by Paul Kelly
“Shhh!
“What are you hearing?”
“Only sounds, but it seems as if those men might be leaving soon. I heard one of them say Goodbye.”
Freya and Cameron crouched down and held their breath, but within a few moments Robert called out for them to come out.
“Have they gone?” asked Cameron and then shrugged his shoulders, realizing that what he had asked was a rather silly question. “Are you alright daddy?” he went on and gripped Freya’s hand, but Robert lowered his head before he turned around to look out of the window.
“The scarf,” he said and left his companions in confusion.
“Scarf,” repeated Freya, “What does that mean, Robert?”
Robert shook his head and looked directly into Freya’s eyes.
“The detectives tell me that they have found a scarf in the bushes just outside the flat at Trafford Road,” he said and his voice was ragged.
“OUTSIDE the flat at Trafford Road,” repeated Freya, “I’ve no doubt it was outside number 52, was it?” she asked, “Is she very seriously injured and how did it happen? ... and,” Freya hesitated for a moment before she went on, “Who reported this to the police?”
“I don’t know. The police didn’t say and I was too shocked to ask them, but I think it must be one of Sarah’s ‘regulars’,“ said Robert and he raised his eyebrows as a gesture of Sarah’s life style “but the scarf ... that sounds bad, doesn’t it?” Robert repeated and Cameron ran across the room to him and threw his arms around him.
“Does the scarf mean something daddy?” the little boy asked and Robert nodded slowly as Freya looked on with fear in her eyes.
“Yes, Cameron, it does. You remember my white scarf that I used when I was playing in the orchestra that evening when it was very cold outside and you told me to wrap up well?”
”Yes, I remember daddy.”
“Well such a scarf wouldn’t be worn today. It’s rather an old fashioned thing, but was prominent with the orchestra if the members came out in evening dress to play.”
“Yes, I remember daddy. Sarah thought it was a beautiful thing for a man to wear. Too beautiful for a man, she said and she wanted it for herself.”
Robert looked down as he struggled to speak.
“The police are concerned about Sarah’s accident and they have found this scarf which has aroused their suspicion that I might know something about it. It was a white silk scarf; one like the one I used to own.” he said and Freya put her hand to her lips when she heard that.
“But Robert,” she said, “You’re not the only one to have a white scarf, surely and anyway, you have just said you USED to own it. That scarf may not be yours. What happened to it? Can you remember? Did you give it to Sarah as Cameron thought you might have done?””
Again Robert looked into Freya’s eyes as he shook his head.
“Sarah was with me that evening when I was playing at the Dorchester Halls. She was cold and I gave her the scarf. I remember how she giggled when she told me it was warm when I wrapped it around her neck.”
Freya looked at Cameron and he returned her stare.
“Robert this means nothing. They must have found other things besides a stupid scarf, surely?”
“Yes, there were other things, obviously, but the police seemed to focus on this scarf. Nothing else seemed to be of interest to them. It was a common thing to wear a scarf like that some years back, but there was only one white scarf with the initials R P. on it.”
Freya’s eyes went wide with fear and Cameron gasped.
“”Is this what the police have found? Is that why they came here to interview you?” asked Freya as she put her arms around Cameron’s shoulder.
“Yes, the same scarf that I had forgotten about. . . The scarf that Sarah had so wanted to have for herself.” said Robert and Freya scoffed.
”Well, she owned the scarf, but that doesn’t mean anything. You gave it to her and that’s the truth of the matter, so what of it?”
“I don’t know Freya. All I know is that the police have taken my fingerprints and they want me to come down to the police station in the next few days to make a statement and give a blood sample. . . and to bring any article of clothing with me that they think might give them some clue regarding Sarah‘s accident ... but I think they are more than suspicious that it may not have been an accident at all.”
“A sample of YOUR blood,” asked Freya, “What on earth do they want that for?”
“There was blood on the scarf,” said Robert.
Freya gasped when she heard what Robert had said and Cameron looked around the room with fear in his eyes.
“Are you saying that the police may be thinking this wasn’t an accident, Robert and that they might be suspicious that it was a deliberate attack on Sarah? Is that what you’re saying?” asked Freya as she frowned and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand whilst Cameron muttered something about wishing the bitch was somewhere a long way off where she wouldn’t come back.
“It seems that the police have got something with blood on it if they want you to provide a blood sample surely, but it may not be the scarf.”
“The blood was on the scarf, Freya. The police have told me that and that is why they want to question me ... after all the scarf was mine at one time.”
“They usually take any suspects down to the station with them, Robert,” replied Freya. “They must trust you to come down later by yourself,” she said, but Robert shook his head.
“When you’re a bloody freak as I am with what I have, they won’t take any chances that I might fall off the world before they get me there,” he replied, “and anyway, I have to see the Doctor at the hospital tomorrow and they already knew that. Clever bastards. . . Ah! and then there’s the next court appearance in two day’s time. Surely Sarah will have to turn up for that or old Cohen will get hot under the collar. Yes, I never thought about that, but I should have mentioned it to the police, shouldn’t I?”
“Do you want me to come with you?” asked Freya, but again Robert shook his head.
“Police station; hospital or the court will all want to see me by myself, but thanks anyway. If you could stay with Cameron, I would be grateful. He goes back to school tomorrow anyway but not until late in the afternoon, however don’t let me muck up your work times at the cafe.”
“Old Haggerstone knows of my problems and so does Jenny, so there will be no worries there.”
However, it was a sudden surprise to all when Sarah arrived the following morning at the police station herself and she was more than surprised than anyone else that she should have been reported ill and that some blood stained clothing had been found outside her flat.
“Who has reported this incident . . . this bloody accident, you call it” she asked and nobody came forward, but the police now had the job of finding the accuser which meant of course that Robert was off the hook.
Sarah did not disclose any information that would give the police a clue as to who had given her the head injuries, which she treated as a light incident and not at all as serious as people thought, but she did have a plaster of some kind on her head which she had discreetly covered with her hair, however the fact that she was safe and sound was sufficient for the police at that moment where they could make their enquiries elsewhere about who had reported the incident to the police in the first place and who it was who said that Sarah was in hospital with serious head injuries? Had someone actually tried to injure Sarah and did that same someone actually do it, but imagined the injuries were far more serious than they were?
Chapter Thirty-Five
Feeling again like a spy in a corner, Freya sat stealthily nearby as Robert went into court. She had tried to be at the police station that morning too, a few days ago and before Cameron went back to school, but Jenny could only get
the time to replace her at the cafe when the hospital visit was due so she missed the police interview. She would ask Robert all about that when the court was finished and they were on their way home, but contrary to what she had expected from the last visit she had made to the court when Robert was being questioned, he reappeared in the hallway outside court number seven about ten minutes after having gone in there.
“Great! you’re out early,” said Freya “ and what did they say in there? Was the cow there too?”
Robert sat down heavily beside Freya and wiped his brow with his handkerchief.
“No, she wasn’t there, but old Cohen, her lawyer was ...”
“Yes, yes, and what did he have to say?”
“He spoke to the judge for a few moments and I could see him nervously looking at the court room door. I think he was expecting Sarah to walk in to the court at any time and I showed the letters and emails I had brought with me to prove that Sarah had been lying all through the evidence so far and that I wanted details and receipts of things concerning her life after she left me, as I am sure she went off somewhere with this other man and you don’t travel and stay in a hotel without paying.” said Robert, but Freya was concerned as to why Sarah had not turned up at the court, when it seemed so essential that she should do. However at that moment, Maurice Cohen came out of the court room and approached Robert.
“Mr. Peterson, “ he said in a very sober voice, “I have spoken with the judge about your request and he has informed me that the evidence you want to give now is nothing to do with the case in hearing. If you want to go ahead and have another court hearing with what you say you have on your person, like letters and emails, etc, it would take about two years for that to happen and it would be very costly. I have instructions from my client in the event of this new suggestion you have made but unfortunately she hasn’t turned up this morning and she hasn’t phoned or got in touch to say why she is delayed.”
Freya could see Robert’s face go grey and she was sure he was thinking of the cost that Cohen had suggested to him.
“Can I have five minutes to think about it?” asked Robert and Maurice Cohen agreed as he left the hall to return to the court, but hardly had Robert sat down again when the court room doors burst open and a rather flushed Cohen reappeared clasping his mobile phone to his ear.
“Mr. Peterson ... on what we have discussed ... I would suggest from what I understand from the judge that the cost of another hearing would be in the region of £5,000. If I suggest to you that my client pays £4,000 would you be prepared to pay the other £1,000?”
Robert glared at Maurice Cohen as he spoke.
“What has my ex-wife got to say about that?” he asked and Cohen lowered his head before he answered.
“I have tried to get in touch with her without success, but ... I can’t understand what has gone wrong, Mr. Peterson, however I know what my client would have done, had she been here and I assure you what I suggest to you is what she would want me to do.” Robert shook his head in disbelief. He could not understand why Sarah had not turned up for the court hearing and more so why her lawyer didn’t know where she was. It was a total mystery and he was confused. In that moment, he had a flash back to the time when he had first met Sarah and had fallen head over heels in love with her. If he had heard then what he was hearing now, he would have gone off his head, but in that moment when he stood outside court number seven, he had nothing but relief that he was no more attached to Sarah than he was to the Queen of Sheba. His feelings were confused and mixed with fear; relief and sheer satisfaction for the way Sarah had treated him, but it was still a complete and utter mystery why Cohen knew no more than he did himself about her non appearance and even more so why the police had not been told of Sarah’s latest ‘disappearing act’
Was there a tactic in the actions of the police? Did they know more than they were saying? Did they know what had happened to Sarah and were they playing a cat and mouse game with the culprit?
Freya touched Robert’s hand and her eyes were tender as she looked at him. “What are you going to do, Robert?” she asked but Robert ignored her question for the moment as he turned towards Maurice Cohen and stared into his eyes.
“When were you last in touch with my ex- wife?” he asked and Cohen rubbed the tip of his nose with his forefinger before he answered.
“About two weeks ago I would say, but I have the actual date in my diary if it is of great importance.”
Robert looked at Freya for a second and smiled before he turned to the lawyer.
“If that offer is still open, I accept it,” he said and Cohen smiled.
“I think that is the wisest thing to do, Mr. Peterson, Good day to you.”
After he had gone, Robert shook Freya’s hand vigorously as he biffed the air.
“What’s that for?” she asked and Robert grinned.
“Did you understand that offer of me paying £1000 when Sarah would pay the other £4000?”
“No, I didn’t, why?
“Sarah doesn’t want me to expose the lies she has told, nor the man she went off with after she left me. She is as guilty as hell and she knows it and so does Cohen. Do you think she would make that offer if she was innocent? ... and don’t you think that is the reason why she has not appeared at the court this morning?
Freya wrinkled her brow and shook her head,
“I suppose you are right, but that doesn’t answer the question, does it?” she said and Robert raised his eyebrows.
“What question?”
“Where is Sarah now?” she asked
“Well Cohen hasn’t spoken to her for the last two weeks or so, so either he knows she is guilty and has taken this chance with me, or he knows she is no longer around and he might lose the case if she doesn’t turn up. Who knows? ... The police may have been in touch with him. Anything’s possible at this stage. By the way, I forgot to tell you that the police have checked my blood sample with the blood on some glass at that flat in Trafford Road and it’s not mine ... come on, lets go home.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
When Freya and Robert got back to his flat later that day, they were surprised to find Jenny waiting for them. She had prepared a light supper and was making every effort to make them feel comfortable and at home, even if Cameron had gone back to school and her presence wasn’t really necessary.
“This is very kind of you, Jenny,” said Robert as he took off his coat and hung it on a hook in the hallstand. “I was thinking of taking Freya out to dinner this evening as we knew that Cameron would not be here and it would have been a nice opportunity for us to be together for a good long talk.... and we have plenty to talk about, haven’t we Freya?”
“Freya smiled and Jenny apologised saying that she would take the supper she had prepared home with her and that it wouldn’t go to waste, but Robert put his hand in the air at her suggestion.
“No, Jenny. You have been very kind and we would like you to join us, please. I can take Freya to dinner another time.”
Jenny flustered at his suggestion and it was only after Freya interfered and insisted that Jenny should join them in their repast that she agreed.
“I thought you might have had a very busy day at the court and who knows what news people get when they go to places like that,” said Jenny as she played nervously with her fingers. “Is there anything further to talk about on that score?” she asked and both Robert and Freya looked at her in surprise at her interest.
“Not much,” said Robert and Freya was about to tell Jenny about Sarah being reported missing at the court hearing when Robert clasped her hand and tightened his grasp. “No nothing much more than we already know,” he went on.
“Was Sarah there?” asked Jenny and again Robert tightened his grip on Freya’s hand.
“As always, “ he said and they sat down to what Jenny
had prepared, but they ate in silence and Freya was more than a little concerned as she knew how eager Robert was to discuss the details of the court hearing and also his visits both to the police and to the hospital.
“”I suppose it is strange that Sarah wasn’t at the court hearing this morning,” Freya said and broke the ice, compelling Robert to say something and for Jenny to stare enquiringly at both of them, but Robert simply raised his eyebrows as if he wasn’t at all concerned.
“I think the police and Mr. Cohen have all the answers,” was all he would say, but this statement only made Jenny the more inquisitive.
“Does this mean that you have won your case against her, Robert?” she asked and Robert smiled.
“I would like to think so Jenny, but I have learned when dealing with Sarah in anyway, she can come up with more surprises than a Christmas cracker.”
Freya grinned when Robert said that, but Jenny looked worried.
“But surely, if she was not at court, that means she is either missing without trace as I am sure you must think may have happened, or she is avoiding the issue because she knows she is defeated, ... surely?” said Freya and looked again at Robert as she spoke.
Freya could sense that Robert did not want to talk any more on the matter and she rose from the table and suggested she would do the washing up before she intended to go home and have an early night. Robert agreed as he had to prepare for a music lesson concerning a student who would be coming to his flat that evening and Jenny followed Freya into the kitchen.
“This is a rather strange affair, don’t you think, Freya?” said Jenny, “I mean it’s very strange how suddenly Sarah should vanish when the case is getting nearer a conclusion, one way or another, don’t you think?” and as she spoke, she grabbed a tea towel and started to dry the dishes as Freya washed.
“I really don’t know any more than Robert has already told you, Jenny, but I’m sure the facts will become clearer as time goes on.”
“Facts ... what facts?”