her.â
It was an impassioned speech, but Banks got the feeling that she was protesting too much. âWhat about Les?â he asked.
She glanced over at him. âIf he ever touched her he knows heâd be out of here before his feet could touch the floor.â
âSo why did you give her up so easily?â
Brenda Scupham chewed on her lip and fought back the tears.
âDo you think I havenât had it on my mind night and day since? Do you think thereâs a moment goes by I donât ask myself the same question?â She shook her head. âIt all happened so fast.â
âBut if you hadnât abused Gemma in any way, why didnât you just tell Mr Brown and Miss Peterson that and send them away?â
âBecause they were the authorities. I mean, they looked like they were and everything. I suppose I thought if theyâd had some information then they had to look into it, you know, like the police. And then when they found there was nothing in it, theyâd bring Gemma back.â
âDid Gemma go willingly?â
âWhat?â
âWhen she left with them, did she cry, struggle?â
âNo, she just seemed to accept it. She didnât say anything.â
Banks stood up. âThatâs it for now,â he said. âWeâll keep you informed. If you remember anything, you can report it at the mobile unit at the end of the street.â
Brenda folded her arms and nodded. âYou make me feel like a criminal, Mr Banks,â she said. âItâs not right. Iâve tried to be a good mother. Iâm not perfect, but who is?â
Banks paused at the door. âMrs Scupham,â he said, âIâm not trying to prove any kind of case against you. Believe it or not, all the questions I ask you are to do with trying to find Gemma. I know it seems cruel, but I need to know the answers. And if you think about it for a while, considering how many other children there are on this estate, and all over Swainsdale, and how many of them really are abused, thereâs a very important question needs answering.â
Brenda Scuphamâs brow furrowed, and even Poole glanced over from his fireside seat.
âWhatâs that?â she asked.
âWhy Gemma?â Banks said, and left.
THREE
I
Marjorie Bingham lingered behind the others on the narrow track and kicked at small stones as she walked. She could hear her husbandâs muffled voice, carried back on the breeze, as he explained the history of Dales lead mining to Andrew and Jane.
âMost people think that lead mining here only goes back as far as Roman times. It doesnât, you know. It goes back much further than that. It might even go back as far as the Bronze Ageâthough thereâs no hard evidence for that, of courseâbut certainly the Brigantes â¦â
God, she thought, what a bloody bore Roger has become. Only six months up from Coventry after the company move and here he is, playing the country squire and rabbiting on about spalling hammers, knockstones, buckers and hotching tubs. And just look at him: pants tucked into the expensive hiking boots, walking-stick, orange Gore-Tex anorak. All for a quarter-mile track from the Range Rover to the old mine.
Knowing Andrew, Marjorie thought, he was probably thinking about opening time, and Jane was absorbed with her new baby, which she carried in a kind of makeshift sack on her back. Little Annette was asleep, one leg poking out each side of the central strap, her head lolling, oblivious to them all, and especially oblivious to the bloody lead mines.
âOf course, the Romans used lead in great quantities. You know how advanced their plumbing systems were for their time. I know youâve been to the Roman Baths in Bath, Andrew, and Iâm sure youâll agree â¦â
Young Megan capered ahead picking flowers, reciting, âHe loves me, he loves me not â¦â as she pulled off the
Terra Wolf, Holly Eastman