Abigail: Chapter 36

Abigail let me in and we went straight through to the kitchen. All the usual pleasantries around tea were forgotten. She reached for a letter that was lying open on the kitchen table and offered it to me. I took a pair of gloves from my coat pocket and put them on, keen to avoid touching it too much and destroying any prints that might be on it. The note was short and to the point.

£50,000 IF YOU WANT TO SEE TOBY AGAIN. NO POLICE. WILL BE IN TOUCH TO ARRANGE DROP-OFF.

I turned the paper over but there were no marks on the other side. The paper appeared to be regular printer paper, the words written in black ink.

I put the paper back on the table and turned to Abigail. “When did this arrive?”

Her face was streaked with tears and her eyes red and puffy but she’d stopped sobbing. “I don’t know. I found it on the mat by the front door when I went out to get the kids shoes to clean them.”

“Any chance it came earlier and you just didn’t notice it?”

“Shouldn’t think so. It definitely wasn’t with the regular mail, that arrived this morning.” She showed me an envelope. “This didn’t have a stamp.”

The front of the envelope was written in the same print as the note with just Abigail’s name and the first line of her address. 

“Have you phoned the police?”

She shook her head. “I’m afraid to. What if they’re watching?” Her face crumbled and she started sobbing again. “This is exactly what I was afraid of.” Her whole body shook as she cried. “What do we do? I don’t have that kind of money.”

This was my case and I’d been determined to prove to Rob that happily married men don’t just vanish for no good reason but as stubborn as I could be, I knew we had to get expert help if we were to have any hope of getting Toby home in one piece. Don’t engage with kidnappers, that’s the golden rule, but this was going to take careful handling and I wasn’t prepared to risk going alone.

“I think it’s time our friends from the local constabulary got involved with your case again Abigail.”

“No!” Abigail shook her head firmly. “Please Charlie. You can’t. You said you’d help. What if they, if they …” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

“The police have resources I don’t have access to. They can check the letter for finger prints. Run plates on any cars seen hanging about. This was hand delivered. That means someone’s been here, someone who knows where Toby is.”

Abigail’s hand flew to her mouth and she shrieked. “They were here?!”

“Maybe not them, but someone delivered this letter.”

She ran to the windows and started pulling at the curtains. “What if they’re still out there?” All the colour had drained from her face and I was afraid she might faint.

I took her hand and guided her back to the table. “Sit down, I’ll do that.”

I closed the curtains then sat opposite her at the table. “I know this is difficult but you’ve got to try and keep calm.”

“I’m not going to the police. You can’t make me!”

“Let me make you a cup of tea and we can talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to talk about! I’m not talking to the police!” She banged her fist on the table and started crying again.

While I made the tea I mentally ran through the options. If I called the police without her consent and Toby wound up dead as a result I’d be in danger of losing more than just my finders fee, my reputation would be in tatters, but if I went along with her and did nothing, that wouldn’t look good either. I handed her the tea and sat down again. It was then that I had an idea.

“I have a friend who might be able to help us.” I spoke gently. “He’s a police officer but …”

“No police!”

“Just let me finish. He’s a police officer but he’s a very good friend. I’d like to ask him to take a look at the letter, run a few tests on it for us. He wouldn’t have to come here. You don’t even have to meet him if you don’t want to.”

She looked up and wiped her eyes. “You think he’d do that?”

“It’s not exactly in line with police procedures but under the circumstances, it’s the best we can do.” I glanced at the time. “It’s getting late now and I really need to get back to my daughters but if you’re okay here for now, I’ll take this and see what I can do.” I gestured to the letter and Abigail nodded.

“Is there anyone you can call who can come and keep you company tonight?”

Abigail shook her head. “There’s no need, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

Rob’s reminders about not being a social worker rang in my ears but I still felt a certain duty of care. I had a home of my own I needed to get to and there was nothing to be gained from me staying overnight but I didn’t like to think of Abigail alone and frightened.

“Who would I call? You’ve met my parents. I can’t ask them to come all the way here because their silly daughter is scared of the dark!”

“One of the neighbours maybe? Or a friend?”

She shook her head again. “It’s just me and the kids. The only friends I have are the other mums at school but they’ll be home with their children. I wouldn’t like to ask them to come.” She smiled and took a deep breath. “I’ll lock up behind you and close all the curtains.”

It wasn’t ideal but Abigail was a grown-up. If she wouldn’t let me call the police I could hardly ask Rob to send a patrol car round to check on her. I said my goodbyes, watching from the van as she finished going round closing all the curtains. I looked up and down the street, I couldn’t see anyone loitering. I decided I’d wait a few minutes, just in case, and then go home. While I waited I rang Rob and invited him to breakfast in the morning. All I could do now was go home, enjoy what was left of the evening with my girls, and see what tomorrow would bring.