Chapter 56
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Juliette sat at the breakfast bar, coffee in hand, and thought about what had happened.
Last night had been surreal, the conversation she’d had with Sarah shocking.
Sarah was being controlled by Richard. She was scared to leave because of what he might do to her.
Juliette had seen first-hand how intimidating he could be.
No wonder the woman was a nervous wreck most of the time.
More importantly, there was a child next door. She’d seen her, so there was no denying it now.
She’d thought she’d been going out of her mind.
And now looking back on how Danny had been manipulated by Richard, the anger she’d wanted to keep in check began to boil over.
Richard was tricking her, fooling them both.
He was allowing her to doubt herself, putting it down to the grief of losing her own child by imagining another.
Locking a child in a room was barbaric. Sarah and Daisy were both in danger, which is why if Juliette was going to be of any help, it had to be over days not weeks. And if she couldn’t find anything out, she would go to the police herself.
She’d do some digging about Louisa. Maybe someone local could tell her something that would lead to discovering if she had left of her own accord. But then why wouldn’t she have taken Daisy with her?
What had been going on under everyone’s nose? And what would have happened if she and Danny hadn’t moved in when they did?
She thought back to the time when they’d had coffee in the garden and she’d been annoyed when Richard came to check up on Sarah.
Had her own actions put her neighbour in danger?
Had she antagonised things that time, by getting him to agree to Sarah staying for another half hour?
She cursed aloud. She had to learn to play his game.
Once she’d finished her client work for that day, she walked into the village.
The coffee shop where Louisa used to work was much busier than she’d expected, although it was nearing lunchtime.
There were tables of elderly couples and groups of younger women.
Over in the far corner, three new mums sat with their babies on their knees.
Juliette couldn’t help but smile, envious but joyful of the scene.
Excited that she would become a mum again soon.
She joined the small queue at the counter, smiling as Barbara noticed her.
‘Hi, Juliette. Lovely to see you. What can I get you?’
‘A regular cappuccino please. How’s business?’
‘Busy.’
Juliette laughed when Barbara rolled her eyes.
‘I was hoping to have a word with you,’ she added.
‘Sounds ominous.’
‘It’s nothing really. I—’
‘Lots of these tables have been occupied for a while now. This place will empty soon. I’ll join you then if you can wait?’
‘Sure. Thanks.’ Juliette collected her coffee and sat in a chair by the window.
After a few minutes of people watching, she took out her laptop and began to work.
She was engrossed with a spreadsheet when Barbara dropped down in the seat opposite her with two slices of cake. She slid one over to her.
‘So, what is it that you want to know?’
Juliette beamed. ‘Louisa who used to work here – what was she like?’
‘She was a good worker.’ Barbara smiled. ‘She was funny too. She had a wicked sense of humour and used to make a lot of the old dears laugh.’
‘How long was she with you?’
‘About four months. It was strange actually. She seemed to be enjoying it, but one day she turned up and decided it was too much for her, that she wanted to help Richard out with his business and couldn’t fit both jobs in. I missed her as soon as she left.’
‘Do you know where she lived before she came to Mapleton?’
‘Derby, I think. Why do you ask?’
‘I found something of hers and I wanted to return it.’ Juliette lowered her eyes hoping that Barbara wouldn’t ask any more questions.
‘The last we all heard was she and Richard had split up, and she left with Daisy. Richard told Linda. We all assumed as Sarah was still there that she was the reason.’
‘So you know Sarah?’
‘Vaguely. She’s always kept herself to herself when she’s nipped in for a coffee. I can count on one hand how many times though. She’s not very sociable.’
Juliette made a note of that. ‘I don’t suppose you have any way of contacting Louisa?’
‘I don’t think so, and I couldn’t share it with you anyway.’
‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.’
Barbara waved to the young girl behind the counter to indicate she’d be with her soon.
‘Between you and me, I do wonder if Louisa leaving here had something to do with Richard. She almost seemed scared of him by the time she left. I can’t put my finger on what precisely it was, but I’m actually glad she’s got away from him.
’ She moved her head closer to Juliette’s. ‘Carly too.’
‘Carly?’
‘She works at the estate agents two doors down. She was with Richard for a couple of years. Apparently it wasn’t an amicable split.’
‘Oh!’ Juliette was about to ask her more, but Barbara got to her feet. ‘I have to go. See you at the book club next week?’
‘Yes, I might pop along, although I haven’t finished the novel yet.’
‘Don’t worry about that. It’s not all about the book, as you realised when you joined us.’ She winked as she collected the used crockery. ‘See you soon.’
‘Yes, and thanks.’ Juliette looked back at the spreadsheet, but her mind wouldn’t settle. Still, she had time to nip in and see if Carly was free.