CHILDHUNT: A Mystery & Suspense Thriller in the Bestselling Diana Rivers Series (The Diana Rivers Mysteries Book 5)

by Faith Mortimer

  “You try it,” he urged in between coughing.

  Debbie shook her head shyly, and Christopher laughed at her for being a ‘cissy’. He eventually tired of the cigarette and dropped it on the floor. Neither child noticed the cigarette roll under the bench and nestle against a pile of newspapers. Within minutes, the dry paper had caught alight, and the flames were licking Debbie’s cotton dungarees. Their screams brought Debbie’s parents running…she was in hospital for weeks while her burns healed, and to that day, she was still embarrassed when she went bare-legged in the summer months. Some scars would never completely fade away.

  Claude was very sympathetic when she told him the story after he asked about the scars. He kissed her hand and stroked the scars very gently. “My poor little girl, yes, my darling little girl. Did it hurt very much? You must have been so frightened. How old were you when it happened? Dear me, six! Tell me all about it again.”

  Unsettled, Debbie threw back her head. It was when she remembered that the pain came back. It was far better to forget. Except she could still hear those questions. They seemed far away, as if she was dreaming…they were insistent, probing her gently about her parents, Sally, Stuart and Claude. She was vaguely aware that she answered, and then she became obstinate. “No. No more, please. It’s…no, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  There it was again, that soft, untiring and gentle voice. “Debbie, you must. You want to help us, don’t you?”

  She felt limp and heavy-limbed as she heard the voice. “Debbie, were you afraid of your husband, Claude?”

  Debbie knew she had to answer; she had no choice if she wanted the questions to stop. Dimly, she heard her voice, from a far off place. “Mum and Dad were acting oddly. I think they were worried about…something. Possibly, they were worried about my health. They wanted to visit me, and Claude suggested they came for tea. Claude was the perfect host that day. He had bought all sorts of fancy cakes.”

  Debbie paused as she thought. “Mum and I walked around Claude’s garden, and she asked me what my relationship was with Claude. Were we a couple?”

  “I asked her why, and she said she thought Claude was a bit old for me…she said I’d changed. My hair looked different, and my clothes…didn’t I think they were more suitable for young girls? I said Claude took an interest in me and usually accompanied me when I went shopping. He helped choose my clothes. And he liked my hair worn long and the white Alice band suited me.

  “When Dad joined us in the garden, I went back inside to help Claude, and he asked me what we talked about. I laughed and said they thought I needed to update my wardrobe. Claude smiled and told me not to bother because I looked just the perfect girl to him.

  “When they were leaving, Dad said it was time I went home for a short stay. They saw so little of me these days, and we needed to talk. They insisted I went down the next week and I agreed. They kissed me goodbye, and Claude suddenly remembered he had forgotten something back on the campus and left in his car soon after they’d gone…he said he’d be back and then he’d run me home.”

  She tossed and turned in her chair, biting her lip. She felt afraid. “There was a telephone call, and I remember a voice saying there’d been an accident. An unknown car…a hit and run maybe…it was never confirmed…or maybe Dad had been forced off the road.

  “Then Claude was there with me, and he was saying he would take care of his darling, little girl. I wasn’t to worry, and we’d get married as soon as he could arrange the licence. He cuddled me and held me tight, stroked my back as he calmed me down. There was the wedding. But I…I felt afraid.”

  The low voice spoke. “What of Debbie? What were you afraid of? Afraid of Claude?”

  Debbie moved her hands. “No. Claude was always good to me. But I was so tired and felt ill. Claude was so attentive, making sure I drank my medicine, later on, ensuring I was able to cope with Sally and Stuart. I felt happy with my children…and I was all right for a while. Claude was so good. Then…then, no, I didn’t like doing that. I didn’t want to do it. No! Please don’t touch me like that. Not again! Go away, away…”

  The voice moved nearer. “Who did you want to go away, Debbie? Was it Claude or was there someone else? Did he leave you alone then, Debbie?”

  “I…I...no, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  “And the children? Were they okay? Was Claude good to them as a loving father?”

  “He was strict. They had to do what he wanted, and he made them obey. Stuart argued at first, and then he…he became frightened. But Sally was good and quiet. Claude said all his little girls had to be good little girls.”

  “Claude said that?”

  “Ye-es. Then I was happy because he stopped touching me. But there was something wrong. I knew the medicine was making me more tired than before, and I had to stop taking it. I tried to see James, to tell him I had to get away with the children.”

  “James?” the voice asked softly.

  “Yes, James, my friend from the bookstore. We really liked each other, but he was married, too. Claude said I couldn’t see him because I was so sick. But I wasn’t. I’m not sick. Claude is sick.”

  “Claude? How is he sick, Debbie?”

  “I…I’m not sure.”

  “Debbie did you ever go and see your friend, James? Did you tell him what was wrong?”

  “No. Not that time. But I did see him before, and I tried to tell him.”

  “Can you tell us about the day Sally and Stuart went missing? What happened? Can you remember?”

  “Yes. Claude was very angry with me.”

  “Angry? Was this usual?”

  “Sometimes. More than when we were first married.”

  “Why was he particularly angry this time?”

  “Because of my medicine. He’d changed the vitamin tablets for medicine, but it made me feel sick. I made up my mind I wasn’t going to take it anymore and poured it down the loo. But he had another bottle, and he made me drink it. I felt so sleepy, and then Sally was upset. She started crying, and I knew I must get out of bed and see to her. When I got to her, Claude was with her, and because she was being naughty, he said he’d smacked her. I had to take her away. Claude shouldn’t have hit her. I decided to leave. But I didn’t tell Claude.”

  “Did you love Claude?”

  “I think I did at first. He was so good to me. But later on…”

  Diana leaned towards Clare and whispered into her ear. Clare nodded briefly before continuing.

  “That day, were you on your own with the children. Did Claude go to work?”

  “Yes.”

  “By car? Which car did he drive? Was it the same one he’d had before you were married?”

  “No. His car was stolen the day my parents were killed. He bought another…he drove that one to work every day.”

  “So that day he went to work as normal.”

  “Yes. He always telephoned me every morning and afternoon to make sure we were all right. He phoned, and I said we were going out. We were going to the greengrocer, and then I was going to the doctor. I was worried about Sally because she was crying one minute and then very quiet the next…it wasn’t like her. She was behaving like a baby.”

  “And what did Claude have to say about Sally?”

  “He said I wasn’t to go out because it was too cold, and snow was forecast. Sally would be really sick if I took her out in the bad weather. I said I’d wrap her up well, and if she felt like it, I’d take them both to Macdonald’s. I hated the place, but they loved it, and it had been ages since I took them. They’d been so good, and needed some fun. They don’t laugh enough because Claude is so firm and strict with them.”

  “What happened then?”

  “I knew I had to talk to the doctor about Sally and ask why I was always so tired. Why did he give Claude so much medicine for me…I can’t remember when it first began…I know James said Sally and Stuart were fun when I met him in the bookshop. He always made them laugh…he was
a good father.”

  “Did you and James have an affair?”

  “No! Not really. I was married, we both were! We…we kissed, but that was all. I felt I needed a friend. I told him all about my marriage. How I felt like a prisoner sometimes and about Sally and Stuart. He was very sympathetic.”

  Debbie felt stifled and moved her head restlessly from side to side. She heard that soft voice once again calming her down, making her feel secure.

  “It’s okay, Debbie. So did you take Sally and Stuart out that morning? Where did you go?”

  “I made sure they were wearing their coats and scarves and their mittens, of course. We got in the car, and I drove to the greengrocer next to the supermarket. It was cold….so cold, and I remembered what Claude said about not letting Sally catch a chill. I parked the car and decided I’d only pick up some butter and a few vegetables. A big shop would have taken too long. I left both children in the car...I’m sure I locked the car. I thought they would be okay for a few minutes. But I never saw them again.”

  “Did you see anyone you knew?”

  “No. The car park and shops were almost empty.”

  “How long were you gone? How long were the children left in the car?”

  “Ten minutes, maybe twelve. I tried to hurry…when I returned, they were gone!”

  Debbie’s voice had risen in anguish, and she sounded shocked and disbelieving that they were missing from the car.

  “So what did you do then?”

  “I looked for them. I went into the sweet shop and the toy shop, but I couldn’t see them. I couldn’t find them!”

  “And then? Did you ask in the supermarket if anyone had seen them?”

  “Not at first. I ran round the car park again, thinking maybe they’d wandered off and couldn’t find their way back to the car. I called to them and I was frightened. I was afraid Claude would be so cross and punish them for getting out of the car and going off. A shop manager said he’d call the police for me. I had to find them.”

  Adam stood away from the wall and moved nearer to Clare and Debbie. He held Clare’s glance for a second before she resumed talking to Debbie.

  “You were afraid Claude would punish them?”

  “Yes, like when he smacked Sally before. He said she was naughty, but Stuart said she hadn’t been. She’d been fast asleep. Why did Claude smack her?”

  “We have to find that out, Debbie.”

  “But it doesn’t matter now…Sally and Stuart have gone…and now Charlie and Hannah have disappeared. We’ve got…got to look for them.”

  Adam bent down to Clare and whispered in her ear. She looked a little stunned, but after a moment’s hesitation, she gave a curt nod.

  “Tell us about Charlie and Hannah. What happened this morning, Debbie?”

  Debbie gave a moan. “Hannah and Charlie…they’re missing. I must go and look in the orchard for them. Maybe they were playing in the wood… maybe they went there…maybe they wandered off. No, they were in the garden. I heard them…Charlie counting…dirt on my hands.”

  “Why was there dirt on your hands, Debbie?”

  “I was looking for them. But I knew he’d taken them…he’s been watching me…walking past…pretending to look at—we have to go now. Find them!” she whispered. Debbie’s eyelids fluttered pale against her face. She opened her eyes for a second and then closed them. Her breathing was ragged for a minute, then it fell into a rhythm, and everyone realised Debbie was in a proper sleep.

  Clare stood up and arched her spine backwards with a soft groan. “She’ll probably waken in a minute or two,” she said. “I’m not going to hypnotise her any more. She’s had enough.”

  Diana walked up and gave Clare a hug. “So have you, I think. You did very well, although I almost wish you hadn’t.”

  Clare looked ashen in the candlelight, lines of exhaustion stretched across her face. She sighed, and her voice wobbled as she spoke in a low voice. “I know. So do I.”

  Diana turned to the three men gathered and spoke in a quiet voice. “I expect you heard everything she said. I’m not sure how it will help us in any way, if at all. Debbie’s first husband seems to have been a power freak and very weird. But as he’s dead…it’s all a bit futile. But what I find interesting is her friend, James. What if anything, did he have to do with it?” She lifted her shoulders helplessly and turned away as tears sprang into her eyes. She didn’t want her suspicions to be true.

  Adam shook his head. “I’m positive there was no mention of anyone called James during her trial. He may have been a friend, but he didn’t come forward and support her. Maybe he was embarrassed to have had any association with her. People can be very selfish and look out only for themselves when things go to court.”

  “I wonder what happened to him. Roger’s the one who finds all the little nitty-gritty things out about people.” Diana said and suddenly gasped.

  “Where’s Roger? He said he’d only be gone a short time, and that was over two hours ago.”

  Chapter 25

  Daylight came slowly the next morning. Diana woke to find herself on the sofa wedged between a sleeping Steve and Clare. She tentatively stretched her legs and eased the cramp from her back and shoulders before glancing at her watch. It was just before six. The room felt cold, and she realised that the burner was almost out of wood. Moving quietly, she opened the stove door and replenished the embers with fresh wood. It didn’t take long for it to catch, and she soon had a bright fire crackling.

  Since there were no lights on in the room, she supposed the power was still off. She wandered through to the kitchen. Thank goodness the cooker hob ran on gas. They could all have at least a hot drink before setting off on the search. While she was collecting cups for tea or coffee, she was joined by Adam and Steve. They both looked tired and edgy, and she guessed she looked about the same.

  “I thought I’d make us all something hot to drink before we set out,” she said, indicating the teapot. “I’ll make sure there’s enough for everyone. Look! It’s finally stopped snowing!”

  Both men followed her gaze towards the window. There was a tinge of pinkness, lightening along the top of the nearest mountain showing that daytime was just around the corner.

  “About time too. You never told me it snowed in Cyprus,” grumbled Adam, tucking his shirt back into his trousers.

  “You never asked,” Diana replied, a faint grin hovering around the corner of her mouth. “Seriously, though, this has been bad. But you know what…it will probably all be gone before the week is out.”

  Adam looked as if he didn’t believe her.

  “She’s right, you know,” chimed in Steve. “Snow rarely lasts at this altitude. All the same, it was pretty deep when I last ventured out to get more wood.”

  “It’ll hamper the search later. Will it put your hasher friends off?” Adam queried between sips of hot tea.

  Diana shook her head. “A few perhaps, but I doubt the younger and fitter ones will let us down. You’re forgetting they’re used to this rough terrain, and they’ll all make it here as the majority own four-wheel-drive vehicles. Don’t worry, they’ll turn up. Hashers go out in all weather. I wonder why Roger never came back. Maybe the snow was too much for him. He is getting on and has been ill for some time.”

  There was a sound behind her, and she turned to find Clare leaning against the doorway looking particularly shattered. “Any more tea going?” she asked in a raspy voice.

  “Of course. Did you manage to get some sleep?”

  She grimaced. “Not really. Probably as much as everyone else. William took Debbie upstairs at about three o’clock because she was so exhausted. I’m not even going to try questioning her anymore. And I don’t think she has any more to add anyway.”

  Adam stared moodily into his tea mug. “Debbie obviously blames herself for her parents’ death, which is news to me. Her reactions towards her first husband were quite distraught. I think she wanted to get out of her marriage.”

  �
�Are you surprised? He sounded like he wanted total control over her, even down to advising her on what to wear. Adam, have you considered that Debbie’s first husband might have been a paedophile?”

  There was a murmur from Steve as he reached over to refill his tea mug.

  “Debbie was an adult when she married.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t mean that, actually,” Diana replied.

  Adam looked serious and studied his hands resting against the table before he spoke. “She was an adult, but I do remember she looked very young standing in the court dock. I do understand what you’re getting at, but as Claude Brookes drowned, this doesn’t help our case here. Our first job is to find those two kids…and they are somewhere out there.” He said, flinging a hand out towards the snowy landscape beyond the window. “God knows what madman or pervert has them and maybe…” He lowered his voice. “Maybe they’re dead, but we’re going to do our bloody best to recover them.”

  Both women caught their breath; everyone had been careful not to mention the dread which was uppermost in their minds. It was Diana who spoke first. “You’re right, of course. I shouldn’t have got side-tracked about Claude Brookes. Okay, changing the subject, there are some croissants left over from last night. Can I suggest we all have a quick bite to eat before we head off out. Clare, are you staying here with Debbie, or are you joining us with the search? The volunteers should all be here in ten minutes.”