Missing - Dead or Alive Read online

  Bob got up from his seat, with Maria following behind having already drunk her sherry.

  They helped themselves to sandwiches and a few savoury snacks and went back to where they’d been seated. While they were eating, Alan brought in four glasses of white wine and handed them round.

  ‘Right people, now you’re both settled down, may my good wife and I formally welcome you to Cliffburn, and in particular to Luke’s Close. We hope you’ll soon settle down here and be happy in your new house. Our very best wishes to you both,’ Alan said clinking his glass against first Bob’s and then Maria’s, with Debra following suit.

  As they sat back, Bob found the sweet tasting wine very palatable, it complimented the delicious food. Everything on the table had been made by Debra, which showed what an accomplished cook she was.

  He’d already decided to be as sociable as he could, and try to make light witty conversation with his hosts. Hopefully Maria would join in.

  ‘So how long have you lived here?’ He enquired.

  Alan grinned. ‘Well, let me see now, if my calculations are correct I’d say it must be all of fifteen years. We were the first people to buy one of these properties – and I’m glad to say we’ve never regretted it.’

  ‘They’re nice houses,’ Debra added. ‘And yours was particularly well looked after. You have the benefit of a new kitchen and bathroom, and everything else is virtually new or less than five years old. It won’t all be to your taste, but in the short term, you won’t need to do a lot.’

  ‘That’s true. We won’t do much except for the second bedroom, which you have a few ideas about, don’t you love?’

  ‘Yes, that room is most important as I want it decorated in a particular way.’

  ‘Any reason for that?’ Debra asked.

  ‘Yes, there is. It’s impossible to get it exactly the same, but it’ll come close.’

  ‘Oh right,’ Debra seemed to sense Maria didn’t want to go into any detail, so changing the subject continued, ‘Judging from your accent, I’d say you’re from the Midlands - rather a long way from here, isn’t it? So why did you move so far from home – was it to do with your jobs?’

  ‘Yes, but it was out of my hands really. The office where I worked closed down and relocated to the head office here.’

  ‘Ah, did you get a promotion?’

  ‘Not exactly, the money’s more, but it’s a sideways move, and I’m told my prospects will be better too. It’s a much bigger establishment, and deals with many more areas of insurance.’

  ‘So how did you feel about it Maria? I imagine you had to uproot yourselves from family and friends?’ Debra said.

  ‘I did. Yes, it has been difficult, but as we’ve already said we weren’t given much of a choice.’

  ‘And with such friendly neighbours like yourselves, we couldn’t have started on a sounder footing,’ Bob grinned.

  Alan said, ‘You’ll find people are more hospitable in this neck of the woods, especially in this street. Mind you, Bob, I’m glad to say I’ll never be in your position. My job allows me to stay much closer to home; in fact my place of work is at home.’

  ‘How wonderful? So how do you manage that?’

  ‘I’m an artist.’

  ‘You mean as in painting pictures,’ Maria said glancing around the room.

  ‘The very same.’

  ‘That’s fascinating. Are these your work?’ Bob gesticulated to the paintings on the walls.

  After hesitating for a few seconds ‘Yes, yes.’ Alan whispered in reply. Then he continued, ‘As a matter of fact I do people and animals. They’re my speciality.’

  ‘Why don’t you show them Alan?’ Debra suggested.

  ‘Want to see a few more paintings?’ He asked humbly.

  ‘Very much.’ They both replied.

  ‘Give me a minute and I’ll see what I can find.’ He hurried eagerly out of the room, but was back within a few minutes carrying six or seven unframed canvases under his arm.

  Alan placed the pictures on the floor up against the wall, three were of the girl whose paintings were already displayed in the room. One, of an old man and woman, were perhaps Alan’s parents, and another was of Debra at a much younger age. Both Maria and Bob looked on in admiration.

  ‘Wow!’ Bob commented, whistling to show what he thought of them. ‘They’re unbelievably good. It must have taken you forever to paint all of these.’

  ‘You’re right it did. I’m something of a perfectionist, and as you can see from the results – it’s been worth it.’

  ‘They look almost real,’ Bob said displaying lots of enthusiasm in his tone of voice. ‘Who’s the young girl in the picture – your daughter? I noticed one or two paintings of her around the house.’

  ‘Yes, it’s Bridget.’ Alan gave a sad smile.

  ‘She is the most beautiful girl. Isn’t she Bob?’

  ‘Isn’t she just? You must be very proud.’

  ‘Right from the moment of her birth, she was so pretty – and won lots of baby photo competitions. She could have done practicably anything she wanted,’ Debra said.

  ‘And what does she do now?’ Bob asked; but was to find Alan’s reply shocking.

  ‘She died…’He said, his eyes filling with tears.

  ‘Oh my God - I had no idea. I’m so sorry.’ Maria bit down on her bottom lip. ‘But how?’

  ‘A car accident. She was eleven years old.’

  ‘How awful,’ Maria said. ‘Apologies, I didn’t mean to be nosy.’

  Bob found it difficult to say the right words, and instead just sat there taking in the situation.

  ‘It doesn’t matter, you weren’t to know. It was a long time ago, almost four years now. Somehow, you never truly get over something like that, and although we’ve come to terms with it now, it’s been very difficult.’

  ‘Anyway loves, we don’t want to burden you with our misfortunes – that’s not what tonight’s supposed to be about. How about another drink?’ Debra asked, rubbing her hands together and looking at them.

  ‘No, not for me thanks, I’m fine,’ Bob told her.

  ‘I’m fine too,’ Maria echoed.

  ‘Oh well, perhaps later. So do you work Maria?’ Debra asked.

  ‘I did in Dexford, but only part-time. I’m not sure what I’ll do here.’

  ‘I can’t imagine you’ll want to be stuck at home, while Bob’s busy beavering away at work, will you dear? You’ll be bored out of your head.’

  ‘Maybe I will work once we’ve been here a while. At the moment I have lots to keep me occupied with the house.’

  ‘Of course you have, I understand completely. I’m a teacher at a local primary school teaching four to eight year olds. And they can be naughty, even at that age.’

  ‘I can well believe it,’ Maria said.

  The conversation seemed to flow better after that and Bob was surprised when he looked at his watch to see it was after ten o’clock. There’d been an uncomfortable moment earlier at the mention of the death of their daughter, but on the whole it had been quite a pleasant evening.

  He yawned. ‘We ought to go now – it’s been a long day and we don’t want to outstay our welcome.’

  ‘Don’t be silly dear. We’d like you stay as long as you like,’ Debra said. ‘We were so sad when your predecessors left, but it looks like we’ve acquired two more lovely people to take their place.’

  ‘You’re very kind.’ Maria looked flattered. ‘We must return the compliment some time.’

  ‘Oh wonderful, we’ll look forward to that, Maria.’ Alan’s eyes seemed to light up at this prospect.

  Bob and Maria got up from their seats inwardly thankful the night was over, even though they’d been made to feel most welcome. Their hosts followed them to the front door.

  ‘Thanks for a lovely evening,’ Bob said.

  ‘It’s our pleasure dear. Hope to meet again, very soon,’ Debra laughed.

  Outside Maria was surprised to see Bob close his eyes and breathe
a big sigh of relief. He’d been so calm about meeting their new neighbours and had even said he was looking forward to it. And although she’d felt sick all evening, it hadn’t been too bad.

  ‘You all right Bob?’

  ‘Yes I suppose, but I wish I hadn’t asked them about their daughter. So what did you make of them?’

  ‘They seemed fine. But it’s a bit spooky they’ve lost a child and our’s is missing.’

  ‘Very spooky to say the least. I wonder if they know what happened to us?’ Bob appeared worried.

  ‘Maybe, maybe not. Although it was in the newspapers and on the television.’

  ‘Yes, but why didn’t they mention it?’

  ‘Probably felt as embarrassed as us when they told us about their daughter.’

  ‘So you didn’t want to say anything about Tim either.’

  ‘I don’t want to talk about Tim; after all we don’t know them. It’s got nothing to do with them; just the same as losing their daughter has nothing to do with us.’

  ‘Perhaps we might say something later when we get better acquainted. It might be useful to share and exchange experiences with them.’ Bob suggested as they went into their own house.

  ‘No. How can they know what we’re going through? Their loss was instant and final, and they were able to put their girl to rest. We don’t even know if our son is dead or alive. I don’t want the subject ever mentioned, do you hear me?’ Maria insisted, grabbing hold of his arm, making him look startled.

  ‘But –’

  ‘No! No! No!’ Maria said as they went in the living room together.

  ‘All right... if that’s what you want.’ He held his hands up in surrender.

  ‘It is.’

  Maria closed her eyes, out of all the places to live they had to pick this house, next door to a couple who had lost their only child. It was almost as if someone had conspired against them. If ever it came out into the open about Tim, she dreaded the questions it would bring and what a nightmare it would turn into.

  ‘Ready for bed love?’ Bob asked her.

  She smiled sadly.

  ‘Look, I realise how difficult that was, but I’d like to have them on our side. They seem nice genuine people, and through them we might get a gateway into the community.’

  ‘Maybe I don’t want a gateway into the community. And I don’t want to answer any questions about our troubles.’

  ‘Yes but they’ve gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. We can’t ignore that.’

  ‘I’m not saying we should ignore it Bob, I’m just saying we should keep our distance – that’s all.’

  ‘But you suggested we return their compliment.’

  ‘We won’t say anything about that for the time being and then perhaps they’ll forget all about it.’

  ‘Maria, we can’t do that. They won’t forget it and if we don’t ask them, they’ll think badly of us. We don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.’

  She frowned, sick to death of arguing with him. She’d got enough going round in her head without his nagging.

  ‘Look, I don’t care what you do, get as pally as you like, so long as you don’t invite them over here – all right?’

  ‘Ok, if you say so. Let’s forget about the subject, shall we?’

  Maria gave him a hint of a smile. But her mind was made up no matter what he thought. She no longer wanted anything to do with their neighbours. She wasn’t adverse to people knowing about Tim, but had no intention of talking about it to anyone; especially those two, still grieving over their dead daughter. Maybe they did know about grief, but theirs was a different situation altogether. Was Tim alive or dead? This not knowing was sending her crazy. But she’d find out the truth someday, even if it took the rest of her life.

  Chapter 14

  That night after the evening’s revelations Bob felt uneasy. On hearing about their neighbours’ daughter, his heart had flipped – it was the last thing he’d expected.

  At first he’d thought it might be possible to confide in them about what he and Maria had experienced when Tim went missing. Now after Maria’s reaction that seemed unlikely, and he was glad he hadn’t spoken about it.

  They woke the next morning to find the weather had improved, the sun was actually shining. Maybe time to see Cliffburn. Apparently the harbour and shipyards and the huge newly constructed Town Hall that cost tens of millions of pounds were worth seeing. The night life was supposed to be impressive too, with its bars, clubs, and theatres but they’d leave that for another time.

  Maria appeared to enjoy the day out, and after a morning sightseeing and shopping they ended up in a bar enjoying a drink and a meal. It was almost like old times, Bob thought.

  ‘Not such a bad place after all, is it love?’ He said as they lay in bed that night.

  ‘I’ve seen worse.’

  ‘Mind you I’ll be depressed tomorrow – my first day at work.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Won’t be much fun for you either stuck here on your own. Are you sure you don’t want to get yourself a job?’

  ‘I don’t think so. You forget I have lots to do at home, and there’s always the chance Tim might turn up.’

  Bob smiled, although he couldn’t see that ever happening.

  ‘So what exactly do you intend doing?’

  ‘Why, getting Tim’s room ready of course. I want it to look like his room in Dexford. And then I’ll arrange the furniture just as it was before. I have photographs to refer to. It’ll be such fun and when he does come home - won’t he have the most perfect surprise?’

  ‘Well, I hope the room turns out as you expect.’

  ‘It will, it will.’

  He kissed her and though they held each other close, he sensed her mind was elsewhere. Probably like him thinking and worrying over Tim, although in his case it wasn’t such an obsession.

  Bob had a better night but was abruptly woken by his alarm, and to his surprise Maria wasn’t in bed beside him. After washing and dressing he came downstairs to find her in the living room, feet up on the pouffé, sipping a cup of tea.

  ‘I didn’t expect you to be up so early, love.’

  ‘Oh something woke me and I couldn’t go back to sleep again. Thought I may as well make you breakfast and see you off,’ she smiled, getting up at once.

  ‘That’s very kind. Makes starting work in my new office just that little bit easier.’

  He followed her into the kitchen, where she poured him a cup of tea, then got on with frying his breakfast. He ate quickly, and enjoyed his food, but this morning he sensed Maria had something on her mind. She was quiet and kept glancing up at him, but he chose not to push the matter, not wanting a commotion before going to work.

  Still in silence he helped her with the washing up before making his own sandwiches.

  They’d been sitting in the living room watching breakfast television, holding hands. He looked up at the clock, it was eight fifteen.

  ‘Time to go,’ he said getting up and loosening her hand.

  ‘Wish you didn’t have to.’

  ‘Me too, but I haven’t got much choice – have I? Somebody has to bring in the money.’

  ‘Sorry, but I have to stay here in case Tim comes here, Bob... but I don’t like being on my own.’

  ‘Yes, but I can’t help that. I’ve got to work and if you want to avoid feeling like that, you should do the same – I keep telling you.’

  She sighed, obviously realising he was right in what he said.

  ‘Somehow you have to live with the situation the same as me, love. While I’m at work, I can stop worrying over Tim because I’ve got to concentrate on my job. If I stayed at home, I’d drive myself mental thinking about him.’

  But they’d already gone over this ground before so she chose to ignore his remarks and said, ‘I’ll be fine once I’ve got used to it, and I do have things to occupy my mind, like getting on with decorating Tim’s room. I need to get a few quotes for the wallpapering and pain
ting. You go to work darling, I don’t want you to be late on your first day.’

  ‘No, me neither or I’ll be out of a job. Just because I’ve worked for the company for years doesn’t mean they’ll put up with bad timekeeping!’

  He put his sandwiches and a banana into his briefcase, pulled on his black worsted coat, and walked to the front door with Maria. In the doorway they kissed, and she whispered she loved him. After giving her a firm hug, he promised to ring her lunchtime to see how she was.

  As Bob drove off he could see in his rear view mirror that she was still standing there, looking soulful. He’d miss her for sure, but he’d have to get used to it, no matter how hard it was.

  After he’d gone, she closed the door and went back into the house to decide what to do first. She’d noticed the day they moved in that the previous owners had left a copy of the ‘yellow pages’ in the hallway. So she found it out, and flicked through the pages, making a list of painters and decorators, DIY shops and carpet retailers. She made a few calls and by the end of the morning had obtained a price for the wallpapering, arranged for a carpet fitter to measure up, and got a local carpenter to quote her for fitted wardrobes.

  Later at the kitchen table eating her lunch, she was pleased with her morning’s work. It hadn’t been difficult, but there was still much to do.

  She intended to have as much of the work done as possible while Bob was at work as she was mindful of him considering her actions extreme. It would be trying at times but she was determined to keep him well away until the work was finished.

  Two weeks later on the Friday afternoon, after the paintwork had dried, she gave the room one final clean. Scrutinising the photographs carefully she positioned everything in the right place. It looked great, the room had shaped up well – if only Tim would come home her dream would be complete.

  After they’d eaten that evening and were washing up, she blurted out, with a mischievous schoolgirl grin, ‘Guess what?’

  ‘What!’ he said, looking puzzled.

  ‘They’ve finished Tim’s bedroom – fancy taking a peek?’

  ‘Yes please.’ He grasped the hand she’d reached out for him to take and was guided to the newly decorated bedroom. On entering the room Maria noticed the strange gaze on his face. He appeared to be lost for words, either he was impressed, amazed or shocked. But then the room looked like it had been transported all the way from their old home.