28
A few months ago
Sylvie tipped a packet of biscuits into a bowl and carried them into the lounge. She had the Glover house to herself and Maria was coming around for the afternoon.
Chatting with Maria was something Sylvie looked forward to. Maria was patient and attentive and she enjoyed listening. She was better than past friends who tired of Sylvie’s need to talk.
Maria loved Sylvie’s silly stories about the Glovers. She sympathised when Sylvie complained about her family back in Australia and oohed and aahed over the fact Sylvie was expected to return to Australia for her sister’s wedding. It was the last thing Sylvie wanted to do and Maria was in complete agreement it was Sylvie’s choice. Chloe was the favoured older sister who did everything right whereas Sylvie, in her parents’ eyes, did everything wrong. Sylvie had come to England to escape them and do things her own way. Maria got that.
Before breakfast, Sylvie had made an unexpected discovery. It was exciting. That was, until she told Jack. The way he reacted turned Sylvie’s world upside down.
And she was going to entrust Maria with the whole wretched story.
The bell rang and Sylvie rushed to the door.
‘Hello,’ Maria said, giving Sylvie a hug. ‘I brought those little cakes you like.’
‘Lovely. We can sit in the lounge for a change.’
‘I thought you weren’t allowed in there.’
‘Hey, who’s to know cos we’ve got the place to ourselves.’
Sylvie flounced through with Maria in tow. She installed herself in one of the sumptuous armchairs and Maria perched on the edge of the sofa.
‘Go on make yourself at home. I’ve got something I need to tell you,’ Sylvie said. She arranged Maria’s cakes on a plate, taking in the scent of fresh cream and icing. Her fingers were trembling. Actually she’d been a wreck all day, ever since she’d done the pregnancy test that morning and got a positive result.
‘I’m all ears,’ Maria said. ‘Don’t tell me it’s about your sister’s wedding.’
‘It’s nothing to do with boring Chloe though did I tell you Chloe’s still sending photos of wedding locations. Hasn’t she got the message I’m not interested? The dress she’s chosen is ghastly and her fiancé sounds the dullest person you’ve ever heard of. Of course, Chloe says he dotes on her. Which is totally sickening.’
‘Poor you.’
‘If I ever get married I want it on a beach and people can dance in the waves and make love in the sand. Here, help yourself.’ She pushed cakes and biscuits across the coffee table.
She wouldn’t be getting married any time soon, would she, Sylvie thought. Jack had made her angry. She’d expected him to be pleased by the pregnancy news. After all the times he told her he felt trapped by Alice and wanted to get away. Sylvie had expected him to be happy. She thought he’d be ready to take off with her and dump boring Alice. Jack’s reaction had been like a kick in the gut. Sylvie swallowed down the bitterness.
‘Have a look at the man Chloe’s going to marry, doesn’t he look awful.’ She needed Maria’s adoration today. Maria would understand what a shit Jack was. Sylvie could count on Maria to be on her side.
Maria scrolled the pictures and made disdainful noises.
‘Wow, look at him. And the dress is hideous.’
‘Yeah, ugly as hell.’
Maria passed back the phone and gave Sylvie an expectant look.
Sylvie was about to tell the whole sorry story when a cake crumb went down the wrong way. It lodged, dry and stubborn, in the back of her throat. She coughed so hard tears came to her eyes as Maria slapped her on the back.
‘Are you all right? Oh gosh, let me get you a drink.’
‘Thanks,’ Sylvie said, wiping at her eyes. ‘There’s juice in the fridge. I forgot to bring it through.’
‘I’ll fetch it.’
Sylvie leant back. What would Maria say? She was bound to be in awe. Maria was already jealous about Sylvie sleeping with Jack and about the secret apartment Jack kept for their clandestine sex sessions. Sylvie had deliberately taken Maria to the luxurious apartment to show it off.
Her friend was taking a long time. Surely she’d been able to find the drinks by now. Sylvie padded along the hallway towards the kitchen. The kitchen door was ajar and she could see Maria at the side of the fridge. Sylvie stopped herself from calling out because Maria was in front of the little board where the family hung their key fobs and it looked as if Maria had just slipped something into her pocket.
Walking in breezily, Sylvie noticed how Maria scooted away and opened the doors of the cabinet nearest to her looking, presumably, for glasses. Except she wasn’t searching for glasses, was she? Maria was pretending to look for them.
‘This place is massive,’ Maria said. ‘How do you remember where everything is? I can’t find the tumblers.’
‘They’re over here.’
While Maria busied herself organising a tray, Sylvie surreptitiously scanned the little hooks and hanging keys. Alice and Jack were both out so they had their own main sets with them. The ones left were for the garden shed and for Jack’s study and spare ones for the offices at Hardman Construction. Was one missing? What on earth had Maria been up to?
Sylvie trailed Maria back to the lounge and all thought of confiding in her friend about the pregnancy was gone. She felt a stab of suspicion. Was Maria one of those weird people who went around collecting other people’s belongings? Kleptomaniacs, weren’t they called? She’d once seen a television programme on it, about a woman who couldn’t resist taking items like teaspoons and ornaments from friend’s houses. Was Maria one of those? Or was there more to it?
‘You’ve gone quiet,’ Maria said. ‘Aren’t you going to tell me what’s on your mind?’
‘Oh it’s nothing important. It can save for later. What do you think about watching a film with our feet up on Alice’s precious coffee table? And they won’t notice if we help ourselves to a bottle of wine.’
Maria giggled. ‘You’re terrible. Sure, whatever you want.’
Sylvie let Maria choose then the two of them settled to watch the film. Once it started, Sylvie couldn’t concentrate what with the pregnancy and Jack, and what she was going to do. And the key.
It didn’t matter Maria had taken something. Sylvie couldn’t care less. What bothered her was why had Maria done it? She remembered her friend being curious before about the keys. Should she challenge her? And a little part of Sylvie couldn’t help thinking it might make sense of their sudden friendship – Maria’s interest in her at the gym, the way they seemed to hit it off right from the beginning, the way Maria hung on her every word and was happy to do whatever Sylvie wanted. The friendship had been too easy and Maria too eager. Sylvie had known it, she simply chose to ignore it because it was difficult to meet people working the hours she did. Or was she being paranoid brought on by Jack’s shitty behaviour?
While the film played, Sylvie turned over the possibilities. In the end, she decided a direct challenge wouldn’t work and anyway it didn’t appeal to her. Maria had been sneaky. Far better would be to go about finding out what was going on in a devious way.
Several hours later, when Maria said goodbye, Sylvie left it a few minutes and then followed her.
The suburban streets of Himlands Heath were full of parked cars and trees which provided convenient cover. If she looked furtive, no one paid any notice, and Sylvie’s nerves soon settled as curiosity got the better of her.
It didn’t take long for Maria to show her hand. A couple of streets from the Glovers’ house, Maria met a man. From a distance, he was ordinary looking, a bit rough perhaps. The two of them had a brief exchange and then Maria handed over a small item from her pocket. It had to be the key. Sylvie watched from the corner of the road peering out from behind a sycamore tree. This was crazy and weird, what was Maria up to? It didn’t look like kleptomania to Sylvie. Now she faced a choice – should she follow the man?
He was a few years older than
Maria. Dressed in a long dark coat he had a hardened air about him, in the lines of his face and the intense way he spoke to Maria. The daring part of Sylvie said yes, follow him, though she realised he wasn’t the sort of man she was used to. He was a more dangerous type.
Sylvie shuffled her feet. Come on, girl, she said to herself, what’s life without a bit of risk. Hadn’t she come to England to escape the suffocation of her family? And now she was in the shit with a baby on the way, so what the hell? How could it get any worse?
When Maria went one way and the stranger went another, Sylvie made a quick decision and followed the man.
29
Tom received a call from Grant.
‘Nothing at Jack’s apartment,’ Grant snapped. ‘No trace of the children, and no bloodstains showed up after luminol testing.’
DNA results would take a while to come in but it didn’t sound promising. When Tom told Ruby she was as disappointed as he was.
‘We wait,’ Tom said. ‘Our focus is next contact from the abductor.’
An unexpected visitor came ringing at the door a while later. It was Uncle Philip.
‘My poor Alice,’ Philip said. ‘I’ve been worrying about you day and night.’ He put his arms around his niece.
‘Joan, I know we’ve had our fallouts but let’s forget about all that rubbish. I want to be here for Alice.’
Joan Hardman gave a small nod.
Philip took Tom’s hand. ‘Good to see you again. Has there been any news?’
Tom shook his head. ‘This is my colleague, Ms Silver. I’m sorry we can’t divulge any sensitive information.’
Tom was interrupted by Jack storming into the house, back from his visit with Grant. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Jack demanded.
‘I’m supporting my niece.’ Philip’s voice was tight. ‘Which is a hell of a lot more than you’re doing.’
‘You mean you’re here to wheedle more funds out of her,’ Jack sneered. ‘I know your game.’
The two men took a step closer – Jack with a superior smirk and Phil with his arms rigid with rage.
‘This isn’t helping Alice,’ Ruby said.
‘Ms Silver is right,’ Tom said sternly.
The last thing they wanted was more tension.
‘There’s no room for men like you in this family,’ Phil shouted. He took another step until he was nose to nose with Jack.
Jack didn’t back down. ‘Shut the fuck up. How dare you talk to me like that. You’re not welcome here.’
‘Yes he is,’ Alice said.
‘You’re the one who’s betrayed my niece, you worthless piece of shit. When Alice told me what you’d been up to, my wife had to stop me coming straight over here to wring your neck.’
Tom took a hold of Philip Hardman’s arm. ‘Sir, I need to ask you to accompany me to another room.’
Philip shook Tom off. ‘Course. I need a change of air. There’s a stink around here.’
‘Fuck off. You’ve been sniffing around my wife for money from the day she was born.’
‘He has not! Phil has always been there for me. You’re the one screwing Natalie. She can’t have babies and now she wants mine!’
‘Darling, that’s ridiculous,’ Jack said.
‘Don’t you dare call me that.’ Alice looked like she wanted to rake her nails down Jack’s face. She turned to Ruby. ‘Natalie wanted to adopt and Sanjay didn’t. That’s why Sanjay’s leaving. Only why should Natalie bother to adopt when she can steal mine!’
‘Alice, you need to sit down,’ Joan said to her daughter.
‘Shut up! Everyone shut up telling me what to do!’
Her nervous habit of tugging at her hair had got a lot worse. She did it now, digging in her fingers, making it look as if she’d just crawled out of a hedge.
‘It’s my babies who are gone not yours! When the hell is he going to call?’
It was the million-dollar question.
‘Why don’t you and I go to the kitchen,’ Ruby suggested.
Tom turned to Philip Hardman. ‘And I think it might be best if you leave.’
‘Our priority is the next call,’ Ruby said to Alice. ‘Do you feel prepared for it?’
‘I know what DCI Grant wants me to say. Don’t worry I’m not cracking up.’
Ruby thought Alice was changing. She was stronger than she had been before – answering Jack back and her mother.
‘You’re very kind and so is Tom. It’s horrible you hearing Jack’s dirty secrets about Natalie and his shitty accusations about Uncle Phil. I knew Jack wasn’t an ideal husband and I turned a blind eye. I thought it was temporary and he’d get back on track and he never did.’
Ruby was making some food. She cracked eggs and they sizzled in the pan. ‘The affair with Natalie wasn’t a complete surprise then?’ she asked carefully.
‘A part of me suspected and I ignored the warning signs. At least with the au pairs, when I got suspicious I could get rid of them.’
Ruby buttered the toast and kept a diplomatic silence.
‘Last night I finally realised – I loved Jack far more than he ever loved me. It’s a horrible thought only I couldn’t help wondering if Jack married me to get in with Dad.’
‘You’re both under an incredible amount of stress. It doesn’t mean your marriage won’t survive,’ Ruby said.
‘Yes it does. My babies are all that matters and I don’t care about Jack. I feel a fool to have made so many allowances.’
Jack walked in, bringing the smell of body odour with him.
‘Alice, we need to talk,’ Jack said.
‘No, Ruby, please don’t leave. Tell my husband I don’t want to talk to him now or ever. The only communication we will have is through my lawyer when I file for divorce. Tell him he disgusts me. I want him out of my sight.’
Ruby gave Jack an apologetic look. ‘Perhaps it’s best if discussions between you and your wife are left until later.’
‘There aren’t going to be any discussions,’ Alice said. ‘It’s over.’
‘Please, Alice, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen.’
‘Like you didn’t mean for it to happen with Sylvie and the other girls? You are such a damn liar.’ Alice picked up a plate full of scrambled eggs and hurled it at the wall.
At the sound of breaking crockery, Tom rushed in.
Alice continued. ‘You make me sick. Our children are missing and all you’re interested in is getting it off with my best friend. I hate your guts.’
Tom stood between them. ‘Ma’am, please, this won’t help.’
Alice’s phone suddenly rang and everyone froze. Eggs slithered down the wall.
‘It’s an unknown number,’ the technician shouted from the other room. ‘Likely this is it.’
Ruby turned off the cooking gas and she and Tom moved close to Alice.
‘It’s all right,’ Ruby said. ‘Remember what you need to say. Take a breath and answer the call.’
Tom held out a piece of card. On it were the words asking for a proof of life video.
Alice’s green eyes were large and scared and fixed on Ruby. Ruby nodded. ‘You can do it.’
‘Answer the call and please say only what we have agreed,’ Tom said. ‘If it’s Emily, remember you are not speaking to Emily you’re speaking to the abductor. He is controlling what she can say.’
She was shaking so hard, wisps of hair around her face were trembling. Slowly she lifted the phone and pressed the speaker button. Ruby could see Alice’s lips quivering.
‘Hello this is Alice.’
‘Mummy, it’s Emily. Here are the instructions – you will bring half a million pounds in unmarked notes. You’ll receive the drop-off co-ordinates beforehand. You must come alone.’
‘I will only give you the money in exchange for my children. Please do not harm them. I want proof of life,’ Alice read from the card.
There was a long pause during which Tom took Alice’s arm to support her.
‘Yo
u’ll get it. Don’t be late,’ Emily said, and the line went dead.
30
When Maria followed him into the children’s room, it was obvious Emily had deteriorated. He didn’t notice, or if he did, he ignored it. He had been back on a high ever since the phone call to Emily’s mother.
Maria wondered if he had taken a snort that morning. It was pretty likely because he wasn’t worried they needed to send a video, when on a video it would be difficult to hide the state Emily was in.
‘This is going just like I want it to,’ he said.
Maria wiped her hand over Emily’s forehead. The child was sweating and yet she was cold and the two together were a bad sign. A purple line snaked from the child’s elbow to her armpit. Maria almost fainted.
‘If they want proof of life they can have it,’ he said. ‘Sort that kid out and get her ready for the recording.’
Maria dabbed Emily’s forehead with a damp towel and brushed the child’s hair. Emily was floppy, the same as Maria’s little brother had been when he had blood poisoning. Poor Billy, she remembered the doctors saying if it had been left longer it might have been too late.
He was flicking the button on and off, on and off, for the recording. ‘Stop fussing and get on with it. I don’t like waiting.’
Emily had to be propped against the bed.
He’d bought a copy of that day’s newspaper and Lisa was instructed to hold it up. This time Lisa would say a short message as well as her sister. Since she couldn’t read very well Lisa had to learn her part by heart.
He tapped his foot, impatient to get it over with, but the first time they tried it, when they watched the playback, it was obvious Emily was slurring her words.
‘Is she doing it on purpose?’ he said.
‘She’s going downhill fast. I think she needs a doctor.’
‘What are you now, a nurse? There’s no fucking way I’m taking her to a goddam doctor.’
‘Can’t you see how bad it is? If we don’t she might die.’
Deadly Lies Page 15