by Anita Waller
‘Oh, Kat, don’t depress me even more. The short answer to that is I have absolutely no idea.’
The missing person report came in as Tessa Marsden was carrying her cup into the kitchen, prior to heading off back to Chesterfield. She answered the call with trepidation, after seeing it was from the station; they wouldn’t have contacted her unless it was concerning the current job.
She listened for a minute, then said, ‘Hang on.’ Taking her notebook and pen from her pocket, she placed them on the kitchen work surface.
‘Okay, go ahead.’ She wrote down the details being dictated over the phone, then confirmed that she would go and see the mother immediately. She was within a five-minute drive.
‘A misper, newly in,’ she said as she joined the others.
‘Oh no!’
‘Afraid so. Look, I still might be reading more into this than I should be, but you know when you get that… tingle, that feeling that something’s wrong?’ Tessa shook her head. ‘She’s an eighteen-year-old from Castleton, so I really hope it’s me that’s wrong. I’m off to see her mother, find out exactly what we know, get a photo, that sort of thing.’ She turned to Doris. ‘It’s a lovely cottage, lovely atmosphere, Doris. Good luck with the move tomorrow, and please send Carl back to us undamaged.’ She grinned and walked out of the door.
Chapter Three
The detached house in Castleton was surprisingly small, and as Marsden walked up the front path, she could see a woman standing in the window. She waved and held up her warrant card, then waited at the door until it was opened.
‘Come in,’ the woman said, ‘out of the rain.’ She didn’t check Tessa’s identity, simply ushered her through the front door.
Tessa followed her to the lounge, the room the woman had been standing in as Tessa had arrived.
‘Please sit down.’
Tessa nodded. ‘Thank you. I’m DI Tessa Marsden. You’re Mrs Harrison?’
‘I am. Marnie Harrison. My husband, Andy, is at work but on his way home. He works in Manchester.’ The woman was nervous and babbling. She was a tall lady, and kept pushing her dark brown curly hair back from her forehead, as if it gave her comfort, but her brown eyes reflected the pain and worry inside her. ‘Would you like a drink?’
‘Mrs Harrison, please sit down. I’m fine, thank you. Tell me about your daughter.’
Marnie Harrison sat on the armchair, unspeaking for a moment. Then she stood and removed a photo frame from the mantelpiece. ‘This is Orla. This was taken last year. In Rhodes. In the old town.’
The young girl was beautiful. Slim, long blonde hair worn straight, her face tanned by the Greek sun with a trace of pink lipstick, definitely beautiful.
Marsden studied the photo, then asked if she could keep it. ‘I promise I’ll bring it back to you, I need to get some copies made. What colour are her eyes? I can’t really tell from this.’
‘Brown. Her eyes are brown. Of course. Do what you need to do.’ Marnie twisted her hands together. ‘Please… find her and bring her home.’
Tessa smiled. ‘Tell me about Orla.’
Marnie gathered her thoughts. ‘She’s called Orla French. I was married previously, but my husband was killed in Afghanistan ten years ago. Hence the different surname. I met Andy three years ago and we married last year. That picture of Orla was taken on our honeymoon.’
‘You took your daughter on your honeymoon?’ Marsden’s surprise showed.
Marnie gave a small laugh. ‘I know it sounds unusual, but we booked the holiday, then decided to get married and use it as a honeymoon. Orla was already booked to go with us and it didn’t occur to us not to take her. Andy’s a lovely dad to her – it’s why he’s on his way back here. I rang to tell him Orla hadn’t come home, and he wound up the meeting straight away.’
‘So, when did you realise your daughter was missing?’
‘I last saw her about one yesterday afternoon. She works in one of the tea shops in the village and I called in for a drink. At this time of year, they close around four. She said she was going to her friend’s house to stay overnight, and would see me this afternoon.’
‘And her friend is?’
‘Emily Carr. I’ll have to check her address for you, it’s in Hope. Orla said she was going to walk there after finishing work – it’s only the next village – but I asked her to come home first and wait for Andy, he would have run her across to Emily’s, it was raining so heavily. She said she’d be fine, and I came back home. Got in about two.’
‘And she didn’t ring to say she had arrived safely?’
‘No, and that in itself is quite strange. We’re close, like sisters really, and she always keeps me informed of whatever she’s doing, even if she’s going to be half an hour late home from work if they’re really busy, she’ll make sure to ring so that I don’t worry.’
‘And you didn’t ring her?’
‘No. I try not to do that. It’s almost like checking up on her and she’s eighteen now. At some point you have to let them go, and keep your concerns inside you. Andy got home around seven, we had our meal and then had an early night.’ There was a slight smile, but then the smile disappeared. ‘Where can she be?’
‘I don’t know, Mrs Harrison. So what made you realise she was missing? And I need to know what she was wearing when she left work to walk to Hope.’
‘I rang her about one today to see if she wanted to go shopping. It’s her day off, hence the sleepover at Emily’s place. She didn’t answer. I tried three times, then rang Emily.’
Marnie Harrison’s face clouded over. ‘That was when I knew something was wrong. Emily works in a solicitor’s office in Baslow and she answered in a whisper, saying she was at work. I said sorry, and disconnected, then texted her and asked if Orla was still at hers.’
Marnie handed her mobile to Tessa. ‘This is the reply.’
Orla not with me. Not seen her since Sunday. She okay?
Marsden took out her own phone and photographed the text. ‘And then you rang us?’
‘I did. There’s something wrong, I know there is. I rang you, then I rang Andy. Oh, and when she left for work yesterday morning, she was wearing a red full-length coat, a padded one, waterproof. She had a Nike backpack, and she probably would have had her headphones in and connected to her mobile phone. She definitely had black knee-high boots on, because she borrowed mine. I remember her saying…’ there was a slight choking sound as her memory kicked into gear, ‘she said her boots leaked in heavy rain, so could she take mine. Find her for me, please, DI Marsden.’
‘We’ll try our best, as you know, Mrs Harrison. Do you know where she met with Emily on Sunday?’
‘Yes, they go to church, have done ever since they were about twelve or thirteen. They were at school together, used to go one week to Hope church, then the next to St Edmunds across the road, but decided they preferred this one so made this their regular Sunday service.’
There was a bang as the front door opened and Marnie Harrison stood, her face rigid. ‘Orla…?’
‘It’s me, sweetheart,’ came the deep tones of the person Tessa presumed was the husband.
He walked into the lounge still carrying his briefcase, and shook Tessa’s hand. ‘Andrew Harrison,’ he said. ‘Any news?’
Chapter Four
Tessa lifted her head to meet his eyes. ‘Not yet, Mr Harrison. We’ve only recently taken the report. Luckily I was in Bradwell so managed to get here quickly. This is out of character for Orla? She doesn’t normally take time out and disappear?’
Andy Harrison shook his head. ‘No, she never has in the three or so years that I’ve known her. She’s a remarkably level-headed young lady, the kind that’s mature and not mature. I mean… she would never answer back, or show off, never be a typical teenager, and yet she was a little bit naïve. For instance, walking into Hope in that heavy rain, in the dark.’ His brow creased as he thought about it. The more he spoke, talked through the issues, the more the worry was showing. He ran
his fingers through his short grey hair; his blue eyes clouded over as the reality and severity of the situation seemed to suddenly hit him.
‘Does she have a boyfriend?’
‘No,’ was the sharp answer from Andy.
‘Kind of,’ was the more telling response from his wife.
‘Tell me more,’ Tessa said.
‘I think it’s something and nothing,’ Marnie said. ‘He lives locally, she said, but wouldn’t tell me his name. She said there was time enough for that if it progressed. I’ve no idea who he is, but maybe she would have confided in Emily.’
Marnie crossed the room and stood by Andy’s side. She slipped her arm around his waist, and hugged him. ‘Let’s put our walking gear on and go look for her,’ she said softly. ‘Let’s go find our Orla.’ Marnie rubbed her eyes, eyes that were threatening to spill tears once again.
‘No, Mrs Harrison. Is it okay if you’re Marnie and Andy?’
They nodded in unison, and Andy said, ‘Of course.’
‘I need one of you to stay here, and I think it should be you, Marnie. If she’s hurt, or in trouble, and manages to get back home, she’ll want her mum.’ Tessa glanced outside. ‘It’s quite dark because of the weather, but I’ll get a team out here and we’ll make a preliminary search. If she hasn’t arrived home by tomorrow morning then we can start at first light with dogs and a large team. You’ll also be allocated an FLO, a family liaison officer. Whoever it is will be here if you need them. They don’t intrude but they will keep you informed of any activities. Marnie, go and put the kettle on, I’ll nip out to the car and make the arrangements.’
The rain had almost stopped, and Tessa sank into her car seat, took her phone out of her bag and sat for a moment, wondering how to proceed. It really was turning ever darker by the minute; the clouds hadn’t lifted during the day and she was certain the deluge of earlier hadn’t stopped permanently.
Her ringtone pealed out and she glanced at the screen. The station at Chesterfield – that had saved her ringing them.
‘DI Marsden.’
‘Tessa, it’s Harry.’ The desk sergeant’s voice was unusually subdued.
‘Hi, Harry. I was about to ring you. I need a medium-level search party out in Castleton. Can you organise it, please?’
‘I can, but we’ve some more news about that neck of the woods. We’ve another misper come in, in the last few minutes.’
‘What?’ Tessa felt a cold shiver run through her.
‘Another young lass from Castleton. She’s nineteen. Didn’t come home last night. Out of character. Pretty much like the one you’re at currently.’
‘Hang on, give me the details.’
‘Amanda Williamson, her mum calls her Mandy. She’s small, dark brown long hair, brown eyes, normally would be at Manchester Uni but she’s had pneumonia so is back home with Mum to recuperate. Supposed to be going back to Manchester next Monday.’ He read out the address and Tessa quickly jotted it down in her notebook. ‘Her mother sounds pretty distraught,’ he warned her, ‘there’s no father, only the two of them. Right, can I make a note you’re off to see her? In the meantime, I’ll get this search organised. Let’s get these lassies found. I’ll send the search team to Orla French’s address, but I’ll tell Hannah to coordinate, you might still be with Mandy Williamson’s mum.’
‘Thank you, Harry. Tell Hannah to ring me when she gets here. Make everything happen two hours ago, Harry, can you? It’s bloody awful weather, and if either of these girls are injured or something, I don’t want them out in it for a second night.’
‘Understood, Tessa, I’ll stay on a bit tonight, just in case.’
Just in case? Just in case what? A third call with another missing girl comes in? Tessa shivered again. She got out of the car and returned to Marnie and Andy. It was starting to look much more sinister, especially if the two girls knew each other, or had some other connection.
Marnie met her in the hallway. ‘I’ve made tea.’
‘Thank you. Can you come through to the lounge? I need to ask you two a couple of questions.’
Marnie’s face went blank, but she followed Tessa, waiting until they were seated before whispering, ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Firstly, there is a search team on its way. My sergeant, DS Hannah Granger, will be coordinating everything.’
‘You won’t be here?’ Andy queried. It sounded more like a reproof than a question.
‘Possibly later. That’s the other thing I need to tell you. We have a second missing girl, also from this village.’ She paused to let that sink in.
Marnie and Andy turned to each other and clutched hands.
‘Who? Do we know her?’
‘Her name is Mandy Williamson…’
‘Zoe’s girl? Oh no!’ Marnie Harrison’s eyes were huge. ‘What’s going on? Where are our girls?’
‘There’ll be a team of searchers here shortly. Andy, I’m going to ask you to stay with your wife. It’s dark, and the team know what they’re doing. You could possibly hamper them. I have to leave you, to go and speak to Mrs Williamson. Nobody has been to see her yet, she rang through to Chesterfield to report Mandy as missing. When DS Granger arrives, she will probably want to run an eye over Orla’s bedroom. Please allow that, won’t you. There may be something there that could be a lead as to where she is.’
She stood and walked to the front door. ‘I’ll be back later.’
She met Hannah on the driveway, so returned to the front door and introduced her to the parents, then left to visit the Williamson household.
Zoe Williamson went out to stand on her front path as soon as she saw Tessa’s car pull up outside. She didn’t speak, simply held the door open for Tessa to go in.
Tessa and Zoe faced each other in armchairs, and Tessa took out her notebook. ‘Give me some details about your daughter, please, Mrs Williamson.’
‘It’s Zoe,’ she said. ‘Call me Zoe.’ Her short dark hair was flat to her head, wet with rain. She had clearly been outside for some time waiting for her daughter to walk up the street, arrive home in a taxi, get off the bus – anything, as long as she did arrive home. Zoe’s green eyes were filled with tears.
Marsden nodded and waited.
‘She’s a lovely girl, never given me a minute’s worry until now, which is why I’m panicking. She rarely goes out other than to church, but last night she said she was meeting someone. I asked her who it was, but she gave me that smile that she has, and said I’ll tell you who he is if I decide I like him.’ Zoe pushed a photograph across to Tessa. ‘This is Mandy.’
A pretty, rather serious-looking girl, stared back at Tessa. Her hair was dark brown and pulled up into a ponytail, high on the back of her head. Her brown eyes stared straight ahead at the camera.
‘May I borrow this?’ Tessa asked. ‘I’d like to get some copies made.’
‘You can keep it. I had a larger one made, so have had that smaller one in a drawer. Please… find her for me.’
‘We’ll do our best, Zoe. Does Mandy know another girl in the village called Orla French?’
‘They know each other from church, I believe, but I think that’s the extent of it. Why?’
‘Orla is also missing. We’re keeping an open mind in these early stages, but is there any possibility they could be together?’
‘I wouldn’t have thought so.’ Zoe frowned. ‘She’s never mentioned Orla.’
Tessa waited, but there was nothing else. She closed her notebook.
‘If you can think of any friends Mandy might have had, you need to be ringing around them to see if she’s there. We already have a search team in Castleton, but the weather and darkness is hampering us. Tomorrow morning, at first light, there will be a much bigger contingent here. And a family liaison officer will be with you, keeping you up to date on everything. Sit tight. Don’t go out looking yourself. If Mandy comes home, she will want someone here, and that must be you. I have to go, to check on everything, but I’ll be back.’
As Tessa pulled away, she could see Zoe Williamson at the window staring out into the dark, and Tessa couldn’t even begin to imagine how she must be feeling.
Chapter Five
The carpet fitters were already waiting when Doris arrived at the cottage. She felt thankful that the rain had finally stopped, but the air still felt damp, and everything seemed grey.
She waved at the two men in the van, and unlocked the front door. It was cold, but she knew she couldn’t put any heating on; the men wouldn’t thank her for it. She had chosen a plain light grey for fitting in both bedrooms, hallway, stairs and landing, and the primary lounge downstairs. She had made a special arrangement with them that they would come back within a week to complete the smaller second reception room, once she had moved everything out of it that was being stored there.
They began work immediately, refusing her offer of a drink, saying that they needed to crack on if they were to be finished before the delivery men arrived with her furniture. As each room was completed, she covered the carpet with old sheets – it was definitely the wrong sort of weather to have furniture removal men trampling on brand new carpets!
As they drove away a much larger van pulled up with her entire life in the back of it. Kat, Mouse and Carl had arrived; Martha had headed off for a playday with Nanny Enid and Granddad Victor.
Carl organised everything, and it seemed to be only a short space of time before the van disappeared, the men replete with tea and scones.
Doris had her cottage.
The search team found a body at eleven o’clock.
Nadine Bond, the family liaison officer allocated to the Harrisons, held her breath when she saw Marsden head up the path to the front door. She had been in this situation too many times not to recognise the expression on the DI’s face and she moved to sit by Marnie.