The Pharmacist

It was the first time Millie had laughed out loud since Alice brought her home from the hospital. The two returned from a shopping trip with bags full of new clothes for the little girl. DI Priestly had initially offered to take them to Rachel’s house to pick up some of Millie’s clothes, but Alice didn’t ever want to set foot in there again. She’d prefer to buy everything new. She also insisted on buying almost every toy her granddaughter showed an interest in at the department store, and now they were home, sorting out where to put their purchases.

The little girl’s eyes sparkled as she kissed each teddy and doll in turn before laying them gently on her bed, unable to believe that all those toys were for her.

It wasn’t their first shopping trip. The pair had visited town while Brenda was still with them and chose new bedding and curtains for the little bedroom, all in pink. Millie thought it was like her very own palace, with fluffy cushions and fairy lights around the window. When her grandma suggested that she might like to invite Evie over for tea one night, the child laughed with such pleasure that Alice mentally scolded herself for not stepping into this situation before it had grown to such dire proportions.

School was Millie’s safe place, where only positive things happened, and she’d looked forward to going back. She quickly settled in. Seeing Evie had helped the process enormously, and Alice made a point of seeking out Evie’s mother to introduce herself. Naturally, Alice was reluctant to let Millie out of her sight, her chief worry being that Rachel could have a change of heart and return to take her daughter away. Her friends and Millie’s teacher assured her that this was highly unlikely and the child was in a safe environment. In her heart, Alice knew that Millie needed the normality of school. She was just a child and longed for the company of other children. But the little girl was the only thing keeping Alice sane – concentrating on her granddaughter’s needs eased the pain of missing Tom.

As Alice was helping Millie erect a new playhouse in the corner of the lounge, the doorbell rang.

‘Come in and see what we’re up to.’ Alice smiled, delighted to see her visitor. Sarah was becoming a familiar figure to the little girl, which could only be a good thing. Sarah took a few minutes to admire Millie’s new toys, delighted at how the child was coming out of her shell. It would take time for them to heal and this ordeal wasn’t over yet, especially for Alice. Would Jack’s news be good or bad for her?

‘Alice, Jack asked me to come around.’ Sarah was quickly scrolling through her contacts to find her husband’s number as she spoke.

‘Have they found Tom?’

‘Let Jack tell you himself.’ Sarah passed the phone to Alice and moved away to distract Millie as her grandma listened. She would stay as long as her friend needed her to.

‘We’ve found Rachel, but not Tom as yet, I’m afraid…’ Jack began.

‘But has she said where he is, she must know?’

‘As yet, Rachel’s not saying much at all, but we’ll be bringing her back to Penrith tonight, and we’ll continue to question her until she tells us everything she knows.’

‘Where are you then? Who found her?’ Alice’s mind was racing with questions.

‘She’s in Matlock. It was your friend, Brenda, who found her and rang the police. Rachel was at the cemetery when Brenda was making her regular visit.’

‘Oh, no… Jenny, she’d be going to Jenny’s grave – I should have thought of that! Can I talk to her when she gets back? Perhaps she’ll tell me where Tom is.’

‘We’ll have to see about that. It would be highly unusual and could prejudice the case…’

‘I understand. Whatever you say, Jack is okay with me and thank you so much. I appreciate all you’ve done to find her. Let’s hope you’ll find Tom too.’

Alice left the room after the call to compose herself so Millie didn’t see her tears. When she returned to the lounge with a tray of lemonade and homemade biscuits, Sarah and her granddaughter were both inside the playhouse, squeezed together and giggling as Alice joined in the game and pretended not to know where they were.

‘Boo!’ Millie shouted as she jumped out. Her grandma feigned shock and swept the little girl into her arms. She hugged her granddaughter tightly for a few moments. It will be all right – I’ll make it all right – for Millie, she silently promised.