AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She nods. ‘Anyone you know have a vehicle like that?’
I shake my head but my mind races. ‘I don’t think so, but if I think of anyone I’ll let you know.’
‘We also have a witness who says they saw a little girl matching Abi’s description up towards the Landmark Arts Centre. One of your neighbours has set up a WhatsApp group. Your friend Mrs Johnson, Bella, is it? She’s printed off photographs for distributing.’ She takes out her phone, pushes her thumb to it and hands it to me.
I am staring at a photograph of my little girl. The picture blurs.
‘That was taken yesterday,’ I say. ‘They were here for Sunday lunch, Neil and Bella. We told them I was having another baby. I’m…’ I can’t go on.
Lorraine rubs my back. ‘All right,’ she says softly.
‘The Johnsons are Abi’s godparents,’ Farnham says. ‘Is that right?’
I nod.
‘Do you spend a lot of time together?’
‘Yes. They’re our closest friends. Well, Neil is Matt’s closest friend. We often get together at weekends, as couples, you know? They dote on Abi, really dote on her.’
‘Mr Johnson was at home this morning when you went for help?’
‘Yes. The first time I knocked he was in the shower but he answered the second time.’
‘And your next-door neighbours had also gone to work?’
‘Yes.’
A buzzing sounds starts up – a phone on silent. The sofa vibrates.
Lorraine stands up, takes the call. A radio crackles, the sound drifting through the open window.Yeah, yeah, OK, but tell the SOCO to make sure…
‘Yeah,’ Lorraine says into her phone, and, ‘Yeah, yeah, OK, will do. OK, bye.’
I’m glad of the distraction. I’m not sure how many times I can repeat the same words. She pockets the phone and smiles, but it isn’t a happy smile.
‘They’ve found a hat matching your description.’ She returns to sit beside me. ‘Nearby. On Thameside Lane, on a wall near the leisure centre.’
‘The Oasis? Oh my God.’ A gasp leaves me. ‘I didn’t see it when I went past. We were going to feed the ducks. That’s on the way. I should have gone straight there. I should have called sooner.’
‘Mrs Atkins, please.’ Farnham is standing. ‘Don’t beat yourself up. If parents called us every time they lost sight of their little ’uns, we’d be overrun. You called after you’d searched, and you were right to call when you did.’
‘I can’t believe this is happening.’
‘Try to stay calm if you can. Let us do our job. But I need to tell you that we’ll be bringing the dogs into the house, if that’s OK. We’ll need to search the property to eliminate you from our enquiries. We might need access to the Johnsons’ house too, OK?’
‘OK. Whatever you need.’
She is about to leave, but Neil is there, in the doorway. He looks sweaty, though it might be rain. That it was Bella who printed out the pictures of Abi hits me only then. The two of them are so good, such good friends.
‘This is Neil,’ I say to DI Farnham. ‘Matt’s best friend.’
‘All right.’ Neil nods and looks at the ground, the tattoo of a swallow just visible below his left ear.
‘Mr Johnson,’ DI Farnham says. ‘I’ve just mentioned to Ava that we’re going to have to bring the dogs into the house. Do you have any objection if we search your house too, with the dogs?’
Neil’s eyes widen slightly. This is horrible, just horrible.
‘Not at all,’ he says. ‘I can take you there now if you like.’
