Lyssa’s eyes flickered and opened, and the room came into focus; the bare floorboards, the small window, and the labyrinth of cracks on the walls, and ceiling. He sat at the foot of the bed with his back against the wall and his heavy lidded eyes upon her.
“Jean looked like you. Big round eyes. She was a proper pain in the arse sometimes, screamed the place down at night, woke me up. Night terrors, Mum called them. But, mostly she was good to have around. I remember Mum taking us to the park most days. There was a tree perfect for climbing, and on tip-toes, I could reach the lowest branch. I’d climb up high and look out. I could see people, but they couldn’t see me.” He paused and caught Lyssa’s eye. “When Jean started school she got the flu. The doctor said it was a cold, that she didn’t need antibiotics. A right tosser he turned out to be.” He cleared his throat and launched a ball of spit onto the floor. “Jean kept coughing, over and over. One night I woke up and Mum and Dad were screaming. Dad was on the floor, holding Jean. She was lying there all limp and white. Jean liked it when I tickled her, so I tried, but Dad screamed and shoved me off.” He fell silent and chewed his thumb.
Lyssa watched the blood bubble up and dribble down his thumb.
“Mum was never the same after Jean died. She stayed in her room and Dad couldn’t do anything right. Mum couldn’t go to work. Things turned bad without Jean. That’s why Dad wanted to sort it for us. Thought the money would help Mum get back to being normal.”
Lyssa turned on her side and stared at the wall.
“Then one day, Dad came back from work and was really happy. He was laughing, singing and dancing along to stuff on the telly. When Mum went for her bath, Dad told me he’d got hold of some cash, that it was all legit’ and there was thousands - tens of thousands. I had to promise not to tell, not even Mum. Dad said he was gonna surprise her, buy a car, a house, take us to Disneyland. Mum had always dreamed of going. I asked him if he’d won on the horses, but he said all I needed to know was that it was his money.” He spotted the dripping blood and sucked it away. “But days later my Dad was dead. Murdered.”
He prodded Lyssa in the back, but she pretended to be asleep.
She yearned for her family. She thought about her friends – they would be wondering why she wasn’t at school. She never took a day off, unless the snow became so bad their lane was impassable. Was it Saturday? Lyssa loved weekends because Dad was home and they sometimes hired a motorboat at Loch Glencoul or went on a pony trek over Applecross Moor. She wondered again if he was going to do something terrible and she would never see her Mum, Dad or Louis again.
She sucked her fingers and cried quietly.
CHAPTER FORTY
Louis
“What do you mean she’s gone to find Lyssa? How does she know where she is?” Max asked Anna over the phone.
“I don’t know. I was up at six and found the note,” replied Anna.
“Why didn’t you ring me?”
“We didn’t know where you were. Gordon rang the station. Didn’t the Inspector tell you?”
“No, or I’d have known wouldn’t I?” replied Max.
“How did you get to the station?” asked Anna. “Your car’s here.”
“I . . . the police offered to drive me as I’d had a drink and couldn’t risk it.”
“Oh, I see.” Anna heard the hesitancy in his voice.
“Can you try ringing Kat? Has she still got Gordon’s mobile?”
“I’m assuming she’s taken it and yes we’ll try her again.”
“If you speak, please ask her to ring me? It’s important. Please, Anna.”
“Of course. And you’ll be doing the same?”
“When I can. I’m scared, this man is extremely dangerous. I can’t begin to explain.”
“For crying out loud Max, I know he is. He’s abducted Lyssa,” Anna said, and finally lost her patience.
Anna knew Max was hiding something. She also knew Katriina wouldn’t disappear in the middle of the night to search for Lyssa without telling him, unless she had good reason to. They’d rung Katriina, but there was no connection. She was probably out of range. Anna wished Katriina would call if only to reassure them that she was OK. Lyssa missing was beyond terrifying without Katriina turning vigilante.
“Gran, where’s Mum and Dad?” Louis’ face looked drawn as he walked into the kitchen.
“Come here my darling, let me explain.” Anna held out her hand.
“You were on the phone. Was it Dad?”
“Please, Louis.”
He took her hand. “Tell me, Gran.”
She passed him the note, and his hands trembled as he read.
“What’s she doing? Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the station. He went last night because he wanted to find out what was happening. Your mum left after him.”
“I don’t get it. Why would Mum go without Dad, or without waking us?”
“I know it’s worrying, Louis, but I think she wants to be doing more. I trust her, she’s sensible. She obviously thinks she knows something that can help. And I know she’ll be in touch soon.”
“Has she got Grandad’s phone?”
“Yes. Grandad tried ringing, but you know what reception’s like.”
Louis began to cry and Anna held him and fought against her own spiralling emotions.
“It’s OK my love. This is a terrible time for all of us, but we have to try to stay calm. We’ll have breakfast then we’ll ring your mum again.”
Anna took Louis’ hand and led him to the table. She busied herself retrieving bowls and cereal boxes from the cupboards.
“Got through to Kat?” asked Gordon, as he walked into the kitchen.
“Not yet. I know she’ll call when she can.” Anna gave Gordon a meaningful glare before she glanced back at Louis.
Louis sat at the table and flicked through his phone.
Anna touched Gordon’s shoulder. “Will you log into your iPad for me? I want to check something.”
“Aye, but you know the password.”
“It wasn’t working,” she said, and nodded to the door.
“I don’t want the iPad.” Anna closed the bedroom door. “There’s something going on with Max. I’ve just spoken to him, and he says he went to the station in the middle of the night. The police came and picked him up. He says he went to be closer to developments. Kat left after him to go on Lyssa’s trail alone. She didn’t even tell Max she was going and when I spoke to him, he said Inspector Keir hadn’t let him know about Kat either. You did tell the Inspector?”
Gordon frowned, thinking. “Aye, and she hadn’t known about Kat either. I thought it was odd.”
“I’m telling you, Gordon, Max is involved in this.”
“Now hold on, Anna. Max is the best dad I know. Look what he does for those children, and Katriina has never complained has she?”
“Well no, that’s true.”
“In fact, quite the opposite,” he continued. “She’s always singing his praises. You know how upfront Kat is. I don’t think she could hide anything important even if she wanted to.”
“That’s what I can’t understand.”
“Though it is puzzling not telling Max what she was up to.” He sat down on the end of the bed as he tried to frame his thoughts.
“I’m frightened, Gordon. What if this monster gets Katriina too?” said Anna, crying.
Gordon got up and took Anna’s hands. “Perhaps they had a row and that’s why they’re not talking. The stress they’re under is unimaginable. Though you’d have thought they’d pull together under the circumstances.”
“I don’t understand how Katriina thinks she can find Lyssa. If the police don’t know, how can she?”
“I don’t know.” Gordon wrapped his arms around Anna and held her tight. Finally, he drew back. “Come on, we must get back to Louis. That lad needs all the support he can get.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Serena
Gordon and Anna walked into the
kitchen to find Louis leaning against the range and hunched over his phone. His thick mop of dark hair hung over his eyes, and masked his expression. Anna noticed his uneaten breakfast.
“Sweetheart, would you prefer something cooked? How about some of your Grandad’s scrambled eggs?”
Louis didn’t reply but flicked his fringe off his face and stared at his phone, distracted and troubled by what he was reading.
Anna put a hand on his shoulder. “Are you OK?”
“No I’m not.” He hesitated, then drew a breath. “I’ve had a message from a girl who’s seen my Facebook appeal. She knows this sicko.” Louis spoke through his tears. “She swears it’s him. I could hardly read it, but she says it’s all true, and she’s going to ring the police.” He passed the phone to Anna.
Anna read aloud. “Louis, my name is Serena Chalmers. This man is called Corey. I met him last July, and he’s a paedophile. Lyssa is in danger, but you’ll know that. I haven’t told anyone what happened to me because I’m ashamed. As I write I am shaking and crying. I’m fourteen but was thirteen when it happened.”
Gordon moved and stood with Anna and Louis.
Anna continued reading. “He asked me if I knew the time when I was walking home from my friend’s house. He started chatting about stuff - asked me my name, where did I go to school. He seemed nice, and I thought he was good looking. I think I was flattered. He told me he lived nearby, and would I like to come and have a cup of tea. I knew Mum wouldn’t be back from work and decided I’d go but not stay long. I like sugar in my tea, and he put lots in, too sweet but OK. He put the TV on and sat close to me but didn’t touch me or anything. He asked about my family and friends, what music I was into. Then he showed me some horrible porn on his phone, and I began to feel sleepy and I must have passed out.
When I woke up, it was dark outside, and I was on his bed. I felt sick and sleepy. He asked me if I’d enjoyed myself. I could hardly speak, and I didn’t feel right. My clothes were all over the place, and I felt sore.”
Anna stopped reading, clasped a hand over her mouth, and stifled a sob.
Gordon tore off a sheet of kitchen towel, placed it in her hand and put a loving arm around her.
“This is hideous.” Anna blew her nose. “You shouldn’t be hearing this.”
“I’ve read it, Gran. He’s sick and we’ll have to tell the police. Do you think she’s already told them? She sent it last night.”
“We can’t assume she has or will. I’ll ring Inspector Keir,” said Gordon.
Anna nodded and they continued reading in silence.
“He helped me up and gave me water. I didn’t want to drink, but my mouth was so dry. I sorted out my clothes and told him mum would be wondering where I was. He said I could go, but I shouldn’t tell anyone, that they wouldn’t understand our relationship. He said we’d meet up soon. I was desperate to leave so I said it would be OK. I walked home feeling terrible. Mum screamed at me, said I’d been with a boy, what had I done with him? I ran to my room and Mum didn’t say anything else.”
“I knew he’d raped me. I should have told Mum, the police, but I blamed myself for being stupid and going to his flat in the first place. I’ve been warned so many times about strange men, what they might do, but I was stupid enough to think he liked me, that he wanted to be my friend. He’s evil, and I pray you find your sister. Sometimes I feel grateful that he didn’t kill me, so maybe he isn’t that evil, I don’t know. I was scared I’d get pregnant, but thank God I didn’t. I won’t tell you how I’ve been feeling inside ever since. Tell the police. I’m going to. They need to know, for Lyssa’s sake.”
“Have you seen her photo, what Serena looks like?” said Louis, through his tears. “She looks like Lyssa, and so young, just a kid.”
“Oh Louis, my love,” said Anna, and embraced him. “You need a hug. We all do.”
Anna, Gordon, and Louis held onto one another and wept. They wept with fear for Lyssa and what she might be going through, wept with pity for Serena who had shared her terrible experience, but most of all they wept for themselves, because there seemed to be no end to the nightmare.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Deep Water
Under the circumstances, I was about as prepared as I could be. My rucksack held a few basic supplies and the knife was hidden safely in my coat pocket. Although, if I needed to use it, I prayed I’d have the courage to.
I parked the car in an empty layby at the edge of a small loch and consulted my map. The well-trodden footpath followed the shoreline of the loch for a few hundred yards, and I passed behind a long line of wind-bent Scots Pine trees on the edge of a narrow stony beach, which leaned over the water like old men gazing down at their reflections. I clambered over a laddered stile, and even though the path petered out, the map showed the route veered left. I walked on and passed a herd of highland cattle that grazed a short distance away. A hefty bull raised its head and stared at me, and I quickened my pace. The long-horned creatures must have been used to hikers and he soon continued grazing, his curiosity satisfied.
As the altitude increased, the temperature dropped, and I drew up the zip of my coat. I recalled our hike up Benn Arum all those years ago, but the path didn’t feel familiar. As I walked, I remembered that we’d passed a farmhouse and some aggressive dogs. Perhaps because the events of that day had been appalling and wonderful in equal measure, the memory that had sunk into my subconscious only now returned to the fore. Maybe the surroundings, the imposing sight of Benn Arum and the unspeakable fear that I might lose my daughter forever had reawakened such deeply buried memories.
I reached the top of a stretch of coarse grassland, climbed another stile, and found myself on an old farm trail. Deep wheel trenches revealed how generations of farmers had driven this way, journeying back and forth over many years and shifting seasons. I turned left, and the knife came to mind. Had I been rash to bring it? I’d heard that if anyone was foolish enough to carry a knife, then it could well be used by someone else to inflict damage on its owner. But I needed some form of self-protection, and if it could help to get Lyssa away from that sick bastard then I would keep it close. I put my hand over my pocket and traced the outline of the blade as I tried to recall any films where a knife had been used. The only scene I could dredge up was the all too obvious one with Norman Bates in Psycho’s shower scene, as he gripped the knife and stabbed at the naked woman behind the shower curtain. We had it on DVD, and we’d watched it many times, though of course, I had never anticipated I should be garnering tips from it.
I had to be right about Lyssa being nearby. My dreams and visions, the sightings of my car, the death of Roy Simpson; everything pointed to this location. I remembered my nightmare, the forewarning, or whatever it had been. The carriage arch, the farmhouse, the darting shadows and then Lyssa’s terrified face. My step faltered and I felt an excruciating ache deep in my core. I sucked my breath to steady my searing anxiety, then I set off again and doubled my pace and resolve.
The track ran level and headed towards thick woodland some way ahead. Two men came into view and strode towards me. They led two spirited dogs that pulled at their leads. As we neared one another, they talked and laughed over something. I was all set to say hello and walk on by, but they stopped.
“Afternoon. Have you been up the mountain?” asked the older man. He smiled with a glow to his cheeks.
The dogs, pretty beagles, sniffed and licked my ankles.
“Aye, I’m heading back now.” I tried to sound upbeat. “I don’t suppose you passed a farm?” I nodded at the woods.
“Aye, there was a farm, some way down a track,” said the younger man.
“Do you live locally?” I asked, and thought he might know who lived there.
He looked wistful. “Sadly, no. I’m a city boy these days. Wish I did though.”
One of the dogs whined and jumped up at me.
“Hey Leo, get down, yer brute,” said the older man. He pulled the dog away and fed it
a treat. “The farm is deep within the woods, but the track looked good enough. Are you going now?”
“Thought I’d take a look.” I dug deep for a plausible excuse. “It belonged to my family a couple of generations back,” I said. “I don’t know who lives there these days. In fact, I don’t know if it’s inhabited. Did you spot a car or any signs of life?”
The dog jumped up again and looked at me with large brown insistent eyes.
“I didn’t see any lights or vehicles. Did you Alistair?” He turned to his friend.
“No, but I wasn’t really paying attention.” He stroked his dog’s ears.
“Leo likes you. Own a dog by any chance?”
I rubbed its back. “Just a rabbit.”
“I reckon there’s enough daylight. Though you wouldn’t want to be down there when it gets dark, looked very remote.”
“I’d better get going. Thank you. At least I know I’m heading the right way.” I reached down and gave Leo a final pat as he tried to follow me.
The men didn’t look like they were in a hurry to move on.
“Nice talking.” I gave a reassuring smile and set off.
I heard the dog’s barks and the men’s goodbyes, but I didn’t turn back again.
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