No Turning Back, page 21
‘I think whoever it is wants to send me a message. I don’t know why, maybe it’s to do with the reports my dad did. I just know I’m a target, Joni is.’ She looked around her. ‘We’re not safe here any more.’
Her phone rang. She looked down at it, saw it was Guy. ‘I need to take this, it’s Joni’s father.’ She put the phone to her ear.
‘Mum said Joni’s safe. I’m trying to find a flight back. How is she?’
‘Fine, she’s been checked over and she’s fine,’ Anna said quickly. ‘I have her in my arms right now.’
‘What happened?’
Anna took a deep breath, looking at Detective Morgan. ‘They found her sitting in a pond a street down from the nursery.’
‘What the fuck?’
‘Calm down, Guy. She’s okay.’
‘How the hell did she end up in a pond?’
‘They’re trying to figure that out.’
‘What the hell is going on, Anna?’
‘Detective Morgan is right here, he’s going to—’
‘Put him on the phone.’
Anna held the phone out to the detective. ‘He wants to speak to you.’
The detective took it. ‘Mr Graves, it’s Detective Morgan. Your daughter is safe.’ He paused, nodding his head. ‘That’s right, in a pond.’ He paused again, looking at Anna with hooded eyes. ‘You’re right, we don’t believe she would’ve crawled there. We’re going to do all we can to get to the bottom of this…Ben Miller? I don’t know, Mr Graves. That will be a line we’ll investigate. Yes, yes, of course.’
The detective handed the phone back to Anna.
‘Guy, I promise I will keep her safe,’ Anna said to Guy. ‘We’ll leave Ridgmont Waters tonight and—’
‘No, my mum will have her tonight then I’ll pick her up when I’m back tomorrow.’
‘But it’s my turn to have Joni!’
‘I don’t care. I’m taking my daughter somewhere safe.’
My daughter.
‘She’s safe with me,’ Anna said, trying to keep her panic at bay. ‘We’ll leave Ridgmont Waters, I’ll text you the address of the hotel we find. You can then come to see her and—’
‘Listen to me, Anna,’ Guy hissed. ‘She is not safe with you. I don’t care what it takes, I’m not letting her stay another night with you.’
Anger mounted inside Anna. ‘I won’t let you take her from me. If you try to I’ll—’
‘Stab me?’
She froze. How could he say that to her?
‘Guy—’
‘My mother’s taking her. Goodbye, Anna.’ Then he slammed the phone down.
‘Interesting conversation,’ the detective said.
‘It’s been a difficult time for all of us,’ Anna said.
The detective looked at Joni, who was still crying, tears rolling down her chubby cheeks. ‘Mrs Graves, I—’
She interrupted him. ‘Please, can I just take my daughter home?’
‘Will you listen, Mrs Graves?’ the detective shouted ‘Where were you before Joni disappeared?’
Anna went very still as he shouted. Everyone on the street went quiet, eyes directed at her: police, paramedics, nursery nurses, neighbours. All accusing, suspicious.
‘What did you say?’ Anna asked in a trembling voice.
‘You heard me. Where were you between twelve-thirty and one today, Mrs Graves?’
‘You can’t be suggesting I kidnapped my own daughter and put her in a pond?’
‘Just answer the question, Mrs Graves,’ the detective said.
‘It was my lunchbreak, I went for a walk along the beach outside the studio.’
‘Did anyone see you?’
‘I’m sure lots of people did.’ She blinked away tears. ‘I need to get my daughter home so I can pack. The sooner we get out of this town, the better.’
‘I wouldn’t recommend leaving town, Mrs Graves. We will assign a police team to you.’
‘No. I need to get away, that’s the only way to keep me and Joni safe.’
‘Mrs Graves, I insist on—’
‘Insist on what? She’s my daughter, I know how to keep her safe when nobody else seems to be able to. You can’t take her from me, Detective Morgan.’
‘Not now, no.’ He shot her a look that implied he might be able to, soon.
Anna’s whole body shook with terror. She marched away through the throng of police officers and gathering neighbours until she got to her car outside the nursery.
Guy’s mother strode up to her. ‘Guy said I—’
‘You’re not taking her, Pam,’ Anna said, opening the back door and strapping Joni in.
‘But Guy said it would be best if—’
‘Joni’s best with me.’
Her mother-in-law took a deep breath. ‘It’s clear someone’s trying to target you. You know it’s for the best that Joni come with me.’
‘For the best?’ Anna asked. ‘You’re saying it’s for the best Joni stay with someone who let her disappear under her nose?’ Anna laughed bitterly, shaking her head in disbelief. ‘I don’t think so, Pam.’ Then she got into her car, feeling everyone’s eyes on her as she drove off.
It was only when she was out of sight that she burst into tears.
Anna battled her way through the ever-growing throng of journalists to get to her house. After double locking the front door and checking the back door, she jogged upstairs with Joni, placing her on her bed with some toys as she started packing items.
‘We’re getting out of here, darling,’ she said, forcing herself to smile. ‘We’re getting away and we’re going to be safe, I promise.’
Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She reluctantly paused and took it out, seeing she’d missed calls from Guy, her gran, Jeremy…and Jamie. There was a voicemail too. She quickly called it, tucking her phone under her chin as she flung Joni’s bodysuits into a suitcase.
‘Hello, Anna. My name’s Linda Cain, I’m calling from the local authority’s Child Protection Services.’ Anna’s stomach sank. ‘Can you call me back about us visiting you tomorrow?’
As the social worker reeled off her number, Anna sat on the bed, blinking into the distance. So Guy had called them. A second visit from the social services in the space of two months.
But this one felt different.
She took a deep breath then called the number back. ‘Hi, Linda, it’s Anna Graves. You called a moment ago?’
‘Ah, yes, Anna. So is tomorrow okay?’
‘I’m planning to leave Ridgmont Waters tonight. But maybe we can meet once I know where I’ll be?’
‘I’m afraid I’d advise against leaving, Mrs Graves.’
‘But my child’s life is in danger. I presume you heard what happened at the nursery?’
‘I did. I also know Detective Morgan asked that you stay in town. It’s important you stay, Anna.’ Her voice was gentle but Anna could hear the threat in her tone.
‘I presume my husband called you?’ Anna said.
‘I’m afraid I can’t divulge. How’s midday tomorrow?’
Anna hesitated. What choice did she have? ‘Midday’s fine.’
She put the phone down and gently lifted Joni up, drawing comfort from the warmth of her little body.
Joni stared into her mother’s eyes, putting her hand on her cheek. ‘Mama,’ she said.
‘I love you so so much, darling,’ Anna said, tears falling from her eyes and wetting Joni’s fingers. ‘I’m so sorry you’re going through all this with me, my darling girl. It’s all Mummy’s fault.’ She let out another sob. ‘It’s my fault,’ she whispered again. ‘But I’ll make it right, I promise I’ll make it right.’
She curled up next to Joni in the semi-darkness, the sound of the clock in the hallway tick-tocking loudly, counting down to what Anna knew might be the most challenging few days of her life.
Chapter Eighteen
Just after midday the next day, the doorbell went. Anna took a deep breath, picking Joni up from her play mat and opening the front door. A tall woman with brown hair and green eyes was on her doorstep. She wasn’t how Anna imagined a social worker to look.
‘Linda?’ Anna asked. The woman nodded, smiling at Joni. ‘Come in,’ Anna said, opening the door wider for her.
The woman walked in, looking around her.
‘Come through,’ Anna said, leading her to the living room, wondering if the woman could smell the newly sprayed cleaning products, see the fresh hoover marks in the carpet. It was a wonder Anna had got any cleaning done considering how clingy Joni had been that morning. ‘Cup of tea?’ she asked the social worker as she sat down, placing her folder on her lap.
‘Lovely, thanks.’
After Anna made tea, she sat across from the social worker, jogging Joni up and down on her knee. Joni whimpered, reaching for Anna and wrapping her arm around her neck as she stared at the social worker under her little furrowed brow while sucking her thumb.
‘I’m going to ask a few questions, it’s just standard procedure, Anna,’ the social worker said. ‘I’d then like to look around the house.’
‘Of course.’
Linda smiled and looked down at the form she’d brought with her. Over the next twenty minutes, she reeled off a series of questions about Joni’s health, wellbeing, development, similar to the questions the other social worker had asked Anna a couple of months before. Joni squirmed against Anna halfway through so Anna placed her gently on her play mat, aware of the social worker’s eyes on her, feeling like every move was being judged. She felt a moment of deep dark sadness. How had it come to this, yet another visit from social services?
When Linda finished asking questions, she asked to look around. Anna led her upstairs, Joni in her arms.
‘Here’s where Joni sleeps most of the time,’ Anna said, opening the door to the nursery.
‘Most of the time?’ the social worker asked.
‘I sometimes have her in with me.’
‘I see,’ the social worker said, scribbling down some notes.
‘Co-sleeping’s fine, right?’ Anna said. ‘I don’t drink much nor smoke.’
‘Of course, as long as you take all the precautions. This room is lovely,’ Linda said, smiling as she took in the tree mural on the wall with its big-eyed owls perching on the branches, the cream cot and wardrobe, the stuffed toys. The social worker peered into the wicker basket of nappies, nodding, then opened the wardrobe.
She let out a gasp.
Anna followed her gaze to see a red tail comb sitting on the middle shelf…just like the comb she’d used to kill Elliot Nunn.
Anna’s legs suddenly felt weak, terror rushing through her.
‘I have no idea how that got there,’ Anna said with a trembling voice. She quickly picked it up, her heart hammered uncontrollably against her chest as she examined it. Joni went to grab it then yelped when it scratched her chubby wrist. She started crying and the social worker quickly took the comb from Anna, placing it out of Joni’s reach on the windowsill.
‘Is this your comb, Anna?’ the social worker asked, all smiles gone now.
‘Of course not! The police have the one I—’ She swallowed. ‘I don’t own a comb like that any more,’ she said instead.
The social worker took down some notes, face very serious. ‘I think I’ve seen enough now.’
Anna felt like collapsing on the floor but instead, she followed the social worker downstairs and let her out, all the time her mind on the comb, the red comb, the same sort of comb that had pierced Elliot’s neck, killing him.
She ran upstairs when the social worker left, placing Joni in her cot before staring at the comb which was lying on the windowsill.
She shook her head. How had it got here? She looked at the window, the locks on there. She wrapped her arms around herself.
That was it, she was definitely leaving, she didn’t care what anyone said.
She ran into her room, flinging clothes into a suitcase.
Then the doorbell went.
She paused then walked to the window, peering out. It was Guy. He looked up at her, catching her eye.
She felt her heart gallop. Had it happened that quickly, had the social worker called the police, told them about the comb and now Guy was here to take Joni from her?
She thought about not answering the door. But how would that look?
She picked Joni up and went downstairs, opening the door with trembling hands. Guy went to hold Joni but Anna stepped away. ‘You’re not taking her.’
His face hardened. ‘Anna, we have to think about what’s best for Joni.’
‘What’s best? Is having a social worker scrutinise her every move best for her?’
Guy frowned. ‘Social worker?’
Anna shook her head in disbelief. ‘I know you called them.’
‘I didn’t call social services.’
‘Don’t lie, Guy. I just had a visit from one.’
He shook his head. ‘I’m serious, Anna. I didn’t call them.’
She looked into his eyes. She’d known him for nearly fifteen years. She could tell when he was lying and he wasn’t now.
‘Then who did?’ she asked. ‘Would your mum?’
‘No, of course not.’ He sighed. ‘Can I come in? I’ve been travelling all night, I’m desperate to see this little one. I expected to see her at Mum and Dad’s.’ He shot Anna a look. ‘You shouldn’t have been so hard on my mum, Anna.’
‘I couldn’t let her take her.’
Guy walked in and took Joni from Anna, kissing her cheek. ‘She okay?’
‘She’s fine.’ Anna peered at the ceiling towards Joni’s room, thinking of the comb.
‘What’s wrong?’ Guy asked.
She examined his face. Should she tell him? He’d no doubt hear about it anyway. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. ‘The social worker visit didn’t go great.’
He frowned. ‘Why?’
‘There was a comb in Joni’s wardrobe.’
‘Comb? So what?’
‘A red tail comb.’
She opened her eyes to see Guy’s face go pale. ‘The comb?’
‘I don’t think so,’ Anna said quickly. ‘That’s in evidence. But it was exactly the same and I don’t own another like it.’
He rubbed her hands over his beard. ‘Jesus. Maybe the same person who took Joni yesterday left it?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe.’
‘The Ophelia Killer?’ Guy said, voice hoarse.
‘We don’t know who it is, Guy.’
‘But it could be. That’s what Mum said the police were saying.’
‘It could be a copycat.’
He paced the hallway with Joni in his arms, kissing her head.
‘Whoever it was didn’t hurt Joni,’ Anna said quickly.
‘No, just left her in a pond.’ He stopped walking, looking at Anna, face deadly serious. ‘What’s the most important thing in our lives?’
Anna stood close to him, stroking their daughter’s head. ‘Joni.’
He nodded. ‘The fact is, Anna, and you can’t deny it: Joni isn’t safe at the moment.’
Anna swallowed, eyes filling with tears.
‘I know you would never harm her,’ he said, his own brown eyes filling with tears too. ‘I was wrong to be so hard on you yesterday. The truth is, you saved our daughter’s life, risked your own doing it. I know you’d never hurt her, not in a million years and whichever idiot reported you to social services needs their head examined. But,’ he said, ‘she is not safe here with you. Not at the moment, anyway.’
‘That’s why I want to leave Ridgmont Waters.’
‘No,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Whoever it is will follow you, they seem fascinated with you. All those emails…’
Anna frowned. ‘You know about those?’
‘Detective Morgan told me. After I calmed down, I called him again. You should’ve told me about them.’
‘I didn’t want to worry you.’
‘Look, Anna,’ he said, clutching her hand and squeezing it. ‘Whatever’s passed between us, Joni is the thing that binds us. And Joni’s safety is paramount. Honestly, right now, who do you think she’ll be safer with? You or me?’
Anna looked at her beautiful beloved daughter and felt her face collapse. She put her hand to her mouth. She knew Guy was right.
‘I can take her away until it all dies down,’ Guy said. ‘Social services will look kindly upon that, it’ll show you’re taking steps to keep your daughter safe.’
Anna shook her head, her heart aching.
‘It wouldn’t be long,’ Guy said. ‘Just until they catch this madman.’
‘That could take months, years even!’
‘We’ll take it week by week.’
‘I’m not sure I can bear being without her that long.’
‘This isn’t about you, Anna,’ Guy said gently.
She paused. He was right. This was about Joni.
‘Remember when your show started getting more popular and we were having dinner with James and Liz?’ he said, referring to his brother and sister-in-law. ‘Liz asked you why you thought you were connecting with listeners and you said you stripped away all the drama and the nonsense and got down to the blunt facts, said what everyone else was thinking deep down inside. Look deep inside, strip away the drama. The simple fact is, Joni will be safe with me until this settles down. Whoever is targeting her is targeting you…and you need to figure out why.’
Anna did remember that dinner. It was a year after she’d joined the station and she’d just heard listening figures were going up and up. She’d been so happy, feeling like she was on the cusp of something truly exciting. How different things were now. She looked into Guy’s eyes. She’d thrown it all away. He was a good man, a wonderful father. And he was right, she was being selfish.
She clenched her jaw. ‘How shall we do this, then?’
He let out a breath of relief. ‘Thank you, Anna.’
‘You’re right. I have to think of Joni.’ She wiped away a tear. ‘Where will you take her?’
‘That place we stayed at that Christmas, the one Dave at work owns?’
Anna nodded. It was a lovely log cabin only fifteen minutes from the village in a small wooded area away from the coast.
‘My mum and dad’ll get time off work and come too,’ Guy said. ‘Let’s say a week and take it from there. You can come visit after that week and we’ll figure out what to do next.’
