Father Unknown (15 page)

‘But that's just what
we
did. Follow up the Clarksons. Well, Will did it for me. He got to this – what do you call it?'

‘The National Archives, A2A. That's Access to Archives, from all over the country.'

‘That's the one. And he picked out one of those Clarkson documents, from right here in your County Record Office.'

‘And? Don't keep me on tenterhooks any longer.'

‘It was a bastardy bond.'

There was a beam of huge pride on Prudence's face. She looked for Suzie's reaction. An expression of doubt at what she saw dimmed her expectant delight.

‘That's what you call it, isn't it? A bastardy bond? I'm pretty sure that's what Will said.'

Suzie could contain herself no longer. She burst into peals of laughter. ‘I'm sorry,' she said, when she could speak at last. ‘That's really rude of me. But when I first met you . . . Do you remember, at the Record Office? You spat that word at me as if it were just about the worst thing you could imagine. And now, here you are, looking as if Father Christmas has called in the middle of June, because you've found a bastardy bond.'

Prudence looked startled. She seemed to be casting her mind back. Then a rueful grin spread over her face. ‘You've got me there. I guess I was a little put out.'

‘Put out? You were shocked.'

‘Well, yes. And I'm still planning how I'm going to tell the good folks back home that their story's not what they think it is. Those good old God-fearing Dissenters.'

‘Johan might have been godly,' Suzie said more seriously. ‘We still don't know what happened to her, to make her pregnant. We probably never will.' Her grin grew again, to match Prudence's. ‘But join the club. You're a real family historian now, if you're putting the flags out because you've discovered a bastardy bond for your family. Lucky you. I'm green with envy.'

‘You're
jealous
?'

‘Well, yes. It's not often you turn up the details of such a human story from 260 years ago.'

‘I'm still not sure I'd call it lucky. It was a pretty sad affair, from what you've told me, being an unwed mother in the 1700s.'

‘I said lucky because most of us would give our eye teeth for one of those documents. We've all got them on our family trees. Unmarried mothers. It nearly always means the trail goes cold. You've only got the mother. Occasionally, the child is given a second baptismal name that's the father's surname. But otherwise, you're never going to know who he was. It's the ultimate brick wall. But if you've got a bastardy bond, that's your breakthrough. You've found yours. Who was he?'

‘The catalogue says “Michael Atkins the younger, maintenance of Joane Clarkson's male bastard”. It's Joane without the h. J. O. A. N. E. But you told me that didn't matter.'

‘Of course! What an idiot I've been. I remember that entry now. We saw it on the Record Office computer, and I said how lucky someone else was. I never thought it might be your Johan. Look, we're definitely going back to the Record Office tomorrow to see this bond.'

‘You really think it's the same person? Joane Clarkson, Johan Clayson?'

‘Was there a date for this bond?'

‘Seventeen thirty-nine.'

‘That fits exactly with Adam's baptism. And the place?'

‘Corley parish.'

‘It's got be her, hasn't it? An unmarried mother, in the right place and at the right time. Corley's not a very big village. I think William Clayson's cracked it.'

Prudence sat back, glowing with success. ‘Now, my dear, you tell me what's been happening to you.'

And then the present came rushing back.

How much could she tell Prudence, this newcomer she had known for such a short time? ‘Foreigner' didn't sound right. This woman felt almost like her own family, as though their shared search had made them relations. And it had been Prudence, not Suzie, in whom Millie had chosen to confide the fact that the pregnancy test was not for her.

Hesitantly, selecting her words with care, she began to tell Prudence something of the events of the weekend. The differing stories of the Dawsons in church. The Fewings' doubts about the tennis coach. The furious confrontation with the racquet-wielding stepfather. One thing she kept back.

Tamara's secret wasn't hers to share.

A movement of air behind her told her that the door had opened. Millie was standing there, listening.

‘We know he hasn't killed Tamara. She's run away from him.'

The girl turned and went back to the kitchen. When she returned, Suzie was startled to see she had Tamara's notelet in her hand.

‘That's all we have. She's hiding in this village, or country house, or something. Out in the sticks. Could be anywhere.'

Prudence studied the contents carefully. ‘I'd say she was with someone she knows. Someone she trusts.'

‘It's a woman,' Suzie said. ‘She talks about
she
.'

‘And you can't think who that could be?' Prudence's bespectacled eyes gazed at Millie thoughtfully.

Millie shook her head. ‘Nope.'

‘It could be a couple,' Suzie suggested. ‘It would be the woman who'd put her in touch with the antenatal stuff.'

Prudence closed the card. Her ringed hand rested on the picture on the front. She drew it aside, revealing the drawing. A half-timbered, thatched house. She gave a little start. Her head bent to examine it more closely. ‘You know where this is?'

‘No,' Suzie said. ‘I thought the name might be printed on the back, but it's not. It's just a drawing of a cottage.'

‘I was there. Just yesterday. That's Anne Hathaway's cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon.'

Millie and Suzie stared back in silence. Then Millie started forward. ‘You mean, you think she's there? Well, near it?'

‘I guess they could sell these cards all over. But most gift shops sell ones of local places. If the person she's staying with has a packet of these, well, it's the best clue yet.'

‘Somewhere near Stratford-upon-Avon?' Millie was thinking rapidly. ‘It looks like I was wrong. I didn't really think she would have, but maybe Tamara's gone to her father, after all. Her real father.'

‘Reynard Woodman?' Suzie asked. ‘Why? Where does he live?'

‘In a little village six miles from Stratford-upon-Avon.'

‘And is there a woman there?'

Millie pulled a face. ‘Her stepmother. I don't think they get on. That's why I thought she wouldn't go there.'

Suzie was aware of a commotion outside in the gathering twilight. She turned her head to find Tom storming up the drive, wheeling his bike somewhat awkwardly with one hand, while the other appeared to be dragging a boy scarcely half his size.

The bike clattered against the garage wall, the front door flew open and the boy was propelled into the hall. Millie dashed to see what was happening. Suzie hurried after her. Nick and Prudence were still getting to their feet.

‘Justin Soames!' she heard Millie cry.

‘That's the one.' Tom pushed the boy into the sitting room. ‘This is the nerd who's been boasting about having it off with Tamara Gamble.'

‘Liar!' Millie shouted.

‘I never! I didn't actually
say
that.'

The boy's thin, sharp-featured face looked scared. He hunched his shoulders as he looked round in fright at the assembled adults. Tom's face, on the other hand, was alight with triumph.

‘But you've been hinting at it. Putting the word around.'

‘As if she would! You pathetic little slug!' Millie stormed. ‘Tamara's never even been out with you. Has she?'

‘N–not exactly.'

‘What's that supposed to mean?'

The boy lowered his eyes. ‘We met up a few times,' he muttered. ‘She fancies me.'

‘In your dreams!'

‘Look.' Tom had hold of Justin's collar. ‘Tamara's off school at the moment.' Suzie shot him an alarmed warning, but he went on, choosing his words carefully. ‘Apparently, she's not well. Her stepfather says she's been overworking and they've sent her away for a rest until she's better. Do you know anything about that?'

‘I heard she was off school,' he muttered. ‘Didn't know why.'

Tom pulled the boy round and leaned over him. ‘I'm asking you what you
did
know. Because I'm not sure that Tamara
has
been overworking. I think she may have been upset. And I'd very much like to know who's responsible. So if there's anything between you two you haven't told me about, you'd better cough it up fast.'

‘It wasn't me!'

‘But you boasted you've been out with her. When was that?'

‘He didn't,' Millie insisted. ‘She'd have told me.'

Justin wriggled uncomfortably. ‘I
did
meet her. But we didn't exactly go out. I see her sometimes when I'm swimming at that country club. You know. Out on the West Road. My mum goes to their gym. We had a bit of a lark round the pool. I don't care what you say,' he rounded on Millie. ‘I could see she fancied me.'

‘And?'

‘I asked her to go to the Year Eleven disco, when we'd finished exams. But she turned me down.'

‘She told me about
that.
We had a good laugh.'

The boy shrank visibly.

Tom let him go. ‘And that's really all? You two have never been on a date? You haven't tried any funny business behind the swimming pool? That's all lies you've been telling your mates?'

The boy shuffled his feet. ‘Yeah. I guess so.'

‘Get out. And if I hear one word more about you and Tamara having a thing, I'll break your neck.'

‘Yes, Tom. Sorry, Tom.'

Tom pulled the door wide open. Justin Soames fled through it.

Tom turned to them, his blue eyes ablaze. He brushed his hands together, as though to rid them of dirt. ‘There! I wanted you to hear that. I think I believe the little snot-nosed runt. She splashed him a couple of times in the swimming pool, and he thinks he's God's gift to women.'

‘You don't think you've made things worse, do you?' Nick asked. ‘Drawing attention to the fact that she's been sent away?'

‘She hasn't,' Millie objected.

Nick checked himself. ‘No, of course not. That's just the story the Dawsons are putting about. What I mean is, won't it start people asking questions?'

‘They
should
be asking questions,' Millie said.

‘We needed to know,' Tom defended himself. ‘Think about it. In real life, the most obvious reason for a girl getting herself in the club is that she's been having it off with her boyfriend. Or a one-night stand with some boy, anyway.'

‘Tom! I'll kill you for that! Tamara's not
like
that. Do you think I wouldn't know?'

He held up his hands. ‘Kid, she's human. It happens. But the only name on the street is Justin, because he's been talking big about her. I had to check it out. And if it's
not
him . . .' He looked at Millie under lowered brows. ‘If there's someone else we haven't heard about, well, maybe if Justin spreads the word I did him over because of her, something else may come out of the woodwork.'

‘You don't believe it was that Dawson beast?'

Tom shrugged. ‘I'm keeping an open mind. Wouldn't you rather it was someone her age? Even a nerd like Justin?'

There was silence in the room.

Then Millie said in a small voice, ‘Then why would she run away? Supposing it
was
him, and he's lying to us?'

EIGHTEEN

‘
I
know what you're thinking.' Nick lay in the darkness with his back to her.

‘What?'

‘That we ought to follow it up. Pru's hunch. Get in touch with this author guy. Find out for certain if Tamara's there.'

‘Would he tell us? She didn't want even Millie to find her.'

‘It's worth a try.'

‘Millie tried to get his number. He's ex-directory.'

‘He's bound to have a website, isn't he? They always have a “Contact Me” button.'

‘I tried that last week, remember? It said all enquiries should be directed to his agent.'

‘Well, then. We ring the agent up and ask him for Gamble's number.'

‘Her. His agent. Josephine something.'

‘Whatever.'

‘If Reynard's become as cagey as that, she probably won't give it. He probably gets thousands of fans trying to contact him.'

Nick struggled up on his elbows and turned to look down at her in the thick greyness of the summer night. ‘I thought you
wanted
to find out about Tamara. Make sure that she's safe.'

‘I do. But don't pretend that you don't too. Why else are you interrogating me in the middle of the night? You're worried stiff about her, aren't you?'

He slipped down in bed and put his arms around her. ‘I keep thinking, suppose it was Millie? Running away, and too scared even to tell her mother where she was going. Can you imagine Millie not telling you? And then so frightened he'd find her that she can't tell her best friend how to contact her.'

‘Lisa Dawson's bound to have her ex's number. They must be in touch to arrange Tamara's visits. But I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to go and ask her, after what happened when Millie showed up there.'

‘I don't know. Millie's right. She was just unlucky. Head teachers are busy people. It'll only be once in a blue moon he gets straight home after school.'