by Peter Martin
Picking up on her last remark in a flash Garry said, ‘Yes, that’s one thing we agree on. You are mad.’
‘I ought to shoot you right now for saying that, and I’ll tell you this much, I’m a far better person than you’ll ever be. I’m at the top of my profession, a multimillionaire. And where are you, Garry? In the gutter, a worthless, insignificant postman. You’re nobody, and that goes for the rest of your pathetic family as well. Sometimes I wonder how I produced such a loser.’
‘Well, I wonder too. We’re chalk and cheese, me and you Lena, and I can’t say I’m, sorry.’ He squeezed Delia’s hand tighter, a short while ago he would have been deeply hurt, but not anymore. Then he said, ‘At least I can hold my head up, look everybody in the eye and say everything I’ve achieved I’ve achieved by myself. I never had the privileges you were born with. But I can honestly say I’ve never done any of the unsavoury things you have.’ Garry’s words had hit the mark.
She glared at him with hatred in her eyes, saying through gritted teeth, ‘You’ve no idea what I’ve been through and still am to this day. How dare you judge me, and anyway who’s to say you wouldn’t have done the same as me, had you been in my position?’
‘Believe me, I wouldn’t. You’re twisted Lena, you really are. You don’t live in the real world. I should never have come here, I realise that now – and all those hopes and dreams you gave me, are shallow and worthless. You’re a fraud - a sick sad old lady who has nothing but money.’
‘Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? Don’t you realise you could have had everything, you and your family – but no, that wasn’t good enough for you. You’ve abused my hospitality, all of you, and now you’re ganging up on me.’ Lena screamed, and looking across at Charlene with revulsion, said ‘Even my own flesh and blood has betrayed me. Isn’t that right Charlene?’
At first, Garry was lost for words, surely she didn’t mean… Charlene and he were… So he asked, ‘What are you talking about now?’
Lena laughed hysterically. ‘Well, don’t tell me you haven’t guessed by now. Can’t you see the likeness? Charlene is my daughter, mine and your father’s, she’s your full sister.’
Garry’s mouth gaped open in disbelief. And this after she’d said she couldn’t have any more children. Charlene being his sister, was almost too incredible for words. ‘Well, that night you encouraged us to… and you said I was your only child...’
‘That’s right,’ Lena squealed. ‘Like mother like son, eh Garry?’
‘No Lena, I’m not like you,’ he said, shocked, but also relieved to learn he hadn’t committed incest. ‘You, did your best to get me drunk, a ploy to get me to sleep with Charlene, but you forgot one thing. I love my wife, and I don’t want anyone else.’ He placed his arm around Delia, then said, ‘But I don’t expect you to understand that.’
‘I understand everything. You could have done a lot worse than going with my daughter.’
‘You what! She’s my sister, for God’s sake.’
‘Although some daughter she’s turned out to be, letting you escape – you frigging JUDAS,’ she roared staring at Charlene.
Garry saw Charlene shudder; even she was petrified of Lena.
‘Right, everybody move away from her,’ Lena ordered, motioning them with her gun. Unexpectedly Charlene made a run for it, then to everyone’s disbelief, Lena fired her gun. The bullet appeared to graze Charlene’s leg, causing her to shriek in agony and fall to the ground.
‘And this one’s for you - you traitor,’ Lena bawled, aiming the gun towards Benson.
Then came another stern voice, ‘That’s enough Miss Matthews!’ Scorpion held up his hand. ‘No more violence.’
Lena turned away from Benson, to stare at him. ‘How dare you challenge my authority? You’re as bad as that lot over there, turning against me.’
Lena pulled the trigger again, this time aiming at Scorpion, who flinched expecting to be hit, but her aim wasn’t true. And when the man next to him fell back, a second shot was fired, this time, only this time it came from Scorpion’s gun and it hit Lena straight in the chest.
Blood spread over her upper torso like ink on blotting paper. A look of genuine surprise came on her face, her eyes bulged open, her mouth gaping with sheer astonishment. Blood trickled down the sides of her mouth. Benson quickly shielded Adam, so he didn’t witness Lena’s demise.
Lena reached out her arms towards Garry in a macabre futile attempt at reconciliation. ‘Help me,’ she whispered, obviously hoping Garry would forgive her in her final moments. But within seconds she sank to her knees, her grotesque pitiful pleas falling on deaf ears.
A small part of Garry wanted to go to her, to comfort her in her last moments. But all he could do was watch. When the end came her whole body became rigid with a seizure before finally collapsing limply onto the ground.
It seemed aeons before anyone spoke, then to explain his motive for shooting Lena, Scorpion muttered, ‘We never agreed on no killings! Just use a bit of muscle if you need to, to keep them here, she said. That’s why I had to stop her… dear God. I didn’t want to kill her; I didn’t want anyone to get killed, but I had to do it. I couldn’t’ stand-by and do nothing.’ He looked totally inconsolable; tears washed down his face.
‘She was mad,’ one of his companions said. ‘As mad as a hatter. She’s the one who should have been locked up, not these people. The mood she was in, who knows how many she’d have killed.’
Garry and his family ran to Charlene, her face ashen masked with pain. She grabbed hold of Garry’s arm as he bent down.
‘I didn’t know,’ she protested vigorously. ‘Lena never said a word to me. You must believe me – it’s the truth. What mother would actively encourage her own son and daughter to sleep together for her own ends?’
Garry just shook his head – he had no answer for that one.
‘Can you ever forgive me?’ She dared ask.
‘How could I not? There’s nothing to forgive as far as I’m concerned. After all, you never knowingly tried to seduce your brother. And if it wasn’t for you, God knows what would have happened to us. But tell me, was there one thing that made you come for us?’
‘No, but keeping you all like rats in those filthy cells, and continually refusing to let you out - it’s inhuman. I had to do something, I couldn’t stand by and let you suffer.’
‘We must get you and…,’ he nodded in Benson’s direction, ‘Both to hospital. We need to phone for an ambulance. There has to be a telephone back at the house, and our phones must be somewhere after she confiscated them. Unless you guys have yours.’
‘No, we aren’t allowed to use our phones until we leave the island. We had to hand them in to the boss lady,’ Scorpion said
‘Me too, so I’m not sure where, unless she has one on her person,’ Charlene gasped, closing her eyes as the pain kicked in.
Scorpion went across to the body and after a thorough search, he shook his head.
Garry and Chris carried Benson between them to the SUV accompanied by Adam who never left Benson’s side. Meanwhile, Tom and Delia helped Charlene on to the back seat of the vehicle.
‘We’ll have to walk to the house, there’s not enough room for all of us in the SUV.’ Garry pointed out.
‘There may be more danger at the mansion, Garry. There’s still Sir Edward to contend with. He’s even crazier than Lena was – and in his own way every bit as dangerous.’
‘Come on, Charlene, he’s an old man. I think we’ve got over the worst back there – what can he do to us?’
‘He may be old, but he’s big and still as strong as an ox, and besides that,’ she smiled weakly, ‘He’s not a full ticket if you know what I mean.’
Garry smiled too, saying, ‘I know what you mean, as a matter of fact, it’s another one of mum’s sayings. You know something, you’d have liked her, she’s the other side of the coin to that one,’ he motioned to where they’d left Lena. Then after a moment’s thought, said, ‘I’
d better get Tom and Chris to come with me to be on the safe side.’
‘We’re coming too, in case you need back up,’ Scorpion offered. ‘That man’s,’ He pointed to his head, ‘Not quite right up here, no wonder he’s kept locked up during the day.’
‘Take the guns as well – he might be armed,’ Charlene suggested.
‘Is that really necessary.’
‘Don’t worry Garry, I’ll have the gun if you like.’ Chris said. ‘I’ll love to strangle him for what he did to Cassie and Delia.’
‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I don’t care about him, but if we can avoid a confrontation, so much the better. As long as we find a phone I’ll be happy. Let the authorities deal with him.’
‘Ok now that’s settled, better leave the women and Benson here. Come on let’s go then.’ Chris said impatiently.
<><><>
The illuminated building and its grounds still held its serenity despite the events of the night. But on entering through the oak doors, the atmosphere became tense.
‘This is all very odd,’ Tom commented.
But any fears were allayed by Scorpion who assured them no opposition would be encountered, as the staff were servants, not bodyguards. Nonetheless, they realised they’d have to be wary of Sir Edward.
‘Once we’ve found a phone and sent for the police and an ambulance, we’re out of here. I don’t want to stay a minute longer than I have to.’ Garry said.
‘There’s no phone in the hall,’ Chris told them, having had a good look around.
‘Any idea where we might find one?’ Garry asked looking at Scorpion.
‘As far as I can remember, she always used a mobile. But where she kept them well... your guess is as good as mine.’
‘All right, I suggest Tom, Chris and I start at one end of the ground floor while you start at the other end. And we’ll meet up here, say in fifteen minutes?’ Scorpion nodded to Garry in agreement.
But after a thorough search of the rooms, none of them yielded a phone. Garry started to fret, although the injuries to Benson and Charlene weren’t life threatening, they were still serious, and both were in pain and losing blood. And of course, there was the thought of Benson losing an arm.
‘Can’t imagine where we’ll find one,’ Chris commented scratching his head.
‘I don’t know either but all we can do is to search the rest of the house. We’d better look upstairs.’
The six of them climbed the stairs, branching off in different directions on reaching the gallery. Scorpion and his comrades started at the far end of the corridor, while Garry, Tom and Chris started with the rooms from the top of the stairs. Their search of the first three rooms was fruitless, but the door to the fourth room was locked. Garry glanced suspiciously at his son and son-in -law, saying, ‘What do you think?’
Shrugging his shoulders stating the obvious Chris said, ‘I’ve got no idea, but there’s only one way to find out.’
‘You mean to break the door down.’
‘Why not? If the door’s locked Lena’s trying to hide something in there. And let’s face it anything’s possible in this place,’ Chris surmised.
‘Ok, let’s do it.’
The three of them moved back, then charged forward kicking the bottom of the door. Much to their surprise it flew open, causing each of them to fall flat on the floor. Sir Edward, flamboyantly dressed in navy blue night attire, sat on top of the bed watching them get to their feet. His wispy grey hair escaping under the sleeping cap, framed his blotchy red face. To Garry, he looked like the devil incarnate but instead of a pitchfork in his hand he held a revolver and he was aiming it directly at him.
‘Oh my God,’ Garry whispered under his breath.
‘What on earth do you think you’re doing?’ The old man snapped.
‘We’re looking for a phone,’ Garry replied bluntly.
‘What are you talking about? You come barging in here, breaking down my door because you want a phone. Have you gone stark raving mad?’
‘We need to call for an ambulance.’
‘Whatever for? What’s happened? Where’s Lena, my little girl?’ He enquired, his eyes twitching.
‘She’s had an accident,’ Chris said, his face tense and full of revenge.
‘You’ve killed her, haven’t you? You’ve killed my little girl,’ he screamed scrutinising all three of them.
But neither one answered his question.
Then Sir Edward trembled, the gun quivered in his knobbly hand, and haphazardly he fired the revolver. Immediately they dived for cover, the bullet missed them by a mile, splintering and burying itself in the door frame. Again he raised the gun, screaming in a demented voice, ‘I’ll kill you, you murderous pigs.’
But this time the bullet pierced the sofa opposite the bed, and as the old man fell back onto the headboard, his next shot hit the ceiling, causing a shower of dust to filter down. They were about to pull out their own guns when the old man’s gun clicked, once … twice ... – no bullets left in the chamber. They were safe.
Chris stood up, a gun in his hand. Garry knew what he intended.
‘No!’ Garry cried, pushing Chris out of the way so that the bullet went harmlessly wide. ‘I want him alive.’
‘He deserves to die after the life he’s led and the treatment he’s meted out to Delia and Cassie,’ Chris insisted.
‘Sure he does, but it’s not our decision to make. It’s up to the authorities to deal with him. Now leave it!’ Garry ordered his son-in-law.
The old man tried his gun again, but it was useless. He threw it at them, missing Chris’s forehead by a whisker to land out of harm’s way on the landing.
‘The games up, you lunatic,’ Garry shouted.
Sir Edward looked petrified. His watery blue eyes widened and his face turned even redder, then crimson as the three men approached him.
‘I ought to let Chris loose on you for what you did to my wife and my daughter – but that’s too good for you. No, you’re going to pay for what you did all those years ago and for God knows what else you’ve done since, you evil sicko.’ Garry moved ever closer to his father. ‘It’s a pity Lena isn’t here to join you – but I’m afraid she’s dead.’
‘No!’ Sir Edward bellowed, his face contorted with pain. He dived for his son, and the two of them fell to the floor. Garry had been completely taken by surprise, he hadn’t seen it coming, mainly because the old man had been so quick for someone his age. Then Sir Edward suddenly clasped his large bony liver speckled hands around Garry’s neck in a bid to throttle him. Having trouble breathing Garry’s attempts to free himself were futile. Even when Tom and Chris came to his aid it made no difference, they were unable to prise the old man’s hands away. But then unexpectedly Sir Edward jerked back, his grip on Garry slackened, he gasped, his whole body went rigid, falling on top of Chris and Tom.
Garry coughed and spluttered finding it hard to get his breath back. It took a couple of minutes before he turned to see Sir Edward’s prostrate figure on the ground. Tom and Chris were on their feet looking down in horror at the old man, his face a greyish white, his eyes wide open. Dead.
Garry’s hands trembled, he’d had yet another close call with death.
Tom went to him, ‘You all right?’ he asked putting his arms around his father’s shoulders.
Garry stared at his son grabbing hold of his shirt. ‘For a while there, I thought I was done for… I really did. How could someone so old, be so strong?’
‘Beats me, Dad. If he hadn’t died when he did, I don’t know how we would have got him off you – he seemed almost superhuman.’
Just then Scorpion and his two mates came running in, having heard the gunfire.
‘Is everyone all right?’ He asked.
‘Yes, but the old guy’s dead. He must have had a heart attack or something,’ Chris explained.
‘Best thing for him,’ Scorpion commented.
‘We found a phone,’ one of the other men told them.
‘Thank God for that. I’d better make those calls, all right Dad?’
Garry didn’t hear, his mind wasn’t on the here and now, but on what had happened a few minutes ago. Chris helped him to his feet and out of the room while Tom dealt with the phone calls.
‘It’s over Garry, be grateful for that,’ Chris said.
He nodded.
They went downstairs and left Tom to it. There Garry calmed down, relieved that vile old man was dead. Sorry in a way he’d cheated justice by avoiding being put on trial for his crimes. One thing clear in his mind, however - he’d never refer to him as his father, nor Lena as his mother.
His unpleasant feelings started to lift when his eyes rested on Tom coming down the stairs.
‘It’s done, Dad. The police and ambulance are on their way. Best get back to the women now, eh – they’ll be worrying about us.’
‘I suppose you’re right,’ Garry said in a subdued fashion. ‘Thank God none of us are hurt after this. It’s a miracle, but I can’t help blaming myself.’
‘Don’t be so hard on yourself Garry,’ Chris disagreed. ‘I know I criticised and poked fun, but through it all, you did what you thought was best. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a dream come true. You weren’t to know what a nutcase Lena was, and we never knew that repugnant character Sir Edward existed. But it feels good to be alive, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my son’s life. It’s put everything else in perspective.’
Garry smiled, glad he’d been able to react as quickly as he had, but what he said was, ‘Yes, I get what you mean Chris. I’ve never felt so thankful as I do now for having such a lovely family.’
<><><>
The three men walked from the house towards the SUV now parked on the driveway. One of the women must have driven the rest of the group back. The noise as they walked over the gravel had obviously alerted the three women to their approach, as almost in tandem they got out of the vehicle; Cassie and Jane making a beeline for their husbands. Delia hesitated, while Garry carried on walking towards her, then suddenly she shot forward, tears running down her face as they embraced each other.