Page 21 of Savage Obsession

“You went back for him!”

The dog leaps onto the bed beside her, tail wagging furiously. By the look of the reunion, the way she hugs and pets him, you’d think they’d been separated for years

“I hope he’s well house-trained,” I grumble. “Is there any coffee?”

“He has excellent manners,” Julia assures me. “I didn’t know they allowed dogs in here.”

“They don’t,” I reply, checking out the hospitality tray. It’s well-enough supplied with those mini sachets of instant coffee and individual packets of biscuits, so I flick the switch on the kettle and prepare myself a cup. “Are you having one?”

“No, thanks. I see you brought her tablet.”

“And this. I assume it’s yours.” I gesture to the laptop. “We have work to do, starting with getting a message to that friend of hers. Monika. Unless you have an address for the kid.”

“I dropped Lily off for sleepovers a few times. It’s in Bielany.” She mentions one of the city’s outlying districts.

“Do you know her mom?”

“Not really. We spoke on the phone once or twice, setting up arrangements, that sort of thing. They’ve not been friends that long, just since Lily started at the secondary school a year ago.”

I place my coffee on the bedside table and settle next to Julia and Henry on the edge of the bed, then fire up the tablet. “Right, here goes.” I type out a message on Lily’s WhatsApp then pass the device to Julia. “What do you think of that?”

Hi, Monika. Lily’s mom and dad here. Please pass this message on to your mom. Lily’s been missing for four days, and we’re really worried about her. Could we come and see you and your mom to chat about where she might have gone?

She nods. “Fine, I think. Do you suppose she’ll answer?”

“I expect her mom will, as long as Monika does pass it on.” I hit ‘send’.

We don’t have long to wait. There’s a response from Monika’s account within three minutes.

Monika’s mom here. I had no idea! Yes, of course, if we can help. She finishes with her mobile number. Please call me.

I dial the number to be furnished with the address and an assurance that we can call round anytime.

“We’ll be with you in thirty minutes.”

Henry is relegated to the back seat for the short journey to Bielany. We leave him where he is when we draw up in front of a smart little single-storey terraced house while Julia and I approach the front door. My sharp knock is answered within a few seconds.

“Come in, come in.” The woman is in her thirties, petite and friendly, and wearing a nurse’s uniform. “I’m just back from work,” she explains.

“We’re sorry to bother you, but this won’t take long.”

“Not at all.” She ushers us through to the sitting room where a teenage girl is curled on the sofa watching television. “If there’s anything we can do to help. The is awful. Four days, did you say?”

“Yes,” Julia chips in. “Since Monday.”

“Monika never said anything.” She turns to her daughter. “Why didn’t you tell me Lily had run away from home?”

The girl just shrugs.

I take a seat opposite the girl without being invited to and lean forward on my elbows. “I think you know why she went, don’t you, Monika?”

More shrugging. A distinct blush spreads across her features.

“We’ve seen the WhatsApp messages she sent to you,” I probe gently. “I know you tried to help Lily.”

“WhatsApp messages? What messages?” her mother wants to know. “Monika, I need you to hand over your phone.”

“No! It’s private,” the girl insists.

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