Guilt Trap

by Dawson, H A

  ‘To make your day! I can see how much you’ve wanted to run your hands up and down me. Any fool can see you have a crush on me!’

  His jaw dropped. ‘I can’t believe you just said that! I can assure you, I do not have a crush on you. You’re like a sister to me.’

  ‘A sister? Not a daughter?’

  ‘There’s not that many years between us … cheeky.’

  ‘So you don’t find me attractive?’

  A beam widened his face. ‘Always searching for compliments.’ Then, feeling unusually courageous, he imitated her voice using the squeakiest and neediest tone he could find, and said, ‘Oh Luke, am I attractive? Do I look sexy Luke? Please tell me I am. Please Luke, please.’

  Amused, she flipped her hand upon his upper arm and voiced her objection. ‘I do not say things like that!’

  He laughed, indicated to make a right turn, and moved into the central lane.

  ‘I am not needy! I don’t care what you think of me.’

  He raised his eyebrows.

  Imogen thrust her mirror and lipstick back into her handbag, clasped it shut, and placed it onto the floor. Then, she folded her arms and stared out of the side window, her attempt, he assumed, at hiding her expression from his view.

  ‘You’re pouting.’

  ‘I am not pouting!’

  She remained visible in his eye corner as tears of mirth glistened in his eyes. She looked even sexier when she was angry, and it caused an ache to extend across his middle. ‘You poor thing! Have I touched a sore point?’

  ‘You’ll have a sore point if you don’t shut up.’

  ‘Ooh! I’m scared.’

  Dismayed, she breathed a heavy sigh. ‘So you should be. And, for your information, I am not needy.’

  Luke grinned. ‘You protest too much. If it helps, we’ll talk about something else.’

  She did not respond.

  ‘Care to fill me in with what you discovered about Kelly Matterson?’

  ‘I’m not sure I want to. You’ve hurt my feelings.’

  ‘Too bad. I’m in charge, and I need to know,’ he said, trying to sound as stern as he could muster. ‘So tell me, what did you find out?’

  She maintained a straight face. ‘Not until you apologise.’

  ‘Okay, I’m sorry.’

  ‘And the rest.’

  ‘And you’re not needy. Now can we get on?’

  Imogen’s expression brightened and the glint returned in her eyes. He felt certain it had all been a game, but wondered if somewhere deep within his imitation and comments hurt. As strong as she often appeared, she had her sensitivities, and her appearance was one of them. It was strange considering how attractive she was, and that was regardless of how she presented herself.

  ‘I have printed out her work history, at least as far as I could trace back,’ Imogen said. ‘I called Maddie earlier, and it didn’t match everything she had on the application form. Braithwaites, the food suppliers, was one of the places I managed to confirm. In fact, I spoke to the manager and learned of her dismissal. Hence, or so I assume, the reason for its absence on the application form.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘She’d had a couple of warnings for disobedience. One of the things she did was try to portion the blame for a serious mistake she made onto another woman. She would have gotten away with it except someone found some obscured evidence. Mr James didn’t share the details.’

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘She was ordered to leave a couple of other places too. One of the women I spoke to claimed she was outspoken and vindictive - a trouble causer. The other women said she blackmailed other workers into taking her load of the work and shirked responsibility.’

  ‘Did Maddie say she had problems with her?’

  ‘No, quite the opposite. Kelly could be trying to improve her behaviour.’

  Luke agreed.

  ‘I also managed to learn she’s in debt by a few thousand pounds, and given she’s ended her relationship with her boyfriend, she needs the money.’

  ‘Did you find any links to Doncaster?’

  ‘No. She’s not on social media, so I couldn’t check out her old school friends. In fact, I’ve found nothing via the Internet, it’s all been by other means.’

  ‘Anything else you’ve discovered?’

  ‘I didn’t have time to check out Jodi, or any of the other names we’ve been given. Sorry.’

  ‘No problem. We’ll do what we can.’

  It didn’t take long for them to arrive at Maddie’s centre, which was on the edge of a main town, just off a main highway. The centre and surrounding gardens were in a picturesque location and in amongst woodland and farmland. Given its outwardly luxurious appearance, it appeared a popular and successful business.

  There were picnic tables in a central zone and numerous animal pens and signs indicating nature walks around the edge. The centre, itself, was a substantial size; the private quarters were on the upper two floors and the business was on the ground floor, and included an information area, a shop and a café.

  They found Maddie, and having had a brief conversation, she guided them to Kelly, who was grooming one of the dogs in a small pen. They didn’t want the visitors of the centre to overhear their conversations and wanted to keep the chat as informal as possible, hence their decision to chat at one of the unattended picnic tables situated in a private location.

  There was anxiety in Kelly’s expression as she removed her equipment from the pen, returning it to a locked shed, and joined them at the table. She sat down, maintaining a stern gaze, and locked her arms across her front in a defensive pose.

  Luke opened up with a question relating to her job, and commented on the rapport she had with the animals. He had hoped it would help her relax, but it seemed to do the opposite, as her body stiffened and her expression filled with suspicion. Deciding his efforts were pointless, he moved the interrogation on.

  ‘I see you’ve had a variety of jobs,’ he said, looking at the list Imogen had presented. ‘Working here is quite a change.’

  ‘Working with animals is what I’ve always wanted to do. And it’s something I am good at. I’m not a people person.’

  ‘We know you’ve had a bit of trouble in the past. Would you say this job is important to you?’

  Her eyes narrowed. ‘Of course. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t.’

  ‘And is it for financial reasons, or something else?’

  ‘I know what you’re getting at, but I haven’t been on the office computer. And even if I had, I wouldn’t know where to start to go about altering a website. It’s foreign to me. In fact, I hardly ever go online. I’ve no need to.’

  ‘You went online after the awards ceremony last Saturday – the foundations website, no less.’

  She held a firm gaze.

  ‘Why did you do that?’

  Kelly shrugged.

  ‘Do you know who made the changes?’

  ‘It wasn’t me.’

  ‘Looking at the website seems a strange thing to do. According to Miss Watson, you were the only person who knew about what happened.’

  ‘Perhaps I’m the only honest person.’

  ‘Did the others know about it?’

  ‘I wouldn’t know. I’ve not spoken to them. It’s not my business.’

  ‘That’s not the attitude you had at Braithwaites.’

  Tension creased her face. She leaned forward and was about to speak when she scanned the list of jobs. ‘Where did you get that from? I never …’ her voice trailed and her eyed darted. Firstly, they flashed between them, before glimpsing to Josh Smithson loitering in the car park a distance at their rear.

  ‘Why did you lie about your work history?’

  She jumped to her feet and flattened her hands upon the wooden table. ‘I needed the job, okay? If I told the truth, I wouldn’t be here, would I?’

  ‘Is that you’re only motive?’

  ‘Of course it is.’ She glanced at the row o
f pens. ‘I’d like to get back. I’ve work to do.’

  Realising her impatience, Luke hurried the conversation on, but despite his and Imogen’s efforts, they didn’t learn of a connection to Doncaster or the school Maddie had attended. Eventually, accepting their efforts were failing, they told Kelly she could go, and then, needing to smooth out the confusion in his mind, he delayed calling Jodi to their table.

  ‘What are your thoughts?’ he asked Imogen.

  ‘When we asked her about her connections to Doncaster her confusion and lack of understanding at our questions seemed genuine,’ she said.

  ‘I agree.’

  ‘And, from what we gathered she knows nothing about website design. I’m not sure she’d have to knowledge to alter the website.’

  ‘So are we ruling her out?’

  ‘She may have a vindictive personality, but she doesn’t have a motive, at least none I can find. Okay, so she lied about her work history, but that doesn’t prove anything.’

  Luke twiddled his pencil. ‘I thought she was hiding something when we asked why she’d looked at the website.’

  ‘Yes, she was tense. Why would you go straight home from work and check it out? It makes no sense. I doubt she’s even interested in the foundation. She only seems to care about the animals and the classes she runs.’

  Luke agreed, and even though he felt certain he had missed something important, he could not think of nothing to add and told Jodi they were ready for a chat. Whilst they waited for her to arrive, he noticed Kelly having a private conversation with Josh on the edge of the car park. Given the stress in both of their expressions, he reasoned it was tense, and it caused a niggling feeling of apprehension to rise through his gut.

  Did Josh know Kelly was responsible for the crimes? Perhaps they should have him added to the list of interviewees. However, before he had a chance to write his name on the bottom of the list, Imogen and Jodi appeared in his view.

  Jodi was far more forthcoming than Kelly, and was both eager to answer his questions as well as talk about things he didn’t ask, making the process enjoyable. Whilst they discovered little more, it was useful to hear her speak of her unhappiness relating to the business and the foundation.

  ‘It was my idea,’ she said. ‘I did all the background work, and I offered to put some money into it to get it started, but she wanted none of it. I understand her need for independence and her drive for dominance, even so …’ she shook her head. ‘Excluding me from everything the way she has hurts.’

  ‘Why were you so keen to put money in?’

  ‘Last year I received a large inheritance. It’s more than I needed and wanted to put a bit of it to good use.’

  ‘Why bullying?’

  She lowered her gaze to her knotted hands. ‘I hate that it goes on.’

  ‘Do you have personal experience?’

  ‘I …’ her eyes flitted between them. ‘I’ve never told Maddie, but my best friend at school was bullied. It ruined her teenage years and beyond. I doubt she’s the person she would have been had it not have happened.’

  ‘How does that make you feel knowing what Maddie did to Emma?’

  ‘If I’m honest, I despise her for it. I know she blames her father and claims he made her want to climb the hierarchy so to speak - to make sure someone was beneath her. But it’s not an excuse or a reason. Bullies are cowards. She was too gutless to seek help or to realise what she was doing was wrong, and took it out on someone else. I can’t forgive her for that.’

  Luke studied her demeanour, and concluded she held a lot of anger and hatred, aimed at Maddie and the other bullies like her. Whilst her feelings were understandable, it was a surprise to learn that she had never told Maddie of her true feelings. Curious, he raised it with Jodi.

  ‘I haven’t said anything because I’ve known from the start how cut up she was about it.’ She paused, and studied their interested faces. ‘I take it she told you what happened to Emma.’

  Simultaneously, they nodded.

  ‘Then you’ll be aware of Maddie’s guilt. We may be coming from different directions by supporting the bullying foundation, but we’re both after the same thing. We both want it to stop.’

  ‘Would you prefer to be running the foundation alone?’

  Her eyes flashed fear. ‘No, of course not. I’m not responsible for what’s going on.’

  ‘You’re the only person who knows Emma’s name.’

  ‘Evidently, I’m not. And before you ask, I’ve never said a word to anyone, not even Josh, who was frustrated by his ignorance yesterday. It’s not my place to say anything, is it? Why she’s keeping him in the dark, though, is beyond me. He’s a very nice man … sweet and caring, which is a surprise considering his past.’

  ‘His past?’

  ‘He was violent and did things he’s not proud of. I learned about it by chance. I probably shouldn’t be saying anything since he swore me to secrecy.’

  ‘What did he do?’

  She rubbed her hands and looked towards the entrance of the centre, and to Maddie chatting with a couple with two small children. ‘I’d prefer not to say. I don’t think she knows, and it’s not important anyway. I know he’s a different person now. In fact, he’s every bit as supportive of the foundation as the rest of us. He works at home for a company in Leeds but spends a lot of his time helping us. He was amazing yesterday. We were in it deep with the email problem and he handled a lot of the calls.’

  ‘Does he have access to the computer?’

  ‘He does.’ She glanced between them. ‘Josh is not responsible for this. If he was, he wouldn’t be bending over backwards to help us out.’

  Having learned what they could, they told Jodi she could leave and asked her to send Earl to speak with them. Jodi was obliging, and within a couple of minutes, Earl had arrived at their makeshift desk.

  Earl had known Maddie for about fifteen years and was dismayed with Maddie’s treatment of Jodi. He added that her behaviour surprised him since she wasn’t as confident or hard-nosed as she appeared, and usually empathic to people’s needs and wants.

  ‘She’s always worrying about how she presents herself, and spends a lot of time fiddling with her tops,’ he said. ‘Evidently, she cares what others think. I would have thought that would have meant she would have treated Jodi better.’

  Luke did not reply, and scribbled a note in his pad.

  ‘It’d piss me off too. Those two have been as good as sister’s for years. She should have mentioned her personally in the speech at the weekend, in the very least. It surprised everyone.’

  ‘Do you have any idea why she didn’t do it?’

  ‘It might have slipped her mind. She didn’t read a speech, so her nerves may have gotten the better of her. But I still reckon it’s strange. They’ve both put their hearts and souls into the foundation. Mentioning her formally was the least she could have done.’

  ‘Do you know why she set up the foundation?’

  ‘It’s to do with her father … and the fact she was a bully at school.’

  Luke’s eyes flickered.

  ‘I’m right, aren’t I?’

  ‘That’s not for me to say.’

  ‘I guessed about the bullying long before Emma was mentioned. I thought it was common knowledge - not that I’d say anything. I hear all sorts doing my job since I fade into the background much of the time. But I’m not a gossip.’

  ‘Did you see or hear anything on Saturday after the website attack?’

  ‘I saw Josh and Kelly exit the office. I was on my way home, and returned inside for my coat. Josh appeared calm, but Kelly looked sheepish.’

  ‘Do you know if she has problems with Maddie?’

  ‘Hard to tell. I know she’s trying hard to fit in. As for Josh, you’d never know that he’s not part of the business. He’s always kicking around, doing this and that. He turned into quite an asset from what I’ve heard. He was bending over backwards to help after the fall out with the email. I don’t
know when he gets his paid work done.’

  Luke straightened his back. ‘Do you like him?’

  ‘I’ve no reason to dislike him. I think he’s a good bloke. I was suspicious of him at the start, but that’s because we got off on the wrong footing. He was talking to someone by one of the beds, over there in fact.’ He pointed to a secluded spot a little distance to their left, not far from the car park. ‘I happened to be gardening just out of view, but I wasn’t prying. I was doing my work. When he saw me, he was furious.’

  ‘Who was he talking to?’

  ‘I don’t know. Some bloke I’ve not seen before … or since.’

  ‘What did you hear?’

  ‘Nothing much … except they called him Andrew. Josh told me it was his first name, but he hadn’t used it since school.’

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘No, that was it.’

  Luke thanked Earl for his time and allowed him to leave.

  He turned to Imogen. ‘It seems Josh is an intriguing man. I think we should try to find him.’

  ‘I’ve just seen him go with Maddie into their private quarters.’

  ‘Then we’ll head up there.’

  He thrust his belongings into his brown satchel, and together, they started across the grounds and headed towards the building. It was late, the car park had virtually emptied, since closing time had arrived, and the air was starting to chill. He buttoned his jacket and noticed Imogen doing the same.

  Moments later, they arrived at the door and pressed the bell.

  They waited and waited. There was no answer.

  He turned to face her. ‘Are you certain they went inside?’

  ‘Yes. Josh had his arm around her. I might be wrong, but given their clouded expressions it appeared he was the bearer of bad news.’

  He was about to respond when there was a pounding of footsteps followed by an audible shifting of the latch. Then the door swung open. Josh was before them with an anguished look upon his face, and Maddie was standing at the top with her arms huddled across her front.

  ‘The bastard’s done it again,’ he said. ‘We’ve received another clock! This time there’s a private article in a national paper claiming that Maddie bullied Emma. It claims she is without remorse.’

  A frown coated his face.