The Picture On The Fridge by Ian W. Sainsbury

Author:Ian W. Sainsbury [Sainsbury, Ian W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-11T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

When the cab turned left into Aubrey Terrace, Mags opened the door before it stopped. As the driver cursed her, she fumbled in her purse for cash, finding only dollars. She stared at her credit card, forgetting what to do next, before muscle memory took over and she jammed it into the machine. When she got out, the taxi didn't move away. The driver honked the horn, and she looked at the open door in confusion, then dragged her case out. When she shut the door, the taxi jerked away from the kerb with one last long blast of the horn.

Across the road, a policeman guarded the shattered front door of 273. Twenty feet of road, another ten feet of garden path, a policeman and a broken door lay between Mags and finding out what had happened. Mags didn't move. She couldn't move.

Her phone rang. Unknown number. She brought the phone to her ear, said nothing.

"Mrs Barkworth? Margaret? This is Detective Sergeant Harrison. Can you hear me?"

When Mags spoke, her lips could only form one shape. "Tam."

"Your daughter is safe, Mags. She's safe, and she is unharmed. Where are you?"

Mags tried to speak again, but it was beyond her. Tam was alive. She was okay. She stared at the blue and white tape, the young policeman in front of the door stroking the suggestion of a moustache.

"Mrs Barkworth? I can take you to her. Where are you?" A pause. "Never mind. Are you opposite the house?"

Shocked, Mags looked up. A woman's silhouette raised a hand in the upstairs window, and Mags automatically did the same. The voice came back on the line. "Stay where you are. I'm coming down."

DI Harrison insisted Mags call her Hilary. As the Detective Inspector crossed the road, a police car drew up. Hilary Harrison put Mags' case in the boot and Mags got into the back. Instead of getting into the passenger seat, Hilary opened the rear door, slid inside and took Mags' hand. "Tam is fine, but she's had a terrible shock. I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you."

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