by Paul Edwards
Finally, she had gone. There was only one nasty person for John to deal with now, and one was enough. As they were sat in the living room, the phone started to ring.
John: Hello, who's this?
Hannah: Hello, it's me, how are you? They said you wanted a phone call.
John: I'm alright thanks, apart from not having you around. How are you? I had a few things to say, one is, do not forget to send a visiting order. I've spoken to your grandparents and they said they will come next time, so this time I'll come with Andria if that's alright.
Hannah: Fine. And no, I'm not alright, except for seeing old Ruffian being kicked which was rather hilarious. But I've also met a killer who enjoys killing, so you can't have everything can you? Anyway, what else was you going to say?
John: We've got a problem. Jacks sister is here and claiming to be the executer if his will. She's claiming everything is hers.
Hannah: What? That's ridiculous. Do everything in your power to get rid of that witch, alright? Let me know how things go and call my solicitor if need be.
John: Alright. Don't worry I'll sort it out. She will be gone soon, whatever it takes. Speak to you soon. Do ring again. All the best
He put the phone down and carried on with his day, trying to think of ways of getting rid of his Aunt. What would distract her? What would stop her being so horrible. Later on, as time passed by, John received another call.
John: Hello, who is this?
Alison: Hello, it's Alison, how is everything going Johnny boy?
John: Erm, not to bad thanks, why?
Alison: No reason, just wondering. By the way, did you let Hannah know about your Aunt being around? As much as I hate her, I suppose she has a right to know. Does she know?
John: Yes, she knows now. Poor thing, locked away in that prison.
Alison: Yes, maybe I am too harsh on her. Perhaps it was someone else or just some big accident. And now everything might be taken away from her by her sister in law, bless her.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
In the prison things were getting bad. A fire alarm went off and everyone went outside into the courtyard. It went off for a good few minutes and even the fire brigade came, but there was no sign of a fire. It must have been a drill Hannah thought, but why the fire brigade? Out came Mrs Trafford, greeting them all.
"Hello Sisters. I am afraid this not just a drill, but you can relax as there is no fire. What's actually happened is obviously someone had pressed the fire alert button and caused it to go off. When we find out who this is they will be in serious trouble, unless they come to my office at some point today and apologise, in which case I might be a little understanding if there is a proper explanation. This is serious, it costs money when the fire brigade comes due to a false alarm, and it causes a delay to the whole prison system, as you can see now. We will find out who it is one way or another, as few people were outside of a formal class or workroom or anywhere near a button they could have pressed."
Hannah was panicking, as she was outside of the formal workrooms when it went off. The alarm sounded and it gave her a big fright. Would she be blamed? Probably if Ruffian had anything to do with it. Little did anyone realise that Ruffian was the one who had set it off, as she was stood there near the other prison staff, with a smug smile on her face. After all, nobody would suspect a prison guard of being guilty, that was just inconceivable. They all started going back in and Mrs Trafford called over to Hannah.
"Hello Hannah, I hope everything is going well? You can have a rest from work for the day. Only little bits on your first week, that's how I think it should be. It gives new prisoners a chance to settle in."
"Thank you Mrs Trafford."
"Your welcome." Mrs Trafford smiled and they all carried on going in. Back to her cell she went, lying there and reading a book which was next to her. Presumably, it belonged to Aly because it was near her bed and it was about crime. It was titled 'How to Successfully Rob a Bank, Without Getting Caught.' Hannah decided after flicking through the book to put it back, after she had raised her eye browns.
All did seem peaceful in the cell, until suddenly the door opened. In came Ruffian.
"Well well, what do we have here then! Having a rest?"
"Hello Mrs Elliott, Mrs Trafford said I..."
"I know! I'm sure she said you can have a rest, as she would with the new people. She's soft, not like me. Nobody is suggesting you stop resting, I thought I'd just pop in and see what you’re up to. No harm in that is there?"
This all seemed too good to be true. Very suspicious.
"Ok, nice to see you Mrs Elliott. How can I help you?"
"I was hoping you'd say that. You see, I thought I was a bit harsh before. I decided it was rather impractical of me not to trust you with my clothes. Basically, even though it is possible for me to make another prisoners life hell, I thought I'd give you another chance."
Placing down a big bag on the floor, Ruffian took out her cardigan and several other clothes. Shirts, trousers, socks and other things.
"You see, I've decided we got off on a wrong foot. I'll leave these here with you, if you'd be so kind as to sow them all up for me and fix the one that went wrong earlier. This is me showing that I can trust you."
Feeling rather intimidated, Hannah did not feel like she was really in a position to decline.
"You can leave them with me, no problem Mrs Elliott. If you don't mind, I'll have a little rest and then get on with them later."
"Not at all, you deserve a rest, see you later."
Was that a miracle? Hannah was shocked like never before. Ruffian was being nice, or at least pretending to be.
At Orangely Hall, John was sitting there with his Auntie when the doorbell rang. Walking over, he opened the door and noticed a parcel on the doorstep. In the parcel was some Turkish Delight and a little card attached.
"Dear Gwendoline, I appreciate that our relationship at present is unfortunate. I thought that I would send you these, and I am confident that things will get better very soon, very better indeed. Have a quick think about it and enjoy these regardless. Your Sister in Law, Helen XX"
"What's that?" his Aunt asked.
"Believe it or not, it's something for you. I hope you’re going to share them with me?"
Reading the card, she looked a little confused and then looked up.
"I don't know what she's up to if she thinks she can get around me with a few sweeties, but I am going to enjoy these. She must have contacted someone through an illegal hidden mobile to send them, oh well. I will eat these now, you eat something else please! I haven't eaten Turkish Delight for a long time and I will not be sharing them I'm afraid."
After watching her eat them, John got up as the phone rang again.
John: Hello.
Hannah: Hey, it's me John. I've got good news for you. Tomorrow is a visiting day, and Rufi................and Mrs Elliott has kindly arranged it with the manager for me to be able to jump the queue. You can come in tomorrow if you’re not busy. Bring Andria as well if possible.
John: That's great. By the way, are these calls recorded?
Hannah: Yes, I'm afraid so.
John: Never mind, I should see you tomorrow anyway. That's great, bye.
Hannah: Bye.
"That was Hannah!"
"I could tell by your excitement. I hope you didn't mention the Turkish Delight, unless you want her in trouble."
"I'm not that stupid."
"Could've fooled me. Anyway, I am not feeling to well. I'm going to go and lie down."
John had a nice rest, reading a book about history which he enjoyed. It was nice to be able to sit in the parlour without his Aunt being sat there for a change. He read it for a good while and after getting a few chapters in he decided he missed his Auntie and checked up on her to see if she wanted a drink. Upon Entering the bedroom, he called out to her.
"Do you want a cup of tea? Are you any better now?" There was no answer. Being confused, he walked over to
put his arm on her. Silence. He gave her a shake, and there was nothing. This was not looking to good. Then he checked her pulse. Nothing. He ran downstairs and called the ambulance. There was no doubt to him what the cause of the problem must be, and so he made that clear on the phone.
"I think my Aunties been poisoned!" In tears, he could not wait to question Hannah about this tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Kwiatoslaw was sat at the kitchen table, sulking because of what he had done. Him and Helen were now alone with Sally, while he sat there upset, pulling faces.
"Don't worry Dad, I would've shouted at them as well if they broke something of mine. We all overreact at times."
There was no response to Sally, there was nothing but silence from him, until he shared what was on his mind.
"Everyone thinks I'm a danger to children already. They think I killed my own, and now I've just screamed at someone else’s. People are probably thinking, 'what next?' Well, I can't stand this."
Sally tried once again.
"They think I did it as well Dad, who cares. They can't make their minds up which one of us it might be, and it can't be both of us, can it?"
Helen looked at them both suspiciously, and then back to facing the wall. It was probably for the best in a way that the cup had been broken, because it was two small for an adult to use and would merely collect dust as a memorial. They were clearing out anyway, and it seemed that perhaps Helen was glad there was a start at getting rid of things there. But it was the cup, then the toys, and then perhaps the clothes would be gone soon? It was all too much for him. The pressure was building up.
"I've got a plan Dad, why don't you make Rachael a card, will that make you feel better?"
"What a wonderful idea Sally! How about you help design it for me and I write in it?"
Helen smiled. It was great that they could be working together, as a team. Although hopefully things would be team Mum Dad and Sally, not just team Dad and Sally vs Mum. Helen feared because it had recently been a recurring theme of two vs one, even though it was discreet. Helen could read the signs, and she felt alone often now her little ones were gone.
Sally started the letter, on the kitchen table. She connected her phone to the printer and found some photos of her younger siblings standing with Raphael and his siblings. She stuck them in the card she was writing and almost wrote a message inside. As the pen nearly hit the card, she hesitated and then dashed downstairs giving the pen to her Dad.
"From the heart Dad. You need to write, my handwriting will be obvious."
"What should I say?"
"I don't know, maybe 'Dear Raphael, I'm sorry for shouting at you. Please come again and I will make it up to you, we can go the park and start again? Please give me another chance. Uncle Kwiatoslaw."
"Uncle?"
"Yeah, whatever, just Kwiatoslaw then? Or Kwiaty?" Helen burst out laughing at the suggestion. "Kwiaty? Oh, Hannah that is the biggest laugh I'd had in a long time. It's nice having a husband called Kwiaty."
"Much easier to pronounce isn't it Mum?"
His cheeks were turning red with embarrassment. They were practically renaming him, after all them years. Not only were they renaming him, but it was as if they were coronating him as, not quite king and not quite daddy or uncle, but something like those latter two. They were assuming responsibility upon him. He felt like he was becoming a father again, and not only of Sally, with all that added responsibility being offered him. Helen likewise felt like these children would help her cope. These children when around or in their care would not replace Ann and Ben, but they would help to fill in some kind of void to an extent it did seem. Hannah suddenly looked at Sally and smiled.
"Don't you sometimes just feel like you’re about to be a sister again?"
Sally naturally smiled back, and in the end all three of them smiled.
"Thanks for organising this visiting for me Mrs Elliott."
"That's no problem. I think you and I are about to get on just fine the way things are looking. Thanks for sorting those clothes out, I'll let you know when I need anything else doing as I know that you can do a job properly. Meanwhile, the other prisoners can have a life of hell. I hate them, every one of them, and they will all be sorry they ever crossed me."
After collecting half of her clothes, Ruffian left the room. Hannah carried on sowing as she was before, until the door opened once again.
"Hi Hannah, I'm back. What's that you’re sewing?"
"Never mind that, I'm getting visitors tomorrow, isn't that just great?"
"Yeah, sounds good. How did that work out? You've only just got here."
"Erm, well. Strangely enough, Mrs Elliott has organised it for me. Ruffian I mean, sorry."
Aly's eyes lit up as she sat on the bed, as she looked as if she was about to shout 'traitor'. Everyone knew that Ruffian was a horrible character, why would she do anything for anyone? Aly saw straight through the whole situation.
"So, come on, why is she doing this for you? What is going on? Are you being abused in some way? Because I tell you, you've got to watch out for that Ruffian. She's never been married you know? If that's a clue."
"Nothing of the sought! I am a married woman! Or I was until my husband died at least. Basically, erm, well, these are her clothes and since she's been so kind to me, I thought I'd return the favour. It's easier this way."
"Hahahahaha, you fell for that? You think Ruffian is nice? You are terribly mistaken; she does nothing for nobody. Just watch out, Ok? And don't let on to any of the others that your trying to be friendly with her or you won't be popular around these parts."
Hannah was not used to the political life of prison, naturally. She was not 'politically correct', as it were, as was obvious from this. Hannah just wanted to put her head down and get through it all in peace, with no controversy or anything like that. After all, who wants to take on a prison guard almost twice their size? Not Hannah anyway, that was not her thing.
"So, Aly, do you not get on with any of the staff?"
"Not really no. Well, actually, there are a few who smuggle a few things in for us, but that's top secret, I couldn't tell someone like you who they are, sorry. At least not yet anyway."
"I understand, yes. What about Mrs Trafford, she's nice isn't she?"
"Yeah yeah, she's nice alright. We don't hate her no, but we're not friends with her either. Listen, if you get to friendly in here with staff you'll be seen as like a 'teacher’s pet'. Be careful."
It seemed Aly really did care for Hannah and didn't want her being misused in any way or being mocked either. She was trying to help her fit in, as much as possible. If only people knew that she was apparently responsible for the death of children as well as her husband, the story might be different perhaps. Upon thought in Hannah's mind, it suddenly came to her to remember about the book she had read a bit of earlier.
"I hope you don't mind, but I had a look at that book earlier, as I was bored until this pile of 'laundry' turned up for sowing instead of washing, if that's the right word."
"It's fine, I'd rather have a roommate who shares. I hated my last one and we never shared anything. Yes, this book is about how to rob a bank without getting caught. It's what I plan to do when I get out."
"Oh, please don't do that. You'll end up behind bars again."
"Why would you care?"
"Of course I care. That is silly, you don't take risks like that."
"Listen lady, I'm going to do it. You don't know how hard life is out there."
"Then you better hope I don't get out first, or I'll be there to keep you out of trouble, just watch me! Because that's what friends are for."
Chapter Twenty-Nine
On Wednesday morning, John was looking forward to visiting day. Both because he had not seen Hannah since she was arrested and because he needed to question her about her apparent present. The evening before, he had been to the hospital with his Aunt who had died. They could not do CPR and remove the poison on t
ime, it was too late. Being old, even older than Jack, she would not take it, and this time it was not just one biscuit is was a full box of Turkish Delight, so a very big dose of whatever was in them went into her.
Putting his coat on, he jumped in the car, having had his breakfast. He started heading towards the prison, which was a good drive and not to near Orangely Hall. It was raining, which was typical for Scotland, and combined with that, John was a little depressed about having now lost two members of his family. One whole generation of Adersall’s were now wiped out, forever, as Jack and his sister were the only two left. Poor John, he almost felt orphaned. His brothers were now the oldest and the top generation of the family. Arriving on the prison car park, John stepped out. He looked up and noticed he was standing before a big big building, exceptionally large indeed. It was very wide, as well as extremely high up. There were lots of tiny windows going around the building. 'Were any of those Hannah's new bedroom windows?' he was wondering. Were they staff rooms or communal rooms? Perhaps he would be about to find out.
As he entered the door, he was stopped by a man in a suit.
"We need to check you out, please take your belt of as you can't wear that in there.”
He took his belt of, and the security guard patted him down and told him he could then go through and would receive his belt back later. He entered the visiting room and sat down at a four-person table, noticing that Andria was already there.
"Hi Andria, glad you could make it. Did that man pat you down when you got here?"
"No, they got a woman to do it for me. I also had to take my shoes of to show I wasn't hiding anything in them."
"Wow, things must really be bad in these places."
They waited, John having arrived at 10:00 as planned and Andria arrived about ten minutes before. It got to about 10:15 and other prisoners had come through but not Hannah yet.
