Taken
Chapter One
England, September 2001
Looking down at her
watch, Jess focused hard on the
hands, willing them to turn
back instead of relentlessly
sweeping on. She didn’t need to
work out the
time that had elapsed, she
knew exactly because it
was only two minutes since
she had last checked and
it was also twenty-two
hours and nine minutes past the
agreed time.
The time that Sheldon,
her husband, and CJ, her son,
were due to have returned to
their
a short holiday.
But they weren’t back
and Jesswondered if he was doing
it deliberately to make
the point that he was capable of
being in sole charge of their
son. Once again she peered
through the window towards the
end of the driveway
praying that Sheldon’s
distinctive silver Mercedes would
swing into view. Praying also
they would both return safe
and well, her fears of an
accident unfounded.
Rubbing her eyes that
were red and dry from lack
of sleep she tried to drag
her brain back over the day
they had left five days
before, the last time she saw her
5
husband and son. The clearest
thing in her mind was
how happy CJ was to be
going off on an adventure with
his father, so happy that
he was completely oblivious to
the tension between his
parents.
‘I’ve already told you a
dozen times, we’ll be back
at around
Sheldon had sighed
dramatically when she had asked
as they left, using the
same falsely parental tone that
was usually reserved for
CJ. ‘That leaves more than
enough time for CJ to get
ready for school. Now stop
the fussing. I am able to
look after my son on my own,
you know – it is allowed.’
‘Our son, Sheldon, he is
our son,’ Jess had replied
angrily.
Standing in the porch
she had waved them off, smiling
happily, but as soon as the
car, with CJ’s excited little
face pressed against the
window, had disappeared from
view she burst into tears.
It was the first time
Jess and CJ had been apart for
more than a day since his
birth nearly five years before,
and although she hadn’t
wanted it, Sheldon had said
it was time for her to cut
the invisible cord. He was
insistent that their son should
learn how to be more
independent of his doting mother,
insistent on taking
him away without her.
His words echoed over
and over in her head. ‘Jessica,
CJ is a boy. He shouldn’t
be hanging off his mom’s skirt
like a girl; he needs
toughening up and as his father I’m
the one to do it. Boys need
their fathers, they need to
learn how to become men.’
Scared of blocking the
main phone-line, Jess went into
her husband’s study and
picked up the other phone,
quickly tapping in a number.
Listening impatiently
to the ringing at the
other end, her over-active brain
6
called up questions that had
never crossed her mind
before.
Suddenly they were
jumping about in front of her.
Why had he been so
positive that he didn’t want her
to go on the trip? Why
were the arrangements so vague?
Why hadn’t she insisted
that he give her an itinerary
with contact numbers? Why
had she even let CJ go in
the first place?
Jess shook her head from
side to side, as if to rid
herself of the thoughts.
Sheldon loved her, she loved him
and they both adored their
only child. There couldn’t
be anything worrying in
their late return. They were
just late.
It seemed forever before
the phone was picked up the
other end.
‘Mum? They’re still not
back and I’m starting to
panic. I have really bad
vibes about this. I just know
something has happened to them .
. .’
Her mother’s soothing
voice wafted gently down the
line, reassuring her, trying
to calm her, and of course
it all sounded so
reasonable. Her mother was right.
Sheldon was probably
just making the point again that
he was as much a parent to
CJ as she was.
The same subject had
been causing rows between the
two of them recently, but
it was something they were
trying to resolve. Sheldon
thought that Jess was babying
CJ, Jess thought Sheldon
was trying to make their son
grow up too quickly. The
bickering went back and forth
and the compromise had
eventually been that Sheldon
would take CJ away for a few
days without Jess for some
quality father/son time
together.
Jess listened carefully,
desperately wanting to take on
board all the things her
mother was saying, wanting to
believe that she was worrying
unnecessarily. They were
7
the same things that she
herself had thought the day
before, before her mind had
gone into overdrive.
Maybe he had lost track
of time, maybe they had
broken down in the back of
beyond, maybe they had
missed the ferry back, maybe
his phone didn’t work
abroad . . . maybe, maybe.
Jess licked her lips
nervously and tried to keep the
tremor out of her voice. ‘Can
you come over, Mum?
I badly need someone
here. I know you probably think
I’m being neurotic but I
wonder if I ought to call the
police?’
She paused a moment,
then continued at breakneck
speed, ‘I don’t know what
else to do. Supposing there’s
been an accident? What if
they’re lying in a ditch somewhere
and no one can see them? It
happens. Remember
that piece on the news a few
weeks ago? That woman
was there for three days,
hidden in the undergrowth; she
nearly died.’
As she was speaking and
trying to keep the rising
hysteria out of her voice,
Jessica Patterson found her
eyes drawn to the familiar
framed photographs carefully
placed on the desk and shelves
all around the room that
was her husband’s inner
sanctum. Although there were
formal photos of the couple on
their wedding day and
at CJ’s christening, the
majority, she noticed, didn’t
include herself. There were
holiday snaps of Sheldon
with CJ, birthday snaps of
Sheldon with CJ. It seemed
that everywhere Jess looked
there were colour images
jumping out at her of her
husband and son, together.
Just
the two of them. Always just the two of them,
father and son. It was as if
she didn’t exist.
After putting the
receiver down she stood with her
arms folded tightly around herself
and her head on one
side, studying the photos.
Although they had always
8
been there, and Jess herself
had taken many of them,
it was as if she was
looking at them for the first time.
Her eyes flickered
around at them all, aware that there
was something she had not
noticed before but now, with
her senses heightened by
trepidation, she tried to figure
it out. Snatching down
several frames, she took them
into the light-filled
kitchen, standing them side by side
on the table to study them
closely. She was still focused
on them when the doorbell
rang loudly, making her
jump. Leaving them, she
rushed to the door and flung
it open.
It was her mother.
‘Oh.’ The disappointment
in her voice was obvious.
‘I thought it might have
been them. I thought Sheldon
might have left his key
behind.’
‘Oh,
Jess, Jess – just look at the state of you.’ The
woman took Jess in her arms
and hugged her close.
‘Okay, now I’m sure
there isn’t a problem, not really,
but just start at the
beginning and tell me everything.
That way we can work out
if we really have cause to
worry.’
Smiling tearfully, Jess
walked ahead of her mother to
the kitchen. ‘There’s
nothing specific, but I just know
something isn’t right. It’s a
feeling, an instinct, you must
know what I mean. A mother’s
instinct.’ She looked at
her own mother, her eyes
wide, pleading silently for
reassurance. ‘For God’s sake, they
were only going to
nervously around the room. ‘
danger zone on the other side
of the world, is it?’
‘No, it isn’t, so stop
panicking.’ Sara Wells’s tone to
her daughter was
sympathetically firm but Jess continued
as if she hadn’t heard.
‘Like I told you
earlier, he said they would be back
9
at around lunchtime
yesterday. CJ is starting school
tomorrow. It’s his first day at
big school and he’s really
looking forward to it. All his
friends will be there, he’s
got to be there too –
Sheldon knows that.’ Her voice
was getting higher as the
words tumbled rapidly out,
and her hands were waving
about as if she was trying
to communicate in sign
language.
‘Have you tried calling
Sheldon again?’ Her mother’s
voice was gentle.
‘Of course I’ve tried
bloody calling him! I’ve tried
constantly, but his mobile is off
or not connecting or
something, which would happen if
they were upside
down in a ditch. God, they
could be there for days.
They could both be dead
and no one would know.’
Sara Wells looked at her
daughter for a moment
before speaking. ‘Okay,’ she
said, ‘perhaps we ought
to call the police, just
to see what they have to say and
check that there haven’t been
any accidents. Not that I
think there’s anything to
worry about, but just to put
your mind at rest.’ Her
smile and tone were reassuring.
‘Sheldon and CJ will
probably be back through the door
before the police even get
here.’
‘Can you do it, please?
You’ll be far more coherent
than me and they might take
more notice.’
Sara put an arm around
her daughter’s shoulders. ‘Of
course I will. Now you go and
have a quick wash and
brush-up while I put the kettle
on. Go and cool down,
it’ll make you feel better.’
Jess automatically
reached her hand up to her hair and
grimaced as she pushed it away
from her face.
‘What you mean is that I
look a complete wreck and
should go and smarten myself
up in case the police think
they’re dealing with a
madwoman?’
Sara shook her head and
smiled. ‘No, that’s not what
10
I meant at all and you
know it, although maybe you do
look a bit wild and woolly.
But then I shouldn’t say that,
considering that you got your hair
and colouring from
me, you poor girl!’
Jess nearly smiled back
before taking off like a startled
rabbit, terrified that she
might miss the vital call. After
splashing cold water on her face
she tried in vain to
drag a brush through the
tangle of auburn curls that
was splayed out around her
neckline. Naturally shocking
red, the colour had long
been artificially toned down to
russet, but the curls remained
as uncontrollable as ever.
Now, after not having
seen a brush for nearly a day, it
was completely wild.
With not enough time to
tame it Jess clipped it up
on her head with a couple
of big combs and then
half-heartedly brushed a layer of
loose powder over her
freckled nose and forehead.
Instinctively she looked
at herself every which way
in the unforgiving mirrors
that Sheldon had tactlessly
installed over and down both
sides of the hand basin.
Silently she bemoaned
her wide hips and chunky thighs
that seemed all the more
obvious in the carelessly thrown
on joggers and vest. ‘A
typical British pear-shaped body’
she always described it
whenever Sheldon commented
on her widening bottom
half. She wondered if she
ought to change into
something more flattering before
Sheldon got back and
made yet another remark about
her increasing cellulite.
But as soon as she thought it
she felt ashamed. How could
she possibly be looking in
the mirror and thinking
about her hated fat thighs when
her husband and son were
missing? Christ, she needed
a drink.
Jess hurried back to the
kitchen where her mother
was busy making sandwiches
and struggling with the
11
top-of-the-range cappuccino machine that
Sheldon had
bought as an anniversary
present.
From the back Sara Wells
looked like a clone of her
daughter, same hair although
hers had faded with age
and same pear-shaped body.
Sara looked, dressed and
acted considerably younger
than her true age that was
nudging slowly but surely
towards sixty.
‘Did you call them? What
did they say?’ Jess looked
at the back of her mother’s
head.
‘I’m afraid they want to
leave it a little longer. They
suggested you contact the hotel
where they were staying.
There have been no
accidents reported locally, and if it
had been anywhere else . .
. well, they both had passports
and Sheldon was in his own
car.’ Chewing her bottom lip
Sara turned to face her
daughter. ‘I think they’re right,
you know. No news is good
news.’
‘But how can I phone
when I don’t know where they
were bloody well staying?’
Jess raised her voice, her
tone defensive. ‘Sheldon
said they were going to book
in somewhere when they got
there, another part of the
great adventure. He promised
to phone, and when he
didn’t I was angry but just
assumed it was Sheldon being
his usual awkward self,
just making a point about his
ridiculous bonding session.’
The words tumbled out
madly and when she stopped
for breath Sara jumped in.
‘That could still be the
case. Maybe it’s best to just
wait and see. You know what
Sheldon can be like, how
intransigent he can be when the mood
takes him.’ Sara
paused; it was obvious she was
trying to find the kindest
way to phrase her words. ‘We
both know that Sheldon
can be a little
self-important sometimes. He probably
hasn’t even realised the worry
he’s causing you.’
Sara turned and held out
her arms to Jess. ‘Come
12
here, sweetheart – it’ll all
be okay, I’m sure. Sheldon is
a good dad, he won’t have
done anything to put CJ at
risk. They’re probably
having the time of their lives and
decided to stay on an extra
day, completely oblivious to
the fact that you’re
worrying yourself silly.’
Tearfully, Jess
unclamped her hands from the tight
fists she had made and walked
straight into her mother’s
outstretched arms, the way she used
to as a child.
Mother and daughter were
very alike, and CJ was following
in their footsteps. The
dominant genes of red
hair, green eyes and
porcelain skin that freckled up at
just a hint of sun had
passed from mother to daughter
to son.
However, looks were one
thing, but Sara was all too
aware that her daughter had
inherited her personality as
well. Both bounced happily
along, ready to see the best
in everyone, only to be
surprised and get incredibly hurt
when things went wrong.
Sometimes, she knew,
they both set themselves up
for falls.
Sara had done it with
her own husband many years
ago. She had fallen for a
charming and handsome man
who had seemed the answer
to a girl’s dream. But she
could remember only too well
her devastation when,
without warning, he had
announced he was leaving.
Still in her early
twenties with a toddler to look after,
Sara was left to scrape
by while Micky Wells decided he
had to ‘find himself ’ and
disappeared off on the hippy
trail to
Micky. Baby Jessica’s father.
Tall and personable with
his engaging smile, a happy
nature and no sense of
responsibility whatsoever.
Because she had no
choice, Sara had metaphorically
13
shrugged her shoulders and got
on with making a new
life for herself and her
daughter; and from then on it
had been just the two of
them.
Sara hated the
expression ‘just like sisters’ that was
often thrown at them because
of their similarities, but
she relished the fact that
they were very close and always
on good terms. Sara
sometimes regretted not having met
someone else but after Micky who, despite his all too
apparent failings, had remained
the love of her life, her
guard had stayed well and
truly up.
When Jess first
introduced her to the similarly handsome
and personable American guy
whom she had met
on holiday in
her boots. It was Micky Wells all over again, except that
Sheldon certainly wasn’t
broke; in fact he seemed to be
considerably wealthy.
Visually, apart from the
fact that Micky was a hippy
and Sheldon was
conservative, Sheldon could have been
a clone of her own
husband when she had first met
him. But despite her
reservations, and also because she
had promised herself never
to question her daughter’s
judgement and choices, Sara had
crossed her fingers and
done her best to welcome
him.
Sara was soon won over.
On the face of it,
Sheldon Patterson had seemed to
be the ideal partner for
Jessica. Full of life, full of
dreams and financially secure,
he had promised Jess
the moon and as many
children as she wanted, while
at the same time
confidently assuring Sara that he
would never in a million
years do anything to hurt
her daughter.
Sara, like Jess, had
believed in him completely. Now
she wondered if her initial
judgement had been correct.
Sara physically jumped
out of her reverie as Jess
14
sprang into life, banging the
flat of her hand on the
table.
‘I know! I haven’t
contacted Carla! You know who
I mean – her son Ben
plays with CJ. She may know
something, know where they were
going to stay; her
husband Toby is Sheldon’s only
real friend over here.
If he’s told anyone, it
would be him.’
Jess pounced on the
phone and then, hand outstretched,
hesitated. ‘No, I’ll use the
other line. If this
one rings, you answer it
and give me a shout.’
She disappeared into the
study to make the call
but was shortly back,
looking even more bewildered
than ever.
‘This is really strange,
Mum,’ she frowned. ‘Neither
Carla nor Toby know anything.
Apparently, they didn’t
even know Sheldon was taking
CJ to
is fair enough, I suppose,
but there’s something not
right.’
Sara leaned back against
the doorframe. ‘Go on.’
‘Well, Carla sounded
more distressed by this than I
would have expected. She’s on
her way round now –
says there’s something she
thinks I should know.’
Jess’s sharp green eyes
opened wide as she stared at
Sara. ‘Mum, I’m
frightened.’
15