by Linda Coles
“Well, that’s excellent news, Pete. I’d like to know myself.” Jack’s brain was in a tizzy as he tried to think what to do next.
“Any news or sign of the other two missing girls?”
“Nothing else to report, Jack. Sorry.”
“Is Eddie aware?”
“Can’t raise him to tell him. Thought I’d best tell you directly.”
Some things never change.
“Thanks for letting me know. Any idea when Kent will be able to speak to her?”
“Not at the moment. Sorry.”
“Keep me posted, will you?”
“Of course, Jack. Good news, though. Nice for them all to be reunited for Christmas.”
“Yes, it’s great news, really great news.” Jack finished the call and stood looking at the phone in his hand like it was going to morph into something special. He sensed Janine behind him and turned.
“Don’t tell me you have to go …?” The look of disappointment on her face bit into his heart.
“I don’t think so. But I may have to later. One of our missing girls has been found safe and relatively well. They’ve taken her to hospital.”
“Well, that’s great news!” She dried her hands on her apron as she spoke.
“Yes, it is, it is. I could do with talking to her, though. I’d like to be there when she’s interviewed.”
“I understand, Jack. When will you know?”
“Soon, I hope. I’d better not drink anything over lunch. Don’t want to be done for drink driving. Wouldn’t look too good.” He turned and headed back to the lounge and his half-finished tray of vegetables. For someone who had received news that one missing girl had been found, he didn’t feel much like celebrating. The other two girls were still missing and the time lapsed so far didn’t bode well for their survival.
He focused on peeling the potatoes.
Chapter Fifty-One
He was as stuffed as the turkey he’d eaten. Jack sat restlessly on the sofa beside Janine; a rerun of Morecambe and Wise was about to start on the TV, and a half glass of wine sat on the side table.
“No point me getting it. It’ll be for you,” Janine remarked for the second time that day as Jack struggled to his feet to answer it. “You get off. I’ll sort the kitchen,” she called as he made his way to the phone. While he’d been waiting for the call to come through, he’d been dreading it too, not wanting to let his Janine down on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, crime never took a break. It didn’t celebrate Christmas.
“Jack Rutherford,” he answered.
“DS Tom McCormick, Kent police. I believe you might be expecting my call?”
“Yes, thanks for ringing. What’s the story? How’s Leanne?”
“I believe not bad, all things considered. I’m hoping to talk to her in the next couple of hours, hence my call to you. Fancy a drive?”
“Tell me where to meet you.”
After he’d noted the hospital address down and said his see-you-laters, Jack headed back to the lounge to break the news to Janine.
“Just get back when you can. I’ll make some sandwiches for supper later and we can eat them in front of the TV. The Vicar of Dibley is on at nine o’clock. Try and be back for then if you can, eh?” Janine pecked him on his lips and smiled. “I hope the girl is alright. Now go and see how you can help get the others back.”
Jack looked down into her forever sparkling eyes and lightly pecked her lips back.
“Janine Rutherford, what have I done to deserve a woman like you, eh?”
“You picked a good’un, didn’t you?” she said softly, reaching up to adjust his shirt collar slightly, not that it needed it. It was more a touch of love on her part. “Now go and do your job and I’ll see you when you get back. Drive safely.”
Jack opened the front door to leave. “See you later, then.”
Janine waved through the window as he started the Taurus and pulled out of the driveway.
Jack took the opportunity to try and raise Eddie, wherever he was, but came up short. His calls kept going through to his mailbox. He wasn’t officially on duty so he could be forgiven, but there was rarely rest from a case like they were working on. Christmas Day and its skeleton staff fell at the wrong time for three missing girls. He called DI Morton, more out of duty than necessity; Morton was as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Like Eddie, there was no response.
“Best I sort this myself, then,” he said to himself, feeling like he was the only person who cared about what happened to the girls. He pushed the CD into the player and ELO started out with “Hold on Tight,” which seemed fitting for the drive. His dreams at that moment were that Leanne was alright and that the other two girls would be found safe and well. After that, he dreamed of heading back to the warm fireplace, Janine, and supper. That would make his Christmas, alright. He turned up the volume and sang along with ELO. He knew every word of every song on the album and when it switched over and “Horace Wimp” started, he thumped the steering wheel in time with the lyrics.
With almost clear roads ahead of him, he headed around the M25 towards Kent, and thought about how lucky Leanne had been to escape. He hoped the others could be so lucky. Fifty minutes later, the red brick hospital building came into view and he swung in, immediately finding a parking space near the front entrance. He marvelled at how easy the drive and parking had been; perhaps every day could be like Christmas Day. Life would be a little easier. He put his foot out onto the damp tarmac; the rain was long gone and the afternoon sun was doing its best to dry the earth beneath it. There were lighter patches where it had succeeded, but the sun was not hot enough to cause steam to rise. Maybe on another day. Heading inside, Jack made his way to the ward and the room number he’d been given by Tom McCormick, and wasn’t surprised to see a uniformed officer by the girl’s door. “Looks like someone else cared too,” he thought with relief. Tom was a decent bloke. He showed his warrant card to the officer on duty and then poked his nose in. Leanne was with a nurse. He withdrew it again.
“I’m looking for DS Tom McCormick,” he said to the officer, retracing his steps back out to the corridor.
“Just gone for a coffee. He’ll be back soon, I expect.”
“Thanks. Are her parents here?” Jack asked, nodding towards Leanne’s door again.
“Yes. They are with Tom getting coffee while the nurse is in.”
“Any other visitors?”
“Not that I’ve seen, and I’ve been here pretty much since she came in. Good news she’s here, though, made it out alive.”
“Certainly is. Now we have to find the others.”
“Well, if they were in that house too, they’d be lucky. Leanne got out before the fire.”
This was all news to Jack. “What fire?”
“A fire was reported nearby where she was found by the farmer. We think it could be connected, might be the place where she escaped from, though until we’ve spoken to her, we don’t know much. Speculation on our part for a while longer. Anyway, Tom will tell you more,” he said, pointing down the corridor at a group heading their way. “He’s here now with her parents.”
Jack watched as a weary Dave and Penny Meadows walked towards him with Tom McCormick. Since he’d last seen them, they looked like they had aged twenty years. He put out his hand to greet them both when they reached him.
“Good news for you both. I’m so glad she’s back,” Jack said compassionately, his eyes meeting Penny’s. Hers looked sore from crying, but she was happier than the last time he’d seen her. He had hated asking if her daughter had been pregnant, and he’d left their house feeling like he’d made matters worse.
“We just want to see her, see our baby girl.”
“Then let’s go and do that,” Jack said.
Tom nodded.
Chapter Fifty-Two
It felt good to be safe and warm again, and even hospital food was better than what Leanne had been eating over the last few days. Christmas Top of the Pops was on the TV and she w
as half-watching that. She’d been examined by doctors, examined by forensics, and had briefly been questioned by police, though the doctors had put a stop to it until she’d rested a while. Right now, Leanne Meadows lay deep in thought and feeling thankful to be alive while she waited for her parents to arrive. Then, she’d talk to the police properly. The police, she knew, were extremely anxious to get moving.
A nurse put her head round the door of her room.
“Your parents are here now, Leanne. Do you feel up to seeing them?” she asked kindly. Leanne nodded, a weak smile playing on her lips. She wished she could muster a little more energy but exhaustion was weighing her down. The nurse approached her bed and helped her to sit up, fluffing her pillows behind her like a mother hen.
“I’ll show them in. The police are here too, so I’ll give you a minute together, and then I’ll let them in. The sooner you get it over with, the better, I say. Then it’s a good night of rest for you. Okay?”
Leanne nodded. A moment later, she heard her mother before she actually saw her. Mrs Meadows gave an excited cry and rushed to her daughter, arms wide and tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. She took her daughter gently in her arms and sobbed her relief. Her father joined in, wrapping his arms around them both, squeezing a little harder than perhaps he ought to have. When, finally, they both pulled back, Leanne was crying with relief too, and all three collectively wiped their eyes with the back of their hands.
A detective hovered at the doorway, waiting for permission to enter. Leanne waved him in; his colleague followed close behind him. Leanne’s mum glared for a moment.
“It’s alright, Mum. The sooner I get this over with, the better.”
“Are you sure, dear? Don’t you want to rest more first?”
“No, I want to get it out of my system, and then I can forget it. It’s best, I’m sure.” The detective took a seat by her bed, the old plastic chair creaking under his ample weight. Would it hold out while they talked? Leanne wondered, trying to prepare herself for what she had to say, to find a little humour in the horror of it all. She also knew it could have been a good deal worse for her than it had been. She’d never forget that bit, she was sure. The other detective stood next to him, a pleasant-looking man, she thought. He had kind eyes, though he looked a little nervous fiddling with his top lip like a child. Both her parents stayed close by, Leanne’s mother holding her daughter’s hand, stroking the back of it gently, careful not to touch the drip that was inserted a little higher up. The seated detective introduced himself.
“Hi, Leanne. I’m DS Tom McCormick, Kent Police. And this is DC Jack Rutherford, Croydon Police.” Jack nodded and smiled without actually showing his teeth, just enough to acknowledge her. “Do you feel up to answering a few questions?” Tom continued.
“Yes, I want to get it all over with. Ask whatever you want.”
“Well, I find the best place to start is at the beginning, so why don’t you tell us what happened on Monday and we’ll take some notes. Sound okay?”
Leanne nodded, thought for a moment, and then, taking a deep breath, recalled the whole story from when she’d left work – the puncture, the van, the younger girl being kidnapped, the house and how she’d managed to escape. Tears flowed as she spoke, not only her own but her mothers, and when she told them of her room visitor and what he’d been about to do, Mrs Meadows cried out loud with anguish. Her husband comforted her as her lower lip trembled uncontrollably. When the room had quieted down again, Leanne finished her story with the farmer finding her, taking her back to his house and calling the police. Then she had a question of her own.
“Am I in trouble for stabbing the man?”
“No, you’re not. It was brave of you, but no, you are not in any trouble.” It was the seated detective and he had a question in return.
“Let’s start with the house where you were kept. How far from where you were found do you think it was, and what can you remember about it?”
“It was two storeys, old, cold and in the middle of nowhere. When I ran, I didn’t know where I was going; it was dark and raining. I’d say I’d been running for at least an hour when I fell, but I couldn’t be sure. It was so disorientating. I hadn’t a clue where I was going. I’m sorry. I tried to keep moving but …” When her voice trailed off, both detectives looked at one another and something passed between them, something that Leanne also saw.
“What is it?” she asked.
“There was fire reported late last night, not that far from where you were found. An old property, in the middle of nowhere. It might be the same building. We’ll know more when forensics have finished with it.” Dave Meadows cleared his throat, perhaps a little too loudly, and Jack looked his way. Their eyes met for a second then Jack broke away.
Leanne carried on, “What about the others? There was at least a young woman. I don’t think she was part of it. She couldn’t have been much older than me. She brought my food. She was the one that brought the spoon. If she hadn’t done that, I daren’t think what I’d have done when he came in.” Her voice broke. She owed her life to the young woman. With the back of her hand, she wiped the big tears that had started to fall again. Her mother passed her a tissue.
“We have only found one body in the house, and right now we’re assuming it’s the same place you were held. Again, we’ll know more after forensics have finished. The house was gutted. If the others did get out, they could be anywhere. Who are the others you definitely know about, other than the girl, and the man who attacked you?”
“I only met one other man, but I heard screams in the distance so I couldn’t say who else. I only heard the screams.” Leanne described the other man in some detail. The fact he’d been so repulsive made it easier to remember what he’d been wearing, his pudgy face and sausage-meat stomach. Maybe if she let it all out she could be cleansed of the vision of him taking up space in her head.
When all the details were down, Tom McCormick closed his notebook. “Leanne, you’ve been extremely helpful. Thank you. I’m sure we’ll have a few more questions, but we’ve plenty to work on for now, so I suggest you get some rest. I’ll call back, probably tomorrow. I believe you’ll be going home soon?” He looked at Penny Meadows for confirmation.
“When the doctor has done his rounds tomorrow – fingers crossed,” she replied with a hopeful smile.
“What happens now, then, Detective?” Dave Meadows asked after clearing his throat again.
“We see what that house tells us.”
Did Jack imagine it, or did Mr Meadows blanch?
Chapter Fifty-Three
It was almost dark when Jack got to the scene of the fire. He’d followed Tom McCormick out so they could each go in their separate directions afterwards, and even though it was getting late, Jack was interested to see what was left of where Leanne had been held. Mobile lighting shone brightly up ahead, highlighting the spot they were travelling to. The bumpy track played havoc with the old Taurus’s suspension. He really should get a new car. They pulled to a stop and headed over to the makeshift tent that had been erected. The crime scene investigators were taking a break. They were dressed in hooded white paper suits, face masks pulled down under their chins while they chatted. Tom introduced Jack to the team, whom he knew well; there were collective nods all around. Behind them, the remains of a blackened, wet, stinking building were lit up like a museum on a gala evening. Smoke hung in the air, making it smell like a November bonfire night rather than a jolly festive Christmas evening. A lone firefighter was dampening down hotspots; the others were packing away their tools, their sooty faces looking exhausted. Jack would have a word with the forensic investigator in charge in a moment, but now he turned his attention to a man who was walking purposefully towards them both.
“Jack, this is my DI, Graham Brooks,” said Tom, introducing them. “Anything for us yet, Guv?” Tom asked.
“Surprisingly, yes, actually. A couple of things of interest. From their initial examination, it looks like t
he fire started in a downstairs room, middle of the house. Accelerant residue suggests arson, and there’s accelerant out front also, by the two burned-out cars. The building partly collapsed over the seat of the fire,” he said, pointing. “That part went down first and that’s where they found the body, but luckily not all of the building has gone, as you can see. Whoever started this fire wasn’t too lucky if they were hoping for it all to burn. Fire service got here pretty quickly, so there’s something left to work with. Hopefully, forensics will come up with something useful.”
“Well, the VINs should be a useful start. Those two cars will tell us something. I wonder why they were left?” said Tom.
“My guess is someone thought taking the reg plates off would be enough,” Brooks said, nodding over to the burned-out cars. “There’s usually remains of a plate left, but both plate holders are empty on both vehicles, so I’d say they were a bit thick in that respect.”
“Let’s hope they weren’t stolen vehicles, then – dead ends. We could do with a break. Anything else so far?” This from Jack.
“Not much yet. Crime scene techs haven’t been upstairs yet. It’s too dangerous.”
Jack hoped there weren’t any more dead bodies up there, namely those of the missing girls. The DI read his mind.
“Fire team went up initially, and there were no other bodies found. Just the one, which is on its way to the morgue, but we think it’s too big for any of the missing girls. For now, we’re suggesting that it’s probably the man who attacked Leanne. There’s nothing but charred remains, so we can’t be totally sure as yet. Maybe dental will help us there, and the VINs with a name.”
