Snatched

by Gillian Jackson

  ‘But it was a man who made the phone calls and two men at the drop off.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean they worked alone. This woman would have been in an ideal position to provide information about your family and your income.’

  ‘But dozens of people know that much about me. I thought you were looking into people who might have a grudge against me, from work?’

  ‘We were but there’s been another development, Mr Stone. DI Priestly at Leeds has discovered that the father of the girl who was kidnapped there was also having an affair.’ Radford watched as Stone was desperately trying to think of something else to convince him not to look at Serena as a possible suspect. ‘Can you describe Ms Murphy for me please?’ Radford asked.

  ‘Well, she’s a very attractive lady, long blonde hair, blue eyes ... but she never mentioned living in Leeds.’

  ‘She would hardly tell you about her previous men friends, would she? So, if you’ll just confirm her address. Portishead, isn’t it?’

  Richard reluctantly gave Serena’s address.

  ‘You still won’t tell Martha about this, will you? Richard asked desperately.

  ‘That may no longer be possible, certainly if our suspicions are correct. Perhaps it would be better if you told Mrs Stone yourself?’ Radford suggested.

  Chapter 34

  Martha had almost grabbed the phone from Suni when Radford rang to say Danny had been found. Too emotional to ask any questions, Martha had listened to the message that Danny was on his way to Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital and she was almost at the door before DI Radford could explain what had happened.

  They had arrived at the Royal just twenty minutes behind Danny and were allowed to see him in the tiny cubicle where his cuts were being bathed by a nurse. She tactfully left them alone for a few minutes.

  Very little was said at all. Danny and his parents had all been exhausted after such a traumatic week and the boy was silent and thoughtful. Elaine had hugged her grandson then moved back and remained silent in order to allow him space with his parents.

  Martha kept telling him how delighted they were to have him back and she could hardly get any closer to him, a physical closeness which they both needed. Richard too held onto his son’s hand and smiled.

  Since then, Danny had been transferred to a private room, where Martha and Elaine now sat, one at each side of him, like bookends. Richard had left the room at the request of DI Radford and been away for about twenty minutes, presumably, Martha thought, to get an update on what was happening with the kidnappers. She’d reminded her husband to ring his parents with the good news before he returned to sit with them again.

  Danny was weak and quiet and allowed his mother to gently wash his face and body without even seeming aware of what she was doing. The doctor warned his parents and the police not to ask too many questions, fearing that his patient was not only physically weak but emotionally drained by his ordeal. So Martha asked nothing of her son and simply told him how delighted they were to have him back, how much she loved him and that everything was going to be okay.

  She was unsure how much of this he was taking in. Danny had cried initially when he first saw his parents, but now lay still on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The doctor reassured Martha and Richard that, physically, their son should make a speedy recovery, but aware of what his patient had recently gone through, he warned that his emotional recovery could take much longer. The doctor wanted to keep Danny overnight; he’d been put on a drip to help to rehydrate his body and given a mild sedative to help him sleep. Martha agreed but insisted on staying with him, which was encouraged by the nursing staff who offered endless cups of tea for them all.

  Richard returned to Danny’s room looking, his wife thought, still worried, with deep lines etched around his eyes and a concerned expression. Martha smiled at him, recognising that the ordeal had been exacerbated for Richard because of his direct dealing with the kidnappers. It’s not every day you’re threatened with a gun and he’d suffered physically too from the attack in the car park.

  Now that their son was safely returned to them, Martha felt more kindly towards her husband. Yes, he’d failed in his attempts to get the money together and they still needed to have the conversation about exactly where he’d invested their savings, but she thought that perhaps she’d been too harsh with him, when he felt the effects of the kidnapping every bit as keenly as she had.

  ‘Shall I get you some coffee?’ she asked.

  ‘No, thanks but we need to talk.’

  ‘There’ll be time for talking later, let’s just enjoy having Danny back.’ She smiled at Richard, wanting to let him know that things would be fine with them. ‘It’s been hard for us all and I know I’ve said some things which I shouldn’t have said. But we can talk later, okay?’

  Her husband still looked anxious but he turned his attention to Danny.

  ‘You can sleep if you want to, darling, we’ll still be here when you wake up.’ Martha stroked her son’s forehead and watched as the sedatives began to work and he drifted into a deep sleep.

  ‘That’s probably the best thing for him,’ Elaine said. ‘If it’s okay with you I’ll go back to the house now. I can get a taxi so you can both stay here.’

  ‘Thanks, Mother, you’ve been a great help. Richard will probably be home later, but I’ll stay the night.’ Martha smiled at her mother and Elaine kissed her daughter, then left.

  ‘I hope she’s going to pack,’ Richard said almost under his breath.

  ‘Don’t be so mean; she’s been a comfort to me even if she hasn’t to you,’ Martha chided him and nodded towards Suni who was sitting in the corner of the room, as if to remind her husband to be careful what he was saying.

  ‘You’re right, sorry.’ Richard then turned to Suni. ‘If we go for a coffee could you ring us if Danny wakes?’

  ‘Of course, that’s no problem. A break will probably do you good.’ Suni smiled, happy to help.

  ‘But we can bring a coffee in here,’ Martha began to protest.

  ‘Please, Martha, just come with me for a little while.’ Richard sounded quite desperate so she checked their son again to make sure he was asleep and then stood to follow her husband from the room.

  ‘What’s all this about?’ she asked. ‘We’ve only just got Danny back and you’re in a hurry to have a break from him? What’s going on?’ Martha was puzzled and a little irritated by Richard’s insistence. Her husband steered her towards the relatives’ room at the end of the ward and once they were inside, he closed the door and sat down on the little sofa, pulling Martha down beside him.

  ‘Richard, what is it?’

  ‘The police are looking at another line of enquiry,’ he began, unable to look his wife in the eye. ‘There’s a woman they think might have been involved in the planning of the kidnapping...’

  ‘Is this the woman whose son died?’ Martha interrupted.

  ‘No, it’s someone else, someone I know.’

  ‘Someone from work?’ Martha was surprised but would be delighted if the police had already found out who the kidnappers were. ‘Well who is she, a colleague or a client, what? Do I know her?’

  ‘You don’t know her, and no, she’s not connected to work.’ He held on to her hand. ‘Martha, I’m so sorry. She’s someone I met a few months ago ... and things just sort of happened. She’s not important to me; it’s you I love, you and Danny!’

  ‘You’ve been having an affair?’ Martha had turned quite pale and stood up to walk towards the door. She turned back to ask, ‘But how is she connected to the kidnapping?’

  ‘It seems that she’s done this sort of thing before — she targeted me and when she knew sufficient about our family and our routines, she helped the kidnappers to snatch Danny on his way home from school. I don’t know much more than that myself, but DI Radford’s on his way to see her now and possibly to arrest her. I’m not sure what will happen.’

  ‘Does she liv
e in Bristol?’

  ‘No, in Portishead.’

  ‘But when have you had the time to have an affair? You work all the hours God sends, either here or in London.’

  Richard hung his head and made no reply, but the truth slowly dawned on Martha.

  ‘You don’t do any pro bono work in London, do you? It’s all been a lie, a cover for you to be with her! And when you said you were staying overnight in London, you were with her, weren’t you?’

  ‘Yes, but I’m so sorry, Martha, I’ve been a bloody fool to be taken in by her when it’s only ever been you I love!’

  ‘And when did you realise she’d played you for a fool? When the police told you about her?’ Martha summed it up correctly and her husband couldn’t form a coherent answer. ‘Is there anything else you’d like to tell me, Richard? Is she connected to the so called investments you’ve made of late?’

  ‘Yes, the money’s gone to her. I’m so sorry!’

  ‘All of it? All our savings and Danny’s university fund? You gave it all to her?’ Martha was furious. ‘How much? How much has your mistress cost us? And don’t lie to me. I want to know the truth!’

  ‘I bought an apartment in Portishead, but I would have replaced the money in time!’ Richard confessed.

  ‘So presumably you can now sell this apartment to at least get some of our money back?’

  ‘No ... it’s in her name.’

  ‘Her name? Well, you’re a bigger fool than I thought you were! So then what? She didn’t think she’d got enough out of you so she kidnapped our son?’ Martha’s anger was rising; it seemed incredible that an intelligent man could be so taken in by a woman like her. ‘So how much was this apartment?’

  ‘Two hundred thousand.’

  ‘Oh, is that all! A modest little place then?’

  ‘Look, Martha. I was stupid and I know it now. I’ve told you everything and I really am sorry, but I know that’s not enough. Surely we must think of Danny now? We can sort everything out when he’s better and back at home with us. It’s not even a certainty that Serena was involved — Radford hasn’t talked to her yet. And I know it’s too early for you to forgive me, but I realise now how stupid I’ve been and that you and Danny are my world. I don’t want to lose you, I really don’t!’

  ‘So why does DI Radford think this woman’s involved?’

  ‘Well, the detective from Leeds, Jack Priestly, found out that the father of the girl who was kidnapped there was also having an affair. It seems that it was the same woman. Apparently she targets men with children and a decent income. I suppose there could be others as well.’

  ‘So how was it that Jack Priestly and Don Radford knew about your affair when I didn’t?’ Martha asked.

  ‘Radford found out that I wasn’t working in London. I had to tell him about Serena to explain why I’d lied to them.’

  ‘And presumably he was going to keep your secrets for you? Didn’t you think to tell me the truth then, when you told the police? I honestly can’t believe that you would be so stupid! And you have the nerve to say it’s really me and Danny you love and I’m supposed to believe you? You weren’t thinking of either of us when you were with her, were you?’

  ‘No, and I can’t apologise enough. These last few days have been torture, missing Danny and knowing what a fool I’ve been to spend all our money. You can’t hate me any more than I hate myself. All I ask is that you give me time to make it up to you. Can we concentrate on our son for now and put this aside for the time being?’

  ‘I’m going back to Danny.’ Martha pushed past Richard to return to their son’s room.

  Chapter 35

  Danny began to wake properly two hours later. The first thing he saw was his mother’s face, smiling down at him. He looked around and saw his father too, at the other side of the bed. A woman was sitting near the door. Danny thought he remembered seeing her before he fell asleep. He could hardly believe that he was at last safe.

  He turned to his mother. ‘Is Lewis alright?’

  The younger woman moved over to the bed and spoke to him. ‘Hi, Danny, my name’s Suni and I’m a police officer. You asked about Lewis; can you tell me what you remember about him, from when you were running away from the farmhouse?’ Her tone was gentle and friendly.

  ‘We were running for the trees, to escape from Pete and Dave. But Pete had a gun and he shot Lewis! Is he dead?’ he asked again.

  ‘Yes, Danny, I’m afraid he is.’ Suni was honest with him. ‘He died almost immediately, so he wouldn’t have felt any pain. Was he trying to help you to escape?’

  ‘Yes, and his mother. Is she alright? Did Pete shoot her too?’

  ‘She’s safe now at the police station, answering a few questions, she’ll be well looked after,’ Suni told him. ‘Can you tell me more about Lewis and why he and his mother were there with you?’

  ‘Sally’s Pete’s girlfriend ... and he made her stay with me to stop me escaping and to look after me. I don’t think she wanted to do it and Lewis told me it was only because she was scared of him that she agreed. Lewis didn’t want to be there either ... he became my friend.’ Danny sniffed hard, trying not to cry when he thought about Lewis, but it was hard. In a way he felt guilty because he’d persuaded him to help him escape. Lewis looked after his mother too; he was very good at that.’

  ‘He sounds like a very special boy,’ Suni remarked and Danny nodded his head. ‘You don’t have to tell me any more if you’re tired, we can talk later,’ she said.

  ‘No, I want to tell you. Sally needs someone looking out for her now that Lewis is... She needs someone. Will you tell the police not to put her in jail?’

  ‘When I go back to the station I’ll find out what’s happened to her and tell them what you said. So was Sally helping you to escape as well?’

  ‘Yes, they both were, even though they knew Pete would be mad at them.’ Tears welled in Danny’s eyes.

  Suni opened her laptop and brought up the Photofit image the paperboy had helped to produce. ‘Do you recognise this man?’ She turned the laptop so he could get a good look at it.

  ‘Yes, that’s Pete. I only really saw him once but that’s him.’

  ‘Well done, Danny. You’ve been really helpful in telling me this, but you need to rest now. And don’t worry, I’ll do everything I can to help Sally and we can talk some more tomorrow, okay?’

  Danny nodded and closed his eyes.

  It looked as if Danny would sleep right through the night. After Suni left, Richard asked Martha if he could get her anything, but her answer was a curt ‘no’. They sat in silence for an hour or so, their focus on their son, until Martha at last spoke.

  ‘You may as well go home — he doesn’t need both of us here and the police might have some news. You won’t want them telling Mother before they tell you, will you?’

  Richard had actually thought about that too and it was most certainly not something he would want to happen. ‘Do you want me to pick up a few things for you if you’re staying here the night? I can soon bring them back,’ he offered.

  ‘No, the nurses have been kind enough to give me all I need.’

  Martha kept her eyes on Danny while she spoke to her husband. Richard stood to leave, unsure what to do. He bent to kiss his son and stroked a lock of stray hair off his face. A kiss for his wife seemed inappropriate, so he simply wished her goodnight and left.

  When he was out of the room, Martha rested her head on the side of the bed and cried softly to herself, unable to hold back the tears but not wanting to wake her son. Her wish had come true and he was safe, but her marriage was crumbling. Whatever would the future hold for them all?

  Chapter 36

  Richard turned the key in the front door and entered as quietly as possible, hoping that his mother-in-law would have gone to bed. She had not.

  ‘Well, I didn’t think you’d leave Martha there alone!’ Elaine said when she saw him.

  ‘It was wha
t she wanted.’ This woman seemed to have the power to irritate him every time she spoke, even if it was only to offer a cup of tea.

  ‘Have you eaten?’ she asked, as if to prove his point.

  ‘No, I’m not hungry and I’m sick of coffee. I’ll just grab a beer and get off to bed. It’s been a long day.’ Richard turned towards the kitchen and took a cold beer from the fridge.

  ‘That detective Radford’s just been on the phone. I said you were at the hospital so he asked if you would ring him first thing in the morning.’

  ‘Was that all he said?’ Richard almost crossed his fingers.

  ‘Mostly.’

  ‘What does mostly mean? Did he say anything else?’

  ‘Only that I had to tell you that his suspicions were correct about your friend. Do you understand what he meant, because I certainly didn’t? Fancy talking in riddles at a time like this.’

  Richard’s heart felt heavy in his chest. He knew what the message meant and was pretty sure that his stupidity was about to become public knowledge. He paused before stepping on the first stair. Should he tell Elaine what he’d done before she found out from someone else? He decided he should and turned around, heading for the kitchen.

  ‘If you sit down, Elaine, I’ll explain it all to you,’ he said wearily. His mother-in-law looked puzzled, as much by the fact that Richard had agreed to explain things to her as anything else. He usually struggled to give her the time of day. ‘What I’m going to tell you isn’t easy for me, nor will it be easy for you to hear, but please, let me say my piece without interruption, and then you can vilify me when I’ve finished.’

  Elaine looked offended. ‘You make me sound like an ogre! I only came here to see if I could help. Danny’s precious to me too you know!’

  ‘Yes, I’m sorry, that was uncalled for, but please hear me out?’

  Elaine pursed her lips and Richard told her everything, or as much as he’d told Martha. When he finished, he watched Elaine’s face redden and her nostrils flare. It almost made him laugh; a classic outraged expression, exactly what he would have expected. He then returned the favour of silence and listened to her berate him.