by K Leitch
Maggie shook her head, and moved closer to the bed, a nurse was checking his blood pressure. ‘Is there anyone around here that can tell me anything please, I’m his mum?’
The nurse smiled kindly at her, ‘Dr French should be here any minute my love, he’ll be able to tell you more than me, but for now why don’t you sit next to him, let him know you’re here I’m sure he needs to know that.’
Maggie sat on the plastic chair next to the bed and held onto her son’s hand, bringing it to her mouth and kissing it. ‘I’m here my darling… mum’s here…you’re going to be fine sweetheart ….’ Maggie couldn’t talk anymore because of the tears that were choking her. Greg was behind her; and she wanted nothing more than to lean back into the comfort of his arms. He must have sensed her need because his arms came up around her, and for a few moments she allowed herself the luxury of his embrace. Dom sat down on the other side of the bed, ‘Has anyone told Jools?’ he asked, ‘shall I try and give her a call?’
‘Oh god I forgot, yes of course Dom, try and get hold of her, she’ll probably be at work though,’ said Maggie. Jools was Jed’s girlfriend who worked at a care home in Redbank a few minutes away. She always tried to arrange to be on nights whenever Jed had football.
‘No worries mum, I’ll phone her there,’ said Dom and he went off.
Maggie suddenly felt very awkward left with Greg who still had his arm around her. She moved forward in her chair to disengage herself, Greg took the hint and moved away.
‘Where’s that bloody doctor,’ he said irritably. ‘I’ll see if I can hurry them up,’ and with that he disappeared down the corridor. He came back almost immediately with a rather tall, gangly man with wired rimmed glasses perched on the end of a long nose in front of red rimmed eyes. He introduced himself as Dr French.
Dr French had a clipboard with some forms on; which he proceeded to fill in whilst asking them both details about Jed, his age, any illnesses, any allergies etc. When he had finished doing this he moved over and started examining Jed, looking into his eyes checking his neck, looking into his mouth. He asked Greg how the accident had happened, and made notes as Greg told him what he had told Maggie earlier.
‘Well Jed has obviously suffered a concussion,’ he said at last, not looking up from his notes as he continued writing. ‘As far as I can tell he doesn’t seem to have damaged his neck and his skull appears intact. Um…we will send him down for an X-ray as soon as we can, and I will arrange for a CT scan.’ He sat down on the bed and put the clipboard down. Neither Greg nor Maggie had spoken apart from answering his questions. ‘Sometimes the body just shuts down for a while to help the healing process; I think that’s what’s happened here. We’ll know more after we get the results back from X-ray etc. Jed is a young man, in good health and unless something turns up on the scan I don’t think he has sustained a serious injury. Um…so we’ll keep him here and monitor him until he wakes up. That’s all we can do for the moment and obviously you can stay here with him for as long as it takes.’
‘How long do these things usually take doctor?’ said Maggie as he was about to leave.
‘Well as to that I’m afraid there are no definite answers. He could wake up anytime, maybe within the next hour or maybe not for a couple of days. Please try not to worry, he’s in the best place and we will take the best care of him,’ he said with a smile as he moved on to the next bed.
Maggie slumped back into her chair; she looked at Greg who was sitting opposite her. She hadn’t noticed before that he was still wearing his football kit. He looked as good as ever; he’d obviously been keeping an eye on his diet, and although he had a few grey hairs near his temples he still had his youthful good looks. For some reason this irritated the hell out of her, Maggie’s lip curled. ‘Shouldn’t you let whatshername know where you are…she must be getting worried by now,’ she said with an edge to her voice. Greg gave her a longsuffering look.
‘Don’t start Maggs, not at the moment ok…as it happens Misha’s gone away for a couple of weeks…to Portugal, with some girlfriends.’
‘Nice for her,’ muttered Maggie, ‘where’s Lewis, did she take him with her?’ Lewis was Greg’s eleven year old son with his new wife. Greg raised his eyebrows, ‘No, he’s at her parents. She felt that she needed a break.’ Now it was Maggie’s turn to raise her eyebrows. That seemed to be the end of that conversation until Greg said, ‘What about whatshisface, um… Charles; you still seeing him, how’s that going?’
‘Fine thanks,’ said Maggie airily. ‘As it happens Charles is in New York this week on business, but he phoned me earlier this evening, he phones most evenings actually.’ Greg just gave her a tight lipped smile, ‘I just bet he does,’ he said.
Who knows how long they could have gone on sniping at each other. Fortunately they were interrupted by a panic stricken Jools who came rushing through the curtain and over to Jed, raining kisses down on his face.
‘Oh my god Jed…oh sweetheart,’ she sobbed. Maggie got up and put an arm round her. ‘He’s going to be ok darling; he knows it’s more than his life’s worth not to be. He’s in a whole load of trouble as it is.’ She gave up her seat for Jools to sit next to Jed and hold his hand.
Greg caught Maggie’s eye from the other side of the bed, and he jerked his head motioning for her to meet him outside the curtain. As soon as she was out in the corridor, Greg grabbed her arm and pulled her out of earshot of the others.
‘Look Maggs, we are going to have to see each other quite a lot over the next few days so don’t you think it would be better if we tried to get along, or at least pretend to get along just for the kids sake. They don’t want to see us arguing all the time and… ’ Maggie held up a hand.
‘Ok ok I get the point; and yes I suppose you’re right, just don’t start on at me about Charles ok?’
‘Ha! Well you give it a rest with the snarky comments about Misha and we’ll be fine,’ Greg snapped back.
‘Whatever,’ said Maggie turning her back and walking back onto the ward with a huff.
CHAPTER 10 - 2006
‘So, what you’re really saying is you don’t want to spend the money, that’s it isn’t it?’ she said accusingly, spitting into his face.
‘No I’m not saying that at all. All I’m saying is that there are plenty of other things we could do with £20,000…we need new windows for one thing…’ he stopped talking as she turned on him angrily.
‘Oh for god’s sake you stupid idiot, we can get windows anytime. If we’re going to do this it has to be soon, I’ve told you that. Mum might not be around for much longer, and I will need somewhere to go…away from here.’
‘It’s not you that’s taking the risks though is it? You don’t know what would happen if anyone finds out about…’ His voice trailed off as she came round and stood over him.
‘Listen to me you fucking little weasel, you owe me this after all the shit I have put up with over the last few years. I have kept quiet despite all the snide remarks and condescending looks, so don’t think you are going to back out now…just when I’ve managed to find someone willing to do it. £20,000,’ she snapped her fingers dismissively, ‘it’s nothing compared to what we will be getting. And if I’m willing to risk it I certainly don’t see why you shouldn’t do your part.’
‘It still doesn’t seem quite right though…you know morally. I mean how do we know what this man is telling us is the truth? What if…’
‘Oh for fucks sake grow a pair will you, why would he lie? Anyway who the bloody hell cares, life’s not fair…if it was we wouldn’t be in this situation would we?’
She sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. She had been fighting for this for so many years. It was the only way; bloody hell he knew it was the only way and at last they had the money. All her planning and scheming, at last it was all finally coming together. And now he decides to throw a wobbly. She looked at him hunched over the table opposite her; and for a moment was amazed at the strength of her hatred for him. She
felt it welling up inside her, dangerously close to the surface, and for a few seconds she could have quite happily stabbed him while he sat there slurping his coffee, and not given it another thought. She shook herself out of her murderous thoughts, and went round to where he was sitting and tried another way.
‘Come on honey,’ she wrapped her arms around him. ‘You know you want this as much as I do. Think how pleased your parents will be; their only son coming up trumps. They’ll be over the moon you know they will,’ she purred persuasively.
He looked at her suspiciously, taken off guard by her sudden change of mood. This was how she manipulated him. He was completely aware of what she was doing, but he found himself powerless to defend himself against it.
He heaved a sigh, ‘Well, I suppose it would do no harm to start putting the wheels in motion. When did you say you would meet with him?’
‘Monday, at three.’
‘Ok, but make sure you have spoken to your mum about us coming over before you agree to anything won’t you?’
‘Of course I will, I’m not stupid you know.’ The conciliatory tone had disappeared now that she had got her own way he noticed, he got up from the table and drained the rest of his coffee.
‘I’m going back to work, someone’s got to earn a crust around here, especially now,’ he said grumpily and left the house in a huff slamming the door behind him.
‘Fuck him,’ she thought, and went upstairs to start making plans.
CHAPTER 11 - CARLA
‘Can we get a statement for our readers D.I. Right?’
‘Any ideas yet on who’s snatched him yet Carla?’
‘Are the parents being questioned?’
Carla managed to get through the barrage of microphones and cameras that had been shoved in her face as soon as she got out of her car, without saying a word apart from ‘No comment,’ and, ‘excuse me please.’
‘Bloody press, how did they get here so fast?’ she grumbled as she met Ted outside the pretty cottage owned by Susan and Gordon Marshall. It had taken her all of ten minutes to throw on some clothes and brief a sleepy James about the sudden change in his responsibilities for the day. James had barely turned a hair, he was so used to Carla’s rather erratic working hours, so other than saying ‘Ok hun… yeh that’s fine babe,’ he carried on dozing.
‘Right Ted, fill me in, what have we got so far?’
‘Susan and Gordon Marshall,’ said Ted referring to his note book. ‘They have two children Owen aged five and Hannah aged three. All fine last night, Gordon went to a local parish council meeting, which went on until about midnight he says. Susan was here with the kids, they all went to bed before he arrived home. Susan got up first this morning didn’t notice anything until she sees the French windows wide open. She starts screaming wakes up Gordon, he can’t see anything missing and then rushes upstairs to make sure the kids are ok. Owen’s bed was empty, he called us. There are muddy footprints near the French doors, which have been forced by the looks of it, and a couple on the stairs. We may get something from them, but other than that …nothing.’
‘What about outside, anything to tell us which way he may have gone?’ Carla started to walk towards the front door, Ted followed, ‘No, more footprints obviously, but so many of them it’s hard to make one from another. It’s been pretty muddy the last few days.’
‘Ok Ted I’ll speak to the parents…what do you make of them?’
Ted scratched his beard, a habit Carla had noticed that he did when he was thinking, ‘Well they’re terrified of course…mum seems a bit hysterical and also very angry, lots of “what are you all doing here, go out there and find him,” sort of thing. And dad just seems to be in shock, he’s hardly said a word actually.’
They found both the parents in the living room with Constable Irene Watkins, who had been sitting with them. The French doors were still wide open and Carla could see people from the forensics team were already brushing for prints and examining the footprints. Carla went over to Susan and Gordon Marshall and introduced herself. It was obvious that Mrs Marshall was under extreme stress; her face was blotchy and streaked with tears. Carla told them that she would like to speak to each of them separately and Susan Marshall turned a pair of belligerent eyes towards her.
‘Why are you all wasting precious time asking stupid questions? My baby is out there somewhere…when are you going to start looking for him…WHY AREN’T YOU TRYING TO FIND HIM…IT’S BEEN HOURS…HE COULD BE ANYWHERE…PLEASE…PLEASE FIND HIM!’ She collapsed in loud sobs and Carla realised that she would need to wait a while before she questioned her. She turned her attention to Mr Marshall, who was trying ineffectually to calm his wife by stroking her hand and speaking quietly to her. Susan Marshal pulled her hand away and turned her back on him Carla noticed.
‘Mr Marshall …Gordon, perhaps I can have a few words with you first?’ said Carla ushering him into the kitchen. Before following him in, she had a quiet word with Constable Watkins.
‘Keep an eye on mum will you, has a doctor been called?’
‘Yes Ma’am he’s on his way.’
Carla nodded and went back over to where Susan was sitting on the sofa. She had her arms wrapped round herself and was rocking backwards and forwards tears streaming silently down her face. Carla put her arms round her. ‘We will do everything we can to find Owen, Susan. I promise you I will leave no stone unturned until we do.’ Susan lifted desperate eyes to her looked at her for a minute and then just nodded.
Carla left her and went through to the kitchen. Gordon Marshall was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee; she took a chair opposite him.
‘Would you like one?’ He said indicating the cafetiere in front of him. Carla said she would so he poured her a cup.
‘I hope you like it strong; I’m afraid I always make it far too strong. Susan’s always complaining about…’ his voice broke as he lost the battle with his emotions. ‘Sorry…sorry …I don’t usually cry…’
‘Please Mr Marshall…Gordon, I think on this occasion you can’t be blamed for giving in to your emotions. I know this is hard for you and you have probably been over it with countless people but could you tell me again what happened this morning?’
‘Yes ok…I woke up because I heard Suzy scream. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs as fast as I could, and I found her in the living room. I could see that the windows were open and there was a bit of a mess; so I assumed that we had been broken into, and I started looking round to see what they had taken. But nothing had gone…I mean nothing of any value had gone. Not even little things that would be easy to take and sell on, like Suzy’s phone and my laptop. So I couldn’t figure out why anyone would have come in. And then it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t checked on the kids. So I ran upstairs and…Owen…my lovely boy…gone.’ Gordon put his head in his hands and sobbed. Carla waited for him to pull himself together.
‘Can you think of any reason why someone would take Owen, Gordon? It’s very specific you see and unusual for a child to be taken from their home. Could this be directed at you in some way?’
‘No…I don’t understand why would someone want to take my child? Unless, maybe they want money, maybe they’re holding him for a ransom.’ He looked up at Carla a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
‘Is that likely do you think…do you have the sort of money to pay a ransom?’ Carla asked.
‘Well not me personally, but I am the CEO of my father’s company,’ he said somewhat pompously. ‘I daresay that somebody may think I have access to the money…that could be it couldn’t it?’
‘Well it’s certainly a possibility. Was there any reason that Owen might have gone off on his own…was he unhappy, maybe at school for instance?’
‘No, no he was…is a happy little boy, he loves school and has a large group of friends…no he wouldn’t have just run off I’m sure of it.’
‘What about his home life? Are there any problems here that he might have been worrying about? Are thi
ngs ok between you and your wife for instance?’
Gordon seemed to think hard before he answered. ‘Well of course we have our ups and downs, like any couple. But I don’t think Owen would have been worried about anything like that. We always try to keep any arguments away from the children…no I’m sure he was a happy secure little boy…’
Carla wasn’t completely convinced but she stood and said, ‘Ok Gordon we’ll leave it there for the moment. You’ve given my sergeant a statement of your movements last night I presume?’
‘Yes, I’ve already told him, I was at a parish council meeting. It ended up in the pub actually; you know how these things happen.’
Carla nodded. ‘Ok well I just need you to find me a recent photo of Owen if you have one. We’ll get it back to you once we’ve had it copied.’ Gordon stood and gave her a picture from the window sill of Owen sitting on a bike waving at the camera. He had a mop of dark hair and was showing two teeth missing as he smiled widely at the camera.
‘This was taken a couple of weeks ago,’ Gordon said. ‘His birthday…he got a bike.’
‘Thank you Gordon, I’ll make sure you get it back. We will be needing to make a full search of the house at some point today, it’s just routine, nothing to worry about but you understand we have to check everything.’ Carla went out and gave the photo to Ted who was talking to a couple of uniformed officers in the front garden.
‘Get this copied and circulated as fast as you can Ted and then you can join the search parties. I know a few of the villagers have organised one. Can you send a couple of men to join with them, and perhaps you could give them a bit of a pep talk. Tips on how and where to look, you know the sort of thing…I’ll be on my mobile if you need me. Can you give Mandy a call, get her to check out the sex offenders register? See if any one likely lives locally, or has been released from prison recently. I’m going to talk to the school, see if there were any problems there that we don’t know about.’
