Abigail: Chapter 51

I put the mobile on speaker so Rob could hear. He took his phone out of his pocket and started a new voice recording.

“Do you have the money?” The voice on the phone sounded electronic, like it was being put through a voice-changing app.

“I’m working on it. Is Toby okay?” I tried my best to mimic Abigail’s voice, reluctant for Ryan, if it was Ryan, to realise he was speaking to me and not her.

“I ask the questions! Where is the money?”

“Toby’s parents have it. But we need assurances from you that Toby isn’t hurt. Proof that he’s still alive.” I looked at Rob who gave me a thumbs up.

“He’s alive.”

“Proof, I need proof.” I had a flash of inspiration. “Can I speak to him? Let me hear his voice.”

“That won’t be possible.”

“So how do I know you haven’t killed him already?”

“If I kill him you’ll know about it. Now stop talking and listen. You’re going on a little road trip so you’re going to need to pack.”

“A road trip? But what about the children? I can’t just leave them. They have school.” I crossed my fingers, hoping that the voice wouldn’t know the school holidays had started.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.” The voice paused. “Tell you what, I’ve changed my mind. Let’s wait a few days. I’m in no rush to get rid of him. I’m having so much fun. How about Saturday? No school on Saturdays, you can bring them with you. I’m sure they’d love to see their Daddy again.”

“Where?”

“Barnstaple woods. Ask your new best friend Charlie Diamond. I hear she loves the woods.”

“Ryan?”

“Charlie?”

Bugger! “I’ll ask Charlie. She told me all about you Ryan.”

“Did she tell you how I made her wet her panties?”

I shook my head firmly at Rob. No way! “That doesn’t sound like the Charlie I know.”

“Do me a favour and stop lying Charlie Diamond. I know it’s you and you can tell your friend Abigail that if she doesn’t get her pretty little arse to Barnstaple woods with my money by one o’clock on Saturday afternoon, I’m going to start chopping pieces off her precious husband. Let’s see how keen she is to have him home in time for Christmas then eh?”

Before I could reply, the line went dead. I threw the phone back into my bag and looked at Rob, my hands shaking. “Now do we have grounds to go after that scrawny little rodent?”

Without waiting for a reply I got up and went to the ladies room to splash water onto my face. My mind was racing. Ryan had Toby. Or, he was willing to go out on a limb and collect cash on the promise of delivering Toby. But how had Ryan and Toby met? Ryan went to school here but Toby had to be at least ten years older than Ryan. Ryan would only have been five the last time Toby came to Barnstaple as a kid. And then there was Bill and Toby’s connection to his company. I didn’t know if Ryan and Bill knew each other. Was it plausible to think Bill and Ryan cooked this whole plan up together? I didn’t believe so but what other explanation was there?

Thoughts were still whirring around inside my head when I heard the door open and Rob walked in.

“This is the ladies.”

“I know. But you were taking ages and I was worried about you. Come on.” He took me gently by the arm and led me back through the bar to our table. “Let’s get you somewhere private. You need to ring Abigail.”

Feeling thankful that we’d chosen to drink within walking distance of our hotel, I followed Rob as he guided us back. When we got to the hotel we stepped into the lift without saying a word and together we rode in silence to the second floor where Rob reached into my bag, took out my keycard and let us into my room. I kicked off my shoes and sat on the edge of the bed. It was only then that I allowed myself a momentary wobble. As I thought about Abigail and her children, a solitary tear traced its way down my cheek. I wiped it away and then reached into my bag for my phone.

I dialled Abigail’s home number. It rang just three times before she answered.

“Hello?”

“Abigail it’s me, Charlie.”

“I knew it! What did he say?”

“How did you know? Never mind … he wants you to bring the money to Barnstaple, to the woods where he nicked my van.” I paused for a moment, desperate to remember if I’d told her that bit.

“Who does? Your van was nicked? What’s going on Charlie?”

Guess not. I took a deep breath and as quickly and succinctly as possible, filled her in on all that had happened during my visit to Barnstaple. When I finished she didn’t say anything. “Abigail? Are you still there?”

“You did all that, for me?” She sounded like she was crying.

“Well yeah, but it’s my job.”

“Does your mother know you do this job?”

“Please don’t get me started on my mother. The point is, we know he has Toby.” If he’s telling the truth, whispered a voice in my head. “And we know where he’ll be on Saturday. So we have between now and then to figure out a way to get you and the money safely to Barnstaple so we can nail this creep once and for all and get your husband home.”

I looked up and saw Rob waving wildly at me, desperate to get my attention. “Hang on a minute would you Abigail.”

I raised an eyebrow at Rob and he handed me a piece of paper with the note he’d just scribbled. Tell her the police are already looking for Ryan. Get her permission to tell them about Toby. I gave him a thumbs up and a smile.

“Abigail, Rob’s with me. You remember my friend the policeman I told you about? He says to tell you the police are looking for Ryan because he beat up an old lady. He thinks we should tell the police about Toby and get their help with the drop.” The line was silent. “Abigail? Do you hear me? I think Rob’s right. It’s for the best.”

“No Charlie, you promised.”

“But they could help us …”

“I said no!” And with that the line went dead.