The Lost Child (21 page)

Dan unfolded the death certificate and passed it to her, ‘We found this, and the clothes under the floorboards. People with a sense of idle curiosity don’t hide bloodstained clothes.’

Brodie was sitting close, her arm around Elaine’s waist, her hand attempting to stroke and soothe as the woman fought to understand what she was seeing.

Elaine’s confusion and burgeoning distress were palpable, ‘I don’t understand, I know what you’re all saying, but why is there a death certificate with my name on it?’

Dan shook his head, ‘I don’t know, but I asked Jack about it. Apparently it used to be a way of getting a new identity. You could buy a birth and death certificate of a baby who had died shortly after birth and use the birth certificate as ID. He said it’s impossible to do now, but back in the eighties it was a common scam.’

‘But my parents’ names are on my birth certificate, so that can’t be the case,’ Elaine reasoned.

‘Jack thinks that your mother might have lost her own child, and that’s why she took you.’

Elaine stared at the document as if her gaze could alter the arrangement of the ink and change the information. She turned to the girl, ‘I’m sorry Brodie but I don’t want any of this. I don’t want to be Mandy. I have a hard enough time being me.’ She dropped the paper onto the bed then walked into the bathroom and locked the door.

Brodie made to follow her but Dan put out an arm to restrain her, ‘Leave her, she needs time for it to sink in. If you want to do something helpful, pack her things – we need to leave, and soon.’

Brodie hesitated, ‘But Tony wants to see her.’

‘Tony will have to wait. When I was downstairs I saw a news van drive past. If we don’t get out of here soon all hell is going to break loose and I don’t think she’s going to cope with it. Pack her things, Tony can come to my place and see her if he wants to. But we’ve got to go.’

The implication of his words struck Brodie hard, and she, as much as anyone, wanted to avoid a further debacle. Without a word she slid off the bed and began gathering Elaine’s belongings, unceremoniously shoving them into a bag.

Dan knocked on the bathroom door. ‘Elaine, we need to go soon. Brodie has put some clothes out for you in the bedroom. I’m going next door for a minute, when I get back we’re leaving, no arguments.’ He left them to it and made his way to Hallow’s Cottage.

Halfway there his phone rang; the display identified the caller as Bob. He answered, ‘Bob, what’s up?’

‘What’s up? What’s bloody up? I’m still in the van. Elaine’s house has been cordoned off, it’s crawling with coppers and the whole street is knee deep in reporters, that’s what’s up you plonker! I take it we were right and it is her then?’

Dan answered him with a weary sigh, ‘Looks that way.’

‘Bloody hell mate, I hope you know what you’ve got yourself into. Anyway, what do you want me to do? I can’t exactly go in there and start fitting units can I? They won’t even let me pick up my tools.’

‘Go back to the yard and get on with something else, keep yourself busy until I get back. I’m bringing her back with me today, to my place. She’s going to stay there until the fuss dies down.’

Bob gave out a derisive snort, ‘Don’t look like that’s likely any time soon, mate. Have you seen the news this morning? Besides, are you sure it’s a good idea you getting so involved? I mean, it’s a bit of a mess, you don’t want to be saddled with this for the sake of a quick leg-over do you?’

Dan grit his teeth, ‘Fuck off Bob, because right now I don’t feel very much like your mate. If you still want to be employed tomorrow get your sorry ass back to the yard and keep your mouth shut.’ He had known Bob for a long time, but sometimes he could have cheerfully throttled him.

Bob coughed. ‘Ummmm, about that, the keeping my mouth shut bit. I tried Dan, I really did but they were on me like a pack of hounds, I didn’t have a choice mate…’

Dan cut him off in mid flow. He was so angry he was liable to crush the phone in his hand if he had waited to make a response.

He took a deep, calming breath and strode towards Miriam’s door, knocking as gently as he could despite the fact that he wanted to slam his fist through the wood.

Miriam opened the door and beckoned him in, shushing him and pointing to the television. Tony sat in front of it, mesmerised by what was unfolding on the screen.

Dan followed his gaze and watched the strap line smoothly slip across the screen, ‘Missing girl Mandy Miller found’ it said. Above it a newsreader was talking. ‘In the early hours of this morning police confirmed that Mandy Miller, who has been missing since 1983, has been found. Unconfirmed reports say that she has been living in Bristol under the name of Elaine Ellis since the early eighties. Police suspect that she was abducted by a woman known as Jean Ellis, who recently died. It has been suggested that Elaine Ellis had no idea of her true identity until it was revealed yesterday in an extraordinary turn of events. Police have confirmed that they will be continuing their enquiries into what happened on that fateful day in 1983. Over to our correspondent, June Silverman, live at the scene.’

Dan watched in despair as the camera panned in to show the outside of Elaine’s house, crime scene tape fluttered from the edge of the skip as the reporter started her spiel.

‘Thank you Peter, as you can see I am standing outside the house thought to be the home of the woman police suspect is Mandy Miller. A builder, working in the property, confirmed this morning that he uncovered substantial evidence which led him to believe that the people that lived here, in this unassuming semi-detached house, might have something to hide. Bob Roberts, who was reluctant to appear on camera, told us that he had found documents in the loft of the house that led him to suspect that Elaine Ellis might indeed be Mandy Miller, subsequently he found items of bloodstained girl’s clothing buried under floorboards. From these macabre discoveries it would seem Elaine Ellis’s true identity has been revealed. A bizarre twist of fate saw Miss Ellis return to the place where she was taken, Hallow’s End in Devon. Sources have told us that the woman police are holding responsible for the abduction, Jean Ellis, recently died, and her supposed daughter returned to the scene of the crime to scatter her ashes. Jean Ellis is thought to have been born in Hallow’s End. The circumstances surrounding the abduction of little Mandy remain shrouded in mystery, but are now subject to a reinvigorated police investigation’

Miriam walked over and turned the sound down then turned to the two men. Tony sat slack jawed on the sofa, clutching a rapidly cooling cup of tea, while Dan remained standing, quietly seething, his fists clenched.

‘I came to say that I’m taking Elaine and Brodie home in a minute,’ he said, barely able to restrain himself from bellowing in temper as he fantasised about what he was going to do to Bob. ‘If the press get hold of her here, there’s no telling what will happen. Tony, she knows you want to meet her, but she’s in a bit of a state. I’ll give you the address and you can come later if you want.’

Tony nodded, ‘I’ve got to go and see Mum first. God knows what this is going to do to her. I spoke to the hospital last night, they’re doing their best to keep her away from the TV, but I doubt they can manage it for long. You sure you’re all right to take Brodie? I mean, she can be a bit of a handful.’

Dan looked around, and out of the window, where yet another news van was passing. A BMW had just pulled up next to his own van. ‘Well, she can’t stay here, and she won’t be parted from Elaine so we’ll have to make the best of it. Miriam, are you going to be all right? I don’t like the thought of you facing this on your own.’

Miriam gave him a weak smile, she looked like she had aged twenty years in as many hours. ‘I’ve got friends in the village, they’ll help. Besides, I have to arrange Esther’s funeral, not that it will mean much in the midst of all this. I can’t believe all this has happened in less than a day.’ Tears began to spring from her eyes, and both men were left floundering uselessly in a sea of misery and confusion, which they couldn’t hope to fathom.

‘Are we all agreed that none of us will talk to the media until we’ve taken some advice?’ Dan asked.

Miriam nodded unhappily.

‘Too bloody right. I’ve asked Jack Pearson if he’ll act as a spokesman for the family, what do you think?’ Tony said.

As a rank outsider Dan didn’t really think he had a right to an opinion, but everyone seemed to be looking to him, ‘Sounds like a reasonable idea, he’s a sensible man and familiar with the facts. Good call I’d say. Look I’m going to get going, get them out of here before the circus is in full swing. We’ll talk later.’

The two men shook hands, and Miriam gave Dan a grateful pat on the arm before he took his leave.

A man, who he vaguely recognised, was standing in the lounge hugging Elaine. When Dan entered, Elaine pulled herself away and blushed. ‘Dan this is Alex Gardiner-Hallow.’

Dan eyed the man from head to foot. Blond, well cut and wearing a handmade suit straight from Savile Row. ‘Nice to meet you.’ he said, with more politeness than he felt.

Alex took his proffered hand and shook it with warm sincerity. ‘Nice to meet you too, though it would have been preferable under other circumstances. I was just saying to Elaine, what a terrible shock this must have been for you all, yet what wonderful news that little Mandy is still here with us, alive and well!’

Dan gave him a weak smile and glanced at Elaine, who seemed to still be shell-shocked by the whole thing.

‘Of course, we’re very sad to see our lovely guest depart, but quite understand the need under the circumstances. I just wanted to call in and see if there was anything I could do to help?’

Dan suddenly realised why the man looked so familiar, he was the local Tory candidate. ‘You could start by getting the press off her back.’

‘Indeed. I will gladly pull any strings that I can to minimise the invasion of privacy but unfortunately there may not be much that I can do.’ Alex said, wringing his hands and giving all three of them a sympathetic smile. ‘Now, I can see you are waiting to leave, and I really must call in on Miriam and pay my respects. Poor Esther, I will miss her terribly. She was like a mother to me you know. But Elaine, do stay in touch and let me know if there is anything at all I can do for you.’ He pressed a business card into her hand then leaned down and pecked her on the cheek, much to Dan’s disgust. ‘My contact details are on there, don’t hesitate to call.’

As soon as he had gone Brodie muttered, ‘sleazebag’ under her breath. Elaine instantly admonished her, but Dan couldn’t have agreed more.

Dan managed to get a morose Elaine and a sullen Brodie into Elaine’s car, his van was full of tools and chaos and there was no room for three of them plus luggage. He’d asked Tony to drive the van down later as he’d arrived by train and taxi having left his girlfriend with his car, and he seemed grateful for the free transport. Dan collected the few things he might need and made himself ready for their escape.

Fortunately Elaine’s car was parked at the back of the cottage, out of sight from the road. More and more people were arriving in Hallow’s End and Dan wanted to avoid any altercation. They managed to persuade Elaine that she needed to lie on the back seat covered with a blanket so that they could avoid detection on their way out of the village. She resisted at first, complaining about the unnecessary drama. When Dan showed her yet another news van, she finally relented and allowed Brodie to cover her up and make sure that she couldn’t be seen. Miriam helpfully pointed out that one of the service roads that wound through the estate could get them to the main road without the necessity to drive past the cottages or enter the village. Consequently they managed to leave undetected by the throng of enthusiastic voyeurs and eager media people who were converging on Hallow’s End like the eighth deadly plague.

The lane they took forced them to make a turn opposite the house where Rosemary and Derry lived. Elaine emerged from underneath her blanket just in time to spy the police car, which was sitting outside. Her heart sank even further at the sight and she didn’t know who to feel more sorry for, poor Derry or the police who would have to confront Rosemary Tyler in all her defensive glory. This was a nightmare, and Elaine sorely wanted to wake up from it.

Chapter Thirteen

The house where Dan lived wasn’t the place Elaine had expected it to be. In her mind’s eye she had imagined a sparse bachelor pad, all hard lines and masculinity in the same vein as she thought of him. Instead she was greeted by warm wood and comfort. He had told her once that he was restoring his house, but the love and diligence that was shown by each item he had chosen to place there surprised her, suggesting that he had hidden depths that she would never have guessed at.

The whole place was tidy and ordered, but softly so. It was a home in the way that Elaine’s house never had been. It felt quiet and solid and safe. Even the ticking of his clock was tempered by the sense of homeliness; it was as Miriam had described the sound, calm and soothing. Elaine felt as though she could stay forever, which was dangerous emotional territory.

Dan brought the bags in and directed Brodie towards the kitchen where she could exercise her excellent coffee making skills. ‘Well, what do you think, will it do?’ he asked.

‘It’s beautiful, I’m impressed,’ Elaine said. ‘Thank you for letting us stay Dan, I can’t tell you how grateful I am. You’ve been amazing,’ she said, wrapping her arms around herself as the chill of what waited for her outside his door touched her bones.

‘You’re welcome, both of you, as long as madam out there is willing to make herself useful. Come on I’ll show you upstairs, you can pick a bed.’ He picked up her bags and led the way.

On the landing he pointed to a small, neat and comfortable room, ‘Brodie can go in that one, she’s even got her own shower so she can mess it up to her heart’s content.’ Elaine glanced inside and nodded her approval.

‘What about you, where do you want to go?’ he said indicating another spare room, equally comfortable, equally appealing. And then pointing to his own room.