‘Mathew?’
He rested his chin on his chest. ‘You’re right; I’m just being silly.’
‘You’re not. You just get in a bit of a muddle sometimes.’
‘I’m gonna see Tortilla for a while then go to bed.’
‘Don’t stay out in that shed too late; I want to lock up before it gets dark.’
Mathew nodded. He knew only too well the importance of making sure all the doors were locked at night. Especially in Feelham.
Chapter Four
It was just after eight thirty when Terry walked through the door. Alison introduced him to a young female PC sitting at a small dining table pushed against the wall.
The officer stood and held out a hand. ‘I’m PC Hughes. The Initial Investigating Office.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Terry said, his eyes contradicting the words.
‘Alison tells me you’ve been to the pub.’
Terry nodded. ‘I usually go for a pint or two after work to unwind.’
‘Which pub?’
‘Cross Keys.’
‘Did you walk or drive home?’
‘Walked.’
The officer nodded. ‘Which way did you come?’
‘Down Croft Road and along St John’s.’
‘Did you see anyone suspicious hanging around?’
‘Not really. Just a gang of kids near Saxon’s Green. For what it’s worth, I reckon she’s probably gone to a mate’s house.’
‘I’ve called all her friends,’ Alison said. ‘No one’s seen her. Anyway, she wouldn’t just go off like that without telling me first.’
‘Have you had any trouble with Jodie recently?’ Hughes asked. ‘Drugs. Skipping school. That type of thing.’
Alison shook her head.
‘Any rows?’
‘She got a bit uppity the other day when I caught her prancing about in front of my bedroom mirror with makeup all over her face. But that was just something and nothing.’
Hughes wrote something in her notebook, then said, ‘Would you describe your daughter as happy?’
‘Pretty much. Apart from when her father shows up and spoils her rotten.’
Hughes looked at Terry. ‘So you’re not the father?’
‘No.’
‘He buggered off when Jodie was two,’ Alison said. ‘Good riddance to bad rubbish.’
‘Does the father have much to do with Jodie?’
‘Only when it suits him.’
‘Is there any chance Jodie might have gone to see him?’
‘She wouldn’t walk all the way to Chorley. It’s over three miles to his house.’
‘Unless she arranged to meet him,’ Terry said. ‘I wouldn’t put it past Colin to pull a stunt like that.’
‘Have you tried ringing him?’ Hughes asked.
Alison shook her head.
‘Perhaps you ought to,’ Hughes said. ‘Just to rule it out.’
Alison brought up her contacts menu and reluctantly called her ex-husband. No answer. Straight to voicemail. No surprise there; he wouldn’t speak to Alison if his life depended on it.
Hughes tapped her pencil against the edge of her notebook. ‘If you can give me his address, I’ll go and pay him a visit.’
‘Nine Wellington Drive, Chorley. It’s up near the railway station.’
Hughes wrote it down, then asked Alison what her relationship was like with Colin.
Alison laughed. ‘Non-existent.’
‘Okay. Would you say that Jodie’s easily led?’
‘Not really. She’s just a typical kid. Obviously I don’t watch her twenty-four hours a day, so I don’t know what she’s like when she’s with her friends.’
‘Do you think she would talk to strangers?’
Alison shrugged. ‘She’s always been taught not to.’
‘They don’t always listen, though, do they?’ Terry said. ‘As my old mum used to say, “Words go east, and deeds go west”.’
Alison looked at him as if he’d just sprouted another head. ‘What the hell’s that supposed to mean?’
Terry didn’t answer.
PC Hughes closed her notebook and put it in her pocket. ‘Would you mind if I had a quick look around the house and garden?’
‘Shouldn’t you be out searching for her?’ Terry said. ‘She’s not gonna be hiding in the laundry basket, is she?’
‘Ignore him,’ Alison said. ‘Just do what you have to do.’
‘I’d like to start in Jodie’s bedroom, if that’s all right?’
Alison nodded. ‘Up the stairs, second door on the left.’
‘Thanks.’
She waited for the copper to leave the room, then said, ‘I feel like there’s a bloody boa constrictor wrapped around my chest squeezing all the air out of me.’
‘Try not to worry. I’m sure she’ll turn up.’
‘It’s been two and a half hours, Terry. Something’s wrong.’ She thumped her chest. ‘I can feel it right in here.’
‘Was she all right before she left the house?’
‘Yes.’
‘Not narky about something?’
‘She seemed fine. Said she’d come straight home because she wanted to watch something on telly. Oh Christ, Terry, what if she’s been snatched by a paedophile? Or had an accident? Been hit by a car?’
‘Maybe I could go have a look round town,’ Terry offered as Alison started sobbing. ‘Ask around the pubs.’
She glanced up, eyes red. ‘How much have you had to drink?’
‘Not much.’
‘How much?’
‘Couple of pints.’
‘For God’s sake, be careful. The last thing I need is you getting nicked for drunk driving.’
He walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. ‘I’ll be fine. I promise. Any news, ring me straight away.’
Alison nodded and sniffed.
He kissed her on top of the head. ‘Love you.’
***
By the time PC Hughes returned to the lounge, Alison was drinking a second glass of wine.
‘Where’s Mr Stevens?’ she asked, standing near an ironing board laden with laundered clothes.
‘Gone to look for her.’
Hughes didn’t seem impressed but said nothing. ‘Have you got an up-to-date photo of Jodie I can have?’
Alison pointed to a school picture sitting amongst a jumble of other photos on top of a pine sideboard. ‘That one was taken just before they broke up for the summer holidays.’
Hughes picked up the picture and tucked it inside her notebook. ‘Thank you.’
‘What happens now?’
‘I’m going to have a quick check around the garden and the outbuildings. Then I’ll report my findings and we can begin a search of the local area. For what it’s worth, try not to worry too much. Kids go missing all the time, and they usually turn up safe. They have a lot to deal with these days, what with social media, bullying, and peer pressure. Sometimes they just need a bit of headspace.’
‘Don’t we all.’