Page 105 of She Saw What He Did

Chapter Sixty-Five

Abby

‘Where’s my daughter?’ I plead. ‘Why are you doing this?’

Lester glares at me.

‘Get into the living room,’ he orders.

Please don’t let him go through the stuff on the table, I pray. He glances at it and smiles.

‘Good, you’re getting organised.’

‘Where’s my daughter, you bastard?’ I scream.

His eyes harden.

‘I keep fucking telling you she’s okay. Give me my money.’

Jared takes an envelope from the kitchen drawer and hands it to Lester who checks it silently. He then shoves Jared into the living room and beckons me to follow. He instructs us to sit on the couch. I can’t take my eyes off the gun.

‘I’m going to show you a video of your daughter so you know she’s okay.’

He points a finger at us.

‘She’s getting out of hand though. Once you’ve seen the video, we’re going to make one for her. You need to tell her to be better behaved, to stay quiet and do as I tell her.’

‘Why are you doing this?’ I ask quietly.

‘Will you fucking stop asking me questions, you’re doing my fucking head in.’

He keeps the gun trained on us while he fumbles in his pocket. He then produces a phone and shoves it at me.

‘Here.’

I grab at the phone and click into the video. I let out a little sob at the sight of Sam. Lester walks to the window and glances out while Jared and I watch the short recording. Sam is wearing the polka-dot top I’d put on her the day she disappeared. It looks crumpled now. She looks sad but tries to smile.

‘Hello Mummy,’ she says, looking directly into the camera. ‘The man said you might be getting worried. We’re alright, aren’t we, Nana?’

I see Daphne. Jared takes a deep breath beside me. I can’t take my eyes off our daughter.

‘I want to come home. Can you tell the man that? I love you, Mummy.’

I begin to cry, and Jared puts an arm around me. The phone is snatched from my hands.

‘No, please,’ I beg. I need one last look at my baby.

Did she look thinner? What about Daphne? I barely glanced at her.

‘That’s enough,’ he barked. ‘You can see she’s alright. I need you to tell her to be a good girl.’

‘But …’ I snivel.

He grunts.

‘Wipe your face and let’s get on with it.’

He glances at his watch and then checks the street again from the window.

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