by Robert Innes
“I was actually surprised she didn’t suffer more injuries,” Sharon said. “I’ve seen less violent crashes than that result in life-changing wounds.”
“True, I suppose she would have been thankful for just a broken arm after what happened to the driver,” Blake conceded. “Thanks for this, I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye Blake, have a good…Hang on, what did you say?”
“Sorry?”
“Something about a broken arm?”
Blake frowned. “Yeah, Angela broke her right arm in the crash.”
“I beg to differ,” Sharon replied, looking confused.
“She had it in a sling after she came out of hospital,” Blake told her. “It was her right arm.”
“Blake, I can assure you that the only injury on Angela Coopland’s body was the trauma to her head when she was murdered.”
Blake stared at her, his eyes wide. “Are you sure?”
Sharon raised her eyebrows. “Blake, I’m hardly going to miss something like that, give me some credit.”
Blake’s mouth fell open. “You’re telling me that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the rest of her body? No broken bones, no cuts, no bruises? Just the head trauma?”
“Read through the report, Blake,” Sharon said impatiently. “I can assure you that if there was anything else wrong with the body, I would have spotted it. You’ve been working too hard. I noticed you were looking tired when I saw you the other day. Have you been getting enough sleep?”
But Blake was barely listening. Suddenly, things he never thought he would find the answers to were swimming around his head and puzzle pieces were finally starting to fit together.
“Have you got all the personal belongings from the house?”
Sharon was looking at him as if she thought he was going mad. “Yes, they’re in that box on the table. I didn’t find anything odd with them.”
Blake hurried across the room to the box containing an array of items from the house. He rummaged through them as quickly as he could, while taking care not to damage anything. At last, he pulled out the photo album he had seen David Penn with on the night he was killed and quickly thumbed through it, scanning each photograph that he came across. At last he found one that made his stomach flip. The answers to everything was there, smiling back at him from the photograph.
“You are kidding me,” he exclaimed to himself. “Are you ready to release the body now?” he asked Sharon.
“Angela Coopland’s? Yes, soon as I’ve signed her out. Why?”
“Because she needs a funeral,” Blake said, his mind whirring. “And I bet I know exactly who would want to be there.”
12
“I must say, it’s doing me good to see you two getting on so well,” Jacqueline simpered as she watched Harrison and Tom from across the room. They were both sitting at the table of Jacqueline’s kitchen, finishing the remainder of a bottle of wine that Harrison had bought from the shop.
“And we’re happy that you’re happy,” Harrison replied, holding his nearly empty wine glass up to his landlord with a slightly drunken grin.
He glanced across at Tom, who he was surprised to see had barely touched his own wine. “What’s the matter with you?” he asked, pushing the wine closer to him. “Come on, drink up. I’m not getting drunk on my own, that’s just beyond sad.”
“Honestly, when his dad died, I didn’t know how we were going to cope,” Jacqueline mused as she busied herself with stirring a pot on the oven. “Then, Tom went on his travels after university and I thought that would be it. He’d meet a nice girl, or boy, and then I’d be left to just finish up my life in Harmschapel.”
“Mum, you’re far from being in the ground yet,” Tom told her, looking slightly irritated.
“True, true,” Jaqueline replied, giggling. She patted her recently re-dyed beehive. “There’s life in the old dog yet. If only I could find somebody willing to take me for a walk. Oh, Tom, will you keep an eye on this for me? I must just nip and get some milk before the shop closes.”
She hurriedly removed her apron and hung it back on the wall then crossed over to them, planting a huge kiss on her son’s cheek.
“Can’t have you waking up with a hangover tomorrow without any tea, can we? I’ll be back soon, boys. If you go out before I get back, just turn the heat off completely on the oven.”
Harrison watched as Tom gave Jacqueline the vaguest of acknowledgment and then finally took a sip of his wine. Harrison waited until Jacqueline had closed the door behind her.
“Oi,” he said. “What is wrong with you? You’ve got a face like my goat.”
Tom stared at his wine glass for a few moments. “Have you ever been faced with a really bad moral quandary?”
Harrison raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Apart from when I had to watch both of my parents go to prison for the murder of my abusive ex-boyfriend, you mean?”
Tom shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you have.”
“So? What’s your moral quandary?”
“If your friend was in a relationship,” Tom said slowly, “and you found yourself in a position where you knew that his partner was keeping a really big secret from him, something you knew could put that friend at risk, but it meant putting your job at risk, what would you do?”
Harrison scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. “I’d probably end up telling them. Why? Did something happen at the clinic today?”
“Yeah, you could say that,” Tom replied. He picked up his wine and downed it, before slamming the glass back down on the table. “Screw it. I don’t think it’s right to keep this secret from you. You’re my mate and I would hope you’d do the same for me.”
Harrison was starting to feel quite concerned now. “Blake? You think Blake’s hiding something from me?”
“I don’t think, I know,” Tom replied. “I saw Blake at the clinic today. He wasn’t too happy to see me, I can tell you. Neither was that sour faced cow he was with either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Harrison, this might seem like a weird question, but when was the last time you and Blake…you know?”
Harrison stared at him. “Why? Come on, Tom. Just spit it out.”
Tom shrugged. “He was there to book an appointment. For himself.”
“An STD test?”
“Not just an STD test. Specifically, he wanted a test for HIV. I got the impression that he hasn’t told you. It would explain why he’s been so distant. He apparently got a call from his ex.”
Harrison could not believe what he was hearing. “Nathan?”
“I don’t know his name, but apparently this phone call gave him reason to believe that he might have HIV, so he wanted to get it tested, and he specifically said that he wanted to get the test done for your sake as well as his own.”
“Are you serious?”
“I wouldn’t joke about something like this,” Tom replied, refilling his wine glass. “I don’t know what his results were obviously, I finished an hour or so after he left. He should get the results back today.”
The slight drunkenness that Harrison had been feeling suddenly began to evaporate. “Blake might have caught HIV from his past relationship? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“I’m sorry, but yes.”
“And if he might have it, then that means I might have it too?”
“It’s possible,” Tom replied. “I can’t believe that he hasn’t told you. It’s just plain irresponsible. If he comes back negative that’s great, but I dunno if he does whether he would ever tell you what had been going on.”
Harrison was numb. It suddenly felt like he barely knew Blake anymore, a man who he would have trusted with his life at one time. Harrison had picked up all the signs of something being seriously wrong with him, but he never would have landed on this as being the reason. A huge array of emotions flooded through him, shock, anger, and hurt. He could not even begin to imagine how scared Blake must have been when he received the pho
ne call, and Harrison could pinpoint the day he noticed a visible change in Blake, but it seemed like no excuse whatsoever for keeping this from him.
“Are you okay?” Tom asked quietly. He let go of his wine glass and placed his hand on top of Harrison’s. “I’m sorry to have to break it to you like this, but I just don’t think it’s right. He’s probably going to try and get me sacked for breaking client confidentiality or whatever, but you’re my mate and I don’t think it’s fair for you not to know what’s going on.”
“How could he not tell me about this?” Harrison murmured. “I could never keep something like this from him.”
“I know,” Tom said. He stood up and moved to the chair next to Harrison. “That’s because you’re one of the most kind-hearted guys on the planet. Blake doesn’t deserve you.”
Harrison shook his head. “I’m not all that.”
“Yeah, you are,” Tom said softly. He edged forwards on his chair and stared at Harrison intensely. “Listen, I will do everything I can to get you help with this. We can get you tested as soon as possible, if you come with me to the clinic tomorrow, we can get your results and you’ll know.”
Harrison’s mind was a blur. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Do you know what you’re going to do about Blake?”
Harrison sighed. “I’m going to have to talk to him, I guess.”
“Well, just know that I’m here for you. If it goes badly, you can stop here until you get things sorted, Mum won’t mind.”
Harrison nodded. “I’ll go and see if he’s home now.” He picked his coat up from the back of his chair and slipped it on. “Look, thank you. I really appreciate it. You’re a good friend.”
Tom put his arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Any time. You deserve to be treated better than that.”
For a few moments, there was silence. Then, as they parted, Harrison found himself inches away from Tom’s face. Then, Tom moved his head forwards, his eyes closing.
Harrison pulled his head away sharply. “What are you doing?”
Tom looked surprised. “I was just…”
“You were just trying to kiss me,” Harrison finished. “You tell me all that and then you try and kiss me? Is ‘you might have HIV’ some sort of fault free chat up line in your profession?”
“No, of course not,” laughed Tom. “But, come on. You can’t expect to stay with someone like that. I mean if he’d keep that from you, then how could you trust him again?”
“That’s my decision to make, not yours,” Harrison snapped. The wine was starting to give him that little bit more confidence again. “Is that the only reason you told me? Because you thought I’d just jump ship?”
Before Tom could answer, Harrison pushed past him and stormed out through the front door, slamming it behind him. He exhaled deeply as he allowed the information he had just learnt settle in his mind, then looked up at Juniper Cottage across the road.
Blake was standing there, talking to Jacqueline, who was cradling a large carton of milk. Harrison thought for a few moments about what his next course of action should be, then strolled across the road towards them.
“….so make sure you tell everybody,” Blake told Jacqueline as Harrison approached. “I think it’s only right we give her a send-off. She mentioned to me that she didn’t have anybody around now, so with her husband gone, she’s got nobody to do it for her.”
“Absolutely,” Jacqueline said, smiling broadly. “I think that’s a lovely idea, Blake. I’ll spread the word. Will you be there, Harrison?”
“Will I be where?” Harrison asked as he reached them.
“Blake’s arranging a funeral for Angela Coopland,” Jacqueline said. “Such a sweet thought. Not an expensive do or anything, but just a gathering at the church. Isn’t that just Blake all over? So thoughtful.”
“Yeah,” Harrison replied as he walked towards the cottage. “Always thinking of others. I’ll be there.”
Without waiting for a reply, Harrison strolled into the cottage and slammed the door behind him. He was not entirely sure how he was going to handle what he had just discovered, but one thing he did know what that he was going to let Blake be the one to bring it up.
“You alright, Harrison?” Sally said from the living room. “I thought you were going out tonight?”
Harrison nearly jumped a foot in the air, having forgotten that Sally was staying with them. “Change of plan,” he said.
Sally frowned as she approached him. “Did something happen?”
Harrison did not reply, which seemed to be enough to give Sally a clue. “Is it Tom? Did you two have a fight or something?”
“He tried to kiss me,” Harrison said sharply. “And I told him where to get off.”
“Oh my God, good for you!” Sally replied. “I knew there was something I didn’t trust about that boy. Are you going to tell Blake?”
“That depends,” Harrison replied firmly. He raised his eyebrows expectantly at Sally, whose expression immediately dropped.
“He told you, didn’t he?”
“Someone had to and apparently it wasn’t going to be Blake or you.”
Sally put her hands to her mouth. “Look, Harrison, I know he didn’t deal with it in the best way, but he was scared, he didn’t know what to do.”
“I might have HIV, Sally,” Harrison said sharply. “Telling me that little nugget, that’s what to do.”
Before Sally could answer, Blake walked through the door. “There. Jacqueline’s the woman to tell if you want something spreading around the village. The news should get to the right person in no time. Harrison? Are you alright? I thought you were out with Tip Tap Tom tonight?”
“Blake,” Sally said warningly.
Before Blake could reply, his mobile rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced down at the screen. Harrison watched as he and Sally exchanged concerned looks before Blake disappeared into the kitchen.
“It’s his results,” Sally said quietly. “Harrison, wait,” she said as Harrison began to follow Blake into the kitchen.
“I think I’ve got a right to know,” Harrison told her.
Sally sighed and then eventually nodded. Together, they walked into the kitchen. Blake had his back to them, his mobile attached to his ear. It was difficult to tell what exactly his reaction was to what was being said to him.
Finally, Blake exhaled and leant against the counter. “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you so much. Yeah. Yeah, it is. You could say that. I think this might be the best phone call I’ve ever received. I will. Thank you.”
He hung up the phone and placed it on the side before looking down at the ground, exhaling in what looked like relief, still with his back to them.
“You’re clear then?” Harrison said at last.
Blake jumped and turned around, the temporary joy in his face diminishing quickly. He glanced across at Sally who shook her head.
“Tom,” she said simply.
“He told you?”
“Yes,” replied Harrison simply. “He did.”
“I’ll kill him.”
“No, you won’t actually,” Harrison told him. “Because someone had to tell me that you might have contracted a virus that was possible to be passed on to me. How about if I hadn’t had been here when you got that phone call and Tom had never said anything? Would you have told me any of this was going on?”
There was a long silence. Blake closed his eyes, knowing full well that Harrison was right.
“I think I’ll just nip to the pub,” Sally said. She picked up her coat and slipped out the front door without another word.
For a few moments, neither Harrison nor Blake said anything. Blake was at a loss as to what he could say to try and rectify the situation.
“I’m sorry,” he said at last.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Blake?” Harrison asked. He did not even sound angry anymore, merely hurt and sad, which somehow made the situation even worse. “I get that you were scared, I would h
ave been too, but I thought the whole point in us being in a relationship was that we talked to each other.”
“I didn’t know what to say,” Blake murmured. “How do you tell someone that you might have given them HIV? I know it was gutless and unforgivable, but the only thing I can say to you that even resembles an excuse is that the way I was feeling about it made me not want to make you feel that way until I was sure one way or the other. I was terrified, I felt wrong, which is a terrible thing to say, I know it is because you can live a perfectly normal life with HIV, I know you can, but I just felt so terrible. I didn’t want you to have to go through that too.”
“So instead, you kept it bottled and dealt with it all by yourself. I would have handled it, Blake. Yeah, of course it would have been crap, but at least we could have got through it together. I don’t want to make this all about me because I know that you’ve had a rough time of it lately, but how do you think it makes me feel to know that you were going through that all by yourself and I was just out getting pissed every night, practically bitching about you to somebody who it turns out isn’t as great a mate as I thought they were?”
“Tom?” Blake asked. “Why? What did he do?”
Harrison hesitated, unsure as to whether he should answer the question or not. He finally sighed. “He tried to kiss me.”
“He did what?” Blake exclaimed, outraged.
“Yes, and do you know what? You want to be bloody grateful that he did.”
Blake stared at him. “Why? Why would I ever be grateful for that?”
“Because he did it after telling me about all this,” Harrison replied. “Right when I was at my most shocked and angry. Until he did that, I wanted to just stand here and yell at you and tell you what a stupid idiot you are. But when he leaned forward and tried to do that, purely for his own reasons, it made me realise that you are still the best thing that has ever happened to me. It snapped me out of it, to some degree anyway, and made me realise that while you were going through this level of inner turmoil, there was only one place I could ever be. Right here, by your side, standing firm against a storm just like we did on that church roof. Me and you, we can tackle any storm, but we need to be together and on the same page.”