Nell
PRESENT
The police officer opens a door and ushers me in. Superintendent Moss moves from behind her desk and extends her hand. “Elle, it’s good to see you after all these years. I have to admit, I was worried when you disappeared.”
Apart from a few gray streaks in her hair and faint lines around her eyes, DC Moss looks the same as she did fifteen years before, although the look of exasperation when she spoke to me back then has been replaced by a look of concern. “What happened. Where have you been all this time?”
“An unexpected windfall gave me the chance to make a new start,” I say, still wary of revealing too much.
Superintendent Moss moves back behind her desk and indicates to me to sit down.
Her office is small but tidy, a reflection of the detective’s neat physique.
There are no personal objects adorning the walls, just a silver photo frame on the desk.
It’s facing away from me so I’m unable to see what it holds.
“There were times after you disappeared that I feared you might be dead. Every time the body of a young woman was discovered, I was worried it might be you,” Superintendent Moss says.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I should have told you what I intended to do.”
“I don’t blame you for not sharing. What happened to you was terrifying.”
“I still can’t take the tube.”
“I’m not surprised. Did you change your name? You must have, because I searched for you.”
“Yes. I didn’t want to be Elle Nugent anymore.”
“Understandable.”
I shift on my seat. “I was left a house in London by my great-aunt. I was going to sell it and give the proceeds away but my solicitor persuaded me to keep it and suggested that I changed my identity so that I could start over. I’m now Nell Masters.”
Superintendent Moss nods. “And how has it worked out for you, being Nell Masters?”
“Generally, it’s worked out well. But it’s been quite lonely.”
“I can imagine.” She appraises me for a moment. “You look well.”
“Thank you.”
“I imagine you didn’t get in contact just to let me know that you’re alive,” the superintendent says with a smile. “Although I’m very glad you did.”
“No. It’s about Damon Parker.”
“Ah.”
“I always knew that he could be released after twelve years but I didn’t worry about it too much at the beginning because twelve years seemed a long way off.
And I thought that even if he was released, I’d be safe, that he wouldn’t be able to find me because I’d changed my name.
But he has. He’s been following me and—well, I’m scared. ”
Superintendent Moss frowns. “Damon Parker has been following you?”
“Yes. And not only that, he knows where I live and broke into my house. I’ve changed the locks but—”
She raises her hand. “Elle—I’m sorry—Nell, let me stop you there. Damon Parker hasn’t been released from prison. I can assure you that, for the moment, he’s still inside.”
A drumming starts in my ears. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” The superintendent pauses. “He’s due for release but he hasn’t been released yet.” Another pause. “The reason I know he’s still in prison is because we’re reopening the Bryony Sanders case.”
Reeling from the news that Damon Parker is still inside, I almost miss what the superintendent said. When it registers, my heart leaps.
“You’re opening it up again? Has there been some development?”
“I’m not at liberty to say much. But yes, we’re taking a look at it again.
” The steely look is back in her eyes, warning me not to ask more.
Older and wiser, I don’t insist. “Which is why it’s fortuitous that you’ve contacted me.
I’d begun putting feelers out for you, in case I needed to make you aware of any developments.
We managed to locate Jason Borders but he couldn’t tell us anything except that he thought you’d moved abroad.
” Seeing my puzzled look, she smiles. “Jaz, I believe you called him. Your boyfriend at the time.”
“Oh gosh, of course. Jaz. I’d forgotten his name was Jason. You say you saw him—how is he?”
The superintendent smiles again. “Married, three kids.”
“Wow. Well, good for him.”
“Let’s get back to why you’re here. I’m concerned that you thought Damon Parker has been following you and has broken into your house. Can you tell me more?”
It feels good to unburden myself and when I get to the end, Superintendent Moss refers to the notes she’d taken while I’d been speaking.
“To recap, you’ve never actually seen the person following you, and your police officer friend couldn’t find any signs of someone having gotten into your house? I’m not saying that you’re mistaken,” she says quickly, aware of the set of my face. “I just want to be sure of the facts.”
“No, I’ve never seen the person who’s following me.
But I wasn’t wrong about Damon Parker following me last time and I’m not wrong this time.
” I lean forward in my chair, needing her to believe me.
“I know you said he’s still inside but maybe he has someone working for him on the outside.
Maybe he’s asked them to find out where I live ahead of his release. ”
The superintendent seems unconvinced. “If there is someone following you, have you considered that Damon Parker might not be involved, that it might be someone else?”
“No, because I’m sure that he’s behind it. Is there any way he might know about Bryony’s case is being reopened? Could that be why he’s trying to scare me? Because something new might be coming to light?”
I’m gratified to see Superintendent Moss thinking seriously about what I said.
“It’s highly unlikely,” she says, after a moment. “But not impossible.” She gives a weary smile. “Prisoners often have ways of knowing things that we ourselves aren’t yet aware of. Are you happy to let me have your address? So that we can keep an eye on things?”
“Of course.”
“Meanwhile, I’ll make some inquiries about Damon Parker’s possible contacts on the outside. And if you ever feel you’re in danger, call me immediately.” She hands me a card. “This is my direct line. I answer it night and day.”
“Thank you.”
Superintendent Moss pushes to her feet. “I’ll let you know if the developments in Bryony’s case amount to anything. Take care, Nell.”
“I will, thanks.”