by KERRY BARNES
‘Please, Kara, what sort of life would she have locked up in a prison cell? No walks to the park, no fresh air, no toys to play with. Is that what you want for our daughter?’
‘She will have me, Justin. She will fucking have me!’
He jolted with shock. Never having heard her talk like that before, he could only assume prison had changed her. ‘Kara, don’t make this difficult. I can get full custody, you know. Let’s face it, what judge would award you custody?’ There, he’d said it, and he could have kicked himself. But there would be no appeasement now. Both of them had laid their cards firmly on the table.
Kara looked at her perfect baby and a tear ran down her face. ‘You know, you are such a bastard, Justin. You’ve ruined my life. You let me love you so much, and then you went off with another woman. You sent me that letter demanding that I must vacate the house, and when I set fire to our home and got locked away on remand in prison, you didn’t even turn up in court for the trial. You destroyed me, Justin, but I won’t let you ruin this little one’s life. You may visit her, but you will never have custody. I will appeal and appeal, until I’m released, and then you will have no grounds for custody.’
‘I’ve spoken with a lawyer and you have to send her out to me while you serve the remaining months of your sentence,’ he said, with a cockiness carved on his face.
She smirked. ‘No, I don’t have to send her out to you. I may not be able to keep her with me, but she doesn’t have to go to you. Oh, come on, Justin, don’t look so shocked. You fucked me over, and by Christ, I will make sure I return the favour.’
His eyes narrowed and he frowned at her anxiously. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘No, of course you wouldn’t because I assume it’s all a shock to you that I could have any friends on the outside now. I have no family, yes, that’s true, but I have friends.’
She was right; he’d assumed she had no one, and he also believed she had no option.
‘But I’m her father. It makes sense for me to have her. I’m her blood.’
‘So is your mother,’ she snapped back.
Justin cocked his head to the side. ‘My mother? Have you been in contact with her?’
‘Yes, Justin, she visits regularly and writes every day. She’s even sent in baby clothes and blankets. She’s been an absolute godsend. It’s a pity that you don’t take after her.’
Biting his bottom lip, Justin felt his stomach churn over. He hadn’t spoken with his mother since the day he stormed out – no, make that was kicked out. He’d taken too much for granted, assuming Kara would be only too pleased to have him to look after their daughter. He was totally blind and stupid. Of course, his mother wouldn’t have stood by and let Kara rot in hell; she was too kind and caring to do that.
He knew Kara was right. She could hand the baby over to his mother – the child’s grandmother – the lawyer had said as much. Lucas, his long-term friend and lawyer, had refused to see Justin again after his no-show in court. So, he’d had to find a new and expensive solicitor. Justin looked at his empty hands: he’d not even brought a card or flowers for Kara. Instead, he’d behaved like a bully. Whatever was he thinking?
‘Okay, Kara, I’ll leave you in peace, but please send a visiting order so that I can at least see her. What’s her name?’ he asked, solemnly.
She looked down at her baby and smiled. ‘Denise Rose, after my friend.’
He paused, surprised that she hadn’t named the baby after her mother. ‘Aw, Kara, I’m sorry to hear about your mother. It must have been a terrible blow for you.’
‘Yes, I guess you could say it was the final nail in the coffin. Anyway, it’s still under investigation as to what really happened, but I’m stuck inside, and all I can do is hope that my lawyer eventually gets to the bottom of it. But that’s not your concern.’
He knew that was another dig at him.
‘What do you mean, your lawyer’s getting to the bottom of it? The bottom of what? Is there anything I should know?’ He tried to sound concerned but at the same time empathetic, although even that seemed to come out wrong. The scowl on Kara’s face said it all.
He left before he said anything else that he would regret. What a mess, he thought. Not only had he handled the conversation badly, but he’d come out of the hospital with a raging headache and feeling totally rejected as well. He’d anticipated an emotional reunion, with Kara being needy and begging to have him back; however, he’d been so riled up, due to his pride and disappointment, that he’d said all the wrong things.
* * *
Watching Justin walk away, Kara thought her heart would be shattered all over again, but it wasn’t. A broad smile stretched across her face, as she kissed her baby on the top of her head. It was a relief that she felt nothing; it was certainly one less worry to contend with.
* * *
During the drive back Justin was consumed with thoughts of Kara. He’d expected her to look rough, but she appeared the same fresh-faced woman he remembered. She was so different from his wife, someone he was beginning to resent. Perhaps when little Ben, their son, came home, if he ever could, then he would witness Lucy being the mother she was supposed to be. He suspected she hadn’t bonded with their child.
Before he made his way to the hospital to see his son, he stopped at the flat to collect a few more boxes. Two weeks had gone by since they had returned. Lucy was so excited to get her foot in the door of his newly renovated house, she hadn’t even bothered packing her old things, simply preferring to buy new. However, he still had to clear the flat before he could hand over the keys.
As he approached the steps leading up to the front door, a smell hit him, a sour metallic odour that made him gag. He naturally assumed it was the drains chucking up that pungent stench. He would have to get it sorted out before the agents checked over the flat. He needed to see the old lady downstairs because it may well be her drainage that was the problem. He had his hand over his face, as he wandered around the side of the building where her front door was. The smell was stronger here, and he had to hold his nose.
After banging three times, he waited. There was no answer, so he peered through the letterbox and jumped back; the heat and the buzzing of flies hit him. Then it dawned on him, the disgusting odour was coming from inside the old lady’s flat. The flies and the fact that the heating must still be on in this hot weather told him all he needed to know. He rushed back to his car and called the police.
He waited patiently by his car as instructed by the policewoman on the phone. It wasn’t long before a police vehicle arrived. Two burly officers clambered out and nodded in his direction. He walked over to them.
‘Are you Justin Fox who called the station?’ asked the larger of the two officers, who then introduced himself as Larry Bart.
‘Yes, I was going to collect the rest of my belongings from my flat when I noticed the smell, and, well, when I lifted the neighbour’s letterbox … perhaps you should check it for yourself.’
Bart walked off to investigate, whilst Conroy Matthews, remained with Justin, taking down a few details. They heard the sound of breaking glass and Matthews was quickly radioed through.
Justin could clearly hear the conversation.
‘Conroy, you need to keep Mr Fox there. I’ll call the sergeant,’ said Bart, his voice shaking.
Matthews walked a few feet away to get out of Justin’s earshot. ‘What’s happened, Larry?’
The radio crackled but Justin could still hear. ‘It looks like the old lady has been hit around the head. Jesus, it stinks. I’m coming out … I don’t want to tamper with the evidence. It looks like she’s been murdered. Fucking poxy flies.’
Matthews looked over at Justin. ‘Mr Fox, please stay where you are.’
Feeling nauseous from the news, Justin nodded compliantly.
As they waited for the coroner, Bart walked back, looked up at the flat, and then studied Justin. ‘So, you’re moving out, then?’
‘No, well, sort of. We m
oved out two weeks ago. I was just about to collect more boxes when I thought the drains were blocked because of the smell.’
Chewing the inside of his lip, Bart gave Justin an enquiring look. ‘Two weeks, you say?’
An uncomfortable feeling swept over Justin. ‘Yes, why?’
‘The deceased woman must have been dead a good few days, maybe weeks. I’m no expert, but she didn’t die yesterday, judging by what I saw.’
A sudden chill ran down his spine. Bart’s studied expression and the pointed observation made Justin feel uneasy. ‘What are you saying?’ he asked, shifting from one foot to the other.
‘Did you notice anyone hanging around, any strange noises, anything unusual?’
Justin shook his head. ‘I never really knew her. I only spoke to her a couple of … Hey, hang on, yes, a month ago, this man, Carl, his name is, was in her flat. He’d left some money behind, and the old lady asked if I would let him know if I saw him.’
Bart narrowed his eyes, as he said, ‘So, this Carl is a friend of yours, then?’
He shook his head. ‘No, she assumed he was because he came to see my wife.’ He stopped and realised it was going to sound odd. ‘This Carl guy is stalking my wife. He raped her when she was a kid, and for some reason, he’s infatuated with her. I don’t know why he was in the old lady’s flat.’
‘Where does this Carl live? Do you know any more about him, or could we speak with your wife?’
Justin tried to think if she’d mentioned where he lived. Then it dawned on him. ‘I know where you’ll find him. He owns Desperados, up the road.’
Matthews closed his notebook and curled his lip. ‘Ahh, I know who you mean, now.’
Justin gave a confident smirk. ‘I’m not surprised. I guessed he was known to the police.’
‘And you say he raped your wife?’
With a serious nod, Justin replied, ‘Yep, when she was a kid.’ He then thought perhaps he’d said too much. Besides, it was his wife’s business, not his to discuss.
‘And your wife’s name, Mr Fox?’
‘Look, I’d rather not get her involved. I think the rape was something she’d prefer to forget.’
Bart, with a deadpan face, repeated his colleague’s question. ‘Her name, sir?’
‘Lucy Fairmount, now Lucy Fox.’
The two officers looked at each other knowingly, and Justin could sense they were mocking him by the half-smiles.
‘Lucy Lou Fairmount?’ sniggered the younger officer.
A cold uneasy dread ripped through him. That name – Lucy Lou – and the jeering look. ‘How do you know my wife?’
Before Matthews could answer, two other police cars and a black Lexus pulled up. The officers turned away from Justin and welcomed the detective. Justin was still eager to know how they knew his wife and tapped the younger officer on the shoulder. ‘How do you know my wife?’ he demanded, but his firm words were ignored.
Then Matthews turned around to face him. ‘Sir, what’s your address?’
Justin reeled it off and asked again. ‘Look, tell me how you know my wife!’
The officer could see he was frustrated. ‘Mr Fox, your wife was known to us a few years ago.’ He held his hand up. ‘She’s not wanted, but let’s just say she has a history. Look, mate, we have your details. Don’t leave the country, and we’ll be in touch.’
‘A history?’ questioned Justin.
‘Look, ask your wife. I’m sure she’ll explain.’
‘And what about this Carl fellow? Are you going to question him?’
With a look of annoyance, Matthews replied, ‘Yes, I will, but I want you to know this. We don’t like anyone taking the law into their own hands. I would be very careful about accusing Carl Meadows of rape.’
‘Why, because he is dangerous? Violent?’
Matthews sighed deliberately and shook his head. ‘No, that’s a serious accusation, sir. Look, maybe you need to have another conversation with your wife and get your facts straight.’
‘So, officer, why would Carl be in the old lady’s house? Do you think he killed her?’
With a look of frustration, Officer Bart replied, ‘Leave the investigation to us, sir. Now, if you don’t mind, we need to clear the area.’
Justin left, with his shoulders slumped and a lot on his mind.
* * *
After a few hours of sleep, Kara woke up to find the nurse holding Denise Rose. ‘How do you feel?’
With sleepy eyes, Kara replied, ‘Yes, I feel much better. May I hold her?’ She held out her hands and winced as she tried to sit up.
‘It will take time to heal, but I can top up your painkiller.’ The nurse smiled.
‘No, I’m fine. It’s just uncomfortable.’
‘Oh, there’s a gentleman outside, waiting to see you.’
Kara assumed it was Justin, ready to have another attempt to talk her round. ‘Tell him, I don’t want to see him again.’
The nurse handed Kara the baby. ‘Again?’
‘Is it the man who was here earlier?’
The nurse shook her head. ‘No.’
‘Oh, okay, please send him in.’
The bouquet of artificial flowers was almost as big as the person carrying them. With a beaming smile and a twinkle in his eye, Rocky entered the room. He placed the flowers on the cabinet and stared for a while. ‘Ahh, my treacle, look at you. Ya look beautiful, babe. Motherhood suits ya.’ He leaned over the bed and kissed her on the forehead and then kissed the baby. ‘Cor, a real living doll, ain’t she? Hang on a minute …’
Kara watched the excitement on his face as he hurried from the room, only to return with a huge basket filled with pink baby gear. He struggled to carry it in. ‘There ya go, babe. Apparently, that’s everything ya need, well, so they told me in Mothercare. I’m new at all this.’
He smiled when he saw her reaction and felt overcome with an emotion that was unfamiliar to him.
‘Oh my gosh, you’re so generous, Rocky. Thank you.’
‘Let’s have a cuddle.’ He giggled like a child, as he held out his hands to take the baby. Kara held her out to him, proud of her tiny bundle.
‘Ahh, she is a beauty, treacle, like her mum. What’s her name?’
She watched him walk around the room, staring down at the baby with such a loving look in his eye.
‘It’s Denise Rose. I named her after Deni.’
The baby started to stir and make a noise, and instantly, he handed her back. ‘She wants her mum.’ He laughed again.
Sitting boldly on the bed with Kara, he took her hand, and his eyes turned serious. ‘Ya know I like ya, babe?’
She blushed.
‘I know you’ve got to serve a couple of years, but that’s okay, see, ’cos I don’t mind waiting. The thing is, Kara …’ He stopped and looked at the door checking no one was there. ‘I, er, well, I have grown kinda fond of ya. I mean, I know it’s early days. I’ve only started to visit ya in the last four months. Oh, Christ, what I’m trying to say is, I love ya, yeah?’
Listening to him, Kara felt joyful tears well up in her eyes. She’d grown fond of him too and had longed to hear those words. She smiled and nodded. ‘I love you too, Rocky.’
‘Do ya, babe? I mean, do ya really love me, or am I just someone to make ya incarceration easier?’
She looked down at her baby and then up at him. ‘No, I have your sister to help me do that. I do love you, Rocky. I never thought I would ever love anyone after Justin, but perhaps I never loved him at all, and I just went through the motions. I was young when I met him, and the relationship just took a natural progression. I didn’t know anything else, but I do now. Funny, really, because you and I are so different.’
He stroked her face. ‘I know, and to be honest, it does bother me. You’re probably used to middle-class people all talking a different language, and I’m not like that, am I? I’m more spit and sawdust, like an old pub, whereas you’re more wine bar.’
She laughed at his analogy.
‘No, I’m not like that. I don’t come from money. I just went to a good school, so that’s why I have this posh accent, but as for knowing the difference between a good wine and a bad one, I have no idea. Yes, we’re different, but I like our differences. It’s not such a bad thing, you know.’
He soaked up her words. ‘So, do you think, Kara Bannon, you would want me when you come home?’
‘Yes, more than anything.’
He moved the loose strand of hair away from her face and examined her eyes for a while. ‘I want to know because I have this nice house. I rent it out, but the lease is up soon. I was gonna get it all done up nice, ya know, for us and little Denise Rose and do the baby’s room up in pink and stuff.’
Kara could feel her heart beat faster; she held her breath.
‘So, if ya still love me when you get out, I thought me and you, girl, and little Denise Rose, here, could make a go of it.’
A tear left her eye and fell to meet her huge smile. ‘I want nothing more, but I’ll try not to get too excited because two years is a long time, and you may change your mind, like Justin did.’
Placing a finger over her lips, he said, ‘Now, you listen, babe. I don’t make promises I can’t keep. Ask me sister. I’ve never had a bird live with me either, so you can get as excited as you bleedin’ like because as far as I’m concerned, you’re my girl, now, and I will treat you like a fucking princess.’
Kara looked down again at the baby.
‘Oh, and little Denise Rose – I will love her as if she were me own, even if she is our only baby,’ he said, as he planted another kiss on the baby’s head.
Kara felt safe and warm in his presence, and she hoped beyond hope that he would wait for her.
‘I have a scar now, Rocky. Denise Rose didn’t come out naturally.’
He threw his head back and laughed. ‘I wouldn’t care if ya had no legs. I’d still love ya.’ A twinkle in his eye and a raised eyebrow made Kara redden.
‘I can’t wait to see that scar.’
She felt bold and daring. ‘I can’t wait to show it to you.’
The gentle kiss became more passionate and was only stopped when the nurse walked in.