by S Williams
‘Are you sure it’s what you want?’ Trent says. ‘You could probably sell it for a fortune.’
The women nod.
‘Certain. Bella loved the house, but it became wrapped up in her mind with what was happening there. It’s all in the diaries. It’s so sad. The very first thing she writes is that her bedroom has a lock on the door. This was when she was eleven.’
‘I can’t believe I never noticed. I’m so sorry.’ Mouse looks at them both, but all she sees is Bella.
‘We never noticed,’ Trent adds.
‘She never wanted you to.’ Martha’s voice is soft, like the wind across the moor. ‘But you know what? Reading the diaries, even after all the awfulness that happened to her, she still lived her life fully.’ She looks at Mouse. ‘She still fell in love. Still lived on her own terms. Whatever was done to her, it didn’t break her. She may not have been able to tell you what was happening to her, but she showed you her love, from the first time she met you, to her very last action in the car.’
‘“Only you”. That wasn’t for Heathcliff here.’ Athene grins. ‘That was all hers and yours.’
‘And you mustn’t let Jamie take it from you,’ Trent says, reaching out and stroking her hand. She looks into his eyes, hoping to see a spark of Bella in there.
‘Ah yes, Jamie. Whatever happened to him?’ Martha’s words whip away in the wind. In the distance, Mouse thinks she can hear a vehicle; a Land Rover, possibly. The solicitor.
‘No one in the village seems to know,’ Athene says. ‘He disappeared into the night. The police searched his hotel and found some rather worrying things. It seems he was suffering from depression. Seeing me reminded him of Bella and happier days, is the thinking. Apparently his wife died in an automobile accident. His car was found near Whitby, along with a note, blaming himself. As far as I know the case has been closed.’
‘That’s absolutely tragic,’ Trent says, his voice full of concern. All four of them exchange a glance.
A car peaked over the hill and started down the track. A Land Rover, Mouse noted, with satisfaction.
‘Poor man; do you think we’ll ever find out what happened to him? Where he went?’ Martha looks at them, wide-eyed. Mouse looks back, thinking of fire and pinball machines.
‘What was that track, Trent? The one by The Clash on the mixtape?’
‘“Straight to hell”,’ he says.
‘That’s the one,’ Mouse says with finality, then starts towards the low wall that separates the field from the house. Answering for them all.
When they reach it they turn back and stare at the forest. All the trees have leaves, with many sporting the silver death chimes.
Mouse looks at one in particular.
From this distance, she can’t see the initials she and Bella carved, but she knows that they are there.
Protecting their secret.
Under the names is a new carving: a quote from Bella’s diary. Emily Bronte.
‘I wish I were a girl again, half savage... and free.’
She watches the death bells for a beat, listening to their chimes, remembering how high her and Bella’s hearts had soared together.
‘What does the C stand for, by the way?’ she says, turning to Athene. ‘On your police ID. Jamie said that it had the initial “C”.’
Athene smiles. ‘Athene’s my middle name. I took it when I read Bella’s diaries. The C is the name she gave me.’
‘So what is it?’
Athene’s smile widens, and she looks out over the moor.
‘The only thing it could be: Cathy.’
Athene grins and runs to catch up with Martha.
Mouse watches her a moment, then over at the trees, listening to the wind as it dances around and through them.
‘Only you, Bella,’ she whispers. ‘Only ever you.’
Then she turns and helps Trent over the low wall, and hand in hand they walk toward Athene and Martha.
The end
‘The murdered haunt their murderers’
Cathy. Wuthering Heights.
Acknowledgements
So many people to thank, so let’s crack on.
To the people who read, from the first word to the last drink; thank you. There really is no point if you’re not there.
Thanks to Chris, Chrissy, Clive, Elisabeth, Gabriel, Joseph, Lily, Loretta, Noney and Phil.
Thanks to Gary and Rodney for technical advice.
Thanks to Jim and Xach for the music short to Bella’s diary.
Thanks to Dominique for all the extra miles.
Thanks to Lula for the final cut.
Thanks to all at Bloodhound, who made the whole process so enjoyable.
Thanks to Emily, without whom Bella would not exist.
Finally, Josephine.
Only you, my love.
S.
A note from the publisher
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