“We’ll find him, Sam.”
“I’m so fucking sorry, Maisie,” he whimpered against my neck. “So, so, sorry.”
As we embraced, sharing our emotion, Tracy reappeared and gently touched my arm.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said. “Some people just don’t listen to instruction.”
I pulled away from Sam, who wiped at his face and gave Tracy a small smile.
“It’s fine.”
“No it’s not, but anyway, we’re ready for you now.”
“You sure about this?” My dad asked, appearing beside me.
“Yes. I want Frankie back.”
I took a step toward Tracy when Sam pulled me back. He didn’t say anything but hugged me tightly and kissed the top of my head before letting me go.
Maisie
the present
Walking to the interview room, my hands began to shake and my heart beat picked up its pace. I hated that I had to sit in front of Josh and listen to whatever crap he wanted to say, but I wanted Frankie back more. I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t jump across the table and try and kill him, but I knew I had to stay calm if he was going to tell me where my son was. Tracy had said I didn’t need to do it, and they would question him alone, but if there was any chance I could get my baby home then I’d take it.
“You okay?” she asked, placing a hand on my back. “You still sure?”
Biting my bottom lip I didn’t hesitate and nodded.
“Right, well try and stay calm. Let him speak and don’t rush him into telling you where Frankie is.”
My face crumpled and Tracy sighed.
“I know, but we don’t want him to clam up and if you don’t let him speak, he may just do that. Like I said, we can’t keep him much longer once we’ve put the charge through.”
I managed a smile and nodded. “Okay.”
“Good girl. I’ll be in there with you and the duty solicitor, so you’ve nothing to worry about.”
She pushed open a door and stood aside to let me into the small square room that held nothing but a table, four chairs, and one of the huge tape recorders that I’d seen countless times on TV police shows.
Josh’s eyes met mine as I walked forward and I drew in a breath. I had to curl my fingers into my palms, my nails digging into the skin to stop myself from lashing out in his direction, especially as the look on his face was one of smug arrogance. He was dressed in a t-shirt that was torn at the neck and I wondered whether Sam had managed to do that when he’d lunged for him.
As I sat down I tried to keep my eyes off Josh, but it was difficult to ignore him when he was only a foot away from me. Tracy sat next to me and while she completed all the official procedures, Josh slumped back in his chair, his hands deep in his jeans’ pockets.
“Okay,” Tracy said, clearing her throat. “Do you want to start Mr. Brent, seeing as you were the one that asked Miss West to come here?”
Josh shrugged. “Just want to know why she threw me out.”
“You know why.” I rubbed my temple beginning to think this was a total waste of time. It was not only stupid, it was cruel of him to put me through it when all I wanted was my son back.
The tears I’d been trying to hold back started to creep down my cheeks as the pain gripped at my stomach. I wanted to get on my knees and beg him, but that would be what he’d want. He’d be loving having power over me; he always had to be in charge. I guessed over the last couple of years that was why he’d demanded I stop taking money from Sam for Frankie, because without it he was in control. I only wished it hadn’t taken a bowl of cereal being thrown for me to realise it.
“It was one argument,” he replied leaning forward. “One argument and you threw me out without one shit whether I had anywhere to go.”
“You have your dad.” I tried to keep my voice steady as I swiped the wetness from my cheeks and chin. “You raised your hand to Frankie and threw a dish of food at me, so I had no choice. Anyway, it wasn’t just one argument and you know it, but it doesn’t matter, you raised your hand to my son once too often.”
Tracy placed a calming hand on my knee that was bobbing up and down. “You okay?” she asked quietly.
