Behind Closed Doors (25 page)

Leo had returned to the Poynters to question them further, while Andee drove here to prepare the Monroes for their televised appeal.

Though no one from the press camped outside the bungalow had spotted her yet, as soon as she approached they seemed to come alive.

‘Have there been any breakthroughs overnight?’

‘Does Perkins know where Sophie is?’

‘Was she in Bristol?’

‘What can you tell us about Tomasz Sikora?’

‘Is he a suspect?’

Managing to get through the crowd with the assistance of two uniforms stationed outside the bungalow, she turned as she reached the front door. ‘So far there’s no evidence to suggest that Sophie was in Bristol,’ she informed them, ‘however our colleagues from the Avon and Somerset force are still updating us on that. As for Tomasz Sikora, we’ve been in touch with him and he has expressed a willingness to help us with our inquiries.’

‘Does he know where Sophie is?’

‘Is it true you’re trying to get him brought back to this country?’

‘What about the things they’re saying on the Internet about him being involved in . . .?’

‘I’m afraid I can’t comment on any of that.’ She was looking across to the CCTV camera trained on the park entrance.

‘Has the diary been of any help?’ someone asked.

Curious to know how news of that had leaked out, Andee ignored the question and was about to knock on the door when it opened.

‘No Lauren?’ she asked, as Gavin led the way down the hall. His head was bowed, his shoulders slumped, reminding her of the news they’d received about the baby.

‘She’s taken Heidi and Archie for a drive to try and settle him,’ he replied. ‘They should be back any minute.’

When they were in the kitchen, she said, ‘Lauren told me about the Noonan syndrome. I’m sorry. This is a very difficult time for you.’

Though his eyes came briefly to hers, he said nothing as he went to put on the kettle.

She looked around, noting how the place had been cleaned up since her last visit and wondering if Lauren had done it.

‘He’s in front of the magistrates this morning, isn’t he?’ he said, without turning round.

‘Yes, he is.’

‘Do you think he knows where she is?’

‘At the moment he’s claiming not to. He says he spent the night she disappeared in a golf buggy under the Entertainment Centre, and Rafal, one of the wardens, has confirmed that he found him there on the morning of the 18th.’

As Gavin registered the information he turned around. ‘You’re no closer to finding her, are you?’ he asked, looking bleakly into her eyes.

‘Actually, I think we are, but I understand it probably doesn’t seem that way to you.’

His attention drifted.

‘You mustn’t give up,’ she told him. ‘She’s out there somewhere and we’re going to find her.’

‘How do you know that?’

She started to answer and found she couldn’t.

‘You don’t, do you?’ he challenged. ‘You know what it’s like to lose someone and never find out what happened to them.’

Realising he must have looked her up online, or perhaps one of the papers had run the story that morning and no one had told her yet, Andee was about to reply when her mobile rang. Seeing it was Leo, she excused herself and stepped into the back garden.

‘The Poynters are saying they gave Suzi the flat because she was being harassed in her caravan at the campsite,’ Leo told her.

‘How kind. Do you believe them?’ She was staring at a small square of old carpet that had been left on the grass.

‘I think it’s part of the truth, but not the whole truth. Trouble is, I’ve got no idea how we prove they were intending the apartment to be some sort of bolt hole for Perkins.’

She hadn’t, either. ‘OK,’ she said, allowing her eyes to trail along the flattened grass next to the carpet. ‘Can you remember when the security camera at the campsite entrance went on the blink?’

‘Apparently it was working up until midday on the 17th.’

‘Do we know why it wasn’t repaired immediately?’

‘It was a Sunday, the parts they needed weren’t available until the next day. What are you thinking?’

‘The same as I have all along, that someone could have tampered with it to make it look as though it went out at midday, when the actual purpose was to erase the footage of Sophie leaving the camp.’

‘The security guards would have to be in on it if that’s the case.’

‘Perhaps they are. Or they’re covering for someone.’

‘Such as Tomasz Sikora?’

‘Indeed.’

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Get the camera looked at again. I’m at the campsite now. I’ll see you here in an hour. The press conference is being held in the ballroom,’ and clicking off the line she went back inside to find Gavin sitting at the table with two cups of tea. He looked as forlorn as a beggar who’d lost everything would look, and considering what was happening to his children he had every reason to do so. At least for now.

Going to join him, she picked up her tea and took a sip.

‘Are you going to tell me what she wrote in her diary?’ he asked.

Having prepared herself for the question, she said, ‘There’s nothing to indicate where she might be now, but there are a lot of mentions of her crush on Sikora and time spent with Perkins.’

He winced and looked away.

‘She’s written some lovely things about her mother and how happy you all were when she was alive,’ she told him. ‘They’re very moving.’

He nodded slowly. ‘I was looking at these before you came,’ he said, pushing an album across the table. ‘It’s pictures of her when she was little, with her mother. It could break your heart to see them together, how perfect everything was back then. They had no idea anything was going to happen to shatter their world. None of us did.’

Opening it to the first page, Andee found herself staring at the shining, joyful faces of a young mother and her beautiful newborn baby.

‘She was about ten minutes old there,’ Gavin said. ‘I took the picture myself. I’ll never forget how it used to make me feel when I looked at them, it was like all the missing pieces of my world had finally come together.’

‘They’re lovely,’ Andee murmured, meaning it.

The following pages showed many of the same sort of shots found in her own family albums, holidays, birthdays, Christmases, mostly of the children, but plenty of her and Martin. It was rare these days that she looked at those from her own childhood, but she remembered how she used to watch her father going through pictures of Penny laughing, or pulling silly faces, sitting on his shoulders, pretending to drive his car, or simply being the Penny who hadn’t felt let down, ignored, rejected by those she loved.

‘Why didn’t she take the diary with her?’ Gavin said shakily. ‘Or this album? I wish she had. It would be like her mother was with her, you know, watching over her.’ A smile was twisting awkwardly at his mouth. ‘That’s a daft thing to say, isn’t?’

‘Not at all,’ Andee replied. ‘But at least this way they’re safe until she gets back.’

He turned away as though afraid to connect with the words. It was a while before he said, ‘I want to believe we’ll find her, that she’ll come home, and most of the time I do, but then I start thinking what if it’s already too late?’

Understanding the fear only too well, Andee said, ‘This is why you need to speak to someone who can counsel you on the best way to cope with what you’re going through. Have you looked at the brochures I left? Lauren should have discussed them with you.’

‘Yes, she has, but we don’t want to be a bother to anyone.’

‘You’re not a bother.’ She was watching him closely, trying to see past her own father, but it was hard. ‘That’s why the organisations are there, to help you deal with everything that’s going on in your head. It can be terrible, the things we tell ourselves when we’re under this sort of stress. We make up stories that have no bearing on reality, no grounding in truth, only in fear, and that’s no help to anyone, least of all you.’

His eyes almost came to hers, but not quite. ‘I know you’re right, but what difference can anyone make if she’s already . . .? If they’ve done something to her . . .’ Swallowing hard, he said, ‘I’ll want to kill them if they have . . . If I was to see that Perkins, or Sikora . . .’ His voice trailed off as though he wasn’t even listening to what he was saying.

Hearing the front door open and close, Andee turned round and got to her feet as Lauren came into the room.

‘He’s asleep,’ Lauren announced, sounding as relieved as if she’d been up all night with the baby herself. ‘I think Heidi needs to be, too.’

Turning to Gavin, Andee said, ‘How would you feel about doing the appeal on your own? Obviously we’ll be with you, but if Heidi’s not . . .’

‘I can do it,’ he interrupted. ‘Let her have some rest. I’ve already made some notes.’

Andee glanced at her watch. ‘Shona should be here any minute,’ she said. ‘She’s from our Corporate Communications Department, or press office as we usually call it. She’ll explain how everything’s going to be set up, exactly what sort of thing . . .’ She broke off as the doorbell rang. ‘I’ll go,’ she told Lauren.

After letting Shona in Andee spoke quietly with her in the hall, explaining that she was going outside to make some calls and would be back in time to help finalise Gavin’s statement.

‘Yes, I know they’ve charged him with rape,’ Suzi was saying to Jackie Poynter on the phone, ‘and the magistrate’s bound to remand him in custody.’

‘Have the police questioned you since his arrest?’ Jackie asked.

‘Not yet, but someone’s coming round here later.’

‘Well, all you have to do is keep a level head and remember that you were there when he was supposed to be committing this rape, so you know it’s not true.’

As she registered the advice Suzi’s blood turned cold. ‘Are you asking me . . .? Are you saying I should . . .’

‘You know what I’m saying. We both want to help your brother, and I think it would be good for him to know that. I have to go now. Call me after you’ve spoken to the police.’

As the line went dead Suzi rang off too and began pacing the sitting room of the fourth-floor flat she’d moved into under Jackie’s instruction. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Gary since his arrest, nor did she want to. If she had the courage she’d contact the police and tell them everything she knew, but she was too afraid of what the Poynters might do to her and Gary if she did so.

Quickly dialling her mother’s number, she blurted, ‘They want me to give Gary an alibi, say it wasn’t true, that he . . . you know . . .’

‘Then do it,’ her mother said tiredly. ‘You don’t want to see him go to prison again, do you?’

‘He will anyway, for breaking his protection order.’

‘But not for as long as he would if they make these charges stick. He’s family, Suzi, and families stick together, you know that.’

‘But what about me? I don’t want to lie . . .’

‘I understand that, but sometimes you have to. If you won’t do it for him, then do it for me.’

Not knowing how to answer that, Suzi clicked off the line and sank to her knees. None of this was making any sense. She’d come here to try to make a new life for herself, and it was all turning against her.

‘Mum, can you talk?’

‘Not for long,’ Andee replied, glad to see the press had decamped for the conference as she headed back to the Monroes. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Yeah, I’m cool,’ Alayna assured her, ‘I just wanted to make sure that you are. Have you heard anything from Dad today?’

‘As a matter of fact I had a text earlier about the trust funds Grandpa Dougie’s set up for you and Luke.’

‘What about them?’

‘He wants me to go into the lawyer’s office when I can to sign some forms.’

‘Cool. You’re still seeing him tonight, aren’t you?’

‘I am. Is Luke home yet?’

‘I haven’t seen him, but if they had a late night partying he’s probably still asleep.’

‘Do me a favour and try calling him.’

‘What do you want me to say?’

‘I just want to know where he is, that’s all.’

‘OK. Any more news about Sophie?’

Touched that she’d remembered to ask, and wishing Sophie knew that people were concerned about her, Andee said, ‘There have been a couple of developments, but nothing I can discuss. I should go now. Don’t forget to ring Luke,’ and clicking off her end she took a call on the Airwave. ‘Jemma, speak to me.’

‘Kasia Domanski just called,’ Jemma told her excitedly, ‘apparently Sikora’s on his way back, due here sometime on Monday.’

Really wanting to believe that, Andee asked, ‘So he’s driving?’

‘Sounds like it.’

‘OK. We need to be ready to pick him up as soon as he comes into the country. How’s he going to do that? Through Calais?’

‘That’s the most obvious route.’

‘Put all the ports on standby. Does Gould know about this yet?’

‘No, but . . .’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll tell him when he gets here. We don’t want the press to know, you understand that, don’t you?’

‘Of course.’

‘Are you going to the mags’ court with Leo?’

‘Yeah, we’re just about to leave.’

‘OK, call me when you’re done.’

Kasia was in Henryk’s Polish food shop in Kesterly’s old town, where she came every week to buy Tomasz’s favourite treats from their country. It didn’t matter that he’d be having them regularly at the moment, she still wanted to prepare something special for when he came home.

He’d texted earlier to let her know that he was starting back in the morning and should be with them by midday on Monday at the latest.

Please get in touch with the police and tell them I am coming
, he’d said at the end of his message.
But do not tell anyone else, not even Olenka or the children
.

So, in spite of bursting to share her relief, Kasia was managing to keep it to herself. She was so happy to know that he was going to help the police to sort out the terrible mistake everyone was making about him. And it was a mistake, she was in no doubt of that. Just because he worked at the camp and he knew Sophie didn’t mean that he was some kind of predator or pimp, who went round tricking girls into believing he was going to help them find a better life. He’d never do anything to hurt anyone, especially not a young girl, and soon everyone would know how wrong and cruel they had been to think him capable of all the dreadful things that were being suggested.