Don't Let Me Go (25 page)

Charlotte shook her head. She’d collected plenty of children from this very reception in her time, so she was almost as familiar with the cold grey-painted walls, glassed-in custody desk and scratched wooden doors as she was with the offenders’ homes.

Spotting a tall figure at the desk with his back to them, Charlotte felt herself shrinking inside. She knew exactly who it was, even before he turned round to regard her with his piercing blue eyes. Detective Chief Inspector Terence Gould, the officer who’d visited her home on numerous occasions to talk about the missing child who had all the time been upstairs in a bedroom.

‘I have to say,’ he told her in a drawl, ‘that I never imagined we’d meet again this way.’

Since there wasn’t a question, Charlotte didn’t answer, though she felt sure her expression showed how unnerved and ashamed she was.

‘Good evening, Detective Chief Inspector,’ Kim Giles said affably.

After a brief nod in her direction, Gould turned to the custody sergeant. ‘Charge her,’ he said, and without another glance in Charlotte’s direction he left the suite.

Ten minutes later Charlotte was in a cramped, foul-smelling interview room with Kim Giles.

‘Well, we know now,’ Kim was saying as she unpacked her briefcase, ‘that they’re going for child abduction. I guessed they would, but I was afraid they might throw in perverting the course of justice, which can carry a seriously stiff sentence.’

‘And child abduction can’t?’ Charlotte cried, still reeling from the shock of finding herself charged so abruptly.

‘Believe me, perverting the course could be worse,’ Kim responded.

‘The fact that they’ve charged me already must mean they’re pretty sure of their case,’ Charlotte stated. ‘And why wouldn’t they be when they’ve just brought me back from New Zealand? As far as they’re concerned this is all in the bag, and it is, isn’t it?’

‘They probably think so,’ Kim conceded, ‘and I’m not going to lie to you, it’s serious, but try to think of being charged in a positive light. It not only tells us what they’re convinced they can make stick, it means the press are no longer able to vent their own opinions on what’s happened.’ Her eyes came to Charlotte, and the crispness of her tone vanished. ‘Oh God, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you look all in. Did you manage to get any sleep on the plane?’

‘Not really,’ Charlotte replied, still struggling to catch up with the last few minutes. ‘I guess I was too worried.’

‘Of course,’ Kim murmured sympathetically. ‘We’ll just go through some basics for now, then you need to rest. I’m sorry it has to be here, but there’s no way of getting you in front of a magistrate until tomorrow, at which point I’m hopeful you’ll get bail.’

‘We can go into court tomorrow?’ Charlotte asked.

Kim nodded. ‘In the morning.’

‘Can you actually get bail for someone who’s absconded from the country with a child that’s not her own? A child she allowed the police to think was dead, even murdered by her own father?’

Kim raised an ironic eyebrow. ‘I probably won’t phrase it quite like that,’ she responded, and sitting down at the table she opened her laptop ready to make some notes. ‘OK, first up, you probably want to know how I arrived in your life, so I should tell you that your stepfather’s lawyer in Auckland, Don Thackeray, has had previous dealings with my boss, Jolyon Crane. Obviously Mr Thackeray wanted Jolyon himself to take you on, but unfortunately he’s tied up on a fraud case over in Kent that looks set to go on a while. So he asked me to step in, but don’t worry, I’ve had a lot of experience, and I’ll be keeping him up to speed with everything that’s happening. If you have any worries about me, you just have to say.’ She smiled briefly in a way that almost made Charlotte smile too.

‘I expect you know this,’ Charlotte said, ‘but it was someone from your office who represented me when I was fired from my job.’ She didn’t add that it was the barrister Anthony Goodman who’d recommended Jolyon Crane on that occasion – there was no reason to. However, hearing Jolyon’s name had caused a flutter in her heart.

‘Eliza Flack repped you for that,’ Kim Giles stated. ‘She’s just gone off on maternity leave or she’d be here now, given that she already knows some of the background. Don’t worry, it’s all on file, and as soon as I get back to the office I’ll be familiarising myself with every last word. If there had been time I’d have done it before coming, but we only got the call this morning while I was in court, then I had to hotfoot it down from Bristol in order to try and get here before you. Luckily I managed it; it was just unfortunate that I couldn’t stop them bringing you in the front. Gould knows he was well out of order with that, and I’ll be letting him know that I know it too.’

Impressed by how unfazed she seemed by powerful alpha males, Charlotte said, ‘I should thank you for rescuing me from under that blanket. I don’t suppose they’d have let anything happen to me, but I can’t say it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.’

‘Pathetic,’ Kim scoffed. ‘Any more tricks like that and I’ll be contacting the top brass. They won’t want to mess with someone from Jolyon’s office . . . Listen, before you start keeling over on me I expect you’d like to know that I spoke to your mother earlier.’

Charlotte wanted to grab the words and hold them to her as though they were Anna herself. ‘Is she all right?’ she asked.

‘She’s fine, but worried about you, obviously. In fact, she’s very keen to get over here, but for the moment we’re advising her to stay put, at least until we can be sure the British police aren’t after making any more arrests.’

Charlotte’s eyes went down as the shame of what she’d done to her mother swept through her. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any chance I can speak to her,’ she said hoarsely.

‘As soon as we get you out of here, absolutely, so I think we should start that ball rolling. First up, I need to know if you have an address here in the UK, somewhere you can go while you’re on bail?’

‘You really think I’ll get bail?’ Charlotte said, still not able to believe it.

‘I can’t guarantee it, I’m afraid, but it’s certainly what we’re aiming for. So, address? Doesn’t have to be yours, it can be a friend’s or a relative’s.’

Charlotte’s first thought was of Gabby and then some of her old friends in Mulgrove. Eventually, though, she shook her head. It simply wouldn’t be fair to inflict her problems on any of them, even if they agreed to take her, which they might not.

Would Gabby come to the court tomorrow? Did she even know Charlotte was due to appear? She would know once the press reported it, and that was no doubt happening even as she sat here.

Since she’d made no suggestions, Kim said, ‘Not to worry, we’ll get something sorted. Now, obviously, the prosecutor’s going to paint you as a flight risk, so I’d like to be able to counter that with something impressive enough to make the magistrate believe in you.’

Charlotte pulled a face. It would be hard to feel less impressive than she did right now.

‘I’m proposing we offer to post bail,’ Kim told her. ‘So, do you have any cash, assets, rich mates who might stand you . . .’

‘I have two hundred and fifty thousand pounds,’ Charlotte came in hopefully. ‘It’s the proceeds from the sale of my adoptive parents’ house.’

Kim’s eyes widened. ‘That could do it, especially if it’s every last penny you have.’

‘It is.’

‘And is it in an account here, or overseas?’

‘In New Zealand, but I can always transfer it back.’

‘Indeed. It would just be more helpful if it was immediately accessible, we don’t want them banging you up until the banks have got their transfers together. Still, let’s not worry about that now, I’m sure your stepfather will work something out with Jolyon if necessary. You know, you’re looking so shattered I think we ought to call it a day for . . .’

‘I have to know about Chloe,’ Charlotte interrupted. ‘Do you know where she is, what might be happening to her?’

Kim’s eyes reflected her understanding. ‘I realise worrying about her must be the hardest part of all this for you,’ she said, ‘so I’ll try to find out what I can. It’s not going to be easy, obviously, but if there’s anyone in social services you can put me in touch with . . .’

Though Charlotte knew exactly who she wanted to choose, she wasn’t sure she could bring herself to put him in such an impossible position.

‘Whoever it is,’ Kim said gently, ‘they can always say no, but without some inside help it’s unlikely we’ll get very far. You know that better than I do.’

Charlotte’s eyes came back to hers, and reminding herself she was doing this for Chloe, she said, ‘Tommy Burgess. He was my team leader. I’m not sure if he’s still there, in his last email he said he was moving back up north, but if he is, I think he’ll tell us what he can.’

Kim wrote down the name, along with the mobile number Charlotte added. ‘Anyone else?’ she asked. ‘Just in case.’

Hoping it wouldn’t come to it, Charlotte said, ‘Lizzie Walsh. She’s a part-timer, and has enormous problems with her family, so I’d really rather not drag her into it if . . .’

‘It’s OK, I promise not to contact her unless I have to.’

Feeling her nails digging into her palms, Charlotte said, ‘They will bring Chloe back here, won’t they? I mean, there’s no chance of her being returned to my mother?’

With a regretful smile, Kim replied, ‘All I can tell you is that she’s a British subject, so as far as the authorities are concerned this is where she belongs and . . .’

‘Surely she belongs with people who love her,’ Charlotte broke in desperately.

‘Of course,’ Kim agreed, ‘and maybe now is a good time to tell you that I, personally, believe you acted in Ottilie’s – Chloe’s – best interests when you took her, and while the law isn’t exactly on our side, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop it from working against us.’

Touched by the sincerity of her tone, even as more fear welled inside her, Charlotte tried to reply, but found she couldn’t.

‘OK, that’s enough for tonight,’ Kim decided, closing down her laptop. ‘We’ll have time to talk in the morning before we go in front of the magistrate.’

Getting to her feet, Charlotte said, ‘Whoever you speak to at social services, could you ask if it’s possible to get Chloe placed with Maggie Fenn? She’s a foster carer, here in Kesterly, who I know would be wonderful with her.’

After writing the name down, Kim began packing away her files. ‘I’m hoping,’ she said, as she opened the door, ‘that you’re so tired now you won’t even know where you are once your head hits the pillow.’

Somehow Charlotte managed a smile. ‘They have pillows here?’ she asked drolly.

Kim cast her a glance. ‘I use the term loosely,’ she responded. ‘Just try to get some sleep, OK? And please, no matter how awful the food looks when they bring it, eat it.’

Knowing the sense of this advice, Charlotte said, ‘Will I be allowed to change into fresh clothes before we go to court tomorrow?’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll track down that bag and make sure of it.’ As they came to a stop in front of the custody desk Kim turned to face Charlotte, her frank brown eyes full of concern. ‘Your mother and stepfather will be waiting for my call,’ she said, ‘so if you have any messages . . .’

Putting a hand to her mouth as more emotion tried to overwhelm her, Charlotte said, ‘Tell my mother . . . Please tell her not to come. She mustn’t run the risk of being arrested. I just couldn’t bear it if that happened.’

Kim nodded her understanding.

‘And could you tell Bob,’ Charlotte added, ‘that he’s found me a great lawyer.’

Kim smiled. ‘We’ve a long way to go,’ she replied, ‘but I’m going to stay hopeful that you’re still saying that at the end of it.’

Chapter Thirteen

IT WAS JUST
after five in the morning when the phone shocked Anna out of an unsteady sleep. Grabbing it as Bob came awake too, she said, ‘Hello? Anna Reeves speaking.’
Please let it be Charlotte, or at least the lawyer. Or someone with news of Chloe.

‘Mrs Reeves, it’s Kim Giles,’ the voice at the other end told her.

The lawyer.
Anna’s heart was already thudding hard. ‘Have you seen her?’ she asked, swinging her feet to the floor. ‘Is she all right?’

‘She’s fine,’ Kim Giles replied firmly. ‘Pretty tired, but that’s to be expected, and a bit emotional, but all in all she’s holding together. I left her about twenty minutes ago just about ready to drop. I’m afraid she’ll have to spend the night at the police station, but I’ll be trying to get her bailed tomorrow, and I’m hoping you can help me with that.’

‘Of course. Anything you need, just tell me . . . If it’s money, you know that’s not a problem.’

‘Thank you. We’ll come on to that. First though, she’s going to need an address in the UK, preferably Kesterly, and at the moment she doesn’t seem to have one. Nor is she seeming inclined to ask any of her friends, so is there anyone you can think of who might be willing to let her stay for a while?’

Frowning, Anna said, ‘She has a sister. Didn’t she mention her?’

‘No, she didn’t. Is she in the area?’

‘Not exactly, but she’s not far away. I can’t think why Charlotte . . . Oh God, I know what’s going through her mind. Gabby hasn’t been in touch since we left, plus she has children and Charlotte’ll be concerned about how this might affect them. But why hasn’t Gabby come forward anyway? I’d have thought she’d want to help Charlotte . . .’

‘Maybe you could try speaking to Gabby,’ Kim suggested. ‘It would make a huge difference tomorrow if Charlotte does have somewhere to go.’

‘Of course, but what if Gabby . . . I mean, we have to accept that she might not want to be involved. Have you tried her old boss, Tommy Burgess? They were very good friends.’

‘I’ve left a message for him to call me back, but given his position in social services he might not feel it’s the wisest thing to do.’

Feeling for how devastated Charlotte would be to hear that, Anna said, ‘What about if we rent a flat for her? She’d have her own address then, somewhere she could stay while this is all going on.’

‘It’s a great idea for the long term, but . . .’