Chapter 109

Chapter 109

‘Look, do we have to do this now? It's a seriously bad time.'

Archie Reynolds's voice shook as he looked up at Helen, angry, hostile and upset. Helen didn't need to ask why – the young man's bruise was in full bloom, his mother could be heard sobbing upstairs and his father was facing a lifetime behind bars. In one sense, the latter might ultimately prove to be a blessed liberation, freeing them from Reynolds' toxic and domineering presence, but it was hard for the distraught young man to see that now. They had lost their only breadwinner, the axis round which family life revolved, and all that seemed to await them now was infamy, recrimination and ruin. Archie may have disliked his father, may have hated him for all Helen knew, but he was clearly close to his mother, itching now to be rid of Helen's presence so he could go and comfort her.

‘I do appreciate that and I'm sorry for barging in on you like this. I wouldn't do so unless it was a matter of life and death.'

This seemed to sober the teenager, who turned away, embarrassed and ashamed.

‘Look, Archie, none of this is your fault. No one blames you in the slightest, but I do need your help. There is still a chance we can find Naomi, save her, but I can't do it alone.'

The boy nodded briefly, but didn't look up.

‘We're having trouble tracking your dad's movements. He seems to have either been at work or in this house, but I …'

Helen hesitated, aware she was about to reveal that she'd been stalking Reynolds, then pressed on regardless.

‘… I followed him one night when he took the dog out.'

‘Willow? Yeah, he dotes on her.'

‘Yet triangulation suggests that he must have left his phone here. Was that normal when he took the dog out?'

‘Sure,' the teenager nodded. ‘I asked him about it once and he said his dog walks were his one chance to switch off. Said he didn't want to be bothered by calls or messages.'

Helen nodded, hope surging within her. Suddenly she felt sure she was onto something.

‘And who does the dog walking in your family? Do you share it out amongst you or—'

‘No,' Archie interrupted firmly. ‘It's just Dad, won't let anyone else near her.'

‘And how often does he take her out?'

‘First thing in the morning and last thing at night.'

‘I see.'

Helen said this so firmly, so purposefully, that Archie immediately reacted.

‘Why? What is it about the dog walks that you're interested in?'

‘I don't have time to explain now,' Helen said quickly, wanting to spare the boy further upset. ‘But I do need to know where he goes. What's his route?'

The teenager was becoming more agitated with each passing minute, clearly keen to help but powerless to do so.

‘I don't know.'

‘Archie, it's really important.'

‘Honestly, I've no idea. We were never allowed to go with him. It was just the pair of them. I know they headed out back, ducked into the woods, but beyond that … Perhaps you could talk to some of the dog walkers, they might know.'

‘We haven't got time for that …'

As Helen spoke, her eyes drifted to Willow, who lay curled up by the utility room door, looking up at Helen with mournful eyes.

‘Does she have a tracker on her? Anything that might help us trace your dad's movements?'

But Archie was already shaking his head.

‘Dad didn't want one. She's chipped of course, but that's it.'

Helen cursed inwardly, determined not to take it out on an innocent boy, but her frustration was near boiling point. Desperately, she cast her mind back, picturing the dog and his master haring through the woods together, happy and carefree. Then, as another thought landed, she turned her attention to the dog once more.

‘Does your dad put a lead on Willow when he takes her out?'

This question seemed to trouble Archie, but he quickly replied.

‘No. He always took it with him, but I never saw him actually put it on Willow, not once .'

Now it was Helen's turn to look up, surprised by the boy's bitter tone. She was about to push further, but Archie got in before her, adding bitterly:

‘She was the only member of the family who wasn't in chains.'