The Taken Girls

10

‘How do you want to play this, Ma’am?’

The CID cars were parked near the triangle of grass. DI Saunders had sent Potts and Borrowdale to organize the door-to-door teams while he spoke with SOCO. Left alone, Jenny was leading Ed along Hollowmede past the primary school to Lucy’s home.

‘Let’s start by dropping the Ma’am. I’m happier with Ed if that’s fine with you.’

‘Of course.’

‘You saw them last night. Introduce us and then I’ll lead the questioning.’

Jenny rang the bell and almost immediately the door was opened by a distressed man in his late thirties. He looked as if he hadn’t slept.

‘Have you found … Is there any … news?’

Jenny didn’t respond immediately so Ed stepped in. ‘Perhaps we could come inside?’

‘Sorry. Of course.’

A short woman of about the same age appeared at the man’s shoulder. Her clothes were crumpled and there were streaks of mascara beneath tired eyes, which looked questioningly at the two policewomen.

‘Mrs Naylor, Mr Naylor, I’m Detective Constable Eastham. You may remember I was here last night. This is Detective Sergeant Ogborne. Perhaps we could go somewhere to talk?’

Mr Naylor turned to his wife. ‘I’ll take the officers into the front. Perhaps you could bring the tea through.’

They had barely sat down before Mrs Naylor reappeared with a tray. The detectives both declined the proffered tea and biscuits. Lucy’s parents looked expectantly at Jenny. Ed coughed and spoke.

‘As Jenny said, I’m Detective Sergeant Ed Ogborne. I wasn’t here last night. Let me begin by offering our sympathy for what you must be feeling at this time. There’s nothing we can say to take away the pain and anxiety but we’ll be doing everything we can to find your daughter as quickly as possible and to bring her safely home.’

Mrs Naylor, who had been sitting rigidly in the corner of the sofa with her hands clenched in her lap, could contain herself no longer. Her shoulders sagged. ‘There’s no news then? You haven’t found her? You’ve no clues as to where she is? You don’t know who’s taken our Lucy?’

‘Mrs Naylor, I know it’s difficult but it is early days. We have teams of officers going house to house questioning everybody in the area in case they saw something that might help. We’re here to speak with you and then we’ll talk to the Shaxteds.’

Mr Naylor reached for his wife’s hand and turned towards Ed. ‘What more do you want? We spoke to your colleague last night. We’d rather you were out looking for Lucy.’

‘I know how you must feel but it’s vital that we get a true and accurate picture of the situation. The regular officers are on the streets with a description of Lucy and her photograph. I’d like to go over everything from the beginning. This morning you may recall something you didn’t mention last night.’

Simon Naylor pressed his lips together, almost shrugging, and settled for the easy option. ‘You’re the expert. Whatever you think will help.’

‘We just want our daughter back,’ said his wife in a voice too tired to argue.

‘Thank you.’

Ed glanced at Jenny to check she was ready with her notebook.

‘Yesterday was Friday. Could you describe a typical Friday evening for yourselves and your daughter?’

‘I get back from work about six. Rachel, my wife, has supper ready. Usually, the … the three of us eat together. Rach and me generally have a quiet night in and Lucy goes round to Debbie’s.’

At this point Mrs Naylor began to weep softly into a screwed-up handkerchief. Mr Naylor put his arm round her shoulder and continued.

‘Fridays, they usually go to see a film but they didn’t fancy what was on this week.’

‘What time did Lucy leave?’

‘Just before seven.’ He looked at his wife for confirmation and she nodded.

‘So she would have arrived at Debbie’s about seven o’clock or just after. What time did you expect her back?’

‘She’s just finished her A levels. We didn’t insist she be home early. Even so, she said she’d be back just after ten.’

‘She wanted an early night. We’d given her 50 quid. A reward for working hard on her exams. She was going to London today. Shopping with Debbie. I don’t suppose they’ll be doing that now.’

Mrs Naylor stifled her distress by pressing the handkerchief to her mouth and turning to bury her face in her husband’s shoulder.

Ed’s stomach hollowed with a flashback to the anguish of being separated from her own child. Ten years ago, with no one to support her, Ed had made a voluntary decision to give her son up for adoption. Mrs Naylor had her husband’s support but she’d had no choice in the loss of her daughter; Lucy had been forcibly taken from her. Ed felt the pain but she was a police officer, a professional, trained to keep her own emotions in check and to interview with sensitivity.

‘When did you become concerned?’

‘Quarter past ten or so we wondered where she was. Ten minutes later, Rach asked me to look outside. You can see the path from Victoria Road.’

‘It’s no distance … no distance at all,’ said Mrs Naylor, clearly shocked that her daughter could disappear so close to home. Her husband continued with his methodical account.

‘There was no sign of Lucy. I rang Ted and Joyce, the Shaxteds. Apparently Lucy’d left half an hour earlier. Ted said he’d help look. He walked here via the path and I went to their place via Elham and Cogans. That’s the other route Lucy could take. There was no sign of her. I ran back here. Called the police. That would’ve been about eleven.’

‘So Lucy’d been missing for an hour.’ Ed paused and Mr Naylor looked at her, waiting for her next question. ‘She’s 17. Did she have a boyfriend?’

Mrs Naylor raised her head from her husband’s shoulder. They both hesitated. After a moment, Lucy’s mother replied.

‘Plenty of time for that … Lucy’s still a schoolgirl.’

‘Even so, Mrs Naylor, many girls her age do have boyfriends.’

‘She’ll have time for boyfriends later.’ Mrs Naylor looked uncomfortable, her anguish forgotten for a moment as she spoke defensively. ‘Lucy’s a good girl. She concentrates on her schoolwork … her exams.

Mr Naylor supported his wife. ‘Lucy’s going to university. She wants to be a teacher.’

‘What does Lucy do in her spare time?’

‘As Rach said, her A levels, studying in her room.’

‘And when she wasn’t studying?’

‘She and Debbie are good friends. They’re always together.’

Ed altered her position in the chair and leant slightly towards the couple.

‘Mrs Naylor, Mr Naylor, I’d like you to take a moment to think carefully before you answer my next question.’ She looked from wife to husband. They both nodded. ‘How has Lucy been over the last few days? Has she seemed her usual self or have you noticed a change in her behaviour?’

After a few seconds Mr Naylor said, ‘A bit tired with all that revising but—’ he looked at his wife ‘—otherwise, much the same as usual. Wouldn’t you say, love?’

‘Being tired with the exams, you’d expect that. Once they were over, she perked up. She was excited about going to London.’ At the mention of the London trip, tears started again in Lucy’s mother’s eyes.

Ed swallowed, aware of the fine line between allowing a child freedom and losing them for ever.

‘So, Lucy was her usual self then?’

The Naylors nodded. Ed looked at Jenny, whose pencil was poised over her notebook. Jenny gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. Ed turned back to Lucy’s parents.

‘Thank you, that’s been very helpful.’ Ed got to her feet. ‘Before we go, may DC Eastham and I take a look at Lucy’s room?’

‘You’ve already taken her computer! Why on earth do you want to go up there again?’ Mrs Naylor’s initial astonishment turned to anger as she continued. ‘Our daughter went missing between here and the Shaxteds’ house. You should be on the streets looking for her, not poking around in her bedroom.’

‘I understand what you’re saying, Mrs Naylor,’ Ed said calmly, ‘but a careful look at her room will help us form a picture of Lucy and that could aid our inquiries.’

Before his wife had a chance to respond Mr Naylor said, ‘Her bedroom’s at the back. Turn left at the top of the stairs. We haven’t touched it.’

Ed and Jenny were moving towards the stairs when he added, ‘Her room is just as Lucy left it.’

At his words, Mrs Naylor’s face crumpled and she burst into tears.

Ed was surprised when Jenny opened the door to Lucy’s room. She’d expected they’d have to pick their way around a typical teenager’s bedroom. Instead, everything appeared to be in its appointed place. There were no pop posters. Delicate floral wallpaper covered the walls and the same pattern was continued on the duvet cover and pillowcase. A well-worn teddy bear was propped against the bed head. Other fluffy toys formed an orderly line under the window.

‘Check the wardrobe and bookshelf, Jenny. I’ll take the desk.’

Lucy’s laptop had been taken for forensic examination the previous evening. Now there was nothing on her desk except a blank pad of lined A4 paper and a pot with assorted pens and pencils. Ed turned her attention to the drawers, which contained other stationery items and a journal or diary with a small brass-coloured lock. She searched the drawers but failed to locate a key.

‘Anything interesting, Jenny?’

‘Not in the wardrobe. You?’

‘Nothing promising except for this.’ Ed waved the journal. ‘It’s locked but a bent paperclip should crack it. What’s on the shelves?’

‘Her very neatly filed A-level notes, study guides, a complete set of the Harry Potter novels and a couple of box files.’

At that moment the simple lock clicked open. Ed riffled through the pages and sighed.

‘I thought it looked suspiciously new. The pages are completely blank. It’s not been used.’

‘Just like this box file, brand new and empty, but the other’s crammed.’

Ed reached for a suitcase on top of the wardrobe. It felt heavier than she expected but inside there was nothing except a wash bag and an empty backpack. She turned back to Jenny, who was going through the papers from the box file.

‘What have you got there?’

‘It’s all printouts and hand-written notes about different religions. At the bottom there’s a Bible and a translation of the Quran.’

‘Probably for a school project. That’ll do for here. We’ll take that box file for a careful search.’

Mr and Mrs Naylor were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

‘Did you find anything that might help—’

Mrs Naylor cut across her husband. ‘That’s Lucy’s stuff. What are you doing taking her private things? You’ve already got her computer.’

‘We need forensics to take a look. There could be something relevant among these notes, just like there could be a lead in social media on her laptop.’

‘We didn’t encourage her to use social media.’ Mr Naylor spoke quietly.

‘Nonetheless, forensics will need to check it.’

‘But that box is Lucy’s. Her things are private. We don’t even go in her room.’ Mrs Naylor took a step forward, as if to retrieve the box file.

‘Rach …’ Mr Naylor put a hand on his wife’s shoulder and she turned to face him. ‘The most important thing is to get Lucy back. The police know what they’re doing.’ He dropped his hand to her waist and pulled her close. ‘Do what you think best, Officer. Just find Lucy, we want her home.’

‘Thank you,’ said Ed. ‘Is there anything else you can tell us?’

‘We just want our daughter back …’

Mr Naylor moved his arm to his wife’s shoulders and hugged her to him.

‘We hope to God you find Lucy quickly.’

‘We’re already doing everything we can. If you think of anything else, here’s my card.’ Ed stopped abruptly, realizing that she hadn’t yet been given cards for Canterbury. Smoothly, without betraying her moment of embarrassment, she turned to her colleague. ‘Jenny?’

Jenny handed across two cards.

‘We’ll see ourselves out.’

Mrs Naylor’s softly spoken words followed the two detectives down the hall.

‘Just find my daughter.’

Debbie and her parents sat together on the family sofa facing the two detectives. Ed took them through routine questions about what happened the previous evening. They confirmed what the Naylors had said and added nothing new.

‘I have one final question. It’s for all of you.’

Ed leant forward in her chair, reducing the distance between herself and the family on the sofa.

‘I need you to answer this question truthfully. If you think you’re betraying your friends, remember, we are doing this for Lucy’s sake.’ Ed paused and then asked, ‘How does Lucy get on with her parents? Has there been a recent falling-out between them?’

The family responded without hesitation, speaking over each other.

‘No,’ said Mr Shaxted.

‘Lucy gets on well with her parents,’ said Debbie.

‘They’re a loving family,’ said Mrs Shaxted.

‘Thank you, that’s very helpful.’ Ed held out her hand to Jenny, who quickly gave her two cards. ‘Should you think of anything you haven’t mentioned, please call us on this number.’

As the two detectives were about to leave, Ed appeared to have another thought.

‘Debbie, you stood at the door and watched Lucy walk down the road. Perhaps you could show us the point she’d reached when you last saw her?’

In the front garden, Debbie pointed down Victoria Road. ‘I watched her until she reached the corner of Cogans Terrace. I’m sure she continued down Victoria towards the path.’

‘Thanks, Debbie, that’s a great help. Oh, by the way, are you sure she might not have dropped in to see somebody else on her way home?’

‘We’re not friends with anybody around here.’

‘And boyfriends? Are you sure Lucy wasn’t seeing someone?’

‘No … I mean yes, I’m sure she wasn’t. She’d have told me. We’re best friends.’

‘I forgot to ask when we were inside. Did Lucy have a holdall or backpack with her?’

‘No, nothing like that. Just her purse and mobile.’

‘Okay, thanks. If you think of anything else call the number on this card.’

On cue, Jenny handed Debbie one of her cards.

At that moment Ed noticed Mr and Mrs Shaxted appear at the door of the house. She stopped Jenny with a hand on her arm and spoke to Debbie.

‘One last thing, Debbie. DC Eastham is going to walk down the road. She’ll turn and wave when she gets to Cogans Terrace. Watch Jenny as if she were Lucy. Then, go back to your front door just as you did last night.’

Ed stood where she could see both Jenny and Debbie. Jenny reached the road junction, paused to wave, and then continued walking. She was across Cogans Terrace and stepping onto the pavement to continue down Victoria Road as Debbie turned back to the house.

‘Thanks, Debbie.’ Ed shifted her gaze to the parents. ‘We’ll be on our way. Time is of the essence in a case like this.’

Ed hurried to join Jenny. Time was of the essence if you had a clue. So far they had nothing. Well, they didn’t have much, but at least Ed was now sure which way Lucy had started to walk home.

‘Jenny, I’m sure Lucy continued down here, she didn’t go via Cogans Terrace. We’ll look for a spot where an abductor might have struck.’

By the time they’d reached the primary school they were sure there was only one spot: at the end of the path where it joined Hollowmede by the triangle of grass.

‘I think he waited here, hidden by the hedge,’ said Jenny.

‘And, assuming it was a he, that’s where he left his transport, where our cars are parked.’

Ed and Jenny walked over to DI Saunders who was discussing the progress of the house-to-house. He turned to face them.

‘We’ve got nothing from the door-to-door so far.’

‘We may have something,’ said Ed.

She explained the most likely spot for the abduction was where the path reached the triangle of grass.

‘We think the abductor left his transport here and waited for Lucy by the hedge.’

Saunders didn’t respond so Ed continued. ‘He must have been tracking her. He must have parked, waiting for Lucy to leave Debbie’s house. We should identify the spot.’

‘The junction of Cogans Terrace and Victoria Road would be the favourite. Mike, get the teams to ask specifically about a vehicle parked in that area last night, say between 21.30 and 22.05. Also ask if people were out last night around that time, walking the dog, coming home, going out, whatever. He must’ve had transport so anything about a vehicle could be vital. Jenny, get SOCO over here to me. Lucy Naylor was probably abducted from this very spot.’

Ed frowned. Borrowdale and Potts were still in earshot. She coughed to catch Saunders’s attention and added, ‘That’s what Jenny and I concluded.’

For a moment there was no response from the DI. When Saunders did speak, he changed the subject.

‘Ed, Jenny, you’ve finished with the parents so join the door-to-door. I’d like to wrap up here by early afternoon. Liaise with Mike and Nat. Tell them we’ll meet in the Incident Room at 14.00 to review what we’ve got.’

Once again, Ed thought it was going to take time to become part of the team, let alone lead it, but that would be her job. As a step towards that end, Ed resolved to make sure Mike and Nat were made aware of the contribution she and Jenny had made to the investigation when the team met back at the Station.

11

Ed and Jenny were the first to arrive in the Incident Room. Ten minutes later, Borrowdale and Potts entered with fish and chips closely followed by Saunders, carrying nothing but a coffee. To escape the greasy smell, the women went to the machine and returned with coffees of their own. As they resumed their seats, Brian Saunders looked at Ed.

‘Did you get anything new from the parents?’

‘From the parents, no, but we checked Lucy’s room. It wasn’t a typical teenager’s room: no pop posters and very tidy, a bit old-fashioned like her clothes. We took a box file crammed with notes. Her laptop was taken last night and is already with forensics. We may get a lead from her email or social media but I doubt it – her parents actively discouraged her. Jenny and I also spoke with Lucy’s friend, Debbie, alone. We’re convinced there’s no boyfriend and we got a new piece of information.’

Saunders made no sign she should continue but Ed was determined to spell out their contribution in front of Mike and Nat.

‘Debbie always watches Lucy leave and doesn’t go back indoors until she turns to wave. Jenny re-enacted Lucy’s departure and waved just before crossing Cogans Terrace to continue down Victoria Road. By the time Debbie turned away, Jenny was committed to the Victoria Road route. Taking that route Jenny and I identified the probable site of the abduction as the spot where the footpath joins Hollowmede.’

Having spoken to the table in general, Ed looked pointedly at Saunders before asking, ‘Did SOCO find anything useful?’

‘Freshly broken twigs in the hedge and some fibres. There were faint signs that something had been dragged from the hedge to where a vehicle was probably parked. The marks could have been made by Lucy’s shoes.’

‘No trace of the vehicle?’

‘There was fresh rubber as if someone had pulled away sharply but nothing SOCO could get a tread from. Analysis of the rubber might give us a lead but residents park there all the time.’

‘When they can find a space,’ said Nat.

‘Find a space?’ Saunders looked impatiently at the DC. ‘What are you trying to say?’

Potts straightened in his chair and interrupted. ‘An irate resident couldn’t get into his usual parking space last night. It seemed like a useful outcome from the door-to-door but in the end it was something and nothing.’

Potts looked back at Borrowdale who was only too ready to expand.

‘A guy on Hollowmede said he came back Friday night just after ten and there wasn’t a space. He was really pissed off. Claims there’s an unwritten rule among the locals. Some use the spot by the grass and others use their driveways. He always uses a space by the grass and was furious he couldn’t park there.’ Nat winked across the table at Jenny and added, ‘I bet the rubber from the road will match his rear tyres.’

‘Did he notice a vehicle he’d not seen before?’

‘We pushed him but he wasn’t clear. Said he was tired. Couldn’t wait to get home. Eventually he said there must have been an outsider’s car but he couldn’t be specific.’

‘Nothing else at all?’ asked Saunders.

‘Well … he did say that one of the parked vehicles may have been larger than a normal car.’

‘How about the other houses, especially those near the grass and those near the junction of Victoria Road and Cogans Terrace?’

From a grunt and movements at her side, Ed realized Potts was revving himself up to take over. About time – he was the senior officer responsible for house-to-house questioning.

‘Nothing of any value, Brian, but we’re asking about ten o’clock on a Friday evening. People were at home or in town. Only one person admitted looking out. A woman on St Mildreds Place. She was putting her milk bottle out. Said she saw nothing unusual.’

Saunders let out an exasperated breath. ‘So, nobody saw anything remotely significant?’

Ed trod carefully. ‘There was the guy on Elham Road …’

‘About the right time,’ agreed Potts. ‘He wasn’t clear. Nothing precise to go on.’

‘At the moment we’ve nothing to go on.’ Saunders turned to Ed. ‘What did he say?’

‘He’d just walked back from the pub. He was putting his key in the front door when somebody drove by. He glanced round but didn’t pay much attention.’

Saunders leant forwards. ‘What time was that?’

‘About 22.00. He aims to get back for News at Ten.’

‘What about the vehicle?’

‘That’s the problem. He thought it was a van. Then he changed his mind. Said it was like a van but different. He was very apologetic. Didn’t think it important at the time and didn’t pay attention.’

‘Colour?’

‘It was dark, the street lighting’s poor, grey was the best he could do. But there was one thing he was sure about. The vehicle was coming down Elham Road, going towards Hollowmede.’

‘At last.’ Saunders sat up with a look of satisfaction. ‘It’s not much but it’s the right time and the vehicle was going in the right direction.’

‘That would tie in with the guy on Hollowmede. A vehicle larger than a car parked in his spot by the grass,’ said Jenny.

‘So there was a vehicle in the area at the right time that was larger than a car and like a van but not a van. Maybe it was a minibus. What would you do next, Ed?’

Saunders had put her on the spot again. If her reception hadn’t been so frosty she’d believe he was giving her a chance to shine or, at least, to show she was competent. Ed looked round the table. Saunders was the reliable professional but his nose must be severely out of joint. They all blamed her but the transfer had been out of her control. She could have turned it down but, at the time, she didn’t know what was happening in Canterbury. And if she had? Would she have sacrificed her career for his? Unlikely. Ed looked at the others. When Saunders left, Potts, Borrowdale and Eastham would be her team. She had to get to know them quickly and get them on her side if she was to make a success of her transfer.

‘Ed?’ It was Saunders prompting her.

‘Sorry. I was thinking. I’m new here.’ Don’t state the bleeding obvious. ‘I’ll talk it through in the light of my experience on the Met.’ Brilliant, remind them that the big boys parachuted you in and spoilt their family party.

‘Abductions without a ransom demand are usually a nasty business. To be successful we need to find the victim within a day or two. If that doesn’t happen, should they ever be discovered they’ll be dead and we can only hope death came quickly.’

At these words, Jenny compressed her lips and frowned while Ed continued with her disturbing prognosis.

‘With Lucy Naylor the signs aren’t good. A ransom demand is unlikely; the Naylors aren’t in that league. If it’s sexually motivated then we’re probably already too late. She’ll turn up traumatized or we’ll find her body. If it’s not rape then we may have longer to find her but God help her.’

That was better, but she was telling them what they should already know. If they were going to have any chance of finding Lucy quickly she needed to motivate them.

‘Think of her, Lucy Naylor, just 17, young for her age, a bit naive perhaps, one close girlfriend, no boyfriends, not much of a socializer. This young woman was poised between school and university, about to make her way in the world. Right now should be one of the great times in her life but where is she? Raped? Dumped in a ditch? Something worse?’

Ed paused, looking at each of her future team. Potts and Borrowdale were sitting up and taking notice. Jenny Eastham looked concerned, almost upset, but determined.

‘And it’s not just Lucy. Think of her parents, Simon and Rachel. Think what they’re going through. They’ve lost a daughter. It’s our job to find her. For Lucy’s sake and her parents, we have to find her fast.’

Saunders’s face was expressionless. Had she gone too far, doing his job for him? Sod it, he’d asked and she responded. The Super wanted it cleared up quickly. Of course she did – she was thinking of her statistics. Ed and Jenny, perhaps Saunders, and now maybe Potts and Borrowdale, were thinking of the girl. This is why they were in the job. They were doing it for the girl and if, God forbid, she turned up dead they were doing it for the parents, to get them justice. Ed glanced at Saunders and he nodded for her to continue.

‘So far we don’t have much to go on, but there are four lines to follow. First, we need to speak to all close friends and family. The perpetrator is often somebody close to the victim. Second, this may be the abductor’s first but often they’re serial attackers so we should check for similar cases in a reasonable radius, say 30, perhaps 50 or even 75 miles.’

‘We’ll do Kent and East Sussex,’ said Saunders.

‘Third, we should check the register of sex offenders for any likely suspects, and fourth, assuming it could be serial and local, have you had any similar cases in the last five to ten years? I’ve not included the vehicle because the description’s so vague – larger than a car, van-like and grey when seen in poor light – but, if we get a suspect, we should check ownership or access to something like a minibus.’

‘I’ll go along with that,’ said Saunders. ‘If we don’t solve this quickly it’ll be your case anyway and the Super will be on your back because I’ll be away to Maidstone. I’ll put a call out to neighbouring forces for information about similar cases. Nat, search records for any local cases. Also check the sex offenders register. Mike, start organizing interviews with friends and family, use Jenny to help. Ed, come Monday, go to Lucy’s school. See if the Head knows anything the Naylors and Shaxteds don’t. Or maybe something they’re keeping from us.’

Saunders gathered his papers together but, before rising from his seat, he added, ‘All of you take a break for a couple of hours. Back here at 20.30 when we’ll take Ed on a tour of Canterbury’s less than salubrious bars.’