Chapter 38

 

Bea stood by the window in her bedroom as Edith and Julia stood just inside the door. She’d jumped off the bed where she’d been reading her Christine Pullen-Thompson book, trying to lose herself in the world of ponies and pony clubs. Then, every so often an image of that man and her dad’s body, his white face, the blood on his tweed sports jacket came into her mind.

She couldn’t stop the feeling either, coming back filling her mind and her body. It was the exact same feelings as she’d had at those moments, disbelief, that was the strongest. It was still there, the disbelief. A tiny part of her mind knew that she’d never again see her daddy, but it was too much, that knowledge and she pushed it away. She’d been so frightened too, and that was still there and now mummy and auntie Edith were asking her questions, what she’d seen when she’d found dad. She just couldn’t stand it and she would have to run out of the room if her mother didn’t stop going on and on asking her over and over about what she’s seen.

“I CAN’T tell you,” she shouted, this time making both mummy and Auntie Edith jump. She didn’t care, she just wanted them to stop asking her. Her mother was being stupid. Why were they asking her all this now? Why had it suddenly become so extremely important.

The expression on her mother’s face…it was as though she’d had a shock, another shock. Maybe she shouldn’t have shouted like that.

Then, Aunt Edith crossed the room to her and put an arm around her shoulder and that felt all right because she didn’t look as strange as mummy did. It felt safer with Aunt Edith’s arm around her shoulder. Maybe she wouldn’t have to run away. Aunt Edith was talking as her mother just stood there with that look on her face, an expression so full of…what was it full of? Fear? Pain?

“Bea, your mother and I need to ask you some questions and we need you to answer them as honestly and calmly as possible. Do you understand?”

Bea looked up at Aunt Edith’s face. She might be calm and safe, but Bea wasn’t going to fall into any traps. If she said anything her mother and her brothers would be in danger so that was it. She couldn’t and she wouldn’t, no matter what anyone said to her.

“I can’t say anything,”

“Beatrice,” her mother’s voice was sharp. “Has someone…”

Bea saw Aunt Edith look across at her mother and shake her head.

Her mother shut up.

“Bea, your mother and I have to tell you something. When we tell you, then you’ll know you must talk to us.”

Bea saw her certainty slip away and she looked again at her mother’s face and knew that something bad had happened.

“Your mother had a telephone call from the farm and your aunt told her that Daisy has gone missing. She didn’t come back with the others from hay-making…”

“No, Daisy, no, what’s happened? He’s taken her, the man has taken her. It’s my fault, it’s all my fault, because I told her…someone must have heard me…”

She knew her voice was rising.

Aunt Edith put her arm around her shoulders again. Now, Mummy came to the other side of her and all three of them sat on Bea’s bed.

Now, her mother was speaking and she sounded calm and Bea really listened.

“Bea, we know that you’re frightened; that you saw something when Daddy was killed.” Mummy stopped there and took a big breath and sort of gulped. “We know you saw something and we know that you must have been threatened and no one can blame you for not speaking. I wouldn’t have spoken out either if I’d been threatened.”

“It wasn’t really me, the man threatened,” Bea said. “He said that he would hurt Charles or Edward or you…”

“Oh, Bea. I’m sorry you’ve been through all this, it must have been so terrifying. But, now Daisy has been taken and you must tell us every single thing you can remember about the man.”

The child nodded, her face set and determined.

“The police,” Edith said. “The police need to know everything she remembers. Edith found her mind had curiously slowed down; the racing thoughts that often plagued her had been replaced by calm, sharp focus.

“Julia, I think you should take Bea up to the farm. Inspector Greene will be there; tell him everything you can remember.”

Julia nodded, “Are you coming too, Edith?”

“No, there’s somewhere I must go. It’s best if you two go to the farm though. You’ll both be safe there and I think you will be able to help the police, Bea.”

“Come on, mummy, let’s go now. We’ll tell Lottie.”

Edith noticed how Bea looked at her mother with a mix of bossiness and trust.

But Julia hesitated. “Edith, you’re not going to do anything stupid are you?”

Edith smiled. “Trust me, Julia, I’m not going to take any risks. I have an idea and I want to check it, that’s all.”

Julia was frowning though; looking worried.

“Take Archie with you, or Henry; wherever it is that you’re going–don’t go alone.”

Edith fought down a rush of impatience, Julia was right. She would telephone, Henry and if he wasn’t in, she’d try Archie, though she was pretty sure he wouldn’t be at this time of day.

“Trust me, Julia. I’ll be fine.”

Neither Henry nor Archie answered the telephone.

I can’t wait, Edith thought as she set off for the Bishop’s cottage.