The Silent Ones: Could You Leave A Child Behind? (Chrissy Livingstone Book 3)

by Linda Coles

  “Clearly, you’ve been playing private investigator for too long already,” she said, turning back to the sink and more glasses. “You’re fantastical.”

  “Inquisitive mind is all.” They carried on in silence a while, Chrissy thinking about what she’d just said. Was there something adrift or was she looking for a story where there wasn’t one? Nobody else would think their friends’ situation was odd for any reason, and maybe it wasn’t. Still, Chrissy’s nature let her thoughts idle away as she dried and returned glasses to their cabinet. A yawn behind told her Adam was ready for bed; it had been a long and eventful day.

  “That was an unexpectedly fun evening.”

  “Chrissy thinks there’s something suspicious about them, about their set-up,” Julie spouted, like a ten-year-old child telling tales. Chrissy groaned at her sister. Some things never changed.

  “Oh? And what’s that?”

  Chrissy was about to speak when Julie jumped in again.

  “Because there doesn’t appear to be any sign of their baby, Flynn. Chrissy thinks he might not exist since they are always without him. What do you think?”

  “I don’t think anything actually. He’s probably with a sitter where he should be.”

  “Well, Chrissy is going over tomorrow for a snoop, so I guess we might find out then,” she added somewhat tersely. She dried her hands on the towel and untied her apron. “I’m done. I thought I’d take a sleeping tablet tonight. It’s been a hectic day so don’t try and wake me too early in the morning.”

  “What about Richard?” Chrissy asked. “If he wakes in the night, you’ll be knocked out in the other room and won’t hear him. He might need you.”

  “He’ll be fine. I dropped half a tablet in a glass of water for him, he’ll sleep like a baby all night.”

  Chrissy kept her shock under control. With the painkillers the poor man was on, she doubted the doctor would have prescribed a sleeping tablet on top, but it was done now and not officially her business or concern. Maybe a good night’s sleep was for the best.

  “I’ll see you late morning,” Julie said. “Goodnight.”

  Chrissy and Adam watched her go before turning the light off and heading to their own room via the living room where Richard lay asleep. In the lamplight, he looked peaceful as he snored lightly. Chrissy flicked the lamp off, plunging them into moonlight, and turned once again towards the tiny castle in the distance. A small creamy light still glowed at the top of the structure and she wondered whose room it was. Perhaps it was the nursery, little Flynn awake, maybe having a late feed. Perhaps it was Ciara and Lorcan getting ready for bed. A moment later, the light was gone before Adam led her to their own bed, and sleep.

  She dreamed of a baby floating towards a full moon on a navy-blue sky.

  Monday

  Chapter 11

  Maybe it was the change of air or that they’d all had a stressful day previously, or maybe they’d all been late to bed having entertained unexpected dinner guests, but whatever the reason, all four had slept like tired children and it was gone 8 am when the first of them rose. Richard had woken around 4 am and, realising where he was, had taken himself to the kitchen, rather gingerly, for more painkillers before heading to his bedroom and slipping in alongside Julie. There he’d lain until the pain had finally eased and he’d dropped off back to sleep again. Four hours later, he was ready for more relief and so settled himself on the comfy old sofa by the window, foot elevated and sipping tea. The house was silent, not a sound from any room. Richard folded his paper over and tossed it to the seat beside him, having read the whole thing the previous day anyway. He attempted to rest his hands behind his head but the fierce shot of pain in his shoulder quickly persuaded him otherwise. While the dislocation had been put back in place, shoulders weren’t meant to move in and out the way his had and whatever had been disturbed internally took its opportunity to growl at him. He rubbed at it as his good arm allowed him to.

  Sitting in the tranquillity of the morning sun was relaxing. It was a shame his holiday had been curtailed so early on and not more conveniently on the last day. Still, he was sure he could manage afternoon tea at Father Ted’s place when they went. Doolin Cave, on the other hand, might have to wait, though he couldn’t see himself returning just for that particular damp, dark, and wet experience. A floorboard creaked somewhere further back in the house and caught his attention. A moment later, Chrissy padded barefoot into the room. On catching sight of Richard lying by the window in his pyjamas and robe, she stopped short, slightly shocked.

  “Morning, Richard. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be in here, I thought I was first up.” Instinctively, she pulled her own robe a little tighter around her middle in an attempt to make herself more presentable in front of her brother-in-law and ran her fingers through her hair to tidy her bedhead. If she’d known he would be sitting there, she’d have dragged a brush through it first. Too late now. “Can I get you some more tea?” she asked. Richard struggled to stand, and Chrissy went to his aid. “No need to move, stay where you are and I’ll get the pot.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Did you sleep okay?” she asked, busying herself with the kettle.

  “Until about 4 am when I needed some more tablets. I hadn’t realised I wasn’t in my own bed.” He rubbed his temples with the palms of his hands. “I don’t remember much about last night actually, and I certainly don’t remember falling asleep on the sofa.”

  Chrissy smiled at him. “Do you remember our dinner guests?”

  “I do, yes. God, how rude of me. Did I fall asleep while they were still here?”

  “Out like a light.” She poured boiling water onto fresh teabags and added milk to two mugs.

  Richard groaned at the awkwardness of it all. “I’d better apologise when I see them again.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much. They could see you were unwell last night; you’d been through quite an ordeal on that ledge. You were lucky the doctor didn’t insist you stay in hospital overnight.” She spotted the plate that had held warm nibbles a few hours ago. She’d take it back later. And hopefully meet the little boy.

  If he existed.

  “Anyway, I’m popping over there shortly so I’ll pass on your apology, if it’d make you feel better?”

  Richard leaned forward to pick his fresh mug up and winced again. “Thanks, please do. I don’t suppose I’ll be moving a great deal myself today.”

  Chrissy could see the pain reflecting in his eyes and immediately felt sorry for the man. While they weren’t the closest two members of the family, them both being so different in many ways, he was her sister’s husband and she cared about him. She took a long drink of tea, tipped the rest down the sink, and placed her dirty mug in the dishwasher.

  “Right, I’m off to get changed and I’ll run on over, take the plate, then carry on for a while, I think. Do you want me to wake Julie before I go? Or get you anything?”

  “No and no, thank you. I’m fine here. You go and enjoy yourself, and I’ll see you when you get back.” Chrissy left him to his tea then rinsed the sleep from her eyes, pulled a brush through her hair, and changed into her running gear. Adam lay sprawled out on the bed watching her. He smiled.

  “Can’t I tempt you back under the covers?” he asked slyly.

  “No, you jolly well can’t. I know your moves, Mr Livingstone,” she said, chastising him a little. “It takes time and effort to stay in shape so unless you want me to turn soft and mushy to the touch…”

  “I wouldn’t mind.”

  “Well, I do. Plus, I’ll drop Ciara’s plate back at the castle. I’m hoping to see for myself if there really is a child.”

  “Trust you,” he said, groaning. “Miss Scarlett of the modern age.” His underpants, which had been tossed to the floor late the previous night, suddenly found themselves airborne before settling on his head. Chrissy was a good shot.

  “And if there isn’t really a child? Wouldn’t you think it odd to make one up?”

/>   “Here we go…”

  “Mark my words, there’s something not sitting right, and I intend to find out what that is.”

  Adam groaned loudly then pulled a pillow over his own head in an attempt to tune her out as Chrissy fastened her laces and left the room. She passed through the kitchen, grabbed the plate, and set off towards the castle on the hill.

  If there actually was a child, surely she’d see it during her own unannounced visit?

  Chapter 12

  Once outside, the weak morning sunshine did its best to warm her shoulders, but it was the ever-present wind blowing off the ocean that did its damnedest to chill her, which won out. With the absence of a jacket to keep the nip at bay, she’d have to wait a couple of miles at least to warm up. She’d reach the castle before then. Still, with gulls calling overhead and woolly brown cattle off in the distance, the green grass and uneven surface was far more enjoyable than the grey tarmac of roads and pavements back home in Englefield Green.

  It was only a handful of minutes before she was at the perimeter wall of the castle where Ciara and Lorcan were staying. Seeing her new friend ahead of her, she called out, waving with her empty hand. Ciara waved back and waited for Chrissy to approach so they could hear each other over the sounds of birds calling.

  “Good morning!”

  “It is, isn’t it? And good morning to you too,” said Chrissy, appearing through the entryway in the stone wall. She gave her new friend a brief hug as a flash of movement caught her eye. A beige bundle of fur and wet tongue hurled itself out to join in the greeting.

  “Rupert!” Ciara scolded as the Irish terrier pranced excitedly about, weaving at pace between Chrissy’s legs and finally settling beside her. She bent down to pat his shoulders and the dog dutifully rolled over for a belly rub.

  “Please, don’t mind him. He’s not the best-trained hound in the world. My bad.”

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Rupert,” Chrissy cooed obliging with a tickle. “He’s delightful. And such a cool name, it really suits him.”

  “He is a good lad actually. Quiet and gentle, hardly hear a peep from him. Useless as a guard dog, mind.”

  “Well, if there’s no need for a doggy alarm, I’m sure his warm personality is worth more.”

  “Definitely, a real softy.” Changing the subject, she asked, “Have you time for coffee or are you just starting out on your run?” Ciara pointed to Chrissy’s attire. “Coming or going?”

  “Well, I was going, but coffee does sound good, thanks.”

  “Come on in, make yourself at home then,” Ciara said, taking the plate as the two women walked towards the old wooden door. Rupert followed, relaxed once more and behaving for the visitor. Before they entered, Chrissy turned to admire the view. Fierce grey waves crashed against the cliffs, white caps of water as far as the eye could see.

  “Stunning,” she said, turning back to Ciara.

  “Come on in, I’ll show you the view from the top.”

  Entering the tiny space, it was everything Chrissy had imagined something so old would be. There’d be little point making the interior of a sixteenth-century castle all sleek lines and minimalistic. While it had been brought into the twenty-first century, it still held fantastical charm.

  “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, taking her cap off. It never felt right to wear a hat indoors. “And so tastefully done.”

  “Come, I’ll show you around.”

  The two women moved from room to room on their way up to the top. They passed tiny rooms off tiny landings until finally, at the third floor, they could climb no further. Before windows that faced directly out at the Atlantic Ocean, Chrissy stood mesmerised for a moment, taking in a view that could only be described as out of this world. The ocean went on forever. Finally pulling herself away, she took in the rest of the space. It looked like it had been set up purely as a place to sit and relax, read a book maybe, or just ponder. No matter which way you looked, the view was spectacular.

  “Four floors in total, plus a cellar, so even though they are not big rooms, there’s enough space for what we need.”

  “I’m speechless,” Chrissy said as they started their descent.

  Ciara paused by a door and leaned her ear close.

  “Flynn is down for his nap,” she said by way of explanation.

  “That’s a shame, I was hoping to meet the little one. Maybe another time.”

  “You might still be lucky, he’s due up any minute,” she said, smiling. “Anyway, coffee, and I bet you he’s howling before the kettle does.”

  They made their way back to the kitchen, which, like every other room she’d seen, was small. Sandstone walls kept the castle’s character alive with modern additions for comfort and convenience. An AGA range wouldn’t have looked out of place, but since the property was a holiday home to its owners, there was little need. Nor was there space. Ciara busied herself doing the necessary while Chrissy gazed out of the ground-level windows and generally looked around as far as she could without being rude. There were no children’s things anywhere. Not even the smallest teddy bear or toy train.

  “Do you know the owners?”

  “Heavens, no. Not us. I’m not sure where Lorcan found it, but I’m glad he did. But no, we don’t move in those circles. Could you imagine how much a castle with views like would this cost? We’d have to be drug barons or something,” she said, laughing. “Though, out here, that’s probably not a bad job to be in. You should see the cellar, perfect hiding place.”

  Chrissy assumed, like anyone would, that Ciara was joking. She certainly hoped so but her antennae were once again nudged. Two steaming mugs of coffee appeared along with a biscuit tin.

  “Help yourself,” Ciara said.

  “Thanks.” The two settled down at the table. Chrissy took a biscuit since she’d still not had any breakfast and instinctively dunked it then realised she was in someone else’s home.

  “Oh, sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” she said through a mouthful of soggy digestive. “I’m being rude.”

  “Relax, you’re fine,” Ciara said, waving the suggestion away with her hand. “I dunk too. Go ahead.” Permission or not, Chrissy kept herself in check and refrained from doing it again.

  “You keep it very tidy, and with a dog and a small child too. How on earth do you manage to keep all the clutter that comes with a little one at bay?” She hoped she didn’t sound like she was snooping since that’s exactly what she was doing.

  “The cellar.”

  “You keep him in the cellar?” asked Chrissy, feigning shock.

  “No, of course not, though there are days, I can tell you,” Ciara quipped. As if on cue and to shut Chrissy up with any more questions about his existence, the small cries of a baby waking up could be heard coming from a baby monitor that was hidden somewhere in the kitchen. “And as if by clockwork… I’ll be back shortly.”

  Chrissy watched her go and sipped her coffee, amused at Adam’s words from underneath the quilt earlier on: modern-day Miss Scarlett indeed. Rupert appeared by her side, and she leaned down to give him another scratch and listened as footsteps descended the stairs. A moment later, Ciara was back, a sleepy bundle in her arms, rubbing at his eyes with his knuckles.

  It was Flynn.

  Chapter 13

  By the time Chrissy reached their holiday home after a slower than usual start to her run, it was almost 11 am. Ravenous from having not eaten breakfast beforehand and run solely on a coffee and two digestive biscuits, she filled a bowl with muesli and fresh milk, and took it out onto the deck where the others were all gathered. Richard had been given an extra chair and was sitting with his leg elevated, an ice pack in place and a blanket draped across his shoulders. He looked a little brighter than when she’d seen him earlier on, the painkillers were obviously doing their job. He was reading a book, something she couldn’t recall ever seeing him do – it was generally the Financial Times or some other broadsheet. Julie was sitting next to him, huge sunglasses alm
ost covering half her face, a large floppy hat keeping the sun from her skin. As always, she looked stunning, and she was only relaxing with a magazine. With everyone in a world of their own and reading, Chrissy felt like a spare part, and not wanting to interrupt anyone, worked on emptying her bowl. After almost five minutes, it was Adam that surfaced from behind his local paper and spoke first.

  “Miss Scarlett returns,” he said, teasing her. “What clues did you find, does the child exist?”

  “Ha ha,” she said. “And yes, a child does indeed exist, and he’s gorgeous. As does the most adorable Irish terrier, Rupert.”

  “And which one was your favourite?”

  “Rupert of course, as you’d expect me to say.”

  “Anything else to report, any other suspicious sightings?”

  “Only one really.”

  “Oh?”

  “Well, it sounds like nothing on the surface, I’ll admit, but I asked if they knew the owners of the castle and they don’t.”

  “What’s wrong with that? We don’t know the owners of this place,” he said, flicking his head back towards the building behind them.

  “This isn’t a sixteenth-century building and we found this on the internet. I googled the castle and it said it was owned privately by a family who use it as a holiday home. There aren’t any photos of the interior online, not that I could find. So, that means one of them must be connected to the owners in some form, maybe through a family member.”

  “You don’t think they are just on an extended holiday, as they say they are?”

  “No, I don’t, though I can’t be sure why. Call it a gut feeling. I don’t know, there’s something piquing my interest. Maybe it was Ciara’s mentioning of it being a great place to smuggle and store drugs.”

  “Really? I doubt she’d be telling you if they really were drug-running.”