The Godson's Legacy

by Gait, Paul;

  ‘Former patient!’

  ‘I can assure you there’s nothing dodgy or sinister about it. I’m not a beneficiary.’

  Andy relayed the circumstances of his involvement with Geoffery and the will.

  ‘So, in Monaco, did you take your wife?’

  ‘Umm, no. She had to stay home and look after the children. Look, I’ve got Scouts tonight and need to get back to finish the programme. Where’s this questioning going?’

  ‘I see…all in good time.’

  ‘Did you take anybody else with you?’

  ‘Well yes, the beneficiaries of the will and their relatives and friends…but I don’t understand. What’s this all about?’

  ‘It’s not our job to make judgements on people’s moral fidelity, but were you having a fling while you were there. Away from the wife?’

  ‘A what?’

  ‘A tryst, an affair.’

  Andy suddenly realised why the questioning. Sue had told the Police. His heart fell. He coloured up embarrassed. ‘What do you mean?’ he tried, bluffing it out.

  ‘I think you know what I mean Mr Spider. In a corridor, a goodnight or should I say a good morning kiss.’

  ‘Oh, that!’

  ‘Yes that! Would you mind telling us of how a video and a picture of you and a young lady got on to a laptop computer?’

  Andy was lost for words. In his worst nightmare he wasn’t expecting to be quizzed by the Police about the corridor incident. The whole thing had escalated out of control.

  ‘You know, of course, Mrs Williams – Screen?’ the Policeman continued.

  ‘Yes.’ Andy tensed at the sound of her name.

  ‘Was there some reason why she should have this material on her laptop?’

  ‘She…I know it looks bad, but it’s not like you imagine. It was quite innocent…’

  ‘If I had a pound for everytime I heard that. Go on, please explain.’

  ‘I was just saying goodnight to my hostess.’

  ‘Hostess!’

  ‘Oh God, not that sort of hostess. It was the former girlfriend of the guy whose will we went to hear. She lives in Monaco and had been showing me the sights.’

  ‘I see at that time of the morning.’

  ‘Well, yes, …long story, short; I was drunk and I passed out in her room. And unfortunately it appears that the Williams - Screen woman must have heard us saying goodnight…and took a photo of us.’

  ‘Yes, so I’ve seen.’

  ‘She was trying to force me into releasing money from the will.’

  Andy then explained his role in getting the money released from the estate and getting the Godsons their legacy.

  ‘So what you’re saying is she was trying to blackmail you then?’

  ‘Well… Yes… I suppose, if you put it like that.’

  ‘Well, well. There’s no end to this ladies talents is there? Now we can add extortion to the charge sheet.’

  Andy felt a sense of relief now that he had unloaded the story, albeit to the Police. There was still Helen to speak to about it.

  ‘However,’ the Policeman continued, ‘in order to do that you will need to make a formal complaint.’

  ‘Oh!’ Andy said. ‘Does that mean I will have to give evidence in court?’

  ‘Yes, most likely. Is that a problem?’

  ‘I’m not sure. I mean, I want her charged but…but…’

  ‘But the publicity wouldn’t be the ideal situation for somebody in your position,’ the Policeman, mimicked. ‘I know, I’ve heard it all before. Sadly that’s why a lot of these people get away with it and bully their way through life.’

  Andy thought of the irony of this situation. The Policeman had more or less repeated his own advice to Rupert about standing up to Sue and not letting her walk over him.

  ‘Well it’s down to you. Until you make a formal complaint, our hands are tied. Have a think about it.’

  ‘I will, thanks.’

  ‘Oh, there is one more thing we would like you to do?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘You obviously know the fear power of Mrs Williams-Screen. It appears that she has threatened her husband and forced him to give her an alibi about her involvement in the motorway crash.

  We have very strong evidence that suggests she probably caused the crash whilst driving a stolen black Polo.’

  ‘Black Polo, black Polo! Where did I see a black Polo? Andy said, stroking his chin, thinking. I’ve I got it. The night of the wake. Rupert and Jo left in a bit of a rush and a black Polo followed them out of the car park.

  ‘Did you see the driver?’

  ‘Sorry, no.’

  ‘Ok, well that could have been the final nail in her coffin. Never mind. I need you to persuade her husband to tell the truth, to break her alibi, so we can charge her.

  She has obviously terrorised him and got him where she wants him. It’s especially amazing as his girlfriend was so badly hurt in the crash. You’d expect him to want to get even.

  ‘Why me?’

  ‘You appear to have some influence with him. I can’t emphasise enough how important this is.’

  ‘Yes, OK, I’ll try.’

  Andy left, his mind in a whirl. This was going from bad to worse.

  CHAPTER SIXTY THREE

  11th February

  James, keen to find out what had happened with Ben at the Police station had called at Grandad Harold’s house to speak to him.

  ‘Well how did it go? Have the Police finished with you Ben?’

  ‘Yes, I think so. They arrested that horrible woman and they’re going to charge her with lots of things.’

  ‘What about you having the phone?’

  ‘They said they won’t charge me for withholding evidence, or whatever it’s called.’

  ‘That’s good. So what are you going to do now?’

  ‘Don’t know really, Mum’s out from the clinic. But I don’t know how long she will last without straying again.’

  ‘Look, I know how hard it must be supporting her all the time. Why don’t you find somebody else your age that you can talk to about it?’

  ‘Yeah, I was thinking about doing that. There’s a kid at our school who looks after his Mum cause she’s got multiple sclerosis. Goes to a meeting every week. I think it’s called Young Carers.’

  ‘Sounds like a good idea.’

  ‘I don’t know. I mean, my Mum isn’t ill all the time, like his.’

  ‘No, but your life is significantly different from…from…’

  ‘Say it, normal kids. Don’t I know it?’

  ‘Well then, give it a whirl. You can pack it up if it doesn’t work.’

  ‘Yeah, the trouble is…if the social workers get to hear of me…they’ll put me in care…and I don’t want that.’

  ‘No, I think you’re frightening yourself for nothing.’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose. I’ll think about it.’

  ‘I’ve got a bit of thinking to do too. I might need your help.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘It’s all to do with complying with Geoffery’s will. I was thinking about doing something for runaways. What do you think? I’d value your advice.’

  ‘What, you mean like…like when I ran away to London?’

  ‘Yes. Clearly, I can’t stop kids running away, but at least I could help provide a safe place, a refuge, for them to stay in while they sort their life out.’

  ‘Yeah, sounds like a great idea.’

  ‘Perhaps you could give me some advice as to what would help. You know, like understanding their problems, giving them something useful to do while they are sorting themselves out.’

  ‘Yeah of course.’

  ‘…but that’s for some time in the future. But first, Tim and Carrie want me to help them start up a Walking Company.’

  ‘You what! A walking company! What teaching people to walk?’

  ‘No.Well in a way, yes. It’s an organisation that will take people into the hills and mountains to give them a bit o
f adventure on hiking trips. Showing them the tranquillity and beauty of nature’

  ‘What sort of people?’

  ‘I think they’re gearing it up for people…people such as themselves… amputees.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘And people who have been affected by a big trauma. Like soldiers who have experienced horrible things.’

  ‘You mean like getting blown up or being shot?’

  ‘Yes, that sort of thing.’

  ‘What about you though? I know you’ve got some…some problems with your guts.’

  ‘Yes, I need to get that sorted too. Tim has offered to give me part of his liver; If we’re compatible.

  ‘Compatible! What like people are, when they get married?’

  ‘No. Not that sort of compatible. Blood types and tissue matches. You know.’

  ‘Yeah. I know. Just pulling your plonker.’

  ‘I should have known. You scamp!’

  ‘What’s it like having a Dad, James?’

  ‘I don’t know. But I think it’s best not to think about it. No point fretting over something you’ve never had or likely to have.’

  ‘Yeah, but I hear my friends talking about what they do and…’

  ‘You never miss what you’ve never had. That’s the way I look at it.’ James counselled.

  ‘Course you never even had a Mum either, did you?’

  ‘No I was orphaned by the time I was eight and I’ve grown up to be who I am.’

  ‘I can still dream though,’ Ben said, distantly.

  ‘Yes, so long as you don’t get disappointed that your dreams might be impossible ones.’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose.’

  ‘Enjoy the love that surrounds you now. Don’t look for utopia. Hold your hopes in your heart. Don’t look for something that might not exist.’

  ‘Yeah, you’re probably right.’

  ‘Dream your dreams – they can be perfect; whereas real life might disappoint you. …you might become disillusioned.’

  ‘I guess I’ll never know my Dad.’

  ‘Whoever your Dad is, he’s missing out big time by not being part of your life. But that’s his loss and our gain.’

  ‘You know what James, you’d make a great Dad.’

  James was overwhelmed by the sudden compliment and with tears in his eyes he said, ‘You’d make a great son too.’

  CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

  12th February

  Goaded on by Kay, a very nervous Helen made a call to Nadine’s apartment in Monaco. After a few rings Nadine answered.

  ‘Bonjour.’

  ‘Ummm hello, is that Nadine?’

  ‘Yes, who is calling?’

  ‘I’m Helen, Andy’s wife. We met at Geoffery Foster’s funeral in England.’

  ‘Mais oui. ‘Ow nice to speak to you again.’

  Helen wanted to shout and scream at the woman. Call her all the names under the sun. But she had agreed with Kay to remain calm and follow the questions they’d discussed earlier.

  Helen came straight to the point. ‘I need to know about the relationship between you and Andy.’

  ‘Relationship! I do not understand what you mean. Relationship! ‘E is, was, a friend of Geoffery’s.’

  ‘Yes, but what about you and Andy?’

  ‘Me and Andee! Do you mean…how do you say…a liaison?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Andy and I? I don’t mean to say bad things…but ‘e is not, what you say…not my ‘cup of tea’.’

  Helen felt her hackles rising. Her cheeks flushed with anger. In spite of her angst with Andy, this woman was denigrating her husband and she needed, irrationally, to defend him from the derisory comment. Kay, listening next to Helen, put a calming hand on hers and gestured for her to remain cool.

  ‘I ’ave an ‘andsome man in my life already,’ Nadine continued. ‘E is my prince scharming. I am very much in love with ‘im.’

  Helen was apprehensive about asking the next question and cleared her throat to sound casual.

  ‘What about Andy and you in your room?’

  ‘Oh, I zee. Now I understand why you call me. It is perfectly…um… innocent. I bought ‘im a little gift to zank ‘im for being so kind to me at Geoffery’s funeral. Zat is my way. It meant nothing.’

  ‘But I gather he was in your room all night.’

  ‘Well it was not all night. We got back from the casino at about four and ‘e left before six.’

  ‘Yes but he was still alone with you. In your room for nearly two hours!’

  ‘Yes, for sure. He ‘ad too much wine and was asleep in my lounge on the settee. I was in my bedroom. Zere was nothing.’

  ‘So you didn’t?’

  ‘Didn’t! I do not understand. Didn’t what?

  ‘Sleep with…’

  ‘Sleep with ‘im? No…It was not like that. When I returned with ze gift ‘e was asleep.’

  ‘But why the gift, if there was nothing?’

  ‘As I said, I was repaying iz kindness that he showed to me and the girls when we were in England. I also wanted to thank ‘im for looking after Geoffery, that is all. I was being a good host showing him all the local sights, nothing more.’

  ‘But I caught you and him after the funeral…in an embrace.’

  ‘It was a sad time for me. I loved Geoffery very much. But when the treatment started, I couldn’t cope. I know I am weak …but I was frightened by the terrible effects of the chemo. Geoffery understood and let me go. Andy recognised my pain, my guilt. E was comforting me that was all.’

  ‘If you say so,’ Helen said, relieved. ‘Thank you for being so…so open.’

  ‘I am zorry if this had caused you any…umm pain. I ’ope you will still love ‘im. E is a good man. You are a very lucky lady.’

  After they had exchanged goodbyes, Helen turned to Kay. ‘What do you think? Do I believe her? Or is she lying through her teeth?’

  ‘What do you want to believe?’ Kay asked thoughtfully, studying Helen’s face.

  ‘I want to believe that nothing happened…but my head and my heart disagree.’

  ‘Has he ever given you any reason to doubt his fidelity before?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then I should give him the benefit of the doubt and love him as you did before.’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  ‘I know Andy’s not ‘er ‘cup of tea’, but let’s have one anyway, shall we?’ Kay said, mocking Nadine’s comment.

  CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE

  12th February

  Above Joanne’s bed an alarm sounded.

  Rupert was returning from the vending machine with a bar of chocolate for her when he heard the electronic screeching. As he got closer he could see that it was emanating from her room.

  John, the on duty security man was standing looking into the room, concerned.

  For in spite of Sue’s incarceration, Rupert had insisted the security team stayed in place as Sue was only on remand and her lawyers were fighting to get her released on bail.

  ‘What’s happening, John?’ Rupert quizzed.

  ‘Don’t know mate. The alarm went off and there was flood of people rushing in. It looks serious.

  ‘Oh my god,’ Rupert said, dropping the chocolate bar and pushing the door open.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he asked no-one in particular.

  There were several people around Joanne’s bed all looking very concerned.

  ‘The baby is showing signs of distress,’ the sister informed him, not taking her eyes off the monitor. ‘We have put in an urgent call for an obstetrician to attend. I anticipate that he will conduct an emergency caesarean section.’

  ‘Surely it’s too soon. The baby is still too young.’

  ‘We can’t afford to wait.’

  ‘But why a caesarean?’

  ‘There is a risk of causing Joanne further spinal damage by inducing her. We’re just preparing her now. If you like you can be present at the birth when we take her to the theatre.’

  Rupert
fought the fear that was swelling in his heart. ‘I’m not sure I’m brave enough,’ he said, looking into Joanne’s eyes, who was amazingly calm amidst all the frantic activity going on around her.

  ‘I’m sure you are,’ the Sister, added encouragingly, ‘Joanne would like you to be there too, wouldn’t you?’

  Joanne, who was still recovering from her head injuries, gave the thumbs up sign and smiled at Rupert.

  ‘There you go. Just think how wonderful it will be,’ the Sister enthused, ‘to be there at your child’s birth. What do you say?’

  ‘OK, but what if I pass out?’

  ‘Don’t worry, you won’t. You’ll be OK, believe me,’ she said, confidently. ‘Now let’s get her to theatre,’ she said, opening the door and steering the bed out into the corridor. Rupert fell in step, holding Joanne’s hand.

  Joanne was given a general anaesthetic and an obstetrician delivered the baby, a boy, quickly by caesarean section. The baby was very pre-term, only 24 weeks, and was immediately placed into an incubator brought over from the Special Care baby unit in the nearby Southmead hospital.

  Rupert couldn’t believe what a momentous occasion this was in his life. Amidst all the gloom, this little boy had brought him incalculable joy. As he stared into the incubator, the reality of it hit him. This little red wrinkled infant was his son. He was a Dad and he wanted everybody to know.

  The sister explained that the baby needed specialist treatment and he was being rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a different hospital.

  ‘Will he be alright?’ Rupert asked, concerned, as they wheeled him out.

  ‘He’s in the hands of a great team of Specialists. I think he’s going to be a tough fighter, just like his Dad.’

  ‘Yes,’ he said positively. ‘Just like his Dad.’ And it was if he’d been injected with liquid courage. He felt emotionally stronger. The paternal instinct to protect his off-spring, his son, his heir, was primal. The event had fired off a hormone response in Rupert that prepared him to do battle with some unknown marauder to defend his tribe. Sue was in for a big surprise, should he ever see her again.

  CHAPTER SIXTY SIX

  12th February

  Following her caesarean operation, Joanne had been moved to the surgical recovery suite her condition being carefully monitored because of her other injuries.