Page 8

THEN

July 1983

Kimberly

The Carousel , Port of Barcelona, Spain

Every bone in Kimberly’s body ached. She felt weighed down by her desperate worry and dread of how Robert was. Jason suggested that she go back to their cabin to lie down. And for a brief moment she was tempted to do that and take another of her sleeping pills. Anything to find temporary relief from this living nightmare. But there could be no respite. Kimberly had to find her inner strength for her children’s sake.

‘Please let one of my staff take that and dry it for you,’ Captain Phillipe said, his eyes drifting to the wet stain on Kimberly’s T-shirt, left by the sodden soft toy she’d been clinging to.

Peter Rabbit had been lying near a lifeboat on deck ten, in a puddle of seawater.

‘I appreciate your offer, Captain, but this toy . . . it’s all I have of Robert.’ Kimberly’s voice trembled with emotion as she clutched the damp toy. ‘He slept with Peter Rabbit since I bought it for him, when he was six months old.’ She leaned down and breathed in Robert’s scent that lingered in the fabric. Kimberly decided that she would only let it go if she got to return it to him. She closed her eyes and prayed once again for a miracle.

Bring him back to me. Realise that he should be with me, his mama.

Her daughter’s laughter rippled through the room as she played peek-a-boo a few feet away. It had been suggested earlier that Lily be sent to the onboard crèche while they navigated the search for Robert, but Kimberly had scooped up her daughter and said firmly, ‘She stays with me.’

So, Pamela, a young nanny from Wales, who worked in the children’s club, was sequestered to join them and help care for Lily while they all waited for updates from the search parties.

‘There must be news by now,’ Kimberly said, looking at her watch. It was almost midday.

‘I know it must be torture to wait. From the moment you raised the alarm this morning, the ship was placed on lockdown. I can assure you that between the ship’s staff and the Policia, if Robert is onboard the Carousel , we shall find him,’ Captain Phillipe responded gently. ‘Are you sure I cannot get you something to drink or eat? You look so pale.’

Kimberly shook her head. Her stomach had been so clenched in terror that she could scarcely sip water, never mind eat. She wished Jason would come back too. He’d insisted on joining the search, convinced he’d find Robert curled up in a hidden corner, asleep or maybe too scared to call out for help.

The door opened, and Kimberly looked up, hoping it was her husband. But it was the inspector again.

‘I’m afraid we’ve not found Robert,’ he said quickly before she had a chance to ask. ‘I’d like to speak with you privately, if possible.’ He turned to Pamela and said, ‘Please take Lily to her father; he’s waiting outside.’

‘Lily stays with me,’ Kimberly insisted again. The mere thought of not being able to see her daughter made her half mad with terror.

‘As you wish,’ Inspector Ortega said, and asked Captain Phillipe and Pamela to leave the room. Inspector Ortega opened his cigarette box, tapped one out, then put it back when Kimberly gave him a look of reproach.

‘Force of habit. I apologise.’

‘It’s fine. I’m on edge. I feel so useless. I should be doing something,’ Kimberly said, wringing her hands in her lap.

‘I know this is an impossible situation for you. But trust me, Mrs Murphy, the most critical thing you can do for your son is answer my questions. This may give me crucial information which will help me find him.’

Kimberly watched Lily on the play mat beside her, where the little girl was playing with soft toys, and breathed in deeply. She sat up straight in her chair and told the inspector she was ready.

‘Your husband is Irish, but your accent is different, no?’ Ortega asked.

‘I’m from Scotland. I met Jason while visiting Ireland.’

‘How long have you and Jason been married?’

‘One year.’

If this surprised the inspector, he didn’t show it. ‘Your children were born before you got married?’

‘Robert was,’ Kimberly said, feeling her scalp prickle. ‘He was six months old when I met Jason. I was pregnant with Lily before we got married.’

This did get a reaction. Inspector Ortega leaned in closer and asked, ‘Jason is Robert’s stepfather?’

‘Yes.’ Kimberly bristled at the question.

‘And how was their relationship?’ Inspector Ortega asked. His eyes narrowed, and his pencil tapped his notebook as he watched her.

Kimberly’s mouth went dry. She sipped her water and replied, ‘They are as close as any father and son could be.’

The inspector shrugged. ‘We have spent the morning calling cabin to cabin, interviewing your fellow passengers and the crew. And one couple mentioned that there was an incident at the pool yesterday. They witnessed a situation where Jason shouted at Robert.’

Kimberly looked at him sharply. ‘That was nothing. He splashed his sister, and Jason reprimanded him for it.’

Inspector Ortega looked down at his notebook, flipped back two pages, and then said, ‘The couple said you seemed upset with your husband.’

Kimberly took a steadying breath, trying to avoid the obvious direction of this conversation. ‘I had a headache. If I was snappy with Jason, it was because of that.’

‘I understand,’ Inspector Ortega said, writing some more notes.

‘Why can’t Jason be in here with me?’ Kimberly asked, her eyes darting to the door. She missed her husband’s solid and calming presence.

‘Because I need to talk to you on your own. I plan to question Jason next.’

Another ripple of unease ran through Kimberly.

‘Where is Robert’s father?’ the inspector asked.

Kimberly felt her hackles rise. She did not like the inspector’s tone and direction of questioning. ‘Standing outside this room, no doubt waiting impatiently to return to our side.’

The inspector almost smiled. ‘I meant, where is the child’s biological father, as I suspect you know.’

‘Why do you want to know that?’ Kimberly asked, every fibre in her body recoiling at the question.

Inspector Ortega leaned in. ‘I’m trying to determine if Robert has been abducted. Often, a family member is involved in situations like this. An ex-husband, crazy boyfriend, occasionally a grandparent.’

Kimberly’s heart began to race so fast that she was sure the inspector could hear it. She looked him squarely in the eye and responded, ‘The father is not in the picture. He couldn’t have taken Robert.’

‘Why is that?’

‘Because he doesn’t know that Robert even exists. And, before you ask, I can’t give you a name. It was a one-night stand,’ Kimberly said, feeling colour flood her face.

More notes were scribbled. ‘And are there any other family members who might have taken Robert?’

‘I’m an only child, and both my parents are dead. Other than Jason and my children, I am alone.’ Her voice choked, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. She tried to control her emotions, but it was too much to bear. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t seem to stop them.’

Inspector Ortega handed her a pressed white handkerchief from his jacket pocket. ‘It’s okay. A mother’s love knows no bounds. Let’s leave it for now. Either way, I have some questions for your husband.’

Kimberly stood up. ‘I think I’ll return to our cabin with Lily to freshen up while you speak to Jason.’ Since their nightmare began this morning, she’d not even brushed her teeth or combed her hair. Lily was still in her sleepsuit, and the early afternoon sun was getting even hotter. She should change her into something lighter, at least.

But Inspector Ortega interrupted her. ‘I’m afraid you can’t return to your cabin. But Captain Phillipe has assigned you a new cabin in the interim, and transferred your clothes there.’

‘Why on earth not?’ Kimberly asked.

‘Your cabin is now a crime scene.’ Ortega’s eyes bore into Kimberly as he spoke, his tone stern and unwavering. ‘I believe it was impossible for Robert to leave the cabin alone. Which means that someone took him. And, until our investigation is complete, the cabin must be protected and preserved for evidence.’ His eyes now moved to Robert’s Peter Rabbit. ‘I will have to take the soft toy too for biological analysis. We’ll check for hair samples, and I promise to return the toy as soon as possible.’

Crime.

Evidence.

Investigation.

Kimberly’s mind was in turmoil as the words taunted her, intensifying her feelings of helplessness and vulnerability.

How had it come to this?