Missing (58 page)

‘Has DC Ball been to the house since finding out where she is, or at least spoken to her?’

‘Yes and no. He went round last night, but there was nobody home, so he’s going to try again when he’s back on duty tomorrow.’

Sadler’s face darkened. ‘Get onto Richmond and tell them to send someone now,’ he said.

‘But sir, it’s Sunday and we don’t have the authority …’

Sadler snatched up the phone as it rang. ‘Yes,’ he growled. Hearing the voice at the other end, his eyes darted to Joy’s. ‘Mr Avery. I was just reading—’

Miles cut across him. ‘Inspector, I need to know if you’ve made any progress in finding my wife. She’s not answering my daughter’s calls, and after this morning’s paper …’

Sadler was on his feet, but his voice betrayed no alarm as he said, ‘As a matter of fact, an email
has
come through telling us where she is. It’s an address close to where you used to live in Richmond.’

‘Has anyone been over there?’

‘Apparently someone went last night, but she wasn’t at home. We’re about to try again.’

‘Please do. And if you have to, break down the door.’

Sadler was already reaching for another phone. ‘I’ll be in touch as soon as I have some news,’ he said, and abruptly ringing off he made the connection straight through to his chief constable.

Having abandoned their plans to lunch at the Nobody Inn, Miles and Vivienne scrambled together some food for Angus and Alice who came over from the cider press to join them in the wait for news. As soon as the meal was ready Miles took a tray for Kelsey and Martha up to Kelsey’s room, then, unable to eat anything himself, he disappeared into his study to speak to his lawyer.

‘The press are clamouring for comments,’ Vivienne was saying as she closed the sitting-room door behind Angus and Alice, ‘so Stefan’s acting as spokesman.’

‘What’re they going to do about the Critch?’ Alice asked. ‘He shouldn’t be allowed to get away with the kind of insinuations he’s plastered all over that rag of a paper.’

With a sigh Vivienne said, ‘I don’t think he will. Stefan’s already contacted the police, so it’s probably only a matter of time before Justine’s questioned, possibly even arrested and charged. It depends whether they can make anything stick on the Critch, but they’re going to try.’

‘What about Al Kohler’s brother-in-law?’ Angus piped up. ‘Isn’t he
The News
’s proprietor? Could Miles – or Al – have some sway with him?’

‘All I know,’ Vivienne replied, ‘is that Miles and Al spent a long time talking last night, but whether Al’s relationship to Don Dickson was mentioned I’ve no idea.’

They all sat quietly for a while then, the only sounds coming from the steady patter of rain outside and the hiss and crackle of the fire.

In the end, voicing what was on everyone’s mind, Alice said, ‘Do you honestly think Jacqueline would … You know?’

Vivienne glanced at her, then shook her head bleakly. ‘One minute I do, the next I don’t,’ she replied. ‘We know she’s made attempts in the past, but the way she’s started making an effort with Kelsey …’ She took a breath. ‘I keep thinking of an article I read once about how a person who’s arrived at that final decision can become very calm, even kind of happy, as though their stresses and pains have already melted away. It’s like the end is in sight, so they’re starting to feel free. When we were together she talked about Rufus setting her free.’

‘Have you told Miles that?’ Alice asked.

Vivienne shook her head. ‘Not in so many words. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t want to add to how worried he already was. Then, when she and Kelsey started to communicate with one another … Well, I thought, at least I told myself, I must have read it all wrong.’

They fell silent again, not wanting to add any more weight to their suspicions as they waited for Miles to come back, or the phone to ring, or something to happen. However, the time ticked monotonously on with no interruption, until eventually Vivienne went upstairs to check on Rufus.

Finding him awake, she hugged him tightly to her and was about to carry him back downstairs when Miles came in, looking more strained than she’d ever seen him.

‘No news?’ she asked.

He shook his head, and took Rufus from her. ‘I’m just going to talk to Kelsey,’ he told her, giving Rufus a kiss. ‘I’ll join you downstairs in a while.’

Another hour passed. After spending some time with Kelsey, Miles returned to his study, while Vivienne sat with Angus and Alice, absently watching Rufus toddling about the room.

‘Oh Jacqueline,
ring! Please
,’ Vivienne finally urged.

But the phone stayed resolutely silent and the waiting continued.

At three thirty Miles went back upstairs to Kelsey’s room and used her mobile to add yet another message to the dozen or so he and Kelsey had already left. After passing the phone back he went to stand at the window.

‘She’s probably just gone out and forgotten to take
her
mobile with her,’ Martha said, trying, for the umpteenth time, to be helpful.

Kelsey continued to look at her father.

‘Martha’s probably right,’ he said, sensing her eyes on him. He turned round, and seeing the fear in her expression he pulled her into his arms. ‘It’ll be all right,’ he murmured, kissing her hair and wishing to God he could feel more confident.

Martha glanced at him once or twice before, in an embarrassed, tentative voice, she said, ‘You know what I keep thinking?’

No one responded.

‘Well, it’s Sunday, right?’ Martha persevered. ‘So what if she’s gone to church?’

Kelsey became very still, then her head went back to look up at her father. ‘She might have,’ she said, the tiniest flicker of hope lighting her eyes, ‘because she sounds sometimes like she’s gone a bit religious. She even said God bless to me yesterday, and she’s never done that before.’

Though far from thrilled by the timing of the sentiment, Miles was remembering something else now, and extricating himself gently he said, ‘Wait here. I’ll be back in a minute.’

As the sitting-room door opened everyone looked up.

‘Last week,’ Miles said to Vivienne, picking up Rufus, ‘when you were talking to Jacqueline, didn’t you say she mentioned St Anne’s in Kew?’

Vivienne nodded. ‘Yes, that’s right.’ A light of understanding came into her eyes. ‘It’s Sunday. That’s where she’ll be. Why didn’t I think of it before?’

‘We need the number of St Anne’s,’ Alice said, taking out her BlackBerry.

Both Miles’s and Vivienne’s expressions showed small signs of relaxing as they allowed themselves to run with the hope, and seeming to sense something of this, Rufus began tugging at his father’s cheeks.

Having got the number, Alice switched to speakerphone as a ringing tone sounded at the other end. To everyone’s dismay the call was answered by a recording.

‘There’s probably a service going on,’ Miles said. ‘But I should let the police know. Perhaps someone can go to the church and check it out.’

He’d barely left the room to fetch Sadler’s number from his study when the entryphone at the gates sounded in the kitchen.

Frowning, Vivienne got to her feet. ‘Who on earth can that be?’ she said, glancing at the window. Though Jacqueline was on everyone’s mind, no one voiced the unlikely hope that she was about to stage a surprise appearance. It would be very welcome, but no one really believed it would happen.

Going into the kitchen, Vivienne noticed the time as she unhooked the phone. Almost four o’clock already – though it felt as if they’d been waiting a lifetime. ‘Hello?’ she said into the receiver.

‘It’s DI Sadler,’ came the reply. ‘I’d be grateful if you could let us in.’

Miles was waiting at the front door by the time Sadler stopped his car in the courtyard and got out. As usual Joy was with him, and the look on their faces was enough to tell Miles he’d been right to start preparing himself for the worst.

‘Through here,’ he said, standing back for the detectives to pass.

Vivienne was at the door of his study, ready to show them in. ‘Shall I bring some tea?’ she said to Miles.

He shook his head, and taking her hand drew her into the room with him and closed the door.

Sadler came to a stop in the middle of the room and turned round, still looking extremely grave. Joy stood beside him, appearing equally troubled.

‘I’m very sorry, Mr Avery,’ Sadler said gruffly. ‘I’m afraid they weren’t able to get to her in time.’

As Miles’s grip tightened on her hand, tears of protest flooded Vivienne’s eyes.

Miles cleared his throat. ‘When … When did it happen?’ he asked.

‘It still has to be confirmed, but they think probably sometime last night.’

Miles swallowed hard and Vivienne moved in closer to him. ‘How?’ he said, strain roughening his voice.

‘It appears to have been an overdose of barbiturates. We’ll know more, of course, once the post-mortem’s been carried out.’

‘Where is she now?’

‘I believe she’s been taken to the mortuary at Kingston Hospital.’

Miles swallowed again and put a hand to his head. ‘Was there …? Did she leave a note?’ he asked.

‘Nothing’s been found yet. The local police are still at the scene.’

Miles nodded. ‘Thank you for coming to tell us.’ His voice failed for a moment. ‘I imagine there are a lot of formalities to be gone through,’ he said huskily, ‘but if you don’t mind I need to go and speak to my daughter now.’

As he left the room Vivienne covered her face with
her
hands and started to shake. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, as DC Joy came to comfort her. ‘It’s just that they’ve already been through so much.’

Kelsey looked up as Miles knocked and opened the door. The instant she saw his face her own turned white.

‘Martha, could you go downstairs for a moment, please?’ Miles asked gently.

Martha glanced worriedly at Kelsey, then left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Kelsey’s eyes were still on Miles. ‘No, Dad, no, please,’ she begged, as he came towards her.

‘Sssh,’ he said, taking her in his arms.

‘Is she …? I mean …’

‘Yes, she’s gone,’ he told her softly.

‘No, no, no!’ she cried, pressing her fists to her cheeks. ‘She can’t. Dad, please. Don’t let it be true.’

‘I’m sorry, my darling.’

She spun away, grabbing her hair in her hands. ‘It’s my fault,’ she choked. ‘I had this feeling, yesterday …’

‘Listen to me,’ he said, turning her back, ‘it is
not
your fault.’

‘But I knew … It was like something was telling me, I just didn’t want to listen because we … We were … having a good time. So it’s my fault …’

‘Darling, if anyone’s to blame for this, it’s whoever took Sam all those years ago, not you. That’s what your mother’s never been able to accept, and I guess she’d just had enough.’

‘But what about
me
?’ she sobbed, her face distorted by pain. ‘Why don’t I matter?’

‘You do, more than anything, she was just afraid to show it in case something happened to you.’

‘But it didn’t, did it? I’m still here and I want her to come back, Dad. Please make her come back.’

‘My darling, if I could, I would,’ he said, holding her tightly to him as he struggled to contain his own emotions.

‘She was always horrible and mean to me, and now she’s done this,’ she gasped brokenly. ‘She shouldn’t have done it. Why suddenly be my friend and then go away again? It’s like I’m not supposed to have any feelings.’

‘I think she was trying to make her peace with you before she went,’ Miles told her gently.

‘Well, she shouldn’t have. It was just mean. She said I could go and stay with her, and get to know Richmond, but she was lying.’ Rage was pushing the tears faster down her cheeks. ‘I thought I was going to have a real mum at last,’ she shouted, stamping her feet. ‘I hate her. I’m glad she’s gone, because that was a horrible thing to do.’

‘She wasn’t doing it to hurt you.’

‘No, because I don’t matter. I never have and I was really stupid to think I did.’ She tried to catch her breath, but was overcome by the agony gathering in her heart. ‘I think you should kill that editor for what he’s done,’ she rasped. ‘It’s because of what he put in the paper. It brought it all back for her …’

‘The police said she left us last night,’ Miles told her, ‘so it happened before she saw the paper.’

Kelsey’s eyes closed as her face crumpled again. ‘So all the time we were enjoying ourselves, she was all on her own … Oh Dad, this is horrible. I want it to go away.’

‘I know,’ he said, pulling her back into his arms.

‘Do you know how they found out where she was?’

‘Not yet, but she was in Richmond.’

‘So she wasn’t lying about that?’

He didn’t answer, because he didn’t need to.

‘It’s so weird,’ she said, after a while. ‘I mean I’ve got this brother who’s real, but none of us knows where he is. He’s still
there
, though. You know, a part of our family.’ Her eyes came up to his, so full of anguish he could hardly bear it. ‘I wish I could have grown up with him,’ she said, ‘and we could have been a normal family. Why did we have to be different, Dad?’

‘I don’t know,’ he sighed, holding her again. ‘I wish I did, but I don’t.’

It was some time before she spoke again, her voice muffled by his embrace. ‘It’s been really horrible for her,’ she said, ‘losing her baby and blaming herself … Do you think she might be happier where she is now?’

‘I’m sure she is,’ he replied, gently stroking her hair.

‘She might even be with Sam.’

He swallowed hard. ‘Yes, she might,’ he agreed.

He felt her starting to shudder as more sobs welled up inside her. ‘Do you know if she left a note?’ she asked raggedly.

‘They haven’t found one yet, but they’re still at the house.’

She pulled back to look at him again, her eyes burning with more angry pain. ‘You know what, if she didn’t leave one,’ she said, ‘then we’ll know for certain that we never really meant anything to her at all.’

Chapter Twenty-five

THE FOLLOWING MORNING
they all drove up to London, Vivienne and Alice to start dealing with the aftermath of the auction, while Miles took Kelsey to visit the house Jacqueline had rented, before going on to the mortuary alone.