CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE #2
But a feeling of hopelessness was clinging to me now.
If only we knew the address . . .
‘I suppose if we see a police car, we could try following it,’ said Caleb. ‘On the basis that it might be the police called to the address.’
I nodded. ‘Good thinking.’
I’d just got the words out when I spotted an actual police car travelling towards us. I gasped and pointed. ‘We need to turn around.’
But Caleb was already on it, pulling into a petrol station and driving out of the exit so that we were now on the tail of the police car.
‘No blue lights,’ I noted anxiously. But then next second, a siren started up and the lights started flashing.
‘I really hope they’re leading us to where we need to be,’ Caleb murmured, speeding after it.
The car turned into a street we’d passed a while back, and Caleb followed.
‘There’s the black car! Wonky roof rack. On that driveway.’ I pointed ahead, just as the police car came to a stop outside the house.
Caleb pulled in behind them and switched off the engine.
‘So do we just sit here and wait?’ I murmured anxiously.
Caleb nodded, still gripping the steering wheel.
He stared over at the unassuming-looking bungalow on our left, as the police – a man and a woman – walked up the path and knocked on the door.
‘What I’d like to do is get out and hammer on that front door,’ he said in a deceptively soft voice.
‘And break in if I have to. But I guess we need to let the police do their job.’
I nodded. Then the door slowly opened and my eyes widened in surprise when I saw who was standing there: an elderly woman with pale grey hair and glasses. She looked to be in her late seventies or eighties.
The police were talking to her for a while on the doorstep, then she was inviting them in.
We watched in silence. And about five minutes later, the door opened and they came out again. I held my breath as they looked inside the car and then opened the boot.
It was clearly empty.
‘But where is he? The driver, I mean?’ I felt completely bewildered. ‘And where’s Will?’
Caleb shook his head in despair. ‘Come on. Let’s introduce ourselves.’
So we got out and spoke to the pair, explaining the situation.
They were understanding and sympathetic, and the female police officer made some notes and told us that the house belonged to the woman we’d seen on the doorstep.
Her name was Eileen, and she also owned the BMW.
She said she’d been out to the supermarket and had just driven back.
‘Are you certain your nephew was taken?’ asked the male police officer. ‘There’s no chance that he’s just gone off with a mate and not told anyone?’
Caleb shook his head. ‘No. Will wouldn’t do that.
He would know his mum would be worried.’ I could tell Caleb was having to hold onto his temper when he spoke to them, and I totally understood his frustration.
He knew Will wasn’t the type to just go off without telling his mum where he was going. But of course, they didn’t.
‘We have to ask the question,’ said the female PC, apologetically. ‘But we know about the background to this and I can assure you, we’re taking it very seriously indeed.’
‘The thing is, someone else was driving that car,’ said Caleb. ‘We’ve followed it all the way from Sunnybrook in Surrey. And I’m damn sure it wasn’t that woman behind the wheel.’
‘Well, she says it was her.’ The male PC frowned, clearly not knowing who to believe. ‘She says she just got back ten minutes ago. She lives alone. There’s no one else registered as living at that address.’
‘Really?’ I stared back at the house, mystified, just in time to see a curtain twitch closed.
The police left with an instruction for us to call if we had anything else to report. They would get surveillance of the bungalow underway in case someone returned for the car.
‘In the meantime, why don’t you phone Will’s mum?’ suggested the kindly female PC. ‘He might even be back home by now.’
Caleb nodded and we thanked them, and they drove away, leaving us sitting in Caleb’s car feeling totally helpless and wondering what to do next. Caleb was reluctant to phone Penny again when we had no positive news to give to her.
‘The fact that they’re setting up surveillance on the house is positive. It means they’re taking it seriously,’ he said with a frustrated sigh.
‘That’s true.’ I glanced at the bungalows on either side. ‘Why don’t we talk to Eileen’s neighbours?’
‘Great idea.’ Caleb nodded immediately and we got out of the car. ‘That one’s in complete darkness so they’re probably not at home. Let’s try the neighbours on this side?’
When we rang the bell, a smiley woman answered the door.
I stepped forward, taking the lead, hoping I could explain the situation in a way she would understand.
‘Hi, I’m really sorry to disturb you, but my name’s Katja and this is Caleb, and we were wondering if you knew the lady who lives next door?’
She looked surprised. ‘Eileen? Yes, she seems like a nice woman. Why? I’m Harriet, by the way.’
‘Hi, Harriet. Do you know if there’s anyone else living there? Sorry, it’s just that we think we saw someone else driving the car that’s parked on the driveway and we think it might have been involved in . . . well, criminal activity?’
Harriet looked alarmed. ‘Oh, my goodness. What sort of criminal activity?’
I drew in a breath. And then together, we explained the whole thing about the court case and the intimidation, and the suspicious car. And about thinking Will had been kidnapped.
She looked horrified at the mention of Will being only twelve.
Leaning forward, she murmured, ‘To be honest, I’m not terribly surprised.’ She glanced along at the bungalow next door. ‘He’s been in trouble with the police before. Drugs. I think he’s a dealer.’
‘Who is?’ asked Caleb.
‘Eileen’s grandson. He comes to visit sometimes. As far as I know, he’s the only one who drives that car. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Eileen behind the wheel.’
‘Did you see him arrive? It would have been about twenty minutes ago?’
She shook her head sadly. ‘Sorry, no. I was in the sitting room with the TV on.’
I looked at Caleb and he nodded and thanked Harriet for being so helpful. ‘We obviously really need to speak to this man, and the police would, too.’
Harriet nodded. ‘You’re welcome to come and wait inside, until you see him coming back?’
‘That’s so kind of you.’ I smiled at her. ‘But don’t worry, we’ll just wait in the car. But thank you.’
‘Okay. Well, good luck.’ She crossed her hands over her chest. ‘I really hope you find your young nephew safe and well.’
*****
We retreated to the car. But two hours later, the driver still hadn’t returned.
I’d seen Harriet glance through the curtains several times, and finally, she came out of her bungalow carrying a flask and a package.
‘I was worried about you, sitting out here.’ She handed the flask and the package through my open passenger window. ‘I thought the tea might warm you up a bit. The sandwiches are ham and mustard.’
‘Gosh, that’s so nice of you.’ I felt quite overwhelmed by her kindness.
‘Must admit, I was getting a bit peckish,’ smiled Caleb, opening the package. ‘Thank you so much. We were just admiring your garden. You obviously have green fingers.’
‘Thank you.’ Harriet smiled. ‘Yes, I love my garden.’
‘You really put next door to shame.’ I glanced at the overgrown lawn and weed-filled flower beds. ‘Eileen’s grandson obviously isn’t much help in her garden.’
She nodded. ‘The back garden’s even worse, would you believe? There’s actually an old air raid shelter in there but the garden is so badly overgrown, you can no longer see the entrance to it. I think Eileen used it for storage at one point but I can’t imagine anyone’s been in it for years.’
We chuckled. Then Caleb said, ‘It’s freezing out here. You’d better get back inside. But thank you for the sustenance. Much appreciated.’
‘I’ll bring the flask back when we’ve finished,’ I added with a grateful smile. ‘Thanks so much, Harriet.’
As I watched her walk away, back to her bungalow, my mind was ticking over.
An old air raid shelter?
And then Caleb said slowly, ‘The police didn’t find anyone in the bungalow. But what if that air raid shelter . . .’
‘What if it’s used for more than storage?’ I finished off his sentence and we stared at each other for a moment, letting this sink in. ‘Should we call the police again?’
‘No,’ said Caleb. ‘If he’s got Will in there, I’m not waiting around for them to come back.’
‘Oh, Caleb, if Will’s locked in that air raid shelter, he’ll be so scared.’ I was recalling the melt-down Will had when he was in the bath during the power cut. ‘He’s absolutely terrified of being alone in the dark after what that horrible woman used to do to him.’
‘I know.’ Caleb was getting out of the car. ‘I need to get into that shelter. Now!’