Schoolgirl Missing

by Sue Fortin

  He was embarrassed to admit that it had taken Poppy’s disappearance to bring it all into sharp focus. Now, it was startlingly obvious he had neglected his wife and he was partly responsible for driving her into Jake’s arms. Again, the darkest of thoughts teased him from the shadows of his mind. Had he been so neglectful of Neve that she had been driven to drastic measures to find the happiness she craved? He had learnt a lot about his wife in the last week or so, but there were still many unanswered questions. He was a pragmatic man and he knew wishing and regretting wouldn’t change anything. If he wanted things to change then he needed to make sure he was at the helm of those changes. It was no good leaving it to someone else and then to complain afterwards when he didn’t like the course his marriage was steering.

  The next fifteen minutes were spent hurriedly cleaning and tidying the debris from their night on the boat. Kit was aware that Poppy was now clock-watching and his promised twenty minutes until departure was imminent.

  ‘Are you sure you’ve got everything?’ asked Kit, taking one last glance into the sleeping quarters and then around the saloon.

  Poppy tapped her rucksack which she had balanced on her knees. ‘Everything,’ she said. She looked at her watch. ‘Time to go.’

  ‘Aye, aye, Captain,’ said Kit, giving a mock salute. ‘All present and correct.’ He picked up the overnight bag that contained his and Neve’s clothes and was just about to follow Poppy up the ladder when he spotted the glass vial he’d left on the worktop.

  He scooped it up and went to drop it into the bin, but something stopped him and instead he slid it into his jacket pocket. He couldn’t put his finger on what was troubling him about the vial, apart from the fact he’d no recollection of seeing it before and he knew every inch of this boat. Yet, at the same time it felt familiar. The sensation was tantalizingly close to forming a tangible memory and it felt important. It felt hugely important that he should remember.

  Chapter 26

  ‘Thanks so much for letting me stay, I really appreciate it,’ said Neve to Lucie, wiping down the kitchen worktop after their evening meal. She had been at the flat for a few days now, barely venturing out, not wanting to see anybody. She was desperate to see Poppy, but so far, Kit had been reluctant to agree to anything, stating that Poppy needed time to recover.

  She sat down on the sofa as Lucie opened a bottle of wine and poured two glasses, passing one over to Neve. ‘Do you think you’ll be able to sort things out with Kit?’

  ‘I hope so,’ said Neve. ‘Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing I’d love more than to be at home with Kit and Poppy but we need time. And the fact that the police think I’m involved with Poppy’s disappearance isn’t helping.’

  ‘I still can’t believe they even think that,’ declared Lucie. ‘They must be looking at other suspects. They can’t think it’s you.’

  ‘I had the key in my pocket,’ said Neve. ‘I can’t explain how it got there. I just hope they are doing what Edward said they should be and interviewing everyone else.’

  ‘Who do you think it was?’

  ‘I have not got a clue. Every possibility keeps going around and around in my head in a loop – it’s never ending.’

  Lucie shifted position and ran her finger around the rim of her glass. ‘There’s something I should tell you,’ she said, not meeting Neve’s eye. ‘About what people are saying.’

  ‘Spit it out,’ sighed Neve.

  ‘I don’t believe it, of course,’ said Lucie quickly.

  ‘Just say it. I’ve broad shoulders,’ reassured Neve.

  ‘Well … I hear things in the café, they’re saying you and Jake are having an affair.’ She pulled an apologetic face.

  Neve sighed. ‘Me and Jake are friends, good friends but we are not having an affair.’

  ‘It’s just talk. I don’t believe them for a start,’ said Lucie. She took a sip of her wine. ‘Mind you, I wouldn’t mind an affair with him. He can wine and dine me anytime. He’s bloody gorgeous, if you ask me, all dark and brooding and arty but, then again so is Kit but not the dark bit.’

  Neve looked up at the ceiling in a mixture of despair and amusement. ‘You’re such a romantic,’ she said.

  ‘I try. One day, I’ll have some Prince Charming wanting to ride off into the sunset with me.’ Lucie smiled fondly at Neve. ‘Seriously, though, haven’t you even been tempted?’

  ‘He’s a lovely man,’ conceded Neve. ‘But I have too much at stake. I might have considered it, but I couldn’t do that to Poppy. I couldn’t leave her. I couldn’t do it to Kit either, just in case you’re wondering. Look, I’ll be honest, and this must go no further …’

  Lucie crossed her heart. ‘I promise.’

  ‘I did consider it. Jake knew how sad I was and said he could make me happy.’

  ‘Wow, that’s romantic, if not a little confident.’

  ‘He’s a nice guy. Really nice but (a) I couldn’t leave Kit or Poppy, and (b) even if there was the slightest chance I could take Poppy, Jake wouldn’t have wanted to take on another man’s child. No, it was just fanciful, head in the clouds, talk.’

  ‘Kit wouldn’t ever let you take Poppy,’ said Lucie.

  ‘Exactly. Although, technically, I am her mother. I adopted her when Kit and I got married, so in the eyes of the law, I am equally entitled to custody.’

  ‘Why doesn’t she call you Mum? If you don’t mind me asking?’

  ‘It’s hard to get Poppy to see things differently once she’s made up her mind. I was introduced to her as Neve and, in her eyes, that’s that. I would always and will always be Neve.’

  ‘Oh, right. Didn’t think of that. So, despite you adopting her, Kit is her biological father and that has to count for more, surely?’

  ‘We had all this explained when the adoption was going through. It’s all about parental responsibility. I’m Poppy’s adoptive mother, I have the same parental responsibilities as Kit does.’

  ‘I’m no expert but wouldn’t the courts take into account Poppy’s wishes,’ said Lucie. ‘Or does that not apply because of her learning difficulties?’

  ‘She’s under fourteen so no. It would be up to the judge.’

  ‘All seems a bit complicated,’ said Lucie.

  ‘It is and it’s all hypothetical anyway. I’m not running off with Jake. I’m going to try to salvage my marriage,’ said Neve. ‘If I’m honest, I got swept away in the excitement of having someone giving me attention. Someone who was interested in me as a person. Kit’s forgotten all that. Or at least he had.’ Neve tutted at herself. ‘I sound so bloody needy and selfish when I say it out loud.’

  Lucie gave her a sympathetic glance, which only further convinced Neve that her self-appraisal was correct.

  ‘I don’t think I ever wanted to leave Kit. Not really. I think I was testing both myself and him.’ Neve shuffled position on the sofa, so she was facing Lucie. ‘What I really want is to have a baby with Kit, but as you know, that’s been a major sticking point. It’s such a bloody mess.’

  ‘You’re telling me,’ said Lucie. ‘Maybe Kit will come round, if you give him some time. He’s been through a monumentally traumatic event, you both have. Maybe when things have settled down, you two will be able to patch things up.’

  ‘We have lots of things to patch up before we go any further,’ said Neve, with a sadness at the realisation of the things that were still between them. ‘I might have gone too far.’

  Lucie gave Neve a curious look but before she could form any kind of question, there was a long and insistent ring on the doorbell to the flat.

  Lucie put her glass on the table and went over to the window, peering out onto the metal staircase at the rear of the café.

  ‘Shit!’ She ducked back from the glass and turned to Neve. ‘It’s Jake.’

  ‘Shit,’ echoed Neve. ‘What the hell is he doing here?’

  ‘Sorry, telepathy isn’t working right now,’ said Lucie. ‘I’m guessing it’s you he wants to speak to, not me.�
��

  ‘Tell him I’m not here,’ whispered Neve, jumping up and darting through the door into the bedroom.

  With her ear to the door, she listened to the conversation that ensued.

  ‘Jake! Hi, you OK?’

  ‘I need to speak to Neve.’

  ‘Oh, hello Lucie. I’m fine, thanks. How are you? Oh, that’s good. Look, sorry to bother you, but you haven’t seen Neve by any chance have you?’

  Neve allowed herself a small smile. Good old Lucie.

  ‘Oh. Sorry. Yeah.’ She could hear Jake stumbling over his words, clearly taken aback by Lucie’s sarcasm. ‘I’m trying to find Neve. She’s not answering her phone and it’s really important I speak to her.’

  ‘She’s not here. I can try to get a message to her.’

  ‘Is that why her car is parked downstairs, there’s two wine glasses over there by the sofa and I’m pretty sure that’s Neve’s bag.’

  Damn it. In her haste Neve hadn’t thought to clear any evidence.

  ‘Actually, it’s my bag,’ Lucie was saying now. ‘And, err, I poured two glasses by accident …’

  Neve sighed and opening the door, stepped out in the living room and into Jake’s line of sight. ‘It’s OK, Lucie,’ she said.

  Lucie pulled a sorry face at Neve. ‘Look, I’ve got to nip downstairs to the café and take a couple of things out of the freezer. You’ve got ten minutes.’ She looked from Neve and then to Jake. ‘I’ll be honest, I’m not totally in love with the idea of a clandestine meeting taking place in my flat.’

  ‘My car is outside if you prefer,’ offered Jake.

  ‘OK.’ Neve picked up her handbag and followed Jake out of the flat, pausing along the way to give Lucie a peck on the cheek. ‘Won’t be long.’

  The old Saab that Jake drove was still warm inside, and Neve settled herself into the seat. ‘Maybe drive out of the village, away from prying eyes,’ she suggested.

  ‘My thoughts exactly,’ said Jake, as he pulled away.

  He drove out to the edge of the village and down Wharf Hill to a small car park overlooking the harbour.

  ‘I take it things are pretty shit at home or you wouldn’t be staying with Lucie,’ said Jake, breaking the silence.

  ‘How did you know?’

  ‘I had the pleasure of bumping into your mother-in-law outside the post office this afternoon. She soon put me in my place and updated me on your situation.’

  ‘Sorry,’ said Neve.

  ‘Least of your problems right now, I’d say.’

  ‘Thanks. You really know how to cheer a girl up.’ Neve looked across the harbour at the little boats moored on the chain. The tide was on its way out and some of them were leaning to one side as the water seeped away from under their hulls. Rather like her own predicament. Kit and Poppy were the tide, and Neve both the boat and the slipping sand.

  ‘The police released you, then?’ she said, turning her attention back to Jake.

  ‘Yep. Without charge. Neve, I swear to you I didn’t have anything to do with Poppy going missing,’ said Jake, turning in his seat, his jacket rustling against the leather interior of the car. ‘The police kept asking me if I’d put that key in your pocket. Insisting that I must have done. Asking me where I got the key from. They even asked me if I was involved with Poppy being kidnapped!’

  ‘What did you say?’

  ‘That I didn’t, of course! Jesus, don’t tell me you think I was too.’

  ‘No. I don’t,’ said Neve. ‘But I also can’t explain what the key was doing in my pocket or how it got there.’ She dipped her head and picked at her nails before speaking again. ‘They think you have the motive.’

  ‘I fucking know it!’ Jake practically cried out. ‘They think I was getting rid of Poppy so you would leave Kit. I’ve no idea where they got that notion from. I told them they were barking up the wrong tree. If I’d done that, why the hell was I keeping her alive.’

  Neve winced at his words. ‘Don’t say that.’

  ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you, but you can see what I’m up against,’ said Jake. ‘They’re grasping at straws. None of it makes sense.’

  ‘It doesn’t make sense, I agree but it’s the key, Jake. No pun intended but that is key,’ said Neve, now looking at him. ‘They think you put the key in my pocket when I met you at the canal path.’

  ‘It’s bollocks. My solicitor said it won’t stand up in court.’

  ‘They’re implying that you sent the ransom note,’ added Neve. ‘It was hand delivered so they think it’s someone local.’

  ‘I never sent a bloody ransom note.’ Jake’s voice pitched higher than normal. ‘Someone is setting me up.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I said.’

  ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Kit himself,’ said Jake. ‘He engineered all this to get his revenge on me. On both of us. I can’t think who else would do that. He’s one sick bastard anyway.’

  ‘I can’t see it, but then people do some strange things,’ said Neve, thinking through the scenario. ‘There are other people too, who may be involved.’

  ‘Who do you mean?’ said Jake. ‘Tell me. I need to give my solicitor every possible bit of information I can.’

  ‘Well, that Ben Hewitt I told you about. The kid who was bullying Poppy. And his mother and father.’

  ‘Really? A fifteen-year-old? I don’t buy that. And the Hewitts, I know they’re a bit rough, but kidnapping …’

  ‘A bit rough. The mother is a bloody psycho,’ said Neve, recalling her altercation with Linda.

  ‘The police asked me about Lee,’ said Jake. ‘Did you know he’s disappeared?’

  ‘No,’ said Neve. ‘Is he still missing?’

  ‘As far as I know and, like I said, that Pearson was quizzing me about him today, so I’m assuming so. Has Poppy said anything about it all?’

  ‘No. She’s not talking about it yet. She just keeps saying she doesn’t know to every question she’s asked. From how she got off the boat, to who took her away, where they took her, or how she got to the mill. All they do know is that she was looked after and that no one touched her or harmed her in any physical way.’

  ‘And all for ten grand. It doesn’t add up.’

  In the fading light, Neve could see the tide had now receded, leaving the boats stranded on the mud. Again, she couldn’t help likening it to her own situation. She was stranded. Nowhere to go. She had to sit tight until the tide changed. Sit tight. Hold her nerve. There was no room for error or she’d sink like a shipwrecked boat.

  ‘Did you know Lee before he came here?’ asked Jake.

  The question took Neve by surprise. ‘Lee? Erm … no. What makes you ask that?’

  ‘Just something he said,’ replied Jake, pursing his lips.

  ‘Like what?’ Neve tried to keep the anxiety from her voice.

  ‘I saw you and him talking outside the studio that day that Kit was there looking at your artwork. When I say talking, I actually mean arguing.’

  Neve shrugged. ‘And?’

  ‘He came in muttering about Neve Tansley being a stuck up … well … he didn’t say anything particularly flattering,’ said Jake. ‘But the point I’m making is that he said Tansley. I corrected him and said your name was Masters and he was, like, oh yeah, that’s right, I got it wrong.’

  ‘So, he got my name wrong,’ said Neve. Sweat pricked her brow and she wiped it away with her fingertips.

  ‘He wouldn’t say what you were arguing about but, to me, it didn’t look like two strangers arguing.’

  ‘What exactly are you trying to imply?’ demanded Neve.

  ‘That you know Lee. That’s why you were keen to find out about him when you came to me. I was gullible enough to show you his profile on the database. You know Lee Farnham from before, don’t you?’

  ‘It’s irrelevant and none of your business,’ said Neve.

  ‘Others might not think so.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Look, Neve, I’m n
ot trying to drop you in it or anything, but I’m trying to save my own backside here. You and Lee have got a history. I don’t know what it is, but if he’s gone missing the same time as Poppy has, it’s no wonder the police are interested.’

  ‘And you’ve told the police all this, I take it?’ said Neve. More sweat, this time under her arms and down her spine. Her leg jiggled involuntarily.

  ‘No. Not yet,’ said Jake. He moved his hand across to Neve’s leg, holding it still. ‘I wanted to make sure that you were absolutely certain about us. Or not us, as it turns out.’ He leant over and went to kiss her.

  ‘What are you doing?’ cried Neve, pushing him away. ‘Jake! Stop!’

  Jake slumped back in his seat. ‘I’m sorry. Sorry, that was really stupid of me.’

  ‘Yes, it was! We’re both under suspicion for kidnapping and you’re trying it on with me. I told you, I love Kit. I’m not leaving him. I was never going to leave Kit for you.’ Shock had taken over and her words were clumsy. It was a moment or two before Neve calmed down and realised she had been less than tactful. She could see the hurt on Jake’s face. ‘I didn’t mean it to come out like that.’

  The hurt morphed into anger. ‘You’re actually quite a cold-hearted bitch.’ Jake almost spat the words out. ‘All this, woe is me, I’m fragile, I’ve got issues – it’s just an act. I was a fool to be taken in by it.’

  ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Neve.

  ‘I know exactly what I’m talking about. As for you and Lee, there’s definitely something of interest there for the police. I don’t know what it is, but I can sense it.’

  ‘You know what, Jake, you’re talking out of your arse,’ said Neve. She grappled with the door handle. ‘You do what you like but I don’t ever want anything to do with you. Got it?’