‘No, sorry. I think it was at Evesham at one point but I know he moved it.’
‘What type of boat is it?’
‘A narrowboat.’
‘Thank you. Could you please come down to the station and make a statement?’
‘Yes. Of course.’ He stood and grabbed his coat. ‘I’m off work today so I’m all good for time.’
‘What is it you do?’
‘Admin for a chilled goods company, totally boring.’
As she turned, Gina glanced at his collection of fridge magnets. ‘Pi is a pie.’ She smiled at the magnet where the pi symbol had been turned into what looked like a fruit pie.
‘Yes, Seth has a sense of humour. He gave me that. For some reason he thinks I collect fridge magnets because my father used to.’
‘Well, thank you for your time.’ Gina stood and followed the man to the door. ‘We’ll meet you at the station.’
He waved and got into his car. Gina faced Wyre over the top of her car, the orange lamplight from above catching the top of her head and reflecting off the car roof. Wyre cleared her throat. ‘What did you make of that?’
‘We need to speak to the kid, pronto. The school will be open soon. Let’s hope the boy is the key to cracking the case. We should also check out Seth Braddock.’ Gina scrunched her nose.
‘You’re thinking about the boat, aren’t you?’ Wyre tapped her nails on the car roof.
‘Yes. Evan couldn’t confirm that the boat had been scrapped. I dread to think where Annabel might be but we need to find out what happened toFreedom, if she was scrapped or where she might be stored or moored, starting with the boatyard in Bidford.’
THIRTY-EIGHT
Annabel
I gasp as I try to clear the fog. I’m still trapped and it’s still dark and I’m alone. How long have I been asleep? Cally; I want my little girl. It’s all a dream. It has to be. Jen and I got run over and I’m in some sort of coma. This box is a dream and when I find the strength to step out of it, I’ll wake up. Isn’t that how it works in films?
I chow down. The cloth is still in my mouth. I remember the smell of Grant’s shower gel. He has a new life planned for me, one where he and I can never be apart. Staring into darkness, I feel like I’m suffocating. How can this be happening to me? I can never forgive him for this.
My head pounds like nothing I’ve ever felt before. All I need is a sip of water. My mind is going. This is what the journey to insanity must feel like. What’s real is not. What’s fake might be real. Reality isn’t what we see every day. Reality isn’t within. I am not real. What is real? I can’t answer that question anymore as I cling to my version of reality. I can’t feel any more. It’s as if the pain has gone but the yearning for water is so strong, I’d literally kill for a drop.
Him. I can’t bear to think his name. My mind is back to him and why I’m here. However elusive reality is, I must cling onto some semblance of it. I know I’m on the boat.
A memory flashes through my head. Grant had just bought this horrible old boat from Evan. I told him not to but he insisted on wasting our money, as he always did. When I saw the fees for the boatyard, I cried, telling him that there was no way we could afford it. I didn’t want to go on the boat, not in that weather but he literally dragged me out of the house, high as usual and not taking no for an answer. It was a stormy day as I recall and the river water was thrashing dangerously. I hated him for putting us through that little trip. He could have killed us and he didn’t care because he wanted a thrill. The rain fell down. Cally’s cries could be heard from the cabin. She sat there, clinging on to the pull-out table in her little red lifejacket. I told her to stay there but Grant dragged her out onto the deck and it broke my heart. He forced her trembling hands on the soaking wheel, telling her that she was driving the boat. My little girl kept reaching for me. I went to grab her and he pushed me back. That was the first time he physically assaulted me, but not the last. I slipped, hitting my head on the back rail. Cally has never stepped on a boat since. He promised me he’d got rid of it. So much forFreedom. This boat has only ever represented my captivity and it has me again. I am not free and I don’t know if I ever will be.
I knew he was on drugs then and he still is. The Grant I knew before he started using was the Grant I clung onto for so long. I thought I could help him, fix him. I thought all it would take was love and understanding and what does he do, he cheats on me, again. We are over.
A dizzy spell hits me and I feel like I’m whirling. I’m thirsty and hungry. Whatever new life is planned for me might not even happen. I’ll probably die of dehydration first. I’m seeing things, not big things, and I can still reason with myself. The demon I see in the darkness isn’t real. The only demon in existence is the very human demon that is torturing me. I wonder if I’ll ever see Cally again. If I could tell her anything, what would it be?
‘Mummy loves you more than anything, sweetheart. You are amazing and you can be anything you want. When you were a baby, I used to sit in my nursing chair stroking your soft hair while you fed from me. I’d smile and I couldn’t stop kissing your head. You made me the happiest I’ve ever been and I want you to be happy. Know that you were loved…’ I wish I could wipe the tears from my eyes. I think I’m still tied up but I can’t even tell. Everything is numb. If I try to move even a little bit, it hurts so much when the feeling comes back. I’m best off numb. I’m numb that this has been done to me and I’m numb in the knowledge of who has done this to me. I’m numb because he said that you’re next, Cally. If I could speak to you now, I’d say, ‘Don’t trust him. He’ll be nice, really nice but he’s not. You’ve never seen this side of him. Run as fast as you can.’
I begin to wriggle but it’s no use. I’ve never felt this trapped. Knowing my child is at risk and there’s nothing I can do sickens me. I let out a primal scream and it comes out muffled and crackly through my blocked nose. My stomach both churns and rumbles and now I see what isn’t there. The demon is back. Whatever he’s injecting me with is taking me to hell, one that I’m reliving over and over again with no end in sight. The demon looks real as it laughs, showing its little pincer teeth. Red eyes in the dark. I see anything but freedom. What hurts the most is I can’t protect my child. A good mother would do something but I can’t. The demon is here for me now and after, it’s going for her.
THIRTY-NINE
The incident room was bustling. O’Connor entered with a cardboard tray of coffees from the all night McDonald’s. Gina grabbed one and headed to the front of the room. ‘I know you’ve all caught up on what happened. We know that Taylor was murdered between eight thirty and nine. Single stab wound to the neck, severing the carotid artery. We have two witnesses; one fled the scene. Wyre and I will head to the school as soon as it opens. We’ll also go to the boatyard at Bidford. Any questions?’
‘Do we have any idea who the boy is?’ Jacob began peeling the promotional sticker from the side of the cup before rolling it up and throwing it in the bin.
‘No.’ Gina’s thoughts were broken for a second. She remembered the boy who came into school late, the one Miriam was talking about. He had black hair and fit the height description. He’d looked back at her as he went off to join his lesson with Ms Law. ‘Actually, I think I saw a boy who fits the description at the school when we went yesterday. I’m trying to remember what Miriam called him.’ She snapped her fingers as if trying to recall his name and smiled. ‘That’s it. Omar. We don’t know for sure that it’s him we’re looking for. It would be a long shot but I will mention him to Ms Law and Miriam when we are there.’
O’Connor slurped through the little opening from the plastic lid.
