Make Believe - [11]

The kids were in bed, apart from Michael who was on the computer. Janine stood over Charlotte’s cot and watched her sleep. Charlotte sucked her thumb at nights but had relaxed enough now for her to lose the suction and her hand was against her chin, a thoughtful pose. Janine saw the slight movement of the cover as Charlotte breathed, shallow and slow. Being parents was the one thing Janine and Pete shared that Tina wasn’t party to. It was special. It had been theirs for the last seventeen years, that and the marriage. It had been a comfort of sorts that although Tina was now Pete’s partner, she wasn’t the mother of his children. Janine knew she’d get used to it in time, she’d have to, but now she was feeling stupidly jealous and raw.

Her phone rang and she moved out onto the landing and checked the display. If it was Pete she’d not answer. She didn’t trust herself to be civil and bawling at him down the phone was not what she wanted to do. Well – she did but it wouldn’t achieve anything but cement the hostility that kept flaring up between them. When she read Shap’s name, she accepted the call. ‘Hello.’

‘Boss.’

‘Shap, if you’re angling for overtime, you can forget it,’ she said.

‘Clive Wray,’ he said, ‘Hayfield was hosting a fell race that day. Hundred and forty entrants, stewards and supporters. If he was there, he couldn’t have missed it. He said there was no-one much about to alibi him. He’s lying to us, boss.’

Janine felt a surge of energy. This was just what they needed to keep the investigation moving forward. She wasn’t surprised by the news, people lied a lot, lied to the police as long as they thought they could get away with it. Shap’s earlier comments speculating about the family being involved suddenly looked a lot more likely.

Day Two – Tuesday April 29th

Chapter 7

Early that morning Janine made her way through the press camped outside the Wrays’ house, ignoring the intrusive thrust of cameras and the questions the journalists called out: Any news for us, ma’am? How are the family coping? What progress have you made? What about the bearded man seen at the park?

Claire Wray opened the door herself and flinched at the barrage of activity outside.

‘Is there any news?’ Claire said as they went into the kitchen.

‘No, I’m sorry. Is Clive here, Claire?’

‘He’s out, we’ve no milk. If you want tea…’

‘That’s fine,’ Janine said.

‘He won’t be long,’ Claire said. The woman was so jittery. Her face flickered with emotion, hands busy.

‘I need to ask you a very difficult question, Claire. And I wouldn’t do so if it wasn’t vital,’ Janine said.

Claire Wray nodded stiffly, stuffed her hands in her pockets. She looked at Janine directly then away.

‘We believe Clive is lying to us about going walking,’ said Janine.

‘I don’t know what to think anymore,’ Claire said urgently.

Janine scalp prickled. Claire knew something. ‘Claire?’

‘The suspicion. It just grows and poisons everything. I thought I was being paranoid. He was so jumpy every time anyone asked us where we were. I thought I was going mad. His boots were clean. I looked in his pockets. I was going to ring you.’ Claire pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket. She handed it to Janine along with a little ticket.

‘That’s where he was,’ she said agitatedly. ‘Look at the date. He’s lying. A time like this and he’s lying. Why would he lie, when Sammy… why would he lie?’ She was distraught, close to breaking down, her eyes wild.

Janine took in the contents of the flyer.

‘Thank you. I realise how very difficult this must be and I’ll make sure we find out exactly what’s going on. Can I ask you to keep this between ourselves for now until I’ve had time to look into it?’

Claire, her mouth working with worry, nodded.

‘There may be a very simple explanation but you did the right thing telling me,’ Janine reassured her, when they heard the door opening.

‘Mr Wray,’ Janine said.

‘Hello?’ he said. He went to put the container of milk in the fridge.

‘I’m afraid I have no news as yet but I wanted to call and see if either of you had anything to add to your statements.’

Clive shook his head, ‘No, sorry.’

‘Have either of you remembered anything fresh about the day Sammy went missing or the period leading up to it?’

‘The vandalism,’ Claire said suddenly.

‘What?’ said Janine.

‘We had these incidents, the car was scratched and the tyres let down, then we had a stone thrown at the window,’ she said.

‘You didn’t report this to the missing persons inquiry?’ Janine said.

‘It was weeks before, it was just kids,’ Clive said dismissively. ‘You get a spate of things and then it goes quiet.’

‘Could you make a note for me,’ Janine asked them. ‘When the incidents occurred, exactly what happened.’

‘You think there might be a connection?’ Claire said.

‘Just being thorough, we don’t know yet what is significant and what isn’t but it is important to consider everything.’

Claire nodded, wringing her hands.

As she left them, Janine wondered if Claire had the fortitude to keep quiet about what she had uncovered or whether she would crack under the pressure and confront Clive. The sooner the inquiry could establish exactly what was going on with Clive Wray the better.