Her Perfect Family

by Driscoll, Teresa

  ‘OK.’ She pauses. ‘Matt. Good luck.’

  Matthew releases a breath and can feel his adrenaline pumping. Wendy has a good plan but if it backfires, it will be Mel’s head on the block.

  He puts his phone back in his pocket and updates Wendy as they head to the cathedral. There’s a market en route; a lot of people about. He remembers the chaos at the graduation ceremony. Everyone running . . .

  ‘So our target wanted them to come back here for their anniversary?’ Wendy is now taking in the cathedral.

  ‘Yes. As I say – a long shot. But if she turns up, we need to keep her inside the cathedral. Until we’re sure she’s not armed.’

  Wendy nods.

  ‘Not too late to change your mind.’ He turns to look at her, to be clear he means this.

  ‘I’m fine. Let’s get this done.’

  Matthew moves off again. ‘I wish to God she didn’t know what I look like. I’ll have to keep back with uniformed. Keep your phone line open in your top pocket – I need to know the moment you have her bag.’

  ‘I know what I’m doing.’ Wendy sounds a little cocky but Matthew can see that in truth she’s a little nervous which is no bad thing. She needs to be cautious, not overconfident.

  Once they reach reception and the shop, Matthew moves behind a display and Wendy directs a member of staff to speak to him.

  ‘Are the police on the premises? My name is Matthew Hill. You should have had a call from my inspector?’

  ‘Yes.’ The woman looks very worried. ‘We’re trying to get hold of the verger to handle this. I don’t have the authority—’

  ‘Please don’t be alarmed. We haven’t got much time. I’m going to keep everyone safe but we need to make an arrest as discreetly and as quickly as we can. Have you cancelled the midday tour?’

  ‘Yes. We’re telling people he’s off sick. But like I say, I need to speak to someone more senior—’

  ‘No time. Just don’t allow anyone else through. Unless there’s a woman with long, curly hair. Like this.’ He takes out his phone to show her the picture of Laura. ‘She can go through if she turns up. No one else. Understood?’

  The woman picks up the phone, clearly concerned about protocols.

  ‘Where are the officers?’

  ‘Through there.’ She points.

  ‘Thank you.’ Matthew turns to Wendy. ‘I’m going to speak to them. Keep your phone line open like I said. You got enough battery?’

  ‘What do you think I am, an amateur? Of course I’ve got enough battery. Does the vest show?’

  Matthew shakes his head, still wishing he could step up himself. ‘She may not even turn up.’

  Wendy shrugs and heads off through the cathedral to get in position near the clock. Matthew retreats to the centre of the cathedral, out of sight, to brief the two uniformed officers who’ve been discreetly asking visitors to leave – allegedly for a staff fire drill. Fortunately, it’s quiet. Just a few tourists who leave without a fuss.

  Now they just have to wait.

  CHAPTER 59

  THE FATHER – NOW

  Ed puts the two coffees on the bedside cabinet and turns to Rachel.

  ‘Sorry I was so long. Spilled the first coffees. Stupid of me. But I just spoke to the police. There’s a lot going on, apparently. They hope it will be over soon. Ahead of the ceremony, I mean.’

  Rachel still looks terrified. ‘Did they check you coming in? Was the door security good?’

  ‘It was fine. They checked.’

  ‘Good. Good.’ She’s sitting on the chair alongside Gemma’s bed, her right foot flipping up and down furiously with the tension. She seems to notice him staring at it and uncrosses her legs, putting both feet on the floor, clearly struggling to sit still.

  ‘So what exactly’s going on? What did they say?’

  ‘No specifics. Just that there’s a live operation. More arrests imminent, by the sounds of things. It’s going to be all right, Rachel.’

  ‘Is it?’ She looks out on to the now empty ward. ‘Why’s there no armed guard?’

  ‘DI Sanders said there should be a team downstairs soon. Just a precaution. I don’t know if they’ll come up to the ward. I don’t know how they do these things. Maybe they’re waiting to see if they pull off these arrests.’

  ‘What arrests?’

  ‘I’m not sure. She said they have two strong leads. She’s going to call and update us as soon as anything happens.’

  ‘Is it Laura? Have they found Laura?’

  Ed hasn’t told Rachel about the anniversary; that today would have been his and Laura’s silver wedding anniversary. That Laura had once said they should go back to the place they met to celebrate. He feels so stupid and so guilty for not thinking of it before.

  What if this really was the trigger for it all? What if Laura, in her delusions and her illness, somehow latched on to the date? What if all of this really is . . . his . . . fault?

  And then he notices Rachel’s expression changing. She’s looking at Gemma’s bed, at first frowning. Next, her whole face darkening. ‘Ed. Look.’

  He turns to their daughter, the headphones still in place, and something inside him shifts. Breaks. Gemma’s eyes remain firmly closed. She’s as still as ever. Skin pale.

  But trailing across each cheekbone is a haunting but unmistakable line – the droplets catching the light from the fluorescent strip overhead.

  Gemma is crying.

  CHAPTER 60

  THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

  Matthew and the two uniformed officers are waiting, concealed behind pillars in the central area of the cathedral called the Quire. They can’t be seen from the clock area, which is off to one side, but it also means Matthew can’t see what’s going on.

  The line’s open to Wendy’s phone, tucked in her top pocket, so he daren’t speak, in case Laura’s appeared and he’s overheard. It would all have been so much easier if there had been time to plan with proper comms. Earpieces.

  It’s quarter to twelve. He expected Laura to turn up early. It was always a long shot but what if he’s called this wrong? What if he should really be at the other cathedral – Maidstead – helping Mel check all the security? Finding Sam’s wife Lily? One of the uniformed officers, an affable-looking guy, leans forward as if to speak, but Matthew puts his finger up to his lips then waves his other hand to signal that he should stay back. Keep quiet.

  And then at last . . .

  ‘Do you know what happened to the guide?’ A female voice. Soft Canadian accent. He can only just make it out and has to press the phone closer to his ear, adjusting the volume to maximum.

  ‘Off ill, apparently. I think they’re probably all volunteers. Shame. I always prefer it with a guide.’ Wendy sounds genuinely disappointed. Also convincing. Matthew puts his thumbs up to signal to the two uniformed officers that Laura’s turned up.

  He sees them exchange a nervous look and Matthew suddenly feels the full force of the risk he’s taking here. There are cathedral staff and volunteers on site. They’ve been told to retreat to the shop area but there’s still a risk. Uniformed have explained this is a key arrest but he’s breached protocols. He should probably have spoken to the verger’s office himself but there wasn’t time.

  She’d better not be armed. If anyone gets hurt . . .

  ‘Just us then,’ Wendy adds, clearly as a signal to Matthew. ‘Expected it to be busier on a Friday. Maybe people cancelled. With the guide being ill, I mean.’

  Matthew feels a tiny flicker of relief. At least no other visitors are nearby. Good.

  ‘I looked it up online and they said noon’s the best time for the clock but I don’t quite know what to expect. Any idea?’

  ‘I’ve seen it before. It’s charming.’ Laura’s voice again. Still very quiet. Clipped too. Matthew worries that it’s stress, which will make her more unpredictable.

  ‘Oh, so not your first visit then?’

  ‘No. I came years ago. Long time ago.’

  �
��Oh right. Is that an American accent? Sorry to be nosy. I love an accent.’

  ‘Canadian.’

  ‘Oh right. I’m quite local really. From the south-west. Devon actually. Staying with a friend nearby. She’s working today so I’m just killing time.’

  Matthew’s almost smiling at how good Wendy is.

  ‘Actually, I’ve been walking miles this morning. Feet are killing me. Just need to sit down a bit. Would you mind awfully if I move your bag? Take the weight off.’

  This is it. Matthew raises his arm to the two officers as a signal to stand by. He’s already warned them that Laura’s unstable. That they’ll need to tread gently.

  And then – Wendy’s voice is much louder as if she’s pulled the phone from her pocket. ‘I have the bag. Move now. Target’s isolated.’

  ‘Go, guys.’ Matthew sweeps his hand as a signal.

  ‘Laura,’ Wendy continues. ‘I need you to stay calm. I’m actually an investigator and these two policemen you can see just want to have a little chat with you. No one’s going to hurt you, I promise. Stay right where you are. And please raise your arms in the air for me.’

  Wendy’s now walked backwards and is just visible from Matthew’s vantage point. She’s holding Laura’s bag at arm’s length. Matthew moves forward himself.

  ‘What’s going on? Give my bag back! Give me my bag back!’ Laura’s shouting and can be heard across the cathedral as Matthew watches the two officers close in, urging her to stay calm.

  We just need to talk to you, ma’am. Both arms in the air, please. That’s it.

  ‘Any weapon?’ Matthew’s heart’s beating fast as one of the officers examines the bag and then Laura’s coat pockets.

  ‘No weapon.’

  Matthew feels a wave of relief. He stares up at the magnificence of the cathedral’s stonework as he dials Mel’s number.

  He’s already thinking of the security sweep under way at the other cathedral. And he needs to know if they’ve found Sam’s wife.

  CHAPTER 61

  THE MOTHER

  I am again trawling through the laptop, trying to find anything else Gemma wrote that might be important. Help us.

  I have to struggle not to torment myself; to re-read the entries that hurt so much.

  I keep thinking about my mum and how I couldn’t in a million years have this kind of conversation or this kind of relationship with her.

  ‘You OK? What are you looking for?’ Ed looks worried.

  ‘Just looking through photographs.’ I’m not ready to share what I’ve found. I don’t know why. Shame? Or maybe the same old, same old. Not wanting or knowing how to talk about things.

  There’s a noise outside our cubicle and I look up through the window to see a nurse talking to the guard. He nods and there’s a tap on the door.

  ‘Your sister’s here to see you. Shall I let her through?’

  ‘I don’t have a sister.’ I feel a punch to my gut and put the laptop down.

  I stand. Ed stands.

  ‘My wife doesn’t have a sister, Officer.’ Ed is glancing between the guard and the nurse. ‘So – what does she look like, this woman? Does she have long, strawberry-blonde hair?’

  I feel a wave of terror. Laura?

  ‘No.’ The nurse looks puzzled. ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t let her through. She’s out in the corridor. I followed the rules.’ She looks petrified. ‘She seemed very nice. Very convincing.’

  ‘What does she look like?’ Ed repeats.

  ‘She has a short black crop. Like a pixie cut.’

  ‘What age?’

  ‘Young. Thirties.’

  ‘Do I look as if I have a sister in her thirties?’ I can’t help my tone. I’m so tired of all this. Exhausted by the fear. The constant cycle of adrenaline, wondering what the hell is coming next.

  I glance at Gemma, her face dried of the tears now. The headphones back in place.

  When, oh when, will all this be over?

  ‘It’ll be another journalist,’ Ed pipes up. ‘I bet it’s another bloody journalist. Why can’t they just leave us alone?’

  With all the coverage ramping up for the final graduation ceremony, I wonder how we’re going to make it through today.

  ‘She’s still in the corridor.’ The nurse is now talking directly to the guard, tipping her head towards the main door to the unit in the distance. ‘Do you handle this or shall I call hospital security? I’m so, so sorry. I honestly didn’t realise—’

  CHAPTER 62

  THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

  Matthew keeps looking at his watch, willing time to slow down. Mel wants him at Maidstead Cathedral as soon as possible. But it’s tight. He’s dropped Wendy back – they’ll do a debrief later – but everything’s happening all at once.

  Half an hour ago, Mel called – clearly feeling the pressure. Sam’s wife Lily has been picked up on the motorway so technically they’re in the clear. All suspects with motives in custody. But Mel’s now worrying they should have cancelled the final cathedral ceremony from the off.

  I made the wrong call, didn’t I? It’s too much all in one day.

  No, Mel. You’ve done great. We have them all in custody. We did it. We beat the deadline.

  But we don’t know which one . . .

  Take a breath, Mel. And take it from me. We did OK.

  It’s normal to feel like this. Frustrated. Getting the suspects in custody is only ever the beginning. Very few confess. Alex is still denying any harm to Gemma. Insists he’s only interested in his parental rights; swears he had nothing to do with the dolls.

  Laura will need to see a doctor before she can be interviewed. Her mother in Canada has meantime confirmed more details; that Laura had been obsessing about the anniversary for months. Researching Ed and his new family on the internet. No one understood why and no one expected her to fly to the UK.

  In custody, Laura keeps pleading with staff . . .

  You have to help me find my husband. No one will help me. This man who took my husband; he’s not who he says he is . . .

  All they have beyond the arrests is a small breakthrough back at the office. The team finally have access to Gemma’s social-media accounts and it looks as if Laura was the one sending her messages. He’s not who he says he is. So that’s more fuel for the interviews once they can get going.

  As for Sam’s wife – Lily Blake has been taken straight to hospital. She’s in shock. Mel says she may just be a first-class actor but, no surprise, she claims to know nothing of her husband’s shooting. For now, they can’t risk putting a foot wrong. She too will need the medical all-clear re the pregnancy before any interviews.

  Matthew scrapes his hand through his hair and again checks his watch. An hour and a quarter before the cathedral ceremony. He needs to hurry.

  The only niggle? They haven’t yet found the gun. But even that’s not unusual.

  Right now, Matthew wishes more than anything that he was Mel’s key sergeant so he could lead on all the interviews when they do get going. With his family still down in Cornwall, he’s had quite enough of waiting. The whole case is swirling around his head. He knows exactly what needs to be asked. Of all of them.

  He puts his phone to his ear, watching a woman across the car park bashing her fist into the ticket machine. He shakes his head; as if that’s going to end well.

  ‘Hello, darling. You OK?’

  ‘We’re fine.’ Sally sounds as if she’s in the middle of something – clattering of crockery in the background. ‘Sorry. Just doing the dishwasher. Any more news?’

  ‘No change. We’re going to get the ceremony out the way and then we can focus on the interviews.’

  ‘Oh.’ She pauses. ‘With all the drama, I almost forgot about the wretched ceremony. Surely they’re not still going ahead?’ Sally’s tone has changed. ‘Do you really have to go? I mean – now that it’s sorted. Now they’re all caught.’

  Matthew lets out a long, slow breath. Truth is he would prefer not to face Maidstea
d Cathedral again. There’s been an urgent conference call – the university, the police and the local MP. It’s going ahead and Mel needs him there. There have been terse messages from Amanda, who had the hump for being kept out of the loop over Sam’s ID earlier. She’s clearly under pressure today too. He remembers that she was among those who wanted the final graduation cancelled right at the start of this. She looked tired on the news earlier, issuing a statement paying tribute to Sam’s service to the university. It’s a terrible shock and loss. There will be a commemoration in due course, but the family don’t want the students let down; they’ve worked so hard. They want them to graduate today.

  Matthew can’t think of anything worse than having to deal with the media all the time. What a job.

  There was a moment when Matthew was sure the university would cancel. But the police hierarchy are in overdrive, issuing reassurances after the arrests to keep the tourism chiefs happy.

  Meantime the poor Hartleys are having it tough. Today was always going to bring the media out in droves even before Sam’s death. Rachel and Ed have had notes through the door at home. Messages on social media, begging for interviews.

  One journalist even turned up at the hospital, pretending to be a relative. Mel’s livid. I want that reporter arrested. Given a scare . . . She was trying to breach security in a serious investigation. I’ve had enough.

  ‘If you have to go to the cathedral, you’ll wear your protective vest, Matthew? Like you promised.’ Sally’s voice again.

  ‘Sal, I told you. It’s over. You can stop worrying, love.’ Matthew glances at his boot. He never told Sally or Mel that he gave Wendy his vest when they arrested Laura earlier. ‘They’re all in custody. We just need to figure out which one now, find the gun and build a watertight case.’

  ‘They haven’t found the gun yet?’

  Matthew shuts his eyes. ‘Please don’t stress. It’s not unusual. Probably in a river or a bin somewhere. We’ll find it.’

  ‘Yeah, but you know me. I keep thinking what happened last time. Better safe than sorry. Wear your vest? Please?’