The truck stopped and relief made her take in a deep breath of the horrible air. but the feeling of sickness went away.
Then she was frightened again. What was going to happen now? She was going to pray. She shut her eyes tight and in her mind went over the words of the morning and evening prayers she’d learned at school. When she’d said some prayers she was going to think clearly, stop panicking and make a plan. She mustn’t do or say nothing that would make the man angry. She must convince him that she knew nothing, that he was mistaken…or, maybe it would be better if she tried to run away. The man had something wrong with his leg and she was a fast runner, faster than anyone else, Bea or Tim or anyone of her age. The thought of getting away filled her mind, now.
Chapter 38
Bea stood by the window in her bedroom as Edith and Julia stood just inside the door. She’d jumped off the bed where she’d been reading her Christine Pullen-Thompson book, trying to lose herself in the world of ponies and pony clubs. Then, every so often an image of that man and her dad’s body, his white face, the blood on his tweed sports jacket came into her mind.
She couldn’t stop the feeling either, coming back filling her mind and her body. It was the exact same feelings as she’d had at those moments, disbelief, that was the strongest. It was still there, the disbelief. A tiny part of her mind knew that she’d never again see her daddy, but it was too much, that knowledge and she pushed it away. She’d been so frightened too, and that was still there and now mummy and auntie Edith were asking her questions, what she’d seen when she’d found dad. She just couldn’t stand it and she would have to run out of the room if her mother didn’t stop going on and on asking her over and over about what she’s seen.
“I CAN’T tell you,” she shouted, this time making both mummy and Auntie Edith jump. She didn’t care, she just wanted them to stop asking her. Her mother was being stupid. Why were they asking her all this now? Why had it suddenly become so extremely important.
The expression on her mother’s face…it was as though she’d had a shock, another shock. Maybe she shouldn’t have shouted like that.
Then, Aunt Edith crossed the room to her and put an arm around her shoulder and that felt all right because she didn’t look as strange as mummy did. It felt safer with Aunt Edith’s arm around her shoulder. Maybe she wouldn’t have to run away. Aunt Edith was talking as her mother just stood there with that look on her face, an expression so full of…what was it full of? Fear? Pain?
“Bea, your mother and I need to ask you some questions and we need you to answer them as honestly and calmly as possible. Do you understand?”
Bea looked up at Aunt Edith’s face. She might be calm and safe, but Bea wasn’t going to fall into any traps. If she said anything her mother and her brothers would be in danger so that was it. She couldn’t and she wouldn’t, no matter what anyone said to her.
“I can’t say anything,”
“Beatrice,” her mother’s voice was sharp. “Has someone…”
Bea saw Aunt Edith look across at her mother and shake her head.
Her mother shut up.
“Bea, your mother and I have to tell you something. When we tell you, then you’ll know you must talk to us.”
Bea saw her certainty slip away and she looked again at her mother’s face and knew that something bad had happened.
“Your mother had a telephone call from the farm and your aunt told her that Daisy has gone missing. She didn’t come back with the others from hay-making…”
“No, Daisy, no, what’s happened? He’s taken her, the man has taken her. It’s my fault, it’s all my fault, because I told her…someone must have heard me…”
She knew her voice was rising.
Aunt Edith put her arm around her shoulders again. Now, Mummy came to the other side of her and all three of them sat on Bea’s bed.
Now, her mother was speaking and she sounded calm and Bea really listened.
“Bea, we know that you’re frightened; that you saw something when Daddy was killed.” Mummy stopped there and took a big breath and sort of gulped. “We know you saw something and we know that you must have been threatened and no one can blame you for not speaking. I wouldn’t have spoken out either if I’d been threatened.”
“It wasn’t really me, the man threatened,” Bea said. “He said that he would hurt Charles or Edward or you…”
“Oh, Bea. I’m sorry you’ve been through all this, it must have been so terrifying. But, now Daisy has been taken and you must tell us every single thing you can remember about the man.”
The child nodded, her face set and determined.
“The police,” Edith said. “The police need to know everything she remembers. Edith found her mind had curiously slowed down; the racing thoughts that often plagued her had been replaced by calm, sharp focus.
“Julia, I think you should take Bea up to the farm. Inspector Greene will be there; tell him everything you can remember.”
Julia nodded, “Are you coming too, Edith?”
“No, there’s somewhere I must go. It’s best if you two go to the farm though. You’ll both be safe there and I think you will be able to help the police, Bea.”
“Come on, mummy, let’s go now. We’ll tell Lottie.”
Edith noticed how Bea looked at her mother with a mix of bossiness and trust.
But Julia hesitated. “Edith, you’re not going to do anything stupid are you?”
Edith smiled. “Trust me, Julia, I’m not going to take any risks. I have an idea and I want to check it, that’s all.”
Julia was frowning though; looking worried.
“Take Archie with you, or Henry; wherever it is that you’re going–don’t go alone.”
Edith fought down a rush of impatience, Julia was right. She would telephone, Henry and if he wasn’t in, she’d try Archie, though she was pretty sure he wouldn’t be at this time of day.
“Trust me, Julia. I’ll be fine.”
Neither Henry nor Archie answered the telephone.
I can’t wait, Edith thought as she set off for the Bishop’s cottage.
Chapter 39
It was only on the journey that Edith’s determination began to waver. Was she being incredibly stupid and putting herself in danger? No, that was ridiculous. There were several people living at the Bishops. Nothing could happen to her.
She thought about Davey Bishop. He was handsome, strong from manual work and disturbed. She’d been uneasy all the time in his company and she could tell that Vera also worried about her brother. Mrs. Bishop had appeared to be calmer and in control. But, maybe that was just an impression; maybe she was less in command of this adult son than it appeared.
She was less than a mile from the cottage and caught between wanting to get there as quickly as possible and wanting to slow down and think a bit more about Davey Bishop’s possible motive.
She’d seen the man’s anger at the mention of Giles Etherington. Giles had been responsible or at least involved in the court martial of two men from these parts, and that had cast a long shadow. It was impossible to tell why after more than a decade this would cause someone to kill him, but who knew what trigger could have brought hurt and hatred to the fore. Giles was becoming more of a public figure too, though Julia seemed to have been almost unaware of this. Maybe, the talk of him wanting election had been too much for someone with a grudge to bear. But, from the little she’d seen of him, Edith couldn’t imagine him killing a woman and taking a child away. There was only one way to find out.
She pulled up on the grass verge outside the Bishop’s cottage. Everywhere was neat and tidy and quiet. She hadn’t thought as far ahead as working out what she’d do if there was nobody at home.
She knocked and was on the point of walking away when the door opened. Out of the corner of her eye, Edith saw outbuildings and behind one of them, thought she saw a shadow, but she couldn’t be sure.
Mrs. Bishop stood there, wiping her hands on her apron, frowning.<
br />
“Miss Horton.” She just stood and looked at Edith for a few seconds and then collected herself.
“Were you wanting to see Vera, Miss Horton? Only she went down to Ellbeck a while back, wanting to post letters to some friends she’d made down in London.”
Edith smiled, hoping that she wouldn’t sound too odd.
Mrs. Bishop was ushering her in as she opened her mouth to reply.
“I wanted a word with Davey, if that’s possible, Mrs. Bishop?” Edith’s heart was fluttering at the base of her throat and she swallowed.
“Our Davey? Why is that Miss?”
They were in the kitchen now and Mrs. Bishop pulled out a kitchen chair.
Edith told herself that she was in too far now, to pull back. She would have to be as honest as she could and hope for the best.
“I wondered if he might be able to help, to give me some ideas of where to look…you see, young Daisy, Giles Etherington’s niece has gone missing and I just thought…”
There was cold anger in Mrs. Bishop’s face and Edith’s heart sank.
“So, you thought you’d try and pin something like this on our Davey?”
Edith lowered her eyes and said nothing. Maybe the other woman’s anger was justified or maybe it wasn’t.
Mrs. Bishop wasn’t holding back.
“He came back from the war, damaged, Miss Horton, damaged in his body and his mind, like so many more of them. He blamed Mr. Etherington, rightly or wrongly for things that happened out in France. He never tells me details, only always snatches of memory, when it all becomes too much. If someone had punched Mr. Etherington hard, that could have been our Davey. He does get angry, I won’t deny…but, a woman and now a child…” Her voice broke. Edith was horrified to see her take a handkerchief from her apron pocket and dab at her eyes.
“I’m sorry. It’s a desperate situation Mrs. Bishop, anything that might help.”
Mrs. Bishop got up from where she’d perched herself on the edge of the armchair.
“Davey is out, Miss Horton. I hate to be rude, especially as you and your aunt have been good to our Vera, offering her a job and that, but I don’t want you upsetting our Davey. It would be better if you weren’t here when he got back.”
“Why is that?”
Both women looked towards the back door where the tall figure of Davey Bishop stood, the sun behind him turning him into a dark outline. Edith swallowed wishing she could see his face. Then, he moved towards them.
Chapter 40
The man pulled her roughly from the back of the truck and dragged her quickly so her feet left the ground and she stumbled.
“Come on, you little bastard,”
The words frightened Daisy so much and the man’s tone of voice. It was like the man hated her. But she hadn’t done anything.
Maybe if she tried to speak, she’d been too terrified until now to say a word.
“Where are we…?”
“Shut yer mouth, if you know what’s good for you. I ‘áv trouble enough without a whining brat.”
The man’s voice was so angry that Daisy’s knees began to shake and she let him drag her for a minute.
“Stand up and walk.” He hit her a blow to the side of her head and it hurt, so much that without any control, tears came and a sob came out even though she knew it would make the man even angrier.
It was almost dark and still he kept dragging her, though now she tried to keep up now. She didn’t want him to hurt her again.
“Stop,” he said.
He put his head to one side and she saw that he was listening. Hope filled her. Then terror came. What would he do to her if he thought he was going to be caught?
There was a building just ahead of them and Daisy didn’t see it until they were almost upon it. You could barely make it out in the shadows with the sky low and flashed with orange and purple.
Suddenly, Daisy couldn’t go on. She knew he was taking her into the building and he would shut her in. She’d always hated being shut in since the time as a child she’d gone down the cellar and the door had shut behind her and she’d been too small to reach the latch. She’d hammered and hammered on the door and her mother had been scared when Daisy had screamed so much, even when they’d got her out, that she’d gone blue.
Now, she looked around. She wasn’t going in that building. She could run really fast. The man had a bad leg.
She pretended to steady herself and to walk more quickly. Then she slowed and when he began to falter too, confused by her change of pace, she reached back with her foot and kicked him hard. He only let go for a second, but it was enough for Daisy. She ran as fast as she could to the sounds of the man’s furious swearing.
Chapter 41
Brown watched the woman who was standing at the farmhouse kitchen window. She looked agitatedly out for a few seconds even though the deepening dusk meant she could see little.
“I can’t stand here uselessly, I have to go out and look.”
“No, Mrs. Worth. I understand how you are feeling but just for the moment. You’re doing the most good by staying here, trying to think of anything that might help us…and….what if Daisy comes back? She’ll need you to be here.”
Brown glanced across to Inspector Greene who was letting him get on with it. That was unusual and maybe because he was preoccupied with the bigger picture, having directed the party who were already starting a search on nearby farmland and moors. At the thought of the moors, Brown had to stop himself shuddering. Maybe, Greene recognised that his sergeant was good at dealing with distressed relatives. Angus Worth had stopped comforting his wife only to lead the search on the farm itself. Farms were very dangerous places, but Daisy was not a small child and she was familiar with her surroundings and well trained on how to stay safe. No, there was little doubt in Brown’s mind that she’d been taken. She’d seen something or knew something which had made her a risk to whoever had killed Giles Etherington and, he supposed, Daphne Sheridan, too.
The sound of a car pulling up in the yard had all eyes turn to the door. Mrs. Worth rushed to open it.
“It’s my sister-in-law, she said.
That Julia Etherington had something to tell them was obvious and also obvious was her nervousness. She looked from one to the other. Brown saw that the child, Bea seemed glued to her mother’s side. Good - one missing little girl was enough.
“Edith, Miss Horton has gone up to the Bishop’s house…”
Inspector Greene walked to the middle of the room and thumped his fist on the table, not really hard but it made everyone in the room start. All focus was on him.
“That….that….woman. What the hell is she trying to do?”
Julia looked at her daughter who’d started to cry and then looked at her sister-in-law, Georgina whose eyes looked huge in her white face and there was a second or two where Brown thought she was going to fly into a rage. But, she must have thought better of it; no doubt deciding against adding tension to the already fraught atmosphere in the room.
In the next few seconds, Brown’s admiration for her grew even more.
She didn’t shout.
“I think Edith felt that she could maybe speak to Mrs. Bishop and…and Davey and see if they could cast any light on what might have happened to Daisy.”
“Didn’t think maybe of letting the police know her intentions and maybe letting them do their job?” The inspector’s tone was as cutting as Brown ever heard it.
If Julia Etherington was intimidated she didn’t show it.
“She knew you’d have your work cut out, here, Inspector. Edith isn’t stupid. There’s a family up there, she isn’t just going to see Davey, not on his own; she won’t put herself in the way of danger.”
The inspector groaned and shook his head.
Chapter 42
Mrs. Bishop started at the sight of her son but quickly took charge.
“Davey, coming in the house looking like that. Whatever ast’ thou been doing?”
Edi
th held her breath.
“Nowt mam, what are you talking about?”
Then, just for a second, Edith saw a look of uncertainty pass across Mrs. Bishop’s face and wondered with a shot of panic if Mrs. Bishop was quite as controlling of her son as she seemed.
She broke the silence herself. “Davey, a young girl is missing, a child. She’s a niece of Mr. Etherington.”
He began agitated pacing and Edith could see that he was building up to an outburst. Her heart painfully skipped a beat.
His arm jerked upwards just in the corner of her vision and she couldn’t help flinching. She glanced at Mrs. Bishop and saw naked hurt in the woman’s eyes.
Davey’s hand was plucking at the back of his collar.
“I’d not take a child, Miss.”
Edith heard dignity in the simple statement. She wouldn’t allow herself to feel shame just at the moment. Now, was the time to try and find Daisy; nothing else.
“Davey, would you have any idea of who could be involved in this?” Edith paused for a second hoping that he would give her the time of day as she had practically accused him of the most heinous crimes.
“Mam can I have my tablets?”
He sounded like a child and didn’t look at Edith. She was filled with doubt again. Tablets? Why wasn’t he even looking at her? Just because of outraged denial she wasn’t sure that he hadn’t taken the child. For a moment terrible dread followed graphic images of blood and Daisy and Davey Bishop coming into the kitchen with what was like menace in his tone. She looked across at Mrs. Bishop who had gone to a high cupboard by the side of the stove.
She turned back and came to the table with two aspirins in the palm of her hand.
“Get yerself some water, lad.”
He obediently got up and went to the sink and Edith thought…hoped that he seemed a small bit calmer.
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