Page 75 of The Winter We Met
‘What was she wearing when you last saw her?’ asked Nik.
‘Her usual – the raincoat. Slippers. Carrying her bag.’
‘Oh God… I wish I’d looked up. I had a lot on my mind and didn’t really pay attention when I came tonight,’ I said. ‘As I approached the entrance a passer-by almost knocked into me and their bag banged my legs.’
Lynn’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘You think that could have been Betty?’
‘Well, you said you weren’t here when the removal men first arrived – who knows how long that door had been held open?’
‘She had her slippers on, you’d think they’d have noticed, although the man outside was on his phone for most of the time.’ Lynn shook her head. ‘I’m absolutely furious. Just wait until head office hear about this.’ She exhaled. ‘But getting angry can wait, first we need to find her. It’s dark out there, goodness knows…’
Nik placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Oliver’s right. Us three will bring her back.’
Lynn wiped her eyes with her sleeve and disappeared into the office. She came back carrying three torches and a space blanket. ‘These have been packed away in case of an emergency like this.’ She handed out the torches. I squeezed her arm, thinking I’d heard Gran’s voice in the lounge. She must have gone in whilst I’d been looking in the laundry area.
I passed Lynn Buddy’s lead. ‘He’ll be fine with Gran or Alf. I’ll keep you posted with texts and try not to worry Lynn.’
We headed outside and scouted the grounds, looking behind trees – and bushes, just in case she’d fallen.
‘I’ve found nothing,’ Oliver said, out of breath, in front of the entrance again.
‘Me neither.’
Nik shook his head.
‘Okay. She must have gone into town.’ I texted Lynn as we walked to the edge of Willow Court’s entrance. Frost was already forming. We stood on the high street and I took out my phone again. ‘I’ll ask Lynn if she knows Betty’s old home address. She used to be local. Perhaps it’s within walking distance.’
‘Fred once said she used to love going to The Silver Swan for lunch when she first moved in – the two of them would go together, before her dementia got worse. We should look there,’ said Oliver. ‘She could have ended up in the beer garden.’
He and Nik hurried off to the pub. Lynn’s phone was engaged, so I texted about Betty’s previous home address. I shivered and zipped my coat up higher. Without gloves and a hat Betty would be freezing. The men ran back, stopped when they got to me and stood panting.
‘Nothing,’ said Oliver as his chest heaved up and down. ‘She’s not out the back and the landlord hasn’t seen her inside but checked everywhere, even upstairs in his private quarters.’
I stared at Nik. ‘You know how she’s been mistaking you for her husband, Jim?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, almost every time she and I get talking, Betty mentions the video store where he worked.’
I raised an eyebrow.
‘It’s now the bookshop at the end of the high street, right?’ asked Oliver.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Come on. It’s a long shot but worth trying.’
We turned left and dodging the last stragglers heading home after work we speed walked towards the end, past shops lit up with twinkling lights. I squinted as we neared the shop. There were two women outside. One was in her twenties and the other… I exhaled. She was wearing a raincoat.
‘Betty!’ I said.
The young woman stared at me. ‘Is this lady a relative of yours? I thought she looked a bit lost and then I saw her slippers.’
Nik moved forward and positioned himself in front of Betty, crouching down a little. She looked at him. Confusion swept over her exhausted features.
‘Jim… the children… need to get home,’ she mumbled. Betty held onto just one of the bag’s handles and it swung to and fro.
‘Everything’s all right,’ he said, ‘but yes, let’s go home and get a nice hot drink.’
Oliver touched my arm. ‘Well done, Jess. You’ve saved the day.’ He and Nik wrapped the space blanket around her shoulders and then one of them either side, they accompanied her back down the street, her arm linked with Nik’s.
I thanked the young woman profusely and she insisted on accompanying us for her own peace of mind, just to make sure Betty got back to where she belonged. I rang Lynn who choked up when I told her the good news. It was a short conversation as she needed to immediately update the police. When we arrived at Willow Court she gave Betty a big hug. Two of her team took Betty back to her room with instructions to make her tea and toast.
