“I’ll ask him to get to you as soon as he can, just let me make note of your address.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” She recited the address and replaced the handset.
So, the plan had been thwarted before the first step but she could use the time to clarify her thoughts. Delay was bad, if momentum was lost there was a real danger that she would lose her nerve, plus it was essential to find Judy while her face was still obviously raw and sore.
The mobile buzzed on the table top and burst into its happy little jingle. She snatched it up and drew in a sharp breath. It was Jacob. Obviously she wasn’t going to answer it and after a dozen rings it cut off. She didn’t use the message service so his attempt at contact would come to nothing. She sat looking at the little machine.
Her landline was ex-directory but did he have the number? She wasn’t sure and the next few minutes were spent staring at the apparatus pleading silently for it to stay dumb. It did and so maybe that wasn’t going to be a problem. She didn’t want him able to leave messages but the answering machine was her way of filtering calls and she didn’t want to disable it. Yet again he was interfering in her life, worming into the simplest of things.
Maybe she should call the police after all. If she did contact them now, while her face was still swollen and sore and the proof of his violence obvious perhaps they would be able to stop him trying to contact her.
It was tempting to bring someone professional in but it would be unbearable. They may want her to have medical intervention and need a statement, perhaps they’d make her go to the police station. If she went down that road the whole nasty incident would be pretty much public knowledge and she didn’t think she could stand it. People at work would know, her friends, her parents and the rest. They would gossip and offer opinions and advice and she just couldn’t face it. After the incident with Jane she was determined that her private life would be just that until the culmination of her plan, and she knew then everything would be laid bare but hoped the satisfaction of a sort of justice would make it worthwhile.
Chapter 40
Three times he tried to call her and three times she sat staring at the glowing screen for a few brief seconds before pressing the reject call button, determined not to speak to him. She should have turned the phone off but locked into the house the way she was it felt like a lifeline. Yes, she still had the landline but felt nervous and vulnerable and needed this extra contact with the outside.
At just after two the doorbell rang and she scurried to the bay window in the living room. There was a blue van parked at the roadside and a young man in overalls standing on the step. He had turned away from the house to gaze vaguely at the garden. She could see his face clearly, this must be Barry.
“Hi, come in.” He was holding an I.D. card out to her and she took it from his outstretched hand.
“I’m Barry. You been mugged then?”
Her hand flew to her face, “Oh.”
“Sorry, but it looks pretty bad, bet that’s sore. Don’t worry though, I’ve seen worse. Lots of our customers have been mugged and when the office said it was urgent I guessed it was something like that. Buggers they are, should be left on a deserted island the lot of em.” She stood back to let him in and was shocked at the frisson of nerves that shot through her body as he brushed past. He had posed no threat and yet his very presence unnerved her. She didn’t correct his assumptions; it was easier to say nothing than to weave a complicated explanation.
He stepped into the hallway, turned and began to examine the locks on her front entrance door. “Oh yeah, I can do this no problem. Do you want me to get on with it straight away or do you want an estimate?”
“Please, just do it now, it’s fine. I have to have it done, I have to know he can’t get in.” The locksmith turned and smiled at her.
“If you give me the police crime number we can send the bill straight to the insurance company.
“You just have to try and put it behind you love. My gran was mugged, last year it was, but she’s tough. First of all she ripped the bugger’s jacket, still got away though but she said to me ‘Barry, no scum like that is going to spoil my enjoyment of life’ and she just put it behind her and got on with stuff. Yup, that’s what you have to do.
“I’ll be about an hour doing this and then do you need anything else seeing to? Windows, back gates, anything like that?”
“No, just this. He only has the key to this lock. I don’t have a number, not from the police. I’ll pay for it myself. No insurance no, if you give me a bill I can give you a cheque or if you have a card reader…”
“I ‘ope you’ve told the police, you have reported this ‘aven’t you? You really ‘ave to. I know they don’t do much but you should still tell ‘em. Still it’s your business love.
“Look you go and sit yourself somewhere nice and comfy and I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
“Thank you Barry.”
“Yeah.”
She sat on the settee listening to the small sounds as the locks were removed and new ones fitted, Barry hummed quietly to himself as he worked and she allowed herself to relax. The warmth in the room and the nervous exhaustion combined to lull her into a half dream and she let her head fall against the chair back. The sound of the front gate didn’t register as any sort of threat, it didn’t really register at all and it wasn’t until she heard the sound of voices she realised there was danger.
“Hello mate.”
“Hello, can I just squeeze in there?” It was him. She had dreaded this, that he might come back unannounced and to arrive now, just when the door was without a lock and she had no way to bar his entrance was monumental misfortune. She leapt from the seat and ran to the living room door.
“Barry, don’t let him in, please, stop him. Don’t let him come in.” A ludicrous frozen tableau formed. Barry, mouth gaping and screwdriver poised over the newly fitted lock had turned and behind him, one foot on the step the other still on the driveway, Jacob was staring at her. A great bunch of roses were clasped in front of him and a useless key dangled from his other hand.
“Keep him out, please Barry, keep him away from me.”
Chapter 41
The brief hiatus was followed by chaos. Barry was spurred into action by the desperation in Mary’s voice and with a hefty thrust he swung the door closed just as Jacob had begun to step across the threshold. The yell from the other side of the wood witnessed the jarring to his foot and the blow on the hand that he had raised to push his way forward.
“Shit, sorry, sorry.” Barry was not a violent man and the yell from outside unnerved him.
“No, don’t open the door, keep him out please.” Mary had run forward and was now standing beside the locksmith and leaning against the door. “Is it locked, did the new lock work?”
“It’s latched love, hey calm down, it’s okay.”
“Can you lock it, make it safe?” In response Barry simply flicked the little gold knob.
“There y’are love. He hasn’t got a key anyway.” He jingled a tiny bunch of keys and handed them forward to Mary who took them in quivering fingers. Jacob now began hammering on the door.
“Mary, I need to speak to you. We should talk. I really need to come in. Come on Mary, open the door.”
Barry’s head swung back and forth, his eyes wide in confusion. “What are ya gonna do love? He had flowers for you.”
“Yes, I know but he can’t come in, I don’t want him in here.” Realisation dawned then and Barry shook his head.
“Bloody hell. So he did that?” He pointed at the bruises on Mary’s cheek now a livid red and blue and at her bloodshot eye which was still swollen and puffy. In response she simply nodded. “I bet you ‘aven’t been to the police ‘ave you? This is why you didn’t want the insurance company involved.” There was genuine sympathy in his eyes and Mary thought she would cry in the face of his kindness. She swallowed hard.
“I can’t get in touch with the police, I couldn�
�t bear it. I know you’re right but I just can’t.” Barry reached out and touched her arm.
“Don’t get upset love, it’s nothing to do with me. You ‘ave to do what you ‘ave to do. Anyway listen I think he’s gone. You stay here and I’ll go and look out through the window.” He strode through to the living room and shouted back to her, “Yes he’s off down the street now. He’s flung them flowers in the road and he’s storming off. My God love he looks as though he has a temper on him and no mistake.” Mary had joined him in the quiet room.
She was shaking and the tears had refused to be held back, she swiped them away impatiently. “Oh look, don’t be upset. Shall I make you a cup of tea? That’s what you need, a nice cup of tea, settle you down.”
“Will you have one with me?” Barry glanced at his wristwatch.
“Oh well okay, why not. I’ll put the kettle on, you stay here, sit down and try to get yourself together.” So she sat on the chair lost in confusion while a stranger clattered about in her kitchen searching for cups and spoons. He came back bringing mugs of tea and even a plate of biscuits. He smiled at her as he lowered the tray to the coffee table. “Are you feeling a bit better?” Mary dredged up a grin and nodded.
“Thank you Barry, I am really grateful. I’m so embarrassed and sorry that you got involved in that but I’m glad you were here. Thank you.”
He blushed and hid his awkwardness by handing her one of the cups and taking his own with him as he went back to the window.
“Well he’s long gone now I think. You’re probably going to ‘ave to do something about it all though aren’t you? I mean it’s not going to just go away. Was he living here then? Sorry, none of my business,” he gulped back his drink, obviously desperate to escape this difficult situation. If I was you I’d be calling the police I would, but I expect it’s tricky under the circumstances. I’ll get the office to send you a bill, you don’t want to be messing about with cheques and stuff now.
“Are you going to be okay? On your own I mean?”
She nodded at him, overcome with shame and embarrassment now that the terror had dissipated. “I’ll be fine thank you. I have to go out in a little while anyway but in the meantime I have a safe door now thanks to you.”
“Aye well, that’s only a part of it, isn’t it love? At the end of the day you will ‘ave to get together with him, your son, and sort things out. There are counselling places and so on you know, he needs help no doubt about it, anyone who could do something like that to his mum needs help for certain.”
She couldn’t speak but simply watched as he collected his tools and replaced the mug on the tray. There were no words to form an answer to this assumption. She was humiliated and didn’t trust herself to do any other than simply walk behind Barry as he let himself out into the sunny afternoon and, at his urging, to lock and bolt the door.
Chapter 42
Over and over the phone rang, text after text landed with a sharp little chime. Mary ignored the calls and deleted the texts quickly. Of course the first line scrolled across the little screen, Mary why are you doing this – Mary we need to talk – Come on lovely lady don’t be silly, and so it went on. When she could stand it no longer she turned off the gadget. She would have to change her number; would it be possible to do it without buying a new phone? It was another complication and yet another intrusion and would mean that all her friends and family would need to be contacted but it was impossible to live with this continuous barracking.
It was a bright summer day. The sunglasses wouldn’t look out of place and the sun hat with a floppy brim made her feel better about venturing out, though the bruising still showed on her cheek and chin. Perhaps anyone who saw her would think that she was a car crash victim or had fallen. Perhaps they just wouldn’t care; the thought strangely gave her some comfort. She dressed with infinite care. In her mind a battered woman would not be smartly attired in well-cut trousers and expensive blouse but of course in her heart she knew this wasn’t true, but it helped to bolster her flagging spirits and present a brave and respectable face to the world.
It was much later than she had planned and the college would now be finishing the day courses, or so she believed. In her job she often had to fit in appointments to suit the times of lectures for the students and indeed some of the tutors and so, as far as she could assess, any time after half past four would give her the chance of spotting Judy. It was such a long shot. First of all she didn’t know whether Judy would even be there today, had no way of knowing the times of her lectures though she knew her course was to do with computer programming and so she would probably be in the IT building.
She had to do something and this was the only route she could think of. She needed to speak to Judy and then, if it was possible to meet the friend who had left the college, to get away from Jacob. The IT centre was nearer than the main college and thankfully not close to the Media centre which was housed in a converted theatre. This was the place she had been for signing on when the plan had been to take a photography course; how long ago it all seemed now.
The streets around the college were thronged with students and Mary parked at the kerb alongside the cars of parents and taxis waiting for their passengers. She blessed the congestion and overcrowding which normally was a trial to anyone needing to visit the town centre. She felt anonymous and inconspicuous, exactly what she wanted, but the task itself was terribly difficult. She hadn’t realised just how many people there would be, streams of them poured from the gates and meandered in all directions. Jeans, T shirts, a few pairs of shorts and every now and again a bright summer dress. It wasn’t long before she realised the chance of actually spotting her quarry amongst so many young people was minimal.
The only other option was one that sent a shiver of apprehension through her, she could go and park near the shared house. Judy was Steve’s girlfriend and so perhaps she would go there with him. Mary felt disheartened and tired. This was ridiculous, the plan was so very complicated anyway and even to get to the first stage was proving far more difficult than she had anticipated. The wait for the locksmith had caused such a delay and all that happened then had left her feeling mentally bruised. She would go home, and just try and put this behind her. She glanced into the rear view mirror and her damaged face mocked her. So he gets away with it. He beats you and bruises you and interferes with all aspects of your life and you let him get away with it.
No, that’s not right.
She would keep going a little longer, go to the house and try to spot Judy and if that didn’t work out then she didn’t know what she would do. Perhaps at the end of the day the best thing would really be to let it all go. What then though if she met him again, in town, at the surgery or in the streets? What if he came back to her home, hammered on the door and followed her in the road? He could make her life unliveable and she owed it to herself to take some action at least, something so that in the future when she replayed this horrible part of her life she wouldn’t be shamed by her actions. She knew the importance of memories from the time after Bill’s illness when she had dwelt with something approaching obsession on events that at the time had seemed small, perceived injustices, tiny misjudgements but also the comfort she took from the many kindnesses that they had shown each other in the progression through the darkness.
She had a plan of a sort, and she thought she knew who could help her. If it worked it could drive him away and give her back her peace and freedom.
The little car pulled into the traffic and headed towards the shared house.
Chapter 43
It was quiet in the suburban street and so Mary parked her car round the corner. She walked gingerly back and spotted a bus shelter from where it seemed she would be able to observe without causing suspicion. She felt absolutely ridiculous. Wearing sun glasses, a floppy hat and hiding in a bus shelter like a character in a very poor play.
She flipped down the little plastic seat and checked it for chewing gum or other detritus – these were
her best trousers after all. From her perch she could observe the front path and the porch of the shared house, so if Judy were to arrive she shouldn’t miss her. She actually crossed her fingers. How long would it be reasonable to wait? This could be a total waste of time of course, Judy didn’t live here, even if she had she was a young student, just how much time did they spend indoors in the summer anyway? But there was no other way to find her.
It would be so much easier to give up and go home.
The thought depressed her. If she were to leave and make her way back what would she be going back to exactly? Her mobile was switched off to avoid his calls, her door locked and bolted and any knock sent her into a panic. What was she to do on this bright summer evening, sit indoors and nurse her wounds and wait for the bruising to fade? She had never before realised the impact one moment of brutality could have on a life. Sympathy for the bruised and beaten women who found themselves at the surgery was natural, but when they walked through the exit and back into their own lives how much thought had she ever given them? None. Though she knew it was a bad idea to become involved with the lives of patients she felt sorry now that she hadn’t.
Perhaps when this was all over she could put this new and dreadful knowledge to some use, there were shelters for women in crisis and perhaps with her experience at work and her now personal understanding of some of the issues she could volunteer to help. It would be an honest use of her spare time and yes, she didn’t think it was unrealistic to think that at least some good could come from this disaster.
She was so lost in her musings and plans that she almost missed the young woman strolling down the road opposite. In the nick of time she spotted Judy, she was alone and carrying a couple of bulging bags from the local supermarket. She jumped to her feet and ran across the road, flicking her head back and forth, terribly aware of the genuine risk that Jacob could walk around the corner at any moment and she simply did not know what she would do in that case.
PICTURES OF YOU: a gripping psychological suspense thriller Page 11