CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
A face appeared at the open door of the air raid shelter.
‘Hello? Is everything all right in there?’
Caleb stepped forward, into the light of a torch’s beam, and I felt relief surging through every sinew in my body.
It was the police.
Everything was going to be all right . . .
*****
It was the lovely neighbour, Harriet, who’d phoned for help, and the same pair of police constables had returned.
As we all sat at the table in her cosy kitchen drinking mugs of hot tea, she explained that she’d been really worried, knowing about the kidnapping, and she’d talked to her husband about it.
‘Larry and I had the same thought as you obviously did – that maybe your nephew was being held in the old air raid shelter. You get a good view of next-door’s back garden from our upstairs windows, and we saw you both go out there.’
Larry nodded. ‘That’s when we decided to phone the police. We couldn’t risk the scumbag grandson returning and finding you there.’
‘Yes. Goodness knows what would have happened if he had,’ added Harriet with a worried glance out of the window.
Caleb had phoned Penny with the joyful news and I heard her gasps of overwhelming relief at knowing her precious son was alive and well. Caleb reassured her that as soon as we could leave, we’d be bringing Will back home to her.
More police had arrived at the scene five minutes earlier and were now guarding the bungalow next-door and presumably talking to Eileen about her grandson’s whereabouts.
I only hoped they would be able to find him.
He was likely a lowly pawn in the killer’s plan to escape a guilty verdict in court. But finding who took Will would lead to further police investigations and hopefully an even longer sentence when masterminding a kidnapping was added to the list of charges . . .
The police talked to Will and we listened to his frightening account of being threatened with a knife before being bundled into the boot of the car and driven away at speed and then being hurried out of the boot and imprisoned in what he called ‘the cellar’.
‘The man was wearing a balaclava so I could only see his eyes,’ he said. ‘He tied me to a chair and put a scarf thing around my mouth so I could hardly breathe. I suppose that was to stop people hearing me if I shouted for help.’
The police asked if he’d recognise the man if he saw him again, and Will bravely said he probably would. ‘It was dark but I remember his thick eyebrows were sort of all one line, and he had a tattoo of a cross on the back of his hand.’
It had been such a harrowing time for Will and I knew he must be exhausted and desperate to see his mum. So it was a relief when the police finally thanked him for giving them such invaluable information and said that we could be on our way. They would contact Caleb when they had more information.
In the car on the way home, Will was silent. I turned at one point, thinking maybe he’d fallen asleep, but he was wide awake and staring out of the window.
‘You okay?’ I asked him gently.
‘Yes, thank you.’
‘Your mum’s desperate to see you.’
He went back to staring through the window. Then he said, ‘When I was shut in the dark, I remembered that thing you said about darkness and light.’
‘Did you? You are your own darkness and your own light.’
Will nodded and completed it: ‘You have to pick which one you give power to.’
‘Did it help?’ I asked softly.
‘I think so. I just kept thinking that the darkness of that cupboard under the stairs was all a long time ago, in the past, and it couldn’t hurt me anymore. I made myself think about the light instead, and seeing Mum and Uncle Caleb again.’ He shrugged. ‘And then you both came and rescued me.’
‘We’re just so relieved you’re safe and sound,’ said Caleb, turning round. ‘Your mum is going to be absolutely buzzing to see you. And I think you might be getting the best Christmas presents ever this year!’
Will gave an appreciative grunt and went back to staring out of the window.
But I knew just from his body language – chin raised and the trace of a smile on his lips – that for now, at least, the light was winning . . .
*****
Penny was waiting at the front door.
As soon as Caleb parked and Will got out, she hurried down the garden path and met him at the gate. He fell against her and she wrapped her arms around him, sobbing and stroking his hair. For once, Will didn’t resist, and they hugged each other tightly right there in the street for a long time.
Feeling deeply affected myself, I glanced at Caleb. A muscle was working in his jaw and there was a suspicious sheen to his eyes as he watched the relieved and joyful reunion of his sister and her precious boy.
Will was exhausted but hungry. He decided he wanted a shower, so Caleb shepherded him up to the bathroom while Penny and I went into the kitchen and made him his favourite toasted cheese and a mug of hot chocolate.
‘Tonight is for sleep and recovery,’ said Penny firmly, her hands still trembling slightly from her ordeal as she cut slices of cheddar. ‘No questions about what happened. We can talk about all that when Will is ready.’
I nodded. ‘Absolutely. He must be shattered. I reckon he’ll be out like a light.’
She put down the knife and took my hands in hers, and there were tears in her eyes. ‘Thank you so much, Katja, for helping bring my Will back to me. I’ll never forget it.’
Tears sprang to my own eyes then. ‘I’m just so glad he’s safe.’ And we hugged, both of us breaking down with relief and happiness.
*****
Later, I lingered in the doorway of Will’s room as Penny fussed over him, tucking him in, and Caleb said goodnight.
‘Are you and Katja coming to the school Christmas show?’ I heard Will ask his uncle.
Caleb chuckled. ‘We’ll be there.’
‘Love, I don’t think you’ll be up to anything like that,’ said Penny anxiously. ‘You need complete rest after what you’ve been through, for at least a couple of days.’
‘But the show’s on Thursday and I’ve got rehearsals before then,’ protested Will.
‘It’s you I’m concerned about. Never mind the show. I’m sure Mrs Hunter will be able to find someone else to play Shrek.’
‘I’m doing it, Mum. I’m not letting Mrs Hunter down,’ Will said firmly.
Penny sighed and looked at Caleb.
He chuckled. ‘I think he’s made his mind up.’
‘I have,’ Will murmured sleepily. ‘I would just be bored at home, Mum. And I want to see my friends.’
‘Well, we’ll see.’ Smiling fondly, Penny bent to kiss him.
She and Caleb stepped out of the room, joining me at the door, and when Penny looked back, Will was already asleep and snoring gently . . .