by Andrew Hood
Don interrupted. “Remember Shane, this is dependant on your silence around everything you know about Adam. We will simply say that we are still investigating the perpetrator. Then, when your case is over, Adam goes to court separately and if we need you to testify we can hide your identity. I don’t want the two cases connected. Apart from Adam, who is a complete fool, my detectives are good people. They put their lives on the line daily to protect and serve the community.They deserve better than to be associated with that idiot.” He said the last word tilting his head toward the door. “Belinda will be there to support you through the process. I have already approved it with her boss.”
Anita took Shane’s hand and looked him in the eyes. “Do it and come home. We need you back.”
Shane had done too much thinking over the last week. Exhausted he simply replied “Ok”. The relief was immediate.
( * )
Once his damage control was complete, Don left the room leaving Belinda behind with the Kirk family.
Belinda broke the silence. “Shane, just so that I know what sparked all of this, what made you suspect it was Adam?” Shane’s reply was not immediate. “I think you give me too much credit actually.To be totally honest I didn’t think that it was him but I knew the moment he insisted I only call his mobile and speak to him alone that he had something to hide. I knew that if I didn’t take alternate action my side of the story would never be told. That’s when I decided that anything I told him - I wanted to tell you also. You were the one that put it all together. I should be asking you the same question.”
“Then Adam had no one to blame but himself!”Belinda replied.“At the start I just thought that he was determined to close the case and was cutting corners to do so. I only thought of him as a serious suspect when he was determined to arrest Keyman regardless of any other investigation. It then occurred to me that everything he ever told me was to arrive at the conclusion that John Keyman was a guilty man. It was all just too controlled, like I had been led down a path where I had no choice but to arrive at the only logical solution.” Belinda shook her head slowly as if to apologize for taking so long to figure it out.
Shane accepted her apology, “As long as it is all over. That’s all that matters. I just want my life back.”
Chapter 15
Three months after giving himself up to police Shane was starting to enjoy life again. “So tell me again how you’re supposed to be some violent underworld criminal?” Shane’s new friend Steve had never stopped teasing him since they met at community service two weeks before. For Shane, who had been taking himself way too seriously he had been the perfect companion.
“I told you, I just lost my temper at work and hurt my boss.” “Shane I like you and all, but to put it mildly, you’re a bit of a pussy. You stopped painting yesterday because you didn’t want to get paint on your trousers. I really don’t see you getting much blood on your hands.”Steve himself was working off some minor credit card fraud which was a first offence so that he got off with just enough to teach him a lesson.
“You should be worried! I’m a pretty tough guy.” Shane tried to keep a straight face but it wouldn’t stick. “Seriously though Steve, I didn’t mean to do it.”
“How can you not mean to do it? Of course you did. They pissed you off and you got angry.”
“There’s more to it than that.” Shane’s smile disappeared taking the mood with it. “Like what? We’ll be working here till three. You may as well tell me the story. If we’re going to go into business together I need to know who I’m dealing with.”
Shane took a deep breath to think about what he might say. “I sort of got brainwashed into hating my boss. They hypnotized me and suggested that murdering people might solve my problems. I know it sounds crazy.”
Steve scratched his head. “It sounds crazy when you say it that way. I guess you could think about it like this, every suicide bomber you have ever read about has been brainwashed at some point. Last week I even read about a detective who tried to do some crazy shit like that. Luckily they caught him before anyone got hurt. He’s doing time though..”
“Yeah it’s just like that.” Shane had agreed never to talk about what had happened with Adam Kelly, and being the one thing that had kept him out of jail, it was an easy promise to keep. “What’s this crap about us going into business together anyway?”
“You’re a lucky man Shane. Because I like you, I’m going to let you work with me on a business I’m starting up. Don’t worry. We’re going to be rich.”
Shane laughed. It seemed like yesterday he had heard almost the same words from Pete. His mobile phone rang. “Hi Babe, glad you called.”
“Why, what’s up?” Anita sounded worried.
“Nothing, I’ve got some good news for you. Steve is going to make me rich.” Shane said it loud enough for Steve to be involved in the conversation.
“Wow and you told me you would only be mixing with criminals doing community service,” Belinda replied.
Shane leaned toward Steve. “She asked me why I would want to go into business with a criminal? I said it’s because I’m one. It evens everything out.”
Now it was Steve’s turn to laugh.
Anita was still on the phone. “Ok Mr. Trump, are you talking to me now?”
“I’m all yours beautiful.”
“Good, when are you coming home?” Belinda asked.
“I should be there about four, why?” “I just wanted to know what time to put Leon to bed for his afternoon nap. I’ll put him down at three thirty and be waiting for you.” Anita has a mischievous tone in her voice.
“Why, what are we doing?”
“Whatever you want, but just remember ‘I’m naked under these clothes.’”
Twice that afternoon Shane nearly dropped a tin of paint on himself as he rushed to finish his day’s work. He hadn’t felt so relaxed in years.
The End