Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
A fter tramping through the field, then taking the path through Lovelands, Warren reached the green, with no sighting of Belle. As she’d not gone to Ashbury Gardens, he decided to trace the steps she would have taken to Eversley Burrows, where her mother lived. He’d been over to the estate when they’d played an away match at The Dog and Horn. He hoped nothing had happened to her and began to feel nerves stabbing at his gut. He knew that not everyone in the world was good, he’d had a taster of that himself. His phone dinged with a text from Jaz:
Any sight of Belle?
No, I’m going to the estate. What is your parents’ address?
Once Jaz had texted the address, he plugged it into the map app on his phone. As he rounded the bend into the estate, he narrowed his eyes in the fading light. He saw two young people sitting on a bench within the play area. One had dark brown hair, just like Belle. He didn’t want to call out and scare them off.
He slowly approached, overhearing their conversation.
“You promised.” It was a blond boy seated next to her.
“But I’m not ready.” He recognised Belle’s voice and relaxed, at least he’d found her.
“You’re sixteen, it’s time. It’s the law.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to!”
“You do, unless you want the world to see those pictures.”
Warren was done listening. He grabbed the boy’s shoulders from over the bench. The lad shouted out and struggled, then swore as Warren swiftly moved around the bench and pinned him to it.
“What are you doing here?” Belle said with fear in her eyes.
“I’m stopping you from making a big mistake with this little creep.” He turned to the lad. “She said she wasn’t ready. That means no!”
Belle stood up. “Urgh. You’re making it worse. Can you just leave?”
“No, I can’t. Now, can you tell me what he’s blackmailing you with?”
“Nothing.”
“You can tell the police then,” Warren said.
“No, Warren, please,” Belle begged as she burst into tears.
The boy cried out. “Just let me go. I’ll leave her alone!”
Warren pointed in the lad’s face. “What’s your name?”
“Cole.”
“Get your phone out, Cole.”
“No.”
“Now!”
The boy took his phone from his pocket.
“Not to me. Give it to Belle and unlock it first.”
He handed it to Belle.
“Find whatever pictures he was talking about and then delete them and delete them from the trash folder.” As Belle tapped at the phone, he looked back to the lad. “If I hear one mention of your name, you’ll have me to deal with.” He released him. He knew he wouldn’t scarper while Belle still had his phone. Warren stood with his arms crossed blocking Cole from Belle.
“I don’t believe it,” Belle said. “He’s got loads and they’re not all of me. On no!” She lifted the phone. “This is really bad.”
“Don’t show it to me, Belle,” Warren said. “I don’t want to see.”
Cole lunged forward for the phone.
Warren grabbed him. “You’re going nowhere. Belle, call the police, 999, now!”
Cole struggled to get away. “No!”
Belle cried. “Are you going to tell Jaz?”
“Call the police,” Warren repeated.
She called as he’d asked and put the phone on speaker. Warren spoke to the operator.
“I’ve performed a citizen’s arrest on a minor, he has a phone with inappropriate pictures on it and I’m also here with one of his victims. Can you send someone as soon as possible.”
“Let me go!” Cole screamed. “He’s a pervert.”
Warren groaned as Belle gave them the location, realising he might have a struggle when the police arrived.
They soon heard the sirens and as the police pulled up, Belle met them.
“That boy has pictures of girls on his phone and was blackmailing me to do things with him. My friend, that man, is helping me.”
One of the police officers put her arm around Belle. “I’m Erin, calm down. You’re safe now.”
“Here’s his phone.” Belle handed it over to her.
Warren released Cole into a policeman’s custody as a second car drew up.
“Thanks, Belle. You’re doing the right thing,” Erin said as they reached Warren.
“Who exactly is this man?” Erin asked Belle.
“Warren. A family friend.”
“I was out looking for Belle who went missing earlier,” Warren said.
“We’ll have to speak to you both, but I can see you’re upset at the moment, Belle.”
“I’ll get her home,” Warren said.
“How old are you?” Erin asked Belle.
“Sixteen.”
She took her notebook out. “And can I have your address?”
Belle gave her the Eversley Burrows address.
“Thank you, we’ll be over soon,” Erin said. “Hopefully within an hour.”
They watched both police cars drive further into the estate, he assumed to visit Cole’s parents.
“Sit down, and take a breath,” Warren said, pointing to the bench.
She cried as he messaged Jaz to let her know he’d found Belle but to give her time. That he would take her back home to her parents’ house.
They took a slow walk back.
“I sent him a picture,” Belle volunteered without Warren asking. “It wasn’t bad, it was only of me in a bikini.”
“You don’t have to tell me this.”
“I want to, in case when we get back, I can’t tell Mum.” She sobbed then composed herself. “Then he said if I didn’t send him another one, a bit worse than that, he would show the bikini one to everyone when we start at college in September.”
“How long has this been going on?” he asked.
“Since exam time. I’d taken some cider from the bar and got a bit tipsy, that’s why I did the first...I’m stupid, I know that.”
“We all make mistakes. I’ve made a tonne. It’s what we do next that matters. You need to be brave now, Belle. Not just for you, but for the other girls.”
“I know a few of them and their pictures were worse. Tonnes worse. Will you stay with me when I tell Mum and Dad?”
“Of course.” They were now nearing her parents’ house.
Warren sent a quick text Nina to apologise and said he would hopefully be back within an hour. He was desperate to return, but knew he couldn’t abandon Belle when she’d put her trust in him. And he couldn’t tell the details to Nina, not before Jaz had found out. He hoped he could get away soon.
Warren made tea for Belle’s parents as they sat with her in the lounge. He’d broken the news to them, then left them to discuss it with Belle. He was trying to blot out Darren’s face. The man had looked broken, no doubt thinking of his little girl being taken advantage of. Warren had offered to make tea as the parents blamed themselves. As the kettle boiled, Belle was reassuring them it was nothing to do with them and from what he’d overheard, the pictures Belle had sent were more to do with suggestive poses than anything revealing.
There was a break in the conversation and he carried in a couple of mugs of tea.
“Thank you so much, Warren,” Darren said. He knew the man quite well, having met him over at The Eversley Arms and The Dog and Horn when he’d played darts against the Dogs. “Belle’s lucky you got there. Cole comes from a rough family.”
“His dad’s a right creep,” Stacey added. “Oh, someone’s here.”
Darren stood up and opened the door.
A woman followed him in. “Hi, Stacey.”
“Hi Donna.”
“What are you here for?” Belle said and clutched onto her mum. “You’re not going to take me away to a foster family again are you?”
“No,” Donna said. “I heard what had happened and have just come over to see how you are, nothing official.” She looked around the room and back at Stacey and Darren. “It’s so nice to see you all back as a family.”
Warren looked at Belle, not realising she’d been in the care system, not knowing the history of the family.
“So how are you, Belle?” Donna asked.
“I’m pleased it’s all over,” she said. “I was feeling so stupid but when I saw the other pictures on there, I realised I’m not the only idiot.”
“And that was all happening around exam time too,” Stacey said. “It’s disgusting.”
“I hope I haven’t failed,” Belle said.
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine. And you’ve got your college place anyway,” Stacey added.
“That lad’s got it coming to him,” Darren said.
“Let the police deal with it,” Donna said. “I’m glad you’re coping well. I’ll leave you in peace,” Donna said and then left.
“Are you going to tell Jaz or shall I?” Stacey asked Belle.
Belle looked at her. “Mum, there’s more that’s been worrying me.”
“What else?” Darren said as he sat down having seen Donna out.
“Shall I go?” Warren began to rise from the chair.
“No, stay. I want you to tell me what you think about it.” Belle took a deep breath. “I don’t like it at the cul-de-sac.”
“Why not?” Stacey said. “It’s a beautiful house and you couldn’t stay in the pub. The boys needed their own space too.”
“I don’t mind it for a few days a week, but I don’t want to leave here.” She gestured around the room. “I love coming back at the weekend, it’s quieter and…you’re here.” Her bottom lip trembled.
“Oh love, we’ll only be next door.”
“But I don’t want you to get rid of this house. I love being here with you. And you’re the best mum in the world.” Belle hugged her. “I prefer it here and the thought that I can’t come back to see you both, just us... And my friends are close by, too.”
Darren smiled at his wife and daughter. “Your mum feels the same way.”
“Daz, don’t say that. I don’t wanna upset Jaz after all she’s done.” She pulled a hanky from her pocket.
Belle turned to Warren. “What do you think?”
Warren suddenly felt as if Belle expected him to have all the answers.
“We can’t pull out now,” Stacey said. “She’s been refurbishing that annex,”
“My advice is to be truthful,” Warren said.
“I’m sure she’s going to be angry.” Stacey wrung her hands together.
“She won’t be angry, love,” Darren said. “But she might be upset. The kitchen she asked me to install is top notch as well. But we haven’t ended our tenancy with the council. Look, she can sell it on. If you two want to stay here, that’s what we’ll do.”
“My advice is to tell her sooner rather than later!” Warren yawned and looked at his phone. “I really should go now.”
“Thank you so much, Warren, for what you did today,” Darren said.
“Thanks,” Belle said. “No wonder Nina’s in love with you.”
He laughed. “I’d be so lucky.”
“Jaz and Holly say she is.”
“Young lady, you’re as bad as your big sister at keeping secrets,” Stacey said with a laugh as Warren felt the mood lighten. Or was it him feeling light at the thought of Nina having feelings for him?
Warren got up to leave, now really wanting to get back to Nina as soon as possible, when he saw the police drawing up.
Once inside, the police asked him to stay to take a short statement. He knew he’d have to text Nina again.