Stolen Children

by Michael Wood

  ‘Should we do something?’ Finn asked Matilda.

  ‘No. Keep watching. DI Brady knows what he’s doing.’

  Rory returned to the room with a plastic cup full of water. He handed it to Christian who placed it to Linda’s lips.

  ‘Here, drink some of this.’ She took a sip. ‘Now, take some deep breaths. Try and calm down.’

  He handed the cup back to Rory and gently rocked back and forth while Linda regained control of her breathing. It took a while, but she eventually stabilised.

  ‘Are you all right to continue?’

  She nodded and he helped her up and back to the seat.

  ‘Linda, I’m a parent myself,’ Christian said as he went around to his side of the table. ‘I can’t begin to understand what you’re going through, but I want you to know that I will do everything I can to find the person responsible.’

  She looked up at him and smiled through the tears. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Linda, the abuse on Keeley didn’t happen on the evening she was taken. The injuries were months old. We believe there is someone in her life – in your life – who has been abusing her over a period of time.’

  Linda shook her head. ‘No. That can’t be. She’s only nine. She doesn’t go anywhere on her own. If she’s not with me she’s with Craig or Jodie.’

  Christian and Rory exchanged glances.

  ‘You’re not suggesting …’ Linda took another sip of water. ‘You’re not suggesting that Craig …’ She began to cry again. ‘No. No. He loves all his children.’ She was struggling to speak against the tears. ‘He loves all of us. He’d never. He’d … No. You’re wrong. He … he … oh God … I’m going to be sick.’ She clamped a hand over her mouth.

  ‘Rory, go and get a bucket or something.’

  Rory headed for the door, but he wasn’t fast enough. Linda turned to her right and vomited. Nothing came out except for the small amount of water she’d drunk. She heaved and retched, but nothing more would come.

  ***

  ‘I can’t think of anyone,’ Craig replied.

  ‘Any uncles, cousins, neighbours, teachers?’ Scott asked.

  ‘No. I mean, we’re a big family. I’ve got cousins and sisters all over Sheffield, so has Linda, but we hardly see them. I’m working all hours; Linda has her hands full with the kids. Any free time we do get we like to spend it together, just the five of us.’

  Sian leaned forward. ‘Craig, the evidence doesn’t lie. Somebody has been sexually abusing your daughter. That someone has had regular access to Keeley over the past few months. Now, the only people who know that are you and Linda. So, who comes to your house on a regular basis?’

  ‘My sister comes around occasionally. My parents. I’m sorry,’ he wiped his eyes. ‘I refuse to believe a member of my family has been abusing my little girl.’

  ‘Ok. When Keeley goes out to play with friends, where does she go?’

  ‘I don’t know. I’m always working.’

  ‘Craig!’ Sian was getting irritated. ‘We need to know the people who have access to Keeley in order to find out who killed her. You need to help us here.’

  ‘I’m trying.’

  ‘You’re not.’

  ‘I don’t know, all right?’ He shouted. ‘I’m never around. I know that makes me sound like a bad father, and I probably am, but I’m working my arse off to keep Riley in medical equipment and nappies and special toys. Jodie wants an iPad then Keeley wants an iPad too. Then Linda moans she hasn’t been out of the house for three weeks and wants to go for a meal, just the two of us. Every time one of them opens their mouth it costs me money. So something has to give. I’m sorry that I don’t know any of Keeley’s friends. But I can’t work two jobs, seven days a week, and spend time with my children.’ He collapsed in a heap on the table.

  ‘Go in for the kill, Sian,’ Matilda said. The message came through the earpiece both Sian and Scott were wearing.

  Scott looked down at the table.

  ‘Craig,’ Sian began. ‘Have you ever touched Keeley inappropriately?’

  ***

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ Linda said.

  She was sitting back in her chair with a plastic cup of water in her hand. She was taking small, gentle sips.

  ‘I keep being sick. I don’t know why. I can’t seem to keep anything down.’

  ‘That’s understandable given the situation,’ Rory said.

  ‘No. It’s been happening for months. I thought it was a bug at first, but I can’t seem to shake it.’

  ‘Have you been to the doctor?’

  ‘No. I called for some advice. We have to be careful around Riley when it comes to illness and infections. His immune system is very low. I’m fine in myself, I just keep being sick. The doctor thinks it might be a nervous stress type thing.’

  ‘When was the last time you had a holiday?’ Christian asked.

  ‘I don’t know the meaning of the word,’ she gave a slight chuckle.

  ‘There are places Riley can go, respite—’

  ‘No,’ Linda almost shouted. ‘I’m not palming him off onto complete strangers. He’s my son.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—’

  ‘No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped like that. I know you’re trying to help. Look, can I go? I don’t like being away from Riley for too long.’

  ‘I have a few more questions I’d like to ask you first,’ Christian said.

  ‘I really should be getting back,’ she ran her fingers through her greasy hair.

  ‘Linda, we’re trying to find out who killed your daughter. Now, whoever abused her is high up on our list of suspects and we need to know who that person is. Who are Keeley’s friends? Where does she go when she goes out to play?’

  Linda shook her head. ‘She visits the children who live on the same road as us. I know it’s horrible to say this, but it’s nice when she goes out. There’s one less child in the house. We tell her not to talk to strangers, not to go with people she doesn’t know, and when to be back home. She’s a good girl and always does as she’s told, but … I’m sorry,’ Linda broke down once again. ‘I’ve no idea where she goes. That makes me sound like such a bad mother, doesn’t it?’

  ‘We’re not getting anywhere here, Christian,’ Matilda said into his earpiece. ‘She may as well go home.’

  ***

  Craig looked up from the table. His eyes were wide and steely.

  ‘I know you have a job to do. I know you have questions to ask,’ his voice was quiet and calm, but he was full of anger. ‘But you’re way off the mark here. I love all three of my children and I would never do anything to harm them. If you think I could have hurt my own daughter, then you are sick. I would lay down my life for all of them.’ He was physically shaking as he spoke, his hands were fists and his knuckles white.

  ‘Ok,’ Sian said quietly. ‘I’m sorry, but I had to ask.’

  ‘Can I go now?’

  ‘There is one more thing I’d like to go over with you,’ Scott said, opening the thin file in front of him. ‘We’ve been speaking to a former colleague of yours – Dean Oliver. He’s mentioned you leaving your former employment under a bit of a cloud. There was talk of parcels going missing from your rounds.’

  ‘What does this have to do with Keeley being killed?’ he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

  ‘You were overheard having an argument with Dean in a pub in which he said that if you ever went near him or his family again, you’d pay for it. Now, Dean has been in Corfu for just over a week, so he’s not a suspect in the murder of your daughter, but what happened between you for him to make such a statement? Did you threaten him or his family?’

  ‘Good questioning, Scott, but don’t put words into his mouth. Let him fill the gaps,’ Matilda said.

  Craig couldn’t sit still. He fidgeted nervously and his eyes flitted around the room. ‘Dean’s a jealous twat,’ he suddenly said. ‘He saw me making something of myself, starting up my own business and he c
ouldn’t handle it, because he doesn’t have the gumption to do it himself, so he bad-mouthed me. It pissed me off. I wasn’t going to sit back and let him trash my name all over Sheffield.’

  ‘Did you threaten him?’ Scott asked.

  ‘Sort of. It was just a warning. I wouldn’t have acted on it. I had to down three pints before I had the courage to have a go at him. I’m not a violent person. I hate confrontation.’

  ‘So why was he so violent towards you? What did you do to his family for him to say you’d pay for it?’

  Craig closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘I was coming home from work one night and I saw his daughter going home from the shops. I pulled over in the van and gave her a message to give to Dean. It was a spur of the moment thing. I regretted it straight away,’ he said, looking down at the table.

  ‘What was the message?’ Sian asked.

  It was a while before Craig replied. ‘I said that if he didn’t stop trying to destroy me, I’d destroy him, and …’

  ‘Go on,’ Sian prompted when Craig stopped.

  ‘And … I’d break his daughter’s legs,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Jesus Christ!’ Finn exclaimed from the observation room.

  ‘How old was the daughter?’ Sian asked.

  ‘Eight.’

  ‘You threatened an eight-year-old girl?’

  ‘I didn’t mean it. Like I said, it was the spur of the moment. She did ballet or something and it was the first thing that came into my head. I know it doesn’t look good, but I wouldn’t have done it. I’m not that kind of person. I’d never do anything to hurt a child. Ask anyone. Ask Linda. When we were on our honeymoon this bloke tried it on with her and I couldn’t say anything. I’m a coward, ok? I’m all talk.’ He looked away. He couldn’t make eye contact with Sian or Scott.

  ‘Cowards also target those who are vulnerable,’ Finn said to Matilda.

  ‘Let him go,’ Matilda said to Sian in her earpiece.

  ‘What? Really?’ Finn seemed shocked.

  ‘We don’t have any physical evidence.’

  ‘He’s volatile. He’s quick to temper. He does things on the spur of the moment. That could include killing his daughter.’

  ‘Then find me the evidence and we’ll charge him.’ Matilda stood up and stormed out of the room. She was angry that she was unable to charge Craig, frustrated that they were no closer to understanding who was involved in Keeley’s death. But the interviews hadn’t been a complete waste of time. Her suspicions had been further aroused. It was going to take time, but the dots were being connected, slowly.

  Chapter 39

  It was obvious Valerie had been crying. Her eyes were red, and she could disguise the quiver in her voice by pretending to have a cough as much as she liked, but she was fooling nobody, especially Matilda. She was the queen of trying to hide her emotions at work. However, she didn’t draw attention to it. If Valerie wanted to talk, she knew Matilda was always available.

  ‘I’d like you to listen to something,’ Matilda said as she scrolled through the apps on her iPad. ‘Here we are.’

  Craig Armitage’s voice was loud as the recording started. “I know you have a job to do. I know you have questions to ask, but you are way off the mark here. I love all three of my children and I would never do anything to harm them. If you think I could have hurt my own daughter, then you are sick. I would lay down my life for all of them.”

  Matilda ended the recording. ‘Anyone else hearing that would think he was the perfect father defending his family.’

  ‘He didn’t say he didn’t kill his daughter,’ Valerie said, wiping her nose with a tatty tissue.

  ‘Exactly. He said he hadn’t hurt her. In his head, he will have justified abusing her as a father loving his daughter. When he killed her, he wouldn’t have thought he was hurting her, merely silencing her, as if putting her to sleep.’

  ‘Then why throw her down an embankment and leave her to the elements?’

  ‘To throw us off the scent. To make us believe we’re looking for someone who strangled her, panicked, and fled.’

  ‘Is Craig capable of that?’

  Matilda sighed. ‘I hate to say this, but, yes, I believe he is.’

  Valerie thought for a moment. ‘Ok. Where do you want to go with this?’

  ‘I already have DC Ellen Devonport in the house as FLO, but I’m worried she may inadvertently uncover something, and Craig could turn violent with her. I’d like a car covertly parked close by to keep an eye on what’s going on in the house.’

  ‘That’s fine.’

  ‘Also, some of the neighbours have raised questions about Riley’s illness. They don’t seem to think he was brain damaged due to epileptic seizures. We’ve been on to social services and they’ve never received any complaints and don’t have the family under their watch. I’m not sure where to go with this.’

  ‘If it isn’t pertinent to the case then it’s none of our business,’ Valerie said firmly.

  ‘I’m aware of that. It’s just … if Linda purposely harmed Riley, she may have had a hand in Keeley’s death.’

  ‘Hang on,’ Valerie raised a hand. ‘We’re talking about Riley and Keeley, but what about the eldest daughter? What about Jodie? Has she shown signs of being abused? Why would Craig wait until he had a second daughter? Why would Linda wait until she had a third child?’

  ‘I’ve wondered that myself. Maybe … I don’t know … maybe something happened within the family that changed their outlook on things. I’ve no idea,’ Matilda said. ‘I feel like I’m clutching at straws here. One moment I think the parents have put on this elaborate play to cover up killing their own child, then someone says something else and it throws me off in another direction. I’ve never been more conflicted.’

  ‘Has the teacher turned up yet?’

  ‘Sebastian Page? No. Sian’s back at Mary Croft today talking to the teachers.’

  ‘And what about his brother?’

  ‘Post-mortem is later today.’

  ‘Have any other suspects come up within the investigation?’

  ‘No.’

  Valerie took a deep breath. ‘I think you should bring Jodie Armitage in and have her interviewed with an appropriate adult present. You’ll need to ask her some difficult questions.’

  ‘Will do.’

  ‘Now, Matilda, I saw the article in The Star last night from our favourite journalist. The Chief Constable said we should ignore it, let it fizzle out and hopefully you’ll have an arrest soon and this whole thing will go away. However, once the press finds out about this boy in France claiming to be Carl, they’ll be all over it and you. How do you want to play this?’

  ‘Personally, I’d like to cut Danny Hanson’s balls off and turn them into a nice pair of earrings, but I’m guessing the Chief Constable may frown upon that,’ she said with a smile. ‘I think we should leave him to write what he wants. If this boy does turn out to be Carl, then we have a good news item. If not, then we just tell the press it’s another weirdo in a long line of pranks.’

  Valerie nodded. ‘Good thinking. Well, I shan’t keep you any longer.’

  Matilda stood up and slowly made her way towards the exit. She turned back. ‘Any change with Arthur?’

  Valerie seemed to deflate in her chair. She shook her head. ‘We played him a video last night of the last time we all went away together. We went to Greece for my fiftieth. I’d not seen it myself, so it was lovely to look back. He fell asleep on a sun lounger with a paperback on his chest. He was annoyed that he had to wear a T-shirt for the rest of the holiday because of the patchy suntan.’ She giggled at the memory. ‘I looked over at Arthur in the hospital bed; there was nothing there. It’s like he was watching strangers. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever get him back.’

  ***

  On her way back to the HMET suite, Matilda fired off a text to Daniel telling him she’d love to see him over the weekend. Who knew what lay around the corner? Stroke, cancer, heart attack, being hit by
a car, terrorist attack, nuclear bomb, anything could happen at any time. Why should she spend her evenings wallowing about being happy with Daniel when she could be dead by next week?

  She entered the suite which was buzzing with activity.

  ‘I’ve been to Mary Croft,’ Sian began.

  ‘Just give me a few minutes, Sian,’ Matilda said, not stopping and heading to her office. Walpole, Compton, Pelham … No, no, no, not this again.

  ‘I’ve been emailed Riley Armitage’s medical records …’ Scott said.

  ‘Not now, Scott.’ Pelham-Holles, Cavendish, Pelham-Holles again … Stop it. Fucking stop it.

  She closed her office door and sat down behind her desk. Matilda wasn’t great at marshalling her thoughts. Her head was a whirlpool of activity. It was like an internet browser with a dozen windows open, several of which were frozen – James, Carl, work, Daniel, grief, worry, isolation, loneliness. Her phone started to ring. She looked at the display and saw it was Danny Hanson calling. Fuck. He was the last person she wanted to talk to. He was another window open in the internet browser of her mind.

  ‘Yes,’ she answered. All she wanted was a few minutes to herself. She was constantly plagued from every angle from time thieves.

  ‘DCI Darke, it’s Danny Hanson from The Star.’

  ‘Yes, Danny, I know it’s you.’

  ‘You have my number stored? I’m touched.’

  ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I’ve had a very interesting call from a member of the public.’

  Matilda sat up. This did not sound good. ‘Oh?’

  ‘Indeed. I won’t reveal her name, obviously, but she tells me a member of your team has abused his position as a detective to elicit an affair with a witness to a very brutal crime. Apparently, he took advantage when her resistance was low, and, now that she’s pregnant, he’s turned his back on her.’

  Matilda could feel the blood rushing around her brain. ‘What?’ She looked up out of her office at her team going about their work. It couldn’t be Scott as he was gay and in a relationship with her best friend’s son. She very much doubted it was Finn as he constantly rambled on about his wife. She hoped it wasn’t Christian or Aaron. They were both committed family men and knew it would shatter their wives to learn of their husband’s deceit. Rory? It was possible. He was a habitual flirt. Ranjeet? Again, Matilda hoped not. His wife was still off work on maternity leave.