At the station He listened to PC Lane's account of her interview with Anna. He frowned from time to time as she related the details to him. DS Waters account was more thorough and he had interviewed the Westhall's as well. All parties seemed to be in agreement with each other. Yet there was something bothering Inspector Morley. How had Anna Cotter known? Had she been following the girl? And if so, how was it that she was not able to warn her in time? She seemed to have been close enough to get a good view of the vehicle used in the abduction. He knew that there was no way she could have seen any of that from the house. The road wasn't visible from the house. The only way she could have seen it was if she had been closer. He didn't blame D S Waters for not probing her more thoroughly. He wouldn't have been aware of geography of the house or its distance from the road. D S Waters was famous for his kid glove treatment of the younger prettier ladies, and Anna Cotter certainly is a looker, Morley thought to himself. He was anxious to interview her and clear up those niggling questions. That interview would have to wait though. First he wanted to go over Jane Turner's case again and then he wanted to interview the girl. He now felt that there must be a connection between the two, it was almost tangible. He pulled out the file and poured over it, carefully reading every interview and checking every piece of evidence. The more he read the less easy he became. They had dropped the ball on that case. He was beginning to realise that her sister had been right the whole time. Jane Turner had been abducted...Or worse. Hindsight is great, He reflected as he read through Eva Westhall account of the belongings of her sister's that were missing. It was more what wasn't missing that bothered him now.
It was after eleven when he finished reviewing the file and all his notes on Jane Turner's disappearance. He checked his watch surprised at the length of time he had been engrossed in his work. He rang the hospital to find out if Sassy Westhall had been discharged. He was informed that she had.
He decided to go to the Westhall's and interview the girl. He was wondering what she had been doing out at that time of night alone in the first place. Maybe she knew the man who abducted her.
Sassy Westhall was lying on the couch in the living room when he arrived. She looked tired and drawn from her ordeal. Her parents were fussing over her and it looked to DI Morley as if the girl wasn't going to be let out of their sight any time soon and who could blame them if he had children he knew he would move heaven and earth to protect them too. He interviewed Olana first but found that she didn't have anything of value to add. She had stayed overnight with her sister and hadn't known anything about last night's events until she returned to the house in the morning. She was fussing around Sassy and muttering to herself in Polish and blessing herself every now and then. Eva sent her out of the room to make refreshments for them, explaining to the inspector that she had been like that since they arrived home. D I Morley pulled a chair close to Sassy and sat down.
“Do you feel up to talking about last night?” he asked Sassy gently.
She looked at her parents worriedly and tears began to form in her eyes.
“It’s okay love” her mother said softly, “We know about Danny, he rang your father earlier to check on you. Don't worry we're not cross, we just wish you had told us about him instead of sneaking off without telling anyone. You are still only fourteen.”
“I'm nearly fifteen. Anyway Danny's not much older he's only seventeen. I was supposed to be meeting him, he passed his driving test a couple of weeks ago and his dad has just bought him a new car and he wanted to take me out and show it off” Sassy said. “I was waiting for him to show up, then next thing I know someone is grabbing me from behind and putting something over my mouth. I tried to get away but my legs just sort of turned to jelly and I must have fainted. I don't remember anything else until I woke up in the hospital.”
“Can you give me a description of the person who attacked you?” Morley asked
“I didn't see him.” Sassy insisted. “It was dark and he grabbed me from behind.”
“Are you sure it was a man?”
Sassy frowned at the inspector and thought for a moment. “Definitely. He smelt like after-shave, like the sort Dad wears and he was pretty tall and really strong.”
“Can you remember what he was wearing? Or was there anything unusual about him?”
“I don't know, I was really scared and that stuff he put over my mouth smelt disgusting. I thought he was going to rape me.” Sassy was crying and her whole body was trembling as she relived the experience.
“That's enough” Andrew Westhall said. “Can’t you see she doesn't know who it was? We're just glad that she's back safe and sound.”
“I'm sorry Sassy, I don't mean to upset you.” DI Morley said gently. “I just want to catch him before he does it to someone else.”
“It’s okay Dad, I want to help” She said calming a little. “Do you really think he might try to kidnap someone else?”
“I hope not but I don't want to give him the chance. I've just a few more questions. Had you seen anyone suspicious hanging around before?
“No”
“Miss Cotter told my colleagues that she tried to warn you. Did you not hear her?”
“No, I didn't know she was there. I had my iPod in.”
“Did you see her following you?”
“What? No. Did you tell her to follow me?” She asked looking from one parent to the other accusingly.
“No of course we didn't” her mother said “I hired her to find your aunt. But I can assure you my girl that if we had known, you wouldn't have been out wandering at that hour.”
Olana arrived back carrying a tray of coffee and sandwiches and placed them down on the table in front of the Inspector. He gratefully tucked into the sandwiches not realising until then how hungry he was. He had grabbed a slice of toast before he left his house this morning but hadn't had anything since. In between mouthfuls of food he asked Sassy a few more questions. She wasn't able to give him any more information about her abductor. He went over the account DS Waters had been given by the Westhall's with them but they had nothing more useful to tell him.
“Is Miss Cotter about. I need to clarify a few points with her” The inspector asked.
Andrew looked at his wife. “No Inspector.” he said. She has gone to London to meet Molly Turner, I took her to the station, her car was damaged last night so she had to take the train. She wanted to interview some of Jane's family and friends”
“Ahh.... Do you know what time she will be returning?”
“Sometime this evening I think.” Eva responded. “And while we're on the subject, this has to have something to do with Jane's disappearance. Someone out there is targeting my family and I want him stopped.”
“We don't know that yet. “ The Inspector replied. “We are looking at all angles, I can assure you.”
“That's what you keep saying and I'm sick of it. Do you need to find a body before you take it seriously?” She said anger beginning to rise in her as she realised how poignant her words were.
“I can assure you Mrs Westhall that we take the abduction of a minor very seriously and we will catch him. As for your sister we haven't stopped looking for her.”
“Oh my god... you don't think she's dead do you? That this psychopath was looking for another victim.”
“Eva.” her husband said sharply, looking pointedly from his wife to his daughter who was beginning to look terrified as the meaning of her mother’s words took root.
“I'm sorry darling.” Eva said going over to her and hugging her tightly to her. “Everything’s going to be okay”
DI Morley put his notebook and pen away and stood up to leave. He bade the Westhall's goodbye and wished Sassy a full recovery. As he headed out the door he said.
“Please have Miss Cotter call me when she returns” he handed Andrew his business card. “There are some points I need her to clarify.”
Andrew Westhall followed him out and caught him by the elbow and said sternly. “My sist
er-in-law is missing, possibly dead. My daughter was abducted right outside her home and Miss Cotter’s car was broken into.... I don't think you are doing your job properly. I want you to know I'll be making a complaint to the Commissioner. I want results. I wasn't for my wife hiring a private detective, but I'm very glad we weren't relying on your lot last night.”
“Believe me Mr Westhall I know how you feel. I give you my personal assurance that this man will be caught. I will keep you informed of our progress.”
He got into his car, he had driven about ten miles when he got a phone call that an elderly man had been found dead in suspicious circumstances.
“Can't you find someone else? I'm investigating last night's abduction.”
“Sorry sir” the Super wants you on it, they think it might be tied in with your case.”
“Why do they think that?”
“It’s only about a mile cross country from where the suspect last night was seen leaving the scene on foot. We also have an eye witness who saw a man matching his description heading towards the deceased’s house”
“Very well, give me the location, I'll be there soon. I was headed in that direction.” and he hung up wondering what next. He had a bad feeling things were only going to get worse.
Chapter ten
Jane was terrified. She had been held captive now for ten days now. It seemed like an eternity, she never realised how long a day could drag. Each day he came in brought her food and drinks, tried to be nice to her. Sickeningly nice. He didn't let his guard down for a moment. Told her he loved her and only wanted what was best for her. She had tried going on hunger strike but he had tied her to the bed and forced her to eat. She had almost choked once, as he forced food into her mouth. She had tried to coax him to let her go but he was adamant that she would come to love him and they were destined to be together always. She had tried goading him, telling him he couldn't get a woman to stay with him willingly, that he probably couldn't get it up, but he only smiled at her. Then yesterday he had come into her room and was all excited, his eyes shining and his cheeks pink. He was raving at her about Sassy. He told her that tonight was the night. He was going to get Sassy. To bring her here so that they could all be one happy family. It was the one thing she had dreaded hearing again. When she had first arrived he had threatened to bring her niece here, to kidnap her. He hadn't mentioned it since and she had thought it was just talk. Now she knew he meant it. She had begged and pleaded with him not to do it, to leave Sassy alone. She had promised to do anything he wanted, told him she loved him that they didn't need anybody else. But it was as though he wasn't listening, he just kept harping on and on about happy families.
When he left, she paced the room in a frenzy. She tried to burst through the door running at it time and time again, but it was solid wood. She only ended up hurting her shoulder. She had spent ages shouting and cursing until her throat hurt and she just ended up in a heap on the floor, crying her eyes out wondering what the hell she was going to do. She lay down on the bed and curled into a ball. Defeated. She knew she had to think of something. If only there was a way to warn her sister. She knew there wasn't, she didn't have a phone and nobody came when she yelled...only him. Think she ordered herself. Don't let that bastard win. She began to form a plan. Next time he came in she would be ready for him. She had a knife hidden under her mattress. She had hidden it without him realising. She would wait until he opened the door and then she would strike. She would stab him. Kill the bastard. Planning made her feel better, less like a victim, less sorry for herself. She planned different ways of jumping him in her head. Each one ended the same way. Him dead and her free. If he harmed Sassy in any way God help him. She would make him pay.
Unfortunately it didn't quite work out as she had planned. It was almost morning when he returned. Jane had dozed off and she woke with a start to the sound of crashing and banging coming from the other side of the door. She huddled up under the duvet hugging it closer to her for comfort. She knew something was wrong, terribly wrong. There was complete silence, then she heard his footsteps approaching her door. She heard the key being inserted and with the little illumination from the light coming through the window, she saw the knob turn. He barged into the room. Jane tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, trying to melt into the background.
“That fucking Irish bitch, it’s all her fault. She made me kill someone tonight. She tried to drive us off the road.” He ranted advancing towards the bed.
Jane was rigid with fear. She couldn't grasp what he was talking about. Who had he killed? What Irishwoman had tried to run him off the road? Had he finally flipped? Oh god she thought, what if it’s Sassy he's killed.
“I had to leave her behind, our little girl, our Sassy.” He had the palms of his hands pressed up against his forehead. It looked like he was trying to squeeze the bad memories out. He sat on the bed and reached out to Jane, he was crying. She could see actual tears rolling down his cheeks.
Jane saw red. How fucking dare he come in here crying, expecting me to feel sorry for him? The bastard has murdered my niece and he wants my pity. She reached under the pillow where she had hidden the knife earlier and felt the cold hard metal and wrapped her fingers around it. She grabbed it and with all her might she pounced, lifting the knife high over her head she brought it down hard. It sank into his flesh, close to his shoulder. He screamed out as white hot pain surged through his body. The knife still embedded in his flesh. He leapt up from the bed trying to steady himself. Jane tried to attack again but this time she had no weapon and as she went for him her feet got tangled in the duvet and she landed in a heap on the floor. He pulled the knife out of his shoulder and flung it across the room. He caught Jane and lifted her up off the floor by her hair. She struggled to get away but the fight had gone out of her, she knew she was beaten. He put his hands around her throat and started pressing. She tried to fight back, tried to hit him in the wounded shoulder but he didn't seem to notice the pain. Her eyes felt like they would pop out of their sockets as he pressed even harder. She was gasping for breath. He was saying something over and over to her but she couldn't make it out. Just as she was about to lose consciousness he stopped. He caught her by the shoulders and flung her back onto the bed, hard. She landed, her head slamming against the wall and she passed out. When she came to he was sitting on the end of the bed watching her.
She tried to sit up and couldn't. Her head wouldn't allow her to move too quickly without sending stabbing needles of pain behind her eyes. She reached for the water that was on the locker beside the bed. Took a sip it helped ease her sore throat.
“Why did you kill Sassy?” She croaked at him tears filling her eyes
He looked at her bewildered. “I didn't kill Sassy, I could never kill her.”
Jane looked at him. “You said you killed someone tonight and that you had to leave her.” she accused him. “Who did you kill?”
“Not Sassy, never Sassy. They made me do it.” He tried to explain. “I was driving home here to you. Sassy was in the back asleep when that crazy woman drove up behind us like a bat of hell and ran us off the road. I had to leave Sassy behind. I didn't have time to get her.”
“Sassy's not dead? You don't have her?” Jane asked, trying to make sense of what he was saying. Her relief was palpable “So who did you kill?” fearful of the answer in case it might be Eva or Andrew.
“Just some old man, I needed his car.” His response was so blasé it made her shudder. “Couldn't let him tell them about me. They would try to separate us, take you away from me. I don't want to talk about it anymore” He rose to leave.
Jane wasn’t having any of it she had to know what was going on. “What man did you kill? Was it Andrew?” She dreaded the answer but not knowing would be worse.
“No. just some old guy. He was nearly dead anyway. He smelled of piss and whiskey, disgusting.”
She could tell he was starting to get worked up again, she could read him like a book. She
wanted to know who he meant by the crazy Irishwoman, so she asked. “Who was the woman who ran you off the road?”
“That bitch.... She's staying with your sister. A private detective, a fucking busybody, I'll kill her yet and that's a promise.”
Jane could see he was getting agitated again, dangerously so. She stopped asking questions. He left and this time she didn't try to stop him. She heard the key being turned in the lock. She was alone again and she relaxed a little. She took comfort from the knowledge that her sister hadn't given up on her. This woman must be good, she had foiled his plans and really got under his skin. Jane prayed would find her soon she was beginning to lose hope.
Chapter eleven
DI Morley arrived at the crime scene within fifteen minutes. The PC on duty waved him through. He parked the car and noticed that the forensics team were already there taking photographs and dusting for prints. The pathologist had yet to arrive. He walked around to the back-door and a tired DS Waters greeted him.
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