by Helen Phifer
Declan walked over to her. ‘Did you find what you were looking for?’
Annie nodded. ‘Yes, thanks, more than that, I think.’
‘Well, now you have your very own reader’s card you’ll be able to come back anytime.’
She leant towards him and whispered, ‘I don’t think I’m brave enough to face Hilda again. But you have been fantastic, thank you so much for all your help.’ Annie went to retrieve her bag from the lockers itching her head as she did so.
Declan smiled at her.
He’s probably wondering why you didn’t take this stupid hat off your head.
Chapter 10
Will arrived at Jenna’s house in minutes. Things were finally starting to pick up. If only someone had spoken to Erin on Saturday this whole thing could have been treated far more seriously. Mrs White answered the door and Will felt sorry for her. She looked exhausted, her eyes red and puffy from all the crying. Where the hell was the family liaison officer? What if I’d been that vulture from the papers?
‘Mrs White, I’ve been speaking to Erin, can I come in?’ He followed her back to the kitchen table, which was littered with crumpled tissues. There was a bright yellow teapot in the centre, which looked out of place in this house of gloom. He sat in the same chair as yesterday. ‘Erin told me that Jenna met a man on the internet and had planned to meet him Friday night.’
A loud sob escaped from the woman who was trying to keep herself together.
‘Do you have any idea who this man could be, anything maybe a name you’ve only heard mentioned this week?’
Her head shook.
‘Erin told me this man sent her tickets for a Marilyn Manson concert in Manchester. Did she ever mention this to you?’ He knew he was clutching at straws. It was obvious Jenna had kept everything very close to her chest.
Mrs White held her head high and looked him straight in the eye. ‘It’s not that I’m a bad mother, Detective, it’s just that all we seem to do is argue. She spends most of her time in her bedroom on the bloody computer. I knew it was a bad idea, your read of these horror stories in the papers, but you don’t expect to wake up and be living one.’
Will reached out and took hold of her hand. ‘I’m not for one minute saying you’re a bad mum, Mrs White. Teenagers can be awful. I understand it’s not an easy ride and I dread to think of the misery I caused my own parents. I just want to find Jenna and bring her home. Would you mind if I go and take another look for these tickets, they are really important?’
She squeezed his hand tight. ‘I don’t care if you tear the house apart if it will help you bring my baby back.’
The family liaison officer walked into the room carrying a bulging plastic carrier. ‘Morning, Sarge. I’ve just been to stock up on some essentials. Would you like a coffee?’
Will shook his head. It wasn’t like him to refuse a drink but he couldn’t stand the oppressive atmosphere: he wanted to be outside in the fresh air. ‘Make sure you’re here to answer the door until Mr White comes home.’ He let go of Mrs White’s hand and excused himself. What a start to his new job.
He ran up the stairs and opened the door to Jenna’s bedroom. The life-size poster on the wall was enough to give anyone nightmares. He took out his phone and rang Jake. ‘When you checked Jenna’s room did you find any concert tickets? No, OK thanks.’ He stood still and looked around. All the usual places had been checked by Jake and then Debs from CSI. They must be here somewhere and if she hadn’t told her parents they had to be in the last place they would look.
He stared at the poster again. One corner was very slightly torn and a bit worn, as if it had been touched a lot. Will, you are a bloody genius. He pulled a pair of latex gloves from his trouser pocket and tugged them on. Carefully he peeled the poster away from the wall. He wanted to whoop with delight when he saw the plastic sleeve that was Blu-tacked to the wall underneath. Inside it were two pristine concert tickets.
His phone began to ring and he pulled it from his pocket holding it to his ear with his shoulder. It was Laura. ‘Sarge, there is a Marilyn Manson concert on the 1st October.’
Will continued the conversation. ‘MEN Arena, doors open at six-thirty, thanks, Laura, I’ve found them. Have you spoken with IT yet?’
‘It’s not good news, they are short-staffed and in the middle of cataloguing the last pictures off some paedo’s computer for a court case this week. They promise they will get onto it straight after that. I’ve given them your mobile and told them that you needed it today and to ring you with an update as to where they are with it before any of them disappear home for tea.’
‘OK, thanks.’
Will made it back to the station in record time without the luxury of blue lights or sirens. He headed straight to the large corner office that served as the CSI department and looked nothing like the shiny, exciting ones on the television. It was a large square room with four desks in the middle and worktops around the sides with various pieces of equipment spread along it. It was always dark in here because the windows looked out onto a busy street so the blinds were kept shut: CSI Las Vegas it was not. Debs was sat at the desk in the furthest corner staring at a computer screen. He flashed her a huge smile as he walked towards her and looked over her shoulder at the goriest photos he’d ever seen.
‘Dear god, what’s that, a family album?’
She dug him in the stomach with her elbow. ‘How could you tell?’
‘It’s the partially severed head, it bears a striking resemblance to you.’
‘Tell me, Will, did you come into my office to insult me or do you actually want something?’
‘Both. No seriously, I need you to check these tickets for prints because you’re the best CSI in the station.’
‘You mean I’m the only CSI in the station. Let’s have a look.’ She pulled on a pair of latex gloves so fast if he’d blinked he would have missed it.
‘Wow, you’re quick with the old rubber. I bet our Stuart loves that.’
She laughed. ‘You have a filthy mind, Will.’
‘I found these in Jenna White’s bedroom.’
She turned to look at him, her mouth open. ‘Where? I searched in there yesterday.’
‘They were stuck to the wall behind that freaky poster.’ He was trying not to gloat but it was difficult. It was hard to get one over on Debs, she was always so precise.
‘I’m impressed, that’s a really good hiding place. I’ll have to remember that one. Give me ten minutes and I’ll see what I can find.’
Will leant down and kissed her on the cheek. ‘You little darling.’
Back in the office everyone was busy: this was more like it. They finally had leads worth following up on and the atmosphere was charged.
Stuart came and sat on the edge of Will’s desk. ‘I’ve requested her mobile records and told them it’s urgent. I’ve also tried to trace that number and it’s coming back as an unregistered pay as you go.’
‘Stu, you’re not telling me what I want to hear.’
‘Give me a chance. It came back as a Sony Ericsson which was part of a batch sent to the big Tesco last year. If you ask me, it’s going to be impossible to trace.’
‘Well, I’m not asking you, am I. Did they say when the phone first became active? It could narrow down our timeline. If it’s only recently you could go to Tesco and search through the CCTV, ask them to check on the computer for dates they may have sold any.’
Stu grimaced. ‘It’s worth a try but I’d say it’s a long shot and the crappiest job I’ve had in ages. It will probably come back as one of her mates.’
‘I agree it’s a long shot but it needs checking out and someone has to do it. Right now you’re the man for the job. You can also ask the phone provider to ping her phone now we know it’s more serious than a teenage tiff.’
Laura finished her conversation then slammed the phone down. ‘Bastards won’t give out any information about who bought the tickets unless they have my proof of identity. What a che
ek.’
Will shrugged. ‘I suppose it’s data protection and all that crap. Give me the number. I’ll tell them you’re faxing through a copy of your warrant card.’
Stu was laughing at Laura who picked up the phone book and threw it at his head. ‘Shut the fuck up, shouldn’t you be on your way to Tesco.’
Will looked up at them. ‘Now, now, behave yourselves children. We wouldn’t want either of you being investigated for being a pair of dicks now, would we?’
Chapter 11
He wondered what the parents did while their kids were telling complete strangers their life stories. The last girl he’d been chatting to told him she was eighteen and asked if he would like to see her on webcam. He didn’t exactly know what this meant and when the message appeared on screen asking him to accept he pressed ‘enter’. Curious to know what it was all about, he watched as the blurry image appeared on the screen. As it became clearer he could see the girl sat on the edge of her bed wearing just her underwear. She asked him if he would like her to dance for him and he sat on his bed transfixed, watching her writhe around. She was so bold he had found himself getting turned on. There was no way he would ask her to meet him, she was far too outrageous. No, he preferred them quiet, a little different, girls that wouldn’t put up much of a fight. Although if he needed some light relief he would certainly speak to this one again.
It was all arranged, he was meeting the next girl at the Abbey car park near to the café. This girl didn’t want to walk up to the woods alone. She seemed far more timid than Jenna. She had even asked if she could bring a friend with her and he had considered it, but what if he couldn’t kill both of them; one might get away and raise the alarm. Then again, where would she run to? The cellar was vast and he knew every nook and cranny. If she did escape she would be terrified in there alone in the dark and he had been very tempted to say yes.
Annie got home and collapsed on the sofa. Her head was itchy and sore. She threw the hat across the room thankful that it wasn’t summer. She cursed Mike. Why did she not leave him sooner, before it came to this? Her phone began to ring and the screen flashed that it was an unknown number, which meant it was probably someone from work. She answered it, pleased to hear Will’s voice. ‘How did you get my number?’ Annie knew it was easy enough. He only had to ask Jake or someone in the office, she just wanted to tease him.
‘Off an email you sent ages ago. Do you always put your phone number on emails you send to men you don’t know?’
‘Of course, don’t you?’
‘Not to men I don’t, however I would to a beautiful woman. I just wondered how you were and if you were missing me at all?’
She felt her heart skip a beat. ‘Well, you know, I’m actually fine considering it’s only been four hours since I last spoke to you.’
‘You know I said I’d come up and cook for you tomorrow night.’
Annie felt the hot tears brim and began to blink. She hoped her voice wouldn’t break deep down: she had known it had been too good to be true. ‘It’s fine, Will, I understand how busy you are, we can do it again some other time.’
‘Oh I was going to say that I might have something on tomorrow and wondered if I could come tonight instead?’
She hadn’t expected that one. ‘If you want to that’s fine by me. I’m not busy tonight.’ Or any night, to be exact.
Will laughed and sounded relieved. ‘Good, I’m very glad you can fit me in. Is eight OK? I promised Kav I’d buy him a pint after work so I’ll be free by then, maybe a bit sooner.’
‘Eight is fine. I’ll see you then.’ She ended the call not wanting him to think she was desperate.
Laura sat scowling in the corner, staring at the computer screen. Stu smiled at her. ‘Got yourself a date, boss?’
‘You’re nosey aren’t you, Stu. Yes I have and, if you must know, it’s with your wife.’
Stu laughed. ‘Yeah right, she’s got a real man at home. She wouldn’t give you the time of day.’
The door opened and in walked Deb’s, who totally ignored her husband and headed straight for Will’s desk. She sat on the corner close to Will who laughed so loud it even made Laura crack a smile. Stu frowned. ‘I wish I’d bet you a tenner on that, Stu.’
Debs looked at her husband and winked, then turned and gave Will her full attention. ‘Do you want the good or bad news first?’
‘Either is fine by me.’
‘Well, I have a couple of prints. I took comparison prints yesterday from Jenna’s laptop before it got whisked away to headquarters. Two are a match for Jenna and there is one really good thumbprint in the corner that doesn’t match. The bad news is it’s not in the system.’
Will blew out a long breath. ‘Thanks, Debs. I was just telling your husband what a star you are.’
Chapter 12
Annie turned the computer on in the study and stared at the screen, waiting for it to load. Her mind was overflowing with images of the house – her own personal slideshow – but there was one room it kept pausing on: the schoolroom. She had been inside that room and touched the things that were in the photograph. She had held the tin soldiers between her fingers and felt the cold metal they were made from. But how? It didn’t make any sense. She looked at the diary she had put on the desk next to her. She was desperate to read some more yet at the same time terrified because she knew it was messing with her already battered mind. At least it was keeping thoughts of Mike at bay.
When Google finally loaded she typed in ‘Abbey Wood’. Very little appeared. The first image was the one of the house just like the one she had seen in the records office. There were a couple of articles about the house and family but nothing like what she had expected. Surely the unfortunate happenings at the house had been a hotbed of gossip at the time. Annie began to think it was the most unpublicised haunted house in the world. Then a thought crossed her mind: what if it wasn’t haunted and this was all a figment of her imagination?
Her mind began to spin and her eyes became so heavy it was a struggle to keep them open. She stood up and made her way to the snug and the sofa, which had become her temporary bed, and snuggled down into the duvet that she’d left there this morning. When she had spoken to the doctor he had told her to expect that her body would need to recuperate and she should rest whenever she needed to. She drifted off to sleep and found herself in the house. Annie knew she had come home and that this was the one place she truly belonged. It was hard to describe but she felt as if she’d been away for a very long time and was glad to be back.
Her feet carried her from room to room; everything was as she remembered. The sumptuous velvet drapes that adorned each huge window still felt warm to her grasp. The richly coloured wallpapers brought the house to life. As she found herself in the library she picked up her favourite delicately hand painted vase. The heady perfume of the lilies that she used to arrange in it every week lingered in the air. The chair where Edward had held her brought memories rushing back and tears began to fall from her cheeks: she was so lonely.
Walking the long hallway to reach the kitchen her heart sank to see that Alfie and Cook weren’t there to greet her: where was everyone? She had expected to see them sitting around the battered pine kitchen table with cups of tea in hand, nibbling on the freshly baked biscuits that Cook made every week. Her fingertips brushed the wood, feeling the surface that had worn smooth from so much use. The hours she had spent sitting around it eating and gossiping were too many to count.
The scullery door was ajar and a cold chill rand down her spine as her eyes settled on the cellar door. She was afraid of the terrible blackness down there and something else which was locked away at the back of her mind. She left the kitchen and walked back to the great hall and the foot of the staircase. Why was the house so empty? She felt like the mistress of the house but she knew that it was impossible because she wasn’t Lady Hannah or Alice the housemaid. She looked down to see that she was wearing a beautiful dress of the palest blue silk. A gasp escape
d her lips. Running her hand down the jewelled bodice she could feel the tiny pearls that had been painstakingly sewn on by hand. It was the kind of dress that Lady Hannah wore.
She found herself climbing the stairs to be greeted at the top by the most handsome young man she had ever seen.
She looked at him and then rushed up the last few steps towards him, falling into his arms.
Annie, in her dream-like state, was horrified but she was powerless to stop this vision of herself. Strong arms locked around her waist as he picked her up and whizzed her around. She looked into his cold, black eyes and a sickness in the pit of her stomach made her feel ill.
He grinned. ‘I just knew you would come back to me.’ Edward pulled her close to him, his lips brushing against her ear. ‘I can see you Alice, pretending to be someone else, although I have to say it’s quite a good hiding place. Definitely one of your better ones but I know that you are there. Why don’t you come out to play?’
Annie opened her eyes and sat bolt upright. Every nerve in her body was on edge. The voice had spoken directly into her ear it was so clear. She lifted a hand to feel her ear and shuddered; it was icy cold to her touch. She shivered more violently. The temperature in the room had dropped significantly and she buried her head into her hands and sobbed.
Later, when her tears had subsided, she noticed the fire was dying. Forcing herself to move she threw a couple of logs onto it and poked it around. Watching as it crackled, concentrating on nothing except the blue and orange wisps, finding some comfort in them. She thought about the spiritualist church she had visited last week after finding a flyer for it pinned to the noticeboard on the kitchen wall: it had seemed like a good idea at the time.