Chapter 26: Jacqueline Howarth

Ashford: Wednesday, September 24th

‘Jacqueline?’

‘Auntie Mary! I rang last night but there was no reply. Is everything okay?’ Jackie did a thumbs-up to Nicki who was standing by the fridge and offering a glass and a bottle of lager.

She’d had to concede the search at the old camp yesterday was a waste of time, despite the feeling that the hippies were hiding something there. She didn’t blame him, but she was well and truly in Sergeant Blackwood’s bad books for dragging him out of his warm office on what was really only a hunch on her part.

And she’d had no luck with any of the local stations; none of them had anything untoward to report and she wasn’t surprised. Victoria was probably hiding out at a friend’s house, sulking. She certainly wouldn’t be on the streets of Manchester, scruffy and unkempt. Her cousin was too full of herself to allow that to happen.

Her aunt’s next words shocked her out of her exasperation.

‘Your Uncle Peter had a slight heart attack on Monday.’

Oh, no. ‘Is he all right?’ She loved her uncle; he was a nice man. ‘How is he? Is he in hospital? What have they said?’

‘They’ve kept him in but they say it’s not serious.’ Mary’s voice cracked. Jacqueline heard her sniff. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t let you know, I’ve only been back to the house to get a change of clothes—’

‘Oh, forget that,’ Jackie interrupted. ‘What happened?’

Nicki came to stand next her, putting an arm over her shoulder. ‘What’s up?’

Jackie raised a finger and mouthed ‘in a minute’, struggling to hear Mary.

‘We were walking on the front. Stupid because it was such bad weather but Peter insisted it would do me good after… after—’

‘I know.’ Jackie said quickly, scowling. ‘And, I‘m sorry, there’s been no sighting of her up here.’

Mary didn’t acknowledge what Jackie had just said.

‘We were lucky. Some friends of ours were passing in their truck. They got him into the cab and we took him to Pont-y-Haven.’

‘Is there anything I can do? Shall I come?’

‘No.’

The line hummed for a few seconds. Jackie pressed her ear firmer to the receiver. ‘Auntie Mary?’

‘Sorry. No, love, that’s very kind of you. But it’s not necessary, there’s nothing you could do. Alwyn and Alun, our friends, are looking after Gelert for a few days. That’s one worry off my mind.’

‘I’ll tell Mum and Auntie Ellen—’

‘No. No, don’t. And don’t tell Richard, Jackie. Peter’s insisting he doesn’t get told until after his next interview. ’

‘Oh, of course. I understand.’ Though what he’ll say when he finds out I’ve kept it from him, heaven only knows, she thought. ‘Do you want me to tell Nelly, then? She could ring you?’

‘No, she’ll only mither; she doesn’t need any worry at her age.’

‘You need someone, Auntie Mary. You can’t be on your own down there.’

‘I’m not on my own. I’ve got Peter.’ The line crackled again for some moments. Then Mary said, ‘This is all Victoria’s fault. He’s literally worried sick about her.’