The Girl in the Rug

by K Leitch

  ‘Listen I just need their name, then I can get hold of them myself…or perhaps if I left my name they could contact me.’ Tracy got a pen out of her bag, and an old receipt and wrote her name and phone number on the back of it. ‘There could you please just give them that and ask if they could give me a call.’ She thrust the note into the man’s hand before he had time to refuse.

  ‘Well I s’pose it won’t do no harm,’ he said and shoved the receipt in his pocket.

  ‘Thank you so much,’ said Tracy as she turned the buggy round and made her way quickly back out onto the road again. She didn’t hold out much hope that the owners would ever get that note, but she had done her best…and now at least she could report something back to the rather disturbingly attractive Tim.

  CHAPTER 15 - CARLA

  Kathy Hunt was unconscious on the floor of her flat, surrounded by empty cans and bottles. Carla had knocked a few times before peering in through the filthy windows, it was then that she had spotted Kathy. Frank had put his shoulder to the rather flimsy front door which had given way with barely a shudder.

  The flat was in an even worse state than it had been when they had last been here, if that was possible. The stink of rotten food hit them as they walked into the narrow hallway, but this time there was an unhealthy addition of stale alcohol and urine added to the mix, Carla tried not to breathe through her nose. The sofa and the rug in the living room were stained with what looked suspiciously like dried blood; she drew Frank’s attention to it.

  ‘We’re going to need forensics to go through this room Frank,’ Carla said looking closely at the stains, Frank made the call.

  There was no sign of anyone else in the flat. Andy, Carla supposed, would be at school and of course, according to Kathy, her little daughter was staying with her aunt in Chester. Carla was waiting for a call back from the local police there, she had asked them to check out the address of this so called aunt, and get back to her as soon as possible. She knew in her heart where little Lucy Hunt was and it wasn’t in Chester.

  Frank was slapping Kathy’s face none too gently to try and rouse her out of her stupor, ‘Kathy… Kathy come on now, wake up…it’s DS Frank Hill, I need to ask you some questions.’

  Kathy made a few groaning noises and tried to open her eyes, before hitting out wildly at Frank.

  ‘Just fucking leave me…leave me you slags, I ain’t none nuffin…aaagghh!’ she started screaming when Frank tried to pull her up off the floor, ‘AAARRGGHH…leave off…help…help someone…aaarrgh.’

  ‘Oh for fucks sake,’ said Frank letting go of her, ‘she stinks like a pisser, we’re going to need an ambulance Carla…she’s off her head.’

  ‘I’m on it Frank, they’re on their way.’ Carla was crouched down in the corner of the living room, looking closely at the floor there, ‘What do you make of this?’ she asked Frank, he left Kathy and came over to where Carla was peering down at what seemed like a much larger pool of blood…blood that appeared have some stands of hair stuck in it, wispy light blond hair.

  ‘It’s got to be Lucy’s hasn’t it…’ mused Frank, ‘what the fuck went on here…look there’s more Carla, on the edge of the table, see same blond hairs looks like.’

  ‘Right we need to seal off this area Frank,’ said Carla straightening up again, ‘and we need to get hold of social services…someone needs to be with us when we speak to Andy.’

  Just then Carla’s mobile rang, it was a Sergeant Digby from the police in Chester, Kathy Hunt’s sister had lived at the address that Kathy had given the police, but she had died eighteen months ago from pancreatic cancer…Lucy had never been there.

  The ambulance arrived to take Kathy; she screamed and fought them as they tried to strap her into the chair. She was being taken to the local hospital while she sobered up after which she would be transferred to the police station where she would be read her rights…for some reason she had concealed the death of her daughter. Maybe the new DCI had been right all along Carla thought bitterly as she watched Kathy Hunt being carried away…just another alcoholic mother that had hit her kid too hard and had tried to conceal the body…but that just didn’t sit right with her, and where did the sexual assault bit come into it, assuming there was a sexual assault of course, she still hadn’t heard back from Dorothy…no Carla was convinced there was more to this…she needed to speak to Andy.

  CHAPTER 16 - MAGGIE

  Duncan watched Maggie longingly through the pub kitchen window; she had parked her car and was talking to Jools who had been walking past the pub.

  He watched her laughing at something Jools was saying, throwing her head back and really laughing, that summed Maggie up for him, she was the real deal. She put her heart and soul into everything she did, never trying to be anything other than what she was. If she liked you, you had her friendship for life and she would bend over backwards to help her friends.

  If she loved you…well then you had to be the luckiest person in the world. Duncan heaved a sigh…he knew Maggie thought she loved him, she had told him and shown him time and time again, but Duncan was terrified…he was terrified that Maggie’s love for him was just a reaction to the devastating events of a few months ago.

  He still woke up at night dripping with sweat and trembling with fear. Sometimes he could actually feel the ropes cutting into his wrists and the agony of the metal studded lash as it flayed his skin. It was like he was back there again, in that barn with Dulcie…or Kerry as he now knew her. He could still hear the madness in her voice and see her eyes crazed with blood lust. And therein lay the problem, Maggie deserved a whole man, not some weak minded cripple with half his face missing, and Duncan loved her far too much…too much to inflict himself on her.

  So he pushed her away…kept her at arm’s length, even though he could see how much he was hurting her…it was for her own good, she would thank him one day when she came to her senses. And even though it was killing him to do it, he’d rather that than to watch her slowly realise that she’d made a mistake…no it was better this way.

  He was jolted out of his thoughts when the woman herself came sauntering into the kitchen, still chuckling.

  ‘Oh you will never guess what Jools has just told me, she was down in Brighton last weekend with Jed, when who should they bump into but Dom, Maylee and little Juke, who she said is as cute as cute can be, all dark curly hair and big brown eyes. Anyway she said it was hilarious because she, Maylee, was only trying to walk along that pebbly beach wearing 6 inch high heels, apparently Dom told her to take them off but she said she couldn’t because they went with her outfit…what a twit.’ Duncan smiled at her story, but pulled away slightly when Maggie put her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

  ‘How are you this morning sweetheart,’ said Maggie determinedly ignoring his reaction to her kiss, ‘did you manage to get a descent night’s sleep?’

  ’Oh you know, not too bad…those latest painkillers Dr Johnson gave me are much better,’ Duncan said walking over to the kettle to make tea.

  ‘Oh let me do that love,’ said Maggie jumping up to take the kettle from him.

  ‘Maggie, I can make a cup of tea you know,’ said Duncan trying not to let her see how his hand was shaking. Kerry Webb had smashed the bones in his right hand with a hammer, he transferred the kettle to his left hand and awkwardly poured the tea, swearing when he sloshed the water over the work surfaces.

  Maggie gently took the kettle from him, ‘It just needs time darling…your hand will be as good as new, but until then let me help…please.’

  ‘You’ve done enough already,’ Duncan said gruffly, ‘letting us stay in your home, looking after Martha day and night. I need to learn to do things for myself again, I can’t expect you to always be there…’

  ‘Well you know I would be if you wanted me to,’ said Maggie in a small voice, leaning her head on Duncan’s shoulder. Duncan said nothing so she moved away and got on with making the tea.

  ‘I have decided that I’m going
to organise a big family meal for Jed’s birthday,’ said Maggie changing the subject. ‘I’ve already cleared it with Jools, she thinks it’s a fab idea so I just need to set a date and invite everybody. I was thinking of the 27th, it’s a Sunday so it won’t be too busy at the pub, Hank and Laura should be able to cope, and it’s only a couple of days before his actual birthday…what do you think?’

  ‘Sounds good,’ Duncan said, ‘who were you thinking of inviting?’

  ‘Oh just family really…Greg of course and his latest squeeze,’ Greg was Maggie’s ex-husband and the boy’s father, who, despite a nasty divorce had remained a close friend. ‘And obviously Dom and Maylee, and I was thinking of inviting little Jukie, I suppose it’s about time we all met him. Jools’s mum and her latest boyfriend …Martha and you of course…what?’ she asked as Duncan gave her a look.

  ‘Family you said…we’re hardly family Maggie,’ said Duncan gently.

  ‘Well as good as…’ began Maggie.

  ‘Anyway,’ went on Duncan, ‘I’m not sure I’m up to a party yet, and I’m sure Martha’s not…no I think we’ll have to pass on this one Maggs… thanks and all that.’

  Maggie swallowed back the tears that were threatening to fall, ‘Oh ok that’s fine honey…next time maybe.’

  ‘Sure thing,’ said Duncan, ‘um…did you want me for anything specific Maggs? Only I’ve got an appointment with the physio this morning so…’

  ‘Well I know that stupid,’ said Maggie smiling, ‘that’s why I’m here…I thought I could drive you.’

  Duncan swallowed, this was getting really difficult, ‘Actually Maggie I’ve ordered a cab, it should be here any minute.’ He turned to her and heaved a sigh, ‘Maggie darling please stop doing this…’

  ‘What…stop doing what?’ she butted in.

  ‘This…all this…let me make tea for you, let me drive you to the hospital…let me help you to the toilet…’

  ‘Once Duncan, I only did that once and I’m sorry…I’m just trying to help…I love you…’

  ‘NO!’ Duncan almost shouted, ‘No darling Maggie…you just think you do…’ he held up his hand when Maggie would have butted in again. ‘If I hadn’t been kidnapped by that fucking psycho you wouldn’t be saying you loved me…oh I know you love me as a friend, but there has never been any hint from you that you felt anything more than that…until Kerry Webb got her hands on me.’

  Maggie was crying properly now, her head bowed misery written all over her face.

  ‘Oh god Maggie, I don’t want to hurt you,’ whispered Duncan, ‘I’m trying to save you from making a huge mistake. Look at me,’ he lifted her face to his, letting her see all the damage and all the pain in his eyes. ‘I am not the man for you my darling friend…I am damaged…not just here,’ he touched his ravaged face, ‘or on my body, but in here,’ he pointed to his head. ‘She’s still in here Maggs, I can’t get rid of her…as soon as I close my eyes at night I can see her mad staring eyes watching me…I still hear her…’

  Maggie got up and flung her arms round Duncan, ‘I know sweetheart, I know and I wish I could make all that better…but its only time that can do that love.’ She looked into his eyes, ‘You are wrong you know…I loved you long before Dulcie, I mean Kerry, came on the scene, and what’s more I know you loved me. And when I look at you I don’t see a damaged face, I see the most beautiful eyes and the most sensuous mouth…I see the face of the man I love, and you saying otherwise isn’t going to change that. I can’t force you to let me help you though, so I’ll back off until you’re ready…but please just remember, I’m only at the other end of a phone if you need me ok?’

  Maggie didn’t give Duncan time to say anything more, she just grabbed her coat and left. The truth was that she was trying to get to her car before she completely gave in to her emotions and ended up begging Duncan to love her. As it was she just indulged in a bit of a tearful temper tantrum. Walking out of that kitchen was one of the hardest things she’d ever done…but she’d tried everything else…maybe leaving him to his own devices was the only thing that was going to get through to the stupid stubborn idiot!

  Duncan watched Maggie drive away, tears rolling down his cheeks and an awful feeling that he’d just thrown away the greatest gift he’d ever been offered.

  CHAPTER 17 - CARLA

  Carla and Frank waited in the school office while Ms Davenport, Head Teacher at Riddlestone Juniors, went and fetched Andy from his classroom, school had just ended for the day and they needed to catch him before he started for home.

  Ms Davenport had been eager for news of Lucy, but since the little girl in the rug had yet to be formally identified Carla and Frank were unable to satisfy her curiosity. Simply stating that they needed to speak to Andy urgently, and requesting that one of his teachers sat in on the interview.

  Carla was quite surprised when she saw Maya, Helen’s wife, walking towards them a few minutes later, with Andy by her side.

  ‘Maya hi,’ said Carla with a smile, ‘I forgot that you were working here.’

  Maya gave her a tight worried little smile, ‘I am Andy’s form teacher, I ask Ms Davenport if I can be with him…is ok?’

  ‘Oh yes that’s fine, we need an adult with him when we interview him anyway,’ Carla sat down on a chair next to Andy, ‘Andy do you remember me…DI Right…Carla?’

  Andy turned to her and Carla was shocked to see a blaze of anger in his eyes, ‘Course I remember you…’ he said gruffly.

  Undeterred Carla continued, ‘I’m afraid that we had to arrest your mum today Andy,’ she said bluntly, Andy’s eyes opened wide with shock at that. ‘You see the story that she told the school and everybody else, about Lucy staying at her aunties…well that wasn’t true was it?’

  Andy’s face crumpled and he seemed to draw into himself…he dropped his head, tears falling onto his hands.

  Carla’s heart went out to the little lad, ‘So tell me what happened Andy…I think you know what happened to Lucy don’t you?’ she said gently.

  Andy’s bony little shoulders started to shake as he sobbed into his hands, Maya put her arms around him and looked fiercely at Carla, ‘Do you really need to do this to him, isn’t there someone else you can ask these things?’

  Carla shook her head, ‘I’m really sorry Andy,’ she said putting her hand on his shoulder, ‘but this time I need you to tell me the truth…’

  Andy just sobbed harder, shaking his head and saying, ‘No, no, no,’ over and over.

  Andy couldn’t believe what was happening to him. He hadn’t thought that life could get any worse since that dreadful night, when his whole reason for living had been taken away from him. He still got up in the morning, still walked to school, still cowered in the kitchen while his mum entertained her customers and still tried to evade his mum’s slaps and punches, he still did everything the same…but without Lucy. Mum never spoke about Lucy or what had happened that night…Andy wasn’t even sure if she remembered. It was like Lucy had never existed; the only thing she ever said to Andy over and over, was that he’d better keep his fucking mouth shut…he must never ever tell anyone. Andy didn’t need her to tell him that…Nellie had already scared him enough with his threats.

  And now here he was again, being asked questions by the police…questions he couldn’t answer unless he wanted his mum to have her eyes cut out…the same police lady that had caused all the trouble before. Well he wasn’t saying a thing, why the hell should he…after all it wouldn’t bring Lucy back would it…nothing was ever going to bring Lucy back.

  ‘What happened Andy?’ Frank asked this time, ‘Was it an argument, did your mum get angry with Lucy…did she hurt her Andy…’

  ‘NO!’ shouted Andy, ‘my Mum never hit her, Lucy’s gone to stay wiv me auntie somewhere, I already told them that.’

  ‘Yes I know that’s what you said Andy, that’s what your mum said as well, but you see she can’t have done can she…because your auntie died, over a year ago…so you see.’

&n
bsp; ‘Well maybe it’s wiv another auntie…I don’t know do I,’ sobbed Andy, ‘can I go now…I need to go?’

  Carla sighed, ‘I’m afraid not Andy, you see we have to find out about Lucy and your mum’s not very well at the moment and we can’t ask her, so you’re the only one we can talk to aren’t you?’

  Andy wiped his nose on his sleeve and glared at Carla. ‘I don’t know where she is, I thought she was wiv me auntie,’ he repeated bullishly.

  Carla sighed once again they were getting nowhere she knelt down in front of Andy forcing him to look at her.

  ‘Andy, we think something may have happened to Lucy…something really bad.’ Andy’s head dropped down, he stared resolutely at the floor. ‘We were at your home before we came here today and there was lots of blood in the living room, on the sofa and the rug and there was quite a lot of blood on the floor near the window…do you know how it got there? Did your mum have a fight with someone?’

  Andy still stared at the floor but he shook his head, ’No…I dunno do I.’

  ‘Well you can see why we want to find Lucy can’t you Andy,’ went on Carla, ‘we need to make sure she’s alright.’ Carla changed tactics, ‘What other aunties do you have?’

  Andy looked up at Carla surprised by the question.

  ‘Well you said she may be with another auntie, so how many aunties do you have?’ asked Carla again.

  He thought for a moment, ‘Well there’s my Auntie Flossy, only I don’t know if she’s a proper auntie we just called her that…’

  ‘Where does Auntie Flossy live Andy?’ asked Frank.

  ‘She’s in Filpott, on the other side…past the chip shop,’ Andy said, as if they should know where he meant.

  ‘Is Filpott somewhere on the estate then?’ Frank said getting out his notebook.

  Andy nodded, ‘Yeh…like I said it’s passed the chip shop and then you go through some garages and it’s near the swings. Lucy and I stayed wiv Auntie Flossy sometimes when we was little. I haven’t seen her for ages though…she and my mum had a fight.’