The Taken Girls

by G D Sanders

  ‘Why Lucy and now Tyler?’

  ‘What do you mean, Inspector?’

  ‘You had a child with Teresa so why take Kimberley, Lucy and Tyler?’

  ‘Surely you see, Inspector. They were insurance for the future of our species. I needed children I could care for from afar. I needed to be sure.’

  ‘And what are your thoughts now, Roger?’

  ‘I assume I shall go to prison because the world will not see the goodness in what I have done. But my motivation is strong. You saw that in me, Inspector, you said I am resilient. In prison I shall use the internet. I shall strive to bring others to my cause. I’m sure you understand, Inspector, this movement will benefit the—’

  There was a crash as the door behind him burst open. He turned to see uniformed police officers crowding into the room.

  ‘Ma’am?’

  He turned back to the Inspector. She was on her feet.

  ‘It’s the abductor, Roger Grieves. I’ll formally arrest him and then you can get him down to the Station. We’ll follow you.’

  ‘Yes, Ma’am.’

  The look of sympathy and care had left her face. The arms that had helped him stand were not these arms. She faced him, cold and efficient.

  ‘Roger Grieves, I’m arresting you for the abduction of Tyler Hewitt. Other charges may follow. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something that you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

  He understood. She had to do it. In front of her colleagues she had to be professional.

  ‘What will happen to my adopted ones?’

  ‘They’ll be taken care of, Roger.’

  He’d been right. Her words confirmed his thoughts. He relaxed. She understood.

  ‘Take him away.’

  The handcuffs dug into his wrists as he was bundled into the night.

  68

  At the Station, forensics bagged the clothes Tyler was wearing before she was reunited with her mother. Ed allowed them ten minutes together before Tyler was seen by the MO.

  Anna Masood reported the girl appeared to be in good general health with no signs of sexual violation.

  ‘So, no physical injuries?’

  ‘None that I can find.’

  Ed felt an immense sense of relief.

  ‘Has he started inseminating her?’

  ‘I’ll not know until the swabs have been checked.’

  ‘Please make that a priority and let me know as soon—’

  ‘Of course, you should hear by midday tomorrow.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Ed arranged Tyler’s ABE interview for the following day and then had uniform drive mother and daughter home. Roger Grieves had been charged, seen by the Custody Sergeant and taken to a cell. Tomorrow, his day would begin with breakfast and a psychiatric assessment interview.

  It was 05.00 and dawn was breaking before Ed left the Station. Physically and emotionally drained, she was a different woman from the pumped-up DI who had stood on the threshold of the building in the woods. What can a lone abductor possibly do to hurt me? The image of Grieves with his ghastly specimens, his dishes and syringes, and the thoughts of what he planned to do to the defenceless girl he’d chained to the bed, would remain in Ed’s head for a very long time. Despite her revulsion at what he’d done, Ed was aware that at the centre of this case was a broken man, not born evil but driven to it by the trauma of his own past life.

  Walking home, Ed noticed the sun catch the top of the central tower of the cathedral. After the horrors she’d witnessed at the building in the woods, Ed smiled in recognition that there was also beauty in the world.

  Tomorrow would be a step towards justice for the taken girls and their families.

  69

  Feeling good despite less than three hours’ sleep, Ed arrived early Friday morning to give Chief Superintendent Addler a preliminary briefing on the previous night’s rescue of Tyler Hewitt and the arrest of Roger Grieves. The Super remained silent, listening closely to Ed’s account and occasionally making a rapid note with her fat fountain pen. When Ed finished speaking, Addler looked up.

  ‘I assume Lucy Naylor’s blood-soaked wrapping paper came from a parcel containing a late-termination foetus that Grieves smuggled from the hospital?’

  ‘That was my thought when I confronted him at the hideout last night.’

  ‘Why wasn’t the blood identified as foetal? Had forensics done so we wouldn’t have had a potential murder inquiry seeking an unknown woman across the whole of South East England.’

  ‘I appreciate that, Ma’am, but it wasn’t an option. There’s no reliable test for foetal blood.’

  ‘Why so?’

  ‘Identification uses antisera for foetal haemoglobin. There are specificity problems, particularly with old or dried blood stains. The blood on Lucy’s piece of paper was both old and dry.’

  ‘Quite. We’ll speak again later.’

  Summarily dismissed, Ed walked back to her desk thinking that a word of congratulation would have been welcome but she was learning that wasn’t the Addler’s style.

  Later that morning, Ed checked Grieves was ready and then rang Addler. ‘We’re about to question Grieves and I wondered if you would like to observe?’

  ‘It’s imperative I witness the interview. This is a major case. I’ll be available in 40 minutes. Delay things ’til I’m free.’

  ‘I’m a bit concerned about this one, Ma’am.’

  ‘If you’d like me to lead the questioning—’

  That was the last thing Ed wanted.

  ‘—just give me the case notes for 15 minutes before we start.’

  ‘Thank you, Ma’am, that wasn’t my concern. DS Potts and I will be able to handle the questioning.’

  ‘Then what’s the problem?’

  ‘Earlier this morning, Grieves was assessed as psychologically vulnerable. This vulnerability, a detachment from reality, is mosaic.’

  ‘Mosaic?’

  ‘It applies to one clearly defined aspect of his life, his obsession with fathering children and a belief he’s saving abandoned children by caring for late-aborted foetuses. In all other aspects of his life he functions normally. Discount those two aberrations and you have a model citizen and an excellent teacher. We shouldn’t overlook the fact that, theft of the foetuses aside, his voluntary work at the hospital, like his teaching, was a valuable contribution to society.’

  ‘I assume the psychiatrist has recommended an appropriate adult be present as well as a solicitor?’

  ‘Yes, but that’s the problem.’

  ‘Why so?’

  ‘Grieves believes he’s completely sane. He’s refused the support of an adult and refused a solicitor. He described it as demeaning, a slur on his intellect.’

  ‘Has his refusal been properly recorded?’

  ‘Of course, Ma’am.’

  ‘Then what’s your problem?’

  ‘Whatever he believes, he needs support. I’d rather do it by the book.’

  ‘If he’s been offered support and declined it as you say, and all of this has been officially recorded, then you are doing it by the book. Look at the positives. You won’t have to play footsie with a solicitor and a psychiatrist or forensic medical officer. You’ll be free to really nail the bastard!’

  ‘As you say, Ma’am.’

  ‘I’ll let you know when I’m ready for the interview.’

  At 10.45, Chief Superintendent Karen Addler called to say she’d be free in five minutes so they should get Grieves up from the cells.

  ‘The Chief Constable is delighted with this outcome although he was disappointed you didn’t take advantage of a great photo opportunity at the arrest.’ Addler paused, then added, ‘I don’t suppose you could take him back to the scene of the crime and surreptitiously stage a reconstruction for a film crew and photographers?’

  Ed remained silent.

  ‘No … I suppose not … Never
mind, I was able to mollify the Chief Constable by explaining there was no chance this one’s pregnant.’

  ‘As I said last night, Ma’am, the MO can’t be 100 per cent certain.’

  ‘Professional caution, Ogborne, you’ll get used to it when you’ve been in the Force as long as I have.’

  Addler was silent for a moment, then, before Ed could speak, she continued. ‘This has been a welcome case for us.’

  Thinking of the distressed victims and their families, Ed wanted to disassociate herself from the idea that this or any other crime was welcome but Addler continued with barely a pause.

  ‘Fortunately it reached the national press so we should get some valuable coverage. On that note, be sure to tell everybody that any contact from the media, newspapers, radio or television, whatever, should be put straight through to me. I’ll deal with those aspects of the case personally.’

  Addler paused again and then, as an apparent afterthought, added, ‘It’s taken longer than I would have liked but you’ve done well. Give my congratulations to the rest of the team.’

  ‘Thank you, Ma’am, I’ll tell the team personally.’

  ‘One more thing: the Chief Constable is concerned about the collection of aborted foetuses found at the hideout.’

  ‘We all are, Ma’am.’

  ‘Precisely, it’s a sensitive issue but not directly related to the abductions. We think it should be handled separately from those charges.’

  ‘Are you saying we should treat it as a separate prosecution?’

  ‘The Chief will be speaking to the CEO of the Hospital Trust later today. It wouldn’t do to detract from the abduction charges against Grieves. On reflection, we think the foetuses should be treated as an internal matter by the hospital authorities. It’s critical that human tissue is disposed of appropriately. Consequently, as soon as SOCO and forensics have finished at the hideout, the foetuses and all the associated materials should be boxed up and deposited here in the evidence store. Keep me informed.’

  ‘As you say, Ma’am.’ Quickly, before Addler had chance to end their conversation, Ed added, ‘I’ve been wondering if you’ve had any success looking into the whereabouts of the reports concerning the 2002 Mulholland abduction and the 1999 suspension of two teachers linked to TOBs, a group called The Old Boys? Both sets of files are missing from police records.’

  ‘The files have been returned. There’s nothing relevant to the abductions you don’t already know. Their apparent disappearance was the result of an oversight by an officer who’s long since left the force. The Chief Constable concluded there’s no need for an inquiry and the matter is now closed.’

  ‘I see.’ Ed paused before adding, ‘Thank you for telling me, Ma’am.’

  The line went dead before she’d finishing speaking. Ed was furious and might have said more. The Chief Constable was moving to shield the hospital authorities just as the Mulhollands and members of TOBs had been protected in the past. Ed wasn’t naive, she knew such actions were widespread in society, but she believed the Force was there to preserve order and to expose those who operated beyond the law. There should be no place for an ethos of cronyism which had covered up greater scandals and no doubt would continue to do so.

  At 10.50, Grieves was taken to Interview Room 3. The Super observed proceedings from an adjacent room. After identifying those present, Ed looked directly across the table.

  ‘Roger Grieves, you have been informed of your rights, arrested and formally charged with the abduction of Teresa Mulholland on Friday, 8 March 2002, Kimberley Hibben on Tuesday, 1 January 2008, Lucy Naylor on Friday, 15 June 2012, and Tyler Hewitt on Thursday, 19 July 2012. In addition, you are charged with the sexual violation of Teresa, Kimberley and Lucy by artificial insemination. Do you understand the charges?’

  ‘Yes.’

  For two hours Ed and Mike questioned Grieves about the abductions but, despite varying their approaches, they were unable to obtain more than he’d revealed the previous night at the building in the woods.

  ‘I have one last question, Roger. How did you come by the building in the woods?’

  ‘In my free time, Inspector, I enjoy walking off the beaten track. There are many abandoned buildings in the woods around Canterbury. When I conceived my project, I found the most appropriate building and prepared it for my mothers-to-be.’

  Ed felt a wave of sickness at the calm, matter-of-fact way Grieves spoke of the horror he’d planned and committed.

  ‘I’m going to terminate this interview now, Roger. Before I do, have you anything else you’d like to say?’

  ‘What will happen to my adopted ones?

  ‘You asked me that last night, Roger. As I said then, they’ll be taken care of.’

  ‘Thank you, Inspector, thank you for caring.’

  ‘Interview terminated at 13.07.’

  At the end of the afternoon, the team would meet for a celebratory drink. Right now Ed needed a hot shower and a little time getting her head back together. Walking home she could not begin to grasp how a human mind, the greatest wonder of evolution, had come to generate the thoughts and beliefs which filled Roger Grieves’s head. How had that one part of an otherwise good person become so detached from the real world in which he lived? In due course, he would stand trial and be sentenced for his crimes. He would be incarcerated in a secure institution. One day he would die but the passing of his twisted mind would not signal the end of evil in the world. Ed was a realist; the fight against evil would continue.

  70

  When Ed Ogborne went for a drink with Nat, Jenny and Mike to celebrate the successful conclusion of her first case in Canterbury, it was clear that the resentment at her arrival was long forgotten. She’d been accepted by her new colleagues and she was confident that they would continue to work well together. As soon as they were in the pub Jenny, who’d drawn Grieves in the sweepstake, pulled four creased fivers from her bag, but Ed was adamant she’d buy the first round.

  ‘First off, it’s my shout and I insist it’s a bottle of champagne. After that you can drink what you like.’

  Later, at the table, as Ed topped up their glasses with the remains of the champagne, Jenny flashed her winnings for a second time but Mike pulled rank and bought the round, a dry white wine for Ed, a pint of Spitfire for himself and lagers for Jenny and Nat. Finally, Jenny got to spend her cash and Nat went to help her. He returned with their drinks, followed moments later by Jenny with a tray of vodka shots. In an effort to prolong the evening, Ed got a fourth round in without asking the others, but Mike’s heart wasn’t in it. With each round he had become more and more withdrawn. Although his pint was unfinished, Mike made his apologies, saying he had to get home. To Ed’s surprise she thought she detected a touch of anger as well as tiredness in his voice. Mike was barely on his feet when Nat and Jenny made their excuses and the group broke up.

  Outside on the street Ed and Mike went their separate ways, leaving Nat and Jenny walking together.

  ‘Shall we go to a club?’

  ‘I’ll have to go back and change first.’

  Jenny had been tempted by Nat’s suggestion but by the time they’d got back to the police accommodation block the idea of turning out again was less appealing. She couldn’t face clubbing but she didn’t want the evening to end just yet.

  ‘It’s been a long day.’

  Nat looked disappointed.

  ‘I’ve got a bottle of red.’

  Nat’s face brightened.

  Mike set off across the city centre towards his home but doubled back to buy a bottle of Chivas Regal, an impulsive purchase he’d contemplated for days. During the investigation he’d found a place of respite. For the past week the feeling had grown that he should make use of it.

  Volatile was not a word people sought to describe Mike Potts. He lived life in the middle ground with balanced responses to the world. His mood never soared to great heights nor plumbed the blackness of despair. Ever since his daughter died, home had been a s
ad place in which his wife continued to grieve their loss. When he first heard the news that his daughter had been killed in the hit and run, Mike had been devastated, but weeks became months and he began to wake each morning prepared to face the day.

  Even so, this evening he had been unable to stomach further celebration in the pub with his colleagues. The successful conclusion of a case always caused the return of the anger he felt that his daughter’s killer was still at large, still unpunished. He lived with an accumulation of concerns which had not been faced but which he’d allowed to recede with the years. The memories remained but the pain gradually became less sharp. At home his wife was a constant reminder of that pain.

  Clutching his much-pondered impulse purchase Mike rang the bell in St Peter’s Lane and waited for the light to come on in the hallway.

  Back at her apartment Ed sat at the kitchen table and poured another glass of wine. With the case no longer dominating her thoughts, she felt a growing sense that something was missing from her life. She thought of Don and Nigel and an unwelcome feeling of regret caught her by surprise. Ed tried to dismiss the thought from her head as she’d dismissed the men from her life. So far, they’d left her alone but her thoughts of them wouldn’t go away. At this time of night, mellowed by a drink too many, she wanted one of them with her. Those bridges were burned but that didn’t diminish her desire.

  Ed thought of Schiele’s women captured in effortless black chalk and those startling touches of red gouache. She contemplated getting her grandfather’s book from the shelf but resisted; the remembered images were enough. In the bedroom Ed moved the floor-standing mirror to the foot of her bed. It wasn’t her nature to be passive like the women in the paintings but her heart wasn’t in it. She needed company.

  Frustrated, she drank some more wine before selecting a number from her contacts.