Chapter Thirty-One #2
MEIER: ‘When my time at the university came to an end in 2005, Nicole begged me not to leave her.
I had no intention of doing so. I already had a position to go to in Lausanne; I simply needed to find us a place to live and proper help with the twins.
It took longer than expected … I was busy, keen to make an impression on my new employers …
I was neglectful when it came to calling her …
I failed to visit Bristol when I said I would.
I detest myself for all this now, but it is too late to turn back the clock.
‘As soon as I heard what had happened, I contacted the police. I was prepared to fly straight over, but they came to Switzerland instead, to my brother’s home where I was staying.
In the end, I was of no help to them. I couldn’t say who had taken the twins, and I still cannot, but I do know Nicole would not have harmed them. ’
CRISTY: ‘And yet she’s now confessed to killing them?’
His face paled, and he swallowed. It was almost as if she’d struck him, and he had no idea how to fight back. It took him a while to continue.
MEIER: ‘I have no idea why she would lie, but if she is being truthful, then why does she not explain where to find the bodies?’
CRISTY: ‘So you don’t believe in her confession?’
MEIER: ‘Of course not. I think she gave it because she wants her freedom, and it was the only way she could see to achieve it. If she’d confessed sooner, it would not have shortened her sentence.’
CRISTY: ‘I believe you saw her just before her last parole hearing. Did she tell you then what she was planning to do?’
MEIER: ‘No. It was a shock to me, as it was to everyone else.’
CRISTY: ‘You must know she was released on parole a few weeks ago—’
MEIER: ‘Yes, I do, and if you are in touch with her, please tell her that I want very much to see her. I hope she will come here, to me, where she belongs. Maybe it can’t happen right away; there will be restrictions … Is she with her mother?’
CRISTY: ‘Yes, she is, but they’re not at Maeve’s home. Will you tell me what you believe happened to the twins?’
An air of desolation came over him, and Cristy watched as Maggi reached out to put a hand on his. His long fingers clasped gently, although absently, as if it were more a reflex than a real tenderness. His voice was quiet, hoarse, when he spoke again.
MEIER: ‘I wish I could tell you.’
More moments of sadness passed as he stared at nothing, seeming almost to have left the room. Maybe he was engaging with truths, suspicions, that he wasn’t prepared to share. Cristy glanced at Connor and wondered what was going through his mind.
CRISTY: ‘Do you still have contact with any of your friends from your time in Bristol?’
Meier looked at Maggi and started to nod.
MEIER: ‘Yes, with some.’
CRISTY: ‘Do you think they’d be willing to talk to us?’
MEIER: ‘I can ask. I’m sure they would.’
CRISTY: ‘Do you know if any of them visited Nicole in prison?’
MEIER: ‘I’m not aware of it if they did. I know her parents went often – Maeve alone after her husband died – and Lauren, her cousin, was also a visitor on occasions.’
CRISTY: ‘Do you know where Lauren is now?’
MEIER: ‘I think, at this hour, she will be dropping her children at school.’
Following a moment of shock, Cristy’s first thought was for Noah and Abigail, but if they were still alive, they’d be too old for school by now.
MEIER: ‘Lauren lives with her husband and family in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. She tells me the winters are hard there, but it is a very beautiful place. I would like to visit, but finding the time isn’t easy, so it’s good that they sometimes come here.
It’s how they met, while Ben was with us seeking help for depression. ’
CRISTY: ‘So Lauren was here? At the farm?’
MEIER: ‘Until she met Ben, which was quite a long time ago. Maybe ten years?’
MAGGI: ‘Nearly eleven.’
CRISTY: ‘When did she come?’
MEIER: ‘Before my grandmother passed. Maybe a couple of years before that.’
Cristy glanced at Connor, hoping he was better at mental maths right now than she was.
Bridget had said Lauren disappeared about three years after Nicole’s trial, which would be 2009.
Meier’s grandmother died in 2012, the same year they believed he’d left Lausanne …
She needed more time to consider this, so was grateful when Connor took over.
CONNOR: ‘Do you know why Lauren isn’t in touch with her mother?’
MEIER: ‘I am not aware of that, but if it’s true, it feels a shame to deprive her parents of their grandchildren.’
CONNOR: ‘How old are the children?’
MAGGI: ‘Henry ten; Lily will be eight in April.’
So both born after Lauren had left here, if he was telling them the truth. So far, Cristy hadn’t got a sense of him lying or trying to mislead them in any way – more of him avoiding answers, memories, that he didn’t want to confront.
CRISTY: ‘Do they come too, when Lauren and her husband visit?’
MEIER: ‘Of course. Children are very welcome here. There’s plenty for them to do, especially in the summer months.’
CRISTY: ‘Would you be prepared to put us in touch with Lauren?’
MEIER: ‘I would, but perhaps I should ask her to contact you? Just in case she doesn’t want to talk about things she’s worked hard to put behind her.
What happened affected her very deeply, especially when Nicole was found guilty at her trial.
No one expected that. There seemed so little evidence, nothing they could actually convict on …
We were all shocked and of course very upset. ’
CRISTY: ‘Does Lauren ever say who she thinks might have taken the twins?’
MEIER: ‘Only that we must be missing something, because she won’t believe Nicole harmed them herself.’
CRISTY: ‘Does she wonder if Nicole was in some way involved in an abduction?’
Meier’s eyes seemed to sharpen at that, with surprise and perhaps a flash of anger? Cristy immediately wondered if she’d hit on something, had opened up a possibility that he hadn’t expected her to find. His answer didn’t confirm it.
MEIER: ‘It is quite possible that Lauren has considered the question you ask. When something so terrible happens, many dark and crazy fears go through your head. I know this from the time my parents died and from when the children disappeared. You imagine all sorts of terrifying scenarios that in cold reality make no sense at all, but in the absence of reasonable explanations, the mind can – and often does – create answers that defy logic or even sanity.’
He looked up when the door opened, and Cristy turned to see a heavy-set man in a black padded jacket, fur-lined hat and steel-tipped boots blowing in with a cascade of snow.
‘Verdammt!’ he growled, pushing the door closed and pulling off his hat. ‘It’s coming down thick and fast. Won’t any of us be going anywhere tonight – that’s for sure.’
Cristy looked at the window. A virtual blizzard was whiting out the inky dark sky. How had they not noticed the weather – or the fact that so much time had passed?
As if closer proximity might change the picture, Connor went to the window.
‘Please don’t tell me we can’t get out?’ Cristy implored.
‘Not sure we should risk it,’ he told her, turning back. ‘In my car, maybe, but not in yours. It’s already looking pretty deep.’
Maggi said, ‘It comes down like that around here – so fast that sometimes you feel you’ve only blinked and the whole world has turned white.’
Cristy was nonplussed. She felt an irrational urge to escape but was afraid of making a fool of herself. And yet, did she really want to go? She was comfortable here, was actually enjoying his company, which was possibly even more unsettling in its way.
‘There’s no heating on in the pods,’ Maggi told Meier.
‘It’ll take all night for them to warm up, so they’ll have to stay here in the house.
I’ll go and dig out some sleepover packs.
We keep them for emergencies like this,’ she informed Cristy.
‘You should find everything you need, but if there’s anything we’ve missed, just say and we’ll work it out. ’
Cristy wondered for one insane moment if Meier actually controlled the weather and this was all part of a plot to keep them here. She said to the newcomer, ‘Are you sure we can’t get through? If we left now, maybe we could make it to the main road. They’ll be gritting that, won’t they?’
Meier said, ‘You can take one of the four-by-fours, but you will need to return it in the morning, so maybe it is better if you stay here? You are very welcome, and I am sure our five loaves and two fishes can be extended to include more hungry mouths.’
Cristy blinked.
‘Another “miracle” easily explained,’ he said. ‘Perhaps for another time. Tonight, I believe Susanna is serving her excellent homemade leek and potato soup, and some of our very own Welsh cheddar.’
Cristy looked at Connor, half-hoping he’d thought of another way to get off this mountain.
‘I should call Jodi,’ he said, ‘put her in the picture.’
Meier got to his feet. ‘You’ll need the WiFi code – there’s no mobile reception here, especially not in this weather.’
Feeling ludicrously lost, Cristy watched Meier leave through a door she’d only just noticed. She tried to think who she should call to let them know she wouldn’t be back tonight. Aiden had returned to his father; Hayley didn’t even know where she was, and David presumably didn’t much care.
Nevertheless, when Meier offered her the code, she tapped it into her phone. She didn’t want him to think she had no one to contact, and because he seemed to be watching her, she began a lengthy email to Clove and Jacks, letting them know that she and Connor were snowed in.
She went on to say:
Today has been interesting. He’s an unusual man, very personable, hospitable – I could mention his looks, but I won’t.
So far, he’s spoken frankly, occasionally emotionally, and he definitely comes across well, if a little secretive.
Wouldn’t say he’s a typical cult leader, if there is such a thing, but even if there were, how would I know?
We might have come at the wrong time of year for culty practices.
If you’re laughing at that, I’m serious.
They might not happen in winter, but this could be a good venue for ‘group activities’ in summer.
Luckily, everyone has kept their clothes on so far.
Hoping it stays that way, and not just because of the cold.
She paused, considering admitting it was hard not to imagine him with his off, but she decided against it. Given her current state of hormonal chaos, it was quite possible her sense of humour was as skewed as her emotions, so that sort of joke could be a really bad choice.
She ended with:
Worried about how long we might be stuck here. C x
PS He doesn’t believe in miracles.
She’d already pressed send before realizing how obscure the last comment would be for Clove and Jacks. In fact, she couldn’t think now why she’d added it.
‘… is that OK with you, Cristy?’ Meier was asking.
‘Yes,’ she said quickly. ‘Of course. I mean … Sorry, what am I agreeing to?’
Clearly amused, he said, ‘I just offered to show you to your room. I’ll come back for Connor when he’s finished his call.’