Read The Stranger on the Train for Free Online Page A

tears.
    â€œ Listen, ” she said, desperate to tell them before it all disappeared again. “ This is what happened.”
    The story tumbled out. She started with Ritchie scrambling onto the train before the doors closed, his wide little face aglow with triumph. By the time she got to where she was sprawled in the road, with all the faces, and the horns blaring at her, she was crying. The policeman nodded, writing everything down. He was quiet when she’d finished, tapping his notebook with the top of his pen.
    â€œHe is my child.” Emma’s voice shook. “He is .”
    â€œYet, according to your story,” the policeman said, “you went to the bathroom and left him with a woman you’d never met before.”
    The nurse squeezed Emma’s hand.
    The policeman said: “You said that the child got trapped on a train when the doors closed. Did anyone else see this happening?”
    â€œNo.” Then Emma remembered. “Yes. A man. He pulled me back from the tunnel.”
    â€œDid this man give you his name?”
    â€œNo.”
    The policeman didn’t say anything.
    â€œWhy would I lie about something like this?”
    â€œI’m not saying you’re lying, Ms. Turner. But why didn’t you report this to anyone? Press the alarm to call for help? Mention it to the guard you spoke to? He says you only reported a lost handbag.”
    â€œI have a child!” Emma shouted. “Why would I be here telling you he’s been kidnapped instead of looking after him?”
    She was kneeling up on the bed by this time, thrusting her face towards the policeman. He didn’t react. He calmly held his notebook and focused on a point between Emma’s eyes.
    â€œIs there any way,” he said, “that you can verify that you have a child?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWho do you live with? Who else knows Ritchie?”
    â€œI don’t live with anyone.”
    â€œThere must be someone who knows you both. Family members? Friends?”
    Emma thought wildly.
    â€œEven a health visitor or GP?”
    â€œMy GP. Dr. Stanford. In Hammersmith. She knows Ritchie.”
    â€œWe’ll contact her immediately. Do you have an address?”
    â€œIt’s Walker Square. The health center. But what about Ritchie? What are you doing about him?”
    â€œAs soon as we’ve spoken to Dr. Stanford, we’ll be able to proceed from there. We’ll go as quickly as we can.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œI’ll be back as soon as I can, Ms. Turner.” The policeman was halfway through the curtains. “As soon as I’ve confirmed these details you’ve given.”
    He pushed his way out and left.
    â€œLook for him!” Emma shouted after him. “Find my child. You have to believe me.” She slammed against the pillows, weeping with frustration. The cotton wool was back again. She forced it away. She had to stay awake. She had to make them look for Ritchie. Oh God, how long had he been gone? Every minute he was moving further away from her. She sat up again, her heart racing with terror. Where was he? What did that woman want with him? What if Emma never saw him again? The thought made her want to throw up. This was a nightmare. It wasn’t real. Any minute now, she would wake up and find herself back in her flat, with Ritchie in the cot by her bed. Only, a too-large part of her knew that she wouldn’t. She had an enormous sense of failure. She had failed Ritchie. She’d always known it was going to happen, and now, at long last, it had.
    A man in a pink shirt was beside her bed, saying something. His mouth opened and closed. Emma stared at him in confusion. His voice swam at her brain.
    â€œAre you listening, Emma?” he was saying.
    â€œI’ve told you,” she said in despair. “I’ve told you everything I know. Why aren’t you out looking for him?”
    â€œBear with me,