Chapter 21
Robbie drove back to the hospital to meet James. His conversation with Laura on a constant loop in his head. She thought he was punishing her. It couldn't be further from the truth. He'd stayed away because he agreed with her. It was best he stay away from the boy.
He knew if he was near her too much, one day, he would crack and want to know about Matty. It was better for all of them if he just stayed away. But this case had thrown them back together. All of his protective desires were reawakened. When he'd seen Alec Pickman touching her he'd wanted to throttle the man.
When Alec had made those comments about Laura liking her men wild it infuriated him. Had that been what she'd seen in him? He wasn't sure he'd been wild but he'd definitely been out of control. Perhaps that was what had attracted her to him and now he wasn't. Did she no longer find him attractive?
He shook his head. No, he remembered the look on her face when he'd asked her out. It had been equal parts excitement and worry. There had been a light in her eyes when he'd told her why he asked her out. A light he hadn't seen since that day. Now when she looked at him there was nothing but sadness.
Even without the stress of this case, the light which normally sparkled within her had been gone. He'd caused that. His choice to not pursue a relationship with either her or Matty had extinguished it. But now he knew it was a mistake. He wanted, needed both of them in his life. Perhaps it wouldn't be perfect, he would definitely make mistakes but he needed to make those mistakes. They needed to make those mistakes, together.
He parked, more clear-headed than he had been in weeks. His phone buzzed and he looked down at the text from James, "Found something you need to see. Get here soon as."
He briskly walked to the room where James was. It was a hive of activity. James had a grim look on his face, "What am I looking at?"
James opened the book, "Hospital admissions." He pointed to the page, "Look here between the 16th of and the 21st of March 1986."
Robbie ran his finger down the page, one name standing out: Laura Hobson. "I don't understand…She never mentioned."
Cold anger filtered through James, he'd not doubted Laura until this point. But now, he could feel the seed of doubt developing in his brain. "There's more I'm afraid. Given the Mary Gwilliam connection to the Rochester House foundation and their particular line of business, I took a look at this." He opened another book, placing it in front of Robbie, "The 17th of March, bottom right hand corner of the page."
"March 17th, birth, male, 23:48, 6 pounds 7 ounces, mother Hobson, L." All sorts of things ran through Robbie's head. Unsavory ideas, she'd had other children? He looked back at James, "It's a mistake it has to be."
James nodded to the paper, "Turn to the next entry."
He turned the page, "March 18th, birth female, 00:35, 5 pounds 11 ounces, mother's name Hobson, L."
"She had twins, sir."
Robbie scoffed, he didn't know how, but he knew this wasn't true. "I don't believe this. Laura wouldn't have given up her children."
"She did, sir. The father was listed as Peter Hawkins. Mary Gwilliam helped to have them adopted but not together. It makes sense, sir."
"What makes sense sergeant? Even if it's true, why go after all of those other people? Why not go after her? She was young and probably scared."
"Peter Hawkins had a disease, one which was hereditary. What if one of the twins have it? What they are doing would never make sense to us?"
"That means Laura is in even more danger." Robbie quickened his steps, "I'm going to go over there now."
"No, sir, the best thing we can do is find out who these twins are." James' phone rang, he looked at the screen, "It's the adoption registry."
Robbie kept walking toward his car. He didn't believe it, no matter what was written, he didn't believe it. She might have hidden Matty from him but she would have revealed this when people started dying. He knew it. He'd never been more certain of her than in his moment.
James approached, giving the details for the two children. They climbed into his car, headed for the home of the girl.
Laura watched the PC walk through her yard. It was a thankless job. She opened the door, "PC Delaney, would you like a cup of tea, chase away the chill?"
He turned to her, smiling, "That would be lovely Dr. Hobson."
"Give me a few minutes, I'll bring it out."
She fussed around the kitchen, making the tea, happy for the distraction. As she waited for the kettle, Matty came running into the room, "Mummy, can I go out and talk with the policeman?"
She knelt to his level, "No, love, he's working remember."
"But Uncle James plays with me."
Ruffling his hair, she laughed, "Not when he's working."
The whistling kettle drew her attention and she stood to make the tea. "Can we at least bring him some biscuits?"
"You can ask him if he wants any."
"If he doesn't, can I have his?"
"Not before your dinner young man."
"Can I have them after my dinner?"
"You would rather have biscuits than pudding?"
He nodded affirmatively, "I would rather have both."
"Nice try, but not going to happen." His little frown made her laugh, "Come on, let's deliver this tea."
Matty followed her to the door. PC Delaney heard it open and turned to them. Laura handed him the tea as Matty danced past her, "Mr. Police Constable would you like some biscuits to go with your tea?"
He smiled down at the little boy, "No, not right now. Perhaps later though."
"If you don't want them, can I have yours?"
The PC laughed, "I think that's a conversation best held with your mother."
Laura smiled at the man, wrapping her arm around her son, "I think we will just save the biscuits in case PC Delaney wants them later. Matty, run along and wash up for dinner."
Matty waved at the PC then darted back into the house, "If you want more tea later, just knock. I'll be up for a couple more hours."
"Thank you Dr. Hobson. I get off shift at nine. I'll be fine until then."
She nodded, looking up at the sky, "Horrible night for this assignment. You must be on Chief Super Innocent's bad side."
He laughed, "No ma'am, I volunteered. A bunch of us did, you're well liked at the station and we take care of our own."
Tears filled her eyes, "Thank you. That means a lot."
He nodded toward the house, "Go on, feed your little boy."
She nodded, "Let me know when you're leaving."
"Will do ma'am."
She closed the door, locking it behind her. With a deep breath, she wiped the tears from her eyes. It was surprising that he'd volunteered for the job. She heard Matty coming down the stairs and headed to the kitchen.
They knocked on the door and showed their warrant cards when the woman answered, "Mrs. Renfield, Di Lewis, DS Hathaway, Oxford Police. May we come in?"
She let them into the house, answering their question about her daughter, "We haven't seen Susan for a…well, we had a bit of a falling out."
James saw the photographs on a table in the next room and made a beeline for them, "Sir." He picked up one, bringing it back to Robbie.
The woman saw the concern on both men's faces, "What's all of this about?"
Robbie pointed to the woman in the photo, "Is this Susan, Mrs. Renfield? Because we know her as Charlotte."
"It's Susan Charlotte, but she didn't like Susan."
Robbie pointed to the man in the photo, "But this is Vince Corwin, right, her husband?"
"No, that's John, John Moreau."
Robbie turned back to James all of the pieces finally clicking together. He shoved the photo back at the woman and ran for the door.
James was right behind him, pulling out his mobile to call for armed response. By the time he made it to the car, Robbie already had the engine started, he pulled away from the curb before James even closed the door.
They arrived at the Corwin house just as armed response was preparing to kick in the door. Robbie was the second person into the house. The noise of a crying infant filled the house. He made his way to the nursery to find an empty nursery, with a doll in a crib and tape recording of a crying baby.
James was at the door, "There's no one here and his van is missing. I called the store where he works, he didn't come into work tonight."
"Laura, they've gone after Laura."