by E A Harvey
“Yes I understand all that but what else"?
"Gabby we have never once discussed why she was in a romantic cottage with Bob her old boyfriend, how long was she with him"?
"Well it was not until I left to take Mummy to see aunty, that's for sure".
"Fine, but what about before that"
"Ask yourself this Pierre. Before you left for Singapore how desperately in love with you was she? Was that a woman having an affair with another man? I don't think so. Of course, you can't ask her about him she remembers very little from her past, but give her the benefit of the doubt and say their meeting was not what you think. Are you saying you don’t trust her”?
“I just don’t know what to think”.
Chapter 62 Friends
"Justin its Sarah Daniels, could we meet please. It's not police business".
"Yes, of course, Sarah. It would be nice to see you again, it's been a while".
Later that day Sarah arrived in Chelsea.
"Do come in Sarah. I heard you pull up so I have put the kettle on, sit down and make yourself at home while I make the tea".
"Thank you, Justine that would be nice"
"Now Sarah what's on your mind"? She said pouring the tea.
"Justine our relationship is very strange and for my part very unprofessional. I arrived here questioning you and your children about one murder and sometime later the second one. But I was never treated like a copper; in fact, I was treated like an old friend".
"Well, now you are and the reason, Sarah, is that I always thought you were uncomfortable asking the questions, It’s as though you did not want to be here as a copper as you put it. In fact, I think that inside you had already retired; do you understand what I am saying"?
"Yes I do and I think the reason was partly that I had reached that point of enough is enough. My
life had no real meaning or purpose”
"Ha-ha. So now we come to the reason for your visit".
"That's exactly what I am talking about, you know me like an old friend; even family”.
"Because as I said I think you are an old friend" said Justine "and now you going to tell me that you're going to retire"
"Oh dear your right”
“Sarah may I ask you a personal question and please don't think I am being rude".
“That's fine Justine ask away”.
"Do you have many close friends or family”?
"No, there is no family and nobody apart from you Justine I could call a friend”.
"And the reason is your job. You don't have a chance or the time to make friends. But when you came here you had already made up your mind to give up police work and your heart was no longer in it"
“I know you're right".
“You were looking for advice not looking for suspects"
“Ha-ha what were you before you were married, Justine, a detective?”
"Believe it or not I worked in a hospital helping people through traumatic experiences, I suppose a social worker. That's where I met my husband. But back to you Sarah what do you intend doing"? "Justine, you’re right. I needed advice. Should I retire, do I still want to be a copper, am I any longer good at being one. Should I quit or do I need a very long rest"?
“Shall I tell you what I believe Sarah?”
“Please do Justine”
"I believe you brought the French man, Rene not only to ask me questions but for me to inspect. Am I right or am I wrong”?
They both laughed
"And did you inspect him, Justine"
"Yes I did, up and down and, excuse my French, but he is a bit of alright"
And they laughed continuously
"He is a bit of alright. Oh dear the Cockney is coming out again"
“So you approve”?
"I certainly do approve, is he what you want Sarah"?
"I am not sure Justine, I just don't know, he is a lovely man”.
"And him? What does he say"?
"No problem in that department. He has hinted at it a few times, and in bed, we are pretty good in that department also"
"Sarah you don't need me to tell you what to do. Retire and enjoy life. I take it you have a pension"?
“Oh yes I do a good one in fact, and a few bob in the bank that my mother left me”
"Then go for it. Life is so short and before you know it's too late. Go for it"
"Thank you, Justine, I will, I will"
They cuddled like two old friends.
“Let me know Sarah”
“I will I promise”
Chapter 63 Retire
Rene I have news about the case".
"Please tell me you have all the answers, Sarah. It's given me so many headaches. The top drawer is talking about shelving the thing as we are getting nowhere. So what's your news"?
"I am being taken off the case, something about too many trips to Paris, even though I paid for most of them out of my own pocket. Also, there is something I must own up to Rene, so please hear me out. Firstly I never gave the case the quality of investigation it deserved. The reason, I was more interested in you. Also I was thinking about retirement and again you. Then I got too close to Justine Scott, not that way if you know what I mean, plus I am sure I missed things, things which were maybe staring me in the face".
"Sarah you should not be so hard on yourself. How could you know that in one day you would have one dead witness and one witness without a memory? So who will I expect in your place, no one quite like you I bet, I give it a week and my top brass will file it as a cold case. Tell me Sarah when is it that we are going to see each other again. Soon I hope. Now tell me what case are they putting you on next"?
“Well I think they are promoting me to the advisor for French Vampirism and Cemetery Tours" said Sarah
"What in heaven's name are you talking about girl?”
“My superiors want me to move to Paris and show visitors around various cemeteries and weird tourist attractions. I have retired Rene and I need a place to live in France to do my new job, any ideas”?
“Yes Sarah I know just the place, and it's in need of a woman's touch".
One telephone call later
"Justine, its Sarah, just to say thank you for everything and I hope we can still be friends even from Paris”
“Oh Sarah, of course we can, Well done and good luck".
Chapter 64 Emotions
"Welcome home Penny darling. It's so good to have you home. Do you remember anything about living here before? We had such fun. You even purchased and hung those curtains yourself”.
"I am sorry Gabby but nothing is familiar. It's as though I have never been here, and that's such a shame for it’s a lovely place".
"As soon as you’re settled let's take a walk and let's see if you remember anything about Paris.
I will take you to Pierre's and to your favourite little café. They will certainly remember you and a certain raincoat"
“Raincoat, what about a raincoat”?
“Don't ask please it's just a small joke".
Gabrielle followed Janet upstairs and opened the wardrobe.
"All these clothes are yours darling. Why don't you take a shower and freshen up then put something pretty on and then we will take that walk".
"That sounds delightful Gabby. Give me twenty minutes or so and I will be with you".
Later they walked about Paris and the girls looked radiant.
“This is the restaurant I told you about where you wore your raincoat".
They sat outside in the sunshine and ordered coffee.
"Your coffees ladies, I am so glad to see it's not raining"
"Ha-ha, I told you so"
“What was he on about, raining”?
"I will let Pierre tell you. Do you remember any of that night or the cafe itself? It’s where Pierre asked you to marry him”
“None of it, I am so sorry, I only wish I did".
The following morning
"Good morning ladies. Did you sle
ep well"?
"Yes very well, thank you, it was so nice sleeping in a real bed and not one in a hospital ward" "And how are you feeling? Have any new memories returned”?
“Just flashes here and there, but just when I feel I can grab hold of something it's gone"
"Penny, Gabby, I have some bad news I’m afraid. I must return to Singapore, I have been putting it off for as long as I could, at least till we got Penny home. But now I can't hold off any longer, it would cost a fortune if I don't sort it out soon. I am so sorry.”
"Then you must go, we will be fine".
The following morning he left for Singapore.
"Gabby, can I ask you a question. It is important and I want and need the truth, please". "What is the problem darling? What’s worrying you”?
"I have not the faintest idea what the relationship between Pierre and I was like before the shooting, but would you tell me if it's the same now please. Not once has he kissed me other than on the cheek and, although he says he loves me, it's not with any real feeling".
"You must understand that he has been through a lot. First thinking he had lost you forever, and then he finds you with a bullet in your head, and, Penny, you were with another man at the time you got shot, and he wonders why. And darling so do I. Penny before this all happened you and Pierre had a love affair which was a scene from a fairy-tale. So why would you go with another man"?
"I just don't know Gabby. I have no idea. But I know this; I don't want him to feel that he needs to marry me. I would not let him marry me out of so called duty”
Duty
I am sure he loves you darling, but he is so confused".
"When he calls from Singapore I am going to tell that our relationship needs to start from the beginning. I don't want him to be obligated to me. It must be like we have just met. You must understand darling, that for me Pierre is a lovely man, but we don't know each other"
“I totally understand Penny I really do".
“Thank you darling, I knew you would”.
"How are you feeling? I mean health-wise. Do you think you’re up to an evening out, a quiet one perhaps"?
"I am fine, I won't overdo it with the alcohol, I promise.
"Fine, then maybe tomorrow I will ask two friends to join us. I assure you that you know them both, but only if you agree”
“Yes Gabby it will be wonderful to do something different”.
The next evening
The girls arrived at a small cafe to find Claude and Jean waiting for them. Gabrielle introduced them.
" Do you remember meeting them both before darling? We shared an evening out together at a Club. We had a lovely meal and afterward we danced, and, yes, Pierre gave his blessing".
"No, I am sorry. Jean, please tell me about it. You never know it might just help"
"For me, the memory of that evening is still very fresh. I got to dine and dance with an angel, and I even got to kiss one"
"Kiss, and was that also with my future husband's blessing"?
“We left that little bit out when he asked how the evening went"
"And did I enjoy your kiss, Jean"
"I am not sure, but for me it was very special" "Sister behave will you".
They sat talking quite some time and Gabrielle could see that Penny was tiring.
“Come on it's time for me to take our tired lady home"
"No please stay with your friends. It's a two-minute walk to home I can manage that on my own" "Let me walk you home, please” said Jean
"If you do Jean no funny business, she is spoken for, so no repeat of the last evening together. You don't mind Penny do you? I still have a drink and I want to talk to Claude”.
"No, of course, I don't mind. And it will give you and Claude some time together. You've been so busy looking after me. See you at home".
Jean walked Janet to her door
“Jean. I am so sorry that I do not remember our evening together".
"Don't be silly. I understand that you have been through a great deal, that night I asked you if we could do it again, and I still mean it.
"I am a very mixed up person at the moment. My life is a mystery, Jean. I am engaged to a man I don't even know and I am not even sure if he is still in love with me”
"He would be mad not to love you, I know because I am in love with you Penny".
"It's time I went in Jean. Thank you for walking me home"
Leaning over to kiss his cheek goodnight she found herself in his arms and his mouth pressed hard against hers.
She fought to get away but she did not have the strength and after a while, she stopped fighting and returned his kiss hard and long. He pressed her against the front door and she could feel his erection and she so wanted for him to take her.
With the last of her strength she pushed him off her.
"Stop Jean this is wrong. You know it's wrong, I am engaged to another man, please I am attracted to you and very tempted, but please let me go”.
He let her go and she let herself into the house.
Tossing and turning that night she cried herself to sleep; her emotions in turmoil.
Pierre telephoned the following evening and spoke to Gabrielle and then to Janet.
"Hello, Pierre, is everything OK? Have you sorted out the problems? When will you be home"?
"It's going to take a month at least. I am sorry. I should be home looking after you"
"Pierre I want you to do something for me. There will be no discussion over this. It's what I want and it's what you need, so listen to me, and please do not interrupt".
"OK darling it sounds important".
"Pierre the girl who you fell in love with no longer exists. Even I have no idea who she was. You feel that because you loved her you must love me. Well that's not the case any longer. When you get home I want you to treat me like a girl you have just met and if you like this new person then we will start dating. Then if you fall in love with me we will see where it goes,. Please do it my way, please".
"Penny I love you and I want to marry you, also I ……….."
She cut him short
"Please don't argue with me Pierre. Just be safe and come home. Bye darling" she replaced the telephone and it instantly rang.
"Pierre it's late there. Go to bed. Talk soon. I love you".
Chapter 65 Return
Five weeks later Pierre returned from Singapore dropped off his suitcase at his own flat then headed to see Penny.
"Hello, sister, where is she"?
"I am sorry but she is not here. She moved out a week ago. She knows you’re home. I told her you're coming but she wants to be alone, just for a while".
"So where is she Gabby, tell me".
"Darling she does not want to see you. She feels that you are staying with her because you're a gentleman and it's the right thing to do".
"Gabby, where is she” he almost spat the words at her.
“Hotel De Seine. Room one three five”
"I will see you later, Miss” he said and stormed out.
He rushed around the two blocks until he reached the Hotel.
"What floor is room one three five on please"? He asked the receptionist.
“It’s on the first floor sir”
He climbed the stairs two at a time and hurried down the corridor until he found the room. He went to knock on the door but found it open. He walked in to see her standing there.
"Darling what are you doing here, come home please, you know I love you. Any doubts you have we can sort out. Just come home"
"No. I need to know that you want me for all the right reasons".
“I love you and want you, just come home and let’s start again". “Please close the door Pierre and then we will talk”.
He turned and closed the door and in that moment her dress slid to the floor
As he reached for her she backed away and laid on the bed.
The first kiss bruised her lips and her nipples hardened beneath his fingers. He hurried o
ut of his clothes and her hand reached for his erection.