The old woman laughed. ‘I’m afraid we’re plagued with stray cats. It’s bound to rain before long. That’ll wash it clean, don’t worry.’
‘Oh, I’m not worried,’ he chuckled. ‘My job is to deliver parcels. They’ll have to collect it from the depot when they get home.’
Lonely for company, the old woman chatted on. ‘I had to stop the milkman yesterday,’ she said. ‘There were two pints on the doorstep. He swore he hadn’t been told, but I said he must have been. I mean, they must have cancelled the milk.’ She sighed. ‘Unless they’re like me and tend to forget things. I went away for a week last summer, cancelled the papers, put the cat in the cattery…’ She gazed fondly at her little dog. ‘I didn’t put him away though. He comes everywhere with me.’ She frowned. ‘What was I saying?’
Impatient to be gone, he moved to the front of the van. ‘You were saying how you wouldn’t put the dog in the kennels.’ He opened the door and prepared to get in the van.
‘Oh, yes.’ She followed him. ‘I thought I’d done everything but I hadn’t, you see. I forgot to cancel the milk; it didn’t matter in the end because when I got back the milkman had done it for me. It wasn’t the same milkman we’ve got now though,’ she said disapprovingly. ‘He’s a young sort, got his head too full of football and pop stars.’
After a time they parted company. ‘I think I’ll take him for a longer walk today,’ she said, patting the dog’s head. ‘It’s such a pleasant day.’
Day passed and night fell.
Emerging from the undergrowth, all manner of creatures came out to forage. Dogs barked and from somewhere in the distance the strains of music floated from a parked car – the woods were a favourite haunt of young couples.
After the quietness of day, the night seemed to come alive.
Inside the house, there was nothing alive. Only the rhythmic ticking of the clock disturbed the silence.
The man lay face down on the floor, still and white, fingers stretched above his head as though reaching out for help. Above him, the woman kept vigil, eyes wide and shocked, her body spreadeagled on the wall, held there by the nails in her bloodied hands and feet.
15
However hard she tried, Kerry could not change her mother’s mind. ‘He didn’t mean it. What with the police questioning him, it’s only natural that he’s touchy.’
‘That’s no excuse for the way he rounded on me this morning. He told me I wasn’t wanted here, said I was snooping, listening at keyholes.’ Exasperated, she banged her fist on the table. ‘And you let him talk to me like that. You didn’t even stand up for me!’
‘I didn’t have a chance. With you two shouting at each other, I couldn’t get a word in. Then he stormed out, and the chance was gone. Look, stay, please. I’ll talk to him as soon as he gets home.’ She went to fetch her coat. ‘I’ll go to the office and talk to him now if it will make you stay.’
Julie shook her head. ‘Will you get rid of him, send him away from you and the children, before something terrible happens?’
Kerry was shocked. ‘Mother, what are you talking about?’
‘I’m frightened for you. Tell him to leave, and I’ll stay as long as you like.’
‘Are you asking me to choose between you and Mike?’
‘I don’t see it like that. It’s quite simple. You have to shut him out of your life. Please, Kerry.’
‘I can’t do that, and why should I?’
‘Well,’ said Julie, ‘after the cruel things he said to me, I couldn’t possibly stay. I can’t bear to be under the same roof as him any more. You can’t see him for what he is, but I can. Last week when the police came, he lied to them. You know he did, and you backed him up. You may live to regret that, my girl!’
‘Oh, come on, Mother! You know as well as I do he had nothing to do with that awful business.’
‘I don’t know any such thing, and neither do you.’
‘You’re talking nonsense. Mike is no killer.’
‘I fear for you and the children, but if you’re determined not to listen to me, I have to leave.’
‘But you’ll be lonely at home, you’ve said so yourself, many a time.’
‘I shall only be at home for one night, just long enough to pack a suitcase. My neighbour will go on keeping an eye on the house.’
‘What do you mean, pack a suitcase?’
‘Your father left me comfortably off. I haven’t had a proper holiday in years, so now I’ve decided to take a long holiday in the sunshine.’
‘You’re really serious, aren’t you?’
‘Never more so.’ Throwing on her coat, she hurried to the front door; the children could be heard arguing in the garden. ‘I promised I would take the children to the pictures. I’ve kept them waiting long enough, I think. I’d rather you didn’t tell them I’m leaving,’ she added. ‘It might be best if I do that myself.’
Kerry followed her. ‘Please, Mother. Don’t be hasty.’
‘My mind’s made up, Kerry. I’m sorry. You know how much I love you and the children, but I can’t – will not – stand by and see him use you.’
Kerry stood at the door until her mother and the children had turned the corner. She felt uneasy. ‘I hope you’re wrong about Mike,’ she whispered. ‘My God, I hope you’re wrong.’
A short time later, she turned her mind to work. Glancing at the clock she realised just how late she was. ‘Oh, sod it!’ Grabbing her bag and keys, she ran out of the house, jumped into the car and was soon away down the road. ‘They’re bound to be wondering where I’ve got to!’
When, a short time later, she arrived at the unit, there was a problem already waiting. ‘I’ve been trying to get you for the last ten minutes.’ The new transport manager was in his early fifties; responsible and experienced, he ran the place like clockwork. ‘I guessed you were on your way,’ he said, leading her into the office. ‘We have an urgent order.’ He thrust the telephone message under her nose. ‘A wedding reception tonight. They’ve been let down and wonder if we can do the catering for them. I said you’d ring back in half an hour.’
Casting her eyes over the list, Kerry gasped. ‘We’ll never do this,’ she said. ‘Not unless Pauline and Trudy are prepared to stay on late – and it’s Saturday.’
She ran down to speak to then, cringing when she recalled how, not too long ago, Steve had lain lifeless at the foot of these very steps.
At first the women protested but when Kerry told them she would roll up her sleeves and help, they relented.
‘Aw! I was looking forward to a night out with Kevin!’ wailed Trudy.
‘You’ll have to wait till tomorrow for your bit of nooky then, won’t you?’ Pauline laughed. ‘Think of the overtime money. You can buy him an extra packet of johnnies and bonk away to your heart’s content.’
Kerry ran back to the office and spoke to the bride herself. ‘You can relax. We’ll have the food set out at the hotel by eight o’clock.’ There were tears of gratitude at the other end. ‘Anybody would think it was the end of the world,’ she said, replacing the receiver. ‘I wonder if I was ever that emotional.’
The manager smiled. ‘It’s her special day,’ he said. ‘I’m glad we could save it for her.’
Seated at his brand-new desk, Mike looked around the office with pride; bright and new, with pictures of classic cars on the walls, it was everything he had dreamed of. ‘I’ve waited for this for so long,’ he murmured, ‘and now it’s here, I can hardly believe it.’
‘Talking to yourself, is it?’ The Irish voice sailed across the room. ‘They say that’s the first sign of madness, so they do.’ Having come from the Emerald Isle only weeks ago, he knew nothing about Mike’s background. Smiling warmly, he wiped his feet and entered.
Unsettled by his innocent remark, Mike got up to greet him. ‘Are we all ready then?’
‘Aye. Ready as we’ll ever be.’ He pointed to the two vehicles. ‘The van needed a complete new exhaust system, and the estate had two bald tyr
es. But nothing too bad. So, there they are, serviced and washed, and ready for the road.’ He laughed. ‘A jack of all trades, master of none, that’s me.’
Smiling, Mike dismissed his remark with a gesture of the hand. ‘Don’t give me that. I’ve seen your papers, remember, and now I’ve seen the results of your handiwork. As far as I’m concerned, I made the right choice in you. The fact that you’re willing to wash cars as well is a bonus for me.’ He observed the vehicles with gratitude. ‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘I think you and I are going to get along just fine.’
‘Will ye be wanting me to stay, or is it all right if I make my way home?’ he asked. ‘There’s a horserace I want to see.’
‘No, you can finish for the day,’ Mike said. ‘I’ll be leaving myself as soon as our customers collect the van.’ Handing him a wage envelope, Mike told him, ‘You’ve earned that.’
‘See you Monday then.’ Pleased with himself, he went on his way.
At precisely midday, as arranged, the couple came to pick up the van. After going through the procedure – insurance, deposit and such – Mike saw them away. ‘I don’t envy you the house-moving,’ he told them. ‘Still, you’ve got a good van there. As long as you don’t load it to excess, it won’t let you down.’ He hoped!
Half an hour later he was just about to shut up shop and go home when the phone rang. Snatching it up, Mike put on his best business voice. ‘Mike’s vehicle hire, can I help you?’
It was a woman with a dog. ‘No, I don’t mind you carrying your dog in the vehicle,’ Mike answered. ‘Yes, I do happen to have one estate car in the yard…’ In the whole fleet of two, he thought sardonically. ‘Yes? Twenty minutes, that’s OK. I’ll be here.’
Replacing the phone he punched the air. ‘You’ve done it!’ he yelled. ‘On the first morning of opening you’ve emptied the yard.’ He laughed aloud. ‘Seeing as we’ve only got two vehicles, I don’t suppose it’s much of an achievement.’ But it was a start. ‘A bloody good start!’ And he was as thrilled as a puppy with two tails.
Fifteen minutes later, the woman and her labrador were delivered in a silver Ford Cortina. Ten minutes after that, she drove off in Mike’s newly polished estate car, with the dog looking decidedly nervous in the back. ‘Hope it doesn’t decide to cock its leg all over the place,’ Mike said aloud. ‘Still, if it does, I’ll charge her for the cleaning.’
At twenty minutes to one, he slipped the cash deposits in his wallet, locked the office, and drove away.
From her hiding place she watched him drive by, her heart aching to go with him. ‘Be patient,’ she told herself. ‘Your time will come.’
Going to the back of the building, she let herself in without too much difficulty. Once inside she went to his desk. With a sigh of pleasure, she sat where he had sat. She touched the things he had touched, the wonder alight in her crazed eyes, and in the way she stroked each article, tender fingertips trembling as they travelled from one inanimate object to another. Such joy!
Such wanting!
Sighing, she leaned forward. Laying her head on his desk, she groaned with bitter-sweet pleasure.
Eyes closed, dreaming of him, she gave herself up to sleep.
The evening was difficult.
Kerry had rung to tell her mother that she would be late, and Julie had promised to wait until her daughter came home.
The moment Kerry walked through the door, Julie wanted to know, ‘Have you been thinking about what I said this morning?’
Kerry answered that, yes, she had been doing a lot of thinking.
‘And have you changed your mind?’
‘No.’
‘I see.’ Julie went to the telephone and called a taxi. When the taxi arrived, she said her goodbyes, deliberately ignoring Mike who had wisely stayed in the other room.
Julie gave Kerry one last, lingering look, hoping even now she might change her mind.
The look on Kerry’s face was her answer. ‘Goodbye, Kerry,’ she murmured, and with tears in her eyes she departed.
Behind her, she left a mixture of emotions: Kerry was angry, the children cried, and Mike was just glad she had gone out of their lives – for good, he hoped.
Later, when the house was quiet and the children fast asleep, Mike lay awake, all manner of things going through his mind. Julie had been a thorn in his side for too long. He was glad she had gone. He was sure that she was the one who had turned Jack against him. He thought of Susie and smiled. ‘Little angel,’ he murmured. ‘It would take more than her grandma to turn her against me.’
‘What?’ Half asleep, Kerry rolled into his arms.
The touch of her soft flesh against his was stimulating. Tenderly, he kissed her on the mouth, his hand reaching down to caress her secret parts. ‘Want to love me?’ she murmured. ‘Now?’
The shaft of moonlight coming in between the curtains bathed her face in softness. ‘You’re so lovely,’ he whispered. Awake now, she smiled up at him.
They played for a time, touching and kissing, exploring each other’s bodies. After a while he pulled her on top of him. Aroused, she pushed down, engulfing his erect member. Gasping with delight, he placed his moist lips round her nipple, teasing it with his tongue. Sometimes, when emotions are high, lovemaking can be the most satisfying. It was like that now; anger, regrets, emotions joined them together in the most exhilarating union.
When it was over, Mike slept the sleep of exhaustion.
Still excited from the loving, Kerry lay on her side, gazing at his handsome face. ‘Is my mother right?’ she whispered. ‘Are you a murderer?’
Suddenly he stirred. Alarmed, she turned her back to him and eventually drifted into a restless sleep.
The following day, relations were strained between them. ‘She won’t come back now,’ Kerry told Mike angrily. ‘I know her. She can be a hard woman when she’s put out.’
Suggesting it was probably all for the best, and reminding Kerry how she herself had found it difficult with her mother under her feet all the time, he tried to calm her. ‘And it won’t be that hard,’ he promised. ‘One or the other of us will take the children to and from school. Where the housework is concerned, there are any number of domestic agencies with women on their books who can do every bit as good a job as your mother – and not be half the trouble.’ Only last week she had a row with the binman, and now he leaves a trail of rubbish all the way down the garden path. If you ask me, it was time she left. Sliding his arm round Kerry’s shoulders, he said with a grin, ‘Admit it, she’s a disaster area.’
Kerry had to laugh. ‘She is a bugger,’ she chuckled. ‘And maybe she will relent. When she gets where she’s going, the sun will be too hot, or the food too spicy. Knowing her, she’s bound to upset everybody from the manager to the cleaners. You’re right, I’m probably blowing it all out of proportion.’
They sat for a time, arms round each other, watching a cartoon with the children. When it was finished, Kerry got up to make Sunday lunch. ‘What say we get out of Mum’s way for a couple of hours?’ Mike had offered to help in the kitchen but Kerry had suggested he take the children out instead. ‘We could go to the park,’ Mike said now.
‘Don’t want to go to the park!’ As usual Jack was a pain.
‘Down to the river then. We could watch the fishermen.’
Reluctantly, Jack agreed. ‘Only if I can catch a fish.’
A few minutes later, armed with bread for bait and apples for themselves, they set off.
Mike looked up at the darkening sky. ‘We’d better not be out too long. Looks like we might be in for a downpour – a storm even.’
Puckering her face, Susie stared up at the sky. ‘I like storms,’ she said, blindly skipping along. A moment later she skipped into a cowpat; Jack laughed, and she burst into tears.
‘It’s all right. No need to get upset.’
Wrinkling his nose, Mike took off her shoe and wiped it on the grass. ‘Now, look where you’re going.’
While the children ran in fr
ont, Mike kept nervously glancing at the sky. ‘It’s like before,’ he muttered, growing increasingly uneasy. ‘Just like before.’ Crippling images filled his mind, carrying him back to the day when he and Jack were trapped. ‘Jack, where are you?’ The boy had gone from his sight. ‘Jack!’
Jack emerged from behind a tree, Susie by his side.
‘We were hiding from you.’ Susie came skipping up to him. ‘Me and Jack were going to jump out and scare you.’
Taking her by the hand, Mike laughed; what a fool he was. ‘You did scare me, sweetheart,’ he admitted.
Keeping his distance, Jack stared at him. Something about today reminded him too. ‘We’re not babies,’ he told his father. ‘There’s nothing to be frightened of.’
‘Well, of course not.’ Realising he might be in danger of alienating Jack with his own paranoia, Mike apologised. ‘I didn’t mean to spoil your fun.’ It was so rare these days for Jack to be interested in childish ‘fun’ that Mike wished he had not shouted like that.
Still eager to play a game, Susie insisted, ‘We can play the hiding game.’ Jumping up and down on the spot, she squealed with delight. ‘Me and Jack will hide, and you have to count to ten.’
To appease Jack, Mike agreed. ‘Go on then.’
‘Turn round.’ Susie knew the rules of the game.
Mike turned round and began counting, ‘One… two…’
Jack’s stern voice interrupted. ‘You have to put your hands over your eyes,’ he said. ‘Otherwise it’s cheating.’
Mike did as he was told; with hands over his eyes, he began again. ‘One… two… three…’ His mind was on the storm, and everything that had happened since. He wondered if he would ever be able to stop torturing himself. ‘Four… five…’ He softly laughed, thinking how he had almost lost control just now. What in God’s name was he thinking of? If he went into a panic every time a storm threatened, he might as well give up. ‘Six… seven…’
Startled by a clap of thunder far off, he paused. Opening his eyes he peered out at the dark, threatening skies. Just like before, they appeared to be closing in, rolling and heaving, like a living, breathing thing. Another clap of thunder, nearer now.
Hiding Game, The Page 19