She's Gone (A psychological thriller)

by M A Comley

  “What happened, Debs?” They were standing on the opposite side of the road; most of the neighbours had come out to gawp at the blaze.

  She shook her head as the shock took hold. “I don’t know. I was asleep on the sofa. It looked like it started in the hallway, but I didn’t wait around to check out the facts. I just got Logan out of there. We had to come out the back way. Doreen rang the fire brigade. Oh God, I’m so glad we’re all still here. It affected Doreen’s house as well, I feel so guilty about that.”

  Doreen walked closer and patted her on the back. “Don’t worry about me, dear. I got out, the damage done to mine was minimal by comparison.”

  Martin stared at the house which had collapsed on one corner, the corner where Logan’s bedroom was situated. “God, I’d say you both had a very lucky escape, Debs. That’s Logan’s bedroom right there.”

  The fireman in charge approached them. “Hi, just to let you know I’ve arranged for the Fire Risk Assessment Officer to come over and take a look. You’ll need his report when you fill out your insurance claim. I take it you’re insured?”

  “We are,” Martin confirmed. “How did it start, do you know?”

  “Once my guys were inside, they thought they could smell petrol. Did you have any petrol heaters in the property, anything similar?”

  Debs and Martin stared at each other and shook their heads. “No, nothing. We have gas central heating. I don’t understand, we never take petrol into the house.”

  The fireman inhaled a large breath which inflated his chest. “In that case, the only alternative to consider is that it was a deliberate act.”

  “What?” Martin shouted.

  “It’s not unheard of, sir. Someone with a grudge squirting petrol through the letterbox, followed by a lighted match. If that’s the case, then I doubt your insurance company will fork out as they’ll regard it as arson, might be different if a third party is involved though. You’ll need to prepare yourself for a fight ahead of you.”

  “Gee, thanks for the positive spin on things,” Martin replied, shaking his head.

  The fireman shrugged and walked away.

  Debs jostled Logan on her hip. “He can’t mean that, Martin, can he?”

  Doreen cleared her throat and said, “Oh, he can. A friend of mine and her son went through the same thing. He had a gang of thugs causing mischief in his street, he tackled them, and they shoved petrol through the damned letterbox.”

  Debs gulped. “Don’t tell me anyone was hurt, please.”

  Doreen nodded and then bowed her head. “They were. Two of their kids were upstairs asleep at the time. They perished in the blaze. So Martin is right about one thing: you were bloody lucky to get out of there.”

  Debs clung to Martin’s hand. “Don’t think about what might have been, Debs, it won’t do any good. Jesus, to think this could have been caused deliberately…”

  “I don’t want to think about that. We need to ring the police.”

  Martin jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “They’ve just arrived. I’ll go and see them. Stay here.”

  “She’ll be safe with me,” Doreen assured him.

  Debs was in a daze. Her eyes were drawn to the damage her beautiful house had suffered, and the tears began to fall once more. She hugged Logan tighter. “I can’t believe it’s all gone. Who would do such a terrible thing? Why? What harm have we ever done to make someone want to hurt us in this way?”

  “It might be gang related, sweetheart. Try not to make yourself worse by thinking about it.”

  “That’s going to be impossible, Doreen. I’m so sorry you’re affected by this as well. Can you stay with your family?”

  “Yes, don’t you go worrying yourself about me. What about you? Where will the three of you go?”

  “I don’t know. Martin’s mother and sister live in the area, but we’re not really on speaking terms with them.”

  “I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

  Debs shrugged and glanced over at her husband. “We never discuss it. I suppose we’re going to have to stay in a B&B or hotel for the time being.”

  “There are a few nice ones in the area. I’d offer you a room with me, but there’d be no point, obviously.”

  “The thought was there, though, I appreciate it, Doreen.”

  Martin walked back with two uniformed officers in tow. “They’re going to need to take a statement from you, love. Are you up to it?”

  “Oh, right. Umm… I think so, not that I’ll be able to tell them much.”

  Martin slung an arm around her shoulders. “Just do your best. I’m going to try and sort out some alternative accommodation and ring the insurance company, see what they have to say about things.”

  “Okay.”

  The officers asked Debs to accompany them back to the car and went through the statement with her. “Is there anything you can add?” the female officer asked.

  “I’m sorry, that’s all I can tell you. Maybe one of the neighbours saw someone near the house before the fire took hold.”

  “We’ll be canvassing the area, don’t you worry about that, Mrs Jenkins. You’re free to go back to your husband now,” the older male officer informed her.

  “Thanks.” She left the car with Logan and returned to her husband.

  Martin was shouting at someone over the phone. “This is ridiculous. After the amount I’ve paid you over the years and this is the way you bloody treat me… That’s as maybe, but where are you when we need you the most. None of this is our fault and yet you’re sitting there in your cosy office, treating us like bloody criminals. You’re an utter disgrace. I regret ever doing bloody business with you in the first place… yes, and good day to you, too.” He jabbed the End Call button and paced the lawn at the front of what used to be their family home.

  “I take it they’re not going to help?” Debs asked tentatively.

  “Nope. Sodding morons. As if anyone can prevent bloody arson from happening to their home. I ask you, what do these people want from us?” Martin shook his head. “Anyway, I’ll ring my solicitor, see what he can do to help, maybe he’ll find something in the contract. Shit! All our paperwork is inside the house, I can’t even present the policy for him to look over.”

  Debs rubbed his arm to try and calm him down. “It’s so frustrating. What about accommodation? I suppose they told you to get lost about that, too.”

  “Yep, they’ve basically said we’re on our own. Good job we have some savings behind us, if we’d booked the holiday yesterday, we would have been in a right pickle.”

  “Oh, God, that’s so true. A holiday is something we can aim for in the future. Why don’t you try the B&B around the corner?”

  Martin started to walk away. “Sod using the phone, I’ll take a wander round there now. Are you all right here for a while? No, here’s the car key, sit in the car instead.”

  “I’m fine. Take the car, you’ll be back quicker then.”

  “If you’re sure…” He nodded and trotted over to the car, which he’d parked at an angle alongside one of the fire engines. Debs watched him drive away as another surge of emotions overwhelmed her.

  Doreen hugged her and Logan. “Come now, it’ll all turn out right in the end, you’ll see.”

  “I don’t think it will. Who could have done such a dreadful thing, knowing that we have a baby in the house?”

  “That’s the sad part. They must be sick, love. Try not think about it. You get yourself settled in the B&B and have a rest.”

  “If they’ll accept us.” Debs struggled to shake off the negativity surrounding her.

  “No reason for them to turn you down, sweetie. Come on, start believing, there’s no point thinking negatively about everything.”

  “I know. Ignore me. You’ve been so kind, considering the mess we’ve put you in.”

  “Stop that! You’ve done no such thing. I’m going to ring my son, see if he’ll come and pick me up. Will you be all right?”

  “Do it. I’ll be ok
ay. I have to be, right?”

  Doreen smiled and drifted away a few feet to make the call. Logan reached up and gently punched at her face. “Hey, little man. I bet you’re hungry, aren’t you?” She gripped his wrist loosely and turned to see where she could go to feed him. The police officers were still around, maybe she could use the back of their car rather than wait for Martin to come back. Something caught her eye at the end of the road. She had to shake her head and take another look, just to be sure.

  A car she recognised shot off before she could get a closer look at the driver.

  My God, it can’t be. What the fuck is she doing here? She didn’t… she can’t be the one who did this. Why?

  Debs suddenly became light-headed and leaned on the wall behind to steady herself. Doreen rushed over to assist her. “Debs, are you okay? Is it the shock setting in? Shall I ring Martin?”

  Debs wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her jumper. “I think it must be. Martin should be back soon enough. I’ll be fine now, don’t worry about me. What about your son, is he coming to pick you up?”

  “No. He’s away with his family at present and told me he’d come back if I needed him. I told him not to bother. So, it looks like I’ll be staying at the B&B with you guys.”

  “Cool. I’m sorry about your son, though.”

  “Don’t be. He has his own life to lead. I’m not one of those mothers who demand a visit every other weekend, putting the fear of God into their children by threatening to leave them out of my will.”

  “Crikey, you think people are twisted enough to do that?”

  “Yep, I have friends who have told me they change their wills more times than they change their underwear. People need to get a life, don’t they?”

  “They certainly do.” Doreen was such a calming influence to talk with that it didn’t take Debs long to forget about the car she’d seen driving off. Martin drew up alongside the fire engine again. The firefighters were almost ready to set off now and were just putting the last pieces of their equipment back on their trucks.

  “How did you get on?” she asked.

  “They only had two rooms spare, so I said one would do for the three of us. They can’t supply a cot though, unfortunately.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Logan can sleep with us. Hey, Doreen needs a room as well, she was hoping to stay with her son, but he’s away with his family.”

  “I hope he’s on his way back.”

  “No. She told him not to bother.”

  Martin shook his head, the disbelief evident in his expression. “Families suck at times, don’t they?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I haven’t got one,” she reminded him, earning herself another hug.

  “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

  “Talking of which, do you think you ought to ring your mum, let her know what’s happened?”

  “No, I have to be in the mood to talk to her at the best of times; if I pluck up the courage to ring her and she starts lecturing me, I’m liable to blow my top at her.”

  “Okay, it was just a suggestion. Anyway, Logan needs feeding, I’ll do it in the car.”

  “Why not wait until we’re at the B&B? I’ll let the police know where we’re going, just in case they need to speak to us.”

  “Ask them how they’re getting on and if they saw anything.” Again, she felt guilty about not mentioning either the car she’d seen or her other dilemma about Susie. Was all this linked? In her mind, it had to be.

  Where do I go from here? Should I inform the police? Even though they’re likely to shoot me down in flames. Ugh, bad analogy in the circumstances. My head’s a mess. What if Susie is Adele and this woman knows I’m her mother? Is that why she caused the fire, to keep me at arm’s length, away from Susie/Adele?

  She was desperate to run the idea past Martin, but knew exactly what his reaction would be. He’d go tearing around to the school and pounce on the woman straight away, and what good would that do for all those concerned? What if she was wrong in her assumption? What then? She could be guilty of ruining Susie’s life forever. Could she truly have that on her conscience? No, she couldn’t. Which is why she needed to remain shtum about what was going through her head.

  Martin returned with good news. “The neighbour on the right, can’t remember his name, you know, the old man who walks the little black and white terrier round the block a few times a day.” Debs nodded and gestured for him to get on with it. “Well, he said he saw a woman approach the house. She had something in her hand, but he couldn’t see what it was. He also said she ran back to her car, sat there a while before she drove off.”

  “A woman? What did she look like?”

  “That’s all I’ve got, sorry. Fuck, the thought of a woman doing this, well, it set my teeth on edge when I heard. What the hell? Who would want to cause us this amount of hardship, Debs?”

  She shook her head and stared over to the end of the road where she’d seen the car leaving. “I don’t know. Maybe the police will uncover something we’re not aware of.”

  “Shit! I never thought I’d have to deal with them again, not after what we went through last time. You don’t think this has anything to do with Adele’s disappearance, do you?”

  She looked him straight in the eye and shrugged. She hated keeping things from him. “Maybe, but then, why would it after all these years?”

  He thumped his thigh. “Clutching at straws, I suppose. Let’s get out of here. Every time I look at the damn house, my temper flares and thoughts of doing serious damage to the culprit surface.”

  “I get that. I have the same feelings running through me. To think we were deliberately targeted by someone is… unsettling, to say the least.”

  They said farewell to Doreen, who insisted she wanted to stay for a while longer, and drove to The Haven B&B a few streets away. The landlady, Mrs Goode, couldn’t do enough for them. She made them a tray of sandwiches, accompanied by freshly baked scones, jam and clotted cream. It was just what they both needed to help lift their spirits.

  “See, there are still some good people left in this world,” Debs said. She placed Logan in the middle of the bed, and he swiftly fell asleep, leaving her to get on with the task of preparing the scones. All the time she was busy, her mind was thinking up ways of confronting the woman who had destroyed her home. Halfway through eating the delicious lunch, an idea flickered. “We’re going to need some supplies. We have no clothes, I have nothing for Logan, nappies, toys et cetera. Do you have to go back to work?”

  Martin flung an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple. “No. I told Wayne I needed to take a few days off. I can’t say he was thrilled by my request, but that’s tough. He’ll have to get on and deal with it. What did you have in mind?”

  “I wondered if you’d be prepared to spend some time with Logan while I whizz around the shops, picking up the essentials we need. I could get it done and dusted in half the time, if I go alone, with no baby attached to my hip.”

  He smiled and nodded. “That’s a deal. I’d love to look after Logan, it’s not often I get to do it during the week. Take my credit card and get what you need on that, we’ll sort out the finances later. I’ll probably need to get a loan from the bank soon anyway, if we have to start over.”

  “God, really? The thought of being in debt after all these years of striving to finally have some money in the bank is galling. I won’t spend much, I promise.”

  “I know you won’t.”

  They ate their food in silence except for the odd moan of contentment that slipped from their mouths now and again. After they’d finished, Debs collected the plates and mugs, kissed Martin goodbye and took the tray back downstairs to Mrs Goode.

  “My, you were hungry. Was it all right for you?” Mrs Goode wore a pretty apron decorated with different native birds. Her hair was showing signs of ageing at the side, but she had perfect skin, no noticeable wrinkles, making Debs think she was in her mid-to-late forties.

  “I was s
urprised we ate it all. It was so kind of you to do that for us. I’m off out now, we have nothing; everything was destroyed in the fire, so I need to get a few essentials from the shops. Martin’s going to look after Logan while I’m out.”

  “I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Please, if there’s anything I can do to help, just ask. I might have a few toys for the baby in the lounge, I could get them sanitised for you while you’re out, if you want?”

  “You’re an absolute gem, that would be brilliant, thank you.”

  “Only happy to help. Now don’t you be shy in the future, if you need anything, you just let me know, all right?”

  “Thank you, we will.” She glanced at her watch and saw that it was almost two-thirty. Enough time to get to the shops for emergency supplies and then… “I must fly.”

  “See you later. Good luck.”

  Debs opened the car door and hopped in. The town centre was less than a ten-minute drive away. The traffic was light, which proved to be a blessing; at least something was going her way for a change.

  She dashed around the shops, mentally ticking off items from the list stored in her mind. With her list completed, she made her way back to the car and drove to her next destination: St Saviour’s Primary School. There, she parked halfway up the road and remained in the car. Susie appeared at the gate and stayed there as usual while all the other children were picked up by their parents. To her, the child seemed downhearted.

  Debs watched every car turn into the road with interest and expectation, until the car she’d seen earlier, close to her house, pulled up. Debs noted the time on the dashboard. She’s earlier than normal. Why? Did she have the day off from work? Was that how she’d managed to do the deed and set the fire? She switched on the engine in preparation to follow the woman. Susie jumped in the back. There was a slight delay while Susie buckled up, Debs presumed, then the car drove off. Debs kept her distance, allowing another car to get between the two vehicles. That worked out brilliantly until the car acting as a shield turned off at the next junction. Debs held back slightly, but the lights up ahead changed to red and she rolled to a stop behind the woman’s car. She pretended to be fiddling, distracted by something on the seat next to her in case the woman clocked her in the rear-view mirror.