Radical Reaction

by Dawn Marsanne

  ‘Lie back on the sofa a minute,’ said Stef Billings. ‘Put your legs up. Would you like a glass of water?’

  ‘Er, yes please,’ moaned Maureen. She felt dreadful and now that she was coming out of the faint she felt clammy all over. Her shirt was sticking to her back and sweat was gathering between her breasts.

  The policewoman went out into the hallway and spotted the kitchen. Carefully she opened the cupboards and found a glass. She returned to the lounge where her colleague was flicking through his notebook in silence.

  ‘Here you are, drink this.’

  Maureen sat up slightly to drink the water and rubbed her forehead. ‘Sorry, I’m coming around now. Oh goodness. I can’t believe it.’

  Stefanie Billings looked over to her colleague and raised her eyebrow to ask whether she could take over. PC Martin nodded at her.

  ‘Mrs Welch. There’s something else we need to tell you.’

  Maureen looked up.

  ‘It appears that your husband took his own life.’

  ‘What? Hubert? Oh, no! He told me he was depressed about his illness but he’d started taking anti-depressants. He’d been to see his GP.’

  ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this. Just lie back for a minute or so.’

  ‘So why did you break in?’

  ‘Well, he missed a couple of meetings yesterday and he had a really important one this morning and so his secretary, er..’

  ‘Pamela,’ prompted PC Martin.

  ‘Pamela went over to his house as she’d been phoning him without receiving any answer and then she phoned us,’ she paused. ‘After she had peeped through the letterbox. Well, it was obvious then.’

  ‘Obvious? How?’

  ‘Your husband was hanging from the bannister rail. There was a kitchen chair kicked over next to him.’

  ‘Oh, God! How awful. Pamela must be in a dreadful state.’

  ‘Yes, fortunately, a neighbour took her in and she’s at home now. Her doctor has given her something to sedate her.’

  ‘I just can’t take it all in. I know we were separated but when you’ve spent so long with someone, it’s still a shock.’

  ‘We are sorry for your loss. But I’m afraid we have one more thing to ask,’ continued PC Martin.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘We will need someone to identify your husband’s body.’

  ‘Oh, God,’ said Maureen. ‘Hubert has a brother Graham. Does he know yet about Hubert?’

  ‘We haven’t had chance to contact him yet. Do you have his phone number?’

  ‘Yes, of course. No, wait, I think I’d better phone him.’

  ‘If you prefer, madam but if you have his details that would be useful.’

  ‘I’ll go and fetch my address book,’ said Maureen getting up slowly.

  Whilst she was out of the room, PC Billings scanned the room with admiration. There was no doubting this was an impressive house. Tastefully furnished but not ostentatious.

  Maureen offered the book opened at the appropriate page to PC Martin who noted down Graham’s address and phone number.

  ‘I think I’ll offer to accompany Graham at the identification, if that’s OK with you?’

  ‘That will be fine. There’s no rush.’ He gave her a card. ‘When you are feeling better, give this number a call and we can make arrangements.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  The police rose and Maureen showed them out. Slowly she walked back to the lounge, slumped down on the sofa and wept.

  Chapter 34

  Christian was looking at the list Ron had passed to him. There were twelve names detailed for the Phase I study due to start the following week.

  ‘I’m not sure why you have given me this list? Judith had already short-listed suitable patients and was in the process of contacting them. Most had agreed and we are expecting them next week.’

  ‘Cancel them. These are the patients you are going to use.’

  ‘But, there’s no medical history attached. We need that before the study.’

  ‘You’ll get the information in time. Don’t worry. Now, all these patients are expecting a payment of two hundred pounds. OK?’

  ‘But that’s well, that’s well short of what they should receive.’

  ‘That’s right. Glad to hear that you are catching on. I was a bit worried you weren’t following me.’

  ‘But this is completely unethical! I’m sorry I can’t go along with this.’

  ‘OK, well, I have time to call in on your wife this afternoon, when she’s completed the school run.’

  ‘OK, OK, I understand. What if there’s a problem. One of them becomes ill?’

  ‘There won’t be, trust me,’ said Ron.

  ‘Hmmph,’ was all Christian managed in reply. He was shaking his head scarcely able to believe what had just transpired.

  ‘Now. I’ve been doing my homework on this subject. I must say it’s all very interesting. I’m learning a lot about cancer therapy and clinical trials. You know, the more I think about it, the more I think what an ideal partnership we are.’

  ‘Enlighten me,’ said Christian sarcastically.

  ‘Well, you are an experienced clinician able to manage trials. You can interpret data. Whereas I am used to running a business, generating a profit. Turning a business around. A sort of dream team. Don’t you agree?’

  ‘I’m not sure. If you say so.’

  ‘I do say so, Christian my boy. I think that if I’d made your acquaintance earlier you might not have made some rather silly decisions and got yourself into hot water. Think of me as a mentor, a sort of fatherly figure.’

  Christian couldn’t imagine a person he’d less like for a father. The man in front of him was completely ruthless. Outwardly urbane but inwardly cold and callous. Perhaps once the business was on a firmer footing they would be able to operate properly. Whatever the outcome Christian had vowed to start looking for another job straight away. He’d already signed up with a recruitment agency. They had sounded quite positive that they would be able to find a home for his talents. So once he had another offer in the bag he would be able to tell avuncular Ron Radford where he could stick his business advice and he would have to find someone else to do his dirty work. A change of job would also mean he could put some distance between himself and Laura. He was starting to worry about her mental state. She was becoming obsessed with him. Where had the persona of GoodTimeGal gone to? She seemed to be living in some sort of fantasy world and the next moment she would be expecting a proposal of marriage.

  Christian was conscious of Ron snapping his fingers at him to summon his attention.

  ‘Oh, you’re back with us? You seemed to have drifted off there for a minute?’

  ‘Sorry, I’m not feeling very well today. Bit of a lingering headache.’

  ‘Well, I’ll leave you to take some pills. I’ll be over again soon. I’m just putting the final touches to some other plans.’

  ‘What plans?’

  ‘Oh, you’ll see. I don’t want to overburden your little brain, as you’ve got a headache. Bye for now.’

  Christian was so relieved that he had gone. But what on earth was he talking about? Some more plans, surely not. He already had too much to cope with. He needed a strong coffee before he looked through the folder before him.

  **

  After a nice chat with the receptionist Fay, Ron left ClinTry and got in his car. He checked his phone and saw that he’d missed two calls from Maureen whilst he’d been talking to Christian. On the second attempt, she’d left him a voicemail asking him to phone back urgently.

  ‘Maureen, sorry I missed your calls, I was in a business meeting.’

  ‘Oh, Ron, it’s Hubert,’ Maureen was struggling to maintain her composure. ‘The police were here. It’s awful. He’s killed himself. It was such a shock.’

  ‘Maureen, my love, I’m so sorry. I know you were separated but, well, you were together a long time. Did they say what happened?’

  ‘He hanged hims
elf. I’ve agreed to accompany his brother, Graham to identify him,’ she paused. ‘I wish I hadn’t done that. Now I’ve thought about it I feel scared. I’ve read about what people look like after they’ve done that. Their faces are all distorted and horrible.’

  ‘I’m sure they will make him look presentable. They must be used to this type of thing.’

  ‘Yes, but I’m not!’ Maureen was shouting by now.

  ‘Maureen, I know it’s been a shock for you. You mustn’t be on your own. Why don’t I come around to your place this evening? We can send out for a takeaway?’

  ‘Thank you, I’m not feeling too good.’

  ‘OK, shall we say, 7 ish?’

  ‘Yes, I need to sort myself out a bit, perhaps a bit later. I’ll text you.’

  ‘Whatever time suits you.’

  ‘OK, and Ron?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Thank you. Sorry I snapped at you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

  ‘Think nothing of it my dear. I’ll help you in any way I can.’

  ‘Bye, see you soon.’

  Ron disconnected. He smiled to himself. It was true, he would continue to help Maureen in any way he could. There were some conditions of course but they weren’t too onerous. She would find that out in the future. He thought back to his meeting with Christian. Things seemed to be taking shape quite nicely. It was early days and on that matter, he had some important phone calls to make. He was sure he was going to make some people very happy when they heard his proposal.

  Chapter 35

  Christian’s weekend had been better than he’d anticipated. Geraldine had been pleasant company and had been able to resist belittling him in front of the children. He began to believe that his marriage had a future.

  They were at Marco’s after a busy day of activities and as Geraldine and Christian queued up for the refreshments she spoke to him quietly, ‘Why don’t we watch a film together once the children have gone to bed?’

  ‘Yes, if you’d like to,’ replied Christian. ‘It’s been a while since we’ve watched anything together.’This was indeed a surprise and he wondered what could have happened to cause this change in Geraldine.

  ‘I know, I was thinking the same. I’ve really enjoyed today.’

  ‘Me too,’ he replied, squeezing her hand.

  They rejoined their children at a table overlooking the river.

  ‘Now, we need to decide what to have for dinner,’ said Geraldine.

  ‘Fish fingers!’ shouted Rufus. ‘And chips!’

  ‘You can have a few chips but only if you have lots of vegetables or salad,’ said Geraldine.

  ‘OK, if I must,’ said Rufus reluctantly.

  ‘Persephone? OK with you?’

  ‘Yes, it’s OK. As long as it’s not meat.’

  ‘OK, fish fingers it is then,’ and she smiled at Christian. Normal family life appeared to have returned.

  **

  Whilst dinner was being prepared, the children went to their rooms to play on their iPads and Christian spent half an hour in the garden pruning back some of the shrubs. He felt a bit depressed as he realised this was the tip of the iceberg and Sunday would be spent doing more of the same.

  After dinner, they spent an hour together before Rufus went to bed first and then Persephone was allowed to take a relaxing bath before she went off to her room to read for a while. Doubtless, some of the reading time would be messaging her friends but it was impossible to monitor what she was doing all the time. She knew that by 9 p.m. her phone had to be switched off whether it was a weekend or school night.

  ‘So, what film shall we watch?’ asked Christian, flicking across the choices available on their subscription box.

  ‘I don’t mind but before we watch anything I want to speak to you.’

  ‘Sounds ominous,’ said Christian light-heartedly but deep down he was worried. Did Geraldine suspect something?

  She drank some more of her red wine then held his hand. ‘Christian, I need to apologise,’ she said.

  ‘Apologise? Why, what have you done?’

  ‘Oh, come on, you know what I’m saying.’

  ‘I don’t, really. What are you talking about?’

  ‘About my behaviour recently. I’ve been a complete bitch.’

  ‘Rubbish, what do you mean?’

  ‘I mean I’ve been irritable, critical, distant, obsessed by the children, dismissive of your worries, need I carry on?’

  Christian remained silent. He was shocked at Geraldine’s revelations. ‘Well, things have been a bit tense I grant you. But I’ve been stressed by work too.’

  ‘I do love you, even though I don’t always show it,’ she squeezed his hand. ‘That’s not true, I’ve not shown I love you at all recently.’

  ‘Look, we are both busy people. Stop it.’

  ‘No, I want to explain.’ She drank some more wine. ‘When you got this job I was so excited. It seemed just the break we deserved. A big salary increase, this amazing house. Persford is a great town and so on. I think it just sort of went to my head. I became bowled over by it all and I thought we had joined some sort of celebrity set.’ She laughed. ‘It’s embarrassing. Looking back I don’t know what got into me. Then I insisted that the kids went to private school and I’m not sure that was such a good idea. It’s not worth the money.’

  ‘Really? But I thought you liked the school?’

  ‘It’s a super school but I’m not sure it’s that much better than the state schools. When they get to eleven I think they should leave there. Lots of the kids do that apparently.’

  ‘Oh, I see. Well, the Abbey School is very good from what I hear.’

  ‘Yes, I’ve heard that too. We can discuss that in the future. But something happened recently. I want to tell you about it?’

  ‘More wine?’

  ‘Yes, thanks.’ She waited whilst he poured some more. ‘It was one of those chance things really. I was at work and one of the girls had a book on her desk, The Trophy Child. Have you heard of it?’

  Christian shook his head and continued to sip his wine.

  ‘Whilst she was at lunch I read the back cover and then I borrowed the book from the library. It’s about a mother who is so obsessed by pushing her children to their full potential that she goes completely over the top. So many after-school clubs, extra tuition, driving them from one activity to the next so that they have to have a sandwich in the car rather than dinner. It’s ridiculous. But when I read it I realised it could have been written about me!’

  ‘Oh, no, you’re exaggerating!’

  ‘Well, possibly a little but that’s the way I was heading. Then one day I was in the toilets and two of my colleagues were talking about this book and they mentioned my name. They didn’t realise I was in the cubicle. I don’t want to say exactly what they said but they had a good laugh about me. That’s when I realised what I had been like and it had to stop.’

  ‘Oh, Geraldine, I’m sorry you’ve been upset by it all.’

  ‘It’s my own fault. I was a complete idiot. I’ve behaved horribly towards you. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had wanted to find someone else.’

  Christian choked at this point on his wine.

  ‘Are you OK, darling?’

  ‘Oh, yes, it just went down the wrong way. I’ll just get some water.’

  He returned and sat down again.

  ‘So, I’ve spoken to the children and told them that their classes are going to be reduced down to two per week as a maximum. They can choose which they continue with.’

  ‘What did they say?’

  ‘They were pleased. Apparently, they were finding it too much anyway. They had wanted to broach the subject but didn’t want to upset me!’

  ‘Well, it sounds a good idea. And Geraldine?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Thanks for being so open about it all. It can’t have been easy to tell me all that,’ said Christian, leaning over and kissing her.

  ‘I just feel s
uch a fool. I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Never mind. Now, which film do you fancy?

  ‘I don’t.’

  ‘Oh, I thought you wanted to watch something. What do you want to do?’

  ‘This,’ she said. She kissed him on the mouth, put her drink down and led him up the stairs. Christian allowed her to make the first move and they enjoyed some tender love-making which had been absent for too long in their marriage.

  As he lay back on the pillows and Geraldine dozed off to sleep he realised that there was still a future for their marriage, he didn’t want to throw it all away. He had been so close to losing everything but there was time to put the brakes on what was threatening to mushroom out of control.

  Chapter 36

  On Sunday, Christian realised he had thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and had forgotten about work but the time was fast approaching when the awful state of affairs at ClinTry would have to be faced. Outwardly, the business appeared for the moment at least, to be reputable, saved from collapse by a generous benefactor whereas the truth was quite the opposite.

  At 5.30 p.m. the children were sitting at the kitchen table with Christian making sure their homework was up to date for Monday morning whilst Geraldine began to prepare dinner. Seeing her chopping vegetables and making a pasta sauce from scratch was a rare sight and Christian was so looking forward to a home-cooked meal.

  ‘Mmm that smells good,’ he said. ‘I’m getting hungry!’

  ‘It won’t be too long, we’ll eat at six, OK? Now, spaghetti or tagliatelle?’

  ‘Rufus and Persephone, you decide, I don’t mind either,’ he said.

  ‘Tagliatelle! They both shouted.’

  ‘Coming up!’ replied Geraldine.

  The children carried on with their homework and Christian checked his phone. To his relief, there were no messages from Laura. After the children were asleep he was going to message her and tell her that although it had been good while it lasted their relationship was over.

  **

  Nimrod had been itching to check what was brewing in the shed all weekend but due to the nice weather the garden had been occupied on both days and on Sunday his housemates decided to have a barbecue. He didn’t normally socialise with them but as they had kindly invited him, he graciously accepted. It also meant he could keep an eye on things in the garden, specifically in the region of the shed. There was an anxious moment when one of them had tried the old key in the padlock as they had forgotten that the barbecue wasn’t in there any longer.