by Kay Leitch
I worry about Faye, I can't stop thinking about what he might do to her…she's only nine.
But then I was only 10.
I had just got my new uniform for 'big school'; I was starting at the local high school in September. Mum had told me to try it all on, and I had rushed upstairs to do just that.
While I was changing Dad came into the room and shut the door behind him, I felt really embarrassed, I mean I was only in my knickers and my Dad was sitting there watching me.
I went to put on my new blouse when he said 'What about those new bras Mum bought for you, let's see if they fit properly.' I can remember how awkward I felt, I just wanted him to leave the room, but he reached over and cupped my breasts weighing them in his hands… 'You definitely need something to hold up these beauties…oh and look at that I can make your nipples scrunch up…you like that don't you?' I could have died with the shame of it but it was all so unexpected and embarrassing that I just kept my mouth shut.
'Oh yes I can see that you like that…I knew you would, now put your hand on here…see how much I like it too?' he pulled my hand towards him and made me rub him. I remember I was crying by this point, but I don't think he noticed. After a few moments he seemed to pull himself together and very abruptly left the room…that was the first time, I was very upset but after a couple of days when it didn't happen again I started wondering whether it was completely normal, maybe all dads touched their daughters in this way, maybe he really was just checking out how big I was getting, you know out of interest. I knew not to tell anybody though, I don't know why, it was just too shameful I think…I put it out of my mind…until it happened again.
Only two more months to go.
CHAPTER 31 - CARLA
Carla sat up straight and stretched her back out, it felt like she'd been looking at a screen for days.
Forensics had managed to access Louise's emails and they pretty much confirmed that she was in Kenley to meet her mum. There was still no clear indication as to who her mum was though, or where she was meeting her as it was taking longer to trace which computer the messages had been sent from. Once again it felt like they had run into a brick wall.
Richard Frampton's cottage had been thoroughly searched and all his computer equipment had been brought in to the station. As expected there had been a mass of indecent images on there, mainly of young girls, some as young as 5 or 6 and there was evidence that he was grooming girls on social network sites. His name on-line was 'Sally' and he was posing as an 8 year old girl, some of the stuff she had seen and read had made her sick to her stomach, it wasn't only what the children were being made to do in the photos it was the misery, humiliation and terror that you could see on their faces. Carla's team were all fired up and desperate to find Mr Frampton…unfortunately that was where things got a bit tricky because the man had disappeared. His car had been found parked not far from his house and although forensics had gone over it with a fine tooth comb it was as clean as a whistle, so Carla had put out a notice for his immediate arrest nationwide, and alerted all airports and ferry terminals…it seemed like it would be a waiting game, he couldn't stay lost forever.
Most of her team seemed to think they had their man, Frampton fitted the bill for the murder of a young girl but Carla wasn't so sure.
The problem Carla had with Frampton as her murderer was that she couldn't see any connection between Louise and him. Indeed Louise was a bit old for Frampton's tastes. There were a lot of theories being put forward, maybe she was a girl he had abused in the past and she was blackmailing him, maybe she spotted him trying it on with some child and tried to intervene, or maybe, and this was Carla's theory, Frampton had nothing to do with Louise's murder but had the bad luck to be there when she been found. That he was scared shitless of being interviewed by the police just in case they found out about his dirty little pastime, and about the fact that ten years earlier he had been convicted for abusing a ten year old girl, one of his neighbour’s daughter’s. He'd spent 15 months inside for that and had nearly been killed by another inmate, only he wasn't called Richard Frampton then, he was Ronald Green, and he had worked in an old people's home. 'I would have thought that was enough reason for him to go missing,' she thought.
Mandy had got back to her with some information about Vanessa too. Her maiden name on her marriage certificate was stated as Pinner, which meant that she probably wasn't the Vanessa that Louise had come to find, that family name had been Stiles. She had come to a grinding halt when she tried to find out any more, at the age of 15 Vanessa had just disappeared it seemed, there was no record of her working anywhere or at any of the colleges or schools. Trying to locate this 'Sandra' person was no easier either, it seemed she had lived in Maidstone for a couple more years and then had moved abroad, but Mandy couldn't find out where abroad. Carla knew she had nothing concrete to go on with regards to Vanessa, but her name had cropped up a couple of times now and it all just seemed too coincidental to Carla. She had to somehow trace Louise's last few days, she needed to find her mobile, and she also needed to do some digging into the owner of the emerald earring.
She'd taken it to a jeweller in town, apparently it was old, probably 19th century, and the pair would be quite valuable, the emerald was good and about a carat in weight and the gold was 24 carat, all in all not the sort of thing a young teenager would have been wearing. It had obviously been dropped either by the murderer or someone who had been there because it had been found lying on top of the leaves, and it had been shiny and clean like it hadn't been there long enough to get tarnished and dirty, so far it hadn't been made public knowledge that an earring had been found. Ted had come up with the idea of displaying a notice in the village shop about it, not mentioning where and when it had been found of course just to see if anyone came forward to claim it, it couldn't do any harm anyway could it?
So she had a picture taken of it with a hand written card asking if anyone had lost the earring and giving them a number to ring, they would also have to produce the other earring as proof of ownership, and Mandy had put it in the shop’s window. Carla wasn't very hopeful that they would get a response, but at this stage anything was worth a try.
After her evening team talk and setting out everyone's various tasks for the following day, Carla and the rest of the team called it a night and made their way home.
The house was lit up like a Christmas tree when Carla pulled into her drive ten minutes later and as she opened the front door there were the unmistakable sounds of a rough and tumble going on in the living room. She opened the door a crack and sure enough James was being jumped on and pummelled by two very over excited red faced children, unfortunately James was distracted by the door opening and got a head butt right in the groin and started writhing around in agony, which the hard hearted little monsters took to be a sign of victory and started racing round the room cheering and calling Dad a loser. Carla tried not to laugh too much as she left him to it and went through into the kitchen.
James worked for a large charity, raising funds by lobbying government and getting sponsorship from local businesses, his hours were very flexible, and as such he took care of a lot of the domestic side of their marriage and the larger part of the child care, which suited them both perfectly. Carla hadn't been too keen to start a family, she was a rising star in the police force and hadn't wanted to be distracted from that. But James was desperate for kids of his own and she had realised how selfish it would be to deny him the opportunity to be a dad, so after Harry was born Carla had spent her allotted 12 weeks cooing over and loving her baby son and then thankfully handed him over to the child minder and James without so much as a backward glance and when Rosie had made an appearance a couple of years later, there had been no question that the same would happen. It wasn't that she didn't love them, they were her world, it was just that she was a better police woman than a full time mum.
She realised how lucky she was to have James, especially when she thought about men like Richard Frampton, seeing those
pictures in the office this week had made her want to run home and hold on to her two kids and never let them go, keep them safe with her instead of out in the big bad world where they came in contact with such an awful human being.
'You could have helped me out,' moaned a red faced James as he staggered into the kitchen, she put her arms round him, loving his solidness, and kissed his chin which was all she could reach, 'Oh no matey, you deserve all you get if you take on those two little barbarians, you know they don't play fair.'
James returned the kiss, turning into something much more intimate. 'As long as I get to drag the fair maiden into my cave later I can take being called a loser …mmm you smell nice, is that a new perfume?' he nuzzled her neck and Carla whispered in his ear. 'Yes it's called eau d'printer ink…I've been sitting in the computer room most of today…but I'll do it every day if it gets you going my brave warrior…ooh is that a tomahawk in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?'
'Mum why are you licking Dad's face…oh that's gross…yuk just wait till I tell Brian Shelling at school tomorrow…gross!' shouted Harry as the kids burst into the kitchen.
Carla moved away from James with a smile that held promises for later… and started to rummage in the fridge.
'What is there to eat in this house,' she said, 'I'm so hungry I could eat Harry's old trainers.'
Rosie burst into giggles, 'Oh Mummy you are so silly, you couldn't eat those…Daddy gave them to the carrotty shop last week …remember?'
'Oh yes silly me,' said Carla trying not to look at James, 'I suppose I'll just have to have beans on toast then.'
Later when they were at last able to sit down with a cup of tea James said, 'I think you've missed a socking great big clue that's been under your nose all the time.'
Carla looked into his lovely familiar face and ran her fingers through his tousled dark hair, 'Oh yes Sherlock and what's that then?'
'Vanessa…it is far too much of a coincidence that her name keeps cropping up all over the place, I can't believe you haven't dragged her down to the station already.'
'For what?' exclaimed Carla, sitting up, 'Believe me James if I had a shred of evidence that pointed to her I would have had her in, but I can't just pick her up on a hunch, anyhow even if it transpires that Louise's mother and our Vanessa are one and the same person, that doesn't mean she killed her…'
'Oh come on sweetheart, if she's as innocent as you think why hasn't she come forward, told you about meeting with her daughter…I mean does she even know who the girl is?'
'Well I would have thought so by now, it's been announced in the press and on the news, but…'
'Well that just proves it doesn't it? I mean, why wouldn't she come rushing into the station distraught with grief if she had nothing to hide, come on Carla you must have thought about it.'
'Of course I've thought about it,' said Carla exasperated, 'but my hands are tied, just because Louise's mum was called Vanessa, and Tracy THOUGHT she MIGHT have seen Vanessa running away from the scene in distress it's not enough…it won't stop me from making sure that Vanessa hears a few things 'by accident' at the next cauldron meeting though, just to see how she reacts.' She sat down again and took James's face between her hands so she could look into his eyes, 'but for now 'ma petit Clouseau,' I think you need to put all your investigative energies into finding out what I'm thinking about doing to you …right now.'
CHAPTER 32 - 2013
The old man sits in the chair by the window. He likes this chair, from here he has a good view of the street below and the entrance, nobody gets in or out without him seeing them. He also has a good view of the windows for the staff locker room and showers, the glass may be frosted but sometimes he can make out shapes, he always knows when Nurse Eliza is taking a shower he can see her soaping her huge great tits…dark tits they are with big round nipples, ha ha kept him wanking for a week that did, they don't know he can see them…the other pathetic geriatrics don't know either, but they know that this chair is his chair…they keep away.
'Derek, wouldn't you like to eat your lunch in the dining room with the others today? I'm sure you'd enjoy it, they seem to have a right laugh…why don't you try it you might make some friends.'
'I want it here!' he turned ferociously to the young nurse who had brought his lunch, 'Why the fuck would I want to spend my time with a bunch of dribbling farting geriatrics…always trying to talk to me, asking their bloody questions, they can mind their own fucking business, I don't ask about them, I keep away from them, the least they can do is keep the hell away from me.'
'Oh well it was only a suggestion…you sit there and be miserable it's no skin off my nose,' she turned to go.
'Wait!' said Derek sharply, 'Any mail for me today?' Jools' face turned from annoyance to sympathy, 'No, nothing today I'm afraid…do you want me to post anything for you?'
Derek nodded, 'On the cabinet beside my bed…thanks,' he turned back to his food already putting Jools from his mind…lamb curry one of his favourites and rice pudding for afters, she wasn't a bad looker that Jools, a bit skinny mind, but she had a descent pair of tits.
Fucking bitch hadn't replied to his letter again. Not once had she contacted him since she'd dumped him here all those months ago…fucking ungrateful cow, after all those years bringing her up, paying out for ballet lessons, fucking private medical insurance, not to mention helping her find that flat when she had that bit of bother in her teens, not even a sodding letter…she always was too like her fucking mother that one, always me me me, constantly winging and moaning about one thing or another…well good fucking riddance…at least Faye still writes to me.
CHAPTER 33 - TRACY
The Bull was relatively quiet when Tracy just happened to wander down there at about 8ish, in fact it was even quieter than Tracy had expected because there was no sign of Simon.
'Wow Tracy you're looking hot tonight, who's the lucky man?' said Giles as she struggled to climb up onto a bar stool.
'Bloody hell can't a girl go out for a quiet drink at her local without everyone assuming she's meeting a man?' said Tracy crossly.
'Oops sorry love, didn't mean to tread on a nerve…bad time of the month is it?'
'Oh for god's sake…no it isn't…oh sorry Giles I'm just not having a very good day today, get me a vodka will you…a large one.'
'Sure thing sweetheart…want to talk about it?'
'If I knew what 'it' was I could, but I don't really know what's getting me down at the moment, oh I know it's all the usual things like trying to find a man etc. but it feels like something more at the moment. Maybe it's all this murder business…did you know that Richard Frampton, the deputy head at our school, has gone missing, and they've found lots of porn, you know child stuff on his computer? I know that this sort of thing happens all the time…but not here Giles, not in Kenley… I mean how the fuck did he manage to con the council into giving him a job in a school…a school for fucks sake it just makes me so mad…no wonder these awful things keep happening when you've got idiots like that running the country…oh sorry hun, ignore me I guess it's just making me feel a bit sad at the moment that's all.'
'I know love, it's all a bit close to home isn't it…do they have any idea yet where he might be, this Richard guy?'
'Not as far as I know, he's probably on the continent by now…who knows…'
Suddenly there were raised voices coming from the restaurant section of the pub, Giles' ears pricked up as they could clearly hear Vanessa trying to calm down an irate customer.
'I do apologise sir, of course we won't charge you for the meal if you are that disappointed with it, although I can't help but notice that you've eaten most of it…'
'Look you snotty cow, I'm not paying for any of it…it was shit, this…' said the customer aggressively as he picked up the half empty plate of 'shit' and tipped the remaining contents onto the floor and dropped the plate, which smashed loudly.
Giles was over the bar in a flash, 'Right you out, now!' he
said walking up to the man, who ignored him and continued to have a go at Vanessa, getting right up into her face.
'Oh you've got daddy protecting you have you sweetheart…stuck up little cow, you've been looking down your nose at me and Chelsea all evening, just like you're doing now…look at you cold as ice I bet she doesn't warm your bed up much mate,' he said turning to Giles, 'like them old do you love, imagine you're being fucked by daddy… yeh…come on then… what you going to do eh you fucking old man…' he didn't have a chance to say anymore, Giles with a roar of rage knocked him to the floor and started punching him in the head, everyone just seemed to be standing round watching in shock as Giles continued to pound his victim, Tracy ran over unable to sit still any longer.
'Giles, GILES!..Stop…enough now love…Vanessa will you tell him, he'll end up killing him.'
Vanessa seemed to wake from a trance; she put her arms around Giles and started to calm him.
'Come on darling…come on leave him now.' Giles stood up and seemed to see Vanessa for the first time… 'Oh god..oh no…' he said almost in a whisper. Vanessa put her arm around him and led him away, the man on the floor was trying to sit up, but Tracy could see that he was bleeding badly from a cut near his eye, so she tried to keep him where he was until help arrived, his hysterical girlfriend just kept shouting obscenities to the retreating Giles and Vanessa. 'I've called the police you fucking nutter…I'll have you banged up…did you see that?' she asked the other diners hysterically, 'you must have seen it…he just flew at him…what a total fucking nutter, he was like a maniac.'
Tracy was in shock, Giles had been like a man possessed, but what Tracy had also noticed was the look of satisfaction on Vanessa's face as she stood and watched Giles punching the man in the face, it had been almost eerie, and then she had pulled herself together and stopped him. Tracy was just pondering on this when someone tapped her on her shoulder, she swung round and Simon stood there.
