by KERRY BARNES
‘It appears, from talking to the Australian police, that your mother died five months ago.’
‘No! That’s not possible! You must have the wrong person because I spoke with her recently.’
‘Did you actually speak with her, though? I mean, verbally?’
Kara stared into space. ‘I, um … I mean, we texted each other a lot, and I spoke with her carer only a few days ago. She said my mother was very sick, but I didn’t speak with her in, let me think … Oh, Jesus, it must have been months ago. I was in Papua New Guinea, working, and she texted me to say she was unwell, but she had this carer, and so I was not to worry. The lady, I think her name is Lucille, was taking good care of her. I never thought my mother was so ill. My God, I would have flown over to see her. I would have called more often, I would have … I don’t know, but hang on, it has to be wrong because her carer said—’
Stuart intervened. He could see she was struggling to hold it together. ‘Kara, I’m so sorry, love, but I have a copy of her death certificate, which confirms she died five months ago. It concerned me enough to employ a private detective. I hope that’s what you would have wanted, under the circumstances?’
An unexpected vibration filled her limbs and she found herself shaking uncontrollably. She grabbed her mug of tea, but her hands trembled so much the contents spilled over the side.
‘A detective?’
Stuart was concerned. Kara’s face was drained, and a deathly grey shadowed her; her body was quivering so much, she almost looked as if she was having a fit. He said no more but jumped up and opened the door. Unsure what to do, he looked over at Deni, sitting outside. He didn’t have to say a word; she was up off her seat and in the room, just in time to catch Kara before she fainted. Holding her in her arms, Deni lowered Kara onto the floor.
Stuart watched in horror as she lay unconscious. Deni pulled Kara’s hair away from her face and stroked her cheek. ‘There, there, my girl, come on, wake up.’ Kara’s eyes were blinking, and she slowly opened them.
‘It’s all right, lovey, Aunty Deni is here. I will look after you.’
Stuart looked at the middle-aged woman and at the hardness on her face, the rough skin, and the messy hair, with scars a testament to a life most people in his world couldn’t comprehend. He listened to the East End accent, which was somewhat soothing in the circumstances, rather like his own late mother’s. Deni was like an angel herself right now. He’d been concerned when he’d first met Kara because she was so well spoken and almost fragile. What her life would be like in a prison with the hardest of women worried him.
However, for sure, she would get sympathy and she had a good mate in Deni. He was aware from talking to colleagues that the truth behind the walls, when serious shit hits the fan, was that female inmates still had their natural instinct to care and nurture, so inevitably they would pull together. He kneeled down next to Deni and had the urge to stroke her shoulder and thank her. They both helped to get Kara back onto the chair. Then Stuart dragged his own next to Kara’s for Deni to take a seat. ‘I think it’s better if you stay here with us. Do you mind?’ he asked her.
Deni gratefully smiled and sat next to Kara with her arm around her shoulders. As soon as Stuart was out of the room to find another chair, Deni pulled Kara closer. ‘Listen, babe, try and hold it together while your brief is here because you need to listen. I’m here for you, and you can cry on my shoulder when we get back to the cell. But, trust me, darling, we need to concentrate on what he says.’
Kara took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together. She ran her hands over her bump and nodded. ‘Yes, Deni, I will. I’m determined to fight now to get out of here. I just cannot believe that my mother is dead. He said she died months ago. Nothing makes sense.’
Deni wiggled herself around in her chair to face Kara directly. ‘Let’s just see when he comes back. Do you want me to stay with you?’
Kara grabbed her hand. ‘Yes, please.’
Stuart returned with George who was looking somewhat flustered. ‘Are you okay, Kara?’
Kara smiled at George with a gentle crease of her lips. ‘Yes, I just had a fright. It was the shock, I suppose, but thank you, and, er … can Deni stay with me?’
‘Of course.’ With that, he slipped away and left them to it.
Stuart retrieved the copy of the death certificate and placed it in front of Kara, so she could see it for herself. There was no denying it; her mother had died months ago.
‘But, I just don’t understand. The carer said – well, actually, I can’t exactly remember what she said. The conversation was kind of eerie, as if she was laughing at me. I may have misheard or been stressed out at the time, but she certainly did not tell me that my mother had passed away.’
‘Yes, well, that’s why I have this chap Bruce Williams, an ex-detective, on the case because although she hasn’t broken the law, there may be more to all of this, unless, and I hate to say it, this carer was just a vile woman.’
Kara’s eyes widened. ‘Oh my God, a vile woman has been caring for my mother? Well, are the police tracking her down? I mean, if she keeps calling me or answering my mother’s phone, could she not have had something to do with her death? What if she killed her?’
‘Well, I can’t truthfully answer that, but the death certificate says hepatitis and enlargement of the liver due to several possible factors, one being the fact that a large quantity of her own painkillers may have been ingested. However, considering your mother was very poorly and on various medications the coroner didn’t rule out suicide in his notes.’
‘Was a note left for me? What did the coroner say was in her system?’
He shook his head. ‘In answer to your first question, apparently not. All the Australian police could discover was that she was found dead in her bed. But regarding what was in her system, the post-mortem showed that she had taken a possible overdose of the medicine prescribed by her own doctor. She was on high doses of drugs, although the report was not one hundred per cent conclusive. However, the probability of having taken an overdose outweighed the other potential causes. I know this is very harsh for you to hear, but they had no information regarding any family, so she was cremated a week later. Apparently, the little funds she did have were used for her funeral.’
‘None of this makes any sense whatsoever. I know my mother used the proceeds from the sale of her house to go to Australia, but she could never have spent it all in the time she lived there. She wasn’t an extravagant woman. This carer, do you know any more about her? Maybe you should have her investigated because although she seemed genuine to me, it could all be an act. Does anyone actually know this woman?’
Stuart was relieved that Kara was now on the ball. Her eyes were alert, and he could sense she was not going to wallow in self-pity but was determined to find out the truth. ‘Kara, all I can offer you right now is my word that I will do everything in my power to get to the bottom of this, because like you, I feel that something stinks. However, for now, we need to go over the details of the court case and try to get you a reduced sentence. I need your company’s details, including your manager’s name.’
Kara frowned. ‘Why?’
With a deep grin, he replied, ‘Because I think we should go down the route of diminished responsibility. You were pregnant and hormonal, and this, Kara, may well be your get-out clause. Of course, I cannot promise you anything, but I will do everything I can to get the maximum penalty reduced.’ He then looked across at the older woman and smiled. ‘It seems to me, Kara, you have a good support network, so I suggest you try to remember everything you can about how you felt leading up to the fire, every little detail. I want you on that stand with the jury in tears.’
Deni chuckled. ‘Well, best we get you some acting lessons, kiddo, eh?’ She rubbed Kara’s back. Most of that conversation had gone right over Deni’s head because she’d no idea about medical stuff. Still, she did know about courtroom antics – she’d taken part in many herself – and s
o she could at least help Kara with that side of things.
‘I know this is a particularly tough time for you, but please, Kara, try to remain focused and leave the business regarding your mother to me. I will do all I can to help.’
Kara stood up to shake his hand. He nodded to Deni and was gone.
After a moment, Deni tried to make light of the dreadful situation. She nudged Kara’s arm. ‘Cor, he’s a right nice bit of stuff, and he has a soft eye for you, babe.’
‘He is very nice, Deni, and I just pray that he can get me off. I cannot bear the thought of anyone else bringing up my baby, and I really don’t want Justin having her, not when he’s with some woman I’ve never even met.’ She broke off, near to tears again. Her mind cast back to the eerie conversation where the carer implied she was Justin’s girlfriend. Perhaps she should have mentioned it. Nevertheless, she hoped that Stuart would take this carer’s odd behaviour seriously.
‘Come on, let’s get back on the wing and have a nice hot chocolate, eh?’ Deni realised that Kara was focusing her mind on the baby, as if the news about her mother had never happened. It was perhaps not such a bad thing. Kara needed to stay strong, and if blocking her mother’s death from her mind helped, then so be it.
* * *
Lucy clapped her hands together. The registry office was booked, and they didn’t have to wait long. The big day was set for a weekday – who gets married on a weekday? She then looked at the brochure of the cottage in the Cotswolds – an ideal retreat away from it all. She had to make this work because all she wanted was that heavenly life that Joan had banged on about – her daughter and future son-in-law had had this blissful life, in a perfect world, so far removed from her own miserable existence. She’d been sick to death of the conversations with Joan, and her tolerance of what she’d discovered had turned to hate, and then the hate had turned to jealousy, and she’d wanted what Kara had so much that she would do everything in her power to have it.
So far, her plan was in place, and as long as Justin didn’t change his mind, they would be saying ‘I do’ in less than a week. She searched the internet for an exquisite wedding dress and shoes to go with it. There would be no bridesmaid; after all, she didn’t collect friends, she used them and ditched them. There was no time for niceties in her world. How could she be that woman with friends who do lunch or coffee mornings, sharing gossip or cake recipes? Her life had been too real and hard for all that silly girlie stuff. Her baby kicked, and she flared her nostrils; that was another issue she wasn’t prepared for – motherhood – but she would find a way around that little annoyance.
With a click of a button, the long white princess-cut dress was ordered along with the crystal-embellished shoes to match. Lucy was in seventh heaven. She hurriedly pulled her mobile from her pocket and called Justin’s number – he answered within a second. ‘Well, my darling, I have managed to book the registry office. There was a cancellation – how lucky was that?’ Her voice was upbeat and full of enthusiasm.
Justin was staring at the paperwork that had piled up and the ten cars all ready to be collected by their owners. It was a huge deal for him. Most car dealerships did a big push to sell their stock at the end of March to boost their sales at the close of the tax year. But the last few months had steered him off course and he was now having to play catch-up. He’d realised that all the excitement of feeling his baby move had led him to act impulsively. ‘Um, that was quick, Lucy. When is it?’
‘Next week on Thursday at Bromley Registry Office and then a week in the Cotswolds, just you, me, and the bump. It looks beautiful and so relaxing and peaceful. I thought you would love it.’ She was rambling on and on and all Justin could do was listen with his silent sighs.
‘I’ve ordered the dress, but I haven’t done anything about your suit because I don’t know your exact measurements. Mind you, babe, you have a beautiful grey suit hanging in the wardrobe. I can buy a red tie to go with my red rose bouquet. It’s going to be so special. I can book a fancy restaurant for afterwards. I was thinking of a short ride, maybe in a vintage car, to a romantic country restaurant. Oh, and—’
He cut her short. ‘Lucy, can you talk to me about it when I get home? Only, I have customers I need to see to.’
‘Oh, um, okay. We can talk then. I can show you all the pictures of the cottage but obviously not my dress because that’s bad luck before the wedding.’
He hung up, without saying goodbye. The impetuous act of yesterday was now coming back to haunt him, and it was dragging him down. He had to face facts; he’d said they should get married, and she’d taken him at his word, so he only had himself to blame.
* * *
Vic was well on the way to a full recovery. She joined Kara and Deni for a natter. Julie was being much sweeter and had ditched her often sarcastic comments, partly through empathy and partly because she was told to be good to Kara or Deni would scalp her.
‘Only a few days now and it will be ya big day. Me brother’s sent you in a nice bit of clobber. I gave him your size, and bless him, he has an eye for a smart outfit. Let’s hope it all fits.’ Vic smiled, itching to brighten Kara’s day.
‘Really? Oh my goodness, how kind of you and of him. He doesn’t even know me …’ She paused and looked at the eyes staring back. ‘You know, I never in my wildest dreams believed I would experience kindness from women who I was once so very afraid of.’ She looked at Julie and smiled and then she turned back to face Vic. ‘I used to look at the estate and shudder. I imagined all sorts – violence, aggression, and a cold existence – but now, when I think back, it was my world living in that big house that was probably the coldest. I mean, I never even knew my neighbour very well, and to think the women I really feared are the ones who have helped me the most. I think I get it now. You are tough and hard with each other, but when it really counts, you all stick together.’
Deni gave her something to think about. ‘When you have fuck-all, my babe, you tend to share what you do have, ’cos ya know how hard it is to go without. You’re all in the same boat, and it’s the state that becomes the enemy, not each other.’
Vic laughed and nudged Julie. ‘Yeah, remember when old man Jake nicked that Sainsbury’s lorry and drove it straight into the estate? Fuck me, once those back doors were open, the boxes were unloaded and shared out before the police even got a call. That was hilarious. Everyone on the estate had fucking sirloin steaks and bottles of champagne and no one went hungry for months. Poor old Jake got three months, but when he got outta prison, we all put on a big party for him in the square with steaks and burgers on the barbecue. That was a night to remember, eh, Jue!’ She was laughing so much her face went red.
Julie was joining in. ‘Yeah, my Billy even siphoned all the diesel out of the truck. We had enough juice to take us down to the coast for the day. He weren’t happy that I had six kids join us, but that was a lovely day. Remember, Vic, we had a convoy down to Margate. There must have been thirty of us. Those poor holidaymakers must have wondered what hit them, with Billy’s ghetto blaster on the beach and ol’ Sharon getting everyone up dancing. Little Tommy Sutton fucking insisted we brought the crabs back with us. He wanted to keep them in the bath. Cor, yeah, that was a laugh and a half. We all came back with our hair sticky from candy floss, sunburned shoulders, and fucking sand in our knickers.’
Kara listened and understood. They tried to make the most out of life with the little they had. Whereas she could have gone anywhere in the world and enjoyed a five-star hotel with cocktails on the beach if she wanted, they seemed perfectly happy with a trip to Margate. What struck her the most was they shared everything: the diesel, the food, the fun, and, most importantly, each other’s company.
Julie was still laughing. ‘’Ere, ya know what? When we all get outta this shit-hole, we should save up, hire a minibus, and have ourselves a day on the beach. You with your new baby, my little ’un, and whoever else wants to join us … Seriously, Posh, you will love Margate. It’s got a sandy bea
ch and everything.’
Kara chuckled. ‘I think I will, Jue, so it’s a deal. When we all get out, we’ll meet up and arrange it.’
There was a long silence as reality hit them all; it would be years before they were out of stir all together again, and Kara could be the last one out, if she got a five-stretch. Deni was due out in two years, Vic in a year, and Julie in probably six months or less.
‘I should send your brother a thank-you card. I’m very grateful. I guess, standing in the dock dressed in this won’t look too good.’
‘Me brother’s beholden to you. He knows ya saved me life. He’s got a heart of gold considering …’ said Vic.
Deni nodded. ‘Yep, he has, but you wouldn’t want to mug him off, that’s for sure.’
Kara turned her head. ‘Oh, do you know him, too, Deni?’
‘Who don’t? Yeah, he’s, shall we say, in the same line of work as I was.’
Kara frowned. ‘What, he runs a …?’ She didn’t like to say what Deni had done for a living.
‘No, well not exactly, but he sees the girls are all right. He took over, when I got locked up. The girls love him, don’t they, Vic?’
She nodded, with a proud expression on her face. ‘Me brother’s a looker, and no mistake, but he’s also a naughty boy. Done well for himself, though. He already owns a little club. I’d like to say it’s all above board but that would be stretching it.’
Kara tried to stop the gasp, but it escaped anyway. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so shocked, but it’s all a different world to me.’
‘Why don’t you meet him? He’s coming to visit me, and he can ask for a double visit, as you’re on remand. It will get you outta this place for a couple of hours. What do you say? And yes, he is a bit of eye candy.’
Before Kara even had time to think, she agreed. Her world was becoming weirder by the minute, but what did she have to lose? A visit from a handsome stranger might lift her desolate spirits. The girls had so far been a godsend. They’d made sure she was never alone and they were always ready with a shoulder to cry on. Kara wished she could be more open with the girls as they were with her, but the details of her childhood were too sickening to divulge. And as much as she trusted them, she could never fully put her faith in anyone again. Justin had made sure of that – when he slept with another woman.