‘Emily, where is she?’ he asked anxiously.
‘She’s safe in the other room, Mr James.’
‘But… I need to see her,’ he pressed.
‘Mr James, I’m afraid there’s something you need to know first, before you see Emily.’ The officer sat him down.
Daniel looked into her serious face and once again he froze. ‘What’s happened?’ he asked quietly.
‘Mr James, Emily’s mother has died.’
‘What?’
The police officer took a steady breath. ‘Jenna had been drinking, heavily, and choked on her own vomit.’
Daniel sat still, not believing what he was hearing.
She continued, in a grave voice, ‘There are signs of bruising, on her face.’
‘What? He bloody hit her?’ he rasped, still in disbelief. This was turning into a hideous nightmare. He felt sick. ‘Where is he?’ he asked in a steely tone. He wanted to kill him. Hewouldkill him, if he clapped eyes on the bastard.
‘We’re out searching for him. In the meantime, Emily is waiting for you.’
‘But… what do I tell her?’ His shoulders started to shake again with emotion.
‘Listen, we’ll do all we can. There are child counsellors who will help.’
‘Yes… thank you.’ Daniel gulped, then turned to face the officer. ‘I’m taking her home – she doesn’t belong here.’
‘I understand.’ She nodded comfortingly.
‘I want to know the minute you find him.’ He looked sternly at her. ‘And find out what exactly’s gone on.’
‘Yes. You’ll be informed.’
*
Of course Emily had been fast asleep when the argument started. She hadn’t heard her mummy tell JonJo she’d been having second thoughts about the move to Liverpool and their relationship. Emily had slept through the insults that had been hurled from JonJo and then the punches that followed. She hadn’t witnessed her mummy gulp back the wine in shock and desperation, as he slammed out of the front door, or seen her crying hysterically on the bed in a drunken state until she started to choke, uncontrollably, on the bile that gushed up her throat.
All Emily did know, as her daddy had religiously drummed into her, was to ring him if she ever needed him. No matter what, wherever she was, whatever time it was, shemustring him; and that’s what Emily had done.
