*
The younger face looking back at him in the mirror was preparing to walk with his grandfather and to learn more about the events that had shaped Connor’s life to what it was now. The sun was warm and the horizon was a hazy one as they both walked the garden. The old man could see that Connor was perplexed about something and was prepared to take a good guess at why. He admired Connor’s determination at finding out everything there was to know but was also cautious that he never made up his own mind without finding out everything first. This is why he hoped the best way would be this way.
“So Connor can I assume that you are thinking about what was written in those documents you read last night”
Connor didn’t speak but just nodded, a slight frown appearing across his face.
“I probably made a mistake Connor by letting you have access to the papers that tell the whole story. When you are old enough and able to understand better then you may have them but until then I will be the source of information”
Connor was desperate to ask the same question as before but trusted that this was the reason they were walking and talking. He remained patient and listened and it was only a matter of time before it became the subject of discussion.
“I know you think your father has done something wrong Connor but believe me when I say you have nothing to worry about. His first priority in his life was making sure his family came first and he would have done nothing to jeopardise that. He was a business man and sometimes business men take risks but not your father”
Connor nodded with a slight smile on his face.
“What you read last night was true. He did receive letters from the Inland Revenue saying he owed money which meant the banks would not help him but there was a reason behind this. When someone such as your father runs a business they do not have much time to manage their money. Your mother was the one who dealt with this type of thing at the beginning but when the company started getting bigger and earning more money it was better to pay someone to do this such as an accountant. I remember the first time I met him”
“Who?”
“Malcolm Stewart, he was the accountant that dealt with the company’s finances. He was an old friend of your fathers but there was something about him that made me feel uneasy. At the time I could not quite put my finger on it. At the beginning he would make sure your father never paid too much tax by changing a few things. I wouldn’t go as far as to say he fiddled with the books but he made sure your father wasn’t paying too much and claiming for what he was entitled to, everyone did it. After a year or two your father and Malcolm Stewart’s relationship went from being a friendship to a more professional one, with them perhaps speaking to each other once or twice a year. Whilst your father was dealing with the fiasco of not being paid by Rig-Works he received a letter from the tax people saying that they wanted to investigate his accounts because it seemed there were some discrepancies. He of course had no idea why and trusted that Malcolm Stewart would be able to sort it out. As much as he tried your father could not get in touch with him and it was only when he paid him a visit at their offices did he discover that the accountancy firm had closed down and moved on”
“Where had they gone?” asked a confused Connor.
“No one knew where they had gone. Nobody could get in touch with Malcolm Stewart and even the Inland Revenue had no idea. They were only interested in getting their money they were owed by your father. It was when your mother and father investigated why all their tax had not been paid that they realised Malcolm Stewart had been creaming off what he should have been declaring to the Revenue. Instead of paying it he had been putting most of it into his own bank accounts and spreading it through various funds”
“So he stole the money from my father?”
“The courts called it fraud but yes it was stealing but not just from your father, the government too”
“They caught him and he went to court” asked a surprised Connor.
“Oh yes they caught him. He appeared in court two weeks before the tragedy at the house”
“So what happened?”
“What happened was he was clever and he covered his tracks. There was not a lot of evidence against him and the courts decided to let him off with a fine and slap on the wrists. The money was never recovered and as far as I know he still has it now nine years later. Of course the tax man still wanted his money from your father but by then the bank situation had got even worse”
“The bank situation? I read a letter last night that had been sent to father saying that they could not give him a loan”
Connors grandfather shook his head whilst letting out a huge sigh.
“Oh they gave him a loan alright Connor. The first one was to pay to keep the business afloat because of him not receiving any money from Rig-Works. If he had been paid that money everything would have been ok. Now he was around £3 million short and owed around £2 million. Due to the financial climate around the world and banks being extra cautious, they would only lend him half the amount he required, meaning he could not buy supplies to fill the demand which meant he started to lose contracts and the company suffered badly. Without contracts there was no money and obviously without money he could not pay anyone off what he owed. It was a vicious circle with no way out and that was when he received the letter from the bank demanding payments he did not have. Connor I had never heard your father so upset on the phone three nights before the tragedy. Myself and your grandma cried with him at the prospect of you all losing everything because of people who had done him wrong. Your father had been so focused on running the business, travelling all over Europe selling and meeting with people, sometimes missing your birthday or Molly’s birthday to make sure you all had a future that he didn’t notice the people who should have been looking out for him were actually biting the hand that was feeding them. The strange thing was the last time we spoke on the night of the tragedy your father seemed much calmer which made us feel better”
Connor stared at his grandfather who now seemed angry almost like his face was filled with regret. There were so many questions Connor wanted to ask but he did not know where to start. At least it now started to make more sense and the explanation as to why his father did what he did that night he felt was becoming slightly clearer. It still didn’t explain why but he knew his grandfather had yet to tell him the reason his father took his and everyone he loved with him.
“Come Connor let us sit down”
They both sat on the chairs around the patio table where his grandma had placed two cold drinks. They sipped them before the old man continued.
“You see Connor with everything happening to your father something had to give. He realised he was not going to receive the payment he was owed, the bank were not going to help him and give him any more money and the tax man wanted the money that had been stolen from him. All this I’m sure your father would have coped with had it not been for the threat he was issued with by the bank and the financial authorities”
“The threat?”
“Yes Connor the threat that I am sure tipped your father over the edge because he knew everything he and your mother had worked hard for was going to be taken from him and god only knows what that must have done to him”
“Who was going to take it away?”
“Even before Malcolm Stewart was being let off for his crimes against your father my Edward received a letter saying he had 14 days before the bailiffs were coming to take everything away from you all. Myself and your grandma lent him nearly everything from our savings but it would have still been nowhere near enough to help the situation. His mind must have been tortured at the prospect of losing everything knowing most of it had been taken unjustly from him. Only he will know what went through his head during the moments he chose to do what he did that fateful night and I only hope he had already lost his mind before going ahead with his plan”
At this point the old man broke down crying which in turn made Connor cry. They h
ugged each other and bawled out uncontrollably as the emotion that was still raw surfaced once more. These were the times when Connor desperately wanted to hug his mother or father meaning he missed them more than ever. After fifteen minutes the old man gathered himself and made sure Connor was in a fit state to hear what he had to say next.
“So you see my boy only your father truly knew the reason why he had to destroy everything. From the paperwork in those folders we can only gather certain facts but deep down I know why he did that dreadful deed. It was because he loved you all so much and didn’t want to see you all suffer at the hands of criminals hiding behind the cloaks of a bank, an accountant, a tax man and a so called legitimate firm. He was determined that if they wanted it they would have to come and take it or what was left of it. I’m not saying Connor it was right what he did but in your father’s mind it was the only option he had because everyone who should have helped him in his time of need had succumbed to greed. I am personally sure that when he was at his wits end and could turn to no one he took in into his own hands that no one else would take from him what was left of his, your mother’s, Molly’s and your own lives. A life you had all made sacrifices for and your parents had put their heart and soul into. This makes me sure that he promised himself to leave them nothing only ashes from an honest life”
Through the tears Connor sat and contemplated what his grandfather had said, maybe now understanding a bit better why he was sat there being told these things.
The old man was right when he said it would take time to learn all the facts and Connor’s imagination was already racing with dark thoughts.
*
Connor awoke from his daydream once again, his own reflection in the mirror starting him as he turned the bathroom light off and headed to bed even though he knew sleep wouldn’t come easy that night. It never did and he would normally manage to snatch a few hours before the morning light brought relief to his sleepless mind. Tonight he sat up in bed looking through the window at the street lights outside and listening to the late night traffic that for some reason brought him comfort.
As usual he would not toss and turn and get involved in the fight for sleep but instead wait for sleep to come and take him.
Chapter 6
Over the next few years Connor studied every word on every page in every document. As well as leaving school with the highest marks in almost every subject he took including a number of languages, Connor also extensively researched every name involved in his father’s case whether it be the accountants, the lawyers or the staff who worked for the Rig-Works company. If there was to be a reason it was to make sure he could understand his father’s way of thinking during this torrid time. He wanted to leave no stone unturned.
His education took him to university in Paris where gained a degree in business. This was also where he worked as a translator for a professor, translating documents form French to whatever language the professor requested as long as Connor knew the language. If he was honest with himself though Connor realised his mind was more preoccupied with other things during this time. A lot of his time was spent at his grandfather’s and grandma’s house thinking and scheming a plan so dark that even he had to sometimes push it out of his head with repulsion. When he thought about how much time and effort it would take out of his life to plan such a thing he immediately dismissed it. It was only when he looked at pictures of his family did the energy return and the adrenalin surge through, giving him the belief that it could be done.
It was on his 25th birthday on a cold January day in Paris that he received a phone call that changed everything.
22nd January 2006.
“Hello.......yes this is Connor Chevaal.........when............what happened.........ok I will be there as soon as possible?”
Connor arrived in Beziers determined to be strong for his grandma. He hoped the doctor had got it wrong although he doubted it.
Connor was greeted by one of the neighbours and took into his grandparent’s house where he was introduced to Doctor Reynard the local French doctor.
“Hello Connor it’s nice to meet you I’m Doctor Reynard, can we talk alone please?”
Connor nodded and the Doctor guided him through to the dining room so that they could be alone.
“Is everything ok?” asked Connor.
The Doctor shook his head and drew a deep breath.
“I’m afraid to say your grandfather has had a stroke. I will tell you what I can’t tell your grandma and that is he won’t survive. The stroke has collapsed his lung and it will only be a matter of time before it paralyses his heart. He cannot feel anything below his chest.”
“How long?” asked Connor also drawing a deep breath to steady his beating heart.
The Doctor paused biting his lip, trying his best to hide his sadness.
“Anytime now............in fact I think he is only still here because he wanted to see you one last time. He has constantly repeated your name”
Connor tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling to try and stop the tears rolling down his face.
“Can I see him?”
“Of course Connor he is in his room......please go now”
Connor thanked the doctor and headed for the stairs ascending them two at a time. Composing himself outside the door he gently knocked and entered. There lay in bed was the old man being comforted by his loving wife who was beside herself.
Connor gulped back the emotion at the sight of him. The doctor seemed right that he did not have long. If Connor had walked in the room with no warning he would swear that his grandfather was already dead. He was lay with his mouth wide open just staring at nothing, his eyes focused but empty. Connor had only seen him three weeks ago but now he was hardly recognisable, his long grey hair brushed back flat from where his grandma had been stroking his head.
“Hi Grandma are you ok?” whispered Connor hoping not to disturb his grandfather.
“Oh Connor I’m so glad you’re here” she replied, standing up to greet him.
Connor hugged her then she let him sit where she had been sitting next to the bed.
“I think he has held on for you Connor”
Connor sat down and grabbed the thin bony hand in front of him. Slowly but surely he felt it grip his hand the old man’s eyes focused on him.
“Connor” said a voice hardly recognisable.
“Hi, how are you?”
“Listen to me Connor......come closer”
Even though his grandfather’s head remained still, Connor could tell by the eyes that he was desperate to tell him something.
“I want you to do something for me”
Connor leant in closer to be able to listen to what was being said through the shallow breathing and the gasping for air.
“Punio.......Sepelio”
As he said this the old man’s eyes glared with an expression that defied his condition. Connor could see the anger and hatred in them. Connor could speak Latin so understood what it meant and gathered that the reason he had not said it in English is because Connor’s grandma would have heard it. She had heard something but did not know what and looked at them both confused.
“What did he say Connor?”
He couldn’t tell her because it would have only upset her. As much as he didn’t want to he had to lie to her so made something up that was relative to what was happening.
“He said goodbye grandma”
As soon as Connor had said this he felt the grip loosen from his hand and let his grandma sit back down because Connor knew that it was time for the old man to go. The sound of sobbing took over as the shallow breathing stopped and the white spittle gathered in the old man’s mouth meaning that this was his last seconds on earth. Connor stared at his eyes and waited for the blinking to stop which would tell him he was now at peace. He was watching one of the last two connections to his mother, father and sister disappear. Soon he knew it would be time for his grandma to leave him also and then he would be alone.
<
br /> The tears found their way to his lips but the taste of salt went unnoticed as Connor was consumed by what his dying grandfather’s last words to him were. It was what he had been mulling over these past few months, having the seed subconsciously planted in his head by the old man months earlier. Connor checked his watch and marked the time knowing form this point on, his life would be on hold until it would all be over.
The few days spent with his grandma consoling her before the funeral was spent wisely. Connor knew that if what he had in mind was to work he had to be thorough and determined. It would test his resolve to the limit and also take time but he was prepared for that. The time at the house was spent scribbling notes in a pad and putting pieces of a large puzzle together.
LUCIFER'S ANGEL Page 5
