‘What could they want with Millie?’ I shout, trying to wrack my brain.
‘I don’t know but all these people are looking for her. They blocked all the roads off as soon as it was reported and no boats have been able to leave. The town has come to a halt.’
I shake my head. ‘That’s more than they ever did for Jess.’
‘They’ve learnt, we all have.’
‘Yet you all still keep secrets. Everyone in this town knows what happened to Jess and no one has said anything.’
‘That’s not true, Kate. I don’t know.’
‘Do you know where my dad is?’
‘I saw your husband arguing with a man in his sixties earlier. He told the man to leave and never come near you or the kids again.’
My dad – I thought he’d changed but he lost Millie. For that, I can never forgive him. I should have known better than to trust him, especially now that history was repeating itself. A shiver runs through me. If the person that took us comes back, they might try to finish Natalie off. She was trying to help me and look how it turned out.
‘Everyone who comes near me gets hurt. They’d all be better off without me.’
‘Nonsense, Kate. You’re the strongest woman I know. Look how you’ve fought to find out about Jessica.’
‘And what do I have? No more information and a missing daughter.’ My sobs come thick and fast. ‘I left Natalie in a lock-up unit of some kind and wasn’t able to tell the police where, but it was just past your house. Could you help them? Go and tell them. Natalie needs help.’
She hurries away and Damien comes back over, leaving Rosie with the police officer.
He kneels on the pavement. ‘I’m sorry, Kate. I should never have left you then you wouldn’t have had to rely on that man. I should have been here, helped you look into things more, but I didn’t.’
I reach across and stroke his face. ‘Damien, I’m pregnant.’
He’s taken aback and for a moment he can’t speak. This isn’t the way I wanted to tell him but right now, I want him to know.
He holds me closely and strokes my hair. A thought passes for my dad. I wanted him to be so much more and I never wanted Damien to leave me. We’re all to blame. Dad and I are worse, we should have known better. I wonder where he is right now. If there are roadblocks, he’ll still be in the town somewhere.
I stare at the crowd. People are asking questions, muttering to each other. I spot Bethany and Rachel huddled at one end of the street, both trying to placate Rachel’s crying baby. Daisy hurries over to Laura. A woman with a microphone nudges her way in. The press are here too.
PC Bickerford starts jogging my way but her concentration is broken as a man bursts through the crowd. ‘There’s a woman standing on the pier with a child.’
I nudge Damien out of the way. ‘It has to be Millie.’ I’m up on my aching legs and feet. Before I can even exhale, I run as fast as I can.
‘Kate, stop.’ PC Bickerford tries to chase after me but her shorter legs are failing to keep up. I need to get there before anyone else. I will beg and plead for this woman to let my child go. My heart bangs. Archie stood on that pier with Jess’s hat. She went in there, I know she did and whoever killed Jess is now going to do the same to Millie. Why would anyone do this to me? I hear Damien shouting but I don’t even turn back. My little girl needs me and I won’t let her down like Jess was let down. I am not my father.
FIFTY-FOUR
KATE
I sprint to the end of the pier and my eyes lock on Mary’s. The woman sits on the banjo-shaped end and her and Millie’s legs dangle over the edge. A flash of the past hits me like a train. Millie’s red jumper is as striking as Jess’s red hat. My daughter is shivery cold as her eyes plead with me to save her.
‘Come one step closer and we’re both going in.’
I stare down at the turbulent sea below and I know my little girl would die if she went into that cold, choppy water.
‘Please, you don’t have to do this. Please let Millie go. She’s scared.’
I know now that she is Will and everything she’s done is nothing more than an elaborate lure to end my search for Jess. Something doesn’t add up. Why would she bring me here in the first place? My head hurts and I’m not thinking straight.
‘Tell the police and everyone else, if they come any closer, we’re jumping.’
I hold a hand up, telling everyone to stay back. PC Bickerford’s mouth is wide open and PC Barnes has joined her.
