The Truth: sequel to I Will Find You

by Catherine Lambert

  “It was a warning. I said that if he came near me I would inform the police. There was a bit more, but I can’t remember what I wrote.”

  “What have the police said?” Jake continued to question her.

  “Well, they seem to think he’s in this area, and might try to contact me,” she began. “But, someone fitting his description was seen boarding a train to West Norton.”

  “That’s miles from here,” Marney pointed out.

  “I know, but the train stops in Becton,” she looked up Jake.

  “Well they must have C.C.T.V. in all the stations,” he said.

  “The police have already looked at all the passengers who left the train at

  Becton, there were only five people. Three women and two men. One was bald, and the other wore a baseball cap and glasses, but they couldn’t be certain if it was him, or not.” “Sounds like a disguise to me,” Jake raised his eyebrows. “Surely the police must suspect it’s him?” Marney asked.

  “They didn’t really say, but they are sending patrol cars and extra officers to this area,” Lydia continued. “O.K. so if he comes near here the police will find him,” Jake added.

  “I hope so,” Lydia didn’t sound convinced.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  As the sisters’ contemplated their dilemma, Tom Anderson was preparing to contact Lydia. He would have to rehearse his conversation and not waste his words. Although he was uncertain as to whether the police could trace his unregistered mobile phone, once he had contacted Lydia, they would put a trace on her phone. Taking his mobile from his jacket, he punched in the numbers and waited for her to answer. When she did, he spoke.

  “Hello Lydia,” he said quietly.

  “Who is this?” she asked.

  “You can’t have forgotten me so soon.”

  Feeling her heart rate increase as realisation dawned on her, she put a hand over the speaker and mouthed to Jake.

  “It’s him.”

  “Are you there Lydia, I don’t have time to waste. I need to talk to you.”

  “What do you want?” Lydia spoke through pursed lips.

  “You know the answer to that,” he teased.

  “No, I don’t tell me.”

  “I’ll tell you later when I see you.” He pressed the call end button.

  “No, you won’t,” her words went unheard.

  “I’m calling the police,” she keyed in 999 and began to pace around the room.

  In an anxious rambling manner, Lydia eventually managed to explain the nature of her call. Ending the call, she continued to pace around.

  “What did the police say?” Jake asked.

  “They are sending a patrol car,” she mumbled rubbing her hands together.

  Placing an arm around her shoulder, Jake attempted to reassure her.

  “He won’t get in here love, I promise you,” he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Without replying, she pulled away and peered through a gap in the curtains in search of any movement in the garden or the presence of a police car in the street.

  Why are they taking so long?” she let the curtain drop and turned to face Jake.

  “It’s only been a few minutes love, come and sit down here,” he pulled out a chair for her.

  “I don’t want to sit down Jake, please don’t fuss,” she returned to the window.

  “They’re here,” she turned to Jake.

  Rushing into the hall, she opened the door and looked up and down the street. The sound of car doors closing heralded the appearance of a plain clothes officer and a young uniformed policeman walking towards the front door.

  “Mrs. Nevin?” one of them asked.

  “Yes, well no, it doesn’t matter, please come in,” she stood aside to allow them to enter.

  Closing the door behind them, she led the two officers into the kitchen.

  “This is my fiancé Jake, and my sister Marney,” she made the introductions.

  “Are you Mrs. Nevin, or not?” the elder of the two officers asked.

  “I’m divorced, but because of my business, I kept my married name. I’m technically Miss Stephens,” she explained with nervous smile.

  “Just call me Lydia,” she mumbled.

  “I think we’ve met before Lydia, I’m Inspector Gordon.”

  “Yes, I thought we had,” she nodded.

  “This is P.C. Steele,” he introduced the young officer.

  Lydia smiled, and then spoke. “Shall we sit down,” she gestured towards the kitchen table. Once they were all seated, the young P.C. took his notebook and pen from his jacket pocket.

  “Before we start I need to explain the situation as it is at the moment. A prisoner by the name of Thomas Anderson has absconded from his place of work in the community. His whereabouts have not been confirmed yet, but we believe he is in the vicinity of Becton,” he paused.

  “He never called himself Thomas, it seems strange,” Lydia replied vaguely.

  “Shall I continue?” he asked.

  “Of course,” Lydia smiled weakly.

  “Anderson is classified as a category D offender, which basically means he’s not considered to be a danger to the community. However, he is still an escaped prisoner and he needs to be captured and returned to prison. He won’t get far, we have a helicopter scouring the area and patrol cars within a ten-mile radius,”

  “But you don’t know where he is,” Marney spoke.

  “We’re reasonably certain he hasn’t left the area. It appears his reason for escaping is to contact Lydia, which he has already attempted. We are confident that he’ll try again. Would you like an officer here with you?”

  “That won’t be necessary, thanks.” Jake spoke up.

  “O.K., but if you change your mind,” he didn’t give him chance to finish his sentence.

  “She won’t.” he threw the inspector a hard stare.

  “It’s O.K. Jake,” Lydia placed a hand on his forearm and smiled.

  “Now I need to explain what we are going to do to trace Anderson’s phone. We have a device that tricks all mobile phones in its vicinity, to reveal the IMSI and ESN numbers” he paused and glanced around before continuing.

  “The device is located in the back of a police van near to this house.”

  “What does that mean?” Lydia asked the question.

  “Well, the IMSI number is the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, in other words the owner of the phone, and the ESN number is the Electronic Serial Number. The device imitates a phone tower forcing the mobile to reveal its location. This information helps us to track the user, I’m not at liberty to disclose any more details, but if Anderson phones again, we will be able to locate him,” he smiled at her.

  “I’m still not sure what you mean?” Marney looked confused.

  “It doesn’t matter Miss Stephens, all you need to know is that we will find Anderson.”

  Marney sighed and stood up.

  “Shall I make tea or coffee?” she asked glancing around.

  “Tea for me and P.C. Steele please, one sugar and none,”

  “Lyds, Jake?”

  “We’ll both have tea please sis.”

  “O.K., I’ll make a pot.”

  Glad to be away from the discussion, Marney stared out of the window day-dreaming about her new life, as images of designer clothes and handbags flashed through her head. The sound of the kettle boiling brought her back to reality and she poured the water over the teabags and gave them a stir. Placing four mugs, a sugar bowl and spoons on a tray, she took it to the table.

  “I’ve forgotten the milk and biscuits,” she dashed back to the kitchen.

  A few minutes of silence followed as the group sipped their tea and contemplated the situation. It was Lydia who broke the silence.

  “What will happen to Tom Anderson if you apprehend him Inspector?”

  “When Lydia, not if,” he replied firmly.

  “I think you know the answer to your question,” he added

  After a
further half hour of questioning and advice from the police officers, Lydia finally escorted them to the front door.

  “If Anderson gets in touch, we’ll be able to trace him. Don’t worry about keeping him on the line we’ll be on to him.”

  “Thank you,” she replied closing the door behind them.

  “We have to carry on as normal,” she informed Jake as she returned to the kitchen.

  “So, are we still going out tomorrow night?” Marney sat up in her seat.

  “I don’t know,” Lydia hesitated.

  “Of course we are.” Jake replied firmly.

  “I get to wear my new dress,” Marney clasped her hands together and beamed.

  Jake turned to Lydia.

  “Did you get something new to wear love?” he attempted to alleviate the melancholy that had descended upon her.

  “I got a skirt and top which Marney insisted on paying for,” she forced a smile.

  “I’m going to phone that new Italian restaurant, if that’s O.K. with you two?” Marney stood up.

  “That’s fine,” Jake and Lydia agreed.

  “Shall we say six thirty?” Marney asked.

  “Yeah, are you going to let mum and dad know?”

  “I’ll do it now,” Marney left the room and Jake took the opportunity to speak to Lydia alone.

  “Don’t worry about Anderson, he won’t be at liberty for much longer love,” he put his arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m not worried about him Jake, it’s just the thought of him watching us. For all we know he could be outside now,” she looked up at him.

  “Do you want me to go and take a look?”

  “No Jake, of course not,” she smiled, which surprised him.

  At this point, Marney returned to the room.

  “O.K. it’s all booked. Will might be a bit late though, he doesn’t finish his shift until six, but he’s going to try and get off a bit earlier. Right, I’m going to wake Heidi, she’ll never sleep tonight if I leave her any longer.”

  The room fell silent as Marney dashed up the stairs. Her elevated mood had not spread to Lydia who was withdrawn and anxious.

  “Shall I make us something to eat,” Jake suggested.

  “I’m not very hungry, but Heidi will want something.”

  “You need to eat something love. What about a sandwich?”

  “No thanks, I feel a bit sick. I’ll have something later.”

  Jake stood up as Marney entered the room with Heidi in her arms.

  “I was just going to make sandwiches; do you want some?” he asked.

  “I’ll give you a hand,” she placed Heidi on the carpet and spread a selection of toys around her.

  In the privacy of the kitchen, Jake turned to Marney who was slicing tomatoes.

  “Has Lydia got something else on her mind?”

  “Do you mean other than Tom Anderson?” she turned to face him.

  “Yes, I do,” he nodded.

  “Well if she has, she hasn’t mentioned anything to me; why do you ask?”

  Jake ran a hand over his chin and grimaced.

  “I’ve just got this feeling that she’s keeping something from me,” he eventually replied.

  “I think she’s just worried about Tom Anderson. You do know that he was writing to her from prison?”

  “Yes, she told me. He shouldn’t be allowed to do that, he supposed to be in prison not a bloody holiday camp.” He spoke as he arranged the sandwiches on a platter.

  Changing the topic of conversation, Marney paused and looked up at Jake.

  “The café’s been closed for so long now I doubt there’ll be any customers left. Perhaps you could persuade her to re-open next week?”

  “I don’t think she’s in the right frame of mind at the moment.”

  “She needs something to take her mind off Tom Anderson. Will you try to persuade her Jake?” she looked up at him.

  “She’s very stubborn Marney, you know that.”

  “Just try Jake, please.” She turned her back on him and took the salad to the lounge.

  Lydia was watching Heidi babbling to her teddies and didn’t notice her sister and Jake enter the room. She was reminded of Adam at this age and smiled as she recalled how funny he was as he attempted to speak for the first time.

  After his death, she had longed for another child. It wasn’t to replace him, it was to fill the agonising void his loss had created. Distracted by her thoughts, Jake had to repeat his words.

  “Try and eat something Lydia, you look very pale.”

  “I really aren’t hungry,” she mumbled.

  “O.K., maybe later,” he filled his plate with sandwiches and salad.

  After a few minutes Jake wiped his hands on a serviette

  “I’ve been thinking Lydia,” he began

  “So have I, you first,” she replied

  “You need some distraction to take your mind of this mess. So, perhaps we could open the café next week?” he smiled and raised his eyebrows.

  “Whose we?”

  “Me and you of course.”

  “I need Marney, she knows the day to day routine,” Lydia argued.

  “I don’t mind coming in sis,” she offered.

  “I’ll think about.”

  “So, what have you been thinking?” he asked.

  “About selling this house. I don’t want to be around here anymore.”

  “What about Adam?” Marney asked.

  “I can visit his grave anytime I want to, but he’ll always be in my heart.”

  “Where do you want to live sis?”

  “Not too far from here because of the café, but somewhere new,” she smiled.

  Jake’s mobile ringing halted the conversation and he took it from his pocket and glanced at the screen.

  “Dam. I’ll have to take this call,” he stood up and walked into the hallway. The conversation was muffled but Lydia was certain she heard Maria’s name mentioned. A few minutes later he returned to the room and sat down opposite Lydia.

  “That was Maria, she’s flying back tomorrow and wants me out of the house.”

  “That’s not a problem, you’re living here now. Did you tell her?”

  “No, she’ll find out soon enough.” He dropped his phone into his jacket and picked up another sandwich. His mood had altered, and Lydia couldn’t tell if it was because of Maria, or if he was regretting moving in with her now his wife was coming back. Although she was certain of Jakes feelings, she felt threatened by Maria and the child they had together. She was also carrying a secret. With all the excitement of Heidi’s true father being identified, and Jake re-kindling their relationship, she hadn’t given too much thought to her missed period. It was not unusual for her to be up to a week late, but it was now three weeks late and she recognised the same nausea and lack of appetite she had experienced when she was carrying Adam. It was possible that it was just another late period, but she wouldn’t know for certain until she did a test. As she was nearing her thirty seventh birthday, Lydia considered herself to be an ‘older’ mother. Age did not make her doubt her ability to cope, but she did not have the same energy she had possessed in her twenties. The biggest problem would be Jake’s reaction to becoming a father again after such a short period of time.

  “I’ll have to go back to the office soon love, there’s a problem with a new contract,” Jake turned to Lydia.

  “That’s fine, I’m surprised you’ve been able to take so much time off,” she smiled.

  “You keep forgetting I’m the boss. I’ve been working on my P.C. most nights’, so I know what’s going on.”

  “I suppose you’re looking forward to seeing your daughter Jake?” Marney asked.

  “I‘ve missed her, but not the sleepless nights,” he grimaced.

  “I’m going to have to spend some time with Maria,” Jake looked up at Lydia.

  “I understand, but will you promise to tell her about us?” she held his stare.

  “I don’t think it’s
the right time,” he hesitated.

  “There won’t be a right time Jake, she needs to know now.”

  “I’ll try my best,” he muttered.

  “What time’s her flight” Marney asked.

  “She lands at twelve thirty. I said I would pick her up from the airport,” he glanced at Lydia.

  “That’s fine,” she forced a smile.

  “It’ll give me time to see Olivia before the meal,”

  “I think I will have a sandwich now,” Lydia said rising to her feet.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Tom Anderson was angry and frustrated. His meticulously constructed plan had been thwarted and now he had to rethink it in depth. He had not expected the police to be at Lydia’s house so soon, and this was causing him problems. He knew he could not spend the night at his house, the police would be everywhere. It would now be unwise to contact her by phone as the police would be tracing her calls. Pacing up and down the confines of the hay barn, he smashed a clenched fist into his hand and gritted his teeth in exasperation. All he wanted to do was to talk to her, explain to her that he had never intended to harm her son, it was a cruel accident. Yes, he should have stopped to help him. Maybe he would have been able to save him, but he had a lot to lose at the time. None of this supposition was helping his anxious state of mind, but alone and in fear of being apprehended before he made amends with Lydia, was all consuming. There had to be another way to contact her without drawing the attention of the police. Walking slowly up the unsteady wooden ladder, his mind was deep in thought and his mood dark and angry. Hoping a good nights’ rest would bestow the answer to his dilemma, he slumped down on the straw and attempted to sleep. As he drifted in and out of sleep, images of Adam Nevin lying in the road flashed though his semi-conscious mind, but the boy stood up and walked towards him as blood gushed freely from a deep wound in his head. The boy attempted to reach out and touch him, but he shrank away and began to run. He ran until his muscles burned and his heart thudded in his chest. Perspiration formed droplets of moisture than ran down his face and neck as he sat bolt upright in the dark. Breathing deeply in the darkness he began to shiver and deeply regret his rash actions. A few more months in the open prison, and he would have been a free man, but he acted impulsively when he should have taken the time to consider his options. Work in the community had given him a new prospective, a sense of freedom which clouded his judgement and allowed him to make the wrong decisions. Now there was no going back, he had to accomplish what he had set out to do, he was not going back to prison, that was not an option.