by Carol Wyer
58
The brown holdall weighed very little. Lucas hadn’t been planning on being away long. Robyn placed it on the front seat of the Polo and unzipped it. It contained a pile of unwashed, sour-smelling clothes. Putting on a pair of plastic gloves she dug through and unearthed a mobile phone and charger. She was about to call PC Patel with the good news when a flash of white caught her eye. At the bottom of the bag, under some dirty underwear, were two envelopes. She pulled them out. The first was addressed to Mary Matthews and the second to Abigail Thorne.
Robyn felt the familiar buzz of adrenalin as she ripped open the one addressed to Abigail and read:
* * *
Dear Abigail
* * *
I have not revealed my identity or said anything to your husband that may jeopardise yours. I merely asked him to pass you this letter in the hope that if you get it from him you might not rip it up. Obviously, I can’t give it to you personally as I promised many years ago to stay away from you. It is important you read it.
* * *
I need to warn you about Alice. She appears to be exacting some sort of revenge and has been blackmailing me. Not satisfied with two payments she has been threatening to exact more and ruin my marriage and my life.
* * *
I went to Paul for help. He wasn’t thrilled but has done what he can. He has been following your life from afar and knows your address. He advised me to get in contact with your husband at his work rather than surprise you with a visit. Paul discovered Alice’s whereabouts by chance, spotting a photograph of her in a nature magazine, and given she now lives in your area, we chose to break our promises in order to alert you, in case she attempts to blackmail you, or worse. She goes by the alias of Zoe Cooper.
* * *
I am endeavouring to track her down to prevent whatever game she is playing but you need to be aware in case she uncovers your true identity and decides to approach you.
I hope you are enjoying a better life. I promise not to blight this one for you.
* * *
Good luck
Lucas
* * *
The envelope addressed to Mary Matthews contained a letter and a second piece of paper. Robyn read the letter:
* * *
Dearest Mary,
* * *
If you are reading this then something has happened to me and you might have learned some truths that will upset you greatly.
* * *
I have a terrible sickness that I have never been able to cure. My penchant for young girls has got me into trouble in the past and has probably resulted in my demise.
Recently, I have been blackmailed following an incident with a young girl. I was forced to give my resignation to the school and had to hand over money.
* * *
You must believe me when I say that I fully intended to deal with my addiction. I genuinely wanted to stop. I wanted to be a normal husband. You are the best thing that has happened to me and for that reason I have kept you in the dark about this whole business.
* * *
The person who is blackmailing me is from my past. I attacked her and forced myself on her when she was a child. I was drunk and had been taking drugs at a friend’s house. She retaliated and stabbed me. That is how I lost my eye.
* * *
I thought it was all over but it appears not and she has been threatening not only to exact large amounts of money but, more recently, to harm you.
* * *
I have not been in Thailand, as you believe. I didn’t want you to get involved in this. I have been attempting to find her before she carries out her threats.
* * *
If you are reading this letter, please give the enclosed to the police immediately and ask for protection until they find a woman who goes by the name of Zoe Cooper. Her true identity is Alice Forman. Do not let her near you.
Mary, I am truly sorry for any upset I have caused you.
* * *
Please know I love you.
Lucas x
* * *
The second piece of paper contained letters cut from a paper and said:
* * *
NO MONEY IS ENOUGH.
YOU SHALL PAY WITH YOUR LIFE.
I MIGHT VISIT YOUR WIFE AND KILL HER TOO.
SEE LUCAS. THIS IS WHAT FEAR FEELS LIKE.
ALICE
* * *
Robyn punched in Ross’s number.
‘Could you pay Mrs Clifford another visit?’ she asked, when he picked up.
‘And hello to you, too,’ he replied.
‘Don’t mess about, Ross. This is urgent.’ She read out the letters. ‘I expect Mrs Clifford has photos of Alice. Can you email me copies of them? I need to study them. Paul and Lucas were after Zoe Cooper but she isn’t Alice. My big problem is that I can’t work out why Paul recognised the photograph of Claire, while Abigail, who has seen her regularly, didn’t. If Claire was really Alice Forman, surely Abigail would have sussed her. I want to see if I can spot any similarities or anything that can prove beyond question that Claire Lewis is Alice Forman. Mulholland will blow her top if I come up with half-baked ideas. Although I kept it from Mulholland, I already messed up on the rabbit thing. I don’t want to get this wrong as well.’
‘I promised I’d visit Jane again, so I’ll ring the care home and go over later.’
‘Thanks, Ross. You’re one in a million.’
‘No need to flatter me, I said I’d go.’
Her phone vibrated. ‘Got an incoming call. Thanks again.’
She took the new call and raised her eyebrows in surprise.
‘Hello, Detective Inspector Carter? This is Claire Lewis. You left a message to call you. What is it about?’
‘Thank you for calling me back, Miss Lewis. I need to talk to you in connection with a Lucas Matthews.’
‘I can’t say I know him.’
‘I would still like to chat to you. It’s rather important.’
Robyn heard the hesitation in her voice, ‘I’m on an assignment in Scotland at the minute but I’m due to return on Saturday. Can we arrange a meeting then? I still have a few places to visit. I’m working on a feature about the beauty of Scotland. I’ve been all over the north of the country and into the Trossachs National Park. I’m currently near Inverness at Cromarty. It’s a good area for dolphin watching. The Moray Firth bottlenose dolphins are quite renowned here. I’ve set up my camera equipment and hope to capture them today. It’s a good day for photographing them – good visibility.’
Robyn wanted to speak to her sooner than that. She decided to try another tack.
‘Have you heard from Abigail Thorne?’
‘I haven’t but there are some missed calls from her. I was going to ring her after I had spoken to you. I figured you were more important given you are the police.’
‘I’m sorry to inform you that her daughter has been abducted.’
There was a sharp intake of breath. ‘No,’ she said after a moment. ‘No, not Izzy. Oh my gosh. Oh poor Abby. No. She’ll be distraught. Izzy’s been kidnapped. When? Where?’
‘Earlier today. She was snatched from her vehicle at the Meads car park.’
‘What? That’s not possible. How can that have happened? Abigail never lets Izzy out of her sight. Have you any leads? Is anyone searching for her?’ She let out a long moan before continuing. ‘I must come back and help look for her. I’m sorry, Detective Inspector Carter, but I’ll have to ring off. I want to talk to Abby and then I need to return to Farnborough as soon as possible.’
‘Miss Lewis, when you get back, please give me a call. I would like to talk to you in a more formal capacity.’
‘Of course, although I don’t know how much help I’ll be. I’ll telephone you as soon as I am near Farnborough. Or should I go directly to the police station?’
‘Ring me and we’ll arrange where to meet.’
‘Certainly.’ She sounded flustered. ‘There’s no news on Izzy?’
‘Not yet. Sorry.’
‘Okay. Bit early, I suppose. I’ll call you.’
Robyn stared out of her car window, lips pressed together in concentration. It was difficult to tell if someone was lying over the phone and Claire’s reaction had been as expected when learning her best friend’s daughter had been abducted. Robyn could feel the frustration eating away at her. She was now no further with this case. She had been certain Claire was actually Alice but if Claire really was in Scotland, then who had abducted Izzy? She phoned PC Patel to confirm Claire Lewis’s whereabouts. Claire had said she was in Cromarty but Robyn wanted more proof of that fact. They would start by using Claire’s mobile number and check with the service provider. Then they should be able to find her location from the nearest cell tower. Robyn felt that Claire phoning her was all too convenient. She hoped she was right with her feelings. She couldn’t afford to get it wrong. She was now searching for a murderer and a kidnapper, and a child’s life was at stake.
59
Now
Izzy is looking at me, unperturbed by the events as if being kidnapped is just another interesting experience. I’m not going to dope the poor kid with whisky or anything to keep her quiet. I already made her ill once and that was totally unintentional. I must have had some traces of ipecac on my fingers when I handled her food that day in the café. I was mortified when I heard she had become ill too. That hadn’t been my intention. Luckily, she wasn’t too harmed by it. No, I don’t want to hurt the child. Not yet. I’ll have to kill her, of course. There’s no other way. How else can I totally annihilate Abigail’s life?
Abigail. The name suits her better than Natasha. Natasha was all white face and heavy black eyeliner and moping about the house, mumbling at people and hiding in her room. Abigail is a lighter, more cheerful name. Although Abigail won’t be feeling light or cheerful at the moment.
From the boot of my car I pull out a box of toys I have been collecting for Izzy. I read that babies need stimulation and get bored which is why they cry. I hope the toys will keep her occupied for a while until she gets tired and dozes off. I shove the box in the passenger footwell and put on a CD for babies. It’s all sorts of strange music but it’s supposed to calm their brainwaves. If all else fails, I have a comforter for her and earplugs for me so I don’t have to put up with her screaming.
I strap Izzy’s carrycot into the passenger seat so she is facing the back of the seat but can see me. She smiles at me, a big cheerful grin. She isn’t even missing Abby. I blow a raspberry at her and tickle her feet and smile back.
‘We’re going on a journey, Izzy. Now, you be a good girl for me while I drive. Then, I have a few things I need to sort out with your mum.’
I drive out of the far exit of the Meads car park and head towards the motorway before I am struck by an idea. Abigail is somehow convinced Rachel Croft is involved with Lucas. I shall exploit that. It’ll give me a chance to get clear away. Izzy burbles senseless noises and I beam at her.
‘I’m going to take you to where I once lived,’ I say. I’ll deal with Rachel first and then head to the Farmhouse. I’m really looking forward to seeing the place again. This time it will be different.
60
‘I’m sending the photos now,’ said Ross. ‘I can’t see how they’ll help. They’re mostly of a little girl. It’s impossible to see what she’d look like as an adult.’
‘Send them anyway. I might uncover something.’
‘There’s a few of her with her mother. Do you want those too?’
‘Yes, I’ll look at those. I’ve got a job here for you where your skills will be really handy. I need someone to do a sweep of Abigail’s house. If she’s right about being watched and getting calls and someone knowing what she’s up to, I bet she’s been bugged. Can you get down here and check for me? I could ask the station for someone but I know you are the best when it comes to hidden cameras and what’s on the market. Apparently, I’m supposed to tiptoe around the force down here and not be too demanding.’
‘Sounds like Mulholland has put you on a restraining lead this time.’
‘That’s exactly how it feels.’
‘No probs, I’m on my way.’
Robyn entered the police station in Wellington Street, Aldershot, and introduced herself. The sergeant on duty took her into a room where a man in his fifties, dressed in casual attire, gaunt-faced with a touch of grey stubble on his chin, was hovering over a uniformed officer, watching a television screen. The man looked up and extended a slim hand.
‘Good afternoon, you must be DCI Corrance,’ said Robyn. ‘I’m DI Carter. You’ve been expecting me.’
‘Ah yes. You’re from Staffordshire. I hear it’s all fields and villages with decent pubs and places to go walking up there. Not like down here. Took me over an hour to get into work this morning.’
‘It’s a little less congested, sir,’ she said.
He nodded approvingly. ‘I understand you have a case that might be linked to one of ours?’
‘Yes, sir. Missing man, now deceased, called Lucas Matthews. It transpires he was Abigail Thorne’s brother and her child, Isobel Thorne, was snatched at the Meads car park, Farnborough, earlier today.’
‘Yes, Mrs Thorne believed he was behind the abduction but obviously he wasn’t. We’ve got all our officers out on this one,’ he said, his grey eyes narrowing. ‘We’ll catch the culprit.’
‘I’m trying to see if there is any relevant connection between the two cases. I won’t stomp over your turf.’
‘We work as a team here. No room for mavericks.’ He gave her a hard look. ‘I’ve heard rumours you’re a bit of a loner, Carter. Make sure you share your information. We’re working flat out to solve this and get baby Thorne home safe and sound.’
She waited for a second before saying, ‘Understood. Is there any chance I could go through the footage from the car park?’
The man tapped the uniformed policeman on the shoulder. ‘PC Brendan Warrington is your man. He’s been looking at this screen for over an hour and can’t spot anyone suspicious near the white Range Rover Evoque. There’s footage of the vehicle pulling up then the guy who nicks the handbag comes into view at’ – he checked with the PC – ‘thirteen-forty hours. He’s spotted walking across the car park and then we lose him. Mrs Thorne is seen running towards the shops soon afterwards. We have checked all the cameras in the Meads and there is no one carrying a baby or toddler around that time. I doubt you’ll spot anything we’ve missed but go ahead.’
His sarcastic tone was not lost on Robyn but she ignored it.
‘Have you looked at camera footage from earlier than thirteen-forty hours?’ Robyn asked.
‘Yes, ma’am,’ PC Warrington replied.
DCI Corrance made a noise of disgust and departed. ‘I’ll leave you with Warrington here.’
PC Warrington flicked through his jottings before speaking.
‘Ignore the guv. He’s in a bad mood. He was brought in from his day off. Yeah, we went back an hour in case there was anyone suspicious lurking about that area. It’s a section of the car park that doesn’t get used much. Most people park near the supermarket. A couple left a black Nissan Micra ten minutes before Abigail Thorne drew into a space next to a blue people-carrier. We ran footage to see what time the occupants of the people carrier arrived. It was seventy minutes beforehand and a woman vacated it with two children aged approximately between ten and twelve years old. Two middle-aged women crossed towards the Keep Fit Gym minutes before the arrival of the Range Rover. Apart from that and an elderly lady carrying shopping, seen crossing the park at thirteen-thirty-five hours, there’s nothing of value and nobody else on the footage.’
‘Can you wind it back to let me see the people you mention?’
‘Sure. Hope you brought popcorn and drinks with you. It’s a pretty dull film,’ he joked.
Robyn smiled. He might seem to have an easy manner but the frown lines on his forehead and the nicotine stains on
his fingers told a different story.
The footage was rewound and fast-forwarded. There was nothing extraordinary about the people she observed coming and going.
‘We’re still searching for the thief who stole Mrs Thorne’s handbag, but so far, no luck. Our officers have been asking passers-by. He’s vanished into thin air. We tracked down the owners of the cars stationed in the car park at the time of the kidnapping, and asked if they had witnessed the scene, but again, we drew a blank. Couldn’t ask the elderly lady. She headed in the direction of the bus stop.’
Robyn watched the woman walk across the screen, heavy bags weighing her shoulders down. She wore a coat that was slightly too large for her and a brightly coloured headscarf. Robyn chewed on her lip. She studied the woman who walked by, unaware of the car and the drama playing out inside it, intent on reaching the bus stop.
‘Could you rewind that bit and pause it?’ she asked. PC Warrington obliged. Robyn squinted at the screen. The picture was too grainy to make out anything. She shook her head.
‘I can’t spot anything untoward. Is it okay if I set up here for a while?’ she asked
‘Sure, help yourself.’