Maggie: a gripping psychological thriller

by Netta Newbound

  Matt cleared his throat. “Is it true you were a close friend of Emily’s?”

  Yazz nodded. “Yes. That’s correct.”

  “And she used to confide in you?”

  Yazz looked at her hands as she contemplated her answer. “I’m only telling you this as I’m sure Emily would prefer me to help her daughter than keep her confidence.”

  “I understand.”

  “I’d known Emily all my life, really, although you couldn’t call us friends. My parents ran this shop before me, and Emily had lived in the same house since childhood. I was several years older than her, and had married before she started secondary school.”

  Matt nodded.

  “One night, approximately two years ago now, I was closing the shutters around nine-thirty or so, and I heard a sound down the side of the shop. I presumed it was dogs. We’d had a spate of the bins being torn up and the contents strewn about the place. I had a pole in my hands – I use it for pulling down the shutters, you know?”

  Matt nodded again. “Yes, I know the type, but I’m guessing it wasn’t a dog?”

  “No. I almost had a heart attack when I saw a woman slumped on the cobbles beside the wall. It was Emily.”

  “Emily? What had happened to her?”

  “At first, I thought she was drunk as I could smell alcohol. I called my husband to help me get her inside. It wasn’t until we were inside, under the light, that I could see she’d been beaten, badly.”

  “By Kenny?”

  She nodded. “She didn’t tell me at first, but she eventually did. They’d been out at a wedding, and because a man had come onto her during the evening, Kenny lost his temper. He beat her up in the car, and because she was crying, he kicked her out onto the road telling her to walk home.”

  “The nasty…”

  “And the rest. I wanted her to call the police, but she wouldn’t allow me to. She said most of the police were in his debt, and it would make things worse for her.”

  “That’s terrible. Why didn’t she leave him?”

  “Because it was her house, and she said she had no chance of getting him out.”

  “Would you testify to this in court?”

  Yazz took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds.

  “I know it’s a lot to ask, but it seems the entire village doubts Maggie. She doesn’t have anybody to speak up in her defence against Kenny.”

  Yazz nodded. “Okay. Yes, I will. I saw the state poor Emily was in that night. It broke my heart, and I always felt I should have done something more to help her.”

  “What happened that night, after you brought her inside?”

  “I bathed her face and made her a hot drink, and she seemed to settle down. But then, her phone rang, and she rushed back outside, making me swear not to say anything. She came back the next day to apologise. And we would often catch up after that. She didn’t tell anybody of our friendship, preferring to keep this place secret, in case she needed to use it as a bolthole. The last time I saw her, the cancer had taken a strong hold, and she was incredibly weak. She told me she was worried about what would happen to Maggie when she died. But I made her stop talking like that, refusing to accept she was going to die. I wish I’d allowed her to tell me her concerns – I could have helped maybe?”

  “Who knows? But if you’ll tell a judge what you just told me, then at least you can help Emily’s daughter instead.”

  9

  The heavy pelting rain made it difficult to see more than two feet in front of the car – perfect conditions for what I had in mind. I manoeuvred into position, knowing how essential the timing was. Her car approached, and I froze, my hands on the steering wheel. I flicked on the high beam.

  As I’d expected, the car swerved as she pumped the brakes to no avail. The car zoomed past me and smashed into and through the bollard, racing down the bank, coming to rest against a huge old tree.

  This was so much better than I’d expected. I reversed, trying to see inside the car, but it was too dark. The blare of the horn, though, told me she was pressed up against the steering wheel. I wanted more than anything to examine my handiwork, but the sound of the crash was sure to have people rushing from their homes. I had no choice but to get out of there fast.

  10

  The court date came around too fast. I was petrified. Matt had explained to me I wouldn’t need to give evidence at this point. They had my statement to go on, and it was up to the judge to decide whether or not the case would need to go to trial.

  Claudia drove us to the court in Manchester City Centre, and after parking as close as we could, we walked arm in arm the ten-minute hike to the main entrance. I was grateful the rain had stopped, for now at least.

  Just inside the main door, we had to place all our belongings on a tray and push them through an airport-style security scanner. Then, a guard waved a large wand up and down us, one at a time. I got through fine, but the alarm sounded a couple of times for Claudia. It turned out to be her belt-buckle that was triggering the alarms.

  “You need to take it off and place it on the tray, please,” the guard said.

  “But my trousers might fall down!” She looked at him, wide-eyed.

  I stifled a giggle, but the man didn’t even smile.

  “Put your belt on the tray and step forward.”

  In a huff, Claudia removed her belt and did as she was told.

  She was flustered when he finally allowed her through, a few seconds later.

  Matt greeted us as we stepped from the lift. “Ah, there you are. We’re up next. How are you feeling, Maggie?”

  I shook my head. “Sick.”

  He grinned. “Of course you are. Sorry – stupid question. With a bit of luck, we may be able to put it behind us today. We have a couple of great statements in your favour.”

  A woman approached us, and it took a second before I recognised her.

  “Hi, Maggie,” she said. “Yvette Dawson, we met at the police station, remember?”

  It suddenly dawned on me – she was the detective who had interviewed me with Donna. “Hi.” I smiled. “Isn’t Donna coming?”

  Yvette glanced at Matt and then shook her head. “She can’t make it, I’m afraid.”

  I felt really sick. I’d been relying on Donna and Matt to get me off, and now, the lead detective hadn’t even bothered to show up.

  As though reading my mind, Matt patted my hand. “Don’t worry. Evie is well prepared – she has all Donna’s notes.”

  Yvette nodded and smiled. “Good luck, Maggie.” She turned to Matt. “I’ll see you in there.” Her eyes twinkled. It was clear she fancied the pants off him.

  I felt a twinge of jealousy. I don’t know why. It wasn’t as though Matt had been anything other than professional towards me, but I suddenly felt very territorial.

  When a woman called my name, I gasped.

  Matt placed his arm on my elbow and escorted us into the courtroom. My knees were knocking as I took a seat at the front of the room. I fumbled about in my pocket for my inhaler as a crushing weight in my chest prevented me breathing.

  The next few minutes passed by in a whirl.

  The judge and the legal teams spoke amongst themselves and sounded nothing more than a steady hum. The judge, a woman who appeared to be in her fifties, peered at me over her rimless glasses before glancing back down at the notes in front of her. Her lips were pursed tightly, making deep grooves on her top lip.

  I didn’t have a clue what was being said, more concerned with taking deep enough breaths in order to keep myself from flaking out in a heap in front of them all. My mouth was dry. Then, Claudia hugged me, and I glanced at Matt’s smiling face, and I presumed it must be good news.

  Suddenly, everybody focused their attention on a commotion taking place behind me. When I turned, I saw Kenny’s sisters being escorted from the courtroom.

  Claudia, still hugging me, led me outside.

  “What just happened?” I asked.

  “Didn’t y
ou hear? They’ve dropped the charges. The judge was satisfied you acted in self-defence.”

  My body began to tremble, and I needed to find a seat. I staggered to the side of the corridor and almost collapsed into a plastic chair.

  “Are you all right?” Claudia crouched beside me.

  I nodded. “I… I think so.”

  “You’re bound to be shaken up, but it’s over and done with now – thank goodness.”

  “Hey!” Matt appeared beside us. “What a result!”

  I was as shocked as everyone when tears poured from my eyes. Claudia wrapped her arms around me as I sobbed. When I finally glanced up, I smiled an apology at Matt, who was wringing his hands to the side of us.

  Yvette Dawson strode over, a beaming smile on her face. “Great outcome. Congratulations, Maggie.”

  “Thanks, Evie. And thank Donna for me too, please.”

  The smile fell from her face, and she glanced at Matt.

  “What? Tell me.”

  Matt nodded as Claudia grasped my hands again.

  “Donna was involved in a fatal car accident last night, Maggie,” Evie said.

  I shook my head. Donna had been so full of life. “How?”

  “Nobody’s certain, yet. I’m sorry,” Evie said, shaking her head sadly.

  The news of Donna was gutting. I couldn’t get her lovely smiling face out of my mind. If it hadn’t been for her, I’d have been locked up.

  “Did you know about this?” I asked Claudia.

  “Only since arriving this morning. We agreed to keep it from you until after the verdict. You had enough on your mind.”

  “Can we go home now?” I asked.

  “Of course we can, duck.”

  We said our goodbyes, thanked Matt and Evie, then entered the lift to the ground floor.

  “You okay?” Claudia asked, worriedly.

  I nodded and tried to smile. “I just feel very low, right now.”

  “Understandable. You’ve been through a heck of a lot recently. At least you’ll be able to put it all behind you and get on with your life.”

  We stepped from the court into heavy rain and stood under the overhang of the building for a few minutes.

  “Doesn’t look like it might stop anytime soon, we need to make a run for it,” Claudia said, taking a clear plastic rain hood from her handbag and plonking it on top of her freshly set curls.

  Matt bustled through the door behind us. “I’ll drop you off at your car.”

  “Oh, thank you,” she said. “We’d be like drowned rats if we had to run in this.”

  “Come on, then. I’m only a minute or two away.” Matt lifted his briefcase over his head and took off down the steps. We followed close behind.

  A few minutes later, we were all soaked and dripping on the leather upholstery of Matt’s Alfa Romeo. By the time we reached our car, it had stopped raining, and the sun was peeking through the clouds.

  Matt pulled up and turned to face me. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow, Maggie. I’ve had some appraisals of the house, and I’ll put together a few suggestions for you – if you’re sure you won’t be moving in yourself.”

  “No. I don’t want to. If that’s still all right with you, Claudia.”

  Claudia rolled her eyes. “I’ve told you time and time again, I would love you to stay. You, me, and Sandy make a nice little family.”

  “Great. Then that settles it. Plus, now I’ve been cleared of murder, I’ve decided to get in touch with my old mates, starting with Rachel. School goes back in a few weeks, so I need to do it soon.”

  Again, a strange glance passed between Matt and Claudia.

  “What now?” I shook my head. “You’ve been trying to get me out of the house for ages – I’d have thought you’d be pleased.”

  “Maybe you should just make some new friends, Maggie.” Claudia patted my arm.

  “Why? What’s wrong with my old ones?” I asked Claudia, and when she didn’t answer, I turned to Matt.

  Matt shrugged. “I went to meet Rachel, to see if she’d be a witness for you.”

  “Okay. And what? Did she refuse?”

  “No. She didn’t refuse.”

  “Then why wasn’t she at the court?”

  “She wouldn’t have made a good witness. She told me she didn’t believe Kenny was guilty of raping you. She said he was always polite and well-mannered whenever she saw him around you. Having her make a statement would’ve done more damage.”

  My stomach flipped, and I gripped the seat on both sides of me. “Of course he was nice. He wasn’t about to molest me in front of witnesses, was he?” I roared, startling even myself.

  Claudia leaned forwards and rubbed my knee. “We know that, duck.”

  I got out of Matt’s car, my mind reeling. Why the hell would Rachel defend Kenny? I opened Claudia’s passenger door and slid onto the seat. This should have been a happy day, but any relief had been short lived.

  Claudia started the engine. She didn’t say a word for a few minutes as we drove towards home. “I didn’t want to upset you. We know the truth and that’s all that matters.”

  “Maybe you do, but there are plenty of others in the village more than happy to believe the worst of anybody.”

  “Who cares what they think? The court has found you not guilty.”

  “There’s only one thing for it, Claudia. I’ll have to move away.”

  Matt came around a few days later to tell me the agency had found a tenant for number eleven.

  “Oh,” I said, trying to absorb the idea of strangers living in my family home.

  “What’s wrong? Have you changed your mind?”

  “No. It’s just…” I couldn’t put into words the emotions I felt.

  “Hey. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I can’t afford not to, but I honestly can’t bear the thought of someone living there.”

  “I can cancel. It’s not too late?”

  “Who is it? Do you know?”

  “Sorry. All I know is they are coming from down south somewhere and won’t be moving in for a few weeks. But they’re willing to begin paying right away, and they’ve signed a six-month lease.”

  “It wouldn’t be an issue if I wasn’t staying here – right next door.”

  “I understand. You have a few days until the contract is set, so if you’re not sure…?”

  “It’s okay. Don’t tell Claudia, but I’m thinking of moving away anyway.”

  “Really? Where to?”

  “Dunno yet. But I can’t face going back to school with everyone knowing my business. I’ll just get a job and find a bedsit, or something.”

  Matt stroked the gingery stubble on his chin. “I may be able to help.”

  “How?”

  “I know a lovely couple in London who often take in troubled teens and help get their lives on track. Now, I know you’re not a troubled teen, before you pipe up, but maybe it could be a solution for you in the interim. With the money you get for the rent of next door, you’d be able to save and still go to school. What do you say? Should I give them a call?”

  “Who are they?”

  “My best friend Jim’s parents. Agnes and Fred. You’ll love them.”

  “All right. It won’t hurt to ask, will it?”

  11

  I watched the Asian couple close up the store. The methodical way they moved around each other was a telling sign of how many years they’d done the exact same thing, day in, day out.

  I chose my moment and entered through the open door and stealthily made my way to the back of the store. Bubbles of excitement fizzled in my stomach, threatening to cause me to laugh out loud.

  The man locked the front door and placed the keys on a shelf beside the till before heading up the stairs. The woman’s day, however, was far from over. She counted the contents of the till, placing the tray of cash in the back room. And then, she spent at least another thirty minutes in there, banging pots and pans and singing away to herself happily.

&nb
sp; I exhaled noisily when she eventually turned out the lights. She stomped up the wooden stairs to their living area. I stayed where I was, pressed against the end of the shelving unit at the far side of the shop, and waited a few more minutes just in case one of them reappeared.

  Eventually, I took a few steps forwards, ducked under the open hatch, behind the counter, and through the door leading to the staff kitchen. I was startled several times until I realised the sounds I could hear were the couple walking about above me, chattering in their own language.

  I opened the door that led to the staircase and peered up, satisfied they were far enough away not to hear me. I closed the door and glanced around, my eyes settling on the oil in the pan on the stove.

  “Bingo!”

  I held my hand over the pan, and the heat caused me to pull it away again, then I spied the triangular pastries on a cooling rack beside the sink. I picked one up and sniffed it – it smelled delicious. They were clearly what she’d been making before she finished for the day.

  After inspecting the ancient stove, I pushed the pan on top of the biggest burner and ignited the gas underneath it. I grinned, feeling very pleased with myself.

  As an afterthought, I shoved over a pile of boxes, jamming them behind the door that led to the stairs. Then, I wedged the door, for double measure, with the pole the man had used to pull the shutters down.

  Taking one final glance around, I picked up the pastry again and took a bite. Nodding my approval, I unlocked the front door and left, pulling the shutter down behind me.

  12

  “You’ll never guess what happened,” Claudia said, rushing in from the street.

  I trudged down the stairs, rubbing my eyes. “What? I heard the sirens in the night.”

  “The corner shop has burnt to the ground.”

  “Our corner shop?”

  “Yes. They don’t know how it started yet. Doreen said they took a couple of people away in an ambulance, but I’m not sure who.”

  I felt as though she’d body slammed me. “No! I hope Yazz is okay.” I slumped down on the bottom stair, my head spinning.