Snatched

by Stephen Edger

  ‘And how do you know of this man?’ Vincent asked, not particularly interested in her response.

  ‘I used to date him,’ she answered.

  ‘I see,’ he replied in a condescending tone. ‘Did he break your heart?’

  The question caught Sarah off guard. ‘What?’ was the best she could muster.

  ‘Do you want us to investigate all your ex-boyfriends as well? You know, just in case they could be guilty?’

  Sarah didn’t like Vincent’s tone and wondered why he was being so mean, particularly in light of what she was going through, emotionally.

  ‘You no longer think Jimmy Barrett did it then?’ Vincent asked, knowing he was taking a risk mentioning Jimmy Barrett’s name, in case Sarah had no idea about Erin’s suggestion.

  ‘What?’ asked Sarah, thrown once again by Vincent’s question and manner. ‘Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know,’ she blurted.

  ‘Listen, Miss Jenson,’ Vincent said, suddenly growing bored of the conversation. ‘I appreciate that you are grieving for the loss of Erin, and I sympathise with your situation, I really do. And I know you are upset by the disappearance of one of your pupils, I am sure the stress you are feeling is significant.’ He paused, expecting a rebuttal, but when one wasn’t forthcoming, he concluded. ‘It is my job to investigate wrongdoing, not yours. I am now heading up a murder investigation, and I don’t have time for some amateur sleuth’s theories on who might be culpable. This isn’t a game of Cluedo, Miss Jenson!’

  Vincent smiled to himself, pleased with how well he had delivered his condemnation of Sarah’s suggestion.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘I know it’s been tough, but you need to let me do my job and just focus on the grieving process!’ he added in an effort to prevent any further theories.

  Sarah was livid at the other end of the line. There were so many names and abusive phrases she wanted to throw his way, to express how angry she was at the way he was speaking to her. Erin had always said he was a bit of an arse, but this was going beyond the pale!

  ‘You should know,’ he added as an afterthought, ‘The body found at the golf course last night was Natalie’s.’

  Sarah didn’t shout out or burst into tears, the reaction she would have anticipated at hearing such news.

  ‘Ryan Moss is in Southampton,’ she said evenly. ‘He is looking to settle a score with me. Yes, we used to date, but that is his motivation, not mine. He was released from prison two months ago, vowing to get even with me and now one of my pupils has been snatched and my partner killed.’ Sarah could hear her voice cracking as she said the words, but there was a determination in her not to break into tears. ‘If you want to catch the man who took Natalie, who is the same person who killed Erin, you need to find Ryan Moss!’

  Vincent was, himself, taken aback by Sarah’s rant and scribbled the name ‘Ryan Moss’ onto a scrap of paper, to look into later.

  ‘Okay, Miss Jenson,’ Vincent conceded. ‘We will look into this man for you. Can I ask: what makes you think he is in Southampton?’

  ‘He wants to make me suffer,’ she replied, before disconnecting the call.

  She knew she should have asked for a police presence to be placed at her door, to protect her from Moss’ evil intentions but she wasn’t convinced that Vincent would take her seriously. It was clear that he still believed Erin’s death was self-inflicted, and not the result of some twisted bastard’s murderous revenge.

  26

  Sarah was still shaking, as she returned the telephone to its stand. Her worst fears had been confirmed: Natalie was dead. It seemed unreal. Only six days before, she had been praising Natalie for her outstanding imaginative story and well-conceived painting, and now she was gone. It just isn’t right, she thought to herself: children aren’t supposed to die; they are supposed to grow up and turn into brilliant adults and live long, meaningful lives.

  Sarah pulled a scrunched-up piece of tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes. It was hard to believe that there were any tears left! She had always considered herself such a strong woman. She nearly jumped out of her skin, when the phone started to ring again. She had to take a moment to steady her breathing. Maybe it was Vincent, phoning back to apologise for the abrupt way he had broken the news of Natalie’s discovery.

  Sarah took another deep breath and picked up the telephone, placing it to her ear, she said, ‘Hello?’

  ‘Sarah?’ said a recognisable, Scottish brogue. ‘It’s Peggy McGregor here. How are you, dear?’

  ‘Peggy, hi,’ Sarah replied, ‘I’ve been better, to be honest. I’ll be okay.’

  ‘So you’ve heard the news about Natalie, then?’

  ‘I was just told,’ Sarah replied, wiping her nose. ‘It’s so hard to believe.’

  ‘I know, dear,’ answered Mrs McGregor. ‘Sarah, listen, would it be possible for you to come in and see me? There is something I want to discuss with you.’

  ‘Sure. Yes,’ replied Sarah. ‘I was planning to pop in anyway. I’ll come in straight away.’

  ‘That’s great, see you soon.’

  Sarah hung up the call and looked at her reflection in the nearest mirror. Big, black stains dissected her cheeks, like a jigsaw puzzle, where her make-up had run.

  ‘What a mess!’ she said to herself, and then added, ‘I suppose you think this is all quite amusing, don’t you?’ She was looking up as she spoke, picturing Erin standing nearby; and smiling, shaking her head in that teasing way she always did. ‘I wish you were here with me,’ she added and the imaginary-Erin blew her a kiss and mouthed the words, ‘I love you.’

  Sarah re-applied her make-up before jumping into the car, and driving to St Monica’s School. She didn’t hear the telephone ringing as she had walked from the apartment to the car. What she wouldn’t see until later that evening was that the number dialling started with ‘+32’.

  *

  Sarah arrived at the school a little after three, aware that most of the children would be on their way home. Mrs McGregor was in her office, waiting for her.

  ‘Sarah, come in,’ said Mrs McGregor when she saw the young teacher’s head pop around the door.

  ‘Hi, Peggy,’ Sarah said, and then quickly checked to make sure that there were no errant pupils nearby who could have overheard.

  ‘It’s okay, dear,’ Mrs McGregor replied. ‘We closed the school just after two today, so there is nobody else around.

  ‘How come the school closed so early?’ asked Sarah, taking a seat opposite the Headmistress.

  ‘That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,’ she replied, removing her glasses and allowing them to hang around her neck by the cord. ‘Detective Inspector Vincent telephoned me, and had some very troubling words of advice that he wished to share.’

  The look on Mrs McGregor’s face said it all: it was ashen.

  ‘What’s wrong, Peggy?’ asked Sarah, suddenly concerned about the Headmistress.

  Peggy paused while she considered how best to share her concerns. ‘Detective Inspector Vincent has advised me to close the school for a week, allowing him time to fully investigate Natalie’s murder and hopefully find the horrible person who committed this crime.’

  Sarah was pleased that the suggestion had been made, especially if Ryan Moss was watching the school; the children would be safer if they weren’t near Sarah. She wondered why Vincent had not told her of this when she had phoned him earlier.

  ‘The Detective and I spoke with the Board of Governors and they have agreed with the proposal. Mr Jackson, from the Board phoned me about half an hour ago to confirm the decision.’

  ‘I see,’ said Sarah, not sure why Mrs McGregor had felt the need to call her in, rather than speaking over the phone.

  ‘What is it, Peggy?’ asked Sarah after a pause. ‘What else is troubling you? Why did you want to see me?’

  With a troubled look on her face, Mrs McGregor rose and started to move around her desk. She stopped when she was directly behind Sarah, and she
placed her hands on the young teacher’s shoulders.

  ‘I’m worried about you, Sarah,’ she said. ‘You’ve been through a lot in the last week and I am concerned that you may be struggling with all the stress.’

  Sarah was taken aback, but also rather cross with the suggestion that she was not coping. She attempted to stand up and brush Mrs McGregor’s hands away but the Headmistress’ grasp was stronger than she had anticipated and she remained where she was sat.

  ‘It is understandable, dear,’ Mrs McGregor continued. ‘The grieving process is difficult for everyone, and the way people deal with it is different. You shouldn’t feel afraid to take some time to properly grieve for your loss.’

  ‘What makes you think I’m not coping?’ asked Sarah, through slightly gritted teeth.

  Mrs McGregor released her grip slightly. ‘Inspector Vincent mentioned to me that you believe you know who might have taken Natalie.’

  Sarah was angry that Vincent had told Mrs McGregor about their earlier conversation.

  ‘He also said that this is the second man you have accused of taking Natalie since the incident, and that you have been making allegations that Erin’s death was something other than a tragic accident.’

  Sarah could contain her anger no longer. ‘What are you saying, Peggy?’

  ‘Your behaviour is very erratic at the moment, Sarah. You lost Erin on Tuesday night but you were back in here yesterday taking part in the filming of a reconstruction of Natalie’s abduction. You then tell me you are heading off to spend some time with your dad in Weymouth but now you are back, spouting conspiracy theories. I’m worried about you.’

  Sarah stood up quickly, and in doing so, caused Mrs McGregor’s hands to fall. The Headmistress took a cautionary step backwards.

  ‘I’m not crazy, Peggy,’ said Sarah, turning to face her accuser.

  Mrs McGregor held her hands up defensively, stating, ‘I’m not saying you are, dear, but even you must admit that your behaviour is out of character.’

  Sarah’s face turned a shade of crimson as her anger continued to rise.

  ‘Natalie was abducted and killed after leaving my classroom on Friday afternoon,’ she said, trying to keep her voice even, but not succeeding. ‘Then somebody drove my girlfriend’s car off the road, almost killing her. A man I used to know who was prosecuted for abducting and nearly killing a young girl is free, and has threatened revenge on me. I am not being irrational, Peggy.’

  Mrs McGregor’s arms remained in the air, keeping a safe distance between herself and Sarah.

  ‘I don’t mean to upset you, Sarah. I only have your best interests at heart.’

  Sarah regained her composure and moved to the other side of the office to cool down.

  ‘The school will be closed for at least a week, Sarah. Detective Vincent doesn’t want to see any more children harmed and is taking your suggestion about the revenge-motive into consideration. Take some time, Sarah. Go away. Grieve for Erin. I am sure I can arrange for a supply teacher to take your place this term and then you can come back, fully refreshed and focused in the new school year.’

  ‘I’m not going to run away from this, Peggy,’ said Sarah determinedly.

  ‘No-one will see it as running away, dear. I am offering you a chance to get your head together. I am not questioning your ability as a teacher but the children in your class need someone strong to help them through what will be an understandably difficult time for them.’

  ‘They need me!’ shouted Sarah. ‘How is it going to look to them if I just disappear?’

  ‘We will explain why you have gone away. It will be okay.’

  ‘No,’ said Sarah. ‘My children need me. I let harm come to one of them, I won’t allow harm to come to the rest.’

  ‘What happened to Natalie was not your fault, Sarah,’ pleaded Mrs McGregor. ‘There is nothing you could have done. There are some sick people in this world, Sarah. You mustn’t blame yourself.’

  ‘I should have been there for her, Peggy,’ said Sarah, staring out of the Headmistresses’ office window at an empty playground. ‘If her mother hadn’t arrived to collect her, she should have come back into the school. Why didn’t she? She must have been able to see me in my classroom from where she was stood. Why didn’t she come to me?’

  ‘We will never know why she stayed out there, Sarah. You cannot blame yourself.’

  ‘Who else is to blame, Peggy?’ Sarah countered. ‘She should have trusted me enough to come back in.’

  ‘Sarah, stop this!’ ordered Mrs McGregor.

  ‘And why did she get into some strange man’s car? She was smarter than that, Peggy. I made sure all my children knew not to speak to strangers; I drilled that into them. Why did she go?’

  Sarah could feel her voice cracking again. Mrs McGregor must have noticed it too as she moved across the room to Sarah and put her arms around her.

  ‘It’s not your fault, Sarah. It’s not your fault,’ repeated Mrs McGregor over and over. The embrace was the last straw and Sarah found herself wrapping her own arms around the Headmistress and burying her head in the older woman’s welcoming shoulder. It felt for a moment, to Sarah, like having her mum back. The two women remained in embrace for the next ten minutes.

  Sarah eventually managed to re-compose herself and told Mrs McGregor that she felt better.

  ‘So will you take some time off, to get things together?’ Mrs McGregor persisted.

  ‘It’s not that I’m not grateful, Peggy. I am. I’ll think about your offer.’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ said the Headmistress, accepting that she wouldn’t get an immediate answer. ‘Let me know as soon as you can, dear.’

  ‘I will, Peggy,’ said Sarah, excusing herself. ‘I’m going to go to my classroom and collect some bits and pieces. I’ll give you a call at the weekend.’

  ‘Okay, Sarah,’ said Mrs McGregor, smiling, pleased that she had managed to have the conversation with the young teacher.

  Sarah said ‘Good bye,’ and headed for her classroom. There were chairs pulled out from the tables as well as various bits of paper and colouring pencils strewn across the floor. Clearly, the teacher who was currently covering for Sarah, didn’t share her sense of order. Sarah began picking up the various items of litter and didn’t see the classroom door open behind her. Nor did she see the man who walked in through it. Sarah froze when she recognised a voice that she hadn’t heard in several years.

  ‘Hello, Sarah,’ said Ryan Moss.

  27

  ‘What the fuck are you doing here?’ asked Sarah, before she could stop herself.

  ‘Easy, Sarah,’ replied Moss, holding up his hands defensively. ‘How about a ‘hello’ or ‘how are you?’ first? Jesus, I know it’s been a few years, but swearing? Is that what I deserve?’

  ‘Keep the fuck away from me, you sick son of a bitch,’ Sarah said, moving as far from the man as she could, eager to keep distance between them.

  ‘Sarah, what’s wrong?’ asked Moss, unsure why his one-time girlfriend seemed so unhappy to see him. ‘Don’t be silly, I won’t hurt you.’

  ‘How the fuck did you get in here, Ryan?’ demanded Sarah.

  ‘I walked in through the front door. Why are you being so strange?’

  ‘So strange?’ countered Sarah. ‘A child abductor and attempted murderer turns up at my school and I am being weird?’

  ‘Look,’ began Moss, trying to move closer, to decrease the distance between them. ‘I know it must seem strange, my turning up after so long, but I needed to see you.’

  ‘Why not phone?’ retorted Sarah, suddenly fearful for her life. If this bastard had abducted and killed Natalie and murdered Erin, what was to stop him killing her here in her classroom?

  ‘Sarah, I don’t understand why you look so scared. It’s me, Ryan. Come on, stop being silly.’

  ‘Silly? You think I’m being silly? Keep the fuck away from me, you sick son of a bitch.’

  ‘Sarah, I’m sorry,’ replied Moss. ‘I didn’t
mean to upset you. I came here to make amends, not to frighten you.’

  Sarah watched her former boyfriend pick up a nearby chair and sit on it.

  ‘What the fuck are you doing here, Ryan?’ she managed to sputter, although there were a dozen other questions she wished to ask.

  Moss looked at his palms, in a manner that he had rehearsed to keep himself calm over the years. ‘Look,’ he said. ‘I know that the last time we saw each other, it wasn’t easy. I was in a different place back then. I did some things, which…I am not proud of. I was going through a lot, it’s not an excuse, but I was a different man. I did some things, which…were inexcusable.’

  Sarah stared back at the man who had once been a good friend, but whom recently had become the object of her hatred, since she had begun to suspect him of being responsible for Natalie’s disappearance.

  ‘I’m calling the police,’ she said, unsure what else she could do.

  ‘The police? Why? I haven’t done anything wrong. I only came to speak to you. I never imagined that you would react like this. I mean, I had expected a little animosity, but nothing like this. Why are you so upset?’

  ‘You really need me to spell it out for you? Is that how you get your kicks?’

  ‘Get my kicks? Sarah, I really don’t know what you are talking about,’ Moss said looking confused.

  Sarah considered her options. Her mobile phone was in her handbag, over by the classroom door. The school was virtually empty and she had no idea what other teachers may have hung around once the children had been sent home early. Mrs McGregor was in her office but not even Sarah’s loudest scream would reach that far. If she ran, would Moss go for her? At least he seemed passive at the moment. Maybe all he did want to do was talk? After all, she was a bit older than his usual type. She chastised herself silently for that last thought.

  ‘Natalie Barrett,’ she said after a while.

  ‘Oh, the little girl,’ replied Moss, looking unhappy. ‘Such a shame.’