The Fenton Saga: Never Say Goodbye / There Was No Body.

by Colin Griffiths

  The restaurant was busy it was a good job they had booked a table and being an MP always ensured you got the best, although Jezz had booked it, he had booked it in the name of Daniel Fenton MP.’ Gets us a good table’ he'd say to Tracy. They ordered poppadum’s and pickles and a bottle of red. Both Jezz and Daniel ordered a chicken madras whilst Tracy ordered a mild chicken curry. They were all hungry looking forward to the meal ahead with good company and for that moment everything just seemed normal.

  “What’s a madras?” Asked Becky studying the menu as the Waiter stood waiting for the final order.

  “It’s hot.” said Daniel, wishing her to hurry up, he was starving.

  She frowned which made Daniel smile.

  “I don't like hot curry I'll have a vindaloo what's a vindaloo?”

  The other three laughed, Daniel rolled his eyes.

  “It’s hotter.” laughed Jezz.

  “Well I don't want hot and I don't want chicken I want beef!”

  “So a mild beef curry it is then.” Daniel grinned.

  “Can they do that?”

  “We can do what the lady requires.” Said the waiter, whose impatience was drawing a little thin at this time but he dared not show it.

  “I’ll have that then.” She said.

  They tucked into the poppadum’s and pickles, the wine came they each took a sip enjoying the evening enjoying the ambience of their Indian surroundings. It was a good restaurant, one of the best and was always busy. Tonight was of no exception and consisted of the usual diners, with one or two perhaps having had too many drinks. The curry came and more wine, the evening was going lovely as they chatted and planned things. They talked about the baby and holidays and football, no one mentioned work and no one mentioned Todd. Truth was no one wanted to mention Todd, too many unanswered questions and they knew Daniel was hurting. Except Tracy, she wanted Daniel to mention him because she had thought, by not mentioning it you’re pretending nothing happened and it did happen, I was there.

  There was a foursome sat across from them, in their 20’s, they were there when they had come in. As the evening grew on they had become louder and louder, the manager had warned them once and for a few minutes they quietened down. Now they were noisy again and now they noticed who was sat across from them. There was a lot of staring and pointing at first and Daniel just ignored them, then it appeared that the other 3 were goading the boy, daring him on.

  The young man stood up from his chair, he wobbled and had to grab the table to stop him falling. He looked at Daniel and pointed, the other 3 youths were laughing.

  “You’re that fucking MP bloke ain't ya?” he drunkenly said, slurring his words.

  Daniel just smiled tried to brush it off.

  “I got a ticket for parking in my own street what you going to do about it?” he blurted out in a drunken stupor.

  “That’s a matter for the council.” Daniel said not wanting this conversation, wishing they would get thrown out. He knew that if they made a comment about Becky he would hit them that was his downfall, no one insulted his family. The drunkard struggled out from behind his chair and stood next to Daniel, he was looking at Becky's breasts he was ogling her.

  “Fucking hell she's a bit of alright!”

  His girl that he was with heard this and started swearing at him, the joke now on her as her boyfriend stood ogling another girls breasts.

  Daniel was just about to stand up but Jezz got there first. The drunkard looked at Jezz, all six foot seven of him.

  “jeez!” He said when he seen the size of Jezz and went to sit back down, but before he could 8 Indian restaurant staff had come grabbed hold of the four of them and escorted them off the premises amid their protest and bad language.

  A riveted couple in the corner watched with interest and seem to be doing something with their phones. The manager went over to the table that the four diners were sat at.

  “I'm sorry about that Mr. Fenton, the meals on the house tonight.”

  “No problem and thank you.” 'Said Daniel as the manager walked away.

  “I knew why I had a MP as a friend.” Laughed Jezz.

  “I knew why I had a 6'7 West Indian as a friend.” Replied Daniel, they all laughed.

  “Ooh Mr Fenton he called you!” Said Becky.

  The rest of the evening passed without further incident and they finished their Meal in peace. All agreeing that they didn’t do it enough and they must do it more often. They left a £40 tip since the meal was free, they had tried to pay but the manager insisting they didn’t, Becky thought it was a lovely gesture, but the rest rightfully guessed it was just a way to get on the good side of the local MP. They said their goodbyes outside the restaurant and made their way home. It had been a good night but Daniel wasn't sure he was cut out for this, his life was not private anymore, just having a meal with his wife and friends resulted in him being spotted and challenged. In his world of finance and tax evasion everything was secret, no one knew what he done, and there was too much that wasn't out in the open yet. He had too many skeletons, he knew that, one of them was a brother who appeared to fly, and where the fuck did he fly to.

  When they got home it was still before 10pm they paid the baby sitter and Becky went to see to baby Oliver. The 10 o clock news came on as they sat on the sofa. They had stayed in the same council home on Ashbourne estate that Daniel had bought, they liked it there. They knew one day they would have to move but for now they were happy. Daniel had turned the upstairs box room into an office so he could do some work at home. Having a son gave him a sense of responsibility. He had to grow up. He was now sat in his office having told Becky he had a few things to do before the morning. She accepted this as part of his new career, so she snuggled up on the sofa with a glass of white as Daniel worked upstairs.

  Daniel just sat in his office chair of the box room. You had to move the chair slightly just to close the door but it was good enough, if I get a smaller desk I won't have to do that he had thought. Daniel sat there working a pencil between his fingers, looking at a dead computer. He bit his bottom lip until it hurt, he rubbed his finger against his lip. He had made his lip bleed. He spent a lot of time in this office when he was at home. Becky always thought he was working and she really didn’t understand what his job really entailed, but for most of it Daniel would just sit and his mind would wander and he would think about his mother who he now don’t see nearly enough even though she’s only five minutes away. He would think about Wendy Cross, Todd’s girl and all she went through. He would think about Katy Harrison who really should have died that night if it wasn’t for Madison. He always thought about everything that happened to all those people that night. The blame lay nowhere other than at his own feet, but most of all he would think of his brother and tonight didn’t seem to be any different.

  What if his son turns out like him, he thought, what if he turns out like his brother, what if he turns out like my father god forbid. He thought. On his desk was a photo of him and his brother sat in the local pub, it was a good memory, he remembered it well. Todd wasn’t old enough to drink at the time and it took some persuasion to let him in and a £20 note. Daniel smiled at the memory. He leaned forward and stroked the picture, he knew why his brother sacrificed himself to save his girlfriend, and he would have done the same. Why did you have to fly across the country to do it Todd? He said to the picture, why did you have to expose it?

  Daniel leaned back in his chair, guilt enveloped him, and it was like he couldn't breathe. There was a stale bottle of water on the desk, he drank it, it was warm but made him feel a bit better. He wiped a tear from his eye, I should have protected you! He said to himself as he stroked the picture again, I should have protected you all, all I've done is made things worse.

  He thought of all the others he hurt, his mother, who was slowly drifting away from him and he didn’t know how to stop it. Every time he would see her he would fill up with guilt, he wanted to hold her tell her it would be ok and Todd would b
e back soon, but he couldn’t and Todd wouldn’t. He thought of Marie Rose and James whose life he had turned upside down, and they moved closer just to be near him and his mum, but he paid them little attention. He thought of what he put his wife through, and Madison, a young vulnerable girl, who was as strong as an ox that night. What damage have I done to her? He asked himself, he wanted to right it all and he didn’t know how, and he felt like it was breaking him up inside.

  He picked up the phone on his desk, stared at it for a while as if it was something he didn't recognise He punched in a number, heard the line connect, it rang four times. His heart missed a beat and he didn’t know why, he licked his lips, found no moisture before someone picked it up at the other end.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi Madison it's Daniel.”

  Chapter 4

  The first five minutes of the drive home was in silence. Madison had got in the car, buckled up and sat in reticence. She had somehow hoped that today would be the day she started to find some answers, but there were none that she could see. She had thought on hearing his voice again would click something, some memory or something new to give her hope. She guessed now she was living beyond hope. She never ever wanted the gift that she had but now how she wished she could have it just one more time, just one more.

  Morgan just looked at her and smiled, he guessed that things had not gone to well and the old man was just what he hoped he was, an old man in his later years, soon he would be dead and hopefully all this would be over. There would be no one left just Madison and Daniel. He would look after Madison and Daniel was no fool, he wouldn’t do anything to bring it all back into focus again, because Daniel more than anyone new the consequences. The gypsy woman and her cousin were not a threat any more, they were aged now and had neither the inkling nor fight to be considered a threat, any fight they had left was gone on that mountain. He turned onto the motorway for the twenty minute drive. He felt cheerful though he didn’t want to show that to Madison.

  “Did you get anything for your book?” He asked.

  Madison turned her head to stare out of the passenger window, she didn't want him to see her face.

  “A bit.” She mumbled.

  “You can do a lot of stuff on the internet you know, you don't have to actually go see people, the internet you know, got everything.”

  Madison interrupted him.

  “Dad you don't have to tell me about the internet.”

  There was silence again, Madison knew he knew who it was, who she had gone and seen, he didn't hide it very well. She knew her father wasn’t stupid, but she was at a loss as to why he let her see the evil William Fenton.

  “I know you know who he is!” She said, she stared at him, eyes wide open as if challenging him. He glanced at her, grimaced put his eyes back on the road, he moved his tongue around his mouth, not realising he was doing it.

  “Your grandfather.” He said, his eyes never left the road.

  “Don’t call him that dad,” Madison protested “that suggests that he's your father, or mams father, he's not my grandfather he's just an evil man.”

  Morgan took his hand off the wheel squeezed her shoulder, he looked at this beautiful girl in his car, his daughter, the one he had to protect, it was what he was supposed to do. He knew a lot of what went on that fateful night a lot more than Madison could ever imagine, and yes he had felt sorry for those two girls, but it was the Fenton’s who were to blame. His hands were back on the wheel, his eyes on the road.

  “Why Madison? Can you just tell your old man why?”

  “You’re not that old. “ She mocked, they both smirked, Madison put her hand to her mouth cleared her throat even though it didn't need clearing, she looked out the passenger side window again. She didn’t know why and that was the biggest problem.

  “Closure.” Was all she could think of saying.

  Nothing more was said on the journey home, that was good Morgan thought, closure was good, she got her closure. He understood it now, she just wanted to see the old man, now she has, she can move on.

  The rest of the journey home was a lot better, might treat us to a takeaway, Morgan thought, that would be nice.

  Madison just stared, stared out of the passenger window. (There was no body) Morgan was thinking of good colleges for her.

  They pulled up into the driveway of their 3 bedroom detached, built on a relatively new development, the builders try to replicate the Victorian 1800's style, with a large wraparound porch with decorative railings, with a sash window typically set above the front door. The house had large dormer windows that the eye was instantly drawn to, they hadn't quite succeeded and it looked a mixture of styles but it was a popular estate, quiet, safe and very expensive. Sue was in the kitchen a casserole was on the stove, the old style rosewood kitchen was large with an oak circular dining table in the middle, both Morgan and Madison sat at the table. Sue had greeted her husband and daughter with a kiss before they sat. Madison got her iPad out

  “How longs tea?” She asked. Sue notice the miserable look on Madison’s face, she could see she wasn’t happy.

  Sue looked at her husband as he sat, he picked up a newspaper from the table, but he didn't look as if he was reading it, he looked upbeat, he caught Sue's eye and winked.

  “Ten minutes,” she replied, she paused “how did it go?” She didn’t want to ask the question but felt she had to.

  “Sort of okay.” Madison said not looking up from her iPad. Not wanting this conversation one bit. Sue knew who her daughter went to see, she knew the man was her one night stands father, Madison's grandfather. She didn't want her daughter, her beautiful daughter hurt anymore, she wanted her kept away from this man, kept away from her family in Wales.

  Morgan dropped his paper into his lap.

  “Madison’s going to start looking for a college.” He said, he was grinning.

  Madison slammed down her iPad, glared at her father, as if to challenge him, her look was angry and cold. Morgan noticed it also had a look of despair.

  “I did not say that!” She said in a raised voice.

  Morgan wore a surprised look on his face.

  “In the car you did.” He protested.

  Madison stood up from her chair.

  “No dad,” she shouted, “I did not, you assumed that, I told you I've got to do this.”

  Her father now growing angry raised his voice “Closure, you said you had closure.”

  “No dad I said I need closure there's a whole world of difference.” She picked up her iPad held it to her chest.

  “Neither of you understand, I lost my brother!” a tear came to her eye, she wiped it away, “he knows something he knows it I'm sure, you think I want to see that old bastard?” she shouted.

  “You are not seeing him again!” shouted Morgan as he stood. The three of them were now stood around the table, her mother quite shocked at the language used she had never heard Madison swear before. She sided with Morgan on this, they had to get their daughter back to reality, back to normality.

  “You only knew him for two minutes for god sake.” Sue said’ in support of Morgan.

  “I am seeing him again you can't stop me and whose fault is it, that I only knew him for 2 minutes?”

  “How was I supposed to know you had brothers?” Sue asked.

  “Well if you bothered to ask my father his name while you were screwing him you might have found out.” Screamed Madison.

  Sue done something that she had never done before, she instinctively slapped Madison across her cheek hard enough to leave a mark, immediately regretting having done so. She put her own hand to her mouth, shocked at her own actions. Madison run out of the kitchen, sobbing,

  “You just don't understand.” She screamed as she ran up the stairs to her room.

  Sue went to go after her, Morgan stopped her, “leave her be.” He said, he reached for her and hugged his wife as she cried.

  They sat at the table with the casserole neither sue or Morgan
really enjoying it. Madison remained in her bedroom.

  “I'm going to take her some up.” Sue said, Morgan nodded and spooned some casserole in his mouth. Sue put a bowl of casserole on a tray with some buttered bread and took it up the stairs. Morgan sat at the table his mobile rang, he looked at the display, accepted the call.

  “Yes sir!” he said into the mobile.

  “Is everything okay back there?” said the voice on the phone.

  “Yes sir, everything’s fine.” and to Morgan it was, it had been a good day.

  “You wouldn't lie to me would you Hughes?” Morgan thought about that, he would lie to him if he had to.

  “Of course not sir.” He replied, “Everything’s fine.”

  The line remained silent for 15 seconds.

  “Keep it that way if you want to keep her, I'm helping you out here Hughes.”

  “I know sir, how's things going with the lad?”

  “It’s a fucking abomination, if you ask me.” and with that the phone went dead.