The Winners, page 16
Kate and Danny were in the kitchen and didn’t hear their father approaching. Malcolm stopped outside the door and sighed. They were arguing again.
‘What do you mean, Geoff has an important meeting? What’s more important than getting Mum back? He’s a selfish bastard. I don’t know why you married him.’
‘Because I love him? And don’t call him that. It’s awful! His mum’s minding Daisy, and if Geoff was here, you’d probably only argue, so maybe it’s better he’s not.’
‘Yeah, you’re right there. He’d only want to involve the police and put Mum at more risk. Anyway, have you had any more thoughts on this man Mum was with in Costa? Do you think she’s been cheating on Dad?’
‘Oh, Danny, don’t say that. She wouldn’t. Mum’s not like that, and she loves Dad.’
‘They say that no one really knows what goes on in a marriage. Parents don’t tell their children everything; look at the secret past Dad’s been keeping from us all these years. We hadn’t a clue about it, did we?’
‘No, but this is our Mum we’re talking about. And if she was having an affair with this man, why would he kidnap her?’ Kate poured milk into her coffee and sat at the table, her face creased with worry.
‘Maybe she hasn’t been kidnapped and they’re attempting to get the money to run off together?’
‘Now that’s just plain ridiculous. Half the money is Mum’s anyway – why would she fake her kidnapping?’
‘Yeah, I suppose you’re right. It could be that he has nothing to do with her disappearance. She may have been taken after she left him.’
‘But no one else appears to have seen her. It seems she didn’t get any further than Costa.’
Malcolm couldn’t listen to any more. He entered the kitchen and sat beside his daughter. ‘Thinking up wild theories isn’t getting us anywhere.’
Kate blushed while Danny looked away. ‘Sorry, Dad.’ Kate reached over to take his hand. ‘You know what it’s like when you can’t sleep and your mind goes to some pretty dark places?’
‘Yes, I know, love.’ Malcolm had also considered most of these scenarios yet couldn’t admit it to his children.
‘Sorry, Dad, but I must go to the bank now; it’s nearly time to get the money.’ Kate stood and kissed her father, leaving the two men drinking coffee and trying to think of something to say. When the door closed behind her, Malcolm chastised his son.
‘You shouldn’t be so hard on Geoff. He is entitled to his opinions, as we all are, and he’s good to Kate and Daisy. He might not be your choice for your sister but she loves him.’
‘Yeah, I’m sorry. I know he’s good for Kate; it’s just that sometimes he’s so smug – he knows everything about any subject we’re discussing, and it’s irritating, to say the least.’
‘We all have our faults, son. So, do you have the money?’
‘It’s in a bag in the lounge. And yours?’
‘Under the stairs. I kicked it there when I got home and haven’t touched it since. I’d gladly give him the whole twenty-two million to get Julie back.’ Malcolm’s face crumpled. He covered his eyes with his right hand. ‘Do you think she was having an affair?’ He looked up at Danny, tears in his eyes.
‘No, I don’t. If you heard my stupid conjecture, that’s all it is, conjecture. Mum loves you. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. Whatever’s happened to her has nothing to do with her actions; it’s that bloody man who’s taken her. Look, Dad. I need to go out for an hour, will you be okay alone for a while? Kate shouldn’t be long, and when I get back, we’ll wait with you until we hear from the kidnapper. Goodness knows what he’ll expect us to do, but we’ll go along with him; anything else is too risky.’
‘I’ll be fine, Danny. You get off and do what you need to do. I’ve got Trixie for company. She’ll be wondering where her breakfast is.’ Malcolm scratched the little dog’s ears and stood to prepare her breakfast while Danny quietly exited the front door.
While alone, Malcolm took the opportunity to make a phone call to the home where his father lived. Knowing Bill would be expecting him to visit, Mal was torn between going and telling his dad everything or making an excuse to protect him from the horrors of what his family were enduring. He decided on the latter.
As much as Mal hated lying, he dialled the number he knew by heart and spoke to the care home manager. Asking her to give a message to Bill, Mal told her that he and Julie had flu and were too ill to visit. The manager agreed they should stay away until clear of infection; she didn’t need to elaborate on the effect of taking infections into a residence full of vulnerable people.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Gina Robinson hated her job at Costa. The manager was a bully whose overbearing presence greeted her each morning and he had a knack for belittling her in front of her colleagues. The pay was hardly worth getting out of bed for, and she didn’t even like coffee. Give her a strong mug of tea any day.
The title of barista was meant to instil pride and accomplishment but a title couldn’t pay the bills and Gina found herself dreaming of cash that could actually make a difference in her life. Even the customers could be demanding. They complained about everything from the prolonged waiting times and cramped seating to the draught every time the door swung open.
School holidays were torture when bored mothers brought screaming children to meet with their friends – anyone would think they were running a creche. The constant noise of the espresso machines and whingeing babies gave her a headache – what she wouldn’t give for an easier way to make a living.
Occasionally, something happened to break the monotony. Gina had enjoyed watching her boss grovel when a lady tripped over, and he feared she might sue. The woman looked familiar, but Gina assumed it was because she was a regular customer. It wasn’t until the following day that she recognised her family when they arrived asking questions. The son and daughter looked familiar, too, and Gina remembered seeing a picture of the lottery winners in the newspaper. They lived on the same street as her Auntie Babs; she was sure it was them but could hardly ask.
The boss was as snooty as ever and refused to help the family even when they said the woman was missing. When they left, Gina dreamed of what it would be like to win serious money. She took her dinner break shortly after they went and googled the family. Wow! Twenty-two million pounds! Gina whistled through her teeth.
What she’d give for that kind of money – she could give up her poxy job, travel to exotic places, buy a smart flat in a good area of town. She thought of the designer handbag she’d coveted in that posh department store, a win like that and she could get a dozen bags, and clothes and shoes! Gina was almost dizzy thinking of all the goodies she could buy.
When she’d finished her sandwich and can of Coke, Gina went outside and lit up a cigarette, still fantasising of what she could do with the money. Heading towards the coffee shop was the same man from the morning, the good-looking son, striding out with a purpose. Gina stubbed out the cigarette and put it back in the packet for later, then dashed back inside, her mind processing too many thoughts to be rational.
The young man bought a latte and took it to the corner table, the one where his mother usually sat. He seemed antsy, checking his watch and looking around all the time. Gina wondered if he was meeting someone. After a respectable time, she sauntered over to collect cups from the next table. He noticed her and she smiled – it wouldn’t hurt to be pleasant to a good-looking young rich guy, would it?
‘Hello again,’ she said. ‘Did you find the lady you were looking for?’
‘No. Your boss wasn’t very helpful.’ He took a sip of his latte.
‘That doesn’t surprise me.’ Gina smiled. ‘Maybe I can help?’
He looked a little more animated. ‘Is your boss not here?’
‘Nah. It’s his half day off; he left half an hour ago.’
‘The lady we’re looking for is my mother. She didn’t come home last night and we’re worried something may have happened to her. Is there any chance you could let me have a look at the CCTV footage for yesterday? Or perhaps you could copy it for me?’ Danny held up a memory stick he’d brought for the purpose.
Gina moved closer so as not to be overheard. ‘You’re the guy who won the lottery, aren’t you?’
‘Well, my parents are; what’s that got to do with anything?’
‘Nothing – except one good turn deserves another. If I help you, I’d risk losing my job; maybe you could make it worthwhile?’
‘How does a hundred pounds sound?’ Danny sighed.
‘Five hundred sounds better.’ Gina countered without a breath.
‘Five?’
‘Shh. I’m taking a big risk. If you give me twenty minutes and come back with the cash, I’ll see what I can do.’
Danny handed over the memory stick and drained his latte. ‘Fine. I’ll have to go to the bank, so twenty minutes?’
Gina nodded and moved away. The office wasn’t locked as it doubled as a store room so she shouldn’t have much of a problem. She told her colleague she had a headache and was taking five minutes to grab some paracetamol in the office. It was getting busy, so she shouldn’t be disturbed. The system was basic, and it didn’t take long for her to find what she needed.
While waiting for the footage to download, Gina wondered if she should give the man her phone number. The thought of all that money was seductive; she could be really nice to a man who was rich. Another thought crossed her mind – why had his mother done a runner? Maybe the bloke she was with was her secret lover and they’d run off together. Even now, they could be on a tropical island somewhere, enjoying the sun and sipping cocktails. Why didn’t people like her win the lottery? Life wasn’t fair!
Twenty minutes later, Gina watched the door anxiously. Had she asked for too much? But she was risking her job, and for a man with millions, five hundred wouldn’t be missed. Still, seeing him enter only a few minutes late was a relief.
Gina walked over to look for empties away from prying eyes, and Danny moved alongside her. ‘Well?’ he asked.
Grinning, she took the memory stick from her pocket and slid it into his hand, pressing her boobs into his arm. Danny stepped back, and pulling an envelope from his pocket handed it to her and turned to leave.
‘What’s the hurry?’ Gina placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘I can let you have my phone number if you fancy meeting up sometime?’ She tilted her head to the side, a playful smile on her lips.
‘I’m choosy who I mix with.’ Danny shrugged her hand from his shoulder and marched from the shop, leaving a red-faced Gina feeling angry and humiliated.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Sean Henderson was furious. He’d been enjoying his first cup of coffee of the day and dreaming about the money coming his way when the doorbell chimed, making him jump. Who the hell was calling at this time in the morning? He dashed to the door, determined to intercept whoever it was before Julie woke. A middle-aged woman stood on the step, a bicycle at her side and a beaming smile across her plump face.
‘Good morning! I’m Maisie,’ she chirped. ‘I clean and look after the cottage for the owners and I wondered how you’re settling in and if you need anything?’
The urge to snarl at the woman and chase her off was overwhelming but might raise suspicions. He forced a smile and pressed a finger to his lips. ‘Shh, my wife’s still asleep.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry…’ Her giggle suggested she wasn’t.
‘We don’t need anything, but thanks. Please don’t bother to call again. Must dash!’ Sean shut the door in her face and watched through the frosted glass as she mounted her bike and cycled away. He hadn’t expected a nosy cleaner to come by – he’d explicitly told the owner he wanted solitude.
A loud rapping on the upstairs window startled him. Julie. He sighed, a wave of relief washing over him – that was a close one. It was time to face his captive.
Julie’s sleep had been punctuated by the pain in her knee and fear of the following day’s outcome. She had no way of knowing the time, but it was daylight when the sound of a doorbell woke her. Pulling herself together, she took a few moments to remember where she was before hearing voices from below the window. Unable to make out the words, she struggled to climb from the bed and hobbled over to the window in time to see a woman peddling away from the cottage on a bicycle.
Her heart pounded. No, no, no! Julie banged on the window, tears streaming down her face as she shouted and slammed the glass as hard as possible. The woman didn’t look back and soon disappeared through the trees and into the distance.
Julie was furious with herself for missing the chance to attract attention. She hobbled back to the bed and lay down, but the sound of a key in the door terrified her.
‘What the hell do you think you were doing? If that woman had seen or heard you, I’d have had to kill her and maybe you as well!’ Sean spat the words out, causing Julie to tremble. She clutched the duvet to her chest as if it could protect her from his anger. ‘You can bloody well stay locked in here now – no more concessions!’
He turned, slammed the door and Julie heard the key turn in the lock. It was one of the saddest sounds she’d ever heard and profoundly affected her. Was Sean a killer? She didn’t know him, and it was a chilling thought. Julie sat still, frozen in both body and mind. Any bravery or tactics she might have considered the previous night deserted her as she stared into the pretty cottage bedroom, her chintzy jail.
Julie was hungry but, more urgently, needed to pee. Should she bang on the door and beg Sean to allow her to use the bathroom? No. Some pride remained in her, but might not if she didn’t pee soon.
Recalling her search of the room the night before, Julie remembered a bucket and some cleaning materials in the back of the wardrobe. Needs must, she thought and used the bucket to relieve herself.
Staggering back to the bed, Julie glimpsed her image in the dressing table mirror – she looked awful. Her face was swollen, with a crust of dried blood on her lip where Sean had struck her. He was clearly an angry man, but was he violent enough to kill her as he’d suggested? Her knee, too, was swollen and more painful than the previous day. All thoughts were negative – not surprising. Julie had never been in a situation like this. Danger and violence happened to other people, not ordinary middle-aged women like her.
Feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t get results; she needed to be proactive. Did Sean have a weakness she could exploit? Julie didn’t know the man, so this was a dead-end. Could she somehow overpower him? Gazing around the room for a potential weapon, the lamp seemed the most likely tool. She unplugged it and removed the shade. Yes, it was a heavy base. When Sean next came into the room she could hit him over the head and make a run for it.
But what if the blow didn’t render him unconscious? She’d be afraid to hit him too hard in case she killed him – Julie couldn’t live with someone’s death on her conscience, even someone as despicable as Sean. If he was unconscious, would she be able to escape? Wouldn’t Sean have all the doors locked and maybe even the keys hidden? And if she did get outside, how would she reach safety? They appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, and her leg was virtually useless.
Think, Julie! You’re not a quitter – you have so much to live for.
Julie’s head ached. She couldn’t think straight. Thirst gnawed at her and her stomach growled. Curling into a ball on the bed, she was inclined to do nothing, to wait it out and hope and pray that her family would pay the ransom, or if the police were involved, they would find her. Pulling the duvet over her head, Julie pressed her eyes tightly closed to hold in the tears she was ashamed to let go.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Kate arrived back at her parents’ home before her brother. Malcolm was relieved to see her; being alone was excruciating and his thoughts ran riot without the distraction of company. ‘Did you get the money?’ he asked, knowing it was a stupid question as his daughter was lugging a large holdall through the door. Kate nodded.
‘Where’s Dan?’ She looked past her father to the kitchen, but everything was quiet.
‘He had to go out and didn’t say where.’
‘Typical. He shouldn’t have left you alone, Dad.’
‘No worries, I’m fine.’ The look on Kate’s face told him she didn’t believe him. He changed the subject. ‘Is Geoff coming round later?’
‘If he can get away from work, he’ll be here, but we haven’t any idea when we’ll get the call, have we?’
‘No. I shouldn’t think it’ll be late. The kidnapper will be almost as anxious to get this over with as we are.’
‘To get hold of the money, you mean!’
‘I’ll willingly give it to him if only he lets your mum go…’
‘I know, Dad.’ Kate hugged her father, led him into the kitchen and turned on the kettle.
‘You’re just like Julie. A cup of tea and a chat solves everything, but this time it doesn’t!’ The door slamming saved Kate from having to reply. Danny shouted hello and joined them in the kitchen.
‘Where’ve you been? You shouldn’t have left Dad on his own.’ Kate frowned at her brother.
‘I had something to do – something I hope will be helpful.’ He pulled a memory stick from his pocket. ‘This should tell us exactly what happened to Mum. Where’s your laptop, Dad?’
Malcolm hurried off to find it while Kate asked what was on the memory stick. As Malcolm returned with the laptop, Danny took it from him and fired it up. ‘This is a copy of the CCTV from Costa!’ If his words had been written, they would have been in a cursive script, ending in a flourish.
‘But how did you get it? The manager was adamant he wouldn’t let us see it.’ Kate was stunned.
‘I didn’t ask the manager. I approached that dozy girl, Gina or something, and she was interested in earning a few quid on the side. Serving coffee all day doesn’t exactly pay well.’
