Bang! You're Dead

by Mona Marple

  Instead, she walked across to Tom’s library, her favourite room in perhaps the whole world, and took a seat.

  The phone shook in her hand as she dialled the number.

  “I need to speak to DC Sullivan.” Sandy told the operator. “No, I don’t have his collar number.”

  “I have a lot of DC Sullivans, without a collar number I can’t locate him.” The operator said. Tired. Fed up with enquiries like this, where the caller only had partial information.

  “He’s based at Waterfell Tweed, I think.” Sandy said, although she had seen no sign of him since before Hugo's murder. Maybe the city police had grown bored of investigating village murders. And Hugo’s, well, it was different. On a bigger scale, with the gangland element of it. Maybe an ordered hit was above even DC Sullivan’s head.

  “I have no record of a DC Sullivan at that station.”

  “Well, he isn’t based there usually, I think he’s there now.”

  “I’m going to need more information, sorry.” The operator said. Sorry not sorry. “A collar number, or the station they’re assigned to, not the one they may be at today.”

  “I’ll call you back.” Sandy said with a deep sigh. She ended the call as the woman began her scripted farewell.

  It would be down to her, then. She stood up and returned to Tom’s bedroom, felt at her dress. It would do for the walk home. She could curl up in bed with The Cat and make a plan.

  She dressed and emerged from Tom’s room, quietly descended the stairs, hoping she could sneak out of the back exit so she wouldn’t have to walk through the crowded wake.

  A person stood in her path, back to Sandy, head bent in towards their shoulder.

  Sandy paused. Frozen.

  “I know, baby.” They whispered. “I miss you too.”

  Sandy cleared her throat.

  The phone dropped to the floor, and the person bent, gingerly, towards it.

  “Let me.” Sandy said. “You shouldn’t strain yourself, in your condition.”

  Heavenli stared at her, eyes wide like the moon.

  Sandy picked up the smart phone, bigger than her own purse, and placed it to her ear. So noisy. Breathing, sure, but noise too. Communal noise.

  “You can call her back, Domingo.” She said, and ended the call.

  Heavenli cupped her tiny stomach. A reminder that despite so much being false, that was real.

  “We need to talk.” Sandy said. She gestured to the staircase she had just walked down, and Heavenli climbed upwards.

  In the library, she took a seat by the fireplace. Sandy remained standing.

  “So.” Sandy said. “Does he know about the baby?”

  Heavenli nodded.

  “You needed Hugo out of the way. Couldn’t you have just left him? Why kill him?”

  Heavenli’s face blanched, grey like a mushroom. “You think I killed him?”

  “No, I think you ordered the hit. Domingo loves you, he wants to be with you.”

  “Well, that plan worked then.” Heavenli said with an eye roll. She had the biggest eyes Sandy had ever seen. Eyes bigger than her waist.

  “Heavenli, I’m not the police. You can tell me what happened.” Sandy pleaded. “Ingrid wants to, she needs to know the truth.”

  Heavenli smiled. “I know.”

  “Tell me what you know, then.”

  She sighed. “Domingo and me, we go back too far. On again, off again, I wanted to settle down. Hugo was more sensible than any man I’ve been with. It’s a crazy ride when you look like this.”

  “But you’ve made yourself look like that.” Sandy said. “No disrespect.”

  “Some women spent tens of thousands on University, I spent it on my looks.” She said with a shrug. She was smart, Sandy realised, beneath the make-up. “I knew I had to make another life for the baby.”

  “Hold on, you were pregnant when you…”

  “Hugo knew I was pregnant, knew I wasn’t with the dad.” Heavenli explained. “We said we could be each other’s way out. A friendship, really. He was going to help me retrain, go into beauty therapy. I guess I was there to make him brave enough to leave Ingrid.”

  “So, what went wrong?”

  As Heavenli allowed her body to relax, she cupped her stomach with both hands. She was more pregnant than people thought, Sandy realised. A whole, growing baby tucked into her tiny frame.

  “The same as always.” Heavenli said. “He fell in love with me. They always do.”

  “You could have just left him.”

  “He wanted the baby.” She said. “He wanted the baby more than he wanted me. He told me I’d never get custody. I’m a stripper, he’s a teacher. He was going to take her.”

  “The baby wasn’t his to take…” Sandy said.

  “He made me sign something.” Heavenli said, eyes wet with tears. “Kind of a, agreement, that if I died, I wanted him to keep the baby.”

  “So you asked Domingo to kill him?”

  “No!” Heavenli exclaimed. “God, no! Is that what you think? I’ve used my looks my whole life, I’ve stripped since I was legal, but I’ve got no record. I’ve never broken the law.”

  Sandy paused, her theory wrong.

  “I don’t understand. I thought Domingo had killed him for you.”

  “I guess he did.” Heavenli said. Soft sobs fell on to her protruding stomach.

  “You’re not making…”

  She sighed. “It wasn’t Domingo that asked for that meeting.”

  Sandy pursed her lips, not understanding.

  Heavenli gazed at her then, and for a moment Sandy saw the woman beneath the make-up, under the false spider lashes. “It was an ordered hit, alright. It was Hugo, ordering a hit on me.”

  “What? He wanted you dead?”

  A shiver took over the whole of Heavenli’s body. “When the baby came. I would be, erm, ran over, make it look like an accident, and then the baby would be his. He knew I wasn’t going to stay, not forever.”

  “And if that’s true, why on Earth would he go to Domingo?”

  “Why not?” Heavenli asked. “He owed Ingrid a favour.”

  “Hugo didn’t know he was the father.”

  Heavenli shook her head. “I guess I knew we would be together again, it made no sense to tell Hugo too much. Look, this doesn’t sound good but I promise you, it was never meant to be love. He wasn’t meant to fall in -” Heavenli clasped a hand over her mouth as she gasped and shifted in her seat. “It wasn’t me he loved, was it? It was the baby all along. He was playing a game the whole time. He only showed an interest in me when I started to show.”

  Sandy pitied her, in a way. She’d been so used to men falling for her, she had believed it too easily. Believed Hugo’s intentions to be those of a man besotted; a problem she could deal with.

  “Argh!” She screamed then, and Sandy noticed a trickle of fluid gush onto the floor below Heavenli.

  “Oh my… geeze, what’s…” Sandy asked, panicked.

  “It’s my waters, oh God, Sandy, call an ambulance.”

  Sandy leapt up from the chair and dived to the top of the stairs, screamed for help, then dialled 999.

  “I need an ambulance, I’m here with my… with… with someone, and her waters have just broken.” Sandy explained, her words too fast.

  “It’s too early.” Heavenli panted from the chair. “It’s too early.”

  “Heavenli Bodie.” Sandy told the operator.

  “Helen.” Heavenli shouted. “Helen Brown.”

  “Erm, I think she’s saying it’s actually Helen Brown.” Sandy repeated. “I don’t know.”

  “Oh God.” Heavenli roared as Sandy returned to her side. She gripped both arms of the sodden chair, her face red and angry. “Tell them it’s too early. I’m only 31 weeks.”

  “She’s 31 weeks.” Sandy relayed. “We’re at The Tweed public house, in Waterfell Tweed. Please, come quickly, I’ve got no idea what to do.”

  The door burst open and Tom appeared, eyes wide. Ta
nya stood by his side and sprung into action. “Towels, Tom. Hot, clean towels. Go!”

  Tom obeyed, grateful for the excuse to leave the room.

  “They’re saying you should breathe, Helen.” Sandy said.

  “Heavenli!” She raged.

  “Heavenli, sorry.” Sandy said. “Breathe.”

  The ambulance arrived within minutes, paramedics burst into the library, armed with bags of equipment, faces calm and measured.

  “Alright, we’re going to get you to the hospital my lovely, okay?” One of the paramedics, an older woman with a ruddy face and crazy eyebrows said in a soothing tone. “You have a friend to come with you?”

  Heavenli shook her head, her eyes to the ceiling in pain.

  “She’s got me.” Sandy said. “I’ll come.”

  Heavenli glanced at her then, gave her a tiny smile, and Sandy knew she was telling the truth.

  15

  Esme Brown was the most beautiful baby Sandy had ever seen, and even though the list of other babies she had seen was fairly short, she raved about that fact.

  With her mother’s huge eyes and long dark lashes, and a hint of her father’s caramel skin, and a spool of dark hair, Esme was, indeed, perfect.

  Born too early but the Gods were smiling.

  After so much loss, Heavenli was granted a healthy baby.

  “She’s perfect.” Sandy said, yet again. She sat by Heavenli’s hospital bed as she cradled a sleeping Esme in her arms. The baby, or the labour, had softened Heavenli somehow. Her face was paler, less contoured, her lips’ natural pink softness revealed. She was dwarfed by the hospital bed, tiny and coccooned in the clinical white sheets.

  “Thank you for being here.” Heavenli said, then held out the infant. “Here, have a hold.”

  Sandy retreated, then caught her natural instinct and moved back, closer to the baby. She accepted the tiny parcel and held her, carefully, oh so carefully. There had been a time, most of her life really, when she had taken for granted the fact that one day she would birth a child and be transformed into what she considered to be the highest life role: mother.

  Level 10: Unlocked!

  As she held Esme Brown, the possibility of her becoming a mother seemed miniscule. An impossibility. Probably.

  “You did so well.” Sandy said. “After everything you’ve…”

  “Oh, stop.” Heavenli said; batted the words away with a slender hand. “No skill required in pushing a baby out.”

  “Hmm.” Sandy considered. “I don’t know about that. But you definitely need a fair amount of strength. Courage.”

  “The streets will give you that.” Heavenli admitted.

  “How many times have you visited him?” Sandy asked, her mind returned to the prison car park, the teeter of Heavenli’s heels, the emotion etched on her face impossible to read.

  “As often as they'd let me.” Heavenli said, with a sad shrug. “I love him... and I needed to thank him.”

  “For killing Hugo?” Sandy asked, mouth agape.

  “For saving me.” Heavenli explained. “The next thug with a gun would have agreed to do it. Domingo did the only thing that could have saved my life.”

  “Why didn’t he try to run?”

  Heavenli shrugged. “He isn’t proud of what he did. He isn’t proud of what he is. But he’s always accepted responsibility.”

  “The robbery?” Sandy asked. Where was his commitment to taking responsibility, then?

  “Wasn’t him.” Heavenli said.

  Sandy arched an eyebrow.

  “He was with me that night.” Heavenli said, then blushed. Esme began to fuss, eyes closed like a kitten, and Sandy passed her across to Heavenli.

  “Ingrid needs your help, you know. Anything you know that might convince them.”

  “I know.” Heavenli said, with a fierce nod. “I was staying quiet for him, you know, wanted to try and save him like he saved me. He told me to speak, that’s what I’ll do.”

  Sandy nodded. “You have anyone, anyone you want me to call?”

  Heavenli glanced at the clock on the wall and shook her head, then cooed to the baby. “Daddy’s going to ring soon, princess, oh yes he is. Daddy rings every day, you’ll see.”

  Sandy suddenly felt awkward sitting there, watching a woman she barely knew bond with a new baby. She shifted in the plastic seat. “I should get going.”

  Heavenli met her gaze and nodded. “Thanks for being here.”

  Sandy stood, placed a kiss on Heavenli’s forehead, and then gazed down at baby Esme. She really was perfect. Sandy brushed a finger across her cheek, a stroke. “She really is perfect.”

  “Finally, I got something right.” Heavenli said with a sad smile. Her phone began to ring and Sandy waved as she left the room, Heavenli’s words of greeting dulled by the sudden newborn baby wail that Esme let out.

  I’m here, daddy. She seemed to say.

  I’m here.

  **

  It felt strange to be back in the car park without Heavenli’s Mercedes tucked away in the furthest corner. Not that there was a furthest corner. The car park was snided full, cars and vans spilled out over the grass bank as well as the pavement. Sandy surveyed the barrier for signs of life, but there was none.

  No visitors entrance for her today.

  She had told Bernice that she had errands to run, and Bernice had replied with a dramatic eye roll. One day, maybe she would come and go without explaining herself.

  Movement, ahead.

  She squinted her eyes, sure she could see something ahead.

  A taxi rolled into the car park. The driver, an enormous man with a barrel belly and a nose ring, chomped on a burger as he aligned the car almost into a space. A real burger. Impressive.

  Sandy climbed out of the car and walked towards the barrier.

  The man in the security booth watched her, shifty. “You can’t come in here.”

  “I know.” She called back to him and moved backwards a few paces.

  The shape continued to walk towards her, recognised her, burst into a grin.

  “Fancy seeing you here!” Ingrid called. She looked like herself again. Well-presented, superior, detached.

  “I thought you might like a lift home.” Sandy explained, as the pop of a flash went off behind her. She turned to see a crowd of reporters gathered around.

  “Ingrid! Ingrid! Is it true that your ex-husband was killed by the hit man he hired to kill his pregnant wife?” A voice came from the crowd.

  “Ms Tate! Will you return to criminal defence work?”

  “Ingrid! What do you have to say to the public who knew you were innocent all along?”

  Ingrid cleared her throat and approached the reporters. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here today. Thank you for your belief, your support, your time. I am very happy to be returning home today as an innocent woman. My message is as it has always been: it is vital that people falsely accused of horrific crimes have courageous, pro-active and fierce legal representation. I will continue to fight for my clients, as I’ve fought for myself, for the rest of my life.”

  She gave a small wave towards each of the many cameras, and then returned to Sandy’s side and walked past the cackle of reporters.

  “Wow… you were amazing.” Sandy said. “Did you just…”

  “PR, dear girl.” Ingrid said, with a wink. “How do you think they knew I’d be released right around now?”

  **

  Sandy returned to The Tweed, the smell of fire and whisky greeted her as she walked in.

  Tom sat at a booth table, nursing a glass of single malt. Coral and Cass sat next to him. All were silent.

  “Well, aren’t we a merry bunch?” Sandy teased.

  She noted the platters of half-eaten sandwiches and quiches along the bar.

  “You’re back!” Tom called. He stood and reached across the booth to pull her in for an awkward hug. She grinned as she took in his scent; sweat and the lemons he sliced each evening to dump in cold gl
asses of cola.

  “How is she?” Cass asked, eyes accentuated with purple eyeshadow.

  “She’s good.” Sandy said. “Baby’s fine. It’s a miracle, the doctors said.”

  “Has she gone to prison?” Tom asked.

  Sandy shook her head. There was so much to explain.

  “You guys need to get me a glass of wine so I can bring you all up to speed.” Sandy said with a laugh. Cass stood first, pleather purse shining, eager to buy. Sandy nodded her appreciation. “Thanks.”

  “Bet that baby’s a looker.” Coral said. She let out a low whistle.

  “She’s perfect.” Sandy said, then shook her head, bored by her own repetition. “All babies are, though, aren’t they?”

  “Only mothers love ugly babies.” Tom said.

  “Tom Nelson!” Coral exclaimed with a giggle.

  He shrugged. He was nervous of Coral. Lots of men were.

  “Right, here we go.” Cass said as she returned to the table, slid a small glass of white wine across the table towards Sandy, who picked up the glass and took a sniff. Not much of a drinker, she’d have a sip or two and then twirl the glass around in circles until she made it move too fast and some spilt, at which point people would accuse her of being drunk when she wasn’t. She was famous for spilling wine. Her party trick. “Now, tell us everything.”

  Sandy chuckled to herself. “Like news vultures, you lot.”

  She relayed the news to them, watching their faces contort into oohs and aahs, surprise and shock. Concern for Heavenli.

  “Maybe she could work with you.” Coral quipped, but Cass remained serious.

  “Maybe she could.” She agreed with a deliberate nod. “Might be just what she needs. When she’s had time with baby, of course.”

  Sandy beamed at her best friend. “I think even the possibility would mean a lot to her. She’s all alone now.”

  “It’s tragic.” Cass said. “But it’s exciting too. A fresh start for her. Anything can happen now.”

  “That’s true.” Sandy agreed. Her gaze met Tom’s and she felt a familiar warmth pool through her body.

  She looked at him and, quite simply, felt at home.