by Lisa Stone
He stopped at the T-junction that led onto the perimeter road. ‘Get down!’ he shouted, as the motorbike appeared. It flashed by, the rider briefly turning his helmeted head in their direction. Had he seen Leila? He couldn’t be sure. But even if he had, he doubted anything would come of it. A night-time joyrider was unlikely to be interested in or suspicious of them.
‘Stay down,’ he told Leila as he pulled onto the ring road that would take them off the estate. There were no other vehicles apart from the motorbike. He heard its engine roar again and it appeared in his wing mirror, its single headlamp dazzlingly bright. It quickly gained on them and sounded its horn as it roared by.
‘Idiot,’ Colin shouted.
‘I feel sick down here,’ Leila groaned.
He concentrated on the road ahead. It was a filthy night and the windscreen was misting up. A minute later he was at the exit of the estate and pulled onto the main road. The car engine was warming up and running more smoothly now, and the road was pretty much deserted.
‘You can get up now,’ he said.
In the rear-view mirror he saw Leila reappear on the back seat. ‘Shall I put on my seatbelt?’ she asked.
‘Yes, of course, you’re not stupid.’
Calm down, he told himself. Everything will be all right. Only fifteen minutes to the motorway and then a steady three-hour drive to Heath Cottage, where they would be safe. He never did more than sixty miles per hour on the motorway, as his car was old and could easily overheat. A new car was something he promised himself once they were settled and had some money. Something nice and smart that would fit with his new, smart lifestyle. His spirits began to rise.
‘Where are we going?’ Leila asked after a few minutes.
‘To Doris Goodman’s cottage,’ he replied convivially.
‘What’s a cottage?’
‘A small house out in the middle of nowhere.’
‘Will Granny Goodman be there?’
‘No, she won’t.’ Jesus! Didn’t the child ever shut up?
‘I didn’t know she had a cottage,’ Leila said.
Neither had he until a few months ago when it had formed part of the plan to take Leila. She’d told him it was an old crofter’s cottage that she’d lived in until she’d got married and moved south. She’d inherited it when her parents died and had continued to use it as a holiday cottage until her husband had passed and the journey and the cost of the upkeep had become too much. Sometimes others used it, but only in summer. It had fallen into disrepair but was isolated and remote, so it was ideal for their purpose – a hideaway until they could leave the country.
The windscreen wipers continued their steady rhythm back and forth as the motorway signpost appeared. Colin glanced in the rear-view mirror again and saw that Leila had started to doze. He began to relax. It would be fine as long as he stuck to their plan and kept his nerve. He had no regrets.
SIXTEEN
‘Nothing so far from the door-to-door,’ DC Beth Mayes said, thinking aloud as she drove.
‘No, and as the DCI said, no one on the estate is likely to want to get involved,’ Matt pointed out. ‘Apart from Mrs Goodman, of course. But she’s not much help with this one. Perhaps we’ll have better luck today.’
It was 10.30 a.m., two days after Leila had gone missing. Beth and Matt had not long come out of the management meeting led by Detective Chief Inspector Aileen Peters. They were now on their way to Hawthorn Estate to see Kelsey and update her on the police investigation. Mike Doherty and Jason O’Leary had spent the night in the police cells, having been charged for possession, and had eventually been collected by their parents, who were in no hurry to have them home again.
‘So we’re still working on the assumption that Leila is in the area, though not necessarily on the estate,’ Beth said, consolidating what they had been told. ‘Uniform are continuing the house-to-house inquiries in the streets around the estate.’
Matt nodded. ‘And the DCI has given us the go-ahead for visiting the three registered sex offenders living locally, although they’re bound to see it as harassment.’
‘There might be some more on Kelsey’s phone list who don’t live in the area,’ Beth said. ‘Her sister has sent it in and it’s been checked now. So we know Alan Stevens isn’t a registered sex offender, but the DCI wants us to speak to him anyway at some point.’
‘As well as any other clients who may have visited Kelsey’s flat,’ Matt pointed out. ‘Assuming Kelsey is going to be more cooperative today and tell us who they were. Otherwise we’ll just have to work our way through the contact list from her phone and eliminate them one by one. Although it may be that after all this the man who took Leila wasn’t known to them.’
‘I wonder if the Headmistress of Leila’s school has had any luck?’ Beth said as she navigated the traffic. ‘She was going to talk to the children in assembly this morning.’
Matt’s phone started ringing and he answered it. He listened for some moments with only the occasional ‘I see’, then ended with, ‘Thanks for that.’
‘Wonder no more,’ he said, glancing at Beth. ‘Miss Baker, the Head of Leila’s school, has phoned in. She spoke to all the children in assembly and also to some of them individually. A few say they saw Leila in the play area straight after school, but no one saw her leave. They were home by then. The Head said she would send a letter out with all the children asking parents to contact her or the police if they know anything that might help find Leila and also asking them to be vigilant. Apparently the parents were talking about it when they dropped off their kids this morning. They’re worried their child might be next. But the Head also said that Leila wasn’t a popular child and didn’t have many friends. I guess she’s the sort of kid parents warn their children not to associate with.’
‘Poor child,’ Beth said. ‘She didn’t stand a chance.’
‘No,’ Matt agreed. ‘Alone and vulnerable, with a mother like Kelsey, she would be easy prey. Their social worker, Peter Harris, has also phoned in and asked to be kept updated on the police investigation. It was likely that Leila would be taken into care before long, and possibly she picked up on this, which raises the possibility that Leila has run away to avoid going into care.’
‘Apart from the fact that she was seen leaving with a man,’ Beth pointed out.
‘Unless Doris Goodman was mistaken,’ Matt said. ‘No one else saw Leila leave with a man.’
‘No one else saw anything!’ Beth exclaimed sceptically. ‘Of course, there is another scenario – that Kelsey is at the bottom of this and has hidden Leila to stop her being taken into care. In which case, she probably had the guy – whoever he was – collect Leila from the play area.’
Matt agreed. ‘It wouldn’t be the first time a parent has legged it with their child when they were about to be taken into care.’
‘So if we’re right, when we get to Kelsey’s we’ll probably find she’s disappeared too.’
Ten minutes later Beth parked the car outside the block of flats where Kelsey lived. She and Matt got out and made their way up the stairs. A baby could be heard crying in one of the flats, a television was on loud in another and dogs barked in another. The sounds of everyday life continuing in the flats despite the enormity of what was unfolding outside. Some of the doors they passed had children’s bikes parked outside, although it was doubtful the kids would be allowed out alone until Leila was found. Some of the flats had patterned doormats and the occasional potted plant, taking the edge off the grey concrete. Not Kelsey’s, though. There were no homely extras, just a badly scratched navy-blue door in need of a good wash and a repaint.
‘Here we go then,’ Matt said, pressing the bell. ‘Place your bets as to whether she’s scarpered.’
They waited but the door remained unanswered and Matt pressed the bell again. ‘Kelsey, it’s DC Matt Davis and DC Beth Mayes,’ he called, knocking on the door. There was no reply. He tried again.
‘Looks like we were right then,’ he said.
‘Or she could just be out – you know, buying milk or something,’ Beth said.
Matt threw her a doubtful look. ‘More like out cold from whatever she took last night,’ he said.
‘If she has disappeared, we’ll need to update the DCI straight away,’ Beth said. ‘The missing person’s bulletin is going out later. It’ll need to be amended to say that Leila is thought to be in the company of her mother. We should have a photograph of Kelsey on file; she’s been brought in enough times for possession of drugs and soliciting.’
Matt took out his mobile phone, ready to call in and update their boss as Beth tried the doorbell one more time. ‘Kelsey. It’s the police.’
Kelsey’s neighbour, Brooke Adams, who they’d spoken to the day before, came out of her flat. ‘There was another domestic there last night,’ she said. ‘I was going to call you, but then I heard him go.’
‘There was a man here last night?’ Beth asked, surprised.
‘Yes, as I say, I was going to call the police, but then he left.’
‘What time was that?’ Beth asked.
‘I don’t know when he arrived, but the shouting started around ten o’clock, then it was off and on for ages. I guess he went around midnight. It’s happened before and it’s not nice for my kids to have to listen to all that sex and stuff. It was obvious what was going on.’
‘Do you know if Kelsey left with the man?’ Beth asked.
‘I’ve no idea. It’s possible, I guess. It’s been quiet in there ever since.’
‘I don’t suppose you know who the man was?’
‘I haven’t a clue. She has a lot of male visitors.’
‘Kelsey didn’t say his name then?’ Beth asked. ‘I know the walls in the flats are thin.’
‘I heard him calling her names, but I didn’t hear her use his name.’
‘And there were no sounds suggesting Leila was there?’
‘God, no, I hope not. I didn’t hear her. I haven’t heard her since she went missing. You haven’t found her then?’
‘No, not yet.’
Beth thanked Brooke for her help and she returned indoors.
‘That’s worrying,’ Beth said.
‘Kelsey!’ Matt shouted, banging on her door again. ‘Are you in there?’ There was still no reply. ‘So I’m guessing we break in,’ he said. ‘I can force that lock.’
‘Just a second,’ Beth said. ‘Listen.’
A small noise came from the other side of the door.
‘Kelsey, are you in there?’ Beth tried. ‘It’s the police – Beth and Matt.’
Another noise like a groan and then the door slowly opened.
‘Jesus!’ Beth gasped, catching Kelsey as she collapsed against her. ‘Matt, call an ambulance.’ She steadied Kelsey and then helped her back inside the flat and to the first room, her bedroom. ‘Sit down,’ Beth said, easing her onto the bed. The poor woman could barely stand from the beating she’d received. Her face was so badly bruised that one eye was nearly closed. Her lip was split and swollen and there was dried blood around her mouth, on her cheeks and jeans and matted into her hair.
‘Don’t call an ambulance,’ Kelsey pleaded, wincing as she spoke.
‘We have to,’ Beth said. ‘You’re badly hurt. Who did this to you?’
Kelsey shrugged.
‘You must know, love,’ Beth said. ‘Brooke told us she heard a man in here knocking you about last night. Look at the state you’re in. He could have killed you.’
‘Can you just get me a drink of water, please?’ Kelsey asked, touching her lip.
Beth went into the kitchen, rinsed a glass under the tap and filled it with cold water. As she returned Matt came into the flat. ‘The ambulance is on its way,’ he said, following Beth into Kelsey’s bedroom.
‘I’m not going to hospital,’ Kelsey said again. Beth passed her the glass of water.
‘That’s your right,’ Matt said. ‘But we would strongly advise you to get checked over. You look in a bad way to me.’
‘And that’s the bits you can see,’ Kelsey said, trying to smile. ‘The bastard. But I won’t be pressing charges.’ She took a sip of the water and grimaced as it stung her lip. ‘I owed him some money. He got what he came for. I’ll be more careful in future. Have you found Leila?’ She looked up at them imploringly.
Beth’s heart went out to her and she felt guilty for thinking she could have played a part in Leila’s abduction.
‘Not yet,’ she said. ‘But we’ve got a lot of officers working on it.’ She perched on the edge of the bed next to Kelsey. There were no concerns about her contaminating DNA evidence as Kelsey wasn’t pressing charges – she never did. It wasn’t the first time a client had turned on her, but it was definitely the worst beating Beth had seen. ‘Kelsey, did you know the social services were thinking of taking Leila into care?’ she asked gently.
‘Not for sure, but I guessed it wouldn’t be long.’
‘Did Leila know?’
‘Maybe. I don’t know.’
‘Do you have any idea where she might be?’
‘No. Honest.’ She winced again. ‘I’m worried sick. I know I should have taken better care of her. I just want her back.’
‘And you have no idea who the man was who was seen with Leila?’
‘None.’
‘Do you think it’s possible she might have run away because she didn’t want to go into care?’ Beth asked.
‘Yeah. I wondered that, but Gawping Goodman said she’d seen Leila go with a man.’ The glass she was holding shook.
‘I know, but we’re wondering if Mrs Goodman could have been mistaken. No one else saw Leila leave with anyone.’
Kelsey shrugged. ‘If she’s mistaken it’ll be the first time. The old bat is usually right.’
An ambulance siren could be heard pulling onto the estate and Matt stepped into the corridor to wait for the paramedics while Beth stayed with Kelsey. Presently they appeared from the stairwell and Matt showed them into the flat.
‘Sorry, guys, I’m not going with you,’ Kelsey said as soon as she saw them.
‘I’m Dave and this is Simon,’ the lead paramedic said. ‘It’s Kelsey, isn’t it?’ She nodded. ‘You’ve taken a bit of a beating, love. Can we at least check you over here?’
‘Yeah, I guess.’
Beth moved out of the way and waited with Matt by the door as the paramedics took Kelsey’s blood pressure and pulse, and then examined the cuts and bruises that were visible on her face, neck and arms.
‘You’ve had a nasty bang on the head,’ Dave said. ‘Did you lose consciousness?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Do you have any injuries anywhere else?’ Dave asked.
‘Yes, but I’m not showing you, it’s private.’
‘I think we should take you to hospital so all your injuries can be checked,’ Dave said. ‘You could have internal injuries too.’
‘No. I’m fine.’
‘You don’t look fine,’ Dave replied, and waited, hoping Kelsey would change her mind.
‘Sorry, I’m not going,’ she said.
‘OK, we can’t force you, but we will need you to sign a form saying we advised you to go to hospital and you refused.’ He gave Kelsey the form and a pen. She set her glass of water on the floor and carefully wrote her name. Her hand trembled as she passed the form and pen back.
‘If you do feel ill, dizzy or nauseous, or you have any concerns about your health, please seek medical treatment,’ Dave said, tucking the form into his pocket.
‘Thanks, guys,’ Kelsey said.
Saying goodbye, the paramedics left, closing the front door behind them.
‘Will Sharon come and sit with you?’ Beth asked Kelsey.
‘She’s at work, but don’t you worry about me. I’ll be all right. You just concentrate on finding my Leila.’
‘We are,’ Beth said.
‘So we were wrong,’ Matt said as they made their way down the stairs to exit the bloc
k of flats. ‘She’s certainly a tough cookie.’
‘She’s had to be,’ Beth replied grimly. ‘Kelsey’s had a hell of a life, and to top it all her last kid goes missing, then she gets beaten up because she owes some lowlife money. I wish she’d give us his name so we could bring him in.’
‘Perhaps she’ll change her mind.’
‘I doubt it.’
They crossed to their car. Matt was driving today so Beth got into the passenger seat. ‘Let’s go to Doris Goodman’s first and check her version of events for the night Leila went missing,’ Beth said.
Matt started the car. ‘She may also have seen something going on last night. She doesn’t miss much on the estate.’
A couple of minutes later, Matt parked the car outside Doris Goodman’s ground-floor maisonette. Her front door opened immediately and she appeared.
‘Good morning,’ Beth said, going up the short path.
‘Any news of Leila?’ Doris asked, concerned.
‘Not yet.’
She showed them into her living room, which was neat as usual. Matt sat by the window where he could see the car and Beth took the sofa.
‘We’ve just come from seeing Kelsey,’ Beth said. ‘I’m afraid she’s in a bad way. Someone beat her up last night.’
Doris gasped. ‘I’m so sorry to hear that. The poor woman.’
‘A neighbour thinks her attacker arrived around ten and left around midnight,’ Beth continued. ‘We were wondering if you saw anything of the disturbance?’
‘No.’ Doris shook her head.
‘You can see the entrance to the flats and Kelsey’s living-room window from here,’ Matt said, pointing.
‘Yes, if I were to look out of my window, but I was watching television for most of the evening and then I went to bed around ten o’clock.’
‘Thank you anyway,’ Beth said. ‘It was a long shot.’
‘Is that all you wanted?’ Doris asked, apparently unusually eager to end their visit.
‘There is something else,’ Beth said.
‘Yes?’ Doris cocked her head.
‘When we spoke to you yesterday you said you saw Leila leave the play area with a man, although you couldn’t give us a description and you weren’t sure in which direction they were heading.’
