Ken McClure - Tangled Web

John Palmer came into the room and placed another log on the fire. He made sure it was stable before turning round and looking at his wife, Lucy, who sat with their baby daughter on her knee.

You know, Lucy this is how I always hoped it would be, he said, You and me and our baby in our own home.

Youre just a big softy when it comes right down to it, smiled Lucy. But its not going to be easy, you know.

John knelt down beside them and brought his forefinger gently down the babys cheek. Shes our daughter, he said. Thats all that really matters. Well cope with the problems as they come along.

We will, agreed Lucy.

John tickled the babys tummy and she responded with a gurgle. See, he said. She knows it too.

You smell of sawdust, said Lucy.

Ive been cutting logs, Im entitled to smell of sawdust, said John with a grin.

I didnt say it was unpleasant, countered Lucy. Its quite macho really in a lumberjack sort of a way. Is it still snowing outside?

A little, but thisll be the last snow of the winter, Im sure, replied John. He moved over to the window, leaning both hands on the sill to look out at the garden.

The weather forecast said it was going to get warmer towards the end of the week, said Lucy.

If its going to thaw then maybe I should build Anne-Marie a snowman today, said John thoughtfully.

A snowman? exclaimed Lucy through stifled laughter. Shes only three months old!

No matter. We can take her out into the garden and show it to her make sure she appreciates the finer points of her fathers artistic talents. John turned round, his face filled with growing enthusiasm for the idea. Tell you what, you have a hunt for clothes for the snowman and Ill get started. Play your cards right and you can have the honour of naming him. Come on, lets get cracking!

Oh, all right, agreed Lucy, knowing that any argument would be pointless once John got a bee in his bonnet. Ill put Anne-Marie down for her sleep and then have a hunt through the wardrobes, see what I can come up with.

Well also need a carrot for a nose and buttons for eyes and

One thing at a time, protested Lucy.

Cmon, chop, chop!

First, your daughter is going down for a nice nap. Lucy cradled Anne-Marie in her arms and stood up. So dont make too much of a racket.

Maybe I should build it in the front garden instead, said John, hesitating at the door.

Good idea you do that.

Ill expect you outside in ten minutes if not before.

You took your time, said John but not unkindly when Lucy finally reappeared a good half-hour later, carrying a laundry basket full of bits and pieces. Ive practically finished. What kept you?

Its amazing what you find when you start emptying out the wardrobes, said Lucy. I came across things I hadnt seen for years stuff Id completely forgotten about This is the blue dress I wore to your sisters wedding, remember? Here are the beach sandals I bought in Greece, and that top I spilled spaghetti down Ive never been able to get the marks out. I found lots of things, including some of yours. Ill show you later.

Well, look, Im just about finished here. You can dress him and put the final touches to his face, if you like.

Thank you I shall enjoy that, said Lucy, tongue in cheek. It does need a more artistic hand... She inserted the button eyes and carrot nose and stuck a little piece of red material below them as a mouth. She adjusted it into a crescent shape. Lets give him a nice big smile, she said.

Lucy stood back to admire her handiwork and John put his arm around her shoulders. He said, This is fun. Its like being a kid all over again. I cant wait to go to the zoo and have picnics at the beach. Ill build her a little house in the garden too and she can keep her dolls in it. Maybe we can get a dog when shes a bit older.

Steady on, smiled Lucy. Shes only little.

Its going to be great, said John. Youll see.

Lucy smiled but her eyes held a hint of sadness. She tilted her head so that her cheek touched Johns hand on her shoulder. After a few moment, she said, Ive just remembered, Ive got a red scarf somewhere hall cupboard I think, Ill get it.

That would be perfect, agreed John.

Lucy went into the house and returned a few moments later with a scarlet woollen scarf. She wrapped it round the snowmans neck then she and John stepped back again to look at the rotund white figure standing proudly in their front garden. Handsome devil, isnt he?

What have you decided to call him? asked John.

Captain Mainwaring, replied Lucy.

Perfect! agreed John, appreciating the definite resemblance to the pompous Dads Army TV character. Captain Mainwaring it is then. Is it too soon to wake Anne-Marie?

Well have a cup of tea first, said Lucy.

They came inside and had tea and biscuits in the kitchen, warming their hands by the wood-burning stove and creating small puddles around their boots from melting snow.

Anything good on telly tonight? asked John.

Havent looked.

Saturday night let me think. Theres a Ruth Rendell thing on at eight if I remember right, but thats going to be a bit too early for me Im afraid, Ive still got some marking to do. Ive skived off long enough making Captain Mainwaring.

Have you got a lot?

Well, all of Class 3cs thoughts on the biological basis of life. In terms of intellectual ability, I think Captain Mainwaring might make the middle of that lot if he put his mind to it.

You dont mean that, said Lucy.

Maybe not, agreed John with a smile, But they can be exasperating. Lets wake the baby and introduce her to the Captain.

All right, agreed Lucy. But Ill have to wrap her up warmly. We dont want her catching cold. She left the room and John washed out the mugs theyd been using.

Suddenly a scream tore through the air making him drop the second one in the sink. It broke into three pieces. His blood ran cold as he ran through the house to Anne-Maries room where he found Lucy staring at an open window. The Disney pattern curtains were billowing gently in the icy breeze.

Shes gone! Lucy said hoarsely, her whole body beginning to shake.

But how? protested John. Where? How could she?

Someones taken her!

Oh my God. John looked disbelievingly at the empty cot with its covers thrown back and its sidebars dropped. Coming quickly to his senses, he ran round to the back of the house to look for footprints in the snow, but his heart fell as he discovered he couldnt make anything out: he had trampled down most of the area when hed been out there earlier chopping logs. There was no trail to follow.

The police, he exclaimed. We must get the police!

Lucy was standing at the window, staring into the distance, seemingly paralysed with shock. John stumbled inside and grabbed at the phone in the hall. His frozen fingers jabbed out 999. Police? Come quickly! Our baby daughters been kidnapped.

Dr Tom Gordon looked down from the top of the hill behind Felinbach, the small North Wales coastal village that had become his home over the past two years. Out in the Menai Strait, the wintry sun was setting over Anglesey and a clear sky suggested that there might be a frost tonight but it was fast approaching the middle of March so he took comfort from the thought that spring could not be far away.

Weather was an important factor in the life of a GP in rural North Wales and he felt hed just about had enough of coaxing his Land Rover over icy roads and up snow-covered mountain tracks for one year. Today it had taken him longer that he had anticipated to get through his outlying calls because of a sudden fall of snow on the Llanberis pass, but he had still managed to complete his list and get back on time for evening surgery. Not that this would have been a major problem because his colleague and senior partner, Dr Julie Rees, herself a native of Snowdonia, understood the vagaries of travel on local roads in winter only too well: she would be ready to cope on her own if need be.