The Poisonous Biscuit

by Paul Edwards

  "I can't believe I'm telling you, but who else can I tell? I'm thinking of leaving the country, what do you think?"

  "I think that would make you look suspicious, really suspicious. If caught, maybe you'd get locked up?"

  "I think it's worth the risk, the way things are going I'll be getting locked up anyway."

  "Ok. Well, I'll drive you to the airport if you decide to go."

  "Hellllllllllp, Heeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllp" The lights suddenly came on, and Sally appeared at the top of the stairs after having turned the light on. She questioned them.

  "What is going on?"

  There in front of her was her husband, carrying a glass of milk in his hands.

  "What do you think you are doing? I heard noises!” Helen replied.

  "Getting a glass of milk" he replied.

  "Why did you stick your arm out?"

  "So I knew where I was going, it was dark."

  "Don't ever do that again!"

  Sally had been woken up by her mother’s screaming and thought this was all very childish. This was certainly becoming more and more a paranoid family. Each one of them suspecting each other of the worst imaginable things. Although, this could have even been a burglar who'd broken in? She had no way of knowing because her husband was not beside her in bed anyway this time.

  "You two need marriage guidance" Sally shouted, before going back up the stairs. Maybe that was the case, perhaps losing their children was causing the breakdown of their marriage. Although Helen was a deeply religious person, so divorce was not really her cup of tea. Something needed doing clearly though, nevertheless. Helen went back to bed, as did her husband, in the spare room once again. The night went on, and the storm would not stop. Helen could hear footprints in the landing, another thing that was frightening her this time. Next thing her bedroom door opened wide, and in the dark, there was a figure. Helen jumped out of bed and went to put the light on, but by the time she did, the figure was gone. Into the spare room she went, knowing who it was so she thought. Lying down next to her husband she accused him.

  "I know that it was you! Stop it!!!"

  "I have no idea what you’re talking about" he replied, then after a long pause he said, "Maybe you should tread carefully, and stop being to inquisitive."

  "Sometimes I think you might be the murderer the way you go on!"

  "Helen, Helen, ever heard the phrase, ‘curiosity killed the cat'?" Her face was shocked, what was he saying exactly? Then came another few words, "Don't be so stupid Helen, what would I gain from killing my younger two? Go back to bed, maybe you can ask yourself that question over and over while your there."

  In disgust, she did just that, getting into the empty marital bed, all by herself. Poor Helen. Nothing was going in her favour, a failing marriage appeared ahead of her, and a crumbling family.

  Still awake, Hannah was on the internet, looking at flights abroad. Finding what she wanted, she decided America might be a great idea. A nice quiet life in the states, where she was not wanted for murder. Flight booked, she went and told John that her flight was at 5pm and then headed for bed.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Rising early and packing a case, she was waiting for her friend Andria to visit. John was hoovering for her in preparation, hoovering the floor and cleaning the kitchen sides, washing the pots. All things he was normally to naughty to ever consider doing, but seen as she really needed the help, he obliged.

  "Thanks for all your help John."

  "No problem, maybe I should come to stay with you at some point in the future? You need someone around."

  "I'll be just fine thank you. I'll be in touch."

  Ding, the doorbell went,

  "Is that the time?" Hannah said to herself." Up of the chair she went to the door, to open it and find that it was not Andria, but in fact Pc McDermott. Her face turned bright red, why was he standing there?

  "Hello Mrs Adersall."

  "Hello, officer. What brings you here this morning?" Of course, it was too early for Andria, it was only 9AM and Andria wasn't coming until 11AM. "Going somewhere?"

  "Of course not, whatever made you think that?"

  Helen was up, ready for church, where she normally went on a Sunday morning. With best clothes and mantilla on, she was all prepared.

  "Sally, you ready? Check on your father."

  "Won't be a minute Mum." Helen was of course, hoping for some kind of marriage guidance to be organised by Fr Marshall, although he hadn't married them originally of course, as that was another priest. Getting in the car they set of, without any breakfast as was their custom. Upon arriving they put on their normal smiley faces, pretending to be a happy family. However, it was clear to them that sooner or later they would have to be open with everyone about what'd happened. It was pretty obvious that they only had one daughter with them and usually brought three children. So far though, nobody had said anything, and nobody would say anything in church as Fr Marshall had his parish well-disciplined to not talk inside.

  From the smell of the incense, to the observance of a perfect ritual which never changed week in and week out, this was a great distraction to Helen from what was going on in her life right now. After all, there was nothing as perfect or repetitive as this going on in her life at the moment, the only repetitive thing was the suspicion and fear.

  Afterwards, they went and spoke to the priest, who of course already knew about the death of her children as he would be conducting the funeral when the bodies were released.

  "The thing is, there is a change in your life, and that you must get used to. Meanwhile, the thing to do is not make any unnecessary or additional change to your lives. You have lost two children, but you have not lost three children and two parents, so let’s keep it that way. Shall we say, come and meet me on Thursday at 7PM?"

  At coffee morning afterwards, they bumped into Josephine, mother of nine children, who wore a very long black skirt and a green cardigan often.

  "Where are you other two, Helen?" she asked.

  "Well, I might as well tell you, as you'll find out sooner or later. The thing is, they were poisoned and two of three didn't make it."

  "Oh, I'm sorry about that. If there's anything me and my husband can do."

  "Well, if you could spare me two children, haha" she joked. It was nice that Hannah had much support and friendship, both at church and around home and from many she had met through others. Although there was none quite as excelling and kind as Josephine, none who would listen to her problems with as much heart as her. Everyone loved Josephine.

  Pc McDermott looked at Hannah for a moment, with a serious eye.

  "No reason. If you’re wondering why I'm here it's about your phone calls. As you probably know by now, they came from Sally, Helens daughter. Would you like me to take the case any further under the circumstances?"

  "No officer, she's apologised, and I know she's had a lot on her plate also. Wouldn't want to add any more stress to that family than they've got already."

  "That's great, may I just remind you though, you must not attempt to travel anywhere far."

  "Of course" she replied, before he went on his way. This was making her worry, it seemed as if the police were watching her every move. Had someone spoken to them? Surely not as only John knew, and he was complicit in her crime. She had only just booked her flights, but her names were on the ticket. This led to a list of conspiracies going through her head. Still waiting for Andria, she had a coffee in the garden, sitting with John. Not knowing whether to mention the police issue and what he had said, she decided it best not, at least in so far as the flight problem anyway.

  "By the way John, I found out who the phone calls were from, straight from the cat’s mouth and then from the police."

  "Who?"

  "Sally, believe it or not."

  "Sally?"

  "Yeah, Helens daughter Sally, the one who’s brothers are dead. Poor girl."

  "Oh, that Sally. I'm guessing you felt sorry for
her and dropped the charges?"

  "Well I'm not heartless." Hannah was hopeful that no-one was heartless, although obviously the killer was. ‘Ding dong.’ The doorbell rang, this time it must’ve been Andria, so up she got from her garden chair and went to the front door.

  “Andria, nice to see you."

  They gave each other a hug, and both went through the house and into the back garden. Offering tea, cake and sandwiches, her friend kindly accepted the offer as she sat down for a chat. While Hannah was in the kitchen boiling the kettle, John and Andria started chatting.

  "Are you one of the family?"

  "Yes, I am Mr Adersall's son by a past marriage. My Mum died of cancer."

  "I'm sorry, I hope it wasn't a painful death."

  "No, not really, she didn't take the usual treatment as she didn't want to die without hair or have the additional pain she was convinced would come. It was quite a quiet and peaceful death all things considering."

  While things were all quiet outside, and the birds were singing and flying above, John was wondering how much to reveal to this woman he had just met. A gentle breeze was on them and the sun was out, such a positive day to be outside in the garden. After much thought, John decided to start talking again before she got back.

  "Are you Hannah’s best friend?"

  "Well, I suppose I might be yes. We've been close friends for a while."

  "Well, the reason I'm asking is, I've got something important to tell you about her. She's thinking of leaving the country. Maybe you can convince her not to? If she gets caught, I'm worried she'll be arrested."

  Next thing Hannah started coming back, smiling. "Right, where are we up to?" she said upon sitting down.

  Chapter Eighteen

  In the church car park, Helen saw another lady she often spoke to, Samantha Sornsberry. Samantha had six children and was a dear friend to her.

  "Hello Helen, how are you?"

  "Not bad thanks, how are you?"

  "I'm alright, you’re not bad or you are good?"

  "Long story, I'll tell you next week." Up behind her whilst getting into the car came Josephine, shouting "Wait!" whilst waiving over.

  "If you want us to look after Sally whilst you’re at guidance, or while you decided to have some time together on a Saturday perhaps, we would have no problem in doing so."

  "Thanks, maybe I can help with a few of yours if ever needed, but I'm not sure about all nine at once." Josephine found that funny, laughing.

  "See you next week Helen." They drove off, waving bye to who seemed to be her closest friend at this moment in time. Sally had heard that conversation and wasn't well pleased as a result.

  "I don't need looking after, I'm fourteen."

  "Listen Sally, don't mess this up. Josephine is a kind woman and you know that. Her heart is set on it now. Besides, you'll enjoy it. You can get to know her oldest daughter, or maybe the other one who is about your age?"

  "You mean while looking after all the younger children?"

  While being annoyed with his wife, Kwiatoslaw backed her up this time.

  "Come on Sally, just do it. We might want the house empty, if that helps persuade you?"

  "Spare me the details!" Of course, for Helen, apart from quality time with her husband, this also meant sometimes looking after a number of children. It was her way of trying to replace the absence of her two dead children from her life, as another kind of distraction. Having a lot of distractions from reality in her life, this would be another coping mechanism. Not that she did not love looking after children, of course she did, but there was that additional benefit, one which she would grab on to with two hands.

  Arriving back home, they decided it was time to start decorating. Things were getting really bad, and her friends from church might be coming around later. Even Father hinted that he might pop around, and they couldn't risk having everything in such a state. Things were piled up against the kitchen door, which meant every time they decided to go into the garden, it meant moving everything from one place to another and then putting it all back again after. The couches had things shoved under them, meaning nothing additional could be hid under there, and behind the couches it was the same. In the bedrooms, each bed was cram packed underneath with junk and all the cupboards were full to the brim.

  "Let’s start with the living room Mum, that's where we will welcome people in first."

  "And where they will hopefully stay!" Helen replied, thinking that doing up any other room would be almost inconceivable at this point in time. What if someone wanted to use the toilet? What if they did follow Helen into the kitchen whilst talking to her? All these thoughts were a nightmare to her.

  In the garden, there was a great silence which came from Andria while she was thinking of what to say. It might be the last time she ever saw her, the way things were looking. Hannah stood up and poured the tea.

  "I'll be mother" she held the hand of the tea pot painted of roses over the nice china cups with saucers underneath. Everything seemed to match, even the side plates. Jack had really had everything organised and in order inside that house and out, much to the aid of his ex-wife no doubt, before passing away.

  "Hannah, is there something you'd like to tell me?" Hannah looked at Andria, then over at John and then down at the table.

  "About what?"

  This wasn't coming out easily, that was clear to Andria.

  "More tea?"

  "No distractions. I am very offended that you feel you can't tell me everything, I'm your best friend. If that even means anything to you. I'm here for you."

  "Ok, yes, I'm leaving the country. That's it, there."

  "What? Don't you realise how serious that is? How suspicious you will look? What if you get caught? You’re going mad Hannah, please think about this before doing anything stupid."

  "Too late, I've already booked the tickets. I've got to be checked in at 5pm, this afternoon."

  "Today? That's insane, are you sure about this?”

  Of course, she wasn't really that sure about it, but then again, she wasn't really sure about anything at the moment.

  "What alternative is there? Listen Andria my mind is made up. You can come visit me when things settle down though, don't worry about it."

  "I Just don't want you getting into trouble. Please be careful." Andria left and Hannah carried on packing. Putting everything into her case whilst in her bedroom. In her room, which she might never sleep in again, there was a nice rose-coloured wallpaper in different sections, with beige paint around the sides. The ceiling was high like in every room. The carpet was white, and the bed had a lovely wooden canopy around it.

  "I'm going to miss you bed."

  It was awful, not even half of her clothes could fit into two large size suitcases, which meant paying extra luggage money already. Would any of these clothes be sent over for her? This was the least of her worries. In a rush, she shut the cases after shoving her wash gear inside and shouting John.

  "Let’s go, I don't want to miss this flight! The longer I stay in this life the harder it will be to let go.”

  Off she went in the car, shoving all her things in. John was lifting the heavy cases for her, which she was somehow planning on trailing along the ground of America when landing, alongside the bag on her back. Off they started, driving to the airport.

  "Goodbye house" she said to herself as they left the grounds, never thinking she would ever live anywhere except in this house, meant to be her house for life as she had always agreed with Jack.

  As they got so far towards the airport, having left in such a rush, Hannah decided to make sure she had her passport. Checking, it appeared not to be findable. She tipped all the contents of her bag on the car floor whilst panicking. No sign of it at all.

  "John, I can't find my passport!"

  "I'll stop at these services which are coming up and help you look through your case."

  Taking all the stuff out of each case, examining one case each, it was nowhere to be
seen.

  "Oh no, we better go back!!!" Hannah was red in the face, closing the cases and heading to the car. Upon opening the boot, to put the cases back in, what was standing there but her passport.

  "It's here! It's here!" John shouted.

  "Thank goodness for that. Where would I be without you John?" Moving towards him, their heads got closer and closer, as if they were about to kiss each other. Suddenly someone beeped their horn, which made her pull back and say with a stern looking face, "Let’s go!" Off they went to the airport, at 90mph speeding down the motorway. Arriving finally, they got into the building to the check in department.

  "Hannah was at the check in desk, showing her passport to the lady. Upon them scanning her passport, the lady at the desk smiled.

  "Can you come with me?" the lady said. This she did, with John, to sit upon a few chairs in a kind of waiting area. Waiting for a good half an hour they had the last conversation they would probably ever have face to face. In this, she apologised for always acting as if she hated him and he in turn apologised for and admitted to always trying to deliberately wind her up.

  "What's going on?" she asked the airline receptionist, after having waited for a long while now.

  "We just need to check a few things out, won't be long." Hannah started to have an awful feeling; her tummy was rumbling. It was as if one thing after another was going wrong. What could possibly happen next? Looking to her side, it looked as if two police officers were walking over to her, and she was not mistaken. Looking at her, they walked closer and closer. Suddenly, one of them said, "Are you Mrs Hannah Adersall?"

  Chapter Nineteen

  Back at home, Helen had started the decorating.

  "We won't shop today as it's Sunday, but we'll go shopping tomorrow morning while you’re at school Sally, to get the plaster and everything. Let’s clear out some space for now, you and I can sort through some things while you father cuts the grass. It needs cutting now, it's been weeks."