No Heaven, No Hell

by J. T. Brindle

  His ardour made her smile. It was the old Jack talking. ‘I’ll have to get on top then,’ she replied softly. ‘My back’s still much too sensitive to take your weight.’

  Lianne felt proud. ‘Don’t they look right together?’ she said to Dave. ‘Next week they’re going to look at one of those new houses along Leighton Road.’ Her eyes shone with love. ‘Oh, Dave, I’m so glad they’re home.’

  Dave was glad, too. ‘I’m glad your father had a change of heart about us.’ He had the feeling there was a bit of jealousy there. But then he supposed every man was a little jealous where his daughter was concerned.

  Ginny, too, watched her parents dance for a while. ‘They’re very attractive, don’t you think?’ She glanced at the woman beside her, wondering how to be rid of her without raising suspicion. She had her eye on Luke Morrison, who in turn had been watching her all evening. She had an insatiable desire to lay writhing beneath him, under the stars.

  The female official nodded. ‘They certainly are an attractive couple,’ she said, ‘and not doing too badly, considering.’ Realising what she had said, she quickly clammed up. There was nothing to be gained by reminding this young woman of the pain she had put her parents through.

  The music stopped. Jack took Liz back to the bar. Dave and Lianne retired to a corner, where they talked softly and gazed into each other’s eyes.

  When the music started up again, Luke took the opportunity to ask Ginny for a dance. She in turn took the opportunity to pause on the way, and inform her father that he really ought to have a word with the official. ‘After all, you and Mother will want to know what progress I’m making.’

  As she and Luke went out through the french doors, the music changed to a slower tempo. Glancing back, Ginny was pleased to see her father take the official on to the floor, where he gave her the treat of her life by dancing close and swaying her ample body to the rhythm.

  As he danced into view he caught sight of Ginny and winked at her. She took that to mean she should go and enjoy herself while she had the chance.

  ‘I’m a bit the worse for drink,’ Luke told her, as they came out on to the verandah. ‘Whisky is one of my weaknesses. The other is women.’ He laughed in her face and she startled him by poking the length of her tongue into his mouth. Before he could get his breath, she pushed him against the balcony wall and was ripping off his jacket. ‘Bloody Hell!’ he giggled, fighting to keep his balance. ‘You’re a fast worker.’

  She was on him with a frenzy, her mouth covering every inch of his face, her hands all over him. Now his trouser zip was open and she was fumbling inside. ‘Anybody would think you were desperate,’ he chuckled.

  She didn’t answer. She was too busy trying to persuade him to harden. Nothing seemed to help. Not his hand on her naked breast, nor when her kissing moved from his face to his penis. He didn’t even respond when she took off her briefs and opened herself to him. ‘Christ! What’s the matter with me?’ Frustrated, he pushed his finger in and out of her, hoping to revive a semblance of passion. ‘It’s the drink! It’s always the same when I’ve had too much to drink!’ He hung his head and looked like a little boy lost. ‘I’m sorry,’ he moaned. ‘I’m bloody useless.’

  Throbbing with a desperate need for him, she stared at him in disbelief. ‘You’re right,’ she snarled. ‘You are useless. And you’re no good to me.’

  It happened with such speed he didn’t even have time to scream. Suddenly he was toppling over the balcony, falling through the air like a rag doll. There was a sickening sound, like air being punched from a bag. A gushing sigh. And an eerie silence.

  When she looked down he was staring up at her, his eyes wide open and glazed with shock. His body was twisted into a grotesque shape, impaled on the railings, pumping blood into the fishpond and turning the water a dirty shade of crimson. She smiled at him. Then she slowly fastened her blouse, made herself look respectable, and returned to the hall. The music was still playing. Her companion was talking to Liz, and everything seemed quite normal. As no one seemed to be taking the slightest notice of her, she sauntered over to the bar and got herself a cocktail.

  Liz saw her come back. And she recognised the evil delight on her face. ‘Where have you been?’ she muttered beneath her breath. ‘What wickedness have you been up to?’

  At nine fifteen, Ginny said her goodbyes. Her minder took Jack aside. ‘I’m delighted with the way she’s joined in.’

  Jack kissed his daughter. ‘We have to look forward,’ he told her.

  Liz stood back. ‘I expect we’ll see you soon,’ she said. What she thought was, I don’t care if I never see you again.

  Lianne hugged her hard. ‘Oh Ginny, I’m so thrilled you came to my wedding. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.’

  Ten minutes after Ginny and the minder departed, Dave and Lianne left for home. ‘I’ll make it up to you for not having a honeymoon,’ he promised in the cab. ‘With my first salary we’ll cruise to Mexico.’

  ‘I’d rather spend a fortnight in Weymouth,’ she laughed, ‘playing with Junior on the sands.’

  ‘It’ll be at least five years before I draw a salary,’ he pointed out, tenderly stroking the bump on her belly. ‘We may have half a dozen by then.’

  ‘We’d better not,’ she told him. ‘I won’t argue with the idea of one more, but if you want half a dozen, you can have them yourself. See how you like being a carthorse.’ She then kissed him, and thought herself lucky to have such a wonderful future.

  ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘One more, that would be nice. Besides, children are expensive I’m told, and we’ve got a few debts to pay along the way. If it hadn’t been for Mum and Dad providing for us, college would have been an impossibility.’

  A thought suddenly occurred to Lianne. ‘What happened to your friend?’ she asked. ‘Luke, isn’t it?’

  He laughed aloud. ‘Would you believe it? I forgot all about him.’ He cast his mind back to when they left the hotel. ‘Funny though, he wasn’t around when we left.’

  Lianne put his mind at rest. ‘From what you tell me, he’s probably entertaining some woman or other.’

  Dave relaxed. ‘That’s where he’ll be, right enough,’ he agreed. ‘Hidden away, charming some poor unsuspecting female.’

  The house lights were on as they came in. ‘It’s a wonder the fuses don’t blow,’ Lianne chuckled. ‘It’s like Blackpool illuminations in here.’

  Dave ran around switching the main lights off. ‘It’s Dad who’ll blow a fuse,’ he said. ‘He nearly had a fit when the last electricity bill came in.’ He carried her up the stairs. ‘I hope you’re not going to be so extravagant. Not like Mum. She has this idea that there are burglars watching her every move, ready to empty the house the minute she goes out.’

  He stopped talking when she kissed him. ‘As far as I’m concerned,’ she said softly, ‘your mum can do no wrong. I think it was very clever of her to let your dad have too much tipple. That way she could persuade him to stay over at the hotel… so we could have our honeymoon night all alone.’

  He agreed. ‘With a bit of luck she might persuade him to stay tomorrow as well. That way we can have two honeymoon nights.’

  When he laid her on the bed, Lianne feigned shyness. ‘Are you saying you want your wicked way with me twice over?’

  His answer was to take off his clothes and stand before her, naked and magnificent. ‘I’m yours if you want me,’ he said cheekily.

  She wanted him. Then, and twice more before the night was over.

  In the morning he rolled over.

  ‘Sorry about the bump,’ she said.

  ‘No problem,’ he told her. ‘I would never let anything come between us.’

  Her gaze fell to his large penis, standing bold and erect. ‘Are you sure?’ she laughed. And soon the two of them were helpless in a fit of the giggles.

  The short honeymoon ended when Dave’s parents arrived home, just as they were having their breakfast. Mrs Martin was in te
ars. ‘I’m sorry, son,’ she said, ‘but there’s been a terrible accident.’

  While his father took him to one side, Mrs Martin confided in Lianne. ‘I shouldn’t really tell you in your condition, but you’ll find out soon enough, because the police are questioning everyone who was at the reception.’

  Lianne was suddenly afraid. Her mind went straight to her parents. And Ginny. Always Ginny. ‘What’s happened? Tell me. Please.’ She could be strong. Life had taught her to be strong.

  Mrs Martin saw the strength in Lianne’s eyes. She told her, as gently as she could. ‘It’s that nice young man… Luke Morrison. They say he got drunk and fell from the balcony.’ She heard Dave cry out, and lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘One of the waiters found him when he opened the curtains in the dining-room.’ She drew in a long breath, as if to brace herself. ‘He’s dead,’ she whispered. ‘Dave’s friend is dead.’

  Just as Mrs Martin predicted, the police arrived soon after. Dave and Lianne told them only what they knew. That yes, he had seemed to be drinking rather a lot. ‘I did have a word with him about it,’ Dave revealed, ‘but he held his drink well, and seemed to be capable enough. He arrived in a taxi, and no doubt intended going home the same way.’

  Lianne found it too distressing, but the officers were gentle. ‘Did you see him go out on to the balcony?’ they asked. She told them no, she hadn’t seen him for some time. ‘I was with Dave. We were dancing.’ And all the while they talked with her, she thought of Ginny. She had seen the way they looked at each other. The way he seemed attracted to her. She had seen how Ginny seemed to encourage him. Ginny. Always Ginny.

  Seeming satisfied, the officers went, leaving behind them a sadder household. Lianne clung to Dave as they sat and talked. ‘You mustn’t let it cast too dark a shadow over your special day,’ Mrs Martin pleaded.

  Lianne smiled sadly. It was too late. How could they feel happy when such a terrible thing had happened? Again she thought of Ginny. All her life, when things went wrong and her happiness was spoiled, it was always Ginny.

  She silently chided herself. Don’t be unfair, she thought. It wasn’t Ginny this time. The young man died because of an accident. But there was something. Something! Ginny. Always Ginny.

  An inquest was held. The verdict was as everyone expected.

  ‘Death by misadventure.’ The coroner’s voice echoed across the courtroom. The unfortunate young man had drunk too much alcohol. After going out to the balcony he became confused. Judging by the disarray of his clothing, it appeared he attempted to relieve himself, lost his balance and fell to his death.

  At the inquest, only one person silently refuted the verdict. Liz believed that somehow Ginny was at the root of Luke Morrison’s death. Yet she had no logical reason to uphold that belief. She had no proof. It was just an instinct. A terrible gnawing instinct; born out of evil, and kept alive by terror. Even now, so long after Ginny had tried to murder her, that same terror threatened to destroy her.

  Jack could bear it no longer. ‘It’s been a month now, and I still can’t get through to you. What in God’s name’s the matter with you? I thought you wanted a house. I thought you couldn’t get away from the bakery soon enough?’ He had on his coat, ready for the second time in a week to go viewing houses. And, for the second time, she had refused to go. ‘For Christ’s sake, Liz, when are we going to get our lives together?’

  ‘I’m not ready to leave here yet.’ She hated living above the bakery. The constant humming from the ovens and the sound of the vans revving up of a morning got on her nerves. She was sick of the smells that filtered into every room, smells of baking, cakes, buns, doughnuts and fresh bread. All easily recognisable to her. Smells of home, and family. Smells that at one time she would have enjoyed. Now they wafted round her like the bars of a prison. ‘You go,’ she said. ‘I don’t feel up to it.’

  Something in her voice calmed him. He regarded her then, his quiet gaze roving her face with compassion, noting the dark lines beneath her eyes, and the sad droop of her mouth. ‘What did the doctor say when you saw him yesterday?’ he said, coming over to her. ‘You were so quiet when you came back. I can’t know what’s on your mind if you don’t talk.’ He stroked her hair like he used to. ‘There isn’t a problem, is there? I mean, the doctor didn’t say anything to worry you?’

  She raised her stricken eyes to his. She was thinking of Ginny. For weeks she had thought of nothing else. ‘That boy,’ she murmured, ‘what happened to him, Jack?’

  Drawing back as though she had slapped him, he muttered angrily, ‘What are you getting at?’

  His face told its own story. ‘My God!’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m not the only one who thinks Ginny had something to do with it. You think so too, don’t you?’

  ‘Are you insane?’ Rage coloured his features. ‘How can you even think that? Ginny was in sight the whole time.’

  ‘No she wasn’t.’ Liz was on her feet now, driven by the conviction that he too believed Ginny had killed that young man. ‘She was out on the balcony too… it must have been at the same time as Luke Morrison.’

  Liz was convinced. ‘You know what I’m saying is the truth. You know she killed that poor young man, but you won’t admit it.’ She turned away. ‘I can’t believe you’d want to protect her.’

  ‘She’s so much better,’ he said brokenly. ‘Don’t do this to her, Liz.’

  ‘Open your eyes, Jack! Can’t you see the evil in your own daughter? Must you always make excuses for her?’ Memories came flooding back. They had never really been far away, just lurking in the back of her mind, like some nasty slimy creature. There was no holding back now. ‘You’re protecting her again, just like you’ve always protected her! Even as a baby; when she took her vicious temper out on Lianne; when she deliberately broke things; when the kitten Lianne brought home was found hanging in Ginny’s wardrobe; even when she admitted the most awful atrocities, you would always make excuses for her.’

  ‘She was a sick girl. Any father would do the same.’ It was the past that had produced a monster like Ginny. He had kept the past alive by giving her his grandmother’s name. He had to make amends for that. ‘I know I should have been stricter… punished her.’ How could he punish her? It was he who made her what she was, and it was he who must be punished. Ginny was bad. She couldn’t help herself. ‘But she didn’t kill Luke Morrison.’

  ‘Why not? She killed that poor old caretaker, didn’t she?’

  ‘No! Why would she want to kill a harmless old man?’

  ‘She admitted it, for God’s sake!’

  ‘Because she was sick. But she’s so much better.’ He was pleading for himself, for his family. For their future together. ‘You heard what the nurse said… Ginny’s been very ill, but she’s getting better all the time. If she can put it behind her, why can’t we? We have to give her a chance, Liz. If we don’t, who else will?’

  ‘She’s had all the chances I can give her.’ The very idea of having Ginny under the same roof filled her with horror. She turned to him, appealing to his love for her. ‘You know what she’s done, yet you blindly adore her.’ The envy coloured her eyes, filling her veins with malice. ‘You love her more than you love me, or Lianne. Even your own mother. Why, Jack? Tell me why?’

  His voice came out in a whisper. ‘I don’t love her more than you,’ he said. ‘How can you think that?’ If only she knew. If only she could read his mind at that moment, she would see why he was so bound by the past. She might understand why he had to protect Ginny, come what may.

  Then his eyes filled with pain. ‘You’re right,’ he admitted. ‘I know I should turn my back on her, but I can’t. I won’t! I couldn’t live with myself if I deserted my own flesh and blood.’

  There was nothing left to say. With her shoulders hunched and her arms folded in defiance, she kept her back to him.

  He touched her ever so gently, kissing her neck with the softness of his lips. It was soft and moist on her skin. ‘I want you to come with me,’
he pleaded. ‘Please, Liz. Let’s settle this once and for all.’ His heart was breaking. He felt like ending it all.

  She began to melt. He could do that to her. One touch, one kiss and she crumbled at the knees. ‘Come with you… where?’

  ‘To Ginny. I know she’ll be able to explain.’

  Liz swung round, eyes blazing, as she told him in a trembling voice, ‘I don’t want to hear her lies. I don’t want to see her. I don’t even want to be in the same room as her.’ She pushed him away. ‘You go to her if you want. You listen to her lies.’ Her voice took on a hardness he had never heard before. ‘Go to her, then. It’s up to you. But I’ll tell you this, Jack. If you do go to her, if you walk out that door… I swear to God, I won’t be here when you get back.’

  ‘Please, Liz!’ His whole world was falling apart and he didn’t know how to hold it together.

  ‘Don’t go, Jack. Let’s move right away from here.’ In her ignorance she believed it was the only way. ‘Just go.’

  ‘Come with me now. Later, I promise we’ll talk it through.’

  It was all over now. ‘Just go.’

  He waited a moment, before putting on his jacket. ‘I can’t leave it like this. I have to talk to her.’

  ‘It’s up to you.’ Her voice was softer now, giving him false hope.

  ‘You won’t tell the police, will you Liz? About Ginny… and Luke Morrison,’ he pleaded. ‘Let me talk to her first.’

  ‘No, I won’t tell the police.’ She wasn’t strong enough to carry such a burden. ‘I’ll leave that to you.’

  She heard him go, and a part of her went with him. ‘Goodbye, Jack.’ Staring out of the window into the fading daylight, she let the tears flow.

  When her heart was quiet, she made a phone call. It was the saddest one she would ever make. Afterwards, she sat on the edge of the bed. Their bed. A new and expensive bed. A lonely bed, where they had made love just a few times since he brought her from the hospital. The distant sound of a vehicle coming down the street sent her running to the window. She imagined it was Jack come home. It wasn’t.