by Mel Sherratt
‘Only when it’s called for,’ replied Trevor. ‘I can’t stand people who use violence as a means of getting their own way but I do believe in dishing it out to those people when necessary.’ He looked at all four women in turn. ‘I used to be a street fighter … got paid good money for it too, but like most things, I became too old.’ He pointed to his nose. ‘And this got broken one too many times for my liking.’
Trevor held out his hand, offering to help Steve up from the floor, but Steve slapped it away. However, once Steve had got to his feet of his own volition, Trevor grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him near.
Come round here again causing hassle, and I will have you seen to,’ he told him quietly. ‘These girls deserve to be treated with respect, you got that?’
Steve said nothing. Keera couldn’t believe how much of a coward he was when challenged.
‘You got that?’ Trevor repeated, pulling Steve closer.
‘Yeah, I got it.’ Steve pushed Trevor’s hands down. He turned to Ramona, first letting his eyes rest menacingly on Keera. ‘I still want my money.’
Trevor pushed him towards the door. ‘I’ll see you out. Goodnight, ladies, and be careful.’
‘Goodnight.’ They chanted in unison.
When he had gone, all four women started to talk at once.
‘Ohmigod, did you see that!’ said Sonia.
‘I can’t believe he was a street fighter.’ Estelle shook her head. ‘I mean, I know he keeps himself fit but…’
‘Wow, he’s our hero,’ said Keera. ‘I never would have thought.’
‘He’s done me more harm than good,’ Ramona pouted, going back behind the reception. ‘Steve won’t give up. He’ll come back when the likes of Trevor isn’t around and he’ll probably cause more damage then. He’s a lunatic, especially when he’s been drinking.’
‘You shouldn’t put up with him,’ said Estelle.
‘I owe him money, babe.’ Ramona blushed. ‘It’s my fault.’
‘Don’t you have any family who can bail you out?’
‘Are you kidding? They’re as scared of him as I am!’
Keera put her arms around Ramona and gave her a hug. ‘I can chip in with some money if it helps,’ she offered.
Ramona started to cry. ‘But if I give him money, he always wants more. I’m not even sure if I owe him anything now or if he’s trying it on. I just know that the debt is never paid off.’ She looked at them with watery eyes. ‘My own frigging brother.’
‘It’s not your fault that he’s a lunatic,’ Keera admonished. ‘If he comes again, I’ll find something else to batter him with. He’ll get fed up sooner or later.’
‘He’ll never get fed up.’ Ramona shook her head before bursting into tears again. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of him.’
Keera threw her a sympathetic look. Although she tried to comfort her friend, she was concerned about seeing Steve again. She’d thought he’d grass her up to Sam when she’d kneed him in the balls to get away from him. Now, she had given him more ammunition to get her back.
Surely he would say something soon.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Donna was starving as she got ready for her next date with Owen. She was glad he was picking her up at half past seven or she swore she would die of hunger, used to eating much earlier in the evening. In another summer dress, although the weather threatened to bring a storm, she gave herself the once-over in the long hall mirror. She grinned as she twirled around, noticing that her arms and legs were quite toned because of all the manual work she did in the shop. Tangerine orange painted toenails peeped out of her strappy sandals, but nothing was as bright as her smile.
Half an hour later, she was standing by the window looking out onto the street. So far, there had been no sign of Owen. She’d texted him a couple of times with no reply and then she’d rung to find his phone was switched off.
What the hell was going on? Was he lying ill at home, unable to reach anyone? Had he been involved in an accident on the way here or something? A shiver of fear swept over Donna. God, she hoped not.
It was nearing eight thirty when her calls were finally answered.
‘Owen!’ She cried. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine, thanks.’
‘I’ve been trying to contact you for the last hour I thought you might be ill or had an acc—’
‘I said I’m fine.’
‘Oh!’ He seemed really irritated with her. ‘What’s up?’
‘I’m just a little confused.’
‘About what?’
‘When we last met, you said you weren’t after a relationship. I thought you didn’t want to see me again.’
Donna cast her mind back to the conversation he was referring to and then she understood. They had been talking about how they hadn’t been seeing each other for long but how they felt as if they had been together forever. It was lust talk, she knew. People were always giddy to see each other at the start of a relationship.
‘When we chatted, I thought you meant that I was coming on too heavy,’ she explained, ‘and that you wanted to see how things went before we committed to anything. So I said what I thought you wanted to hear, I suppose.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes. I’m happy to take things as they come as I— I really like you and I don’t want things to be spoiled.’
‘I thought you wanted some no-strings attached fun.’
Donna’s heart lurched. ‘If that’s the impression I gave you, then I’m sorry. That’s not what I’m after at all.’
‘I assumed …’
‘You assumed I was after you spending some money on me and then I would dump you?’
‘Well, I—’
‘I’m not like that at all.’
A pause.
‘I’ve made a fool out of myself, haven’t I?’ said Owen.
‘No!’
‘It’s just that when we met, everything seemed too good to be true.’
‘For me, too.’
Another pause. Oh, please don’t say she’d blown it, Donna thought to herself.
‘So would you like to see me again?’ he asked.
‘Of course!’ Donna had to stop herself from shouting down the phone.
‘Thank God for that!’
Donna giggled.
‘How about I make up for tonight and take you somewhere special?’
‘You don’t need to do that.’
‘I know, but I’d like to. Could you get away this weekend or next, just for a night?’
Donna sighed. ‘I’m not sure. My mum isn’t too good at the moment. Keera will probably be working so I can’t ask her to look in on her, either. And I know Sam isn’t doing too bad on his own but I’m concerned that he—’
‘Stop!’ Owen interrupted. ‘Listen to yourself for a moment. You should be able to have a life outside of your family. You deserve a little fun, don’t you?’
‘Well, yes, but I worry that—’
‘You worry too much.’
It was exactly what Sam had implied earlier. Maybe they were both right. Donna couldn’t help herself. Her family meant everything to her, but she could have some fun too. And she did deserve to be pampered, didn’t she?
‘Okay,’ she said.
‘Fantastic. I’ll book somewhere nice, not too far away, so we can spend a lot of time at the hotel, if you catch my drift.’
‘I’m looking forward to it already.’
As she disconnected the call, Donna grinned. Despite the disappointment about not seeing him that evening, plus the guilt after she had said yes to a night away, she was looking forward to spending more time with Owen. She could get to know what had caused him to be so guarded.
A full night together. She couldn’t wait.
After checking in on Mary, Donna arrived at work the next morning just in the nick of time. She ran past Sarah, giving her a wave, and went into the staff room.
‘How was your date?’ Sarah shouted thr
ough the door to her.
‘It didn’t happen. Owen had to work late.’ For some reason, Donna didn’t want to tell Sarah about the misunderstanding. ‘But he’s making it up to me,’ she added. ‘We’re going away for a night this weekend.’
‘Wow, he’s a quick mover.’
Donna froze in the doorway. ‘Do you think?’
‘Oh, don’t mind me, I’m just envious.’ Sarah batted away her comment. ‘Where is he taking you?’
‘He won’t say.’ Donna raised her eyebrows. ‘It’s a surprise.’
‘Oh, how romantic.’ Sarah sighed. ‘You’re such a lucky cow.’
‘I wish!’ Donna thought back to the situation with her mum at Poplar Court. ‘I worry, though. What happens if Mum needs me – or Sam?’
‘Don’t panic so much. How’s Sam doing, by the way?’
‘Okay, I think. I haven’t seen him in a couple of days but I’ve spoken to him on the phone.’ Donna rushed to take her place behind the counter where Sarah had a mug of tea waiting for her. She took a quick sip, her shoulders dipping in appreciation. ‘Thanks, I needed that.’
Sarah swiped a newspaper across the scanner for a customer. ‘Eighty pence, ta.’ She took a coin from the man, rang it through the till and handed him the change.
‘And it seems he’s taken a liking to someone he met when he was in hospital,’ Donna continued.
‘Oh?’ Sarah turned to her. ‘A patient?’
‘No, someone who works on the wards. She’s a cleaner. Nice girl – wears far too much make-up for her pretty face, though.’
Once the rush of customers had gone, Sarah lifted a box of crisps high onto the counter and began to fill the shelf below. ‘So, tell me again about this night away.’
‘Not much else to say, really. I just wish it wasn’t this weekend.’ Donna paused. ‘I daren’t even mention to Sam or Keera that I’m going away with someone they haven’t met yet. I feel really deceitful.’
‘They’ll be fine. Neither of them are children anymore.’
‘I wish I could remember that!’ Donna shook her head. ‘Well, I don’t ever have to worry about Keera, but Sam – honestly, he’s always on my mind.’
Sarah stopped what she was doing. ‘What are you really scared of?’
‘I’m not scared.’
‘Yes, you are.’
Donna smiled. Sarah had her sussed out. Although her family took her for granted, she knew she was a carer first and foremost and would always be there for them, even it meant little time for herself. But really she knew that she was coming up with every excuse possible not to go away for the night with Owen because she was terrified of blowing it.
She shrugged. ‘I’m just not sure I’m ready for another man in my life right now,’ she shared.
‘You need to start thinking of yourself for a change,’ Sarah admonished. ‘Go and have a bit of fun. It’s only one night. You’ll be back before you know it.’
Donna nodded. It was the first time in years that she had been able to do something like this.
Sarah was right. Despite everything, it would be good for her to get away from it all, even just for one night.
Lewis couldn’t sleep so he’d taken himself out for a walk. At two a.m., the estate was at its quietest. He wished his head were the same. He still couldn’t get rid of the noises. During the last nightmare that had woken him, he could almost smell burnt flesh, see body parts that had been ripped from his colleagues scattered across the ground. He was almost afraid to sleep because everything seemed so real.
Lewis missed the army, the camaraderie, the sense of purpose and order in his life, but how much had they cared when he had left? “I’m signing off now. Okay, off you go, bye bye.” They’d trained him to be a soldier, a killer, but they didn’t then train him to be a civilian again.
Why couldn’t they have given him a little bit back? Rehabilitated him for six months at least? No wonder he didn’t want anyone near him. He didn’t want anyone other than Amy to see what he was going through, even though he’d often scared his wife when he’d woken screaming, lashing out at her until he’d realised where he was, that he was safe.
Vincent Square was quiet as he crossed it, a lone cat his only companion as it trotted a few feet behind him. He wished he could tell someone what had happened to his friend, Nathan, why he’d been killed, but every time he thought about it, he became angry. The guilt was still so raw. It shouldn’t have happened. As well as Nathan, he had seen some of the best people he’d ever meet in his life put in the ground too. He’d put people in the ground. That was bound to change him.
The cat left him alone but dodged in and out of parked cars as he doubled back and walked the length of Davy Road. For as far as he could see, there were no upstairs lights on in the houses he passed. Was he the only person who couldn’t sleep? It was still warm; there were windows open everywhere, but no one as mad as him walking the streets rather than going to sleep for fear of waking in a panic.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, his footsteps heavy. Amy said he needed to leave it all behind, look towards a brighter future. But he couldn’t forget the things he had seen, couldn’t rid himself of the disgust he felt over some of the things he’d done. Taking a life, no matter if that person was going to kill you if you didn’t act in self-defence – no one could get over that.
A dog started to bark as he kicked a brick along the pavement. He wished he’d gone to the pub now, drunk until he was unable to stand, so that he could fall asleep that way. Lewis wanted blackness, so that the nightmares wouldn’t return.
He wanted to forget everything. Because if he didn’t, he was going to explode.
Chapter Thirty
Ever since Sam had fitted the camera in Mary’s room, Donna had checked the feed whenever she’d visited her at Poplar Court. But all she’d seen so far was Megan and several workers coming in to check on Mary, helping her with her needs. The camera had captured nothing out of the ordinary.
However, when she let herself into the flat on Friday morning, Megan was waiting for her.
‘I’ve found your camera,’ she whispered angrily as they went through into the kitchen.
Donna paled as she closed the door behind them. She thought about lying and saying that it wasn’t hers, but decided to come clean and find out what Megan knew first.
‘Have you looked at it?’ she asked.
‘No.’ Megan shook her head.
‘Have you wiped it clean?’
‘Of course not!’
‘Good.’
‘But why is it there?’
‘I wanted to be sure that Mum isn’t being abused.’ Donna watched Megan’s eyes widen.
‘I could never hurt her!’ Megan whispered loudly. ‘But I could get into trouble if I don’t report what I’ve seen.’
Donna folded her arms. ‘Surely she can’t get all those bruises by falling? And if she did fall, why wasn’t I ever informed?’
Megan paused. ‘I think you’re right to do it, though. I’ve had my suspicions for a while.’
Donna stared at Megan. ‘Go on.’
‘Mary was much happier when she first came here. I know dementia has different stages - I learned about them when I was at college - but I’d like to think after a year working here that I can gauge when things are wrong, or different, or if someone’s condition is worsening. But Mary; well, she seemed to be happy one minute and then very quickly began to withdraw.’
‘You’ve been keeping an eye on her?’ Donna said incredulously.
Megan nodded. ‘Unofficially.’
‘And you never said anything?’ Donna’s tone was harsh.
‘I’d lose my job if it came out,’ Megan replied. ‘That’s why I’ve been in her room a lot lately. I wanted to see what was causing her so much distress.’
Donna stared at the young woman, still unsure whether to believe her or not. ‘I need to look at the camera first.’
Megan put her hand in the pocket of her overall an
d pulled it out.
‘You removed it?’ Donna frowned.
‘I didn’t want anyone else to spot it. You’ll have to hide it better now.’
Donna took it from her and pressed the rewind button.
‘Will you let me know if you see anything, please?’ asked Megan, not moving from in front of her. ‘Mary means the world to me. I promise I won’t tell anyone that I found the camera.’
But Donna wasn’t listening anymore. She was too shocked at what she saw on the screen.
‘What is it?’ Megan stepped forward.
‘That bitch.’
Donna turned the screen round to Megan. It had captured Mary sitting in her chair. A woman came into view, shouting at her to turn the television off. When Mary didn’t do as she’d asked, the woman swiped up the remote control and smacked it down on Mary’s arm.
Mary’s cry of pain brought tears to Donna’s eyes. Megan’s hand covered her mouth.
They both watched the footage as the woman stood over Mary and continued to shout into her face. She then grabbed Mary by the hands and hoisted her to her feet, pulling her up way too fast. As she yelled at her once more, she pushed Mary back into the chair.
Mary yelping in fear was the last straw for Donna.
‘I’ll bloody kill her,’ cried Donna, racing to the door. ‘No one assaults my mum and gets away with it.’
Donna marched along the corridor to the warden’s office. She knocked on the door and walked right in, not waiting to be asked.
Denise was sitting at her desk. She looked up with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
‘Mrs Adams, you can’t come barging into my office without—’
Donna moved around the side of her desk and slapped Denise hard across the face. ‘You bitch!’ she seethed, as a batch of files and papers dropped to the floor. ‘It was you. You attacked my mother.’
‘I haven’t—’
‘You won’t get away with this. You’re nothing but a bully.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Denise put a hand to her cheek where there was already a red patch showing.
‘Oh, I think you do.’ Donna watched her squirm in her chair. ‘You touch my mother again and I swear to God, I’ll harm you in just the same way.’