by M A Comley
“It hasn’t. She’s been as good as gold for months now. Otherwise, I would have informed you, as per your instructions.”
Lorne ignored the sarcasm in his tone. Even with their daughter missing, he was still goading her for an argument. Sod you, Tom!
“Well, give me some kind of clue, Tom, for Christ’s sake. Does she have a new boyfriend? A new friend she’s been going on about lately?”
“Not that I know of.”
She could imagine him shrugging his shoulders and putting on a hopeless face, and it made her heart pump harder and faster. “Have you been neglecting her in favour of that new girlfriend of yours? Charlie told me how besotted you were with her.”
“Piss off, Lorne. That’s got nothing to do with you or why Charlie has gone missing.”
“Really? You’re certain of that, are you? You can be so naïve at times.”
“Like I said already, piss off, Lorne. I’ve sacrificed everything—and I mean everything—for that girl. What exactly have you done for her? Except put her life in danger, that is.”
An unintentional heavy breath escaped her lips before she responded, “Change the damn record, Tom. I’m surprised it hasn’t been scratched to buggery by now.”
Lorne saw Katy fidget in the passenger seat beside her and mouthed an apology. Katy whispered, “Arguing won’t find Charlie any sooner. What time did she leave home?”
Before Tom had the chance to answer Lorne demanded, “What time did she leave home?”
“What? Oh, about two hours ago.”
“Okay, I apologise for having a go at you. I have Katy here with me now; I’ll get her to ring the station to ask the patrol cars to look out for Charlie. Don’t go out, Tom—just stay there in case Charlie comes home. I’ll ring you if we hear anything.”
“Thanks,” was all he said before he hung up.
Katy’s mouth turned down. “I’m suspended, remember?”
“Damn. I’ll ring Roberts myself, see if he’ll help me out. But that’ll have to wait until after I ring Tony, maybe she’s turned up there.”
She dialled her home number and waited. The phone rang non-stop, and just before it went into answerphone, a breathless Tony picked up. “Hello?”
“You took your time,” she snapped at him uncharacteristically, immediately biting down on her lip in regret.
“One of the new pups was ill. I was outside checking on him. How did it go?”
“With Croft? He’s in hospital—”
“What?” Tony exclaimed, interrupting her.
“Mind if I fill you in later? Charlie has gone missing and I’m scared.”
“What? Isn’t she supposed to be staying at a friend’s house this weekend?”
“Yeah, but she hasn’t turned up. Tom’s just rung me.”
“Okay, I know what you’re like about Charlie; I’m sure it’s nothing. Don’t go getting yourself worked up into a state. Is there anything I can do?”
“Tell Dad for me and stay by the phone in case she rings. It’s just that the last time—”
“Stop it. Let’s not even think about that, all right? She’s getting on for sixteen now, she’ll be testing the water to see how far she can push you and Tom. And Lorne?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t even think of connecting her to this case. It’s a coincidence—a bizarre coincidence. Until you have evidence to the contrary, don’t waste your energy going down that route, okay?”
She expelled the breath she’d been holding in. Tony was right, he usually was. But it would never quell the niggling doubt she had worming its way into her stomach. Coincidence or not, the Unicorn’s vile face tormented her. She threw open her car door and vomited in the curb. Closing the door again, she took a tissue from Katy and wiped her mouth.
“Lorne? Are you there?” Tony asked.
“Yeah, I’m here. Look, Katy and I are going to search around for a bit. I’ll contact the station to ask them to keep an eye open for her. Ring me if she turns up, okay?”
“Of course I will.”
“I’ll ring later to let you know how we’re doing.”
“Okay. Hang in there. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
She hung up and immediately rang Sean Roberts. “Sean, it’s Lorne. Sorry—haven’t got time for niceties; I need a favour.”
“Shoot. If I can help, you know I will.”
“Charlie’s gone missing, and I need the boys on the beat to keep an eye out for her.”
“What do you mean missing?”
“She was due at a friend’s house for the weekend, but she hasn’t shown up.”
“I thought she stayed with you at the weekend.”
Annoyed that he was delaying her getting on with the search, she snapped, “Ordinarily she does; however, she made other plans for this weekend. Sean, will you help or not? Katy and I are about to start driving around to see if we can find her, but the more people we have on the lookout, the better. If you’re not willing to help, please tell me now and stop wasting my time.”
“How to win friends and influence people the Lorne Simpkins way. Just kidding, before you snap my head off again. I’ll get the guys to keep an eye out for her. Do you have an up-to-date photo of Charlie?”
“Hold on.” She scrolled through the pictures on her phone and stopped at one of Charlie working in the kennels that she’d taken the previous weekend, then said, “Got one. Shall I send it to you?”
“Yep, send it through. I’ll print it off and get the desk sergeant to distribute it to the lads. And what’s all this about Katy being with you?”
Me and my big mouth. “It’s her birthday this weekend—nice timing on the suspension, by the way. I told her to spend the weekend with us. I hadn’t anticipated all this excitement when I suggested it, though.”
“Charlie going missing, you mean?”
“Yeah, amongst other things. You know I’m investigating the trafficking case, don’t you? Well, the criminals involved have just upped the ante. Once I know Charlie is safe, Katy and I will go hell for leather tracking this gang down.”
Sean sighed deeply before he replied, “Katy is a serving officer in the Met; she cannot be involved in this case, Lorne. Do you hear me?”
“Loud and clear, Sean. So reinstate her or let her go.”
“It’s not as easy as that and you know it.”
“It’s as easy as you want it to be, Sean. It’s time to show the Met what you’re made of. Either stick up for one of the best serving officers you have, or lose her. I’d offer her a job in a heartbeat.”
Another heavy sigh. “Send over the picture of Charlie and I’ll see what I can do with regard to both matters. I promise. Ring me if you need anything else.”
“I might take you up on that. Let me find Charlie first, and I’ll get back to you with what developments I have on the case. It would be good to get some help on this one rather than come up against a brick wall, as Katy has.” There she went again, dropping Katy in the shit.
She heard Katy tut, and turning, she mouthed an apology. Katy gave her a brief nod and glanced out the windscreen again.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, Lorne. I’ll be in touch if we find out anything. You do the same if Charlie turns up, yes?”
“Sure thing. Thanks, Sean.”
She hung up, sent the picture through to Sean and then pulled away in a gap in the traffic. “Sorry, Katy.”
“No worries. Where are we going to look first?”
“I thought I’d drive around the park where Charlie and her friends used to hang out. I’m out of touch what her favourite haunts are now, and there’s no point in asking Tom, I doubt he’d know. Damn…why haven’t I taken more interest in her friends lately?”
“Hey, you can pack that in. I’m not going to listen to you droning on, blaming yourself.”
“Reprimand accepted and appreciated, thank you.”
For the next hour or so, they drove around the area closest to Tom
and Charlie’s home, but drew a blank. They were just about to set off on foot to ask the cashiers in the local shops if they had seen Charlie when Sean Roberts rang.
“Here’s our initial findings: we managed to track down a few of Charlie’s friends. At first they were reluctant to speak to the uniformed coppers, but after a few idle threats, they finally told the officers that your daughter was seen getting into a car—”
“Oh my God! Not again, please not again.” They were lucky Lorne had pulled the car over to the curb; she dreaded to think what would have happened had she still been driving.
“Now, Lorne, hear me out. The kids said the car belonged to her new boyfriend. Any ideas who he is?”
She shook her head, as if he was sitting beside her in the car. Katy elbowed her in the ribs. “Sorry, Sean. I had no idea she had a boyfriend. The question is why she felt the need to keep him a secret.”
“Not sure. The kids didn’t seem to know she had one, either, if that helps.”
“So it might be a new boyfriend, but then again, it might not?” she asked, confused.
“Look, I’m just passing on what I know. I hoped it might put your mind at ease a little.”
“Thanks, Sean, it’s appreciated.”
They ended the call. Lorne punched the steering wheel a few times and then plucked up the courage to ring Tom back.
“It’s me, and no, we haven’t found her yet.”
“Christ, it’s been hours. Where the hell is she?”
Lorne detected the anxiety in his tone and almost pulled out of asking the question. “Tom, has Charlie said anything to you about having a boyfriend?”
“No! Why?”
“She was last seen getting into a car with a lad.”
“Shit! She hasn’t told me anything. Hasn’t she mentioned it to you in one of your mother and daughter chats?”
Here comes the part where he lays the blame firmly at my door.
“No, Tom, she hasn’t. Okay, I’m hanging up now so I can continue looking. I’ll keep you up to date.” She hung up and said to Katy, “Why the heck do I bother? I know he thinks I’m a shit mother. Every opportunity he gets, he takes pleasure in flinging it down my throat.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing much, but I could tell by the tone of his voice that the inference was there. Agh…he’s such an arsehole.”
“Yeah, and you’re well rid of him. Concentrate on finding Charlie. I have a plan—want to hear it?”
“Of course.”
Katy had a smug look on her face. “Think back to when you were a kid, in your teens, and you had a new boyfriend—what did you do?”
“Not applicable, I’m afraid; the only two men I was involved with in my teens were Sean Roberts, who was a workaholic, and boring Tom, whose idea of a cracking night out was spending hours down at his local pub playing on the one-armed bandits.”
“Yikes, and you went on to marry him?”
“Yeah, I also went on to regret it and got a divorce eventually. What are you getting at, anyway?” she asked, desperate to change the subject.
“We’re in the big city. If he’s just bought his car, he’ll be desperate to show it off.”
“Crap, don’t tell me that—my nerves are frayed enough as it is.”
“Listen. Youngsters never think of saving their petrol, so my guess is he’s heading into London to show her the sights.”
Lorne contemplated Katy’s idea for a few minutes. “You could have something there. Let’s go! We’ve wasted enough time around here.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Charlie and I went up on that last year; made me quite sick, but I didn’t tell her that,” Lorne told Katy as they drove past the London Eye. “I doubt they’d be on there—too expensive for kids. They’ll be looking for cheap thrills. Are there such things in this tourist magnet of a city?” She wracked her brains, trying to come up with anything, and drew another blank. It was pointless asking Katy, as she was a northerner and she hadn’t been stationed in London long enough to have got caught up in the tourist trap.
“Not something I’d relish going on. I haven’t got a clue about the cost of some of the attractions. Hey, they wouldn’t necessarily be visiting these places as such—driving past them, yes, but not actually visiting them. Let’s carry on to the next one. We’re beginning to lose the light now. I don’t suppose Roberts hinted at what kind of car this kid had?”
“No, and I forgot to ask. Dumb of me, right?”
“You’re too harsh on yourself, Lorne. Just stop it. All this negativity isn’t getting the job done any better.”
“Who made you the smart kid on the block?” she said playfully.
“What about Buck House?”
“That’s miles from here, but doable. I’ll sweep past some other touristy places on the way. Good thinking.”
The sun lit up the evening sky in scorching red tones. Any other time, Lorne would have pulled the car over and marvelled at the wonderful sight. There was something special about sunsets and sunrises that touched her heart and made her think what a beautiful place the world was. Not today, though—not with Charlie on the missing list.
In the middle of negotiating the rush hour traffic at a roundabout, her mobile rang. “Katy, do you mind getting that for me?” she asked.
“Hello? Just a minute.” Katy covered the phone’s mouthpiece and motioned for Lorne to take it.
“Put it in the hands-free contraption, would you? Who is it?”
“Roberts,” Katy replied as she fastened the phone in position on the dashboard.
“Sean, hi. Have you found out anything?” Lorne drew in an anticipated breath.
“I take it you’re driving, Lorne. I need you to stop the car.”
Her hands took on a life of their own and began to shake on the steering wheel. She indicated, pulled the car to a halt, and switched off the engine.
“Okay, the car is stationary. You’re scaring me shitless, Sean. What’s going on?”
“We think we’ve located the vehicle—”
“But that’s wonderful news, isn’t it?” She turned to Katy and held her crossed fingers up in front of her.
“Umm…not exactly. It was found overturned and on fire.”
“Oh no! Please don’t tell me that. Did they get out? Was Charlie in the car?”
Sean sighed heavily. “She was there, and yes, the fire brigade managed to get them out—”
“Tell me where.”
“Down near the Embankment.”
Lorne started the car, but Katy’s hand clasped her arm. “I’ll drive,” Katy said, her tone one of authority. Katy opened the passenger’s door and ordered Lorne to move over into the passenger’s seat while she ran around the front of the car and jumped in the driver’s seat.
“They’re still at the scene, Lorne. When you get there, for heaven’s sake let them get on with their jobs. You hear me?” Sean insisted.
“Fine. Don’t worry. Anything else?” she asked, exasperated that he knew her so well.
“No. Just be careful getting there.”
His extended hesitation concerned her. She glanced over at Katy. “Quick, put your foot down.”
They arrived at the scene within ten minutes. Both women sprinted from the car. However, two uniformed policemen blocked their path. “Please stand back. There’s nothing to see here, ladies.”
Lorne pointed at the upturned car and screeched, “My daughter was in that car.”
The coppers looked at each other flummoxed by her outburst. Finally, Katy shouted, “Let us through, you idiots, I’m a DS in the Met.”
Shamefaced, the coppers held the crime scene tape up. Lorne and Katy rushed past them and over to the ambulance situated far enough away from the flaming car to be out of any danger.
Two paramedics were about to strap Charlie into a stretcher. Her neck was encased in a collar and a man in biker’s leathers was at her side.
“Charlie? Can you hear me?” Lorne cl
utched her daughter’s hand in her own as tears slid down her cheeks.
“Are you the girl’s mother?” the man in leathers asked.
“She is, and you are?” Katy replied for Lorne.
“I’m the emergency doctor. I’ve sedated her. She’s in a sorry state, I’m afraid, but at least she’s alive.” He looked over his shoulder and nodded at the body lying under a white sheet. “The same can’t be said for her companion.”
“How badly hurt is she, Doctor?” Katy asked.
“Your daughter was thrown from the car. She was unconscious when we arrived. It’s precautionary to put the neck brace on. I’m afraid we won’t know more until we get her to the hospital. Bearing in mind what happened to the driver, I think your daughter is an extremely lucky girl. I don’t want to give you false hope, though, so let’s wait and see.”
Lorne gasped and Katy placed a soothing hand on her back. “She’s only sixteen,” Lorne whispered.
“We like to think positively about things, Doctor. I know you and the hospital will do your best,” Katy said.
The doctor nodded. One of the paramedics gave the thumbs-up. “We’re good to go, doc.”
Katy pulled Lorne aside so the paramedics could load the stretcher into the back of the ambulance. “Do you want to travel with her?”
“Go on. I’ll follow on in the car,” Katy told her with a half-smile.
“I’d like that, thanks. Damn, what about ringing Tom and Tony?” Lorne faltered as she followed the stretcher into the ambulance.
“Leave it to me. I’ll ring Tony and he can contact Tom.” Katy turned back to the doctor and asked, “Which hospital are they taking her to?”
“It’ll be St. Thomas’s. We’d better get going.”
As the door closed to the ambulance Lorne shouted to Katy, “See you there, and drive carefully.”
In shock, she looked down at her injured daughter, and all the personal regrets she’d had of putting her career before motherhood came flooding back with a suffocating vengeance. Lorne’s breath was coming in short, sharp bursts, and the air in the ambulance seemed to be disappearing faster than a rocket being launched into space.
“Are you all right, love?” the paramedic who was checking Charlie’s vital signs asked.
