Where the Missing Go(24)

Afterwards I stopped coming. But that could mean anything, I might not have needed my car seeing to. I’ve a vague idea that I’ll book the car in for an MOT, then see if Danny’s about. Something tells me he won’t be as amenable as Holly, so I decided, well, not to ask him if he’d meet me. I’ve got my running kit on, so I can run home after leaving my car.

I park in the small paved forecourt. An old collie uncurls itself from beside the garage doors and barks twice, more out of habit than warning.

As I step towards the open garage doors, Len’s already emerging from under the car, wiping his hands on his overalls. He can’t be much older than me, really, but he looks it. His hair’s gone grey since I saw him last.

‘Morning. What can I do for you today?’ There’s not a flicker of recognition.

‘Hi, um, I don’t know if you remember me but I’m Kate Harlow, my—’

‘I know who you are.’ His expression remains blank.

‘Oh right.’ The collie runs up and starts nosing my crotch. I push it away gently. ‘Well, my car needs an MOT.’

He nods towards the office. ‘Step in and we’ll fill out the paperwork. It shouldn’t take more than a few days.’

‘The paperwork or the MOT?’ He doesn’t laugh as I follow him in. ‘So is Danny around?’

He turns round. ‘And why do you want to know?’

I stop too, the collie now sniffing around my feet. ‘I’d like to talk to him, if that’s OK.’ Polite – but it’s not a question. The dog’s coat is dusty, but I pat his wiry back, avoiding Len’s eyes.

‘What about? Haven’t you people done enough?’

I straighten up. ‘My people? Done what?’

‘You nearly ruined my boy’s life, got him locked up.’ His voice is stony, his arms folded.

‘Are you kidding me? It was a police investigation …’

‘And who pointed them straight to Danny, made them think he had something to do with it?’ His voice is getting louder. ‘I know what you’re like, the lot of you, think you and your daughter are too good for him—’

‘Hang on, hang on.’ I put my palms up. ‘I never said that. I never said she was too good, they asked us who she was hanging around with, that’s all and—’

He takes a step towards me, the dog suddenly jumping around us, giving anxious little barks. ‘Do you know that people still talk? I told him not to get mixed up with that silly, spoiled …’ I can see him grasping for it, what to hurl at me next – ‘bitch —’ He spits the word.

My hands are still up, as if I’m warding him off.

‘Grandad!’ A tall figure lopes round the corner as the collie, seriously worried, butts up against me, whining. ‘What’s going on?’ He slows, clocking me. ‘Mrs Harlow.’

‘Hello, Danny,’ I say, pushing the fretting dog off me. ‘Can I have a quick word?’

‘You’re not welcome here.’ Len’s no longer shouting, but his face is red.

‘I don’t care,’ I say, any veneer of civility gone. ‘I need to speak to him, it’s important.’

‘Grandad, it’s OK,’ says Danny. ‘I’ll deal with this.’ Len’s undecided, his mouth half open. ‘Take Billie off, will you, he’s going nuts.’

Len takes the dog by its collar, patting it absently. The touch seems to calm him. ‘All right. I’ll be here.’ He looks smaller now, the anger shifting into upset.

I’m shaky as I follow Danny into the small office, him pulling out a chair for me. Now emotion’s ripped through me I’m quiet, shocked at myself for raising my voice. And at him.

‘I thought we were fine,’ I say, finding myself suddenly on the verge of tears.

‘I’m sorry about Len,’ says Danny in that soft voice. ‘He’s just protective. He found it very hard. He’s getting older now. The police – anyway.’ He sits down, waits for me to do the same.

‘How’ve you been?’ I say, then kick myself inwardly. We’re not here to make conversation.

‘I’m doing well,’ he says, a touch of defiance in his tone. ‘I’m basically running the garage, Grandad’s handed a lot of responsibilities over to me these days, he prefers working on cars to doing the books, anyway. We’ve taken on an apprentice.’

‘Congratulations!’ I’m slipping into my mum-at-the-school-gates mode. ‘Sounds like you’re doing really well for yourself.’

‘Yes,’ he says pointedly. ‘I am. Better than everyone expected.’

There’s a lull. I could swear he’s got even taller. He’s filled out, lost that puppy-dog lankiness.

‘And you’re with Holly now.’

‘And?’ he says, hostile.

‘I didn’t mean …’ I give up on the pleasantries. ‘I know we haven’t spoken since Sophie’s gone. But I’ – I find myself veering away from the details – ‘I’m trying to understand a bit better why she ran away. To help me understand when she might come back. What do you think happened, Danny?’

‘She’d had enough,’ he says. ‘Sometimes people just need to get away.’ But you didn’t. The thought crosses my mind, unexpected. You stayed to help your grandfather. ‘Why d’you care what I think anyway? You didn’t seem to back then.’