The Dead Ground Read Online Free

has happened, but it isn’t your fault. It could have been anyone.’
    On the bed, Kasia moaned and choked out a few words of Polish. Damian passed a hand over his face. ‘She says I should have watched – I should not have taken my eyes from him.’
    Paula glanced at the woman, who was burying her face in the pillow, shoulders quietly heaving. ‘It’s not your fault,’ she said again. ‘Whoever came and took Alek, it’s their fault, you understand? They’re the one responsible. So I need you to tell me everything, every detail you remember, to help us find them.’
    Tears were now pooling on his face. ‘Kasy was sleeping. She was so tired – I’m tired too but I was awake, I was excited.’
    Paula nodded.
    ‘I was looking at him, at – at Alek, and I was happy, I was thinking I had to make a phone call, tell my mother she is babcia now.’ His voice caught. ‘Then a nurse came and she said she has to take Alek for tests. Kasia was sleeping, so I – I went – ’ Words seemed to fail him and he gestured with one hand down the corridor. ‘I go out to phone, so I do not wake her, Kasia . . .’
    ‘The nurse,’ Paula prompted. ‘It was a woman, you said?’
    ‘Yes. She had the outfit, sort of blue colour.’ He waved a hand near his torso. ‘Like they wear.’ His English, perfect at the start, seemed to be breaking down under stress.
    ‘Damian. I need you to remember. Slow down and just let it come – every detail.’
    The young man had his head in his hands. ‘She came in the door. Her feet are so quiet – I nearly don’t hear her until she was there. She said – I forget – “Time for baby’s tests now.” And she started wheeling the, the cot. I didn’t have time to think, OK, this is strange, you know.’
    ‘Her voice,’ Paula asked, ‘did she have an accent?’
    He shook his head. ‘From here, I think. Like you. Not like him.’ He pointed to Guy, who was pure Home Counties English. ‘She was tall, I think. Black hair, blue outfit like a nurse.’
    She had an idea. ‘Was it an actual nurse’s uniform, or maybe someone trying to look like a nurse?’
    He thought about it. ‘Maybe. I don’t look. I – I don’t know.’
    Paula understood. Overwhelmed with new parenthood and lack of sleep, you didn’t question the authority of a medical professional. Even if they weren’t a real one. ‘So when you went to phone, what happened then?’
    ‘I went, but something made me look back, and I see the thing, this—’ He pointed helplessly.
    ‘The cot?’
    ‘Yes – I saw it in the corridor, kind of spinning. She wasn’t there, and Alek, she lifted him out – oh God.’ He started to shake hard. ‘I could have run after her, but I didn’t know, I think it’s OK.’
    ‘What happened next, Damian?’
    ‘I – I called, and everyone at home is so happy, crying happy, saying when will we bring him there.’ He shuddered, somewhere between laughter and tears. ‘Then I came back, he’s gone but I didn’t worry. I waited maybe half an hour, then I went to the nurse station and they said – that’s all. I can’t remember. I’m sorry.’
    ‘It’s OK.’ She went to touch his arm, earning a watchful look from Guy, and pulled back.
    He took over. ‘Mr Pachek. We’ll do our best to find your son. Every member of staff here will be questioned, and we’ll be going through the CCTV as soon as we can.’
    ‘Who would do this?’ Fingers stretched over his face like a mask, he looked to them for answers. ‘Who would take someone’s baby like this?’ They had none.
    ‘We’ll send an officer over to be with you the whole time, keep you updated.’ With those crumbs of comfort, they rose to go.
    Guy walked quickly down the corridor, buttoning his suit jacket. ‘First thoughts?’
    Paula tried to keep pace. ‘I’ve read about this kind of case. Usually it’s a woman, as he said. Someone who’s recently lost a baby or desperately wants one. They most likely won’t want to