Legacy of Lies- The Haunting of Hilda

by Netta Newbound

  Really heavy.

  It took quite an effort to lift it out but, moments later, I pulled a shiny gold bar onto my lap.

  We all gasped at the same time.

  “See. What did I tell you?” Mum cried.

  “What the bloody hell…?” Neil sounded as though he might blow a gasket.

  I looked up as he staggered backwards. “Mum, look out,” I cried.

  She jumped out of the way as Neil swayed to one side, then the other and reached behind himself, sitting down heavily on the doorstep.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, concerned but not wanting to stop what I was doing.

  He nodded.

  “Is there any more?” Mum asked, not a bit bothered Neil might be having a funny turn.

  “Hang about, I’m just gonna check.” I reached in once again and, like before, pulled out a second gold bar. “Oh, my God, Mum. You were telling the truth.”

  “Of course I was telling the truth. Why would I lie?”

  I glanced at Pete, who was surprisingly quiet. His pale face had a greenish tinge to it. “Are you okay?”

  He also nodded.

  Handing him the second gold bar, I reached in for the next. “We’re going to need something to put them in.”

  Pete stacked the gold bars on the edge of the deck and headed off around the side of the house. He was back moments later with a bright blue box on a furniture trolley. “Will this do?”

  “Fab.” I handed him the third bar.

  It took a while to retrieve all forty-two gold bars from underneath the steps. My arms were aching once we’d finished.

  “Now what?” Neil asked, back on his feet and pacing the length of the veranda.

  “We call the police, I guess,” Pete said.

  “But what if they arrest your mum again?” Neil shook his head. “It’s not worth it.”

  “We don’t need to tell the police anything apart from we’ve found a stash of gold. It was never reported as missing, so how can they accuse anybody in particular of stealing it?” Pete snapped.

  “I guess so.” Neil chewed at his lip before continuing. “I just don’t want Wendy’s name brought into this, at all—she’s not here to defend herself.”

  “So it’s agreed then? We keep any mention of knowing who was involved in the theft to ourselves?” Pete dug his phone from his pocket.

  We all nodded.

  “Before you make the call,” Mum said. “Shouldn’t we consider how much money this is worth and the difference it would make to our lifestyle if we kept it?”

  “We’re not keeping it, Eliza, and that’s final. For all we know this gold has already been responsible for several deaths—I want no part of it.”

  “He’s right,” I said sadly. “And who knows, if it’s not claimed we might get it back, legally.”

  “Exactly.” Pete walked away while he made the phone call.

  “We need to get this lot inside,” I said, once he returned.

  “What’s the point? The police are on their way.”

  “The point is, I need a hot sweet tea and I’m not leaving twenty million quid worth of gold sitting on the driveway. Come on, between us we’ll get it inside.”

  We heaved the trolley up the steps and over the threshold, and, although the truck wasn’t designed for such a heavy weight, it managed, just.

  “Leave it here, just by the door. It will be okay,” Pete said, shoving it into the corner.

  “No way! I don’t think any of us should let it out of our sight, it’s coming through to the kitchen with us.”

  “I agree,” Neil said. “It’s not worth it.”

  Ten minutes later, we were all seated around the dining table sipping tea, the gold beside us still on the trolley with Theo having a good old sniff.

  “What did the police say?” I asked.

  “They didn’t seem to believe me at first. The guy on the phone laughed as though I was playing a prank on him.”

  “But you did convince them in the end, didn’t you?”

  “I think so. He said someone will be with us as soon as possible. Whatever that means, I have no idea.”

  Clearly bored with our conversation, Mum finished her tea and moved to the rug with Theo, her dearest friend.

  “When they get here, I’ll take this out to them. Keep her inside.” Pete nodded at Mum. “We can’t trust she won’t say something and get us all in the shit.”

  “No worries, we’ll make sure she doesn’t say anything, won’t we, Neil?”

  “I’ll agree to anything so long as you keep Wendy’s name out of it. I’m serious. This can’t get out. Small town gossip is the worst. She knew how I felt about stealing. I can’t believe she would do something like this, to be honest. Maybe your mum has got it wrong?”

  I raised my shoulders and let them drop dramatically. “She was right about the gold, wasn’t she? Even knew the exact amount of bars. I don’t see why she would be mistaken about who was involved.”

  The doorbell rang and Pete took off to answer it. He returned a short while later.

  “Is it them?”

  He nodded. “Now don’t forget, stay here.”

  We watched him struggle with the trolley.

  “Are you sure I can’t help?” I asked.

  “No,” he snapped. “Stay here.”

  Neil looked at me, his eyebrows knitted tightly together. He was clearly as surprised by Pete’s attitude as I was.

  “He’s stressed.” I smiled.

  Neil nodded in agreement, although his eyes said different. “I need to use the toilet,” he said, getting to his feet.

  “Are you sure? Can’t you wait until they’ve gone? We promised Pete.”

  “No can do, I’m afraid. When you get to my age, it’s not something you’re in control of.” He shot off before I had a chance to say another word. Something in his expression put the wind up me. Was he trustworthy? Surely even he wouldn’t do anything while the police were here?

  My stomach was in knots. Why did I feel so guilty? It wasn’t as though I’d broken the law in any way—just because I’d contemplated keeping it didn’t mean I would’ve, but a girl’s allowed to dream, isn’t she?

  The sound of raised voices had me on my feet. “Stay here, Mum.” I rushed from the room in the direction of the commotion at the front of the house. I was startled to find Pete holding Neil by the collar up against the wall in the hallway. “What the hell…? What did he do?”

  “It wasn’t me, Hilda. Ask your precious husband what he’s up to.”

  “Ignore him,” Pete snapped, gripping Neil tighter and shoving him, causing his head to crack on the wall.

  “Pete! What are you doing? He’s an old man.”

  “Hilda, go back to your Mum. I’ll explain it all later, I promise.”

  Neil barked out a laugh, even though he was in danger of being throttled. “He’ll explain it all once his pal’s made off with the gold. Don’t listen to him.”

  “What’s he talking about, Pete?” I asked. “Where are the police?” I shoved past them and out onto the deck to find a man loading the gold into the back of a scruffy white van. “Oi, who the hell are you?”

  The man turned, clearly startled. He gulped, licked his lips, then plastered a smarmy grin across his elderly, lined face. “Hi, you must be Hilary?”

  “It’s Hilda. Who the fuck are you?”

  “Leave it, babe.” Pete appeared beside me, no longer holding on to Neil who staggered from the house, rubbing at his throat. “Go inside, I’ll tell you everything. Trust me.”

  “She’s not going to trust you as far as she can throw you,” Neil scoffed. For a little man, he was certainly ballsy.

  I held my hand up towards Pete to stop him getting any closer. “Someone needs to tell me what’s going on, right now! Or I’ll phone the police and let them sort it out.”

  “Now, now. Let’s not be like that.” The man, now closer, had a familiarity about him. “We all need to calm down.”

  �
��Hang on a minute. Do I know you?”

  He flashed a look of annoyance at Pete. “Sort her out, son.”

  “It’s Fergie,” Neil said. “I knew your precious husband was up to something but even I didn’t suspect this.”

  “I don’t get you? Suspect what?”

  Fergie stepped onto the veranda and sauntered towards us, a self-assured smile on his face. “Tell her, Pete. Shut the moaning bitch up once and for all.”

  Pete groaned and rubbed at his face. “Just go. You’ve got what you wanted and I’ll make sure they don’t do anything for a couple of hours at least.”

  “A couple of hours? That’s no good. I’ve not waited all these years to be picked up at the airport and incarcerated.”

  “Will somebody tell me what the hell’s going on?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Neil yelled. “Fergie wasn’t dead after all. He’s been behind the whole thing.”

  “You killed my dad?” My voice was barely a squeak.

  Fergie rolled his eyes. “I thought you said she was clever, son.”

  “I’ve had enough of this. I’m phoning the police. Move out of my way.” I made as though to go back inside, but I stopped in my tracks when Fergie pulled a hand-gun from his waistband.

  “What the...? Dad, no-one said anything about a gun.” Pete jumped in between us, guarding both me and Neil.

  “Dad?” My mind was totally blown, I couldn’t think straight.

  “Keep up, Hilary. Now, inside, while I work out what I’m going to do with you.”

  Chapter 37

  I couldn’t believe it. Was this actually happening? I looked up at Pete, who had his arm around my shoulders protectively and was steering me down the hallway into the lounge.

  Fergie followed close behind, the gun raised and aimed at us all in turn. He appeared calm, upbeat actually, considering what he was contemplating.

  “So, let me get this straight, you’re his son?” I hissed, shoving his arm off me.

  “Shh, let’s deal with one thing at a time, shall we?”

  “Don’t fucking shush me, you lying bastard.”

  Fergie belted out a laugh behind us, causing me to bristle and spin around.

  “What are you laughing at? You won’t get away with this, you know? You might have managed to silence my dad all those years ago but how will you explain me, Mum and Neil committing joint suicide?”

  His laughter suddenly died and he glared at me. “Move it.”

  I gasped as the barrel of the gun dug into my shoulder.

  “Leave her alone.” Pete roughly shoved the gun up and away from me—squaring his shoulders up to his father.

  “Woo-oo! Look who’s grown a pair of bollocks at long last. What’s wrong, son? Gone soft on her, have you? I should’ve known.”

  “Shut the fuck up. You’ve got what you wanted, so just take it and get out of here.”

  Fergie dug Neil in the shoulder with the gun. “Open the door.”

  Neil flinched and did as he was told.

  Theo started barking as soon as the door was open and he tore across the kitchen towards us, his teeth bared.

  Fergie aimed a boot at him, missing him by a fraction of an inch.

  “Oi! Leave him alone,” I cried, grabbing Theo by the collar.

  “Call the dog off or I’ll shoot it between the eyes.” Fergie’s face had twisted into an uglier version of itself, and I had no doubt he would make good on his threat.

  “Take him in there,” Pete said to me, before turning on his dad once again. “What do you intend to do now, Dad? Like Hilda said, you may as well go.”

  “And allow these two blabbermouths to call the police? Not on your nelly.”

  Mum was away with the fairies once again, which was a blessing. She sat, staring into space, a blank look on her face.

  I sat on the sofa beside her, pulling Theo in between my legs and gripping him with my knees as well as holding his collar. The deep-throated rumbling coming from him told me he’d pounce on Fergie the first chance he got and, as much as I’d relish watching Theo tear the man’s throat out, I didn’t want him to get shot.

  “I’ll make sure nobody calls the police. I promise. Just go,” Pete urged.

  “I’ll call them,” Neil piped up. “My friend spent twenty years locked up because of you. You’re nothing but a piece of scum!”

  Pete glared at Neil, shaking his head. “Why don’t you shut your mouth, for crying out loud, Neil? He’s not playing around with that gun—he’s dangerous, believe me.”

  “I’d listen to him, if I was you,” Fergie sneered. “Wendy always said what a weak, snivelling excuse for a man you were.”

  “Ignore him.” Pete shook his head, his hands raised, palms out, in Neil’s direction. “Go and sit down. Leave this to me.”

  I patted the sofa beside me.

  Neil reluctantly stomped over to us and plonked himself down.

  “Don’t say anything else. We need him to go,” I hissed.

  “Yeah but…”

  I shook my head and placed a hand on his leg. “Shh.”

  “Do as she says, fucktard,” Fergie snarled, clearly hell-bent on riling Neil. “Or I might just splatter your brains up the pretty little curtains. You know, I don’t know what Wendy saw in you. I asked her plenty of times while I was banging her brains out.”

  Neil gasped and began coughing and spluttering.

  “Dad! Shut the fuck up,” Pete roared.

  “Don’t you tell me to shut up. Who do you think you are?” Fergie lashed out, whacking Pete on the side of the head with the gun.

  Pete toppled sideways, falling to the floor like a great oak—out cold.

  I shoved Theo’s lead at Neil before running to my husband’s side, pulling his head into my lap. “Oh, my God! What have you done to him?”

  “Oh, stop fussing, he’ll be alright—just a bit of a headache is all. He’s always been a drama queen.”

  “Drama queen? You almost brained him.”

  “He’d need to possess a brain first.” He laughed raucously and kicked his booted toe against Pete’s backside, causing him to rock back and forwards.

  “Get off him!” I screamed, shoving his foot away.

  “It’s okay, babe,” Pete whispered.

  Tears welled in my eyes with relief. “You’re awake. Are you okay?”

  He nodded, closing his eyes briefly. “I’m sorry.”

  I knew I should be angry with him, I wanted to kick his teeth in myself, but how could I switch my feelings off after all this time? I glanced at Fergie, who was rummaging through the fridge before turning back to Pete. “Why?”

  “It’s all he ever spoke about. All my childhood was consumed with tales of finding the missing gold. He even bought the house as soon as it was on the market and moved it here. He practically tore it apart looking for the gold but he couldn’t find it.”

  “But how? I don’t understand.”

  “It was all set up. Our meeting, us coming to New Zealand. Dad planned it all. I didn’t buy the house through the agent. It was a private sale from Dad—which is why your hand luggage was hidden at the airport. I couldn’t chance you coming with me to see the house.”

  “But why?”

  “He was certain your Mum knew where the gold was.”

  “So, our marriage…?” I shook my head, unable to continue as tears filled my eyes again.

  “Is real. Honest. I love you. I know you might not believe me, but it’s true. I just wanted to get the house finished and back on the market, then he would’ve been out of our lives for good. I never for one minute thought we’d find the gold.”

  “But he killed my dad.” I wiped my eyes roughly. “How could you do this to me?”

  “Did he though? He told me your mum had killed him.”

  “You know she’s as capable of murder as I am.”

  “I know that now.” He glanced at his dad.

  “Oh, he’s awake, is he?” Fergie shoved a slice of ham into his mouth a
nd chewed, showing the mulched up contents. Then he took a swig of milk from the carton.

  I gripped Pete’s hand. “You need to get rid of him.”

  “I wondered when you’d show up. A bad penny always does.”

  I spun around at the sound of Mum’s voice to find her on her feet and walking towards the kitchen.

  “Mum, sit down, please,” I hissed.

  “Ah, look who decided to join the party. I wondered if you’d recognise me, Eliza. I heard you’d lost your marbles.”

  “You wish. I’d never forget the face of the person who ruined my life.”

  “You always were a little over dramatic, weren’t you, love?”

  Neil jumped to his feet. “Don’t call her love. In fact don’t speak to her at all, do you hear me?”

  Fergie laughed and slapped his thigh. “Oh, don’t tell me, you’re sniffing around her now. You always did rate yourself, didn’t you, you wimpy bastard?”

  Theo barked and pulled on the lead, almost yanking Neil over.

  “He was always far nicer than you, Dale Ferguson.”

  “Nice?” Fergie sniggered. “Nobody wants to be known as nice. That’s as emasculating as being called sweet.”

  “There is no danger you’d be called anything but evil—I had a feeling it was you who killed my Rick and Declan, but you had the entire local police force in your pocket back then, didn’t you?”

  “Declan needed a wake-up-call—he thought he could control us—wouldn’t let us have our share. Richard was a different matter. I wasn’t sure if he knew where the gold was hidden, but he caught me searching the place one night and put two and two together about his brother, so I had no choice.”

  “Can’t you just go?” I asked, suddenly exhausted.

  “Help me up.” Pete shuffled to a seated position.

  “Keep still. You’ve had a nasty knock to the head. I think you need an ambulance.” I placed my fingers beside the huge egg that had formed.

  He winced.

  “Can’t you just go?” Fergie mimicked. “No. I can’t just go. And you can blame that nosy old bastard.” He pointed at Neil. “If he’d just done as he was told, you’d all be none the wiser. What were you even doing here anyway?”