by Lauren North
‘Anna,’ Kat says.
‘Don’t.’ I shake my head. ‘I trusted you.’
‘I’m your best friend,’ she pleads.
‘Not any more.’
‘I was just trying to look after the village. Barton St Martin is such a peaceful, safe village. I didn’t want anything to happen to it.’
I look at her in disgust. ‘The only thing any of you were doing was looking after yourselves.’
Kat disappears into the night and I sit with shaking legs on a stack of wood pallets by the door. Adrenaline rushes through my body, bumping against the realization that it’s over.
Rob holds out his hand to me. ‘Let’s go home.’
I let him pull me into the crook of his arm, but when we’re in the dark and the cold is all around us, I stop. I can’t walk another step. I can’t go home with Rob, back to our house together, and let the girls see him. Not until I understand his lies.
‘Anna? What is it?’ he asks.
‘Tell me everything,’ I say. ‘Don’t lie and don’t leave anything out. Start with where you’ve been going when you’ve left us.’
‘I’ve been in Nigeria. You know that. I wouldn’t lie to you.’
‘I was worried when you didn’t call on Sunday. I called Artax and spoke to someone in their HR department. They didn’t have a clue who you were.’
He nods but says nothing for a moment. ‘I was working on an oil rig in Nigeria, exactly like I said I was, but I wasn’t working through Artax. They’d take a cut of my wages—’
‘To provide extra security. To keep you safe.’
‘That’s true, but I spoke with the oil company and took a job directly with them. I arranged my own transport to and from the airport, using the same security teams as Artax use, but paying a fraction of the cost.’
‘So why didn’t you tell me? Why does it always feel like you’re lying to me? Like I have to dig through all your shit to find the truth and only then do you tell me?’
‘It wasn’t like that, Anna. I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want you to spend all of the time I was away worrying.’
‘Well, you failed, because I did worry and now I find out you were putting your life in even more danger. Do you know how hard it’s been for the kids? It would destroy them if you were killed. Do you get that?’
‘I’m here, aren’t I? I’m fine.’
‘For how long though?’
‘For good.’
His words wind me. ‘What? How? We still have another year as we are before the debts are paid. Or have you lied about that too?’ I picture Molly’s bright beaming eyes when she hears her daddy won’t be going away again. I hear the squeals of delight as he collects our girls one by one into his arms and spins them round.
‘I was earning better money so I’ve paid off the last of the debts. We’re free. We can start again. Anthony’s offered me a job, but—’
‘At Stockton’s? You can’t be serious.’
‘I know.’ He shakes his head. ‘Let me finish. After tonight there is no way I can work for Anthony or have anything to do with Stockton’s or this village. I don’t know how much Anthony and the others were involved in what Jack did to Dean, but it’s clear that nobody in that stable was innocent. I’ll find something else. I don’t care if it’s engineering or sitting at a desk. As long as I’m home every night. I promised you I’d fix this, I promised you a fresh start.’
‘Away from the village?’
‘Yes. Definitely.’ He smiles, tentative and unsure, and it almost melts my heart. Almost.
A silence settles over us as we walk back to the house. Emotions mixing like a dozen fragrances at the perfume counter, clogging the air and making my head pound.
‘I thought you’d changed,’ I say after a pause. ‘After what happened with your business in London I thought you’d never risk our family again.’
‘I would never risk us. Not ever. That’s why I’ve done all this. It wasn’t fun for me, you know. Sleeping in a single bunk night after night, working relentlessly, eating shit food, and thinking constantly, every second, I was about to get killed. I did it for you and the girls. I got us into such a mess with money and I’ve got us out of it too. I did it all for you. I want to give you back the life you had, the one you deserve.’
I shake my head. ‘I don’t want that life any more. I thought I did, but I was wrong. I just want …’ I shrug. ‘To feel safe. To not feel worried every minute of the day. For the girls to feel safe and happy. Nothing else matters.’
‘We can’t live without money, Anna. Kindness and love don’t pay the bills, in case you haven’t noticed.’
‘Of course I’ve noticed,’ I snap. ‘What do you think I’ve been doing while you’ve been away? I’ve been raising our family on scraps, and do you know what, they’re happy – or they were until Harrie got dragged into this shit show. Do you have the first clue what this has done to her? She tried to run away tonight. I found her on the bridge over the river and I thought … I thought she might jump. Our baby girl. I don’t even know how to begin processing what she’s been through or how I am going to help her.
‘And those bastards have the audacity to tell me that everything they do is for the good of the community. It’s bullshit. It’s about money and greed and power.’
‘I didn’t have anything to do with that. I might’ve been on the Parish Council, but I was just a chair filler. Anthony didn’t want a village busybody joining, and now we know why,’ he says, giving a long sigh. ‘You’re right though, I lied about which company I was working for. Everything else was true. I just didn’t want you to worry, that’s all. You never used to worry so much.’
‘And look where that got us.’ The fight seeps out of me. ‘No more lying. I know you think you’re trying to protect me, but you have to be honest.’
‘I promise.’ He leans down and kisses me, soft and tender, and I know I’ll forgive him. He’s lied to protect me from my own what-if demons and I can’t hate him for that. But will he forgive me so easily?
CHAPTER 60
Anna
‘I need to get back to the girls. June is with them.’ It feels late, like I’ve been in this field for days, but as we walk towards the road, the cold air kisses my face and I glance at my watch and see only an hour has passed, two since I ran out of my front door to find Harrie. I think about all that has happened and all that I know and it cloaks me in a heavy exhaustion I will never lift myself out of.
‘I have to tell you something before we go in,’ I say.
‘OK.’
‘While you were away, Dean and I became … friends.’
‘Friends?’ The single word is laced with accusation and hurt.
‘Just friends, Rob. I needed someone to talk to and it was him. He’s been there for me. I didn’t have an affair. The first time we hugged was two days before he went missing and that was only because I was upset. It wasn’t an affair, but …’ I shrug. ‘It didn’t feel right either. I was relying on him for the emotional support that I should have been getting from you.’
Rob tightens his arm around me. ‘I get it, and I’m here now. I love you, Anna.’
I take a shaking breath. ‘There’s something else – I’m pregnant.’
‘What?’ Rob’s voice rings with surprise. ‘But you’re on the pill.’
‘I know. It happens though.’
We reach the gate. The padlock is still open and we slip through and shut it behind us. Tomorrow, in the grey wintry daylight, this field will look exactly the same. There will be no sign of the horrors that Dean has been through. His face tonight was sunken, half starved, broken. He was nothing like the man who knocked on my door on that Monday with two apple turnovers from the bakery, just as I’d taken the test and found out I was pregnant.
I was a mess. Shaken. Horrified. Everything was already so hard. An uphill struggle. A sewer of shit and I’d cried and cried. Dean had taken me in his arms and hugged me tight. It was the first time we’d ever touched
each other, crossed that line, and I told him everything, about London, the debts, the shitty little flat, and the baby.
A baby we couldn’t afford. Another set of clothes, shoes, nappies. Another set of classes. Another everything. I didn’t know how I was going to tell Rob. We’d worked out the money so meticulously. Almost every penny had been accounted for. Where were we going to find the money for a baby? And how could I have a baby with Rob away? It couldn’t work. Dean told me everything would be OK, but I didn’t see how it could.
‘I wasn’t expecting this, but it’s good news,’ Rob says. ‘I’m happy. Anna, truly I am. I’ve always wanted more children. You have too. You’ve been worrying about it, haven’t you? My little worrywart.’
‘Don’t call me that any more.’
‘I’m sorry. You know I’m only teasing. I won’t say it again, but you have to try and relax more. Deal? The debts are all gone. You’re pregnant. You need to start taking care of yourself.’
I nod as I open the front door, too tired to talk any more. There is more that needs to be said, but right now I just want to see the girls.
June is at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and her knitting when I walk in. The ball of baby-blue wool is by her feet and the colour makes my chest ache as I think about the tiny human growing inside me.
The kitchen is spotless. The mess of dinner has been cleaned away and the Halloween items stacked neatly to one side.
‘June, I can’t thank you enough for helping me tonight. You didn’t need to tidy up.’
‘Oh, I didn’t, dear.’ June looks from me to Rob. If she’s surprised to see him home, she doesn’t show it. She offers him a polite smile, before turning her warmth back to me. ‘Molly and Elise did.’
‘Is Harrie OK?’ I watch June’s face. I see the worry on the deep lines of her forehead and a fear rears up inside me.
What if she’s run away again?
What if …? I stop myself from finishing the thought.
‘She was quiet and rather cold. I suggested she have a bath and get into bed. Elise went with her and Molly is upstairs reading.’
The relief hits me with another wave of exhaustion. ‘Thank you, June. Thank you so much.’
June rises to her feet. ‘I’ve told you, my dear girl, I’m here any time you need me. I’m glad to help. I don’t have grandchildren, sadly, but spending time with the girls is close enough for me.’
‘We’re lucky to have you in our lives, June,’ I say, touching her arm as we walk to the front door. I feel a pang of guilt as I hug June goodbye. I came to the village desperate to keep to myself, to keep our dirty little secret safe, locked inside our walls. I was ashamed and shallow and I thought people would look down on us for having so little. And when I felt the eyes of the likes of Sandra and Bev on me it only made me more certain to keep myself shut away. But it has closed me off to friendships and support. I’ve relied on no one but Kat and then Dean, and look where that got me.
There’s a soft thud from upstairs. Feet out of bed.
Rob grins and leaps up the stairs, two then three steps at a time. A second later I hear Molly’s excited squeals.
CHAPTER 61
Anna
As Rob scoops Elise into his arms, I duck into the twins’ bedroom and find Harrie. She’s in bed, her breathing deep and rhythmic. I step into the room and lie down beside her, wrapping her in my arms as she stirs.
‘Harrie?’ I whisper.
‘Is Dean dead?’
‘No, baby. Dean is OK.’
‘Is he … is he still there?’ Her eyes fly open. They are filled with more horror than I can bear to see.
I shake my head. ‘No. He’s gone home. Your dad is here. Do you want to say hello now?’
She pauses to think and then shakes her head. ‘In a minute. What will happen now?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell June. I wanted to but I …’ Harrie starts to tremble in my arms and I tighten my hold and kiss the top of her head.
‘It’s OK. I know Jack scared you and made you think he’d hurt us if you said anything, but he doesn’t control the police though, Harrie. We’ll go tomorrow and talk to them.’
She nods and buries her head in my shoulder and I rub her back as she cries.
We stay like that for a long time, wrapped in each other’s arms while Molly and Elise’s excited voices and Rob’s laughter carry through the walls. I don’t know if my words of comfort to Harrie are true or wishful thinking, but I do know that when we all walked out of that stable tonight, it wasn’t the end.
The next morning Rob takes Elise and Molly to the park, and Harrie and I drive to the police station. A female officer with dark hair and bright inquisitive eyes guides us into an interview room and I sit beside Harrie with weak tea in a Styrofoam cup as she tells the officer everything that happened. PC Quinn makes notes, only interrupting Harrie’s story to clarify a date or a time. She doesn’t raise an eyebrow or scoff in disbelief when Harrie tells her about Dean trapped in the cage.
Afterwards, Harrie sits in the waiting room and I fill in the gaps with my own story. I watch PC Quinn scrawl down the names I give her. Anthony and Tracy Campbell. Mike and Bev Pritchett. Sandra and Jack Briggs. Kat Morris. I think of the other members of the Parish Council – Barry Glebe and Mary Swanson. Martin Walker and Rob. It all happened right in front of them and they had no idea. It happened right in front of all of us.
When I’m finished, I slide Dean’s phone across the table. I don’t know what’s on it. Something that will incriminate these people, or nothing at all, but I want the police to have it.
There is no rush to the police cars when I’ve finished. No flashing blue lights. PC Quinn thanks me for coming and promises me she’ll be in touch soon.
We don’t know until later that our trip to the police was too late. By the time we left PC Quinn they were already dead.
TWO DEAD IN MURDER-SUICIDE
1 November
The village of Barton St Martin is in shock today after two residents died in an apparent murder-suicide. Local businessman Dean Stockton shot dead decorated police officer and father-of-two Jack Briggs, before turning the gun on himself.
While the police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder-suicide, several residents are helping police with their inquiries, including an eleven-year-old girl.
Our chief reporter, Melissa Hart, is investigating behind the scenes of this distraught community. Pick up a copy of our weekend paper to discover the lies and secrets hidden in this idyllic village.
Village Girlies’ Secret Group Chat
Sunday 1 November, 11.45
Bev Pritchett: Is it true?
Tracy Campbell: Yes.
Bev Pritchett: @SandraBriggs I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?
Kat Morris: Anna and Harrie are talking to the police. There’s a reporter asking questions. What should we say?
Bev Pritchett: OMG!!!! How the hell did Harrie get involved in all this?
Kat Morris: She was there the night Jack spoke to Dean. It’s been a nightmare!
Bev Pritchett: What are we going to do?
Tracy Campbell: Stay calm. Talk about Harrie. Make her the story. We’ve been careful!!
Kat Morris: Delete this group!!
Tracy Campbell: Done.
Group chat deleted
Interview with Tracy Campbell, member of Barton St Martin Parish Council and member of the Parent–Teacher Association of Barton St Martin Primary School
Interview conducted by Melissa Hart, The Daily Gazette, 3 November
MH: Thank you for agreeing to talk to me now.
Tracy: I’ve only got two minutes before I need to collect the girls from pony camp.
MH: What’s the connection between Stockton’s Builders and Contractors and the Parish Council?
Tracy: There is no connection.
MH: Your husband is the Chief Financial Officer for Stockton’s, is he not
?
Tracy: Yes.
MH: And the head of the Parish Council?
Tracy: So? What’s your point?
MH: Some might consider it a conflict of interest. Mr Campbell could have swayed the Parish Council to use Stockton’s over a different company?
Tracy: It had nothing to do with Anthony. Dean Stockton was the main sales force for his business. He was the one that always offered Stockton’s for any repairs or work that needed doing around the village. Dean said he was giving us a fair price and rather stupidly on our parts we believed him. We thought it was a mates’ rate thing. Not strictly in line with policy, but these things happen. Jack was the lead on the annual summer fete. I dread to think how much money they’ve stolen between them. We were all oblivious to what Dean and Jack were getting up to behind our backs. Ignorance is no excuse, but there it is.
Interview with Martin Walker, member of Barton St Martin Parish Council
Interview conducted by Melissa Hart, The Daily Gazette, 3 November
MH: Thank you for taking a few minutes to talk to me, Mr Walker.
Martin: Call me Martin. And it’s no problem. No problem at all. I assume you know by now about the suspected fiddling on the Parish Council? Horrible business.
MH: What do you know about it?
Martin: Me? I know nothing. Gina and I are both in the dark. We never suspected a thing. Can you believe that? These people were our good friends. We went camping together. We spent Christmas Eve together. Countless New Years celebrating with them and we didn’t have a clue what was going on.
MH: You are a member of the Parish Council though?
Martin: I know, I know, it sounds like I should have known, but I didn’t, and it wasn’t just me. Barry, Mary and Rob didn’t know either. As for the others, I really don’t know who to believe. They say they didn’t know a thing about it and it was all Dean and Jack, but I’m not so sure I believe that. Look, I flipped burgers at the summer fete and voted yes when needed at the meetings. Did I think it was odd that we always used Stockton’s Builders and Contractors for our repairs? No. To be honest, I thought it was a good relationship to have. They’d do what we asked and they were quick. I never saw any of the invoices or the finances. Actually, you should speak to Steve. He’ll be back in an hour.