by Paul Kelly
Chapter Thirty Five
Feeling again like a spy in a corner, Alison sat stealthily nearby as Daniel went into court. She had tried to be at the police station that morning too a few days ago and before Dillon went back to school, but Rosie could only get the time to replace her at the cafe when the hospital visit was due so she missed the police interview. She would ask Daniel all about that when the court was finished and they were on their way home, but contrary to what she had expected from the last visit she had made to the court when Daniel was being questioned, he reappeared in the hallway outside court number seven about ten minutes after having gone in there.
“Great! you’re out early,” said Alison “ and what did they say in there? Was the cow there too?”
Daniel sat down heavily beside Alison and wiped his brow with his handkerchief.
“No, she wasn’t there, but old Cohen, her lawyer was ...”
“Yes, yes, and what did he have to say?”
“He spoke to the judge for a few moments and I could see him nervously looking at the court room door. I think he was expecting Frieda to walk in to the court at any time and I showed the letters and emails I had brought with me to prove that Frieda had been lying all through the evidence so far and that I wanted details and receipts of things concerning her life after she left me, as I am sure she went off somewhere with this other man and you don’t travel and stay in a hotel without paying.” said Daniel, but Alison was concerned as to why Frieda had not turned up at the court, when it seemed so essential that she should do. However at that moment, Maurice Cohen came out of the court room and approached Daniel.
“Mr. Roberts, “ he said in a very sober voice, “I have spoken with the judge about your request and he has informed me that the evidence you want to give now is nothing to do with the case in hearing. If you want to go ahead and have another court hearing with what you say you have on your person, like letters and emails, etc, it would take about two years for that to happen and it would be very costly. I have instructions from my client in the event of this new suggestion you have made but unfortunately she hasn’t turned up this morning and she hasn’t phoned or got in touch to say why she is delayed.
Alison could see Daniel’s face go grey and she was sure he was thinking of the cost that Cohen had suggested to him.
“Can I have five minutes to think about it?” asked Daniel and Maurice Cohen agreed as he left the hall to return to the court, but hardly had Daniel sat down again when the court room doors burst open and a rather flushed Cohen reappeared clasping his mobile phone to his ear.
“Mr. Roberts ... on what we have discussed ... I would suggest from what I understand from the judge that the cost of another hearing would be in the region of £5,000. If I suggest to you that my client pays £4,000 would you be prepared to pay the other £1,000?”
Daniel glared at Maurice Cohen as he spoke.
“What has my ex wife got to say about that?” he asked and Cohen lowered his head before he answered.
“I have tried to get in touch with her without success, but ... I can’t understand what has gone wrong, Mr. Roberts, however I know what my client would have done, had she been here and I assure you what I suggest to you is what she would want me to do.” Daniel shook his head in disbelief. He could not understand why Frieda had not turned up for the court hearing and more so why her lawyer didn’t know where she was. It was a total mystery and he was confused. In that moment, he had a flash back to the time when he had first met Frieda and had fallen head over heels in love with her. If he had heard then what he was hearing now, he would have gone off his head, but in that moment when he stood outside court number seven, he had nothing but relief that he was no more attached to Frieda than he was to the Queen of Sheba. His feelings were confused and mixed with fear, relief and sheer satisfaction for the way Frieda had treated him, but it was still a complete and utter mystery why Cohen knew no more than he did himself about her non appearance and even more so why the police had not been told of Frieda’s latest ‘disappearing act’
Was there a tactic in the actions of the police? Did they know more than they were saying? Did they know what had happened to Frieda and were they playing a cat and mouse game with the culprit?
Alison touched Daniel’s hand and her eyes were tender as she looked at him. “What are you going to do, Daniel?” she asked but Daniel ignored her question for the moment as he turned towards Maurice Cohen and stared into his eyes.
“When were you last in touch with my ex wife?” he asked and Cohen rubbed the tip of his nose with his forefinger before he answered.
“About two weeks ago I would say, but I have the actual date in my diary if it is of great importance.”
Daniel looked at Alison for a second and smiled before he turned to the lawyer.
“If that offer is still open, I accept it,” he said and Cohen smiled.
“I think that is the wisest thing to do, Mr. Roberts, Good day to you.”
After he had gone, Daniel shook Alison’s hand vigorously as he biffed the air.
“What’s that for?” she asked and Daniel grinned.
“Did you understand that offer of me paying £1000 when Frieda would pay the other £4000?”
“No, I didn’t, why?
“Frieda doesn’t want me to expose the lies she has told, nor the man she went off with after she left me. She is as guilty as hell and she knows it and so does Cohen. Do you think she would make that offer if she was innocent? ... and don’t you think that is the reason why she has not appeared at the court this morning?
Alison wrinkled her brow and shook her head,
“I suppose you are right, but that doesn’t answer the question, does it?” she said and Daniel raised his eyebrows.
“What question?”
“Where is Frieda now?” she asked
“Well Cohen hasn’t spoken to her for the last two weeks or so, so either he knows she is guilty and has taken this chance with me, or he knows she is no longer around and he might lose the case if she doesn’t turn up. Who knows? ... The police may have been in touch with him. Anything’s possible at this stage. By the way, I forgot to tell you that the police have checked my blood sample with the blood on some glass at that flat in Trafford Road and it’s not mine ... come on, lets go home.”
Chapter thirty Seven
When Alison and Daniel got back to his flat later that day, they were surprised to find Rosie waiting for them. She had prepared a light supper and was making every effort to make them feel comfortable and at home, even if Dillon had gone back to school and her presence wasn’t really necessary.
“This is very kind of you, Rosie,” said Daniel as he took off his coat and hung it on a hook in the hallstand. “I was thinking of taking Alison out to dinner this evening as we knew that Dillon would not be here and it would have been a nice opportunity for us to be together for a good long talk.... and we have plenty to talk about, haven’t we Alison?”
“Alison smiled and Rosie apologised saying that she would take the supper she had prepared home with her and that it wouldn’t go to waste, but Daniel put his hand in the air at her suggestion.
“No, Rosie. You have been very kind and we would like you to join us, please. I can take Alison to dinner another time.”
Rosie flustered at his suggestion and it was only after Alison interfered and insisted that Rosie should join them in their repast that she agreed.
“I thought you might have had a very busy day at the court and who knows what news people get when they go to places like that,” said Rosie as she played nervously with her fingers. “Is there anything further to talk about on that score?” she asked and both Daniel and Alison looked at her in surprise at her interest.
“Not much,” said Daniel and Alison was about to tell Rosie about Frieda being reported missing at the court he
aring when Daniel clasped her hand and tightened his grasp. “No nothing much more than we already know,” he went on.
“Was Frieda there?” asked Rosie and again Daniel tightened his grip on Alison’s hand.
“As always, “ he said and they sat down to what Rosie had prepared, but they ate in silence and Alison was more than a little concerned as she knew how eager Daniel was to discuss the details of the court hearing and also his visits both to the police and to the hospital.
“”I suppose it is strange that Frieda wasn’t at the court hearing this morning,” she said and broke the ice, compelling Daniel to say something and for Rosie to stare enquiringly at both of them, but Daniel simply raised his eyebrows as if he wasn’t at all concerned.
“I think the police and Mr. Cohen have all the answers,” was all he would say, but this statement only made Rosie the more inquisitive.
“Does this mean that you have won your case against her, Daniel?” she asked and Daniel smiled.
“I would like to think so Rosie, but I have learned when dealing with Frieda in any way, she can come up with more surprises than a Christmas cracker.”
Alison grinned when Daniel said that, but Rosie looked worried.
“But surely, if she was not at court, that means she is either missing without trace as I am sure you must think may have happened, or she is avoiding the issue because she knows she is defeated, ... surely?”
Alison could sense that Daniel did not want to talk any more on the matter and she rose from the table and suggested she would do the washing up before she intended to go home and have an early night. Daniel agreed as he had to prepare for a music lesson concerning a student who would be coming to his flat that evening and Rosie followed Alison into the kitchen.
“This is a rather strange affair, don’t you think, Alison? I mean it’s very strange how suddenly Frieda should vanish when the case is getting nearer a conclusion, one way or another, don’t you think?” she said as she grabbed a tea towel and started to dry the dishes.
“I really don’t know any more than Daniel has already told you, Rosie, but I’m sure the facts will become clearer as time goes on.”
“Facts ... what facts?”
“The facts of what has happened. You and I both know that Frieda just wouldn’t stay away from court if she could help it. She’s not that kind of person. She is vindictive and spiteful and if there was any chance that she could inflict more pain on Daniel than she already has done, she would do it and do it with a vengeance.”
“Do you think something has happened to her, Alison? I mean something serious where she CANNOT attend court?”
Alison smiled as she dried her hands.
“Wishful thinking, I would suggest, Rosie or am I being too cruel?”
Rosie winced when Alison said that.
“Alison, do you think maybe ... maybe that Frieda has had some sort of an accident, then?”
Alison stacked the dishes in the appropriate cupboard and turned to Rosie.
“Accident, Rosie?“ she enquired, “Why would you think that?“
Alison could not think why Rosie should talk about an accident to Frieda after the latest supposed accident had happened ... and so recently. “Rosie, I’ve told you, I don’t know any more than you do, nor what Daniel knows for that matter. We only found out when we went to the court that Frieda had not turned up.”
“But Alison, surely her lawyer should have known something?” Rosie went on, but Alison sighed and suggested she should get her coat as it was time she was getting home, and Rosie followed suit. It was on the way back to Alison’s flat that Rosie started to make fresh enquiries again.
“I think Daniel must have won this case, Alison. How else would this wicked woman give up so suddenly and ... well so surprisingly easy?”
“Rosie, I don’t know ... I’ve already told you, I don’t know any more than you do about the matter, but anyway, why are so bloody interested. It doesn’t involve you, does it?“ replied Alison and Rosie could tell that her friend was getting rather annoyed at her persistent enquiries.
“Well yes, it does actually, Alison ... after all you think she was at Ken’s flat at some time or another don’t you?”
Alison arrived at her flat just as she was about to shout at Rosie, but Rosie’s last remark made her think again.
“Yes, that’s right Rosie, but that doesn’t involve you, does it?”
“Yes it does, Alison. After all Ken would have been the father of my baby and if he was carrying on with all these women as you have suggested, then I am involved and besides, I think it is terrible what this creature, Frieda has done to Daniel and to you also, for that matter. You are in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Yes, of course I am, but ...”
“But nothing Alison. You have always been kind to me and shared by troubles when I was pregnant and I hate to see you going through all this wicked business when you should be happy and getting married to Daniel.”
Alison opened her flat door and laughed.
“That’s a hope, if ever there was one, Rosie. I don’t think that idea enters Daniel’s mind ... not even for a second. He is through with women after all he has gone through and I don’t really blame him.”
“Yes, I understand that, but if this Frieda creature should disappear somewhere and can’t give you any more hassle, surely that would be something to think positive about?”
Alison stopped in the hallway and closed her front door behind her with her foot after Rosie had come in.
“Rosie , you sound as though you know something about this incident ... do you?”
“Good gracious no, Alison. It’s just that I would be so happy to see you settled and content in your life after what you’ve gone through and I know the life you had with Ken. It’s time you had a little joy in your life, don’t you think?”
Alison kicked her shoes off and sighed with relief.
“These shoes are killing me,” she remarked seemingly ignoring Rosie’s concern, but at that moment, the telephone rang.
“Hello ... hello ... is anyone there?”
“Hello Alison, it’s me, Daniel. I’ve been getting some strange phone calls since you left and I knew it couldn’t be you trying to talk to me as you wouldn’t have got back to your place in that time. Are you alright?”
Alison stared at Rosie who stared back at her, wondering what had been said on the telephone to make her look so shocked.
”Yes, I’m O.K. Rosie is here with me. Are you sure you are alright? It’s so strange to get calls like that, isn’t it? Had Frieda been around I would have said she was up to her old tricks again, but as she seems to have disappeared from the map, it can’t be her ... or CAN IT? “ Alison emphasized her last remark to Daniel. “Why don’t you check the 1471 line and see who it was calling?”
“Thanks Alison, I never thought to do that, but I will now. If anything interesting turns up, I’ll let you know, Bye.”
Rosie couldn’t wait to find out what had happened and she strained to reach Alison as she put the phone down.
“Is everything alright?” she enquired, noticing how worried Alison looked in that moment, but Alison stared ahead, looking into space before she shook her head and raised her eyebrows.
“Yes,” she replied in a low voice, “Well, I say yes, but I don’t really know. That was Daniel and he’s getting strange telephone calls where nobody seems to be on the other end of the line.”
Rosie put her hand to her mouth when Alison said that.
“Well, sometimes I get calls like that, “ she said, “but it is usually either somebody has dialled a wrong number or else whoever is dialling can’t get through.”
“Yes, I can understand that Rosie. I’m not silly, but every time Daniel answers the phone there is no-one on the other end of the
line, even when he holds on and asks whoever is there to speak to him ... and this is not just one call but several.”
At that moment the telephone rang again and Alison looked at it twice before she lifted the receiver, thinking it could well be one of those anonymous calls that Daniel was receiving.
“Hello ... oh hello Daniel, I wasn’t sure who or what to expect when I answered this call after what you have been experiencing. Have you any more news?”
Daniel did not respond immediately to her enquiry and she called him again.
“Yes, yes,” he replied, “I was just thinking ... maybe Frieda is being held captive somewhere and the person who is holding her just wants to frighten me. What do you think?”
Alison looked at Rosie before she spoke again.
“Daniel, I don’t think you’re being reasonable. Why would someone want to kidnap that old crow and if she was being held somewhere, why are you worried. She has given you enough worries in the past. I would say forget the whole matter, I really would.” There was another long silence and Alison called out “Don’t give her another thought, Daniel. She wouldn’t give a damn for you if you were in trouble or if you went off on a long walk by yourself, would she?”
As Alison was about to put the phone down, Rosie grabbed her by the arm.
“Alison, I couldn’t help hearing what you said on the phone to Daniel, but if he is worried ... well, perhaps as he had loved Frieda at one time that he would naturally feel this concern,”