‘Forget it. My mouth is running away with me,’ he replied, averting his gaze from Maureen.
‘Don’t forget I was already going through the process of divorcing Hubert when he took his own life. How can that be a case of you rescuing me?’
‘I told you to forget it! That’s in the past! You are married to me now!’
‘Unless,’ said Maureen slowly. ‘Unless you know something else about Hubert’s suicide?’
‘What do you mean? I found out about it when you phoned me. That’s how I knew about it.’
‘Really. Well, you don’t sound very convincing. We were in that country hotel when I told you about what Hubert had done the night before. You were so angry when I told you the details.’
‘So what? Any man would have been angry at something like that.’
‘Yours was different. You flew into a rage. I’d never seen anything like it.’
‘Yes, because I’m a real man, not like that excuse for a man, Hubert. That’s just the way I am. It was because I love you!’
‘Do you?’
‘Maureen, you know I love you. Would I have married you if I didn’t?’
‘I suppose not,’ replied Maureen. The mood had calmed slightly. ‘But I still feel something isn’t quite right about Hubert’s death.’
‘So, what are you trying to say?’ asked Ron, his mood once more hardening from his tender moment when he declared his love for Maureen.
‘I think you decided to get him out of the way. Made it look like suicide.’
‘Rubbish. What do you think I am?’
‘I think you have a split personality. Affable, philanthropic Ron and cold calculating Cole. Isn’t that the name your underworld acquaintances know you by? Why the separate mobile? All the secret calls? What’s been going on?’
‘Nothing! Shut up! You are imagining things.’
‘Well, I’m not imagining the visit from the police. Why did they call round?’
‘You know why. There’s no need to waste time going through my nefarious ex-employees.’
‘But you have to admit that it was rather odd that two people who used to work for you, one dead, one injured were involved in serious incidents on the same night. Also, they were sure that Sean Bailey was dealing drugs.’
‘Surely you realise there’s a drug scene in Persford?’
‘Of course, I do but I didn’t think I’d be married to a drug dealer.’
She sensed Ron’s shoulders stiffen. The last remark had touched a nerve.
‘They were your drugs, weren’t they? I don’t know exactly what happened that night but I think it was being done on your behalf. Sean Bailey and Jason Dawes might appear to be ex-employees but they are still on your payroll, unofficially.’
‘Prove it.’
‘I can’t and you know it. That’s where you’ve been so clever over the years. Always one step ahead of the law. Keeping in with the top people. Creating an appearance of respectability. Ha!’ Now Maureen was pacing around the lounge before going to stand before Ron so she was looking down on him,
Ron was becoming incandescent. He looked like he wanted to stand up as well but one hand had strayed to his chest.
‘Oh, and you are so perfect aren’t you. I know you’ve been searching in my office without telling me! Corey told me that I had a visitor last night and you spoke to him down there. Were you going to tell me? Eh? I doubt it? I saw the time you scurried down to my office on the CCTV, whilst I was asleep.’ His voice was strained, coming in gasps. The effort plainly visible on his face.
‘Well, you’ve not exactly been open about what you are up to,’ said Maureen, feeling embarrassed. ‘I wanted to know what sort of man I was married to.’
‘A fool, I’ve been a fool to think you trusted me.’
‘How can I trust you? You are dishonest!’
‘So are you! Now that you mention it. Let’s go back to the incident of Councillor Long. You wouldn’t have told me about bribing him, would you? ‘
Maureen looked away.
‘Also, what about Lane End Farm? That was all Kosher was it?’
Maureen looked him straight in the eye. ‘So, you’ve been digging again, have you? Trying to find evidence so you have a hold over me. I might have known. That’s the way you work, isn’t it? How you bribe people and buy favours from them. They turn a blind eye to what you are doing. I wonder what the police Superintendent did to make him protect you all these years?’
‘Nobody is perfect! I admit it. But you are exaggerating! I’ve given thousands to charity. In memory of Natasha! How many people would have done that?’
Ron’s face was by now puce coloured, his face contorted in agony. He’d been so busy arguing that he’d forgotten to use his angina spray. Suddenly, his hands flew to his chest.
‘Oh, God, my chest.’ Ron’s words came weakly and he fumbled in his pocket for his spray.
‘Sit back!’ shouted Maureen, ‘give it to me!’
She took the angina spray off him, removed the top and flung the aerosol across the room.
‘What??’ said Ron, he was struggling to speak now and gasping for breath. His right hand clutched his left arm. ‘Fuck! My heart! I need my,,,.’ He didn’t finish the sentence.
Maureen held Ron by the shoulders and brought her face up to his, ‘What do you need? I’ll tell you! You need to pray! For forgiveness for all the disgusting things you’ve done in your life!’
‘Can’t breathe,’ he whispered. Ron was trying frantically to loosen his shirt. His mouth was open, trying to take in as much air as he could. He grasped his left arm and slumped sideways on the settee.
‘Ambul,,,’ he started to say. ‘Ple,..?’
He collapsed.
Maureen left the room to retrieve her mobile.
‘Ambulance, quickly,’ she said to her mobile. ‘Brensford Manor, Ron Radford, I think he’s had a heart attack. OK, quickly.’
Ron was looking at her, moaning and trying to say the words which sounded like “hurry, help me,” but they came out in a barely audible mumble.
Maureen went over to Ron and sat down next to him. She stroked his face. ‘Don’t worry Ron, you’ll be OK.’
But Ron wasn’t listening. His vacant eyes gazed at her but saw nothing. She felt his neck for a pulse but could find none. Ron was motionless, his mouth sagged open.
Maureen went over to the sideboard and poured herself a large brandy. She sat down before she too collapsed in a faint. When her hands had stopped shaking she pressed the emergency call on her mobile. This time the call was for real and an operator answered. She gave her details as before, making sure to add panic to her voice. Once again, she felt his neck for a pulse, picked up the angina spray and put it on the table after giving him a quick spray under his tongue.
The operator continued to speak to Maureen, ‘The ambulance has been despatched. Is your husband breathing?’
‘I don’t think so! Oh, God! He’s not moving! Please come quickly!’
‘Put him on his back if you can. Now I’m going to talk you through CPR. OK?’
‘Yes, I’ll put you on speaker. Please help me!’
‘Now, can you put your husband on the floor?’
‘Yes, just a moment.’ Maureen dragged Ron’s lifeless body onto the floor. He looked so undignified as his head hit the plush carpet and rebounded slightly before settling lifelessly.
‘Now, place the heel of your hand in the centre of his chest. Put your other had on top and lock your fingers. Now press down firmly in the region of the breastbone. Try to do about two compressions per second. OK?’
‘Yes,’ said Maureen, the exertion audible in her voice.
‘Do that about thirty times then breath into his mouth, pinch his nose closed. Give two breaths, his chest should rise and fall. Repeat this until the ambulance arrives.’
Maureen decided she better comply as they might be able to tell if there were no marks on his chest from her continual pressing on his rib cage.
After f
ollowing the instructions for what seemed a reasonable time, she sat back on the carpet and took some deep breaths herself. She was quite exhausted and hot. Adrenalin was coursing through her system.
‘I think I can hear the ambulance,’ she said, ‘I’ll go and let them in.’
The paramedics rushed into the lounge following Maureen’s instructions. Corey then arrived and hurried in to find out what was happening.
‘Oh, Mrs Radford? What’s happened?’
‘It’s Ron, he’s had a heart attack,’ she sobbed.
‘I’ll go and see how they are doing, you wait here.’
Maureen sat on the chair in the hall, crying. After a few minutes, Corey came over to her.
‘I’m so sorry. They did what they could with the defibrillator and everything but it was no good.’
‘What? He’s dead? No!’ she shouted and ran into the lounge.
‘I’m very sorry madam,’ said the female paramedic. He must have had a massive heart attack. Do you want to stay with him for a few minutes? We will need to take him to hospital to have death certified. Take your time.’
They withdrew respectfully and closed the door.
Maureen knelt down next to Ron.
‘Goodbye Ron. Thank you.’ She kissed him on the forehead then got up and silently left the room. The ambulance people went to get a trolley and Ron was wheeled out into the ambulance.
‘Can I do anything for you, Mrs Radford,’ asked Corey.
‘No, thank you, I’d like to be alone now.’
‘Of course, phone me if you need me. I’ll be here until about midnight.’
‘Thank you. I’ll lock the door after you.’
Maureen locked the door. She poured herself another brandy and went upstairs to bed. A short chapter of her life was over and another phase was about to begin.
Chapter 58
The next morning, Maureen awoke and out of habit felt the side of the bed next to her. Suddenly, the recollection of last night flooded back and she felt sick. She ran into the en-suite bathroom and retched over the toilet. Despite not actually being sick, the action made her feel better. She held on to the basin and looked at the image in the mirror which stared back at her. Did she recognise the face before her? She still could not believe what she had done but strangely she felt no remorse. Jed had given her a flavour of the real Ron Radford and looking back on that momentous evening she realised the revelations had merely confirmed her suspicions which had been growing of late. What she had heard and seen in Ron’s office had been shocking enough but like an iceberg, so much more was lurking beneath the surface where it would probably stay, never to be discovered.
Tragically, Ron had hastened his own death by getting angry and his body hadn’t been able to cope with the surging emotions. He had assumed that he would be forever the master and he had trusted the wrong person which had led to his downfall. Totally consumed with PersCure and ClinTry he had been unaware that for a few days he hadn’t taken his full quota of tablets. She had substituted one of his blood pressure medications for an over the counter anti-histamine tablet of which she always kept a supply, in case she caught a cold. They were remarkably similar in size to his prescribed medication. Her feigned insomnia had convinced her GP to prescribe a short course of sleeping tablets, none of which had passed her own lips. Ron had unwittingly taken two the evening after the visit to the cardiologist, thus allowing her to explore his office.
Maureen quickly showered and dressed, there was a busy day ahead. As she boiled the kettle she replaced the correct tablets in the pill mate box for the weeks ahead. It was probably an unnecessary precaution as Ron’s repeated medical appointments should ensure a death certificate would be issued. After all, they had seen the cardiologist on Thursday evening and he’d died only twenty-four hours later. In the unlikely event of a post-mortem, they should find his heart damaged and in a poor state. Any blood tests would reveal only his prescribed medication and readily available over the counter tablets.
At 9 a.m. she planned to phone the cardiologist’s secretary to let her know the situation. After only ten minutes her mobile rang.
‘Hello?’
‘Mrs Radford, Dr Young here. I’m so sorry about your husband, my secretary just told me. The system notifies us about patients who have died.’
‘Thank you, doctor, it was a huge shock. Ron died in my arms.’
‘I have to say I’m not surprised. Your husband’s heart was failing and he really needed the bypass operation. Medication can only do so much. Once the kidneys start to struggle the body is facing a losing battle.’
‘He was so busy with his work, I’m afraid he neglected his health,’ said Maureen. Her voice began to waver.
‘Well, I’ll say goodbye for now. If I can be any help, please don’t hesitate to contact me.’
‘Thank you, that’s very kind.’
‘Not at all, Mrs Radford. Goodbye.’
Maureen put down her phone. There would be numerous more calls today, notifying relatives, friends, making arrangements for the funeral and she realised she needed to make a list. These immediate issues were mapped out, whereas the future was a different matter. It was uncertain but she had an inkling of where her path might lead.
She had finished one cup of coffee when the landline rang.
‘Hello?’ she answered.
‘Mrs Radford, Corey here.’
‘Oh, I didn’t expect you so early, after last night.’
‘I thought you might need me. Actually, it’s a good thing I just arrived. The police are here to see you.’
‘The police?’ Maureen clutched the kitchen worktop as panic assailed her. ‘What do they want with me?’
‘They don’t. They came to speak to Mr Radford. I explained what happened but they now insist on speaking to you.’
‘OK, send them up to the house. I’ll speak to them. But, Corey. You have explained how upset I am?’
‘Of course. I’ll come with them in case you need me.’
Maureen cursed. What did they want now?
She splashed some water around her eyes and rubbed them, leaving them wet for when she answered the door.
‘Good morning, detectives, sorry, I’m not in a very good state this morning.’
They introduced themselves, then Superintendent Leighton was the first to speak.
‘We are very sorry for your loss. I knew Ron well, I’ll miss my games of golf with him.’
‘Come in,’ she said, standing to one side. ‘Please go into the lounge.’
They all sat and Maureen blew her nose.
‘Sorry,’ she said again.
‘We understand from your security man that Mr Radford suffered a heart attack last night,’ continued the Superintendent.
‘Yes, the ambulance people were so good but...’ she paused, ‘they couldn’t save him.’
‘We spoke to you a few days ago about a Sean Bailey and Jason Dawes. We now have a testimony that both men were involved in a drug deal on behalf of your husband,’ said Andy.
‘Sergeant Walters! That will be enough,’ said Superintendent Leighton. ‘This is neither the time nor the place. We will leave poor Mrs Radford in peace now. My office when we get back.’
The trio stood and Corey showed them out.
‘I’d like to be alone now, Corey,’ she said. ‘Please don’t disturb me for a while.’
‘Of course,’ said Corey. ‘Contact me if you need me.’
So, the police had finally found some evidence, thought Maureen. But without Ron, surely there would be little they could do. It was time to begin her phone calls and later she would be able to resume her search of Ron’s office, this time without fear of discovery.
**
On the way back from Brensford Manor, Andy Walters drove aggressively and erratically. He was furious. Ron Radford had evaded him for one final time.
‘Watch your speed, Sergeant Walters,’ said Superintendent Leighton from the rear seat.
‘Sir,�
�� replied Andy, slowing down, inwardly seething.
‘That house is cursed,’ said Peter Leighton. ‘How can so much tragedy befall one family?’
‘Perhaps it was of his own making,’ retorted Andy.
‘Have some respect! His first wife died in an accident, his daughter of a brain tumour and his second wife commits suicide! Isn’t that enough for you? Then Ron himself gets heart trouble. It’s like a Greek tragedy.’
‘Tragedy indeed,’ muttered Andy, thinking of all the tragedies Ron’s actions and behaviour had bestowed upon Persford.
‘Well, there will be so many charities mourning his death. He was so generous with his hard earned money. They will miss him.’
Listening to his superior officer, Andy felt sick. Yes, Radford had a philanthropic side but that money had been obtained by dubious means. At least now, evasion of the justice system had finally come to an end. That was something to be grateful for.
‘How’s the investigation into the armed robberies coming along, Mike?’ asked the Superintendent.
‘We have some promising leads, sir. DC Goodman is following up on one now. We hope to make an arrest very soon.’
‘Excellent. Well, that’s a relief. We must let the Drug Squad take sole control of the County Line investigation from this point forward. I see no reason to authorise any further assistance from us.’
‘Sir,’ replied Mike Harris.
So this was it, thought Andy. He would be unable to follow up any longer on Jason Dawes who was still at large having used up one of his metaphorical nine lives.
Chapter 59
Maureen had been overwhelmed by phone calls and messages of support from Ron’s friends and acquaintances. There had been a constant stream of deliveries of flowers and plants and now the house was filled with a beautiful aroma like a florist’s shop.
Ron’ s brother Albert was the one relative he had remained in touch with and though shocked at the news, he didn’t seem very upset. He said he would try to attend the funeral and although Maureen offered for him to stay at Brensford Manor he told her he could afford to stay in a hotel. Maureen’s own family in the shape of her sister had offered her support and assistance with the arrangements but she declined, saying she could manage.
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