Acid Row

by Minette Walters

  2.

  He has been divorced twice. In both instances his wives divorced him. In the case of her friend’s divorce (second wife too, she believes) he was represented by Martin Rogerson.

  3.

  The official reason for the first divorce was Townsend’s adultery with the woman who became his second wife. The unofficial reason was Townsend’s obsession with his stepdaughter (9 at the time of the divorce, now 17). No evidence that he abused her sexually – the child denied it – but mother was distraught to find video tapes of her daughter in the nude. Similar tapes had been made of the mother before he married her, as Townsend said he liked to watch her when she wasn’t with him. She found two other tapes of children she didn’t know.

  4.

  Rogerson and the wife’s solicitor brokered a settlement that resulted in the video issue being dropped and an agreement of silence imposed. Mrs Gough believes Martin Rogerson threatened the wife with exposure of the tapes, although her friend has never actually said so. The wife continues to feel guilty about her silence as she believes Townsend to be a paedophile.

  5.

  Mrs Gough has seen the photograph of Amy on TV. She says the child looks very like her friend’s daughter at the same age.

  6.

  Townsend’s second wife had an 8-yr-old daughter. The only knowledge Mrs Gough has of that marriage is that it lasted less than a year.

  7.

  Mrs Gough warned Francesca that Townsend had an unhealthy interest in young girls. Francesca accused her of being jealous because she couldn’t attract men herself. Mrs Gough now regrets that she didn’t use the word ‘paedophile’.

  G. Drew

  Twenty-one

  Saturday 28 July 2001

  Hampshire Police Headquarters

  MARTIN ROGERSON LOOKED up angrily when DCI Tyler entered the interview room. He had a mobile telephone clamped to one ear, and it wasn’t clear whether his anger was directed at Tyler or the person at the other end. With a curt ‘goodbye’ he snapped the instrument closed and placed it on the table in front of him. Frustration was etched into the aggressive set of his jaw, and Tyler had a glimpse of the bully Laura had described in the early hours. Certainly there was no bluff friendliness in his expression now.

  Tyler pulled out a chair and sat opposite him. ‘I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, sir,’ he said with a pleasant smile. ‘I assumed you’d be halfway to Bournemouth before you received the call, but I understand you asked WPC Anderson to take you to Southampton instead?’

  He put an upward inflection into his voice, but Rogerson was in no mood to respond to the question or the smile. ‘She told me it was extremely urgent – something to do with a new lead,’ he said, his educated accent clipping the words impatiently, ‘but it can’t be that urgent if you’re happy to leave me staring at a blank wall for twenty minutes.’ He tapped his watch, wielding his finger like a club. The alpha-male attempting to dominate. ‘You’ve got my mobile number. Why couldn’t we have done this by phone? I have a meeting in Southampton in two hours.’

  ‘Then you’ve plenty of time. It’s less than thirty minutes away.’ Tyler studied him curiously, felt the heat of his impatience. ‘Surely your daughter’s more important than a meeting? Your wife won’t even take a rest in case something comes on the radio while she’s asleep.’

  ‘That’s below the belt, Inspector. Your sergeant’s already told me you haven’t found a body, and he said it was a reason for optimism.’ He made an effort to relax. ‘I’ve been a solicitor too long to worry about things until I have to . . . unlike my wife, who frets herself sick, and invariably finds it was a waste of energy.’ He folded his hands over the telephone and leaned forward to bridge the gap between them. ‘Tell me about this new lead. Of course I’ll do anything to help.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Tyler paused, wondering who Rogerson had been talking to on his mobile, and if the conversation was the reason for both his optimism and his impatience. ‘I need to ask you some questions about Edward Townsend, sir.’

  The lawyer’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘What sort of questions?’

  ‘How would you describe your relationship with him? Is it a personal one or a business one? Or is it both?’

  ‘What does this have to do with my daughter?’

  There was no reason not to tell him. ‘We believe Mr Townsend may have been involved in Amy’s disappearance.’

  ‘That’s impossible.’ It was a very decided statement.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘He’s been out of the country since Tuesday.’

  Tyler looked at the mobile. ‘Have you just been speaking to him? Is he part of this meeting that’s taking place in two hours?’

  Rogerson shook his head. ‘I’m not prepared to discuss my client’s business affairs, Inspector, not without the proper authority.’

  ‘So the meeting involves Mr Townsend’s business?’

  The lawyer folded his arms but didn’t say anything.

  Tyler watched him for a moment. ‘Did you handle both of Mr Townsend’s divorces?’

  ‘Is this relevant?’

  ‘I’m merely asking for confirmation that you acted for him, sir.’

  Rogerson didn’t answer.

  ‘Fair enough.’ The DCI stood up. ‘In Townsend’s absence, the only other person who can confirm it is his first wife, but it’ll mean another long wait while I try to contact her, I’m afraid.’

  Rogerson pointed impatiently to him to sit down. ‘Yes, I represented him. That’s all I’m prepared to say, however. If you have any other questions relating to my client, you must put them directly to him.’

  ‘We will as soon as we locate him,’ said Tyler, resuming his seat. ‘Do you know where he is, Mr Rogerson?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Do you have a number we can contact him on?’

  The man moistened his lips. ‘No. The only number I have is not being answered.’

  Tyler wondered if he was lying, but decided not to pursue it for the moment. ‘The questions relate to you, Mr Rogerson, and what you knew about your client. Edward Townsend made some highly questionable videos of his stepdaughters which led at least one of his wives to suspect he was a paedophile. As his solicitor, you knew they existed. Would you care to explain to me why in those circumstances you allowed your daughter to live with him?’

  His composure was definitely rattled. He was taking time to answer. ‘I am not going to comment on that, except to say that your version of events is as questionable as you claim these alleged videos were.’

  ‘And why,’ Tyler went on implacably, ‘you insisted that she be returned to your care if and when Townsend grew tired of her?’ He watched the other man’s face smooth itself of expression. ‘Was she on loan, Mr Rogerson?’

  Rogerson picked up his mobile and tucked it into his jacket pocket. ‘You have no grounds whatsoever for this line of questioning, Inspector, and I have no intention of answering. I suggest you establish some facts before you attempt to pursue it again.’

  ‘I believe I have strong grounds,’ said Tyler mildly. ‘Strong enough to detain you, in fact, should you try to leave.’ It was his turn to lean forward. ‘Your client, Edward Townsend, left Majorca at six o’clock yesterday morning and a car similar to his was seen in Portisfield seven hours later with a child matching Amy’s description in the passenger seat. Would you care to comment on that?’

  The man’s mouth opened briefly, but whatever it was he was planning to say remained unspoken. Even to Tyler’s unsympathetic gaze, he looked shaken.

  ‘He has a very unhealthy interest in young girls . . . particularly your daughter. We think you knew this before Amy went to live with him. His bent is making nude videos of prepubescent children. He has several e-mail addresses – all encrypted – with only his legitimate business address being open for scrutiny. He was in Majorca this week filming an Amy lookalike, and someone called Martin telephoned him on Thursday. Their discussions were so sensitive that the girl with him w
asn’t allowed to listen, but following the call Townsend returned to England. Do you want to tell me what you said to him, Mr Rogerson? Particularly anything relating to Amy.’

  Rogerson considered for a moment. ‘This is absurd. You’re on completely the wrong track. Even if I were the Martin he spoke to, how could I have said anything about my daughter when I haven’t talked to her in months?’

  ‘Do you deny phoning Edward Townsend in Majorca?’

  ‘I am certainly denying that I am in any way connected with my daughter’s disappearance.’

  Tyler took note of the politician’s answer. ‘Don’t play games with me, Mr Rogerson,’ he said sharply. ‘This is a child’s life we’re talking about – your child’s life. Have you spoken to Townsend in the last twenty-four hours, either in person or on the telephone?’

  The man paused before he answered. ‘I have tried to contact him,’ he said. ‘His mobile is either switched off or out of power.’ He read the other man’s expression correctly. ‘I had – and have – no reason to believe that Amy is with him,’ he said firmly. ‘I wished to speak to him in relation to business.’

  Tyler found his expression less easy to read. Was this another evasive answer when a simple ‘No’ would have sufficed? ‘Which one?’

  ‘As far as I’m aware, there is only one. Etstone, his building company.’

  ‘We believe he may have Internet businesses. Do you know anything about them?’

  Rogerson frowned. ‘No.’

  ‘Were you aware that he returned to England yesterday morning?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘When were you expecting him back?’

  A small hesitation. ‘I don’t believe he mentioned a date to me.’

  That was a lie, thought Tyler. ‘Our information is that he booked a return flight for next Saturday.’

  The man looked away. ‘I wasn’t aware of that.’

  Tyler switched tack abruptly. ‘Amy made a reverse-charges call two weeks ago to someone she referred to as “Em”. Was that you, Mr Rogerson?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Do you know who it might have been?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. As I’ve said several times, I haven’t seen or heard from the child in months.’

  ‘Your wife suggested she was saying “Ed” because she swallows her Ds. Was that something you heard Amy doing when she was living with you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Meaning you didn’t notice it or she didn’t do it?’ he asked.

  ‘Both. The demands of my work meant she was usually in bed by the time I came home, but if I’d heard her doing it I would have corrected her.’

  ‘Were you close to your daughter, Mr Rogerson?’

  ‘Not particularly. She was always her mother’s child.’

  Tyler nodded, as if the statement were reasonable. ‘Then why threaten to take her away?’ he asked. ‘Why frighten Laura with a custody battle?’

  Rogerson breathed deeply through his nose. ‘I’ve answered that question twice . . . once last night and again before the press conference.’

  ‘Answer it once more, please.’

  He flicked another glance at his watch, containing his irritation with difficulty. ‘The agreement Laura and I reached was that the quid pro quo for my not putting obstacles in the way of her taking Amy last September was a promise that if her circumstances changed, the issue of custody would be settled in court . . . with Amy’s wishes being paramount. I felt it both reasonable and responsible that the child be given the choice.’

  ‘And you were happy to have her back if she chose you?’

  ‘Of course. She’s my daughter.’

  ‘Then why didn’t she know that?’

  The man frowned. ‘I don’t understand the question.’

  ‘If she knew you loved her, why didn’t she call you and ask to come home when Laura left Townsend?’

  ‘Presumably because she wasn’t allowed to.’ Perhaps, like his wife, he feared traps, because his voice took on a persuasive note. ‘Let me put the question another way, Inspector. Why wasn’t Laura prepared to test the issue in court? Wouldn’t you say that’s pretty good evidence she knew Amy would choose me?’

  ‘Not really,’ said Tyler bluntly. ‘I prefer my evidence simple and straightforward. If Amy had wanted to be with you, she’d have rung you. There’s a telephone in the Logans’ house. It was freely available for her to make private calls after Laura and Gregory left for work each morning. This was a child in torment. Insecure . . . lonely . . . being bullied by her baby-sitters . . . lying to her mother so that Laura could keep on working to find a way out of the mess they were in. You’re her father. You were the obvious person to come to her rescue. So why didn’t she turn to you for help?’

  ‘Perhaps she tried and I wasn’t in. Perhaps she didn’t want to upset her mother. Children have complicated reasons for the things they do. Perhaps it was me she didn’t want to upset.’

  Tyler agreed with the last remark, which was almost certainly true, although he would have substituted ‘rouse’ for ‘upset’. It was the nature of this man’s arousal that remained obscure. ‘I have two takes on this so-called “agreement”, Mr Rogerson,’ he said frankly. ‘One is that the only use you’ve ever had for your daughter was as a stick to beat your wife. Edward Townsend came at you out of the blue – you had no idea Laura had been having an affair with him or was planning to leave you – so you bought some time to conceal your assets. As long as the threat to take Amy away hangs over her head, Laura’s too frightened to go near a solicitor because she knows from past experience that the cards are stacked against her.’

  Rogerson shook his head. ‘Why can’t you just accept that I take my responsibilities as a father seriously? It wasn’t my choice that Laura had an affair. Nor was it Amy’s. While they were with Edward Townsend – and despite Laura’s ridiculous insistence on returning my maintenance cheques – I was satisfied that my daughter was being properly cared for. I knew the man, knew the standard of living he enjoyed. There was no such guarantee in a second relationship . . . as has been amply demonstrated. I question whether Amy would be missing today had my wife not broken the conditions of our agreement.’

  Tyler made no reaction at all to this remarkable statement. ‘My second take,’ he went on, as if the man hadn’t spoken, ‘is that you were prepared to lend Amy to Townsend for a period of time – probably to keep his business. To that end you allowed him to seduce your wife – a woman you no longer had any interest in – with the sole intention of exploiting your daughter. The only proviso was that Amy should be returned to you when Townsend’s infatuation had run its course . . . either to abuse her yourself or to offer her to other clients. Whichever the case,’ he went on firmly, overriding Rogerson’s indrawn breath, ‘you actively connived in handing guardianship of a ten-year-old child to a man you knew to be a paedophile.’

  Rogerson’s eyes glittered with suppressed anger. ‘You’re on very dangerous ground,’ he warned. ‘What basis do you have for an allegation like that?’

  ‘You were Townsend’s solicitor at the time of his first divorce. You helped suppress the evidence of his paedophilia.’

  ‘I deny that absolutely.’

  ‘Do you deny that tapes of his naked nine-year-old stepdaughter existed and that no mention of them was made during the divorce?’

  ‘All I will say is that certain issues were dropped on the instruction of the wife, who did not want pieces of compromising material, concerning her, made public. I had no reason to believe from this material that Edward Townsend was a paedophile. I did – and do – believe that he is only interested in women.’

  Tyler stared him down. ‘Why did Amy cry when you took her to see your parents?’

  The sudden switch ratcheted up the other man’s irritation. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’ he snapped.

  ‘It was an occasion when Amy was alone with you . . . without her mother.’

  His face closed immediately. ‘What are
you implying?’

  ‘I’m just wondering why Amy was so unhappy that day that your parents asked you not to bring her again.’

  ‘The child cried. Is that so unusual? The occasion was too much for her.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘How the hell!’ He broke off to take another calming breath. ‘Because my parents live in a nursing home, and a fair proportion of the patients have Alzheimer’s,’ he said in a more even tone. ‘That’s frightening to a little girl.’

  ‘I thought it was a retirement home.’

  ‘Nursing home . . . retirement home . . . they’re much of a muchness.’

  ‘Retirement homes don’t cater for Alzheimer’s patients.’

  There was a short silence. ‘Then it’s my daughter’s nature to be shy. What do you want from me? A detailed analysis of a single day in a child’s life?’

  Tyler eased back his chair and stretched his legs. ‘No one else describes her as shy, Mr Rogerson. All-singing, all-dancing is the description that seems to fit her best. I’m told she likes to make people smile.’

  This time the silence was a long one.

  ‘I don’t see the point you’re making,’ said Rogerson finally.

  ‘The only other people who say she cried all the time are Kimberley and Barry Logan . . . and they were bullying her mercilessly. They also say she was forever locking herself in the toilet because her stomach was hurting. Your parents said the same thing: “. . . kept going to the loo with stomach ache but wouldn’t be helped”.’

  ‘I don’t remember.’ Tyler watched the man’s eyes drop to his watch again, as if the only thing that worried him was his meeting in Southampton.

  ‘It’s a common symptom of abuse, Mr Rogerson, particularly in girls. Endless trips to the toilet . . . a refusal to let anyone help because they don’t want the evidence of their abuse to be seen. On a physical level, the pain in the stomach may be due to infection of the urinary tract or genitals. On a psychological level, it’s a probable indication of stress . . . possibly anorexic- or bulimic-based, where secretive vomiting is commonplace. Your daughter’s very thin. She’s also obsessionally anxious to please.’