by Maggie Mundy
Chapter Fifteen
A month had passed since Queensland, and Greg was beginning to relax again. The whole thing at the airport with Sam had freaked him out. For the week after they got back he jumped every time the front doorbell rang, thinking it would be the cops.
He couldn’t deny that three months of living in the same place with the same woman had proved to be exhilarating, and frightening at the same time. Every time he gazed at her he still smiled, and his heart beat a bit too fast. There was no all-encompassing passion, but something more. He belonged to something, and it was like an addiction he didn’t want to give up. Even the trip to Queensland had gone better than he thought it would, except for meeting Sam. Thankfully, Beth had believed they were old friends and hadn’t asked any more questions. He didn’t expect to hear from his old cellmate again, anyway, and for now he didn’t have any other inmates turning up on his doorstep.
No one had touched his pick-up since he’d moved in, either. Will had been away more than he was around. As far as Greg was concerned, he liked it that way. Beth had been annoyed with him for telling the freak to stay away, but Keri had been happy. Said she thought him creepy. She said her dad wouldn’t have like him hanging around, either. The guy had the look of some of those he’d met in jail: Loners, who just didn’t fit in with the rest of the world. Greg realized that was a bit rich coming from him, but it was true.
There were no more visits from Jeff either, which was the way he wanted to keep it. He remembered the words, “she is yours”: It was a statement that held responsibility, and he was standing by it. He just would do it on his own, without the weird messages and Beth hearing voices in her head.
Today in the house, chaos ruled as usual. As always with Beth, it was organized chaos. She was all dolled up and looked fantastic, but tonight it had nothing to do with him, though he would be happy to oblige when she got home. Her body was a drug and he was happy to overdose on it whenever he could. The smell and taste of her was almost enough to drive him insane.
Tonight, her parents were taking her to the opera. Greg hadn’t been invited, but then again that was nothing new. He didn’t like opera anyway. Just sounded like a load of people screeching to him. He didn’t like her mother Gillian, and she made it quite clear she didn’t like him. Her dad, Harry would look almost apologetic at his wife’s attitude as she either looked down her nose or ignored Greg at any family function. A night at Pete’s, watching cricket with the lads, was definitely more what he was suited to that Verdi’s whatever.
Beth fumbled through her bag, making sure she had her phone. “Are you sure about this, Keri? I don’t even like opera that much. It’s just, Mum bought the tickets a while back and they’re so expensive.”
Beth ran her hands through the hair she had just spent ages getting to look right. Greg grinned. Damn, he wanted to hold this woman so much. He loved it the most when her hair looked all messed up from sex with him.
“Mum, go. Greg, you go too. Look, I think Tyler and I can cope with my two brothers, and anyway Greg’s not far away, as long as he isn’t pissed at Uncle Pete’s.”
“It’s a possibility,” Greg laughed. He had a carton of beer in the pick-up waiting to go.
“That makes me feel so good––and don’t say pissed in front of David,” Beth said.
“Honest, Mum. Have you heard some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth? Makes me look like a nun.”
“I doubt that, but don’t say it anyway,” Beth said. The doorbell rang and Greg left Beth to sort out the kids while he answered it. Gillian stood there, as antagonistic as ever—either that, or the pursed lips meant she was constipated. With Beth’s mother, he could never be sure and didn’t want to find out. If the woman held her purse much tighter it would crumble under the pressure, or maybe she wanted to hit him with it. She had only spoken about ten words to him since they had met. Maybe she could see through him. He hated the idea, but knew she would be vindicated in her feelings one day. He just didn’t see why some people had to be so fucking righteous.
He thought back and remembered how Christmas lunch had been a harrowing experience for all of them. The season of goodwill to all men hadn’t extended to him. He hoped Harry would take her away on one of their trips again, and it couldn’t happen too soon for Greg. The longer this went on, the crazier he was becoming.
They had to find out soon, and he had no idea where things would go from there. He had considered he would off himself. Just drive into a tree, somewhere on a country road. That way Beth would think it was an accident. He wouldn’t do it. He would survive and move on. He would have to watch them from a distance. This was just another chapter of his life, and that was all. It was the only good chapter so far.
****
Greg sat back and watched as the others got into the cricket on television. The new plasma screen might have something to do with it. Greg considered this could be like the future opening up in front of him, and would it be such a bad one? Hell no. Then again, it was a fake future, based on a fake present with a real person.
Pete cracked a joke. Greg joked back, but a part of him wanted to run. Running from your past was the only way. If you stayed too long anywhere, people started to like you. He couldn’t even get pissed anymore because he was too much of a control nut these days, waiting for it all to go wrong.
The phone rang and he jumped.
“It’s Keri,” Pete said, as he sat back down with the guys.
Greg took the phone.
“I tried to talk to Mum, but her phone’s off. The police are outside, and they want to speak to us. Something’s happened next door. Josh is all upset what with the sirens waking him up. Please, come back.”
He could hear the panic in her voice. Greg thought about his perfect combination of what would send his life to hell: Police and things they don’t understand. Beth’s kids were in the house, and his boy was there too, and they were in danger. He wouldn’t let them down. He had no choice, no matter what the outcome. It had been good while it lasted.
“I need to go. Keri reckons something’s happened to the old lady next door, and the cops are there. She tried to phone Beth, but couldn’t get through.” Greg stood up and grabbed his car keys off the table. He had only had two beers, so he should be all right to drive.
“I’ll go with you,” Pete offered.
“Don’t be stupid, stay here. The guys are having a good time. I’ll phone. You’ve had too much to drink, anyway. It’s probably just those kids doing egging and graffiti again.”
Pulling into the street, Greg saw the flashing lights and tasted the bile in his throat as his stomach contents threatened to come up. Maybe it would have been better for Pete to come along. It was just a matter of time until they all found out, anyway. He pulled in the driveway, and by the time he walked to the front door, there was a cop behind him. It had to be a cop. No one else was moving on the street. Greg’s back shivered, and he stiffened as he clenched his fist. It was almost like being inside again. He needed to take a slow, deep breath before he turned around.
“Excuse me, sir.”
Sir. What a laugh. It would be you scum soon. Greg turned around and smiled. This cop would have been at school when he went inside. So many stories he could tell him that would shock him. Greg’s mind changed with the appearance of the policeman. The old Greg came back, the one who survived on his own, the one nobody in this new home knew. The new Greg hadn’t been real, anyway.
“It’s okay, I live here.” Greg put his hands up, which was not such a good idea. It gave the impression he expected to get arrested. The cop gave him the once over. “I just got a call from the kids to come back. They saw you out front and freaked.”
He heard the front door open behind him.
“Greg,” Keri yelled, and ran toward him and hugged him. That had to be a first. He knew she’d accepted him these last months, but she would never actually touch him.
The cop relaxed and followed them inside. Tyler held Josh
in his arms and looked pale enough to pass out. David sat on the floor staring out the front window. Keri went over and took Josh back from Tyler.
The policeman coughed to get their attention back. “There’s been an incident next door, and we would like to search your back yard to see if there’s any evidence.”
“What kind of incident?” Greg asked.
“At this moment, we can’t say any more.”
“Sure, go ahead, we’ll all stay in here. The kids’ mum is at the opera and we haven’t been able to tell her what’s going on, so there might be another car coming.”
The cop nodded and exited. Greg sighed as the front door shut. When he turned around, Keri shoved Josh into his arms. She ran over to Tyler, who enclosed her in his. They were both obviously relieved someone else was here to take over. Little did they know, it was all about to fall apart. David was still at the window. Josh was the only lucky one, as he was oblivious to everything. God, how Greg wished he could be too.
“So, what happened?” Greg asked as he cuddled Josh. It might be his last time.
“We were out on the deck when we heard a scream from next door. It was loud and horrible. I thought someone was being killed. Tyler wanted to go around and check, but I stopped him and called the police. One police car came and went next door and then another. They told us not to go outside and thought maybe there was someone in the back yard. Mrs. Goldberg wouldn’t hurt anyone. All she cared about was her cats.”
“I think they’re taking her out to the ambulance,” David yelled from the other room.
“Get away from there, you shouldn’t see that,” Keri called back.
“Try phoning Mum again.” Greg knew it was cowardly, but he wanted out of this before it was too late––that was crap, it was already too late. It was too late the night he had made love to Beth the second time. He would never leave the kids alone though, unless the cops dragged him off, which they could. At last, Beth answered and was on her way.
“Keri, did the police ask for names?” Greg asked.
“Yeah, they wanted to know all our names, so they knew who lived here.”
Now we just wait, he thought. He sat feeling cold and detached, as if his life as well as his blood was draining away and he couldn’t stop it. Beth arrived looking pale. He watched as Keri spoke to her mum, who cuddled and cared for everyone. He stood with his back against the wall and watched on like a stranger.
He was no longer part of this. It had been an illusion anyway. Tyler left, promising to come back in the morning. Greg felt all the past months fade as he walked into the lounge room and stared at Josh in his bassinet. He picked his son up and sat down on the couch. He should enjoy this, as he would probably never see him again. He would imagine she would have a restraining order out on him within the week.
“It’s fair enough, kiddo. You need someone better than me anyway. Your mum’s a lovely lady and will find a good man to look after you.” Josh grabbed his finger and opened his mouth to suck on it. Greg hated the thought of Beth with another man, but she shouldn’t be lonely.
She walked in and sat down beside them. “I think they’ve calmed down. It’s so strange though, you don’t expect this sort of thing in your own street. I’m so glad you were here for them. David’s finally going to sleep, though he thinks being a paramedic and seeing dead bodies would be cool. Not sure if he will be a carpenter anymore. Keri asked if Tyler could stay, and for one minute, I nearly gave in. Even with tonight’s goings on, I’m not ready for that.”
Greg didn’t move. He couldn’t touch her when he knew this was all coming to an end.
“Are you okay?” Beth asked, reaching out and touching his arm.
He wasn’t sure what to answer, but it was irrelevant, as the doorbell rang.
“Do you think it’s the police checking back?” Beth asked.
“I don’t think it’s them, Beth, I know it is. And if I’m not mistaken, they’re here to see me.”
She answered the door and they asked to speak to him. An assault next door, and he had done time for murder. For the police, all the loose ends could be tied up quickly. Down to the station for questioning, that was what the young cop from earlier said. Greg remembered that one. It all ended up with years behind bars, only this time he was innocent.
“There must be some mistake. Greg’s my partner. Why do you want to talk to him?” Beth was biting her nail on her thumb. She hadn’t done it for months. He wanted to say sorry, wanted to hold her. As if saying sorry and a hug would be enough. Nothing would ever be enough for what he had done to all of them.
“I’ll explain when I get back.” As he drove away in the back of the police car, he glanced back to see Beth standing on the steps with Josh, her face full of concern for him. The next time he spoke to her, she would never look at him like that again.
****
Beth watched Greg get in the patrol car. He glanced back, shook his head, and shrugged his shoulders. The car pulled off down the street and she walked back inside. This was surreal. First the attack next door, and now the police were thinking Greg could have had something to do with it. Mum and Dad phoned to see if everything was okay. She hadn’t said anything about Greg. Mainly because she didn’t know what to say.
She fed Josh and paced and waited ’til two and then fell asleep in the chair. Her neck ached as she stretched. She wondered if her decision not to phone anyone after they had taken Greg was the right one. The temptation to call her brother Alan, whose friend was a cop in Victoria, was so strong at this moment. It felt like betraying Greg’s trust, though. She had to believe in him. Pete said he would call around in the morning, but that was before Greg had been taken for questioning. None of this made any sense. Josh’s cry echoed from down the hall.
He was fed, changed, and drifting back off to sleep when she heard a car pull up outside. Peering through the curtain, she could see Pete’s car. Both he and Greg walked to the front door. As soon as the door opened, Beth grabbed Greg and held him close. He hugged her back then pulled away. Something was wrong. He had a distant look in his eyes. It had been gone for months, but she remembered it like it was yesterday. The look said, don’t ask because you won’t want to know the answers, but she had to. Pete took her arm. “Look, I’m tired and I need to get some sleep. You need to talk to Beth, and we’ll all talk in the morning. I’m not making a mistake by bringing you back here, am I?” Pete asked.
“No. They’re safe,” Greg answered.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Greg will explain. Call me if you want me to come and get him.” Pete kissed her on the forehead and left.
Greg went to the kitchen and poured two large whiskeys.
“It’s three in the morning, I don’t need that. I just want to know what’s going on. You’re both freaking me out more than what happened next door.”
Greg emptied the glass and refilled it, then picked both glasses up and walked into the lounge and sat down.
“It’s up to you whether you drink it, but you’re going to need it. Pete was asked to come down to the station to prove I’d been at his house this evening,” Greg said, as he stared into his glass.
Beth sat down at the other end of the couch. For some reason, she felt as if she needed space between them.
“Why did they want to know about where you were, and what’s it got to do with what happened to Mrs. Goldberg, and anyway, what did happen to her?”
“I got the impression from what they were asking me, she’s been assaulted.”
“Why would anyone hurt her?”
Greg shrugged and sipped his drink. “Sometimes little old ladies have stuff in their house that can be worth a bit. Druggies will nick anything they can get some money for.”
“Why would they think you had anything to do with it?”
“They didn’t, but when they realized I lived next door, they checked me out.”
“What do you mean they checked you out?” A chill wafted over Beth, as if kno
wing the answer would change everything between them. She looked up and there was something akin to regret in his eyes. She’d never seen him cry, but thought he might at that moment. She reckoned whatever he intended on saying, she’d already lost him.
“Beth, you’ve always known there’s a rough side to me. I never hid it, even if you didn’t ask. Pete believes that, and it’s why he’s prepared to leave me with you to explain. You must trust me when I say I would never hurt any of you.”
“I know that, Greg. You’re scaring me. What’s going on?” She could feel the panic starting as her breathing increased.
“I’ve a criminal record from years back. When Keri told me she gave our names to the cops, I knew it would just be a question of time before they wanted to talk to me.”
He wouldn’t look at her anymore. He just kept staring into the glass. Beth shivered, feeling a chill again even though the room felt warm.
“What kind of criminal record?” This time he did look up, and it was as if she stared at a stranger.
“The worst kind, Beth.”
Beth’s hand shook as she picked up the drink and took a big mouthful, which made her choke and splutter. She needed some courage before she asked the next question. “What do you mean?”
He took a deep breath before he answered. “I’ve done time for murder.”
The world became small as all her thoughts of the past months flew away. The man she knew didn’t exist. Pulling herself back together, she skulled her drink, and held the glass out for a refill. He picked up the bottle and poured another whiskey shot in her glass. Her hands shook. Drinking wasn’t the best idea, but she needed it. She had brought a killer into her home with her children. Beth took a deep breath and looked at him.
“I don’t know why I’m letting you do this, except I’m finding it hard to believe this is all a lie, but I’d like to hear you explain.”