Chapter 75: Jacqueline Howarth

Bradlow: Tuesday, October 21st

‘No, Uncle Peter.’ Jackie rested her arms on top of the police station counter, winding a pen around her fingers.

‘But why?’ Peter held out his hands. ‘She could be there! And it was not on the list that you gave us. Why was that?’ In his agitation, his accent became more pronounced.

Jackie closed the door to the telephone exchange where the two telephonists were listening in silent curiosity. ‘Because I’ve already checked the Granville out myself.’ She watched him carefully. Hesitated. ‘I went with two colleagues and my sergeant the week Vicky disappeared,’ she said. ‘We’d been before, when they first arrived. The sergeant was all for getting an Order to move them on, but they did a deal of some sort with the Council and they’re being allowed to stay. For the time being.’ She put her hand on his arm, stilled him, hating to see the pain in his eyes. ‘The place will eventually be demolished.’

‘That is good.’ Peter groped in his pocket for his handkerchief and dabbed at the sweat on his brow.

‘The Council have been talking about putting houses on the site.’ Jackie spoke softly, watching for a reaction, knowing she wouldn’t want a house there. Not in a place where there’d been so much misery.

But Peter only nodded to show he’d heard her and stuffed his handkerchief back into his pocket.

‘The people there … it’s some sort of commune … they seem pretty harmless.’ Jackie glanced at the closed door. The low murmur of voices and clicks of the metal covers on the switchboard told her the telephonists weren’t listening any more. She relaxed. ‘Anyway, they let us look all around the buildings; we took ages. Believe me, Victoria’s not there.’ She went to one of the four-drawer metal cabinets and pulled out a file. ‘I’m not supposed to show you this, but the sergeant’s giving evidence in court this morning and I’m on my own, so I will.’ She ran her finger down the page until she got to the paragraph she wanted. ‘See?’ She turned the file round so he could read the words with her.

‘“Conclusion: A thorough search was carried out. There is no evidence that the missing person, Victoria Schormann, is, or has been, present in the above-named premises,” That’s the Granville, Uncle Peter. And look at the date … “Tuesday the 23rd of September 1969.” That’s the day after Auntie Mary telephoned me.’

‘She didn’t tell me that you had searched there.’

‘She doesn’t know.’ Jackie closed the file and put it back in the cabinet. ‘It was the day of your heart attack—’

‘Small scare, that is all.’

‘Yes, well, she had enough to deal with. What was the point of upsetting you both?’

‘I think still I should go. Victoria may have gone there afterwards.’

Jackie shook her head in exasperation. ‘I doubt it. And it will only distress you; you have bad memories of that place.’

‘I already have been to look. There is a lock on the gates. So I want you to come with me,’ Peter insisted.

‘No. There’s no need. You’ll only upset yourself.’

‘I know how I will feel. It was a bad time in my life. But I need to do this. I insist, Jacqueline.’

She blew out a long breath and leaned against the counter, aware she wasn’t going to win the argument. ‘Okay. But it will have to be before my shift tomorrow.’

‘I want you to go in your uniform – show that you are official?’ His voice was strong, determined now that she’d agreed.

Jackie pressed her lips together; she knew she would get into trouble if caught. ‘I suppose I could do that, if it was right before my shift. But it wouldn’t be official, Uncle Peter. I couldn’t tell my sergeant; he’d want to know if there was any new evidence that she’s there. And there isn’t.’ It would be a complete waste of time. Jackie inwardly cursed her cousin. But she’d do this for her uncle. He didn’t deserve all the worry his daughter had selfishly put him through.

‘And I do not want your aunt to know this,’ Peter said. ‘She will only worry.’