“Yes, just down the road,” Kerry replied.
“Oh, right, it’s just that I’ve not seen you in here before.” Jude looked at Kerry in the mirror.
“No,” said Kerry.
“Bit busy, I suppose?” asked Jude, her head going from side to side as she inspected Kerry’s hair.
“Mmm.” replied Kerry watching the manicurist.
“Kids?”
“Mmm.” Kerry turned her attention back to the hairdresser and was concerned that maybe Jude was cutting too much hair off. There seemed to be a lot of it on the floor.
“Hubby looking after them, then?”
“What?” Kerry turned her attention back to Jude. “Oh, yes,” she agreed.
“Shame about that kid. Have you heard?”
“What kid?” The manicurist had now started on Kerry’s other hand, so Kerry was inspecting the one she’d finished.
“You know, the one that’s gone missing.”
“Mmm.” Kerry wondered if her nails were too short as well as her hair.
“Terrible, that. What do you think?”
“I think you need to be careful with my hair. I don’t want it too short,” Kerry rebuked her.
“Sorry, I’m sure,” replied Jude sniffing but she dutifully turned her attention back to her scissors.
Kerry left the hairdressers and had to admit they’d done a good job. She could see her hair in the shop windows, the shining curls bouncing up and down, finishing just above her shoulders. It should be more manageable, she thought, if I put some of that anti frizz stuff I’ve seen advertised on the telly on it. So she decided to treat herself to some. She wandered around the local Boots store. It was only small, but seemed to stock quite a large hair product range and it took Kerry a while to choose which product to buy.
While she was waiting to pay she looked down to admire her nails, and that’s when she caught sight of her dress. She still had the one on that was covered in bleach spots. She wondered if the local charity shop had anything nice in, so as she wandered out of Boots, she decided to turn right. There were two charity shops in that street, she was sure she’d find something there.
She was right. Not only did she find a couple of dresses for herself, but some lovely baby clothes for the girls. The lady volunteer in the shop said they’d just been handed in that morning and wasn’t she lucky to get them.
Glancing at her watch as she left the second charity shop, Kerry realised she’d been much longer than she’d intended to be, over two hours already, so she better hurry back to Alan and the girls.
Accident
The flat was very quiet when Kerry got back. She thought Alan must have been doing a great job to get all three babies so happy and contented.
“Well, what do you think?” she asked Alan as she twirled in front of him. She patted her hands under her hair and then flapped them in his face.
“I even got my nails done,” she trilled. “I hope you like them.”
Alan didn’t reply. Undaunted, Kerry showed him her purchases. Firstly, the hair products and then secondly the baby clothes.
“I thought this would look particularly good on Tyler,” she said, holding up a white frilly dress with matching knickers to go over her nappy. “Let me just hold it to her and make sure it fits. Is she awake?”
Kerry turned to the play pen, expecting to see the child sitting there, playing with her toys, just as she left her. But Tyler was lying on her back. Motionless.
“Oh, of course, silly me, she’s fallen asleep.”
As she leaned over the cot she saw a large dark stain on the mattress, by Tyler’s head.
“Oh dear, has she been sick, Alan? Perhaps she threw up her milk from this morning?”
She turned back to Alan, who still hadn’t spoken. As she looked more closely at his face she saw a single tear rolling down his cheek.
“Alan?” she asked in alarm. “Alan? What’s happened?”
When he still didn’t reply, she turned back to the baby. As she picked Tyler up, her head flopped backwards, just like a new born and Kerry had to support it. There was something sticky on the back of her head.
“Alan?” she asked again. Clutching the child to her she looked more closely at the dark stain, realising it might be blood.
“What’s that? Is it blood? What happened?”
A tear rolled down Alan’s other cheek this time, as he haltingly told her what had happened.
“Tyler had been standing up holding the rail,” he said. “I watched her try to take a couple of steps but then she tottered unsteadily, and fell backwards onto the bar.”
“The bar?” whispered Kerry.
“Yes,” Alan said. “The part with hinges that click into place, that should have had a piece of padded fabric on.”
Kerry went pale as she realised she had forgotten to popper it in place.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I tried to get up, but just couldn’t. No matter how hard I tried, I was stuck here. Stuck in this chair. My legs just didn’t seem to work today. I think it was walking on them when we got Tyler. I must have done even more damage to them, as I’ve not been able to use them since.”
“Never mind, Alan,” she consoled him, realising that she was partly to blame. “I guess Tyler was always meant to be like the Mollies. Reborn. And anyway, if the truth be told, I was getting a bit tired of looking after three kids under one year old. I’m not sure I was coping very well, was I Alan?”
“You did your best,” he said, which made Kerry’s heart swell and tears prick her own eyes.
“Thanks, Alan. No one can say I didn’t try. I gave it my best shot. Don’t worry, it’s not your fault.”
She picked a clean blanket off the dryer, wrapped Tyler in it and put her back into the playpen.
“Come on, Alan, cheer up and look on eBay with me. We’ll find a replacement for her. I’ll bring the laptop over to you.”
As she turned on the computer she mused, “I’m not sure I can leave Tyler on the Garrison church steps, like I did Molly. I’ll have to think of somewhere else to put her.”
25
Today on Good Morning Britain.
The village of North Camp and surrounding areas have been transformed from a quiet back water. People are coming in their hundreds from the neighbouring towns of Farnborough and Aldershot to help in the organised searches for baby Tyler. .A source close to the police has said that there is little hope of finding her alive if she’s been abandoned outdoors. However, everyone coming to help search day after day continues to be upbeat and hopeful of a happy ending.
“No news yet,” seemed to be Crane’s mantra, when speaking to people about the stolen, kidnapped, or snatched baby. It didn’t much matter what you called the appalling crime, the reply was the same. No news yet. Crane was at the stage of dragging himself into work every day. And it wasn’t just the fact he’d usually only grabbed about four hours of sleep. He felt like he was wading through everyone’s guilt as he walked across the office. Guilt because they hadn’t found Tyler yet. Guilt because, as everyone knew, the longer it took to find the child, the more than likely they were to find a dead body than a living baby. So morale went down, as the days ticked by, hour by hour by hour.
There had been a summing up piece on the breakfast television channels that morning about the case. He’d watched it with Tina. The presenters had detailed what had been done to try and find Tyler so far: exhaustive searches in the local area by police, military and civilian volunteers; appeals to the public for anyone who may have seen Tyler being snatched or someone running away from the scene with or without a baby; posters with Tyler’s photograph on plastered all around the immediate area and beyond, particularly around large superstores; interviewing of local registered nonce’s; all the appeals that had been made on the local and national television, radio and in the newspapers. And still nothing.
Tina watched, white faced, next to him at the table and at the end of the piece turned to him. But no words c
ame out of her mouth. No questions. No reprisals. And for that he was grateful. He smiled his thanks, stood, kissed her and Daniel goodbye and left for work.
That morning Captain Draper joined them downstairs and so all three of them, Draper, Crane and Billy sat disconsolately around the crowded white boards that Crane so loved, yet now hated, as they mocked him and his inability to find the child.
“So, nothing? No news? No leads?”
Draper seemed to want it confirmed, so Crane did the honours. “No, sir, nothing.”
“Let’s try and look at things another way, then. Is there anything we haven’t done that we could have done?” Draper stood and walked over to the boards. “If we still think there could be a connection between the dead baby and the snatched baby, how about those lists you were working on? The ones of any soldiers who had had a baby recently.”
“They all checked out, sir,” Billy said. “The only thing we can say about those enquiries is that one of the mothers, um,” Billy consulted his notes, “Kerry Chandler, was also seen in the Co-op in North Camp about 10 minutes before Tyler was snatched.”
“But no other sighting of her on CCTV after that?”
“No, sir, but she could have been shielded by other shoppers or vehicles. Sorry, sir.”
“I think we should visit her again,” said Crane, absently worrying at his scar.
“Why? She checked out the first time around. You even saw her baby,” Draper said.
“I know, but there’s just something about her,” Crane replied.
“Apart from the fact that she acts like a mad woman, you mean?” said Billy.
Crane smiled for the first time that day. “What do you think, boss?” he asked Draper.
“I think we should see if we have enough to get a search warrant.”
“Why?” Crane frowned. “I’m talking about more of an informal door to door. We can even take some locals with us, if you like. Get them to talk to the other residents in the block as well.”
“Because a visit could spook her, informal or formal, if she really does have Tyler. I won’t authorise anything that could potentially put the child in jeopardy.”
“But we’re not going to get a search warrant on Billy’s assessment that she looks like a mad woman and because she was seen in North Camp shopping that morning. Along with a few hundred other people. I just thought Billy and I could go, as we’ve already met her. We could have a friendly chat and a surreptitious look around. Come on, boss.”
Crane waited as Draper tapped his foot and then drummed his fingers on top of one of the white boards. At last he seemed to come to a decision.
“No can do. See DI Anderson. Find out if he can get a search warrant.”
Draper’s clipped instructions felt like a slap in the face and Crane had to deliberately harden his features into a mask of respect as he said, “Very well, sir.”
***
Anderson wasn’t any more helpful when Crane rang him to ask about getting a search warrant for Kerry Chandler’s flat. “I’ll look into it, but from memory, I doubt that we have enough to go on for authorisation for the search.”
“How long will it take to get one, if we do have enough?” Crane growled. Fed up with what appeared to be a second ‘no’ response to his idea. He’d thought at least Anderson would be on his side.
“A few days, to be honest. Come on, Crane, no one is going to be willing to authorise a search warrant for something that could potentially set an unstable widow off. If she does have Tyler, God knows what she might do if she were cornered.”
“Alright, alright, don’t labour the point. Anyway if we’re throwing bricks about, what about your surveillance of Anic? Anything there that could lead us to believe he took the Wainwright’s kid?”
“Not a bloody thing. If anything he’s become whiter than white. He’s only going between the offices of his import/export business, the car repair shop and home. Even his enforcers seem to be having a holiday from violence. No scraps, damage to premises, threats to take over any other businesses. Sweet FA as they say.”
“Alright, thanks, Derek. I’ll be in touch,” and Crane ended the very unsatisfactory call. He decided to sleep on it overnight, but knew that he would more than likely go with Billy to see Kerry Chandler. Sod authorisation. He needed to find that child and she was the only, albeit miniscule, lead they had.
26
WHERE IS BABY TYLER?
By our Chief Investigative Reporter Diane Chambers
Here at the Aldershot News, we would like to publically thank everyone who is coming day after day to help in the search for baby Tyler. We now understand that the focus of the search has changed from outdoor and wooded areas to the many local houses and flats. Police and Army personnel are going from door to door in the hope of finding neighbours who might have seen a baby suddenly arrive in a house near them.
So we urge local residents to question what is happening in your area. Can you help find baby Tyler? Has a baby suddenly appeared in your area? Does she look anything like Tyler?
If you can help please call Aldershot Police.
Kim watched as Francis stuffed the last of his gear into his kit bag, laying his bible on the top before pulling it closed. “Right,” he said. “I think that’s everything.”
This was the first time he was going away on exercise since they’d married. He would be gone for a week. Kim had asked where he was going and why, but only got generalities in reply, not specifics. That was an interesting role reversal for her. Having previously been the one to say to her family that she was off on exercise, but hoped they understood she couldn’t say where or why. It definitely put a whole new spin on life and she smiled wryly to herself as she followed Francis down the stairs, now understanding how it must have made her parents feel. Left out. Shut out of a part of their daughter’s life.
Francis dumped his kit by the front door and they went into the kitchen to have a final cup of coffee together. Kim feeling unusually emotional. For once instead of going away herself, she was now the one being left behind, left alone, which was a whole new ball game, as the saying goes.
“Right,” he said after taking a slurp of his coffee. “I’ve cleared my diary, so there should be no worries there. You can make appointments for me from, say, oh, best make it the beginning of the month. Okay?”
“Yes, boss,” she said grinning and pulling at an imaginary forelock, which brought a smile to his unusually serious looking face. “No worries, boss. After all I was an office manager for a whole team of men, so I’m sure I can handle one officer. Although, it should be said, a very important officer.” She tried to keep her face serious, but ended up bursting out laughing at the look of horror on his face. “Oh, Francis,” she said, “I was only teasing.”
He managed a quick smile, but then said, “Kim, um, will you be alright? I know it’s the first time I’ve been away since we got married, but you knew all about this life when you married me…didn’t you?”
Kim heard the pleading in his voice and watched him fiddle with the wedding ring on her finger as her hand lay in his and knew it was her job to reassure him.
“Of course, Francis, don’t be silly,” she put on her best ex-sergeant’s voice. “I’ll be perfectly alright, sir. I am perfectly capable, you know.”
“Yes I do, darling, I do,” he said as he smiled and then stood to leave.
“Oh, one last thing before you go,” she said.
“Mmm?” He seemed distracted as he went out into the hall.
“I’d like to see Julie Wainwright, see if I can offer some support. Just while you’re not here,” she said quickly. “I wouldn’t want to butt in.”
“What?” his back was turned to her and he was picking up his kitbag. “Of course you’re not butting in,” he said straightening and turning to her. “Thanks for offering, it means a lot. I’m very worried about her.”
“I know you are; I’ll support her the best I can until you come back.”
He ki
ssed her goodbye quickly, walked out of the door and down the path, his kit slung over his back. Once, twice, he glanced over his shoulder at her and the life he was leaving behind. Kim could see there was sadness in his eyes at the leaving, but also excitement in the going. In those few steps between wife and car he went from belonging to Kim back to belonging to the Army. She squinted in the sun and waved him goodbye until she couldn’t see the car any longer. As she stood there the sun went behind a cloud, making her shiver, so she went back into the house and closed the door behind her.
Now it was Kim’s turn to be strong for others and to be there for those Francis was not around to help. Others such as Julie Wainwright, who she knew Francis had been particularly upset about leaving. She would take strength from the knowledge that he would be with her in spirit, the entire time he was away, in everything that she did.
***
Sitting with Julie Wainwright was like sitting with someone who was not 25 years old, but more like 55. Her eyes were distant, her face had fallen in on itself, her hair was plastered to her head and her hands shook slightly as she reached out for her mug of tea. Having a conversation with her meant trying to fill in the blanks.
“Do you think..?” she asked but didn’t finish the sentence. Then she said, “Have they found..?” Finally she managed, “Is there any news?”
Kim had to shake her head. “No, not yet, Julie. But look, I worked with the Branch for a long time and I know that Sgt Major Crane and Billy, in fact all of the team, are doing their very best to find Tyler as quickly as they can. They’ve made all sorts of enquiries and all sorts of appeals. They’re keeping her name and picture in the papers day after day and there are teams of squaddies searching everywhere they can think of. The whole Garrison has been mobilised to help find Tyler.”
“I know. Everyone is being very kind. I just hope...” And Julie’s eyes became distant again and her body slumped as she curled up, mumbling words Kim could only faintly hear and didn’t make any sense anyway. The family liaison police officer had told Kim the doctor had given Julie strong tranquilisers, as it was the only way to calm her down. It wasn’t very nice to see her like this, she’d confided, but it was better than the wild, distraught woman she’d been before.
A Soldier's Honour Box Set 2 (Sgt Major Crane crime thrillers Box Set) Page 35
