The Back Road

by Abbott, Rachel

  The caller had assumed that Ellie’s silence implied complicity, and the distorted voice continued with no further sense of familiarity or clues to gender.

  ‘Just do what I ask. It’s sooooo simple. You can protect your precious marriage and your children. After all, we don’t want any more tragedies in the village, do we?’

  Ellie didn’t respond.

  ‘Why are you so quiet, Ellie? It’s not a big decision. I’m going to tell you what I need you to do, and don’t even think of taking a chance that I don’t mean what I say.’

  Ellie listened. And finally she understood why she had been targeted. Why she was the one that had to be blackmailed.

  44

  ‘Can I take you out to dinner tonight, to thank you for Tuesday?’ were Leo’s first words when Tom opened the front door.

  ‘Been chucked out again, have you?’ Tom asked, unable to suppress a grin. He was going to miss Leo when she went back to Manchester. She’d certainly brightened up a couple of days for him, and made him realise how isolated he’d become recently. He had consciously avoided getting too close to any woman for the last couple of years, but it had left a big hole in his life. He enjoyed the banter, the subtle flirting and the thought of a soft, naked body in his bed. It was time for his self-imposed monastic life to come to an end.

  ‘Yes, and no. I was going to go back to Manchester, but Max has asked me not to. Not yet. Even so, I can’t be around tonight. Those two have things to sort out. So here I am,’ Leo said, with a childlike beam that Tom guessed was an attempt to cover her discomfort.

  ‘You know, it would be nice to know that you’d come round because you wanted to see me rather than because you needed a port in a storm, but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers. Come in. I’ll get the vodka.’

  Leo followed him down the hall, and he spoke to her over his shoulder.

  ‘What have you been up to all day?’

  ‘I was at home until about three, but Ellie was due back and I couldn’t face her. I’ll get to that in a minute. So I took myself into Altrincham and decided to have a pedicure and a few other bits and pieces at the beauticians.’

  Tom had been around women for long enough to know not to ask about the ‘bits and pieces’ but assumed that they had probably been painful.

  ‘Well, now you’re all beautified again, have a drink and tell me if you definitely want to go out, or would you prefer to eat in? Nothing complicated, I promise. I’ve got some fillet steak and we could slap it on the barbecue and have it with some salad if that would do? I’ll even make some homemade oven chips if you like, although you don’t look much like a chip girl to me,’ he said, glancing at her slim body.

  ‘Well looks can be very deceptive. And if there’s one thing that I know how to do, it’s peel a potato.’

  He handed Leo a vodka shot, and took a bottle of Corona out of the fridge.

  ‘Loads of time for that. We can eat at about eight, if that’s okay. Let’s go and sit in comfort. I’ve been shifting rubbish all day and could do with putting my feet up for an hour or so. I must have been to the tip about six times.’

  ‘Ah ha - that explains the old Jeep outside. I thought you’d have some flashy number.’

  ‘I keep the posh car in the garage, but unless I’ve got Lucy with me, I’d rather drive the Jeep. Suits the new laid back image better, I think. Lucy loves the Lexus, though. Like you, I went for a coupé, and she thinks it’s great when we have the roof down.’ Tom grinned indulgently as he thought of his daughter.

  He guided Leo into the sitting room and indicated that she should take a seat. It was time to be serious for a moment.

  ‘I was going to come round tomorrow anyway. I’ve got something I need to talk to you about,’ he said.

  As they sat down, Leo looked at Tom warily.

  ‘It’s about your father. It’s not great news, I’m afraid. I’d have told you as soon as I knew, but when I called round earlier the only car at Willow Farm was Ellie’s and I wanted to catch you on your own. It’s up to you how you decide to share it.’

  Leo leant back in the chair.

  ‘It’s okay, Tom. You know I didn’t have much of an opinion of him. Just tell me.’ She downed her shot, as if Dutch courage was a prerequisite.

  ‘Do you want another of those, or shall I get you a glass of wine?’ Tom asked.

  ‘Neither, thanks. I’m fine. Just get on with it, please.’

  Tom was very aware that Leo liked her personal space to be kept completely clear, and although he respected that, on this occasion he felt she might need some sense of human touch. He moved across to the pouffe that was by Leo’s chair and reached out for her hand, half expecting her to pull it away.

  ‘Christ, it must be bad if you feel you have to hold my hand,’ she said in a tone that would have driven most men to back off.

  ‘Shut up, Leo. You’re only human, and despite not thinking much of your dad, sometimes a bit of the old touchy feely is quite comforting. Give it a try, eh?’

  Tom wondered for a moment how many men must have been forced out by Leo’s inability to accept closeness on any level. He looked straight into Leo’s eyes as he spoke.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Leo, but your father really is dead. He died about three years after he left home. Your stepmother never had him declared dead at all. She’d known all along.’

  Leo’s expression didn’t waver, but nevertheless Tom gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. She had probably been expecting the news that her father was dead, but it was the rest he was worried about.

  ‘How?’ was all she said.

  ‘I’ll get to that in a minute. Are you okay?’

  ‘Of course I’m okay. I’m not sure Ellie will be though. It shows that her mother was a lying bitch. Why in God’s name didn’t she tell Ellie? Why on earth would she lie about it? Why not just say that he was dead? Ellie’s spent years believing that he’s still out there somewhere, because as far as she knew there was no evidence otherwise. She’s been tortured by the fact that he didn’t want to see her. She could have been saved all of that. It’s Ellie I’m worried about. Not me. I’ve told you, I don’t care.’

  Of course you don’t, Tom thought. I can see that all over your face.

  ‘It’s possible that she didn’t tell you for a good reason, even though you might find that hard to believe.’

  ‘What good reason? There’s no good reason for not telling a child that her father is dead.’

  Tom wasn’t sure if she was referring to herself, or to Ellie, but he let it pass.

  ‘Once I knew he was dead and when he died, I was able to spread the net a bit wider and legitimately ask a few questions. The sources are good. I’m confident that they’re correct, and with the details I’m about to give you, you’ll be able to check for yourself with the authorities.’

  ‘If you say the information is correct, I believe you. You don’t need to give me the provenance.’ The prickly Leo was surfacing again

  ‘The thing is, he was in prison when he died.’ Tom paused. ‘This is going to be hard for you to accept, Leo. I’m afraid he hanged himself.’

  Leo maintained the same facial expression, but he could feel her grip on his hand tighten and her skin had lost all colour.

  ‘What had he done?’ she asked in a level voice.

  ‘He was on remand at the time of his death, awaiting trial.’

  ‘You’re avoiding the question - what had he been charged with?’

  ‘There’s no easy way to tell anybody this about their father.’ Tom paused and saw a flash of apprehension in Leo’s eyes. ‘It was rape, I’m afraid.’

  Tom saw the look of shock that flashed over her face before she managed to control her features, and he wished she would let herself go. He gently took her other hand.

  ‘Is there more?’ she asked, her voice harsher than before and tinged with a fake indifference.

  ‘I know that you’ll try to get hold of the details, so I’ll tell you myself
that he when he died, he left a note. He admitted to a series of other rapes, going back a few years.’

  Leo’s eyes were enormous in her narrow face. Her bright red lipstick looked lurid against her bloodless skin.

  ‘And was it true? Had he done it before? How many times, for God’s sake?’

  ‘He didn’t provide names - maybe he didn’t know them. He did give dates and places, but Leo, none of them happened while your mother was alive.’

  Leo gave a shrill laugh. ‘Oh, well that’s something, I suppose. Thank heavens for small mercies. If my mother had known what he was - even what he potentially was - she’d have castrated him personally. Christ, I hope she can’t see any of this from the grave. Thank God I don’t believe in ghosts, spirits and reincarnation. Where did these rapes take place?’

  ‘You don’t need to know that - it doesn’t matter,’ Tom said quietly.

  ‘Of course it bloody matters. Where, Tom? There must be a reason you’re not telling me.’

  ‘And I wouldn’t tell you now, but as you have the basic details you could find out. In the three years after he left here, they happened in several places in East Anglia, which is where he was living.’

  ‘And before that?’

  ‘I understand that a few of them were local. According to his note, one was actually in the village.’ Tom had known that she would want the details, but he had dreaded telling her this part.

  ‘What? Who in God’s name did he rape in the village?’

  ‘As I said, there were no names given. Only approximate dates, and the area of the country. Some of them had been reported, and so the police were able to tie up a few loose ends. But nobody ever reported a rape in the village. I checked.’

  ‘Just because it wasn’t reported doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, though, does it? What percentage of rapes are reported, Tom? You should know. You’re the bloody policeman.’

  Tom didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. If her father said he raped somebody in Little Melham, he had no doubt that it was true. Some poor girl had probably been too ashamed to tell, at the risk of not being believed.

  He looked at Leo. Her whole face tightened, and she looked very much as if she would like to cry but was fighting it hard. He wanted to pull her to him and wrap his arms round her, but he knew that would be one step too far.

  * * *

  Ellie was frantic. She had to act. She was right outside the police station. She could go in and report the whole story, but there were so many pieces missing. She could admit to the fact that she was out on Friday night and what she had seen, but she would also have to tell them now about the break-ins and the lost security pass. It would take forever.

  The only consideration now was the safety of the children. She grabbed her phone and stabbed in the short code to get Max. Please let him be home, she prayed. The twins should be in bed by now, so they should all be there. But if this person was still able to get into their house, he might be there now - he might be with her children.

  The phone was answered - but she barely gave Max time to speak.

  ‘Listen, Max, I can’t explain this to you now - but are you and the twins okay?’

  ‘Of course we’re okay. But Ellie, I need to talk to you.’

  With a sinking heart she knew that Sean must have told him everything.

  ‘I know you do, but for now please just listen. I need you to keep all the doors locked and bolted until I get home. Do you understand, Max? Bolted. And I want you to check on the twins all the time. And I mean all the time. Max - I was right about somebody getting into the house. I know it now, for sure. Please just do as I’m asking. I’m going to find out who this bastard is, and I’m going to find out now.’

  ‘Ellie - what are you talking about? You sound demented.’

  ‘I have been, but I’m not now. I’ve got to go, but Maxy - I love you.’ She hung up the phone before he could answer.

  She was about to turn her phone off when it beeped.

  Sean.

  She didn’t want to read it, but she knew she had to. To find out what he’d said to Max.

  I PROMISED I WOULD WAIT, BUT IT’S TWO DAYS NOW, AND STILL NO WORD. I’VE BEEN FAIR. I’VE GIVEN YOU TIME. MAX CAME TO SEE ME TODAY - I SAW HIS CAR WHEN I GOT HOME SO I STAYED AWAY, OUT OF SIGHT, UNTIL HE LEFT. I COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM. BUT I RESPECTED YOUR WISHES. NOW IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO RESPECT MINE. I WANT YOU, ELLIE. AND THIS SECRECY HAS TO END. MEET ME TONIGHT, OR I’M COMING TO GET YOU.

  Ellie’s mind was assaulted with mixed emotions. Relief that Max still didn’t know, fear of what Sean was going to do and anger that, because of Sean, she hadn’t taken the threat to her children seriously.

  She flung her phone on the passenger seat and screamed. Nobody could hear her inside the car, and all the pent up frustration and anger shot through her to find an escape. She banged her head backwards on the headrest. Once, twice, three times.

  She leaned across and picked up her phone, and with shaking fingers, typed a response.

  MEET ME AT THE OLD HASLETT’S FARM AT EIGHT. DON’T BE LATE.

  She pressed send, put the car into gear, and turned around to head to the rendezvous.

  45

  The narrow sandy track that led to Haslett’s farm was deeply rutted and was slowly disappearing under the tenacious invasion of brambles and knotweed. Sean knew the farmhouse was derelict. It had been falling apart for years, but nobody would buy it to renovate because the ground underneath wasn’t stable enough, as evidenced by the foot wide cracks in the top storey. The whole place had been boarded up, and there didn’t appear to be any way of getting inside. Old pieces of guttering were hanging off, and some kind of weed like creeper was climbing up the stone walls and wrapping itself round drainpipes.

  Ellie didn’t seem to be here yet; at least, there was no sign of her car. Parking at the side of the track, Sean stepped out and looked around. There was almost total silence, although if he listened hard he could just make out the hum of traffic on the trunk road in the distance.

  He made his way quietly round the back of the farmhouse, as if he were trying hard not to disturb a soul in this isolated spot. Fifty feet away from the main building stood an old barn with a rusted but largely intact corrugated iron roof. Perhaps Ellie would be waiting there.

  He was eager to see her, and so pleased that she had agreed to meet him this evening. He knew they were going to have to break the news of their relationship very soon, but it would be good to be with her for a while before the storm came crashing over their heads.

  Since the day he’d met her, he had thought Ellie was the perfect woman. Warm, friendly, beautiful, and a wonderful mother to her twins. He had found every excuse possible to touch her warm flesh - her arms, her cheek, even her leg once when he bent to pick up something from the floor. Just a brush with his fingers, when it didn’t seem too obvious that he was practically salivating at the thought of caressing that same spot with his lips. A brief stroke of the arm as he leaned in for a polite peck on the cheek when greeting her, or a slight touch of hands when passing cups of tea. One day she had lifted her arms to take something from a shelf and he had seen a two inch gap of flawless flesh between her T-shirt and jeans. He didn’t know how he had prevented himself from reaching out and gently rubbing his thumb over her skin.

  And then that day, three weeks ago now, when he saw the look in her eyes. The look that said she wanted him too.

  But she wouldn’t be his Ellie if she didn’t have a conscience. She’d stopped him at the last moment. Not before he’d had the chance to kiss the velvet skin of her stomach, and stroke those beautiful naked breasts, though. He understood why she had stopped. They had to end their marriages before they would be free, but he couldn’t wait any longer. Tonight they would make their plans, and difficult as it would be, finally they could be together.

  As he made his way round to the barn, the dying sun caught a reflection of something metallic and he could barely make out the tail light of a car th
rough a small gap. She must already be here. He felt his heart rate increase.

  The huge vaulted barn had double doors at both ends, hanging limply from their old hinges. He could see piles of ancient, corroded farm equipment on the ground, and some half chewed bales of hay were stacked roughly on one side. The summer sun hadn’t yet set, but it was low in the sky, and the barn was full of shadowy depths where she could be waiting.

  ‘Ellie? Are you there? It’s me. Where are you, darling?’

  There was no answer, but he thought he heard some scuffling from the hayloft, too big to be a mouse or a rat. He smiled to himself. Perhaps she’d brought a blanket. Perhaps she was up there waiting for him.

  He made his way to the ladder, stepping over the detritus spread across the old cracked concrete floor, and started to climb. It was darker up here. There were no windows, and the only light came from below, through the half open doors.

  He could see a figure at the other end of the barn, and he knew immediately it wasn’t Ellie.

  ‘Hello?’ he said. ‘What’s going on?’

  The person stepped farther back into the shadows, and Sean knew that for some reason he’d been set up. But he had no idea why.

  ‘Where’s Ellie? Who are you and what are you doing here?’

  For a moment, there was silence. The voice, when it came, was little more than a hoarse whisper.

  ‘Why has she sent you? I told her to send the other one - her lover. The piece of shit that dragged a child to the side of the road and left her for dead.’ There was a trace of panic in the tone, but he still couldn’t see the face.

  ‘Her lover? What the hell are you talking about? Tell me what you’ve done with Ellie. Tell me where she is.’

  Sean started to advance across the floor of the hayloft. This was a voice he’d heard before, but for a moment he couldn’t place it. Whoever it was, he would strangle the truth out of the bastard if anything had happened to Ellie.