Naive Retribution

by Dawson, H A

  ‘Open it up then,’ Imogen said, ‘we haven’t got all day,’

  Luke glimpsed at Crystal. She didn’t seem hurt and had a twinkle in her eye. Or was that a hint of sorrow and regret?

  With no choice but to withhold his apology, since Imogen was smothering him with her insistence, he removed the wrapping paper. The box had a lid. He pulled it free. Inside was an assortment of items. There were goggles, a facemask, rubber gloves, a plastic raincoat, room deodorisers and smelling salts. It was a nappy changing kit.

  Imogen and Crystal burst into laughter.

  He shared in their amusement.

  Luke spent the entire lunch break mooching over his exclusion from their date. He knew it was petty, and he knew he had no right to insist on accompanying them, yet still his envy would not diminish. He imagined them chattering and giggling in a café; he considered what they ate; he wondered what stories they shared.

  The clock ticked by. After what seemed like a long time, the outer door opened and the bell sounded. Resisting his yearning to jump to greet Crystal, he remained at his desk, and kept his movements controlled and his eyes fixed on a report. Imogen appeared in office. He looked to her rear. She was alone and his disappointment rose.

  ‘She’s gone back to work.’

  ‘I wasn’t wondering.’

  ‘You so were. You’re hot for her. It’s so obvious. She likes you too.’

  His pulse quickened and numerous questions raced to the tip of his tongue.

  ‘You need to get yourself sorted out Luke Adams.’ She placed her jacket on a peg. ‘Oh, and she told me to tell you she’s busy tonight. She forgot to tell you.’

  He looked to his desk.

  ‘She said another time would be good.’

  Was Crystal being polite, or was she genuinely interested? It was difficult to tell. Women were hard enough to understand at the best of times.

  ‘I think taking the baby with you is a bad idea. She’s a bit young. Leave Ava with Sarah.’

  ‘She’ll want to see her.’

  ‘Ava will be a distraction. It’s you she wants to see . . . alone.’

  Did she, really? Luke relived the moment Crystal handed him the gift and his insides danced. There had been love in her eyes and unspoken hopes and desires oozing from her heart. It had been a magical moment.

  But then, out of the blue, he thought of Sarah.

  ‘We can’t be together,’ Luke asserted. ‘It was a bad idea you contacting her. You should never-’

  ‘Here we go again,’ Imogen said, ‘I suppose it’s my fault.’

  He bit his lip.

  ‘You love Crystal and she loves you. I don’t see the problem.’

  Images of Sarah and Ava pounded his mind. He had made his decision. It was what he wanted for months. He had no right to back out now. Scowling, he shuffled down his seat and focused on Jade Horton.

  Luke scanned the transcript of the interview, and then opened the précis, searching for clues and anomalies. So far, he had two suspects for the stalking activities. One was William and the other Kath. Potentially, there would be more, but since Jade had been reluctant to share details of her life after the tragedy, he had no choice but to concentrate on family suspects.

  He scanned the drawing of the dead body. It was logical to assume that the stalker had believed Jade should have accepted more responsibility for someone’s injury or death. However, was the forgotten part of her life the only time she had been involved with someone else’s suffering? Her decision to keep private the intervening years niggled; he did not like having to rule anything out so early on.

  ‘I haven’t been able to trace the owner of the phone,’ Imogen said,’ the one the stalker used.’

  ‘Oh, right.’

  ‘It was purchased locally, but with cash. And it hasn’t been registered.’

  ‘I guessed as much. Any leads on where the stalker may have got Jade’s number?’

  ‘No, afraid not. He could have hacked into an online account, but I just don’t know.’

  Luke nodded. The most likely suspect was someone she knew.

  ‘I wondered if it was someone at the tennis club,’ Imogen continued, ‘so I gave her a ring yesterday. She couldn’t think of anyone who would even consider doing that to her.’

  ‘What about any close relationships? Anyone who might hold a grudge.’

  ‘I asked her that as well. She said she has always avoided speaking to people about her past – never has, never will.’

  ‘Well someone knows something.’ Luke chewed the end of his pencil. ‘I think she’s hiding something.’

  ‘She told me she was on the streets for a while. I tried to get her to open up, but I couldn’t.’

  ‘Did she say anything useful at all?’

  ‘No. She clammed up.’

  The phone rang. Imogen picked it up.

  Ignoring the caller since Imogen was taking charge, Luke stood up to stretch his back and legs and paced the room. He had two options. The first was to interview William privately, and to see if he knew anything he didn’t want to speak of in front of Jade, and the second was to speak to Kath. She was likely to be the most fruitful, and so far, she seemed to be the most likely suspect.

  Kath was family. She wasn’t in the house the night of the fire and she had issues with Jade. In addition, she knew Jade’s mobile number and had been with Jade on the day the drawing was planted in her bag.

  But it all seemed a little too easy. Why would she stalk her own sister? If Kath wanted to hurt Jade, wouldn’t she do something more than send a few anonymous text messages? Luke stared at Imogen, who was absorbed in the phone conversation, and craved answers.

  After a few more minutes, she hung up the phone. ‘That was Jade. She’s received another drawing. It was delivered to her home this time.’

  ‘What was it?’

  ‘A dove fleeing from a burning building. Someone also called out the fire brigade, claiming to be her, and then set the shed alight. It must be him.’

  ‘Or her.’

  Imogen nodded.

  Luke returned to his seat. ‘He’s proving to her he knows about her past.’

  ‘Seems like it. Jade also said Kath blames her for their mother being suicidal.’

  ‘Did she give a reason?’

  ‘She didn’t say much. She’s popping in this afternoon with the drawing.’

  ‘What time?’

  ‘She’s on her way.’

  ‘Okay. Then we’ll go see Kath.’

  Chapter 16

  Kath sat at the kitchen table, her head in her hand, and stared at the telephone. In the background, the television sound with high-pitched singsong voices reassured her Chloe and Lily were being entertained. It was a small mercy, but one that caused her guilt to rise. She had been away from them all day, trailing the streets looking for a job, and had left them with her mother-in-law. Now, reunited, she should want to be with her daughters, instead she wanted a quiet time.

  They were demanding and required her entire attention, not something she felt she could give right now. Often, they talked over each other, both wanting something different, both draining her good will. They could not understand compromise or patience, and had no ability to comprehend her methods. If one day she gave in to Chloe at the cost of Lily, then the following day she would do the reverse. But to them, time did not exist. Only the present mattered, and her efforts to share her attentions gone unnoticed. Discord was often the outcome.

  At least for the moment, with the aid of the artificial baby-sitter, harmony was restored. It provided Kath with a few minutes of thinking time, and even though she knew she should use it to self-motivate, her mind wandered to the hardship she endured.

  She had visited the job centre and agencies, as well as calling into at least twenty shops looking for a job. It had become a regular habit and she targeted different places on different days, whilst she left it at least a week before visiting the same place, some of the staff recognised her. On se
veral occasions, even before she had a chance to speak, the negative response came forth with a shake of the head. It was a demoralising process. She was wasting her time, and it felt as though she was she was simply presenting herself for a beating.

  However, today Kath had succeeded in getting an interview at a ladies clothes shop, a perfect fit to her requirements. She should be happy, but she had been in the same position before, and it had never transpired, and aside from her criminal record, this time she blamed her poor interview technique. Knowing she had messed up, she glanced to the phone, awaiting the call that she had been promised.

  A scream resonated through the house, followed by screechy voices and pained cries.

  Kath dashed into the living room. Chloe and Lily were fighting, their faces red and angry. She yanked them apart.

  ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘She hit me,’ Chloe said, surging forward.

  ‘Did not.’

  ‘Did too.’

  Lily swung her arms and kicked out her legs. She was aiming for her sister but caught Kath on her legs.

  ‘Stop it, both of you. Chloe, sit there, and Lily you sit there.’

  Lily did as she was told, but Chloe folded her arms and scowled. Determined to gain control, Kath encouraged her to the end of the sofa where she remained in a bundle, but by then Lily had abandoned her seat and was standing at Kath’s rear smirking.

  ‘Back to your seat,’ Kath instructed.

  She moved in a shuffle.

  ‘Chloe, what happened? And I want the truth.’

  ‘She hit me.’

  Kath turned to Lily. ‘Did you?’

  ‘She hit me first.’

  ‘Did not.’

  ‘Did too.’

  It was several minutes before Kath got a handle of the situation, or at least she thought she had, but then, for no apparent reason, Lily kicked over a vase of flowers that were situated on the hearth. The water spread across the carpet and the daffodils scattered. Kath was assessing the damage when the fighting restarted. It was then that the phone sounded. She tried to assert her dominance, but she did not do it quickly enough and the phone stopped ringing.

  Her anger rose. She screamed at the girls, her blood rising, and yanked them into a sitting position, one at each end of the sofa. Their small bodies quivered and tears streamed down their faces, but Kath was in too much in a rage to notice, and in a show of anger, lifted the vase and flowers from the floor and screamed out her disapproval. Getting no response, she smashed it against the concrete surface. It broke into several pieces. The little girls hid their faces.

  Eyes bore into her. She looked up. Liam was standing in the doorway. ‘Kath?’

  ‘I’ve had enough of those two.’

  She elbowed past. Luke and Imogen were standing in the hallway, embarrassment lining their faces.

  Luke looked to the carpet near his feet in the living room. He wanted to vanish and hated having to witness difficult family moments. Imogen, on the other hand, did not appear to be troubled in the slightest, and chatted easily, first to Liam, and then to the two tearful girls who gripped his legs. After a few moments, he had cleaned up the mess and settled his daughters in front of the television, presenting them with drinks and a biscuit.

  Kath still had not reappeared, having rushed up the stairs. Luke glanced to the doorway wondering what to do.

  ‘She’ll be back soon enough,’ Liam said.

  Luke frowned, feeling obligated to stay. He would rather leave and rearrange their meeting, reasoning Kath would be in no mood for an interrogation.

  ‘She has a bit of a temper,’ he continued, ‘she’s had counselling in the past. It’s the first time she’s lost it in months.’

  Uncomfortable, he looked towards Imogen and the girls.

  ‘She’d never hurt them.’

  Choosing not to respond, and after what felt like a prolonged awkward silence, footsteps sounded on the staircase. Imogen leapt from her seat and hurried into the corridor to greet Kath, and immediately empathised with her for the difficulties of being a mother of twins. Luke remained seated, fearing Imogen was being a bit forward, but when the tension in Kath’s voice dissipated and a smiley face appeared at the doorway, he was grateful for her direct approach. He followed them to the kitchen.

  ‘I’m sorry you had to witness that,’ Kath said.

  ‘Think nothing of it,’ Imogen said.

  ‘They made me miss an important call . . . I was hoping for a job offer.’

  ‘I’m sure they’ll ring back.’

  Kath didn’t look convinced. ‘I was sacked a few weeks ago . . . unfairly. Someone planted stolen goods in my bag. I discovered them when my supervisor asked to search my bag. Of course, they didn’t believe I was innocent. Why would they when I already have a record?’

  ‘That’s tough. Do you know who did it?’

  ‘I have my suspicions. They’d been rumours at the store that they wanted to lay off staff. I was popular with the customers, and a hard worker, whereas one of my colleagues wasn’t. I suspect it was her – she wanted to keep her job.’

  ‘Did you fight your corner?’

  ‘I tried, but as I said I have a record.’

  ‘What about suing for unfair dismissal?’

  Kath shook her head. ‘No one will believe me. They never have done before. I must have a face with a shifty look.’

  ‘I believe you,’ Imogen said, ‘I don’t see why others wouldn’t.’

  She stared, disbelieving. ‘I don’t want the hassle. I . . . I’m trying to get rid of negative thoughts. I think the process will just work me up.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ Imogen glanced to Luke. ‘If you change your mind we can put you in touch with someone.’

  Kath mouthed her gratitude.

  ‘Now, about Jade,’ Luke said. ‘What’s your relationship like?’

  ‘Tense. She doesn’t want anything to do with me.’

  ‘Do you know why?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘Did you stay in touch after the fire?’

  Kath fiddled with her fingers. ‘No.’

  ‘Okay. Do you know where was she staying?’

  ‘No. I saw her hanging out in town once with some deadbeats . . . that’s all I know.’

  ‘Did you recognise any of them?’

  ‘One of them. He did a bit of gardening on our street . . . helped some bloke.’

  ‘What was his name?’

  She averted her gaze and brushed her hand across her face. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Can you describe him?’

  ‘He was late teens, scruffy appearance . . . a nonconformist.’

  ‘Did Jade know him before the tragedy?’

  ‘I don’t think so. She didn’t spend much time socialising. She was always helping Mum.’

  ‘Wouldn’t she have seen him gardening?’

  ‘No. She didn’t spend much time outside. She was always so focused on returning home to Mum and the boys.’

  Luke persisted with his questioning, trying to gather as much information as possible about the man, but he acquired little else. Kath either didn’t know any more, or didn’t want to speak about it. He had to let the issue drop.

  ‘When did you and Jade meet up again?’ he asked.

  ‘It was a few years later. I saw her when I was out shopping, but it was a bit awkward. Nevertheless, we exchanged details. It was a while before we met up again.’

  ‘Did she contact you?’

  ‘No. It was the other way around. At first, she made a few excuses. I think I wore her down and she felt obliged. We had drinks but she was in a hurry to leave. She only stayed half an hour or so and then left. It’s how it’s always been.’

  ‘And you don’t know why she acts like that?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Do you mind me asking what you talked about?’

  ‘She told me about William and Kelsey, and I told her I was with Liam. It was before the girls were born.’

  ‘Di
d you talk about the fire?’

  Kath looked to her lap. ‘No.’

  ‘Or your mother?’

  ‘No.’ Kath hurried to the worktop, retrieved a glass, and took a swig of water.

  ‘Did you want to?’

  Her back was turned. She was staring out of the window to the small yard. ‘Not really.’

  ‘What about now?’

  She turned around, leaning against the worktop and keeping the glass close to her face. ‘I’ve tried. She doesn’t say much. She’s lost her memories.’

  ‘That’s right. She has dissociative amnesia . . . it’s not that unusual in tragic circumstances.’

  ‘It’s convenient, isn’t it?’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  Kath jolted. Luke wondered if she hadn’t intended to speak aloud, and felt a small sense of success rise through his body. It was only when she spoke freely that he would ascertain the truth. He concentrated his gaze, willing her to expand.

  She relented to his persistence. ‘Isn’t it obvious? I’d like to forget something like that too.’

  Luke nodded. It was a logical explanation.

  ‘Did Jade play a part in the tragedy?’

  Kath held a controlled expression. ‘No.’

  ‘How do you know? I didn’t think you were present.’

  She scratched a persistent itch, then crossed her legs and folded her arms. ‘I’ve seen the facts.’

  ‘Did you speak to your father before he died?

  ‘He told me he had started the fire.’

  ‘And that was it?’

  ‘That was it.’

  ‘Would you say Jade was the favoured daughter?’

  Kath relaxed her limbs. ‘Definitely. They thought she was perfect . . . never had a flaw to her name.’

  ‘So he may have been covering for her.’

  She stared, either scrutinising his motives or holding onto an outburst, Luke could not be sure which. Either way, he concluded she knew more than he let on.

  ‘Do you think it’s possible?’ he asked again.