‘Because I’m frightened of what he’ll do to me if I leave – and Daisy. I stayed with him after his wife left because he wanted me to look after his daughter.’
‘Do you know why she went?’
Sarah shook her head, but Juliette sensed she was lying.
‘Don’t you think it’s strange she hasn’t been in contact for over a year, not even to see how Daisy is doing?’ Sarah added. ‘Who would leave their child like that? I certainly wouldn’t and I don’t think Louisa would either.’
‘Wait a minute, are you saying you think something has happened to her?’
Sarah looked down for a moment. ‘He says if I tell anyone of my suspicions then he’ll hurt her.’
‘Is Daisy here with you now?’
‘Yes, we keep her hidden.’
‘What?’ Juliette’s eyes widened.
Sarah gulped. ‘Richard doesn’t want her to be seen in case people start asking questions about Louisa.’
Juliette thought back to talking to Linda and hearing that Richard’s wife and daughter had left. Was it possible he had harmed Louisa and then hadn’t known what to do about Daisy? If Daisy was stillaround, there would be questions asked and explanations needed.
She looked at Sarah, who was still in tears. ‘You know more, don’t you?’
Sarah paused but then shook her head.
‘What did he say about her leaving?’
‘He said she’d gone suddenly, and that I was to look after Daisy while he thought about what to do next.’
A sensation of falling came over her. Juliette put her hand out to rebalance herself and luckily the motion subsided. But the feeling of nausea stayed with her. What was happening here?
‘You have to go to the police,’ she said. ‘You can’t keep?—’
‘No,’ Sarah cried. ‘It’s too dangerous. But you could help me. We could find Louisa and if we can’t,thenwe involve the police. We have to have proof.’
‘Of what, exactly?’
‘I-I don’t know but I think Louisa is missing and I don’t want anything to happen to Daisy, or me.’
Juliette shook her head in disbelief. ‘So Richard keeps you against your will?’
‘He says I can leave any time I want but that I’ll never see Daisy again.’
‘Well, I suppose as she isn’t your child, you won’t get custody.’
‘I can’t leave her with him,’ Sarah cried.
‘You think he’d harm her too?’
‘I’m not sure. But I can’t chance finding out. So I stay. I won’t have that on my conscience.’
‘Are you okay though?’ Juliette couldn’t begin to imagine how scared Sarah would be feeling. ‘You’re not in immediate danger?’
‘I don’t think so. Richard can be volatile, but you’ve seen me, I play along so he thinks it’s all under control.’
‘You’ve been doing that for a year?’
Sarah nodded. ‘Please don’t think ill of me. You don’t know what he’s capable of.’
