When Patrick had become involved with the triple murder case in Glasgow two years ago, he could never have foreseen that he would have had such a personal involvement. It almost tore them apart and Jodie had almost died; hence the reason that she had given up her place in the church and decided to close the door on that particular part of her life. Patrick on the other hand had still felt like he had so much to give and decided to continue his work with helping people in the church. It was not until Lewis came along that he began to question his work and how it would affect his son; he continued with it all the same. When Sam turned up, Patrick knew he could not ignore him, when all said and done; Patrick’s house was directly involved in the situation.
Patrick filed away the last of the papers on his desk and ran his hand over the top of his head.
“What the hell am I doing?” He said out loud.
Patrick picked up his phone and dialed Lang’s number.
“Jim, it’s Patrick. Listen, I can’t be a part of this anymore. It’s ruining my marriage. I know you’re probably quite thrilled by this.”
“I can take it from here,” Lang replied.
Patrick felt relief wash over him as he picked up his jacket and locked up the church. He made his decision there and then that Jodie and Lewis would forever be his priority and nothing would ever stand in their way. He was honest with himself when he realised that this decision should have been made straight after Ross had died. There was nothing in the world that Patrick wanted more than to protect his family from anything or anyone that could bring them potential harm. He looked down at his phone to see there was a text message from Jodie.
I’m at home whenever you’re ready to talk. Lewis is excited to see his daddy. Love you. J x
Patrick smiled as he made his way across the street.
Partick was still bustling with people and traffic and as Patrick looked up Byres Road, he decided that he would travel home by taxi. He flagged one down and gave his address. It had become dark and the wind had picked up and as the taxi was stationed at a set of traffic light. Patrick could feel the taxi swaying in the wind.
“They say there’s a storm on the way,” the driver said over the intercom.
“Aye, looks like it.”
The driver was quiet again as they continued their journey, which Patrick was glad of; it would give him time to think about what he was going to say to his wife. He had no idea how he would explain himself and why it had taken him so long to decide that his life with Jodie and Lewis was more important to him than the church and the dead. Before he knew it, the taxi was approaching the house.
“You want me to go up the drive, mate?”
“No thank you. I’ll walk from here.”
Patrick paid the driver and began walking up the drive. Lewis’s bedroom was in darkness and Patrick understood that he was most likely to be asleep. Jodie was such a good mum and he would be eternally grateful for her commitment to their family.
Patrick approached the front door and realised that it was open slightly; that wasn’t like Jodie at all. “I’m home,” he called out.
Jodie appeared from the living room door and she had a mixture of emotions on her face. She hugged Patrick tight as and held on to him with every bit of strength she had.
“I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through. I should’ve realised what I had to lose well before now. What made you come back? Is Lewis doing ok? Are you ok?” Patrick could not stop himself from talking. He was so glad to see his wife back in their home.
Jodie smiled at him. “I’m fine, Lewis is fine and I came back because we are worth fighting for, don’t you think?”
Patrick nodded.
“But before we go any further, I have something to tell you.” Jodie said.
“What is it?”
Jodie smiled. “Someone is here.”
Patrick looked through to the kitchen. “Who?”
“Someone who used to be friends with the girl who lived here before us. She was really upset when I answered the door so I let her come in for a bit.”
Patrick’s stomach flipped. “What do you mean you let her in?”
Jodie was puzzled. “She was upset. I couldn’t just shut the door in her face.”
Patrick let go of Jodie and searched the kitchen and living room. Jodie frowned. “What on earth is wrong with you?”
“What did she say her name was?” Patrick whispered.
“Jane; and why are you whispering?”
Patrick gritted his teeth. “Where is she?”
“She went up to the bathroom to wash her face. What the hell is the matter?”
Patrick took his phone out to phone Lang.
“There’s a strong possibility that she murdered the girl who used to live here. She’s been impersonating someone else for the last year or so, so she could form a relationship with Sam Leonard, the guy who came to me for help.”
Jodie’s eyes widened. “Are you being serious?”
“Yes. Stay calm, I’m phoning Jim Lang. Just keep her talking and they’ll be here within the next ten minutes. And don’t let her know I’m here if she doesn’t already.”
Jodie began to climb the stairs and Patrick went inside the living room to make the call.
“Jim, Jane Preston is here, in my house. You’d better get over here now, I think…” Patrick’s voice stopped dead when he heard Jodie’s screams coming from upstairs. He dropped the phone and ran upstairs. He found Jodie in Lewis’s bedroom. Lewis was not in his cot. Patrick searched all of the bedrooms but found nothing. He took hold of Jodie and cradled her in his arms.
Jane Preston had taken their baby boy as he slept soundly.
39
Lang had arrived at Henderson Manor in around ten minutes after Patrick’s phone call. He had stayed on the line after he had heard Jodie screaming and understood straight away what had happened. Lang had informed Preston of what had happened but no amount of reassurance from Lang could keep him and his family away.
“It is not a good idea for you to be involved now, Paul. You know this already,” Lang had said. “I promise I will sort this and everything will be ok.”
Preston shook his head in disbelief.
“How could she do this to us, Jim? How could she do it to them? I mean, that poor wee baby has been taken from his bed and taken to God knows where.”
Lisa Preston, along with her mum and grampa, were sitting in the back seat of the police car outside Henderson Manor. A uniformed officer was sat in the driving seat. Lang had gone inside with four uniformed officers and taken a statement from Jodie, who was worse than distraught.
“We’ll do our very best to find them Jodie. I promise you that.” Lang’s voice was soothing, something that Patrick had never seen in him before.
Outside the house, Lisa was trying to come to terms with what her sister was being accused of.
“I can’t believe that this is happening. I mean, Jane wouldn’t harm a fly. Why all of a sudden is she being accused of murder and kidnap of a baby?”
Janet Preston wept silently as she stared out of the window, up at the house. How could her own flesh and blood cause so much chaos?
A voice came through on the radio.
“We’ve had a call in of a possible suicide attempt on the Erskine Bridge south bound. Young child present at the scene, we request back up.”
Inside the house, the radios on the officers’ jackets sounded out and the words echoed around the living room.
“It’s her, I know it.” Jodie became hysterical.
Lang felt bile rise to his throat.
“Come on, we’re going. All of us.”
Jodie and Patrick followed Lang out to the cars in the drive and climbed into the one Lang was driving. Patrick wasn’t surprised to see Sam in the back seat.
“Are you two ok? I heard what that officer said on the radio.”
“No, I’m not fucking ok. That psycho bitch has stolen our baby boy and is hanging off the fucking Erskine Bridg
e with him,” Jodie said.
Sam stayed silent.
“I think she knows the game is up. We’ll get him back baby. He’ll be ok.” Patrick said.
“I’m sorry,” Sam replied.
“Jodie, this is Sam, the guy who I’ve been helping since you left. He’s been fooled by Jane too. She’s been living under another identity for the last year. She’s suspected of murdering Sarah, the girl who lived here before us. Sarah used be Sam’s girlfriend.”
Jodie did not reply. She turned her head to face out of the window, refusing to let the scream escape which had risen from her throat.
Lang rushed over to the car which was holding the Preston family.
“We’re going now. If you insist on following please don’t get out of the car when we arrive. It will only encourage her to jump sooner.”
Janet let out a sob in the back seat.
“I’m sorry Paul, I really am.” Lang jumped into his car and all of the vehicles sped down the drive and into the street, sirens screaming along the way.
Turning onto Great Western Road and heading towards the Clydebank area, Auld Tam Preston had turned green with nausea.
“Paul, I need to tell you something,” he said, trying to be heard over the sirens.
Preston turned to face him.
“What is it, Dad?”
“The other day, when I was at your house, the day Barbara won at the bingo?”
“Aye, what about it, Dad?” Preston sounded distant. He worried that his daughter would be dead by the time they reached the bridge.
“Well, I tried tae log on to my Facebook on the computer and I found a Facebook page already logged on. It was Jane’s, but it wisnae her name. It was Deborah Bell but oor Jane’s face in the picture.”
Lisa looked over at her grampa’s face and saw that he had tears in his eyes. “It’s ok Grampa, you weren’t to know.” Lisa reached out and held his hands.
The car zigzagged in and out of the traffic at Anniesland Cross and sped through towards Knightswood.
“Aye hen I know that, but if I’d questioned her a wee bit more then maybe that poor wee wean widnae be up on that bridge.”
Paul Preston turned round and focused on the road ahead. The car past Knightswood and sped along Great Western Road, passed Drumchapel and through the roundabout at Kilbowie Road. He watched the other police cars in front of them weave in and out of the traffic and couldn’t believe that this time, they were on their way to the bridge to stop the attempted suicide of his daughter, who had kidnapped a baby.
“Paul?” Janet’s voice penetrated his thoughts.
Preston slid his hand behind the seat and Janet reached out to take his hand. “It’s alright. She won’t jump.”
Lisa closed her eyes as the car flew down the boulevard, past the Ocean Field housing estate and down towards the bridge. She pictured her sister standing on the other side of the barrier, holding that baby and she let out a sob.
The police cars in front slowed slightly, lights still flashing but sirens no longer providing a deafening ring to their ears. A police barrier had been set up at the entrance to the bridge and the officers at the scene lifted the barrier to let the cars through. Lang’s voice came through the radio.
“Paul, this is Jim. Do not, I repeat, do not get out of the car when we reach Jane’s location. If she sees you she might do something stupid.”
Preston grabbed the radio. “So what the fuck are we supposed to do?”
Lang’s heart was breaking for his colleague and friend. “Let me do my job. You can trust me.”
Preston knew Lang was right. He had to keep his family in the car; they could not risk Jane seeing them. It could be disastrous for everyone involved.
“We’re going to let Sam talk her down. I’ll be with him too.”
“What about the baby?” Preston asked.
There was silence for what seemed like an eternity.
“Our priority is to get Lewis to safety.”
Preston nodded and put the radio down.
Lisa and Janet were crying silent tears as Preston watched Lang’s car approach Jane’s position on the bridge.
Jane Preston’s daughter came into Preston’s line of sight and he wasn’t prepared for what he saw.
Jane had strapped little Lewis onto her back and was on the other side of the barrier. She had every intention of jumping.
The Preston family froze in horror. Screams could be heard coming from the car in front.
Jodie McLaughlin watched as her son was dangled over the Clyde.
40
I looked across Glasgow as the lights twinkled and the wind grew stronger. The wind was cold on my face and I knew that the water would be even colder. I felt the pain in my thighs as I fought against the harsh elements to keep my stance on the bridge. The view was outstanding as I watched the lights twinkle across Glasgow. The River Clyde was almost directly beneath me and I knew that this was the best place to end everything. I wanted my last vision on earth to be a good one and that is why I picked the Erskine Bridge.
My mum used to take me and my sister Lisa there in the summer just at sunset, to let us see the beauty of Glasgow. It was a hard place to grow up sometimes and she wanted to show us that not everything in life had to be difficult, that we could make our lives sparkle, just like Glasgow did up on that bridge at night. She had a way with words, our mum. And she was such a fantastic mum when we were growing up. She still was. So what the hell had happened to me? When and why had I turned into such a monster? If this is what love did to people then I didn’t want it anymore. All I wanted was to be happy and to make Sam happy. But he was not mine to begin with. Had I just left things alone, everything would be fine.
Something to my left caught my eye and I realised that there were six police cars on the bridge. I saw one of the cars doors open and my dad’s colleague Jim got out of the driver side. I turned away. There was nothing he could do to stop me ending this horrific pain. I looked out at Glasgow and took a deep breath. Just as I was about to let go, I heard the sweetest sound you could ever wish to hear.
“Deborah…”
I turned to see my beautiful Sam, standing beside me, close enough that I could reach out and touch him. I almost collapsed at the sound of his voice. I looked into his eyes to see they were blurry; he had been crying.
“Sam, what are you doing here?” I asked through sharp intakes of breath.
“Don’t do this. We can fix everything.”
I shook my head. He can’t be serious, can he?
“What do you mean we can fix everything? You know who I am and what I’ve done. I’m a monster and I can’t deal with this right now. You need to leave.”
My legs were shaking and I didn’t know if it was with fear or his presence. See what his presence does to me? My heart aches at the very sight of his face and my whole body goes numb. They say love is a beautiful thing; I think love is evil.
“I am not going anywhere until you come back over that railing and into my arms.”
“You don’t mean that.”
Sam took a step closer, “Yes I do.”
He held out his hand. I wasn’t sure that I could trust him. With all the police here I was certain that he would just hand me over to them.
“I can’t.”
My eyes stung with tears and the wind battered my face. Then I heard the sound of a baby crying. My eyes widened. I do not know how, but I had completely forgotten all about him.
“Let me take Lewis, I’ll put him in the car with Lang and then you and I can go somewhere where no one can disturb us. We can talk about everything.”
I shook my head. “Why would you want to talk to me after this?”
“Because,” he said as tears fell from his eyes, “you went to all those lengths to have me as your own and you love me more than anyone has ever loved me. That has to count for something.”
I was wary. Did he finally understand me? “But that psychic ruined everything.”
&n
bsp; “Is that why you took the baby? Deborah, nothing is ruined. We’ll be ok. I promise. But it will only be ok if you give Lewis to me.”
I thought about what he had said. Was he being sincere? I hoped with all my heart that he was.
“Ok,” I said.
Sam carefully lifted Lewis from the strap on my back. “I’ll be back in ten seconds.”
Sam ran over to Jim and handed the baby to him. I could hear the many sighs of relief as Sam handed the baby over. I turned to face out again. It was peaceful considering the circumstances, I had to admit. Perhaps giving Lewis back relaxed me a little more. I wasn’t sure that I would’ve jumped with him strapped to me. I just wanted that psychic to feel the way I had when he threw a spanner in my works.
I felt a hand on mine again, a tight grip. I turned and was stunned to see my dad staring straight into my face.
“Dad … I’m sorry.”
Never had I ever seen my dad cry until now. I looked over at the police cars on the bridge and could make out that the psychic and his wife were cradling their baby. She was hysterically crying and the psychic held them in his arms. Then I saw my mum, sister and Grampa Tam standing beside one of the cars and they were all holding onto each other. My heart banged against my chest.
“What have I done, Dad?” My voice squeaked.
My dad took a deep breath and the tears spilled over. “You’re not well sweetheart. What you have done is very, very wrong darling but you’re my little girl. I promise whatever happens that will not change, do you hear me?”
I nodded and looked across to Sam, who had climbed back into one of the police cars and his gaze fell low, away from my eyes. He couldn’t even look at me. I looked across at Lisa, who was sobbing.
“Jane, take hold of my hand and I’ll help you over. Come on.”
Jane. I was torn between Jane and Deborah — my life then and my life now. My life would never be the way it was. Never.
“I love you, Dad. And Lisa and Mum and Grampa Tam.”
My dad’s grip tightened on my wrist as I held onto the barrier. “We know you do sweetheart. Come on, over you come.”
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