He's Gone

by Alex Clare

  ‘Well, you heard. Fell will be doing a press briefing and we’ll be issuing this at the same time.’ He turned on the desk fan; corners of the paper flapped in the breeze. ‘You need to be there. We won’t be publicising the fact a serving officer was involved.’ His fingers pulled at the tip of his goatee. ‘With something like this, it’s normally best just to be upfront and then let the storm blow over.’ He traced the shaved edge of his beard, finding something not quite in line and worried at the hair with a manicured nail. ‘However, in this case, we’ll wait a little. Someone from Professional Standards is on their way. The plan is, we get everyone feeling good about Ben being safe, then release the details of the charges when everyone’s moved on.’

  Robyn sighed. ‘Will it work?’

  Khalid shrugged. ‘You got any better ideas? And everything must stay confidential.’

  Robyn sat back. ‘I’ve got to tell the team. They’ll be asking what’s happened to Janice and if I don’t tell them, well, they’re detectives, they’ll go and find out.’

  ‘If you have to.’ The dark crease reappeared on Khalid’s forehead. ‘Oh, just so you know, Fell has already been asking what took you so long before you called in.’

  ‘Janice and Martin were trying to get hold of their children so they heard the news from them first.’ Robyn’s eyes met Khalid’s.

  Khalid’s face didn’t relax. ‘And if they hadn’t been caught, just when exactly were they planning to tell them?’

  Robyn tapped the press release. ‘That’s the whole point, they didn’t plan anything. We need to make sure that fact is made clear.’

  ‘No. It stays as it is.’

  ‘Why?’ Robyn stood up, pacing the small office. ‘Well, why?’

  ‘Because we don’t know it’s true. It’s just what you want to be true.’ Khalid let the words hang between them for a second.

  Robyn stared ahead. She’d chosen this way but she could help Janice more if she didn’t allow herself to be compromised. ‘OK, I’ll be here.’

  ‘No one should make any comments, just refer them to me.’ Khalid winced as his phone rang. ‘Tell the team if you have to, just remember, whatever we do, write or say, we are going to get crucified at some point.’

  The incident room was the usual mass of paper, now with pictures from the reconstruction up on the boards. Robyn stood in the doorway. ‘Right, everyone out. We’re going to the meeting room.’

  A phone started ringing. Robyn held up her hand to stop anyone from answering it. ‘Leave the phones. Come on.’ She sounded harsher than she’d intended.

  Robyn held the door open. Graham was the last out and fell into step beside her. ‘The reconstruction hasn’t brought any sensible calls, so, as you said, we’ve focused on the body and the burglary. The scene-of-crime details from the latest break-in should be here this afternoon.’

  Robyn wished Graham would shut up. She was trying to put into words what needed to be said. All the meeting rooms were occupied apart from the smallest. Ravi offered Robyn the fourth chair.

  ‘Sit down.’ Robyn stood, back against the wall. ‘I took you out because I have some bad news.’ She took a deep breath.

  ‘Ben’s dead?’ Ravi was on the edge of his seat.

  ‘No. He’s getting a check-up from a doctor.’ There were sharp intakes of breath. ‘It should be a formality because when I found him, he looked well cared-for.’

  Four startled faces were fixed on her.

  Robyn had to focus on the wall. ‘I found Ben at Janice’s house. Janice took Ben.’ Silence, one, two, three, then a rush of noise. Graham swore. Lorraine laughed, a hysterical, unbelieving noise.

  ‘But why, Guv? Why would Janice ever do something so mad?’ Chloe seemed calmer than the others, perhaps because she knew Janice least.

  The wall behind her was solid support: Robyn was glad of it. ‘Because Janice is Ben’s grandmother.’

  She didn’t wait for the gasps and swearing to stop, just talked over it and the team quietened. ‘Janice’s son, Josh, met Melissa Chivers during summer work experience at Derby and Rutherford, three years ago. Janice told me this morning she remembers Josh spent almost no time at home the following Christmas. He admitted he was with Ms Chivers, saying she was helping him with his studies. When Janice went to Ms Chivers’ house to follow up on the dodgy builder, she met Ben.’

  Robyn held up the picture of Josh from Janice’s desk, then the picture of Ben. Someone whistled. ‘Janice spotted the resemblance …’

  Graham interrupted, shaking his head. ‘But, Guv, why did she take him? Why risk her pension? If he’s her grandson, why didn’t she apply for access?’

  Robyn tried to keep her voice even. ‘Although Janice believed Ben was being abused by his mother, she couldn’t do anything formal about Ben before she’d confirmed the paternity through a DNA test.’

  Graham’s voice was too loud in the tight room. ‘Are you telling us Janice planned this? She’d know she’d never get away with keeping him, surely?’

  There didn’t seem to be enough air. ‘Janice told me.’ Robyn stopped. ‘And I believe her, all of this was chance and things, well, escalated before she knew what was happening.’ She paused, letting this sink in. ‘Janice was browsing in the shopping centre first thing and saw Ben on his own, apparently abandoned. She said instinct took over …’ The sentence tailed off as the door opened and an HR assistant stuck her bleached head around the door.

  ‘Hello, are you like going to be long? It’s just like I’ve got this room booked for an interview?’

  Hoping the girl didn’t notice the team’s expressions, Robyn managed to smile. ‘Just finishing up.’ Through the glass panel in the door, she could see the HR Business Partner frowning. ‘As I said, Janice felt she had to protect Ben from what she thought was the cult’s brainwashing …’

  ‘What will happen to her?’ Lorraine leant forward, gripping the edge of the table.

  ‘I don’t know. I’ve got to go and interview Martin.’ The mood in the room had gone from disbelief to anger. ‘Professional Standards are on the way. She will almost certainly have to retire. But there are things we all have to do. Not talk to anyone – let Khalid handle the press. Fell’s statement won’t identify Janice. The best thing we can do now is catch the burglar and find whoever killed the girl.’

  As motivational speeches went, she’d done better. No one had questioned what she had done yet, though that was sure to come. There was a sharp knock on the door.

  ‘Come on.’ Robyn tried to make her voice more positive. ‘Let’s get back to the incident room, get on with things.’

  The team straggled from the meeting room into the lift, not speaking. When the doors opened at the second floor, Robyn hung back. ‘OK, I should be back after the press conference and I want updates on the body and the burglary then please.’

  Robyn pressed the button for the basement. She bought two cups of tea, then waited in an interview room. Martin said nothing as he was led in and didn’t respond to Robyn’s greeting or the tea.

  They both waited until the custody sergeant left.

  ‘What have you done with Janice?’

  ‘She’s in Gaddesford. We’re trying to minimise publicity. We won’t be releasing any details about her until …’ She realised she was whispering and made an effort to speak in a normal voice. ‘… until the independent inspector has decided on charges.’

  Martin ground his teeth.

  Robyn raised her voice to cover the horrible noise. ‘I’m not allowed to see her. Do you understand? This is out of my hands now.’

  ‘Where’s Josh? When is he coming home?’

  ‘I’ve left him a couple of messages …’

  ‘You’re going to ask me why we didn’t go to the authorities. Well, this is why.’ Martin was shouting now, face flushing. ‘Because you’re useless.’ He kicked the table, causing his untouched tea to teeter and tip over.

  Robyn fumbled with her bag, finding tissues. Tea began to drip to the fl
oor. A face flashed in the window as the custody sergeant checked on them. She gave up trying to mop the desk and reached for the recording button. The face vanished from the window. ‘You have to work with me, Martin …’

  She started the recorder. The cameras would capture the expression of dislike on Martin’s face which was what she wanted. ‘Interview on twenty-first July at two thirty-four pm. Present DI Robyn Bailley and Martin Warrener.’ She went through the caution. ‘Mr Warrener, could you confirm whether you require a lawyer?’ She had to sound crisp and professional: no possibility for any leniency. Martin jerked his head once.

  ‘For the recording, Mr Warrener has declined a lawyer. The reason you have been arrested is because I found Ben Chivers at your house this morning. We believe he’s been there since Monday morning after he was taken from Whitecourt Shopping Centre by your wife. Can you tell me why you were keeping him?’

  Martin was gazing at the far wall, eyes unfocused.

  Robyn held her breath. The room was getting stuffy.

  ‘We were keeping him because we believed he’d be abused if he were returned to his mother.’

  Robyn let the air go in a rush, steadying herself before the next question. ‘Why did you believe Ben was being abused?’

  ‘Because he wasn’t being allowed a childhood. His mother was indoctrinating him into a cult.’

  ‘And how did you know this?’

  ‘Janice had to visit Ben’s mother’s house. She described what Ben was made to do. Then we found out the way the church treats children, the brainwashing and the beatings. They’re poisonous.’ Martin rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.

  ‘When did you realise Ben was your grandson?’

  ‘About three …’

  Robyn coughed, breathed, coughed again. She’d caught Martin’s eye.

  ‘Three days ago. I found out when Janice brought him home.’

  ‘Why didn’t you approach the authorities?’

  Martin ran his fingers through what remained of his hair.

  Robyn let the pause lengthen. ‘Why didn’t you tell someone, Martin?’

  The man slumped, shoulders sagging. ‘Because we’ve got no rights. If the bitch didn’t even tell Josh he had a son, who would believe us? Janice explained even the DNA test wouldn’t help because she shouldn’t have taken the item from the house.’ His voice faltered. ‘Ben needed to be saved from that woman …’ His eyes were moistening.

  Robyn’s phone vibrated with a text from Tracey: Press conf starts in 15 – where are you?

  Martin was crying now, silent tears running into his beard.

  ‘Interview terminated at fourteen fifty.’ She stopped the recording. ‘I’m sorry, Martin …’ Robyn stood up, to give herself another second to find the right words, then just shook her head. ‘I’ve got a press conference now.’ Of all the excuses. ‘I’m sorry.’

  As she left, the custody sergeant brought in a glass of water and rolled his eyes at the pool of tea. Robyn took the nearest exit for a few seconds of fresh air before the briefing. She’d never seen the car park so crowded. A PC was having to squeeze a suspect between the lanes: there was a scrape as the handcuffs grazed a mirror.

  Robyn walked through the front door of the station. The lobby was full, people crowded around the lift. One, dressed like a roadie in black shorts and t-shirt was carrying a TV camera slung over his shoulder. If she took the stairs, she’d be a panting wreck by the fifth floor. As she hesitated, a glance from a young man with a styled beard turned into a double-take.

  ‘Inspector Bailley? I’m Danny from South East Media.’ The camera swung to face her.

  ‘It’s so good we’ve run into you. Can you confirm you’re about to uncover a paedophile ring suspected of kidnapping Ben Chivers?’

  The others brushed past her into the lift. Robyn kept her face neutral. She got a glimpse of her own image reflected in the camera lens: her hair was a windswept mess.

  ‘I’m sorry, ah, Danny. I can’t make any comment before the briefing. Now I have to get up there.’ She squeezed into the last space in the lift, people shifting to make room for her. The doors started to close, then stopped as Danny eased himself in beside her. She had to wriggle backwards as Danny edged closer to let the doors close, the others muttering as they shuffled together.

  ‘Now, Inspector Bailley, what has been the most difficult aspect of this investigation?’ Danny managed to wriggle one arm from his side to emphasise words with little jabs of his fingers.

  ‘I can’t comment. The briefing starts in five minutes.’ They all shuffled to let someone out at the third floor. Danny refused to step out, as if he feared not being allowed back in. The doors closed again.

  ‘Well, if you can’t talk about the investigation, how does it feel being a woman?’

  A voice came from behind Robyn. ‘How you think? Do much work but not much thank-you, like all women.’

  The doors opened at the fifth floor, where the hallway was crowded with reporters. Robyn pushed past Danny while she had the chance, then swung around to see who’d spoken for her. The young cleaner was carrying a bucket towards Fell’s office, a blonde ponytail swinging above the shapeless grey uniform.

  ‘Thank you.’ Robyn called to her retreating back, hoping she’d heard over the crowd. Filtering along the corridor Robyn made it into the meeting room, past Khalid and Tracey who were taking names, to where Fell shuffled notes, his face in deep shadow. On the hour, Khalid stood and welcomed the group. Most of the audience were staring at phones or tablets, giving their faces a blue tinge. Fell’s sweat had an extra sour tang.

  ‘Sir.’

  Robyn kept her voice low so that no one in the audience could overhear. ‘Remember, for the world, this is good news. We found Ben. He’s OK. We need to sound pleased, sir.’

  Fell shook his head and moved to the lectern.

  28

  An hour later, Tracey read out numbers. ‘Sixty-two attendees; forty-six questions. Why aren’t we releasing a name, why haven’t we caught the burglar and what brand of make-up does DI Bailley wear? I’ll type everything up.’ Her shoulders slumped, looking like Robyn felt. Then she clicked her tongue, straightened and opened the large diary she’d been using as a rest, addressing Fell. ‘On we go. You’ve got a meeting with the County Financial Controller in ten minutes for the quarterly budget review.’ She gave a bleak smile. ‘Though he sent a text to say he’ll be late because he couldn’t find a parking space.’

  Fell took off his cap and ran stubby fingers through his hair. ‘Thank you, Tracey, I shall be there.’ Tracey wiggled to the door, tugging her skirt down. A hint of sunshine gleamed while the door was open. Fell turned to Robyn. ‘Well, Bailley, where do we go from here? Do we have enough to charge Chivers with obstruction?’

  Before Robyn could reply, Khalid cut in. ‘Whether we have or not, we need to think what the point would be. Chivers would just say she was distressed and not thinking straight. We’d be accused of bullying.’

  Fell put his cap on. ‘And I suppose she has plenty of friends in the legal profession.’

  Khalid drew a tissue from a packet and wiped his hands. ‘We are absolutely sure on this, aren’t we?’ Robyn was grateful for the ‘we’. ‘I mean, there’s no doubt of the relationship?’

  Robyn reflected she’d been an idiot to think this wouldn’t come up. ‘No doubt. Janice had a DNA test done. She picked up something of Ben’s when she visited Ms Chivers during a routine enquiry. She showed me the report – the lab confirmed paternity.’

  An indignant Fell leant forward.

  ‘She got the test done by a private clinic, sir.’

  Fell sat back in his chair, his expression unchanged. ‘How can the lad not know he was a father? You’re not telling me a nineteen year-old boy doesn’t know the facts of life? What did he think was going to happen?’

  ‘I don’t think he thought about much, sir. For him, it was a holiday dream.’ Robyn rubbed her forehead.

  Fell grunted. ‘This stude
nt fling is going to cost me an officer.’

  The ventilators were beginning to make some headway against the muggy air, until Fell stood up. ‘When the inspector from Professional Standards arrives, I expect full co-operation. I must go and deal with the budgets. Guler, please try and keep all of this under control. Bailley, I want a progress report on the burglaries first thing tomorrow.’

  As the door closed behind him, Khalid slumped back in his chair. ‘It would be nice to have some good news.’

  ‘I’ll do my best. You can imagine how this has hit the team and now there’ll be an investigation blaming them for not noticing what Janice was up to.’

  ‘It’s not just your team.’ Khalid pressed fingers into his temples. ‘It’s the whole station. Janice has been mother hen for everyone at some point. When I joined, she went out of her way to make me welcome and introduce me to people. All the things HR are supposed to do and don’t.’ Khalid began to collect discarded copies of the press release.

  ‘Need a hand?’

  ‘No.’ Khalid stopped and turned back to Robyn. ‘Couldn’t you have “found” Ben in a hedge or something? Did you have to do all of this?’

  The question hung in the air. The station would let her know exactly what they thought of her, this was just the start of it. Khalid was considering her, his hands full of loose paper.

  Robyn’s voice was quiet. ‘Secrets come out, Khalid. They always do. From the moment I realised, I hoped to be wrong. When I watched Martin playing with Ben, I wished I could leave them together.’

  ‘But you didn’t.’ Khalid crumpled the paper he was holding.

  ‘No, I didn’t. Because what good would it have done? Would Janice and Martin have just quietly let Ben go back to his mother?’

  Muttering something under his breath, Khalid crushed the remains of the papers into a ball and stalked to the door.

  ‘You said Janice helped you when you started? Well when I was an eighteen year-old recruit, she was with me when I made my first arrest and saved me from really screwing up on more occasions than I can remember. She knows what she did is wrong and there’s no other way.’