Finding Grace(14)

But it’s not as simple as that. Grace could become very ill, very quickly, if for some reason she can’t use the insulin.

The female officer who accompanied me into the house brings some tea through. She carries the cups and the sugar canister on a tray I’d forgotten I had, covered in an autumnal print of leaves and berries. I’ve had that tray for years and never thought to use it.

DS Paige asks us if we’ve searched the house and garden. ‘I don’t mean just the obvious places,’ he adds. ‘Also cubbyholes and any garden sheds. Young children are able to squeeze into some seemingly inaccessible spaces.’

Blake shakes his head. ‘We haven’t had time to search the house, but like we told the other officers, Grace has been out all day. She was walking home from her friend’s house when it happened.’

‘If it’s OK with you, we’ll get that done right away, then.’ He doesn’t phrase it as a question.

‘Of course,’ Blake agrees.

DI Pearlman looks towards the uniformed officers in the doorway and gives a sharp tip of his head. The officers immediately disappear in the direction of the stairs.

‘It’s a waste of time,’ I say faintly. ‘Grace isn’t here.’

‘I understand that, Lucie, and I’m sure you’re right. But certain boxes have to be ticked and I’m afraid there’s no way around it. The quicker we get through this stuff, the closer we get to our objective.’

Objective?

I open my mouth to tell him about Grace Susan Sullivan. My daughter.

I want to tell him how she has too much energy to sit still for any length of time, never mind stay silent and hidden in some tiny space in the house on her own.

How she’s never hidden from us even once in her entire nine years on the planet.

‘Let them do their job, Luce,’ Blake says, and I close my mouth again.

DI Pearlman clears his throat and begins to ask questions while his colleague dutifully scribbles down Blake’s answers on his notepad.

How did Grace seem before she left home this morning? Had there been any arguments or disagreements? Is it possible she’d run away as a prank or because she felt unhappy or annoyed in some way? Could she have gone somewhere else on impulse: a favourite place or a friend’s house, perhaps?

‘This is all nonsense.’ I stand up, knocking over the untouched cup of tea at my feet. The female officer springs forward, her hands stretched out towards the spillage.

I feel dizzy and I can’t stop shivering, like I’m freezing cold. Which I’m not.

‘The tea is not what matters here,’ I screech, waving her faffing hands away. ‘Finding Grace is what’s important.’

‘Lucie, please. Just stop!’ I don’t think it’s possible for Blake’s face to grow any paler than it already is, but it does. And two little spots of heat begin to glow, one on each cheek.

I’m embarrassing him, but that’s just tough, because some things need saying.

DS Paige clears his throat. ‘Mrs Sullivan, I understand how difficult this must be. I know—’

‘But you don’t know! You don’t know anything and I’m just trying to save time here. I know Grace didn’t hide or run off. I know she didn’t go to a friend’s house. Someone took her. Do you understand?’

‘We do understand what you’re saying, Lucie, yes.’ DI Pearlman’s tone remains calm, steady.

It only serves to infuriates me more.

‘You don’t seem to have a bloody rush in you, sitting around scribbling in your notebooks. In the meantime, my daughter is—’

The detective speaks again, his voice level but firm.

‘There are currently fifteen officers out making inquiries on this very street, Mrs Sullivan. That number is due to be boosted to thirty within the hour as we take in the surrounding area. As we speak, the police helicopter is on standby for dispatch to begin a woodland search. The local community are gathering themselves for an organised search on foot.’

A woodland search.

An image of a small, partly clothed body and staring eyes offers itself for consideration, but I won’t let it in. I can’t.

I sit down.

DI Pearlman looks over at Blake and then back at me. His tone softens a little.

‘As Grace’s parents, you two are doing the most valuable thing of all. You’re providing us with crucial pieces of the jigsaw that nobody else can give us. The quicker you answer our questions, the clearer the picture becomes.’

‘Sorry,’ I whisper.

‘There’s no need to apologise, Lucie, no need at all.’ He looks at each of us in turn. ‘Now, if you could start at the beginning. This morning, after Grace left for the theme park…’





Ten





Before: Sunday morning





I’d enjoyed my extra hours in bed, just me and little Oscar, but the time whizzed by and I realised that soon Blake would be back and it was time to get ready for our trip out.

I strapped Oscar into his little padded bouncy chair and placed it right next to the shower. I alternated five minutes of scrubbing with flicking water over at him and watching him chuckle.

Afterwards, I quickly dried my hair and dressed simply in leggings and a soft brushed-cotton tunic top. I smeared on a bit of tinted lip gloss and applied mascara.