The Drowning Child

‘How did Caleb seem to you?’ said Ren.

‘Fine,’ said Alice. ‘Absolutely fine. Rushed, maybe, but he had to get to school, and he knew he should have asked me weeks earlier.’

‘Did he seem upset to you in any way?’ said Ren.

‘Why would he be upset?’ said Alice.

‘I’m trying to get a sense of his state of mind,’ said Ren. ‘I’m sure you understand. You’re the last person to have spoken to him.’

‘That you know of, I presume …’

This woman is going to be a nightmare.

‘Yes,’ said Ren.

‘Please don’t tell me you think my brother had anything to do with this,’ said Alice. ‘I see where this is going. I know from Caleb that he was home alone with John that morning and you’re now asking me what Caleb’s state of mind was. Caleb is a happy kid, John is a wonderful father. He would do anything for his son. He loves that boy more than anything in the world.’ Her voice cracked. ‘He’s such a good man, my brother.’

‘And Teddy?’ said Ren.

‘Great,’ said Alice. ‘Teddy’s wonderful.’

‘And how are things between John and Teddy?’ said Ren.

‘Great, from what I can gather,’ said Alice.

‘Do you get along well with your brother?’ said Ren.

‘Yes, we’re very close,’ said Alice.

‘And Teddy?’ said Ren.

‘Yes, we get along,’ said Alice.

‘What did you say to Caleb?’ said Ren. ‘Did you tell him that you’d come talk to his class?’

‘Oh, yes – I was more than happy to. I told him I’d come down next month.’

‘Were you surprised to hear from Caleb that early in the morning?’ said Ren.

‘Yes,’ said Alice, ‘of course. We’ve never spoken at that hour before.’ She let out a breath. ‘Please find him. Please, please find him. I’ve seen too much, I know what happens. I … can’t bear the idea that Caleb could be …’ She paused. ‘We all know about the first forty-eight hours, that they’re the most important in a situation like this. And I think we both know that window is halfway down.’

12 (#ulink_cda3b56c-a45d-55f4-ba8e-a083680a8faf)

As Ren ended the call to Alice Veir, she felt a presence beside her and looked up. It was Ruddock.

‘Teddy Veir is waiting for us in Interview 2,’ he said.

Teddy Veir was staring at the wall as if there was something more interesting to look at than flaking gray paint. Ren and Ruddock walked in and sat down.

‘Teddy – this is Ren Bryce,’ said Ruddock. ‘She’s with the FBI CARD team.’

‘Hello,’ said Teddy. ‘Thank you … for being here.’

Ren nodded.

‘What do you think of all this?’ said Teddy.

Strange question. Or strange delivery?

‘You do this all the time,’ said Teddy. ‘Is my son … do you think … what happens in your other cases?’

Oh, you do not want to know that we usually show up, a body is found, and we all go home.

‘Mrs Veir—’

‘Teddy.’

‘Teddy, we’re gathering all the facts here—’

‘It’s been over twenty-four hours …’ she said. ‘I know you’re already losing hope of finding him alive.’

‘That’s not true,’ said Ruddock. ‘And there are hundreds of people working hard on this.’

‘But nothing showed up in the search,’ said Teddy.

‘Yet,’ said Ruddock. ‘We’ll be searching again. Every day, if we have to. And the neighborhood canvass team is working nonstop. Please be reassured by that. And Ren and I are here now to focus on some answers we need.’

Teddy nodded. ‘OK, OK. I’m sorry. I’m just … I’m going out of my mind.’

‘I know,’ said Ren. ‘Let’s start with Sunday evening. Why don’t you talk us through that …’

‘I left the house at six to go to my friend Patti’s,’ said Teddy. ‘Patti Ellis. Caleb was home, John was preparing supper for both of them. I eat with Patti.’

‘And how was Caleb, Sunday night?’ said Ren.

‘He was quiet,’ said Teddy. ‘But—’

Ren and Ruddock waited.

I know what you’re thinking, Teddy. You’re thinking if you finish that sentence, you will be incriminating your husband. But … what? But Caleb was always quiet around his father?

And you’re thinking – what if your husband did do something, and you lied to the police? I am watching the weighing up. And you know I am.

Teddy readjusted herself in her seat. ‘John’s childhood, his time in the military … it made him the man he is today. He’s a good man, a good husband, a good father. But … yes, Caleb was quiet around him sometimes.’ There was a pleading look in her eyes. ‘Caleb can be sullen, and John is stubborn. The two things don’t always sit well together. John is not an aggressive man. He withdraws. He gets distant. That can be really difficult, but it doesn’t make him …’ She shrugged. ‘His biggest crime, maybe, is being … intense.’

Intense? Yes. His biggest crime? Maybe not …

Ruddock spoke gently to Teddy. ‘Men are not great with their feelings,’ he said. ‘My late wife had to work on me for a good ten years to get me to talk. Anything emotional and I’d close up like a clam.’ He paused. ‘Is that how John is?’