Safe Home (ARC)

by Kerry Watts

  Jessie exhaled loudly, her heart racing, and shook her head. ‘Take Colin back inside and get him cleaned up,’ she told the uniformed officer. She undid her straggly black hair and then tidied it again abruptly into its scrunchie, then followed Darren into the Lucases’ bungalow.

  ‘I’m not going to apologise!’ Darren blasted while he paced up and down the hall, his fingers clasped behind the back of his head. ‘I’m not!’

  ‘I know, I know. I was just on my way over to explain what’s happened.’ Jessie looked directly into his brown eyes, in the hope it would focus him and calm him down. ‘OK?’ She watched his rage wither slowly before continuing. ‘On searching your neighbour’s property, my colleague found something we want to ask Dianne a little more about, under caution, that’s all.’

  Darren crossed his arms over his chest, his shoulders hunched. ‘Under caution? I know what that means. It can’t be that little if you’re taking her in.’

  ‘Listen to me, Darren. Look at me.’ Jessie demanded. ‘If we don’t do things right, by the book...’ She sighed. ‘Look, I don’t have to spell it out for you, do I?’

  ‘I know. I know!’ Darren yelled then stormed off, slamming the bedroom door behind him.

  ‘My son is just upset, Detective. I’m sorry.’ Martin offered his hand. ‘I’m Martin Lucas. Finlay’s grandad. Like I said, this isn’t him. He doesn’t usually react like that.’

  Jessie shook his hand. ‘I’m Detective Inspector Jessie Blake. I’m leading the investigation into Finlay’s disappearance, and I don’t always shout like that either.’

  A half-smile crept across Martin’s lips just as Darren reappeared from his room, a sheepish expression pasted over his face.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Darren whispered, then headed into the kitchen. ‘I’ll go and talk to Colin in the morning.’

  ‘He’s a good man, my son,’ Martin choked back his tears. ‘He doesn’t deserve any of this. Neither of them do. This all seems so unreal. Like some kind of nightmare.’

  ‘And I’m sorry you’re all going through this, truly I am. I promise I’m doing everything in my power to find your grandson, Mr Lucas.’

  Martin Lucas shifted uncomfortably before seeming to come to some kind of decision.

  ‘We need to talk, Detective. I think I may know who took my grandson.’

  Fifteen

  After sitting in the living room with Martin Lucas and listening to his information, Jessie was still reeling. She hadn’t fully processed what she’d been told when the front door burst open and a middle-aged man rushed towards her, followed closely by a woman of around the same age. ‘Where’s my daughter?’ the man asked to the house at large, before he honed in on Jessie. ‘Who are you?’

  ‘Daddy,’ Claire called out from behind Jessie, charging forward and throwing her body into her father’s arms. ‘It’s Finlay. He’s gone.’

  Jessie was struck by the childlike behaviour Claire was displaying. The man held his distraught daughter close to his chest and turned his attention to Jessie.

  ‘What does she mean? Where is he?’ he asked, appearing visibly shaken by his daughter’s state. ‘Shh, it’s OK, Dad’s here. Shh, you know Dad can fix everything, don’t worry. You know that. We’ll get Finlay back.’ He shot a look at the woman who’d arrived with him, who avoided his eyes, instead fixing a steely glare on Jessie.

  Jessie felt momentarily unnerved as she watched the scene unfold around her, not least by the icy look of the woman whom she assumed to be Claire’s mother.

  ‘I’m Detective Inspector Jessie Blake,’ she began. ‘You are Claire’s parents, then? Phil and Bridget Moran? We were called after your grandson was reported missing from his cot earlier this evening.’

  ‘Missing from his cot?’ Phil Moran pulled back from his daughter’s embrace. ‘Is this true? How can this have happened? How can he be missing?’

  Jessie was about to reply but was interrupted before she’d even opened her mouth.

  ‘Well then, why haven’t you found my grandson yet? Surely you have the resources to find a six-month-old baby.’ Bridget Moran spoke sternly.

  Jessie was taken aback by this tiny, birdlike woman’s abrupt question and, before she could answer, she was again beaten to it, this time by Darren.

  ‘They’ve taken Dianne to the station. They want to ask her some questions.’ He paused and stared at Jessie. ‘Under caution.’

  ‘Might have known. She takes far too much interest in Finlay, if you ask me.’ Bridget scoffed and marched past everyone into the kitchen, ignoring PC Wilde’s attempt to introduce herself.

  Theresa Moran’s eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright in her hospital bed. She struggled to catch her breath. She swallowed hard and wiped her hand over her sweat-soaked face then rubbed the wetness on the hospital duvet cover.

  ‘Stop it,’ she slammed her hands over both ears and shook her head aggressively. ‘I’m not listening any more. It’s lies. All lies.’

  She reached for her bottle of water and swallowed back most of what was left in it, then grimaced at its being lukewarm. That nightmare had been so real. They were inside her head and Theresa was desperate to push them out. Hadn’t she done what they asked? Why couldn’t they just leave her alone? She tossed back the duvet and pressed her feet into her slippers. She rummaged in her bag until she’d found what she was looking for and got right back into bed. The community nurse had told her about using an MP3 player and headphones to help her sleep. She chose a song that she knew would drown the voices out, and hoped sleep would come again soon, but she was scared to shut her eyes.

  That was the worst dream she’d had for a long time. It was as if he was right there, his face staring up at her.

  Sixteen

  Jessie stared at her weary reflection in the station loos’ mirror. It had been a hard few hours. Missing children were bad enough, but Finlay was just six months old. So vulnerable.

  She hoped arresting Dianne on suspicion of the abduction of Finlay Lucas and letting her stew overnight would get results. She knew the suitcase and the hotel booking weren’t the only evidence she would need, but it was a start. She’d chosen not to tell Darren Lucas the whole story because she feared how explosive his reaction would be.

  Jessie’s office had been her bedroom last night, and a couple of hours was the sum total of sleep she had managed to get. A quick text to her neighbour meant her cat, Smokey, hadn’t gone without his dinner. Keeping a blanket in the bottom of her filing cabinet might be a cliché to some, but it was necessary. She’d seen an old guvnor when she worked in the Met do it and it stuck with her.

  Jessie had been so absorbed in the case she had almost forgotten about the birthday card her ex-husband had sent. Almost. Pulling a stunt like that didn’t come as a surprise, but she feared it wouldn’t be long before Dan paid her a visit now that he clearly had her address. The fact that he hadn’t turned up yet was another example of the control he craved. Making her wait and worry was part of his game. A game he’d spent years becoming very good at. It seemed to Jessie that prison meant nothing to Dan. Hadn’t taught him anything. Rehabilitation? Jessie scoffed at the thought of Dan being capable of that.

  Looking into Martin Lucas’s background had kept her awake, too. His revelations were shocking and his theory that they could be connected to Finlay’s disappearance was absolutely plausible, so Jessie had needed to dig further. What she had found was startling. He just didn’t look the type. But neither did Dan, did he? Appearances can indeed be deceptive.

  Jessie bumped into Dylan as she stepped out of the ladies’.

  ‘Morning, Jess. Oh my God, did you sleep here?’

  Jessie forced a smile. ‘Bit cheeky, but yes, I did. I hope you enjoyed your kip.’

  Dylan grinned. ‘I did, thank you. Poor Shelly was up and down, though. She can’t wait until this baby is born. She’s getting restless.’

  ‘That wee one will be here before you know it.’ Jessie smiled then refocused her attention on t
he case. It was going to be another long day. ‘Right, after you brought Dianne Davidson in last night, I had a very interesting chat with Martin Lucas, Darren’s father, and then did some more digging of my own. It seems he’s got a past he’d rather forget. Five years ago, Martin spent time in prison after hitting and killing a teenager, Laura McCabe, when he was drunk behind the wheel. Not just a wee bit drunk, but paralytic. Well over four times the limit. I’m surprised he could see at all. And it turns out Laura McCabe’s big brothers – Peter and Tim – have been threatening some kind of revenge. They’ve been harassing him for months.’

  ‘Well, that doesn’t sound good,’ Dylan chirped as they stepped into the staff kitchen. ‘Do you think they’re involved in little Finlay’s disappearance?’

  ‘Martin thinks so. He’s been receiving threatening letters, anonymous of course, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the source, promising all kinds of punishment for what he did to Laura. We won’t know anything more until we’ve spoken to them later. They’re next on my list, after Dianne. Her solicitor is coming in at half past eight for the interview.’

  Dylan switched on the kettle. ‘You want a coffee?’

  ‘Aye, thanks, and make mine a strong one, will you?’ Jessie yawned. ‘Wake me up a bit.’

  Dylan nodded. ‘It’s a tough case – a missing six-month-old. It doesn’t look good, does it?’

  Jessie couldn’t disagree, but for now little Finlay was still just that – a missing person – and he would remain so until either Jessie found him or evidence proved him to be otherwise.

  Seventeen

  When she woke up, Maggie McBride was disappointed not to see a reply from Darren waiting on her phone. She hadn’t gone as far as to tell him she was pregnant, but she had made it clear there was something serious they needed to talk about. It wasn’t right to give him news like that on the phone, and anyway, Maggie wanted to see the look on his face when she told him. Calum was so happy it was painful to watch. Maggie wasn’t even sure until that moment whether she wanted to have the baby. She still couldn’t believe she’d blurted it out like that. How could she be so stupid?

  ‘I made you tea and toast.’ Calum’s smiling face burned into her. ‘I’m going to pamper you now that you’re carrying the most precious cargo in the world.’ He laid the plate and mug of tea on the bedside table then leaned down to kiss Maggie’s lips.

  ‘Thank you,’ she whispered as a small tear escaped and trickled down her face. ‘I really don’t deserve you.’

  Calum kissed her again, his lips pressing harder. It wasn’t that Maggie wasn’t attracted to him, she just wanted Darren more. She couldn’t explain it.

  ‘I love you so much,’ Calum murmured in her ear and gently rubbed his palm across her stomach. ‘I’m going to take good care of you and our baby.’

  Maggie’s phone buzzing on the floor next to their bed interrupted Calum’s plans for a romantic liaison.

  ‘I better get that,’ Maggie whispered.

  ‘Leave it,’ Calum suggested, and trailed his tongue across her neck with a deep sigh until Maggie gently nudged him away.

  ‘I’m sorry, it might be a client. I have to get it.’

  Calum laid one last lingering kiss on her lips then stood and walked towards their bathroom. When Maggie saw the caller ID, she pressed the answer button hard just as the caller hung up.

  ‘Shit,’ she muttered, and immediately called back.

  Darren pressed his phone back into his jeans pocket. He hadn’t slept much last night. Maggie’s message sounded serious, and he didn’t want her to keep calling. Not now. She had made her feelings pretty clear yesterday. Telling him she wanted more from their relationship than stolen, secret liaisons. The last thing he needed was more pressure, even before all this. Detective Inspector Blake said she would be back that morning, after she’d spoken to Dianne. He had been tempted to take one of the diazepam tablets Dr Lambert had given him for Claire, just to take some of the pain away. It seemed to work for her. She looked so peaceful, despite everything that was going on. He snatched the phone quickly when it buzzed almost immediately after he’d hung up.

  Maggie’s voice was so soft Darren could barely make out what she was trying to say, but there was no way he could go and meet her like she suggested. Not a hope in hell’s chance of that, not now.

  It wasn’t right to tell him over the phone, so Maggie grabbed her running shoes, pulled on a warm fleece and headed out for a run. If Darren wouldn’t come to her, she would have to go to him.

  Eighteen

  Dianne Davidson hadn’t slept a wink. How could she? Her secret had been exposed in the most humiliating way, and the look of hurt on Colin’s face would never leave her. He had called out that he loved her, but how could he love her now? Dianne was so embarrassed. Being taken away like that was so humiliating. A suitcase full of baby clothes and a hotel booking surely wasn’t evidence. She jumped when Jessie and Dylan entered the interview room. She had never had so much as a parking ticket before. She was terrified.

  ‘Good morning.’ Jessie sat down on the chair opposite Dianne, as Dylan offered her a soft half-smile of greeting. Dianne knew she looked dreadful, the dark circles under her eyes evidence of her rough night in the cell.

  ‘Good morning,’ she answered, her voice quivering before she coughed to compose herself.

  Once the formal introductions for the interview were carried out, Jessie slid a photo of the open suitcase and one of the hotel booking details across the table. Dianne swallowed hard and averted her gaze. She sipped the water she’d been given. Her mouth was so dry.

  ‘Can you explain to me why a suitcase packed with baby clothes and other items was hidden in your wardrobe? Were you planning a trip with an infant? Why did you have a family room booked so close to Aberdeen airport?’ Jessie tapped the photos one after the other. ‘Please look at the photos, Dianne. Whose baby are you planning to travel with? Because I know that you and your husband don’t have any children.’

  Jessie pursed her lips and waited. The last sentence was a cruel thing to say, she knew that. If someone said something like that to her it would hurt like hell, but she hoped the emotional trigger would reveal the truth, painful as that might be. Dianne turned her face back slowly, then lifted the photo of the suitcase and shook her head.

  ‘I’m not planning a trip anywhere, with any child,’ she said, without looking up from the photo. ‘I’ve been buying this stuff for years. It started when I found out I was pregnant with our daughter. She died from cot death when she was six months old.’ Dianne lifted the other photo, then swallowed back the tears and sighed. ‘We had her after three rounds of IVF. She was beautiful. Everyone said she looked like me, and she was such a happy baby, always smiling.’

  Dylan shot Jessie a concerned glance out of the corner of his eye, then frowned.

  ‘I’m sorry for your loss – you and Colin,’ Dylan said. ‘That must have been very hard for both of you.’

  Jessie was touched by Dylan’s sensitivity, every time.

  ‘You would think so, wouldn’t you?’ Dianne looked at Dylan, tears forming in her eyes. ‘It didn’t take Colin long to get back to normal. I mean, he said he had to work because we couldn’t live on fresh air and assured me he was heartbroken, too, but it didn’t seem to be the same for him, somehow. I couldn’t and still can’t get her out of my mind. Stacey. Our daughter’s name is Stacey.’

  ‘That’s a beautiful name,’ Dylan added.

  ‘Thank you.’ Dianne smiled then pushed the photos back across the table. ‘I buy a cardigan here and there. Maybe some socks from time to time. Not so much since Finlay’s been around for me to spoil.’ The smile grew from a whisper to a wide grin when she mentioned Finlay’s name. ‘He’s such a happy wee boy, too.’

  ‘So, you’re saying that you buy the baby clothes as keepsakes?’ Jessie suggested.

  Dianne nodded. ‘Yes, you might call it therapy, of sorts. Being around the clothes, the bottles and toy
s – it just helps. I can’t explain it.’

  ‘And the hotel booking? For a family. How do you explain that?’

  ‘It’s the last room they had. I have an aunt who moved to Orkney many years ago. I’ve booked a surprise trip for Colin and me because she’s going into hospital and wants me to house-sit for a few days. Feed the sheep, and generally keep the place ticking over for her while she’s away. We fly from Aberdeen. I thought it would do us both good to get away too. It’s two years since we lost Stacey.’

  ‘I have to ask, Dianne, do you have any idea where Finlay Lucas is? Where were you yesterday afternoon?’

  Dianne squeezed her eyes tight shut. ‘If I knew where he was I would tell you, and I was at home most of the day yesterday. I’ve told you this already. Apart from when I walked Benson in Moncreiffe Wood. I visited Stacey’s bench and took flowers. You can ask the girls in the Co-op – I bought a bunch of carnations on the way past.’

  ‘Can anybody else confirm that?’ Dylan asked.

  ‘I was alone. The only other person I saw was Claire’s sister Theresa, as she left Claire’s house later in the afternoon. She seemed a bit frazzled, but that’s her, really.’

  Nineteen

  The noisy chatter outside the room woke Theresa from her dream. It took her a moment to remember but when she did, the sickness of the memory hit her stomach and rose in her throat. She was desperate to get up and run from it, but she struggled to keep her eyes open. Her body felt heavy from the sedation. She knew why that was. Every time they increased her medication it was the same. The knock on her door made her jump.