The Girl in the Rug (27 page)

After dropping Tilly and Zack off with Lena, Maggie had
driven a distraught and emotional Simon to the hospital to be there when Tracy
was brought in.

They rushed through busy hospital corridors, until finally
they spotted Tracy bundled under a red blanket on a hospital trolley. After
making sure for herself that this bloodied muddy creature was indeed her friend
she gave Simon some space, just blowing Tracy a kiss and then leaving Simon to
smother his wife with his own love and kisses. He was only allowed a couple of
minutes before she was whisked away to be properly examined and x-rayed. A
couple of minutes though, was long enough it seemed for Simon to get himself
all worried and worked up again.  So for the next hour Maggie tried to sooth
him as his fevered imagination had Tracy crippled, brain damaged and
irreversibly traumatised.

‘My god Maggie did you see her,’ he asked over and over,
‘she didn’t even seem to know who I was…and her eyes were so vacant…’

‘Yes but remember she has a very high temperature love…that
can make you very vague can’t it. And who knows what traumas she has been
through over the last few days, give it time darling, that’s all it needs I’m
sure. Remember what Duncan was like…’

‘Oh god Maggs I’m so sorry,’ wailed Simon. ‘This must be so
hard for you, being here again after what happened to him…’

‘Don’t be silly sweetheart…where else would I be,’ Maggie
reassured him, although in truth it was bringing back some awful memories just
being in this part of the hospital. Duncan lying unconscious covered in
blood…being rushed into surgery to try and stop the bleeding…Maggie shook her
head to dispel those images. It was all over now and Duncan was fine…well more
than fine actually she thought with a smile of satisfaction.

She took Simon’s hand, ‘I’m sure she’ll be okay sweetheart,’
she said as positively as she could. ‘She was conscious wasn’t she…so that’s a
good sign, and…oh here comes the doctor now,’ she finished with relief.

The doctor, a frazzled looking grey haired man with a
nervous twitch, dispelled their worst fears. Tracy was suffering from a severe
chest infection, the results of hypothermia and dehydration. She was covered in
cuts and bruises but nothing that wouldn’t heal in time. She had been given a
CT scan because of the obvious head injuries, but there didn’t appear to be any
bleeding or swelling in her brain. It was too soon to determine her mental
state as she was obviously slipping in and out of reality as a result of her
very high temperature.

‘She was lucky to be rescued when she was, much longer
without proper food and water and we would be dealing with a very different
scenario,’ he had said. ‘As it is we will give her antibiotics and rehydrate
her and see how she gets on, but I don’t anticipate any long term problems.’

Simon was almost embarrassingly grateful to the doctor,
thanking him over and over until Tracy was wheeled past them and Maggie pulled
him away and into the room with Tracy.

Tracy seemed more lucid than she had been earlier, and
desperate to hear about Tilly and how she had been found. Simon was bringing
the children up later once Tracy was settled, but despite her first flush of
energy it was obvious that she was exhausted and after talking for a few
minutes she began to doze off again.

Maggie stayed as Carla popped her head in for a few minutes,
and then when Helen came running in, tears of happiness in her eyes, giving up
her place by Tracy’s side so that Helen could hold her hand for a while. And
they both said they would stay with her while Simon went off to fetch the kids.

The two girls chatted quietly as they sat beside their
friend, but after a while she began to stir again. Maggie smiled at Tracy who
was looking up at them sleepily, ‘I know you’ve been missing our cauldron
meetings love, but this was a pretty extreme way of getting us all in one place
at the same time,’ she teased.

Tracy giggled croakily, ‘Well needs must sweetie,’ she said,
‘needs must…if all else fails get yourself kidnapped, it not only gets the
attention of your friends, it restores the romance in your relationship and if
I’m not mistaken it’s a sure fire way to lose weight!’

Helen and Maggie burst out laughing, ‘That sounds like the
Tracy we know and love,’ said Helen squeezing her hand.

The girls chatted about incidental things for a while
longer, keeping clear of the subject that they would have most liked to talk
about. Tracy seemed to shut down if her captivity was mentioned in any serious
way, it was obvious that she just couldn’t talk about it yet so no one pushed
her to do so.

Simon arrived back with Tilly and Zack in tow a short time
later and Maggie and Helen had to wipe away tears again as they watched the
little family being reunited. They felt that they should leave them to it, so
Maggie offered to run Helen home as she had been dropped off at the hospital by
Maya and had no car.

‘Oh that would be brilliant love if you’re sure,’ Helen
said, and the two girls took their leave of Tracy promising to come again the
next day and made their way down to the car park.

‘Maya was going to see Andy again…’ Helen was saying in
answer to Maggie’s enquiry. ‘Remember Andy…I told you about him, he was taken
into care…his sister was the little girl found in the rug,’ she explained at
Maggie’s blank look.

‘Oh god yes,’ said Maggie, ‘I do remember you saying that
Maya was his teacher…that’s a bit above and beyond though isn’t it…visiting
him?’

‘Well she’s really taken an interest in him,’ Helen said
smiling. ‘I think he reminds her of herself when she was a child in Poland. She
doesn’t talk about it much but from what she has told me I think she had a
really awful time when she was little…terribly abusive father I think, she
blames him for her mother’s death. And from what I can gather once the mother
was gone he turned on the kids, it was Lena that managed to get them away…she
saved enough money for Maya to travel to England and then she followed with
Sophie a few months later. Anyhow Andy’s situation seemed to touch her, and me,
if I’m honest…poor little lad.’

‘Well I’m sure he’s happy, he’s got you two looking out for
him,’ said Maggie with a smile. Helen returned her smile but Maggie could see
that she was worried about something.

‘What’s up love?’ she asked, ’You’re not still thinking
about Tracy are you because she will be fine. Oh I know it’s going to take
time, but she’s a tough one she’ll bounce, back you’ll see.’

Oh no sorry Maggs…I know Tracy will be ok,’ Helen said. ‘If
you must know it’s Andy I’m worried about…he told us some things the other day
and it shocked me to the core…’

‘What things…what’s he been up to?’

‘No not him, he’s not done anything, but there was this man
working in the home and well…I think he may have been abusing the kids…I told
Carla but…’

‘What! Oh my god Helen, what did Carla say?’ asked Maggie
aghast.

‘Well she seemed pleased that I had told her and said that
they were already looking into the home, but bloody hell Maggie, those poor
kids, the most vulnerable ones being preyed on by that awful man, it makes my
blood boil. And I am worried now about Andy being there…’

‘I should fucking well think you are Helen love. Can’t he
stay somewhere else…isn’t there anyone who could foster him?’

Helen looked a bit sheepish, ‘Well actually we are looking
into it…we’ve put a few feelers out just to see if it’s possible and so far
there doesn’t seem to be any reason why not. The only possible reason I can
think of is that we’re a gay couple…but there are other gay foster parents out
there so,’ she paused again, ‘the thing is that from what Andy was saying there
seems to be some sort of racket going on in some of the homes…he was talking
about being taken to some sort of party…’

‘Hang on a minute…’ interrupted Maggie swivelling round to
look at Helen and seriously endangering them both as she swerved the car across
the road. ‘Bloody hell…that fits in with something that Tracy told me…it was
the day before she was kidnapped, she was up at mine and she was telling me
that she had been woken by a noisy party that was going on in that big
house…you know the one that backs onto her garden. Anyway she said that she had
been worried about some children she thought they must belong to the caterers
but they were being loaded up into the back of a van…and this was about one or
two in the morning. I told her that I wouldn’t have employed any caterers that
brought their kids with them…anyhow I told her that I was going to tell Carla
about it…and I did the next day actually…’

‘That must have been what Carla’s was talking about,’ Helen
said thoughtfully.

Maggie drove on in silence for a few minutes then she said,
‘It was really strange and a bit creepy earlier when Tracy was first brought
in. She was in a real state…I mean shouting with delirium  because of her
temperature, she really had Simon worried actually, but that’s another story.
She had hardly spoken about the kidnap but when she first came round she was
saying that she had been thrown into this cold dark place and that Louisa was
there…in a blanket…’

‘Louisa...does she mean Louisa Boulter? No she must have got
confused Louisa’s not been reported missing has she?’

‘No…and anyway I’m sure Linda would have seen her if she’d
been in there with them, but she got really upset about it…saying we have to
help Louisa, I suppose it must have been a sort of hallucination or something
but it freaked me out I can tell you.’

‘I can imagine…I suppose they will check out wherever it was
that the girls were held won’t they…but why on earth would Tracy be
hallucinating about Louisa Boulter?’

‘I know it’s weird isn’t it?’ said Maggie, ‘But it’s got me
thinking Helen, the reason Tracy told me about the children at the party was
because she was convinced that she had caused a row between Tim and Louisa
Boulter. Apparently she had mentioned to Louisa that she had spotted Tim
leaving the party and then she mentioned the children and how strange it was
that they were out so late. Well she said that both Tim and Louisa behaved very
strangely with her after that and what’s more when she went back to the house a
while later because Tilly had left something there, she heard them really
shouting at each other so she slunk away not wanting to disturb them.’

‘I don’t see what this would have to do with Tracy being
kidnapped though Maggs…I mean you know Tracy, she could have got the wrong end
of the stick…’

‘Yes but when she told me about the row the next day I told
her that I was going to tell Carla about the kids that she had seen and she
said that she was going round to the Boulter’s again to try and get Tilly’s
moomoo back…what if she mentioned to Tim that she was going to talk to the
police about the kids at the party…’ Helen opened her mouth to protest but
Maggie went on, ‘No come on Helen don’t dismiss it out of hand, remember Tim
was a guest at this infamous party…the party that the kids were at. What if he
told someone about Tracy seeing the children and they decided to shut her up?’

Helen thought for a moment, ‘It’s a lot of what ifs Maggs,’
she said after a while, ‘and I still don’t see how that would be linked to
Tracy saying she saw Louisa Boulter in a blanket in the cellar. But it might be
worth telling Carla about it, maybe she should be speaking to this Tim Boulter,
see what he’s got to say for himself…I might give her a call, unless you’d like
to…’

‘Er…no love that’s ok you call her, I’ve got to meet someone
this evening,’ Maggie said coyly.

Helen smiled she had a good idea who Maggie was meeting, but
she wanted to hear it from the horse’s mouth.

‘Sooo,’ she began looking closely at Maggie, ‘anything new
with you that you want to tell me about?’

Maggie’s face broke into a happy smile, ‘Bloody hell is it
that obvious,’ she said with a grin.

‘I can’t help noticing that you look like the cat that got
the cream,’ giggled Helen.

Maggie burst out laughing, ‘Oh you do have a way with words
love,’ she giggled, ‘and I certainly did get the cream…oh my god did I…the man
is amazing. I’m telling you Helen there are things that man does…well never
mind, suffice it to say that Duncan is back where he belongs and I’m loving
every minute.’

Helen squeezed her hand, ‘I am so pleased honey…you two are
so right for each other. It’s been bloody purgatory watching you skirting
around each other, I have felt like banging your heads together a few times. So
has Martha, you should hear her on the subject, she’ll be thrilled I know.’

‘Oh god…I’d forgotten about Martha, I’ll never hear the
bloody end of it will I?’ Maggie said laughing.

They had pulled up outside Helen’s house, Helen leaned over
and gave Maggie a kiss, ‘Thanks love for the lift…and I am so, so happy for you
Maggie…you of all people deserve to be happy, hold on to him he’s pretty
special. And I will call Carla tonight…I’ll let you know what happens, bye.’

Maggie returned her kiss and watched her to her front door
waving as she went inside. She smiled contentedly to herself…whether she
deserved this happiness or not she wasn’t going to waste a minute of it. A
great wave of euphoria swept over her, this morning her friend had been missing
which had been a great big blot on her horizon. Now Tracy was back, safe and
well and there was nothing but blue skies ahead. She turned the radio up and
sang along loudly with Catrina and the Waves who were ‘Walking on Sunshine’
just as she was.

It was a frustrated Carla that made her exhausted way to the
hospital later that evening. Both Tracy and Linda had been put into side wards
with police guards outside, someone had gone to extreme lengths to do away with
both of them so Carla wasn’t taking any risks now she had them back.

Linda had regained consciousness, but wasn’t talking much
due to a badly bruised jaw and cheekbone. She looked dreadful and was obviously
still in shock, hardly managing to hold back the tears. Frank was super glued
to her side which was obviously giving her comfort. Carla didn’t stay long, she
had just popped in to make sure she was awake and to blow her a kiss, she would
need to formally interview her within the next few days but tonight the girl
needed to sleep and recover. Carla called Frank outside for a moment as she was
leaving.

‘We bloody lost him Frank,’ she said without preamble. ‘I
don’t know how, but the fucking bastard got away again.’ Carla was pacing up
and down angrily.

‘Shit!’ Frank said putting his head in his hands.

‘I’ve put out an APB and alerted the airports and ports etc.
I don’t know what more I can do. We’ve got six men cooling their heels in the
police cells at Redbank, including two councillors, one Mayor and a DCI all of
which have got to be interviewed. Superintendent Drew has volunteered to take
care of DCI Riley and DI Steve Lucton and his team have been interviewing the
Mayor, who it seems is singing like a bird in the hope that we’ll keep his name
out of it. I’ll need you to organise a meeting in the incident room tomorrow
morning Frank, so that we can plan our interviews with the others.’

Frank nodded, ‘Yep fine I’ll take care of that…that was the
one good thing I was able to tell Linda, that we had found her camera and as a
result we’ve got the bastards. She almost tried to smile, not a good move if
your jaw’s all smashed up but still…’

Carla could see that Frank was desperate to get back to
Linda so she left him to it and went down the corridor to Tracy’s room.

The last time Carla had seen Tracy she had been laying on
the ground at her feet in a muddy field. Now cleaned up and in a hospital bed
it was horrifying to see the change in her since her kidnap. She looked tiny,
like a little girl. Her cheeks looked hollow and there were dark bruises all over
her face and neck. Her lips were cracked and bleeding and she still had a
vacant feverish look about her. She was attached to a couple of drips and a
bleeping machine but she appeared to be conscious.

Carla went over to the opposite side of the bed to Simon and
held the other hand; Tracy slowly turned her head and looked at her trying to
smile.

‘Oh god Tracy am I glad to see you darling,’ was all Carla
said before breaking down and sobbing out the stresses of the day. Maggie came
round and gave her a hug until she got control of herself.

‘I’m so sorry love…’ whispered Tracy, ‘so very sorry.’

‘You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for darling,’
sobbed Carla. ‘You poor thing, I can’t begin to imagine how scared you’ve
been…I need you to tell me what happened honey,’ Simon went to protest so Carla
held up a hand, ‘No I don’t mean tonight Simon…but tomorrow I will need to hear
it all, we have to find the man that did this…you must see that.’

‘Of course I do,’ Simon said, ‘but she needs to rest and get
better Carla…’

‘No,’ Tracy croaked, ‘I must tell her Simon…I must tell her
soon, what if he does this to someone else I’d never forgive myself.’

Carla squeezed her hand, ‘Thank you love…I’ll be back
tomorrow…it’ll just be me, so nothing scary ok?’

Carla finally got home after ten that night, James sensing
that she was nearly collapsing with exhaustion bundled her up in a quilt on the
sofa, fed her homemade chicken soup and talked about mundane things until
bedtime. Then he held her in his arms as she cried with relief that her friend
had come home safe and with frustration that the man that had hurt her was
still free.