Page 58 of Don't Believe A Word

‘Well, it’s clear she was trying to portray Sadie as a nutjob,’ Connor reflected when Cristy reported the conversation to the team the next morning. ‘And – presuming we’re all agreed that there’s nothing wrong with Sadie – the only reason I can see for Mia doing that, is because whatever she’s hiding is pretty damned bad. Remind me what she said again?’

Checking the notes she’d made right after the call, Cristy read aloud, ‘“I have spent many years protecting my niece and I’m not going to stop now.” Obviously I asked for an explanation of that, but she just started in about my reputation, and asked how I thought Sadie was managing to find Lottie’s story in order.’

‘Because Sadie herself is writing it?’ Clove said incredulously.

‘Even if we believed that,’ Jacks said, ‘and I don’t think we do, there have to be far easier ways of trying to find out about your past. Going to all this trouble would be just, well, nuts!’

‘Although you have to admit,’ Clover put in, ‘itisweird that the story is “being found” more or less in order.’

‘That’s if you discount the possibility of there being other extracts covering the in-between times,’ Cristy pointed out. ‘For instance, there could be something about Mia’s shopping trip to pick up supplies for their new charge, or more about what was in the envelope. That hasn’t come to light yet, and I presume it exists. Having said that, in my opinion, what we’ve read so far has been written by a more mature hand than Sadie’s, and the style seems consistent with some of Lottie’s published short stories.’

‘Anything in them to warrant further investigation?’ Connor wanted to know.

‘Nothing that I’ve come across so far. Most are set in foreignlands … I get the impression she’s drawn on her personal experience of working with NGOs and charities to create certain aspects of the stories.’

‘Anything set on Exmoor, or Guernsey?’ Clove wondered.

‘Not recognizably so, and no characters that stand out as being based on Sadie or Mia.’

‘Remind me when she gave up being published,’ Connor said, checking the board to see if it was there. Finding it, he read out, ‘“Last book 2005, discuss with editor Felicity Green, returning UK Feb first. Can speak sooner if necessary.” So did something significant happen in 2005 to make her want to pull out? Sadie would have been how old by then? Seven. So well settled in Guernsey and at primary school.’

‘Do you want me to set up a Zoom with Felicity Green?’ Jacks offered.

After considering it, Connor said, ‘Hold fire for now. It’s feeling like a bit of a distraction when what we really need is to get to the bottom of what went on in May of 2000, and why Sadie was left on the beach.’

‘If she actually was left on the beach,’ Cristy stated. As everyone looked at her, she said, ‘I’m just putting it out there that she might not have been. But as we’ve no idea what’s true or false about that scenario, I guess we keep going with it for the time being.’

‘But what’s making you doubt it?’ Clover wanted to know.

She shrugged. ‘I suppose it just seems so unlikely, far-fetched even, and what I’m wondering is if Lottie wrote it to try and establish an early false record of how Sadie came to them.’

‘In order to cover up … what?’

‘The fact they had her, of course, but I have no theories yet on who, why, what, or when; I’m simply saying that I think we need to keep open minds.’

‘Do we mention any of this to Sadie?’ Connor asked.

‘To be honest, I think she has her own doubts. Remember she – and Anna – were the first to suggest she might have been bought, and Lottie’s version is really all about abduction. That’s bad, obviously, but the alternatives are a whole lot worse.’

After a brief spell of reflection, Jacks said, ‘So where do we go from here?’

Turning back to the whiteboard and its list of those they wanted to interview, Cristy said, ‘One of us needs to have a chat with “Corny” – Cornelia – the long-time housekeeper for the sisters at their Guernsey home, the Villa des Roches. Apparently she lives in Cobo Bay now, on the island’s west coast, with a small menagerie including a mute parrot.’

‘Chances are she’ll be prepped by Mia,’ Connor warned. ‘What about Mia herself? Is it worth trying to talk to her again?’

Cristy’s eyebrows rose. ‘After her call last night I wouldn’t be surprised if our next communication with her is via her lawyer … Which reminds me, I’m guessing we still haven’t received anything from David Gaudion regarding the aunts’ finances?’ She was looking at Jacks.

‘You’re right, we haven’t,’ he confirmed. ‘I’ll chase it.’

‘I don’t think we’ve made a decision yet,’ Connor pointed out, ‘on what we tell Sadie about her aunt’s call last night.’

Having already made up her mind on that, Cristy said, ‘She needs to know what Mia said about “protecting” her. She’ll almost certainly challenge her aunt over it, and hopefully end up in a position to be able to report back with something useful. Incidentally, Robert Brinkley’s happy to talk to her about Janina and Lukas. I’m not sure how much further it’ll take us in the overall discovery process, but it could be good emotional stuff that the listeners will engage with as long as Sadie’s OK with us recording it.’

‘When are they getting together?’ Clover wanted to know, preparing to write it up on the board.

‘Perhaps you could follow up with Robert,’ Cristy replied. ‘It would be great if it could happen at, or near, the house on Exmoor. I’m sure Sadie will be keen to meet Gita again, presuming Gita’s up for it, and I can’t see why she wouldn’t be. I’m inclined to leave that with you, Clove, and if you can tie it in with an arrangement to meet with the retired detective from around those parts … Any more news on that front?’

‘Ah yes, I have a name now – ex-Detective Sergeant Catherine Shilling. She’s living in the Chew Valley these days, so kind of on the way to Minehead.’

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