Abigail: Chapter 42

When I stepped through the little gate at the top of the hill and into one of the many empty fields surrounding the village I felt my spirits lift. Once the gate was safely closed behind me I took Missy off her lead and watched with delight as she leapt through the grass. I followed behind her at a brisk pace, the wind in my ears as I walked. There was something quite wonderful about being alone in the middle of nowhere on a cold but sunny Friday afternoon. Up here I could pretend that Abigail wasn’t angry with me, I didn’t have to worry about ransom notes or threats from heavy-handed building site managers. I could just walk and think about nothing.

Inevitably though, thoughts of nothing soon gave way to thoughts about my case. The list of things I needed to check on or find out about was growing longer by the day. Muriel had gone quiet so I wanted to make sure all was well with her. I very much doubted Ryan would be back in Barnstaple any time soon but felt a certain pull to go back there and find out. He had a mother and girlfriend hidden away somewhere and I’d wondered about tracking them down. If he was financially responsible for them I’d like to know how they were faring with Ryan on the run.

As I walked I continued to review everything I knew and for about the twentieth time in a week I cursed Ryan and his thieving ways. I’d reproduced my case notes from memory but it felt like there were large gaps. When all this was done I was determined to get a better system in place. The girls were both excellent with computers and were trying to persuade me to store everything in the cloud, said I’d never have to worry about anyone stealing my paperwork ever again, but I liked the feel of putting pen to paper, it helped me think.

I’d reached the top of the hill and was about to call Missy back to start the walk home when my mobile rang. This time it was a number I’d been sure to store on my phone: Abigail. I felt a flutter of nerves as I swiped the screen to take her call.

“Hi Abigail, how are you?”

“Not great Charlie. I just got back from picking the kids up from school. There was a parcel waiting for me on the doorstep. It’s got a phone in it.”

“A phone? You mean like a mobile phone? Or a landline?”

“Mobile. One of those cheap ones. A Nokia.”

“Okay. Anything else?” My mind was racing over the possibilities of what this could mean. I assumed it was from the same person who sent the note but sending a mobile phone to make contact was a new one on me.

“Just a note. Same writing as last time.”

“What does it say?”

“Just two words. ANSWER ME. Oh Charlie, what do I do?” All her frustration from the day before seemed to have melted in light of this new development.

“Answer it I guess.”

“But what if I’m not home when they ring? Am I meant to cart this around with me everywhere? What if I forget it?”

“I imagine that’s unlikely under the circumstances.” I had a sudden thought. “Do you want me to look after it for you? I could answer when they ring, pretend to be you.”

“Oh would you?” The relief in her voice was palpable. “Thank you so much. I’ve just been so worried about what I would say, and if they rang when I was driving or on the school yard.”

Since I was back in Abigail’s good books I decided to press home my advantage. “Have you given any more thought to how you might pay the ransom? You still want to pay?”

“I don’t want to, I can’t think of anything worse, but I need Toby home so of course I’ll pay.”

I spoke my next words very gently. “Where will you get the money?”

There was silence for a moment but when Abigail spoke again she sounded more confident than she had in a long time. “Would you do me a favour Charlie?”

“Of course, anything.”

“Could you ring Saul and Carol, invite them over to tea on Monday?”

“If you’re sure that’s what you want?”

“They’re not short of a few quid. If they want to help, who am I to stop them?”

It took all my self-control not to jump up and down with happiness. If she was ready to forgive Toby’s parents whatever grievances she had against them, I was off the hook. She’d also unwittingly saved me from making the one phone call I’d been putting off. The last thing I’d wanted to have to do was ring Carol and Saul and tell them their son’s wife wouldn’t see them and now I didn’t have to. All we had to do now was hope the ransom demand wouldn’t need paying before Abigail and her in-laws were reunited.

I was so lost in my thoughts it took me a second to realise Abigail was still speaking.

“Sorry Abigail, I missed that. The signal went funny.”

“I was just asking if Monday teatime would be alright for you?”

“Alright for me to do what?”

“For you to come to tea, with Saul and Carol. You will come won’t you? It’ll be so much easier with you here.”

After being given a reprieve I could hardly say no so after promising to call round later to pick up the phone and assuring her that I’d ring her in-laws right away and come back to her with a time, we said our goodbyes and I headed back towards home to find the piece of paper Saul had given me with his number on it. As I walked I rehearsed over and over in my mind what I might say. I knew Abigail was only inviting them because she wanted their help with the money and the last thing I wanted to do was give them false hope about being reunited with their son’s family but ever the optimist, I had to believe some good might come of it all.