Chapter 8: Missing A Dad

Tuesday at lunchtime Lewis rang Mr Kendrick and asked him if he could meet him at a cafe near to his flat at half four. That agreed, Lewis arrived straight from school and went in. Mr Kendrick was already sitting at a table waiting. As Lewis joined him the waitress took his order for a coffee and a cake.

‘Thanks for meeting me here,’ Lewis said, ‘I don’t want Daryl to know what I’m up to. First of all, thanks again for your help the other week.’ ‘I was glad to be able to do something.’ Mr Kendrick said. ‘I saw Daryl the other day when he returned my front door key. The change in him is remarkable.’ ‘What I want to try and do,’ Lewis told him, ‘Is to try and trace Daryl’s dad. I’ve managed to obtain a copy of a photo, but I don’t want to ask Daryl if it’s him in case I don’t succeed or in case he can’t, or won’t, come back.’

He opened the photo on his iPad. He had brought that so he could make the picture bigger for him to see. He passed it over the table. Mr Kendrick studied it for a brief moment. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘That is definitely Daryl’s dad.’

‘I don’t suppose you know anything about why or where he went?’ Lewis asked. ‘No,’ Mr Kendrick told him, ‘I spoke to him a couple of days before he disappeared. He seemed normal enough. I do know he had been having money worries though,’ he said. ‘But I don’t know how bad they were.’ He thought for a moment then said, ‘It’s four years ago now and my memory isn’t what it was. But now I think about it, I had seen him around a few times in the previous weeks when I would have expected him to be at work.’

Lewis finished his coffee and cake whilst they chatted, then he insisted on going up to pay for their drinks. As they walked out, Mr Kendrick said, ‘I wish you every success it would be a real boost for Daryl. If there’s anything I can do to help just ask.’ Lewis thanked him and they parted.

Lewis texted Aiden to let him know. He also asked Aiden if he could check on Clive’s previous employment. He told him what Mr Kendrick had said and gave him the factory name and address.

WEDNESDAY

Lewis went into school and at lunch time he hung back and asked his form teacher if he could have special leave that afternoon. His form teacher was dying to ask for details, but he just said, ‘Ok Lewis, I’ll mark you present.’ But he couldn’t resist adding, ‘Whatever it is, good luck.’ ‘Thank you, sir,’ Lewis said.

After lunch Lewis walked over to Daryl’s. He had rung Mr Kendrick at morning break and asked him to let Daryl’s mum know he was calling to see her at two o’clock.

She let him in and gave him another big hug. ‘Life is so good since you got rid of Jake for us,’ she said with a smile. She made him a coffee then they sat in the lounge.

‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Lewis said, ‘But I’m doing a follow up which will help me when I counsel people in the future. You’re under no obligation to tell me anything.’ ‘Lewis, after what you did for Daryl, indeed for both of us, I couldn’t refuse you anything.’ she said.

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Can you tell me how you came to meet Jake?’ ‘When my husband deserted us,’ she said, ‘I had to claim benefits then as time went on, I started doing some occasional cooking and cleaning work. Every now and again when things got on top of me, I’d go to the local pub and have a drink. I usually just had one drink and sat in a corner just enjoying being surrounded by people.’

‘Two years ago, Jake came and sat by me. We got chatting and he bought me another few drinks. I felt great, partly because I rarely had that much drink, but also because someone was paying me attention. At the end of the evening, he walked me home and I invited him in for a coffee. Daryl was in bed by then, so he probably didn’t realise there was anyone else at home.’

‘I hadn’t had... ‘ she petered out as she realised what she was about to tell him, someone the same age as her son. Lewis realised and said, ‘Hadn’t had sex since your husband left.’ She blushed and said, ‘Yes. It was lovely.’ she said, ‘He was heavy in weight and very rough, but he was big, and I have to admit I loved it.’

‘It went downhill after that, though,’ she said. ‘Afterwards he went to sleep. He was still there in the morning. When Daryl got up and went to school Jake was still fast asleep.’

‘That evening when Daryl came home it was a big shock to both of them. Jake hit him and threw him out, telling him not to come home until bedtime. He demanded a front door key and told me he was staying to look after us.’

‘By now I had seen another side of him and was frightened. But I didn’t know what to do so I gave him the key. He’s been here ever since.’ ‘So, do you regret bringing him back here?’ Lewis asked. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘Especially when he started beating Daryl. But he wasn’t averse to beating me too.’

‘I take it Daryl’s dad wasn’t like that?’ Lewis asked. ‘No, he was inconsiderate sometimes, but then aren’t all men. But he was always gentle and never lifted a hand to either of us.’