The Life Of Robert Peterson

by Paul Kelly

  “The facts of what has happened. You and I both know that Sarah just wouldn’t stay away from court if she could help it. She’s not that kind of person. She is vindictive and spiteful and if there was any chance that she could inflict more pain on Robert than she already has done, she would do it and do it with a vengeance.”

  “Do you think something has happened to her, Freya? I mean something serious where she CANNOT attend court?”

  Freya smiled as she dried her hands.

  “Wishful thinking, I would suggest, Jenny or am I being too cruel?”

  Jenny winced when Freya said that.

  “Freya, do you think maybe ... maybe that Sarah has had some sort of an accident, then?”

  Freya stacked the dishes in the appropriate cupboard and turned to Jenny.

  “Accident, Jenny?“ she enquired, “Why would you think that?“

  Freya could not think why Jenny should talk about an accident to Sarah after the latest supposed accident had happened ... and so recently. “Jenny, I’ve told you, I don’t know any more than you do, nor what Robert knows for that matter. We only found out when we went to the court that Sarah had not turned up.”

  “But Freya, surely her lawyer should have known something?” Jenny went on, but Freya sighed and suggested she should get her coat as it was time she was getting home, and Jenny followed suit. It was on the way back to Freya’s flat that Jenny started to make fresh enquiries again.

  “I think Robert must have won this case, Freya. How else would this wicked woman give up so suddenly and ... well so surprisingly easy?”

  “Jenny, I don’t know ... I’ve already told you, I don’t know any more than you do about the matter, but anyway, why are you so bloody interested. It doesn’t involve you, does it?“ replied Freya and Jenny could tell that her friend was getting rather annoyed at her persistent enquiries.

  “Well yes, it does actually, Freya ... after all you think she was at Sammy’s flat at some time or another don’t you?”

  Freya arrived at her flat just as she was about to shout at Jenny, but Jenny’s last remark made her think again.

  “Yes, that’s right Jenny, but that doesn’t involve you, does it?”

  “Yes it does, Freya. After all Sammy would have been the father of my baby and if he was carrying on with all these women as you have suggested, then I am involved and besides, I think it is terrible what this creature, Sarah has done to Robert and to you also, for that matter. You are in love with him, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, of course I am, but ...”

  “But nothing Freya. You have always been kind to me and shared by troubles when I was pregnant and I hate to see you going through all this wicked business when you should be happy and getting married to Robert.”

  Freya opened her flat door and laughed.

  “That’s a hope, if ever there was one, Jenny. I don’t think that idea enters Robert’s mind ... not even for a second. He is through with women after all he has gone through and I don’t really blame him.”

  “Yes, I understand that, but if this Sarah creature should disappear somewhere and can’t give you any more hassle, surely that would be something to think positive about?”

  Freya stopped in the hallway and closed her front door behind her with her foot after Jenny had come in.

  “Jenny , you sound as though you know something about this incident ... do you?”

  “Good gracious no, Freya. It’s just that I would be so happy to see you settled and content in your life after what you’ve gone through and I know the life you had with Sammy. It’s time you had a little joy in your life, don’t you think?”

  Freya kicked her shoes off and sighed with relief.

  “These shoes are killing me,” she remarked seemingly ignoring Jenny’s concern, but at that moment, the telephone rang.

  “Hello ... hello ... is anyone there?”

  “Hello Freya, it’s me, Robert. I’ve been getting some strange phone calls since you left and I knew it couldn’t be you trying to talk to me as you wouldn’t have got back to your place in that time. Are you alright?”

  Freya stared at Jenny who stared back at her, wondering what had been said on the telephone to make her look so shocked.

  ”Yes, I’m O.K. Jenny is here with me. Are you sure you are alright? It’s so strange to get calls like that, isn’t it? Had Sarah been around I would have said she was up to her old tricks again, but as she seems to have disappeared from the map, it can’t be her ... or CAN IT? “ Freya emphasized her last remark to Robert “Why don’t you check the 1471 line and see who it was calling?”

  “Thanks Freya, I never thought to do that, but I will now. If anything interesting turns up, I’ll let you know, Bye.”

  Jenny couldn’t wait to find out what had happened and she strained to reach Freya as she put the phone down.

  “Is everything alright?” she enquired, noticing how worried Freya looked in that moment, but Freya stared ahead, looking into space before she shook her head and raised her eyebrows.

  “Yes,” she replied in a low voice, “Well, I say yes, but I don’t really know. That was Robert and he’s getting strange telephone calls where nobody seems to be on the other end of the line.”

  Jenny put her hand to her mouth when Freya said that.

  “Well, sometimes I get calls like that, “ she said, “but it is usually either somebody has dialed a wrong number or else whoever is dialing can’t get through.”

  “Yes, I can understand that Jenny. I’m not silly, but every time Robert answers the phone there is no-one on the other end of the line, even when he holds on and asks whoever is there to speak to him ... and this is not just one call but several.”

  At that moment the telephone rang again and Freya looked at it twice before she lifted the receiver, thinking it could well be one of those anonymous calls that Robert was receiving.

  “Hello ... oh hello Robert, I wasn’t sure who or what to expect when I answered this call after what you have been experiencing. Have you any more news?”

  Robert did not respond immediately to her enquiry and she called him again.

  “Yes, yes,” he replied, “I was just thinking ... maybe Sarah is being held captive somewhere and the person who is holding her just wants to frighten me. What do you think?”

  Freya looked at Jenny before she spoke again.

  “Robert, I don’t think you’re being reasonable. Why would someone want to kidnap that old crow and if she was being held somewhere, why are you worried? She has given you enough worries in the past. I would say forget the whole matter, I really would.” There was another long silence and Freya called out “Don’t give her another thought, Robert. She wouldn’t give a damn for you if you were in trouble or if you went off on a long walk by yourself, would she?”

  As Freya was about to put the phone down, Jenny grabbed her by the arm. . .

  “Freya, I couldn’t help hearing what you said on the phone to Robert, but if he is worried ... well, perhaps as he had loved Sarah at one time he would naturally feel this concern,”

  Freya stared at her with wide eyes.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” she asked, “Why the bloody hell should you think that Robert was in love with Sarah at one time when that is the last thing we should even think about. ‘LOVE’ my arse,” she screamed. “That woman only knows how to love herself.”

  Jenny bit her lip as she tried to continue talking, but Freya put her hand in the air.

  “No ...no, I don’t want to hear any more of that sort of talk, Jenny and if you don’t mind, I’d like to have some time on my own.”

  Jenny took her coat from the hallstand, but seemed reluctant to go, however Freya was insistent ...

  “Please Jenny. I know you mean to be kind, but I need time to think, so co
uld you please leave me?” she snapped, but as Jenny was about to leave the flat, she turned to Freya and shook her head.

  “I don’t know what to think of all this,” she said, but her voice was deliberate, “I wish this bitch Sarah had never crossed our paths. I was she was dead,” she exclaimed and Freya wondered for a moment about the excessive anger in her friend’s voice. Jenny was not a vindictive person and it was so strange for her to say what she did, but Freya knew only too well; what she and her friends thought about Sarah and she concluded that Jenny’s anger was only to be expected as she closed the flat door.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Robert rose very early the following morning and his head felt as though he had been put through a washing machine. He reached across the bed for a glass of water where he always placed one the night before, but as he touched the glass it fell to the floor and rolled across the carpet. He lay back in the bed and rubbed his hand across his forehead, knowing what was about to happen if he rose up.

  “My God,” he muttered to himself, “how long have I to endure this torment where I don’t know where I am nor what I am doing?” and then he threw the sheets away from him as he tried to get up.

  The first attempt was useless but Robert took a deep breath and with a second effort, his feet touched the carpet and he waited for a few moments before he made any further attempt to get up.

  He looked at the clock. It was ten minutes to eight in the morning and as he always did, he judged how long it would take him to get to the toilet, have a wash, if he couldn’t manage to get into the shower, as the bath was impossible ... and it took him nearly half an hour.

  He sat on the settee and tried to read a book, but he had difficulty in seeing clearly. It was at that moment that the telephone rang and he struggled to reach the phone which was on a small table near to where he was sitting.

  “Hello ... yes ... speaking,” he replied and then his face took on a smile. It was Freya and she stuttered her news with delight.

  “Robert, I’ve just been reading the newspaper and I noticed an add where they are looking for a new music teacher for St. Michael’s ... Isn’t that where Sarah was teaching? ... St. Michael‘s school for young ladies?”

  Robert thought hard as he rubbed his forehead again.

  “Yes, I believe it is, but why are you so delighted about ...” but before he could say another word, Freya interrupted with more glee.

  “She must have left ... or was sacked,” she blabbered, “or else she might be pregnant ... or even dead. What good news, eh?”

  Robert lay back on the settee. He didn’t know what to think and he certainly could never have reached the conclusion that Freya had done.

  “Well, “ he replied very softly as if it was an effort for him to speak, ”if the cow is pregnant, I am not to blame for that and as for anything else, your guess is as good as mine, but it certainly looks as though she had gone somewhere, doesn’t it, Freya?”

  “Sure does, but how could we find out where? Do you think I should check the morgue?”

  “Don’t be so cruel, “ Robert replied, “but if you do, let me know what you find, will you?” he added and Freya giggled as she listened to him talking.

  “Do you think I could ring the school and ask them where she is?” suggested Freya as Robert raised his eyebrows and glanced up at the ceiling. Why hadn’t he thought of that? “Would you like to do that, Robert?” Freya went on, “or better still why don’t we visit the school together and get a better view of what’s happening, eh?”

  Robert closed his eyes and shook his head,

  “I’m sorry Freya ... I don’t feel too well this morning. Nothing serious, but I get these sort of funny feelings from time to time. It’s the MS and I just have to accept it.”

  “Robert, I’m so sorry. I should have asked how you were before I went on screaming what I thought would be a joy for both of us. Can I come across to the flat and do something for you?”

  “No thank you Freya. That’s very kind of you to offer and I do appreciate that, but I would just like to be on my own for a little while, if you don’t mind. I’ll give you a ring later this evening if that’s O.K.?

  Freya assured Robert that whatever he wanted was alright by her, but she was more than a little disappointed that he would not let her help him as she was sure there were many little things she could have done around the flat which would give him more chance of resting, especially as Cameron was at school and Robert would be on his own. She rang him later that evening, hoping he might have changed his mind and let her visit him at his flat, but the answer she got was just the same ... except for one thing. Cameron was with Robert at the flat and he was accompanied by Rita ...

  Robert tried to explain the situation on the phone to Freya and it transpired that Cameron had visited his mother when he got a telegram at his school to say that Rita was going into hospital and that she was seriously ill and had asked that her son should visit her, URGENTLY ...

  The fact of the matter was quite the opposite and Rita was very well and without any illness apart from missing her son, a situation that surprised Robert and especially as they both turned up at his flat.

  Freya knew there was nothing she could do and concluded that she would leave well alone and visit Robert the next day, but meanwhile she decided to do a little exercise of her own and telephoned St. Michael’s ...

  “Good afternoon, I am sorry if I am troubling you but ...” and before Freya could say another word, the school secretary interrupted very breezily assuring Freya that there was no trouble in her enquiries and she would be only too happy to oblige in any way if she could ...

  Freya raised her eyebrows in surprise. How accommodating and how obliging was this secretary and she wondered would she feel the same when she was asked about the gorgeous Sarah ...

  “Thank you. You are most kind,” Freya continued, “I would very much like to speak to Mrs. Peterson ... that is if she is not too busy ... as it is rather important.”

  There was an immediate cessation to the conversation as Freya asked her question and it seemed as though the telephone had been disconnected. Freya made her enquiry again and after a few moments the secretary came back. “I am sorry but we have no-one here by that name,” came the reply and Freya stared into the telephone, wondering what she should ask next.

  “Oh! I thought Mrs. Peterson taught music at your school,” she continued and the secretary responded immediately.

  “Oh! Perhaps you mean Mrs. Sullivan? She is our music teacher, but she is not at the school today.”

  Freya pondered, wondering how else she could find out about Sarah. Perhaps Sarah had changed her name to Sullivan ... perhaps she had married again ... perhaps,

  “Can you tell me when Mrs. Sullivan will be back?” she enquired and again there was a long silence on the telephone.

  “I’m afraid I am unable to help you there,” the secretary went on, “Mrs. Sullivan hasn’t left any message about her return to the school and I have just enquired of the Headmistress, but she can only tell me the same.”

  Freya grinned ... Aren’t you a quick and thorough little madam, she thought, reflecting on how speedily the secretary had made her enquires of her Headmistress, but she was determined to get as much information on the elusive Sarah as she could as she started her conversation again.

  “Could I speak to the Headmistress, please? It is very important that I get in touch with the ... music teacher” she enquired, hesitating over the name Sullivan and choosing to refer to the ‘music teacher’ instead.

  “If you would hold for a moment, I will try to put you through,” came the reply and after quite some time, where Freya was beginning to wonder if the Headmistress had gone off on holiday abroad, a sharp voice spoke into the ‘phone.

  “Miss Bradley-Smith here, what do you want?”

 
Freya woke up from her little dream when she heard the Headmistress speak, thinking how unpleasant this woman was, for the manner in which she used her telephone.

  “I wanted to speak to Mrs. Peterson, please?” she asked, ignoring that fact that she had already been told that Mrs. Peterson did not exist at St. Michael‘s.

  “Who are you and why do you want that information?” came the reply, equally as sharp as it had come through before, but Freya was becoming rather annoyed by this time and thought she should retaliate in the same manner.

  “Well, thank you for the courtesy of your attention, “ she snorted angrily, “I wanted to speak to Mrs. Peterson, because I am led to understand that she is the music teacher at your school. Now will you please answer my question and let me speak to the music teacher, PLEASE ...”

  Again there was a protracted silence before Freya heard the Headmistress speak again.

  “My secretary must have told you that we have no-one here teaching at this school by that name, so if you don’t mind, I have a lot to do and this school to run so ...” but Freya wasn’t going to be put off so easily as she interrupted the Headmistress in a more pleasant voice,

  “I really don’t mind what the music teacher calls herself, but I would be very grateful if I could have a few words with her please. It is very important.”

  There was a heavy sigh heard at the other end of the telephone before the Headmistress spoke again.

  “The music teacher is not here and we don’t know when she will be back. She had to leave urgently and that is all we know ... but if you are a friend of hers, will you tell her that I would like her to get in touch with me as soon as possible ... that is if she wants to keep her job.” The Headmistress snapped and banged the telephone down.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Robert listened to Freya as she chattered on excitedly to him on the telephone to tell him that Sarah was not at St. Michael’s unless she was using another name and when Robert asked her what name she referred to, she told him it was Sullivan ... a Mrs. Sullivan.