Stolen Children

‘You could make him remember who I am.’

‘He doesn’t remember you?’

She shook her head as the tears fell. Matilda ran around the desk to comfort her boss.

Earlier this year, Valerie had been all smiles and full of plans as she and her husband, Arthur, a retired dentist, were charting their route through Europe in a motorhome. Valerie was taking early retirement and they were going on the trip of a lifetime. A month ago, their plans had been thrown into chaos when Arthur suffered a massive stroke. He was unconscious and in intensive care for three weeks. Valerie had taken a few days off work but wallowing alone in their large house in Derbyshire made her feel worse, so she made a quick return to work, one eye permanently on her phone, waiting for the call from the hospital.

‘He’s lost all feeling down his left-hand side. He’s lost his speech, he can’t feed himself, or dress himself. He doesn’t recognise me, or the children. It’s like talking to a complete stranger who just happens to look like Arthur.’

Matilda plucked a few tissues from the box on the desk and handed them to Valerie for her to wipe her eyes and nose.

‘What are you going to do?’

‘I’ve no idea.’ She blew her nose loudly. ‘What can I do? It could take years for him to get any form of movement back. He may not even get his memory back. All our plans, all our dreams, everything we’ve both worked for, ruined.’

Matilda didn’t know what to say. She hoped that wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders would help her to open up. When she was grieving for James, she had her best friend, Adele, to talk to, and crying and screaming at the world really did help.

‘He’d hate this,’ Valerie continued. ‘We always talked about what we’d be like as old people. I’d laugh and joke about us causing havoc in a nursing home, but to Arthur, it wasn’t a joke. He hated the idea of growing old, of not being able to do the things he’s always been able to do. That’s what this trip was all about; visiting all the places we’ve only seen on TV before it’s too late. Now look at him.

‘You know, I sit in the hospital room and I watch him. He looks so sad. He’s got tears in his eyes and I know that he’ll be screaming inside, screaming at me to help him, to do something so he’s not feeling like this. It’s so unfair, Matilda.’

It really was unfair, and Matilda knew exactly how she felt. James was only forty-five when he died. A brilliant man at the top of his field, handsome, caring, loving, and he was taken from her.

‘You need to be strong for him,’ Matilda eventually said. ‘Physiotherapists can help with his speech and movement, but you, and your kids, need to help with his memory. You’ve been married for such a long time, you’ll have thousands of stories and photos to show him, to help him unlock the door to help him remember. It’ll be hard, I know it will, but you can relive everything together again. His will to get better will be strong; you have to match that strength.’

‘You’re right. I know you’re right. It’s just …’

‘When you feel low, when you need to scream and shout and cry, come and visit me. I’ve got a huge garden you can stand in the middle of and scream and nobody will hear you. You helped me when James died. Please, don’t go through this on your own.’

Valerie placed a clammy hand on top of Matilda’s. ‘Thank you. You’re a good friend, Matilda. Now,’ she wiped her eyes. ‘We’ve got a kidnapping on our hands, I hear.’

‘Yes. A nine-year-old girl. Keeley Armitage.’

‘Any clue as to who might have taken her?’

‘Not so far. I’ve got an FLO at the house. I’m going to see her in a bit.’ She stood up and went around to the other side of the desk. ‘The kidnappers said they’d call back in twenty-four hours. That’s around four o’clock this afternoon. We’ve no idea if they’re watching the house or not so we can’t go knocking on doors. We’re just having to wait.’

‘I’ve been told it’s all over social media.’

‘Yes. The eldest daughter, Jodie, put something on Twitter last night. I’m guessing she thought she was helping.’

‘And I see our favourite journalist has reared his ugly head again,’ she turned the open laptop around to face Matilda. The screen was showing the home page of the local newspaper, the Sheffield Star, and a brief breaking news story written by Danny Hanson.

‘Ah,’ was all Matilda could think of saying after she read the short article.

‘I knew he’d bring up the Carl Meagan case at the mention of a kidnapping,’ Valerie said. ‘Are you thinking … you know … similarities with Carl?’

‘I’m trying not to.’

‘I can assign someone else to this case if you’d rather not get involved. Nobody would think badly of you for taking a step back.’

I’d think badly of me.

‘That’s fine, thank you, but I can do this. A year ago, probably not, but I’m stronger now.’

Valerie smiled. ‘Yes. You are, aren’t you? I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you.’

‘Tell me what?’ Matilda frowned.

‘There’s a restructuring process planned for South Yorkshire Police to begin late next year. I’ve been asked to recommend officers who I believe would be suited for more demanding roles. I already see Christian Brady as a future DCI and Sian Mills should have been an inspector years ago. Have you considered being Superintendent Matilda Darke?’

Chapter 13

Matilda had never considered being a superintendent. She loved her role as detective chief inspector and enjoyed being in charge of a major crime unit. Valerie had chastised her on more than one occasion for going out to attend interviews and crime scenes when she should be behind a desk supervising and coordinating. Becoming a rank higher would mean an end to all of that. She couldn’t imagine the rest of her career being trapped behind a desk. The very thought of it made her shudder. However, if she was reluctant to move up, that would be blocking Christian and Sian in achieving bigger and better things. This would require some thought.

On her way out of the station, she sent a text to Adele asking if she was free to come round for a meal tonight. She received a reply almost straight away saying she was. Matilda’s text back told her it was her turn to pay for the takeaway and she voted for Chinese. The sarcastic gif she received as a reply made her laugh out loud.

***

Detective Constable Ellen Devonport answered the door and let Matilda in.

‘How’s it going?’ Matilda asked in a whisper while they were in the hallway.

Ellen shook her head. ‘You’re not going to believe this,’ she said, lowering her voice. ‘Linda only snuck out of the house earlier and went to see Sally Meagan and asked her for the ransom money.’

Matilda’s face hardened in anger. ‘What? What happened?’

‘She didn’t give it to her. She’s been crying non-stop since she got up. Craig managed to get it out of her and when he did, well, you should have seen him. He had a right go at her. I thought he was going to hit her at one point.’

‘He got violent?’

‘Not physically, but he turned red and I saw him clench his fists a few times.’

‘Bloody hell. Where’s Linda now?’

‘Craig put her to bed.’

‘Jesus,’ Matilda pinched the bridge of her nose hard. Sally had been growing stronger in recent months, but something like this could be a setback. ‘I’ll have to go round and see Sally later, check on how she’s doing.’

‘Don’t blame Linda, ma’am, she’s desperate. Craig said she’d never asked anyone for anything before in her life. All the special stuff they need for Riley, they’ve bought it all themselves, or raised the money. They’ve never asked for loans or handouts.’

‘I won’t. But she needs to be one hundred per cent focussed for this afternoon.’

‘She will be. I’ll talk to her,’ Ellen said with a placatory smile.

‘Any phone calls or emails?’

‘A few from family members. They’ve been using their mobiles though. I told them to keep the landline free. Oh, before I forget, the next-door neighbour came round earlier, Amanda Raine. She remembered Jodie said something to her last night and thought we should know. Apparently, when Jodie found out Keeley had been kidnapped, she asked her mum if Keeley had had PE yesterday with Mr Page.’

‘And had she?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why’s that significant?’

‘Jodie wouldn’t say.’

‘Ok. Let’s go and have a word with Jodie then.’

***

Riley’s bedroom had been adapted from the garage attached to the house. In one corner was an en suite wet room and opposite was a large framed bed with foam protectors so Riley wouldn’t hurt himself while he was asleep.

The room was equipped with soft lighting. The blind at the window was closed and in two corners were large colour-changing LED sensory mood bubble water towers which cast a soothing glow around the room.

On the carpet, Riley was sitting in a large bean bag. He was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt with a penguin on the front. His favourite toy, a penguin, was nestled in his lap. Opposite him, Jodie was blowing bubbles towards him. When they hit his face and burst, he giggled. This made Jodie smile. Other toys and teddy bears were strewn around the floor.

‘Are they tickling you, Riley?’ Jodie asked as he gurgled loudly. ‘Do you like the bubbles?’

‘Jodie, can we have a word?’ Matilda asked quietly from the doorway.

She looked over her shoulder and nodded. Riley didn’t register their presence.

‘This is a nice room,’ Matilda said.

‘It’s relaxing. Riley can get stressed at times. The changing colours, the bubbles, and the music help to calm him.’

‘How old is he?’ Matilda asked, even though she knew the answer.

‘Four. He goes to school in the new year. Only a couple of days a week. I’ll miss him.’

‘You look after him a lot, don’t you?’

‘No. Mum looks after him more.’ Jodie blew more bubbles. Riley giggled and clapped his hands.

Matilda sat down on the floor next to Jodie. ‘Jodie, I want to ask you about something you said yesterday. When you found out Keeley was missing, you mentioned a teacher. Mr Page? Who is he?’

‘He’s a teacher at Keeley’s school.’

‘Why did you mention him?’

‘I don’t know,’ she shrugged, blowing more bubbles. ‘Oops, Mr Penguin is getting wet,’ she said to Riley.

‘Jodie, do you think Mr Page might have something to do with Keeley going missing?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Then why bring him up?’

‘It’s … I don’t know.’

‘Jodie, you’re not going to get anybody into trouble. If you think you know something, you really need to tell us so we can find your sister. You might not think it’s important, but we need to find out.’ Matilda wondered why Jodie would bring Mr Page up in the first place if she didn’t think it important. It may be something and nothing but right now it was the first sign of a hint of progress. Matilda wasn’t going to let it slide.

Jodie continued to play with Riley. She reached for a plastic spiral tower all in different bright colours which she placed in front of her brother. She handed him a ball. He placed it on the top of the tower and as the ball ran down, it made a jingling sound. He gurgled and smiled.

‘He loves this game,’ Jodie said, copying his smile. ‘He loves the sound of the bell inside the balls.’ She handed him another ball.

‘You love Riley, don’t you?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘And you love Keeley?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then tell us about Mr Page, Jodie.’

She let out a heavy sigh. ‘Mr Page is Keeley’s PE teacher. She’s said a couple of times that he’s been a bit too … close.’

‘What do you mean by close?’

‘She said he puts his arm around her, and he helps her get changed after PE. She said she thinks it’s weird.’

‘Does he do this with other girls?’

‘She didn’t say.’

‘Other boys?’

‘She didn’t say.’

‘Who else has she told?’

‘Nobody.’

‘Why did she tell you? How did it come up in conversation?’ Matilda asked quickly.

‘She’s not wanted to do PE a few times and I asked her why not. She loves PE, loves going outside and running. For her to suddenly not want to do it, I knew something must have been wrong. I thought she was being bullied at first.’

‘What advice did you give her?’

‘I told her that if she was uncomfortable, she should either tell the head teacher or Mum and Dad.’

‘Did she?’

‘No. I don’t think so.’

‘How long ago was this?’

‘Towards the end of last term. Before the summer holidays.’ She handed Riley another ball and he giggled as he watched the ball roll down the spiral tower.

‘Was she still not looking forward to PE again this term?’

‘No.’

‘Thank you, Jodie. You’ve been a big help.’

Matilda stood up to leave the room when Jodie called her back.

‘Will you be here, at four o’clock, when the kidnappers ring again?’

‘Yes.’

‘What will we do when they call?’

‘I don’t know. It depends what they have to say.’

‘We’re not going to get her back, are we?’

‘You will. I promise. We will do everything we can to bring her home.’

If any of Matilda’s officers had made such a promise, she’d have chastised them at the earliest opportunity. Every time she entered this house, saw the torment Craig, Linda, and Jodie were going through, she was reminded of Carl and his parents. She didn’t remember making them a promise, but her mind had been all over the place with James’s cancer weighing on her mind. Now, she had one task and one goal. She felt she could make a promise and make good on it.

‘Do you think the same people who took Carl Meagan have taken her?’

Matilda took a deep breath. She could feel Ellen Devonport’s eyes burning into the back of her neck. Suddenly, the dull lighting and the warmth of the room were becoming too much for her. She needed air. She needed light. ‘No. I don’t,’ she replied firmly. ‘Keep playing with Riley. Leave us to worry about everything else.’ She gave her a smile, waved goodbye to Riley, even though she knew he wouldn’t wave back, and left the room.

‘Should we promise her we’re going to bring Keeley home?’ Ellen asked once they were back in the hallway.

‘No, but what else could I say?’

The landline started to ring. Everything in the house fell silent. Even Riley seemed to stop giggling.

Craig bolted down the stairs and ran into the living room. He picked up the phone. His shaking finger hovered over the green button. He took a deep breath.

‘Keep calm, listen to what they have to say, and ask to speak to Keeley,’ Matilda said. ‘We’re recording this call.’

‘Hello?’ Craig answered. His voice was high and filled with panic.

‘Mr Armitage?’

‘Yes.’

‘Have you been in an accident in the past twelve months that wasn’t your fault?’

He ended the call without answering and slumped on the sofa. He sobbed loudly. Ellen went over to him and put her arm around him.

‘I can’t do this,’ he cried. ‘I can’t bear not knowing where she is. This is killing me.’

‘What’s going on?’ Jodie came running into the room. ‘Dad?’

Ellen moved to one side to allow Jodie to comfort her father. As Craig sat up and lifted his daughter onto his lap, Matilda noticed that although Craig was making the right noises, he wasn’t producing any tears.

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