The Dead Tracks

Chapter Thirteen

It was late afternoon by the time I left the Carvers' house, the sky grey and streaked with black cloud. I opened the BMW and threw my notes on to the passenger seat. Then I slid in at the wheel and pulled the door shut. In the silence, I went over everything.

All the lies that had been told.

And all the lies that would still have to come.

Carver had led me into their house, pointing to one of the sofas. He glanced at Caroline, a look that told her everything. He was angry and embarrassed, and she was to blame.

'Would you like something to drink, David?' he asked quietly.

'Just some water will be fine, thanks.'

He nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Caroline circled the sofas and then perched herself on one of the arms. I could see she was trying to work things through before her husband came back. What she knew. What she should have done. Why she didn't say anything. Eventually she looked at me, and I could see whatever fractious relationship had begun to exist between us had just cracked a little more.

Carver came back in and handed me a big glass of water and then sat down next to his wife. There was a gap between them.

'Was Kaitlin sure?' he asked.

I sat down on the other sofa. Yes.'

'Why didn't she tell the police?'

I got out my notepad and pen and set them down on the table. On the top sheet were the words Megan — pregnant. I looked up at Carver. 'Kaitlin told me she was going to speak to the police… but then decided not to.'

'Why?'

'She was hesitant on the phone, so that's what I need to find out from her. I'll meet her and get the reasons why.'

'Who was the father?'

'Again, I don't know.' I paused, thought about it. 'Megan's friends never talked about any serious relationships. You haven't either. If she slept with someone, I think we can assume it was a guy no one had met.'

Carver flinched a little, as if the idea of his daughter sleeping with anyone was like a punch to the throat. Then, for the first time, he glanced at his wife.

'And you knew about this?'

'No,' she said.

'I need you to tell me the truth.'

'I am telling you the truth,' Caroline replied, desperation creeping into her voice. She looked at me, then shifted on the sofa, turning inwards to face her husband. 'She never told me she was pregnant. I swear to you.'

'But you knew anyway?'

'I could tell something was up. She was complaining of headaches, of feeling tired all the time. At first I just thought she'd been studying too hard. You know what Meg was like. But then, after she went missing, I was going through some of her things…' She paused. Looked at me again. 'I found some pregnancy tests hidden in one of her drawers.'

'Bloody hell, Car - and you didn't think to tell me?'

'I didn't know what to do.'

'Our daughter was pregnant.'

'I know.'

You should have told the police.'

'I know!' she shouted.

'So why didn't you?'

'It was an unopened box,' she said. 'The cellophane wrapping was still on it. It didn't mean anything'

'She was seventeen, Caroline.'

She didn't reply.

'Since when do seventeen-year-olds buy pregnancy kits just to be on the safe side? She was ten years away from starting a family. You should have told me. You should have told someone.' He glanced at me, then back to her. 'I defended you.'

'I know.'

He sat back on the sofa. Both of them fell silent. I gave them a couple of seconds to cool off, thinking about what might have happened if Caroline had said something to the police.

'Okay,' I said eventually, sitting forward. We need to make sure of a couple of things now. Firstly, the police can't know about this. At least, they can't know about the fact that Caroline suspected something. If they think you were withholding information, this whole thing goes down the toilet. I'll bring this information to them - but only when we're ready. I'll say I found it out for myself. That'll give us the time we need to try and dig a little deeper.'

Carver nodded. 'What else?'

'Kaitlin never told us anything. We need to protect her in the same way we're protecting you. We need to find out what's going on here, and why she remained silent. We can't do that if DCI Hart is parking himself on the case again.'

They both nodded this time. I looked between them.

'Lastly, I need to know that you have both told me absolutely everything you know about Megan. Every fact. Every detail. I'm not here to judge your daughter. I'm here to find her. I don't care what she's done, or who she's been out with, or mistakes she might have made. All I care about is finding her. So if there's anything else you think I need to know, I need you to tell me what it is now…'

Carver turned to his wife. She looked back, as if she understood the gesture. When she shook her head, he faced me again.

'There's nothing else,' he said quietly. 'Please, David, find our daughter.'