by Penny Kline
‘Can you remember any more, Kieran? Did he pick Blanche up?’
He shook his head. ‘Old man with an old pram. Looked like a tramp.’
‘Had you seen him before?’
He shook his head again. ‘Actually I’m not even sure the cat was white. It was dark, difficult to see properly so it could have been one those tortoiseshell ones. Anyway, Jade and I’ll have a good look round later on.’ He jerked his head in the direction of the kitchen. ‘We bought some takeaway and –’
‘And now it’s going cold.’
Jade was twisting a lock of hair round her finger. ‘And you won’t tell my mum and dad.’
‘I don’t know their address or phone number, Jade, but I’m trusting you to return to your friend’s house tomorrow. Just one last thing, Kieran. The old man with a pram. Did you see his face?’
Kieran thought about it for a moment. ‘No. Actually, I sort of half saw it. It was strange. I’m not quite sure why but it made me think it could be a woman.’
Later, Izzy checked online for any cottages to let near The Railway Inn. She should have thought of it before but it had only occurred to her while she was talking to Jade and Kieran. When she discovered the cottage, where she hoped Dawn might be living, there had been no ‘To Let’ sign, not that there would have been much point, since it was so far off the beaten track, and in any case, the place looked in no fit state to let.
Chapter Fourteen
Izzy was trying to remember Dawn’s address before she left for Portugal. She had never visited her there – Dawn had never invited her – but she had an idea it was in Heavitree. Jade telling her she had been living in Heavitree had reminded her, and she cursed herself for not thinking of it before. Not that it was likely to be much help.
After a long search, that reminded her how much her place could do with a good clean, she found an old diary and was fairly sure the address scribbled in the back was the right one. It was worth a try. On the few occasions they had seen each other, Dawn had insisted on coming round to Izzy’s house or that the two of them meet up in a pub. In fact, she had been so unwilling for Izzy to visit where she lived that Izzy had thought there must be something or someone she didn’t want her to see.
Had Miles lived there with her? Dawn had told her so many lies and half-truths it was impossible to remember when and where she had met him. The affair could have been on and off, while he plucked up the courage to tell Wendy he was moving out.
Dawn had said he was living in a bedsit, but no location had been mentioned and it could be that he had lived in Exmouth until they left for Portugal. He would have missed Dominic and Dawn would have been less than sympathetic. Did she have some hold over him, or had things between him and Wendy been so tense he had fallen into the arms of the first woman who showed an interest in him? That made Dawn sound unattractive, which was certainly not true, but any man who became close to her would soon have discovered just how determined she could be. Determined to get her own way.
Parking near the hospital, Izzy checked her street map and began walking back to the cul-de-sac off Heavitree Road. It was highly unlikely Dawn was living there, and also unlikely anyone living there now would know where she was. When they met up in Exeter it had nearly always been in a café in the shopping centre. Once, Izzy had looked up Dawn at the university and they had eaten lunch together in the canteen, but Dawn had made it clear it was not something she wanted to repeat. At the time, Izzy had expected to be introduced to other students, but as far as she could tell Dawn had made no friends. Was it always the same if you were doing a higher degree? Did you carry out most of the work on your own? She had asked Dawn about her thesis and Dawn had muttered something about ‘comparative religions and personality.’
‘Do you mean people with particular personalities are more likely to be attracted to particular religions?’
Dawn had shrugged, not wanting to talk about her thesis so presumably, at the time, she had been more interested in her affair with Miles and had only turned up at the university when she had to see her supervisor. The way things were going, it seemed unlikely she would ever complete her degree. But how unimportant all that was now. With a sinking feeling, Izzy realised she was beginning to think she might never see Dawn again. If the parcels and messages stopped arriving would that mean she was dead? No, if that happened they would find her body. Unless she had done something, or gone somewhere, in order to make sure no one ever did.
Checking the number on the slip of paper in her pocket, she banged on the door – there was no bell – of number nineteen. After more knocking, and a wait that felt like a couple of minutes but was probably less, she was about to give up when the door opened a crack and a cross-looking young man stood there, dressed in pyjama bottoms and a university sweatshirt.
‘Yes?’ It was just after midday – Izzy’s lunch hour – but she guessed she had dragged him out of bed.
‘I’m sorry to bother you but I’m looking for a friend of mine. Dawn Dear.’
A strange look passed over his face. ‘She doesn’t live here.’ The door started to close but she put her foot in it.
‘I know, but she used to. Look, I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t important. Only I think she may be ill. Or even in danger,’ she added, determined not to leave without finding out as much information as she could.
The student rubbed his eyes and gave a heavy sigh. ‘I suppose you’d better come in.’
‘Thanks.’ She followed him down a dark passage, stepping over a pile of junk mail and a sports bag, and negotiating the narrow space between a bicycle and the wall. ‘I’m really sorry to get you out of bed but it’s the only address I’ve got for her. She went abroad –’
‘To Spain.’ He rubbed his unshaven chin. ‘No, Portugal. But I guess she came back.’
‘What makes you say that?’ They were standing in a surprisingly clean and tidy kitchen, a large room with a table and four chairs as well as the usual sink, cooker, and fridge. ‘She’s been in touch with someone who lives here?’
He shook his head. ‘Been round. I’m the only one left who knew her. I say knew her but she never had much to say for herself. I doubt we exchanged more than a dozen sentences. When she left, she must have had a spare key cut.’
‘To this house.’
‘You said she might be in danger, or was that just a way of persuading me to letting you in. By the way, I’m Rhys.’
‘Izzy. It’s a long story but –’
He shook hands. ‘It’s OK, no need to tell me all the details. A letter came for her. I didn’t know what to do with it. She’d left no forwarding address so I thought maybe I should open it, return it to the sender. Is that what you’re supposed to do, or is it against the law, interfering with somebody’s mail?’
‘I don’t know. I expect so. What did you do?’
He poured himself a glass of water. ‘That’s the thing. I left it on that shelf by the front door while I thought about it. It was handwritten, not junk mail, looked personal. Only, a couple of days later, it disappeared and Joe – he’s on the top floor – said he’d been looking out of his window when this girl with long hair – fair hair – came up to the house. He thought she must be delivering flyers or something, then he heard her put a key in the door, but when he came down to check she’d gone.’
‘Lots of girls have long fair hair.’
‘You don’t think it was Dawn? It was addressed to her so –’
‘Thanks, you’ve been really helpful.’
‘What makes you think she’s ill? Or in danger. What kind of danger?’
Izzy hesitated. ‘When I said ill, what I meant –’
‘I get it.’ He stood up and switched on the electric kettle. ‘Some kind of mental breakdown. It wouldn’t surprise me. She’s kind of odd, isn’t she? If I’m honest, I tended to give her a wide berth, keep out of her way. Or did you mean she’s in trouble with the cops?’
‘She’s a friend of mine, used to be. No, it’s al
l right, I know what you mean. Actually I’m here on behalf of her mother. She’s worried about her, hasn’t heard from her for months. If she comes back –’
‘I shouldn’t think that’s very likely.’ He covered the remains of a dish of lasagne with a plate. ‘But if she does I’ll say you called round. Izzy. Does she know –’
‘Yes, but I’ll write it down just in case.’
‘What shall I say you wanted?’
‘Just tell her I need to talk to her. I’m sorry, for all you know … I’m not the police and I’m not from social security or the tax office.’
He laughed. ‘I believe you. Cup of tea?’
‘No, thanks. Yes, all right, if you’re having some. Thanks.’
‘Sleepless night?’
‘Do I look that rough? It’s not because of Dawn. I’ve lost my cat. I’ve been searching for ages. Yes, I know, only a cat but –’
‘You love him. Or is it a her?’
‘Blanche, she’s called Blanche.’ And to her horror, she started to cry.
History never repeats itself. Not exactly. Izzy was watching a programme about whales, without taking anything in, when she heard sounds coming from next door, then wails and someone banging on her door. Racing to the front door, she wrenched it open and found Jade. She was holding Blanche who was so dirty she was barely recognizable, and there was an open wound on the back of her neck.
‘Oh, Izzy, look at her. Poor thing, she could hardly walk.’
Gently carrying her into the house, Izzy laid her down on one end of the sofa and began stroking her head. Normally Blanche would have purred, but she was too exhausted, or too badly injured.
‘I heard mewing,’ Jade said. ‘I thought it was a baby. Is she all right?’
‘I don’t know.’ Supposing she had come home to die? Just made it before she gave up and stopped struggling? Her coat was matted and one of her paws was curled up as though it caused her pain to straighten it.
‘She’s glad to be back,’ Jade said, and Izzy managed a weak smile.
‘Yes, she is.’
‘Perhaps she’s hungry. She looks quite thin.’
Izzy fetched a pot of Marmite – Blanche hated milk but was addicted to Marmite sandwiches – spread a little on her finger and held it to the cat’s mouth. Blanche took a cautious lick, tried to stand up on the sofa, and wobbled over again.
‘It’s all right, Blanche.’ She was afraid to pick her up again in case it hurt her. Would there be a vet on call through the night? If there was it would be expensive – even daytime consultations cost the earth – but what did that matter? But when she inspected the wound, she could see it wasn’t a deep one, and apart from her injured paw, Blanche was not in as bad a shape as she’d feared.
Ten minutes later Blanche was sitting on the floor, washing, and had even managed a few husky purrs. Where had she been? Had someone taken her, or had she been hit by a car, crawled away to safety and stayed there until she felt stronger?
But a much more alarming possibility had occurred to her. If Josh had taken her he would never have let her get in such a state. Unless she had run away from where he was living. No, whatever Josh’s failings, he wouldn’t have stolen Blanche.
The phone started ringing and she left Blanche with Jade. Tender loving care was what the cat needed just now and Jade seemed to be an expert at that. In the morning Izzy would take her to the vet for a proper check.
‘Yes?’ As soon as she answered the call, she had heard a strange sound, half a wail, half a laugh. ‘Who is that?’
No answer.
‘Dawn?’ Izzy glanced at Jade, but she was fully occupied inspecting Blanche’s paws. ‘Is that you, Dawn? Please speak. If you’re in trouble, I’ll help. Please, Dawn.’
Could she hear breathing, or was it Blanche’s purrs?
‘Dawn? Are you still there? If you tell me where you are I’ll come and see you. It’ll be all right, we can …’
But like the last time, the line had gone dead.
Jade was watching her now, pleading with her eyes. ‘Kieran’s gone.’
‘I’m sorry, you must miss him, but you’ll see him again, won’t you?’
‘I kept a key to the house. Just in case. You won’t tell my mum –’
‘I told you I wouldn’t.’
‘You might have Mum’s mobile number.’
‘You won’t let me down, Jade. Promise?’
Jade gave Izzy a hug. ‘I absolutely, definitely promise. Thank you so much. And I’m so glad Blanche is all right. Izzy?’
‘Now what?’
‘That phone call – was it one of those people who want to sell you double glazing or something?’
‘Nobody spoke.’
‘But sometimes they put lots of calls through and only speak to the one who answers first.’
‘It’s a possibility.’
‘But you think it’s something to do with the baby.’
‘I don’t know, Jade.’
‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ Jade looked so worried; Izzy couldn’t help grinning.
‘It’s kind of you to offer but the police are trying to trace the birth mother and the baby’s doing well. She’s in a foster home in Dawlish.’
‘Oh.’ Jade rubbed her eyes. ‘Only Kieran thought the old man with the pram might have something to do with it.’
‘Really? I don’t know how he worked that one out. Look, I’d tell you everything I know, but I don’t want you caught up in –’
‘So there is something? I knew there was. I think it was someone who knows you’d look after the baby. I mean, if it was a stranger she’d have left it in a public place, a health centre or a bus station. ’Cos she left it during the night, didn’t she, and no one would have seen her. Only it’s cold in the night so I’d have thought she’d have chosen somewhere indoors.’
‘All these questions have gone through my mind too, Jade. Best to leave it to the police.’
‘Yes,’ she said doubtfully. ‘I wish you’d tell me what you think but I know you’re not going to.’
After Jade left, Izzy phoned Stuart. There were questions she needed to ask – about Dawn, and about Rosalie – and this time she was going to refuse to take no for an answer. If Dawn was as violent as Stuart had hinted, she could she have injured Blanche deliberately and made sure Izzy saw what she had done. If you don’t get Cressy back …
Stuart’s phone rang at least ten times. Come on, come on. Then, just as Izzy thought it was going to click into answerphone, the ringing stopped and an out of breath woman said, ‘Hello?’
‘Oh.’ Izzy had planned what she was going to say. Now she had to make up some excuse. ‘I … The thing is I belong to a bird-watching society and we wondered … It’s all right, I’ll call back another time.’
‘Shall I give Stuart a message? If you tell me your number …’
‘No, it’s all right. There’s no need.’ She was talking too fast, giving herself away. ‘It’s not urgent. Sorry to bother you.’
My birthday, Miles. My twenty-ninth. Rather a romantic idea, never reaching thirty. Would Izzy see it that way, do you suppose? You know, Miles, you haven’t been very reasonable. After all, I could have harmed Dominic. No, of course I wouldn’t – I love children – except they do say some rather stupid things. My mother once said I was like an adult once I’d reached the age of eight or nine. Does that make sense? There was a boy who owned a rabbit and my mother thought it might have germs, make me ill. I don’t think pets are a good idea, do you? I mean, Cressy might be allergic to the fur, and they’re not very hygienic, always licking their genitals. Are you listening, Miles? I’m only spraying this air freshener because the place smells of damp. When I said I was going to tell Wendy about Cressy, you threatened all kinds of silly things. If you want my opinion, that was a little over the top. After all, you knew I didn’t mean it, you knew it was only because I love you. The trouble is, you could have meant it. While I was asleep you could have crept downstairs … T
hen what? Knives are messy. Blood means clothes have to be disposed of, even carpets. My love is like a red, red rose. Love you, Miles, love you, love you, love you, yes I do.
PS. You were right about Izzy. I mean, I was right. Was it my idea or yours? Never mind, it’s all for the best. That boyfriend of hers is a total idiot. He’ll fit in with whatever she wants.
Chapter Fifteen
Kath had come round but it wasn’t clear why. Just a social call? It didn’t feel like it.
‘So Blanche is OK. That’s brilliant. I wonder where she’d been. Must’ve got lost but they say cats always find their way home.’
‘Not if someone drops them off in another part of the city.’ Izzy regretted her remark as soon as she had made it since it was bound to lead to more questions.
‘Who would do that? Oh you mean kids – for a joke. Some kind of joke! Listen, the reason I dropped by, I know you’ve been worrying about the baby and what’s happened to her mother but I was thinking, she could have moved on, be miles away.’
‘It’s possible.’ Izzy was exhausted, wanted to go to bed, but it was only ten thirty and Kath would think she was ill. ‘Look, it was nice of you come and make sure Blanche was all right, Kath but –’
‘That’s not why I’m here.’ Kath sat down with a heavy sigh. ‘I know how you feel about me and …’
‘You and Harry.’ So this was the real reason for her visit. ‘I don’t feel anything, Kath, it’s your life, up to you.’
‘He’ll never leave Janet. How could he? Men his age hardly ever leave their wives. Do you think he will?’
‘I’ve no idea. Probably not.’
‘Why d’you say that?’
‘They’ve been married for God knows how many years – and there’s the house. Harry loves that house.’
‘More than he loves me,’ Kath said sadly, ‘no, it’s all right, that’s what I think too.’