Somebody's Daughter
Page 1
Somebody's Daughter
A gripping crime thriller packed with mystery and suspense
Carol Wyer
Books by Carol Wyer
The DI Natalie Ward series
The Birthday
Last Lullaby
The Dare
The Sleepover
The Blossom Twins
The Secret Admirer
The DI Robyn Carter series
Little Girl Lost
Secrets of the Dead
The Missing Girls
The Silent Children
The Chosen Ones
Other titles
Life Swap
Take a Chance on Me
Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines
Surfing in Stilettos
Just Add Spice
Grumpy Old Menopause
How Not to Murder Your Grumpy
Grumpies On Board
Love Hurts
Available in Audio
The DI Natalie Ward series
The Birthday (Available in the UK and the US)
Last Lullaby (Available in the UK and the US)
The Dare (Available in the UK and the US)
The Sleepover (Available in the UK and the US)
The Blossom Twins (Available in the UK and the US)
The Secret Admirer (Available in the UK and the US)
The DI Robyn Carter series
Little Girl Lost (Available in the UK and the US)
Secrets of the Dead (Available in the UK and the US)
The Missing Girls (Available in the UK and the US)
The Silent Children (Available in the UK and the US)
The Chosen Ones (Available in the UK and the US)
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Little Girl Lost
Hear More from Carol
Books by Carol Wyer
A Letter from Carol
Secrets of the Dead
The Missing Girls
The Silent Children
The Chosen Ones
The Birthday
Last Lullaby
The Dare
The Sleepover
The Blossom Twins
The Secret Admirer
Life Swap
Take a Chance on Me
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Friday, 16 August – Evening
Fifteen-year-old Katie Bray screeched in fury as the roots of her hair seemed to burn and pull from her scalp.
‘Get off me!’
She kicked out in pain and anger, the heel of her boot catching her sister’s shin, making her curse but, at the same time, release her hold.
‘You little bitch!’
Sophia’s voice was a growl, her eyes two burning coals. What had begun as an argument was quickly escalating into something more primeval, and both girls grunted and snarled like wild animals as they circled each other. Katie was almost as tall as her seventeen-year-old sister and not afraid of confrontation. She’d taken on girls at school who were far more street-savvy than Sophia, and that fact emboldened her. She bided her time and then struck, arms shooting out at once, catching Sophia square on both collarbones, propelling her against the wall with all the force she could muster. Her sister crashed against it, striking it with the back of her head, and crumpled to the floor. Katie froze.
‘Sophia?’
Her sister didn’t respond.
‘Sophia, I’m sorry.’ She edged forwards, horrified at what she’d done. Her sister’s eyes were shut, her arms limp by her sides. ‘Are you okay?’ Not an eyelid flicker.
‘What’s going on?’ Olivia, the youngest sister at nine years old, stood in the doorway, a colouring book under her arm.
‘Nothing. Go away.’
‘Is Sophia okay?’
‘Yes. Clear off!’
‘Why is she asleep?’
‘She isn’t.’
‘Is she dead?’
‘No! Get out! Get out before I thump you too!’
Olivia vanished in a flash and Katie turned her attention back to Sophia on the floor. There was nothing. Not a movement. Her heartbeat hiccoughed. What had she done? The demon, a permanent resident in her brain, yawned lazily and told her Sophia had been asking for it. It was her sister’s own fault she was lying in a heap. If she hadn’t acted so unreasonably, neither of them would have set about each other. She reasoned the voice was right. Sophia shouldn’t have made her retaliate; after all, she knew Katie’s capabilities. She’d supported her during roller derby when Katie had landed heavy shoulder or hip checks on opponents much larger than herself, knocking them to the ground or even causing them to fly off into the crowd. She understood the darkness in Katie’s soul, and her total lack of fear. Katie wasn’t scared of anybody, and if cornered, she behaved like a rat and would fight her way out. Besides, argued the evil spirit within her, what was the big deal? It wasn’t like she’d deliberately stolen Sophia’s boyfriend. He’d got bored of Sophia and had come on to her.
Sophia didn’t move and Katie knelt in front of her, afraid to discover the truth. Sometimes she didn’t know her own strength. Like the time she’d headbutted Martha Eggleston in the schoolyard and the girl had had to go to hospital because her nose wouldn’t stop bleeding. ‘Soph, please… I’m really sorry.’
Katie was flat on her back before she knew it, Sophia on top of her, slapping her face, leaving her cheeks stinging, and all the while screaming at her, ‘Bitch! Bitch! Slut!’ The anger surged once more. The cow had feigned injury to catch Katie off guard. She twisted left and right to throw Sophia off, but the girl dug her knees harder into Katie’s ribs, bruising them, and wouldn’t be bucked off. Sophia’s face was a mask of fury. Never had Katie seen her so livid or so mental.
‘Stop! I’m sorry, okay?’
‘Not okay. You knew I was in love with Tommy. I told you. You bloody well knew how I felt about him, and you led him on!’
Sophia had stopped fighting to talk, and in that moment, Katie acted, the monster in her unwilling to surrender. She arched her muscular body and twisted to the side, displacing the girl, who fell against the wooden table, piled with magazines, let out a scream and pressed her hands to her face. Katie wasn’t falling for the same trick twice. As Sophia rolled onto her side and began to cry, Katie scrambled to her feet and stood over her sister.
‘You can stop play-acting now. I’m done. You’re pathetic.’
Her sister didn’t pounce on her, and instead of marching away, Katie waited a moment.
‘Sophia?’ She kicked loosely at her sister’s foot, and when the girl didn’t move, she crouched, ready to spring back if need be. ‘You can’t have hurt yourself badly. You only fell a little way.’
Sophia uncovered her face. Her eye was a
lready swelling shut and her cheekbone had turned an angry red. Katie couldn’t speak. How had this happened? The injury looked serious; her cheekbone could be broken. She was going to suggest she ring the hospital, or doctor, and get her checked over – that was until Sophia hissed, ‘I hate you. You’ve ruined my life. I wish you’d go away and die. You wait until Mum and Dad see me. Olivia will back me up.’
Katie stood in one swift movement. ‘Fuck, Sophia.’ She was sick of her hysterics and demanding ways. She was seventeen going on seven, a right crybaby, and no doubt she’d milk this for all it was worth. Mum and Dad always sided with her goody-goody sisters, and Katie was invariably the one in trouble. They’d go ballistic for certain this time and would ground Katie for weeks – and once they actually found out what had caused the fight, they’d make sure she finished with Tommy. Well, that was never going to happen. She left Sophia nursing her face and stormed upstairs. It wouldn’t take long to pack. They could all get screwed. She’d had enough of being treated as the one in the wrong all the time. She could manage perfectly well without any of them.
Chapter One
Friday, 1 November – Afternoon
DCI Natalie Ward put the final toffee apple onto the dish and admired her handiwork. They looked delicious, even better than shop-bought ones. She wasn’t the world’s greatest cook but she’d taken her time with the apples and prepared them the day before to make sure the toffee would set in time for the early Bonfire Night festivities. Josh had been amazed…
‘Blimey, Mum. Have you been on a cookery course or something?’ says Josh, eyeing the apples as she picks one up by its wooden stick and rolls it in hundreds and thousands.
‘Cheeky! I used to make you Bonfire Night treats,’ she says.
‘You used to cook bangers and mash and tell us it was a traditional Bonfire Night dinner,’ he replies with a grin that lifts his handsome face, already becoming serious like his father’s.
‘Bangers and mash is a traditional bonfire meal.’
He smiles at her. ‘Sure it is. Didn’t matter. It was tasty and one of my favourite meals. Those look delicious.’
‘Want to try one?’
‘Go on, then.’
She shakes a small container of minuscule pink and white sugar pieces. ‘You want hundreds and thousands on yours?’
‘I’ll pass on the sprinkles, thanks.’
‘Careful, they’re still hot,’ she warns as he lifts the nearest toffee apple to his lips. He blows on it, licks it tentatively, then nibbles the crisp caramel coating that crunches noisily. ‘Well?’
‘Actually, they’re delicious.’
‘That’s a relief.’
‘You don’t have to try so hard, you know.’
She brushes away his concerns with an airy wave. ‘I’m not trying.’
‘Yes, you are.’ He bites into the apple itself and chews before continuing. ‘She’s a little kid. She isn’t going to care if you made these yourself or not.’
The kid in question is Mike’s seven-year-old daughter, Thea, and Josh has rumbled his mother. Natalie is trying to impress. She’s been hoping that the get-together will help win the little girl over. Thea’s reluctance to accept Natalie as her father’s live-in partner has been a stumbling block the last few months. Natalie isn’t sure whether Mike’s ex-wife, Nicole, is partly to blame or whether the girl has got it into her head that Natalie is stealing her father away from them both, but Thea is as obstinate as a mule and won’t show the slightest inclination to be nice to Natalie.
‘You’re wise beyond your years,’ she says with genuine affection.
‘Must take after you, then,’ he replies.
‘You’re being complimentary today. Why would that be?’
His eyebrows lift and his forehead creases, reminding her again of David. ‘You saw through me. Actually, I was wondering if it’d be all right if I skipped the party. Pippa’s got tickets to the fireworks event at Chatsworth House and, no disrespect, they’ll have a much better display than you.’
It’s a blow. Without Josh there, she’ll feel exposed. Thea seems to like Josh, and Natalie was hoping to use that to her advantage. Her son chomps on the apple and waits for a response. She sighs inwardly. She can’t keep relying on him for support in this matter. Thea will come around whether or not Josh is there.
‘Sure. You go,’ she says.
‘Cool. Thanks. They really are good,’ he says as he leaves.
‘Let’s hope they do the trick.’
The early Bonfire Night celebration would herald the end of what could only be described as twelve months of ups and downs. The ups included her promotion to DCI, moving in with Mike Sullivan, still the Head of Forensics at Samford HQ, and the truce that had finally been called between her and her ex-husband, David. They were, once more, on speaking terms, comfortable with each other, and although it still felt strange seeing him from time to time, she was glad they hadn’t completely drifted apart. She was especially pleased for Mike, who’d been his best friend for many years. The fact they could still go out together for a drink and chat had meant a great deal to him. Life was short and there was no room for bitterness. The murder of her fifteen-year-old daughter, Leigh, had changed how she viewed the universe, and rather than despise it for stealing her beloved child, she now accepted she was here for a purpose, and she had to enjoy whatever happiness came her way.
Thea was due any minute. It was Mike’s weekend to have his daughter, and he was upstairs, showering in preparation for the small party that had been Natalie’s idea. She’d arranged for some of Thea’s friends and their parents to come along and watch fireworks that Mike would let off in the back garden, eat Bonfire Night food and play glow-in-the-dark games: hoopla and skittles and then more usual ones such as apple-bobbing. She hadn’t arranged anything like this for several years, not since Leigh had turned ten and declared she was too old for such babyish activities. The memories of her daughter burned fresh holes in her heart every time she thought of her, but there were also moments when Natalie would smile at the precious recollections and be transported back to that time, before the reality of her loss kicked in and made her yearn to stroke Leigh’s hair, or hold her close. This longing was probably partly responsible for the reason behind her effort. She longed for Thea to drop her guard and let Natalie offer her the affection she had to give.
She checked the garden, fairy lights glowing warmly in the hedgerows. Josh had also patiently coiled them into huge glass jars and around the decking posts to create a magical scene. She wished again he could have stayed but there was no time to dwell on such thoughts because the doorbell rang, announcing Nicole and Thea’s arrival.
‘They’re here!’ she shouted from the bottom of the stairs and strained to hear the muffled reply. Mike was almost ready. Natalie opened the door with an effusive, ‘Hi!’
Nicole, bundled against the cold in a thick woollen coat, crossed the threshold and handed Natalie a Frozen backpack. ‘Hi, Natalie. How’s it going?’
‘All ready.’
‘Isn’t it nice of Natalie to arrange a party for you?’ said Nicole to the small figure clutching a large toy dog in her arms. ‘She’s been looking forward to it, haven’t you, Thea?’
Thea didn’t answer but gave Natalie a cool look, her eyes exactly the same shade of blue as Mike’s.
‘Well, who’s this?’ said Natalie with enthusiasm, patting the dog’s head.
‘Dog.’
‘He’s lovely. Did you get him for your birthday?’
Thea gave a quick nod. ‘Dog wants to watch cartoons with me.’
‘Okay, why don’t you show him the way to the telly?’
The girl walked off without a goodbye to Nicole, who called, ‘Hey, what about a kiss for your mummy?’
Thea returned, arms loose by her side, and allowed Nicole to embrace her. Natalie turned away. It hurt her every time that she could never share a similar intimate moment with her own daughter. She fixed the smile back on her face and
offered Thea her free hand. The girl ignored her and, hanging her head, walked off into the house.
When she was out of earshot, Nicole lowered her voice. ‘I’m in her bad books. She wanted a real dog for her birthday but there’s no way I can look after a puppy, not with work. The poor creature would be alone all day, so I bought her a toy one instead and it’s a poor substitute.’
‘Not too poor. She’s taken it to watch television and she brought it here with her to show it off. She must like it.’
Nicole gave a sad smile. ‘I think she’s trying to make me feel guilty.’
‘Nonsense. She’s happy with it,’ Natalie replied, kindly.
‘I hope she is. It cost enough. Probably more than an actual animal.’
‘Ah, but not the same outgoings: no food or vet bills, and no need to walk it every day, even in the pouring rain,’ Natalie joked.
Nicole still looked downhearted. ‘I’ll probably cave and get her a pup for Christmas.’ She sighed. ‘Right, I’d better get going. I hope the party goes well. I suppose Mike is still at work?’
‘No, he came home early especially. He’s getting changed. He’ll be here in a sec.’