Right, Nelson is saying, were pretty sure that the handwritings the same …
He stops. Ruth. What are you doing here?
Clough called me.
Hes meant to be coordinating the door-to-door, Nelson looks irritated. Why did he ring you?
I think he thought I could … help.
Isnt it past Katies bedtime?
As her daughter is snoring quietly there is nothing Ruth can say to this. Darren leans forward, You can put her down in Michaels cot … He stops, looking at Judy.
Its OK, says Ruth hurriedly. She can sleep here. Or I can put her on a bed somewhere.
She might fall off, objects Nelson.
Its OK, says Ruth again. She wishes that Nelson would stop going on about Kate. She feels guilty enough that she has her child alive and well and sleeping on her lap when Michael is … well, who knows where Michael is and where he is sleeping? Nelson seems to realise this too because, with one distracted glance at his daughter, he turns back to Judy.
Weve got all units out, he says. Well find her, I promise. She cant have gone far.
She? says Judy. Her voice is hard, professional.
The handwriting expert thinks its a woman, says Nelson.
Experts are crap, says Judy.
Nelson looks surprised, though Judy is probably just repeating one of his opinions. He looks at Darren as if asking for help. Darren puts his hand on Judys arm. She shakes it off.
Well find Michael, says Nelson again. He crouches down in front of Judy. Judy? I promise you, well find him.
Judy looks at him with something like contempt. Thats what you said about Scarlet.
Nelson stands up. For a second Ruth thinks that he is close to tears, but when he turns to her his voice is as brusque as ever.
Give Katie to me, Ruth. Ill put her on the bed.
Ruth follows Nelson upstairs. He lies Kate on what is obviously the matrimonial bed, large and comfortable, covered with what looks like a wedding present duvet in shades of taupe. Theres a photo of Darren and Judy on the bedside table. She is radiant in a red dress, he is looking at her proudly.
Nelson pulls the duvet over Kate. Do you think shell be too hot?
No. Shell be fine.
It feels strange to be with Nelson, looking down at their sleeping daughter. Strange but oddly sweet. Sometimes it makes Ruth sad to think of all the things that she, Nelson and Kate will never do together – go on holiday, have breakfast in bed, visit grandparents. She wonders if Nelson also thinks about this. But now he has something else on his mind.
Ruth, do you think we should tell Cathbad?
Ruth has never known whether Nelson suspects that Cathbad is Michaels father. Hes not given to gossip, and deep down hes pretty strait-laced. Even so, he must know that people have affairs. After all, didnt he have one himself?
Why should we tell him? she counters.
Well, he and Judy are pretty close, says Nelson. And you know how he likes to know everything.
Ruth stares at him. What is Nelson really saying here? Does he really think that Cathbad and Judy are just friends and that Cathbad would like – in some vaguely interested way – to know whats going on? Or is he suggesting something else?
He usually knows without being told, she says.
Nelson turns away to straighten the duvet over Kate. Ruth thinks that he looks embarrassed.
Thats just it, he says, not looking at her. Cathbad always just appears and things usually turn out all right if hes here.
Now Ruth really is astonished. Nelson seems to be suggesting that Cathbad has some magical power, that he is, in some way, necessary. Of course, other people have claimed that Cathbad is magic but Ruth never thought that Nelson would turn out to be one of the believers. She thinks of the times that Cathbad has just appeared – leading the way across the marshes, materialising out of the snow, climbing the highest roller-coaster in Europe to save Kate. But, if she calls him now, hell come down like an avenging angel and throw this whole house of cards into the air. She thinks of Darren downstairs. Our little champ will be all right, he had said to her earlier. Hes a toughie, our Michael. What if the sight of Cathbad makes Judy blurt out the whole thing, that Darrens little champ is someone elses child? But, then again, doesnt Cathbad have a right to know what has happened to his son?
Ruth is about to speak when a pounding on the door makes them both jump. Ruth hears Judy cry out and Darren run towards the sound. Ruth is sure that hes imagining a kindly policewoman with Michael in her arms. She looks at Nelson and knows that hes seeing a different image altogether.
She goes to the top of the stairs and, through the glass panel in the door, she sees a flash of purple.
Seconds later a cloaked figure strides into the house.
Wheres Judy? says Cathbad.
CHAPTER 27
Cathbad looks exhausted, his face grey, his eyes shadowed. He has also lost about half a stone since last summer and let his hair grow. This, together with the cloak, gives him a rather desperate appearance. Ruth doesnt blame Darren for backing away and looking round for help.
Its Nelson, though, who speaks first. He comes bounding down the stairs.
What are you doing here?
Cathbad looks at him. Wheres Judy? he repeats.
Judy appears in the background. The little hall now seems uncomfortably crowded. Ruth is happy to stay out of sight on the stairs. In fact she wishes she was further away still. Edinburgh would be nice.
Cathbad, says Judy.
Cathbad almost pushes Darren out of the way. He comes up to Judy and puts his hands on her shoulders.
Itll be OK, he says. Theyll find him.
This seems to have a far better effect than Nelsons earlier reassurances. With a sound halfway between a sob and a scream, Judy throws herself into Cathbads arms. Ruth and Nelson look at each other.
Still standing by the door, Darren says, She hasnt cried since she heard.
Its the shock of seeing Cathbad, says Nelson breezily. Lets all have a nice cup of tea shall we?
Nelson and Ruth almost fight over making the tea, anything to avoid the threesome in the sitting room. Ruth wins but, to her surprise, Cathbad soon joins her in the kitchen.
Hi, Ruthie.
You look terrible.
Ive been driving for four hours. I came as soon as I heard.
How did you hear? Ruth doesnt know what shes expecting. That the druid grapevine has been in action, that Harry Potter sent an owl, that Cathbad read the news in the tea leaves. But the truth is far simpler.
Judy told me, says Cathbad. She rang almost as soon as it happened.
Ruth can believe this and it confirms what she has already suspected: Judy is sure that Cathbad is Michaels father.
Im sorry, she says now.
Cathbad looks at her. His thin face makes his eyes look unfathomably dark. Well find him, he says. The spirits are so strong in Michael. Theyll protect him.
Ruth is glad that Cathbad has this certainty to comfort him. If Kate were missing and someone told her that the spirits were protecting her, shed hit them, but maybe Judy doesnt mind this kind of stuff. She certainly didnt seem to have much patience with Nelsons more practical approach.
Im worried about Judy, she says. She seemed to be almost in a trance until you came.
Shes gone into herself, says Cathbad. Shes trying to keep it together for Michaels sake.
Darrens been trying to look after her, says Ruth. She wants to ask Cathbad to be kind to Darren, to respect his relationship with Judy – and with Michael – but she doesnt seem to have the words. Luckily Cathbads sixth sense is still in working order.
I wont rock the boat, he says. If thats what youre thinking.
Good, says Ruth. A thought strikes her. Wheres Thing?
In the car, says Cathbad. Ill get him in a minute.
Thats all the house needs, thinks Ruth, a mad bull terrier. But Thing is actually the sweetest of dogs and, who knows, he might give them all something to talk about. She pours milk into the cups. The tea looks odd, muddy and almost opaque. Still, she doesnt suppose for one second that anyone will drink it.
Wheres Hecate? asks Cathbad, taking the tray from Ruth.
Asleep upstairs. For once, she doesnt correct Cathbad about the name. If Michael is found, she thinks, shell never worry about such trivial things again.
Nelson leaves soon afterwards. He is needed at the station but promises to call back later. He also says that Michaels disappearance will be covered on all news channels.
Thats good, says Darren. The more publicity the better.
More limelight for Tim, sneers Judy.
Tims with the search team, says Nelson. Ill do the TV.
At nine oclock, Clough drops round to report on the search. He too looks exhausted, barely pausing to exchange greetings with Ruth (who answered the door) before hurrying into the sitting room. He shows no surprise at seeing Cathbad, or Thing, who jumps to his feet, tail wagging.
All right, Michael?
Ruth had forgotten that Clough always calls Cathbad by his given name. Darren gives a start.
Michael?
Its my baptismal name, says Cathbad. No-one really uses it anymore. He glares at Clough.
Judy, though, is oblivious to anything but the news. She questions Clough intently. The house-to-house team have come up with nothing but there was one sighting of a short-haired woman putting a child in a car. The witness gave the car colour and make but couldnt come up with a number-plate.
Are all units on to it?
Top priority, promises Clough. Well find them.
Judy says nothing. She must knows the odds of this better than anyone. She asks complicated questions about funding and man hours. Clough tells her that the helicopter search will begin again at first light. Its the first time that anyone has suggested the possibility that Michael will still be missing in the morning. Darren covers his face with his hands. Judy doesnt react at all. She has shown no emotion since the storm of weeping in Cathbads arms.