Followed

by Cara Alexander

  I run outside to the startled young officer. ‘Thank you so much for helping me.’

  He looks surprised then looks over to the Inspector who's watching us from the front door. ‘I just did my job,’ he mutters. I look at him closely. ‘If you hadn't done what you did, who knows what would have happened to me.’

  A slight smile has replaced the strained look on DCI Thomas’s face. He walks over to us. ‘Well, I'll be off.’ Sliding his notebook back into his pocket he turns and walks to his car. ‘I'll see you tomorrow morning, at the station, around ten.’

  I nod, go back inside and run upstairs to Nick's room. His clothes are draped over the chair, his holdall is still on the floor, I rummage through it, I'm not sure what I'm looking for, but I must look. Maybe he's on drugs? But there's nothing but boxers, socks and shaving stuff. The room smells of him, his French cologne. It's as if he's still here, but he’s not, he can’t be, can he?

  22

  I had a dreadful night. I couldn't sleep so Mum gave me one of her sleeping pills which did help. It feels strange not driving her little yellow Fiat anymore, I must get a car of my own, but first I need a job.

  Mum drops me off outside the police station, Jamie's in the front seat next to her. As I go in, I give them a wave, they wave back.

  ‘I'll call you when I finish,’ I shout.

  Mum nods and drives off with Jamie. I go inside.

  DCI Thomas rushes out of his office; he probably saw us drive up from his window, his room overlooks the road. He comes close to me and peers at my face. ‘I have a lot to tell you, Beth, are you ready?’ Then his worried look returns. ‘If you need professional help, anything at all, I can arrange it.’

  I shake my head. ‘Thanks, but that won't be necessary.’

  ‘Well you know it's there if you need it. Now about the other day – from your statement you say you recognized one of the men from the train. You said he was the man who attacked you, in the field when you were going to your friend Helen's house, is that right?’

  I nod.

  ‘It all seems to have started from your train journey, Beth.’

  ‘Yes, I was coming back from an interview in London.’

  He scratches his head and looks at me. ‘You never know what's going to happen, do you? It could happen to anyone; it was just unlucky your paths crossed.’ He stops for a minute then adds. ‘You know he's got a record as long as your arm. The other one is just as bad, but Wiley, he's...’

  As soon as he mentions their names, I feel the blood drain from my face.

  He stops talking, as if changing his mind. ‘You don't have to worry about them anymore, they’re in police custody.’

  ‘What about the Major, and the other man?’

  ‘We've done a thorough check on the Major.’ He grimaces slightly, as if there's a bad taste in his mouth. ‘It all started in Cyprus, he was in the army, did you know?’

  ‘Yes, Nick told me.’

  How strange it sounds to hear his name coming from my lips. It sounds so normal, but it's not, nothing is normal anymore, everything has changed.

  ‘Beth, are you listening?’

  ‘Sorry, what did you say?’

  He grunts, looks at me closely then carries on talking.

  ‘There were rumours, terrible rumours about the Major, of course it was all covered up by the old boy network, you know - he's such a respectable man - how could anyone think that of him – he's an MP. Anyway, there were reports of rapes and assaults in the area where he used to live in Cyprus. There were also retracted statements like here. It seems this was going on for some time.’

  My chest feels tight, I try not to think, but it's all coming back, the field, the shed, the Major, Nick.

  ‘Are you okay, Beth? Shall I stop?’

  I feel myself shaking, my hands are clenched into fists. I shake my head. ‘I'm okay. I need to know.’

  ‘Well, Wiley and Jonas are both squealing to save themselves, but I don't think it'll help them much, they'll be going down for a long time. The girls were mainly local girls.’ He shakes his head and frowns. ‘The Major's long-time buddy Dicken, another nasty piece of work, used to flatter them and butter them up, that was his speciality, give them a few drinks and get them tipsy, that's how he got them into his car. They were bored, hanging around pubs looking for excitement, he was good looking, just what they needed or so they thought – he added drugs to their drinks to sedate them.’

  He stops and peers at me, then starts again. ‘They were taken in by his looks – a right charmer that one. Most didn't have a clue what had happened. Then Wiley and Jonas would drop them off at various locations.’

  ‘How did they get away with it?’

  He runs he fingers through his grey speckled black hair. ‘They had someone inside, Beth, someone to take care of things.’

  I look at him in horror, now it all falls into place.

  ‘You mean Nick?’

  ‘Yes, we're also running checks on the Detective Superintendent, seems he was a good friend of the Major. He's just taken early retirement, now he's back living the good life in Northern Cyprus.’

  ‘So why did he do it? How can anyone change so much? Maybe he’s on drugs?’

  ‘You mean Nick?’

  I nod.

  ‘I don't know if he’s on drugs, but the money must have had something to do with it. You know the Major has many influential friends who share his taste in, shall we say entertainment – they pay a lot for this, so the Major gladly obliged. With Nick onside, the rest was easy.’

  ‘I still can't believe Nick would do this,’ I mumble, as if to myself. ‘Nobody can change so much, can they?’

  He gazes out of the window, probably thinking of Nick, they were close, he's known him since he was a boy, it must have come as a shock to him.

  He takes off his glasses, cleans the lenses with a cloth, then puts them back and looks at me.

  ‘As I said, Wiley and Jonas are trying to get off by spilling the beans. In Jonas's statement he says the girls they found for the Major were usually very young and ready to party. Most of them never knew what happened, if they did, they were coerced into not saying anything. That's why statements were suddenly withdrawn – just like poor Jane, she was terrified it would happen again, so she withdrew her statement. Those brave enough to make one found out the hard way and soon retracted them. That's why the Major came down so hard on you – you were about to ruin everything for him.’

  I sit thinking of Nick. ‘You know I asked him to take me to see Jane, I was so desperate to find something, anything that would help get these people caught. He said he could get into trouble, but he took me to see her.’ I stop but he doesn’t say anything, so I carry on. ‘You probably know, I gave him a copy of the recording of the conversation I had with Jane, it should come in useful as evidence. I still have the clothes she was wearing when it happened.’ I look at him and he nods, as if he’s taking it all in. ‘You already know that I arranged to meet her in the pub next to the train station in Oxford. Nick was supposed to meet us there, but he didn't show up, he was going to drop us off home, and then take the clothes to be tested, that’s why I still have them at home.’

  DCI Thomas gets up and walks over to the window. ‘He fooled us all. We never received your taped conversation with Jane.’

  He turns around, a worried look on his face. ‘Beth, I've got something to tell you.’

  He walks back to his desk, sits down and looks at me. ‘You don't know this Beth, but Jane left a note for her parents saying she was going around the corner to the shops, she said she'd be back soon, but she never came back. It was the same day, the day it happened to you. They think she was meeting someone.’

  ‘But she would never go with anyone, unless she trusted them.’ Then I realize what's happened. ‘It’s Nick. He's the only person, other than me that she'd trust. She saw him when I was leaving her house, she knew what he looked like, if he called at her house or phoned her .’

  DCI
Thomas suddenly stands up and starts walking around the room.

  ‘Sorry to be the one to tell you, Beth, but there's still a chance we'll find her, if you can think of anything, anything that might help.’ He stops and frowns. ‘And don't do anything alone, okay?’

  I nod.

  Once outside I call Mum, she's in the car around the corner waiting for me.

  Soon I'm in the little yellow Fiat, going home. Jamie thinks I've visited the police about the fire, so he doesn’t find it strange that I keep seeing DCI Thomas.

  After a quick cup of coffee, I ask Mum if I can borrow the car. ‘I want to get Jamie a present, maybe a new pair of trainers, as a surprise.’ I'm not really going shopping, but if I tell her the truth, she'll worry.

  She gives me a worried look, starts to say something then stops.

  ‘You don’t have to worry, Mum, I’ll be home for lunch.’ I glance at the clock on the kitchen wall, it’s nearly twelve, that gives me just over an hour – if I hurry, I can do it.

  23

  Major Oliver’s Farm

  Blue and white police tape surround the Major's farm, the police are everywhere. I park a little further back along the road, I don't want to be seen.

  ‘Shit!’ It’s DCI Thomas, he’s spotted me.

  He ambles over to the car and eyes me suspiciously.

  ‘I thought you were going home?’

  ‘I did, I went home, had a coffee then I thought a drive would do me good.’

  He exhales loudly. I know he doesn't believe me. He peers into the car.

  ‘So, why come back here?’

  I get out of the car and stand looking around.

  ‘Speak up. Tell me what you're thinking.’

  He isn't a fool. He has a good idea why I'm here, so I tell him.

  ‘It's just a feeling I have, I could be wrong.’

  He taps his foot impatiently, lights a cigarette, inhales deeply and looks at me.

  ‘Okay, Nick saved me from the Major but then...’ I can't bring myself to say it, so I stop, take a deep breath and start again. ‘I've been thinking, maybe Nick was already at the Major's house. Remember I told you he was going to collect us from the pub in Oxford and he never arrived? I had to get a cab to take Jane home because Nick dropped me off in his car. I dropped her off and kept trying to call him but each time it went to voicemail.’

  All the time I've been talking, he's been watching me closely.

  ‘So, you think she could be here?’ he asks, looking over at the house, a questioning look on his face.

  I shrug my shoulders.

  ‘Well say something,’ he snaps.

  ‘Have you searched all the rooms?’

  He frowns and starts rubbing his chin. ‘Yes, we searched the house. We found video footage and other items, but nothing else.’

  I have a feeling of dread as I look over at the old Cotswold farmhouse.

  ‘If he brought Jane here,’ he says, surveying the house. ‘Where do you think he would take her?’

  ‘I'm not sure, but there are lots of rooms, it's a huge house, she could be anywhere, in the cellar, in the attic.’ My voice trails off as I start remembering things I want to forget.

  He strides over to the house. ‘Search all the rooms, cupboards, the attic, garage, cellar. We're looking for a young woman with red hair. Be as quick as you can and shout if you find anything.’

  He comes back, lights another cigarette and eyes me thoughtfully.

  It’s at times like this I feel the need for a cigarette. I watch him take another deep drag. I usually carry a pack or have one in the side of the car for emergencies. Opening the car door I start rummaging through the glove compartment.

  A pack of Marlboro is thrust through the window. ‘Here, have one of these.’

  I take one and murmur thanks, he nods and strolls back to the house. I watch him for a few minutes then light up, I haven't had one for a long time, it makes me lightheaded. I open the car door and stub it out. I have an eerie sense of dread, I know that feeling of desperation, hoping someone will come and save you. I think of Jane and shiver - she must be so frightened.

  The minutes tick by, and I think of Mum, she’s going to be worried if I don't text her or go home soon.

  DCI Thomas suddenly appears at the front door, behind him is a man carrying something wrapped in a blanket.

  I run over to the house, as I get closer, I can see a bit of red hair poking out of the blanket.

  ‘Don't worry,’ he mutters. ‘She's okay, I'm taking her to the hospital, you go home your Mum will be worried sick.’

  Jane's out cold, she must have been given a strong dose of chloroform.

  I run back to my car, give Mum a call saying I'm okay and will be home soon, then follow them to the hospital in Oxford.

  After what seems ages, DCI Thomas comes out of the room and comes over to where I'm sitting.

  ‘Is she hurt?’ I blurt out as soon as he sits down.

  He's watching me closely. ‘I'll be in touch, now you go home and get some rest.’

  I'm just getting in my car when I see him running towards me.

  ‘Beth, did Nick ever talk to you about Cyprus?’ he asks, stopping to draw breath.

  I stand looking at him trying to think. ‘Not really, he just said the Major was in the army there. Why do you ask?’

  He scratches his head. ‘I'm not sure.’ He ruffles his hair and sighs, he looks tired. ‘I've still got a lot of work to do. We've confiscated all the video footage, so we'll soon be able to identify the people involved.’ A slight smile appears on his face. ‘A lot of wealthy and influential heads are going to roll soon, Beth.’ He gives me a nod, walks over to his car then turns around. ‘Oh, by the way, they found your phone, it's at the police station.’

  ‘Thanks! I'll pick it up tomorrow.’

  I suppose I should feel better, but I'm worried about Jamie, he's missed a lot of school and must never know about this.

  Back to School

  Next morning, we walk along in silence to Jamie’s school. He drags his feet, something he never does, I talk about what we'll do at the weekend, he just ignores me.

  ‘I'm meeting Helen in London tomorrow, she's popping over for a few days on a business trip, shall I bring anything back for you?’

  He doesn't answer. I've arranged to see a couple of apartments whilst I’m there and I have an interview lined up in a couple of days, but I haven’t told Jamie, I don’t want to get his hopes up. I called Jamie's head teacher and explained what happened, but she already knew, it's all over the local news.

  We're at the school gates, he keeps looking at the ground, I feel dreadful. He slowly walks into the school. No wave, no smile. I walk home feeling terrible. Even his first day at nursery school in Athens was better than this.

  24

  Kensington Gardens, London

  The park is a blanket of leaves, spiky green conkers and autumnal sunshine. It's hard to resist crunching in the leaves, it's something I’ve always done and always will no matter how old I get. I can see a large green conker poking out from under the leaves, I grab it and prise it open. Inside is a shiny brown conker resting in a bed of white velvet. I roll it around in my hand then tuck it in my pocket for Jamie, he loves conkers.

  Sighing contentedly, I inhale the scent of the park, it brings back many happy memories of my childhood, happy days. The long days of summer are drawing to a close, I can smell autumn in the air.

  ‘You look as if you're doing an ad for Autumnwatch in London,’ Helen says, running over and laughing. ‘It's just like old times, isn't it? I think you were happy when you lived here, weren't you?’

  ‘Yes, but that was a long time ago, I was much younger. I used to love the old swings. This new playground is far grander, but I still prefer the old one.’

  ‘Yes, because that one holds happy memories for you.’ She loops arms with me, and we walk to the open-air café beside the children's playground. ‘It's part of growing up, we always yearn for the y
ears when we were young but should really be focusing on the present.’

  ‘Very profound Helen, anymore where that came from?’

  She laughs. ‘Yes, now grab a seat and I'll get the drinks - hot chocolate or coffee?’

  ‘Coffee.’

  It's not too busy, just a couple of tourists sitting eating a take-away meal and a mum with a pram reading a book.

  ‘So, what do you think of the apartments we saw?’ Helen asks, placing a tray of hot drinks and chocolate muffins on the wooden table.

  ‘I'm not sure, they're all so expensive.’ I break off a piece of muffin full of chocolate buttons and pop it in my mouth. ‘I have an interview lined up for this week, let’s hope it’s better than the last one I went to.’

  She frowns. ‘Don't worry about money, I can help.’

  ‘Thanks for the offer but we'll be alright, I just need a job.’

  ‘You still have your apartment in Athens, why not sell it?’ She stops talking and looks at me. ‘Are you still refusing to take money from Alex?’

  ‘He still lives there, and I don't want to sell it, it's my stake in Athens, you never know, we might need it one day.’

  ‘Well, the money's always there if you need it.’ She sits sipping her hot chocolate while flicking through her phone. ‘You know if positions were reversed, I'd take it.’

  I shrug, she smiles.

  ‘If it hadn't been for James helping me out with some of his inheritance, I'd probably have nothing, so if you need it, take it, Beth – it's only money.’

  I laugh and hug her. ‘You never know, I might take you up on that. Now, enough about me. How is Theo?’

  At first, she doesn't say anything, just sits sipping her drink. Then her face changes, she looks serious. ‘Things haven't been good for some time; he's changed so much.’

  ‘You should have said something. I didn't know.’

  ‘It'll probably pass, at least I have my job and James to talk to. I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't there.’ She smiles then changes the subject. ‘So, which apartment did you like best? What about the one with the garden, with the little water feature? It was nice but a bit dark inside, don't you think?’