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RACHEL Nicky phoned the police and then she and Laura scrubbed the fence. They wouldn’t let me help them in case there were photographers, and I was in no state to anyway. While I sat on the sofa, cocooned in a blanket to try to stop my body shaking, they worked together in the cold to erase the evidence that somebody out there wanted everybody to think that I’d hurt my son. It was pointless though, a Sisyphean task, because while they scrubbed, fingers frozen and arms aching, we all knew that other people were at work elsewhere, spreading the message far more effectively, and without getting their hands dirty. It has a very destructive effect, being publicly vilified, or being aggressively targeted by others, however much you rationalise it and tell yourself that only the worst kinds of people do that sort of thing. I felt hemmed in by hatred, and I felt physically afraid. If somebody was brazen and motivated enough to graffiti that close to my property, what would stop them going further? Would they break in? Would they hurt me? Fear for Ben had inhabited every cell in my body since Sunday, and governed my every thought and every action, but now it was to be joined by something else: fear for myself.
JIM While Emma stepped out to take the call from Rachel Jenner, the rest of the team murmured quietly. The biscuit tin had been emptied. Energy drinks were scattered around the table and people were rubbing gritty eyes. Bennett tried to cover up a monstrously large yawn with his case papers. We were all battling our ebbing energy levels and trying not to be disheartened by lack of progress. Fraser summarised: ‘There’s two trains of thought here, a twin-track approach: family or nonfamily. Bear that in mind, please, everybody, as we go forward. The MOs are significantly different for each.’ She was interrupted by Emma returning. ‘That was the sister,’ Emma said. ‘They’re frightened. There’s been some abusive graffiti on the wall behind the house.’ Fraser swallowed an expletive. ‘That is not what we need,’ she said once she’d got her vocabulary under control. ‘How’s the mother?’ ‘She’s very upset apparently,’ said Emma. ‘As you would be. And frightened.’ Fraser sighed. ‘We should respond to that. The only problem is that if we station somebody at the house, we’ll need one out front and one out back.’ DS Martyn shook his head. ‘We can’t commit budget to that at this stage. Once you’ve got protection there, how do you take it away? What if this lad isn’t found? We’d need the threat to escalate to justify it.’ Fraser made a note. ‘I’ll ask uniform if they can drive by throughout the night, and check out the back alleyway too, when they’re there. It’ll help if we’re seen to take some action at least. The family need to know we’re supporting them.’ ‘Have they asked for protection?’ Martyn again. ‘No,’ said Fraser. ‘But I think it pays to pre-empt these things. If we take it seriously now we might head off a situation where they panic.’ Martyn nodded, approving. Fraser’s solution was neat and free. I wondered if he actually kept the department budget spreadsheets constantly running across the front of his eyeballs. ‘Did they say what the graffiti said?’ Fraser asked. ‘It says “bad mother”,’ said Emma. ‘Christ,’ said Fraser. ‘I’m not surprised,’ said Emma. Fraser’s head snapped up. ‘And what exactly do you mean by that?’ Emma flushed deeply. ‘Sorry, I only meant that I’m not surprised because there’s been such a backlash against her. That’s all, boss. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.’ ‘OK then,’ said Fraser. ‘I’m glad to hear it.’ She shot an assessing look at Emma before moving on, and I saw Bennett’s fat lips form into a sneaky smirk, which I could have throttled him for. ‘Which brings me to the next thing, because I think it would be wise to inform the family of this in person too.’ The next thing was a big disappointment to everybody. Forensics had reported that they’d found nothing of interest on the items of Ben’s clothing that were discovered in the woods. Fraser felt it would be a good idea to send somebody to break the news to the family in person. With a glance at her watch, she sent Emma back out to Rachel Jenner’s house. ‘Better go now before it gets too late. It won’t do their nerves any good if we go banging on their
- Page 136 and 137: FM: So you recommended Emma for the
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- Page 140 and 141: RACHEL In the car on the way to Ken
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- Page 202 and 203: ‘What about their son, Charlie Bo
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RACHEL<br />
Nicky phoned the police and then she and Laura scrubbed the fence. They wouldn’t let me help them<br />
in case there were photographers, and I was in no state to anyway.<br />
While I sat on the sofa, cocooned in a blanket to try to stop my body shaking, they worked together<br />
in the cold to erase the evidence that somebody out there wanted everybody to think that I’d hurt my<br />
son.<br />
It was pointless though, a Sisyphean task, because while they scrubbed, fingers frozen and arms<br />
aching, we all knew that other people were at work elsewhere, spreading the message far more<br />
effectively, and without getting their hands dirty.<br />
It has a very destructive effect, being publicly vilified, or being aggressively targeted by others,<br />
however much you rationalise it and tell yourself that only the worst kinds of people do that sort of<br />
thing.<br />
I felt hemmed in by hatred, and I felt physically afraid. If somebody was brazen and motivated<br />
enough to graffiti that close to my property, what would stop them going further? Would they break in?<br />
Would they hurt me?<br />
Fear for Ben had inhabited every cell in my body since Sunday, and governed my every thought and<br />
every action, but now it was to be joined by something else: fear for myself.