Groomed

by Casey Watson

  ‘By the time the children were interviewed the other four had already been moved along,’ Danny explained. Only Keeley had remained where she was.’

  I nodded. We both already knew this was often the case – a troubled ten-year-old probably being harder to place.

  ‘So at that point, the four-year-old’s statement had already been made?’ I asked. ‘And Keeley, in her own interview, had confirmed it?’

  Danny nodded. ‘But there the plot thickened. Apparently Mrs Stewart had called Mrs Higgins a couple of days later, to report a disclosure Keeley had subsequently made, which cast doubt over the interpretation of the earlier things she’d said. In fact, it was Mrs Stewart’s belief that Keeley had in fact meant the opposite.’

  ‘About guarding the door for him?’

  ‘Exactly. Apparently Keeley had been guarding the bedroom door, but to try and keep the man out, not in. He’d gone in anyway, and apparently she’d followed him and tried to fight him, but he’d thrown her out, and she’d fallen at the door. And there she’d stayed, sobbing, while whatever went on happened, and there she’d been found when the police arrived at the scene. Mother was apparently downstairs, tripped out.’

  ‘So – obvious question – why has nobody seen this before?’

  ‘Simple answer. Because Mrs Higgins, pretty old school – liked to write stuff, apparently – I know, weird – had duly entered it in her log, but, ill with flu at the time, hadn’t called into the office with her report. Would have put it in an email eventually, no doubt, but events overtook her. She developed pneumonia and was hospitalised, meaning Keeley got reassigned to Mrs Banks, and then, shortly after that, moved on to the Burkes. And Mrs Stewart – who I’ve now spoken to – obviously thought it had, and that the decisions had been made about contact between the siblings had been made with the benefit of that new information. Or, more accurately, despite it. It was only after she twigged that Mrs Higgins might not have even relayed that information that she called the line manager to make sure it had.’

  ‘But it hadn’t.’

  ‘It hadn’t. So she reiterated what Keeley had told her. And was told that it didn’t really make a lot of difference now. Though there was no evidence that Keeley had ever behaved inappropriately around her siblings, they knew she’d been sexually abused herself – she was seeing a counsellor for that by this time – and the consensus was that it was a can of worms that was better off remaining closed. The children were settling, as would Keeley, and they didn’t think any good would come of raking the whole thing up all over again.’

  ‘“They”,’ I said, finding myself both stunned and very angry. ‘Bloody hell.’

  ‘I know,’ Danny said. ‘But to be fair, we weren’t there. And Mrs Stewart did say Keeley displayed some worrying behaviours when she had her. Said they were all very relieved when the Burkes agreed to take her on. So, on balance, perhaps nothing would have changed anyway.’

  ‘And that’s it? Deal done? Keeley isolated from them for life now?’

  Danny put a chocolate biscuit in his mouth. All of it. Whole. ‘Ah,’ he said eventually. ‘That’s where the “tentative good news” bit comes in. Given everything that’s happened recently, not necessarily.’

  ‘You mean we can rescue this? Try to see if we can propose some sort of contact? Perhaps Mrs Higgins –’

  He shook his head. ‘Sadly gone to meet her maker. Only recently in fact. RIP. But I’ve spoken to my manager and he’s going to look into it for me. For you. Well, for Keeley, but please don’t say a word to her. It’s still all theoretical at this point. And you know how these things go. Sometimes nowhere. We know the older two – Courtney and Aaron – are still with the same family, so that’s good. But there are no guarantees. And it’s unlikely any approaches would be made re the ones that have been adopted.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ I said. ‘But the older two – oh, my God, wouldn’t that be brilliant?’ Danny’s expression made me conscious that I must rein myself in. ‘Sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I?’

  Danny nodded. I smiled. Again. Bears did live in the woods.

  Chapter 19

  Though Keeley knew nothing about the conversations that had been going on in her absence, unburdening herself to me seemed to mark something of a watershed, because she seemed to settle into a calmer, more productive place. Though, of course, the key might have been how Mike had changed his own perspective – he, of course, did know about what Danny had uncovered, which at least made him more sympathetic.

  As for me, I had to take John Fulshaw’s sage advice, and put everything on the mental back burner; leave social services to do their job without interference, while I got on with mine. There would be lots for them to do – assuming they felt as motivated to do it as I did – I hoped so – to look closely into the minutiae of Keeley’s records, and see how well they could stitch together a picture that was in accord with what Danny had found out.

  Only when they’d done that to their satisfaction would social services even consider taking steps to get in touch with, and therefore potentially disrupt the lives of, the carers Keeley’s older siblings were with now.

  And though John reminded me again that there was no question currently of any contact being sought for the younger, adopted siblings, I still hoped – though not outwardly, as I had to be poker-faced around Keeley – that the door was at least open for that to happen once the little ones had grown up.

  In the meantime I was simply happy that we’d reached a new understanding and that whatever the outcome re her blood siblings turned out to be Keeley’s escapade with Jamie had helped her grow.

  And, a week and a bit on, I felt cautiously optimistic. It seemed the leopardess really had tried to change her spots, and though I was too long in the tooth to think one tearful heart-to-heart had unlocked the inner troubled child in her and that all would now be well, I was still optimistic enough to believe it was a step in a process; that her experience of running away to Jamie, into not-exactly-the-sunset, had taught her one thing that would hopefully get the process in motion: realising that the grass was rarely greener on the other side, and that she could, and should, try to focus on a project with better prospects – i.e. herself.

  And in the short term she seemed keen to do exactly that. Relations with Tyler seemed to settle into more of a relaxed, brother–sister type arrangement, and, perhaps sensing a whiff of sympathy from him, she’d been making monumental efforts to get back into Mike’s good books, too. Not obsequiously so – that wouldn’t have been her style, and he’d have seen through it anyway – but just treating him with respect, and doing as she was told.

  And going into college without having to be shoehorned from her bed. Which put me in a much better mood.

  ‘Are you mad?’ she said now, from her position in the living-room doorway, and with a look of consternation in her eyes. She gestured to what I was currently manhandling, having thunked it laboriously down the stairs. ‘Please don’t tell me that’s what I think it is,’ she added.

  I grinned at her and nodded. That the thing looked suspiciously like a Christmas tree was no accident. It was.

  ‘Ta dah! Of course it is,’ I said grandly as I heaved it onto the sofa to unwrap from its cocoon. ‘Because today’s the day. High time the Watson household got ready for Christmas.’

  ‘Erm, wasn’t it Bonfire Night, like, only two weeks ago?’ she asked, shaking her head in bemusement. ‘God, if anyone saw this, they’d think I was living in a loony bin!’

  ‘Well, perhaps you are, but it’s going to be a very twinkly loony bin,’ I pointed out. ‘Tired of fairy lights, tired of life, that’s what I say.’

  ‘Yeah, I get that, but whoever heard of putting Christmas trees up in mid-November?’

  ‘Well, obviously because it feels like it’s Christmas for longer,’ I told her. ‘And whoever wouldn’t want that? Anyway, I’m guessing you won’t want me to wait for you to get home before doing the big switch-on ceremony then?’


  She grinned. ‘Nah, you’re all right. I think I can contain my excitement. Well, unless you’ve got Justin Bieber in to do it or something.’

  ‘Well, Tyler will be excited,’ I said, as I wrestled with the fifteen or so layers of cling film I’d encased the tree in. I got giant rolls of the stuff from the local discount home store expressly for the purpose. A top Christmas tip, but one that I supposed would be lost on Keeley. Well, for the moment. Perhaps one day, if and when she had her own family, perhaps. I so wished she had her own family right now.

  ‘But you can suit yourself,’ I added, albeit mock-huffily, as I started to pull tinsel out from the holdall Mike had also lugged down from the loft for me before going to work. Along with half a dozen bulging boxes and my number two tree. I had a busy Santa’s elf-style day ahead.

  But Keeley was grinning at something beyond me, and I followed her gaze just in time to see Tyler had joined her in the doorway, and was shaking his head and mouthing ‘Noooo’.

  ‘You’re Grinches, you two, so you can both just get lost,’ I told them. ‘Not an ounce of Christmas spirit between you. Honestly, it’s enough to turn my eggnog sour, all this negative energy.’

  Tyler blew me a kiss, grabbed his bag and waited for Keeley to get hers. They were going on the bus together this morning, as they would be for the next couple of days now, because Tyler and his friends were attending a few sessions at the Reach for Success centre – tasters for some of the courses that would be available for them in the next academic year.

  It was quite a new initiative, but was already very popular. And, given what Tyler had told me, a successful one, too – convincing several youngsters who’d be reluctant to stay on at school to change their minds and continue their education. There was also the small matter of some of the courses being ones I’d personally helped set up, which made me feel enormously proud as well.

  I also knew that, despite them both taking the mickey, they would be as thrilled to come home and see the house so transformed as anyone else would.

  It was a nice feeling, and if I’d known what was scheduled for later, I’d have probably bottled it.

  I spent the rest of the day indoors, with the central heating turned up to max, a free Christmas music channel on the TV that Kieron had told me about, and doing what I loved to do most – decorating. The Christmas tree, the living room, the conservatory, the kitchen – the whole house, essentially, because that was the way I liked it. Ditto stuffing my face at regular intervals with coffee and warm mini mince pies.

  Not that it wasn’t without its frustrations. Riley did call in at one point, but she didn’t stay long, leaving as soon as she realised she might be roped in as well – literally – by a mad woman who was trying to untangle a chaotic bundle of 500 blue LED lights, whilst screaming a range of heartfelt imprecations at them.

  ‘Why don’t you just roll them up properly when you put them away, like everyone else does?’ she wanted to know. And, of course, she was absolutely right. But despite my best intentions, always, it had never once actually happened. And truth be known, probably never would. I was self-aware enough to understand that, at least. ‘Because I always forget to,’ I huffed, thrusting them towards her. ‘Here, why don’t you do it then, clever clogs?’

  ‘Er, no,’ she said. ‘I’ve just remembered I have to be somewhere, urgently, but do ring me when you’re sane again, and I’ll come back to have a look.’

  She then deftly dodged the broken bauble I threw at her, before sweeping out imperiously. ‘Jesus, the kids haven’t even started rehearsals for their nativity plays yet, you mad woman!’

  ‘Don’t bring Jesus into this, please!’ I huffed at her departing back.

  Recalcitrant fairy lights needing total concentration, the next time I was shaken out of my decorating focus I was shocked to discover it was almost 3.00 p.m. I had been at it all day and still wasn’t done. And more to the point, I hadn’t even thought about what to make for tea. Let alone defrost or go and buy it.

  It was Tyler, who didn’t usually get back till gone four. ‘How come you’re home so early?’ I asked him.

  ‘Finished early,’ he said, shrugging his backpack from his shoulders.

  I looked past him. ‘And has Keeley finished too?’

  He shook his head. ‘No, she’s still there,’ he said. ‘Well, as far as I know. It’s just us that finished early. I think the tutor had some meeting they had to get to or something. So they said we could either go to the library or head home.’

  No surprise that he chose the latter, then. ‘Oh right,’ I said, as he sank down to join me on the living-room carpet. ‘Well, I’ve almost finished here, as you can see. Just got this holly stuff to twist up the banister and then I can switch on the lights and we’re done. You want to help me clear up? Dad’ll put all the boxes back in the loft for me, but if you could just help me pick up all these bits everywhere, that would be a great help.’

  ‘And you do mean everywhere,’ he said, starting to pick up stray bits of tinsel, random bauble hangers, lametta and other sundry sparkly mess.

  I smiled. ‘I’m like one of those TV chefs, love – it’s all about the creativity. That’s why I need minions to run around after me. Anyway, what kind of day did you have?’

  ‘All right,’ he said. ‘But, Mum …’

  I turned to look at him. His expression was suddenly thoughtful. He obviously had something on his mind. I stopped fiddling with the lengthy pine-effect wreath that I had artfully embellished – with more, and better-behaved, fairy lights – and had been gathering up to deploy up the staircase when he’d arrived. ‘What, love? You look distracted. Something up?’

  Tyler sat back on his heels. ‘I feel bad, Mum, but there’s something I’ve got to tell you.’

  My heart sank. What now?

  ‘What’s happened?’ I said, touching his arm. ‘Come on, love. Spit it out.’

  ‘It’s not about me,’ he explained. ‘It’s Keeley.’

  A new, different, Keeley-shaped cloud now descended. ‘Oh, lord. What’s she done now? Been at your laptop again?’

  He shook his head. ‘No, it’s not that.’ And I could tell from his worried expression that it was going to be more than that. ‘It was today, it was. At lunchtime, and it was all, well –’

  ‘Well what?’

  ‘Well, just dodgy. I’d gone over to find her – we hadn’t fixed up to meet or anything, I just went over to see if I could find her, so she could tell me the best place to go and get something to eat. The canteens there are rubbish, and her lot don’t go there, so I just thought I’d go see if she was about. Anyway, she wasn’t in either of the canteens and when I asked someone off her course they said I’d probably find her down by the youth centre entrance where they all go to smoke.’

  ‘Which we know she does anyway,’ I said.

  He nodded. So it obviously wasn’t that. ‘But she wasn’t there, Mum. She wasn’t with them. She was outside the car park, by the road, a little way up from the entrance. Leaning into a car, talking to the man in it. An older man.’

  Okay, I thought. So far, so not very good. ‘So you didn’t know him? I mean, could it have been one of the tutors there, maybe?’

  ‘No, it wasn’t, Mum. I mean, I don’t know if it was some tutor I’d never seen before, obviously. So it could have been, except my mate Jordan was there and he came over to speak to me, and he told me it wasn’t.’

  ‘So he knew who the man was?’

  Tyler shook his head again. ‘No, but he’s definitely nothing to do with school. He’s seen her with him before, Mum. That’s the thing. It’s not the first time. Jordan said he and his mates have seen her meet up with him a couple of times – once she was actually in the car with him. You know, not going anywhere or anything, just chatting and that. But Jordan said he’d seen the guy passing something to her. They all think he’s a dealer or something. Something dodgy, anyway. I don’t know for definite but I decided not to stick around to find out.
I thought it was probably better if she didn’t know I’d seen her.’

  ‘Oh, for definite,’ I said. ‘And she didn’t? You’re sure of that?’

  ‘Pretty certain. She had her back to me. I just headed back to one of the canteens. And I thought about waiting for her, you know, so I could ask her. But it would have meant hanging around for ages. And, like, I thought it would be more helpful if you knew.’

  My first idea, was, of course, Jamie. Could it possibly have been him? After all, though Tyler had seen his Facebook profile picture, we now knew it had been taken years ago. I asked him anyway. He shook his head. ‘No, it definitely wasn’t him – not unless he’s changed beyond recognition. So maybe it’s some other bloke she’s got on the go now?’

  Which had been my own second thought. Closely followed by here we go again. ‘Okay, love,’ I said. ‘And you definitely did the right thing by telling me instead of confronting her. Thank you. And, look, don’t you worry about this, okay? It might well be that there’s some completely innocent explanation. And if not, well … Dad and I will deal with it, okay? And, look, d’you think you could do me an enormous favour? Once we’re done here, get yourself changed and then run down to the fish and chip shop for me? I’ve been so engrossed in getting this lot together that I have absolutely nothing planned for tea.’

  ‘Sure I will,’ he said, getting up from his knees. ‘Though you know, Mum, it didn’t look innocent. She’s up to something sneaky again. I just know.’ He headed off upstairs to change and I felt a weight settling on me. I felt the same as Tyler. She was up to something sneaky again. Like him, I just knew it.

  But what was it?

  Call me an ostrich if you like, and you’d be absolutely right, because sitting amid the seasonal glow of my newly twinkling, joy-to-the-world world, my main thought was that I didn’t want to know.

  Chapter 20

  I don’t know if it was the expression on my face or just his keen nose for impending trouble but Tyler decided he’d rather make himself scarce. ‘I’ll still go and get tea, Mum,’ he said, as he helped me fix the wreath up the staircase, ‘but I’ll take mine round to Den’s if it’s all right with you. Better that than get the stink eye from Keeley for ratting her out.’