by Kay Leitch
Helen had called earlier and asked if she could meet her in the village for a coffee, and as Maggie was desperate to get the latest gossip concerning the delectable Mike she had agreed to meet at 11 in the coffee shop on the green.
It was piddling down with rain so there were no tables with their pretty yellow and blue umbrellas outside the tiny café today. And as far as Maggie could see the coffee shop looked pretty deserted, but she could see Helen sitting at a window table as she tried to park the enormous Range Rover into a tiny space right out front. Once parked (leaving only a hair’s breadth between her and the car behind her) she ran into the little shop using her huge handbag as an umbrella.
'Hi sweetie,' she said to Helen who hand waved a greeting, they exchanged kisses and Maggie ordered a Latte from the woman behind the counter, and wasted no time in beginning her interrogation.
'Oh my god Helen I have been dying to catch up with you, how did it go, after the unveiling I mean…did he take you anywhere nice?' she said as soon as she sat down.
Helen had to laugh, 'Blimey Maggs, you're more excited than me…but in answer to your question yes, we went to a lovely little restaurant somewhere between Godstone and Kenley…um the pig in muck…or something like that, which despite its name was lovely, all inglenooks and roaring fires you know the sort of thing, and we had another lovely evening, which has left me feeling like an absolute bitch!'
Maggie looked bewildered, then exasperated, 'What…why…oh no don't tell me you're feeling guilty about 'can'tkeephiswillyinhispants'? …Please!' she said crossly, Helen looked defiant.
'Of course I am, I mean I'm just as bad as him now aren't I, I'm a cheat, oh I know I haven't slept with Mike yet, but I have kissed him…a couple of times actually, and I am enjoying his company so much and…oh Maggie I just can't stop thinking about him, which is just as bad as what Wills has been doing,' she looked rather sheepish for a minute and then said, 'I think I should tell Wills, what do you think?'
Maggie practically spat her latte across the café.
'Absolutely not! Don't do it Helen…until you are completely sure that Mike is the man for you.' She sighed and took hold of Helen's hands, 'Look Hels, I understand how hard it must be for a woman like you, who is basically honest, and good…' she broke off chuckling, 'luckily for me I've never had many scruples to worry about…but no matter how hard a time your conscience is giving you, please don't go confessing all to Wills, not unless you are prepared to leave him, because that's the bottom line love.'
'But I just feel so guilty all the time,' said Helen miserably, 'I can barely look Wills in the face, I'm sure he is suspicious, he keeps asking me what I've been doing all day, and where I'm going every time I go anywhere…'
'Hang on a minute Helen,' Maggie interrupted, 'I thought this was what you wanted. Have you forgotten slutty Sarah and all the away days that he's been having…sweetheart think for a minute, when you started this it was just meant to make Wills see what a diamond he had in you, but the way you're talking now it feels like you've decided that you prefer Mike…what's going on in that pretty little head of yours love…I mean you don't actually know much about Mike anyway, I mean he could be playing you for a fool for all you know…we already know he's married, does he still live at home?'
Helen thought for a minute, stirring her now cold coffee.
'I don't think so, I think he has a flat somewhere…he talks about his flat anyway, and yes he is still married but they separated ages ago, not very amicably by the sound of things either…she sounds like a right bitch…oh Maggie I know it seems too soon, but I really think Mike could be the one for me, we get along so well, we just can't stop talking, about everything and anything,' her face took on a dreamy expression. 'And he's just so funny, he makes me laugh all the time, and he's really romantic he's brought me flowers every time he's taken me out…I can't remember the last time that Wills brought me flowers…oh and he's so sexy…'
Maggie put her hand to her mouth in a pretend yawn.
'Yes yes I get the picture, he's Mr Wonderful, and that's great, believe me Helen if he turns out to be the one for you I will be so happy, but please love, tread carefully, and whatever you do don't burn your bridges until you are completely sure it's what you want.'
Helen laughed, 'Who'd have thought it the great serial dater giving me such sensible advice, anyway enough about me, you and Tracy seemed to be having a great time at the unveiling. Wasn't that weird the way Vanessa fainted as soon as she clapped eye's on my painting…I mean I know it's not wonderful, but I never expected that reaction.'
'Oh I know,' said Maggie from the confectionary counter, where she was trying to decide between a strawberry tart of an iced finger. 'Tracy and I were wetting ourselves watching all the W.I. women trying to outdo each other with the smelling salts…do you fancy one of these hun, I've got a sudden yearning for something sweet?' Helen shook her head, and with a shrug Maggie ordered one iced finger and a couple more lattes, 'It was a bit weird though,' she said as she came back to the table, 'I feel sorry for poor Giles, did you see how worried he was…he absolutely dotes on her you know, worships the ground she walks on…now that to me makes no sense, oh don't get me wrong I know Vanessa is good looking and obviously a lot younger than him, but I've always found her to be such a cold character…always so self possessed if you know what I mean…'
Helen nodded, 'And Giles is always so affable; I know they are a strange couple…maybe she's amazing in the bedroom, well whatever power she has over him it obviously works…I wish I could inspire that sort of devotion,' Helen began to look sad again.
Maggie took her hand, 'Well I wouldn't want to be Vanessa for all the tea in China at the moment love, she seems like a woman on the edge to me…and anyway from what you've told me you seem to be inspiring something in Mike…even if it is just a desire to get into your knickers.' At Helen's laugh she said, 'Don't belittle that power my girl, it is the best weapon we women have in our arsenal, use it for as long as you can.'
'How did you get to be so cynical Maggs?' said Helen squeezing her hand, Maggie squeezed her hand back, and said a little sadly, 'Practise sweetie, practise.'
The cake and coffees arrived and the two women sat chatting for a while longer, when Helen suddenly pointed out Tracy walking across the green hand in hand with a very tall dark man.
'Now that looks interesting,' said Maggie, 'let's find out what's going on shall we?'
Before Helen could stop her Maggie ran out of the shop and was calling to Tracy, who turned and waved and went to move on until Maggie called again and beckoned to her to come and join them. Helen could see her pointing in the direction of the coffee shop so she waved in Tracy's general direction. Tracy said something to her companion and after a couple of minutes they both began following Maggie back over to where Helen was sitting, a few minutes later they were shaking out wet coats, ordering coffees and pulling chairs over to the little table.
'Helen I'd like you to meet Simon,' said Tracy a little formally, Simon shook hands with Helen and said, 'You must be the same Helen that did the painting for the hall, Tracy's told me all about you, and I went and saw the painting last night it's really beautiful, lovely colours and it seems to draw you in. Tracy's just been showing me the real scene, in the woods, I must say you've captured it really well.'
Helen was blushing like mad. 'Thank you for saying so Simon, but I really am a rank amateur, it was just such a beautiful spot to draw, How do you two know each other?'
'School.'
'We work together,' they both answered at once and then laughed, 'Simon's been doing a special workshop with the kids at school…um I've been helping him.'
'I just bet you have,' muttered Maggie, poking her tongue out at Tracy who was giving her filthy looks, Simon turned to her, 'And you have just got to be Maggie, Tracy described you to a tee.'
'Oh really, now that is interesting…what on earth has she been saying I wonder,' Tracy was looking distinctly nervous.
'Oh nothing bad I assure you, she said you were drop dead gorgeous, a serial dater, and I wasn't to fancy you.'
'SIMON!' said Tracy mortified, Maggie was laughing her head off, 'Oh you can keep this one sweetie,' she said to Tracy who was laughing too by that time. 'What on earth can she have said about Helen I wonder.' Simon just shook his head, 'well I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you.'
'Maggie stop teasing the poor man, I'm so sorry Simon we're not always like this, so how long are you staying in Kenley?' asked Helen.
'Just a couple more days actually, but I'm not going far just to Lingfield…I don't know if you know it.'
'Oh yes I do I've got family that live near there, and what sort of workshops do you do at the schools, Simon?'
'Oh for crying out loud Helen,' Maggie interrupted rudely. 'Just ask the man what we really want to know…what's going on with our Tracy, are you two an item or what?'
'Oh just kill me now,' groaned Tracy, Simon just laughed, and turned to Tracy.
'Well now Tracy my girl, would you say we're an item, we're definitely something…so we're probably…what?
Tracy looked up at him shyly, 'Oh yes I would say we're definitely “what”.'
'Oh my god not another loved up couple, I've had it all morning with bloody Helen…pass me the sick bucket someone.'
CHAPTER 42 - CARLA
Richard Frampton sat across the table from Carla and Ted, he was dishevelled and belligerent.
After being shown the evidence that had been found in his cottage and on his computer, he had admitted to and been arrested for downloading images of child pornography, but he became almost hysterical when he was questioned about the body in the woods.
'I fucking knew you would try and pin this on me, why do you think I ran away, it's always the same where ever I go I get blamed for anything that goes on… '
'Oh you're making my heart bleed, cut the crap Richard we just need you to give us an idea of your movements during the couple of weeks prior to the morning that you discovered the body in the woods,' said Ted as he flicked through the thick file on his lap.
Frampton if anything got even more angry, flinging his arms around as he spoke.
'How the fuck am I supposed to remember that…can you remember what you were doing a few weeks ago? I DID NOT KILL THAT GIRL! I don't know how much clearer I can make it, I've never hurt anyone in my life, just because I look at certain pictures doesn't automatically mean that I am capable of murder. I just fucking knew this would happen, I fucking knew it…it's taken me all these years to finally be accepted into a community again and then bang! I am the town freak again…the little pervert…fucking paedo …it's not fucking fair I haven't hurt anyone, I just look at pictures…it's not like I take them or anything…'
'Yes but somebody takes them you sick twat,' said Ted aggressively, 'somebody makes these young girls and boys, these children perform sexual acts in front of a camera just so that you can buy them and have a wank over them, they don't do this willingly just for your pleasure…does it look like this little girl…how old would you say she was Carla?' Ted thrust one of the photos from the file under Frampton's nose.
'7…8 maybe,' said Carla in disgust.
'Does it look like she's enjoying having some smelly old goats dick shoved down her throat?'
Richard stared straight ahead deliberately not looking at the image that Ted was pointing at, 'I'd say she looks terrified, wouldn't you Carla? LOOK AT IT YOU PRICK!' shouted Ted, slamming his fist down on the table in front of Frampton.
Carla reached over and put a hand on his arm, she could see that he was barely restraining himself, Frampton could obviously sense it as well as he started bleating on about wanting a lawyer and knowing his rights, Carla changed tactics.
'Richard, tell me about the day you discovered the body in the woods, why were you there?'
Frampton was obviously weighing up whether to answer or not, finally he deliberately turned away from Ted and spoke only to Carla.
'I was on an early morning walk with a local group that I go out with occasionally, we had been walking for about 20 minutes when Gloria's dog began to bark loudly, which is not like him he usually just runs ahead, but he was getting really excited and then he just bolted off into the woods. Gloria was understandably worried and started to follow him, I felt I ought to go with her as it was still quite dark and she might have got lost as well. Anyway we followed the barks and when we found him he was digging at something…I didn't realise for a few seconds what it was, thought it might be a dead badger or something because there was a terrible smell, so I knew it was something dead. I shone my torch at it…then I suddenly saw her…her face…was gone, smashed in I'll never get that picture out of my head…I was sick and I had to get away from it. Gloria was struggling to get the dog away and finally we scrambled back down the bank and Gloria called you lot. I stayed long enough to give my name, then I went home…I called the school and took the day off and then I started thinking, I knew you would start fishing around, checking me out, so I thought it would be best if I went away until it was all over…didn't know you were going to smash my door down though…fucking bastards! I hope you know you'll be replacing that as well, pushing your way into people's homes…
Carla sighed, they'd been at this for hours and apart from establishing that Richard Frampton was a snivelling little pervert that got his rocks off by looking at child porn, they had nothing, she decided to let Mr Frampton stew in a cell for a while.
'Right I think we'll take a break for a while, the duty solicitor will be here soon so we'll be speaking to you again Mr Frampton.' Ted held the door open for Carla and they both took a deep breath.
'I don't think he did it Ted,' said Carla as they walked back upstairs to the main offices, 'it just doesn't fit…for one thing he's into little girls, and for another I am sure this has something to do with who Louise is…it's just too much of a coincidence that she was coming here looking for her mother. Frampton has no connection to her at all as far as I can tell.' Ted started to say something but Carla held up her hand, 'I know he is a seriously twisted little shit Ted but I don't see him as a murderer, he won't be going anywhere anyway…so we can always question him again if necessary…'
'It's ok Carla, I agree with you…for once,' said Ted with a smile, 'That's what I was going to say, I can't think of any reason that Richard Frampton would want to kill her…I think we have to look more carefully at Vanessa, she is the only person in Kenley that has any sort of connection to the girl, I'm not saying she's our killer but I think she's the key!' Carla felt relieved that Ted could see it as well, she felt too drained to have to spend ages trying to get him to see it from her point of view.
'Right…so what's our next move? I am going to see granddad tomorrow, according to Jools he's due back from Vanessa's sister's, and I think you and I should go and speak to the sister today, Ted, I've got her address, she lives in Kent somewhere. I want to see if Louise contacted her at all, and let's see if we can find out why it was that Vanessa was so scared of the dad. Maybe the sister was scared of him too. Also no one seems to know who was the father of Vanessa's baby, maybe she confided in her sister…she certainly wasn't telling me yesterday, which is weird I mean we're talking 16 years ago…. Oh what am I saying everything about this case is weird, I'll just let Frank know that we're out of the office, see you downstairs in five ok?'
Carla let Ted drive, as she wanted to collect her thoughts before she questioned Faye. She had formed an impression of an unhappy family ruled with an iron rod by the father, and supported in this by the apathy of a weak religious mother. Maybe that was a bit harsh but Carla hoped that her daughter would always know that she could come to her if she were in trouble, even if it was something that would prove embarrassing for her, Carla, to deal with. Vanessa had not even considered taking her mum into her confidence and Carla found that really sad, what a lonely and scared little girl she must have been. She began to understand why Vaness
a was such a self contained adult, she had learnt not to trust in anyone else, she had learnt to rely only on herself. Carla found herself feeling glad that Vanessa had found a loving partner in her life, it was obvious for all to see that Giles would move heaven and earth to keep Vanessa happy…she heaved a big sigh…the damage that parents could do…
'Looks like this is it Ma’am,' said Ted as they pulled up outside a beautiful wisteria covered Edwardian villa in the small market town of Sevenoaks, Kent.
'Ted!' said Carla crossly, you've been calling me Carla all morning, don't start ma’aming me again or I'll take my truncheon to you.' Carla whistled softly as she took in the large manicured gardens that led up to the huge tiled hung house ,'Wow this place must be worth a fortune, we're obviously in the wrong game Ted.'
Ted grunted his agreement as they walked up the pretty garden path and knocked on the enormous front door.
45 minutes later they were back in the car and Ted was trying to negotiate the rush hour traffic through the centre of Sevenoaks, just thankful to be back in the car.
Faye Pinner no longer lived at the house having sold it to a Mr and Mrs Goddall. Mrs Goddall could talk for England and was only capable of answering even the most direct of questions by relating most of her life history, that of her grandchildren and various pets including a parrot. They had been almost forced to sit and drink a cup of tea while this rather domineering lady looked for the forwarding address that she just knew she had put 'somewhere safe'. They had been regaled with accounts of all her many illnesses and those of her long suffering husband, who sat quietly in a chair by the fire and nodded obediently when required to do so. Finally the address had been discovered lurking at the back of a kitchen drawer and it was only another 15 or 20 minutes of meaningless chatter before Carla and Ted could make their escape.
