Naive Retribution

by Dawson, H A

  ‘I’m sure you’re overreacting. Maybe she’s gone out for a walk.’

  ‘No . . . she hasn’t. Have you spoken to Joe?’

  ‘We’re just outside his house.’

  Imogen nudged Luke, pointing to the house window.

  ‘In fact I can see him. He’s inside.’

  ‘Is Jade with him?’

  ‘I can’t tell. I’ll ring back.’

  He placed the phone into his pocket, exited the car and strode to the door. When Joe saw them striding to the house he spoke to someone in the room. His face crumpled with anxiety.

  The door opened.

  ‘We’ve nothing to say,’ Dawn said. ‘Leave us alone.’

  ‘We know what you did with Jade’s baby. We can ring the police if you prefer.’

  Dawn held her ground. ‘You do that. It’ll prove nothing.’

  ‘Oh I think it will. We have evidence.’

  She hesitated and backed away, allowing them to step into the kitchen. Joe was hovering in the background, his expression was fixed and his hands clasped under his chin.

  She turned to him. ‘It’s your mess. You sort it.’ Then she was gone.

  Joe slumped onto a chair and his head rested in his hands. ‘Oh man! What’s going to happen.’

  ‘I’m more concerned about Jade right now. She’s gone missing. Do you know where she is?’

  He stood up and headed to the sink, and held a pensive gaze facing away from them. After a couple of moment’s he turned around, made brief eye contact and looked back to the cupboards. He was biting his lip and rubbing his hands.

  ‘Joe?’

  He shook his head. ‘I spoke to her this afternoon. She never said anything.’

  ‘Why did she ring?’

  ‘She . . . she wanted to do something in the baby’s memory. Like a meal or something. She was making arrangements.’

  ‘What did you tell her?’

  Joe shrugged. ‘What could I say?’

  ‘Okay, did she say anything else?’

  ‘She . . . she . . . it doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Go on,’ Luke said, ‘it could be important.’

  ‘It’s not.’

  Joe strode across the room, paused for a moment, and banged his fist against a cupboard.

  Their eyes locked. Something had dawned.

  ‘She said she was feeling impatient and couldn’t wait to meet in two more hours,’ Joe said. ‘The little shit!’

  Luke gave Imogen a fleeting glimpse.’

  ‘I lost my phone the other day,’ Joe continued, ‘just for a few hours. He must have sent her a message. I even checked it just in case. He must have deleted them.’

  ‘You’re talking about Dylan?’

  Joe nodded.

  ‘Is he here?’

  ‘No. He’s just gone out.’ Joe’s anxiety flashed between them. ‘But only just. He was late back from school, said he had something on. If Jade’s been missing a while then-’

  Luke pressed his hand on Joe’s back. ‘Let’s go.’

  ‘Where to?’

  ‘To find Jade and your son.’

  ‘I’ll try ringing him first.’

  Luke agreed and Joe hurried out of the room. He returned moments later and informed them he was not answering his phone. It was hardly a surprise. Luke guided them outside. Joe was reluctant to follow and shuffled in weighted steps.

  ‘Where first?’ Luke asked him.

  ‘I don’t have a clue.’

  ‘Think. Where would he go?’

  ‘The woods maybe, or the park. It depends what he’s planning.’

  ‘Has he said anything?’ Luke’s frustration was rising. ‘Come on, Joe. Think.’

  ‘No, he hasn’t.’

  ‘What about that drawer?’ Imogen said.

  Luke turned to Joe. ‘He has a drawer he keeps locked. There are newspaper cuttings and photos in it. Would he want to do something with them?’

  Joe passed him a surprised look.

  ‘Just answer the question.’

  ‘I don’t know. I don’t know anything about it. Look, I want to find them as much as you.’

  ‘Then help us.’ Luke opened the car doors and they climbed inside.

  Finally, Joe relented. ‘There’s an old concrete structure at the reservoir, and it provides a bit of shelter. He may be there.’

  ‘Okay. Let’s go.’

  Luke turned on the engine and placed his foot on the accelerator. His phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, saw it was William, and flung it to Imogen. She explained the situation and ended the call.

  ‘He’s driving over,’ she said.

  He flung her a disapproving stare.

  ‘I couldn’t stop him. He’s worried.’

  It didn’t take long for Luke to arrive at the main entrance to the reservoir. The gates were locked. He stared at Joe. ‘What now?’

  ‘There’s another entrance. That’s never locked. We can get in there.’

  ‘Should we walk?’

  ‘We can’t park any closer. It’s across a field.’

  ‘Okay, let’s go.’

  He locked the car and strode along the path. Joe provided the directions, but he was slow to move and trailed a few steps behind. Luke caught Imogen’s eye and gestured his frustrations.

  ‘Since you knew what Dylan was doing,’ Luke asked Joe, ‘why didn’t you do something to stop him.’

  ‘I thought I had. He promised me he’d leave her alone. I took his phone from him, as well as some photo’s he had of Jade.’

  ‘Did he cause the car crash?’

  Joe bowed his head

  ‘What’s he capable of?’

  ‘I don’t know, not now.’

  The path was ahead. Luke led the way, keen to get ahead and set the pace, and followed the track through the woodland and down to the reservoir. The best of the daylight was long gone and the water provided an important reflective surface, bouncing the little that was left around the woodland. To his far left, he could see the structure to which Joe had referred, and he quickened his steps.

  He’s not here’ Luke said.

  Joe was looking one way, and Imogen another.

  ‘Where now?’ he asked.

  Joe shrugged.

  ‘Come on mate. This is serious. Do you want to find him or not?’

  ‘She will be okay. He won’t hurt her.’

  ‘You didn’t think that five minutes ago.’

  Joe slipped his hands in his pockets, and shuffled back along the path.

  ‘Where you going?’

  ‘There’s a disused barn at the other side. He could have taken her there.’

  ‘Okay. Let’s go.’ Luke elbowed past and started to trot. Imogen remained by his side. ‘Are we driving?’

  ‘It might be quicker,’ Joe said.

  Puffing, they arrived at the car. Luke turned on the engine and the headlights and followed Joe’s directions, following a route that weaved through the streets. It seemed to take an eternity to get to the other side of the reservoir and he was starting to doubt Joe’s motives, but then he was instructed to stop.

  ‘It’s through that field, turn left, and over the stile at the end. You’ll see it at the bottom of the hill.’

  ‘Aren’t you coming?’ Luke asked.

  ‘I have to get back.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  Luke opened the rear car door and gestured for him to get out. Joe did so, but refused to follow Luke across the field. Luke considered turning back, but then thought better of it. Time was precious.

  Straining his eyes, they followed Joe’s suggested route and arrived at the stile. It was getting ever more difficult to see, even with a weak torch, and he could just about make out a building.

  Luke turned to Imogen. ‘Don’t tell Mark I take you alone into the woods at night.’

  Imogen gawped, then edged ahead and glanced at her watch.

  ‘What’s up?’ he said.

  ‘I just want to get on with this. I
have to get home. Someone’s expecting me.’

  ‘You should have said. I could have taken you back to the office straight from the city.’

  ‘No,’ her voice was quivering. ‘I wanted to do this. I wanted to see this case through.’

  He grabbed her arm, forcing her to a standstill. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?

  ‘Not now.’ She trotted away.

  ‘Is it about Mark?’

  Imogen did not answer, and carried on, heading to the building.

  ‘Imogen? Talk to me. You’ve been acting odd for weeks.’

  She ignored him and opened the door of the building. A shimmer of light extended into the darkness. ‘Call William,’ she said.

  ‘Is it Jade? Is she okay?’

  There was no reply.

  Chapter 37

  Luke trotted over to Imogen and scanned the inside of the barn using the torch. In the middle of the room, were two chairs, a few rocks, and a pool of water, and at the far side was a pile of hay. Jade was huddled at one side of the hay, and Dylan was at the other.

  ‘Jade,’ Imogen said, ‘are you all right?’

  Jade gawped, appearing too shocked to say anything, and remained rigid. Taking the hint, Imogen hurried towards her. He was going to follow, but out of his eye corner, he caught sight of Dylan’s movements. He had jumped from the hay, and was standing, legs apart and ready to make a quick escape.

  ‘No you don’t,’ Luke said.

  Dylan was frantic; his eyes darted and he shuffled his feet. Taking a chance, he charged past, pushing Luke out of the way. Luke stumbled backwards, quickly regaining his footing, and ran out of the barn door and into the night sky. Dylan’s shadowy figure ran up the incline, heading back towards the road. His dog followed.

  Whilst frustrated, Luke was not too concerned. Dylan could not run forever; more than likely, he would return home and they could speak tomorrow. Jade was his primary concern. He returned inside the barn.

  Imogen was perched on the hay next to Jade, and was speaking to her in a quiet voice. Upon seeing Luke, Imogen hurried towards him.

  ‘Did you call William?’ she whispered.

  ‘He’s on his way. What’s happened?’

  ‘I don’t know, she won’t speak to me. I think she’s in shock. She shivering and the top of her clothes are wet.’

  Luke shone his light across the barn floor, looking to the water, and then darted outside. He swept the torch beam along to the far end of the building and to the ground. A hosepipe was strewn across the grass. Following its trail, he arrived at a tap a short distance away.

  ‘I think Dylan’s been using this,’ Luke said, turning to Imogen.

  ‘What for?’

  Luke nodded. ‘Either waterboarding, which uses a wet cloth to give the sensation of drowning - although there doesn’t seem to have been enough water used for that - or Chinese water torture. That’s where water drips onto a forehead. It’s a sensitive area, and since the victim can see the water coming it drives them insane.’

  ‘Oh Lord! You really think he’s done that to her.’

  ‘Something similar. You said she was wet.’

  ‘Why would he do something so horrid? None of what happened was Jade’s fault.’

  ‘But does Dylan know that? Joe could have told him all sorts of tales.’

  They returned to the barn entrance, keen to get Jade home, Imogen went inside to her. Luke stood outside watching as a torchlight moved along the path, towards them. Luke strained his eyes to see who it was. The light beamed into his eyes, it prevented him getting a clear view.

  ‘Luke?’ William asked from behind the glare.

  ‘Yes. Jade’s inside. She’s in shock . . . won’t talk.’

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘We don’t know yet.’

  ‘Who’s done this?’

  ‘Dylan. Joe’s son. He’s gone. You might have passed him.’

  William jerked to a standstill. ‘There was a kid sitting by a wall with his dog. He’s not going to get away with this.’

  ‘Leave it! Jade needs you.’

  Their eyes locked and William hesitated. Then agreeing, he marched inside the barn and reached to Jade. She collapsed into his body and her sobs echoed. Luke hesitated by doorway, embarrassed to be intruding, and was quickly joined by Imogen.

  ‘We should go,’ she said.

  ‘You’re right. We won’t get much sense out of her tonight.’

  Luke stepped away from view, but then waited, wondering if they were going to follow or if he should interrupt and announce their departure.

  ‘Where’ve they gone?’ It was Jade’s voice. She was speaking to William.

  Luke peered back into the barn. She was frantic, and had peeled herself from William’s grip and was striding towards them.

  ‘You should go home. We can speak tomorrow,’ Luke said.

  ‘Where’s Dylan?’ she asked.

  ‘Left.’

  ‘Kath must have told him.’

  ‘Told him what?’

  ‘Why didn’t she tell me?’

  William placed his arm around her shoulders.

  She shrugged herself free. ‘I have to speak to Kath.’

  ‘Let’s go home,’ William said.

  ‘What have I done? Mum had made up her mind to die, and Kath . . .’ She paced the barn, raised her knuckles to her mouth, and stared with fear and bewilderment, unable to continue. William tried to console her. She brushed him aside.

  Even in the shadowy light, Luke could see the trauma in Jade's face, and glanced at Imogen, hoping she could sense his thoughts. It seemed that their theory might have been right, and their dilemma as to whether to broach the subject of the fire, and the suicide may have naturally reached its own end.

  ‘What do you remember?’ Luke asked.

  ‘Not now,’ William said, ‘she’s going home.’ He reached for her hand.

  Jade brushed it aside and strode out of the barn. William was quick to hurry to her side, and guided her along the path, using his torch for light. Luke and Imogen remained at their rear.

  ‘I hate not being able to ask her anything,’ Luke whispered to his colleague.

  ‘Maybe you should.’

  ‘No, it can wait. I think we might be better trying to find Joe and Dylan.’

  ‘What, now?’ Her anxiety was evident.

  ‘Oh sorry, you have things to do. I’ll drive you home.’

  ‘No.’ she looked to him panic-stricken. ‘Take me into town. I’ll get a bus.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. What’s Mark going to think of me if I do that?’

  She mumbled a reply and hurried a few steps ahead. Then she reached to her phone and tapped out a message.

  Within minutes, the four of them arrived at the parking lot. Jade and William climbed into their car.

  Luke hurried to peer through the open door. ‘We’ll speak tomorrow, okay?’

  ‘Make sure you track that little bugger down,’ William said, ‘I want him dealt with.’

  Luke nodded and locked eyes with Jade, offering his silent apologises.

  ‘Let’s go home.’ William said.

  ‘No,’ Jade replied, ‘I have to see Kath.’

  ‘It can wait.’

  ‘I have to see her . . . I remember what I’ve done. I have to apologise.’

  William placed his hand on her thigh. ‘Do it with a clear head, please.’

  Jade stared, open-mouthed.

  ‘You’re shivering, you’re wet, and you must be hungry. Now’s not the time.

  Jade reluctantly agreed, shut her door, William started the engine, and they moved away into the night.

  Chapter 38

  ‘Stop at the end,’ Imogen said.

  Luke glanced to her and smiled. ‘It’s no problem. I’ll take you to your door.’

  ‘No!’ There was anger in her voice. ‘There’s never anywhere to turn around, and I am capable of walking.’

  Luke glimpsed at her, noting the determination in
her face, and indicated left and eased the car to a halt. She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached to the door handle. The cool night air rushed towards him.

  ‘It’s been fun,’ she said, exiting the vehicle.

  ‘It has. See you tomorrow.’

  The door banged shut. She scurried along the pavement, moving in short swift steps, before disappearing out of view. He loved her wiggle, and the slight turn of her shoulders as she walked, especially when she hurried. In fact, he loved everything about her, even the fastidious care she took regarding her appearance. They made a great team, and while they had only been working together a year, it seemed like forever. Just thinking about the days he spent with other assistants caused desperation to well in his stomach.

  He indicated to move and followed the road around the city centre. His stomach was growling and the sight of take-away shops caused his mouth to water. Right now, anything would do. Impatient, he pulled into the side and headed into a "fish and chip" shop. The aroma was delectable and his hunger pangs increased.

  As he ate, his enthusiasm for speaking with Joe and Dylan faded. It was not going to be pleasant, especially since Joe was doing everything in his power to avoid speaking to his son of his transgression. Maybe it could wait; nothing was likely to happen to them overnight. He could arrive at first light, before they left for school, and they could decide upon the appropriate course of action.

  Happy to have made a decision, he finished the remaining chips, scrunched the wrapper into a ball and flung it onto the floor by the passenger seat. But then a thought occurred. What if Dylan had not returned home? Surely, he would know his parents had been told of the incident in the barn, in which case he would be keeping a low profile, possibly scared out of his wits. He may still be intent on harming Jade, whilst he had the chance. He should warn William.

  Luke glanced at his phone, reassessing his decision. There was no point in worrying him unnecessarily. He would already be doing everything possible to ensure Jade's safety. It may even trigger a hunt for the boy, and that would not be wise. Luke’s best chance of ensuring Jade’s safety was to find Dylan himself.

  Since it wasn’t too far off his route home, Luke drove to Joe and Dawn’s house, preparing his speech. It was unlikely either of them would receive the news graciously, but he would have to stand firm. Dylan had committed a serious offence, and he would have to accept the consequences.