Eileen Reynolds stood at the door of the Police House in Aidensfield. She smiled as she felt the warmth of the sun on her face. It was the end of March and spring was definitely well on its way.
Turning back into the house she wheeled the pram standing by the kitchen door just outside. It was a sheltered corner but still attracted the sun's warmth.
"Katie," she said to the child sitting in her high chair, "I'm going to put you in your pram outside for a little while. The fresh air will do you good."
She put the little girl in her pram with a selection of toys including dolly. When the child was settled and occupied Eileen busied herself with some jobs. She cleared away the breakfast things and hung out some washing to dry continually checking on and talking to the baby as she did so.
"Now," Eileen said to the child, as she returned from the washing line. "I'm going to go upstairs and change the beds. I won't be long and when I come back down we'll go for a little walk."
She smiled and ruffled the little girl's hair as the fifteen month old squealed happily absorbed with the shape sorting toy Eileen had popped in the pram. Then Eileen went indoors. She pushed the door to, behind her, but not completely shut.
About twenty minutes later she came back down and as she did so the telephone rang. She went to answer it. It was an old friend from London and she settled down to chat, listening out for the baby.
About ten minutes after that, Nick Rowan's motor bike pulled up outside. He wasn't due back but needed to call in to the police house to pick up some paperwork. He saw the pram by the kitchen door and stopped by it but saw Katie wasn't in it. He was glad Eileen had taken her in as the sun had gone behind clouds and it felt a bit chilly now.
He walked into the kitchen as Eileen rushed in. "Oh - Nick," she exclaimed. "You startled me!"
"Sorry Eileen, I just needed to call in to pick up some paperwork." Nick paused. "You all right Eileen? You look a bit flustered."
"Oh, I left Katie outside by the door and I meant to bring her in, only the phone rang and it was Jeannie, my old friend from London. She does go on so bless her so I was getting a bit worried as it feels cooler now and I wanted to get Katie in."
Nick stared at her. "How do you mean? Katie's not in her pram, I thought she was already inside."
"I left her outside Nick, I was in and out taking out the washing and then I was tidying in here and then I went upstairs to change the beds, then I answered the phone and then came in here to bring Katie in...she must be in her pram!"
The pair of them rushed to the door and stared wildly round looking for any sign of the child although it was inconceivable she could have got out of the pram and taken herself any distance.
"Nick!" Eileen put her hands to her face in horror. "Someone's taken her! They must have!"
But Nick had gone over to near where his motorbike was standing. He looked back at Eileen.
"Has anyone been here this morning - I mean, any visitors you know about?" he snapped
"No -"
"There's tyre tracks here. Looks like Land Rover tyres." Nick moved slowly towards the gate that led out to the lane, looking down at the ground. He crouched down, looking at the wall. Glancing back he said, "They were in a hurry to get away. There's red paint scrape marks on the wall." He moved back to his motorbike and picked up the radio.
"Delta-Alpha-Two-Four to Control," he said tersely. "Do you receive Control?"
"Control here, Delta-Alpha-Two-Four, go ahead," replied Alf Ventress' voice.
"Alf, need urgent assistance in Aidensfield. All you've got. Katie's been taken from her pram."
There was a pause then, "Can you repeat that Nick?"
"You bloody heard me Alf!" Nick's self control evaporated. "She's been taken out of her pram outside the house. Possible suspect vehicle Land Rover, red, no other details."
"Right. Right Nick, we're on our way to you, just sit tight. Over."
"Not bloody likely. I'm going looking for her," Nick snapped.
"You stay where you are Rowan!" Blaketon's voice came down the radio loud and clear. "We're on our way but you'll help no one tearing off. Repeat, stay where you are."
Nick threw down the radio in frustration. Tentatively Eileen put out a hand and touched his arm.
"Please stay here Nick," she said. "Please."
He turned to look at her. Tears were pouring down her face.
"Oh Eileen," Nick said, reaching out for her. "Come on, its fine."
"I left her out here Nick, its my fault."
"No!" Nick spoke sharply. "No Eileen. I've left Katie out her in her pram lots of times, you know that. This is not your fault." He shook his head. "Where is she Eileen? Who could have taken her? I mean have you seen anyone hanging around. Any strangers or -"
"No one. Not a thing." Eileen broke down totally and Nick put his arms round her trying to soothe her. But he felt sick inside. Where was his daughter, the most precious thing in the whole world to him?
The red Land Rover was speeding across the moors. The blonde-haired woman, probably aged about thirty, who was driving the vehicle smiled at the tear stained toddler strapped in the front seat beside her still clutching dolly.
"Well, that's better, now you've stopped crying isn't it," she said. "And there's no need to cry. I'm going to love you and look after you because you're mine now. And no one can take you away from me. We're going to have such fun together you and I." She stroked the child's hair fondly. "Yes. You're my little girl Diana and I've waited such a long time for you."