The red Land Rover was parked up in a small back street on the outskirts of Scarborough. The woman had chosen her spot carefully. There were some tenement houses here but they were empty being earmarked for demolition. So there was no one to see her as she smiled down at the child with her.
"Well now, Diana," she said, "We're going to have to walk a little way. But first." She took off the shoulder length blonde wig she had been wearing and shook out her long thick dark hair., tucking the wig into her shoulder bag. Next she reached into the back of the Land Rover and produced a small bag.
"I think you'd look so pretty with this little hat on Diana," she said. "And we'll take off that dress you're wearing, it really doesn't suit you, and put on this one instead, there, much prettier! And these little shoes . There now."
But Katie, tired and fractious and thoroughly upset began to cry again as the woman dressed her in the clothes.
"Now stop this Diana!" the woman said sharply. "We will have a lovely time together I promise but this won't do!"
Katie continued to grizzle miserably as the woman got out of the Land Rover and then walked round to the passenger side of the vehicle and lifted the child out. "Goodness," she said, "You're heavier than I thought. Still we won't have to walk too far."
As she lifted the child Katie dropped dolly and her grizzling became a cry. "Oh for heaven's sake!" the woman said impatiently and picked up dolly and thrust it at Katie who clutched it tightly.
She set off down the street carrying Katie, leaving in the Land Rover only the clothes Katie had originally been wearing. Her disguise was effective enough, the hat covered up Katie's blonde curls and her dress was changed from yellow to pink. Katie had only had socks on her feet when taken but the woman had put some shoes on her. And the woman herself had by taking off the wig gone from blonde haired to her own black, much longer length hair. The only giveaway, the distinctive Land Rover, was left behind.
The woman knew her route thoroughly and by using ginnels and side streets made her way to a street lined with what at one time had been large family houses. Once it had been affluent but now was showing signs of decay and once grand houses had been split into flats and bedsits. The woman went up the steps of a house about halfway down, a large three storey house with basement. Besides the basement flat there were three flats on the ground and first floors and a further large flat on the top floor.
The woman entered the hallway on the ground floor which was painted a dull, mustard colour with grimy chequered linoleum flooring. Her flat was on this floor and was directly opposite the main door to the building. She was anxious to get into her flat and simply didn't notice as Katie dropped dolly as she passed under the stairs.
The woman carefully let herself into the flat. It was small, the door leading into a narrow passage with peeling wallpaper. To the left was a living room which showed signs of faded glory with cornices and high ceilings but it smelled damp with water staining round the window which looked out into the back street. The wallpaper was peeling here too and the carpet and furniture drab and brown and not very clean. The only thing which looked new and fresh was the cot set up in one corner with pretty bedding and new toys.
On the other side of the passageway was an antiquated kitchen and then at the end of the passageway a door led to a small bedroom. The bathroom facilities were shared, by way of two bathrooms upstairs.
Katie's grizzling became screams as the woman put her down on the floor in the living room. "Now stop it," the woman scolded. "You're a very lucky girl Diana that I've chosen you to come and live with me."
Katie clearly didn't think so as her screams became louder. The woman brought her hand down across the child's leg. Katie was shocked into silence. She'd never known such treatment.
"There. Now. That's better," the woman said. "I didn't want to smack you Diana, but you have to be good and you haven't to make much noise. Look, at the cot and the toys I've bought you. You're a very lucky little girl but you must be quiet!"
In the Police House at Aidensfield Nick and Eileen were sat at the dining table. Sergeant Blaketon was stood by the window looking out. "DI Browne is here," he said gently.
Nick and Eileen looked tensely at each other.
The DI along with DS Holloway came in through the kitchen door. They nodded courteously at Blaketon. Browne stepped forward and sat down at the table. Blaketon remained standing by the window with Holloway.
"Now, as you know," Browne said, "we found the Land Rover. It was abandoned in a derelict side street in Scarborough. The Land Rover it seems was stolen from Malton a week ago. Farm lad drove it in, left it parked with keys in the ignition and when he came back it had gone. We've checked that and it all adds up." Browne paused. "It was a beat bobby who found it and we found items in the vehicle we believe are Katie's." He glanced at Holloway who stepped forward.
"Can you identify these items as your daughter's Nick?" he asked putting an evidence bag on the table.
Nick stared at the little yellow dress carefully wrapped in the bag.
"Katie's dress," he said tonelessly.
"I dressed her in that," Eileen said, "this morning." She paused. "Katie's dolly isn't here."
"The rag doll you mentioned?"
"Yes. Katie definitely had it in her pram it has to be with her all the time - Katie must have had dolly with her when she was taken - she cries without it."
Suddenly Nick got up and just about made it to the sink before being very sick. "Hell," he muttered running the tap and reaching for a glass of water. "Sorry."
"No need to apologise lad." Sergeant Blaketon strode over to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Its all right."
Eileen, wiping away tears, shook her head. "So this woman who took Katie, put her in other clothes, to stop her being recognised?"
"It would seem that way," agreed Browne. "She herself could also have changed her own appearance from the brief description we got of her driving the vehicle."
Nick said wearily, "She could also have stolen another car or had someone waiting in a car to collect her."
"Possible," Browne was forced to admit. "We've got patrols in the area of course trying to find out if anyone remembers seeing anything. That side street was well chosen though, none of the buildings are occupied. Its all listed for demolition."
Nick sat back down at the table and ran his hand over his eyes. "Its getting dark," he said. "We don't know where my daughter is or who has taken her or why." He looked dully at Browne. "We've got nothing have we?"