Chapter 32: Cora - The Foster Child

I can’t get the image of that chopped-up wreath out of my mind. It’s such a sick thing to do, and it was definitely intended to frighten us. I hope that Elliot has phoned the police, we need whoever is responsible for this caught as soon as possible.

‘Cora, did you print out the letters about the Christmas party for the parents?’ Elaine Stirling asks as she comes in.

‘Yes, they’re on my desk. I was about to take them to the teachers so they can give them to the children to take home.’

‘Excellent. I’ve an important phone call to make now so if you could ensure that I’m not disturbed, please?’

‘Of course.’

I’m relieved that Elaine and I are back on good terms, that’s one less worry.

Elaine is still on the phone when Anita Taylor-Brown drops in wanting to have a word with her. ‘I’m sorry but Mrs Stirling is in the middle of an important phone call and has asked me to make sure she isn’t disturbed,’ I tell her. ‘I think she’ll be another ten minutes or so. Would you like to wait or can I give her a message?’

Anita hesitates. ‘I’ll wait,’ she decides and sits down.

I wish she hadn’t, I feel awkward with her sitting watching me.

‘Violet tells me that you used to be her foster mother,’ Anita says.

I look up from the screen. ‘Yes, I did for a while.’

‘She’s a lovely young woman, Tilly and Caleb adore her. She’s like their big sister,’ Anita continues.

I glance up again, wondering where this is going but then Elaine appears in the doorway. ‘Ah Anita, I was about to call you. Do come in.’

I think over Anita’s words and wonder again if our tormentor is Violet. If Tilly and Caleb adore her then they would surely do anything for her. If she asked Tilly to act up around me, the little girl probably would. And if she asked Caleb to let his dog loose in our garden and puncture my tyre I bet he would too. Would he steal the wreath from our door and destroy it in such a horrible way then post it back to us? Would Violet be as cruel as to ask him to do that?

I’m puzzled how they knew the camera was there though. As I told Gabby, Elliot deliberately put it there so that it wouldn’t be so noticeable.

I get up, ready to deliver the letters to the classrooms, but then a sudden thought halts me in my tracks.

The camera was covered in black tape. Which suggests that whoever covered it up knew that it was there and came prepared. And the only person who knows this is Gabby, she actually got me to point the camera out to her.

Surely it couldn’t be Gabby? She’s my friend. And she has no axe to grind with any of us.

Has she?

Of course it isn’t Gabby. What a ridiculous thing to think. I hate this suspecting everyone. Hopefully the police will investigate and we’ll get to the bottom of it all. Meanwhile I need to get on with my work. I pick up a pile of letters and set off to deliver them.

When Elliot comes home he tells me that the police don’t have enough to go on but have written everything down and asked him to let them know if anything else happens.

‘You mean they aren’t going to investigate?’ I’m aghast at this.

‘They’re keeping the destroyed wreath as evidence but they don’t have the resources to investigate every act of vandalism. They did ask me if I had any idea who it was so I mentioned the trouble you had with Tilly and that the incidents only started since you met Violet again. They’ve made notes but there isn’t enough evidence to go round and accuse them.’

‘I guess not, but at least it’s on record.’

‘Yes, and I’ve got a wi-fi extender, which I’ll place in a plug socket near the front door, that should improve the signal.’ He takes off his coat and sniffs appreciatively. ‘You’re making Bolognese?’

‘Yes, it will be ready in ten minutes.’ I take the plates out of the cupboard and place them on the table. ‘Can you send me the doorbell camera app, please? I’m going to download it too then I’ll get an alert when someone comes in the garden or is at the door.’

He seems a bit taken aback and for a moment I think he’s going to protest, but then he nods. ‘Sure. It makes sense.’

The next day I’ve only just got home from school when I get a notification on my phone from the doorbell camera announcing that there’s motion at my front door. I glance at the camera on my phone and see that it’s Violet. What does she want?

‘Oh hello, Violet. This is a surprise,’ I say as I open the door.

‘I hope I’m not disturbing you. I thought I’d drop by and see how things are going.’ She points to the doorbell camera. ‘That’s new, isn’t it? I’ve been thinking of getting one myself. You can’t be too careful nowadays. Anita and Chester have a very expensive security system at their house. I’m surprised that Elliot doesn’t. You’re a bit out of the way here, aren’t you? An easy target.’

I look at her sharply, wondering what made her say that, but she smiles sweetly, rubbing her hands together. ‘It’s a bit chilly today, isn’t it?’

That’s a hint to invite her in. I’ve got lots to do but I can’t leave her standing on the doorstep. As she said, it’s cold out. And it looks rude. Besides, maybe I can get some information about Caleb from her. It makes sense to me that it could be him. Those scowls he gave me were unnerving. ‘Elliot’s considering it,’ I say because it won’t do her any harm to think that Elliot is upping our security, especially if she’s involved in any way. ‘Why don’t you come in and have a cuppa?’

‘Thank you. I won’t stay long.’ She follows me into the kitchen.

Over two cups of coffee and a few homemade cookies, Violet gushes about how wonderful the cottage is, how lovely the Christmas tree and decorations look. I feel bad as I remember that it was just before Christmas when we sent Violet back to the home. We’d already bought her presents and put them in a bag for her to take but she refused. I wonder what sort of Christmas she had.

‘How’s everything at school? Is Tilly being okay now?’ she asks.

‘Yes, she is. But I wonder if you could help me with something. A few things have happened, and well, I think someone might have it in for us.’ As I tell her everything I watch her face carefully to see if she shows any signs of guilt because I’m still unsure whether she might be behind it. Surely she wouldn’t steal the wreath off the door then hack it up and return it in a box? It’s sick.

‘Wow, that sounds rough.’ Her eyes are wide, innocent and she seems genuinely concerned. ‘Who do you think it is? We sometimes have a bit of trouble with teenagers hanging around in the village but this is a bit heavy – I mean stealing the wreath is one thing but chopping it up and returning it in a box is off the scale.’

‘Exactly. Look, Violet, do you think it might be Caleb? He scowls every time he sees me, and it all started after that incident with Tilly. I wondered if he might be trying to get revenge for his sister?’

She shakes her head. ‘I don’t think Caleb would do anything like this. He’s a bit of a terror but I’m sure he wouldn’t do anything so dark.’

She’s right, it is dark. ‘I just can’t think who would do this to us. We haven’t fallen out with anyone.’

‘I don’t know but I’m pretty sure it isn’t Caleb. I had a word with Anita, told her how good you were to me back when I was a kid, and how we’ve reconnected now. That’s why she’s dropped it about Tilly. So there’s no reason for Caleb to have it in for you. I’m really sorry this is happening to you. I guess that’s why you’ve got the doorbell camera? I hope it helps you find out who it is.’

I level my gaze at her. ‘I hope so too. And Elliot has reported it all to the police.’

Am I imagining it or does she look nervous?

She picks up her bag. ‘I don’t blame you. Well, I’d better go now, see you again soon.’

I feel really unsettled after she’s gone. She’s been very friendly and polite every time I’ve seen her. Not like someone who bears a grudge. But then she always seemed a nice, pleasant child and look how she terrorised Lori. I want to trust her but I don’t know if I should.