He is Watching You

by Charlie Gallagher

  She fumbled with the door locks. She had to stop and tell herself to calm down. When she tugged it open there were two police officers. They were stood on either side of her mother. Lisa finally breathed out.

  ‘Mum!’ she gasped. She leaned forward to hug her. Her mother shrugged her off. She pushed past her and walked into the lounge. Lisa watched her go. She felt angry, terrified and relieved all at the same time. She could feel tears building.

  ‘I didn’t even know she was gone!’ Lisa blubbed. She turned back to the two officers. Both men looked uneasy.

  ‘Happens all the time, ma’am. She’s very confused. We were able to get the road where she lives out of her and then a milkman outside directed us to your door. I take it you’ve been here a while?’

  ‘My mum . . . as long as I can remember.’ Lisa held her hand over her mouth as she fought to regain her control.

  ‘Is there anyone else here?’ the officer asked. He leaned in a little, his head moving left and right.

  ‘No. My dad . . . well, no. Look, do you want to come in for a minute? Maybe I can offer you a hot drink or something?’

  ‘We do need to take some details if that’s alright. It won’t take long. Paperwork, you know. We need to make sure we’re dropping your mum at the right place!’

  Lisa stepped back. She knew what the officer meant: her mother had been dropped back before and on that occasion, the officer had explained that they needed to check that the environment was ‘suitable.’ Lisa had pressed him a little and he had admitted that they had to complete a vulnerability assessment or something. It was to make sure her mother wasn’t at any risk. Lisa had taken it as a failing on her part, despite being assured that wasn’t the point. She was feeling the same way now.

  ‘I know how it works,’ she said.

  ‘Well, that’s good. I’m PC Neals . . . this is PC Kent. I’ll just take your details and we should be able to leave you to your day. Sorry for the wakeup call!’

  ‘Not at all.’ Lisa moved to the kitchen. She could hear the television coming from the living room now. Her mother must have made herself comfortable. ‘Did you want tea?’

  ‘No, thanks.’ The officers spoke in unison. Lisa clicked the kettle on anyway; she knew her mother would take one.

  ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘She’s fine. We had an ambulance crew check her over. They were just around the corner actually. She’s not even cold. She’s wearing pyjamas and that big old dressing gown. It’s not cold out there at all.’

  ‘Not this time,’ Lisa said. ‘The last time she went missing it was a freezing night. The police didn’t think she could have lasted much longer.’ Lisa’s hands lifted to her face. The emotion was welling up again. She had slept right through it twice now. Maybe her stepdad was right: maybe she couldn’t cope. Actually, he had said that she shouldn’t have to, that she had enough on her plate. They’d got as far as looking at specialist places for her mum, but Lisa hadn’t been able to go through with it. Maybe she should go and look again. She didn’t know what she would do if her mum came to any harm when she was supposed to be the one looking after her.

  ‘We should count our blessings, then. Do you mind if I take some details?’ PC Neals took out a notebook and readied a pen. ‘Can you just confirm your mum’s name for me?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s Olive. Olive Simpkiss.’

  ‘Excellent, that’s what she gave.’

  ‘And your name, please.’

  ‘I’m Lisa Simpkiss.’

  ‘Great. And your date of birth, Lisa?’

  ‘Twenty-fifth of May, 1985.’

  ‘Thank you. And this is your home address?’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘Okay, so Greenfield Street, Langthorne . . . What was the door number please?’

  ‘Forty-seven.’

  ‘And no one else lives here?’

  ‘No. My stepdad, he used to. My real dad died. It’s not been an easy ride.’

  PC Neals looked up from his notebook. He had a kind face. ‘It doesn’t sound like it, Lisa. Does your stepdad help with her? Is he still on the scene?’

  ‘No. When my mum . . . well, when she started getting worse, he couldn’t cope. I don’t blame him for that. She’s a different woman. I guess this isn’t what he signed up for! My mum wouldn’t remarry either. She’s never got over my dad really. You can’t blame my stepdad for taking his opportunity!’ She snorted a laugh. Her smile dropped away instantly. ‘It makes him sound like a bad man, but he’s the opposite. He tried for a while, but on a bad day she would call him all sorts. She lashes out and I think he took the brunt of it. It’s the frustration. She’s so angry a lot of the time and she doesn’t even know why. She’s worse at the moment. She stopped taking her medication a few days ago . . .’ She petered out, suddenly aware that she was rambling.

  ‘And what about now? Do you get the brunt?’

  ‘Sometimes. I know what it is, though. She’s angry with herself. She just takes it out on me. She doesn’t lash out so much anymore, not with her fists. She’s got a sharp tongue, though. I had a problem, a drink problem. I’m not proud of my past, but she never lets me forget how disappointed she is about that. The illness has taken a lot away from my mum but her tact and sympathy were the first things to go.’

  ‘Cathy! CATHY!’ Lisa bit down at her mum’s shrill voice.

  ‘Cathy’s my sister. She couldn’t cope either. She’s moved away. She says it was for work but the timing was a little convenient. She left me to look after our mum. Most of the time she thinks I’m Cathy, and when she realises I’m not, she’s gutted. Nice, eh?’ Lisa smiled. Then she called out to answer, ‘Yes, Mum?’

  ‘Can I have my afternoon tea, love? I’m parched in here! I’d make it myself, but my legs feel tired.’

  ‘Yes, Mum.’

  ‘I’m not sure what time she thinks it is,’ PC Neals shrugged. ‘She was stopped about an hour ago. It was still dark, but she was talking like she was going to the shops. She even had a bag with her. I’ve come across it before with Alzheimer’s — I assume that’s what it is?’

  ‘Alzheimer’s . . . dementia — a touch of it all. Apparently it can happen. She gets a totally different idea of time to everyone else. But she’s been so much better recently. We got her on these new drugs and they seemed to level her out. We even made it to the bingo the other day. She used to love it. I knew she wouldn’t be able to cope but she insisted. Sure enough I was right and that seemed to really knock her. That’s when she started to refuse the meds again. I just don’t know what else to do from here.’

  ‘It’s not easy. There is help out there. There are places where she can go that are a little more secure. I know people hesitate sometimes before putting relatives in . . . well, places like that, but they are geared up to look after people like your mum. And she would be with other people all the time. It might take some of the strain off you?’

  ‘I know. I’ve had a look. Even if I wanted to, there are costs involved. I mentioned it to my sister. I’m not working at the moment but there’s enough in my mum’s account and in this house to keep her going. My sister’s dead against it. I know she doesn’t want to be spending the inheritance on looking after our mum. I couldn’t say that though. I suggested she move back closer so she could help out, but I wish I hadn’t. It wasn’t worth the argument.’

  ‘It’s never easy with families, is it? You just need to look after yourself as well as your mother. You said about the alcohol thing. You don’t need any extra pressure, do you?’

  ‘Well, no. She does have good days. She was having a good few weeks right up until this. There were times when it was like I had my mum back. She’s been amazing for me. I would be dead now if it wasn’t for her — or in a gutter somewhere. I owe her.’

  ‘We all owe something to our parents. This might be the best thing for her, living here with you. But it might not.’ PC Neals closed his notebook and pushed it into a zip pocket on the front of his vest. ‘We should get back to
it. Anything more you need from us?’

  Lisa shook her head. ‘No. Where did you find her by the way?’

  ‘The bus station in the town. We had a call about an elderly female walking in just a dressing gown and slippers. She almost made it to Asda! She’s done well.’

  ‘Goodness, she has. That must be two miles from here?’

  ‘Just about.’ Both officers moved towards the front door. PC Neals leant round the door frame to talk to her mother.

  ‘Bye now. Your daughter’s making you a nice cup of tea, okay? You’re very lucky, she’s a lovely girl!’

  ‘My Cathy? She’s always been good to me, that one.’

  ‘It’s Lisa. Lisa’s here making you a tea.’

  ‘Lisa?’ Lisa heard her mother’s voice change immediately. She could see PC Neals’ back. Her mother continued. ‘That girl’s a drinker, she is. Wasted her life. No good ever comes from the bottom of a bottle. I told her that. Did she listen?’

  ‘She doesn’t drink anymore. Seems like she did listen!’

  ‘That’s what she tells you!’ her mother snapped.

  PC Neals turned back to face her. He rolled his eyes and pulled the door open at the same time. ‘Try and have a restful day,’ he said. Lisa pushed the door shut behind them.

  Lisa finished making the tea and walked it through to the living room. Some American drama was on the television. The volume was low. It looked at least twenty years old and with cheesy acting. Her mother was engrossed. Lisa put the tea down beside her. She moved around so that she was standing in front of her mother. Her mother leaned out so she could see around her, her face contorted into a grimace.

  ‘I do love you, Mum. You know that, right?’ Lisa said.

  Her mother’s eyes darted towards Lisa’s. She seemed to think it over before her face broke into a warm smile.

  ‘I know that! I love you too, Cathy.’

  Lisa pursed her lips into a smile. She’d take that. Her mother was safe and well at least.

  Chapter 36

  Maddie eased her foot from the accelerator as her phone rang through the speakers. She had no intention of talking to anyone right now. She didn’t know what she was going to do, but answering her phone was low on the list. That was until she read her screen: Harry Blaker. She was desperate for an update, not that she would admit it. She bit down on her bottom lip as she pressed to answer. She felt a flush of regret and didn’t speak immediately.

  ‘Maddie, you there?’

  ‘Yeah . . . It’s Saturday morning, Harry. You know that, right? My day off apparently.’

  ‘Yes, I do. Thanks for telling me, though. Where are you?’

  She was northbound on the M20. It couldn’t hurt for Harry Blaker to know that; no reason not to tell him why either. If he asked.

  ‘M20. Just passing Ashford, I think. Did you find Andy McCall?’

  ‘No. We couldn’t get hold of his brother. We’ve still got a few addresses left to try. I was arranging door-knocks this morning but I got waylaid. We’ve found a girl.’

  Maddie’s eyes flicked back to her display. When she lifted them she became aware of flashing headlamps in her rear-view mirror. She had slowed again but was still in the middle lane. She moved over to the slow lane. Someone was gesturing at her angrily from the car behind as they passed her. She ignored it.

  ‘My girl?’

  ‘Do you have plans for today?’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Can you come?’

  ‘Is she okay, Harry?’

  ‘Can you come or not, Maddie?’

  ‘Jesus, Harry. Why can’t you tell me what’s going on?’

  ‘I don’t know what’s going on. That’s why I need you.’

  Maddie hesitated. She sighed heavily enough to be heard down the phone.

  ‘You okay?’ Harry said.

  ‘What do you think? I’m going home, Harry.’

  ‘To Manchester? Long way for a weekend?’

  ‘To Manchester. Not just for the weekend.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I’m going home. I gave it a week. I tried. No one down here wants to give me the time of day. I’ve spent all these years building something. A career. I’ve done good things. People respect me for it and then suddenly I’m out in the cold with no reference. I need to go back, at least to a force that knows what I’m capable of.’

  ‘Because of last night?’

  ‘Last night, last week, all of it.’

  ‘I told you it would take time. Lowe will see. We all will.’

  ‘I don’t have the time to start again. There were other opportunities back up North. I think that’s the better option. You were right . . . I’ve turned into this moaning ball of frustration, harking back to the good ol’ days. I don’t want to be that person. I had a career, I just need to go back to it.’

  ‘I thought that could get you killed.’

  ‘At least that would quick. It’s a slow death down here. I’m miserable every day.’

  ‘Come back. Finish it off. You’ve got business with Lorraine Humphries. Maybe I was wrong to cut you out last night.’

  ‘You were wrong. Is she okay?’

  ‘I’ll send a postcode through. Put it in your satnav. If you’ve just passed Ashford you’re only half an hour away.’

  ‘Harry, I told you . . . Harry!’ The speaker fell silent. The call had been cut. ‘Again!’ Maddie beat down on the steering wheel. The second sign notifying her of the Ashford turn-off passed her on the nearside. She ran over her options. She could still go back home; it didn’t have to be today. She could take a half-hour drive, see what this was all about and then make a decision. Harry wasn’t telling her enough for her to be able to do that otherwise. She was learning quickly that was his way. She took the exit. She was on the bridge crossing the road she had just travelled. She pulled over, bumping clumsily up a kerb to stay out of the way. She got another angry horn sound from behind her. She pressed her phone to call Harry back, she was careful to hide her user ID so he wouldn’t know it was her.

  ‘Harry Blaker.’ His voice was as gruff as ever.

  ‘There are rules,’ she said immediately.

  ‘There are what?’

  ‘There are rules or I am gone.’

  ‘Rules?’

  ‘You want me back because you respect me. Or I don’t come back. You want me back to work the case, or I don’t come back. You talk to me and keep me up to date, maybe even give me something to do all by myself, or I don’t come back. You agree to this because you respect me and you want me back. Or I don’t come back.’

  ‘Fine.’ Harry didn’t hesitate.

  ‘So you do then? Respect me?’

  ‘I like that it’s important. Come back. I wouldn’t have called you if I didn’t. I’ll make sure you’re working cases, not touring schools. You happy?’

  ‘One more thing.’

  ‘Don’t push your luck, kid.’

  ‘And there it is. The kid thing. No more.’

  ‘I’ll give it my best.’

  ‘Fine.’ Maddie pushed to end the call this time. And on her terms.

  * * *

  The postcode took her out into the countryside, the arse end of nowhere. Her satnav showed a chequered flag and counted down to a hundred metres — still there was no building or reference point in sight. She was on a tiny sliver of a road with scorched, muddy banks either side and trees leaning over, their branches drooping as if they were melting in the heat. Suddenly a figure stepped out in front of her and she had to brake hard, the tyres squealing.

  ‘Jesus, Harry!’ she called out through her open window.

  ‘You should look where you’re going,’ he said.

  ‘The way I was going was clear.’

  He walked round to the passenger side and she tried to read his expression. She should have known better. As ever, he gave nothing away. She was still looking at him when he climbed in and clipped in his belt.

  ‘What?’ he said.

&nbs
p; ‘Where am I going?’

  ‘In there.’ Harry pointed to the right. Maddie edged forward where a concealed entrance finally revealed itself. Overgrown hedges jutted through a wide metal gate that had been pushed open. Long grass was flattened beneath it.

  ‘If Lorraine’s here, this isn’t good.’ Maddie was thinking out loud. Harry didn’t reply. The track opened up a little. Maddie could see a building up ahead. It was long and slim and they were side-on. She drove another twenty metres or so. ‘This place is massive! What the hell is it?’

  ‘It was a chicken farm. It closed down a few years back. It’s been nothing since then.’

  ‘And we are here because?’

  ‘Pull up here — over there.’ Again, he pointed over to the right. There was an indent in the line of trees where she could now see Harry’s oversized 4x4. Parked next to it was a police response vehicle and a white police van. It was marked Forensics.

  ‘Shit! This isn’t getting any better, is it?’ Maddie said. Harry didn’t complain about her language and he certainly didn’t correct her. He stepped out of the car and Maddie followed. They walked across the front of the building rather than round the side. Maddie looked around. To her right she could see a road. This was far wider than the way they had driven in. Grass and weeds were pushing up through the tarmac. Further down she could see a flat sign on two steel posts. It was at an angle and turned away from her. Maddie guessed this had been the main entrance when the place was operating.

  They made it to the end of the line of buildings and took an immediate left. The police tape was the first thing she saw, then a figure in a white overall and blue mask on their knees. A short distance away was a police officer with a cocker spaniel on a lead. It was sitting obediently. Man and beast both turned towards them as they approached. Harry stopped at the tape and bent down to reach a plastic tub. He pulled it open and threw Maddie a white forensic suit. She took it silently and pulled it on over her leggings and t-shirt. Next she took the blue face mask, matching gloves and shoe covers and fixed them in place. Harry lifted the tape and waited. Even before she stepped through she caught the strong and unmistakeable scent of death. There was no smell like it for lingering. Her hand rose instinctively to her mask to make sure it was on tight.