Page 104 of The Stolen Child

He swears I’ll never see Zach again. And I believe him. So I can’t go. Yet.

I need your help, Elsie.

I have to run, as far away as I can from Ian. Because when we go we have to disappear forever.

Please help us,

Sally x

BEFORE

July 1981

Elsie

Elite, Wandsworth, London

Elsie went back to the park every day that week, but when Sally did turn up, Ian was with her. It was clear that Ian did not trust Sally, and was watching her closely. He called Nicola to cancel her Saturday hair appointment, claiming Sally had a tummy bug.

But Elsie kept her faith, because she knew that Ian would eventually turn his eyes away from his wife and son. In the meantime, she had work to do, preparing for their escape.

Elsie turned to Reggie again, who was more than happy to come through for them. He quietly took over and devised a plan for Sally and Zach. And, as Elsie had already decided to move on from London, it made sense that she would disappear with them both.

It would be a fresh start for them all that Elsie couldn’t wait to begin.

Reggie asked for photographs of Sally and Zach, which Nicola was able to provide. He used his contacts to create two new identities for them.

They would leave on Wednesday.

Reggie would take them to Liverpool port on Wednesday morning, where they would travel onwards to Dublin, hidden in the back of a lorry. Reggie had found a flat for them and paid the rent for a month, so that they could lie low there. Then he would be in touch again, with details of how they would move onwards to Spain, using his network of contacts again.

‘Maybe we should go to a small village somewhere in Ireland rather than Dublin?’ Elsie asked, surprised by the arrangements.

‘Trust me, getting lost in a busy city is easier than standing out like a sore thumb in a rural location. I know what I’m doing.’

Over the years, Reggie had disappeared on several occasions to lie low following some misdemeanour, so she trusted his judgement.

Now, they had to get Sally and Zach away from Ian.

Elsie had shared the bare minimum about the plans with Nicola, as Reggie had been adamant that nobody should know the details.

‘What Nicola doesn’t know, she can’t tell,’ he’d declared.

Nicola accepted this with her usual grace. ‘I’ll miss you all. When you are settled and safe, you get in touch. But let me see if I can get Sally and Zach here on Wednesday.’ She picked up the phone and dialled Sally’s number.

‘He won’t let you talk to her,’ Elsie said.

‘It’s Ian I want to talk to,’ Nicola said.

The two women leaned in to listen, as Ian answered the phone.

‘Hello, Ian love, it’s Nicola here. How’s Sally? Is that tummy bug better?’

‘She’s good as gold again, Nicola. Thank you for checking in,’ Ian said.

‘Can I have a word?’

‘She’s upstairs with Zach, giving him a bath,’ Ian replied without missing a beat.