Schoolgirl Missing

by Sue Fortin

  Her shock had turned to anger at the thought that Scott would write the note. She never in her darkest nightmares thought he would betray her. She knew what she had done was wrong. What her and Megan had done, but she thought that when she’d left him it would all be over. That she could put it all in the past.

  Neve pulled up outside number 32. There was one car on the drive. A four-wheel drive Discovery, the sort that she could imagine Scott driving. He had always liked his cars. It looked like he had got the Range Rover he had always admired. The number plate caught her eye and confirmed what she thought. Three digits followed by his initials 659 ST.

  As Neve got out of the car, she hoped she was right in her assumption that no one else was at home. She didn’t know what Scott’s marital status was these days, although when she had looked at his timeline, there was a picture of a family get together and in amongst it was Scott standing next to a woman who was holding a toddler in her arms. Neve had felt a small pang of jealousy as she had looked at it and even now, she couldn’t deny that feeling was still there.

  She had prepared what to say if the woman opened the door – she was going to pretend to be carrying out an opinion poll. Neve had even printed off a fake pass, which she would waft in front of the wife, only briefly, not long enough for her to read it. Neve had also planned an escape route if the woman did decide to go ahead with the survey. Neve would fake a phone call and tell the woman she would come back another day.

  Neve stood in front of the door, a clipboard clutched to her chest as part of her cover story. There was still time to change her mind. She could turn around and walk away now if she wanted to. She considered this idea and dismissed it all at the same time. She had to find out what Scott was playing at.

  She pressed the doorbell and rattled the knocker for good measure.

  The sound of footsteps approaching the door could be heard. Neve’s heart gave a little flutter and she drew a deep breath as the door opened.

  Standing in front of her was Scott Tansley, her ex-husband.

  He still looked just the same. His dark hair cut short, maybe thinning a little at the sides and flecked with a touch of grey. His green eyes looked at her appraisingly. He appeared neither warm nor cold and certainly not surprised.

  ‘Hello, Scott,’ she said evenly, trying to keep her pulse rate to an acceptable level. This wasn’t as easy as she had imagined.

  ‘I wondered when you would turn up,’ he said.

  ‘You’re not surprised I’m here then?’ she said, slightly thrown by his laconic reaction to her presence on his doorstep.

  He shook his head. ‘Not really. It occurred to me that after the phone call I had the other day, sooner or later you’d turn up. Only, I had rather hoped it would be later.’

  ‘Phone call? What phone call? From the police?’

  Scott ignored her as he squeezed his eyes closed and pinched the bridge of his nose between his finger and thumb, a gesture Neve had seen him do so many times before. One where he couldn’t quite fathom out what to say. It was his time stalling gesture.

  ‘Can I come in?’ Neve looked past his shoulder. So far no one else had come to the door to see who the unexpected caller was. She guessed he was probably alone.

  ‘I’d rather you didn’t. Amy will be home soon,’ said Scott, moving his hand to the door, ready to slam it shut.

  Neve gave a shrug. ‘We can always have the conversation on the doorstep.’ She leaned back slightly and looked from one neighbouring house to the other. ‘I don’t expect anyone will hear us.’

  ‘Look, as I told your husband, he really needs to speak to you. I know it’s not your strong point, but you should talk to him.’

  ‘My husband? Kit phoned you?’ Had she heard him right?

  ‘I believe that’s what he said his name was, unless of course you’ve got another husband somewhere. I mean, who knows with you.’

  ‘Fuck off, Scott.’

  ‘With pleasure.’ He went to shut the door, but Neve rammed her foot across the threshold. She rested her hand on the doorframe. ‘Look, I’m sorry. Can I come in? I need to talk to you.’

  ‘For a moment there, I thought you said sorry.’

  ‘For God’s sake, Scott, just let me in.’

  ‘Shouldn’t you be back in West Sussex looking for your daughter?’

  Neve had to stop herself from swearing at him again. Instead, she spoke in what she hoped was a non-confrontational voice.

  ‘You’ve seen the appeal?’

  ‘Of course. Everyone has.’

  ‘Did you send the note?’

  She studied his face closely, looking for any flicker of guilt or knowledge, but could detect nothing.

  ‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Someone sent me a note after the appeal went out on TV. Someone who knows about … about Jasmine.’

  ‘It wasn’t me. I can’t actually believe you thought it was.’

  ‘You’re lying,’ said Neve, her voice rising again, despite her attempts to remain calm.

  ‘For God’s sake,’ muttered Scott. He pulled the door open and stepped aside. ‘Come in. But just for five minutes. That’s all you’ve got. You’re not even supposed to be here. I could call the police.’

  Neve didn’t argue with him. She didn’t want him to change his mind.

  It felt strange walking into his house. She looked at the black-framed photographs of a woman and a toddler that were lining the hall. ‘I take it you’re alone,’ she said.

  ‘Just get to the point,’ said Scott, now standing in the middle of the comfortably furnished living room. It reminded Neve of their first home together. The wood flooring, the clean lines that Scott liked, no fuss and no frills, almost geometric. In fact, she recognised the oak table at the side of the armchair from their days together. Scott had bought it from a local Scandinavian furniture maker. It had cost a fortune, but Scott had said it was worth it. On the table was another photograph of the child, which looked like it had been taken in a nursery setting.

  She nodded to the picture. ‘Your daughter?’

  Scott glowered at her. ‘Yes. If you must know.’

  ‘She’s gorgeous. She has your eyes.’

  Scott’s shoulders dropped slightly. ‘Thanks. She’s two next month.’

  ‘What’s her name?’

  Scott hesitated some more. ‘Olivia,’ he said carefully, eyeing Neve as he spoke.

  Neve swayed a little. Her head felt light. ‘Olivia,’ she said in a whisper. ‘That was always your favourite name for a girl.’ An unexpected lump rose to her throat. She swallowed it down hard.

  ‘What do you want?’ Scott said, this time his own voice was softer.

  ‘My daughter is missing,’ said Neve.

  ‘I know. Like I said, I saw the appeal on the television. I’m sorry. I hope you find her.’

  ‘I received an anonymous note, or rather my husband did.’ It seemed strange talking about her husband to Scott who had once carried the same title.

  ‘And …?’

  ‘I thought you must have sent it.’

  Scott gave a snort. ‘We’re going around in circles. Why would I send you a note?’

  ‘Have you heard from Ashley at all?’ asked Neve, purposely throwing the conversation off course.

  Scott blinked in surprise. ‘Ashley? As in Ash Farnham?’

  ‘Unless you know another one.’

  ‘I’ve not heard from that scumbag since … since what happened.’

  ‘He turned up in the village where I live,’ carried on Neve.

  Scott looked to consider Neve’s disclosure for a moment before replying. ‘Don’t suppose you’re too happy about that,’ he said finally. ‘What did he want?’

  ‘He claims it was a coincidence. He’s working as some sort of support worker for young adults.’

  Scott burst out laughing. ‘You’re not serious, are you? A support worker? I’ve heard it all now.’

  ‘I’m deadly serious.’<
br />
  ‘I’m surprised they let him anywhere near vulnerable young people. Not with his track record.’

  ‘They’re adults so it doesn’t count, apparently. I looked it up,’ confessed Neve. ‘I take it you don’t know why he’s turned up?’

  ‘No idea, but if Ash is about, you’d better watch yourself. I don’t suppose for one minute the leopard has changed its spots,’ said Scott. ‘Present company excepted.’

  Neve shot him a look. ‘Uncalled for.’

  ‘Yes, it probably was. Tell me, did your husband ask you about Megan and Jasmine?’

  Neve’s breath caught in her throat, if Kit started asking about them, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep her secret for. ‘No. And he doesn’t need to know either,’ said Neve.

  ‘I’m sure you’ve considered this,’ said Scott. ‘But don’t you think it’s a coincidence that Ash turns up and your daughter goes missing.’

  ‘Ash may be many unsavoury things, but kidnapping is not his style.’

  ‘Really? It doesn’t have to be kidnap. He’s very persuasive, as you well know. It would be more like coercion.’

  ‘He’s not involved,’ insisted Neve.

  ‘What about the note – not him either, I suppose?’

  ‘Postmarked Newport, so unless he can teleport, then no, it’s not him.’

  ‘Still protecting him,’ said Scott.

  ‘Not that it’s any of your business,’ snapped Neve.

  ‘To this day, I still don’t know why you protected him.’

  Neve shifted on her feet, anxious not to get bogged down in unfinished arguments from years ago. ‘Did you send the note?’ She looked Scott directly in the eye, looking for any sign he might attempt to lie to her.

  ‘No. I didn’t! For fuck’s sake. And if it’s postmarked Newport, that would be a bit of drive out for me.’ Scott let out an exasperated sigh.

  Neve’s hand was tapping involuntarily against her leg. She felt hot and stifled. She ran her finger around the collar of her blouse. She saw the picture of Olivia again. More pain surged through her. She looked back at Scott.

  ‘You didn’t send it to get back at me?’

  ‘For what? For what you did to your family? For making me move away from Newport with you? For getting yourself into so much trouble that you were arrested? For making me remortgage so I could pay a defence lawyer, so you didn’t end up in prison? For then, after all that, after standing by you, you divorcing me?’ He waved his hand in the air in exasperation. ‘You’re asking me if I sent the note for revenge? Well, I could have and who would have blamed me?’ He crossed the room in two strides, standing in front of her, his face creased in anger. ‘But the truth is, I didn’t. In fact, if I’m honest, you leaving turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. I’ve got a wife who I love and who loves me. I’ve got a daughter I adore. I’ve got the life I always wanted. I’ve got a life with the right person now.’

  The words hit their target. Neve grappled for the arm of the chair. ‘Bastard!’ she snapped, perching on the edge.

  ‘I think you need to leave for your own good,’ said Scott. ‘Now.’

  ‘Is that some sort of threat?’ Neve pushed herself to her feet. Anger giving her the strength to stand her ground.

  ‘You can read into it what you like. Just leave now, will you?’

  ‘Don’t threaten me.’

  ‘Or you’ll do what? Call the police?’ Scott gave a dismissive snort. ‘I think we both know whose side they’ll be on.’

  Neve brushed past Scott and out of the living room. She snatched open the front door, not bothering to close it behind her.

  ‘All this that’s happening to you, it’s called karma,’ shouted Scott from the doorstep.

  Neve didn’t want to hear what he was saying. It was bringing everything back into much closer focus. She slammed the car door and holding onto the steering wheel, rested her head on her hands.

  ‘It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t do anything,’ she heard herself say between sobs of anger and frustration. ‘It wasn’t me. It was Megan.’

  Chapter 22

  The following morning, Neve was up first. Cheryl had given her some over-the-counter tablets designed to help with sleep but Neve had decided against taking any. It was not a road she intended to go down again, having relied on various forms of uppers and downers in the past. She had, however, managed to persuade Kit to take one. The past few days had taken a dramatic toll on him. He was looking totally ragged and rundown, which had taken her by surprise. Worry was an understatement of how Kit was feeling. She searched for a stronger word but could only come up with pain. Kit was in pain.

  Wrapping her dressing gown around her, Neve padded downstairs. The letters on the doormat ground her to a halt, sending her stomach somersaulting. The same white envelope as before was face up, staring at her. Kit’s name was written in the same black pen as before. Neve assumed whoever had sent it, didn’t have the knowledge or ability to print the envelopes, only the note inside.

  She hurried down the stairs and swiped the letters up, placing them on the kitchen counter, but taking the one for Kit with her through to the downstairs toilet. Locking the door, she ripped open the envelope, disregarding Sally’s caution not to open any more letters and to give them straight to her.

  Neve’s body shook involuntarily and she leaned over the toilet and threw up. Her empty stomach relieving itself of bile which burnt her windpipe as it was forced out.

  She spluttered and spat into the toilet bowl. Running the tap in the hand basin, she took a glug of water, swilled her mouth out and spat into the toilet.

  Her carefully constructed new life was being damaged by her carefully concealed old one. She had always taken precautions not to let the two cross over but now it seemed someone had other ideas.

  As she sat there, Neve realised she couldn’t be a bystander in all this. She had to put things right.

  Neve looked at the note again. She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer that what she was about to do would work. This was her chance to get Poppy back. Kit would be ecstatic. Neve would be the heroine. He would do anything she asked. Even agree to them having a baby together. She was sure of that.

  She thought of Poppy and her heart lifted and fell almost in one action. She hoped Poppy was OK. That she wouldn’t be too scared by what had happened, and she prayed that Poppy hadn’t been harmed in any way. Neve wasn’t sure how she would cope if something had happened to Poppy but somewhere in her heart of hearts she knew that her daughter was safe. She had to believe it otherwise what was the point of all this?

  Taking care not to disturb Kit, Neve quickly dressed and unhooked her coat from the peg in the hall, before hooking Willow up on the dog lead and creeping out to the car.

  As Neve pulled out of the drive and down the road, she let out a sigh of relief that she’d successfully managed to get out of the house.

  Taking care not to break the speed limit, she headed into town for the local bank. She ignored the look the cashier gave her when she handed over the cheque to withdraw ten thousand pounds cash from her savings account.

  ‘It would be much safer if you could complete the transaction by bank transfer,’ said the cashier as she put the wad of notes into a money bag.

  ‘It’s fine as it is. I’ll be careful.’ She gave the cashier a reassuring smile, before making her way back to Ambleton.

  It wasn’t long before she was pulling up in the car park by the river. ‘Come on, Willow,’ she said, opening the boot to let the dog out.

  She checked her watch. He should be coming along here any time now.

  Five minutes later the lone figure of Jake appeared ahead of her. Willow bounded up to him, her tail wagging a sincere greeting.

  ‘Hello, Willow,’ Neve heard Jake say as he bent down to stroke the dog. ‘There’s a good girl.’ Jake looked up. ‘Hey. How are you?’

  ‘Hey, yourself,’ said Neve, offering a small smile. ‘How are you?’


  Jake shrugged. ‘You know.’ He paused before speaking again. ‘Any news on Poppy?’

  Neve stopped herself from answering. She looked out across the river into the middle distance. She could feel the nerves jingle all through her body. She wanted to cry. She didn’t know if she could go through with this. Jake took a step closer, his arm outstretched to embrace her.

  ‘Don’t. Too much sympathy and I’ll start crying.’ She looked down at the ground as she shuffled a step away. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ she said at last.

  ‘About what?’

  She hesitated for a moment before pulling the now scrunched up note from her pocket. ‘I’m being blackmailed.’

  ‘Blackmailed?’ Jake took the note she offered and opening it out, read the message. ‘What the hell? Have you shown this to the police?’

  ‘No! It says not to,’ said Neve, snatching the letter back from him.

  ‘But you must. They need to know.’

  ‘Why? Why do they? Didn’t you read it? If I tell the police then there will be no chance of getting Poppy back. They’ll take her away. I don’t know what they’ll do. Traffic her or something. Or worse …’ The words caught in her throat. ‘Then it will be my fault.’

  ‘You seriously can’t be going along with this?’ said Jake. ‘Neve, it’s a ridiculous idea. And ten thousand pounds! Have you got that sort of cash?

  ‘I’ve just been to the bank,’ she said, gripping her bag to her.

  ‘And then what?’

  Neve shrugged. “I’m going to get Poppy back.’

  ‘Whoa! Wait a minute. You’re not doing this on your own. It’s dangerous. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. What if something happens to you too?’

  ‘Don’t worry. I have it covered. I’ve made a note on my computer. A letter for Kit, if you like. Telling him what I’m doing. If anything happens to me then the police will check my laptop and they’ll see the message. I’ve said where I’m going, that way they’ll have half a chance of rescuing both Poppy and myself, or at least Poppy.’