The Taken Girls

by G D Sanders

  At Ed’s words Emily visibly brightened and reached for her tea.

  ‘However, it is better we find your daughter at the first opportunity. From what you’ve told me I get the impression that you and Tyler are close.’

  ‘We only have each other. I’m a single mum and Tyler’s never known her father. She’s always been very grown up for her age. We’re more like sisters than mother and daughter.’

  ‘Good. Maybe you will be able to give us what could prove to be a very valuable piece of information.’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  Ed was extremely glad she was sharing this interview with Jenny. She leant towards the mother, making their exchange even more private.

  ‘Emily, do you know when Tyler is likely to start her next period?’

  ‘What!’ Emily looked shocked. ‘What’s happened to my daughter? Why are you asking me that? What are you not telling me?’

  ‘Please, please, bear with us, Emily. There’s a very good reason for everything I ask. Small details can help us to find your daughter.’

  ‘But her period?’

  ‘Please, just answer my question.’

  The immediate tension, which Ed had seen when she first asked the question, drained away. Emily’s body sagged in her chair.

  ‘We’re in your hands. I have to believe you know what you’re doing. Tyler’s period started today.’

  ‘How can you be so sure?’

  ‘We live very close together in this flat. We’re both regular and we tend to have our periods at the same time. I came on last night and I know Tyler took some tampons with her when she left this morning. She was definitely expecting her period to start sometime today.’

  ‘Thank you, Emily. We’ll be leaving now but someone from the CID team will be back to speak to you again tomorrow.’

  ‘I’ll be here.’

  ‘Is there a friend you could stay with tonight?’

  ‘No. I want to be here in case Tyler comes home.’

  ‘Perhaps there is somebody who could come round to keep you company?’

  ‘When Tyler’s not here, I’m used to being on my own.’

  Ed didn’t need additional motivation to do a good job but, until they found Tyler, the prospect of a mother losing a child would never be far from her thoughts.

  55

  ‘We’ve got them!’

  It was the following morning and the team had just returned from questioning Tyler’s friend Ashley Stockbridge and her parents. As they entered the Station building, Sergeant Williams beckoned excitedly.

  ‘Who exactly have we got, Barry?’ asked Ed.

  ‘The Mulhollands. Well, actually it’s the Dearborns. They changed their name when the family left Canterbury. After moving around the southern counties they made their way to Dorset and settled in Poole.’

  ‘Have you got both the parents and the daughter, Teresa?’

  ‘Yes, but not just Teresa. There are two daughters, Teresa, who teaches at a local school, and a younger sister called Celia.’

  ‘How old is the sister?’

  ‘Ten.’ He passed Ed a piece of paper. ‘I’ve scribbled down their addresses but you should have everything by email.’

  Ed felt a rush of excitement. It was always good to have your hypothesis confirmed. ‘That’s great, Barry. Thanks.’

  Returning to join her colleagues, Ed was puzzled by the Desk Sergeant’s behaviour. Last time they were aware the noose was beginning to tighten around the perpetrator, he had appeared shifty, refusing to meet Ed’s eye. This time, he was quite the opposite, apparently pleased the case was moving forwards. Perhaps Barry was a consummate actor. But whether he was guilty or not, Ed’s discomfort at keeping her suspicion to herself remained.

  As the four detectives entered the CID Room Jenny said excitedly, ‘Just as you predicted.’

  ‘It remains to be seen if the sister’s actually Teresa’s daughter.’ Ed thought for a moment. ‘Jenny, I want you to come with me to speak with Teresa. We’ll drive down to Poole and see her today.’

  ‘Before you go, Ed, any luck with the National Database?’

  ‘Sorry, Mike, it’s not good news. We’ve no matches for the unknown DNA from the blood on Lucy’s wrapping paper. It’s now a potential murder inquiry so I’ve got the Super to authorize an alert across the South East for any new reports of missing females.’

  ‘Mmmm … so that line’s run into the sand.’

  ‘Unless we get a new report and a DNA match there’s little more we can do. By the way, Mike, there wasn’t any CCTV for Lucy, what chance do we have for Tyler last night?’

  ‘Lucy was in Wincheap. Tyler was taken from Summer Hill, just off Rheims Way, a major route in and out of the city. That stretch and the nearby junctions are covered by cameras.’

  ‘Excellent!’

  Ed felt elated. The investigation was moving forward. She turned to Nat.

  ‘Get all the relevant recordings for the period between 18.00 and 22.00. While Jenny and I are in Dorset I want you and Mike to start analysing the CCTV.’ She paused, then added, ‘Identify the vehicle and it could lead us straight to our man.’

  When Ed and Jenny arrived in Poole, Teresa opened her door within moments of their knocking.

  ‘Ms Dearborn. Teresa Dearborn?’

  ‘Yes …’ Teresa spoke a little warily, looking closely at the two women on her doorstep.

  Jenny opened her Warrant Card. ‘I’m Detective Constable Jenny Eastham and this is my colleague, Detective Inspector Ed Ogborne.’

  ‘Detective …?’

  Teresa glanced at Jenny’s Warrant Card and then took a step forward to look closely at Ed’s. Apparently satisfied, she remained in the doorway.

  ‘What can the police possibly want with me?’

  ‘It’s nothing to worry about. We believe you could help us.’

  ‘I don’t understand. In what way might I help?’

  ‘Perhaps we could talk inside,’ said Ed, still holding her Warrant Card in full view.

  ‘Yes. Sorry. Of course, come in.’ Teresa gave a nervous smile as she stepped aside. ‘I’ve only just got back from work and didn’t expect two police officers on my doorstep.’

  In the kitchen Ed and Jenny accepted an offer of tea. They sat at a circular pine table with a plate of shortbread biscuits between them and Teresa began to look more relaxed.

  ‘As I said, being confronted by two detectives is a surprise. How can I help?’

  Only too aware how desperately they needed Teresa’s co-operation, Ed was at pains not to alarm her. As usual, she led the questioning, while Jenny took notes.

  ‘It’s good of you to see us. We’re not here to disrupt your life but we do need your assistance. You could help us solve a case.’

  ‘I can’t imagine how.’

  Turning her shoulders so that she faced Teresa directly, Ed tried to hold her full attention.

  ‘We’re currently investigating the disappearance of a young woman.’

  Teresa stiffened slightly.

  ‘In fact, two young women who disappeared this year from the streets of Canterbury.’

  ‘Canterbury!’ Teresa looked more alarmed but tried to cover it by speaking firmly. ‘How can I possibly help you with something that happened in Canterbury? This is Dorset, not Kent. I live and work here. Poole is my home.’

  Ed indicated the biscuits. ‘May I?’

  Without speaking Teresa offered the plate to Ed and then to Jenny before returning it to the centre of the table. Ed took a small bite of the biscuit and waited until she had regained Teresa’s attention.

  ‘We believe the two young women were abducted, because that’s what happened, the girls didn’t just disappear.’ Ed paused to catch Teresa’s eye. ‘Someone took these girls by force. These abductions are linked to two others that happened years ago.’

  ‘I’ve already said, Inspector, I live and work in Poole, Dorset. You’re asking me about events that happened a hundred miles away in Canterbury, Kent.�
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  ‘Teresa. I may call you Teresa?’

  The teacher nodded and reached for her teacup.

  ‘You haven’t always lived in Poole, have you, Teresa?’

  A wary look returned to the woman’s eyes. Ed continued, speaking gently and holding her gaze.

  ‘The first of the four abductions happened ten years ago, in 2002. You were born and went to school in Canterbury. In 2002 you were still living in Canterbury.’

  Teresa returned her teacup shakily to the saucer. She looked apprehensively at Ed, waiting for what was to come.

  ‘In 2002 you were a victim.’

  Teresa stiffened and the colour drained from her face.

  ‘At that time your name was Teresa Mulholland.’

  Teresa gasped, ‘No …’ A frightened look appeared in her eyes.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Ed. ‘Revisiting these events may be painful but it’s important we—’

  ‘No.’ This time Teresa’s voice was firm. ‘No! I don’t want to go there. We’ve put all that behind us. I don’t want to speak about the past.’ Teresa pushed back her chair and began to stand. ‘I’d be grateful if—’

  ‘Please … please, Teresa. At this moment a man is holding a young woman against her will.’

  Teresa hesitated.

  ‘She’s a schoolgirl, just as you were in 2002. We believe it’s the same man. The man who abused you has gone on to abuse other women. As we speak he’s holding a fourth girl against her will. We need your help to find him and to rescue her.’

  ‘It was ten years ago. It’s all in the past. What can I tell you that could possibly be relevant now?’ Teresa stood behind her chair. ‘Please … leave us alone. Let us get on with our lives.’

  ‘Teresa, the last thing Jenny and I want is to disrupt your life here in Dorset. But we need your help to rescue the girl. Please let me ask you a few questions.’

  ‘But it was ten years ago.’ Teresa looked pleadingly at Ed as she started to return to her seat. ‘I’ve tried to forget it.’ Teresa sat rigidly in her chair. For an instant, she lowered her eyes and whispered, ‘I don’t want to remember.’

  ‘Teresa, with your help we could find this man now. Find him and rescue the girl.’ Ed spoke softly but clearly. ‘Let’s try a few questions.’

  Teresa hesitated. Her hands were beginning to tremble. She clasped them together, moving them against each other. ‘What … what do you want to know?’

  ‘After your ordeal your parents took you abroad. When you returned to Canterbury you had a sister.’

  ‘Yes, Celia. She was born while we were in Pisa.’

  ‘Would you say you’re close to your sister?’

  ‘Yes, she lives round the corner with my parents. I see her most days.’

  ‘Would you say you and Celia are very close?’

  ‘I’ve just said we’re close. I see her almost every day. We get on well. We spend a lot of time together.’ Teresa was getting more and more agitated. ‘What exactly are you trying to ask me?’

  ‘We’d hoped you’d tell us.’

  ‘Tell you what?’

  Ed noticed that the tremble in Teresa’s hands was increasing. She continued to push her gently.

  ‘Why did you go to Italy? What happened while you were there?’

  ‘My parents thought I needed to get away from Canterbury. We had a holiday.’

  ‘You and your mother stayed away a whole year.’

  ‘My father’s a generous man.’

  Ed took another small bite from her piece of shortbread and gestured towards the plate in the centre of the table. Teresa ignored the biscuits and looked anxiously at the two detectives. Ed swallowed and then took a sip of her tea.

  ‘Celia was born in Italy.’

  ‘She was my mother’s …’

  ‘Your generous father left his pregnant wife in Italy to give birth to his child while he returned to England?’

  ‘They’re … my parents … they’re old-fashioned.’ Teresa looked down at the table.

  ‘Rather a coincidence?’ said Ed. ‘You’re abducted and held captive for four and a half weeks and when you’re released your pregnant mother accompanies you on a year-long holiday in Italy. I find that very hard to believe, Teresa.’

  Teresa put her elbows on the table and supported her head with her hands. Tears began to run through her fingers and drip onto the table top. Her words were less than a whisper. ‘What do you want me to say?’

  Ed felt it was time to press the young woman. They needed her to confess the truth.

  ‘Teresa, we believe Celia is your daughter. We believe your parents took you to Italy so that you could give birth in secret. Then, in an act they felt necessary to protect you and the family honour, they registered the baby as their own.’

  While Ed was speaking, tears continued from Teresa’s eyes. Her body slumped as if the decisive moment in a long battle had been reached and she had lost the will to fight. A wealth of feeling, which she had held in check for years, escaped her control. She raised her head.

  ‘Celia’s my daughter, but she can never know.’

  With these words, Teresa acquired a new resolve. The tears stopped and the strength which had maintained her over the last ten years returned. Here was a situation in which she could give full rein to her latent motherhood. She became strong and protective.

  ‘You’re not going to tell her, not now, not after all this time. You can’t tell her. I’ll not allow you to ruin my daughter’s life.’

  ‘We’ve no intention of telling Celia that she is your daughter.’ Ed spoke reassuringly, only too aware they needed this woman’s help. ‘Teresa, we don’t want to hurt Celia nor do we want to hurt you. Our aim is to arrest the man who abducted you. We don’t want to disrupt your lives but we do want to bring this man to justice.’

  ‘But you’re the police. You’ll want evidence. What I say will come out in court. I must remain silent to protect Celia.’ Teresa spoke resolutely, sitting upright in her chair and directing a defiant face towards the officers.

  ‘A lot has happened in the last ten years. The man who abused you went on to abduct three more girls. He’s holding one captive as we speak. Just like you, she’s in handcuffs, chained to the wall. Teresa, we need to find her quickly before she’s further abused. You can help us save her.’

  ‘I can’t. I can’t betray Celia. I can’t have our lives revealed in court.’

  ‘That won’t happen. If you help us to identify him, he’ll be arrested and stand trial for the abduction of the young woman last month. Once he’s arrested, I’m confident he’ll confess to his earlier crimes, one of which will be the abduction of Teresa Bernadette Mulholland, the woman you were in 2002. The woman you are now, Teresa Dearborn, and her sister, Celia Dearborn, will not be mentioned in court.’

  ‘How can you be so sure?’

  ‘We have much more evidence from the recent abductions.’ Ed turned to her colleague for confirmation.

  ‘That’s true,’ said Jenny, looking up from her notebook before letting Ed continue.

  ‘The CPS will select the most convincing case. The other three cases, including yours, will simply be taken into account.’

  ‘Our present life will not be revealed?’

  ‘I can assure you, Teresa and Celia Dearborn will not be mentioned.’

  ‘You’re sure of that, sure that our names will not be revealed?’

  ‘No evidence will be offered in the case of Teresa Mulholland. Teresa Dearborn will not be mentioned.’

  There was a prolonged silence as Teresa hesitated, then she spoke. ‘How can I help? What do you want?’

  Ed and Jenny avoided looking at each other but both relaxed. They were halfway there. Ed spoke in a matter-of-fact tone as if she were asking for nothing out of the ordinary.

  ‘We just need a sample of your daughter’s DNA.’

  Teresa gasped and raised her arms defensively. ‘No! I can’t involve Celia. I won’t.’

  ‘She need not
know. All we need are a few hairs from Celia’s head. We could take them from her brush or a comb. A DNA match will enable us to identify the abductor from among our known suspects. We can then arrest him before he ruins the life of another victim. By the time he comes to court there will be other DNA evidence linked to a more recent case and, if needed, that will be the evidence used.’

  Teresa had now regained full control of her emotions. She was alert, her strength had returned and she was thinking clearly. She regarded Ed with a look of disbelief.

  ‘Inspector, do you realize what you’re saying? You’re asking me to collude in the incarceration of my daughter’s father.’

  ‘Teresa, in the modern sense of the word this man raped you and he has gone on—’ Ed was cut short by an outburst from Teresa.

  ‘No, no … you don’t understand! He chose me, he chose me to be the mother of his child.’

  This wasn’t how the interview was supposed to go. Ed was aware of Jenny looking at her, wondering how she would play this. They desperately needed the daughter’s DNA if they were to have a chance to save Tyler from the same fate as the other girls.

  ‘Teresa, this man has abducted four young women against their will. He has raped in a way to maximize the chances his victims would become pregnant. This man has submitted his victims to the trauma of captivity and to the horror of finding themselves pregnant with a stranger’s child. This man has disrupted their young lives in a way that will scar them for ever. At this moment—’

  ‘No! No, you’re wrong. It wasn’t like that. I was terrified at first but I soon discovered he was a kind man who only wanted the best for me. He looked after me and released me unharmed.’

  ‘But he inseminated you. He used your body for his own evil—’

  ‘No. You’re twisting what happened. When I discovered that I was pregnant I was devastated but my parents sacrificed everything for us. My father gave up his career and sold his business. My parents sold the house and gave up their friends in Canterbury.’

  ‘But, Teresa, this man abused you.’

  ‘No. No. It may look that way. I thought so too but I didn’t understand. My mother explained it wasn’t like that. She taught me to see that we cannot always understand the Mind of Our Lord.’