The Forgotten_An absolutely gripping, gritty thriller novel

by Casey Kelleher

  Colleen eyed the child’s fiery red hair, those mischievous green eyes.

  It could have been Nancy when she was that age. The child was the image of her mother.

  Nancy had dismissed her back then, too, in favour of Joanie, and now it was happening all over again.

  ‘I’ve promised her now,’ Michael Byrne said to Colleen apologetically. The sight of the child’s crestfallen face at being told she couldn’t go suddenly was too much for him to contend with. ‘Don’t worry, Colleen. If it rains, we’ll be all nice and wrapped up. Scarlett’s wearing that lovely big pink coat you got her. Besides. We’re adventurers, aren’t we, Scarlett?’ Michael winked at the child. ‘A little bit of rain doesn’t bother us!’

  Scarlett whooped loudly again at that. She loved her secret adventures with her Grandaddy.

  ‘Okay, darling. Well you have fun with Grandaddy, won’t you? I’ll come up and see you tomorrow instead,’ Colleen said, desperately trying to keep the bitterness and disappointment from her voice. If only for Scarlett’s benefit if nothing else. She was sick of always being portrayed as the bad one.

  So instead she put on her biggest smile.

  ‘Say goodbye to Nanny Colleen and Nanny Joanie,’ Michael Byrne said, pulling on his coat, before taking Scarlett’s hand.

  Doing as she was told, Scarlett blew kisses to her nanny Joanie, and then to her nanny Colleen. Quickly hurrying out the door before her bossy nanny Colleen could say anything else.

  ‘That child is obsessed with Michael,’ Colleen Byrne said tartly, still standing in the doorway. Stung by the child’s indifference to her. ‘She completely idolises the man.’

  ‘Yeah well, I guess someone’s got to.’ Joanie chuckled. Aware of the bitter undertone to her daughter-in-law’s words but deciding not to feed into it.

  Colleen was jealous, that much was obvious.

  Blaming her and Michael for the fact that Scarlett just didn’t want to spend time with her. As if it was their fault somehow. Which was a completely ridiculous notion; but then Colleen always seemed to have a problem these days.

  ‘Well, it’s not on. I think you both need to be more supportive of me. If I make plans with Scarlett, then you should both help me to enforce them. Otherwise, I’ll never get to see her.’

  It was Joanie’s turn to roll her eyes then.

  ‘Oh, Colleen. It’s only a trip to the park. Seriously, you’re making a big deal out of nothing.’

  ‘Am I?’ Colleen said glaring at Joanie now. The anger inside her bubbling away. ‘He’s too soft on her. He lets her do and say as she pleases. She’s only four years old, she needs boundaries and discipline. He’s going to turn her into a spoiled brat otherwise.’

  Just like you did to Nancy and Daniel when they were kids, she thought. Though Colleen didn’t voice that out loud. She wouldn’t dare give Joanie the ammunition to use against her. Running back to Nancy and telling her such things.

  ‘Oh please, Colleen,’ Joanie said now, trying to keep the irritation from her tone. ‘Can you hear yourself, love? Scarlett has years ahead of her to abide by the rules and do as she’s told. Let the child have some fun.’

  Good old Joanie, the voice of reason, Colleen thought, staring at the woman, and seeing straight through her.

  This was all just an act. Joanie was secretly enjoying every second of Scarlett’s rejection of her. Even straight-faced, there was a light that danced in her eyes as if she was mocking her.

  ‘Fun? It won’t be fun when that child comes home full of cold.’

  Joanie bit her lip, afraid of what would come out of her mouth if she spoke. She turned the volume up on the TV remote, but still the woman didn’t take the hint.

  ‘I’m not stupid, Joanie. I know what you’re doing,’ Colleen said, her voice steady and in control, surprising even her. ‘The child acting so indifferent towards me. She’s got to be picking up on someone else’s words and behaviour.’ Colleen glared at Joanie. Making it blatantly clear who she was directing that comment at.

  ‘You mean me?’ Joanie laughed then. Throwing her head back, and cackling loudly. ‘Oh come on, Colleen. You seriously can’t be implying that I’m trying to turn Scarlett against you? Are you mad?’

  Colleen pursed her mouth. Narrowing her eyes at the woman.

  Typical Joanie.

  She always did that. Belittled her. Made her doubt herself.

  But Colleen knew that’s what was happening here. Why else would the child be so dismissive of her? Even if Joanie wasn’t about to admit it anytime soon.

  And it wouldn’t be the first time that the woman had made her question her mental well-being either, making out that she was acting crazy and paranoid, when they both knew what was really going on here.

  ‘I take it Nancy’s out working, again!’ Colleen said, not bothering to hide the disregard in her voice that Nancy had left Scarlett at home yet again. ‘I thought she said that once this new knocking shop of hers was up and running that she was going to step back a bit. Be around a lot more for Scarlett.’

  ‘It’s not a knocking shop, Colleen. It’s a private members’ spa,’ Joanie said, biting her lip now as Colleen went into one, yet again, about the amount of hours that Nancy seemed to be leaving the child in Joanie and Michael’s care.

  It was as if lately it had become some sort of personal contest between the three of them: who spent the most time with Scarlett. And whatever the outcome, Colleen was never happy.

  The fact that Nancy was actually at the hospital this morning, seeing to poor Bridget, after the poor woman had been stabbed last night, was news that Joanie decided to keep to herself.

  Christ knew that Colleen didn’t need any more ammunition to throw at Nancy about her line of work and the risks involved. She’d have a bloody field day with that snippet of information.

  ‘A private spa, my arse,’ Colleen spat. ‘That girl’s away with the fairies. Such grand illusions, just like her father had. It’s a brothel, Joanie, and it doesn’t matter how much money she throws at the place or how much she dresses that fact up, that’s all it will ever be. I thought that now she had Scarlett she’d stay away from places like that. She’d want to be a better role model.’

  Joanie saw red then.

  ‘A better role model. How dare you! Nancy’s not out there doing the whoring herself for money, Colleen. She’s out there working her arse off, so she can pay the bills and keep a roof over her child’s head,’ Joanie smarted. ‘It was good enough for you, wasn’t it? Spending Jimmy’s hard-earned money quicker than the man could earn it on all your expensive fur coats, fancy jewellery and your next bottle of vodka. You weren’t bothered where the money came from then, were you? Nancy has stepped up. She’s doing a sterling job, too,’ Joanie said, the pride in her voice evident. ‘She’s a businesswoman and a bloody great mother. She loves the bones of Scarlett. Even a blind person is capable of seeing that.’

  ‘A businesswoman? She’s pimping out young girls.’

  ‘Bollocks,’ Joanie said, glaring at Colleen as she wondered when the woman had suddenly become all sanctimonious. ‘She’s giving those young women a decent wage, in a safe environment too. She’s even sent the girls off to do lots of courses. Given them the chance to get real qualifications in Holistic Massage and Hot Stone Therapy. Where else would those girls get a chance like that?’

  ‘And whose benefit do you think she’s doing that for? The girls? Don’t be so naive, Joanie. She’s doing all that so, if the Old Bill go sniffing about the place, she’s just covering her arse.’ Colleen shook her head. ‘Besides, you’re missing the point. My gripe isn’t about where she works: that’s down to her. It’s about the hours she keeps. She’s a mother now. And her working every hour that God sends means she’s missing out. Trust me, I of all people know that. She won’t get this time again. She should make the most of it. Make the most of Scarlett before that child is grown too,’ Colleen said, the emotion thick in her voice. ‘It’s not right leaving Scarlett here all the ti
me.’

  ‘With me and Michael you mean? Her great-grandparents?’ Joanie said now, well and truly losing her patience with Colleen.

  ‘Do you know what, Joanie, forget it. You’ll never understand,’ Colleen said, shaking her head sadly. ‘You make out as if you love Scarlett, but the only person you really care about is yourself. As long as you get Scarlett all to yourself, who cares what’s better for the child. Who cares what’s better for Nancy? It’s all about Joanie Byrne with you. Clinging on to those around you for dear life. Like some desperate old has-been,’ Colleen sneered, feeling suddenly braver than she had done in years.

  Joanie Byrne was riling her up, and it had well and truly worked this time.

  ‘Well I won’t let you do this to me again, Joanie. I won’t let you keep my blood from me, do you hear me.’

  ‘Keep your blood from you?’

  How Joanie didn’t jump out of her chair and launch herself at the woman right then and there, Joanie couldn’t quite fathom. It was taking everything she had to contain her temper, every bit of strength she had inside her.

  The woman was forever the victim, acting as if butter wouldn’t melt. As if she couldn’t do any wrong – only Joanie knew better. Joanie knew everything.

  Colleen, the foolish woman, knew that too.

  For years their little secret had gone unspoken between them.

  Colleen had done as Joanie had told her and moved out of the house and, in return, she had got Joanie’s silence. A high price to pay.

  Only, the truth always came out in the end, and maybe today Colleen had pushed the woman too far.

  ‘I think that it’s high time you and me had a little chat, don’t you?’

  She tapped the chair next to her. Indicating to Colleen to take a seat. It was an order, not an invitation.

  Colleen did as she was told. Recognising the twisted look of hate and anger on the older woman’s face, she knew exactly what the onslaught would be if she didn’t do as she was told.

  ‘Don’t even think about sitting there in front of me, and fobbing me off, Colleen,’ Joanie Byrne spat. Her words as cold and hard as ice.

  Now that the two women were alone, Joanie wasted no time in getting straight to the point.

  ‘You want to talk about keeping blood from people, then let’s you and me talk about what you did to me, shall we? The elephant that’s been in the room for the past four years.’

  ‘I thought that we dealt with this. I did what you asked. I moved out,’ Colleen Byrne said, reminding Joanie that they were both still playing the game.

  It had gone unspoken between them both. What Colleen had done all those years ago, when Joanie had been carted off to the looney bin. After some time away from her home, away from Colleen’s special concoctions, she’d managed to get her head together and her memory had returned to her.

  Joanie had been okay with Colleen when she first visited her at the psychiatric hospital. Friendly still, if a little subdued and confused at what was going on. Though as time went on, she became cold and distant with her.

  Then her visits were stopped completely, and Colleen was told that Joanie didn’t want to see her anymore.

  Colleen hadn’t even questioned Joanie’s decision; she didn’t have to. She’d known then, with certainty, that Joanie had worked it all out.

  How Colleen had been drugging her.

  That her daughter-in-law had sought out her revenge by driving Joanie into thinking that she was mad and that she’d lost the plot.

  It had worked, too, for a time. Until the rest of the family had stuck their noses in and insisted on sending the old bint off to a psychiatric hospital.

  Colleen had waited patiently for the onslaught that she was certain would follow, once Joanie made the revelation to the rest of the family. She’d love that. Turning the family against her.

  Only Joanie hadn’t told any of them.

  Instead she’d held that little nugget of truth over Colleen’s head since the day that Scarlett had been born. Using her knowledge to her advantage and blackmailing Colleen.

  She’d made her move out of the family home.

  Still a first-class bitch through and through. That steely glint in her eyes and raw hatred radiating from her. The old woman had come home from hospital and had somehow seemed to have found her strength again. Despite being in her early seventies, the woman’s mind and tongue were both sharper than they’d always been. Cutting and scathing all at once.

  Even more so now, four years on.

  And today, it seemed, was going to be the day that Colleen was going to be told a few home truths whether the woman liked it or not.

  Today, Joanie was officially done with all the pretence.

  ‘Let’s talk about all those times when I thought I was losing my mind. It was you. Feeding me with bullshit. Manipulating me. Spiking my food and drink with medication.’

  Colleen didn’t answer. Instead she sat deadly still. Her silence speaking volumes.

  What could she say in her own defence?

  Deny what they both knew was true?

  A few years back, Colleen had almost chanced her luck. Convinced that even if Joanie did tell, the rest of family might not believe her.

  It would have been Colleen’s word against Joanie’s. Poor, fragile, confused Joanie.

  Only Joanie didn’t seem to be any of those things now.

  If Joanie spoke up now, none of them would question the woman twice.

  ‘You pushed me down the stairs,’ Joanie said. Pointing her finger directly at Colleen. Her eyes boring into the younger woman’s. Reminding Colleen of the same steely glazed look that her late husband Jimmy used to have when he was angered.

  ‘I remember. I remember it all. How you told me that my Jimmy’s murderer was coming to get me. That they were going to kill me too. You messed with my head. Deliberately making me paranoid. I was a quivering wreck because of you.’

  Joanie kept her glare. Her eyes not leaving Colleen’s. Determined to have her say and let her daughter-in-law know that she was on to her.

  That she’d had Colleen’s card well and truly marked for years.

  ‘When I tried to run, you tripped me. I remember that too. Looking down at the steps beneath my feet and seeing your foot, too, before I tumbled down the staircase. I could have broken my neck…’

  I wish you fucking had! Colleen thought.

  Clasping her hands together tightly on her lap, Colleen still didn’t speak; she didn’t dare. She’d been foolish to lose her temper with Joanie and call the woman out. Cursing herself now for her stupidity. For letting her anger get the better of her. She needed to play the game, to let Joanie get this out of her system while the others weren’t around. She couldn’t risk riling the woman up worse than she already was; she couldn’t let the rest of the family find out.

  Nancy would never forgive her if she knew the truth. She’d keep Scarlett from her.

  Colleen had too much to lose, something that Joanie was all too aware of.

  ‘Don’t worry, Colleen,’ Joanie said, her eyes narrowing, her glare not leaving Colleen. ‘I forgave you years ago when you packed your things up and moved out of my house.’

  She smirked then, triumphantly.

  ‘Besides, it was nothing that I hadn’t already done to you.’

  Joanie didn’t waver.

  ‘You took me for being old and senile, Colleen, and you still do. And that’s where you make your biggest mistake. Thinking that you could take advantage of me at my weakest; only I’m not weak anymore and you won’t ever get the opportunity to disrespect me in that way again. And I certainly won’t have you disrespecting Nancy, do you understand?’

  The cutting edge to Joanie’s words were clear for Colleen to hear.

  ‘She’s a good girl. And a great mother. Something that you most certainly can never claim to be.’

  Joanie pursed her mouth, laying it all out in the open between them. Making it clear that the two women would only ever be rival
s. That the stagnant, putrid water than ran deep between them was too great to ever bridge.

  ‘If Nancy finds out what you did to me, she will hate you even more so than she does now. She’ll stop you from seeing Scarlett.’

  There it was.

  They were both clear now. Both aware of the mutual hatred that lingered in the room between them.

  ‘I won’t stop you being a part of that child’s life unless I have to. So, whatever happens, Colleen, this is all down to you. If you ever, EVER, slag off Nancy’s parenting or question myself and Michael’s involvement with Scarlett’s upbringing again, you will live to rue the day, do you understand?’

  ‘Perfectly,’ Colleen said at last. Her mouth pursed. Her eyes blinking back fresh tears as she got up from the chair slowly, as if she’d just had all the air knocked out of her.

  She’d never win against Joanie Byrne, she knew that now.

  Christ knows how she ever thought she could.

  Fourteen

  ‘Wow look at how pretty your mummy looks!’ Jack said warmly, later the next evening as Nancy Byrne waltzed into the kitchen, unaware of just how breathtakingly beautiful she looked as she tugged down the material of the floor-length royal blue dress she was wearing.

  ‘Really? Do you think it’s okay? I feel a bit overdressed,’ Nancy said tugging self-consciously.

  ‘Okay? You look a million dollars, Nance!’ Jack said, genuinely. ‘And besides, we’re going to a Disney princess ball. I’m sure that given the theme, you’ll probably be the most conservatively dressed woman there.’ He laughed then as Nancy rolled her eyes.

  ‘Honestly, you look stunning,’ Jack said reassuring the woman, unable to take his eyes off Nancy, even as Scarlett came screeching into the room to see what her father was making such a fuss about.

  ‘Wow, Mummy, you look like a real fairy princess. Just like Cinderella,’ the child said, stopping in her tracks and looking up at her beautiful mummy.

  ‘Oh, great! That wasn’t the look I was going for.’ Nancy laughed, then rolled her eyes at Jack once more as Scarlett only confirmed what she’d already been thinking. ‘I’m going to change. I knew it looked too much.’