking questions won’t bring the child back. Now put yourself in my shoes. Would you wait until it was too late, then shout accusations, attribute blame while all the while knowing you could have done something to stop it?”
‘I take it it’s not good news.’ Daisy touched his arm.
Meadows shook his head.
‘Ella Beynon died at home this evening. I should have done more. I should have made sure she was safe. I could’ve let her stay with her auntie, she was happy and cared for.’
‘You know you couldn’t have done that. Your job was to find her. You weren’t to know that this would happen.’
Daisy rested her hand on his arm.
‘My job should have been to protect her. By bringing her back I handed her a death sentence. All the signs were there. I gleaned enough from my observations of Natalie’s lifestyle to realise that she wouldn’t change her ways and priorities. I failed that little girl.’
‘No, you didn’t, the system failed her. Social services should have ensured her safety.’
‘Me, the system, the child’s mother, what does it matter? It’s too late now. Sorry I didn’t mean to lay this off on you. I better get going.’
‘It’s fine,’ Daisy said. ‘I’m here if you need me.’
‘Thanks.’ He walked her out and watched her drive off before climbing into his own car. He sat for a few moments and let the images of Ella play in his mind.
I’m so sorry.
He shook away his thoughts and locked them deep in his mind with his guilt. There’s work to be done. He started the engine and drove towards Coopers Wood estate.
List of Characters
Bryn Mawr police station:
Detective Inspector Winter Meadows
DC Tristan Edris
Sergeant Dyfan Folland
DS Rowena Paskin
DS Stefan Blackwell
DC Reena Valentine
PC Matthew Hanes – uniform officer
Chief Inspector Nathaniel Lester
DS Brianna Lloyd – family liaison officer
Others:
Daisy Moore – pathologist
Fern Meadows – Winter’s mother
Martin Hughes – social worker
Ella Beynon – missing child
Natalie Beynon – mother of missing child
Nia Taylor – Natalie’s sister
Leanne Gillis – Natalie’s sister
Mary Beynon – Natalie’s mother
Dai Lewis – Ella’s father
Ryan Phillips – Natalie’s boyfriend
Sally Anderson née Matthews
George Williams – next-door neighbour
Jim Morris
Helen Morris
Other books in this series
The Silent Quarry – Book 1
Following a fall and a bang to the head, a woman’s memories come flooding back about an incident that occurred twenty years ago in which her friend was murdered. As she pieces together the events and tells the police, she begins to fear repercussions. DI Winter Meadows must work out the identity of the killer before they strike again.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08DD8L5LG/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DD8L5LG/
Frozen Minds – Book 2
When the boss of a care home for mentally challenged adults is murdered, the residents are not the most reliable of witnesses. DI Winter Meadows draws on his soft nature to gain the trust of an individual he believes saw the crime. But without unravelling the mystery and finding the evidence, the case will freeze over.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08FJCVKDD/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FJCVKDD/
Other titles of interest
If you enjoy crime fiction set in Wales, you’ll love Pippa McCathie’s series of murder mysteries featuring detectives Matt Lambert and Fabia Havard.
MURDER IN THE VALLEYS and the subsequent books are set in the fictional town of Pontygwyn in the Welsh valleys under the shadow of the Black Mountains. It will appeal to readers who like traditional whodunnits, those who like the landscape, atmosphere and people of South Wales, and everyone who likes a good read that keeps you turning the page.
Free with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B089B52M3Z/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089B52M3Z/
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Suffer the Children Page 24