by Michael Wood
‘Something like that.’
‘Mrs Croft is a good head teacher, don’t get me wrong, but she does view things with rose-tinted glasses from time to time.’
‘Was Keeley being bullied?’
Lauren’s shoulders dropped. ‘I’m afraid she was.’
‘In what way?’
Lauren brought the drinks over to her and sat down. Matilda noticed the teacher was drinking out of a pink mug with a unicorn on it. From the many non-descript mugs available on the side, she had chosen this one purposely. Lauren, a primary school teacher, didn’t seem much older mentally than her pupils; she wore her hair in bunches tied with furry bobbles.
‘The other kids knew of Keeley’s situation at home. Some said cruel things about her brother.’
‘Riley? Like what?’
‘I’d rather not say,’ she said, looking away.
‘Whatever you tell me isn’t going to shock me. In fact, I’ve probably heard much worse.’
She took a breath. ‘They call him names like spastic and window-licker,’ she said barely above a whisper. ‘It really upset Keeley.’
‘Did Keeley report this to you herself?’
‘Yes. I had a word with the pupils, and we did an assembly on tolerance and how people are different to us but they’re still people. I reported it to Mrs Croft on a number of occasions, too.’
‘How did Keeley react to the name calling?’
‘I found her crying a couple of times. I tried to reassure her as best as I could. I told her that Riley was none of those things, that he was her brother and she should love him as such.’
‘What did she say to that?’
Lauren smiled. ‘Keeley is very grown up for her age. She smiled and said she already knew her brother was special, and she loved him. She said she didn’t care what people called him, but she liked to have a cry from time to time as it helped her.’
‘Helped her how?’
‘She didn’t say.’
‘Is Keeley a happy girl?’
Lauren thought for a long while before answering. ‘I want to say yes, but I’m not sure. I always get the impression she’s hiding something.’
‘Like what?’ Scott asked. He didn’t look up from his notepad.
‘I don’t know. There are many layers to Keeley. She smiles all the time, but it’s not a genuine smile. I think she’s unhappy. I’ve spoken to her about it many times, but I can never find out. She always changes the subject.’
‘Does she ever speak about her home life?’
‘No.’
‘So, you don’t know if she was having problems at home with her parents, perhaps?’
‘No. Occasionally, I catch her yawning when she should be working. She says Riley kept her awake during the night. I assume that’s all it is.’
‘What impression do you have of her parents when they come for open nights?’
‘Ah. I’ve never actually seen them.’
Matilda and Scott exchanged glances.
‘Really?’ Matilda frowned.
‘Keeley’s parents are incredibly busy. I believe her father works two jobs, and her mother is Riley’s carer so it’s not easy for her to get away. When it comes to the open evenings, it’s her sister who’s turned up.’
‘Jodie?’
‘Yes.’
‘But she can’t be responsible for her; she’s only fourteen.’ Matilda had a great deal of sympathy for Keeley and this made sense of her fascination with all things Disney. Was she feeling left out at home? Did she hope her Prince Charming would take her away from her ignored life? Worst of all, had someone used Keeley’s situation to their own advantage?
Ms Beech shrugged. ‘That’s not the way her parents see it, evidently.’
‘Huh,’ Matilda said. ‘Thank you. You’ve been a big help.’
***
‘It sounds like Keeley’s left to bring herself up,’ Scott said once they were out in the corridor.
‘That’s what I was thinking. A nine-year-old girl needs her parents. I get that their time is consumed with Riley and his needs, but they shouldn’t neglect their other children, too.’
‘You think that’s what they’re doing, neglecting her?’
‘I don’t know. It’s possible. I understand that Riley needs twenty-four-hour care and Craig has two jobs, but Keeley is at a very important age. Being neglected like this by her parents could seriously damage her development into adulthood.’
‘What if someone showed an interest in her? If she was feeling neglected at home and bursting into tears at school, it wouldn’t take much for someone to try to talk her into going with them if they offered her what she wanted,’ Scott said.
‘If that’s the case then it’s someone who knows the family and their circumstances.’
‘Like … a teacher perhaps?’
***
Sebastian Redford Page, to give him his full name, was a tall, thin man in his late twenties. He had spiky ginger hair with matching designer stubble. He was pale and his eyes were a very cool blue. He entered the head teacher’s office and smiled at Matilda and Scott before taking a seat. He had a worry frown on his forehead which made him look like a naughty schoolboy brought in for being caught smoking. He wore a tight-fitting black Adidas tracksuit.
‘Shall I leave you to it?’ Sheila asked.
‘If you wouldn’t mind,’ Matilda smiled. She waited long after the door was closed before she began. She wanted to make sure she could hear the heavy footsteps of the head teacher disappear down the corridor.
‘Mr Page, I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours about Keeley Armitage going missing.’
‘I have, yes. It’s true then?’
‘I’m afraid it is, yes.’
‘Oh God,’ he looked down.
‘Obviously, we have to ask the family a lot of questions to find out how and why someone has gone missing; some of these questions can be difficult and awkward, as can some of the answers. I’m afraid your name has come up as someone we should talk to.’
He looked back up at Matilda. ‘In what way?’ His eyes darted between the two detectives.
‘You teach Keeley, yes?’
‘Yes. I teach all the children here.’
‘You taught Keeley on Monday?’
‘Yes. It was the last lesson of the day.’
‘Keeley’s sister, Jodie, has told me that Keeley didn’t like attending PE classes anymore. She said you made her feel uncomfortable.’
‘Uncomfortable? In what way?’ His worry lines deepened.
‘Apparently, you’re very tactile, always putting your arms around her, helping her get dressed after the lessons. Is that true?’ Matilda leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs.
‘What? Of course it isn’t true,’ his eyes widened. ‘I’d never do anything like that. Besides, as a male teacher, I’m not allowed in the girls’ changing rooms. Look, we’re taught not to have any physical contact with the children. We’re never alone with them. We don’t do anything that could be misinterpreted. I stick by those rules.’ He looked frightened.
‘Are you saying Keeley made those stories up?’
‘Yes I bloody am,’ he said, exasperated.
‘Why would she do that?’
‘I don’t know. I take her for two lessons a week. I don’t know the girl. I wouldn’t—’
‘Ok, Mr Page, please try to calm down,’ Matilda said.
‘Calm down? You’re practically accusing me of molesting a nine-year-old girl and you’re telling me to calm down?’
‘Nobody is accusing you of anything. I’m simply asking a question.’
‘I can’t believe this,’ he leaned forward and put his head in his hands. ‘I have done nothing wrong. I haven’t touched anyone.’ He looked up. There were tears in his eyes.
If Sebastian had been a drama teacher she’d think he was giving a wonderful performance. However, she found herself feeling genuine sympathy for him. His wide-eyed rabbit-caught-in-the-headlights stare
was not an act.
‘Mr Page, there is one more question I have to ask you.’ Matilda waited while he composed himself. ‘Where were you yesterday evening around four o’clock?’
‘I was here.’
‘Whereabouts?’
‘I was clearing away the hall. We’d been playing badminton. I was packing the nets away. Then I went into the staffroom and wrote up some notes for today’s lessons.’
‘Did anyone see you?’
‘No. It was empty. Most of the teachers do their work at their desks in their classrooms. I’m PE so I don’t have one.’
Matilda and Scott exchanged glances.
‘You don’t believe me,’ Sebastian said. ‘You think I’ve taken her, don’t you?’
‘I don’t think anything, Mr Page. I just follow the evidence.’
‘Well you’re barking up the wrong tree because I have absolutely nothing to do with that girl going missing,’ he said, standing up.
‘Mr Page—’
‘No,’ he interrupted. ‘You’re not fitting me up. I know what you’re doing. You’re fucking clueless so you go after anyone who seems a bit dodgy, any tenuous link. We can’t help who our families are. If you want to accuse me of anything else, then you’ll have to take me down to the station and I’ll bring my solicitor with me.’
He stormed out of the office, slamming the door firmly behind him.
‘Wow, that was something,’ Scott said to fill the awkward silence. He was fishing his phone out of his trouser pocket.
‘I wonder what he meant by not being able to help who our family are.’
‘Dunno. I’ve heard back from Chris. He said he vaguely remembers a Mr Page but there’s a woman he works with who knows him better than he does.’
‘Who?’
‘A Ruth Harrison,’ he showed Matilda the text message.
‘Aww, he signed off with three kisses,’ Matilda smiled.
‘Give over, you’ll make me blush.’
The door opened and the statuesque Sheila Croft came back into her office.
‘May I ask why my PE teacher has just stormed out of the building and driven his car out of here like he was leaving the pit stop at Silverstone?’
‘He’s gone?’ Matilda asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Can you give me his home address?’
She hesitated. ‘Erm, yes, I suppose can. I’m guessing this is about Keeley going missing?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you think because his brother is in prison, he’s got something to do with it?’
‘I don’t know anything about his brother.’
‘No, of course not,’ she scoffed, not believing her.
‘Honestly, I don’t. What about his brother?’
Sheila let out a heavy sigh. ‘Oh. Perhaps I shouldn’t … shit,’ she uttered under her breath. She took a deep breath. ‘Sebastian’s brother is Calvin Page who was sent to prison for raping three girls.’
‘I didn’t know.’ His reaction to being accused was suddenly understandable. People would assume he was like his brother if a similar incident occurred. It was a sad fact that a lot of people were narrow-minded about these things. Matilda wondered how close the brothers were. Was it possible that Sebastian pointed out the more vulnerable pupils to his brother for him to groom? That was a disturbing thought that made Matilda shiver.
‘Evidently. Look, do you have any idea of the damage you’re going to do to this school? I accept members of staff here on their merits and a very vigorous background check is done on each and every one of them. That’s not going to count for anything once the parents put two and two together and come up with nine. They’ll not want Sebastian anywhere near their kids, and he’s done nothing wrong.’
‘I’m just doing my job. Sometimes it isn’t very pleasant.’
‘No. And neither is the aftermath when you’ve left and others have to pick up the pieces.’
‘I’m trying to find a missing girl …’
‘And my heart goes out to her and her family,’ Sheila interrupted. ‘I will do everything I can to help in your investigation, but your bull-in-a-china-shop approach is not the way to go about it.’
She looked at her computer, scribbled an address down on a note pad, tore off the piece of paper and thrust it out towards Matilda. She took it, thanked her, and left.
***
‘I didn’t handle that very well, did I?’ Matilda asked once they were out in the car park.
‘We weren’t to know his brother was a rapist. If we’d have had any other information than ‘Mr Page’ we’d have been able to look him up.’
‘True.’
‘Where to now?’
Matilda looked at her watch. It was one o’clock. Three hours until the kidnappers were due to ring. She felt a headache coming on. Her head was full of dark thoughts and the disturbing acts people did for their own enjoyment. She needed time out. If she continued like this, she’d be a basket case by the end of the day. She let out a sigh. ‘Let’s go off grid for a couple of hours. I’ll buy us something unhealthy for lunch and you can tell me about your sex life.’
‘I’d rather not do that, if it’s all the same to you.’
‘I don’t want to know any details, Scott. I just want to know that someone is actually happy in this frightening world we’re living in.’
They both climbed into the car and Matilda started the engine.
‘I’m very happy,’ he said, beaming.
‘That’s good,’ Matilda found herself smiling back. ‘That’s very good.’
***
From the window of her office, Sheila Croft watched as Matilda and Scott drove away. She turned back to her desk and took her iPhone from the top drawer and scrolled through the contacts until she came to one she wanted. She made a call and waited impatiently, drumming her fingers on the desk. After a dozen rings, the voicemail kicked in.
‘Sebastian, it’s me. Listen, I need you to ring me as soon as possible. I’m afraid I’ve ballsed up.’
Chapter 15
‘Sian, can I have a quick word?’ Rory sidled up to her desk in his chair.
‘If you can get my sandwich out of this hermetically sealed packet, you can have several,’ she said, handing him the pack. ‘I see you’re growing your hair again.’
‘Yes. Natasha likes it long and curly. She says I look like Jon Snow.’
‘The newsreader?’
‘The character from Game of Thrones.’
‘Oh. I’ll take your word for it.’ She turned away and her eye caught DS Aaron Connolly on the other side of the room. ‘What’s wrong with Aaron?’
‘I’ve no idea. Why?’
‘He’s just sitting there staring into space. He’s got a face like a slapped arse.’
‘He’s always got a face like a slapped arse.’
Sian frowned as she studied her colleague. It was true his face belied what he felt. He had the original poker face. However, more than usual he seemed to have the weight of the universe on his shoulders.
‘Maybe he’s having personal problems,’ Rory said.
‘Really? Him and Katrina? I thought they were solid.’
‘Not everyone can be like you and Stuart. Speaking of which …’ He handed her the open packet. She took out the first sandwich, looked at the limp bread and sparse filling and took a disappointing bite. ‘You know your anniversary party at the end of the month?’
‘I should do, I’m planning the whole bloody thing.’
‘I was wondering if I could bring Natasha along with me.’
‘Well, the invitation does say Mr Fleming and guest.’
‘Cheers,’ he beamed.
‘Things getting serious with you then?’
‘I think so.’
‘How long have you been seeing each other?’
‘Five months. I know it’s not long, but when you know you just know.’
‘Yes, Rory. Your generation didn’t invent romance.’
‘Sh
e’s just so … I don’t know, I can’t describe it. If I had to write a list of everything I wanted in my ideal woman, I would be describing Natasha. It helps that she’s bloody gorgeous, too. Have you seen her out of uniform?’
‘I can’t say that I have, Rory, no,’ Sian said.
‘She has an amazing body. You should—’
‘Erm, Rory,’ Sian interrupted. ‘I think you’re probably better off waiting until Scott or Ranjeet gets back before you continue that sentence.
‘Oh yes, sorry. I’ll just go and grab a coffee.’
‘Maybe a cold shower as well,’ Sian said. She was about to take another bite when her phone rang. She rolled her eyes.
‘Homicide and Major Enquiries. DS Mills speaking.’
‘Sian, it’s Tony,’ the sergeant on the front desk said. ‘I’ve got a bloke on the phone who says he’s from the British Embassy in France. He’s asked for DCI Darke but she’s not in and DI Brady isn’t answering. Can you take it?’
‘Sure. Put him through.’ She took a sip of cold tea to rinse out her mouth while the call was being transferred. ‘Hello, I’m afraid Detective Chief Inspector Darke is out at the moment. I’m DS Sian Mills. May I help at all?’
‘I hope so. I’m Adrian Moorhead. I’m with the British Embassy Paris. Early yesterday morning a young boy presented himself to Police Nationale in Marseille. He said his name is Carl Meagan. Does that mean anything to you?’
Chapter 16
‘You’re not serious, surely,’ Valerie said, looking up at Sian with wide-eyed amazement.
‘I am,’ Sian said. ‘This young lad just walked into a police station and said he’s Carl Meagan.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘He’s in police protection. He says he was kidnapped, and a couple have been looking after him. They said he was to call them Mum and Dad.’
‘And where is this couple now?’
‘I don’t know. He doesn’t know where he’s been living. They brought him to France for a holiday. They’ve been staying in a hotel, but he doesn’t know which one.’
‘Jesus,’ Valerie said, squeezing the bridge of her nose.
‘According to Adrian Moorhead at the British Embassy, the police have told him that this boy is in a very healthy condition. There’s no sign of abuse or mistreatment.’