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‘Yeah, but I don’t know any names.’
‘I wonder if it was Max.’
‘I’m sure the police have investigated any men who’ve been in her life,’ Taylor says. ‘Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got more investigating of my own to do.’ He gives a small laugh, but it’s infused with sadness.
‘Why don’t you come in for a bit?’ I ask. ‘It’s your place, after all.’
He glances past me. ‘Are you sure? Will your daughter mind?’
‘Maybe you should meet her. Given that we’re living in your flat. Just come in.’ I usher him inside, and close the door.
In the living room, Poppy looks up when we come in.
‘Poppy, this is my friend Taylor. This is his flat he’s kindly let us stay in.’
Her eyes flick between me and Taylor. ‘Thank you,’ she says.
‘Don’t mention it. So, what’s that you’re watching?’
‘Elemental.’
‘Is it good?’
She shrugs. ‘Yeah.’
I put my hand on her shoulder. ‘How about you carry on watching while I have a quick chat with Taylor in the kitchen?’
‘Okay.’
‘How’s it been, staying with your friend?’ I ask once we’ve left the room.
‘Hmm. Sam’s a good guy, but I’m not sure his girlfriend’s too pleased about me crashing there. I get the feeling she likes to be there every night. Feel a bit like a gooseberry.’
‘Sorry. Look, I’ve been thinking about it, and I need to go to the police. Poppy needs stability. She needs her routine. We’ve only been here one night and she’s distraught. She didn’t sleep until gone midnight last night. And it will probably be the same tonight.’
‘I get that,’ Taylor says. ‘Look, I’m no expert in kids, but don’t you have to give things a chance? Help them to build resilience? Or something like that.’
Taylor’s probably right, but what’s the advice for helping your child when their father’s committed a heinous crime?
‘Sam and his girlfriend are going on holiday this weekend, so that’s another week at least that I’ll be able to stay there.’ He smiles. ‘So there’s no pressure to rush into anything.’ He lowers his voice. ‘That gives us time to find that driver. To get the evidence we need. Then you can go home and Max will be out of your lives. You’ll have full custody of Poppy, and you won’t have to live in fear any more.’
Taylor’s describing the ideal scenario. But everything depends on me getting to that man, whoever he is. And now the clock is ticking, so loudly it drowns out everything else.
‘We haven’t seen the car for a couple of days. What if he’s not following either of us any more? Or he’s changed cars?’ This thought has only just occurred to me, and anxiety floods my body.
‘We’ll get to him,’ Taylor says. ‘I don’t think Max is finished with whatever he’s set in motion.’
We continue talking in low voices, choosing our words carefully in case Poppy overhears, until I’m drained. ‘Can we talk about something else?’ I ask.
He raises his eyebrows. ‘Yeah, course. Like what?’
‘I don’t know. Tell me about you. Your family. Anything.’
And while he talks, I let his words float around me, picturing the scene he’s setting. His early childhood seems to have been a happy one. Two older brothers, summers in France with all his cousins. Parents who were happy together until his dad died. And while I listen, for just a moment I lose myself and forget everything that’s happening.
When I look up, Poppy’s standing in the doorway watching us. ‘Mummy, I’m tired,’ she says quietly.
‘Okay, I’ll put you to bed.’ I turn to Taylor. ‘I’ll just be a sec.’
