Текст книги "Leaving George"

Автор книги: Diane M. Dickson

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 13 страниц)

Chapter 29

She had expected it to be hard. Pauline told herself that after all she had been through the police with their questions would be difficult to face, but she would get through it. In the event it was far harder than she had imagined.

They still didn’t know what to think of her. They had offered to bring a solicitor. The idea chilled her and she refused. Because she was still in pain from her injuries they had come to the farm instead of taking her to the police station. Their puzzlement had led them to be more gentle with her than she had expected but the kindness didn’t lessen the guilt and the fear she felt.

It was calm and quiet in the lounge. A constable stood near the door. The hush was broken only with the sound of rain in the trees and splashing against the windows and the occasional whoosh as a car passed on the wet road outside. Detective Ryan pursed her lips and shook her head, just a quick flick. She raised her eyes to meet the troubled gaze of the beaten, sad looking woman perched on the edge of the old settee.

“We haven’t found a body. Teams have been out searching all yesterday and again this morning but there is no sign. So, either he wasn’t dead and left under his own steam...” As Pauline opened her mouth to speak the policewoman raised a hand. “Or, there was no body, and that presents a puzzle of its own.”

“He must have washed away. The tide took him.”

“No, it’s unlikely. We have had an expert from the coastguard consulting and – taking into account the time of year – when you say you last saw the body and the state of the tide it would be almost impossible for it to wash out to sea. You say it was caught in the rocks for one thing.”

“Yes, yes it was. I called down to him, the water was turning him and moving him, but he was caught amongst the rocks. Yes.”

“Exactly. And at this time of the year that is the high tide level so it would take a freak wave, or some other unlikely event to move him.”

“Well, it could happen, couldn’t it?”

“Yes, it could. But then the formation of the coast there means the body would wash to the other side of the bay and not out into open water.

“The thing is Pauline, if there is no body, there is no reason for you to have called us. But there are your injuries which are obvious. Do you understand my dilemma? If what you are telling me is not true then it gives us a whole other set of problems. We have been trying to contact your husband on the number you gave us but haven’t been able to get an answer. There is nobody at the address. Would you expect him to be there? Have you spoken to him yourself?”

So there he was again; George. She was beginning to see, no matter how far she ran, no matter what horror she endured he would be there. She drew in a deep breath.

“I left him. I think I told you.”

“Yes, I remember and we need to speak to him, to confirm that. We need you to clarify what exactly had happened because it is a rat’s nest at the moment.”

“I lied you see. I lied to the police.”

“Ah. So are you telling me now there was no body, no attack?”

“No, no you don’t understand. I didn’t lie to you. This isn’t a lie. I lied before, to the police in Yorkshire.”

“What police in Yorkshire?”

“I left home, well, left George, but he didn’t know, he was away. That's why I chose to go just then. I had planned it all and I was coming here to hide. I’ve bought a house in France. That’s where I’m going; the day after tomorrow it should be.”

“Well, I have to tell you that at the moment it would be better if you don’t plan on going anywhere out of the country. Not until this is all sorted out.”

She hadn’t understood. The uproar had been so loud in her life that she hadn’t appreciated how her plans may be spoiled and her very future put in jeopardy. The realization was a physical blow. Drawing breath into her lungs, hanging on to a semblance of sanity, just holding on was all she could manage. Her hands were clasped in her lap, the knuckles white with tension and thoughts jittered and spun in her brain when she closed her eyes. Was there a way through this? If there was she couldn’t find it, not right now, maybe not ever.

Her voice was swamped with tears as she forced out the next words. “Am I going to go to prison?”

Anne Ryan spoke quietly, slowly. “It’s too early to say what is going to happen, Pauline. Right now all I have is confusion. Look, I need to ask you this and I know it might be tricky but you have to be honest with me. Have you ever had trouble with your nerves? Have you ever seen a psychiatrist Pauline? Do you think this could be… well, do you think it might not have happened the way you think?”

They thought she was mad. As the spectre of mental illness was raised yet another path in the maze was opened.

Chapter 30

“Look, I think the only thing I can do here is to go back to the beginning. Well not quite... oh hell. Yes, the beginning.” Pauline squared her shoulders. She drew in a breath and lowered her head. When she lifted her face again she looked across at Detective Ryan. Her gaze steady but her eyes flat, helpless.

“My husband beat me, he beat me often and I didn’t tell anyone because I was ashamed and frightened. I stopped seeing my friends and I made a life that worked for me. In between the hell with George I had a life that I could live. I did my garden, I looked after the house and I spent hours and hours alone, walking in the hills. It was small and empty. All I had was the cat and my flowers.” The tears had begun to flow as she had known they would but she swiped them away with a tissue and carried on.

“I put up with it for twenty years and then I had the chance to get away. I left, I didn’t tell him I was going I just left.”

Detective Ryan had tried to maintain an aura of cool detachment but the distress coming from the other woman in waves was making her uncomfortable. “Is it relevant to what has happened here Pauline? Are you telling me that the dead man was your husband?”

“Will you just listen? Can you do that; just listen and I’ll tell you? There was an accident on the road and I tried to help. I called the police, I held his hand, I sat in a sodding ditch and held his hand.

“I looked in his pocket for a phone, just for his phone.”

“So, why did you lie, what was the lie?”

“I was afraid that if I gave my name and address that somehow it would get back to George and he would be able to find me. I was upset, I was scared and so I made up a phone number and I gave a false address. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”

The police constable had stepped further into the room and the atmosphere was charged with emotion. Things were getting out of hand. Anne Ryan gathered her bag and folio together. “You’re distressed Pauline, this won’t work. You need a solicitor, you need to calm down and come to the police station. I’ll arrange it.”

“No.” Pauline shot from her seat and took the few paces to the door. She stood with her back to the old wood, her hands braced behind her. “No, listen to me. Let me tell you. You have to listen to me now.”

The young officer and the detective shot a glance across the small space. Ryan held out a hand. “Alright, but try to keep calm. Come on back. Come and sit down, please just sit down.” They waited until Pauline was perched, tense and watchful on the edge of the seat.

“I thought it would be alright. I listened to the news and they said that he was in hospital. After a while I put it behind me and I believed it to be over.

“Then the day before yesterday, in the night he came. I didn’t know who he was at first. I had never seen his face because of the helmet. He was brutal, violent and he went on and on about diamonds, and a computer memory stick. It was like something out of a movie. I was scared, really scared, but I told him and told him over and over that I had nothing, but he didn’t believe me. He made me go with him, across the beach. There’s a cave, over there in the rocks. He tied me up.” She raised her arms to display the fading rope burns.

“He left me there all day while he went off somewhere. To see his clients he said. When he came back I thought he would kill me and that is when I told him that I had buried the diamonds on the cliff walk.”

“But, you said you didn’t have them.” For a moment Pauline simply stared at the constable. How could he be so dim? She shook her head.

“I had to tell him something! I truly thought my life was in danger and if I was outside I would stand more chance of either getting away or attracting attention.” She took a deep breath and forged on. “I pretended to fall and when he came back I pushed him, I kicked him over the edge and he fell into the sea. I called to him and he didn’t answer.

“I don’t know where he is now; I don’t know whether he is dead or alive but if he is alive then I can’t stay here. You do see that don’t you? I can’t stay here…” She dissolved into a flood of weeping. Her head was buried deep in her hands, a murmur escaped between quivering fingers, “I can’t stay here. He’ll come back and he’ll kill me.”

Chapter 31

“Don’t get up Pauline, you just sit there. I’ll call through to Dolly, tell her we’re leaving. I’m sorry but we will have to contact your husband. There’s no way around it, but I don’t see why we would have to tell him where you are if you don’t want us to.

“I’ll need to check with the police in Yorkshire about the rest of the story and then I’ll come back. I have no idea where this is all going but with no body it leaves a conundrum. I don’t know where it will leave us with no body and you insisting on your story. I need to get advice from other people. Try not to worry. On the other hand, we can’t do much about the attack either and that’s a worry. With all you told us about the bloke who abducted you, I’m not happy but am at a loss as to the next move for now.”

“I don’t care about it. I’m going to be fine. I just want this to be over. Do you think I can carry on and go to France?”

“No, I can’t let you do that. Not until we get a better idea of what is happening. Put it off. Can you stay here?”

“I’ll ask Dolly.”

“If that doesn’t work out could you go home, back to your house?”

“Have you not listened to anything I said? It took me twenty years to get out of there! Twenty years of being beaten and miserable and you can actually stand there and suggest I go back!”

“Okay, okay I’m sorry. Just see if you can stay with Dolly or in the cottage and if you can’t then let me know and we’ll take it one step at a time.”  As the two officers strode through the door Pauline laid her head back against the cushions and closed her eyes. She was weary to the bone, her spirit was bruised and battered and though she knew she must struggle forward all she could imagine was confusion and fear stretching forever. A wave of desperate sadness swept through her and it was only with a massive effort that she could push the grey blanket of depression aside.

Dolly stepped into the quiet room.

“Do you want some tea Pauline? And a sandwich?”

“I’d love some Dolly. And then, if you have a moment, can we have a chat? I have to try and work out what I’m going to do next.”

“Ok. Now you rest here, I’ll be back soon.”

“Dolly, thank you.”

Warm arms wrapped around her and the feel of Dolly’s soft cheeks against her face was balm to her hurt and the kindness, though she had known Dolly for such a short time, overwhelmed her and filled her heart with grateful tears…

“Well, the cottage is booked up from the end of the week and to be honest I don’t think you should stay there alone anyway. Why don’t you just bring your things over and stay in the house with Jim and me? I only let the rooms to bed and breakfast people and so there’s always a vacancy and it means I can look after you. I feel so guilty that all this has happened.”

“Oh Dolly, none of this is your fault. Of course you don’t really know the background do you?”

“Well only the bits I’ve overheard here and there. I know you left your husband but not much more than that.”

“Okay, the least I can do is fill you in on what it’s all about. Have you got a few minutes?”

“Of course.”…

Seated side by side on the sofa Dolly listened without comment as Pauline relayed the whole sorry tale and her vague assumptions yet again.

“So that’s all you know? This man who attacked you is the one from the ditch?”

“Yes, I don’t even know his name. I know he was involved with some other people but I have no idea who they are.”

“And you didn’t see anyone else by the accident.”

“No, it was quiet, the middle of the day and when I left home I just walked up the hill away from the village. Even the dog wasn’t out at the farm.”

Pauline let out a gasp and grabbed at Dolly’s hand. “There was a car!”

“A car?”

“I’ve just remembered! I didn’t ever think about it until now! As I left the house I had to get out of the way of a car, it was speeding through the village. I remember now thinking it must be a stranger because he was going far too fast for the road.”

“Do you think it might be important?”

“Well, I don’t know but they must have come down the same road as the motorbike and it was very soon after that when I found the accident. I wonder if perhaps I should tell the police anyway. I’ll call them later, just in case.”

“For now though can I go over and bring some things back from the cottage and then tomorrow I’ll move all my stuff here.”

“Oh I don’t think you should, it’s not safe, or let me come with you at least. I’m waiting for a delivery for the shop but, maybe later.”

“I think it’s okay Dolly, the place has been swarming with police and…” she shrugged, “I think he’s dead, if it was the bloke from the cave you’re worried about. I would like to go, it’ll help me to settle – I really think it will.”

“Well, I don’t like it, not at all. It scares me. Call me if you’re worried about anything, the house phone comes straight through to here and the shop. Oh I wish you wouldn’t go.”

“Don’t worry it’ll be okay. I’ll just bring my computer… oh no, not that; the police have it. Oh well, what I need for now and then tomorrow. I’ll go and get the rest of my clothes and give you a hand to tidy up.”

“Indeed you will not, in spite of everything you are still my guest and it’s not your job to clean the place.”

The air was fresh and as Pauline made her way across the wet grass she glanced towards the restless ocean and the rocks in the distance. She felt no fear as her eyes skimmed the dark shapes that are only rocks. It was the stranger who had caused her pain. She would not let man’s evil impact on her delight at this lovely place. The many years as an abused wife had taught her that it was easier to overcome hardship if it was stowed in a box in your mind that could be pushed away, disallowed to spread and distort those things that were inherently beautiful; a summer sky, a sailing cloud or the sun sparkling on rippling waves.

There were marks on the cottage door where the police had brushed powder, looking for fingerprints and evidence of the intrusion. Pauline slipped the key into the lock and stepped into the dark hallway. Residual moisture dripped from the old gutters tinkling on cobbles and pathways outside and looking through the old kitchen and beyond to the shimmering garden she was tempted through and out into the small space.

She had expected to sense recent disturbance, but what she had not expected was the tingle up her spine and the ticklish feel of goose pimples on her arms and the absolute conviction that she was not alone. She spun around to look back towards the open door and caught a glimpse of a dark shadow on the dappled path.

Chapter 32

Was it a figure? A movement in the trees? Or just her overwrought mind? Her heart pounded.

The small gate to the beach was but a few steps away: if she ran now she may be able to reach the dunes and then try to make it back into the farm house. To do that she would need to turn her back on the house, the path and the dark shadows of the garden. She was petrified and for long seconds couldn’t drag her eyes away from the open door and the blind windows of the kitchen. Her mouth had dried and she gulped, desperate for moisture. Slowly, slowly she took one step backwards, then another. She dragged her feet along the old stones her hands stretched behind her groping for the gate.

Another small step, then another. She could turn now and run but what if she tripped? Was the gate open? She couldn’t remember. If she did get past the stone wall she knew the sand was soft and full of sharp grass: it would be hard to run.

She could scream.

If she screamed Dolly might hear her, and Jim: they would come running, but would it be too late because whoever was in the house would hear her too and they were nearer.

Was there someone in the house?

Again she tried to peer into the dim rooms. The curtains in the little kitchen blew gently in a soft breeze, the door swung a little on the well oiled hinges. Tree limbs creaked high overhead and a crow in the rookery shouted to the setting sun. The harsh noise caused her to start and a small noise, not quite a scream but more than a gasp, escaped her lips. She pressed her hand to her mouth.

It seemed that her heart would burst from her chest and her knees wobbled now, threatening to let her down just when it was essential that she was swift and sure.

She must move.

Was there anyone there?

The shout when she made it shocked her: she hadn’t known she was going to speak until the words escaped her trembling lips. “Who is it? Who’s there?”

The door moved again, slowly drawing inward and a figure appeared now, unmistakable. He was tall, dressed in jeans and a blue sweatshirt. His head was bald and his lower arms were covered with a pattern of tattoos. He stepped forward and held up his hands.

The rugged face was stern, blue eyes unblinking and he moved towards her. She turned from him. She would make for the gate and take her chances on the beach. Maybe there were walkers, someone to help her. She spun and as she did the intruder strode across the grass and reached his large hand towards her. He grabbed her upper arm, with strong, hard fingers. She saw the muscles in his arms flex as he held her, fighting against the pull of her body.

She twisted and brought up her hand to slap at his face, to try and scratch him. At the same time she lifted her foot. Instead of pulling back now she moved forward, tried to judge the distance so that when she brought her knee up into his groin it would have all her strength behind it.

He saw the move. He knew what it meant and spun her around now with her back to him and his arm round her chest, above her breasts and he dragged her back to hold her tightly against his chest and belly.

“Don’t scream, you don’t need to scream. It’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Tears streamed from her eyes and as she opened her mouth to yell for help he clamped his fingers tightly across her jaw.

“Don’t scream, you really don’t need to be afraid. I won’t hurt you. Keep calm.”

She felt the heat from him through her T shirt, the warmth of his arm across her upper body. She felt the tickle of breath in her ear as he leaned in close to speak again in his calm voice. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you. I’m going to move my hand now. Nod your head, tell me you understand and that you won’t yell.”

She nodded and slowly he released the grip on her face. “Okay, good, good. Now I want you to be very calm. I’m going to let you go. Please don’t try and run, okay? Just nod.”

She moved her head a small jerk and felt his arms loosen their hold. He kept her encircled but now she was barely contained. It would be possible to duck and run but knew that he would have her again before she made the gate. He spun her to face him.

He looked into her eyes. “Pauline, I need you to come into the house with me now. I need you to be calm and not to be afraid.” She gave another sharp nod and he released his hold totally and stood aside gesturing toward the open door.

She moved past him and took the few steps back to the kitchen. He followed her inside and closed the door.

“Right, now please sit down, just sit at the table. We need to talk.”

She shook her head. If she was seated she couldn’t run and first chance there was she was going to run. “Please don’t hurt me. I haven’t got anything. I haven’t got a bag of diamonds, or a computer memory stick. I don’t have anything! Please don’t hurt me.”

The stranger moved to the other side of the table and to her surprise he dragged out the second chair and turned it to sit astride. He leaned his arms across the back and bent towards her. “I won’t hurt you Pauline. You are safe with me. Please sit down. I just want to talk to you.”