‘Not at the moment, no.’
‘But you’re positive it’s not Sophie?’
‘Absolutely.’
She let out a sigh. ‘I prayed it wasn’t of course, but it’s such a relief to have it confirmed.’ She threw him a sharp look. ‘So, what happens now? Does it mean the investigation into Sophie will stop?’
‘We’ll still process the letter and hair sample you brought in, but our main priority now has to be to try and identify those remains. If the hair sample’s not a match to your DNA, then I’m afraid there’s probably nothing new to go on that would justify us reopening the case. I’m sorry...’
‘So, I just go back to my normal life? As if none of this has happened?’
Harry didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t begin to imagine what it must be like. She’d been through so much. ‘It’s an impossible situation, I know. I’m sorry.’
She shook her head, the depths of her distress palpable. But her shrug was dismissive. ‘I’ve done it once; I suppose I can do it again. At least I can hopefully get my job back now there’s no link to Sophie.’
‘I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. If there’s anything I can do to help with that?’
He wasn’t entirely sure what influence he might bring to bear on anything, but there was a vulnerability to her prickly independence that got to him.
She looked at him in surprise and the glimmer of a smile transformed her face.
‘That’s kind of you but you’ll have more than your work cut out trying to discover who that poor baby was. I don’t envy her parents when you do find out.’
She watched as he drove away; then went to put the kettle on, surprised to discover that her hands were shaking. It wasn’t Sophie.
She felt drained, not exhilarated like she felt she ought to feel. She was back in the no-man’s land she’d inhabited for the past six years, but with an added complication.
She’d changed; she sensed it even if she didn’t understand it, and she wasn’t sure she could settle back down into the empty shell-like existence her life had become. What had previously been a refuge felt more like a prison now.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Natasha Campbell was looking tired and fidgety as she answered the door, her long fingers twisting agitatedly as she looked at Murray suspiciously.
‘Mrs Campbell?’
‘Yes.’
He showed her his card. ‘DCI Murray. We haven’t met yet. I tried to see your husband at his work but, apparently, he’s out on a call. Alright if I come in for a moment?’
He saw her eyes flicker briefly past him as if expecting to see someone else and then she shrugged, standing aside to let him pass.
In the lounge, she offered him a seat and sat down opposite him, perching stiffly on the edge of her chair.
‘What can I do for you Inspector?’ Her eyes seemed unnaturally bright and she held herself with a tautness that belied the calmness of her enquiry.
‘I came to tell you that we’ve had an update on the forensic results today. I thought you’d like to know that the remains we found in your garden aren’t Sophie Walker’s.’
She looked at him in shock, her eyes snapping to attention.
‘What? But that can’t be right surely? Who else could it be? It had to be her.’
‘Well, we’ve all allowed ourselves to slip into that misapprehension I’m afraid, but now we have to start widening our investigation.’
Natasha seemed to sink into herself before his very eyes. ‘It’s so awful,’ she whispered, her gaze shifting hauntingly to the garden. ‘That skull – those tiny little bones. I’ll never forget that sight as long as I live. I keep dreaming about it. Adam tried to cover them up so I wouldn’t see them but he wasn’t quick enough. It was horrible.’
Her eyes turned back to fix on him almost pleadingly. ‘Are you absolutely sure they’re not just some old relic? I mean - maybe your Lab got it wrong? It might all have a perfectly innocent explanation?’
‘I’m sorry, Mrs Campbell, but that’s not the case. We reckon the bones have been there an absolute maximum of ten years, and there are indications that it may not have been a natural death. We’re keen now to track down the previous owners of this house. Are you all right? I didn’t mean to upset you.’
She’d started to rock backwards and forwards on the edge of her chair, her fingers plucking restlessly at the material of her trousers. She stilled suddenly, her eyes fixing on him with an intensity that was disturbing. ‘Death is a horrible thing, Inspector. You’d know that more than most. It creeps up on you unawares when you least expect it and there’s no escape. It’s sitting out there - waiting for us all.’
She broke off and reached for an inhaler that was sitting on the coffee table.
Murray looked at her in concern. ‘Mrs Campbell, would you like me to call your husband?’
She shook her head vehemently. ‘No! I don’t want him back here. He’ll only dose me up with more tablets and I don’t want any more. They make me feel so tired.’
Murray rose from his chair, wondering how Harry could possibly have described her as simply on edge. It could be the medication he supposed, but the woman looked like she was on the verge of some sort of breakdown to him. She was out of it. He hesitated, wondering if he should over-ride her wishes and contact her husband. But really, it wasn’t for him to interfere. For all he knew, she spent most of her days like this.
‘Perhaps you’d better rest then. I’ll take myself off, leave you in peace. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. We’ll try not to disturb you any more than we have to.’
She nodded her head, her voice shaky as she responded. ‘Thank you. I’ll tell Adam when he comes in. He’ll be interested to know, I’m sure, though he’ll probably only start fussing over me again. He drives me mad.’
‘Better than having someone who doesn’t care,’ Murray said gently.
‘Is it?’ Natasha asked darkly. ‘I sometimes wonder.’
She was barely aware of him leaving. It was all so unfair. Just when she’d felt she was beginning to get a handle on everything.
Her eyes darted compulsively to the little sewing box in the corner. She’d already smoked one lot today and she knew Amanda was right, it wasn’t doing her any good, but she needed it. It was the only way, apart from sex, that she could lose herself - and she certainly wasn’t getting any of that at the moment. She jumped up from her chair and crossed the room. She had plenty of time before she needed to pick Katie up from Adam’s mother. Raising the lid, she retrieved the small package tucked neatly beneath the cotton reels.
The first thing to hit Adam when he walked into the lounge later that day was the lingering smell. He’d recognise it anywhere.
‘Natasha?’
She was sitting staring moodily out of the window, her diary on her lap. Her eyes jumped to his when he walked in. She shook her head as if to clear it. ‘You’re early,’ she said.
‘No I’m not. It’s six thirty. Where’s Katie? Did you pick her up from Mum’s?’
‘Oh!’ She started guiltily. ‘No. I ... forgot. I’ll go now.’
‘Not like that you won’t. What the hell are you playing at? How long have you been back doing drugs?’
‘I’m not. Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘Natasha, I’m not an idiot. I smelt it as soon as I walked in.’
Her eyes were unfocussed as she looked at him. ‘It’s only hash,’ she said sulkily. ‘I need an escape from all that’s going on. It’s all right for you – you can get away from it during the day. I’m here the whole time, looking out at the garden and thinking about that poor baby.’
‘For God’s sake - smoking weed isn’t going to help. And what about our baby? She needs a mother who’s capable of looking after her. Haven’t we got enough problems without you adding to them? No wonder you’ve been getting your moods back.’
Her face took on a cornered look. ‘Oh, fuck off Mr Perfect. I don’t have to answer to you. You go and get Kati
e from your Mum’s if you want. Just leave me alone.’
Adam’s lips tightened. Without another word, he spun around and headed for the door.
‘By the way … it’s not the Walker baby.’
He stopped in his tracks and turned back to stare at her. ‘What do you mean? Who told you that?’
‘That Inspector Murray. He dropped around earlier.’
‘Christ. He didn’t see you like this I hope?’
‘Of course not,’ she snapped irritably. ‘But that’s why I needed it. It was bad enough thinking we knew the story behind that baby’s disappearance. But not knowing’s even worse. There was someone outside earlier, I saw him – watching the house.’
‘There’s no-one watching the house, Natasha.’
‘There is. I saw him, I tell you.’
‘It was probably just a rubber-necker. You know what people are like.’
Natasha glared at him. ‘You think I’m being paranoid, don’t you – that I’m going nuts again.’
‘Of course I don’t...’
‘There’s someone out there, I tell you. I can sense their eyes on us all the time.’
Her gaze strayed fearfully to the window, as if expecting a face to suddenly materialise there. She shivered and rose from her chair. ‘I’ll come with you to get Katie. I don’t want to be left here on my own.’
‘Natasha, there’s no-one out there. Okay ...’ he caught her look and shook his head. ‘Come if you want to. But you wait in the car. I don’t want Mum seeing you like this.’ He looked at her keenly. ‘You are still taking your tablets?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said vaguely. ‘I may have missed this morning’s but I hate taking them. They don’t agree with me.’
Adam somehow stopped himself from snapping back that it wasn’t surprising, if she was mixing them with Weed. He went straight to her bag and withdrew a bottle. ‘You need to keep taking them like your doctor said. Here, take one now, so at least we know you’ve taken your evening one.’
She took the tablet reluctantly but he noticed her eyes had softened as she looked up at him. ‘You’re too good for me Adam Campbell – you know that?’
He found he couldn’t meet that look. ‘No I’m not, but all this stuff has knocked you. We need to get you through it.’
‘And then you can leave me you mean?’
Her stare was intent.
‘Of course not.’
But her words cut straight to the chase of his deepest disquiet. He didn’t know how much longer they could go on like this.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Hannah lay in her bed listening to the relentless patter of rain on the windows. She didn’t seem to have the energy to get up though she knew she’d have to make a move shortly. Why wasn’t she feeling more jubilant? She should be walking on air now that she knew it wasn’t Sophie.
Her mobile rang and she reached out for it.
‘Hannah?’ It was Ben, his voice agitated. ‘I need to talk to you. The bloody police interviewed me at work yesterday morning asking me all sorts of questions about us. Have you been talking to them? Because if you have–?’
She felt her stomach muscles tighten. ‘Don’t threaten me, Ben. I didn’t need to talk to them because they already knew. They had my doctor’s notes.’ She hesitated. ‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter now, does it? I assume they told you it wasn’t Sophie they found?’
There was a stunned silence on the other end.
‘What? Well, bloody marvellous. I’m the child’s father and they don’t even consider me important enough to share a little fact like that with! When did you find out? Thanks for letting me know.’
She took a breath. ‘I’m sorry. I thought they’d have told you. They told me yesterday afternoon that it wasn’t Sophie. They’ll probably contact you today.’
‘Or not! I told them they were probably barking up the wrong tree and it wouldn’t be her. They’re probably too bloody arrogant to admit they’re wrong to someone like me.’
Hannah didn’t respond.
‘What are you doing creeping in on me like that?’ he suddenly shouted. ‘Have you been listening in on my conversation?’
Hannah could hear a woman’s voice in the background, sounding incredibly young.
‘No – of course not. I’m sorry ... I just wondered if you wanted some breakfast?’
‘I’ll be down in a minute.’
Hannah felt sick – it was like being back there again - in the room with him. Except now she was older and he didn’t frighten her any more.
‘You shouldn’t speak to her like that, Ben. I thought you said you’d changed.’
‘I told you it wouldn’t be her,’ he said, ignoring her. ‘All that hassle for nothing. I’m tempted to sue them for harassment.’
She couldn’t listen to any more. ‘I have to go to work,’ she said calmly. ‘Don’t call me again.’
She frowned as she replaced the handset. She’d sounded so young, his fiancée. Was he violent with her? She thought back to when she’d been trapped in that situation – no-one to talk to – to confide in. She found herself feeling sorry for the girl.
She threw back the bedclothes dismissing her thoughts. Ben wasn’t her problem anymore and neither was his girlfriend. She’d get dressed and ring the school. It was Thursday, the day they were having the Governors Meeting. She needed to tell them it wasn’t Sophie.
***
The sound of the doorbell jerked Natasha out of her reverie. She’d just finished preparing Adam’s lunch. It wasn’t something she often did these days but she always felt the need to make it up to him when she was playing away. Not that she was yet of course, but it wouldn’t be long. She smiled to herself as she walked to the door – remembering that kiss with Harry yesterday. It was so long since she’d experienced passion like that, she’d almost forgotten what it felt like. Maybe this was him now. Not a good time to be calling because Adam would be home any minute; but they could fix a better time to rendezvous – one when she’d make sure they weren’t likely to be interrupted next time.
She wiped her hands on her apron and opened the door.
‘Hello, Natasha.’
The smile on her face froze as she stared at the blond-haired man standing on her doorstep.
He grinned. ‘Remember me?’
‘Zach?’
His greeting words stirred her memory. ‘Was it you who sent me the flowers?’
‘None other.’
And she’d thought they were from Harry.
He allowed her a few seconds before saying casually. ‘Aren’t you going to invite me in? I’ve travelled a way to come and see you and I sure as hell could do with a drink.’
She opened the door wider, her mind in a daze. ‘But, what are you doing here? How did you know where I live?’
He laughed, walking past her into the hall and looking around. ‘That wasn’t difficult. I face-booked Miles Packham and asked him for your address. Nice place you’ve got here. Your husband must be doing all right. What does he do?’
‘He’s a vet.’ She led him into the lounge, her mind racing. What was he doing here? Why would he come after all this time?
His eyes focused on a photo frame on the table and he moved over to pick it up.
‘Is this your daughter?’
‘Yes.’
‘Pretty girl. What’s her name?’
‘Katie.’
‘Pretty name too.’ He was studying the picture closely and she sensed a new urgency in him. ‘They mentioned her in the paper. Said she was six years old. It sort of got me thinking …’
Shit.
‘Oh?’
Now she knew why he was here, her mind went into overdrive. She didn’t have long to get rid of him before Adam got back. She could feel the beads of perspiration beginning to form on her forehead.
‘Yes … such lovely blond hair she’s got. Not unlike mine, is it? What colour is your husband’s hair?’ His voice was deceptively casual.
‘Br
own,’ she said, moving over to the drinks cabinet. ‘But his mother’s very blond just like Katie. She hasn’t inherited my colouring at all. What can I get you to drink?’
‘A beer would be good if you’ve got one. Thanks.’
She went out to the kitchen fridge, using the time to gather her wits. She could handle this; she just needed to keep her cool.
By the time she’d returned to the lounge he’d put the photo down and was sitting in a chair. His gaze on her was intent.
‘So, what have you been up to?’ she asked, turning the conversation as she passed him his drink. ‘Are you married?’
‘Not any more – separated.’
‘Wow, you’ve been busy! But sorry to hear that.’
‘You ruined me for anyone else,’ he mocked. ‘What we had those last few weeks of summer …’
Now they were on ground she was comfortable with.
‘Yeah … fun days.’ She twirled the stem of her glass in her fingers.
‘My wife and I couldn’t have children.’
‘Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Well, it was a blessing in the end seeing as the marriage didn’t last more than a couple of years. But she was desperate for a baby as soon as we got together and when it didn’t happen we had tests. Reduced fertility apparently, the both of us, so together it wasn’t going to happen.’
‘That’s tough.’
‘Yeah… it didn’t help things.’
He set his glass carefully down on the table beside him and looked at her calmly. ‘Let’s cut the small talk, Tash, shall we?’ His eyes locked with hers. ‘If that newspaper article was right and your daughter’s six, then that puts her being conceived around the same time you and I were an item.’
Natasha met his gaze coolly. ‘I know what you’re thinking Zach but it’s not the case. You knew I had a boyfriend back home. Katie’s Adam’s daughter.’
‘Yeah, well maybe, maybe not. There were a couple of times when we didn't use protection and I’d just like to know for sure. I’m not perfect but we do things right in our family and if your daughter’s mine then I have a right to know and I’ll want some say in her upbringing. If she’s not, then I’ll take myself off and you need never see me again. But I want a paternity test.’
Cry From The Grave A Thrilling Psychological Crime Mystery (Harry Briscombe Book 1) Page 14
