‘I have been left in a dank little interview room, so I don’t know what if anything anybody is doing. The officer took details for a missing person report and said she had to discuss the situation with her detective inspector and he would decide what happens next. It’s nearly three days since anyone saw Amy and to be honest I am starting to feel as if they are not taking it seriously enough, and I am at my wits’ end.’
‘Okay, listen, hang in there, I’ll call the school, and get back to you. Stay positive, I’m certain there will be some reason she’s not returned to school, and I’ll do my best to find out, okay? Lena? Are you all right?’
‘Yes, but call me if you hear anything.’
Marcus made the call and had a frustrating conversation with Amy’s headmistress. At first, instead of being helpful, she was anything but, explaining that she could not give private email addresses or contact numbers of other pupils without their parents’ permission. Eventually she said she was obviously very concerned and would, if he wished to come and see her, seek permission for the details he requested. She also said that according to the pupils’ logbook, Amy had signed out for her weekend and they had given Mrs Newman a copy of the letter confirming that Amy was permitted to have a sleepover with their daughter Serena. They had expected Amy to return on the Sunday evening, but Serena had returned on her own, saying that Amy was staying with her father. On Monday morning when she had still not returned, they called Mrs Fulford and left several messages before they heard back from her. Marcus thanked her for the information and asked if under the circumstances she would be willing to give him Mrs Newman’s phone number, as he really needed to speak with her. The headmistress agreed.
Immediately the woman hung up, Marcus called Mrs Newman to ask her exactly what she recalled about the Saturday afternoon.
‘I am so sorry that you still haven’t heard from Amy. It must be very distressing for you both, but I really can’t add anything to what I already told your wife.’
‘Would you mind going over it again for me please, from when Amy and Serena got back to your house from school?’
‘Well, Serena told me they had originally intended to go shopping and then see the five-thirty showing of a movie at the local cinema. It was shortly after arriving here from school that Amy told Serena she had to go to see you as she wanted to collect something.’
‘What did she need to see me about?’
‘I don’t believe Amy was specific on the matter, Mr Fulford. Anyway Serena decided to stay here, wash her hair and wait for Amy’s return. Serena was rather angry because she waited in all afternoon, and even left messages for Amy, but got no reply so she went to the cinema with some other friends.’
‘Did no one think to call me or Lena?’
‘We don’t have a number for you, Mr Fulford, and I did leave a message on your wife’s house phone but got no reply. I feel very guilty about not being more worried at the time, but Serena said that Amy often stayed weekends with you and she would no doubt turn up at school on Sunday.’
Marcus had listened patiently, and although annoyed that Mrs Newman didn’t do more, kept his calm and asked if she could give him contact numbers of Serena’s friends. She took an age away from the phone before returning and giving him details of three girls who were friends of Serena’s from her previous school. She thought they did know Amy, but she couldn’t be sure.
‘Do you know if Amy had a boyfriend?’
‘No. It’s not something I ever asked her or that Serena mentioned to me. I’m so sorry that I can’t be of more assistance, Mr Fulford, but if there is any way that I or my daughter can help you or your wife then please don’t hesitate to call.’
Marcus thanked her, and she said he should really call her by her Christian name.
‘It’s Harriet, and my husband is
‘Okay, listen, hang in there, I’ll call the school, and get back to you. Stay positive, I’m certain there will be some reason she’s not returned to school, and I’ll do my best to find out, okay? Lena? Are you all right?’
‘Yes, but call me if you hear anything.’
Marcus made the call and had a frustrating conversation with Amy’s headmistress. At first, instead of being helpful, she was anything but, explaining that she could not give private email addresses or contact numbers of other pupils without their parents’ permission. Eventually she said she was obviously very concerned and would, if he wished to come and see her, seek permission for the details he requested. She also said that according to the pupils’ logbook, Amy had signed out for her weekend and they had given Mrs Newman a copy of the letter confirming that Amy was permitted to have a sleepover with their daughter Serena. They had expected Amy to return on the Sunday evening, but Serena had returned on her own, saying that Amy was staying with her father. On Monday morning when she had still not returned, they called Mrs Fulford and left several messages before they heard back from her. Marcus thanked her for the information and asked if under the circumstances she would be willing to give him Mrs Newman’s phone number, as he really needed to speak with her. The headmistress agreed.
Immediately the woman hung up, Marcus called Mrs Newman to ask her exactly what she recalled about the Saturday afternoon.
‘I am so sorry that you still haven’t heard from Amy. It must be very distressing for you both, but I really can’t add anything to what I already told your wife.’
‘Would you mind going over it again for me please, from when Amy and Serena got back to your house from school?’
‘Well, Serena told me they had originally intended to go shopping and then see the five-thirty showing of a movie at the local cinema. It was shortly after arriving here from school that Amy told Serena she had to go to see you as she wanted to collect something.’
‘What did she need to see me about?’
‘I don’t believe Amy was specific on the matter, Mr Fulford. Anyway Serena decided to stay here, wash her hair and wait for Amy’s return. Serena was rather angry because she waited in all afternoon, and even left messages for Amy, but got no reply so she went to the cinema with some other friends.’
‘Did no one think to call me or Lena?’
‘We don’t have a number for you, Mr Fulford, and I did leave a message on your wife’s house phone but got no reply. I feel very guilty about not being more worried at the time, but Serena said that Amy often stayed weekends with you and she would no doubt turn up at school on Sunday.’
Marcus had listened patiently, and although annoyed that Mrs Newman didn’t do more, kept his calm and asked if she could give him contact numbers of Serena’s friends. She took an age away from the phone before returning and giving him details of three girls who were friends of Serena’s from her previous school. She thought they did know Amy, but she couldn’t be sure.
‘Do you know if Amy had a boyfriend?’
‘No. It’s not something I ever asked her or that Serena mentioned to me. I’m so sorry that I can’t be of more assistance, Mr Fulford, but if there is any way that I or my daughter can help you or your wife then please don’t hesitate to call.’
Marcus thanked her, and she said he should really call her by her Christian name.
‘It’s Harriet, and my husband is
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