‘Bacon sandwich?’ I ask.
As he sits, he smiles. ‘Thanks, Katie. I’d love one.’
I grab the pan and fork a couple of rashers into it before turning on the gas. Within seconds, sizzles and aromas fill the air and my stomach begins to churn. The only thing I fancy is chips, again. I can’t tell my dad about the baby, not before I’ve spoken to Damien.
‘As soon as the police have been, we’re going out to have some real family time. There’s also a box of craft stuff in the boot that I packed just in case it rains. We’ll get it out later, do some fun things. The girls really like you.’
‘I really like them. When we all go home, can we keep in touch?’
I nod. ‘We’d love that.’ He’s proven himself and I’ve decided, I want my dad back. We can heal from this together. Damien’s mum can have the girls too. Life is going to be different from now on. A shaft of sunshine reaches through the window and casts light across the kitchen. ‘The sun’s out.’ The bacon begins to burn. I hurry back to the cooker and place the bacon neatly over two slices of doorstop bread before passing it to my father.
He takes a bite. ‘This is the best thing I’ve eaten in years. You not having one?’
‘No, I had some toast with the girls.’ I can’t tell him that I’d literally throw up if I tried to eat bacon or indeed anything right now. I grab my black tea and take a sip while watching him enjoy his food.
There is a knock at the door and before I’ve even reached the lounge, Rosie has already opened it. I hurry and pull her back. ‘Rosie, what have I told you about answering the door?’
She looks at me as she pokes a finger in her mouth and chews it.
‘You always call one of us. Anyone could be behind that door. It could be a stranger that has come to take you away. I’ve told you about people like that, haven’t I?’
Rosie nods. PC Bickerford is on her own today. She bends down to Rosie’s level. ‘Your mummy is right, you know. Always good to be safe, kiddo.’ The PC winks and smiles.
‘Come in.’ I lead her through the lounge after she’s wiped her feet and Dad is just finishing his sandwich.
‘I thought it best that I come today and update you in person. We spoke on the phone and you know I said we found someone, possibly a woman who was on the beach at the same time as you in Polperro, I’ve brought a printout for you to see. The camera belongs to a local business that barely captures anything but she is caught on it for literally a passing second. The woman fits the description that the witness gave. She is the same woman that was on the beach. I mean, she might not have anything to do with what happened to you and we’re definitely only treating her as a witness.’
‘Take a seat, please.’ I pull a chair out for her. ‘Would you like a drink?’
‘Not for me thank you.’ She places her police hat on the kitchen table and sits down.
Dad leans against the worktop and I sit close to her. ‘Can I see the picture?’
She opens the folder. ‘It’s a screen grab from CCTV, so don’t expect much.’
She places the A4 sheet of paper in front of me. I recognise the path, I walked down it. I scrunch up my eyes in the hope to see a clearer picture but it doesn’t help. It’s so grainy, I can barely make out anything but the figure of an average woman. She has a bust line but is covered in a dark jacket with a hood up that is baggy, which doesn’t help narrow down her build. As the CCTV was high up, the clearest view is of the top of her hood.
‘Are there any better pictures?’
‘I’m afraid not. We have interviewed a fair few people and this woman was seen at the beach, too.’
‘Do you have any more CCTV, anything at the car park or by the café that I went in?’
‘There was CCTV at the café but she wasn’t on it. There is none currently in operation at the car park. We are waiting for a download of all the details from the machine. We’re hoping that whoever did this to you parked there too.’
‘When do you think you might get that?’
‘Tomorrow, hopefully. We’re waiting for the company to respond.’
‘Any news on the car?’ I swallow, wondering if I should tell her about the car turning up at Archie’s nursing home and the fact that I thought it was Laura’s, then I hold back. Right now, Laura and Natalie are helping me and I don’t want to jeopardise that by bringing the police into their lives. I can’t prove it was Laura’s car either, in fact, I don’t think it was. Besides, Dad is also standing there. He doesn’t know that I was followed to the nursing home and he’d be concerned that I went off snooping alone last night.
‘No. So far, we have nothing on the car. Your description was too vague. There are so many cars that fit the description we wouldn’t know where to start. Have you had any more messages?’
Again, I glance up at Dad. The message I received last night was as clear as it gets.Last warning. Go home.‘No.’ I have to trust that the answers are coming, and that Natalie and Laura are on my side. In fact, if I pass everything I have to PC Bickerford, it will set me back. Everyone will clam up. Natalie might not help me and I’m back to square one.
‘We think that the person sending you these messages and stalking you is a very fixated troll. You have to be so careful online these days. We won’t give up but even with the social media appeal, we don’t have much to go on. All I can say is, if you hear anything else, call us straight away. Whatever you do, don’t put yourself in any danger. If this person messages or calls you again, let us know. Given the circumstances, I’ll organise a couple of drive-bys tonight and if anyone is loitering around, we’ll catch them.’
‘Thank you. Knowing that the police will be close is a weight off my mind.’
