The Man in the Forest
"Police are fearful for the safety of nineteen year old Laura Park who has been missing since Tuesday. Laura left home on Sunday evening to visit friends but failed to turn up. If anybody has any information on Laura's whereabouts please contact Swinsom police on......"
"The car driven by the missing girl Laura Park has been found after an extensive two week search. There are no signs of the missing teenager. Laura's parents have been informed. In other news..."
Laura's mother, Carol, sat on the sofa listening to the news. Tears streamed down her face and she wiped them with a paper handkerchief. Brian, Laura's stepfather sat beside her with an arm around her shoulders. He kept silent, anything he'd said brought forth a tirade of words from his wife.
Carol Park opened the door to Laura's room. She stepped inside, her eyes were drawn to figurine dressed in pink on the shelf above the bed. Carol reached over and turned the model just enough to be satisfied it was in the right place. She smoothed the duvet cover and then stepped back. A hand found the light switch and the room fell into darkness. Carol softly closed the door.
"What are we going to do?" Carol started to cry. Brian drew her close and kissed her, a gentle touch of the lips.
"Come along my love. Let's get you to bed." Brian walked slowly across the landing, his arm around the waste of his wife as they made there way to the master bedroom. Brian sat her on the edge of the bed and slowly undid the buttons of her blouse. Tear were streaming down her face and dripping from her chin.
"I'm frightened Brian. My little girl out there in the cold and rain."
Carol sobbed as Brian removed her bra. He lifted her to stand and undid the clasp on her slacks. Still Carol was crying as her thong came down. A naked Carol was put under the covers. Brian stepped away and turned down the lights. He closed the door.
***
Two years would pass before the crying finally stopped.
On a cold November evening a car slowed on approaching a sharp bend in the road. Caught in the headlights was a young woman holding a bundle. She had a knapsack slung across her hip. The girl held up her hand and the car slowed to a stop.
Fiona Maple was driving and her husband Keith was sat in the passenger seat. The couple were returning home after visiting her mother in hospital.
"Too cold to be out with a child on a night lie this," said Fiona.
"If it is a child she has."
Keith got out of the car and stood waiting until the girl came up to him.
"Please Sir. I need help. Me and my baby have been walking for a day and I haven't eaten in all that time."
Keith put his head back into the car.
"She's looks like she needs a hospital. I'll get her in the back."
Keith straightened up and smiled at the girl. He opened the rear door. "Give me your baby and climb in the back."
"It's fine. I can do this on my own."
"At least give me your bag."
"No, I'll be okay."
Keith stood as Laura slid onto the seat. "You need help with the seat belt." Without asking Keith pulled the belt towards the girl He held it out while she changed hands holding the baby. She took the end of the belt and after a few attempts slotted it in.
"What's your name?"
"Laura Park."
Keith could tell Laura was well spoken, her pronunciation being exact.
"Well pleased to meet you Laura. I'm Keith and my wife is Fiona." Keith closed the door and then sat himself up front with his wife.
"We should take you to hospital Just as a precaution."
Fiona set the car off.
"Where do you live Laura?"
"Cosgrove Park."
"Downburgh?" Asked Fiona.
"Yes."
Cosgrove Park was a private estate, known throughout the town as the posh end. Some of the properties had sold for more than a million pounds in recent years.
"You can tell me if you want but why have you been walking all day?"
"I had to come back. My husband died and I didn't know what to do."
"We are so sorry to hear that. Ho old is your baby?"
"Not sure. Ray said he was eight months but I don't know for sure."
"His name?" "We called him Ray junior. My little ray of sunshine."
"And is Ray your husband?"
"Yes."
"So Laura, Where have you come from?"
"Not sure, I came back the way Ray showed me when we were out hunting."
Keith looked back ready with another question. He could see Laura had her head down and was sleeping.
He looked at Fiona and spoke as quietly as he could. "You know who this is?" Fiona nodded.
"You think we should call the police?"
"Wait until we get her to hospital."
The couple spoke no more until they reached the hospital's A and E department. As the engine was turned off Laura woke.
"We'll get you inside and the doctors can have a look at you and the baby." Keith opened the rear door.
"You give me the baby Laura and it'll be easier to get out."
"No, I'll be okay."
Keith stepped back as Laura shuffled her way out. She stood and Keith reached out to steady her. She smiled.
"I'll go park the car and you help Laura in," said Keith.
A Tuesday night and there were only three people in the waiting room. Fiona got Laura and the baby sat and then went to reception.
"Mother and baby, possible malnutrition and hyperthermia," repeated the receptionist.
"Laura Park." Within a minute a nurse appeared with a wheel chair. "Laura Park,"
"Hello, Laura. I'm Sister Graves. I'll take you and baby to see doctor now. And who have we here?"
Sister Graves helped Laura onto the wheelchair. She looked into the bundle that Laura held close to her chest.
"Ray."
"He's a lovely boy."
As Sister Graves wheeled Laura into the cubicles she could see the woman's dishevelled appearance. The hair bellow her woollen hat looked as if it hadn't been washed in a long time. The woollen hat had holes and snags. Laura was wearing a man's jacket that was heavily stained and a long tare ran down the left sleeve. In complete contrast Laura's boots looked very new. The toes were mudded and scuffed but the uppers were like new.
The nurse noted on the records that despite the state of their clothes both mother and baby were clean. Laura's nails had been cut and done quite recently. The smell was of wet clothing, not sweaty bodies. As anyone would, Sister Graves wondered how anyone could be in such a state.
Fiona and Keith waited in the reception area. Not for too long. Two police officers arrived within ten minutes.
"Mr. and Mrs. Maple, PC Julie Harris and this is PC Dave Maxwell. Can we sit somewhere quiet and have a chat."
Keith and Fiona followed the officers into the far corner of the reception area. PC Maxwell arranged chair in a tight circle. Everyone sat.
"So, just a few questions. This girl told you she was Laura Park?"
"Yes. That's right," said Fiona.
"And where did you find her?"
"We'd just been here. My mother's in hospital. We live on Crofton Road and the easiest way is on the back road by Dove Wood. She was stood on the side of the road. Now normally we would never stop for hitch hikers but she looked, well different. She told us she and the baby had been walking all day. Where from she didn't say."
"I'd like both of you to look at a photo and tell me if you think this is the same person that you brought here this evening?"
Dave Maxwell held up his phone. Fiona and Keith looked and then at each other. "That's her all right," said Keith.
"Yes, that's definitely her. Laura Park went missing about two years back. And they didn't find her car for oh, three weeks."
"That's right," said Julie.
"Your lot got a load of stick over that," said Keith.
Dave Maxwell looked at his partner and gave a shrug. "We have to admit that was a bit of a mess. Before my time," he said.
"The baby she said was about eight months old," said Fiona. "She say much about that?"
"Just he's called Ray after the father," said Keith, "Said they were married, sort of."
"Well that's good. No more questions. So I see no reason to keep you. Thank you and if we need to speak more we'll be in touch. Dave you take down some details and then let Mr. and Mrs. Maple can get off home."
No sooner had Fiona and Keith left than the Park's family arrived. Leading the charge through the hospital was Carol, Laura's mother, followed by Brian, her husband and close behind Beth and Helen.
Sister Graves appeared and asked the family to take a seat.
"I need to see my daughter."
"Doctor's with her now and you can go in shortly. Laura and the baby are in good health so we don't think she'll need to stay in tonight."
"A baby, my little girl's got a baby, how when?"
"Your grandson is, we think about eight moths old and in very good health. Laura is a very good mother and she has been taking very good care of your grandson. As for the how you will have to speak to Laura. Now if you will excuse me I'll get doctor to speak to you shortly."
Laura Park took her baby home with her that night. Carol led her up the stairs to her old room. "We shall have to find you a cot for the little one."
"No, he sleeps with me and... He sleeps with me."
"But you can't my dear. What if you were to roll over in the night?"
"He doesn't know any different mother and he won't like it if I leave him."
"Oh dear I do hope your doing the right thing."
Carol lifted the backpack onto the chair at the bottom of the bed.
