He's Gone

by Alex Clare

  Lance pulled boxes from the boot. ‘Why did you attend a routine crime scene when you had a missing child?’

  It wasn’t clear whether he didn’t do small talk or whether she had offended him. Robyn gritted her teeth, then forced herself to relax. ‘Because this was the seventh incident in a series with escalating violence. It’s a priority for the superintendent.’

  Lance set off up the path, laden with equipment, then stood at the door, unable to do anything until Robyn reached around him and pressed the bell.

  Phil opened the door without a greeting. He pointed them towards the hard chairs in the front room which had been set up as a basic office. A copy of the Daily Journal was open at the puzzles’ page; a Sudoku half-completed.

  Robyn made brief introductions. There was a clatter on the stairs and Janice came in, her smile fading when she saw Lance. She had made an effort: even her hair was under control, tucked into an Alice band. Robyn nodded to her: just one colleague greeting another.

  Phil sat behind the desk, glowering. ‘We are honoured, ma’am. This station normally opens only on Tuesdays and every other Saturday. And now a DI and a PS turn up.’ He pronounced it ‘piss’, nose wrinkling, as if there were a bad smell.

  Robyn had hoped for an ally. Phil’s presence wouldn’t help. ‘We appreciate your time, Phil.’ The lines on Phil’s forehead deepened.

  Lance stepped forward. ‘We need an interview room: where is it?’

  Phil pointed. ‘Upstairs. The room away from the road is quietest. Need a hand, sir?’

  Hoping for a chance to speak to Janice, Robyn hung back until Lance spoke from the foot of the stairs.

  ‘DI Bailley – if you could come with me, please?’

  As Robyn followed Lance, she caught a look of contempt suggesting that Matthew had passed on her dissatisfaction about his team not finding the sweatshirt. Robyn registered it but anything she said now would draw unnecessary attention to Janice’s actions. She walked upstairs behind Lance, then watched as he set up and tested his equipment. She went to the toilet and returned to find Phil in conversation with Lance about cricket.

  ‘Ask DC Warrener to step up.’ Phil nodded and started downstairs, without protest.

  Janice slipped in and sat down, making a reflex movement to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

  Lance finished setting up the recorder. ‘Interview commencing sixteen forty-eight on twenty-first of July. Present, DI Bailley, DI Farnham and DC Warrener, who is the subject of the investigation.’ He cautioned her. Janice’s lips moved in time with his.

  ‘DC Warrener, to confirm for the tape, you have chosen not to have a lawyer present?’ Lance clicked the end of his ballpoint.

  ‘Please call me Janice.’ She sounded hesitant.

  ‘Do you require a lawyer?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘I require access to your house.’

  Robyn ran through yesterday’s frantic race to remove the new toys and clothes. She reviewed whether they’d left any cupboards open, anything that might show they’d been searching.

  ‘My house. Oh, yes.’ Janice blinked.

  Confident they’d covered everything, Robyn leant forward. ‘I have the keys, I can take you there.’ She hoped she sounded relaxed and professional.

  ‘Tell me what happened on Monday morning.’ Lance’s attention had shifted back to Janice.

  A slight flush showed on Janice’s throat. ‘Martin said I could choose my birthday present so on Monday – Monday was my birthday – Martin, oh, Martin’s my husband.’ Janice stopped, trying to smile. ‘Sorry, I’m not used to being on this side. Shall I start again?’

  ‘Just the facts, please.’ Lance’s pen was poised over a page, blank except for an underlined title.

  Janice gave a dry cough. ‘I went to the shopping centre on Monday because I had a day off for my birthday. We were going out for lunch later so I’d dressed up a bit.’ She paused for a second. ‘My husband had asked what I wanted for my present and I’d set my heart on some pearls. We’d agreed I’d go and choose because Martin hates shopping, then he’d buy them when his pension came in, at the end of the month. Not very romantic maybe but we’ve been married twenty-eight years and I suppose it’s lucky we’re still speaking at all.’

  Robyn smiled, encouraged Janice could still attempt a joke.

  Lance didn’t. He stroked the pen.

  ‘Because I wasn’t actually going to buy anything, I didn’t have my bag with me.’ Janice stopped again.

  Robyn dug into her bag and found a pencil. It was a relief to be able to flick it around her fingers.

  Lance sniffed. ‘Go on.’

  ‘Yes, of course. I was outside the jeweller’s when I saw a toddler being attacked by a group of teenagers.’ All of Janice’s throat was flushed a dull red.

  ‘Ben was being attacked?’

  Janice nodded. ‘When I turned around, I saw all these youths crowding around a toddler. I didn’t know it was Ben.’

  Robyn shifted her chair into a position where she’d be able to see what Lance wrote.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘So I panicked. I ran over and picked the boy up and got him away from them.’ Janice paused again, eyes fixed on Lance’s pad.

  Robyn concentrated on keeping her breathing natural and her expression neutral. Everything she’d seen so far about Lance suggested he wouldn’t welcome someone else asking questions. She might be on this side of the desk but she was a suspect.

  ‘And then?’

  ‘Well, this is where I suppose everything will sound stupid. I’d just got the letter with the DNA results to tell me I had a grandson and there he was in front of me. When I was sure he was all right, I went to find a guard because I didn’t have my phone with me. I thought the obvious place to look would be the security corridor.’

  Lance made the first marks on his pad. Robyn glanced over but the page had just the lines and curves of shorthand.

  ‘There was no one around.’ Janice paused. ‘So because I knew where Ben lived, I thought I’d take him home.’

  ‘To his home or to your home?’

  Janice raised her eyes. ‘To his home.’

  ‘How did you intend to get him home?’

  Robyn’s teeth were jammed together, toes curling in her shoes. She had just remembered the brand-new car seat, still sitting in Janice’s car, on her driveway.

  There was a knock at the door.

  Grateful for the interruption, Robyn stood up before Lance could say anything. She walked to the door opening it enough to see out.

  ‘Thought you should know, there’s a journalist outside.’ Phil was craning his neck to try and see in.

  ‘Thanks for the warning. Can you give Khalid Guler a call?’

  ‘If you say so. Ma’am.’

  ‘Just let him know, thanks, Phil.’ Robyn shut the door and returned to her seat. Lance was checking something on his phone. Janice’s eyes met hers. She mouthed ‘car seat’ and hoped it had got through, covering the movement with a cough. Lance looked up then transferred his attention back to Janice.

  ‘I’d just bought a car seat.’ Janice’s eyes were very bright. ‘I’ve started baby-sitting for Donna in Uniform and because she works shifts, it’s easier for me to pick her lad up.’

  Outside, Phil’s feet banged down the uncarpeted stairs. Robyn watched Lance, his fingers tapping the pen, tendons flickering in his lean arms.

  Dropping his eyes, Lance made another series of marks. ‘If you were taking him to his home, why did you hide his sweatshirt?’

  ‘I didn’t.’

  ‘You didn’t?’ Lance made another quick mark on the page.

  Janice took a quick breath. ‘No, he did it himself. I didn’t notice until we got to the car. He’d looked so hot and uncomfortable, I’m not surprised he wanted to get rid of it.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘When I saw how much he wanted to get rid of the school sweatshirt, I remembered what I’d seen at his house. ’ow he was mistre
ated.’ Janice set her jaw. ‘How he was abused.’ She breathed in. ‘I wanted to protect him. I didn’t think what I was doing, it was instinct.’

  ‘During a routine visit, three months ago, you say you observed a child being abused.’ Lance paused. ‘What did you do about it at the time?’

  Robyn was dreading Janice’s answer. Part of her admired Lance’s technique, part of her wanted to scream.

  ‘I took the material for a DNA test. Without that, I didn’t believe there was anything I could do.’ Janice’s voice was little more than a whisper. ‘The law wouldn’t recognise an offence as there were no apparent physical problems. I thought we might be able to get access to Ben if we could prove we were his family.’ She stuck her chin out. ‘It’s not Martin’s fault, he didn’t know. I made him help me.’

  Lance folded his arms. ‘You didn’t tell your husband he had a grandson? For the record, you are saying he found out when you arrived home with the child?’

  Janice nodded. ‘Until the DNA was confirmed, there was no point: I might have been all wrong.’ She stared down at her hands. ‘When he saw Ben, he said we should report it until I told him about the abuse. We’re going to apply for formal custody. I know I’ve been stupid and everything’s been done the wrong way, of course it’s wrong but I did all this to keep him safe.’ The last words came in a choking rush.

  ‘DC Warrener, do you expect me to believe any of this?’ Lance put the pen down with a sharp rap. ‘You’re in the shopping centre, wearing sunglasses covering your face and just happen to find your grandson. Despite being a police officer for nearly thirty years, you claim you panicked. You then kept him at your house for four days, during which time you worked on the investigation into his disappearance.’

  There was nothing Robyn could do. She sat still, concentrating on keeping her own face calm and her breathing steady. Outside the room, there were the sounds of footsteps on the stairs.

  ‘As a minimum, we have charges of withholding information, dereliction of duty and unbecoming conduct, before we even start on the abduction.’

  ‘I know what I did was stupid. But I did this for Ben. If you could ask him, he’d tell you where he wants to be.’

  ‘Interview concluded at seventeen fourteen. DC Warrener, you remain under caution and may not leave here without my permission.’ He stood up.

  Janice turned towards Robyn, her face creased into panic. ‘Where’s Martin? Is he all right? When’s Josh coming back?’ She clutched the edge of the table. ‘Robyn, tell me everyone’s all right?’

  Ignoring Lance’s questioning gaze, Robyn reached across the table. ‘I spoke to Martin earlier, Janice. He’s fine. Worried about you, of course.’ Janice’s fingers were cold under hers. ‘I’ve also spoken to Josh.’ Janice’s face lit up. ‘He’s confused and said he needed some time to think.’

  ‘Is he coming home?’

  ‘Not yet. He needed some time.’ Janice pulled her hand away. Robyn wanted to say something but Lance was holding the door open. She left the room, hearing the door close behind her.

  Phil was drinking tea in the office.

  ‘What did Khalid say?’ Robyn knew he was trying to wind her up and was annoyed with herself for letting him succeed.

  ‘Couldn’t get through.’ Phil shrugged.

  Lance’s steps sounded on the stair. Robyn spoke quickly. ‘You messed up. Don’t push it.’ The harshness in her voice caught her by surprise.

  Phil’s mouth twitched. He took another mouthful of tea before answering. ‘Oh I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t realise you were so sensitive. Is it your time of the month?’

  Lance appeared in the doorway.

  ‘We shall discuss this back at the station.’ Robyn turned her back on Phil and spoke to Lance. ‘The journalist is still outside. We don’t want anything to draw attention to the activity here. Can we wait a bit before we leave?’

  Lance made his way to the window and peered through the blinds, without caring if he were seen. ‘He’s leaving.’ The scooter buzzed away, in the direction of the Markhams.

  More to avoid being left alone with Phil, Robyn grabbed some of Lance’s equipment and took it out to the car. As she fastened her seat belt, Lance reached for the sat-nav.

  If they turned right, they would be going back to the station. Left meant he was going to inspect Janice’s house. Lance clipped the satnav into its cradle. Turn left. The journey passed in silence. When they got to the house, Lance peered under the tarpaulin at the new car seat then waited for Robyn to unlock the house and deactivate the burglar alarm. She excused herself and went upstairs to the bathroom, risking a quick glance into Josh’s room at the top of the stairs as she passed. Lance was on the landing when she came out.

  ‘Why didn’t you use the toilet downstairs?’

  Every response had to be consistent. ‘Is there one? I’d forgotten. I’ve only been in the house once apart from yesterday and that was a year ago.’

  ‘Where did they keep the boy?’

  She could have so easily told him. ‘I don’t know. Ben is Josh’s son so maybe in his room?’ She pointed at the animal letters spelling ‘Joshua’, hoping he didn’t see her gripping the bathroom door handle.

  Lance turned into the room. Inside, the single bed was made up with Batman covers. He opened a wardrobe. Robyn moved to get a better view. The clothes were faded and sized for a child bigger than Ben.

  ‘This matches what he was wearing when I found him. I guess these are their children’s old clothes they had in the loft.’

  ‘You should not be here, DI Bailley. I am the investigating officer.’

  To be safe, Robyn left the house and stood in the porch, trying to follow Lance’s movements from the faint sounds within.

  ‘Oh hello. It’s you. I heard the alarm being deactivated so I thought I should check it out.’ Janice’s neighbour walked up the drive, with Janice’s terrier and a Labradoodle on leads. ‘Janice and Martin not back yet?’

  ‘No, I’m afraid not. Thanks for checking up.’

  ‘While I’m here, I wanted to look for Morrison’s tablets. Janice said he needed something for his joints. Mind if I …?’

  She held out the leads to Robyn who took them without thinking. The woman walked through the front door, the terrier straining to go with her until his lead slipped out of Robyn’s hand and the dog dashed into the house. Following him into the kitchen, Robyn retrieved Morrison and watched the woman opening cupboards.

  ‘DI Bailley. What is going on?’

  ‘This lady is a neighbour. She came for the dog’s pills.’ There didn’t seem any point in trying to explain it further.

  ‘Here they are.’ The woman held up a packet. ‘I’ll leave you to whatever you’re doing. Give my best to Janice.’ She took the leads from Robyn, casting a searching glance up to Lance as he stood aside to let her pass.

  Lance turned without comment and walked out. Robyn locked up and joined him in the car. She would no doubt have to account for her behaviour at some point, the question was whether the interrogation would come sooner or later.

  ‘Where will you be for the rest of the afternoon?’

  ‘I’ll be in the incident room.’ She knew he wanted to keep her on edge, rather than give the certainty of a definite time.

  ‘Let me know before you go anywhere.’

  In one hundred yards, turn left. The rest of the journey passed in silence.

  When they reached the police station, Lance marched across the car park without a word. Robyn was in no mood to pander to him and let him go. He reached the top of the steps and swiped his pass across the door sensor. As she ambled across, he was tugging at the door without success.

  Robyn climbed the steps at an even pace. ‘Here, let me.’ The door clicked open.

  By the lift, Lance called over his shoulder. ‘I’m going to see Fell now.’ He started up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

  Wanting to stretch her legs, Robyn decided to walk up. A few steps above her, Lance
spun around. Robyn’s face was level with his flies. ‘You briefed her then?’

  A cleaner appeared at the turn of the stairs, putting a bucket down with a clank. She stroked a mop along the landing, stray drops of water flying down.

  Robyn took a grip on the bannister. ‘DI Farnham, I do have other cases. Please let me know when my formal interview will be.’ She called up the stairs. ‘We’ll get out of your way. DI Farnham? After you.’ Lance strode up the stairs. Robyn let out a long breath and watched his departing back before turning downstairs for the canteen.

  The incident room was already reverting to its usual layout, the additional tables gone, extra chairs stacked in a corner. Lorraine, Ravi, Graham and Chloe were clustered in front of the television, watching the news. Robyn caught a glimpse of herself on screen and turned away.

  The evidence boards bristled with paper. Robyn began removing items, until she uncovered the map showing the burglaries, each marked with a pin and label summarising what had been stolen, all in Janice’s tiny handwriting.

  When she’d cleared one board, she started on the other and put up the pictures taken from the warehouse and images of the damaged skull. The news turned to an unexploded bomb somewhere and Ravi switched off the TV. Robyn didn’t turn to the team until she’d finished. Everyone was watching her.

  ‘Right. You all had things to follow up. I don’t mind which of you goes first.’

  Everyone suddenly seemed to have something else to do. She looked from one to the other: Ravi appeared engrossed by the blank TV screen; Graham had buried his nose in a report; Lorraine rummaged in her handbag. Only Chloe faced her, looking uncomfortable, feet swinging above the floor.

  Robyn was getting impatient with everyone’s passivity. ‘OK, fine, we’ll start with the burglary. Ravi, can you get this map updated, please? The latest job isn’t shown or the first one in May. Lorraine, have you spoken to the victim?’

  ‘I checked with the hospital, Guv. Mrs Jarvis is still too frail for visitors. We’ve already got the outline forensic report but unfortunately, there were no prints and the village only has CCTV in the main square so no pictures.’