Dawson shook his head with despair and Kim got the feeling this side investigation had taken him somewhere he didn’t want to go.
She was considering her next words carefully when Matt suddenly appeared at the door.
She gave him her full attention and nodded for him to speak.
‘Okay, Detective Inspector, I'm ready to send some texts.’
Eighty-Five
Kim stood at the edge of the banister as the couples made their way down the stairs.
‘Can I have you all in the lounge?’
Elizabeth sat at the end of the sofa with Nicholas on her lap. Stephen took up residence against the wall beside the window.
Karen took a seat on the arm of the chair occupied by her husband. They didn't speak or look at each other but somehow their hands met and held.
Matt was staring at his pad until Nicholas started to cry, unhappy at being held by a mother who was loath to let go.
Matt glanced at her. She got it. He needed their full attention.
‘Elizabeth, would you mind if Helen took Nicholas to the kitchen?’
She hesitated then nodded. Helen swooped in and lifted the baby up. From the way she held the child Kim could tell she wasn't a natural, a bit like herself. At least Helen had the right end.
When he had their full attention, Matt spoke.
‘Okay, we're going to start negotiating with these bastards.’
Robert nodded his head but Stephen looked stricken.
‘We have no intention of handing over anything but we're playing for time.’
The relief on Stephen's face made Kim wish he'd been left to suffer for longer. Just a bit.
‘We're getting ever closer to getting back your girls but we have to play the game or they will know.’ He turned to Stephen. ‘I want you to start with a lower offer of—’
‘Yes, let's stay as close to the truth as we can,’ Elizabeth said, bitterly.
Matt ignored her. ‘Your initial offer should be for £894,000. I want to see his response to you. I then want Robert to send a much higher offer of £1,750,000.’
Kim knew that Matt's strategy was to find out if the kidnappers reacted to both offers in the same way. If they did it would prove that both families were being strung along and their theory about the return of the girls was correct.
Both families listened earnestly to Matt as he spoke and explained how the wording for each text should be different.
‘So, what exactly is the strategy?’ Stephen asked.
Matt ignored him and passed a piece of paper to Elizabeth.
‘This is what I want you to send, word for word.’
Stephen moved to stand behind his wife and read it over her shoulder.
Elizabeth ignored him and continued to read.
‘Will somebody tell me what the hell you’re hoping to achieve?’ Stephen fumed.
‘Stop it,’ Elizabeth snapped.
‘I have a right to know. She is my daughter.’
Karen stood and moved towards him. ‘Stephen, calm down, please.’
He stepped away. ‘No, I am not going to be treated as though I have no say.’
Kim stood with her arms folded. Every gaze in the room was upon Stephen. Kim was in awe of the man’s ability to become the main attraction in a situation that was far more important than him.
‘Stephen, shut up.’
The words from Robert were not loud or angry. They were calm and decisive.
And they got Stephen’s attention.
Kim stepped forward. ‘Folks, this is not helping to—’
‘Please tell me to shut up again, Robert,’ Stephen said. His face had darkened with unspent rage.
‘Jesus Christ,’ Matt hissed.
Robert exhaled heavily. ‘Stephen, this is not a competition. Our daughters need us to be strong.’
Kim saw a slight stiffening in Elizabeth’s back as she shot a warning glance at her husband.
Kim looked at all four parents and knew what was coming.
Shit. She stepped in between the two men. ‘If we just take a minute —’
‘You haven’t worked it out yet, have you?’ Stephen raged, looking around her.
‘Stephen,’ both women shouted together.
Stephen was impervious to anything other than his own fury.
‘Charlie isn’t even your fucking child,’ he blurted. ‘Your wife had a fling with an old boyfriend – and now you’re going to ruin yourself for a child that’s not your blood?’
A cry escaped from Karen's lips and even Matt looked up.
Robert's face remained frozen for five seconds before his eyes fell to the face of his wife.
The room had stilled. Elizabeth's face was filled with horror, her eyes fixed on her friend.
‘Karen …?’ Robert asked.
All eyes were on her. Her face lost colour and slackened. Her hands clung together.
Karen’s hesitation answered the question in his eyes. She took a step forward. ‘Robert … I …’
Robert turned and left the house.
Eighty-Six
For ten seconds the room stood still.
Matt broke the spell. ‘Give me the phones,’ he snapped. Everyone looked at him. ‘Your children don't need this fucking soap opera. Let me take the phones.’
Karen stared into the hallway and Elizabeth looked to her.
Kim nodded her agreement. The atmosphere was too fraught for him to do his job.
‘Let Matt take the phones and get the ball rolling.’
She took Elizabeth's phone from her hand and retrieved Karen's from the coffee table, then passed them to Matt. He left the room without speaking.
‘What … all I did was tell the truth,’ Stephen said to no one in particular.
‘It wasn't your truth to tell,’ Karen said brokenly, before she turned and left the room.
Bloody hell, Kim thought. She did not get paid enough for this. For once she agreed with Matt. This domestic drama was not going to help get Amy and Charlie back.
Kim guessed that Karen had entrusted the information to her closest friend who had in turn shared it with her husband. And Stephen had chosen the worst possible moment to share it with everyone. Worse, he had shared the information only because of his inability to secure the release of his own child, as a way to lash out.
That was the trouble with a secret. Everyone thought they could trust someone. And it was the perfect example of why Kim would never trust anyone with hers.
Helen had wandered back into the room and stood on the periphery. Stephen’s expression was unrepentant. There was no point in wasting her breath.
Kim strode towards the kitchen door and paused at the sound of Elizabeth’s voice.
‘I’m so sorry, Karen. Stephen should never have—’
‘How could you?’ Karen screamed. ‘You were the only person I’ve ever trusted with that and you tell him. How could you do that to me, Liz? How could you …’
Kim passed in front of the door, unnoticed by both.
She didn’t break her stride. This was not going to help get their girls back.
Eighty-Seven
Kim and Bryant sat outside the premises in Stourbridge High Street. It wasn't what she'd been expecting. There were no vinyl letters on the glass about empowerment or smoking or losing weight; just vertical blinds at the window and a brass name plate.
The Trueman family were due to arrive any minute.
Kim glanced in the passenger rear-view mirror, keeping watch for approaching vehicles.
‘They're here,’ she said, opening the passenger door.
A white Range Rover had inched gingerly down the street and parked three cars behind them.
Kim approached the vehicle, offering what she hoped was a reassuring smile to the three occupants.
‘Thank you for allowing this,’ Kim said to Julia and Alan Trueman. ‘And thank you for being so brave,’ she said to Emily.
‘Is it going to hurt?’
Kim smile
d and shook her head.
‘No, but I'm going to ask the hypnotherapist to explain it to you so you feel comfortable with what's going to happen.’
Kim led the way into the building followed by the family. She could feel their apprehension.
The lobby led into a small office, where a woman in her mid to late fifties sat behind the desk. Her greying hair was tied back in a bun, held in place with a pencil. Clear blue eyes peered from behind oversize glasses. A bulky man's watch on her wrist was at odds with the delicate crystal that hung around her neck.
‘We're here for Doctor Atkins,’ Kim said.
The woman smiled warmly. ‘You've found her, but she prefers to be called Barbra.’
Kim shook her hand and introduced the whole group. ‘You are expecting us?’
‘Not quite as many of you, Inspector, but yes.’
‘Is it a problem?’
‘Not out here but in there, yes. But we'll get to that in a minute.’
She stood and moved around the desk, her eyes on Emily.
‘I assume this is the young lady I'm going to be working with today?’ She took Emily's hand and guided her to the sofa. ‘Are you frightened, sweetie?’
Emily nodded. ‘A little bit.’
Kim noted that Barbra held on to the girl’s hand.
‘There's nothing to be afraid of. It doesn't hurt and I'm not going to take you anywhere that you don't want to go, okay?
‘Think of it this way. Imagine hearing the first line of a song but you can't remember the title or the singer. You know the information is in there but you just can't bring it forward in your mind.’
Emily nodded her understanding.
‘That's all we're going to do. The only thing you'll feel is completely relaxed and at ease and afterwards you'll feel like you've just had a great night's sleep.’
She turned to the rest of them. ‘Any questions?’
Mr Trueman stepped forward. ‘Have you done this before, I mean, with victims?’
Kim noted Julia’s look towards her husband. Their ‘victim’ was listening to every word.
Barbra nodded. Kim saw that she hadn't let go of Emily's hand and understood that she was maintaining contact to build a trust between them.
Kim also noted that one of her fingers was resting on Emily's wrist, monitoring her heart rate without the girl knowing. Kim instantly liked Barbra’s style. A terrified patient was unlikely to respond positively to the procedure. Kim could see from Emily’s body posture that she was beginning to relax. Her shoulders had eased into the sofa.
‘Yes, Mr Trueman, I've done this many times before. I've assisted victims of crime in recovering lost details, sometimes going back decades.’
‘Is there any chance of lasting effects from hypnotism?’ asked Julia.
Barbra shook her head. ‘This isn't a stage show. All we're doing is turning over a few stones of the mind to see if there's anything hidden underneath. The only lasting effect is that any memory we bring to the fore is likely to remain there.’ Barbra turned to Emily. ‘I need you to understand that, okay?’
Emily looked to her mother who in turn looked to Kim, alarmed.
Kim stepped forward. ‘Emily already recounts the whole experience with accuracy. We're only looking for any forgotten or suppressed details.’
Mrs Trueman nodded, somewhat appeased.
Barbra waited for a few seconds and, when no further questions came, she squeezed Emily's hand and stood.
‘Okay, I'm ready to start but I can't allow you all in the room. That's too much pressure for Emily. I'll allow two.’
At the same second Bryant stepped back and Julia stepped forward.
Kim glanced towards Mr Trueman. His face showed the battle with his protective instinct for his child, but he gestured in her direction. Kim nodded her thanks.
Barbra held open the door to the treatment room and motioned for Julia and Emily to enter. She hung back and spoke so that only Kim could hear.
‘What are we looking for specifically, Inspector, a description of the offender or …?’
‘Location,’ Kim said. ‘Anything that might help me identify where she was held.’
Barbra nodded and entered the room. Kim followed.
‘Okay, Emily, if you take a seat in the big chair for me. Mrs Trueman, feel free to sit beside Emily.’
Kim closed the door and remained standing in the corner. She took out her phone and held it up.
‘May I record the session?’ she asked, looking from Julia to Barbra. Both women nodded.
The big chair that swallowed Emily was formed of soft, tan leather and the position rested somewhere between flat and upright. Julia took the seat to the right of her child and Barbra sat to the left.
‘Okay, Emily, I want you to get comfortable. Sit in a position that makes you feel relaxed.’
Emily adjusted her position and nodded.
The light from outside was muted by vertical blinds and facing the chair was a row of black and white prints of various city skylines.
‘Good girl, now all I want you to do is look at any one of those pictures on the wall. It doesn't matter which one. Just choose the one that appeals to you the most and focus on it.’
Emily nodded and chose to stare at New York.
‘Now, I want you to take nice deep breaths, slowly and evenly. Breathe in through your nose, one, two, three, four, five. And let the air just escape from your mouth. Good girl. In through your nose, one, two, three …’
Kim noted that Barbra's voice had dropped to a mild, undulating tone that was little more than a whisper. She could see Julia's left hand trembling. She caught her eye and smiled, grateful for the woman's co-operation.
Kim glanced back to Emily just as her eyes fluttered and closed.
‘Okay, Emily, I want you to think back to the day you were taken. You were placed in the back of the van, talk me through the journey.’
‘Me and Suzie … crying … scared …’
‘Were you able to see anything?’
Emily shook her head. ‘Dark.’
‘Was the journey smooth or bumpy?’
‘Smooth, then bumpy. Tried to hold on but bounced around. Suzie hit head.’
Kim started making mental notes. They were probably taken onto rural roads.
‘Go forward, Emily, to when the van door was opened.’
‘Head … covered … bag …’
Emily's eyes fluttered and Julia's jaw clenched.
‘They covered your face?’
Emily nodded.
‘Can you hear anything, Emily?’
‘No … quiet …’
‘Can you smell anything?’
‘Squelch … feet …’
‘Are your feet in mud, Emily?’
Emily nodded. ‘Lots.’
‘Are you being taken into a building?’
Emily nodded. ‘Cold … stairs … walls … cold …’
‘Are you being taken downstairs?’
‘Hand … here …’ Emily touched the back of her neck. ‘Pushed down.’
Julia closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.
‘Walls … wet … cold …’
‘Okay, Emily. Are you and Suzie in a room?’
Emily nodded.
‘Are there any windows?’
Emily shook her head and wrinkled up her nose.
‘Smell …’
‘Is it a bad toilet smell?’
Emily shook her head. ‘Old …’
‘Okay, Emily, can you go forward to when you were taken out of the room?’
Emily nodded but her breathing altered.
‘Grabbed … my hair … Suzie … screaming … holding on …’
Kim saw Julia's right hand move to her mouth and bite down. She knew it was taking every ounce of determination for the woman to keep quiet.
Kim moved silently across the room and rested her right hand on Julia's shoulder.
‘Go on, Emily,’ Barbra said, quietly.
 
; ‘Let go … had to let go … Suzie punched in the face … by man … fell backwards … not moving …’
Barbra swallowed. ‘Are you going back up the stairs?’
Emily nodded. ‘Quickly … pushing … tripped …’
‘Are you being taken back outside?’
‘Yes … pushing … stumbled …’
‘Do you feel the squelch, Emily?’
She shook her head. ‘No … grass …’
‘Can you hear anything?’
‘Yes … machine … shouting … far away …’
Barbra glanced her way. Kim nodded.
‘What does it sound like?’ Barbra asked.
‘Shouting but far …’
‘Is the noise close by?’
Kim looked down to check the phone was still recording.
Emily scrunched her eyes and shook her head.
‘Is it further away in the distance?’ Barbra asked.
Emily nodded.
‘Are you being placed back into the van?’
‘Thrown … quickly … bumpy … couldn't hang on … stopped … faster … something hitting the van … thrown against the side …’
‘Emily …’
‘Left … left … right … left …’
‘Where are you now, Emily?’
‘Pulled from the van … being turned and turned and turned …’ She rubbed at her upper right arm with her left hand. ‘Hurts … squeezing …’
Emily’s face contorted with the memory of the pain.
Barbra looked to Kim. That was all they were going to get. They were seeking information regarding the location and Barbra had taken her through arriving and departing.
Kim nodded for Barbra to bring her round.
‘Okay, Emily, I want you …’
‘He said … something … twirled … and turned … and pushed … and … See you again, sweetheart …’
Julia cried out and Kim closed her eyes.
She finally understood why they'd allowed Emily to live.
They had planned to snatch her again.
Eighty-Eight
‘I knew it. I knew it,’ Julia exclaimed on the pavement outside the building. ‘Everyone thought I was just being neurotic.’ She turned to her husband. ‘Even you thought so, but I knew it wasn't over. I knew as long as they were still out there Emily would be at risk.’