The Perfect Mother (ARC)

Home > Other > The Perfect Mother (ARC) > Page 36
The Perfect Mother (ARC) Page 36

by Caroline Mitchell


  Elizabeth was ready with an answer. ‘He said he was

  in love with Kelly. That he was going to leave you for

  her, but then she disappeared. He’s got footage of the

  two of them together all happy and in love. He’s got all

  the evidence he needs. Can you see how much trouble

  you’re in?’

  The bastard, Sheridan thought, biting her bottom lip.

  There was no time for tears now. Despite it all, Leo

  needed a father. She could not leave him parentless. Her

  lawyer was right. Daniel did love Kelly, but only now

  could she see how much. Sheridan took a deep breath as

  she prepared to give another performance.

  ‘Kelly’s death was an accident. She died having Leo.

  I didn’t tell Daniel because I couldn’t face it.’ The last

  bit was a lie but it was all about damage limitation now.

  ‘And your mom?’

  Sheridan shrugged, holding in a cough as she inhaled

  the stench of artificial tobacco. ‘If Mike paid her a visit it has nothing to do with me.’

  ‘And what about Roz – is she telling the truth?’

  ‘I didn’t want to hurt Roz. You’ve seen the video

  footage of us together, the flight ticket in her room. But

  371

  Caroline Mitchell

  then she found Kelly, and Mike pulled a gun on her. I

  begged him not to hurt her. I was going for help when

  George and Monica – I mean Alex Santana – turned up.’

  ‘Ah, the famous Alex Santana. She really has it in

  for you.’

  ‘And George?’

  A beat passed between them, and Sheridan knew there

  was more to come. Opening her folder, Elizabeth sifted

  through some of the paperwork. ‘Did you know that

  George was selling stories to Alex Santana all this time?’

  ‘George?’ Sheridan frowned. ‘No. It was Rachel, my

  ex-housekeeper. She was the inside source.’

  Elizabeth shook her head. ‘Shame you’re going down.

  This would make a great movie.’ She paused to suck the

  e-cigarette, locking the vapour in her lungs for a couple

  of seconds before letting it go. ‘It’s always been George.

  He said he tried to warn Roz when she first arrived in

  New York. He left newspaper clippings in her room about

  Kelly, and old issues of Celeb Goss magazine. He even left her a knife. But he couldn’t tell her directly because you were paying for his mother’s care. All your staff were

  indebted to you, in fact.’

  ‘That’s not right,’ Sheridan stiffened as she was hit with

  betrayal after betrayal. ‘He told me about Roz’s note.’ She bit her lip. What was she saying? She had just stated she

  had planned on letting Roz go.

  ‘The famous note in the prayer book? Yeah, he men-

  tioned that, too. He said you were getting suspicious.

  He told you about the note to keep your trust. But then

  Monica bumped into Roz in your home and persuaded

  George to work with her to get her out. She should have

  called the cops. Typical journo – wanted the story first.’

  372

  The Perfect Mother

  Sheridan’s head hung low. She was so caught in her

  own web of lies she daren’t speak another word. But her

  lawyer was wrong about one thing. Mike would never

  squeal. The memory of their intimacy would guarantee

  his loyalty for a long time to come. She knew she was

  facing prison, and she was facing it alone. But she would

  use her time wisely. Monica was not the only person who

  could write a book. She may have taken her throne, but

  she wouldn’t occupy it for very long. Sheridan would

  make her regret the day she’d double-crossed her.

  373

  CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

  Celeb Goss Magazine

  By Tiffany Matthews

  November 2019

  SHERIDAN SINCLAIR HELD ON

  KIDNAPPING & MURDER CHARGES

  It is the crime that shocked the nation, and

  you heard it here first. One year ago, Celeb

  Goss journalist Alex Santana launched an

  internal investigation into Academy Award-

  nominated actress, Sheridan Sinclair. An

  investigation that led to the Hollywood star-

  let being charged with the manslaughter of

  missing Carolina waitress Kelly Blunt and

  the kidnapping of Irish woman Roz Foley.

  After an extensive police investigation, Sher-

  idan’s husband, Daniel Watson, was released

  without charge.

  In another shock announcement, last week’s

  edition revealed the identity of Celeb Goss

  journalist Alex Santana as Monica Murphy,

  374

  The Perfect Mother

  therapist to the stars. The revelation does

  not seem to have harmed her relationship

  with up-and-coming actor Adam Weiss,

  who announced their engagement last week.

  Adam recently signed on the dotted line

  to play the next James Bond. Monica has

  sold her new tell-all book on her time with

  Sheridan Sinclair for a seven-figure sum,

  with movie rights being snapped up after a

  five-way auction. A Hollywood source says:

  ‘With the demise of #Sheridani, Hollywood

  is crying out for an exciting new celebrity

  couple. Charismatic and endearing, Adam

  and Monica fit the bill.’ Here at Celeb Goss,

  we wish our new favourite celeb couple, the

  #MAdams, all the success in the world.

  375

  CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

  Roz

  It took me six months to settle into some kind of normal-

  ity. It helped to know that I was getting justice, and that Sheridan was facing trial. My reluctance to incriminate

  Daniel was not for him, it was for his son. It was for

  Kelly, too. I still felt a connection with the young woman

  whose clothes I had worn. What would have happened

  to her son Leo if both Sheridan and Daniel were locked

  away? Kelly’s mother had no room for her grandson, and

  I never doubted that Daniel would provide Leo with a

  good life. Sheridan may have been ready to kill me, but

  I liked to hope that Daniel had played no part in it. It

  was some punishment that he had lost his revered role

  as James Bond.

  I heard that George showed remorse, and I was sur-

  prised to hear he was the one selling his story to Celeb Goss all that time. He was the creator of the ‘shit-storm’ he told me about – his way of leaking what was really going on.

  While his mother was alive, his efforts to help me were

  sadly lacking; just enough to ease his conscience, I sup-

  posed. He was not the only one feeling guilty. Daniel was

  not allowed to speak to me, but he paid my thirty-grand

  medical bill in full. The news of his split from Sheridan

  came as a surprise to everyone.

  376

  The Perfect Mother

  I was yet to have a full night’s sleep without the memo-

  ry of staring down the barrel of Mike’s pistol. I was grateful to George for saving my life, and that of my child. It’s a

  special kind of irony that he did so with Sheridan’s gun.

  * * *

  My mother fell in love with Ashling the moment she

/>   set eyes on her. It was nice, being pampered and fawned

  over in a normal way. I felt safe in her home, as long as

  Ashling’s cot was by my side and we had a nightlight on.

  The gossip set Ferbane alight for a few months, but things

  eventually calmed down.

  ‘Tea?’ Tony said, handing me a cup. His smile was

  warm, his curly hair in need of a cut. He was a gentle

  bear of a man and the house felt different now he was

  around. I felt like I’d known him forever; he had a

  lovely manner about him. If I were to describe his at-

  titude in a single word, I’d say ‘non-judgemental’. It’s

  something that Dympna has demonstrated, too. Her

  relationship with Ashling was destined to be special,

  and the information she gathered has helped the police

  no end. I’m glad she patched things up with Seamus,

  and have no doubts she’ll make a terrific detective one

  day. John pays weekly maintenance and is keeping his

  marriage afloat.

  Like Dympna, I gained a stepsister. Jenny, Tony’s

  daughter, is a delight. It was hard for her, losing her

  mother at such an early age, but now she has so many

  new people in her life.

  ‘Thank you,’ I smiled at Tony. ‘And not just for the tea.’

  ‘You’re coping remarkably well for someone who’s

  been through hell.’

  377

  Caroline Mitchell

  ‘I hope you’re not analysing me,’ I chuckled. I was tak-

  ing baby steps, but getting there. I’d even begun drawing

  again. It was nice to take pleasure in the simple things,

  and I would never take my life for granted again. When it

  came down to it, friends and family were all that mattered.

  ‘Having Ashling here means the world to your mam,’

  Tony said, as if he were reading my mind.

  ‘I couldn’t deprive Ashling of a grandmother,’ I replied,

  feeling like a hypocrite as I remembered I was happy to

  do so before. ‘I mean…’ I stammered, backtracking.

  Tony raised a hand in reassurance. ‘No need to explain.

  Your childhood was the subject of most of your mother’s

  rehabilitation. That day in the coffee shop when you said

  you were going to America, it almost tipped her over the

  edge.’ He sighed at the memory, shaking his head. ‘That

  evening, I found a bottle of whiskey in her bag. But she

  hadn’t drunk it. She was still fighting.’

  ‘There’s a time in your life when you have to stop

  being a victim. When you have to take back control.’ I

  hadn’t realised I had spoken the words aloud until they

  left my lips. Time in solitary confinement had affected

  me in so many ways. Back then, I’d spoken to myself all

  the time, and it had become a habit I needed to shake.

  ‘Your mother told you that?’

  I nodded, taking strength from her words.

  As he rubbed his beard, the smile widened on Tony’s

  face. ‘I said that to her when we first met. I didn’t think she was listening back then.’ He chuckled, obviously

  pleased to know she was.

  I watched his face light up as he spoke of her, wishing

  I could find someone who loved me that much. Then I

  realised I had already found her as my mother returned

  with my Silver Cross pram. My Ashling. My fighter. My

  378

  The Perfect Mother

  little girl. She would never be a victim. She would keep

  me strong. I watched Jenny open the door, being careful

  not to bump the pram against the wooden doorframe.

  This was my home now, and I was in no hurry to leave.

  The building blocks of our future: a stable home and

  good relationships were what my daughter and I could

  look forward to now.

  Flushed from the cold, Jenny’s smile was wide, her joy

  at being an auntie plain to see. Ashling delighted everyone she came into contact with. I exchanged a look with my

  mother as she parked my sleeping daughter next to me. I

  saw love there, and it was returned. She was a wonderful

  grandmother for Ashling, and I had long since forgiven

  her for past mistakes. I peeped in on my daughter, who

  looked like a sleeping cherub in her pram. I breathed a

  sigh of contentment. It was time to look to the future.

  I had found the perfect mother for my child.

  379

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Launching a book is by no means a solo performance

  and I am hugely grateful to have such a fantastic team of

  professionals behind me. To Maddy, Hayley and everyone

  at the Madeleine Milburn literary agency. Thank you for

  championing my work.

  To my superb editor Jane Snelgrove, a thoroughly

  lovely lady whose insights have been invaluable. Also, to

  editor Ian Pindar – your encouragement and guidance

  has been most appreciated. To the rest of the team at

  Thomas & Mercer, you are all stars, I wish I had space to name you all! A special mention to cover designer Tom

  Sanderson – thank you again for your magnificent work.

  To the book bloggers and book club members who

  have supported my work – in particular, Joseph Calleja,

  who I was fortunate enough to meet during a trip to

  Malta recently. Never underestimate just how much your

  support means to authors, and keep up the good work.

  To my amazingly talented author friends, both those

  on social media and those whom I’m fortunate enough to

  hang out with in real life. In particular to Angie Marsons, who I took my first tentative steps with as a fiction author and who has been a brilliant support ever since. To Mel

  Sherratt, who has been there on a daily basis as we travel

  381

  Caroline Mitchell

  through our writing journeys together. Big hugs to you,

  lady, we come as a pair these days.

  To the brilliant Sophie Ransom of Midas PR and to

  the fantastic libraries and online book clubs who have

  helped spread the word. To my ex-police colleagues,

  stay safe guys, you are always in my thoughts. Also, to

  my readers, particularly those who have made contact to

  say you’ve enjoyed my work. It always brightens my day.

  As always, to my family. Thank you for your unfail-

  ing love and support.

  382

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  A former police detective,

  Caroline Mitchell now writes

  full-time.

  She has worked in CID

  and has also specialised in

  roles dealing with vulnerable

  victims – high-risk victims of

  domestic abuse and serious

  sexual offences. The mental

  strength shown by the victims

  of these crimes is a constant

  source of inspiration to her,

  and Mitchell combines their

  tenacity with her knowledge of police procedure to create

  tense psychological thrillers.

  Originally from Ireland, she now lives in a pretty

  village on the coast of Essex with her husband and three

  children.

  You can sign up for her newsletter at www.caroline-

  writes.com, or follow her on Twitter (@caroline_writes)

  or F
acebook (www.facebook.com/CMitchellAuthor).

  383

 

 

 


‹ Prev