by R. S. Higham
“How did you know her?”
“I’m her Father’s sister, Mildred.”
James didn’t want to be rude but she looked a generation older than Red. She could see this written on his face.
“I know what you’re thinking but Willy isn’t as young as he looks, he’s in his late fifties and our Mother had me very young, it was quite a scandal.” She smirked and giggled making James see for a moment how she would have looked as a young woman.
“I’m very sorry for you and your brother’s loss.”
“Save it for Willy, although we all only found out he had a daughter a few months back. I know he loved her though, from the moment he found out. How did you know Kate?”
“She was a friend, the only friend I had around here.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure she was lucky to have a friend like you.”
James flipped. “No one coming today has even known her for more than six months, me included. She deserves better than this. She deserved a family and friends and people who loved her, not a handful of relatives who didn’t know she existed.”
“I’m sure she did, but being one of the relatives who has known her for less than six months I can’t exactly say. Now if you don’t mind I have to tend to my grieving brother.” She stood and left, looking back every now and again with her ageing face twisted in a scowl.
36
As the funeral car came into view James made his way towards the entrance to join the rest of the procession and braced himself. This was it; he was here, saying his final goodbye. He watched the long black vehicle drive up the pink gravel road and Red and five other men lift the coffin out of the back. They hitched it up onto their shoulders and slowly walked into the church with the rest of the mourners following behind. James joined in the middle and made his way in with his head down and hands folded in front of him. He ended up sitting near the front somehow which made him uneasy, he would rather stay in the background. He felt wrong just being here at all. If they only knew what part he had played in her demise he wouldn’t leave this church alive, but that was mostly down to half her family hailing from Ireland. When the remaining mourners were finding seats James scanned the ones sitting down behind him and over the other side of the isle. A woman caught his eye. She had a mesh veil covering her face but he could see she was beautiful. Her blonde hair fell in soft curls on her black silk shoulders looking in contrast like threads of gold. She was holding a tissue to her eye. When she turned her face to the person sitting beside her James could see behind the veil. She looked familiar, very familiar. She looked just like Kate. James was in a room full of her relatives, there was bound to be one showing striking resemblance, he wasn’t ready to call the men in white coats just yet. He turned back to face the Vicar and Kate’s coffin laid out beautifully with flowers behind him. Red sat down a row in front of him. He didn’t think he had noticed him yet. The funeral was fairly short, no one had much to say about her. James hadn’t prepared a speech, he didn’t know anyone here, and funerals after all are more for the family than the deceased. He quietly listened to cousins and brother-in-law’s talk about faint memories they shared as infants that were so bland they were most likely dreamt up, but James’s memories wouldn’t exactly beat them; “We went to MacDonald’s the other week then I was arrested.” He suddenly felt like the biggest phony of all. Once it was over and she disappeared behind a scarlet curtain the mourners left in noiseless, uniformed rows out into the courtyard where they would smoke and chat before going on to what after events they had planned. Those on Red’s side would go to the bar as he had planned but on the Mother’s side maybe somewhere else. As James walked past the chatting people he spotted the woman he had seen inside. She was standing alone. He went over to her.
“Hello, I’m James, I was Kate’s friend.”
“James? You’re James? Kate told me about you.”
“She did?”
“Yes, she did. And I don’t think it was good, I told her to stay away.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You should be. By the way I’m Mallory, her sister.” There was silence between them. Then Mallory had a brainwave, James might know something about what happened the night she was murdered.
“You were the last to see her, apart from our dad; did she say anything about where she was going or who she was meeting that night?”
James swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure whether Mallory should know, he wouldn’t want to hurt anybody else.
“No.” Lying felt like a knife in his chest, he couldn’t go on. “Maybe I know something, but I’ve already told the police, I’ve done everything I can, there’s no need for you to get involved.”
“She was my sister. I need to know, I have a right.” She raised her voice and people started looking.
“Can we talk somewhere else?” He asked.
“Are you going on to dad’s bar? We can go and get a coffee or something.”
“Yeah, yeah certainly, can I drive you?”
“No, I’ve driven here. I’ll meet you there. I think a few people are heading now actually.”
“Right, I’ll get going then, I need to speak to your dad anyway.”
Before he left she made him promise to tell her everything and that she was tough and could take it, he promised, reluctantly, and she followed him with her eyes as he reversed out of the car park and headed back into the city. He saw Red’s car not far ahead of him and followed him back to the bar making sure to get a space where he wouldn’t be blocked in by the ones who would probably stay until closing time. As Red was opening up he took a deep breath and went to greet him.
“Red, I want to say sorry for what I said the other day, it was completely uncalled for and I’m sorry, it’s been a difficult time for everyone.”
Red bit his lip and wouldn’t look at him; “I don’t want you here, just go.” Other cars were pulling up now so James stepped back, he didn’t want any more trouble, he would wait outside for Mallory. It wasn’t five minutes before she pulled up in a dark blue BMW, she obviously had made a good living for herself, too bad Kate didn’t have the same luck. As Mallory got out she saw him staring.
“It wasn’t as expensive as it looks.”
“I didn’t mean to stare, it’s nice.”
“It’s pretty nice. Not going inside?”
“I don’t think so, I’ve been in there a lot these past months but I don’t think I’ll be going in there again.”
“Was it for Kate?”
“Yeah, it will be miserable without her. How did Red not know about her if you did?” He asked.
“Cause he left mom when she was pregnant, didn’t know she was having twins.”
“That’s why you look alike.”
“Yeah.”
“Did Red know about you?” James asked.
“I like how you call him Red, that’s funny.” She said.” He knew that he had a daughter but he didn’t know he had twins, he doesn’t know I’m his daughter, he thinks it was only Kate.”
“Aren’t you going to tell him? Won’t he be able to tell anyway I mean you look the same, almost.”
“No. I don’t want him to know, he left our momma to cope on her own and never once visited, he phoned her now and again but… call me selfish but I don’t want to see him.”
“Did you go to the funeral alone then?”
“Yep. And so did you by the looks, I guess we’ve got that in common.”
James smiled, she even sounded like Kate.
“Are we going for this coffee then?” She asked, forcing a smile to ease the tension. “We’ll take my car seein’ as you like it so much.”
The last of the funeral party made their way into the bar, their voices became a constant hum and it was clear that no one knew Mallory or James were missing (although granted no one actually knew James). He nodded and got in the passenger seat. It was spotless inside, not a crumb on the seat or a muddy boot print on the floor and the green, pine tree shaped air freshener was as powerful as the day
it had been taken out of the plastic; for all James knew it could have been that day. He fixed his tie in the wing mirror, not much use now the funeral was over. His stomach was rumbling.
“So, Mallory, are you married?” He asked.
“Why, you asking?”
“Polite conversation is all! I can stop if you like?”
She laughed. “No. I’m not, not yet, soon enough.” She turned and smiled at him through her sun glasses. “She was going to be my maid of honour, you know.”
James was lost for a moment, then realised who she was talking about. “I’m so sorry.”
“Are you?” she looked at him again only this time she wasn’t smiling. The mystery behind her sun glasses unnerved him, she could be crying or frowning and he didn’t know which approach to take.
“I’ll tell you everything I can, if it helps, which I don’t think it will.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
They didn’t talk again until she pulled into to a Costa built into a bland hotel used solely by business men. It was empty inside since the lunch time rush was over and Mallory ordered a Skinny Decaf Latte, James just grabbed a bottle of orange.
“She was murdered, right? That’s what the police have told me.”
“Yes.”
“And you were probably the last person to see her alive, yeah?”
“Maybe, if she didn’t see Red last, she died only a few hundred yards up from the bar, but if not then I guess me.”
“So then why shouldn’t I turn you into the police? It could have easily been you who killed her.”
“It could, but it wasn’t. Besides I have an alibi and pretty good one considering –“ He stopped. The last thing he wanted her to know is that he was already under suspicion for another murder.
“Look. I’ll be frank with you. I know a police officer who is helping me to track down someone who might be responsible for killing her. I don’t want to bring you into this, it’s too dangerous.”
“You had no problem bringing Kate into it thought.” Mallory said, wiping foam from her top lip. “She spoke to me on the phone, told me she was helping you find a killer. Was it him?”
“Was what him?”
“Was it him who killed her?”
James looked in her eyes, they were strong, determined, the only feature of hers that were different to Kate.
“Yes.” He said. “I know it was him.”
“So it was your fault.”
“No, it wasn’t, I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
Mallory stood, her coffee was still half full. “Here’s my number, I’ll be in town for a night or so, call me if you find anything more out.” She put a small strip of paper on the table and walked out leaving James stranded with no car. He took the paper, looked at it and put it in his pocket. He finished off the last of his orange juice and skilfully tossed it into the garbage bin thinking he must look silly being dressed up in a suit as he walked out into the car park. There was a trucker hitching himself up into his vehicle looking like he was ready to head out. James jogged over and motioned him to wait.
“Are you going back to town?” He asked.
“Yeah, need a ride?”
“Thank you, you’re a life saver.” James climbed in beside him. “James.” He shook his hand.
“Rudyard. Now what’s a feller in a suit doing here with no car?”
“I just came from a funeral,”
“I’m sorry.”
“and me and a friend came her for a coffee but sort of had a disagreement so she left me on my own.”
The man laughed. “Women, they be vicious, don’t care if you live or die as long as they get what they want.”
“Is that right?” James asked, feigning interest.
“It sure is, I’ve been married three times. First wife took my car, second wife took my house and my third wife, well.-” He turned his face to James. “-My third wife took my eye!” He tapped it with his nail.
“Oh!” James said pulling his head back. “Are you sure you should be driving this thing?”
“Well there’s the door.” The man pointed to his hand in front of James and threw his head back into a phlegmy chortle. “Don’t worry, I’ve driven down this same road for twenty five years, I know it like the backs of my hand. I could still drive you back into town with no eyes.”
“Please don’t say she took the other eye too.”
“You’re a funny feller, hope you ain’t no murderous hitchhiker.”
“Depends how well you drive.”
The man offered James a cigarette.
“No, I don’t smoke, thanks.”
“Wise decision.” He said placing the packet back in his glove compartment. “If my wife asks, neither do I.” He winked.
“Another wife?”
“Men like me need wives to survive.”
“Sounds like you barely survived the first three.”
The trucker smacked a hand hard on James back and held his face in the other laughing until tears streamed down his face. “If you keep up that attitude it’s no wonder that lady stranded you there, some folk can’t take a joke.”
James agreed and kept up the jokes until they came coughing into the city centre sending black fumes up into the air. The pulled to the side of the road in front of Red’s Tavern and James jumped out of the elevated truck.
“I really appreciate it, thank you.”
“Ah, it’s no problem, I was heading this way anyhow. I’ll see you around” He lifted two fingers to his forehead and saluted before loudly driving into the distance, James watched him go. He started the rental car up and drove it back to Ocean Appartments parking it in the adjacent car park. He went into the building and up to his apartment remembering the scrap of paper with Mallory’s number written on it. He took it out and punched the number into his phone’s address book. She was probably distressed in the heat of her sister’s death and would no doubt want to speak to him again to learn more once she had time to adjust and since he didn’t give her his number he would call her in a few days. As for leaving him at Costa – he didn’t hold that against her.
As he was finishing typing her name on the keypad the landline started ringing.
“Hello?” He said as he picked it up.
“Hi, it’s Audrey.”
“Hi Audrey.”
“Something’s come up, I can’t come tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
“But, good news, I just left a meeting only a few miles from New Hatton so… Shall I come by?”
“Tonight?”
“Well, yeah. Right now, although the traffics pretty bad, but I could be at yours ASAP. Come on, we can go for drinks.”
James had been for drinks with Audrey before and what it really meant was having her gab in your ear all night about her very, very personal problems.
“I don’t feel like it tonight, Audrey.”
“I’m coming round whether you like it or not.” She hung up.
James let the phone slowly drop out of his fingers and onto the hook. “Argh!” He balled his hands into fists “how can anyone be that stubborn?” His head thumped. A quick nap on the couch was on the cards.
Bang bang bang
“Hellooooo? Anybody in there?” Came a muffled voice. James opened his eyes and yawned. He looked at the clock, he’d been asleep for almost an hour. Another series of bangs shook the foundation of the building. He jumped up quick nearly falling down with dizziness and shuffled on the wooden floor over to the door.
“Hey Audrey. Sorry, I fell asleep.”
“Wow, you look rough. Are you ill? I had the flu the other week and I think it might be going around.”
“Just had a hectic few days, you wanna come in?”
“Sure as long as it doesn’t smell as bad as you inside.”
James smelled his armpit. “I only showered this morning.”
“Why are you wearing a suit anyway?”
“Job hunting, figured I’d have to now my work
isn’t being represented.”That was quick for me.”
Audrey snorted. “Work, yeah right. What work? Just three hundred pages of clichés.”
“And you published two book-fulls of them, what does that say about you?”
“OK Mr Sensitive! Let’s go get some fresh air; I’ve been cooped up in a stuffy meeting room all day with a bunch of smelly, balding men drooling over my chest. But first, you change.”
Audrey made herself more than at home whilst James slipped into his bedroom and pulled out an old T-shirt, jeans and a jacket. He pulled on his Nike trainers and draped his duffel coat over his arm.
“Where are we going?”
“A walk. See where we end up.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Don’t you trust me? I promise I’m not taking you to a ‘weird club’ as you call them, there not open yet anyway.”
“I call them that because they are weird. A man in ass-less chaps tried to straddle me last time you duped me into going.”
“Sounds like someone isn’t confident about their sexuality.”
“He was confident enough for the both of us, thanks.”
Audrey giggled as she took his arm and he locked the door behind them. The pair made their way out into the overcast New Hatton streets that still hadn’t been touched by spring and down towards one of the city’s largest parks that sat right on the lakeside. The majority of the snow had cleared up by now but the park would have looked magical with a sheet of white over it. Audrey seemed impressed nevertheless.
“Smell that fresh air.” She said, squeezing James’s arm. “You could just bottle it up.”
James took a deep breath and agreed.
“I bet you could use some, being cooped up in there day in day out.”
“I get out and about.”
“Oh really? Don’t have too much of a life, those books won’t write themselves, you know.”
“I don’t think that matters much, I could sit at the laptop all day and not write a word.”
“Why’s that?”
“You know why.”
“No, I mean it, why?”
“Because I’m not good enough.”
“You were three years ago.”