by Jave Kavfi
"I recently found out who was doing the watching. A boy. The gardener's son – I can't remember his name, or never knew it. He'd been spying on us for quite some time. He had passed with information on to someone, who then proceeded to blackmail Madeline. She told me and was highly distraught. But instead of supporting her, I was so scared of what my father might think that I panicked. You of all people know how strict and unforgiving he was. I ... I can't believe I did this – but I told her I would say she seduced me. That's what a measly coward I was. To make it worse, I paid no attention to her concerns, but thought only of myself. I had visions of her husband taking a shotgun to me – he was known to have a wild temper in those days. I may have been highly embarrassed over the intimate nature of the photographs. Terrified of my father's disappointment in me. Yes, I was a gutless, snivelling little coward, nothing more. When I look back, I can hardly comprehend my reaction. In this country, two people of our ages can legally marry – and I was behaving like what we did was a hanging offence. Where was the outcry about a man of Mortimer's age and a girl young enough to be his daughter? Who helped her when she was in such distress? I'm certain my response was what led to her death."
"My dear, you cannot blame yourself for what happened."
"No? I do bear some responsibility, even at such a young age I knew the vulnerability of Madeline – was fully aware of how distressed she was over the matter. And please don't point out that Madeline was 'emotionally fragile', because I'm sure her husband had a good deal to do with the anxiety she suffered. She was poor, an art student when she met him. He was her 'mentor' – ha! She might have been impressed by his talent or position, but in the beginning, she had no idea what a ... deviant he was. I should have supported her but didn't. I've had to live with the guilt ever since."
"Dear boy, you must not carry the blame for the events that took place – they were not of your doing. And I would advise you to keep all of this to yourself. It may come to nothing, and there is no point dragging it into the open if we can help it."
"But the investigation. The police are bound to question everyone at some point."
"The police are not yet involved and it is hoped they will not be. The person carrying out enquires is a psychic investigator."
"Dear god..." He throws his hands in the air.
"That was my reaction, as you can imagine, but from past experience, I am convinced this person is genuine."
"For goodness sake, Aunt G – I wouldn't have told you half of this if I had known it was a so-called psychic investigation."
"But perhaps it is good that you did. I have noticed you have been unhappy of late. It might be better if you get some things off your chest."
"Unhappy? Of course I'm not happy. How could anyone be happy married to a woman like Ruby?"
"Oh, dear. I knew you and Ruby have your difficulties but I didn't think it was quite as bad as that. I'm not one to interfere in other people's relationships, but perhaps we could discuss your problems at some point. But I've taken enough of your day and this is keeping you away from morning surgery."
"I have no surgery today. It's a rare day off. I should make the most of it with the children. Ruby is determined to have them sent off to boarding school soon. Thinks it would be 'nice' for there to be just the two of us at home again. That it might revive our failing marriage. It happens over my dead body, but I may not have any say in the matter."
"Why ever not? You're their father – of course you will have input into the decision."
"If only it were that simple. You've no idea what lengths she will sink to in order to hold on to what she now sees as her property. When it comes to Ruby, there is an entirely different personality under her 'charming' outer persona – which is basically a façade."
"I see. Then I will pry a little further. Who was the 'someone' the boy told?"
Mark shakes his head and gives a small laugh. "Well, you might as well know it all. I had always assumed it was one of the Mortimer girls – they resented Madeline and gave her a terrible time. I didn't know the true facts until last week. I met Miss Patterson – she had been the nanny at Ryden and had recently returned to Dashbury."
"Yes, I am aware of that fact."
"She had seen me out with the children and Ruby the day before. This had incensed her, and she lost no time in telling me why. It was Ruby who had blackmailed Madeline. And that was not the first time she had done such a thing. I confronted her and she denied it, but eventually admitted it. Said she was in love with me and had been jealous."
"Heavens... How awful. But a mistake by a young girl – I'm sure she regretted it and learnt her lesson."
Mark gives another mirthless laugh and leans both hands on the table in front of Gertie. "No, no – dear sweet innocent little Ruby – Ruby the butter-wouldn't-melt-in-her-mouth victim – is rather fond of such a thing, as it turns out.
"Many years ago, when I was just setting out with the practice, I made the most dreadful clinical error, which inadvertently led to the death of a young patient. I was over-tired at the time, and the fact I'd been self-medicating prescription drugs for a short period may had something to do with my failed judgement. It took me a while to realise my mistake led to the death, but when I did, I sat down and put it all in a letter to the relevant authorities. A full report, with every detail included. I was seeing Ruby at the time and she persuaded me not to post it – said it was a genuine mistake and admitting it would end my career. I foolishly gave in.
"Ruby and I married. I thought she was such a sweet little thing back then. Some years later, we had the children, and for a time, things were not too bad. But her true nature in her dealings with others became increasingly evident – she is sly, devious and deeply mean-spirited. What turned out to be her obsession with me made me feel stifled and trapped. I was unhappy and wanted to end the marriage, but that is when she revealed what she had done with my confessional letter. It now resides in a sealed envelope with her solicitor. I don't doubt she would have no hesitation in using it if I continue to pursue my plans to break away from her. She'd do it – I have never met a more vindictive creature in my life.
"The revelations would have a devastating effect, even after all this time. It would ruin me – finish my career. I dread to think what effect it would have on the children and my father – you know he hasn't been in the best of health in recent years. So you see, happiness eludes me at present, and there is always the guilt that my selfish actions contributed to a loss of two lives."
Gertie leaps from her chair. "The woman is contemptable. Such behaviour is deplorable. What a fiendishly difficult position to put you in. We must think of a way to get you out of this predicament."
Mark pats his aunt on her arm. "Yes. But it will be me who will have to find a solution to this, so please don't concern yourself with my domestic dramas. I've been extremely tense of late and have made matters worse by a foolish indiscretion. I'll let matters settle for now, before I formulate a plan to release me from the situation. Please don't worry about it. I should go now and spend some time with the children. And I do apologise for being so dismissive of your friend's investigation. Despite my scepticism over the psychic factor, I do trust your good judgement and know you have solved many a case on your own. If I can help you with anything else..."
"One last thing – were you acquainted with Victoria Argent? She was a sculptor who helped Curtis Mortimer with the stone maze."
"Vaguely. She was an old friend of his, I believe. American. She came and went over the years, as far as I can remember."
"And she had a son?"
"I couldn't say for certain. I do seem to recall there being a boy there on a couple of occasions that last summer. He might be the one I stopped from taunting the dogs. Yes, now I think of it, he was throwing stones at the pups, and I gave him a thump on the ear. He may have been that woman's son."
"Could he have been the son of Curtis?"
"It's possible, Curtis Mortimer was known for
his multiple affairs. What has this got to do with anything? Oh, you're not suggesting the boy had anything to do with Evangeline's death, are you? If it's the one I'm thinking of, he couldn't have been much more than twelve at the time of the picnic."
"Sad to say, but it is not unknown for children to kill."
"Yes, or to blackmail. Apparently, Ruby was at it for years. According to her, it started as a response to being bullied, but it soon became second nature."
"Such a confused and foolish woman. Doesn't she know one cannot force anyone to love who they do not?"
"Ruby doesn't hold that view. She thinks she can, and she's obsessed. During our last discussion on the subject, she left me with these words – I worship you. Of course you love me. We will be together forever. You must know I love the air you breathe."
Chapter 40
Caden gives the tyre a good kick. "This piece of junk is not long out of the repair shop. Come on – we'll have another go."
"In this? It's pissing down," Tyler says. "We should wait it out for a while. Not in any hurry to get to Ryden – be glad when we finish with that place, gives me the heebie jeebies."
Caden leans into the car. "No – it can't wait. Get your arse out of there and help me push, you lazy bastard."
"Keep your hair on..."
The two men push and the car finally splutters into life. "Jump in," Caden shouts, making a dive for the driving seat.
"That bird of yours," Tyler says. "How did you manage to pull a girl like that, you lucky–"
"Just don't," Caden tells him.
"Just saying. Man, there better not be any cops around here, the speed you're going at. You want to take your foot off the gas?"
"No. Shut the hell up." Caden speeds up.
"Don't know what the big hurry is, anyway," Tyler says, lifting his backside off the seat and loudly breaking wind. "I knew I shouldn't have had that second fry-up this morning. My ma doesn't half go heavy on the beans."
"Jeez..." Caden opens the driver side window.
"Hey, did I show you what I found?" Tyler goes into his pocket, takes out an object and dangles it in front of Caden.
"A fricken necklace? Big deal." Caden brushes it away from his face.
"Yeah, not worth much, I reckon. My ma says it's silver but low quality, so she wouldn't get much for it. But she says it's like a good luck omen and could ward off evil spirits. That's what she says anyway, what with it being a cross." He stuffs it back in his pocket.
"Let me have another look at that?" Caden says.
"Make up your mind." Tyler holds the cross up.
"Where did you find it? At Rylen?"
"Yeah. You know the path beside the ravine? Was out there taking a wander. Not too close, though – that thing's so deep you can't even see the base. Whoa – what's the kid doing out here in this weather?"
Caden stops the car and gets out.
"Have you seen Pip?" Kenzie says. "He's not in the house and Mummy is looking for him."
"The lake," Caden says, taking off at a run, with Tyler following.
He sees it as he cuts through the last of the trees. The hull of the rowboat out on the water. The small floating figure.
"I can't swim," Tyler is shouting, but Caden is already in, swimming at speed towards the boy.
Lucinda stopped screaming and took over the CPR, while Tyler was on the road to meet the ambulance. Caden didn't move away until the little boy was breathing. Through the trees he had saw the figure and felt he had no choice but to follow.
"You can hear me," he says. "You have no memory of your last day, do you? It was Jonny Thompson. Your sister's husband. He pushed you into the tree and you banged your head. You were unconscious but still alive. He took you to the water and threw you in. Your sister and the children are not safe."
Evangeline spins away from him and has vanished in an instant.
They're almost at the house and the rain is torrential. The boy is breathing but the ambulance has not yet arrived. "Get his father," Lucinda screams. "He's in the tower."
Tyler runs to the tower and hammers on the door. The building appears to be shaking; there is a tremendous noise from inside. "He's shouting," Tyler is saying. "Somethings wrong – we'll need to put the door in."
Caden steps back and looks up at the top window.
"You hear me?" Tyler shouts. "That guy is screaming. Help me put the door in."
"Leave it," Caden says with a smile.
Chapter 41
Ana has taken Boris upstairs for his food and is now tidying the shop; picking up books and putting them back on shelves. The book fair was a good idea in terms of profits and making new contacts, but she'll be glad when it's over – the preparation is time-consuming and the cleaning up afterwards is worse. Gideon is in the back, fetching books she has to send off for mail orders. It's strange having him here and even stranger that he's not out looking for Hetty. She's almost certain Caden asked him to keep an eye on her – it might be he's worried in case Gideon was followed.
She's been on edge all day, for no specific reason. There have been a few odd customers she was keeping an eye on. A furtive girl who might have been shoplifting, an exceedingly tall man in a grubby mac who was staring, but averted his eyes when she looked up. A younger man in a tight brown suit, slicked-down hair and rimless glasses, who sat at the table for hours, taking notes. The last customer has left now, so she just has to cash-up and then she'll be able to relax. About time; she's pretty much exhausted.
A thud from the back shop. "Gideon? You all right back there?" No answer.
A few steps forward and she sees his boots toe-up on the floor. He's collapsed? Been knocked-out? She's heading for the cupboard to get her gun. A hand clamps over her nose and mouth and she's being dragged backwards. Trying to scream and bite and ram her elbows into the assailant. She's off her feet and being lifted into the back shop. Gideon is flat out on the floor with a hypodermic needle sticking out of his neck.
There are two identical men. The brown-suited man who was taking notes, times two. Ana has had her hands clamped behind her with some device and she isn't screaming or struggling. A full syringe was held in front of her eyes and she was told the slightest movement would mean they would instantly inject her. The man explained this would kill her if she did not receive the antidote within the hour, but that the baby would not survive it. Did she understand? She quickly nodded.
Both men are on the phone. One is at the far wall, near the back door, talking quietly, but his eyes are on her and he has a syringe in one hand. The other man appears to be writing a text. The phones are unlike any she has ever seen, and so are the men. The strangeness she had noted before is now evident – they move in an odd jolting manner, they seem not to blink, close-up their complexion has an artificial sheen. They appear to be carbon copies of each other in every respect. A fresh wave of sweat breaks out all over her body.
*
"Oi, this is a no smoking vehicle," Caden says to Tyler. "Ana travels in here."
Tyler rolls down the window and throws his cigarette out. "Gimme a break. I needed something to calm me nerves. That was way scary and freaky as hell. Heart attack ... he didn't go quietly, did he?"
"He did not."
"So, what's the story then? Why didn't you help me kick in that door?"
"How good are you at keeping your mouth shut?"
"I'm only asking, for Christ's sake."
"No, I meant if I tell you something, will you keep it to yourself."
"Won't go out of this car."
"You know your mother says I'm psychic?"
"Yeah, and she's never wrong. So, you're psychic. I knew there was something weird about you. No offence."
"None taken. So, my psychic abilities told me that guy was no good. That he would go on to kill and the best thing to do was not interfere in the natural way of things. That was his moment to go and it was for the best. The kid is okay and that's all that matters."
"Wow. You knew he was som
e kind of psycho, did you? That's one excellent ability to have. Can you tell if I'm going to meet a hot chick any time soon, because I'm desperate for a shag."
"Nah, sorry mate, now you're talking miracles and that's way out of my realm."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa – did you see that?" Tyler is craning his neck to see out of the back windscreen. "Talking of hot chicks. You get an eyeful that bird trying to hitch a lift?"
"I saw her." Caden pulls the car over.
"Hang on – you're not going to give her a lift, are you? She could be a nutter. We could get accused of anything."
"Can't leave a girl standing in the rain, can we?" Caden gets out and opens the back passenger door.
"Where have you been?" the girl says as she clambers in. "My frock is well soaked and my pumps are in ruins." She lifts a leg on to the back of the front seat, pulls back layers of black lace and satin and flashes a leg clad in over-the knee striped socks.
"Put your eyeballs back in their sockets," Caden says to Tyler as he drives on.
The girl puts her leg down and leans forward. "I knew you would be about here, Caden."
He gives her a grin in the rear view mirror. "It's like you've got radar."
"So, you two know each other?" Tyler says.
"You could say that," Caden replies.
The girl jerks a thumb towards Tyler. "We need to get rid of this one. Me and you have some important private business to attend to."
Caden nods. "I was just thinking the same thing. We'll ditch him on the edge of town."
Chapter 42
Gideon hasn't moved. The fact he died over a century ago, but is still 'living' might mean – what, in terms of the lethal injection? Ana doesn't know, but is filled with pity and sadness seeing him lying there. Being helpless to do anything to save him.