Dark of Mind

by Robin Roughley

  More tension ploughed through his brain as he pictured Kelly and Belle sitting side by side chewing their fingernails, their faces etched with anxiety.

  'Tell them to relax, Sue, I'll sort it.'

  'OK, good luck… and I love you.'

  'Love you too,' he replied as he tapped at the screen.

  The traffic was heavy as he hit the ring road, he thought of Hinton ranting in his office, his face slick with sweat and anger as he bellowed about his daughter, the threats and accusations firing from his twisted mouth in rapid succession.

  There had been no talking to the man, no reasoning with him and by the time he had left the office, Hinton had been more furious than when he had entered.

  'So much for diplomacy,' he sighed as he headed through the town.

  93

  The anger that Faith had felt when she realised that her father was far from perfect had gradually abated as she drove back towards home. She did her best to try and hold onto the feeling of injustice, but the fear started to seep back into her mind along with the slow, creeping dread.

  The truth was her father would ignore any questions she had, and if she tried to point the finger of blame in his direction then he would go ballistic and more than likely throw her out of the house with a warning never to come back again.

  Faith pictured herself running from the house in floods of tears, while his bitch of a girlfriend stood and smiled, looking out of the window that used to be her bedroom, no doubt delighted at her distress.

  Bringing the car to stop, Faith felt her body start to shake as she realised that confronting her father had been a ridiculous idea and one born of desperation. The reality was she had nothing to bargain with, he would insist that the child growing inside her was aborted and even when she had been through the horror that it entailed, he would use it to control her even more than he already did. She imagined herself trying to live in the family home and found that she couldn't manage it. Her life had been hard before but now it would be impossible, she knew that her father would bring it up any chance he got, calling her names and ridiculing her and encouraged by his ''girlfriend'' who would delight in twisting the knife at every available opportunity.

  Bleak images came one after the other and each one reaffirmed the horror of her situation; she would be treated like a pariah, an outcast, by her father and no amount of effort on her behalf would make the slightest difference to the onslaught.

  The headlights sliced into the darkness as she sat behind the wheel, her brain in turmoil as she tried to see a way forward through the mess that was now her life. If she hadn't been pregnant then, perhaps, she could have left her studies and got a job and somehow found a place to live, but even that escape route had been obliterated. But then again, if she hadn't been pregnant, none of this would be happening, she'd still be at uni. Tears filled her eyes, and then her phone rang, she glanced at the screen, it was Kelly again and suddenly she felt even more shame weigh down on her. The Bannister family had helped her and no doubt by now they would be concerned, wondering why she wasn't answering their calls. The phone died and she wiped the tears from her cheeks, the hitch of a gasp catching in her throat. All they had tried to do was give her some space to think things through and yet Faith knew that time was limited, the child inside was growing and the thought of having it ripped from her body suddenly became abhorrent to her.

  'I can't do it,' she gasped as tears filled her eyes.

  Inside, the sudden determination flared, Belle and Kelly had been right, this was the one decision over which she had total control, keeping the child would basically see her homeless yet she knew she could never live with herself if she agreed to a termination.

  Without even realising it, her right hand went to her stomach as she sat in the darkness and cried, yet inside, the determination continued to grow, her father had no right to tell her what to do, she was nineteen years old, she wasn't a child.

  She had no doubt that she could turn the car around and go back to the Bannisters, knowing that they would do all they could to help her and perhaps she would do that, but the truth was until she confronted her father then she would find no peace.

  He would remain a looming shadow dishing out his threats and expecting her to buckle under the pressure, the determination surged and suddenly the anger was back and then she fumbled the car into gear and moved forward. The fear was still there, the uncertainty running rampant through her mind, but she knew that she had to get it sorted right now no matter what the outcome, she had to be free of her father's demanding ways.

  Faith Hinton drove through the darkness, her cheeks wet with tears, as the determination reignited inside, whatever the consequences she would see her father tonight and no matter how much he ranted she would have her say.

  'Home truths,' she whispered as she headed for the house that had never felt like any kind of home.

  94

  Jackie had her arm threaded through Lasser's as they walked along the towpath, he could smell her scent on the warm evening air, the torch in his right hand illuminating the way as the whippet dashed past at speed.

  'So how did it go at the Hall?' he asked.

  Jackie glanced up at a sky alight with stars. 'It went well, I took plenty of pictures so now I just have to wait to see which one they choose.'

  'Then it's all systems go?'

  'Fingers crossed, though I do know it will be too big to paint the canvas on the boat, but they've said I can use one of the rooms up at the Hall to paint so that's not a problem.'

  Taking a pull on the cigarette, he handed it over to her as he blew out the smoke.

  'What about you, how has your day been?'

  'Pretty crap really,' he replied as he thought of Robbins with the sly gleam in his eyes.

  When he felt Jackie hug his arm, he glanced at her and smiled.

  'Sorry for being a misery guts,' he said.

  'Hey, come on, you're never miserable and considering the job you do then that in itself is a miracle.'

  'The fact is I'm sure Robbins is responsible for all this and yet we have no proof.'

  The whippet reappeared in the torchlight and dashed past them again, legs flying, tail wagging.

  Before heading out for the walk Lasser had told her all about the case and the man named Robbins, including his past, and at first, she had actually felt sorry for the guy but by the time he had finished any sympathy had vanished, replaced by a sense of disgust.

  'I still can't believe someone would deliberately target people at their most vulnerable,' she replied as they continued to walk.

  On the canal a couple of swans went silently gliding by, appearing ethereal in the darkness.

  'When you think about it these damaged individuals make the perfect weapon, if Robbins is responsible then he knows we can't forge any links back to him. Take Foster, a man who at one time had a decent job and a life that was slowly taken away piece by piece.'

  'Because he had to look after his mother?'

  Lasser nodded. 'I know it doesn't sound like much but obviously it affected Foster badly, we know he self-harmed, no family, no friends and then he was brainwashed and turned into a murderer.'

  'And now you think Foster could be dead?'

  A duck squawked on the water and Lasser glanced across before turning back to Jackie, 'He failed to kill Frank and if it is Robbins in control then he will have known we were looking for Foster, so he decides to kill two birds with one stone.'

  'By using the new guy to kill Foster?' she asked as she shivered slightly at the implications.

  'That way he gets rid of Foster and the new slave proves his dedication.'

  The beam of light faded slightly and Lasser shook it back to life.

  'And you think he could target his ex-wife?'

  'Well, originally he tried to get Pamela Fitzsimmons to kill her but thankfully we found her in time.'

  'So now he's on the outside and using someone else to try and finish the job?'

  Las
ser gently tugged Jackie to a halt and pulled her close, dipping his head and kissing her before wrapping his arms around her, her wild hair tickling his cheek.

  'Robbins pictures himself as some superior being and when he was in the unit, he had the perfect alibi, but now he's on the outside he will have to plan things more carefully.'

  'He'll need another cast-iron alibi?'

  After kissing the tip of her nose, they turned and started the long walk back to the barge.

  'He was playing golf when Frank was attacked, he made sure plenty of people saw him and if he does intend killing his ex-wife then he will need another convincing alibi.'

  'So, I take it someone is watching him twenty-four seven?' she asked.

  Lasser felt another sigh rise inside. 'The truth is the force doesn't work that way these days.'

  'Why not?' she asked slipping her arm back through his.

  'We just don't have the resources to post someone at his house. We're cut to the bone as it is and those in charge would soon complain if we tried to keep an eye on Robbins full-time.'

  'But that's ridiculous.'

  'Agreed, but it's the truth whether we like it or not.'

  They fell silent, Lasser fuming at the way the force was trying to function in a world of restraints, the dog reappeared and started to trot along by their side as the stars continued to shine down in the clear night sky.

  95

  Faith felt a slight shiver of relief pass through her when she could only see her father's car on the drive, meaning his girlfriend must be out of the house. Though the relief was short-lived when her father appeared at the front window, she saw his eyes widen in shock and then he jabbed a finger at her through the glass, his face blasted with anger.

  Faith felt the fear clamber over her like an unruly child, her left hand automatically going to her stomach as he vanished from sight.

  Taking a deep breath, she pulled the handbrake up and turned the engine off before opening the door, determined to meet her father on her feet rather than cowering behind the wheel.

  'You bloody little whore!' his voice exploded out into the darkness the second he appeared at the open front door.

  Faith stood by the side of her car trying desperately to control the sense of burgeoning fear.

  She watched as he stormed towards her and it took all her strength not to take a backward step as his riven face appeared through the shadows.

  'How dare you do this to me!' he bellowed.

  'Please, Dad, I've not come here to argue, I just want you to listen to me and…'

  'Listen to you?' he blustered. 'I'll never believe a word you say again, you kept this hidden from me, you spread your legs to some bastard and now you have his spawn inside you!'

  Faith could see the utter disgust writhing on his face, and she felt a thrum of shame followed a second later by a blast of anger.

  'I have a child growing inside me and I'm sorry if that disgusts you.'

  'You're the one that disgusts me, I gave you everything, every single thing you could have wanted and now I find you're nothing but a common slut.'

  Faith tried to find a suitable response, but she could see by the look on his face that he would never listen to anything she had to say, his eyes were fixed, glass-like and brimming with hatred.

  'Now you turn up here, no doubt to grovel and say you're sorry but you can forget it you'll not set foot in this house until you've got rid of that… that thing!' he barked, stabbing a finger towards her stomach.

  This time she did step back in fear, her hands held out in front of her. 'I'll never get rid of my baby!' she shouted back and then gasped as she realised it was the first time she had ever thought of the thing growing inside her as a ''baby''.

  All reason left John Hinton's manic eyes as he lurched forward and grabbed her wrist.

  'You've ruined everything, you stupid bitch, all the money I've spent on you and for what, just so you could let me down and act like the slut you are!?'

  Faith tried to pull her arm free, but her father tightened his grip, his face ballooning towards her.

  'Do you have any idea how hard I have worked to provide the best for you?' he demanded.

  'You're hurting me,' she gasped, and then pain exploded in her left cheek as his open hand cracked across her face.

  'You're just like your mother!' he bellowed.

  Faith's ears rang with the blow, her cheek burned with pain as she tried to pull away from her father's rage.

  'She was whore as well, a common slut, who…'

  'LIAR!' Faith screamed, and then lashed out, catching her father a glancing blow to the side of the head.

  She saw the shock in his eyes, and he tightened his grip and drew his arm back though this time the hand had closed into a fist and she whimpered as she saw the fury take complete control.

  Screwing her eyes closed, she waited for the blow to land and then suddenly she felt the grip on her arm vanish, she heard her father grunt, and she cracked her eyes open in time to see him hit the ground hard in a jumble of arms and legs.

  Then she felt a hand steady her and she snapped her head around to find a tall man looking at her with concern in his brown eyes.

  'Are you OK?' he asked before letting his hand slip from her shoulder.

  All Faith could do was nod and then she heard the sound of a car pulling up across the drive, glancing left she saw Kelly's dad looking wide eyed through the side window, then the door was flung open and he leapt out and stormed towards them.

  When he came to a stop, Faith fell forward and Bannister grabbed her in his arms.

  'Are you OK?' he asked as she burst into tears.

  On the ground, John Hinton groaned and tried to sit up, his face wracked with pain.

  'What happened?' Bannister demanded as he looked at the man to his right.

  'I was just passing, and I saw the guy slap her across the face, then he looked as if he was going to hit her with his fist and I got here just in time and kind of pushed him away.'

  Faith continued to sob; her face buried in Bannister's shoulder.

  The DCI felt the anger rise as he glared down at Hinton in disgust. 'What the hell is the matter with you, you dickhead?' he demanded.

  Hinton groaned again as he managed to push himself into a sitting position.

  'Is it OK if I go, I have somewhere I need to be?' the man asked.

  Bannister looked at him and sighed. 'My name is Detective Bannister; can you give me yours please?'

  'David Stone.'

  Bannister took a deep breath and nodded. 'Well, thanks for doing the right thing, Mr Stone, and, yes, you can go.'

  'No problem, and I hope you manage to get it all sorted,' Stone said before turning and walking back down the drive.

  Bannister eased Faith to one side, and she gripped his hand tight, her head bowed as if she couldn't bring herself to look at her father.

  'I asked you a question,' Bannister said. 'I want to know in what universe you think it's acceptable to attack a woman, especially one that is pregnant.'

  Hinton looked up at Bannister, the anger still evident in his pale eyes 'She's my daughter and…'

  'Which makes what you just did even bloody worse,' Bannister paused, 'now on your feet.'

  Hinton continued to glare at Bannister before reluctantly rising to his feet. 'This is a personal matter, it has nothing to do with the likes of you,' he snapped.

  Bannister looked at the man in disbelief. 'Wait there, do not move a muscle,' he said before turning away and leading Faith down the drive.

  Reaching the Audi, he walked around the car and opened the passenger door. 'You wait in there for me, Faith, I just want a word with your father before we go.'

  All the girl could do was nod as she stepped into the car and slumped back into the seat.

  Bannister closed the door quietly and headed back up the drive, his hands bunched into his jacket pockets.

  Hinton had backtracked to the front of the house and he now stood in th
e doorway, his face still coated with anger.

  'Get inside,' Bannister demanded as he strode forward and thrust Hinton into the hallway.

  'Don't you touch me!' Hinton seethed.

  Bannister hooked his leg back and kicked the door closed before grabbing Hinton's shirt and yanking him forward.

  'When I spoke to you earlier, I tried to get you to see sense, your daughter is pregnant she is carrying a child, you worthless bastard, and yet you hit her,' Bannister snarled.

  'She's no daughter of mine!' Hinton's eyes shone with fury and then his head was whipped to the left and he cried out as Bannister slapped him hard across the face.

  'How does that feel?' the DCI asked as he yanked Hinton upright. 'You say she's no longer your daughter so charging you with assault will be easy, and the fact that she's pregnant will not go down well with the courts.'

  'My daughter will never press charges,' Hinton barked.

  Bannister shook his head slowly. 'One minute you say she's not your daughter and then when it suits you change your frigging mind. You live in the dark ages, you tosser, she doesn't have to press charges, I can find the guy who stopped you punching her and no doubt he will be more than willing to testify about what you did tonight.'

  'I gave that girl everything she could ever have wanted, and this is how she repays me!' Hinton wailed.

  'Faith has told us exactly what you're like, pushing her all the time and never being satisfied with her achievements.'

  'How dare you!'

  Bannister thrust him away as if he suddenly couldn't stand being so close to Hinton.

  'You have a daughter any man would be proud of and yet you ignored what she really needed from you, having a child isn't about making sure they get good grades, it's about helping them through life, it's about listening to what they have to say and if you'd done that then Faith wouldn't have been terrified of telling you she was pregnant!'

  'She's a whore, a…'

  The front door suddenly opened, and Bannister turned to find a woman standing there, her blue eyes wide in shock, she was dressed in black jeans and a shimmering black silk shirt, a dark grey scarf casually looped around her neck.