‘Today if you like? Unless you’d prefer to start after the weekend?’
‘No. Today would be great, otherwise I’ll only go home and drive myself mad thinking about everything…’
She broke off; frowning as a thought suddenly struck her. Jess eyed her quizzically. ‘Now what?’
Hannah shook her head. Something had been bothering her all morning, plucking away at her subconscious like an irritating itch. Something to do with the inspector’s visit that morning.
And she’d just realised what it was.
‘I don’t know,’ she said cautiously, giving the thoughts in her head time to form some clarity. ‘It’s probably nothing, but … something the Inspector said to me this morning. Do you remember that woman, Joan, who used to live next door to me? The one who was out in the garden the day I put Sophie out there?’
‘Vaguely. I think I may have seen her once or twice.’
‘Well, her daughter was supposedly pregnant the same time as I was. Joan told me our due dates were almost identical. But I was telling the police how I bumped into them once when I was six months gone and huge, and she hardly looked pregnant at all. Joan said later that she’d been the same with her first child – hadn’t shown until the last couple of months. But…’ she drew a breath, excitement in her eyes, ‘what if she wasn’t pregnant?’ What if it was Joan who took Sophie for her daughter?’
Jess’s look was dubious. ‘The police would have checked that out, hon, surely?’
‘They never told me, if they did.’
Hannah’s face was fierce with concentration. ‘They might not even have known Joan had a daughter if she didn’t tell them. And why should she? As far as I know all she did was give a statement to the fact that she saw me put Sophie out in the garden. And then she moved out about three months later. There was nothing suspicious about her behaviour. But I’m telling you … the more I think about it, the more I don’t believe her daughter wasn’t pregnant at all that day. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before’
‘Hannah,’ Jess looked uncomfortable, clearly awkward about challenging her friend. ‘I know you’re desperate to find Sophie, but it’s not that easy for someone to simply conjure a baby up out of thin air. There’s so much red tape these days. I know you’re desperate to find Sophie, but –’
‘You’re right.’ Hannah’s eyes glinted passionately, ‘I am desperate to find her. Wouldn’t you be? It never goes away, Jess. Sometimes I’m back there in the garden that day putting her down for her nap, just wishing I could have that time over again so I could do things differently. But I can’t …the only thing I can do is try my hardest to find her. I’m not saying it was Joan who took her; all I’m saying is that it’s a possibility. Surely you can see that?’
‘She’d have had to have planned things very carefully.’
‘Of course she would, but she had plenty of time while I was pregnant.’
Jess’s concerned features were still doubtful as Hannah pulled out her phone and switched it on.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Phoning the police,’ Hannah said purposefully, looking up the number that DCI Murray had given her. ‘To see if they’ll look into it. And if they won’t, then I’ll do it myself.’
CHAPTER NINE
Murray looked up as Harry walked into his office with mid-morning sandwiches and a couple of coffees on a tray.
‘Ah – good lad. I missed breakfast this morning so I could get to Hannah Walker’s before she left for work.’
‘How did you get on interviewing her old neighbours yesterday?’
‘Nothing new. They just confirmed what’s already on file. Nobody I spoke to, who knew her, believed she could have been guilty of anything. Interestingly the same couldn’t be said for the boyfriend. He was described as a bit of a good time boy; moneyed stockbroker with a taste for the high life and a bit of a temper on him. The people upstairs said the shouting had come from him more than her, and had been going on both before and after the baby was born. It’s much as Hedges documented. I’ve still got a couple of people to see, but here...’
He fished his notebook out of his pocket and copied something onto a slip of paper. ‘See if you can track down this lady, Joan Morrison. Might be living in the Enfield area. She’s the witness who saw Hannah Walker put the baby out in the garden. It’s probably a complete waste of time but I’ve just had a call from Ms. Walker who now seems to think that it might be her who took her baby. Apparently, Mrs Morrison’s daughter was pregnant at the same time as Hannah Walker; only Miss Walker reckons she bumped into them in the town centre and that the daughter didn’t look pregnant at all. Now she says that having thought about it, she doesn’t reckon she was pregnant.’ He sighed. ‘It’s a long shot but Hedges doesn’t make any mention of interviewing any daughter so we might as well check it out. There’s nothing in the original file other than Joan Morrison’s pretty brief statement about the events of that day.’
Harry took the paper. ‘I’ll look into it. Did you speak to Miss Walker about not visiting the Campbells’ house?’
‘Yes. I don’t think she’ll bother them again. What about you? How did you get on with the wife this morning?’
Harry got busy with some papers on the desk. ‘Fine ... I, uh, think she was reassured. I get the impression all’s not as it could be between her and her husband though.’
‘Oh?’
‘Just something she said.’
‘I suppose I ought to go and see her myself. I’ll get around to it in the next day or two. How did you get on yesterday tracking down Hannah Walker’s boyfriend?’
‘His parents have given us his address but apparently he’s away on business, due back this evening they thought. I’ve left a message on his answerphone.’
‘Good. It would be interesting to see what sort of bloke he is and I’d like to know what the cause of their split was. I reckon she gave him the elbow because he was enjoying too high a profile with the media. Here ... I’ve had the notes typed up from my interviews with Miss Walker’s neighbours. Take a look at them and see if I’ve missed anything. Two sets of eyes, and all that.’
Murray was putting his coat on that evening when the phone rang. It had been a long day and he frowned. He’d been looking forward to getting home at a reasonable time for a change and Thursday night was the only good night for television as far as he was concerned.
He picked the handset up with a flourish. ‘Murray.’
‘Oh Inspector, it’s Adam Campbell here. I understand your Sergeant visited my wife this morning?’
‘That’s right sir. He reassured her I hope?’
‘Yes, she was very grateful. We were just wondering how long it might be before we get our garden back to ourselves? It’s not very pleasant looking out of the window and seeing your men traipsing around.’
‘That’s a difficult one. Obviously, forensics need to do a thorough job and we have to keep the area clear from contamination, but I’ll speak to them, see if they can give me a rough idea. I wouldn’t have thought it would be long now.’
‘Thanks. My wife also mentioned about giving DNA samples. Is that really necessary at this stage?’
‘It’s to help us eliminate you both from the investigation, Mr. Campbell.’
‘Well, to be frank, we’re not comfortable with the thought of it. You hear all too often about people’s DNA sitting around on some database or other for years to come.’
Murray sighed; it wasn’t an unfamiliar path to him. ‘I hear what you’re saying sir, but it’s not an unreasonable request. We could be dealing with a murder enquiry here and we need to eliminate you. I have to ask myself why you’d want to refuse. It might not look very good for you.’
‘I’m not interested in how it looks. We’ve got nothing to hide but I’m afraid the System doesn’t inspire confidence, and the fact remains that once you’ve taken our DNA, that’s it, you’ve got it. One more area of our civil rights eroded. And if the previous
investigation is anything to go by it could be another six years – if ever, before this case gets solved. If it’s all the same to you I’d like to take some legal advice.’
Murray sighed, his voice becoming curt. ‘If that’s how you feel I can’t force you at this stage of the investigation. I can assure you though that we’re working hard to solve this case and all I can do is stress that it would be very helpful to us if you’d agree to undergo a DNA test.’
There was a short silence on the other end of the line.
‘Noted, Inspector. I’ll get back to you once I’ve taken some advice.’
The line clicked and Murray slammed the phone down his end. ‘Bloody human rights,’ he muttered.
On the other end of the line, Adam also replaced the receiver.
‘What did he say? Will they be leaving soon?’ Natasha’s eyes as she looked at him were intent.
‘He’s going to speak to the forensic team. He seemed to think it won’t be too long now.’
Natasha shook her head. ‘It’s a bore, and it’s not healthy for Katie seeing all this going on. What’s she supposed to make of it all? I think you should have stressed the impact it’s having on her more strongly.’
Adam’s lips tightened at the criticism. ‘It’s not upsetting her; she’s too young to know what’s going on.’
‘Don’t you believe it. Kids take in more than we adults realise and it’s our duty as her parents to protect her. You should have told him.’
‘Natasha, the police aren’t going to put a stop to whatever they need to do just because of Katie. If you’re worried about the impact it’s having on her then let her stay over at Mum’s for a few days. She’d be happy there and mum would love to have her.’
‘Then what would you and I have to talk about?’ Natasha asked coldly. ‘No thanks – I’d rather keep my daughter here where I can keep an eye on her. All this stuff’s making me jumpy.’
Adam’s gaze was deceptively casual. There’d been a suppressed nerviness about her this last couple of months that made him wonder if she was teetering on the edge of another attack. And none of this was helping. It had occurred to him that she might be back on the weed but he couldn’t ask of course. She’d take that as him not having faith in her, not trusting her.
‘You are still taking your tablets, Tash?’
‘Of course, I am. What do you take me for?’
She ground her cigarette out viciously in the ashtray. ‘All this is your fault, you realise that? If you hadn’t found those bloody bones we wouldn’t have the police traipsing about everywhere and I wouldn’t be feeling like this. I’m beginning to think you did it deliberately just to get at me.’
‘Don’t be so bloody ridiculous. Why would I do that?’
She shrugged, her look dispassionate. ‘I don’t know Adam. I really don’t. But sometimes I think I don’t know you at all.’
‘Oh, for Christ’s sake!’ He took a deep breath and modified his tone. ‘Look, you’re tired and stressed ... we both are. How about I go and give Katie her bath while you get the supper on? Then you can listen to her doing her reading homework before she goes to bed. It’ll cheer you both up.’
‘No!’ Natasha’s voice was sharp as she rose from her chair. ‘I’ll bath Katie from now on. She’s getting to an age where she might not like you doing it.’
Adam felt every muscle in his body stiffen. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. She’s a child. It’ll be a few years yet before she starts going shy on us.’
‘I don’t care.’
Adam’s eyes narrowed. ‘What are you saying, Tash? That I can’t even bath my own daughter now? Because if you are …’
‘You’ll what?’ Natasha challenged, her chin lifting defiantly. ‘Leave me? Leave your precious daughter? I don’t think so, Adam.’
She held his gaze just a little longer before turning away and heading for the door. ‘You can peel some veg while I’m bathing her. The casserole’s already in the oven.’
CHAPTER TEN
The pub was a warm haven after the bitterly cold weather outside and surprisingly full for a Thursday night. Hannah rubbed her hands and scanned the throng, until her eyes came to rest on a figure sitting at a table close to the fire.
He hadn’t changed much, she thought grimly, taking in the sleek fashionable hairstyle and pinstripe suit. He’d always presented a flawless image to the outside world. And just seeing him sitting there was enough to unsettle her – bring the memories storming back.
She hadn’t spoken to Ben for two weeks the summer they’d split up over the handcuff episode, and with that and the tensions surrounding her father moving back in, she’d gone a little mad, finding herself hanging around with a crowd she didn’t usually mix with, smoking, drinking, partying hard – wishing the holiday away so she could get back to university. Trying to forget about those handcuffs and how terrified she was that he might be right. What if she was one of those oddballs who needed weird sex to enjoy it?
She’d tried to erase him from her mind but with the strained silences between her and her parents, it had only made her miss him the more. And when one Friday lunch time she’d found him waiting for her outside the pub where she had a holiday job – leaning nonchalantly against the side of his shiny Audi convertible, her heart had flipped, even though she made a show of ignoring him and walking past.
In a flash, he’d moved swiftly around to block her path, his smile rueful.
‘I’ve missed you, Han …’
Somehow his hand had found hers. ‘Why didn’t you return any of my calls? Don’t you think you’ve punished me enough? At least come for a ride with me so we can talk?’
‘There’s no point.’
He smiled beguilingly. ‘Of course there is. Please…?’
She’d allowed him to edge her over to the passenger door, maintaining her frosty silence as she climbed in and waited for him to join her.
‘How’s your dad?’ he asked solicitously. ‘I heard from Ed that he’s not good.’
She shrugged, not looking at him. ‘He’s got something wrong with his heart, so he says. He’s been having tests at the hospital but they haven’t shown anything. I think it’s just a ploy to get mum back because his fancy woman’s’ had enough of him.’
The tears welled in her eyes. It was such a strain trying to be normal when all the time she felt her life was in tatters. She hated the fact that her anger against her father was destroying her relationship with her mother. Hated the fact that she knew she was acting like a stroppy teenager all over again. Yet she seemed unable to do anything about it.
‘Oh, babe,’ he’d pulled her into the curve of his shoulder, ‘I bet your mum’s busy looking after him, but who’s looking after you?’
‘I don’t need looking after...’
His arm had tightened. ‘Of course you do. What’s your mum thinking about that she can’t see that?’
He comforted her, drawing her head down onto his shoulders, and she felt herself relaxing for the first time in what seemed like ages. Ben always seemed to know how she was feeling. He tapped right into the heart of her unhappiness. If he could understand it, why couldn’t her mother?
‘Why don’t you come back to mine for a while?’ he asked finally, breaking the silence. ‘We can talk things through there.’
She pulled back from him and looked at him solemnly. He held his hands up with a flash of his easy smile.
‘No handcuffs I promise, just you and me, talking. I’ve missed you so much, Han. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since you left. You belong to me. You know you do. I want to look after you and put a smile back on that gorgeous face.’ He leant forward and kissed her gently on the lips.
And that was all it had taken, she realised later. Back in his flat she’d tried to explain how his actions had made her feel, but he’d seemed nonplussed, putting her reaction down to her naiveté.
‘Loads of people mess around with stuff like that … it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It makes th
ings more exciting.’
‘It doesn’t!’ she flashed angrily. ‘Can’t you understand that? I hated it. It made me feel humiliated, like you had no respect for what I wanted. And you didn’t even use a condom. How could you have done that?’
He shrugged. ‘Got a bit carried away I guess. It feels so much better without. But I’m sorry.’
‘You should be. I had to go down to the chemist and get the morning-after pill. And then I was ill so I don’t even know if it will have worked. What if I’m pregnant?’
She was sitting next to him on the settee and he’d pulled her stiff body closer. ‘I’d love it,’ he whispered, nuzzling her hair, his lips grazing the soft hollow in her neck. ‘It would make you mine and tie you to me forever.’ He tightened his grip. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’ he whispered huskily. ‘Have you missed me?’
She stifled a stab of guilt at just how off the rails she’d gone this last couple of weeks. She’d been so unhappy she’d acted like a tart. But it was his fault for pushing her to it.
She could feel his heart beating through his shirt. She drew back and looked into his eyes – those incredibly vivid blue eyes, and knew she was lost. She had missed him. Missed him like hell. She felt as if he was the only one who really cared about her. And all couples had their ups and downs, didn’t they? He might not be perfect, but then, neither was she.
A month later she’d known she was pregnant. And within two days of doing the test she’d dropped out of her university course and moved in with him.
Dismissing the memories, Hannah braced herself before pushing her way through the crowded room to where he sat. It was the first time she’d seen him in over five years.
‘Hello Ben.’
He jumped up, his eyes sweeping over her before returning to her face.
‘I ordered you a Pinot Grigio,’ he said, indicating the glass on the table. ‘I know it’s your favourite.’
She tried not to resent that he was controlling her already. ‘Thanks.’
Cry From The Grave A Thrilling Psychological Crime Mystery (Harry Briscombe Book 1) Page 8
