Mummy's Little Girl

by Kay Leitch

  Carla felt a bit sorry for pushing so hard, she put a hand on her shoulder.

  'Try not to worry too much Vanessa, yes, Giles has been charged and I'm not going to pretend that the charge of assault isn't serious, but he's never done anything like this before and as I said it's completely out of character, so I'm sure they won't be too hard on him.'

  Vanessa looked at her in bewilderment for a moment, 'Oh Giles…yes …er thank you Carla, that's very reassuring.'

  'It was Giles you were talking about wasn't it? There's nothing else that's bothering you?'

  'No of course I'm worried sick about Giles…if you must know all this talking just made me miss my Mum.'

  'Oh I'm sorry, when did she die, recently?' Carla asked sympathetically. Vanessa shook her head, 'No a while ago now, but you can see why I don't talk to my Dad or see him, I hope I never have to see him again as long as I live.'

  Carla drove in silence for a couple of minutes, then she said, 'He didn't marry again then, after your mum died, sometimes that can be the cause of a lot of hurt and anger.'

  Vanessa smirked. 'No…ha, ha…no one would have him he's so horrible, that's why my Mum always refused to marry him, because he was such a nasty bastard.'

  'So your parents were never married then?'

  'No it was the one thing he couldn't force her to do, although she never told anyone, she was too ashamed what with it being a sin and all that, but it was like she was letting him know that he couldn't always have what he wanted. Didn't stop him from trying to persuade her though, he tried time and time again, vile old man.'

  It suddenly became apparent that Vanessa had decided that she had said enough, they had been sitting outside the pub for about 15 minutes, she opened the door.

  'Thanks for the lift Carla, I expect I'll see you soon,' and with that she closed the door and walked into the pub without a backward glance.

  Carla sat for a while trying to digest the information that she had just been given. She was now convinced that Vanessa was Louise's long lost mum, and as such was the person that she had been coming to meet in Kenley, she now knew that Vanessa's maiden name could have been that of her mother, not her father Derek Styles, she made a note to find out Vanessa's mother's name first thing in the morning, and she knew that Vanessa had a deep seeded hatred for her father…for the first time in this investigation Carla began to think she could see light at the end of the tunnel.

  CHAPTER 35 - MAGGIE

  'Stop arguing you silly cow, it's about time I gave you a lift for once, and I promised myself that I would drink less this week so you'll be helping me ok?'

  'Ok,' said Carla on the other end of the phone, 'but you may have to pick me up from the station, it's not looking like I'm going to be out of here anytime soon.'

  'That's fine honey, just text me a time and I will be there, got to go now though sweety, I can smell something burning and I've got an awful feeling it's the boys dinner…see ya later…bye.'

  Maggie rushed into the kitchen to see plumes of smoke coming out of the oven.

  'Shit, oh my god…shit…ow that burns,' she grabbed the tray of very unappetizing black bits of charcoal that had formally been chicken kievs and almost threw it onto the side, 'damn now I'll have to start all over again,' she said opening the freezer and peering in to see what else she could rustle up in 20 minutes.

  She opened the windows to try and get rid of the burning smell before the boys came in and caught her burning the dinner yet again…it was the second time this week, the last time she had dozed off after downing half a bottle of white wine (she'd had a pig of a day at work), and woken up to find the kitchen full of smoke and two pizzas on fire in the oven, she really must start getting a grip, she could feel herself sliding back into the abyss again and she had sworn that she would never do that to herself or her family again.

  Tonight's disaster had been a bit different she had just got caught up in a conversation with Carla, but the boys weren't to know that, and she didn't want to scare them.

  In the years that followed her marriage breakup, Maggie had hit rock bottom, she had started drinking heavily and had turned into a person that even she couldn't recognise, it was only after Carla had made her go and speak to a counsellor that she had got herself back on track, and she had been good now for a few years, but sometimes if she forgot to do something or got a little bit too merry, she could see the fear in the boys eyes. 'Never again,' she vowed to herself.

  Having successfully cooked two more Chicken Kievs and made a salad to go with them, Maggie went upstairs to get changed, she heard the boys come in a few minutes later and from the sounds of it Jools was with them.

  'Hello you gorgeous pair,' she said coming into the kitchen half an hour later; she gave them both a quick kiss. 'And you too of course Jools my darling, you're looking as lovely as ever, how is your mum?' Jools' mum had recently been in hospital with pneumonia.

  'Oh she's fine thank you Maggie, she loved the flowers by the way, asked me to thank you for them.'

  'No worries sweetheart, I hope you are all making sure she does nothing! I remember having pneumonia myself and believe me it makes you as weak as a kitten.'

  'Well we are trying but she is the most stubborn woman, every time we turn our backs she's whipping up a roast dinner or cleaning the toilets, it's driving us demented I can tell you.'

  Maggie laughed, 'Oh poor thing she's probably bored to tears, do you think she'd be up to a visit, maybe I can cheer her up.'

  'I'm sure she'd love that, thanks Maggie,' said Jools with a smile.

  Maggie nodded, 'I'll make sure I remember. How's work, we were talking about you last week at the cauldron, as it happens, well not you exactly but that nasty old man you look after…Vanessa's dad…'

  'Oh I haven't seen him for a while actually, I think he's gone to stay with his daughter for a couple of weeks…not Vanessa obviously the other one, um…, Faye I think she's called, he went off in a taxi she'd sent last week some time…it's so nice not having him around actually although I know that sounds mean but he really is hard work.'

  'What you mean is that he's a ghastly old bastard who never has a nice word to say about anyone, and who purves after all the young nurses,' said Jed coming up and giving Jools a squeeze, 'only you're too nice to say that aren't you sweety?'

  Jools gave him a playful slap, 'Well sometimes I feel sorry for him, I mean it must be awful to know that your family don't want to see you mustn't it?'

  'Well it seems at least one member of his family want to see him,' called Maggie from the hall mirror, where she was fixing her lippy, 'this Faye woman, so he can't be all bad.'

  'No but it's all a bit strange actually,' said Jools following her out, 'I mean nobody has visited him ever since I've worked there and then all of a sudden there's this granddaughter who turns up out of the blue, and he refuses to have anything to do with her…got quite violent about it actually…and then he's telling me that his younger daughter Faye, who I've never heard him mention before, is collecting him and he's going to stay with her for a couple of weeks, still he seemed happier than I've ever seen him when he went off in the taxi, I love that shade on you Maggs, makes your lips look well sexy.'

  'It's called 'Pink Plumpalicious,' I found it in the desperate old ladies range…cost a fortune.'

  'Yeh right…as if, well I hope I'm as desperate as you when I'm your age that's all I can say,' said Jools laughing.

  Maggie's phone trilled. 'Oh that'll be Carla, I said I would pick her up this week, got to go…have a good evening, your three dinners are in the oven,' and with that she whizzed out of the front door.

  Carla was waiting outside the station and she waved at Maggie, who pulled over to let her in.

  'Oh my god this car seems to be getting higher and higher,' grumbled Carla as she climbed into the enormous 4x4, and settled herself down in the plush soft leather seat.

  'You are just getting old my darling,' said Maggie with a smile. 'How's life babe, you any furt
her on with this murder case…I heard it was that little purve Richard Frampton, a real live paedo living in our village, talk about scandal.'

  'Well whatever you've heard, nobody's been charged and between you and me no one is likely to be anytime soon…I just can't get to grips with this one Maggs, I've got a good idea what it is all about and I've got a good idea who the main players are, but I can't prove a thing…although I think I'm getting closer to one or other of them breaking…but of course you can't say any of this to anyone…at all ok?'

  'It would be impossible to say anything even if I wanted to sweety because I didn't understand a word of what you just said,' said Maggie laughing at Carla's worried expression.

  'Good, good it's much safer that way. Anyway let's change the subject, how are you Maggs, had a good week? How did Helen's date go, she text me in raptures over this Mike chap…what do you think?'

  'Oh he's gorgeous alright, I got a good look at him myself actually,' she laughed at Carla's raised eyebrows… 'No I'm not out to steal my friends conquests, I just ended up driving her to and from her date so I have inside information so to speak.' She went on to tell Carla the whole story in a way that had Carla helpless with laughter. 'Thank goodness you drove her, sounds like she would have backed out otherwise…although I can't help feeling very worried about the silly cow, I don't think for a minute she's ready to give up on Will…I know, I know the man's a slime ball, but he is her slime ball and they've been through such a lot together what with the IVF thing and finding out that she had no chance of carrying a baby, and when all's said and done he has stood by her, and I think the bottom line is she is still very much in love with him.'

  'Well he had better watch out, because from what I witnessed the other evening, he has a rival, and a very delectable one as well, so the sooner he starts remembering who he's married to the better,' said Maggie with feeling.

  Carla winced as Maggie almost did a handbrake turn into a tiny space in the car park. The Bull seemed quieter tonight despite being busy, people were talking in hushed tones and a very subdued Vanessa was serving behind the bar, she acknowledged the two women with a curt nod as they went past.

  'Don't think you're going to get away without blow by blow details of that little incident either my darling,' hissed Maggie, 'Poor darling Giles, how is he doing?'

  'Well he was charged this morning and granted bail until his trial in May sometime I think, he looked like a shattered man though…I still can't understand it myself, it just seems so out of character…oh there's Helen …and Tracy, blimey we must be late.' Carla waved at the two girls and fought her way over to the table.

  Tracy was obviously in full flow, she waved a hand when she saw them. 'I've just been filling Helen in on the drama in here last night, poor Giles he was so upset, and that awful man, I don't care what you say Carla he deserved what he got, he was so nasty to Vanessa, and even if she is a snobby cow, she didn't deserve that, good on Giles for standing up for her I say.'

  'I haven't said a word,' said Carla defensively, 'now if you were to ask me, Carla, your friend, what I thought I would agree with you, but as a copper I'm afraid I have to say Giles was a stupid fool last night, what he did on the spur of the moment will affect him for the rest of his life…anyway enough of that, I want to hear every smutty little detail of your date Helen, you didn't say much in your text only how much you liked him, so come on love details.'

  Helen smiled shyly, 'He was just sooo lovely, very tall and a wonderful smile and we just didn't seem to be able to stop talking, the evening went so fast…'

  'But has he asked you out again?' interrupted Maggie.

  'Oh give the poor man a chance,' said Tracy, 'it was only last night for goodness sake,' she turned to Helen, 'Don't worry if you don't hear from him for a couple of days Hels, men like to think they're in control so they keep you waiting.'

  'Well actually Tracy he has asked to see me again next Wednesday, and I told him about my canvas unveiling and he's going to try and make it for that as well, although I won't be able to speak to him much there but it will be lovely knowing he's in the crowd.'

  'Blimey that's a bit dangerous isn't it, what about Will, might be a bit awkward Helen love,' said Maggie.

  'Oh Wills is not coming,' said Helen with an unconcerned wave of her hand, 'got a conference in Eastbourne or something I really wasn't paying attention so it's fine if Mike comes, although I will have to treat him like a stranger, but that will be fun, and he's going to take me out to dinner afterwards.' Helen sounded so sure and brave but Carla could see that she was struggling, she wasn't really cut out for intrigue and deception, she felt worried for her friend and made a promise to herself to have a quiet word with her soon.

  The evening progressed as it always did, the four women chatting ten to the dozen sometimes all at once it seemed, it was a miracle that anyone understood anything that was said. Later Carla went up to the bar to get another round in; Vanessa gave her a guarded smile.

  'I think I owe you an apology,' she said and at Carla's raised eyebrows, 'for going on about my stupid family problems last night, you must have been bored silly…I was just feeling a bit emotional.' Vanessa seemed to be very embarrassed by the previous night's confidences; maybe she saw it as a sign of weakness.

  Carla tried to reassure her, 'That's not at all surprising given the circumstances, besides, I was the one asking you the questions, I'm sorry if I got a bit personal, habit I suppose. How's Giles holding up? I haven't seen him in here tonight.'

  'No and you won't for a while either, I've told him to stay upstairs for the moment, just until it's all died down you know, don't need to draw any more attention to ourselves than we already have…um what with the assault charge and everything…these drinks are on the house Carla, just as a way of apologising for my droning on last night.'

  'Oh really that's not necessary,' protested Carla, but Vanessa held up her hand.

  'No I insist…you mustn't take any notice of the stuff I said last night…you know about my Dad etc. I was just letting off steam, you know what it's like it all builds up inside you and then it bursts forth like a dam bursting, it was all rubbish anyway.'

  Carla took a sip of her drink.

  'Well I have noticed that you've been quite tense lately Vanessa. I was wondering if I could come and have a quiet word with you soon anyway, to do with my investigations into the death of the young girl in Glory Woods…er nothing to worry about I've been asking everyone in the village, I just need to establish your whereabouts at about the time of her murder, routine stuff like that…um would tomorrow after the picture unveiling be ok with you?'

  Vanessa looked like she had turned to stone. 'But how can I help with that, I don't understand why would you need to question me?'

  'Oh it's not just you,' said Carla as she struggled to pick up all four drinks, 'as I said I've been asking most of the village residents the same questions, and of course as landlady of the pub you might have seen her before she was killed, without you realising it. We've got a recent photo of the girl now so you might just remember seeing her, it would help us to piece together her movements in the village, help us to understand why she was here. I'll tell you more tomorrow…thanks for the drinks though, that's very kind of you.' Without giving Vanessa a chance to answer her Carla made her precarious way back over to where the girls were having what looked like a heated discussion.

  'Oh Carla, the voice of reason thank goodness you've come back,' Helen pounced on her before she had even sat down, 'Will you tell these two drunken idiots that it is not a good idea to get some man to phone Wills and ask for me…they seem to think it will somehow shock him into giving up Miss slack knickers, and bring him home begging for forgiveness.'

  'Oh Helen love I think you should think very carefully about all of this… I mean Mike sounds lovely, but do you really want the fall out that this could bring? If you really want my advice I would talk to Wills…confront him, find out what his position is in all this, then yo
u can make an informed choice about what you want to do, who you want to be with…I know that's not as much fun as cutting his balls off but…well I think you are still in love with the man.'

  'Bloody hell Carla you are such a kill joy, just because you ended up with the man of your dreams,' interjected Maggie.

  'I'm sorry I just think it's too serious to be playing games that's all…now should Wills decide that he's going to dump our Helen and take up long term with 'Sarah Skirtsoverherhead', then he's fair game and we can all help Helen to be as creative in her revenge (as long as it's legal) as she wants.'

  A big cheer went up for this plan and the night went downhill from there, with more and more violent and ridiculous plans for Wills downfall.

  Maggie didn't get in till about one which was unusual for a cauldron meeting, but somehow the girls had needed each other this evening and had been loath to call it a night. Just as she was getting into bed her phone rang, 'Hello' she said in a sleepy voice.

  'Well hello to you too,' came back the unmistakably smooth drawl of Charles, Maggie smiled a smug smile.

  'Oh so you're back on this side of the pond are you, how was your trip?' she said squirming on the cool sheets, honestly what was it about this man that made her feel wet with anticipation just by hearing his voice.

  'Very successful actually, but that's not important, what is important is…what are you wearing right at this moment, and can I come over and take it off you?'

  'Well you can try…but these burkas are notoriously hard to remove you know.'

  Charles laughed sexily, 'Not if you've got a scouts knife they're not…and I'm always prepared, see you in ten minutes.'

  Maggie could hardly repress a squeal of delight…Charles had phoned at last, and she hadn't even had to beg!