Beautiful Child

by Menon, David

  ‘Oh I work for a butcher,’ said Paddy.

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yeah, I take the meat for slaughter.’

  ‘Where do you do that?’

  ‘On the other side of the city’ said Paddy, ‘I’m only over this side visiting my folks.’

  It was then that Glenn pulled up alongside them in his car and wound the window down. ‘Excuse me? Can you blokes tell me where Crosby Street is, please?’

  ‘Crosby Street?’ Paddy questioned. ‘I don’t think I know. What about you, Davey? Do you know where Crosby Street is, mate?’

  ‘Yeah, I know where it is,’ said Davey.

  ‘Do you want to tell the gentleman?’

  *

  ‘So you made your victims disappear in broad daylight?’ Angela probed.

  ‘We became quite good at it.’ said Paddy, ‘We’d pick the right spot and when the kids were offering the direction we’d asked for, Eileen would reach through from the back and hit them with a cloth over their mouth and nose that was doused in chloroform.’

  ‘And then what happened?’

  ‘We’d take them back to Glenn’s place,’ said Paddy ‘He had this small place out in the country near the Essendon airfield. His Aunt had left it him. I don’t think she intended him to use it to torture kids.’

  ‘Torture?’

  ‘He’d start off by strapping them to an iron bed frame’ said Paddy. ‘Do you really want me to explain the rest?’

  ‘No’ said Angela. ‘I’ll read your manuscript when I’m feeling brave. But how did it affect you, Paddy? Did you take part?’

  ‘No!’ Paddy emphasised. ‘I adamantly denied that at the trial and it was true, Doc. Yes, I procured the kids and I made it happen for that bastard, Glenn. But do I wish it hadn’t happened? Of course I bloody do. Am I ashamed of myself? That doesn’t even come close. But I was trying to survive, Doc. I was doing what I always had to do and I was trying to survive.’

  ‘Seven children were tortured and killed, Paddy.’

  ‘Yes, I bloody know, Doc, I was there!’

  It was rare for Angela to see Paddy rattled but she was seeing it now. Usually he was so controlled and spoke of the facts without much emotion. But now she could see it in his eyes. He regretted everything about what had happened to those children. But was that enough? The parents of the victims would say they all should’ve been hanged for their crimes.

  ‘And did they take all that into account at the trial, Paddy?’

  Paddy looked up scowling. ‘The trial? That was a bloody joke. Australia hadn’t hanged anybody since 1967. They hadn’t hanged a woman since 1951 and she’d had to be sedated so they could carry out the sentence. There was this move towards abolishing the death penalty altogether, once and for all, but we gave them reason to think again. The whole nation wanted our blood.’

  ‘Can you blame them?’

  ‘There’s no soft soap with you, is there, Doc? Well no, I couldn’t, truth be told. If I’d been in their position I’d have wanted the same.’

  ‘How had you been caught?’

  ‘A young lad called Dean Watkins got away when we were trying to carry him from the car into Glenn’s place. Eileen hadn’t used enough chloroform. I don’t know how it happened exactly but he broke free and ran.’

  ‘He probably still feels very lucky.’

  ‘Yeah, he probably does,’ said Paddy, thoughtfully, ‘but that’s how it all unravelled. Anyway, the trial went on and we were all spared the death penalty. Public opinion couldn’t overturn the prevailing political winds. Eileen and Glenn got sent down for thirty years. They both ended up dying in prison. That was poetic justice some would say. I got five years.’

  ‘They were quite lenient with you,’ said Angela, ‘compared to what they handed down to Eileen and Glenn. Did they say why that was?’

  ‘I know why that was, Doc.’

  ‘So tell me.’

  ‘Andy Cook turned up’ said Paddy.

  ‘Andy Cook? But I thought he’d perished at the same time as Father Michael?’

  ‘So did I,’ said Paddy, ‘but he hadn’t. He’d been rescued. He took pity on me because he knew what I’d been through at the children’s home and he forgave me for what I’d done to him. He made the court understand what had gone into making me the shit that I was. That was how I got off with such a light sentence.’

  ‘And did they go right back to your childhood?’

  ‘All the way.’

  ‘Did they find your mother?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Paddy, ‘and it was the one chance she’d had since she’d dumped me to try and be a mother to me. But she refused. She refused to fly out to Australia and confirm even that I was her son.’

  ‘Oh Paddy,’ said Angela as she watched the tears begin to fall down Paddy’s cheeks. ‘You must’ve been crushed?’

  ‘I was, Doc,’ said Paddy as he wiped his face, ‘I was, but at least by not coming she did me a favour.’

  ‘How do you make that out?’

  ‘Well it meant that the court had more sympathy with me’ said Paddy. ‘So as they say, it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.’

  ‘So you know your mother’s name?’

  ‘No, Doc.’ said Paddy, ‘They only told me that they’d been in touch with her and what they called “the results of that communication”.’

  ‘Well Paddy, I’m not sure if this is the appropriate time to tell you but I’ve got some bad news about someone I know you cared about a great deal.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Rita Makin, Paddy’ said Angela. ‘I’m sorry, Paddy, but she’s dead.’

  ‘Dead? What, recently?’

  ‘Yes’ said Angela.

  ‘Doc, something tells me I’m not going to like this?’

  ‘She was murdered, Paddy’ said Angela. ‘ And it wasn’t a random act. It seems that somebody had set out to kill her.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  ‘Are you happy, dear brother?’ asked Susie.

  Matt paused with a piece of chicken with bamboo shoots caught in mid-air in his chopsticks. ‘Yes’.

  ‘Well do you think that message could get through to your face?’

  ‘Shut up you cheeky cow.’

  Matt was sitting with his sister Susie and her fiancé Angus in the Rice Bowl Chinese restaurant in Manchester’s Cross Street. It was Saturday and the three of them were having lunch together.

  ‘Matt, you’ve had a face as long as a wet weekend in Blackpool since we met up. Is there something wrong?’

  ‘Sorry’ said Matt.

  ‘Hey, it’s okay, mate,’ said Angus. ‘We just want to help if we can.’

  Matt laid down his chopsticks one either side of the bowl he was eating from. He told them all about Wendy and her breast cancer diagnosis. It brought him close to tears.

  ‘That’s so unfair’ said Susie, holding her brother’s hand, ‘I know how much she means to you.’

  ‘It isn’t fair,’ said Matt. ‘I mean, what has Wendy done to offend the Gods? She met a man and fell in love, she married him and together they had two beautiful children. And her reward? He can’t stay faithful and she gets cancer which means she won’t see either of her two boys grow up. You’re right, it isn’t fair.’

  ‘Can’t they do anything?’ asked Angus.

  ‘They’ve done all they can,’ said Matt, ‘It’s all over and I feel so helpless. I helped her through the divorce. I helped them both through the divorce. But I can’t lessen the tragedy of her illness. I can’t lessen the implications of that.’

  ‘It’s only natural to feel like this when it’s someone close, mate.’ said Angus, ‘My best mate at school died of leukaemia when I was twelve. I felt helpless then too. I didn’t get over it for weeks.’

  ‘You didn’t tell me that,’ said Susie.

  ‘Well it’s not something you just drop into conversation when you’re falling in love, baby,’ said Angus.

  Susie turned back to Matt. ‘He’s been flying
with his American friend Mason again. That’s why he keeps calling me baby. It’ll wear off in a day or so.’

  Matt smiled. ‘Well I think it’s quite sweet,’ he said.

  ‘Well you would’ said Susie. ‘Anyway, what’s going to happen to the boys?’

  ‘That’s what’s breaking Wendy’s heart,’ said Matt, ‘their intended stepmother shows no sign of wanting to show them any maternal instincts.’

  ‘He’ll dump them on you’ said Susie.

  ‘Susie!’

  ‘Well he will! He’ll go along with whatever that money grabbing tramp wants and the boys will spend their time effectively being brought up by their Uncle Matt.’

  ‘I’d gladly do it,’ said Matt, tearfully, ‘for Wendy’s sake.’

  ‘Oh Matt you are so weak where that man is concerned.’

  ‘I said I’d do it for Wendy,’ said Matt, firmly, ‘you’re out of order, Susie. One of my closest and dearest friends is dying and I’m going to do whatever I can to lessen her worries.’

  ‘I think you should listen to your brother, Susie,’ said Angus.

  Susie swung her face round on Angus but didn’t say anything. That’s one of the things Matt liked about Angus. He was the first of his sister’s boyfriends who could shut her up when she was giving it out. She seemed to be respecting him for it too. This was good, thought Matt. She wasn’t going to always wear the trousers with this one.

  ‘Okay,’ said Susie, who then squeezed Matt’s hand. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Do you mind repeating that because I so seldom hear it.’

  Angus started laughing and Susie couldn’t help but join in.

  ‘I’m not coming out with you two again if you’re going to gang up on me.’

  ‘Well, let’s eat,’ said Matt at last, ‘I’m sure Angus doesn’t want to hear all this shit anyway.’

  Angus raised his hands. ‘Hey, I want you to be happy just as much as your sister, mate’ he said, ‘I’m just not as blunt.’

  They spent the next few minutes enjoying into their food. Angus had gone for the Peking duck and was busy pulling flesh off the bones and wrapping it n pancakes. Susie had gone for sizzling prawns with fried crispy noodles and Matt himself was carrying on with his chicken with bamboo shoots and fried rice. .

  ‘And let’s order some more wine,’ said Matt, ‘when are you flying next, Angus?’

  ‘Not until Monday afternoon’ said Angus.

  ‘So you’re alright for one or two.’

  ‘Oh yeah.’

  ‘So,’ said Matt who now wanted to change the subject. ‘Did you see Desperate Housewives the other night? I love that show. It has just the right mix of light and shade and I love the characters.’

  ‘No, we didn’t,’ said Susie, holding Angus’s hand, ‘we don’t get to watch much telly.’

  ‘Well that’s the difference between your life and mine, Susie,’ said Matt, ‘you’ve got Angus and I’ve got the TV.’

  ‘Well that reminds me of something, actually, Matt, darling,’ said Susie, ‘Angus works with a lot of gay men and … ‘

  ‘…oh no, I’m not being set up,’ said Matt.

  ‘But if I flew with someone who I thought you might be interested in?’ said Angus. ‘I’d be more than happy to get you guys together.’

  ‘You’d do that for me?’

  ‘Of course I would,’ said Angus, ‘we’re going to be family and that’s what you do.’

  ‘Go on, Matt,’ said Susie, rubbing his arm. ‘I know you hate living alone. Say you’ll give it a try just for me?’

  Matt thought about it and edged towards acceptance. He didn’t have anything against a blind date as such and as long as Angus kept to what he knew Matt liked in a man then, why not?

  ‘Nobody effeminate’ Matt warned. ‘I want a man, not a Queen.’

  ‘Absolutely not,’ said Angus, ‘any degree of camp and I won’t even entertain him.’

  ‘So you’ll do it, Matt?’ asked Susie, excitedly, ‘I mean, you’ll go along with it?’

  ‘Yes’ said Matt who could do with some fun to pepper all the darkness. ‘But I’m not promising anything.’

  Just at that moment when his mood was lifted Matt looked up and saw what he really didn’t need to see. The Rice Bowl was in a basement with steps down from the street. He, Susie and Angus were sitting at a table where Matt had a view of the bottom of the stairs where people stopped to wait to be shown to a table. There was a fish tank to the left which was of great interest to any children and a bar behind it which was of more interest to their parents.

  And there, waiting to be greeted by one of the Rice Bowl’s staff, was Adrian, standing with a woman and three children who Matt took to be his wife and family. The doctor in Matt noticed that Adrian’s wife looked somewhat pale and a little pre-occupied and then Matt locked eyes with Adrian who looked away pretty quickly. The situation was excruciating for Matt. He carried on a normal conversation with Susie and Angus, talking about their upcoming wedding, listening to Susie complaining about her and Matt’s Mum because of how much of a pain she was being about the church service, and all the time Adrian was sitting just a few metres away. He looked happy. The family man talking to and laughing with his kids, exchanging knowing looks with his wife that spoke of a deep tenderness between them. It was all making Matt feel as guilty as Hell for having infringed on it all.

  ‘Excuse me,’ said Matt as he pushed his chair back and stood up. ‘I need the toilet.’

  There was a doorway opposite the bar that led to the toilets. Matt stepped through another door into the gents and unzipped his fly before pissing into the stainless steel urinal. Then he zipped himself back up again and turned to the wash basins. He’d just finished drying his hands when the door opened and Adrian came in. He was in a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. His furry arms looked so strong like they always did. He hadn’t shaved. Matt tried his best but he couldn’t stop the rise of desire inside him.

  ‘I don’t suppose you’d just pay the bill and leave, would you?’ Adrian asked.

  Matt was furious at the audacity of Adrian’s request. ‘Why should I?’

  ‘Because I find it difficult you sitting there when I’m here with my family’ said Adrian. ‘I don’t want my wife to be humiliated.’

  ‘Adrian, the only people who know the truth are you and me. Now I can handle it and you’re just going to have to do the same.’

  ‘Are you still mad at me about the other night?’

  ‘No, Adrian. Believe it or not I’m a grown up and I get over things.’

  ‘That’s me told.’

  They looked at each other the way people do when there’s conflict that then turns to smiles when they realise how absurd they’re being.

  ‘Let’s not stop having fun, Matt’ said Adrian.

  ‘Well I don’t want to stop.’

  ‘I’ll try and be a bit more sensitive,’ said Adrian ‘I’ll do my best.’

  ‘That’s all I can ask’ said Matt.

  ‘I’ll call you Monday and see when you’re going to be free next week?’

  ‘Sure’ said Matt. ‘I really wish I didn’t fancy the fucking bollocks off you.’

  ‘Well, who can blame you? You’re only human.’

  Matt smiled. ‘You’re a cheeky bastard.’

  ‘Who is it you’re with out there?’

  ‘My sister and her fiancé.’

  ‘They seem like nice people.’

  ‘They are,’ said Matt, ‘they’re one of those couples who really are meant for each other.’

  ‘I’m sorry I came on a bit strong when I first came in’ said Adrian.

  ‘Well let’s forget about all that now. Now go on, get back to your family and enjoy the rest of your meal.’

  ‘Yes, doctor’ said Adrian who then sneaked a kiss with Matt before walking out. Matt followed him a few seconds later thinking how lucky they were that nobody had come in and disturbed them. He liked Adrian. He liked him very much. But where it mattered, deep ins
ide his heart, Matt also knew that what he felt for Adrian was still nothing like how he felt about Charlie.

  ‘Look, why don’t we pay up and go on somewhere else where we can get magnificently pissed?’ he said to Susie and Angus. ‘I’m really in the mood for it.’

  ‘Sounds good’ said Angus. ‘Susie?’

  ‘Oh yes, I’m up for it,’ said Susie. ‘But it’s my turn to go to the toilet now so you’ll have to hang on.’

  ‘We’ll settle the bill whilst you’re gone’ said Angus.

  Susie got up and stepped through the door to the corridor where the ladies was located a few metres before the gents. Matt and Angus chatted whilst Matt tried not to look across at Adrian.

  ‘Matt!’ Susie shouted from the door to the corridor.

  Matt looked up. ‘ What’s wrong?’

  ‘There’s a woman in here who’s collapsed!’

  Matt ran through to the ladies where the woman in question was Adrian’s wife, Penny. The manager of the restaurant plus half the waiting staff came rushing in after him but Adrian pushed through to the front. Matt told everyone except Susie, Adrian, and the restaurant manager to go back. Penny Bradshaw was lying unconscious in front of the wash basins and Matt began his examination after telling Susie to call for an ambulance. He looked upon her as just another casualty. The personal connotations suddenly meant nothing. He was a doctor and he just wanted to treat her and make sure she was alright. Adrian got down on his knees and held his wife’s hand.

  It only took a few minutes for Matt to do his work and make Penny as comfortable as he could whilst they waited for the ambulance. Matt then stood up and walked over to the basins to wash his hands. Adrian jumped up next to him.

  ‘Well?’ asked Adrian. ‘What do you think is wrong with her?’

  ‘She had a miscarriage, Adrian’ said Matt, ‘And she passed out.’

  ‘A miscarriage?’

  ‘Yes’ said Matt, ‘I’m sorry. Has she had one before?’

  ‘No’ said Adrian, ‘No, she hasn’t.’

  ‘Well then it must be a bit of a shock,’ said Matt, ‘I’m really sorry, Adrian.’

  ‘A shock?’ said Adrian who looked down at his wife who was dozing in and out of an uncomfortable sleep. ‘ Matt, I didn’t even know she was pregnant.’