Bitter Blue

by Cath Staincliffe

  I did want to dwell though. This was all news to me and I wanted to know all the details of Mattie’s outbursts and who she picked on. But I didn’t feel I could ask them at that point.

  ‘There must be something behind it all though,’ I said. ‘Nothing’s changed in class has it?’

  Miss Dent shook her head.

  ‘She’s not moved groups or anything?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘What I suggest,’ Mrs Tewkes said, ‘is a positive discipline plan. Miss Dent will talk to Maddie after the end of school today and tell her what behaviour we expect from her, go over the school rules. Then we’ll use a simple sheet to mark acceptable behaviour for each session of the school day. If at the end of a week Maddie has responded well we can ease up on the close monitoring.’

  ‘And if she doesn’t?’

  ‘We’ll talk again but with most children who stray a little this is quite a successful strategy. We’d like you to reinforce what we’re doing at home, reward positive behaviour, give her lots of praise ...’

  What did she think I did? Put her down all the time or hit her? For an awful moment I wanted to lash out. I nodded in agreement. ‘Of course,’ I just kept the edge from my voice. ‘I’d like to know a bit more about the incidents you mentioned. The aggression ...’

  ‘Mainly verbal. Maddie has been name-calling, jostling another member of class, kicking, spitting.’

  ‘Spitting?’ I found it hard to credit. Maddie could be awkward, stubborn but until then her behaviour at school had been exemplary. What was happening to her? I wasn’t cross with her, I was worried. ‘Who was she calling names?’

  ‘Carmel.’ A little girl who was overweight and wore glasses.

  ‘Oh, no. I’ll do what I can at home but I’d like to know immediately if there’s any more trouble.’

  Miss Dent nodded.

  ‘I wouldn’t worry too much,’ Mrs Tewkes tried to reassure me. ‘We all know that Maddie is a lovely little girl, hard-working, liked by her classmates. I’m sure this is a temporary upset and she’ll respond well to some firm limits. If you want to talk again, any worries, anytime.’ She smiled.

  I tried to smile back but there was no heart in it. I was too upset.

  I went and took my place in the playground feeling extremely awkward. The implications of what I’d heard began to sink in. Maddie would have had her face on the sad face board; an indignity she would have hated. She had always spoken with horror and great disdain about the naughty ones who featured there. Now she’d been labelled naughty. And she’d have had to go in the time-out room while the rest of the school played out.

  Tom’s class came out and he ran up full of chatter about a visit from the Bugman. I half listened. I spotted Carmel, her grandad collecting her. I hated the thought that my little girl had been cruel to her. She’s not like that, I kept thinking but I was wrong. Maybe she hadn’t been like that in the past but she’d changed. I barely dared look at the other parents, I knew how fierce I’d feel if it had been Maddie on the receiving end.

  While Mrs Tewkes did door duty, Miss Dent had her talk with Maddie. When Maddie finally came out, looking smaller and younger than I usually imagined her, I felt a surge of affection and a lurch of inadequacy. Why couldn’t I make it all better for her? Why wasn’t loving her enough?

  Chapter Ten

  Ray came home while I was clearing up the children’s tea. He’d been helping a friend to fit some wooden units in his kitchen.

  I seized the opportunity to tell him all about Maddie.

  ‘Maddie? You’re joking!’

  His response was exactly what I needed to hear. ‘I know. I mean she’s been really moody since they went back but this … and I don’t know what’s behind it all. There must be something, some reason.’

  ‘Have you asked her?’

  ‘No, not outright. I want to sit down and have a proper talk with her on Saturday.’

  He blew out breath noisily.

  ‘You think that’s a bad idea?’

  ‘No, just don’t envy you.’

  ‘Tom hasn’t said anything to you?’

  ‘No, he’s probably not even noticed.’

  I smiled.

  ‘Well, you know what he’s like.’

  I did. He was a contented little boy and very little ruffled his cheerful, energetic character. He didn’t tend to pick up on other people’s moods like Maddie did.

  ‘I think it must be something at school.’

  ‘So what did the teachers actually say?’

  I went over it all again in detail. Ray listened and made a few comments, it was helpful to share it with him.

  ‘I heard back from TXL,’ he said as I set the table. ‘The IT interview.’

  ‘And …’ I turned to face him, I knew he really wanted a stable job.

  ‘Got it!’ His eyes danced and a smile softened the rather harsh look his moustache gave him.

  ‘Brilliant! Half time?’ Already my mind was racing ahead to implications for childcare.

  ‘Think so. I’ve got to go in and talk about the details with someone there. There’s some scope for working from home too, at least for some of the time.’

  ‘Ray, that’s great. Are you pleased?’

  ‘Ye-e-es,’ he looked askance. Of course he was.

  Ray whistled and Digger leapt up from the spot by the armchair where he’d been dozing. Ray fetched his lead and Digger did his kangaroo routine. They set off for the park.

  I didn’t even try talking to Maddie until bedtime and then I kept it brief. I sensed that anything more coming on top of being cautioned by Miss Dent would be counter-productive. A proper talk could wait until the weekend.

  As I supervised her cleaning her teeth and while Tom was in the bedroom getting his pyjamas on, I simply said that Miss Dent had told me she was doing a behaviour sheet and that I knew she’d do really well. ‘It sounds like things have been hard for you this week but I’m sure it’ll get better.’ Her arm froze. She looked at me via the mirror, a guarded expression on her face.

  ‘I love you very much,’ I planted a kiss on her head. She didn’t say anything, just resumed brushing her teeth.

  ‘And I want you to be happy. Anything that’s worrying you, you can tell me about it, anytime. Doesn’t matter what it is, we’ll sort it out.’

  She spat into the sink and bent to drink from the tap.

  She tapped her brush, straightened up. ‘Can I stay up and watch EastEnders?’

  I hesitated. Myself, I never watched the programme but most of Maddie’s classmates seemed hooked on it. ‘You’ll have to go straight to bed when it’s over.’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘Go down now and I’ll think of something to tell Tom.’

  I settled with Maddie in the lounge; it seemed important to sit with her while she watched it. She was cross-legged on the floor, leaning back against the sofa where I sat. When I stroked her head a couple of times and she didn’t shake me off, I took it as a good sign.

  She went off to bed without prompting when the programme finished. Tom was already asleep and I turned off the tape he’d been listening to and dimmed his night light. Maddie had a light by her bed which stayed on all night; she would never sleep in the dark.

  Waking in the night, to go to the toilet, I fell over Maddie who had dragged her duvet across the landing and was curled up in it outside my bedroom door.

  ‘What are you doing there?’ I whispered.

  ‘I had a nightmare.’

  ‘Why didn’t you come in and get me?’

  ‘I thought you’d be cross.’

  I sighed. ‘You should go back to bed now.’

  ‘Can I come in your room?’

  I didn’t argue. She could sleep on my chaise longue but I refused to keep the light on.

  ‘That’s all right,’ she said. ‘I don’t need the light on if you’re here.’

  I’d an awful vision of having to share my room with her for years on end – and it only just felt like
I’d weaned her off climbing in with me as it was – but I dismissed my fears. These were unusual times and if a few nights together helped her feel happier then I could live with that.

  Lucy Barker was off work on Friday – taking a long weekend – so I didn’t have to worry about her seeing me if I turned up at the hotel. I’d decided the most effective way to get to see Ian Hoyle was to turn up unannounced. Believing if I tried to make an appointment he’d probably refuse.

  There was no problem getting past reception; I tagged onto a group in business suits who were just leaving the circular lobby and heading for the conference suites. I remembered the way to Ian Hoyle’s office and hoped he’d be in and alone. My wishes were granted but he was not pleased to see me again. And that’s putting it mildly.

  He looked up from his desk and his eyes expanded with astonishment and then narrowed with irritation. ‘I’m sorry to bother you again but I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.’

  ‘What the hell …’ He rose, his cheeks darkening. ‘You can’t just walk in here. Get out.’

  ‘Mr Hoyle, please …’

  ‘If you don’t get out now, I’ll have you thrown out.’

  ‘If you can just answer one question …’

  He pressed a switch on the console on his desk. ‘Malcolm, it’s Ian. There’s an intruder in my office.’ The muscles in his jaw twitched.

  ‘Would you prefer I go to the police? Ask them to look into all this?’

  ‘All what?’ he demanded. ‘Yes, go to the police, what the hell do I care? It’s nothing to do with me.’

  That threw me a bit.

  ‘Isn’t it? Lucy Barker rejects your advances but you don’t like being turned down. Next thing she’s getting hate-mail.’

  ‘My advances?’ He looked horrified.

  The door opened and Malcolm stood there, body tensed, face alert, the jaw set between his teddy-boy sideburns. ‘An intruder?’ he asked in his gravelly voice. He looked at me and back at Ian Hoyle. Silence.

  ‘I’ll talk to them directly then,’ I bluffed. Keeping my tone light. I took a step.

  Ian Hoyle sighed. ‘Malcolm, it’s okay. Misunderstanding.’

  ‘You’re sure?’ Malcolm frowned, ran his hand over his pate. Uncertain as to how he should respond and obviously embarrassed to realise I was the intruder.

  ‘Yes. Sorry.’

  Malcolm made a huffing sound and grimaced, deepening the creases in his face. He knew there was more to it, and that he wasn’t being told. ‘Right, then, I’ll leave you to it,’ his voice thick with resentment. He left the room.

  ‘Lucy Barker told you I made advances?’ Ian Hoyle asked. His eyes glittered and I could sense his pent-up fury. I remained standing, ready to flee the room if he let rip.

  ‘Yes.’

  He laughed, a peculiar, humourless squeal.

  ‘Are you saying it didn’t happen?’

  ‘Is it any of your business?’ He ran a hand across the dark stubble on his jaw.

  ‘Only if it relates to the threats she’s received. And at the moment …’

  ‘Listen – Lucy was the one making advances, coming on to me. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.’ He said vehemently, his mouth taut as he chewed out the words.

  I blinked. It was a classic situation. A messy, relationship, both parties misreading the signals. Each blaming the other. Diametrically opposed views of what happened. ‘So you decided to frighten her off?’ I spoke calmly, inviting an admission.

  ‘Jesus Christ!’ he exploded. I backed away a step. ‘No, no! I didn’t.’ He raised his hands as if he’d grasp his own head then let them fall in exasperation. ‘God.’

  ‘Mr Hoyle, when Lucy spoke to you about this on Wednesday …’

  He made another strangled noise and shook his head, a rictus of incredulity on his face. ‘Lucy didn’t speak to me on Wednesday. Not about this or anything else.’

  ‘You were here? In work?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘It would help remove any suspicion.’

  His face tightened again. He was weighing up whether to chuck me out, I was sure. ‘Why should I help you?’

  ‘Stop me bothering you?’

  He leant over his desk and flicked a switch again. I braced myself for Malcolm to be summoned but I didn’t need to.

  ‘Rhona, can you bring the diary in?’

  We waited in silence for a couple of moments, the air crackling with tension, and then the door opened.

  A petite woman in a black trouser suit came in and handed a large diary to him.

  ‘The meeting with C.M. Training, Wednesday – when did that finish?’ he asked her coolly.

  She stood at his side, peered at the book open across his arms. ‘About quarter past four. We ran over and the marketing meeting started late as a result.’

  ‘So, I was back to back all day.’

  ‘Yes,’ she looked confused.

  ‘And my first meeting?’

  ‘Eight-thirty.’

  ‘Lunch?’ I said.

  His head moved, a little jerk of impatience and he turned to Rhona.

  ‘Working lunch,’ she said. ‘Conference clients visiting. We were back to back all day like you said. I’m still doing the minutes.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  She made a moué, took the diary from him and left.

  ‘Thank you,’ I said. I thought he was telling the truth. Either that or he’d gone to elaborate lengths to instruct Rhona to give him an alibi and tamper with the diary and schooled her in acting it all out perfectly. He’d had no chance to bring Lucy’s latest ugly delivery to her flat.

  ‘Lucy, she …’ He shook his head, folded his arms deciding not to confide in me further.

  ‘She thought you were interested in her …’

  ‘God knows what she thought. I hate to imagine what’s going on in that head of hers.’ He paused then tilted his head back exposing his Adam’s apple before lowering it and looking straight at me. ‘Do you know what she did when I made it clear that I wanted nothing more to do with her?’ His eyes were shiny with fury. ‘She threatened to ring my wife and tell her we were having an affair.’

  I swallowed. Thought of what Lucy had said about their baby. That there was something wrong.

  ‘She hasn’t … yet. But I wouldn’t put it past her.’

  ‘No one knows about any of this?’

  ‘No. So you’ll understand why I’m not all that concerned about her situation. If she’s pulled the same stunt with anyone else …’

  My brain was reeling trying to re-assemble the picture of what had been going on.

  ‘Do you think that’s possible?’

  ‘I don’t know. Look, I know she’s had a hard time of things … I don’t know how much she’s told you.’

  ‘Some,’ I said not wanting to betray any confidences.

  ‘Well, heavy stuff. You wouldn’t believe one person could take all that. Maybe that’s why she’s like she is.’

  ‘Perhaps she misunderstood the signals,’ I tried. ‘It happens.’

  ‘No,’ he gave a thin smile. ‘I never gave her any hint that I was interested. Nothing. I went out of my way to avoid her as soon as I realised what her game was. She kept on, popping up here there and everywhere, talking as though there was something between us. Pretending intimacy. So I gave it to her straight.’ He gave a little laugh of disbelief. ‘That’s when she threatened to ring my wife. I asked her not to. ‘Depends on you,’ she said, ‘perhaps the two of us need to get away together, have some time with each other.’ Fantasies.’ I saw the anguish in his face, the torment that lay beneath the anger.

  ‘You could explain to your wife yourself?’

  It was hardly my place to be suggesting strategies against my client but if Lucy Barker had threatened him as he claimed and he really was the innocent party then telling his wife would take away the weapon of blackmail she was wielding.

  ‘She’s under a lot of stress, it’s not a good time.’

/>   A buzzer sounded and he bent over his desk. Rhona’s voice sounded reedy through the connection. ‘Call for you, Harry Clayton.’

  ‘I need to take this,’ Ian Hoyle said.

  I nodded, thanked him and left him to get on with it.

  Coming away there was a feeling of outrage lodged just below my breastbone. Lucy Barker had been lying to me. Whatever the truth was about her relationship with Ian Hoyle, she had invented her account of seeing him and checking him out. It must have been a ploy to stop me talking to him. She’d been adamant that I shouldn’t interview him again. But I’d gone behind her back and now I had some serious talking to do with Miss Barker.

  Trying her mobile and even her home number I only got the messaging services. A long weekend and I’d no idea where she’d gone. She knew that I might try and ring if anything arose. What if she was in trouble? After an hour or so I started to worry. I was furious at her deception but she was still my client. I drove over to her house in Levenshulme. Her car, a green Mondeo, wasn’t there which reassured me a bit and there was no answer when I rang her bell. There was no sign of anything wrong.

  I salvaged the rest of the afternoon by skiving off work and catching up with the gardening. The house boasts a good-sized plot; well, good for the city, and there’s space for borders and a play area as well as a patio, lawn and shed. I’m the only one who ever does any gardening though now and then Ray will build me something that I need, like a cold frame or a trellis arch. It was bitter out there, the cold snap had started and it made my nose run incessantly as I spread horse manure over the beds and pulled out the first eager weeds. The daffodils were over and I tied up their leaves into little top knots; they looked ridiculous but apparently if I didn’t the things would weaken and fail to flower. A wren with its distinctive small, dumpy shape and sharply angled tail was hopping about in a shrub at the bottom of the garden. I’d not seen it in previous years and I wondered whether it was nesting nearby. I was familiar though with the robin which came and watched me whenever I got the spade out: wise to the prospect of a worm or two.

  Gradually my frustration with the case eased. There was nothing I could do till Lucy Barker contacted me. I’d asked her to tell me where she was. Would she? And would she check her messages, or would that ruin her weekend? My weekend was mapped out. Friday night I’d do self defence. I also needed to have a good chat with Maddie plus I’d promised her a trip to the pictures. It was Chris’s party at the Irish Club on Saturday night and somewhere along the line I needed to fit in my final night observation at Severn Road. There was a gust of wind and my eyes watered. God, it was cold. I thought of Mrs Smith in the decaying house, no socks, probably precious little heating. How would she and her husband keep warm? Climb into bed? Sit swaddled in newspapers? I shivered. Time to clear up. And grab a hot drink. There were plenty of other things to occupy me, I would put Lucy Barker on hold until she crawled back out of the woodwork. And with that thought I realised how much my attitude towards my client had shifted.