It was gone two in the morning when his mother shook him awake. She held a torch up to his blood-covered face. ‘Oh, my God,’ she said. ‘What’s happened? I had no idea where you were. Oh, look at your face. You’ve been fighting, haven’t you? After all you promised.’
She moved round to his rear and attempted to roll him on to his side and get him up. ‘Help me out a bit, love. We need to get you inside and cleaned up. And for Christ’s sake keep quiet, I don’t want your brother to see you like this.’
29
Dan had been too wound-up to go home to bed on Friday night. He’d bought Chinese food and a couple of bottles of beer and eaten it from the cartons whilst watching Blade Runner again. When he finally woke up at nine the next morning the flat had the characteristic smell of empty chow mein cartons and old beer. He opened the windows and brewed real coffee. Of course, he was starving. What was it about Chinese food?
He surveyed the contents of the fridge, took out two rashers of bacon, two eggs and two bits of frozen bread. A bacon and egg sarnie would get him off to a good start. He put on a Radiohead CD, decided it was too glum, settled for Manic Street Preachers and made his breakfast.
None of it took his mind off the visit to see his sister in Bristol Women’s Prison.
* * *
Dan held onto his mother’s arm as they walked the length of corridor that led to the prison visitors’ room.
‘I’m so glad you agreed to come with me,’ Carol Hellier said, squeezing his hand. ‘You’ll be used to these places, but I don’t like them.’
‘No problem, mum. I couldn’t let you come on your own, and dad wouldn’t budge.’
‘I can’t blame him,’ she said. ‘How many times have we done this “walk of hope” and ended up right back where we started?’
‘You go well above and beyond the call of duty with Alison, mum, always have. I don’t recall her ever being grateful, though.’ He paused and faced his mother, letting other visitors flow past them. He held onto her shoulders. ‘We don’t have to do this, you know. She hasn’t contacted you for nine months, and I only found out where she was because you asked me to.’ He resisted adding, and it’s all going to end badly, as usual. Of all people, his mother didn’t need that kind of reminder. ‘Just say the word and we’ll go home.’
‘No, we’re here now. The parole officer says she’s up for parole in a few weeks, and he thinks she might have a chance this time.’ She walked on, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, ‘So let’s give it one more try, shall we?’
‘Okay, let’s do it.’ He held the door open and let his mother go through. The visitors’ room was airy and spacious, much to his surprise, and had enough space between tables to allow for some privacy. Many of the women incarcerated here had children on the outside, and they were brought laughing, squalling and scowling by grandmothers, fathers and foster carers to share an hour a week with their mothers.
‘It’s so noisy!’ Carol said, peering around for her daughter. ‘I can’t see her, Daniel. What if she doesn’t want to see us?’
‘There she is,’ said Dan, spotting his sister at a corner table looking anxiously towards them. ‘Come on.’ He took Carol’s arm and led her through the throng to the edge of the room.
Alison stood up as they approached, her expression veering between tears and smiles. ‘Mum,’ she said. ‘I never thought… after the last time…’
Carol took a tissue from her sleeve and blew her nose. ‘Oh, love. Why didn’t you tell us where you were? I thought, well, I thought you were dead.’ She gave a shaky laugh. ‘I’m so pleased, so glad you’re okay.’ She cried a little more as they clung together.
A warden headed towards them, waving her arms to indicate that they should sit down. Alison let her mother go and they sank back onto plastic chairs.
Dan pulled back a chair and sat next to his mother. The sounds of the room came and went in time with the pulse in his neck. His face was flushed, and he was close to tears. How could this selfish, terrible woman reduce them all to gibbering wrecks, he wondered? But she was of his blood, and he guessed that would always count for something.
‘I know it was you who told mum where I was,’ she said, smiling through her tears. ‘Thanks, Dan. It must have cost a lot for you to do that for me.’
Dan nodded, not trusting himself to speak without saying something cruel. His head pounded with the need to shout, you stole her wedding ring and sold it. You took Dad’s camera and pawned it. You let your mates burgle and trash the house when they went on a holiday. You burnt all my things. What kind of a person are you? He took a deep breath and calmed himself. None of that tired old emotion was going to do much good here. She was an addict. Usual rules didn’t apply. ‘You’re looking good,’ he said instead, and felt his mother’s hand close over his.
‘I’m feeling great,’ she said. ‘I’m clean, well, almost. Just a little methadone twice a day. But I’ve reduced down to almost nothing,’ she added quickly, scanning her brother’s face. ‘The doc says I will be off it altogether if I get parole next month.’
‘Next month?’ Carol wiped her face with her hands. ‘So soon. Why didn’t you contact us sooner? We could have had something in place for you to do. Oh, Alison.’ Her thoughts rushed on. ‘Do you think it’s likely that they will let you out?’ Her face clouded. ‘And where will you go? What will you do? We have to keep you away from those terrible people who got you into this mess–’
‘Mum,’ said Alison. ‘I have a parole officer and a social worker, we can work something out.’
‘Mum,’ Dan said. ‘Alison got herself into this mess, no-one else.’ He looked at his sister. ‘I hope you’re not going to try the “nobody understands me” bull that you usually use to excuse your worst excesses?’
‘No, actually, I’m not. Look at me, I’m clean.’ She rolled up her sleeves and her arms were clear of new track marks. ‘Look at my face, I’ve been eating properly, too. Well, as well as you can inside here.’ She smiled at them. ‘And look at my lovely new teeth, courtesy of the NHS. No, whatever you think of me, and I know you hate me, I’ve changed, and I’m going to make it on the outside this time.’
Carol dabbed at her eyes with a screwed-up tissue. ‘I can see how well you look now, love, your hair’s grown and you look well-fed and clean. It’s easier in here where you have no responsibility. But out there…’ She sniffled and shook her head. ‘Do you really mean it?’
‘Too right,’ Dan muttered, folding his arms across his chest. ‘We’ve heard all this crap before.’
‘It’s just,’ Carol continued, ‘it’s just that I don’t think me or your father could cope if you fell back down again. You nearly broke us last time.’
‘You did.’ Dan interrupted again, feeling his hands bunch into fists. He glared at his sister, daring her to look away. ‘It was cruel and selfish what you did. They are your parents, and you broke their hearts.’ He swiped tears from his eyes with his fingers, angry that she roused such feelings in him.
Alison sat alone on the other side of the table, her precious poise shaken. She sobbed, tears running freely down her face and soaking into her tee-shirt. ‘I did. I know. I did all that, and more.’ She grabbed her mother’s hand across the table. ‘But I’m better now. I won’t do it again, I promise. I won’t let you down. I just need–’
‘You’re going to ask for another chance, aren’t you?’ a sneer twisted his features. ‘Another one! Christ almighty, I don’t know where you get the nerve.’ He shoved the chair back and lurched to his feet. ‘I’ll wait in the corridor. Mother, do not promise her anything. She’ll do it to you again, and I don’t know if I can stand any more of it.’ He walked away, ignoring the concerned stares of the wardens and the interest from the other inmates.
In the corridor, he leant against the wall and wished he still smoked. Instead, he chewed on a fingernail until he tore it down to the quick, spat the nail onto the floor and cursed his sister for still being able to manipulate
his mother. And him.
A warden with bleached blonde hair tied back in a ponytail watched him from inside the room. He couldn’t go anywhere until the end of the hour, the door at the end of the corridor was locked and alarmed. He considered showing his warrant card to the warden and getting her to let him out, but he didn’t want them to know he was police. He’d had to leave his phone with his personal effects, too. It felt odd, to be in a strange corridor, without access to the world outside. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to cope with prison. He had to admit, though, that Alison looked better than he’d seen her look for twenty years. Maybe she could change. Other people did. And apparently pigs could fly.
He pushed Alison from his mind and focussed on the case. He was a bit worried about going to The Retreat tomorrow with Claire, without telling her about Moss Garrett first. Especially after he had read Garrett’s file. She’d be furious if she thought he was using her, but needs must. He had to find a way to pin Garrett and Solomon down.
A bell rang and a stream of people joined him in the corridor. Carol pushed through the door and stood next to him.
‘Sorry, mum. I just get so angry with her.’
‘I know, love, I know.’ She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed.
‘So, are you going to let her stay with you again?’
‘I’ll need to speak to your father, of course. But,’ she tried to catch his eye, ‘she’s still our child. Like you are. Still our child. How can we refuse?’
* * *
Dan dropped his mother at home. He didn’t go in; he’d had enough of talking about Alison to last him for several weeks. He had promised to look out for any ex-offender projects she could get involved with, just to please his mum.
He drove into work and managed to find a proper car parking space. The main office was quiet. Team One had got the go-ahead from the CPS to take the jewellery shop robbers to court, so they would be tied up with paperwork, and most of his team were on rest days. It was a good chance to catch up with paperwork, and he wasn’t due to meet Claire until later.
He walked to his little office and sat down. He had to write the report of the debacle that was last night’s stake out, and somehow put a positive spin on it. He could just see Julie Oliver’s face as she read it.
30
Claire clutched printouts of three cats she had seen on The Retreat website. Dan watched her from the corner of his eye as he drove through Pinhoe, onto Rydon Lane and down to the Countess Wear roundabout. She was beautiful when she was excited, so animated. He grinned at her.
‘What?’ she asked.
‘Nothing. It’s just good to see you looking so excited. I hope we find one you like.’
Claire surveyed her three pictures. ‘I like the look of these three, but there are lots to choose from. Anyway,’ she said, ‘the cat will choose me, I’m sure.’
‘Okay. Well, there is definitely witch in you somewhere, with those green eyes, so I can’t disagree. You’d better get a black one.’
She smacked him on the arm.
The Retreat gates were open and there were a couple of cars in the car park. Dan could see no visitors wandering around, so he assumed they belonged to staff. He drove as slowly as he could over the rutted track into the car park, and picked the spot with the fewest puddles. He’d have to wash the car when he got home. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way,’ he said as he cut the engine, ‘but can you not mention what I do for a living if anyone asks?’
Claire stared at him. ‘Why? You ashamed of your job?’
‘It’s not that, so much, as that people behave differently when they think a cop is looking at them.’ He chuckled. ‘It’s ridiculous, really, but they don’t think we ever have time off, and they don’t believe that I’m not interested that they haven’t taxed their car, or whatever.’
‘You’ve never been bothered before. Is there something you’re not telling me, Dan Hellier?’ She turned round to look at him properly. ‘Don’t even think about lying to me. What’s going on?’
Damn, he’d messed that up. ‘Right, err… well, we have been watching one of the staff here in case he’s drug dealing. That’s how Sally told me about the animals here.’
She folded her arms across her chest. ‘And it’s just that? You’re watching him?’
‘Yeah, honest. So I don’t want to alert him to the fact that I might be back with a different intention than collecting a cat, if you see what I mean.’
‘Right, I see. You brought me here deliberately, didn’t you? As cover?’
‘No, ‘course not,’ he tried, but he wasn’t very good at lying to Claire, especially when she gave him the narrow stare. ‘Well, it may have been a factor, but really Sally did say it was great, and she comes here all the time, and they do have cats and dogs and… things.’
‘Unbelievable.’ Claire got out of the car and stuffed the printouts into her bag. She slipped her coat on, and pushed her hair back out of her eyes. She looked fantastic with the wind whipping her shining hair around her face.
Dan climbed out after her, scrabbled in the boot for his jacket and locked the car. ‘Sorry.’ He laid his chin on the roof and grinned at her.
Claire shook her head in exasperation. ‘Just tell me if I’m bait, or a distraction, or whatever you’re planning, okay? Treat me like an adult. Talk to me. I’m quite a reasonable person, so I hear.’ She pulled the belt tight on her raincoat. ‘Bloody men,’ she said, and stalked off towards the shop.
Dan struggled for a moment. Should he tell her that she would know Moss Garrett from her school days before she got in there? No, she’d find that out soon enough, if he showed his face after Friday night that was. He took a look around, locating the places Sally had told him were of interest, and followed Claire into the shop.
His mouth dropped open. Claire was enveloped in a bear hug from a big bloke who, judging by the colour of his abundant head and facial hair had to be Merlin Garrett. So she knew him as well as his brother? Dan leant against the wooden desk, hands in his pockets, until the hugging and cooing stopped. ‘I gather you two know each other, then?’ he said.
Claire’s face glowed. ‘Oh, Dan, this is Merlin Garrett.’ She held onto his hand, Dan noticed. ‘He saved my life when we were at school.’
Merlin Garrett stepped forward, hand outstretched, ‘Call me Mel, it’s way less embarrassing than my mother’s idea of a suitable name.’ A broad smile split the full beard in two. He gave Dan a single, firm handshake and said, ‘I didn’t actually save her life, of course.’ He raised both eyebrows. ‘Have you noticed any tendency towards exaggeration? Over-egging a story…?’
‘Oi,’ said Claire, ‘no ganging up, you two.’ She dropped Merlin’s hand and slipped her arm through Dan’s. ‘Mel, this is my boyfriend, Dan Hellier. We have an appointment at eleven to see three cats, and I’m so excited!’ She wriggled on the spot to demonstrate the level of her enthusiasm.
Merlin sat on the stool behind the desk and checked the diary. ‘Yeah, Ma will show them to you. Why don’t you have a look round until then? Café’s open, does a mean breakfast.’
Claire got out a ten pound note and paid the small entrance fee. ‘I’m so glad Dan suggested this place, Mel, it’s great to see you again.’ She took his pen and wrote her mobile number on the diary. ‘Just so we don’t lose touch this time,’ she said, and walked Dan back out into a rescue centre where many of the animals appeared to be hiding from the unseasonal northerly wind. The only noise was the subdued Sunday morning traffic on the motorway.
‘Coffee?’ asked Dan. ‘I thought summer was here, but it’s cold, isn’t it?’
Claire snuggled into his side, unable to hide her grin. ‘Sounds good to me.’
They cut across the yard and into a small café with mismatched tables and chairs, knitted cushions and crockery that had seen many better days. Claire, thought Dan, will love this.
Claire clapped her hands together, ‘I love it. It’s so cosy.’ Her eyes darted around, taking in the
tea cosies and crocheted table mats. ‘It’s like stepping back fifty years.’
Dan led her towards a table near the back of the room, reasoning that it might be warmer than the tables nearer the single-glazed, steamed-up windows. He studied the homemade cakes.
A round woman, wearing a cat-print apron and a wide smile came out from the kitchen wiping flour off her hands and onto her ample backside. ‘What can I get you, my lovelies?’ she asked.
Once they had ordered coffee and cake, and the woman had bustled off to do battle with the coffee machine, Dan removed his coat. ‘So,’ he said, ‘you and Merlin know each other of old?’
Claire nodded, removing her coat and throwing it across a chair. ‘Please tell me it’s not Mel you’re tracking. That would be awful.’
‘No, actually it’s his brother, Moss. Do you know him as well?’
Her eyes widened. ‘Oh God, do I ever?’ She shuddered. ‘I was hoping never to hear that name again. He made my life an absolute misery for a year when we first started secondary school. He was a bully, I was the daughter of one of the teachers, so I was fair game. Every time my dad gave him a detention I got hit, or tripped up, or had my bag trashed, or my money stolen.’ She sighed and held a hand up. ‘I know what you’re going to say, but I couldn’t tell on him. I was too scared of what he’d do.’
‘So how did Merlin help?’
‘He was in the year above. He came round the corner with his two mates and they saw Moss ripping my bag apart looking for money. I was crying and he was giving me a kick to make sure I stayed on the floor.’ Tears gathered but she brushed them away. ‘Seems stupid to still let it upset me, but I was in despair and could think of no way to get out of it.’
‘So what did Merlin do?’
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