by Gill Mather
“Stop fussing. Perry’s OK to look after them both.”
“He’s only six! They need their mother with them.”
“I was reading them a story and I just couldn't keep my eyes open.” And she yawned again.
“This can't go on you know Sharon. You know what we talked about just before Christmas.”
Sharon just yawned again and turned over.
Darren took the children out of the room and downstairs. He called their regular babysitter and stayed with the kids until she arrived and then went back upstairs to their bedroom and shut the door. He talked to Sharon for some time. She was reasonably attentive but avoided his eyes and shrugged when he asked her anything important. In particular, she raised no objections to his suggestion that he moved out with the kids and lived somewhere else for a time so that Sharon could have some freedom. In fact her eyes lit up and she nodded.
“Right.” Darren scratched the back of his neck and sat up straight. He had a lot to do in a few days.
He went and checked how long the babysitter could stay and told her that Sharon wasn't well. Then jumped in the car and went back to the office at Colchester. He went straight to the residential lettings department and asked to see details of reasonable fully furnished houses in Colchester currently available. There were a few possibles and as luck would have it, there was a nice five-bedroomed house in a good area available for six months until the family returned to England. The previous tenants had left a couple of weeks ago and the place had been thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. Darren looked at the photos and said he’d take it there and then.
“What without seeing it?” said Laura in surprise.
“Have you seen it?” Darren asked her.
“Yes. It’s lovely actually. I’d move in there tomorrow myself.”
“Is it suitable for a family?”
“I should say so. It’s got a nice enclosed back garden and cable TV and there’s a primary school very nearby with a nursery section and…”
“Right I’ll have it. Can you do me a favour and when you’ve sorted out the paperwork, could you shut up shop and pop out to…I don't know, wherever you think and get anything we might need. Bedding, towels, some kitchen stuff. I’m moving in there with my kids. Two boys, six and three. Oh and hopefully my mother or possibly both my mum and dad. I’ve got to make a few more calls. Take what you need out of the petty cash. If there’s not enough I’ll give you my debit card and the PIN so you can draw some more cash out. Can you meet me at the house in, say, two hours?”
Laura got cracking.
He called the agency to find out if they could supply a full-time live-in nanny at short notice and arranged something to start next week. He cancelled the current nanny who was only on a week to week booking anyway. Then he called his mother and asked her if she could come and stay for a few days and told her what had happened. No question she said.
Now for the difficult bit. Maybe. Darren went home and while Sharon looked on listlessly, he loaded the car up with what he could of the kids’ clothes and toys and general paraphernalia, plus his own clothes, toiletries etc. It took less than forty five minutes. He told Perry and Larry that he was taking them on a little holiday and to kiss mum goodbye. They’d see her again soon. And he’d go and get the rest of their stuff as soon as possible. Perry and Larry took this at its face value and Sharon exhibited very little emotion therefore Perry and Larry weren't traumatised or anything. It wasn't like he had to drag them away from their mother. They were excited in fact to be going away. Out for a McDonalds and maybe the cinema. And Grandma was coming too.
Darren wasn't stupid. He knew that seizing the initiative was the best thing. Give Sharon a few weeks or even just days and she may be complaining bitterly and going to see a solicitor to try and get the children back. But now they were with him, it would be more difficult for her. Had he done it the other way round and left the children with her and then tried to negotiate care and control of them, it would have been an uphill struggle, and proving she wasn't being a good mother might have been impossible. He had little illusion that if she really wanted to that she could pull herself together and present a picture of the perfect wronged wife and mother. Whether it would last or not was another matter. As far as Darren was concerned, you didn't neglect your kids at all. Not even for a short time.
He had almost no time to think about his actual feelings for Sharon or regret the apparent failure of their marriage. He had to get on with the business of coping as a single dad for the time being.
That evening, after his mum had arrived and they had got the children to bed, he popped into The Sod & Shovel where he thought Ali might be working for a quick beer and to thank her for her suggestions which had been far more helpful than any stiff legal advice.
Ali was there looking composed but tired at the same time and Darren briefly told her about his new domestic arrangements and proffered his thanks. Ali was touched and said she hoped it would work out. Darren could see she was busy and soon left.
THE NEXT FEW DAYS were really hectic. Ali worked every night that week including New Years Eve. One evening Hugh came in with Graham early on and they seemed in festive mood. It was nice she thought that Hugh was standing by his friend socially as well as in a legal capacity and hadn't abandoned him. Ali served them and chatted to them. Graham bought the drinks and said bottoms up and they clinked glasses.
“Cheers mate,” went Hugh in a cockney accent, “here’s mud in your eye.”
Blimey they sound identical, thought Ali.
She watched them out of the corner of her eye while serving other customers and got the impression they might be talking about her. She smiled in their direction. They soon left, to go to some country club do they said. It was obviously a smart do because they were both wearing suits. They’d both looked really great. Tall, handsome, one fair haired and blue-grey eyed and the other dark haired and…actually she wasn't really sure what colour Graham’s eyes were. Ali wondered if they or either of them would be getting off with anyone this evening and for some reason the thought made her feel distinctly put out.
Finally on the Saturday Ali had a day off. James had dutifully called her and asked her to go over for a shoot. Ali appreciated the effort and said yes though it was hardly her thing. She had to stay back with a group near the house because she simply couldn't bear to be anywhere near the action. It turned out she wasn't the only one. She got talking to Fiona, a girl who was apparently very keen on James’s brother. Somehow this girl got the impression that it was the same with her and James.
Ali didn't know what to say. She didn't want to show James up but she didn't want to create a false impression either that could easily backfire if it got back to James. She didn't think James was that keen but you never knew how he’d react if he thought she was bearing a torch for him. She was therefore pleasant but non-committal until another girl in the group ran off crying suddenly.
“Oh that’s Maddie. She’s nuts about James but you’ve obviously stolen her thunder. He’s not interested in her anyway. Well not that you can tell.”
“Er, does he know about Maddie?” Ali asked, not that she was at all bothered. She found these people insular and totally up their own arses. They just went on and on and on about themselves in loud foghorn voices.
“Don’t know. Probably not. She hides it pretty well when he’s about.”
The shoot seemed to go on interminably. What did these people see in blasting poor creatures out of the sky that had been specially bred for the purpose, fed so that they hung about in a particular area and were then driven into their paths. It was hardly any form of sport at all.
Finally it ended and the “guns” came back to the house for drinks and snacks and more rabbitting on about who was doing what with whom that they all knew and, Ali wouldn't be surprised, were distantly related to as well.
“Do they feed them after the shoots have finished?” Ali had to ask.
“Feed who?” J
ames asked.
“The birds. The ones that survive.”
“God no. `Course not.”
“So what happens to them?”
“Well they just have to fend for themselves. Like we all have to.”
“Isn’t that a bit irresponsible?”
“I haven't got a clue,” said James, “but it’s what happens and has done for centuries.”
Ali decided to have a few drinks since she was there and it didn't look like there’d be the opportunity to get away very soon. James was only too pleased to join her. He gave her a drunken tour of the house and once again they kissed under several bunches of mistletoe left hanging here and there. It wasn't horrible at all, but the earth didn't falter in its orbit, and James was obviously a gentleman who wouldn't try and take it to the next level without a bit of encouragement.
They sobered up while watching a film in the family sitting room with the family and others. Maddie looked stricken and Ali felt terribly guilty.
Several coffees later Ali was ready to be taken home and James to take her. As he dropped her off, Ali said that she’d enjoyed their dates and hoped they’d see each other in town.
“Oh and James. I don't know if anyone’s told you, but word is that that girl Maddie is really very smitten with you.” She realised it was likely to put him off but since there was no future in it for her, and she thought he felt the same, she didn't want to leave it unsaid.
“You’re kidding me. We’ve known each other since we were children.”
“No. I don't know if it means anything to you but I thought I should just say.”
“Well thanks. No I mean it. And I’ve enjoyed seeing you over Christmas too.”
He gave a smile of brilliant white teeth and zoomed off back to the country pile.
CHAPTER 14
GOING BACK TO work at the end of the Christmas break was both good and bad. Ali was pleased to get back and get stuck into legal work again but also she was quite enjoying working at the S&S who had said she could stay on if she wanted to and work Fridays and Saturdays which was good for the money but was going to be exhausting on top of office work. And it meant not going out Fridays and Saturdays. Rob had never `phoned so now she was boyfriendless and, while she didn't live for romance, it always made a nice icing on the cake of life in general. Not being able to go out on the razzle at weekends would limit the opportunities.
It was great to see all her colleagues but Sam was noticeably pale and withdrawn. They hadn't got round to meeting up over the holiday and Ali didn't get much chance to speak to her earlier on in the week either.
Ali started to look at the process of setting up a new housing estate. She had to familiarise herself with road making agreements and sewer adoption agreements, planning requirements and simply the job of drawing up all the standard contracts, transfer deeds and leases, and replies to some standard enquiries that were going to be necessary. She was also preparing various indices for standard packs of information to go out to buyers’ solicitors. Plans had already been drawn up and building was already starting even though the planning process wasn't finalised. How it went these days it seemed. They’d already done their environmental assessment and carried out the necessary remediation. Funny word, Ali thought. Like a made up word. There was tons of stuff to go through. It was likely to take weeks.
On Thursday morning Hugh passed her at the bus stop and gave her a lift in. It didn't happen usually as he was generally much earlier.
“I know you’re busy with the Leather Works development,” he said to Ali, “but any chance you could do a bit of work for me this morning. Just seeing yet another drink-drive case and doing a brief. He’s coming in at nine thirty. Oh and a bit more stuff on Graham’s case has come in. If you have a chance, maybe you could read it and tell me what you think.”
“OK. Fine.”
“Oh and next week it’s the Seaford case. I really was hoping you’d come and take notes etc. Do you think you can get away for it?”
“Wouldn't miss it for the world.”
“Oh good.”
And then they chatted generally. Ali asked him how the country club do had gone and he’d replied that it was all right; just the usual thing, which told Ali nothing. So she continued:
“See any family or anything over Christmas?”
“No. They’re in Australia. My sister and her husband went there several years ago and my mother couldn't stand not seeing her, especially after she had the baby. My dad was due to retire so they moved over there. I don't know if it’s permanent but they seem to like it a lot.”
Poor Uncle Hugh, Ali thought. All on his own for Christmas.
“I spent quite a bit of time over at Graham’s,” said Hugh. He always seemed to know what she was thinking. “We made quite a respectable Christmas lunch between us and had a few people round. I was having some stuff done on my cottage so it was a bit of a mess. What about you? I hope you didn't work too hard over Christmas.”
“Not really. It was a bit frantic but I needed the cash.”
And they were drawing into the car park so that was the end of the conversation.
As Ali got out Hugh’s mobile went and he answered it. She thought it wouldn’t be polite just to march off into the office so she waited for him outside the open car door. Hugh was saying:
“You’re going to have to stop this. If you call again I won't answer or I’ll just disconnect if it’s you.”
He listened again and then said: “Really. I don't think that’s very likely do you. You know you don't…hang on.” And he leaned across to the open passenger door and told Ali this might take rather longer, he didn't mind if she went in without him therefore she nodded and walked off. She didn't hear any more clearly except that Hugh’s voice was raised. Woman trouble again I suppose, she thought.
THE DUI WAS FAIRLY straightforward and there was no way on earth he’d keep his licence. She used Darren’s brief as a template and cribbed from it. She decided to brief Daniel again. Then she went and got the new stuff on Graham from Hugh’s desk. He was out. There wasn't a lot. A further statement had been taken from Angela to quiz her about the other unknown man’s DNA and some more general information about what had happened during the day of the attack. One sentence leapt out at Ali. Angela said that the only other visitor that day had been Hugh at about six thirty in the evening. Ali supposed that wasn't really unexpected. They were both single and seemed to spend a lot of time together. He must have looked in on his way home from work.
Angela said that she hadn't had any man to visit her at the annexe in the weeks before the attack, much less gain admittance to her bedroom. The only explanation she could give for the unknown DNA was either that there was contamination from the coat or that it was there because the sheets and other washing were sent away to a laundry. Mrs. Allan wasn't expected to do all the laundry as well as clean the house and do Graham’s cooking.
There was a short forensic report saying that tests on the coat were inconclusive as to whether the other DNA had come from the coat. It had been found on the coat but it might have got on there from the bed and indeed so might Graham’s own DNA on the bed have originated from the coat.
There was information about the washing and how it was bagged up and labelled and collected by the laundry every other week and redelivered in purpose-made plastic bags.
Ali already knew that Hugh didn't plan to make anything of the unknown male DNA so far as Angela was concerned feeling that it wouldn't help the case to try to impugn the morals of a young girl or question her credibility with nothing to back it up. She thought about the laundry and whether it would be a realistic option to get DNA testing carried out on all the males in the probably floating probably foreign workforce of the laundry, which wasn't in any event local. Not really, and she presumed they could refuse to take part anyway in what would be just a fishing expedition without a court order but she’d talk to Hugh about it. Obviously the police had decided not to go down that route.
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It looked as though they’d be sticking to their previous tack so far as the alien DNA was concerned and using it to allege that someone else must have carried out the attack for reasons unknown and at least put doubt in the jury’s minds to the extent that they might not find the case against Graham proved beyond reasonable doubt. It wouldn't most likely absolve Graham in the eyes of the public but it might get him off.
SO IT WAS BACK to drafting the development documents that afternoon.
Sam wasn't in that day having `phoned in sick. Ali tried calling and texting her but got no answer and left a message on her mobile.
But as she was walking to the bus stop later her mobile went and it was a tearful, in fact almost hysterical Sam.
“Can you meet me at the pub Ali. I don't know what to do. Can you meet me?”
“Two minutes.”
Ali ran to the S&S and found Sam huddled in a corner. She didn't have a drink. But she had sunglasses on and lifted them briefly to show Ali a large bruise on her left eye which was rapidly swelling and closing.
Ali gasped. “What on earth’s happened? Look I’ll get us both a drink then you can tell me.”
Sam sobbed her way through an account of how awful Christmas had been.Den had been increasingly touchy the whole time, drinking a lot and getting ridiculously angry with her if she said anything at all. Then yesterday evening, he’d got really drunk and had spent hours storming round the house, calling her a bitch over and over. She and the kids had cowered in their bedroom. Eventually Den had gone to bed. He hadn't gone to work this morning, and Sam hadn't felt like it either and kept out of Den’s way. But he had started drinking again at lunchtime. The kids were still on their Christmas holiday but were spending the days at a friend’s house until they went back to school next week so thankfully they were out of the way.
About four in the afternoon the ranting had started again. Sam decided it wasn't safe to stay in the house any longer and had grabbed her bag, coat and car keys and gone to the front door. She was already half way out of the door before Den heard and came and tried to stop her. In the process he punched her in the eye and that was actually how she got away because he had to let go of her to aim the punch.