Twisted by Lynda La Plante Page B

make her own way.’
    ‘Did she say what she needed to collect from her father’s?’ Lane asked.
    ‘No, and regrettably I didn’t ask. Bill, that’s my husband, and I got back here at about four thirty and Serena was here on her own. She said she had not heard from Amy and had called her on her mobile but it went straight to voicemail so she left a message to meet up at the Fulham Odeon for the five-thirty show. Serena thought that Amy was going to meet her at the Odeon, but she sent a text saying she couldn’t make it as something had come up at her dad’s. Serena then called some other friends who went to the pictures with her.’
    ‘Is there anything else you can think of that might help us?’ Wey asked.
    ‘Not really. I feel really awful about this and wish I could be more helpful. I had bathed the boys as, what with it being Saturday, it was their nanny’s night off. I put them to bed, and then called Serena to see if she was coming home for supper. She said they were going to have a hamburger and she’d be back at around ten. I didn’t even ask if Amy was with her, I sort of thought that she was, and then I made dinner for my husband and myself, and Serena arrived back at . . .’ She shook her head. ‘It was later than we had agreed, it was near eleven, and I was a bit tetchy with her because, you know, she is only fifteen and that was when I asked about Amy.’
    Harriet continued to explain that she was not overly concerned, because Amy had said she was going to her father’s and later sent the text that she was there, so they had presumed she had just decided to stay with him.
    ‘I didn’t think any more about it. Then on the Sunday we had a pre-arranged kids’ party that the boys were invited to. I took them there and my husband stayed in to watch something or other on the TV. Serena went shopping to find a pair of shoes, and then came back in time for Bill to collect the boys and drive Serena back to school. I think he did try and contact Amy, but there was no answer and by this time Serena was really a bit miffed about it, and the boys were being very naughty – probably over-tired after their birthday party. They saw the Legoland signs on the motorway and wanted to be taken there and then became boisterous when Bill said they couldn’t go – I think he said it was too late, too dark and they weren’t open . . .’
    Detective Lane had made copious notes and now asked if Amy had left any kind of overnight bag as she was supposed to be staying the night. Harriet jumped up and apologized.
    ‘Gosh, I never thought about that. Let me go and have a search of Serena’s bedroom.’
    They could hear her running up the stairs, and then shouting down to the kitchen to her by now rowdy boys, telling them to stay in there as she was still busy. Lane looked to Detective Wey, who had also been taking notes.
    ‘We need to ask Mrs Newman exactly what Amy was wearing on the Saturday and visit Serena’s school to go over everything with her,’ Wey said. Lane nodded and then glanced around the pleasant room and tapped his notebook.
    ‘This isn’t looking good, Takeaway; because nobody realized she was missing from Saturday through to the Monday, when the school reported she hadn’t shown up, it’s bloody nearly three full days and nights.’
    ‘Yeah, maybe ask about the relationship between her daughter and Amy, and we should also talk to the husband.’
    As if on cue the front door opened, and shrieks and yells came from the hallway as the boys realized their father was home. Bill Newman walked in, stopped and looked at the two officers. They rose to their feet and introduced themselves, soon realizing he appeared to not even be aware that Amy Fulford was missing. He held up his hand for them to wait a moment and went into the hall to chastise his sons, who were now running up and down yelling at the tops of their voices. They heard him loudly telling the boys to go into the kitchen and stay in there