Page 14 of Then She Vanished

The owner of the nail has to be behind the door. There are others, just like me, and I now know, I am not his first.

NINE

Evening was falling, and Gina sipped her fruit tea as she waited for Rona and her daughter to be interviewed.

Jacob entered the kitchen. ‘We have Rona’s statement, now it’s time to speak to her daughter. Shall we keep them in the family room?’ He poured himself a coffee.

‘Yes. We want her to feel at ease. It’s not going to be comfortable for her. I just hope she can help us.’ Gina paused. ‘Is there someone with them?’

Jacob nodded. ‘PC Benton is specially trained in this field. She will be helping them through the investigation and assisting with follow-up help for Molly and Rona if needed.’

‘Great. I can’t stop thinking about that girl in the photo.’

Detective Constable Harry O’Connor ran in, light from above bouncing off his shiny head. ‘Guv, they found something at the railway bridge.’

‘What is it?’

‘A smashed-up phone. A train had gone over it so it’s not recoverable, but there was another photo and it’s of our dead man and the same girl.’

He turned his phone around to show Gina and she felt her legs turn jelly-like. The sight of the same skinny, pale girl, againwith her hair flopped over her face. This time she was wearing a long blue dress while sitting hugging her knees on a clean bed. Gina couldn’t see any of her facial features except her round chin and a forced-looking smile. Next to her was their John Doe holding one hand out as he took the selfie, a smile on his face, his other arm around her shoulders. The girl was clutching something – it was the red cupcake scarf.

‘Get the team gathered in the incident room for a briefing. As soon as I’ve spoken to Molly, we need to formulate a plan. Call everyone in. Any planned days off are now cancelled.’

Her worst fears had been confirmed.

She placed her drink on the counter and beckoned Jacob to follow her to the family room. She walked in first to find Rona sitting on the couch talking to her daughter and PC Benton sitting in a chair near the door. The slight girl placed her feet down on the floor, tapping them in her chunky trainers. Her baggy jeans rode up slightly, exposing a pink sock.

‘Hello, Molly. Thank you so much for coming to talk to us. Has your mum spoken to you yet?’

The girl nodded and parted her straight, blonde fringe. ‘She said it’s about Calvin.’

Gina watched as Jacob made a note. John Doe had been careful to make sure he used Calvin’s name while in the library. ‘It is, but his name wasn’t Calvin.’

‘Mum said.’ The girl gripped her mother’s hand. ‘I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you, Mum.’

‘It’s okay, love. Just tell them all you know.’

‘Mum said he’s dead.’

‘That’s right,’ Gina replied.

‘What about his daughter?’

‘We are very concerned for her right now, and we need to find out who this man is so we can help her. Can you tell me about him?’

Molly swallowed and looked into her lap. ‘He told me she needed a friend as she couldn’t leave the house, and he said she liked reading, too, as he was getting books out for her. I…’

‘It’s okay, Molly.’ Rona nodded for Molly to continue.

Molly stood and grabbed her hair as she walked over to the door and sobbed.

‘What is it, love?’ Rona followed Molly and hugged her. ‘You can tell me anything.’

‘I don’t want to tell you. I hate myself.’

‘Tell me what?’

Gina tilted her head. ‘You’re doing really well, Molly, and we are so grateful you are telling us this as it will help us a lot. I can see this is hard for you. Can we get you anything?’

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