by M A Comley
“That’s perfect. Have you seen enough for now?”
Debs nodded and held Martin’s hand. “Yes. Thanks ever so much for allowing us to view the place tonight, we would have been gutted if we’d missed out on this one.”
“It was meant to be. So glad you’ve had a positive end to what has been a lousy day for you.”
Debs couldn’t have put it better herself. The four of them left the house together. Katy got in her car and waved farewell. Martin, Debs and Logan took a leisurely walk back through the park. It was a warm evening, and the sun was beginning to turn the sky crimson on the horizon. “The perfect end to a most horrendous day. We should celebrate. How about we pick up a bottle of wine at the off-licence?”
“And a handful of straws, eh? You’re forgetting there aren’t any glasses in the room.”
Debs tucked her arm through his. “Ugh, I had. Never mind, maybe we can stop off and have a drink and something to eat at the pub around the corner. Can we afford that?”
“Well, I think you can. Apparently, you have a few thousand tucked away somewhere safe.”
She playfully slapped him, and they made their way to the pub. They decided to eat outside at the table close to the river. The sound of the gently running water helped to ease away the stresses of the day for both of them.
“I wonder how the police are getting on,” Martin remarked in a hushed voice.
“I was just thinking the same. I suppose we’ll find out soon enough. Which reminds me… once we have the keys to the house, I’ll ring Cooper, make him aware of our new address. I’m so excited, heartbroken that all our possessions have gone, but this could be a new beginning for all of us, especially if Susie turns out to be Adele. I wish you could see her, you’d be able to tell who she was right away, love.”
“It’s hard to think of her walking back into our lives after all these years. That’s not to say I wouldn’t welcome her with open arms, I would, and I will, when the time eventually comes. But on the flip side, our lives are totally different now. Most of them are taken up with looking after Logan. If she came back to us, it would take some time to get used to being a family again, for all of us. This woman, the kidnapper, is the only person she has known for the past five years, that has to count for something in her mind. It could highlight a tricky situation for all of us.”
“I hear your reservations and I know you’re right, but, surely, she must have some memories of us. We’re going to need to work on that, try to bring those memories to the foreground once more. I think we’re going to need help, maybe counselling even.”
“I’d say that would be a necessity going forward. Let’s not think too deeply about this until we know for sure the girl is our daughter, I’d hate for us to get our hopes up.”
They ate their burger and chips, both famished after the day’s non-stop events, and took a leisurely stroll back to the guest house.
Adele, and the thought of being reunited with her again was a prominent fixture in Debs’ mind as she fought to get to sleep.
15
By the end of the following day, Katy had worked wonders for them; and now, here they were, sharing a meal in their new home. Rented or not, it was theirs, something they couldn’t have imagined having in less than twenty-four hours.
They settled in quickly, not having many possessions to take with them to the new house. It instantly felt like home, which made all the difference to each of them. Logan especially seemed at ease in his new surroundings. Debs couldn’t even begin to imagine what must have been going through his little head at this unsettling time.
The day after, Martin went back to work and that gave her more time to get Logan used to his surroundings. After giving him his morning bath, she dressed him, put him in his pram and then set off to the park. He gurgled happily which put a smile on her face, instantly relaxing her. They weren’t far from the park when a car pulled up alongside her and a woman tore out of the vehicle to confront her. She didn’t recognise the car, but it was a different story where the woman was concerned.
“You! What are you doing here?” Debs demanded, furious that the police hadn’t at least arrested the woman by now.
The woman sneered and shouted, “Don’t think you can get away with this.”
Debs retreated a few steps, terrified the woman was going to harm her baby, or worse, steal him from her, the way she’d stolen Adele all those years before. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Taking my child like that. How dare you!”
“What? I haven’t got your child, she’s with Social Services until the police get to the bottom of this. Furthermore, I believe, the little girl you call Susie is my daughter, Adele, and you’re guilty of abducting her over five years ago from my husband.”
The woman took a step forward, her eyes blazing with anger. She curled a lip and snarled, “What a man he is. Good for nothing, except making babies with other women.”
Again, Debs retreated another few steps. “What are you saying? You know Martin?”
The woman let out a laugh so demonic it rattled Debs’ bones. “Oh yes, intimately.”
“What? Who are you?”
“Go home and ask him who Angela Withers is. I’m sure he’ll fill you in on all the details.”
“I don’t recall him ever mentioning you in our twelve years together. I repeat, who are you and how do you know my husband?”
The woman stared around them which sparked a new level of fear to dart through Debs. She clung to the pram handle, no intention of letting it go. All of a sudden, the woman produced a knife from the inside of her jacket.
Debs automatically screamed to draw attention from anyone in the vicinity, but no one came to her assistance. She was all alone, with a mad woman, holding her and her tiny baby hostage with a blade.
Angela’s eyes narrowed and she reached out a hand. “Give him to me and you can leave, unhurt.”
Debs flung herself over the pram, startling Logan, and he began to cry. “Don’t you dare touch my child. Haven’t you caused enough damage over the years? I refuse to let you have him. He’s all I’ve got now.” Debs placed herself between Angela and the pram.
Angela didn’t say a word, she took another menacing step forward, raised the knife above her head and then yelled menacingly in Deb’s face. “He’s mine. You don’t deserve him. I can give him all the love he needs, just like I’ve given Susie over the years.” She slashed the knife several times at Deb’s arms and tried to get to her chest, but Debs sidestepped Angela’s thrusts.
The cuts she received stung and shocked Debs, but instead of giving up, her determination rose to another level. I have to save Logan! “No, don’t do this. Help me! Please, someone help me!” she shouted again out of desperation.
Still, no one came to her rescue. Her gut instinct kicked in. She snatched Logan from the pram. Ignoring her injuries, she took off and didn’t look back. Debs heard Angela toss the pram aside and run after her. She entered the wrought iron gates of the park and up ahead, she saw two women sitting on a bench, and Debs ran towards them. When she was a few feet away, she screeched, “Please, help me. This woman is trying to snatch my baby. You have to help me.”
The women glanced at each other, horrified. One of them withdrew her phone and punched at the keypad. Debs assumed she was calling the police. Relieved, she finally had the courage to turn and face Angela again. Clinging to Logan, she shouted, “The police are on their way. Put the knife down, Angela, let’s talk about this.”
Angela kept coming, her face contorted with rage, her cheeks enflamed. The two strangers sitting on the bench screamed. The woman who had been in the middle of making the call dropped her phone. The operator could be heard, asking questions.
“Please, help us. A woman is trying to abduct my child. We’re at Longdale Park. Send the police,” Debs yelled, not knowing if the operator had heard her or not. She took off with Angela close behind her.
The pain from her injuries was
noticeable now but she dug deep, refusing to give in, aware of what the consequences would be if she did. Up ahead, she could see the gates to the park which led to the main road. If I can make it through the gates, maybe I’ll have a better chance of getting someone to help me. She upped her pace, but then, so did Angela. They were a few feet away from the exit now when the sound of the sirens reached her ear. As much as she wanted to stop and collapse into a heap, she ploughed on, her survival gene kicking in.
The gates up ahead seemed so close and yet so far.
“Don’t think you can get away from me, bitch,” Angela shouted through gritted teeth.
Debs stumbled on a stone. Resilience kicked up a notch, allowing her to keep upright and surging towards the gates. On the other side, a patrol car screeched to a halt. “Please, you have to help me!” she pleaded on a sob.
Two uniformed police ran towards her, their batons in their hands along with a can of pepper spray. One of the officers grabbed Debs’ arm, pulling her to one side while the second flew past her towards Angela. Debs’ legs gave way beneath her, and she and Logan tumbled to the ground. The officer still had hold of her arm and helped to break her fall.
“You’re all right. You’re safe now,” the officer reassured her.
They watched the other officer tackle Angela. The knife tumbled from Angela’s hand swiftly; it slid across the ground and came to a shuddering halt in front of Debs. Relief swept through her now that the danger was over… until Angela spoke again.
In a tearful voice, she pleaded with the officers, “You have to help me, she’s stolen my baby. I was running after her, trying to get my baby back.”
Debs shook her head in disbelief at the officer standing alongside her. “Don’t believe her, this is my child.” A thought struck her. “Please, ring the station, get DI Cooper here. He knows me and what this woman is capable of doing. She’s lying, Logan is my child.”
The officer nodded and spoke into the radio clipped to his shoulder. Within ten minutes, DI Cooper was standing in front of her, and again, relief seeped into every muscle of her pain-filled body.
“Take this woman away, I’ll deal with her later.” Cooper pointed at Angela, who was instantly cuffed and marched to the patrol car. She fought the officers, her arms flailing violently and her legs kicking out at regular intervals.
Cooper helped Debs to her feet. “Are you okay?”
“I need to go to the hospital. She cut my arms to ribbons.”
Cooper examined her injuries and tutted. “Shit, it might not look much but you could lose a lot of blood if we don’t get you to hospital ASAP. Can you walk?”
“I’m not sure. I’m exhausted.” She attempted to stand but her legs gave way again.
Cooper swept her and Logan up into his arms, and his partner opened the back door of the car. He deposited Debs gently on the back seat, then hopped behind the wheel and drove to the hospital, the siren blaring. “Please, you have to ring Martin. I want him with me.”
“I’ll do it,” DS Dorning said. She placed the call.
Relieved, Debs leaned her head back and then glanced sideways at Logan who was staring up at her from the car seat beside her. He was quiet, and she sensed he was in shock due to the events. Can babies go into shock? I’m guessing they can. “How did she know where I was? That’s what I want to know. I thought she was in hospital.”
“She was. We received a call about half an hour ago, telling us that she’d discharged herself. Then a report came through that she’d stolen a car from a man on crutches at the hospital. I was on my way over to tell you when the control mentioned that assistance was required at this location. I took a punt and followed up on the call, had an inkling the incident might be connected. I’m sorry she’s made your life hell over the years, Deborah.”
“I’m just glad she didn’t get her hands on my baby, snatching one child is bad enough. Does this mean that you believe me now?”
“Sort of. We can’t hand the child over yet, if that’s what you’re asking, not until the DNA comes back. I’ll ring the lab, get them to prioritise the results, in light of what’s happened. Sergeant, will you do that for me?”
“On it now, boss.”
Tears spilled onto Debs’ cheeks. The thought of her daughter coming home to her after all this time was almost too much to bear.
Martin arrived at the Accident and Emergency Department a few minutes after they got there. She was eager to tell him what had happened, but the doctors gave her morphine to dull the pain and her words came out slurred.
“Darling, my God. When will this bloody nightmare end?”
“It’s ended,” Cooper assured them. “We’ve got the woman in custody now. She can no longer harm your family.”
“Good. Who is she?” Martin asked.
Debs reached for his hand. He bent down, and she whispered the name Angela in his ear.
Martin stood upright and stared at her, shaking his head. “I’m none the wiser, love. Do you know her? What about from the group you go to? All this seemed to escalate around the time you started attending the group.”
Her head fuzzy, it was difficult for Debs to shake it, to dispute what he’d said. He leaned down again and she whispered, “She knows you.”
Again, he stood upright and stared down at her. She could tell he was searching his memory for the answer. Suddenly his eyes widened as it dawned on him. “My ex,” he said, the air gushing out of his lungs.
“Your ex?” Cooper asked. “Care to fill me in?”
“I lived with a woman called Angela Withers, at least I think that was her name. The relationship fizzled out.” He ran a hand through his hair as he thought. “Oh God, I remember why we split up now. She was besotted with kids. Every month we tried and failed to conceive. The pressure was immense, so intense it drove us apart in the end.”
“I see. When was this?”
“A few years before I met Debs. Jesus, are you telling me she did this? She abducted our daughter, Adele? Why? How did she manage it? We were on holiday, miles away, for fuck’s sake. How did she know where we’d be?”
Cooper shrugged. “That’s what we need to find out. Okay, I’m going to leave you two for now. I’ll conduct the interview and get back to you if I find out anything of interest.”
“What about our daughter?” Martin asked, his voice tinged with hope.
“We’re awaiting the DNA results. We’ve chased them up, so hopefully they’ll come through soon. She’s safe where she is, out of Angela’s clutches; that in itself should put your mind at ease.”
The officers left the cubicle. Martin hugged Debs tightly. “I’m sorry to have unknowingly put you through all of this.”
“Family together again soon,” was all Debs could muster.
“Yes, darling, hopefully.”
Debs was released from hospital the next morning and Martin took her and Logan home. He put Debs to bed and went back downstairs to be with his son. They were having a cuddle on the sofa when Cooper and Dorning knocked on the front door.
“Come in.” Martin held a finger up to his lips. “Debs is in bed, resting.” He led them into the lounge. The officers took a seat, and Martin placed Logan on the rug with some of his toys, then sat on the sofa. “I’m hoping you have some news for me, for us.”
“We have. The good news is the DNA results are back and they’ve confirmed that the little girl in question is indeed Adele.”
Martin slammed back in the sofa, the wind knocked out of him. He’d hoped the truth would come out, but now it had, he was stunned by the revelation. “Shit! I can’t believe it, after all these years.”
Cooper smiled. “I’m delighted for you. I can’t imagine the ordeal you’ve both been through during this time.”
“Have you questioned Angela?” Martin asked, eager to know what the bitch had to say for herself.
“We have. Umm… this is where things get a little cloudy. Are you aware that Angela is still in contact with a member of your family
?”
He frowned and sat forward again. “No. Who?”
“Your mother.”
He leapt out of his seat and paced the floor a few times, then dropped back onto the sofa. “Jesus, are you sure?”
“Yes. When I asked her how she knew you had gone to The Lakes for a holiday, she told me that your mother had told her.”
“Bloody hell. My mother and I have had a… frosty relationship, I suppose you’d call it, for years. Yes, I remember ringing her, telling her we were going away, but before we went, I don’t recall speaking to her again. Which begs the question how did Angela know when we were going to be there?”
“I put that very question to Angela myself. Her response was that she started following you, daily. Saw that you’d left Deborah and started living with another woman.”
The news came as a shock. She had stalked him? “Eh? And that was her reason for kidnapping my child?”
“Kind of. Her main motive was envy, she was envious of you. Seeing you with three children and her not being able to have any, ‘tied her insides into knots’, was how she put it.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” He retched. “I feel bloody sick. What the hell was going on in that head of hers? Is that what today was about? She intended to kidnap Logan as well?”
“Yes, only this time, her intention was to kill your wife first.”
“Unbelievable. She’s insane. No, please, don’t let her convince a judge of that, she’ll get off lightly if she goes down that route, won’t she? She needs to be punished for destroying my life like this, our lives. No one can ever comprehend the distress we’ve been subjected to since Adele was taken. No one.”
Cooper sighed. “She’ll need to be assessed by a specialist. No matter how that turns out, I doubt if she’ll ever walk free again.”
“Thank God. Who knows what she could have done, if she’d really put her mind to it?”
Cooper and Dorning both stood to leave. “I’m going to make a phone call to Social Services when I get back to the station and tell them to contact you ASAP with a view to reuniting you with Adele.”