by Edwin Dasso
“That’s all we need,” Helen grumbled as she walked over and put her head round the children’s bedroom door. “Come and have your lunch kids.”
She walked back to the television and changed to the cartoon channel as the twins barrelled in and sat in front of the screen, pushing and shoving to get the best view. The next few minutes were spent fighting over the food, although both plates were identical.
Helen ignored them. She shrugged her shoulders and walked back into the kitchen area.
Graham had his head in the fridge and stood up holding a can of beer. He snapped the ring.
“Hey, steady on, I only keep in a few cans for visitors.”
“Ah yes, I wanted to talk to you about that. I’m a little overdue on my rent.”
“I’m sorry Graham, but you’re out of luck. Two bedrooms,” Helen pointed in both directions, “one lounge with a partial wall and counter to the kitchen and a small bathroom, so I don’t have an inch to spare.”
“Yeah I get it, but when this is in production,” he picked up the sheaf of papers he’d carried in, “I’ll be on to a winner. And, I’ll be in the money.”
“Go on then, tell me all about it.” Carrying her sandwiches and drink, Helen led the way over to the couch as Graham trailed behind her.
“The theatre’s mine for as long as I need it – a play – Edward wants a psychological thriller. Very ‘in’ just now.”
“And you have a play?” Helen asked, between bites.
“Ah, no, that’s the problem. Not exactly, not yet.”
“How did I guess that? And this Edward thinks you have a play all ready to go?”
Graham made swirling patterns in the carpet with his foot. “Uh, yes, several in fact.”
“Thought so, I know you too well. I’m happy for you Graham, but I don’t think you should waste time talking to me. Best get off and start scribbling.” Helen went to stand up, but Graham grabbed her arm forcing her back on the couch.
“I need your help. I can’t do this alone. And, seeing that news insert on the TV just now has given me a brilliant idea. This villain, attacking young single mothers, then murdering them and the children. That’s scary enough isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s horrific. But I don’t see—”
“You can help.” Graham ran his fingers through his hair. “Look, I’m a guy, I don’t know how women would react to that, I mean if the bloke broke in and threatened you, what would you do? Scream? Cry for help? Beg for your life? Would you try and attack him?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.” Helen stared at him. She brushed the crumbs off her trousers. “It would depend. I’d need to protect the children and myself. I’d just act on impulse, I would… oh, I don’t know Graham. I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”
“Please Helen. This is my one chance. Come on, I’m your brother for f…’s sake. It’s the least you can do.”
Helen stood, and picked up the empty plates. “I had enough of that when we were growing up. Acting out your plays. Every time you played the hero and I was the luckless maiden tied to a tree, or left for hours wearing a blindfold, or locked in a cupboard—”
Graham tried to interrupt her but she ignored him and rushed on.
“You made me wear the most ridiculous outfits and scared the hell out of me more than once. So, use those memories.”
As she stalked off into the kitchen, Graham slumped back on the couch and buried his head in his hands.
Helen came round the divider, drying her hands on a towel, and sat next to him. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. The twins have been a nightmare and, well, I have a date tonight.”
Graham’s head shot up and his mouth fell open. “You have?”
“Yes.”
“Do I know him? Where did you meet him?”
“No, you don’t. An online dating site.”
“Hey Sis, be careful, they can be dangerous. I’ll come and keep an eye on you. No, don’t refuse. I won’t even sit too close.”
She smiled and put her arm around him. “That’s sweet of you Graham, but there’s no need. This will be the third time and I really like him.” She paused. “After Sam died, I never thought I’d date again, but three years is a long time and the twins need a father. I can’t cope with Jason, he has a will of his own. This guy is almost too good to be true. He’s everything I ever dreamed of, almost too perfect. And, it doesn’t hurt that he’s loaded. I could be out of this hellhole and living in a proper house, somewhere in the country. When I look back, this is not the life I imagined for myself.”
“I always reckoned after Sam’s accident you being pregnant was the only thing that kept you sane.”
“Yeah, guess it was. Shit Graham, we’ve had enough dumped on us. First the folks in that fire, then that awful foster home while they sorted out somewhere for us to live, and then Sam in the car crash.”
“Maybe Sis it’s all going to go right from now on. I’ll be famous and you’ll have a new man in your life.”
“I’d like to believe that, but I’m not holding my breath.” She sighed.
Graham suddenly sprang to his feet, startling Helen.
“I’ve just had the most brilliant idea! Thank you, Sis. Oh, yes!” He bounded across the lounge and out of the door, calling back that he would see her later.
4
Helen sighed as she locked the door behind him and peeped into the children’s bedroom to watch them playing. Joanna was attempting to wrench the hair off a Barbie doll and Helen was about to rush forward but stopped. As long as she played quietly, unlike Jason whose shrill cries mimicked the fire engine he was racing around in circles over the carpet. “Yee Haw, Yee Haw,” he shrieked. His mother pulled a face and backed out of the room.
She had just turned and was on her way back to the kitchen when the doorbell rang again. She picked up the entry phone. “Yes?”
“It’s me, Monica.”
Helen smiled as she pressed the button. “Hi, come on up.”
Leaving the door ajar, she made for the kitchen again and was loading the dishwasher when her friend bounced into the lounge. They say opposites attract, and while Helen was slim, a little above average height with shoulder length brown hair and an attractive face, her best friend’s hair was blonde and cut short, her figure pleasantly round above her short dumpy legs. She resembled a bouncing ball, seldom still, always laughing and full of fun.
Helen turned to greet her on hearing the door bang shut. “Hi there.” She paused and looked at the calendar on the wall. “It’s not Saturday is it?”
“No, silly, still Friday.” Monica leaned on the hatchway and waved a newspaper in Helen’s face. “I came to show you this, in case you missed it.”
Helen put the last mug in the machine, clipped the tablet into place, closed the door and pressed the button. She dried her hands and took the paper.
“It’s on the front page. This guy targets single mothers and then murders them and their children. Gruesome eh? I wanted to warn you to take care. I’ll read it to you while you put the coffee on.”
Helen grabbed a couple of pods and filled the coffee maker with water. “I saw something about it on the television. They showed an artist’s impression of him.”
Monica flung herself on the couch and began reading. “Police are on the lookout for a man, approximately five foot ten inches in height in the Kingston area who…”
Helen interrupted her. “Wait, I can’t hear you over the noise.”
Monica drummed her fingers on the coffee table. Once she was in full flow, little stopped her.
Helen placed both mugs on the table and sat down.
“I’m worried about you.” She thrust the newspaper in Helen’s face. “See, here’s the picture of him. Please tell me you’ve not seen anyone looking like that around here? They think he might have been stalking his victims. Has anyone been following you?”
Helen laughed. “No, no one has followed me, I’d have noticed. Calm down Monica. I’m q
uite safe.”
“So, you say, but you can’t be too careful these days, and I’d die if my best friend was blown away by some pervert.”
Helen snatched the paper and scanned the frontpage article. “It doesn’t say here how he kills them, or the children.”
“Well no, but I doubt it’s poison or anything that takes a long time to finish them off. It must be something violent and terribly unpleasant.” She shuddered. “I’ve got Mike to protect me but you, poor dear, have no one.” She saw the look on Helen’s face and realised what she had said. She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, but that’s so tactless of me. What I meant…”
“I know what you meant, don’t fret. And there is someone, well maybe, but I’m hoping.”
“Oh yes! I forgot your new man! How did the date turn out the other night?”
“It was brilliant. Not sure he’s mine yet, but I’m working on it. I’m seeing him again tonight and that will be the third one this week. Monica, he’s everything I ever dreamed of. Tall, good looking, a successful businessman, something in finance and I think he really likes me, I mean, a lot. We get on so well, have so much in common.”
Monica reached for the paper, thrusting the picture at Helen again. And you are quite sure he looks nothing like this? Quite sure?”
Helen laughed. “Absolutely positive, he’s over six feet tall for a start.”
Her friend smiled. “That’s a relief. So, tell me a bit more about him. Where does he live? Who does he work for?”
“Uh, maybe another time. I don’t want to jinx this if you see what I mean.”
Monica pouted. “Well just a little more information. Pleeease?”
“All I’m going to tell you is that he flies all over the world and he is loaded.”
“Girl, you have fallen on your feet this time. I was a bit nervous when I suggested online dating but it can work out, if you’re careful.”
“I’m always careful, Monica.” Helen stood up. “What I’m curious about is how they have an identikit of this murderer. I wonder who saw him? And where exactly? Kingston is quite a big borough.”
Monica gazed at the paper again. “I have no idea. Maybe a guy who looks like this was seen near one or more of the crime scenes. They have CCTV cameras everywhere. The police programmes on the telly show us they keep information away from the media, to weed out the prank calls.”
“Let’s hope they catch him soon, before he does it again.”
Monica stood up and took her empty coffee mug into the kitchen. “Just promise me you’ll take care.”
“Of course I will. I’m quite safe here in a tower block, and I don’t have to let anyone in if I don’t know them.”
“You let me in,” Monica reminded her.
“Don’t be so daft. I know your voice, so of course I buzzed you up.”
Monica persisted. Walking back into the lounge she put her hands on Helen’s shoulders. “He could have been lurking out there in the hall, and seen the open door. So, next time wait and look through the peephole, promise me?”
Helen laughed again. “Okay, I promise. Just for you.” She walked over to the children’s room. “Come on kids, who wants to go to the park?”
Jason and Joanna leapt to their feet, and rushed into the lounge, squealing and bouncing up and down like rubber balls. “Me, me, me!”
Monica bent down and gave them each a hug. Reaching for her handbag she dug inside and found a sweet for each of them.
“You spoil them.”
“That’s what kids are for.”
“And for wearing you out and demanding feeding, and clothing and attention twenty-four seven,” Helen sighed, as she helped them into their coats, boots and mittens.
They all went down in the lift together and left Monica on the corner.
“See you tomorrow for tennis,” she called over her shoulder as she ferreted in her pocket for the car keys.
5
It was chilly sitting in the park watching the children in the play area. Helen shivered as she ambled around the fenced-in area, checking to see they were playing safely. She couldn’t shake off the feeling she was being watched. Several times she stopped and swivelled round hoping to see what was making her nervous, but none of the other people in the park were looking at her. Still the feeling of eyes stalking her every move persisted and left her feeling naked and vulnerable. Why was that man by the tree on the far side of the park standing there? She imagined he was watching her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. There was another man on her right, playing with two little girls by the slide. They were about seven years old. Was he their father? Could he be a paedophile? Was he the murderer befriending the children before getting to know their mother? Was he planning to kill them?
Helen sat down on a nearby bench and breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as one of the other regulars came and sat next to her.
“Hi Helen, not seen you for a while.”
“Hello Ruth. I’m here because it’s not raining. Joanna now refuses to go out in the rain. Jason will, but at the moment she is going through a phase of not wanting to get her hair wet.”
“That must make bath time a nightmare.”
“It does. It was quicker and easier to shove them under the shower, but now she insists I fill the bath and she sits in it so carefully to stop getting it wet. Hair washing is a battle.”
“I can imagine. Poor you. You have no idea why she’s refusing? That cancels out the swimming lessons too I guess?”
“Yes. It was some silly story in a book where the girl had lovely curly hair until it got wet and it went straight. Joanne’s got wavy hair but she doesn’t want it to go straight, she’d prefer really curly hair.”
Ruth laughed. “She’ll grow out of it. If it’s not one phase it’s another. Changing the subject,” she reached into her bag and pulled out a newspaper, “have you heard about this?”
Helen glanced at the by now familiar identikit. The eyes in the sketch seemed to leap off the page and stare at her. A shiver ran down her spine. “Yes, I have seen it. Your husband’s a policeman, isn’t he?”
“Yes. And he’s freaking out over this case. These murders have been particularly gruesome.” She lowered her voice. “The bodies were dismembered and re-arranged in some bizarre way. He may have stabbed them over and over and over again. I don’t know all the details, but Colin wanted me to take it seriously, be extra careful until they’ve caught this person. They have every man on the job. You live on your own with the twins, so I felt I should warn you. Seems he targets single mothers with kids. Do please take care Helen.”
“I will. You’re the third person to warn me today. I’m quite secure in a high rise, so I’m not too worried.”
“They don’t know how he gets in, and the second murder was in a block of flats, so don’t be complacent, please. I’m locking every door and window at home, just in case.”
“That’s sweet of you, and I will take care, promise.”
Helen stood up. It was already beginning to get dark, the sun disappearing behind the other tower blocks, and she called the children. She would be glad to get back to her warm, safe flat, feed and bath the twins and then get ready for her big date tonight.
6
The late evening news had just finished when the noise of the key in the front door startled Mrs Harris. She glanced at her watch and rose to greet Helen.
“Goodness, you’re early, I wasn’t expecting you home just yet.”
“Hi. Tim has an early flight to Hong Kong in the morning.” Helen dropped her bag on a chair and shrugged off her coat.
“Hong Kong! Well I never. That’s the other side of the world isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“All very glamorous and high powered. And you do look a picture in that smart outfit.”
Helen glanced at her midnight blue suit and white blouse, smiled and walked over to the couch to sit next to the elderly lady with her tightly curled grey hair, twin set and tweed skirt. �
�Thank you for looking after the twins. I know they’re always safe with you.” She leaned over and gave Mrs Harris a hug.
“Only too happy to, Helen. Any time. I love those kids.”
“They were fast asleep even before you came over, all that fresh air racing around the park. They didn’t wake up and give you any trouble, did they?”
“Goodness no. I did peep in and they were both dead to the world. Didn’t disturb them like you told me not to.”
“That’s a relief.” Helen smiled.
“You deserved a night out, having a bit of fun. You’ve had such a hard time, a young widow like you, coping on your own. I do admire you. Now me, when I had the children, I had Bert to help me. Not that he was much use in the house, but he was there to provide the money so I didn’t have to go out to work. And one word from him and they were too scared to misbehave.”
Helen gave her elderly neighbour one more hug, and walked into the kitchen to put the kettle on. She called back through the hatch. “You didn’t have any of the cake I left for you. You’re not going home until you’ve had at least one slice. I insist.”
Mrs Harris laughed as Helen slid a knife out of the block on the kitchen counter and, tipping it onto the plate, carried it back through and put it on the coffee table.
“Now, cut yourself a large piece. Go on.”
Vera Harris cut off a corner of the cake, and putting it on a plate offered it to Helen.
“No, I’m stuffed. We had the most amazing meal. Would you believe five courses?”
“Well I never. You like this young man, don’t you? I can see it on your face.”
