The Godson's Legacy

by Gait, Paul;

  Sue tried to ignore him. But could see, in the mirrored wall, that he was looking at her.

  ‘What are you looking at?’ she barked.

  ‘Sorry,’ said Ben, looking away. But within a few seconds, his eyes were drawn back to her reflection.

  It was then that his worst fears were confirmed. She was definitely the ‘owner’ of the eyes in the photo, on the Gravediggers phone.

  ‘I said stop looking at me, you little shit.’

  ‘You’re the one!’ he whispered. Ben felt his heart sink, realising that he’d actually vocalised his thoughts.

  ‘What do you mean?’ she said, moving towards him.

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Don’t nothing me! What were you on about?’ she ranted.

  ‘You don’t frighten me lady,’ Ben said, stretching himself up to his full height, and attempting to sound tough.

  ‘Perhaps these will,’ Sue said, grabbing a pair of scissors out of her handbag. ‘Why do you keep staring at me?’ she glared.

  The demonic look was the one Ben had seen on the phone.

  ‘You’re the one in the photo on the phone, aren’t you?’ he demanded, bravely.

  ‘Phone! What phone?’

  Suddenly he realised what he’d done. By revealing his suspicions, he’d effectively ‘put his head in the lions mouth’. Vainly he tried to come up with a feasible explanation.

  ‘The err…photo…’

  Sue’s suspicions were now raised. But she couldn’t believe that he would be talking about the missing mobile. It was too much of a coincidence. However she decided to interrogate the boy more.

  ‘Don’t bullshit me kid. I think you and I need a longer chat, don’t you?’

  Just then the lift stopped and the doors opened. There was nobody about so she grabbed his hair and put the scissors to his throat.

  She led him back to her room and while she dug into her handbag for the card key, Ben was hoping to make good his escape, but she was too quick for him.

  Plucking the card key out, she put it into the slot of the reader. A faint click and the green light confirmed it was unlocked and she walked in, still holding the scissors to Ben’s throat.

  She kicked the door shut behind her and marched Ben to a high backed chair by her dressing table.

  ‘Sit down and don’t move’ she said, standing behind him, the cold scissors across his throat. ‘Now what photo are you talking about?’

  ‘You can’t bully me, like you bully your husband,’ he said, feeling brave.

  ‘And what would you know about that, eh?’ she said, slapping his head to emphasise her point.

  ‘Ow!’ he yelped. ‘I heard the others talking about it.’

  ‘Did you now? Well you can’t believe everything people say. Now tell me about this photo?’ she said, giving his hair another sharp tug.

  ‘Ow, let go and I’ll tell you.’

  She eased the pressure slightly.

  ‘It was on the phone.’

  ‘On the phone! What phone?’

  ‘I found a phone in the burial ground.’

  ‘Burial ground!’ Immediately she knew, but she wanted confirmation of her suspicions. ‘What Burial ground?’

  ‘The one on the top of Churchup hill.’

  ‘Whereabouts, exactly?’

  ‘It was on the path.’

  ‘When did you find it?’

  ‘Christmas Eve. The day after Geoffery’s funeral.’

  ‘What was on the photo?’

  ‘Your face, blurred. You were holding the cross that I made for Geoffery. I recognised your eyes.’

  ‘Where’s the phone now?’

  ‘It’s with the Police. I gave it to them.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘It’s a simple enough question,’ she said, tugging his hair again. ‘When did you give the phone to the Police?’

  ‘A few weeks ago.’

  ‘Why only a few weeks ago? Why didn’t you hand it to them straight away?’

  ‘I forgot I had it. What with the Police accusing me of desecrating the grave and…’

  ‘Desecrating the grave!’ Sue repeated. She couldn’t believe her ears. Dame fortune appeared to be smiling on her after all.

  ‘Yes this bloke saw me …there…’

  ‘Did he now?’

  ‘And the Police tried to say that I’d stolen the phone.’

  Sue’s mind was in overdrive. This was an unexpected bonus. Joyfully, she thought, I can use his own confession against him.

  ‘Well you did do the damage, didn’t you?’ she said, cunningly.

  ‘What do you mean, I did it? I sodding didn’t’

  ‘But I was there. I saw you do it.’

  What! No you weren’t, and I didn’t do it. Don’t lie,’ he said, indignantly.

  ‘Of course you did. When we get back to England, I shall have to tell the Police that you did the damage to the grave. Then, after YOU hit the poor man, you stole his phone. You’ll remember, I was chasing after you, and that’s why my photo is on it.’

  ‘You’re a liar. That’s not what happened and you know it,’ he said, furiously.

  ‘I think you’ll find that’s exactly what happened. You appear to have forgotten.’

  Ben was overwhelmed by her distorted explanation.

  ‘Right now, here’s what’s going to happen. I want you to go to the suite where that army bitch is…’

  ‘You mean Carrie?’

  ‘Yes of course, don’t interrupt…I want you to tell Rupert he’s got to come here right away. Don’t tell him I told you. Make up some story…say the hotel manager wants to speak to him about the incident yesterday.’

  ‘Incident?’

  ‘Just tell him. He will know what it means. Don’t tell him I’m here.’

  ‘What if I won’t?’

  Sue tightened the grip on his hair.’ The Police will be interested to hear my story, I’m sure.’

  Ben reluctantly did as he was told, finding that Rupert was in the room by himself as Tim, Carrie and Kay had gone swimming.

  The hotel had made special arrangements for the amputees to have a private session, without other guests gawking at them, although Tim and Carrie had no problems with swimming with fully limbed people. They suspected the hotel were ‘protecting’ the sensitivities of the other guests.

  Unable to think of a way of disobeying Sue, Ben did as he was told and brought Rupert back.

  As they entered the room, Sue who had hidden behind the door, slammed it shut.

  ‘Hello Rupert,’ she said, evilly. ‘Where are your friends now?’

  ‘I’m sorry Rupert,’ Ben said, desperately apologetic, ‘she made me.’

  ‘Don’t worry Ben. I’ve known her ways long enough now to know what she’s capable of.’

  ‘Sit down both of you. We’re going to have a nice chat.’

  CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

  24th January

  When Carrie, Tim and Kay returned to their suite, following their swim, they were surprised that Rupert was not there, especially as they’d made arrangements to go down for breakfast together.

  As Rupert still hadn’t returned after they’d showered and got ready, they rang James to discover he hadn’t seen him either. They tried calling Ben but got no reply. They also disturbed a very tired Andy, who had only just got to sleep, again.

  Andy reluctantly agreed to come to their suite after hearing they couldn’t contact Ben either.

  After ringing down to reception and being informed that neither Rupert or Ben had breakfasted, they feared the worst.

  ‘It’s a big place, he could be anywhere.’ Kay suggested.

  ‘Ah’ve got a funny feeling that awful woman has something to do wee it.’ Carrie said.

  ‘Well, there’s only one way to find out,’ Tim said, realistically.

  Kay stayed in the suite while the others went to Sue’s room and knocked. ‘Rupert are you in there?’ Tim shouted, through the closed door
.

  ‘Ah, it’s the SAS come to rescue you!’ Sue said sarcastically to her ‘prisoners’ as she wandered over to the peep hole, little realising how close to the truth she was.

  ‘Oh, it’s nice to see you all,’ she said, through the closed door. ‘I think the Nurse is the only one I want to see. The rest of you, Sod Off. Otherwise I’ll call the Manager and tell him you’re harassing me.’

  ‘No Andy, don’t go in,’ Carrie advised. ‘She’s a mean bitch. She’s up to something.’

  ‘I’m sure Ben would love to see his Scout Leader,’ Sue goaded.

  ‘Shit, she’s got Ben too. I don’t have a choice. I’ve got to go in,’ Andy said, reluctantly.

  ‘I agree with Carrie, don’t go in alone,’ Tim said, concerned.

  ‘No, it’s OK. I’ll be alright,’ Andy said, trying to convince himself. ‘Ok, I’ll come in. Open the door.’

  ‘Tell the others to clear off. We don’t want any heroics do we?’

  The others reluctantly moved away from the door as she let Andy in and quickly closed it again.

  Ignoring Sue, Andy walked straight over to a subdued Ben. ‘You alright?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Rupert?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Oh, how charming or should I say, Andee how scharming,’ Sue said in Franglais, mimicking Nadine.’ Just got to your own bed, mon cher?’

  Andy coloured up. His heart sank, as he realised it was her who had been in the corridor when he’d said goodbye to Nadine.

  ‘Marvellous what you can do with mobile phones these days isn’t it? Photos, videos, sound recording.

  Andy decided to call her bluff. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘I caught you on film, kissing goodnight to your girlfriend Nadine.’

  Andy closed his eyes to avoid Ben’s look of horror.

  ‘Oh, have I shocked your little dyb, dob boy by revealing your late night liaison with Nadine?’ she said, catching Ben’s look.

  Ben was gutted. The man whom he admired for his principles had been doing what his mother had been doing - bed hopping. His hero had fallen from grace.

  ‘Oh yes, useful these phones aren’t they? It’s quite ironic isn’t it, that I caught your indiscretion on one and young Ben here, goes around finding, or should I say mugging people for their mobiles.’

  Andy overcame his moment of shame and looked towards Ben at Sue’s revelation.

  ‘Ben!’

  ‘I’m sorry Andy, it just came out!’ Ben said, apologetically. ‘She’s definitely the one in the picture though.’

  ‘He just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. I told him that I saw him mess up that old man’s grave and…’

  ‘Don’t talk rubbish,’ Andy shouted, angrily.

  ‘Tut, tut. It’s rude to interrupt,’ she said, wandering over to him. ‘I’m sure the Police would be pleased to hear from a witness. Somebody who actually saw it.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I saw him vandalising the grave.’

  ‘You’ll never get away with it.’

  ‘No?’ Do you want to try me? You should know better than to dare me to do anything. Isn’t that right Rupert?’

  Rupert looked at his hands and said nothing.

  ‘What do you want?’ Andy asked, afraid of her likely demands.

  ‘I think I want a bit of respect to start with and a nice trouble free trip to the Palace and then we’ll discuss releasing the legacy, shall we?’

  ‘OK.’ Andy said, completely flummoxed at the mention of the legacy.

  ‘We’ll go to the Palace without that bitch Carrie. She’ll pay for what she did to me. Now I suggest you go and tell the others. Meanwhile, I’ll look after these two…Andee.’ She chuckled at her own mockery.

  ‘Oh, just in case anyone wants to plan any rescue attempt, did I tell you I have a ‘contract’ out on his woman in hospital,’ she said, pointing at Rupert. If I get arrested, it’s curtains for her.’

  ‘You haven’t?’ Rupert shouted, suddenly animated by the mention of Joanne.

  ‘Do you want to try it out? You know it’s amazingly cheap to hire a hitman these days,’ she lied.

  ‘You bitch,’ Rupert said, rushing over to her and grabbing her.

  ‘Steady on Rupert,’ she said, dismissively pushing him away.’ You might hurt yourself.’

  Andy grabbed him and held him back.

  ‘You’d better clear off, now,’ she directed Andy. ‘You, sit down again, she ordered Rupert, ‘before I do something you’ll regret.’

  Rupert tearfully did as he was instructed.

  Andy left the room and told the others what had happened, although he chose not to mention her threat about exposing his early morning visit to Nadine’s room.

  Sue was feeling good. Her luck had changed again at last. The irritations of Carrie’s assault and delay in getting her hands on Rupert’s legacy had weakened her manipulative abilities.

  What with Andy’s compromising situation captured on video, Rupert coming back under her thumb and finding out Ben had found the mobile phone, life was good.

  She was back in charge. On top again.

  CHAPTER FORTY SIX

  24th January

  The stretched limo took them from the hotel the short distance up to the Prince’s Palace, which had been built on the rocky promontory overlooking the city.

  The beautiful 12th century Palace, a former fortress, was a magnet for almost every tourist visiting the area, its fairy tale reputation still evoking wonder.

  Nadine had made special arrangements for them to visit the Palace, normally only open to the public from April to October.

  The Palace, the home of the aristocratic Grimaldi family, was a long and enduring family heritage.

  Following the ‘kidnap’ of Ben and Rupert, the atmosphere in the group was tense, for Andy was now under her thumb as well!

  Sue had forbidden Carrie to join them, but insisted that Tim and Kay went, so that Carrie would feel some ‘angst’ about being apart from them.

  The group walked through the entrance of the Palace, past the two uniformed soldiers standing ramrod straight, their rifles shouldered and with bayonets fixed.

  The Sentries colourfully bedecked in light blue, UK style policeman helmets, with gold shoulder braids on their black tunics. Each sleeve colourfully finished off in wide red cuffs, their hands encased in white gloves were held tight against smart light blue trousers decorated with wide red piping. Completing their ensemble, the guard’s trouser legs ended over the top of immaculate white spats, worn over gleaming black boots.

  Undaunted by the pettiness of Sue’s dictat however, Carrie wasted no time in contacting her former army mates in Bristol.

  She asked them to sound out the local villains to see if there was any truth in Sue’s threat that she’d lined up a hitman.

  Many of Carrie’s former soldier colleagues had naturally migrated to the world of security when they left the service, and had ‘ears to the ground’ about many criminal activities.

  While waiting the results of their investigations, Carrie asked them to arrange some low level security to ensure Jo had some element of protection.

  Ben was ‘gutted’, his fairy-tale adventure in tatters. ‘Yet again,’ he thought, ‘another case of adult double standards. Andy his hero, the man whom he’d held in great esteem, had let him down. He was no better than anyone else,’ Ben concluded.’ Then that mad woman Sue. She was just a vicious cow.’

  Ben wandered subconsciously to the spectacular, 17th century Carrara marble staircase and slumped down. He didn’t care that the artistically designed staircase had two circular unique ‘double-revolution’ sets of steps. Instead he stared vacantly at the Main Courtyard, his mind elsewhere. He cared not about the beautiful geometrical patterns created by an estimated three million white and coloured pebbles with which it was paved.

  ‘Hi Ben, old chap, feeling a bit down at the moment?’ James asked, joining him, quickly assessing t
he boy’s body language.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Well that’s understandable, with that awful woman in our midst. Anything you want to talk about?’ James asked, tactfully.

  ‘No, not really.’ But after a moment thinking about it, he said, ‘Well yes, it’s…it’s Andy.’

  ‘Andy?’

  ‘Yeah, him and that woman, Nadine.’

  ‘Oh, I see!’

  ‘He’s no better than the rest of you adults, is he?’ Ben said, woefully. ‘Sleeping with that Nadine.’

  ‘Now just hold on. Where’s that come from?’

  ‘Rupert’s wife took a video of them.’

  ‘Don’t get jumping to conclusions. You don’t know the full facts yet.’ James counselled.

  ‘He didn’t deny it though, did he? If she was lying, he would have said something, wouldn’t he?’

  ‘There might be a perfectly simple explanation why he didn’t. Give him the benefit of the doubt until you know the full facts.’

  ‘He was in her room.’

  ‘According to that woman, yes. But have you spoken to Andy about it?’

  ‘No, of course not. It’s not my place to question what he gets up to.’

  ‘Not your place! How long have you known Andy?’

  ‘A few years.’

  ‘So why the reluctance?’

  ‘I guess I don’t want to hear anymore lies. It’s Helen, his wife, and the kids I feel sorry for, if he’s been cheating on her. What if they divorce? Then the kids will grow up without a Dad…and I know how shitty that is.’

  ‘Do you think he would lie to you?’

  ‘I didn’t used to think so, but, like all you adults, you claim not to tell lies but you just ‘manipulate the truth’. That’s the same as lying. Do you think us kids can’t see through it? I should know more than most. My Mother has been doing it all my life.’

  ‘And what do you think that horrible woman is doing? Isn’t she doing exactly what you’re saying. Lying through her teeth. She’s no innocent. She has no moral scruples at all, that one.’

  ‘Yeah, well I know she is lying about seeing me do all those things in the burial ground, cause I didn’t do them… Yeah, I suppose,’ he conceded.

  ‘See? Sometimes you have to believe in your friends, even when people say horrible things about them.’