Sinful Nights(65)

She knew that Heather was perhaps becoming too attached to her, needing a  mother substitute, and while she had scrupulously tried to avoid  encouraging the little girl to depend on her in any way at all, she knew  that she herself was growing very attached to her. Heather wasn't her  child in the way that Lucy was, but there was something vulnerable in  Heather that cried out for love and attention.

Several times during the morning she found herself worrying about her,  remembering her wan little face. Heather was frightened of Mrs Roberts,  and while she didn't think the housekeeper would go as far as to  physically maltreat the child, there were other ways of inflicting pain  and fear on children.

She had almost decided that after lunch she would call round at  Whitegates and brave Jay Fraser's wrath if he found out, when she heard  her doorbell ring.

The sight of Jay Fraser standing on her doorstep, flanked by the village  constable and a young woman in police uniform, was so shockingly  unexpected that she was robbed of breath.

It was the policewoman who spoke first.

Mrs Richards. I wonder if we could come in for a moment.'

Conscious of the curiosity of her neighbours, Claire hurriedly agreed.  Her small sitting-room had never seemed more cramped. The local  policeman, although not as tall as Jay Fraser, was still quite large. He  was an older man, married with two grown-up sons, and he seemed  pleasant. Now however, he looked worryingly grave, and Jay Fraser, who  had refused her offer of a seat, looked almost ill. The tan she had  noticed on his first visit now seemed a dirty yellow colour. His  immaculate white shirt was unbuttoned at the throat, his tie askew, and  his hair ruffled.

Mrs Richards, I believe your little girl is very friendly with Mr Fraser's daughter.'

A terrible sense of foreboding overcame her.

Yes, yes, she is, she agreed in a husky voice. They're  …  they're best friends.'

All that she constantly dreaded for her own daughter suddenly filled her  mind, and it was as though Heather was actually her own child. She sank  down into a chair, her body trembling.

Something's happened to her, hasn't it?'

Sergeant Holmes grimaced slightly. We're hoping not, Mrs Richards. We  do know, however, that she's disappeared. Mr Fraser's housekeeper  reported it to us late last evening.'

Late last evening?'

Yes, after the little girl didn't come home from school.' The sergeant  frowned, and looked across at Jay Fraser. It's probably none of my  business, sir, but that's quite a lonely walk home for a six-year-old  … '

Mrs Roberts had strict instructions to take Heather to and from school,' Jay said tightly.

In that instant Claire felt for him, truly understanding how he must be  feeling. No doubt he had given the housekeeper her instructions, never  imagining that they would be disobeyed. More out of compassion for him  than anything else Claire said huskily,    

 



 

I  …  I  …  used to walk home with her. I didn't like the thought of her walking alone. It wasn't far out of our way  … '

Instantly the sergeant's frown disappeared, and he said eagerly, And did you walk back with her yesterday, Mrs Richards?'

Why, yes. I always walked her to the gate and saw her safely inside. I  … '

She heard the sound that Jay Fraser made and felt her own throat muscles lock in a mingling of pity and fear.

Then you must have been the last person to see her.' The sergeant  frowned. Mrs Roberts says that she didn't come home from school last  night.'

And the woman had waited how long to report that she was missing?  Inadvertently Claire looked across at Jay and saw the same emotions she  was feeling reflected in his eyes.

Mmm. I was wondering if we could talk to your little girl, Mrs  Richards. Children sometimes confide things to their friends that they  don't tell adults. We won't say anything to frighten her,' he added,  correctly interpreting her expression.

She and Heather were very close,' Claire admitted. She bit her lip and  glanced apologetically at Jay. He wasn't looking at her. He was staring  down at the carpet, his face set and hard.

I don't know if it's important, but I know that Heather was  …  well, she didn't get on very well with Mrs Roberts.'

She caught Jay's roughly expelled breath, and hurried on. Of course it  might not mean anything  …  and I'm not suggesting that Mrs Roberts was in  any way unkind to her  …  but Heather is a very sensitive child.

And you think that perhaps she might have said something to upset the  little girl? Children of that age get odd notions into their heads,' the  sergeant agreed. I'll never forget when our boy decided to leave home.  All of five he was, and luckily a neighbour found him pedalling down  the road on his trike.'

If Heather had walked off like that someone would have seen her,'  interrupted Jay roughly. God-she's only a baby  … 'His voice was full of  anguish. She's been gone all night  …  nearly twenty-four hours!'

Claire felt for him, but she suspected that the last thing he would want  would be her sympathy. He must be in hell right now, she thought  compassionately. What parent wouldn't be?

Have you informed her  …  her mother, sir?' Sergeant Holmes asked.

Jay shook his head. She wouldn't want to know. I would have given her  custody of Heather, but she didn't want her.' His back straightened, his  face suddenly bitterly angry, as he read the expression in the  policeman's eyes. I love my daughter very much, Sergeant,' he told him  curtly, but that doesn't stop me thinking that a little girl of  Heather's age needs her mother. I can't be there all the time for her.  God, when I think I deliberately looked for an older woman to look after  her, thinking that she would be likely to be more responsible! I have  to be away a great deal-there's nothing I can do about it, at least not  at the moment  … '

No one's blaming you, sir,' Sergeant Holmes said quietly. All of us  here are parents, and we all know what kids are like. Half the time you  just don't know what's going through their heads.'

If she was so frightened of Mrs Roberts, why didn't she tell me? If anyone's touched her  …  hurt her  … '

He couldn't put his fears into words, and Claire felt her body clench on  a wave of nausea and pain. That was the way her father would have  looked if he'd known  …  but he'd been dead then and she'd been alone  …   She sent up a mental prayer that somehow Heather would be safe. If she  was, no matter what her father had to say about it Claire intended to  give her as much love and attention as she wanted. She felt almost as  much to blame as Jay. She had known that Heather was unhappy, but  because of her pride and her determination not to give Jay the slightest  cause to think she was trying to attract him, she had deliberately  backed off.

I normally go and collect Lucy from school about now,' she told the sergeant. Do you want to come with me, or shall I  … ?'

It's best if you go alone; we don't want to frighten her. Try and act  as naturally as possible with her, Mrs Richards. Children get some weird  ideas in their heads. If she does know anything we don't want to  frighten her into keeping it to herself.'

The sergeant's words made sense, but they were hard to put into  practice. Claire could feel her voice turning croaky with anxiety as she  casually asked if Heather was at school, already knowing what the  answer would be.    

 



 

Lucy shook her head. As Claire looked down at her she saw that her daughter was avoiding her eyes.

Did Lucy know something about Heather's disappearance? Striving to seem  calm, she said, Oh dear, Heather's daddy's waiting for us at home. He  thought Heather might be coming home with you.'

No reaction, but Claire felt the small hand tucked into hers clenching betrayingly.

She took Lucy into the kitchen and settled her with a glass of milk and a biscuit before going into her sitting-room.

I think she knows something,' she told Sergeant Holmes worriedly.

Will you let me talk to her?' he asked. I promise I won't frighten her.'

Knowing what was at stake Claire could hardly refuse. She took the two  police officers into the kitchen and made sure that Lucy knew who they  were before leaving her with them. She sensed that the sergeant was more  likely to learn something if she was not hovering anxiously at his  side.

As she opened the sitting-room door she saw that Jay Fraser had slumped  down into one of her chairs, his head in his hands. He looked up as she  walked in, and she saw the dread and the pain in his eyes.

I pray to God that we can find her.'

Instinctively she placed her hand over his, shocked to feel its fierce  tremble. I'm sure Lucy knows something  …  she looked so guilty. Perhaps  Heather's  … ' she broke off, his eyes widening as she suddenly remembered  Lucy's disappearance and the missing cakes.

What is it?'

I think Heather might have run away,' she said unsteadily. Last night  Lucy disobeyed me and left the garden  …  I found some cakes missing, I  … '