She's Gone (A psychological thriller)

by M A Comley

  The lights changed and they both drove off. On this particular stretch of road, there were two more sets of lights. Debs had to put up with the usual scenario—catch one red light, you got lumbered with them all. At the next two red lights, she carried out the same procedure of trying to look busy while she waited. The final set of lights changed to green and they set off again. Debs got the impression that the woman knew she was being followed by now, as her speed had gone up after their final stop. Debs followed the woman out of town and up a country lane. There, the woman put her foot down, forcing Debs to follow her at breakneck speed. Shit! Are you fucking crazy? You’ve got a kid on board, my kid!

  The road had several dangerous bends, and the woman’s tyres squealed as she took the corner faster than she’d probably anticipated. Debs remained with her, glued to her bumper; she’d come this far, there was no way she could back down now, not with her daughter’s safety at stake.

  Another corner loomed and again the woman’s tyres objected to the speed she was travelling at. This part of the road was particularly winding. A bend to the right and then a sharper one to the left, all the while getting farther and farther away from town. Debs had the impression the woman was intentionally leading her away from the family home. Yet another sharp bend lay ahead of them; Debs braced herself, glad her old car was up to the job in hand.

  Half a mile up the road, confronted by yet another dangerous corner, Debs rounded it and slammed on the brakes. The woman hadn’t fared well; her car had left the road and was lying in a ditch, the front end embedded into the hedgerow. Debs yanked on the handbrake and shot out of the car. Her main concern lay with the child. Wrenching open the back door, she found Susie staring at the driver who was unconscious, her head grazed and resting on the steering wheel. Susie appeared to be in a daze.

  “Are you all right, Susie?” Debs quickly checked her over, looking for any visible injuries—there were none. She sighed with relief and then unfastened the girl’s seatbelt.

  “Mummy. What about Mummy? Is she going to be all right?”

  Debs was caught in two minds. Do I ring the police? I should, right? But then, if Susie is my daughter, this is my opportunity to take her back. I need to get her to the hospital, get a doctor to check her over. But what about the woman? What if she wakes up and prevents me from taking her?

  She decided to pretend to make the call and then gripped Susie’s hand and took her back to her own car. “Hop in. The police are on their way. I need to get you to the hospital.”

  “No. I want to stay with Mummy. I don’t want to go with you. I don’t know you. Mummy, Mummy! Wake up, Mummy!”

  “Susie, it’s okay. I’m going to take care of you. The police told me I had to get you to the hospital. They’ll be here soon, I promise you. We need to get you checked over, sweetie.”

  Susie hesitated, her gaze drawn to the woman’s car still lying in an odd position. Guilt ripped through Debs, but it was pushed aside by the need to be reunited with her daughter.

  Finally, Susie relented and got in the back of Debs’ car. Debs buckled her in and drove past the wreck, keeping a watchful eye on Susie as she drove. The youngster was distraught. Her tears grew into sobs the farther they drove from the crash site. “I want my mummy, she’s all I have. Please, go back, we need to help her. She’s hurt, please, I don’t want to leave her.”

  “It’ll be all right. I’m your friend, sweetheart. I’m only trying to help you. We need to make sure you’re all right at the hospital.”

  “I don’t want to go there. All I want is to be with my mummy.”

  You’re with your mummy, sweetheart. I just need to prove it.

  “It’s all right. We’ll go back once the doctor has given you the all-clear, love.”

  Susie fell silent, apart from the slight sob that escaped her slender body now and then. Debs parked in the hospital car park and helped Susie out of the car. She gripped her hand tightly, in case the girl decided to run off.

  “Ouch, you’re hurting me.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m anxious, we need to get you checked out by a doctor ASAP. Come on, it’s this way.” Debs followed the signs for the Accident and Emergency Department and walked up to the girl sitting at the reception desk.

  “Hello, there. How can I help?”

  “Yes, you have to help us. My daughter was involved in a car accident, I need someone to check her over.”

  “Oh no, how awful. What’s your daughter’s name?”

  Debs sensed Susie’s gaze on her. “Susie. She’s only ten. How long will it take?”

  “We’re not really busy at the moment, she should be seen fairly soon.”

  “Mummy, I want my mummy!” Susie said, tears bulging again.

  The receptionist frowned a little as if to question what she’d just heard. “I think she bumped her head on the seat. That’s why I want her checked out,” Debs said quickly.

  “No problem. Take a seat. I’ll see if one of the doctors can see you immediately.”

  “Thank you, that would be fantastic. Come on, Susie, let’s sit down over here.”

  “Mummy, I want my mummy.”

  The receptionist left her desk, and within seconds, a young female doctor appeared. “Hello, I’m Doctor Carlisle. If you’d like to follow me.”

  Susie hesitated for a second or two. Debs grabbed her hand and held tight, fearing she might bolt.

  “What happened?” the doctor asked. She pulled back a curtain and motioned for them to enter the cubicle.

  “Mummy, I want my mummy. I don’t want to be here,” Susie shouted out of the blue.

  “Sorry, I don’t understand. The receptionist told me this was your daughter. Why is she asking for her mummy?”

  “She’s confused. I believe she banged her head when the car crashed.”

  “Yes, Mummy is back at the car. I must go.”

  Debs slipped into full panic mode. Lying didn’t come easily to her. She gulped and then smiled at the doctor. “Please, you have to help me.”

  “Is this child your daughter or not?”

  “Yes, I mean no. Yes, she is.”

  The doctor crouched and took Susie’s hand. “Susie, is this lady your mummy? Tell me the truth.”

  “No. My mummy is hurt at the car.”

  The doctor stood and placed Susie behind her. “I don’t know who you are or what’s going on here, but I’m calling the police. You can fill them in on the details. This child is going to remain with me until they arrive.”

  “No! You don’t understand. Please, don’t do this.” Debs clawed at the doctor in an attempt to get Susie back, tears of frustration dripping onto her cheeks.

  “Security, security. Help me!” the doctor shouted.

  Susie bawled and shouted over and over that she wanted her mummy. Debs’ world imploded for the second time in her life. I can’t let them take her from me again, I can’t.

  She thumped the doctor in the face and grabbed Susie, but the doctor stood firm, refused to back down and clung to the child. Debs was about to hit the doctor again when a hand caught her fist.

  “Oh, no you don’t. Get here, woman. You dare strike one of our staff. I’m calling the police to deal with you. We have a no-tolerance rule to violence around here. One strike and that’s your lot.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hit her. She’s trying to take my daughter away from me. Please, don’t let her do that, not again.” Debs reached out and sank to the floor, her legs rendered useless and collapsing beneath her.

  “Get up. The police will be here soon.” The security guard, a large black man, hauled Debs to her feet and dragged her against her will to the orange plastic chairs along the far wall. “Stay there. You move again and I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I want my child, that’s all.” She watched Susie walk into triage with the doctor. It jarred her insides when her little girl didn’t look back. Debs’ head sank to he
r chest in shame. She rested her elbows on her thighs and covered her face and sobbed.

  “Ha, tears don’t wash with me,” the security guy warned. “You think that all you women have to do is turn on the tap and men will fall for it. Let me tell you, I’ve been married to a manipulative woman for nearly two decades, she could teach you a trick or two. I’m hardened to it now, lady.”

  “Please, please, she is my daughter. Why won’t anyone believe me?” she implored.

  “Tell it to the coppers. They should be here soon.”

  Debs felt lost, dejected and alone. She couldn’t even ring Martin because she had no mobile, that had been lost in the fire.

  It wasn’t long before two uniformed coppers, one male and the other female, showed up. The security guard gave them a rundown of what happened and then took a step back.

  Debs squeezed her palms together and pleaded with the officers, “I’m sorry for the upset I’ve caused, I didn’t mean it. All I was doing was trying to protect my daughter. Please believe me.”

  “What proof do you have that she’s your child and why is the girl asking for her mummy, if you say she’s your daughter?” one of the officers asked.

  “It’s a little complicated.”

  The male officer tutted and shook his head. “I bet it is. Well, we’re not going anywhere until we’ve heard what you have to say, so spit it out.”

  She racked her brain, which was confused to hell by what had occurred in the past few hours, searching for the name of the detective in charge of Adele’s case. “Please help me. Ring Detective… I can’t remember his name. He dealt with my daughter’s case when she went missing five years ago.”

  “Name?”

  “Bloody hell, I just told you I couldn’t remember. Will you ask at the station for me? Or look it up on your system. My daughter’s name is Adele Jenkins. That girl in there is Adele, but the woman who snatched her has been raising her as Susie.”

  “Okay, supposing I believe your cock and bull story, where is the girl’s mother now?”

  She jabbed a thumb at her chest. “I’m her mother,” she shouted, exasperated.

  The male officer took a few steps back and spoke into his radio while the female officer stood close to Debs. He returned a few minutes later. “You’re coming down to the station with us.”

  Debs shook her head, and it gained momentum the more she shook it. “No, you can’t do this. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “Either you come quietly or I’ll be forced to slap the cuffs on you, what’s it to be?”

  “No. Please. Let me explain,” Debs pleaded. Although by the stubborn expression on the male officer’s face, it didn’t take her long to come to the conclusion that her pleas were going to fall on deaf ears.

  They placed her in the back of the patrol car. Debs glanced over her shoulder as Susie was led away in a second police car which had also turned up. “Where are they taking her?”

  The male officer glared at her through the rear-view mirror. “That’s none of your concern.”

  “She’s my frigging daughter. I need to know. My husband… yes, call him, he’ll tell you the truth.”

  Both officers ignored her until they arrived at the police station. The male officer opened the door and ordered her to get out. With a heavy heart, Debs left the car and walked into the station with an officer on either side of her, ensuring she couldn’t escape.

  DI Lance Cooper was waiting for them in the reception area. Debs let out a relieved sigh. “Thank God, you’re here. Tell them they’ve made a grave mistake. I found her. She was here all along.”

  He held up a hand, forcing her to stop talking. Debs frowned. “Wait until we’re in the interview room.”

  “What? We’re wasting time. Where is Adele, Susie?”

  “She’s with Social Services until we can get to the bottom of all this, Mrs Jenkins.” His tone was off-hand which confused Debs even more.

  She kept quiet until they were alone together in the interview room. “Thank God you’re still here after all these years. I have a lot to tell you, it all kicked off about a week ago.”

  Again, he shoved a hand in her face to stop her. “Wait until my partner arrives. We’ll conduct the interview under caution and will record it. She’s just gone to fetch the duty solicitor.”

  “What? Why? I don’t need a bloody solicitor. I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. After all my husband and I have been through over the years. What gives you the right to treat me this way?”

  “The law is on my side, I think you’ll find, Mrs Jenkins.”

  “I beg to differ. The law is firmly on my side, if you take the trouble to listen to what I have to say. Why am I being treated like a criminal here? Have the decency to answer that for me.”

  “All in good time.”

  The door opened and in walked DS Dorning. With her, she had a young woman wearing a striped grey suit. The solicitor’s hair was scooped back to make her look austere and professional.

  The sergeant and the solicitor took their seats. Debs was still in a state of shock as Dorning announced to the recording who was in the room and why they were there to the recording.

  Then DI Cooper began firing questions at her. “Maybe you’d like to tell us why you felt the necessity to kidnap a little girl called Susie today, Mrs Jenkins?”

  “What? I didn’t. She was in a car accident. All I did was take her to the hospital to get checked over.”

  “I see. How were you aware of the accident?”

  Debs’ brow furrowed. “Because I was following the car at the time.”

  “And why was that?” Cooper tapped his pen on the desk.

  Debs clenched her hands together until the knuckles turned white. “Because I had reason to believe Susie is my daughter.”

  The detectives glanced at each other, both cocking an eyebrow before Cooper turned back to face her. “So you thought the best way to go about proving it was to kidnap her? An eye for an eye?”

  “No. It wasn’t like that at all. My mothering instinct kicked in. Susie, or Adele, was hurt, all I wanted was to get her to the hospital.”

  “Why didn’t you call an ambulance for her mother?”

  “Would you?” she snapped. “If that woman had stolen your child?”

  Cooper’s eyes seared her soul and she shuddered. “You caused a crash and left a woman to die.”

  Debs shook her head. “Don’t tell me she died. I couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving this earth without getting punished for what she did. For the damage she’s caused to me and my husband.”

  “You’re extremely fortunate, she didn’t die. Her injuries are bad enough for her to need to stay in hospital for a few days. However, you should have called the ambulance and the police, for that matter. I’d say your motive was obvious from the outset, wouldn’t you, Mrs Jenkins?”

  “Oh yes, I would. I was desperate to get my daughter back and now you’ve stolen her from me again and are intent on accusing me of all sorts. Have some heart, for God’s sake. No, why should you, you gave up on us, on Adele, years ago, didn’t you?”

  “That’s not true, Mrs Jenkins. Adele’s case has always been open, we never closed it.”

  “Really? You could have fooled me. For the recording, I want you to tell me when you last came to my house and gave me and my husband an update on our abducted child.”

  He shifted uncomfortably in his chair and the colour rose in his cheeks. “I believe that was nearly five years ago.”

  “That’s right, and nothing, absolutely zilch from you since, and you wonder why I had to take things into my own hands, after the day we’ve had.”

  Cooper’s head tilted. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, that woman, the one you went to great lengths to tell me I left for dead… it’s because of her that my family are holed up in a B&B at the moment.” She swallowed down the tears, determined not to crumble until all the truth was exposed.

  “I don’t understand. Enlighten me,
if you will?”

  “Earlier today, I was in the house with my baby, yes, I have another child, he’s called Logan who is nearly four months old and probably missing his mother like crazy right now, especially after the trauma we both experienced today.”

  “Can you stop going around the houses and get to the point, Mrs Jenkins?”

  “My son and I were having a nap when we were woken by smoke filling our home. Another ten minutes or so and we might have died in the fire. As it happened, I had my wits about me and managed to escape with Logan. The police arrived along with the fire brigade, of course. The fireman in charge asked if I’d had any petrol in the house. I told him I hadn’t and asked why he wanted to know that. He went on to tell me that an accelerant had been used and his men thought they had smelt petrol in the hallway.”

  “I see, so you’re telling me you believe this was arson?” Cooper asked, his eyes narrowing as if he was unsure whether to believe her or not.

  “I am, most definitely. The fireman will also attest to it being arson, if you want to chase it up. Anyway, I surveyed the area not long after I’d made my escape and saw a car leaving the scene. I recognised the car as belonging to the, shall we call her ‘my daughter’s abductor’ for want of a better name for her? I went to St Saviour’s School, that’s the primary school Susie or Adele attends and waited for the woman to show up.”

  “With the intention of confronting her about the fire?”

  “Yes and no. I got to thinking today, while sitting in a strange room at the B&B instead of my home, the home I cherished, about who could possibly want to harm me and my child. Seeing that woman’s car at the scene only reinforced things in my mind. I left Logan with my husband, I drove into town shopping for essentials as we have nothing after all our belongings were destroyed in the fire, because of that woman’s evil, vindictive behaviour to rob me of another child in whichever way possible she could bloody think of.” She ran out of breath and inhaled heavily to reinflate her lungs. “I went to the school to wait for the woman. Then I decided to follow her instead. I had every intention of coming to the police, once I knew where the woman was heading.”