The Sweetness of Liberty James

by Janey Lewis

  ‘Yes, yes, of course.’ Alice Groom had a strong local accent, but looked efficient in a neat black suit, hair scraped back into a chignon as though she wasn’t yet ready to be out of uniform. Her eyes were bright and intelligent and she asked Liberty why she was there.

  As Jonathan and Mrs Goodman led Savannah from the room, Edmund became the man in charge. Liberty just had a chance to squeeze her friend’s hand in passing but received no pressure in return.

  ‘DI Groom,’ said Edmund, ‘this is Liberty James, who lives in the village. A very good friend of my sister. She has only met Khalid once, but may have some insight regarding the situation.’

  Liberty wanted to ask ‘What situation?’, but Edmund’s efficient, calm tones kept her silent.

  Inspector Groom sighed. She turned to Liberty. ‘We believe Mr bin Wazir has kidnapped his children and has returned with them to Abu Dhabi.’

  Liberty collapsed into the chair that luckily stood behind her.

  ‘Oh God, no! When, where, how?’

  ‘We believe that although Mr bin Wazir said he left the country the day before yesterday, he actually went to London to book airline tickets for himself and the two children, at the time hiring a chauffeur and bodyguard. Late last night or in the early hours of this morning he, possibly with some help, entered the house, persuaded the children to go with him and simply left.’

  ‘How did he get in?’ demanded Liberty.

  ‘The bloody doors are never locked here,’ said Edmund stonily. ‘Bloody Pa even announced as much when Khalid asked about locking up for the night after the ball. We all thought he was worried about the bundles of cash he travels with. He must have been planning this all along.’

  ‘What about the airports? Can he be stopped?’

  ‘It’s too late. He took them to Gatwick, boarded a private jet to Paris, and on to a flight that left France at six this morning. Savannah phoned the police the moment she went to wake the children and found their beds empty. The first question the police asked when they found their father was a foreign national was whether she had their passports. Khalid had taken them from the safe in Pa’s study.’ Edmund spoke quietly but with obvious emotion in his voice.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said Liberty. ‘Jonathan would never have given the passports to Khalid.’

  ‘No,’ explained Edmund, ‘but he left the safe open after getting some of Ma’s jewellery out for Savvie. Khalid must have realised that when she was dressing and snuck down. And it wasn’t noticed until now.’ His voice broke and he turned away. ‘Wait till I get my hands on him. He has misused Pa’s hospitality.’ He was clearly shaken and upset by his inability to do anything.

  Gray and Jonathan returned to the room, and Edmund rounded on Gray immediately.

  ‘Any luck with your lot at the Foreign Office?’ he asked.

  ‘I hadn’t wanted to come in while Savvie was here,’ said Gray. ‘All I can glean from the ambassador in Abu Dhabi is that legally a woman does have rights, but when she is a foreign national these are simply ignored. It will take a lot more than a good lawyer to get the children back.’

  It must be awful to have good contacts and still be so impotent, Liberty thought.

  ‘I will of course do whatever I can,’ said Grahame. ‘If Khalid takes the children back home, then we will at least know where they are. The ambassador reckons Khalid is unlikely to prevent Savannah from returning to her home, so maybe she will just have to follow them. That would be the best scenario. If, however, he has taken them to an unknown location, we may have problems contacting them.’

  ‘Let’s not think the worst,’ said DCI Groom. ‘We will of course do what we can to find them as quickly as possible. If Mrs bin Wazir can at least speak to them on the phone she will feel better, and then we can take it from there.’

  The inspector rose to leave. Taking the uncomfortable constable with her, she asked them to update her with any fresh information if and when they received any. As the door closed, Edmund pointed out, ‘Surely it should be she who contacts us?’ But they were all too stunned to really care.

  Liberty asked if she should go to Savannah. Jonathan said she was dozing, but added, ‘Maybe you could get some things and sit with her? She may need someone in the night and as much as we all adore her, a woman may be best?’

  ‘Of course, of course,’ said Liberty. ‘I’ll go home, fetch some night things and sleep in her bed with her. I’ll be as quick as I can.’

  ‘I’ll come down to The Nuttery with you,’ said Edmund. ‘I can explain things to Deirdre while you pack. I need to bloody do something. Those gorgeous kids, they don’t deserve this, and as difficult as we all know Savannah can be, she certainly doesn’t either.’

  All three men had remained calm, but as she hugged Jonathan, Liberty could feel the trembling tension inside him. ‘It’ll be fine, it has to be,’ she said, knowing the words were as ineffective as putting a sticking plaster on a broken leg.

  Edmund drove Liberty’s car to The Nuttery, where they found Deirdre happily gossiping with J-T about Sarah’s stupidity, despite all her sweetness, for having a baby with the cheating Tom.

  Only someone who had a child of her own could understand what Savannah was going through, and Deirdre’s heart went out to the young woman. As she raced back downstairs with her weekend bag in her hand, Liberty heard her mother saying, ‘We would come, but I feel we would be no help, but do let us know if there is any news.’

  ‘If you can think of anything at all, please call at once. I have to pick up Bob the day after tomorrow, and then collect Paloma, Claude and Evangeline,’ J-T was explaining. ‘But I am free tomorrow and will do anything to help.’

  ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, I was meant to fetch them from Heathrow!’ cried Liberty, wringing her hands.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ replied J-T, glad to feel a little useful. ‘If I can borrow a car, I can drive to London, load up Bob and the dogs, and then scoop up the French mob on my way back. No problem at all.’ He could be calm and efficient if the circumstances demanded and there was nothing to laugh about. And he had enjoyed Savannah’s company so wanted to help.

  Liberty gave him a big thank-you hug, kissed her mother and then returned to the park with Edmund. It now looked dark and gloomy despite, for once, having most of the interior lights blazing. As if reading her mind Edmund said that he always thought Denhelm Park was as much part of the family as the family part of the park.

  ‘It really looks upset, doesn’t it?’ he asked.

  My God, thought Liberty. That’s probably the most emotive thing he has ever said. She agreed, and asked him what he had thought of Khalid.

  ‘Not sure. Pa always approves of anyone involved with horses, but when Savvie got to know him we had some background checks done. Nothing substantial, but rumours of his mistreatment of some animals and dirty business dealings abounded. Nothing you could put your finger on, but I know we always felt a little uneasy about him. Such a shame for Pa. He was revelling in being a grandfather – it was the happiest I remember seeing him, having them all here. Now it’s going to be the most terrible Christmas, and we’ve had some.’

  Liberty felt tears welling up as she thought how frightful that Christmas must have been, when their mother died on its eve. How had they coped? She couldn’t imagine life without Deirdre holding the fort.

  After checking on Savannah, who was asleep, Liberty found Mrs Goodman making sandwiches and pots of tea in the kitchen.

  ‘I don’t think anyone is drinking that!’ said Grahame, as she put a third pot on the table.

  ‘Well, I have to do something,’ she wobbled, and blew her nose on a tea towel.

  Gray hugged her close and guided her gently towards the back stairs. ‘Bed,’ he instructed her. ‘Lots to do tomorrow.’

  Liberty couldn’t remember ever seeing any of them crying before. Even when immersed in grief after his wife died, Jonathan had always kept his tears private, and Mrs Goodman was always able to cope. One year, after
a large party, she announced that she would need a week off to recover from her hysterectomy.

  ‘Of course,’ Jonathan had agreed. ‘When is it? Can I drive you to the hospital?’

  ‘Oh no, dear, don’t worry,’ she had replied. ‘It was yesterday, but I had to make sure you were looked after.’

  Jonathan now disappeared into his study, loaded with guilt for leaving the safe and the doors open. Edmund, Gray and Liberty sat looking at the mound of untouched sandwiches.

  ‘What can we do?’ asked Liberty.

  ‘I’m trying my best,’ replied Gray. ‘But the Middle East is tricky with things like this. The father’s rights always take precedence, especially, as I said before, with a foreign wife.’

  ‘They must be home by now,’ said Edmund, ‘but we will leave Savannah to sleep the night through before we get her to phone. Perhaps we should ask Pa to speak to Khalid, and try to gather a true picture of the situation.’

  As Liberty climbed into bed beside her friend she realised just how lucky she had been, and also how small and insignificant life was without children. ‘I don’t care if I can’t have my own, just bring Savannah together with her two little ones,’ she prayed and she turned onto her side to wait the night out and watch over her old friend.

  Liberty must have fallen asleep; she was woken by a dreadful scream. As she mentally shook herself and remembered where she was, she instinctively reached out to hold Savannah. Finding the bed empty, she awoke properly, leapt off the bed and out into the corridor.

  Knowing where Savannah would be, she ran along the landing to the children’s bedroom. Savannah was lying on Sasha’s bed, holding her little pink cuddly pony.

  ‘My babies,’ she wailed, as Liberty flung her arms round her.

  ‘Know one thing,’ she said to her friend as calmly as she could. ‘Khalid loves those children and wouldn’t hurt a hair on their heads. We will find them, we will sort this out, and we are all here to help you; we love you and you must try to be strong for Sasha and Hussein, who probably believe they are on a huge adventure, and would hate to think of you upset.’ And she stroked Savannah’s heaving shoulders and smoothed her forehead. Slowly, slowly, the trembling woman calmed, but her always-thin body was exhausted.

  After what could have been a minute or hours, Liberty said there was little point in trying to get back to sleep. ‘Let’s dress and I’ll make some coffee.’ She had to help Savannah put on clothes and wash her face. She gently wrapped her in warm layers, knowing that with shock you always feel horribly cold. Guiding her downstairs to the kitchen and placing her in a comfortable chair in front of the Aga, Liberty set about making a strong pot of coffee.

  The moment she placed two mugs of sweet black liquid on the table, the troops arrived. Jonathan, who had not been to bed, but had spent hours phoning his Middle Eastern friends met through horse racing, was first in, then Edmund and Gray. Mrs Goodman appeared soon, checked the coffee bubbling on the hot plate and began to make breakfast.

  ‘Darling, you must eat,’ Jonathan instructed Savannah. ‘You will need your strength today.’ She managed a few forkfuls of scrambled egg and a piece of dry toast.

  ‘I have been able to contact John Oxx, one of the Aga Khan’s trainers,’ Jonathan informed the group. ‘He knows Khalid well, and he told me Khalid has a house near the track in Dubai – did you know that?’ Savannah nodded. ‘But more interestingly, he recently bought a house in Paris.’

  This really startled his daughter. ‘Why do you think that is interesting? Or relevant?’

  ‘Well, maybe he booked them on a flight to Abu Dhabi but plans to be elsewhere. We will see.’

  ‘You said he wanted to send the children to European schools,’ followed up Liberty. ‘Perhaps the house in Paris is something to do with that?’

  ‘I am going to dial up the house in Abu Dhabi,’ said Jonathan, frowning. ‘I think you, Savvie, should be with me, but not speak to Khalid. We need to be calm with him.’

  ‘I just want to talk to the children,’ wailed Savannah.

  ‘We will try our best.’

  Nobody expected Khalid to answer the phone, despite Savannah giving Jonathan his private number, so Jonathan was startled when, after the second ring, his voice came down the line.

  ‘Yes, ’allo?’

  ‘Khalid, do you have the children?’ Now was not the time for small talk.

  ‘Yes, of course. They belong here.’

  ‘What about Savannah?’ asked Jonathan.

  ‘She belongs here too, but she made it clear to me she was going to stay with you. I didn’t want to make a fuss and scene so I thought the best thing was to leave and bring the children with me.’

  ‘Didn’t you ever think of consulting your wife, the mother of your children?’ Jonathan’s face reddened as he stood up angrily. Edmund took a pace towards him and made calm-down gestures with his hands. Jonathan collected himself and simply asked, ‘So what now?’

  Khalid said, ‘If she wants to be with the children, she can come home. If not, she can stay with you and forget about them. Let me know.’ And he put the phone down.

  ‘Well, at least we know where they are,’ said Jonathan.

  ‘But you didn’t speak to them,’ cried Savannah. ‘And I wouldn’t be with them if he sends them away to school.’

  ‘I think once we have talked this through you should speak to him yourself, but best not to get angry or say something in haste. I’m amazed at how emotional I got, and you are feisty at the best of times.’

  Savannah was already calmer, knowing where her children were, and she took herself back to her room, needing to be alone to clear her head.

  Liberty returned to The Nuttery after getting her things, as she knew how much had to be done before her mother’s house guests arrived. After enquiring about Savannah, and checking that all was being done to reunite the family, Deirdre filled her in with the latest developments at that end.

  ‘J-T has left to pick up all and sundry. Hope there’s sufficient room in the car! And Sarah talked to me about her pregnancy. An accident, apparently, not that I believe that! Tom wants her to have an abortion. Says another mouth would put too much strain on their finances, but she insists on keeping it, even if it means he leaves her again. The two older children will cope, I’m sure, but it’s a shame to divide the family, and how can she work with a little one in tow? I’ve told her I think she is silly, but I know that doesn’t help. What will the poor girl do?’

  ‘I’ve been thinking,’ replied Liberty. ‘I will move out of here, get out from under your feet, otherwise I may lose the confidence I have built up to get on with the café. I will need Sarah to help, and she can earn as much as possible before the baby arrives. There will be unpacking and cleaning, and just having an extra hand will help me no end.’

  ‘Oh that’s great for a pregnant woman – exhaust herself before the birth,’ huffed Deirdre, ‘but it could certainly help the money situation. I may let her stay on living here while she gets on her feet. And it could be fun to have a new baby in the house. But Tom may come round to wanting it.’

  ‘He seems to have been very attentive since she went back to him,’ said Liberty.

  ‘Yes! Too bloody attentive, apparently!’ Deirdre said with a laugh, but then they remembered the horrid situation at the park, and fell into their own thoughts.

  30

  Two days to go until Christmas. In preparation for the arrival of the French guests, Deirdre and Liberty had made a simple supper of parsnip and chestnut soup, walnut bread, a salad and a platter of local cheeses to pick at. There was also a salted caramel chocolate torte to be served in front of the fire when they arrived, along with freshly baked scones, damson jam and clotted cream.

  Liberty was torn between excitement at seeing her godmother and sadness at losing Savannah, who had decided to return to Abu Dhabi. It had only been a few months since the magical time in France, but so much had changed in her life since she had left Percy in Florence. She fel
t sad that she wouldn’t be helped by Savannah in the café; it had sounded fun, although it had seemed a bit of a dream. Things can’t be that perfect, thought Liberty, and we could have been a disaster together. Maybe I do need a man in my life. She grinned, and phoned Fred, the blacksmith with the roving eye.

  ‘Well, hello young lady! Happy Christmas to you.’ He was shouting, as the furnace was blasting away. ‘Are you phoning to take me out for a drink?’

  ‘Um, yes . . . no . . .’ Oh, why do I have to be so flustered? He’s a flirt, a slut, just too bloody good-looking! she thought, pleased he couldn’t see her furious blushes. ‘I have decided that J-T was right, and I’m going to be self-indulgent and call the café LIBERTEAS, so now you can get on with the sign.’

  ‘So,’ he replied, and she could hear his smile, ‘should I change the motif to one of the outline of a sexy lady, then?’

  Liberty snorted with laughter and said, ‘I think we may be mistaken for a knocking shop if you did, but thank you for the compliment!’

  ‘Of course, me darlin’, just pulling your leg – and a very beautiful pair of those you have too. Sure you don’t want that drink?’

  ‘Quite sure,’ said Liberty, giggling, ‘but I think Mother has invited you along with the rest of the village for New Year’s Eve, so we can have a drink then.’ She put the phone down, amazed that anyone could be so forward, but he had cheered her up.

  Liberty raced up to Denhelm to say her goodbyes to Savannah, who was being pragmatic.

  ‘I need to be with my children, simple as that. I realise I was being selfish, just because I have been homesick, and I have no right to mess the darlings around.’ She flapped her hands at Liberty as she could see that her dear friend was going to interrupt with platitudes about her being completely unselfish and a fantastic person. ‘I am fully aware, despite what many think, of my faults. Selfish is probably number one, and rash decision-making number two. I have to grow up, take my responsibilities seriously, and commit myself to the life I chose to follow with Khalid. I do love him, and I think I must give it a go.’