In Too Deep

by Bradd Chambers

  Of course, none of this is new to Ava. By the time she woke up this morning, Cathal had already gotten two copies.

  “Our shop is mobile around here,” he winked at her from his coffee cup as she raised an eyebrow at his earliness. “Flies about the place in a wee van. I knew you’d probably want a copy to keep yourself.”

  She thanked him and sat down to read it, gratefully accepting tea and toast. She’d insisted that he’d done enough for her, but he still forced a tenner into her jacket pocket for a taxi instead of the bus.

  “Sure, you’d be terribly late,” he laughed, before ruffling Orla’s hair and telling her to be good. “And not enough change for that either.”

  From the taxi, Ava had rung the hospital to check up on Robyn. They’d told her she’d be discharged after midday, and she could pick her up then.

  “With what car?” she’d said under her breath as she hung up.

  She just hoped that Robyn knew someone that would have a spare key. Otherwise, it was a call to a locksmith and a hefty charge.

  “Any word from your man who was ringing yesterday?” Michael asks, bringing Ava back into the present.

  “Naw, no word yet.”

  “He was a while strange one, wasn’t he, Claire?”

  “Aye. Man on a mission,” she giggles into her mug.

  Clicking onto Twitter, Ava searches ‘@londonderryletter,’ quickly finding the online version of the story and retweeting and liking it. Instantly, she gets a notification that ‘@heathermoore71’ has retweeted and liked her retweet. Moments later, she gets a message.

  ‘@heathermoore71: congrats on your fundraiser!! you did well!!’

  Ava stares at the screen for a few seconds. She wishes this was Facebook or an indirect message where she could just like it and move on. She decides a polite ‘thanks :)’ will suffice.

  Paddy barrels in ten minutes later with celebratory donuts for everyone.

  “Cheers, Paddy,” she takes one with pink sprinkles.

  “Any luck with the one from yesterday?”

  “No,” she sings, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

  “Have you checked your e-mails again?”

  Ava shakes her head.

  “Will check them now.”

  She finds it four messages down. An e-mail from an ‘emmet520DSE@gmail.com.’ She hides the urge to gasp, not wanting to draw attention to herself, as she stares at the line he’s sent her. Tears collecting in her eyes.

  ‘Give me back my money or al snap ur ma’s fckin neck.’

  Chapter Forty-Nine:

  Ava blinks. She blinks again. She clicks into another e-mail and then goes back into it. But no matter how many times she stares and whatever she does, the message won’t rejiggle into a more comprehensive sentence.

  ‘Give me back my money or al snap ur ma’s fckin neck.’

  She stares at the sender’s address. She doesn’t know an Emmet. He’d only sent it five minutes ago. After several moments, she clicks the reply button.

  ‘Emmet,

  Sorry, I’m confused.

  Is this the £5,000 that was submitted to the fundraiser the other night that you are referring to?

  Regards,

  Ava McFeely,

  Foundation for Fiona.’

  She re-reads the post several times before clicking send. Leaning back in her chair, she exhales, drumming her fingers on the desktop. A short bleep from the computer’s speakers indicates that he’s replied instantly.

  ‘Undeliverable:

  A communication failure occurred during the delivery of this message. Please try to resend the message later.’

  What? Ava resends the e-mail two or three times but gets the same automatic response. How can it not send? It’s as if the address doesn’t exist…

  She cups her hands to her mouth, collecting her thoughts. Does he know her mother is dead? Not to sound pompous, but not many people around Derry don’t know about her. Is he talking about the five grand the kid gave in? That’s the only money she could think of. She’s taken out no loans. Hasn’t borrowed money from anyone. It’s the only situation she could think of.

  “No luck?” Paddy plops a cup of tea down beside her.

  She frantically grabs the mouse and clicks the ‘x’ at the top right-hand corner of her screen, bringing up her desktop wallpaper.

  “No, nothing yet. Must’ve been a prank call or something.”

  Satisfied with her answer, the others go back to work. Glancing at the time, Ava wishes the clock to go faster. It’s only half nine. She needs an excuse to get out and clear her head, but she’s already told them that she’s collecting Robyn from the hospital at lunch time. She thinks of someway she can get out of the office.

  Giving up on trying to hide her shaking hands, she plunges them into her pockets as she stands and strides into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she curses when she sees there’s still half a carton of milk left. No shop runs needed. Closing it and turning, she looks around for any excuse. Her mind races. Who is this guy? What does he want? Well… Apart from the money? How did this kid get hold of five grand? Is this an all-round threat, or is she targeted specifically? Could this have something to do with Boyle? Should she go to the police?

  The police! Dermott! Tugging her phone out of her pocket, she searches Dermott’s name and ferociously types out a message asking for him to call her. When the message is sent, she settles back into her chair at her desk for a matter of seconds before her phone rings.

  “Excuse me,” Ava waves her phone at the guys before turning to the back of the office.

  Stopping suddenly, she ponders her actions. She can’t go into the back yard without everyone hearing what she says. Turning on her heel, she starts towards the front door.

  “Might nip to the shop while I’m taking this, anyone want anything?”

  No-one even looks up from their computer. Only when she hears the door click behind her does she answer.

  “Hi, Dermott.”

  “Alright, Ave. You okay?”

  “Not really, no.”

  She’s surprised and ashamed to hear her voice crackling and tears collecting in her eyes again. The street is busy.

  “Two secs.”

  She trots across the road and around the corner to behind the businesses, where the quieter streets with the houses are.

  “Hi, sorry.”

  “What’s going on?"

  Sitting on a pavement behind a navy jeep, Ava bursts into tears and pours her heart out to Dermott.

  ****

  Of course, being a single mother is hard enough. But being a single mum who is also a recluse with trust issues and a lost respect and hope for men is another. The girls eventually left the shop, and I hired new ones. They were all the same though. Telling me I would meet a man one day to change my way of thinking. Asking me how I went so long without sex. Wondering how my life could just be work and Ava. To be honest, I enjoyed it. It wasn’t easy, but it was normal. Respectable. Safe.

  As soon as Ava started growing, I knew instantly she would be the spit of her father. She even had his crooked smile. Not when she beamed up at me if she wanted something. But if you caught her off guard. Almost as if she was trying to hide it. And her drive of making the best out of any situation. Her charisma. More things she inherited from him. She never would’ve got far in life taking after me. And though when we had our stupid mother-daughter spats and all I saw was Chris shouting back, I never resented her. Never questioned ‘what if?’ She was the greatest gift I’d ever gotten. The most amazing thing I’d ever created. She was just… Perfect.

  Despite my best efforts, I still managed to see Chris the odd time. It didn’t matter if I never set foot in his favourite bar or avoided his cul-de-sac, the universe still found a way to push us together. Luckily, I was only with Ava the once. He stared at her and I could swear I saw his eyes fill up. He never tried to make contact. With me or her. Turns out he married the long-term girl, Lisa, and had a bunch of children wi
th her instead. It did hurt, especially after him admitting that children weren’t in his plan, but I didn’t let it affect me. Affect us.

  In the end, I had the last laugh. Because I saw him with other girls as well. His playboy days didn’t end there. A wedding ring was easy to slip off. Especially easy to slip off someone’s skin as slimy as his. So, when I ever saw him, I held my head up high and strutted past. Showing him what he’d missed. What he could’ve had. What he lost.

  Chapter Fifty:

  Dermott ended up coming over and sitting in a coffee shop with Ava to discuss where she could go from here. He even brought his old colleague, Ethan Bratton, who still works with the PSNI, to take a full statement and make the force aware of the situation. They both warned her that with everything that goes on, in Northern Ireland especially, she’d have to be extra careful. If there is someone following her, if they knew that she’s went to the police then things could get a hell of a lot worse for her. It purely depends whether it’s some sick joke, or if it’s gone even further, into the hands of someone high up in a local underground organisation.

  “Either way, I think you’ll find out soon,” Bratton had told her. “I wouldn’t go flashing that cash on something pretty for yourself anyway. And don’t make yourself predictable. Take different routes to and from work. Stay at different people’s houses if you can. Try not to travel at night and stay with company. Anything and everything to keep you safe.”

  Ava had agreed, thankful that they had both turned up in civvies, before apologising and saying she had to collect her aunt from hospital. Naturally, Dermott wanted to help.

  Now, she’s sat in his car on the way to the hospital. The short drive is unbearable with the atmosphere in the car. Them both deep in thought. When they reach the hospital, Ava thanks Dermott, who says he’ll wait for them in the car park.

  The smell hits Ava as soon as she enters. The sickly smell that seems to be reserved for hospitals. Not that it’s the smell of the sick people inside, but the overpowering stench of cleaning products. The painted pink walls don’t help. Giving her the feeling she’s inside a giant stomach.

  Ava’s just climbing the stairs to Robyn’s ward when she sees her bolting out of the double doors into the corridor, slamming the palm of her hand on the elevator call button incessantly.

  “Mrs Friel, we need you to stay until someone‘s ready to collect you,” a nurse pleads with her.

  “I’m checking myself out, by fuck am I staying here,” Robyn grunts, her head lifted towards the number above the elevator doors.

  It’s still a few floors away.

  “Everything okay?”

  Hearing Ava’s voice, it’s like a switch goes off inside Robyn. Her harsh demeanour diminishes and she turns and collapses into her arms.

  “Get me home. Please, just get me home.”

  “What’s wrong, Rob?”

  “They’re trying to pump me full of God knows what. I just want my own bed. It’s been a rough night. Bastards wake you up every time you try and sleep to ask you if you’re sleeping. My blood pressure taken every half a fuckin’ hour. I want out,” she stamps her bare foot on the floor.

  “That’s fine, Mrs Friel,” the nurse tries to soothe her again. “The doctor’s gonna be right with you. He’ll be able to discharge you and we can get all your stuff and your daughter here can take you home,” she nods at Ava who smiles at her, not bothering to correct her in case Robyn kicks off again.

  “C’mon, Rob. Let the doctor see you one last time to make sure you’re fit-“

  “I know I’m fit to go home!”

  “And I know that too. But it saves you coming back in for check-ups and that kind of thing,” she feels and sounds like she’s talking to a toddler. “Prove to the doctors that you’re okay, and we can get away and get some lunch. Okay?”

  Mumbling incomprehensibly, Robyn allows herself to be led back into the ward.

  Chapter Fifty-One:

  Waiting for the doctor, Ava helps Robyn back into the, rather sodden, clothes that she was wearing when she found her. When she’s dressed and ready to go, she helps Robyn into the chair whilst Ava rests on the bed.

  “So… Do you really feel better?”

  Robyn’s eyes sparkle as she smiles up at her.

  “Of course, love. Sorry to give you a fright. I know what must’ve been going through your head. But no, I’m not leaving anytime soon. Not intentionally anyway,” she goes to laugh before she stops herself, given the reality of the situation.

  “I really hope so, Rob. Are they cutting down your meds?”

  She blows a raspberry.

  “Think they’re heaping a few more into me.”

  Ava shakes her head, staring at her wide eyed, going to say something before a nurse comes in with a cart displaying several bowls of, rather unpleasant smelling, stew and tubs of plain yoghurt.

  “None for me, thanks. I’m on my way home,” Robyn smiles at her.

  That reminds Ava.

  “Have you given anyone a spare key to your house?”

  Robyn gives her a peculiar look.

  “Heavens no. Why?”

  Groaning, Ava leans back on the bed, using her elbows to keep her propped up whilst her feet dangle off the edge.

  “Looks like we’re going to have to call a locksmith.”

  “Whatever for?”

  “’Cause I left in such a rush with you and the ambulance that I forgot my bag in your house. Unless you happen to have keys on your person right now?”

  Robyn shakes her head, giving herself a good pat down just in case.

  “I’ll give Damien a ring.”

  Robyn gasps like she’s watching one of her soaps.

  “You’ll do no such thing.”

  Ava stares at her, confused by her reaction.

  “Rob, he’d want to know about this. Even if he doesn’t want to help, he can still lend us his key.”

  “You’re not disturbing him. Christ, he left me. Last thing he needs to do is gloat that he was right. No, I have a spare key in the back garden. I’ll dig it out when we get there.”

  “What do you mean 'gloat that he was right?”'

  Robyn goes to speak before stopping herself. She shoots a glance at the door and, sure enough, in comes the doctor. He stops with the lady closest to the door first, overlooking her charts hanging at the bottom of her bed. He gives Robyn plenty of time to answer the question, but Ava doesn’t press her. The way she’s been going on recently, Ava doesn’t want to be the one to push her over the edge completely.

  Chapter Fifty-Two:

  Helping Robyn out of his front passenger seat and up the drive, Dermott skirts around Ava’s car and towards the back of her house. The back gate opens with a squeak, Ava stepping through to the immaculately kept garden. Despite the mess in Robyn’s mind and life, she’d never let her garden grow wild and untamed.

  “It’s just over there underneath the wee gnome with the blue hat,” Robyn sighs, the uphill climb taking it out of her, despite leaning on Dermott for the majority of it.

  Ava reaches the three gnomes at the corner of the garden. She remembers being banned from playing with them when she was a kid in case she accidently smashed them. She bends down to pick up the smaller one with the blue slouched hat. Raging with herself, and with Robyn, for not giving her this information previously. Could’ve saved herself a whole lot of hassle. Another sinister thought crosses her mind that maybe this is how Mr Ted came to be in her possession? But when she lifts the gnome, there’s nothing underneath. Raising its bottom to face her, she doesn’t see a key there, either. Reaching and lifting the other two larger ones, she finds the same result.

  “Oh, come on, Ava. I’m dying for a cup of tea and a sit down.”

  “There isn’t a key here, Rob.”

  “Awk, there is. The one with the blue hat. Right under him.”

  “I’m telling you, there isn’t,” Ava stands and brandishes the gnome in her direction. “See?”

 
“Now, that can’t be right,” she hobbles over, looking at the space where the gnome once was, before alternating her attention between there and the gnome in Ava’s hand. “It’s always been kept there.”

  They spend several moments searching around the garden for the key, coming up unsuccessful.

  “When’s the last time you actually saw the key, Robyn?” Dermott asks as he pushes the black bin back into place.

  She purses her lips and stares in through her kitchen window.

  “God… Years and years ago.”

  “And no-one ever knew it was there?” Ava stands, wiping muck from her hands onto her jeans.

  “Nope, just me. Now can you open the door to we get a nice cup of tea?”

  She registers the back door whilst Ava and Dermott exchange glances.

  “I know a guy,” Dermott brings out his phone. “Could be here in a half hour flat.”

  “Thanks, Dermott,” Ava squeezes his arm in affection. “And, sorry about her. Her head’s away.”

  Dermott laughs off her apology, before crossing the grass to tell Robyn he’s going to ring his mate. Whilst they’re busy disputing, Ava sneaks out to beside her car, loading Damien’s number on her phone. Pressing the ring button, she holds the phone up to her ear.

  ‘The person you are calling is unable to take your call. Please leave a message after the tone.’

  Bringing the phone away from her ear, she clicks into their shared text messages. It’s been a few months, but it’s definitely the right number. Trying again, she gets infuriated by the same automated response. What has happened between Damien and Robyn?

  Chapter Fifty-Three:

  A little over an hour later, they’re finally inside the house. The locksmith is just about to leave after a cup of tea and a promise of a bill through the door, since he’s doing his good friend Dermott a favour, when he stops at the back door.