He's Gone

by Alex Clare

  ‘Guv, it’s your introduction.’ Chloe stepped back.

  Everyone focused on her. Roger had done these briefings lots of times which meant Robyn could do them too. She remembered how Ms Chivers stood when she exuded a feminine authority and turned a little to the side so that she no longer faced the camera head on, putting one foot half a pace in front of the other. That felt more natural. She took a deep breath. ‘Three days ago, little Ben, Benjamin Chivers, was taken from this shopping centre by an unknown woman. He has not been seen since and we are here to get him back. Please think about anything you may have seen or heard. Even the most trivial information, a tiny change in someone’s behaviour, could be what leads us to Benjamin.’ She kept her focus steady, the camera’s green light still shining. Chloe, standing with the camera man, gave Robyn a thumbs up.

  ‘Cut. OK.’ Connor raised his voice. ‘Scene one places, everyone.’

  Robyn shuffled sideways to stand next to Janice, who was holding her handbag in front of her. ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘Fine.’ Janice appeared to make an effort to relax, swinging the bag to one shoulder. ‘Oh, I checked out the Willingdon lead from the E-FIT – it’s very sad. The woman’s husband has dementia and she’s determined to care for him at home. The neighbours didn’t see nappies, they were incontinence pads.’

  ‘Damn. By the way, I meant to ask you. I saw your Josh in a picture at Derby and Rutherford. Why was that?’

  Janice’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘My God, I’d forgotten all about that. He did work experience there the summer before he went to uni.’ She cocked her head on one side. ‘If I remember, he found it really dull because all he was doing was photocopying. They didn’t let him anywhere near the partners or the clients.’

  In front of them, the TV crew checked clipboards and spread out. Someone was lecturing Donna on her role. ‘Scene one: we need a shot of you when you start tracking the child. Keep it natural please.’

  There was a loud ring from Robyn’s waist. The producer glared in her direction. ‘All phones should be on silent when we’re shooting.’

  Stepping away from the filming area, Robyn fished out the phone. ‘Hi, Ravi.’ The line was terrible, not helped by Ravi’s rush of words. ‘Slow down. I can’t hear you.’ Janice joined her. The line crackled and cut out. ‘Bugger. Ravi’s got something.’ She willed the signal bars to increase from zero.

  There was a call for silence. The assistant director positioned Donna just outside the pharmacy. ‘This is the scene where you first see the child.’

  Janice shook her head. ‘We need some new leads because we’re not going to get anything from this – Donna’s been put in completely the wrong place.’

  Robyn looked at Janice who was still looking at Donna. Her phone shrilled. Robyn stabbed at the screen to silence it.

  ‘Ravi.’

  ‘Guv, are you there? I’ve finally got the warrant for St Oswald’s. Shall we get the search teams out?’

  Robyn shut her eyes, making noises seem louder: the crew’s chatter, pop music, Ravi’s voice. ‘Guv?’

  Conscious that Janice’s eyes were now fixed on her, Robyn looked ahead. Donna lured her son out of the shop by holding out a sweet. Once he was in the middle of the aisle, she retreated, leaving him standing in a patch of empty floor, gazing at the multitude around him. Without the promised sweet, he began to wail as the stage-school teenagers swept past him. ‘Cut.’ Connor pulled off his earphones. ‘Can you stop him crying?’

  ‘Guv! What do you want us to do?’

  As Robyn stared through the scene in front of her, strands were starting to come together in her mind. Decision made, she turned back to Janice, whose handbag was back across her body. ‘Ravi. I want you to call Janice right away and go through all the details with her.’ She cut off the spluttering from the other end. ‘Right, Janice. You heard what I said. Ravi’s got himself into a state and needs to talk to someone with a clear head. Check he’s done all that’s necessary, get the details. And make sure they finish everything here.’ The boy was still crying. ‘I’ll speak to you later.’

  Janice looked as if she wanted to say something but Robyn turned and pushed through the crowd, scanning for Jaime. She stopped by the centre’s manager who stood glowering at the bystanders, the choir and the crew.

  ‘Where’s Jaime Restrepo gone?’

  The manager scowled. ‘Who?’

  ‘The cleaner. He was here.’

  The woman wrinkled her nose. ‘Someone spilled a drink at the Riverside entrance.’

  Robyn stared into the bony face for a moment, then spoke, keeping her anger under control. ‘You sent the only witness to the abduction away during the reconstruction. Why?’

  The manager put her hands on her hips. ‘I’m responsible for the safety of everyone in this centre. If someone slipped, we could get sued.’

  ‘And where is he now?’

  ‘If he’s finished his shift, I expect he’s left.’

  In the corner of Robyn’s vision, the Reverend Lewis raised his arm. The choir began a peal of sound and the camera swung to capture them. Without waiting for an answer, the manager stalked across to remonstrate, leaving Robyn outside a jewellery store.

  Disgusted, Robyn turned her back on them all, gazing into the shop window. There was no escape, the glass reflected the filming. She ran through her impressions one more time. From the reflection, she saw the producer placing Gillian and the security guard for the next shot.

  ‘Can’t afford those on a police salary unless you’re doing a paper round as well.’ Graham had appeared beside her, pointing at a string of pearls sitting in a velvet case in the centre of the window.

  The choir swelled to a crescendo, then stopped. Connor shouted something. Robyn let out a long breath. A little patch of steam appeared on the window.

  ‘Guv?’ There was concern in Graham’s voice.

  With an effort, Robyn stood up straight. ‘There’s something I have to check.’ There was no point in trying to explain, she just needed to get moving. She turned. ‘Right, I need you to get the team organised. When you get back, Ravi should support Lorraine with the burglaries and you and Chloe start reviewing missing persons’ lists – I want a name for the young woman in the warehouse by tomorrow. And get Janice to, to …’

  ‘You sure you’re OK, Guv? Don’t you want to hear what Ms Chivers said about Kinnister?’

  ‘No. Not now. I don’t think he’s taken Ben.’ Graham rolled back on his heels, frowning. Robyn jabbed her finger down for emphasis. ‘Just get on with it, Graham.’

  Robyn squared her shoulders and turned away. Graham started to say something but she kept walking and the comment was lost behind the heavy swing doors to the car park. Stamping up the stairs wasn’t enough and she slammed the car door. At the car park exit, she forced the car into the line of traffic, ignoring hoots of protest. She’d lost her temper with the team, something she swore she’d never do. It didn’t matter what they thought of her at this moment anyway, if her idea was correct.

  26

  Robyn put her foot down as she passed the last houses on the edge of town, frustrated by the pool car’s lack of power. Now the idea was planted, previously unconnected impressions were coming together and she needed to know as soon as possible whether she was right or not. Around the next corner, she had to brake hard when a harvester trundled out of a field. The next couple of miles were a frustrating crawl until the machine lumbered into a farmyard. She accelerated, crunching the gears until she passed shop-fronts and realised she was heading into Lower Markham village and had gone too far. As she did a U-turn, her phone beeped. After a quick check to make sure no one was watching, she scanned the message from Graham. All finished here. Where are you Guv?

  Robyn threw the phone back onto the seat and retraced her route, forcing herself to slow down, earning a hoot from the car behind her, repeated when she stopped to peer up at a sign, half-covered with ivy. Waving an apology, she backed up and turned into the single-
track lane. Around a couple of bends, she recognised the heavy wooden gates, even though her only visit had been a year ago. She left the car in a passing-place and walked back to the house.

  In the driveway, a small car sat under a tarpaulin. Robyn lifted a corner and peered inside the off-white Fiat. In the back was a clean child-seat. Robyn slipped through the side gate taking care not to let the catch make a noise. The path led past a vegetable garden, bean canes groaning under the weight of produce. She stopped at the corner of the house and peered around. The garden was empty apart from a blackbird hopping across the lawn. Moving on, she risked a glance into the open patio doors, conscious of a dog curled in the doorway. Inside, a man rolled a shiny, blue ball towards a toddler who ran forward, tripping on his own feet. The man bent down and stood the boy up. The boy tried to kick and fell again, this time with a whimper of protest. The man took the child’s hand and stood him on the sofa.

  Robyn stepped into the open doorway. The man had his back to her but Ben pointed. Martin Warrener jerked around to see Robyn standing behind him.

  ‘Hello, Martin.’

  As he stood up, Martin’s jaw tensed. He took a step forward, his fists clenching.

  “Are you …?’ Martin’s lip curled back. ‘Janice told me about you.’

  ‘Janice doesn’t know I’m here. She didn’t tell me you had Ben.’ Robyn held her ground as Martin took another half step forward, his shoulders going back.

  Behind him, Ben wobbled on the sofa and Robyn’s instinct made her step forward. Martin dropped his shoulder and drove forward, shoving her backwards. She hit the wall, her arm grabbing an edge for support. The bookcase tilted, photo frames crashing into each other, then the shattering of glass as one hit the floor. Robyn staggered, trying to stand up, taking a shuddering breath. Martin stepped towards her, snarling. Behind him, on the edge of the sofa, Ben wobbled. Still unable to speak, Robyn pointed. Martin glowered at her before turning, then his face softened as he scooped Ben up and sank onto the sofa. Nestled in his lap, Ben played with the pocket of his check shirt.

  Robyn pulled up the nearest chair. In all of the pictures she’d seen of Ben, she’d never seen him smiling.

  ‘How did you know?’ Martin jiggled his knee, making Ben giggle.

  Robyn coughed and took a deep breath. ‘A lot of little things, like why the most sociable officer on the team wasn’t having her usual birthday barbecue at her secluded village house? Then something Janice said at the reconstruction confirmed it. She said the snatcher had been put in the wrong place, something there’s no way she could have known. Even though I couldn’t understand why she would be involved, I had to check. But I keep asking why?’

  Ben made one, two tries to pull at Martin’s beard without managing to hold on. ‘Ganda.’

  ‘He must go back to his mother.’ Robyn wondered why this next step no longer seemed so clear.

  Martin kissed the top of Ben’s head and set him down, watching him toddle away to curl up beside the dog. ‘You can’t give Ben back.’ He stood up, fists clenching again. ‘She may be his mother but she’s not a fit one.’

  Somewhere, a door opened. Janice appeared in the doorway and ran to Martin who folded her into his arms. They stood locked together, ignoring Robyn. No one knew she was here. She could just walk out and pretend this had never happened. She found herself half standing up, then subsided back into the chair. The terrier raised its head, scratched with one back leg. Robyn glanced at her watch; she’d have to account for every minute of this time.

  Still in each other’s arms, Martin and Janice were talking, voices too low to be overheard.

  With a giggle, Ben threw the ball, which bounced through the open door and into the garden. The child followed it, beginning to climb down the step. Glad of the distraction, Robyn reached him in a couple of strides, swinging him to her hip as she’d seen women do.

  ‘Hello, Ben.’ The little boy’s fists were balled, his body tense as he slid down. Robyn tightened her arm and bounced him up and down, waiting for him to relax. ‘We’ve all been wondering where you were. Everyone will be happy we’ve found you.’

  There was still a hint of tears. Robyn did her best impersonation of Fell, jutting out her chin and wrinkling her nose and there was a little giggle. ‘You’re not going to cry, are you? Are you?’ She pulled another face and was rewarded with a chuckle. A hand stretched out and touched her face. Jiggling Ben, Robyn turned to see Janice and Martin still pressed together but both watching her.

  ‘Janice – I need to make the call. The longer I leave calling this in, the worse things will get for everyone.’

  Martin glowered at her, his arms still tight around Janice.

  ‘We don’t have long, you need to tell me everything.’ The whispered conversation began again. ‘I’ll do what I can, Janice. You know I will.’

  ‘Why should we trust him?’ Martin didn’t bother to drop his voice.

  Janice’s reply to Martin was inaudible. She held his eyes for a second, then broke away and walked to Robyn. She nodded once, then held out her arms for Ben, who stretched out to her. Robyn handed him over and went into the garden, sinking onto a patio chair. She kept the call to Fell as short as possible, distracted by Ben’s laughter.

  When she returned to the lounge, Ben was curled on the floor drinking from a beaker while Janice and Martin sat on the sofa, their hands clasped. Robyn pulled the chair across until she was directly in front of them. ‘Now we talk about what you’re going to say and do because we have less than fifteen minutes.’

  27

  Robyn felt the noon sun prickle on her nose as she watched an ambulance disappear around the bend in the lane. Ben’s excitement at going in a vehicle with blue lights turned into fretful wails when Janice and Martin were not allowed to go with him. Janice was still staring up the road until Matthew murmured something in her ear and indicated his car. There was another pause when he opened the back door for her, before she settled herself beside Martin.

  Matthew shut the door and walked over to Robyn, rubbing the back of his neck.

  ‘I’m taking Janice to Gaddesford Police House – Fell wants to keep this discreet. Martin’s going to the regular cells. Are you … going back?’ His expression was a mixture of pity and distaste.

  Out of words, Robyn nodded. She knew what he was trying to say: was she going to do the paperwork, to make it official, or was there still a chance to change things? She’d wished the station would stop talking about her transition: it was a dull irony that arresting a member of her own team was probably the only thing she could have done to make that wish come true. ‘Thanks for doing this, Matthew. I’m glad you came. This was very hard for Janice.’

  Matthew’s eyebrows went up. He looked as if he were about to say something, then turned and got into his car. She held up a hand as they drove past – no one responded.

  Robyn locked up the house as Janice had asked, struggling to find space in her handbag for the keys. Halfway back to her car, she stopped and went back into Janice’s garden, scooping up the blue ball from a flowerbed. She sat down on a patio chair to make two more calls.

  ‘Melissa Chivers.’ The phone was answered on the first ring.

  The ball slipped through Robyn’s fingers and rolled away. ‘Ms Chivers, it’s DI Bailley.’

  ‘Why are you ignoring my requests? I have made it clear I do not want you to contact me.’

  ‘I wanted to tell you we’ve found Ben – Benjamin. He’s safe and appears to have been well-treated but he’s having a medical to be sure.’

  There was a pause at the other end of the line. ‘Why has it taken so long? Where has he been?’

  She shut her eyes for a second. Her response had to be neutral. ‘I’m afraid I can’t tell you at this moment. We must secure all the evidence …’

  ‘Gillian will collect him.’ The line was cut.

  Robyn strode to the edge of the patio and spat into a flowerbed, to trying to clear the bitter taste from her mouth. Sh
e retrieved the ball, checked the back door and had to exchange pleasantries with a neighbour who’d arrived to take the dog and wanted to ask a lot of questions. Robyn managed to keep smiling as she confirmed, yes, Martin and Janice had gone without notice and no, she didn’t know how long they’d be away for. She was edging away, then realised the woman expected the blue ball. She took another step back. ‘Oh, this isn’t the dog’s ball. It’s mine – my dog’s, I mean. He’s in the car. Thanks for coming.’ It hadn’t sounded convincing.

  Robyn escaped into the lane. Before opening the boot, she glanced over her shoulder – the neighbour was nowhere in sight. She tossed in the blue ball and rearranged the borrowed tarpaulin to cover all of the clothes and toys Janice had bought for Ben. At least she’d had the sense to pay cash for them.

  There was another call to make: the most important thing. She scrolled through her contacts, then selected the number Janice had saved into her phone. The call went straight to voicemail. She tried it again, this time leaving her number.

  She took a deep breath, slotted the phone into the cradle and started the engine. Torn between wanting a last few minutes of peace and needing to know the worst, she switched to the local radio station, hoping Khalid had things under control and she wouldn’t hear a voice announce the breaking news as she drove back to town.

  Immune now to the desk sergeant’s looks, she took the lift to the fifth floor, glancing up the corridor to make sure there was no sign of Fell, before slipping into Khalid’s office.

  Khalid saw her and clamped his phone between his shoulder and ear, thrusting over a piece of paper, still warm from the printer. Robyn took the sheet and scanned the two paragraphs of black text. She was finding it hard to focus but one phrase jumped out: full, independent review of the investigation. The bitter taste was back in her mouth.

  ‘Yes, there will be a briefing on the Ben Chivers case at three o’clock. OK, thanks.’ He placed the phone into a carved wooden stand on the desk.