Nathan had finished at the toilet, flushed and was washing his hands, cheeking himself out in the mirror hung on the wall above the bathroom sink. He was cheeking for any further grey hairs, he had been highly disturbed when he had come across one a week ago. He had not prepared himself for his age to creep up. Grey hair should only appear on elderly gentleman who were in the process of losing the majority of hair from their heads. Rachel had rubbed salt in the wounds two days previously when she went and bought him some hair dye. He had not taken it well and her joke was very short lived when she realised just how sensitive he was to the subject.
Three minutes later and he was ready to return back down the stairs and snuggle up on the sofa with Rach. He was hoping he could still convince her to throw a sickie for the rest of the day, she could be an hard nut to crack but if he kept going he knew she would break eventually. Within thirty seconds he was downstairs, with his head bending around the lounge door-frame, she wasn't there. Maybe she was making a coffee he thought to himself as he turned towards the kitchen, she wasn't in there either. Where was she?
Logan had his foot down hard as he sped up around the streets of York city centre, the rush hour was over but the roads were still busy and he spent more time trying to squeeze through the traffic. He had informed control and they were on there way with the lights flashing and the siren whaling, but he didn't have either on his car and nobody was in any particular rush to get out of his way. He had an advantage of around five minutes on the patrol cars but he was worried that they may get there first and some inexperienced uniform ends up causing the death of Rachel.
Nathan had completely searched downstairs and there was no sign of her anywhere, he hadn't passed her upstairs and he now began shouting out her name to no response. He was certain she wouldn't have just left for work without telling him, surely she would have had the courtesy to shout upstairs to let him know.
Rachel was standing there in the garage with the broken bedside lamp in her right hand, it was a perfect match to the one in Catherine's apartment and she knew it definitely wasn't an old one of theirs, she had always bought the soft furnishings and despite how expensive and modern this one looked it wasn't her taste. Five minutes previously it was as if she had been picked up by a tornado, spun around more times than she was able to count and then dropped on her feet without a single injury to herself. She was in a state of shock, requiring a minute or two to take it all in and despite not having any physical pain, her world was going to hurt like it had never before from this moment on.
She heard the footsteps behind her. Nathan had found her and had seen the lamp in her hand, he knew she knew he had murdered Catherine. Panic was setting in fast and he needed an escape clause and there was not one close.
'What is this?' she asked earnestly.
Denial was the first option he went for, 'what is what?'
'This in my hand?'
'Well I'll never claim to be a genius but I would suggest that it's a bedside lamp.'
'What's it doing here?'
'How am I suppose to know Rach, isn't it ours?'
'No Nathan! It is most definitely not one of ours,' she said facing him for the first time since she found the lamp.
Logan was less than five minutes away and with just three turns left to take he was not slowing down, that was until he had turned left and landed behind a bus. Not just a run of the mill service bus either, making the odd stop and allowing him to get past, it was on of those open top tour buses that drive around at ten mile an hour so all the tourists had the chance to take photograph after photograph of buildings and monuments that later when they were looking back they wouldn't remember the name of any of them. He kept weaving out towards the middle of the road but this was a busy street and he just kept being faced with oncoming traffic every time.
'Did I tell you we looked around Catherine's apartment.'
'Probably, but I can't remember now, I'm guessing you are going to refresh my memory.'
'It was a very impressive apartment. I mean really impressive. More than we could have ever hoped to afford at that age and if I hadn't already met her parents I would have asked a lot more questions.'
'I'm not sure I follow?' he asked curiously.
'I'm painting a picture here Nath, so shut up and go along with me. The lounge and kitchen had lots of space and incredibly clean. My dorm room at university never looked that tidy.' She began pacing around the garage, with the lamp still in her hand, 'I think it had been cleaned after Catherine had been murdered.'
'You think she was murdered at the apartment then?'
'I don't think anymore, I know she was, no-one would clean the apartment that well unless they were trying to hide something.'
'You were unable to find anything?' he asked sensing a wave of relief settling in.
'That's not exactly what I said Nath. We found saliva residual and semen on the bed covers and a minute trace of blood, that I suspect she had coughed up whilst have the life being strangled out of her.'
He twitched a little as the guilt flowed in like a monsoon, 'have you found who it belongs to?'
'Not exactly definitive but I have an idea. See this lamp in my hand matches one we saw in Catherine's apartment.'
'What you saying Rach, it's a lamp. You believe it belongs to Catherine. No! You believe it's the murder weapon, don't you?'
'There's one thing I can't get out of my head Nath. See, most people would buy a matching pair of bedside lamps, one for each side you know. Then I thought you could say that Catherine is not the same as most and may have indeed bought just one lamp. But, then when it appeared on the opposite side of the bed where Catherine usually slept then that makes me believe there were meant to be two.'
'How do you know which side of the bed Catherine slept at?'
'Catherine lived on her own, yes she had a boyfriend, but though his own admission, he didn't sleep there every night. The memory foam mattress that was on Catherine's bed told us by the indent matching her shape and size. I could be barking up the wrong tree, but you can understand surely why I would come to the conclusion that I have!'
Nathan couldn't deny the logic, it made perfect sense and Nathan know it was more than just an educated guess, it was ultimately the truth. He had nowhere to hide now. She had figured everything out and now was parading around, most likely buying time as the cavalry were most likely bearing down on him as she spoke.
Rachel had stopped pacing back and forth and was now stood still just a few feet in front of him. He looked at her, she was staring back at him with a look he had never seen before. She was empty, there were no anger there like he had expected, she looked a million miles away. He had broken her and the life from her was draining away from here and he couldn't find the plug to block it. His heart felt heavy, like it was dropping from his chest down-wards, pulled by the weight.
'Why Nath?' she asked deserted.
His heart was being filled with anger, she was sending him down now, that's what this morning had been about, laying next to him, looking for clues that would prove he was the murderer. How dare she. He loved her and he loved Catherine and the pair of them had ruined his life. Catherine learnt the hard way and now he looked at Rach.
She felt the grasp of his hands tighten around her neck as he lunged forward towards her and as she felt the need to gasp for every breathe, she heard the lamp smash hard on the concrete garage floor. Her feet fell from underneath her as he pushed her back towards the shelfing unit behind her and a moment later she felt the metal dig into her back deep, she instinctively grabbed hold of his wrists but he was two strong and she was unable to pull them away from her.
It became harder and harder for her to snatch her breathe and she quickly became light headed as all around her blurred out of focus. She was never one to wear a lot of makeup, it had always been subtle and due to the job she had always kept her fingernails short, but now she attempted to dig them into the skin on his wrists hopping if she pushed hard enoug
h she may just be able to force him to let go. The garage light was on and now the room was going bright, as if the bulb was soaking all the electricity from the power grid. Her hearing was becoming distorted but she could just make out the sound of a police siren before she felt herself begin to pass out and her grip on his wrists became impossible to maintain.
Logan had managed to pull up outside the house just seconds before three patrol cars with sirens and lights flashing, breaking the silence of what otherwise was a quiet suburban estate on the edge of the city centre. He ordered four uniform officers to surround the back of the property and followed by five other officers her moved towards the front door. He wasn't in the mood to be polite and grabbed the battering ram of the officer directly behind him. With on swing with all his force the door gave way, he didn't have time to check to see if it was unlocked first.
'Rachel!' he shouted the minute he stepped inside the house. She didn't respond, Nathan has let go of her throat when he heard the door give way and was making his way back into the kitchen when he saw Logan standing there. 'Don't be stupid Nathan,' Logan said as he moved towards him. Nathan was not going without a fight though and lunged forwards at him, he had already anticipated that action though and bending down on one leg he managed to land a swift punch to Nathans abdomen. It had slightly caught him by surprise, but Nathan was a strong man and he lunged again, this time landing a knee against the side of the head of Logan knocking him to the ground. The uniformed officers moved forward though and despite Nathan's best attempt, was soon overpowered by them.
Logan stood to his feet, slightly dazed but generally unharmed, hearing the calls from an officer who had discovered Rachel in the garage. He pushed by Nathan, currently on the floor face down, having a pair of handcuffs placed on him. Logan ran into the garage to see an officer carrying out CPR on Rachel. The colour had drained from her face and he was too late, another officer standing at the side was speaking through his radio ordering an paramedic. Logan throw himself down on his knees by the side of Rachel and pushing the officer out of the way he took over the CPR. He had recently attending a refresher first aid course and was applying chest compressions when the paramedic came rushing in through the garage door that had been opened after Logan and his team had arrived.
Chapter 48
Logan walked through the corridors of York General Hospital. A few turns later and he arrived at Ward 25a and made his way to the reception desk. The nurse pointed him to a bed in the corner with the curtains pulled closed around. He peered through the small gap where the two curtains joined, 'am I interrupting anything?'
Rachel was surprised to see him, the doctor had just left five minutes previously and she wasn't expecting any visitors until later that day, when Tanya would most likely pop by after she had finished her shift. 'It's OK Logan. I could do with a bit of company anyway, I'm slowly going out of my mind in here alone,' she replied with a smile.
Logan walked in a place a bag of grapes on the bedside table alongside the 'Get Well' cards that had been sent to her from the station and her mother. 'I didn't know what to bring so I went with a cliche instead,' he said slightly chuckling.
'They are fine, you chose red, which are my favourite. You made a good call there Logan,' she said attempting to be as upbeat as she could muster after the past week she had had.
'How you feeling?' he asked as he took a seat in the chair beside her bed.
'I'm doing fine,' she said nodding. 'The doctor has just left and she's hoping to be able to discharge me later tonight or at the latest in the morning. She wants to observe my oxygen levels.'
'Good. You'll feel even better once you get back home...' he broke off from the end of his sentence, realising that that may be the last place she wants to return to. He couldn't blame her if that was the case, she probably wouldn't want the reminder of her husband strangling her in her own garage.
'It's OK Logan. The sooner I get back the sooner I can start clearing that place out. I'm thinking of selling it and maybe move back home with my mum for a while.'
Logan nodded and lifted up one of the 'Get Well' cards and began reading the comments. It was the one from her mother who had asked Rachel to move back home. He looked up at her, sensing the whole idea of selling up had most likely come from her mother. Maybe it was a good idea though, maybe the clean break maybe exactly what the doctor would order anyway.
'What is the court date then?' she asked Logan. He was taken aback by her directness. 'Come on Logan. One of us had to mention it, after all that's the main reason you are here, isn't it?'
He couldn't deny it. DCI Jepson had asked him to come. He was curious if she was ready to testify in court against her husband. 'That's not the only reason I came, you know? I did want to check up on you too Rachel.'
'I'm sure you did Logan,' she said slightly loaded with sarcasm.
'The trial is scheduled in a weeks time. DCI Jepson just wants to know if you'll be ready.'
'I'll be ready!'
◆◆◆
Rachel was back at home getting dressed in her finest trouser suit, she knew she would be called up by the prosecution. It was a day she never thought would come. She had been a prosecution witness countless times before, she knew exactly what to expect, but this time was going to be completely different. She was testifying against her husband and her emotions were that mixed she felt like she had spent the past week living in a blender.
She moved past the black bags, filled with Nathan's clothes, that were littering the floor in the bedroom. She had spent just two hours clearing the wardrobes and drawers, literally grabbing hold of each item and ruthlessly ramming them in. They were now sat there with no home. With Nathan waiting his trial there was a chance, albeit slim in her head, that he could walk away as an innocent man. She thought if he had died unexpectedly, she would be morning and probably reluctant to let his belongings to go, now she wanted them go and she was unable to do anything with them until the trial was over. Irony at his best, she chuckled away to herself.
She had applied a brief spray of perfume and was on her way downstairs, halfway down she noticed Tanya stood at the bottom wearing an half smile. 'I told you that I could manage,' she said shaking her head at Tanya.
'I know what you said but I also know you better than you know yourself and my sergeant owed me a favour. So here I am, get used to it,' Tanya said defiantly.
Rachel simple nodded and after throwing her coat on and picking up her keys, she opened the front door. 'Come on then. Let's get this over with.'
York Crown Court was an imposing Eighteenth Century stone building with a large veranda at the front, met by five magnificent pillars holding the surrounding stone fascia. It was a hort walk from St George's Field Car Park, passing through Tower Gardens and then across Tower Street. The butterflies were now fluttering inside of Rachel and even Tanya was beginning to shake a little. She felt the change this time just as much as Rachel did when she was getting dressed. The car journey had been quiet, neither of them really knowing what to say. This was not the usual day to day running of life. This was a curve ball neither of them had prepared themselves for.
Nathan was in the holding cells inside the court house, dressed in his finest suit, the first day of a week of judgement from everyone inside the court. He had thrown up in the stainless steel toilet inside his cell three times already and was beginning to feel the fourth on the move. He looked at the toilet, bare and basic without a toilet seat at all, not just a plain white plastic one bought for less than a fiver, but not one there at all. It was to prevent prisoners from using it as a weapon, either against the prison guards or themselves. He had his hands inside his pockets, his bare empty pockets. He had nothing, even the belt to keep his trousers in place he hadn't been allowed and his shoes were outside the cell in an holding box, he cold feel the coldness from the bare floor eating its way through his socks.
It was time before he had chance to vomit again, as the bailiff opened his cell door with Nathan'
s shoes placed on the floor just outside. He was allowed to place his shoes on before he was handcuffed and led down the plain white corridor with the strip lighting above his head making everything look sterile and business like. He accepted it, he guessed you couldn't break the law without having to sacrifice a few home comforts.
The jury were sat, the barristers were sat on opposing desks and the public gallery was full. He could hear sobs already coming from what sounded like a woman. Catherine's mother was unable to hold them back and was steadily sobbing to herself, her father was stone faced, filled with anger and a million questions that he desperately needed answers to. He was shown the way to the dock and with his hands handcuffed in front of himself, he stood there with his head facing the floor beneath his feet, he didn't want to see anyones eyes looking. He had enough just feeling them bore away into him.
The judge entered after what felt like an eternity to Nathan and his trial began. Rachel, being a witness could do more than wait outside for her to be called to testify, she wasn't even aware if that would be most likely be today or whether she would have to come back another day. It didn't matter to her, she was going to be here all the way through, she had informed DCI Jepson of just that fact and he was not given the chance to argue against. Not that he would have been inclined to. He was happy to give her all the leeway she desired, he had been right that she would have the commitment to see this through to the bitter end, no matter how much it had to break her in the process.
Back inside the prosecutor was divulging Nathan's past at Stafford University and the affair he had with Beth, she had been tracked down and had affirmed the affair did happen. She had testified it was mutual and that Nathan had not forced her in anyway and that she had set her sights on him from the offset. It was irrelevant to the prosecutor, Jason Maddleson had worked on several murder cases and could only be described as pragmatic when it came to the amount of convictions he had mustered over the last fifteen years of him practising law. He suggested that the relationship with Catherine was inevitable, that Nathan had shown in the past that he was drawn to young ladies and this would only have continued if he hadn't been stopped now.
Catherine Page 24
