Emmie 13

As Emmie moved towards the shadowed door she made up her mind what to do or rather what to say. "Tell the truth and shame the devil," had run through her mind from childhood and she saw no reason to depart from it now. 

As she opened the door she was taken aback by how much the two police officers blocked out the light and how menacing they seemed. She told herself that she had nothing to fear.
"Mrs Jacobs ?"
" Yes ." They did not show any identification as in the TV dramas she had seen but there was no need. They were  obviously police officers. However they did not, at first, give their names,  although their numbers were plain to see. There was a pause. 
" We are making enquries about a missing girl."
" I see, and would you be kind enough to tell me your names?"
There was a brief exchange of glances and the WPC said, " I am Anne Jenkins and this is police constable John Ryder and we would like to ask you about Yasmin Khan."

" Ah yes, do come in," she said, and led them into the kitchen. " This may take a little while. Would you like a cup of tea? The kettle has just boiled. Perhaps you would like to take off your caps and sit down." She was aware their extreme youth and they seemed to be quite reticent.

They took ther seats with a rather embarrassed shuffle.

" I would not like to think that this was an interrogation," she said as she took a blue exercise book from the drawer of the welsh dresser and placed in front of WPC Anne Jenkins. " It's all in there with dates and approximate times, apart from today. I left for work this morning leaving Yasmin in bed at about seven thirty. I have just returned to find that Yasmin and her belongings are no longer here. As I said to myself, ' The bird has flown.' "

" WOULD you like a cup of tea?"
" No thanks," they chimed in unison. They began to take down the details from the exercise book.  " Would you  like to tell us how and why this took place? What is your connection with he girl? "

" First of all she is not a young girl. She is a young woman. She is not a minor. She is eighteen years of age and I saw her  passport as proof. As such, I would say she should be free to make her own choices. She came here because her friend asked me to take her in.
" Did you know she had been reported as missing?"
" No not until I saw a headline in her local paper. To me she was a young lady who had left home to escape possible abuse."
" Why didn't you get in touch  with us when you saw the article?"
" Firstly she did not want me to and furthermore her friend knew, her school knew and Social Services knew that she was safe. Also I only saw the paper yesterday lunchtime and I didn't notice a telephone number. In the circumstances I did not want to phone 999."
" And where is she now?"
" I don't know. She just left a note. I'll  get it for you."  Emmie went to the sitting room and returned with the note, handing it to the WPC. " You see she just thanks me for the care and attention and says she will be in touch  when everything is sorted out."
" Do you mind if we keep this?"
" I think I'd like to keep it for the time being. You just make a note of the contents. If she gets in touch, which is quite likely, I will advise her to go to her nearest police station and show them that she is safe. Then it's up to her."

Emmie made it clear that Yasmin intended to take her place at university and at that time she might need protection, particularly if there was no reconciliation with her parents. 

" I will contact you if hear from her. That's all I can say."  Emmie got up from her chair and surprisingly her visitors took the hint and gathered themselves up.

" Well just make sure you let us know!"
" I most certainly will," she said and led them  to the door.

When they had gone she sat down for a moment. She felt herself start to tremble. She had surprised herself on how calm and composed she had been, but  she did not feel calm and composed now. She felt distinctly nervy. With sudden determination she pulled herself together and went to the cabinet in the front room and produced the bottle of Amontillado  Sherry. She gently poured the golden liquid into a wine glass. Her hand had stopped shaking and as she sipped, so she felt her confidence return. 

She went to the telephone and phoned Dorothy and brought her up to date so that  she would be prepared if a police visit should occur. She was not sure how Mrs Evans would respond but that was not her problem.  She returned to the kitchen and placing the glass before her, smiled and took another satisfying sip. 

She wondered what the weather was like in Filey!

JL Sept 8 13:59

Ps. Future episodes will be shorter as my wrists grow weaker and extended typing grows ever more difficult. Jeff