Chapters (72)
‘You want to interview him?’ she asked, waiting for Liam to unlock the car. On the back seat, Tank was already barking in excitement at their return.
‘Yeah, if I can get him to stop being so aggressive. He’s been living next door to her. I want to know how that has worked out for him and for her. Not so well, I’m guessing.’
He clicked his keys and they got in, Hannah making a fuss of Tank while trying to stop him from climbing between the seats.
‘So that was a wasted trip. Do you have any idea where she might be?’
‘No, but I’m going to call a friend in the police. I’m sure her probation officer already knows she’s no longer here, but I’ll let him know, just in case.’
Hannah nodded. ‘Can you please not mention I am with you?’
‘Sure. If that’s what you want.’
She did. In fact, the last thing she wanted was anyone thinking she had gone looking for Mrs W.
She wondered again where the woman could be. Was it possible she was violating the terms of her release? That sat uneasily with Hannah.
If Mrs W was prepared to break the law, just how far was she willing to go?
Hannah was silent while Liam made the call, her thoughts returning again to the summer of 2002. Mostly she tried to block it out, but with everything that had happened over the last couple of days, it was inevitable she was remembering.
‘What did he say?’ she demanded, as soon as Liam ended the call.
‘He’s going to call me back when he’s spoken with Eileen’s probation officer.’
Hannah sighed in frustration, even though she knew it wasn’t Liam’s fault they couldn’t immediately locate Mrs W. ‘Do you mind if we make a slight detour on the way back?’ she asked. She was determined this trip wouldn’t be a total waste of time.
His eyebrows shot up in curiosity, but he nodded. ‘Where did you have in mind?’
‘Well, this one deserves to stretch his legs.’ She rubbed Tank affectionately on the head. ‘So I was thinking we could go to the farmhouse.’
Liam was silent for a moment. ‘Really? Are you sure you want to go there?’
No, not at all, Hannah’s brain screamed. It had been a fruitless journey though, and while they were so close, she should try to conquer her fears.
She forced her tone to sound decisive. ‘I’m sure.’
15
When things got really bad, Rosie tended to jump on a train to London. Once there, if she couldn’t find a friend whose sofa she could crash on, she would lose herself in the anonymity of the bars and clubs, and find a willing stranger who was prepared to take her home. A binge of alcohol, drugs, and hot sex always helped to numb her anxiety.