“I keep thinking about work. Angela’s been a crucial part of the business since she came on-board a few years ago. She’s slowly taken so much off my plate, I really don’t know where I’m going to start.”
“Do you want to head back to Manchester tonight? I could help, if you like—not that I know much about her position.”
“Not today. We can leave first thing in the morning, and be back there in plenty of time.”
Chapter 30
Don woke up, feeling cleansed and refreshed, a few hours later. He made the bed, and left Hannah’s flat as he’d found it.
Safely next door, he showered, and threw a pile of laundry into the washing machine. Then, he settled down on the sofa, while he ate a pot noodle.
Afterwards he checked on the cam website, and discovered Hannah and the fuckwit had gone off for the day, which pissed him off—but not as much as usual.
Although he hated what his parents had done to him, he always felt better after releasing some of his pent-up emotions. The fact he could only ejaculate whilst thinking about them was diabolical, considering they were the ones who had punished him in the first place.
Thinking about his parents again caused his stomach muscles to clench. The love he felt for his mother was warped and confusing. He knew that. What normal person lusted over the memory of his own mother? But, what normal parents treated a young boy the way they did? They fucked him up good and proper.
After leaving, aged fifteen, he got himself a few odd jobs here and there, before eventually joining the army. On one of his trips home, he discovered his mother had died.
Even the way she’d died wasn’t normal—she’d choked on a chicken bone in the middle of a party. If it wasn’t so tragic, it would be funny. He hadn’t seen her since leaving home, and although he sometimes yearned for one of her cuddles in the dead of night, he hadn’t missed her—not really.
He made his father pay the price, though. Don followed him home from the pub one night, after he’d clearly consumed his weight in ale.
Don closed his eyes, as he recalled every minute detail.
The drunken old man came staggering down the back alley towards him. He was singing maudlin songs, and kicking a can along in front of him.
When he looked up, he saw Don standing before him, dressed in full uniform. His father saluted, and tipped his imaginary hat. The old bastard didn’t even recognise his own son.
But, Don didn’t budge. As his father got closer, he could see the older man’s thought processes playing out across the lines of his face. Time hadn’t been kind to the once-handsome man. His complexion had a yellowy tinge, and his eyes were dull, bloodshot, and lifeless.
He suddenly gasped as recognition dawned on him. “Donny? Is that you, my boy?” His father approached, slowly, clearly unsure at first.
Don stared ahead in silence—memories of their last time together played like a movie in his mind.
“It is! It’s you! Say something to your old dad. I can’t believe how you’ve grown.” The old man reached his hand out towards him.
Don stepped back, as though the touch might sear his skin off.
“Donny? Don’t be like that. I’m thrilled you’re home.” His face suddenly clouded. “Did you hear about your poor old mum?”
“Yes, I heard. And I laughed. In fact, I’d have paid good money to see her fight for one last dying breath.”
“Donald! What’s got into you? That’s your dear, sweet mother you’re talking about.” The old man shook his head and sneered, as he looked Don up and down. “The army’s changed you. And not for the better, let me tell you.”
“You think that, do you?” Don took several hurried steps forward, causing his father to lose balance. The stupid old bastard sprawled out on the cobbles, terrified.
Don felt empowered by the old man’s fear. Gone was the no-nonsense hard man—the man who had got off on terrifying everybody in his path—the man who had brutally raped his own son when he was just fifteen. In his place, was a dithering wimp—a faded, empty replica.
He hadn’t planned what he did next. Overcome with all kinds of emotion, he yanked his father to his feet, and threw him face first over the nearest rubbish bin.
Spurred on by his father’s cries, he ripped the other man’s pants down to his ankles, and, before he even realised what he was doing, he’d penetrated the disgusting old bastard. Don’s normally flaccid cock had stood tall, flexing its muscles, and bucking for all it was worth.
Moments later, Don emptied himself all over the wasted, pathetic buttocks of his father, zipped up his fly, and walked away.
Before he turned the corner, he glanced back and smiled at the pitiful sight. His father, pants still around his ankles, was crawling on all fours up the alley, whimpering like an injured mutt, a pleasurable sight Don would take to his grave.
He was suddenly startled by somebody knocking on the door.
Crouching down, he scrambled to the bedroom, and peered through the window.
A short, bald man, wearing black jeans and a bright red T-shirt stretched over his fat gut, bounced on his heels, his arms crossed behind his back, as he waited for someone to answer the door.
After a minute or two, the man walked away.
Don couldn’t see further than Hannah’s front door from his position at the window. But, it appeared as though the man had gone. He didn’t feel safe hanging about, though, not until he knew who the hell he was.
He threw on his uniform, which he usually left at work. But, because of all the hoo-ha that morning, he’d come home wearing it.
With a final peep through the window, he shuffled from the flat, pulling the door closed behind him.
Startled by the sound of voices, Don glanced up planning to turn on his heel, but it was too late. The man from earlier appeared at the nosy doctor’s doorway.
“Simon?” he asked.
“Who are you?” Don squared his shoulders at the other man.
“I’m Edward, Diane’s brother. We’re clearing out Diane’s flat. You heard what happened to her, haven’t you?”
“Err, I did, yes. The police told me. Nasty business. I’m very sorry for your loss.” Don continued towards the stairs.
“The celebration of her life is on Thursday at 2pm in the function rooms at the Bramhall Inn. I know she thought a lot of you. The family would love you to join us.”
Don nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.” He shuffled past the other man. “I’m sorry, I have to dash, or I’ll be late for work. Thanks for letting me know about the funeral.”
“Erm—celebration of her life,” the man corrected. “Dress in bright colours only.”
“I will do. Thanks again.”
Don couldn’t get down the stairs and out of the building fast enough.
Chapter 31
On the way back to the lake house, Max called his solicitor again. Hannah liked him using the handsfree kit, so she could hear what was going on, without having to interrogate him.
“Eric, it’s me again. I just want to check I’m within my rights to get Cheryl to start advertising Angela’s position?”
“Hi, Max. Yes, go for it. I called the police station a while ago, and they told me they were in the process of charging her. So, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out she no longer has a job. I’ve got her termination of employment notice here. I’ll put it in her mailbox on my way home later.”
“So, they’ve charged her, then? I must say, I’m still in shock.”
“To be honest with you, so am I. When you called me this morning, I was certain there had been some kind of mistake. Angela’s always struck me as…” Eric paused and laughed. “…oh, it doesn’t matter.”
“Go on.”
“Well, she’s always reminded me of the frigid spinster type. She appeared to eat, sleep, and live for her job.”
“Her dedication to her job’s not in dispute, though. It’s what she got up to in her spare time—that’s the issue.”
> “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll let you know when I’ve dropped the letter off.”
“Great. Thanks, Eric.”
Max seemed deep in thought for a few minutes—driving as though on automatic pilot.
Hannah placed her hand on his leg, and he jumped, before smiling at her and stroking her hand. “You okay?” she asked.
He nodded. “I will be. I know it sounds silly, but I feel bereft. For years I’ve spoken to her every day—even on weekends. In a lot of ways, she took on the role of a parent. I truly thought she had my back.”
“It doesn’t sound silly at all. In fact, I think it’s normal to feel devastated. She’s betrayed your trust, after all.”
*
Eric rang at around 7pm to tell Max he’d bumped into Angela when he’d stopped by to drop off the termination notice.
“She swears she’s innocent, Max,” Eric said. “And I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She broke down sobbing when I gave her the notice.”
“Sobbing? Angela?” Max scratched his head.
“I know, right? I didn’t know where to put myself. She’s not the easiest woman to console—it was like hugging a hunk of granite.”
“But, she’s been charged?”
“Yes.”
“And she’s accepted the termination notice?”
“Yes.”
Max sighed. “Thanks, Eric.”
They spent the rest of the evening with Lenny and Charmaine, drinking wine and eating the selection of cheese and mini pies they’d bought from the services, but Max wasn’t very good company. He couldn’t shake the heaviness he felt every time he thought about Angela. By ten o’clock, he was blatantly yawning, and their guests left not long after.
“Are you alright?” Hannah asked when he returned to the living room, after locking up after them.
“Just exhausted. I’ve hardly slept the past few nights, what with one thing or another.”
Hannah raised one eyebrow. “Like that is it?”
A smile played at the corners of his mouth. He eased himself down on the sofa beside her. “You have been very demanding, but I wasn’t meaning because of you.”
“Demanding, eh? Well, we can always sleep in separate beds, if you can’t take the pace.” She tipped her head to the side, awaiting his reaction.
“You wouldn’t be able to stand it. I’d wake in the middle of the night to the sound of your little feet skittering across the carpet towards me.”
“I don’t skitter! Cockroaches skitter.”
“Okay. So, what do you do, if not skitter?”
“I slink—or maybe glide silently and demurely.”
“I heard you running down the stairs this morning, and you sounded like a fairy elephant.”
She playfully backhanded his chest. “Hey, you!”
He laughed, heartily. Then, he pulled her onto his knee, and kissed the tip of her cute nose. “Shall we go to bed? We’ll have to be up early, if we intend to be in the office for eight-thirty.”
*
The office was rife with hushed whispers and sidelong glances when she arrived the next morning. She’d made the best of what clothing she had with her. Max seemed stressed, and she didn’t want to tell him she needed to head home to change first.
She hung her handbag on the back of her chair, and shrugged out of the lightweight, black cotton jacket. “Hi, Dawn,” she said to her colleague’s back.
Dawn swivelled around, and raised her eyebrows in a knowing fashion. “Hello, stranger.”
Hannah sensed a little frostiness from the usually friendly woman. “I’m sorry I didn’t come in yesterday, but I did notify reception.”
“No skin off my nose. And besides, rumour has it, you’ll be taking over from Angela Beanie soon anyway.”
“Is that what’s being said?”
Dawn nodded, a sly smile playing around her wrinkled mouth.
“I don’t know who told you that, but it’s not true.”
Another couple of women walked over, and stood behind Dawn.
One of them, Kate Darling, had her hands on her hips, and it was clear by the scowl on her face she had plenty to say. “Decided to grace us with your presence, I see.”
Taken aback with the extent of their hostility, Hannah silently stared at each of the women’s faces in turn.
“Too good to even talk to us, are you?” Kate curled her lip in obvious contempt.
Hannah’s stomach dropped to the floor. “I—I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it’s all lies.”
“Oh, so you’re not screwing the boss?”
“I…” Hannah’s mouth had dried up, and she had difficulty swallowing.
Kate and her friend, whose name had escaped Hannah, shook their heads and walked away.
Dawn gave a quick apologetic smile, before turning her back again.
Stunned, Hannah sat down heavily, tears pricking her eyes. She thought nobody but Angela and a couple of the security staff knew about her and Max. She hadn’t expected to be confronted and treated like this by her workmates.
Her desk phone rang, and Hannah almost leapt from her seat. “Hello?”
“Hannah, it’s me,” Max said. “I need to warn you, the cat’s out of the bag about us.”
“No shit!”
“I take it from that response, you already know.”
She bit her lip, trying to stop the tears spilling from her eyes.
“Hannah? Are you okay?”
It was no use. She hung up, and raced to the bathroom, passing Devlin on the way.
“Well, hello, sexy lady,” the sleazy bastard said.
“Not now, Devlin.”
Once inside, she ran into a stall, and locked the door. Above the sound of her sobs, she heard the flushing of a toilet in the adjacent stall. She wiped her eyes on a wad of tissue, and forced herself to calm down. The last thing she needed was even more attention for having a meltdown in the bathroom.
“Are you okay in there?”
Hannah recognised the melodic rhythm of the voice as Geeta, a gentle Indian woman, who also worked in her office. Hannah opened the door, and smiled apologetically.
“Hannah. What is it, my dear?” She held her arms out, and Hannah felt compelled to step into the other woman’s embrace.
After a few minutes, Hannah managed to pull herself together, and noticed a wet patch on the silky fabric of Geeta’s sari. “I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for the cleaning costs.”
“Nonsense, there’ll be no cleaning costs. Believe me, this outfit has dealt with much more than a few tears. Now, are you going to tell me what’s upset you so?”
The concern in the woman’s voice almost caused another meltdown.
“You mean, you haven’t heard the gossip?”
“I never listen to gossip, my dear.”
Hannah walked to the sink, splashing her face. When she turned, Geeta was waiting patiently.
“I’ve been seeing somebody—somebody in management, and I’m worried I won’t be able to keep my job here.”
“There’s no law in who you can and can’t see, my dear.”
“I know, but we were meant to be keeping it a secret, and now, everybody knows.”
“I didn’t know, and frankly, I don’t care. Why should it matter to anybody else?”
“Kate Darling seems to think it matters.”
Geeta inhaled deeply, and nodded her head. “Kate Darling never has a nice word to say about anybody.”
“I know, but—”
Geeta wagged a finger in front of Hannah’s face. “Trust me. It doesn’t matter. Good for you, if you’ve found yourself a partner. Do you love him? It is a him, isn’t it?”
Hannah gave a short laugh, as she tried to tidy her eye makeup in the mirror. “Yes, it is. And yes—I think I do.”
“Well, then. That’s all that matters. Who cares what Kate Darling thinks?”
“You’re right. I haven’t done anything wrong. She’s got no right to make me feel guilty for fallin
g for my boss.”
“That’s better, my dear. Now, you need to hold your head high, and get back to your desk. And if you ever need to talk, come and find me.” Geeta placed a reassuring hand on Hannah’s arm before turning to leave.
Hannah turned back to the mirror. Geeta was correct—she had nothing to feel guilty about. She gasped, as she remembered hanging up on Max.
Taking a deep, bracing breath, she pulled the hem of her blouse down, and smoothed her palms over the fine fabric, then left the room.
The first person she spotted was Max, whose face was drained of all colour. In two strides, he was beside her. “There you are. Are you okay?”
“Max! You shouldn’t have come. It’ll just make things worse.”
He put his arm around her shoulder, and led her to one of the sofas. “What are you talking about? Is that why you were upset? Has somebody said something to you?”
She hesitated. “I don’t want to cause any more trouble.” She glanced around, and spotted Kate standing in the doorway, her face and neck had coloured nicely.
“I panicked when you hung up,” Max continued. “I could tell you were upset, and I convinced myself Angela was here.”
She shook her head, confused. “No, it was nothing to do with Angela. Although everyone seems to know about us, and she’s the only person who could have blabbed.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised, really. Do you fancy a coffee?” he asked, looking at the half-full coffee pot.
“I don’t know. Maybe I should get to work, before I’m accused of slacking. Can we meet up at lunchtime instead?”
“I can make the canteen at twelve-thirty, if that suits you?”
“Perfect.” She got to her feet, and scurried away, in case he tried to kiss her.
She knew how it must look to the rest of her team, but it really wasn’t like that. She wouldn’t use her relationship to better her position. As the new girl, she still had a lot to learn, and she was in awe of each of her teammates. She marvelled at how they all specialised in different areas within the marketing team. Before now, they’d all been willing to share what they knew with her, and she’d hate for that to change, just because her love life was looking up.
The Watcher : A Chilling Serial Killer Thriller Page 17