Fit Up Read Free Page B

the search officers’ demeanour was one of deflation and boredom. They had obviously expected to find some juicy evidence but had found nothing that I had been alerted to during the search of the house and shop.
    Claire and I sat down at one of the desks, of which I noticed that the lock had been broken, as the search was coming to an end. Patel came up to me and said that she had had a call from the station and that Jeremy wanted me to phone the restaurant to cancel dinner for that evening. It was Jeremy’s birthday on 2 November and in all the chaos of the day I had forgotten that we had a family meal booked at a restaurant. As I was about to make the call, Patel said that it was not really necessary to cancel the dinner because they would be finished at around 4 p.m. Again I was astonished at her insensitivity and lack of perception. Our lives had been turned upside down in the most terrible way and she thought that we would carry on getting ready for an evening of celebration. She really had no idea how shattered we felt.
    It was 4 p.m. I had cancelled the restaurant booking and the officers were finally leaving the shop, with more promises of a property list being made available to me within seven days. Claire offered to take me home and told me that she had called her mother to tell her what had happened to Jeremy. Obviously she was very concerned and wanted to see her son as soon as possible, so we decided to pick her up on the way.
    I tried to explain to Estelle, as best I could, the events of the day. The headlights from oncoming cars only highlighted the concern and perplexity on her face. She probably had as many questions as I did and I was anxious to be with Jeremy. Staring out at the rain running down the windscreen, I felt as miserable as the weather.
    Just then my mobile rang. It was Jeremy. Finally, I was able to speak to him. He said, ‘Hello, this is your paedophile husband.’ I was shocked at what he said and he then added that he was in the back of a police car being taken home by two officers. He sounded irritated so I guessed the paedophile comment was for their benefit.
    He asked where I was and I replied that I was about fifteen minutes from home and that Claire was driving. I added that his mother wasalso with us. At this he shouted hysterically that he did not want anyone to see him. He had had a terrible day and wanted some peace. He only wanted to see me.
    Finally, the journey came to an end as we drove into my road. I thanked Claire for the lift and told her and Estelle that Jeremy and I needed some time on our own first. They understood and I promised to call them the next day.
    As they drove away, I turned around to look up at the house, our haven, which no longer felt welcoming or safe. I felt exhausted from the shock of it all and it felt like I had been gone for an eternity instead of just an afternoon. Turning the key in the lock of the front door and entering the hall, I was startled to see Jeremy appear from the shadows with just the lamplight from the street illuminating his face, which was ashen, his eyes dark-ringed and expressionless.
    ‘I hope you are on your own,’ he said flatly. ‘I don’t want to see anyone, don’t you get it?’
    Turning on the lights, I said quietly, ‘This isn’t my fault, is it?’
    He moved towards me and held out his arms. We hugged for a long time, not saying a word. I had lots of questions about his day, as he probably had about mine, but all I could ask first was if he wanted something to eat.
    Neither of us could contemplate a meal but I said we ought to have something. I remembered that I had eaten nothing all day and had hardly had any fluids. Not being bothered to cook, I busied myself making toast and cereal. Jeremy told me he was given a meal earlier but that just by looking at it he knew it was inedible and I remembered why the search team chose to eat at McDonald’s.
    As I prepared our evening meal, which looked like the breakfast we