by Dawson, H A
‘Poor woman. Was that the start of her mental illness?’
‘I don’t know. I doubt Mia would have known. She wouldn’t have been working at the time.’
‘Benny’s accident was a horrid thing to have happened. I don’t know what I’d be like in those circumstances.’
‘No, me neither. It just shows how quickly your life can change.’
Luke agreed, and glanced to the collision at the roundabout and was grateful not to be involved.
‘Kim saw it happen. From what Mia said, she blames herself. She believes she should have been controlling him better.’
‘So that’s why she broke down.’
‘I believe so. She’s been having a rough time of it of late. She lost her mother a short while ago and her job after that. It’s set her in a downward spiral.’ She cast him a quick glance. ‘It’s a pity she didn’t speak to her friends about it. This could all have been prevented.’
‘I agree, although Christie did know what had happened. I suppose Christie’s fury towards Stacy prevented her thinking of the trouble Stacy was in, and she didn’t make the connection.’
‘At this rate, she’ll get there before us.’
He strained to look down the line of traffic. ‘Oh, we’re moving.’
‘Finally.’
After a few minutes, the traffic had edged forwards and they arrived at the roundabout. The collision had occurred at the junction to his right, and given that the crumpled state of the car, he could tell it was serious.
His stomach turned. He knew he shouldn’t be looking and should be focusing on driving, but he couldn’t help but gaze at the person who was still in the car, and the blood that was splattered onto his face and the notable blank expression on his face.
‘We need driverless cars,’ he said, pulling away, ‘providing they’re one hundred percent safe. Too many lives are changed because of human error … Kim’s and Stacy’s to name but two.’
‘I agree. It’s too easy to forget you’re driving a killing machine. And it’s not all about saving your own life or those you love. I can’t imagine how I’d cope if I killed someone else. I’d be devastated. No wonder it pushed Kim over the edge.’
‘I wonder if there’s any way of getting them reunited.’
‘Hard to say. She might not be in any fit state to handle it.’
He passed her a quick glance. ‘Or it could be the cure she needs.’
Luke continued his journey, which was slower that he had expected. The accident had obviously caused a build up of traffic in the surrounding areas, and it delayed his progression. Hopefully, they had not lost vital time. He voiced his concerns to Imogen.
She pulled her phone from her bag and announced she was going to ring Kim. Having received the number from Luke’s phone, she made the call.
After a few seconds, she ended the connection. ‘There’s no reply.’
Dread formed in his gut. ‘Do you know anything about her routine?’
She shook her head and then rang Christie. After a couple of minutes of speaking, she ended the call. ‘She says she volunteers at a drop-in centre on Friday mornings. I have the number. I’m going to call them.’
‘Has Christie been to Stacy’s place yet?’
‘No. She was just about to set off. She’s ten minutes away.’
Imogen tapped in the number of the centre and asked to speak to Kim.
Given the look on her face combined with the extended silence and then intermittent responses, Luke assumed it was negative news. He increased his speed, weaving around the traffic and taking as many shortcuts he deemed safe.
‘She’s not turned up,’ Imogen said. ‘Kevin, the chap I was talking to, told me she’s been banging on about a woman called Stacy and her “perfect” life for a few weeks now.’
‘Saying what?’
‘He said there didn’t appear to be anything particular she’d done wrong, but Kim hated everything about her, and would often come in on a Friday and have a rant. She would imitate her voice and her mannerisms. It was becoming quite a drag.’
‘So why didn’t Kim stop talking to her or avoid her?’
Imogen shrugged. ‘It seems as though it had been an obsession … something she couldn’t seem to pull herself away from.’
‘She should have got help.’
‘She was trying.’
He cast her a disagreeing look.
‘She’s had regular visits at the hospital. It appears her medication hasn’t been helping.’
‘Either that or she’s not been taking it. Sometimes people get the idea it’s making them worse.’
Imogen exhaled. ‘Luke, I have a really bad feeling about this. Kevin does too.’
‘Does he think she’s going to hurt Stacy?’
‘Maybe, but his main concerns were for Kim.’
Luke put his thoughts aside and paid full attention to his journey. The more focused his mind, the quicker they would arrive, and the sooner the situation would end. That was assuming of course, that Kim had taken Stacy to one of their two houses.
A sickly feeling rose through his gut. He turned to Imogen. ‘What if we don’t find them there? Where else could she go?’
Imogen shook her head.
‘Think, damn it!’ he said. ‘Think!’
‘Cool it. She’ll be there.’
‘Has Kim any favourite places she may take her to?’
Silence.
‘What method would she choose to hurt herself? A bridge, a train, drowning, or what about hanging? Did you see any books on poisons in her house?’
‘No.’ She clutched her phone. ‘I’ll ring Christie.’
‘Don’t bother, we’re nearly there.’
He hurried along the road, indicated right, and made a quick turn into a housing estate. Stacy’s row of houses came into view, and parked outside were multiple cars. The one before him was Christie's, any others were obscured.
He slammed on the brakes, causing the wheels to screech, and exited the car. Trotting towards the house, he recognised Stacy’s vehicle, and a third, at the other side, as Kim’s. He prayed they were okay, and ran to the door.
A siren sounded close by. It pulled up alongside the vehicles.
Christie appeared from the house. Her expression was clouded with anxiety. She held him back.
‘What’s happened?’
She shook her head, refusing to respond, and guided the ambulance staff indoors.
He followed on behind, with Imogen in his trail and gripping his arm.
Inside, Stacy was huddled in Christie’s arms and crying, and Kim was laid upon the floor. It was obvious what had happened. It was also impossible to tell if she was alive.
Chapter 15
Whilst Stacy’s recovered swiftly from her physical injuries, the shock of what happened extended through the following days. Seeing her friend hanging from a noose and waiting for her death was forever in her thoughts, and each time, vomit rose to her throat, her skin heated and her trembles started.
She doubted she would ever recover, and squeezed her arms tight to her middle, and with anxious eyes stared at Luke and Imogen. It was the first time she had seen anyone expect her parents, and it was harder than she had imagined. However, when the doorbell sounded, and she learned it was Christie, she experienced a rush of relief. For a moment, as she searched for appropriate words, she held her at arm’s length.
Tears moistened her eyes. If Christie hadn’t have arrived when she had, the outcome may have been very different. She had much to thank her for and told her as much.
‘No.’ She moved into the living room. ‘Luke and Imogen are the ones you should be thanking. I just happened to arrive first. They were stuck behind traffic at a hospital.’
‘Oh?’
Luke smiled. ‘Let’s just be grateful things turned out okay.’
‘How is Kim?’ Christie asked, and perched on the edge of the armchair.
‘She’s very lucky. If we’d arrived any later …
’ He shook his head. ‘They’ve changed her medication and are keeping her in hospital for a few days. She’s to be released soon.’
‘I can’t believe what happened. I had no idea she was in such a state.’
‘You had more idea than I did,’ Stacy interjected, ‘I can’t believe she never spoke to me about her son. Did you know she disliked me?’
Christie knotted her hands and averted her gaze. ‘I don’t know if she dislikes you. I doubt she was in any state to make such judgements. How are you anyway?’
‘Physically fine. Mentally, not so good. My wrists are still sore.’ She held out her arms, displaying her wounds. ‘I may have only been tied up a little over fifteen hours but it felt like forever. I …’ she gasped for air. ‘… I don’t know what I’d have done if you haven’t turned up.’ She turned to Luke and Imogen. ‘All of you. I thought we were both going to die.’
‘We’re just glad you’re okay. Have the police been in touch?’
‘They visited me in hospital. Kim confessed to the fraud and it’s been dealt with. She will be charged, but I should imagine she’ll get off by pleading insanity or something similar.’
‘I should think so.’
‘How did you work out it was her?’ Stacy asked.
‘A bit of it was guesswork.’ Luke shot Christie a quick glance. ‘The first thing we learned was that Josh had arranged for the franchise business opportunity letters to be printed. It was later that we discovered he and Kim had been school friends.’
‘Really?’ Stacy said. ‘I didn’t know.’
‘They used to be close.’ Christie said. ‘He knew her when Benny had his accident, but since then, they’ve drifted apart … until a couple of weeks ago, that is. I am so sorry. I didn’t have a clue what they were doing. Josh thought he was doing me a favour because I …’ she paused, regarding Stacy with anxiety, and then looked to her lap. ‘… I’d been badmouthing you over the meal. I am really sorry.’
‘I guess I deserved it.
She mouthed her gratitude.
‘How was Benny injured?’ Stacy asked.
‘She took her eyes off him for a minute whilst she talked to someone. He was on a hill and he lost control and went into traffic. She’s never forgiven herself and I doubt she ever will. When Gary learned what happened, he couldn’t forgive her either. It was the start of the end for them.’
‘And so her condition spiralled?’
‘Apparently so. It’s not clear if she was mentally unstable beforehand, but I do know she suffered from depression as a teenager, so it may have always been there. It was just exacerbated.’
‘She painted a very dark picture of Gary. She said he was ashamed of Benny and abandoned them both.’
‘No, that’s not true - at least not according to Josh. He’s never stopped her from seeing him either, which is something she often claims.’
Stacy frowned. Accepting the explanation to be different to the one Kim presented was difficult to grasp. When she voiced her concerns, Christie pointed out it was due to her mental illness, and added that Gary had full control of their son’s welfare.
‘If she wants to see him,’ she continued, ‘she has to be supervised. She doesn’t like it, and claims she’s prevented access.’
‘Is it necessary?’
‘I think it probably is. Kim is very unstable, but she’s also very good at hiding her problems from those she wants to keep at bay.’
‘Evidently. I still can’t get my head around my ignorance.’ She raised her fist to her chin, and tried to come to terms with everything she had learnt. It was difficult to process. She would never have expected Kim to be suffering in such a major way. Why had she never learned about it? It seemed implausible, and whilst she could accept she was a little thoughtless at times, she didn’t believe she had disregarded Kim and her problems so entirely and for the course of their relationship. ‘Was there more I could have done?’
‘I don’t think so. I only found out because of Josh. You can’t force people to talk, and she has had plenty of opportunities. At the end of the day, Kim’s silence was her decision.’
‘I still can’t help but feel guilty.’
Christie regarded her with sympathy.
Stacy lowered her gaze. It was easy for her to make such a comment when she knew of Kim’s problems. And whilst her awareness, may have, in part, been due to Josh, Stacy also believed it was down to her more approachable and compassionate demeanour. If she, too, had encouraged Kim to talk, and if she had been willing to listen, she wouldn’t have been in the position she was in.
‘Sorry to break this up,’ Luke said, ‘but we’re going to have to go.’
‘Sure, and thanks for everything.’
He started to the door. ‘We just wanted to check you’re all right.’
Imogen hesitated to move. ‘Don’t think I’m interfering, but have you spoken to Nick since Friday?’
‘I … erm … no, I haven’t.’
‘It might be an idea if you do.’ She glanced at Luke. ‘We got the impression he’d like to see you.’
Her pulse quickened, her expression searching for a fuller explanation.
‘He has quite a few regrets, and I think you’re one of them.’
‘Kim said something similar,’ Stacy replied. ‘She didn’t think Kirsty had visited him at all.’
‘We got the same impression.’
Her eyes brightened. ‘Thanks, I’ll go later.’
Imogen smiled and progressed to the doorway. ‘Must dash. We had a bet over something, and Luke’s promised me to be my slave for the day. He doesn’t know what’s coming. I’m going off to make plans.’
‘Sounds interesting.’
‘Oh, it is.’ She tapped him on his back, encouraging him through the doorway. ‘I’m going to make him wait a bit longer though … extend his suffering.’
Enjoy.’
‘We will, don’t you worry.’ She shot Luke an amused glance. ‘At least I will.’
Stacy was shutting the door at her rear, imagining the fun they would be having, when Imogen’s voice sounded at the other side. ‘You have a visitor.’
Believing it to be her mother, she peered outside. When she saw Kim her heart pounded and her nerves danced. Seeing her again so soon after the incident wasn’t what she wanted or had expected, and feeling tense, wrapped her arms around her middle and held a concentrated stare.
Their eyes locked. The silence extended.
Christie’s hand rested upon Stacy’s shoulder. Needing reassurance, she made brief contact.
‘Stacy,’ Kim said. ‘I’m so sorry.’
She forced a smile.
‘What happened between you and Nick was so similar to what I experienced it brought it all back to me. I should never have done what I did.’ She stuffed her hands in her pockets. ‘I just wanted you to know.’
Tension filled the air. Their relationship had changed over the course of the last few weeks to something unrecognisable, leaving Stacy confused and unsure of how to react. The trauma she had suffered less than a week ago was too fresh to be ignored, and whilst part of her wanted to hold her friend in her arms, the other part wanted to shut the door and forget she existed.
‘You could have died,’ she said. ‘You would have done if Christie and the others hadn’t arrived. I can’t forget that. What I saw … the rope around your neck and the look on your face. I thought it was over … for both of us.’
Kim frowned. ‘I am sorry, and I am getting help. In fact, I feel much better on these meds.’
Silence.
‘I hope it won’t come between us.’
Stacy’s positive gesture was almost imperceptible as she reached to the door handle. ‘Thanks for coming round, but I can’t …’ her voice trailed. ‘It’s too soon, I’m sorry.’
‘I understand.’
Stacy closed the door and turned to Christie. ‘Should I have let her in?’
‘Not if you didn’t want to.’
‘I realise I might have brought this on myself by not showing an interest in her life, and yes, I am a little selfish at times – what I did to you was proof of that - but I didn’t deserve what she did.’
‘Of course, you didn’t. We can all be selfish at times. And you had just suffered a traumatic accident so you’re thinking would have been unclear.’
Stacy forced a smile, unsure if it was an appropriate excuse, and wondering if she would have acted similarly towards Christie had the circumstances been different. It was not something she could determine, nor was her reason for accepting Nick’s suggestion of a separation. Accident or not, she had felt as though she was doing the right thing at the time, and could imagining the scene reoccurring.
‘About the meal,’ Stacy said, and searched Christie’s soft expression. ‘I am sorry for what I did. I should have consulted you first. If you like, we can do what we normally do. I’m sure everyone will understand.’
‘I should never have made a big deal about it.’
‘No, you were right doing so.’
Christie’s smile was slight.
‘If you happy having it here, I’d appreciate you help.’ She paused studying her expression. ‘If you’re willing, that is.’
‘That’d be great, thanks.’
They moved back to the living room.
Christie’s eyes were drawn to a photo of Nick. ‘You should go visit him, you know.’
‘I will.’
‘Tonight?’
‘Yes, tonight.’
Chapter 16
Stacy was so nervous she was shaking. But she was also excited and believed for the first time since Nick’s accident that they may be about to make the first step towards repairing their shattered relationship. She considered, albeit briefly, that Nick may disagree to their reunion and stick by his decision. However, when she reaffirmed the comments Imogen had made, she cast those doubts aside. As she had been so frequently informed, he hadn’t been in a position to make such a decision during the immediate aftermath of his accident, and she should never have paid him any attention.
She exited the lift on the third floor, exhaled a breath of air, removing the tautness in her chest, and strode along the corridor to Nick’s ward. He was sitting up in bed and flicking through pages of a newspaper; there was calmness in his expression and colour in his cheeks.