by Paul Edwards
Moira was not the type to be easily distracted, she was a clever woman after all and new every trick in the book. It was obvious they were hiding something, but she went along with their little distraction and entertained it. Helen sat up in her chair and spoke.
"Well, my children are not so good, not good at all in fact."
"Really, what's wrong?"
"Poison, and as a result, the other two didn't make it."
"Oh, I'm awfully so sorry to hear that, were they suffering much at the end?
"Not really, they were unconscious most of the time." Helen did not want this lady to pay for their food and felt quite guilty about it. They ended up having sandwiches, crisps, cakes, tea and everything. If she were the one paying, then she would've offered this kind lady another coffee as another distraction to talking about Mr Adersall.
"So.....How is Jack?" she smiled.
"Erm, your not going to like what we tell you. Well, Ok, sadly, the thing is, Jack didn't make it either."
Moira paused for a long moment, looking rather confused.
"He can't be dead, that's not possible. Excuse me a moment while I go to the bathroom."
They were all wondering what she meant, he can't be? He most certainly was dead as far as they could tell. Things were getting worse. On the one hand they all suspected each other, and then to top it all off, this woman had just come up to them and said he can't be dead! Coming back from the toilet, Moira sat down.
"Listen, I must dash, but it was nice to see you all. I'll sort the bill out on the way out."
"Wait" Hannah shouted, "what did you mean he can't be dead?" as they all followed her down the sea front. Being caught up to, she decided to stop.
"What I meant was, how can someone my age, who's ninety-five, be still alive, while someone as young as Jack is...is...dead." She started walking again. Maybe they misunderstood her, but they didn't think everything seemed quite right. Although, it did seem like they had a habit for misunderstanding things and reading things into every situation. Perhaps this was just another one of those cases? Or maybe he was alive?
Chapter Fourteen
About to say something, Hannah was interrupted by her Grandma
"You are a life saver Jonathan Adersall, thank you so much. It would be great if you could stay here to look after our Hannah. This means we can go home without worrying."
Hannah left the room and walked into the study to read, fed up with being treated like a child. It was alright being treated like one by people at least three times her age, but not by John, that was too much for her to take in. Also, he was annoying, why put up with that? Only she did not want her Grandparents worrying, or to end up ruining their plans for her, so she didn't seem to have a choice. John was the youngest of his seven siblings, still older than Hannah, but not a lot more compared to her husband who had just died. It seemed strange to her, having a "son in law" who was slightly older than her. This all clearly meant nothing to him, since he was always flirting with her, and would do anything he could to have her, apparently so.
"Right, I'm going shopping soon with my grandparents" she said to John, as he came in to see what she was doing."
"Cool, anywhere nice?"
"You need to stay here John! I probably won't see them again for a long time” she replied. Thinking that he'd probably took the hint, she carried on looking through her emails, one of which was from Moira, apologizing for the news she'd just found out, another from her parents who were suddenly concerned about her, another from Julie and Sam, Frank and many more, but mainly from people who were at the party. Strangely enough though, she had not heard from Andria who was her bestest friend in the whole world.
All being ready, the three of them, as planned went out, into the town centre. Grandad drove, and they had a big trouble finding a parking place. Saturday was clearly the worst day to be out anywhere, the car park was full, and it charged the earth anyway, so her grandad had an idea, to risk it and park anywhere.
"Don't park here, you will get fined" Hannah said.
"Nonsense, I do it all the time" he said, then he put his hand in the glove compartment and pulled out something yellow saying, "watch this, it works all the time."
It looked like either an old unopened parking ticket, or a dummy one. Whichever it was, his plan was that whenever any attendants went past, they would assume he had already been fined and walk straight past to the next car. Hannah’s Grandad was always full of surprises, he knew every trick in the book. They walked through town, having a look in all the clothes shops, in which they wanted to treat their granddaughter. She showed them her favourite pub, where she occasionally came to meet a few friends like Andria, and she took them in some ancient buildings, which were some kind of museums. Naturally, all of this made the older two tired, so in the end they stopped off in her favourite pub for a break, 'The Old Glass'.
In there she was planning on treating them, as she could afford it with the money her husband had left her, and they had brought her up after all. They weren’t having on of it.
"You've hosted us, and we're treating you for that. Grandchildren don't pay for grandparents."
"Thanks Grandma."
They all had a lovely time, starting with pate and toast, followed by steak and chips, finishing finally with jelly and ice cream. After that, they were thinking of a cheese board, but decided it was best not Then suddenly, out of nowhere while sitting down, a voice called.
"Hannah."
Looking around, she could just about make who it was coming towards her.
"Andria, nice to see you."
They hugged standing up and then she replied.
"I tried to ring you this morning, no reply, did you leave the house early?"
"No, it was probably because I pulled the line out of the socket. Long story."
They all spent a good while chatting, whilst updating Andria on what exactly had happened and properly introducing them all to each other without being in a party this time, at which attention could not possibly be undivided. As they were talking a loud bell sounded.
"Quiz time" the bar man announced. This was their que to get their coats on. As they were walking around together, after having now left the pub, she told Andria she wanted to discuss something with her,
"Come round tomorrow, my Grandparents are leaving tonight anyway."
"Alright, see you then Hannah."
Andria went on her way, which meant Hannah could finish of showing her grandparents around her new hometown. Taking them to an art gallery finally, and then to a train station they could use if ever needed, they headed back to the car, being rather tired. No parking ticket, no fine, no clamp. Grandads tricks always worked. Driving home, they were halfway back and suddenly the car broke down. It was a country lane, and none of them even had a mobile phone. They were stranded it seemed.
Back at the police station, Pc McDermott had found out more information, he had traced the phone calls back to where they seemed to come from. It was now clear who had been calling Hannah in the night, or at least form which house the calls had come from. Looking at the address they were given, Pc McDermott, alone this time, got in the car and started driving to this address which he had wrote down. He thought it looked familiar, but would not be sure until arriving, after all, there were that many things going on that he could easily lose track of things.
Meanwhile, Helen and her family were travelling home, after a nice day at the seaside. Having a good chat in the car, they were almost completely united together once again. No more talk of accusations, no more cross faces, no more tears. Sally and her Dad ate crisps in the back together and stuffed their faces. What could possibly go wrong now? All they had to worry about was the funeral it seemed, unless that woman meant what she thought, that he couldn't be dead? They gave up on entertaining such an idea. That was surely just her fantasy. Arriving back home finally, who should be on their doorstep?
It was none other than the one and only, Pc McDermott.
<
br /> "Hello, what are you doing here again? Hope you've not been waiting long."
"Hello Helen, not long no, just got here really. Can I come in? Hope you had a lovely day out."
They welcomed him in, trying to forget about what had happened before, they were only being positive from now on they'd decided. The constable then started talking.
"Hannah had phoned us and told us she's been receiving awful phone calls, with no clear voice talking to her, can you believe someone would do such a thing?"
"Oh, that sounds awful officer, who would do such a thing."
"I don't know mam, but we have traced the call and it comes from the following number."
After showing her the number, her eyes went wide and she spoke.
“But…but… that's our number, that's not possible."
"The thing is, it came from here, and sometimes as late or early as 3AM. So, if any of you know how this might be, that would be helpful."
"It was me" Sally said after a long pause, then adding "I'm sorry, it was because I thought she was to blame."
Not looking impressed the officer stood up.
"In that case young lady, I suggest you ring Mrs Adersall and apologise. She has been worried sick. You best hope she does not press charges. I'm going to go now."
After he left, Helen looked distraught and had serious words with her daughter.
"I don't know how you could do such a thing!" she said, and then left the room. Next thing, her father came over to her, and put his arm on her shoulder.
"Why did you say it was you? My precious girl, we both know that's not true"
Chapter Fifteen
"I think I know what it is, the petrol must have run out" Hannah's Grandad said. This left his wife unimpressed,
"I've told you many times, why don't you actually fill up the tank instead of leaving it until the last minute."
They were waving their arms at people as they were going past, and after waiting many hours, a car stopped. Out stepped a man in a leather jacket.
"Good evening, can I help you?" he said.
"I think we've run out of petrol" Hannah replied.
He offered to take them for some, so Hannah agreed to get in with him and go and look for some, which naturally worried her grandparents who didn't say anything in front of this probably generous man’s face.
"You’re a life saver!” she told him, after getting in. He started driving, and whilst doing so had a long chat with her. In the end, this led her to tell him about the murder case. His car was crammed full of stuff, all sorts of what seemed a bit like musical equipment. Dog hairs were all over the seats and the smell of dog lingered. Despite this, she could not complain, even though getting in was almost a big sacrifice. It was a sacrifice which meant getting petrol. Possibly as a precaution he decided to press the door locks down. Hannah noticed and felt a bit strange and spoke to him a little more as they were driving along.
"I'm Hannah, what did you say your name was?"
"I didn't" he replied and then smiled.
At the broken-down car, her grandparents were worried.
"It's been half an hour now, they should be back by now" her Grandma said, to get a response from her husband.
"Don't worry, they'll be back."
"That man could be anybody! Of course, I'm worried." Looking at their watches, they wondered how long they'd be waiting from then on, as they twiddled their thumbs. An occasional car went past, but very rarely in these country lanes. It seemed like a disaster; they were starting to think they might be there all night.
Sally looked up at her father.
"I knew it must be you, unless it were Mum, but she'd been so friendly with Hannah so I thought that was unlikely. Mum was looking at me, blaming me again, whilst you were looking down at the floor, so it was kind of obvious. I didn't want you to get in trouble."
"That's sweet of you Sally, thank you. Lets keep this between you and me. If people find out, goodness knows what they'll accuse me of next."
"They'd have thrown the book at you Dad, that's what. You’re an adult, I'm a child. They’re not going to arrest me over some little phone calls, so I thought I'd take my chances."
Nobody would've suspected Kwiatoslaw, he was a very quiet man, who seemed to gentle to do such a thing as make nasty phone calls. It was clearly out of character for him, but maybe he felt the circumstances merited it? Perhaps he thought Hannah was to blame after all?
None of this intimidation was helping Hannah now, nobody knew where she was. Hannah started crying, which prompted the man next to her to speak
"Why the tears sweetheart. That's not necessary is it?" One arm on the steering wheel and the other around her to comfort her tears he said, "If you must know, my name is Jake. I was just messing with you, it's the way I talk. Or maybe your upset because of your trial?"
"Yeah, it's the trial" Hannah said, with an obviously fake nodding of the head.
"If you are really innocent though, I think I can help you. Or I know a man who can anyway. Someone I went to Uni with until he dropped out. In fact, he can solve any crime."
Hannah was starting to feel like she might be glad her Grandad had broken down, otherwise she would never have heard this information. After stopping to get petrol both for his car and hers, they set of back with the can of fuel. Hannah insisted on paying for his petrol, as she could afford it, and he had been so helpful.
"I'm sorry, but I doubted you when I first got in the car, I honestly thought you were some murderer or rapist for a moment, but now I know I was just paranoid. Thank you for your help."
"Can't be too careful these days Miss" he responded. Arriving back at the car, Hannah introduced his grandparents to Jake and took his contact details. She then put them in the glove compartment of her grandads car and they travelled back, after finally having enough petrol in the tanks to get them to a petrol station on the way home.
"We wondered where you were."
"You worry too much Grandma. To be honest though, this time I worried also, I thought I was going to die for a second. He locked the doors and went silent for a while and he was wearing a leather jacket. I was wrong to judge him like that though, he wasn't a murderer he was a kind man it turns out."
This showed them that you never really can know who a person truly is. A murderer does not look like a murderer, this was especially important to consider since her husband had likely been murdered.
Arriving home finally, Hannah decided she better reconnect the phone line and only disconnect it at night, in case someone like her friend Andria rung who was coming the next day. A few hours later, it became unnecessary to disconnect it at all she decided. This is because of a phone call from Sally, in which she apologised and admitted to making those awful phone calls. Hannah forgave her, and naturally dropped all charges. Peace of mind was what was important, now that she knew someone was not after her, or so she assumed.
It was getting dark, and while they were alone Helen started to confront her husband.
"You've been going to the toilet a lot lately, what have you been up to?" After a long silence, he replied.
"Yes, I've needed the toilet, what do you think I've been doing?" he said, while looking at her with scary eyes.
"Well, it seems strange that you were quiet when the police were here, and you've been out of bed often at around 3AM."
"I don't know what you’re trying to say, but I would watch your mouth or you might regret it!" he said. Leaving the room, Helen was shaking. Was that a threat, or did she misunderstand him? Kwiatoslaw had never been violent towards Helen, never, but nor had he ever answered her back. Helen always felt in charge, but now she was concerned. All she did was ask a question, but were his true colours now starting to show? It started to get dark and the lightning was starting. Kwiatoslaw had decided to sleep in a different room because they had fallen out, meaning Helen was all alone in that big dark bedroom. Needing the toilet, she decided to walk across the landing to the bathroom.
Chapter Sixteen
After having waved her grandparents of, Hannah was about to have the time of her life with John, or so he thought.
"You've got me all to yourself now, just as you wanted" he remarked, which merited a reply.
"Shut up! Your only here to give my grandparents peace of mind, don't you forget that."
Of course, he didn't believe her, he thought she was just trying to act stern and disinterested. Only time could tell. While it was late, Hannah phoned her best friend, telling her that she could come around the next day at 10AM in the morning. That would give them a chance to catch up and for her to properly reveal everything to her that she needed to know about the party. Andria did not realise that the police had her name for example, since she had helped cook at the party, which obviously implicated her sadly. The police had been extremely strict and wanted all details about everyone and everything, not that this would show them what really happened. Hannah had an awful feeling that the police would not in fact consider all the evidence or see enough evidence to prove her innocent.
What obvious evidence was there to prove her innocent even? Only a miracle would get her of the hook now, and consequently she started having thoughts about escaping the country. Perhaps by plane, over to America or Europe? Where exactly, had not yet been decided, but being able to afford the tickets and wanting to avoid prison made this idea very tempting. In the end, she confessed her thoughts to John who was the only one around.