by Anna Jacobs
‘That’s going to be a bit difficult because your father’s so worried about you, he’s asked me to keep an eye on you. As he’s a good friend, I’m going to do just that.’
‘What I do is no concern of his now. And anyway, I don’t believe you.’
He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. ‘Read this.’
Dawn twitched it out of his hand and shared it with Janey. ‘Is that your father’s handwriting?’
‘Yes. But it doesn’t matter. He’s weak and lazy, always does what Gary wants and believes the lies Gary tells about me.’
‘Tch! Tch! Not a nice way to talk about your father.’ He turned to Dawn. ‘So you see, my dear, I’m in loco parentis.’
‘Don’t you “my dear” me,’ Dawn said. ‘You’re not acting as a parent, either. Janey’s eighteen. She’s an adult now.’
He sighed. ‘I didn’t want to go into this but there are some official concerns about what sort of mother she is. We’re as concerned about the baby as about Janey. That’s why I’m here.’
Janey couldn’t speak for shock and fear at this implied threat.
Dawn was silent for a moment or two. ‘What official concerns?’
‘Ask Ms Stevenall, who’s in charge of the case.’
‘I will,’ Dawn said, ‘and in the meantime, I’m telling you to stay away from Janey, who has made her wishes very plain where you’re concerned.’
As the two locked glances, another car pulled into the car park and since they were standing in front of the garage, the driver sounded his horn.
‘It’s the owner.’ Janey thrust the pushchair handle into Dawn’s hands and ran across to the car.
Kieran wound down the window, but before he could speak, he saw Gary. ‘What? Don’t tell me he’s come back to bother you again.’
‘Yes. He says there are concerns about me being a good mother and—’
‘Don’t say anything else now. You don’t know how he’ll twist your words. Save your talking until we’re inside. Who’s the woman?’
‘Dawn. She’s from Just Girls. She’s a good friend.’
‘I’ll wait here till you and she have gone into the house.’
She hurried back to Dawn, who was holding the pushchair, watching. ‘Let’s go inside. It’s no use talking to him.’
‘You’re going to regret it if you’re not co-operative, Janey,’ Gary said. ‘Your father will be angry.’
‘No, you’ll regret it. You’ve a lot to lose as well.’
He just smiled. Confident. Menacing.
She grabbed the pushchair and moved towards the front door, followed closely by Dawn.
Gary looked towards Kieran with a frown, as if trying to work out who he was. He didn’t attempt to follow them, but stood and watched, and somehow that too was threatening.
Janey hoped he hadn’t seen how she was shaking.
When the front door had closed behind Janey and Dawn, Kieran shouted across to the man still standing there, ‘Please remove yourself and your car from my property and don’t come here again.’
Gary made a rude sign with one finger and got into his car. But he didn’t drive away; he parked in the street outside, in full view of the flats. Switching off the engine, he leaned back, as if making himself comfortable.
Kieran got out his mobile phone and took a photo of the car and driver, then eased his own vehicle into the garage.
‘What was all that about?’ Nicole asked.
‘That fellow is stalking Janey. And as he’s a policeman, it’s a bit harder to accuse him without proof than it would be to accuse someone else. I’ve been keeping an eye on her but I can see I’m going to have to do more.’
She smiled warmly at him. ‘If anyone can, it’s you.’
There was a moment’s silence as he smiled back at her. ‘Sorry. I didn’t ask if you wanted driving home. I should have done.’
‘We’ll walk. It’s only just up the street and William isn’t going to be attacking us in broad daylight, I’m sure. A bit of fresh air will do my headache good.’
‘It’s still aching?’
‘A bit.’ She turned to Paul. ‘Coming?’
‘Yeah.’ As they walked, he said, ‘I can’t believe that fellow was doing it so openly. That poor girl looked scared stiff.’
‘Some men think they rule the world.’
‘Who is he?’
‘He’s a policeman. I remember him coming to give a talk at the library once, a few years ago. He didn’t do it very well, kept ordering them to do this or not do that and the audience got very restless. He’s put on a lot of weight since then and he looks – I don’t know, sour. I don’t remember his name, but it’ll come back to me if I don’t obsess about it.’
‘There’s a lot of shit happening, isn’t there? Not just to us.’
‘Yes.’ She opened the front door and they went inside, switching off the security system.
‘Do you want to talk about Dad and what’s-her-name … Tracey?’ Paul asked.
‘I don’t know. I’m still getting used to the idea of this woman – and the baby.’ She let out a mirthless laugh and shared one thought with her son. ‘The thing that’s been upsetting me most was that I’d wrongly suspected Sam of being unfaithful. I felt so guilty. And now – does it sound crazy to say I’m glad she exists, glad I don’t have to feel guilty any more?’
‘Nah. I get that.’
‘Do you realise the baby will be your brother or sister?’
He gaped at her, then rolled his eyes. ‘Well, I’m not volunteering to babysit.’
‘You’ll probably not see the woman again once the funeral is over. Want a cup of tea or a can of something?’
‘I’d really like something to eat. How about we get a takeaway? We can walk down to the end of the street and pick something up.’
‘Good idea. I don’t have much food in because of not being able to go shopping lately. What do you fancy? Indian, Chinese, pizza?’
‘Pizza.’
‘Right then, pizza it is.’
‘And can we buy some fruit? And make sure there’s something in for breakfast? I get a bit hungry.’
‘A bit? You’re a stomach on wheels.’ She smiled and ruffled his hair. ‘You can go and order the pizza while I’ll nip into that little supermarket.’
They walked down the street, passing Kieran’s flats again. ‘Don’t look now,’ Paul said, ‘but that fellow’s not moved. He’s still watching the flats. I wonder if they know he’s there?’
‘I’m sure Kieran has everything in hand.’
‘He’s a great guy, isn’t he? Pity about the accident. He says he’ll never get full movement back. But we’d not have met him otherwise because he used to be travelling around the country all the time. He called it “tilting at windmills” but I think he was a lot more successful than Don Quixote. Even I’d heard of Kieran Jones. He’s won a couple of awards for his work, you know. I saw him on TV collecting one. He wasn’t as thin then.’
She loved the way Paul had started talking to her, hoped he’d never feel a need to withdraw from the world again.
As they walked back up the street half an hour later, Paul said, ‘What is that guy like? Look at that comb-over. As if you can hide baldness. And he’s stalking a girl old enough to be his daughter. He’s a real sicko, that one. I think I’ll ring Kieran and make sure he knows the guy’s not gone away.’
‘Do it quickly. We don’t want the pizza to go cold.’
Kieran joined them upstairs. He chatted to Dawn while Janey fed Millie.
‘I really need to give her a bath and put her to bed now.’
‘You do that,’ he said with a smile. ‘Take all the time you need. I’m in no hurry to go anywhere. After you’ve finished we’ll do some serious planning.’
‘Do you know what to do?’
‘Oh, yes. I’ve not been an investigative journalist for nothing. I’m about to call in a few favours and if I don’t manage to stop that fellow once and for all, then
you’ve still got the women’s refuge to go to.’
‘Thanks. Only I’d rather not. I’d still be looking over my shoulder, wherever I went.’ She picked Millie up and went into the bedroom.
‘She’s very near tears,’ Dawn said to Kieran in a low voice. ‘She froze for a moment or two when she saw him. I hated to see the fear on her face.’
‘Poor kid. But that fellow’s lost touch with reality if he thinks he can get away with this. He must be obsessed by her or he’d not have come out openly. I can’t believe her father would support him.’
‘I’m worried that this man has got the Stevenall woman on his side as well. She seems to hate her clients. She and I have tangled a few times. I’d never let her handle one of my girls.’ She frowned. ‘Stevenall wasn’t dealing with Janey’s case, so why is he threatening us with her?’
‘I’m beginning to think it’s part of a bigger scam. Major local corruption. It’ll take a bit of unpinning, but I’m sure we’ll get there in the end.’
‘And in the meantime, Janey suffers.’
‘She’s made a few friends. If we draw up a roster to keep an eye on her, I’m sure we can guard her for long enough to catch him.’
‘I hope you’re right. But don’t underestimate Stevenall. If she’s helping him you can expect some nasty tricks.’
‘Why would she do that?’
‘I’ve heard that she’s been passed over for promotion several times and is furious about it. And Janey’s defied her once. Stevenall’s known for getting back at people who upset her, and of course, she goes for the powerless ones.’
‘Well, Janey isn’t powerless. She’s got us. Ah, there you are.’
She came out of the bedroom just then. ‘Millie’s asleep already. She was tired out.’
‘So are you. Sit down. Can I get you a cup of tea, or perhaps something to eat?’
‘I’m not hungry. I had some cake at Miss Parfitt’s.’ With a sigh she sat on the couch, shoulders drooping, staring at the floor.
Dawn moved to sit beside her.
‘Right then,’ said Kieran. ‘This is what we need to do. The most important thing is that we all keep a diary, noting sightings of Yarford and what happens each time. You as well, Dawn. And then …’
The phone rang at three o’clock in the morning. Nicole rolled over, stared at it bleary-eyed, then suddenly jerked wide awake. She knew what it’d be, even before she heard a hushed voice say, ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Gainsford, but your husband died a few minutes ago.’
She swallowed hard. ‘Was it – peaceful?’
‘Yes. His – um, friend was with him. She’s very upset.’
‘Yes.’
‘You’ll need to make arrangements for a funeral. If you or your funeral director can let us know the arrangements later today, that’d be very helpful.’
Nicole put the phone down and turned to see Paul standing in the doorway. ‘Your father’s dead.’
‘I thought it’d be that.’ He wiped his eyes. ‘He was only forty-two.’ His voice cracked on the last words.
‘I know.’ She moved closer and hugged him but he pulled away, and walked into the sitting room, so she followed.
‘Was that woman with him when he died?’
‘Yes.’
‘Mum? I went online about the baby.’
‘What about it?’
‘Won’t it be entitled to a share of Dad’s estate? Has he made a will?’
She hadn’t even thought of that. ‘I – don’t know. I don’t think he did. I haven’t.’
He went to the fridge. ‘All right if I grab a drink of milk?’
‘Yes, of course.’ She watched him pour it into a glass and raise it with a questioning look.
‘No, thanks. I’m not a big milk drinker. We should go back to bed. There’s nothing we can do now.’
He yawned. ‘All right.’
But the thought of what the baby might mean kept her awake for the rest of the night. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She wanted to sell the house, she already knew that, but she’d need the money it brought to buy another one for herself and Paul. She knew Sam’s insurance was up to date because she’d paid the bill herself a few months ago at the same time as the house insurance, but was a big chunk of it to go elsewhere?
It wasn’t fair. Why should she have to pay money to Tracey when she’d worked so hard to pay off that mortgage? All her wages had gone into that until recently. And she was the one who’d kept up the insurance payments.
It seemed as if every time she turned round another worry raised its head.
And they’d heard nothing from or about William today. What was he doing? More important, what was he intending to do?
And … how mentally unstable was he? He’d already hurt her. She put up a hand to touch the cut on the back of her head, though it was starting to heal now. She didn’t want him to hurt other people.
In the end, Gary took the surveillance vehicle back to base, then drove to his friend Lionel’s, stopping en route to buy a carton of six bottles of beer – only the owner of the off licence owed him a favour, so never took any money. As was only right. Gary wasn’t greedy, just took a little present from people every now and then.
He found Lionel watching football on the television with his mouse of a wife sitting in a corner, knitting. She was always knitting, stupid bitch. How a woman as plain and colourless as Dorothy could produce a daughter as lovely as Janey, he didn’t know. Janey’s youthful beauty haunted his dreams.
‘Getting tired, are you?’ he asked Dorothy pointedly.
She looked at her husband.
Lionel jerked one thumb towards the door. ‘Go up to bed now, Dot. Us men like to chat in private. Oh, wait! Just see if there’s anything to nibble with the beer.’
Without a word, she went to fetch some peanuts and crisps.
That was how a wife ought to behave, Gary thought as he sat down in the armchair he always occupied when he came here. He passed a beer across and waited till the mouse had gone upstairs before he started talking. ‘I saw her, your Janey.’
‘Bloody tart!’
Gary stared down at the rug, as if reluctant to speak.
‘What’s she doing with herself?’
He sighed.
Lionel thumped the arm of the sofa. ‘She’s giving it out again, isn’t she?’
‘Yes. Sorry to be the one who tells you.’
‘What if she gets herself up the duff again? What if she starts walking the streets? How do you think I’ll look then, with a daughter on the game?’
Gary shook his head and took a pull of beer.
‘You have to stop her.’
‘I’ve tried to talk to her a couple of times.’
‘And?’
‘This guy who lives in the same block of flats is acting as her protector. I reckon the only way to get her under control is to hit her through the baby, get it taken away from her for a while, to frighten her into behaving. She may not be a good mother, but she loves it.’
‘How can we do that?’
‘I’ve got a friend in the council offices.’ Gary tapped his nose. ‘Leave it to me. Only it’ll cost you. My friend doesn’t do anything out of love. She’s risking her job, after all. But she feels sorry for people sometimes, knows the law can be stupid.’
‘How much does she want?’
‘A thousand.’
Lionel yelped.
‘She wanted more. I bargained her down for you.’
‘You’re a good friend.’
At the top of the stairs, Dorothy pressed one hand to her mouth, tears leaking out of her eyes.
Janey wasn’t a bad girl, she’d always known that, and known how the child was conceived, too. But Lionel could be violent and it wasn’t wise to go against his wishes.
But this was going too far. To take the baby away! Only, what could she do? What had she ever been able to do against a heavy-handed man like Lionel?
She sat there, listening carefully, even though
they were talking about football now. Then she heard Gary saying goodbye and crept into the bedroom before the two men came out into the hall, slipping quickly out of her clothes and getting into her nightie.
By the time Lionel came up to bed, she was pretending to be asleep, something she was very good at.
But he didn’t try to touch her tonight, thank goodness. And he was soon snoring.
It was well after midnight before she got to sleep. Guilt sat heavily in her chest. But so did fear.
She didn’t dare go against Lionel – especially when he was plotting something with Gary.
Chapter Twenty
William rang the hospital to ask about his dad. When they put him on hold, he nearly dumped the phone and left, but then looked at his watch. He’d give them three minutes to put him through to whoever could tell him about his dad. No one could trace him that quickly from a public phone.
‘Mr Gainsford? How may I help you?’
‘I’m calling to ask about my father, Sam Gainsford. Are you one of his nurses?’
‘Um, no. Haven’t you seen your mother this morning?’
‘I don’t live with her. We don’t get on.’
‘Oh. Well, I’m the chaplain at the hospital and it’s my sad duty to tell you that your father passed away during the night.’
‘Oh …’ For a moment he didn’t know what to say, wanted to cry, but strong men didn’t cry so he fought the weakness back. Then something occurred to him. ‘Was my mother with him?’
‘No. Look, if you want to come and see him, say farewell properly—’
William slammed the phone down and leant against the wall beside it for a minute, glaring at a woman who was hovering, waiting to make a call. He’d known his father was going to die, but still, it was a shock that it had happened so quickly. And it surprised him how much it hurt. He hadn’t had much hope of his father finding his manhood again, as William had, but he’d been fond of him, remembered childhood outings.
And that unfaithful bitch hadn’t even stayed with him!
He thrust his hands in his pockets and walked out of town, taking a country path he’d followed a few times before. You had to exercise to build up muscle, even with the help of that stuff, so he walked and he did some of his other exercises where no one could see. He hadn’t missed a day’s workout, even now.