Page 30 of Maybe Tomorrow

‘I… I don’t think so. I’m not actually on the case, Judith. That’s CID. I’m in uniform.’

‘Oh, yes, of course. Sorry.’

‘I just wanted to see how you were both doing.’

Goeff told Freya to take a seat, and went over to sit next to his wife.

‘I don’t know,’ Judith replied. ‘I still can’t get my head around any of this. It’s… it’s a nightmare. I feel like I’m living in a nightmare and wish someone would wake me up.’

She placed the glass on the coffee table and snatched up a tissue from the box and wiped her eyes.

‘It was a beautiful service,’ Freya said after a long silence.

Geoff looked up and smiled.

‘Look, I’ve not come round as a WPC, I’ve come round just as me, to see if there’s anything I can do.’

Judith looked at her with tears in her eyes. ‘That’s very kind of you, Freya. Thank you.’

Freya looked around the living room and took in the framed photographs on the walls and mantlepiece, all showing the family in happier times. There was a chair opposite her which had several cushions, a couple with pictures of cats on. To the side of the chair there was a table with a knitting pattern and a huge ball of wool with two needles sticking out. Freya imagined this was Alice’s seat, where she sat to make her clothing.

Freya could see this room being the centre of family life. She could picture the curtains being drawn early to block out the bad weather and all three of the Pattersons sitting around, laughing, chatting and keeping each other company. Looking at Geoff and Judith, a fragile couple on the verge of breaking into a thousand pieces, was heartbreaking.

Freya could feel the emotion rising inside her. She swallowed it down. ‘Is there anything you’d like me to do while I’m here?’

It was a while before either of them answered.

‘I don’t think so,’ Judith said.

‘I’ll leave you in peace, then,’ she said, standing up. ‘If there is ever anything, you have my phone number.’

‘I’ll see you out,’ Geoff said.

‘There’s no need.’

Freya left the living room. The darkness followed her. She was at the front door, her hand on the snib, when her name was called out by Judith.

‘Sorry, could I ask a small favour?’ she asked from the doorway.

‘Of course.’

‘The day Alice… that Monday, she went to the library and took some books out. They were due back a week ago and it completely went out of my head. Do you think you could return them for me?’

‘Sure. I’ll pop them round now.’

‘Thank you.’

Judith went back into the living room and returned with a pile of books. ‘I’m not sure if there’ll be a fine.’

‘I’m sure they’ll waive it under the circumstances.’

Freya took the books and left the house. She felt her shoulders relax as soon as the cold, fresh air hit her face. All she could think about was how much her mother was worrying about her. It must be hell being a parent.

Freya wasn’t much of a reader and had never been in Whitby Community Library before. Carrying the books in her arms, she headed for the counter, looking around her as she went.

‘Hello,’ she said to the two people behind the desk. Her voice echoed around the quiet room and she immediately lowered it. ‘I’m WPC Freya Sloan from North East Police. These books were borrowed by Alice Patterson. Her mother asked if I’d return them.’

‘Ah,’ Jane Wilkinson said. ‘That poor girl.’ She pulled the books towards her. ‘Judith needn’t have bothered with these. There was no rush. She’s got far too much on her plate.’