The Vine Cross (The Vine Series Book 1)

by S P Dawes

  Hayley was still distant, but the more he tried to get her to open up, the more she’d clam up. Jesse felt like he was walking on a tightrope and the baby wasn’t helping. He couldn’t work out whether he should get attached. He was fairly sure she would adopt if it was Demy’s, meaning he’d be saying goodbye forever. But the alternative meant he was holding off bonding with his son, he would never get that time back.

  Martin walked over to the spare seat and sat down so he was on the same level as Jesse.

  “You’re right, I can’t imagine. I actually came in with some news about the case.”

  Jesse sat back, perking up at some long-anticipated information, and waited for Martin to continue.

  “I’m obviously not here telling you anything about the case, because that would be inappropriate. But if I were, I’d tell you Gleeson just flipped on Demy for the murders and abduction. Seems he’s less worried about sex trafficking and drugs than he is about murder.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Just that Demy went off on his own. They brought the girls who he killed originally over from Russia for the church. Seems Gleeson’s not the God-fearing type, so he had nothing to do with that. And it was what we thought. They got pregnant to someone in the congregation. Seems after that they became dispensable, so they sent them back to work. I think Demy saw them as a release for his anger. He pictured Hayley and did to them, what he couldn’t do to her.”

  “Shit!” said Jesse, absorbing the news.

  “Seems Hayley had other reasons to be kept around. Baxter’s not her father, but without someone to test and compare, we won’t be able to find out who is. My guess is Demy already knew that, and that’s why he didn’t kill her the first-time round. She’s important to him somehow, or rather her bloodline is, but whether we get to the bottom of that is anyone’s guess.”

  “Has she been told?” He asked Martin, wondering if she was keeping information from him.

  “No, thought I’d run that by you first.” Jesse ran his hand through his hair and smiled his understanding and thanks.

  “Anything happening regarding Lynnie?”

  “No, not yet. Gleeson’s not budging on her location. I can’t work out if it’s loyalty, protection or fear.”

  “Hayley’s convinced she’s not in on this,” offered Jesse, gauging Martin’s response.

  “I wish I had her confidence. You had the DNA results back yet?” Asked Martin.

  “No, not yet. If I’m honest, mate, I’m dreading it,” admitted Jesse.

  “There’s a lot at stake,” confirmed Martin thoughtfully.

  “She spoke to the nurse at the clinic. They confirmed taking antibiotics while on the pill could interfere with its effectiveness. But, really, what are the fucking odds?”

  Martin watched the pain wash over Jesse’s face, wishing he could take it away.

  “If you need a break sometime, call me, we both need a beer.” Martin stood back up and pushed the chair beneath the desk. “And send Hayley my love, she’s a tough cookie, but this has been something else.”

  “Thanks, I will. When are you heading back to Mansfield?” Asked Jesse, hoping it would be soon. He needed him by his side. Work just wasn’t the same without his quips and colourful language.

  “Once we tie this case up tighter than a nun’s snatch,” said Martin, grabbing the door and opening it.

  “Thanks for the visual,” smirked Jesse, rising from his own chair. He needed a coffee.

  Just then the phone on his desk rang out, nodding towards Martin to let him go, he picked up the receiver.

  Standing in the foyer of Newark police station, she hoped she hadn’t missed him on his way back to Mansfield. She knew he had been here this morning for a meeting, but she had no idea what time the meeting was due to finish. The receptionist had already called up, but she had only relayed the message. Hayley tapped her shoe on the floor. She was so nervous she just wanted to get this over with.

  “Hayley!”

  Hayley looked up to see Jesse leaning over the balcony down at her.

  “You OK?” He asked, rushing down the stairs.

  When he was on the same level as her, she passed him the brown envelope then carried on biting her thumb nail watching him go through all the emotions she had just been through in private.

  “I hope 99.9% is good enough?” She beamed after knowing he had read it.

  Turning to her, he grabbed hold of her waist and spun her round. Placing her back on the floor, he kissed her so hard she thought her neck might snap under the pressure. When he let go of her, he grabbed for the handle of the car seat and pulled him up closer.

  “Hello son,” the word caught in his throat, and Hayley rubbed his back to ground him. “You need a name, now Mummy and Daddy have sorted themselves out,” he said wiping the escaping tears of joy.

  “I was thinking, Daniel,” said Hayley tentatively, watching for his reaction. She wasn’t sure his face could light up anymore, but it did. She slung her arms around his neck, watching the joy dance in his eyes.

  “I like it, any middle names, because his last names non-negotiable, you know that, right?” asked Jesse scowling, hoping there was no argument to that.

  “I was thinking of naming him after the man that saved both our lives,” she smiled.

  “Well, Daniel Martin Hallam, we best get you registered.”

  THE END.

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  The Vine Tree Teaser

  Chapter 1

  Hayley sat on the settee, proudly watching Daniel, who was engrossed in the fuss that was being made of him by his grandparents for his ‘naming’ party. Refusing to have him christened had caused unrest in the family, and this was her way of smoothing things over with everyone it had upset.

  Hayley and Jesse, Daniel’s father, reconciled that a naming celebration gave everyone a chance to have a party and officially welcome him into their family. Something that needed to happen because of his abrupt and shocking entrance.

  Hayley couldn’t stomach doing that in a church. She never wanted to go near one ever again, coupled with the fact she didn’t need a priest to deliver him from evil because in her mind she’d already achieved that herself, she didn’t need God. He had deserted her a long time ago.

  Daniel had been born the day Hayley had escaped captivity from her former ex, who was the head of a religious sect that dabbled in arranged marriages and financial contracts such as drugs and prostitution.

  After Hayley had escaped the first time, she had thought her life could only get better. But she had become embroiled in a case that Jesse had been investigating.

  When Hayley had escaped for the second time, to protect Jesse from a hired hit man, she had gone into labour. Everyone at the time had thought the child resulted from the abuse she’d endured at the hands of Demy, but after DNA testing, it had confirmed that her scant time with Jesse before they had abducted her, was enough to father Daniel.

  Her abuser was living at her majesties pleasure awaiting trial for his part in sex trafficking and illegal drug distribution as well as abduction, rape and illegal imprisonment. He hadn’t seen her since the day he’d left to complete a transaction at the port, and she was in no rush to face him in court. Her testimony was going to be harrowing, and she only wished she wouldn’t have to attend. But part of her wanted to see him rot in jail and look him in the eyes when she delivered the last nails to his coffin.

  Daniel’s arrival into hers and Jesse’s life after such a traumatic experience wasn’t something, they handed self-help pamphlets out for, and they had struggled. Their relationship had become so strained that eventually Hayley had called time on them, moving out several weeks before the party, and only a week after their first Christmas together.

  Jesse’s parent’s Marie and Michael had welcomed her into their home for the second time. And whilst she knew it disappointed them, they had never made her feel any less part of
the family, and she appreciated that. With no one else to rely on for help, their unwavering support was much needed, if undeserved, in her mind.

  Daniel’s grandparents were more than prepared to show him off and take the limelight. Something else she was thankful for. With so many people she didn’t know coming and going through the house all day to drop off presents and request cuddles, she felt even more out of the loop. She kept having to remind herself that this was what family was; she wanted Daniel to have as many people as possible. Knowing how it felt to be alone, she’d never want that for him.

  Preferring to be in the shadows, she made her way round the living room to pick up everyone’s empty cups so she could escape to the kitchen to replenish everyone’s drinks. Being useful felt a lot better than observing everyone around her dote on her son when she didn’t feel involved.

  Hayley didn’t understand what was happening. She felt down all the time, lonely, but didn’t want involvement with anything. She wanted to cry so much that it hurt to hold the tears in and any energy she woke up with quickly depleted. While she knew she needed help, asking for it was too remote to comprehend. She was hoping the enormous dark cloud hovering over her would break soon and disappear, but the more it hung around, the more she felt under it.

  Breaking up with Jesse had only compounded her feelings of worthlessness, he didn’t deserve her outbursts and shitty moods, and she’d seen him struggle with her emotions. Jesse, tiptoeing around her, walking on eggshells in his own home, upset her. He’d been nothing but good to her, and she had brought her darkness along for the ride. She felt broken and she couldn’t allow Jesse to fix her. He didn’t owe her anything, and she needed to keep it that way. In her world, debts always got paid.

  Daniel eagerly watched his Nana shake a rattle in front of him. Marie looked at him with love and admiration while Michael looked on with unmistakable pride in his eyes. Lifting him up in the air, above his head making him giggle, Daniel dripped saliva onto Michael’s balding head. Grimacing, he lowered him once again, wiping his face on his sleeve.

  Hayley watched on as Marie lunged forward to take her grandson in her arms as the living room door swung open and Jesse stood watching the excitement unfold. Turning to Hayley who stood motionless as she watched him breathe heavily from running, saw his expression waver slightly, and it had her heart clamping. Pinning her with his eyes, she could see it hurt him to see her there and a wave of renewed guilt washed over her. She had been his biggest mistake.

  A week after Christmas they had gone their separate ways, after finding it impossible to be the people that they each needed. No matter how much they had attempted to stick by each other and help one another through their trials and tribulations, they had fallen short and had ultimately reconciled that they needed space from each other to heal.

  But with being eternally connected through their only son, they were still learning how to be around each other without being ‘together’. His face now proved to her, he hadn’t worked out how to do that yet, and maybe she never would.

  Walking over to Daniel holding his hands out. Daniel strained his podgy little arms to get to him and Marie passed him over, laughing at how much Daniel must have missed him. Hayley and Jesse understand the hint and looked at each other knowingly but with warmth before Jesse turned back to his son, pulling at his tie.

  Michael and Marie had not taken the news that they were giving up well. They were both convinced that they should work at it, but Hayley and Jesse had ultimately decided that maybe they shouldn’t have to work so hard to make something that should come naturally, work.

  “How are you?” Asked Jesse, leaving the chaos of the living room and closing the door behind him a few minutes later.

  Hayley had taken leave as soon as possible. Having Jesse in the same room as her only stirred up emotions that were best left alone. Turning from the kettle, she smiled her fake smile to show he had no effect on her and she could be around him without wanting to cling to him like an infant.

  “Good. You?” She squeaked, trying to sound brighter than she felt.

  Jesse watched her shifting from one foot to the other as if to find a position she didn’t feel so vulnerable in. But other than that, she looked good, happy, and that thought pained him, as he hadn’t been able to provide her with that whilst they had been together, to realise she’d found that without him stung.

  The sudden realisation made him feel useless. How had she become so empowered without him when all he’d tried to do was to protect and take care of her? How had he failed so badly to show her how much she meant to him? Because he’d failed to protect her, and that was the long and short of it. She held him responsible, and she’d be right to. He felt dreadful for how he had treated her before she had gone missing, and even worse that they had taken her at all. It had been his job to protect her, and he’d failed.

  “Yep,” answered Jesse, running his hand through his hair.

  Thinking of asking him what was wrong, she instantly dismissed it. She couldn’t be that person anymore, after all they were trying to cut ties, not get closer. All she had to do was to take part in making a stable environment for Daniel, so their contaminated relationship never affected him. That meant stepping back, letting someone else take care of him. That thought alone sent a shiver down her spine and she turned back to the kettle to re-balance. “Coffee?”

  Jesse nodded and Hayley took another cup down from the cupboard above her head, trying to control her pounding heart.

  When the kettle finished boiling, Hayley made the drinks and Jesse walked over to help her deliver the cups. In doing so, his hand brushed across the top of hers. Both feeling it, they stopped moving and gave each other a second to process what had happened. They weren’t together, but that didn’t mean that the spark between them had received the memo.

  Hayley forced herself not to look up, knowing her lips would be only centimetres from his, scratching her right eyebrow instead. She covered her face from view as Jesse watched her tense. “Do you want to take yours and your dad’s in?”

  “Sorry?” Asked Jesse absently.

  “Drink.” Smiling; embarrassed to be daydreaming. He picked up two cups by the handles, turning away from her as she looked up towards the ceiling, to steady her breathing, and tip the threatening tears back into her eyelids.

  Christmas had been the last time the family had been together and what should have been a joyous occasion felt oddly sombre, especially with it being the first time the family had all got together since her abduction. The celebration his parents had envisioned hadn’t materialised. Feelings were still raw. Explanations still hadn’t surfaced, and the tension had been so visible you could almost cut through it with a knife. But they had all agreed to meet up for Daniel. Although the brothers and Hayley understood, it was more for their parents’ sake.

  Later into the Christmas evening, keeping up appearances had been hard to manage in the face of such bombardment, so they had both stepped outside to get some fresh air when Daniel was being force fed angel delight. They hadn’t spoken, just leant up beside each other in the cool air, taking in the scent of the icy sugar beet factory that surrounded the old market town. But oddly, it had been the only time of that day they had enjoyed. It had been quiet, still, and they had been close to each other without messing it up and causing more upset or anguish, something they’d barely been able to manage since she’d given birth to their son.

  Thinking back, Hayley remembered it being the only time they hadn’t argued. Just stood enjoying the cool air on their faces away from the excitement, then as quickly as it had happened the spell had broken by his phone and he had disappeared inside to answer it. All she had wanted to do was tell him how sorry she was and wrap her arms around him. Hoping he would pull her into him. She needed to feel his heartbeat under hers, and the security he offered, but then that led to the memories of rejection. He hadn’t touched her since she had got back, as though she was spoilt and she hated he saw her abuser
every time they got close. It only reminded her of what he’d done to her, and that they broke her.

  Hayley leant on the worktop still looking at the ceiling remembering Christmas with sadness weighing heavy in her heart. Whatever feelings she had had all those months ago, she knew they would not disappear overnight, but they were becoming more like sores. One scratch and they seeped, reopened, and got infected, causing more pain than before. If she wasn’t careful, they’d never heal.

  She’d never heal.

  “Where is he?” Shouted Rob, bursting into the kitchen like a wind-up jack-in-the-box.

  Hayley turned to him, smiling, nodding towards the living room. She watched him repeat the process before swinging Daniel around in the air. It had been remarkable how Daniel being on the scene had helped repair the damage done to Jesse and Rob’s relationship. It had taken a little longer with Hayley but they were now on speaking terms and she was sure he believed her version of events, even if he still didn’t like to hear about his ex-girlfriend’s involvement. But she couldn’t blame him for that.

  Caitlyn had conspired with Hayley’s ex, Demy, to abduct her, resulting in Hayley being beaten, starved and raped. Her involvement had been pivotal in getting Hayley where they needed, and so Jesse’s team had thrown the book at her, establishing a guilty sentence lasting five years.

  Rob had always defended her involvement, saying she hadn’t had a choice. They had threatened her, and she was defending and protecting herself.

  Jesse hadn’t taken to his version of events very well, and they’d come to blows frequently.

  Twenty minutes later Daniel sat between Jesse’s legs on the floor banging on his drum kit with the palm of his hands, enjoying the sound it made and the reactions from his grandparents each time he hit it. Hayley had handed everyone a drink, and she sat on the arm of the sofa closest to the door whilst watching Daniel belly chuckle at his grandparents. Rob sat in the middle of the sofa quietly watching with a contented look on his face.