Shadow Watcher, A Romantic Suspense Novel

by Carolyn Mahony

  ‘Oh, Grace.’

  ‘I don’t know what to do, Lynne. You haven’t seen him these last few months. It’s as if his hatred for me is eating him up. Stuart was right. I should have done something about him, but I was so frightened he’d do something awful. And now he has and it’s my fault. What if he hurts her?’

  ‘He won’t do that.’

  ‘I need to get home, in case he brings her back–’

  ‘Wait a minute – I’m coming with you.’

  Lynette picked up the phone and dialled her husband.

  ‘Leo? Is there any chance you can come back and look after the kids? I’ll explain later but Rory may have abducted Ellie. I need to go back with Grace. Yes … okay … thanks.’

  She replaced the receiver and smiled at her sister. ‘He’ll be back in half an hour – can you hang on until then?’

  By eight o’clock that evening there was still no news and Grace was frantically pacing up and down the room.

  ‘I told her she should have pressed charges,’ Stuart said to Lynette, ‘but she wouldn’t have it. The man’s a bloody lunatic – God knows what he’s doing to Ellie.’

  ‘I’m sure he wouldn’t hurt her,’ Lynette said, frowning at him.

  The sound of the telephone made them all jump and Grace pounced on it.

  ‘Rory?’

  ‘Mummy …’

  ‘Ellie … where are you, darling?’

  ‘I’m wiv daddy … he says it’s his turn to have me now.’ Her voice faltered. ‘But Mummy, I want you. I want to come home.’

  The words tore at Grace’s heart.

  ‘Ellie–’

  ‘We won’t be phoning for a few days.’ Rory’s voice came over the line. ‘It’s half term and I’m taking my daughter for a little holiday to have some quality time with her on my own. I warned you what would happen if you tried to get the better of me, Grace. And I’m giving you another warning now. If you tell the police you won’t see Ellie again.’

  And with a click, the line went dead.

  ‘Rory … Rory!’

  Lynette, who’d been listening in over her shoulder, met Grace’s terrified eyes with her own.

  ‘I think we should call the police,’ she said.

  ‘You heard what he said. ’

  ‘I know, but … he’s not stable is he? We need to think of Ellie, Grace. We could ask them to be discreet.’

  Grace’s expression was anguished. ‘I can’t. How can I?’ She looked at Stuart. ‘You saw what he was like that night. I can’t anger him anymore. Would you risk it if it was your daughter?’

  Stuart shook his head, his face resolute. ‘I know you’re worried, Grace, but I agree with Lynette. I think the police need to know what’s going on, so we can log it if nothing else. We’ve already reported him for one incident and this will add strength to our case. And yes, I do remember what he was like that night, which is why I think you should call them.’

  Grace stared at him for a long, desperate moment, then slowly reached for the phone.

  After making his notes, the policeman shut his book and looked at Grace. ‘I’m sorry; I know you’d like us to step in and arrest him but it’s not that simple. From what you say, there’s no formal documentation restricting access and, as her father, he’s within his rights to take her off for a few days over half term if he wants. We tend not to get involved in domestic disputes over arrangements unless there’s a known threat to the safety of the child or a court order of some sort.’

  ‘But you’re already investigating him for threatening behaviour.’

  ‘I’ll take a look at his case notes when I get back to the station.’

  ‘And he has alcohol and drugs issues. That must count for something?’

  ‘Are they documented?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘I’ll look into that too. If he’s got a record or has been cautioned that may make a difference.’ He hesitated. ‘If you’re really worried and want to get us involved, the best way is to go through the courts and see if you can get an injunction served on him to return your daughter. If he then failed to comply, we’d be in a position to bring him in. In the meantime, I’ll check if he’s known to us for any reason.’

  Grace eyed the policeman desperately. ‘I knew it would be a waste of time reporting it and now I’ve put her at risk. You mustn’t let him know I’ve told you. I’m worried about what he’ll do if he finds out.’

  ‘Don’t worry; we won’t do anything to aggravate the situation. I realise it’s not easy for you, but if it’s any comfort at all, these situations do usually get resolved peacefully in the end.’

  ‘Not easy for you? That has to be the bloody understatement of the year,’ Lynette exploded after he’d gone.

  ‘I’ve got a friend who’s a solicitor in family law,’ Stuart said. ‘I’ll get some advice off him. Maybe that’s what we should do. Get an injunction for him to return her.’

  Grace shook her head bitterly. ‘He won’t give a toss about injunctions. He hates authority of any kind. It just makes him even more determined to flout it.’

  ‘In which case he’ll end up in jail,’ Stuart said. ‘Which I’m beginning to think is the best place for him.’

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  At one o’clock in the morning Stuart came into the lounge where Grace was lying on the sofa. ‘Come to bed, Grace. There’s nothing to be gained by tiring yourself out. You’ll sleep better in your own bed.’

  ‘I won’t. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I’m better here on the sofa near the phone. But thanks for staying over.’

  ‘I have to go into the hospital tomorrow, I’ve got a pretty full day; but Lynette said she’ll see if she can get the day off, so you won’t be alone.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Grace shifted up on the sofa. ‘We could just about manage the two of us on here at a push if you want a cuddle?’ She wanted to feel his arms around her, to hear him say that everything was going to be all right.

  He hesitated. ‘It’s late and I’m operating first thing; I’d better get to bed. Try to get some sleep. Nothing much is going to happen tonight.’

  It wasn’t the response she wanted and her spirits plummeted even further. Rory was coming between them and she didn’t know how to put things right.

  ‘Will you explain at work for me?’ she said. ‘There’s no way I can come in until I know Ellie’s okay. Tell Richard I’ll ring him tomorrow.’

  Stuart leaned down to give her a peck on the cheek. ‘Try not to worry too much,’ he ordered gently. ‘She’ll be fine.’

  ‘I hope so, Stuart. I’d never get over it if anything happened to her.’

  When Lynette arrived the next day, she found Grace looking drawn and wan.

  ‘No news ...?’ she asked, and Grace shook her head.

  ‘Where can they be?’ she whispered helplessly. ‘What’s he doing with her?’

  ‘I’m sure he won’t hurt her,’ Lynette said. ‘You just need to be patient. When he realises what’s involved in looking after a young child he probably won’t be able to bring her back fast enough.’

  But as the next two days came and went with no news at all, Grace couldn’t eat, sleep or think straight for fear of what Ellie might be going through at this very minute. What was he doing with her? Where were they? Why didn’t he phone to let Ellie speak to her? She felt powerless, filled with a growing fear that she’d never see her daughter again. She’d tried dialling Rory’s mobile on numerous occasions but it was always switched off, with no facility to leave a message.

  A trip to Stuart’s solicitor friend at Hornsby and Leighman Solicitors, confirmed what the police had said.

  ‘We can try to get what’s termed an ex-parte injunction,’ Robert Hornsby said.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘It’s an emergency measure requesting a district judge to make an injunctive or protective order in Mr Marsden’s absence and without his knowledge. If it’s granted, the injunction can then be served on him and he h
as to comply with it and return your daughter. You’d need to attend the court to give your version of events and we’d need to present a strongly worded affidavit to the Judge convincing him that Ellie is at risk and in need of the court’s protection.’

  ‘Well, we can certainly do that,’ Stuart said. ‘We called the police to the incident at Grace’s flat. And I was a witness. I’m a doctor and I’d have no hesitation in confirming that he was high on drugs that day. And he pulled a knife, for Christ’s sake. How more threatening can you get than that?’

  ‘From the facts you’ve presented to me it sounds like you’ve got a good case,’ Robert said, ‘but we need to get on with it and document what’s gone on. Time’s vital in these matters and once we apply to the court the hearing will happen within a matter of hours rather than days. Then after the Order’s been served and you have your daughter back, he’ll have to appear in court to explain his actions. We can decide how we want to take things from there.’

  ‘I’m not sure...’

  ‘Grace, do you trust Rory with Ellie? Do you think he loves her as a father should love his daughter?’ Stuart’s gaze held hers compellingly, the compassion and understanding she saw in his eyes mixed with a steely determination that willed her to have the strength to do what needed to be done.

  ‘No, I don’t. I know you’re right, but …’ Grace hesitated, her expression distraught. ‘There’s something I haven’t told you … he did other stuff after that night in the flat. Nuisance phone calls, banging on my bedroom window in the middle of the night, slashing my car tyre.’

  Stuart looked at her shocked. ‘What? Why didn’t you say anything?’

  ‘Because I couldn’t prove it and you’re already paranoid enough about him.’

  ‘For God’s sake, Grace–’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry. I just worry about what he’ll do afterwards if we go for him now.’

  ‘Maybe it’s what he needs to make him realise you’re serious and not going to be pushed around by him any longer?’

  She took a breath, staring at him for a long moment before coming to a decision. ‘Okay, I’ll do it. But even if they agree to the Injunction, we still have to find him to get it served.’

  ‘We’ll find him,’ Robert Hornsby said, ‘we have various agencies we use for that – and in the meantime, all I can suggest is that you do your best to find out any information you can as to his whereabouts.’ He smiled. ‘Don’t worry – once issued, I’ve never failed to get an Order served yet.’

  It was two days after her court appearance, when she was sitting contemplating the ordeal and marvelling that the Judge had agreed to issue the Order, that the phone rang.

  ‘Ellie wants to talk to you. You have two minutes,’ Rory’s imperious voice came over the line.

  She sat bolt upright in her chair. ‘Ellie ... are you alright, darling?’

  ‘I want to come home.’

  Ellie’s voice was tearful and tore at Grace’s heart. Terrified that Rory would grab the phone off her any minute before they got a chance to speak, she tried to sound as reassuring as she could.

  ‘It’s all right, sweetheart. Daddy will bring you home soon – just try to be a good girl okay? It won’t be long now.’

  ‘But I don’t want to stay wiv Daddy. I want to come home to you.’

  Grace felt a surge of hatred so strong that she knew if Rory was there in the room she would have killed him with her bare hands. ‘I know you do, honey,’ she soothed, ‘and it won’t be long now, I promise. You’ll be home very soon and then we can have one of our ginormous cuddles.’

  ‘I want to cuddle you now, Mummy, I need you.’

  She dissolved into tears over the line and Grace felt the water flooding her own eyes. Somehow she managed to keep her voice steady.

  ‘I’ll see you soon, darling. I love you. Put Daddy back on the phone can you? Then we can talk about when you’re coming home…’

  ‘I’m not sure when we’ll be back ... do you think you’ve learnt your lesson yet, Grace?’

  ‘You bastard, Rory. How can you frighten your own daughter just as a way of punishing me? It’s despicable.’

  ‘You’ve only yourself to blame for this, Grace. I warned you what would happen if you tried to get the better of me. You need to know that I mean what I say. That way we won’t have any more misunderstandings in the future.’

  ‘Please bring her home, Rory … you can see how upset she is. We can talk about it then.’

  ‘I’ll bring her home when I’m ready – and keep the police out of it this time, I mean it. If you get them involved you may never see your darling daughter again.’

  He hung up and she automatically dialled 1471, suspecting that as usual it would reveal his mobile number. But she got a shock. A number other than his mobile came up and it sounded like a landline. Was this his first mistake?

  She wrote the number down with shaky fingers, and called Robert Hornsby.

  ‘Well done,’ he said. ‘Leave it with me. With a bit of luck you’ll have your daughter back in no time.’

  ‘What’s he going to do when he finds out I’ve got a court order against him?’ she asked her sister an hour later on the phone. ‘I wouldn’t put it past him to harm himself and take Ellie with him, if he’s really pushed into a corner – and she was so upset, Lynne. What if all her crying gets to him and he lashes out at her? I’d never forgive myself if–’

  ‘Stop it. He’s not going to hurt her,’ Lynette said. ‘It’s you he’s trying to get at – not Ellie. He’s just using her as a means of doing it. You need to stay strong, Grace, for when she comes home. I’m sure it won’t be long now.’

  It was several hours later when she got the call. ‘The number has been traced to a B&B in Weymouth,’ Robert Hornsby told her. ‘It means we can serve the Order and he’ll have to comply with it if he doesn’t want the police stepping in. It’s good news, Grace; with a bit of luck you’ll have her back by tomorrow.’

  Grace was sick with dread. If only she could be as sure.

  She was up all night, pacing up and down her flat – knowing that if anything went wrong and Rory was going to carry out his threats to harm Ellie, now was the time he’d do it.

  When Lynette turned up on her doorstep later the following morning, Grace fell into her arms and burst into tears.

  ‘They served the Injunction last night. Robert rang me about an hour ago.’

  ‘That’s fantastic news.’

  ‘He said he’d return her today. But what if he doesn’t? What if he does something to her – to them both even – rather than comply with it?’

  ‘He won’t.’

  ‘How can we know that?’

  ‘Grace, you’re going to get your daughter back safe and sound any time now and you’d better believe it. And what’s more you’re going to run yourself a nice hot shower and wash your hair, so that when she sees you, you look something like the mum she remembers! Where’s Stuart? Hasn’t he been looking after you?’

  Grace shrugged. ‘It’s difficult when he’s on call. And I’m not easy to be around at the moment.’

  ‘Did you have breakfast this morning?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Well, let me get some eggs and bacon on and I’ll cook us some brunch while you’re having your shower. You need fattening up.’

  ‘Oh, Lynne, I don’t know how I’d have got through this without you.’

  ‘You’d have managed.’ Her sister grinned, giving her a hard hug. ‘But can I have that in writing?’

  He slipped up the side passageway to her flat and looked through the open window into Grace’s bedroom. The door through to the back garden had been left ajar because of the bins collection that day. It couldn’t have been easier.

  He carefully opened the window wider and climbed in. There was no sign of Grace as he crept silently across the room but a ring on the doorbell had him slipping swiftly into her wardrobe, out of sight of the open doorway to the hall. Female voices talking and then
a few minutes later he tensed as he heard the bedroom door open. He peered through the crack in the cupboard and could just see her as she started to remove her clothes. She’d always had a fantastic body and he allowed himself the luxury of appreciating it leisurely, enjoying his own private sideshow until she turned and walked into the tiny en-suite, shutting the door behind her.

  In the bathroom, Grace turned on the shower and waited a minute for it to warm up before opening the door to the cubicle and climbing in. She stood under the cascade of water, her mind on Ellie and what might be happening at this very minute. Had Rory handed her over? He’d told the police last night that he wanted time to say goodbye to her before he returned her, but she hadn’t received confirmation of his actions yet. She reached for the shampoo and started to lather it into her hair. It felt good. Lynette was right. She’d let herself go this last week – but she mustn’t let Ellie see that.

  The lather was thick in her hair now and she massaged her head vigorously, turning slowly back towards the door so that she could tip her head backwards and rinse the shampoo off.

  The sight of the hooded, masked face peering in at her through the steamed-up glass, made her scream.

  Very slowly, he raised two hands and placed them flat on the glass, moving them slowly and suggestively downwards, in an hourglass shape, as if they were caressing her body. All she could see through the mist was the glint of his eyes through the slit in his mask.

  She screamed again, grabbing the door handle so that he couldn’t open it.

  ‘Lynette!’

  The man slapped his hand loudly against the screen just once, then turned and ran from the room.