Fatal Deception

by Sally Wentworth

  If any major event had happened in the town of Welford or its environs at ten-thirty that Tuesday morning it would have gone unreported, because the entire staff of the Observer was gathered in the main office waiting to hear what the two officials from the local union headquarters had to say. Bruno was there, too, plus a man no one had seen before but was rumoured to be Bruno's accountant. Norrie stood towards the back of the room among a group of the other women and made sure she didn't meet Bruno's eyes when he looked round. If he didn't already know that she had written to the union he must surely have guessed.

  The union official who'd visited the paper and talked to everyone stood up to speak first. He said that the union had been asked to look into the take-over and that he had gone into it very thoroughly with both staff and management. 'After talking to the new owner,' he went on, 'we are satisfied that there will be no redundancies and that, in fact, more staff will be taken on. There has, however, been some discussion on wage structures and we have now reached agreement on these. These are in addition to the five per cent across the board increase that has already been promised when the new mid-week edition comes out.'

  A murmur of pleased surprise ran through the crowded room at this announcement and increased when he went on to detail the rises. 'So, brothers, as far as the union is concerned,' the man finished, 'the take-over has done nothing but good for the paper. Should the position change in the future, then we will, of course, be ready to step in on your behalf, and we will be keeping a close eye on the development of the paper through your Father of the Chapel. As to the fears of sackings and redundancies that have been expressed, we can only repeat the assurances—that we have also had in writing—from Mr Denton, that the staff levels will be increased and not reduced. Thank you, brothers.' And he sat down amid a spontaneous burst of applause.

  As it died down, Bruno got to his feet. 'I should just like to add a few words before the meeting breaks up.' He paused, waiting for complete silence, which he quickly got, then he said clearly, 'It is a mistake to think that the past must be a model for the present. Circumstances are-never the same. Times and people change. What was unavoidable in one place is not necessarily so in another. And what happened in the past is over, finished; one should not let it affect one's future actions or feelings.'

  He was addressing the whole room and not looking at anyone in particular but Norrie knew quite well that the words were meant for her alone. Quite a few other people in the room knew it, too, which made her cheeks even paler than they might have been. She kept her eyes fixed on the wall above Bruno's head so that her chin was high, but there was no way she could meet anyone's eyes, least of all Bruno's.

  'Having said that,' Bruno was continuing, 'I hope that the future relationship between staff and management will be a long and happy one. I certainly intend to do my best to make it so.' He paused for a moment and then his voice became brisk and businesslike, 'During the few weeks I've been here I've been looking into the position and I've discovered that the one paper covers too large an area, without being able to give enough space to some of the new towns that are springing up. So I've decided that we will split the area up into four sections with separate papers for each area. We will open a small office with two or three staff in each section, but the production of the newspapers will be carried out here on the new computerised equipment. I also intend to bring in new photographic reproduction equipment and ...'

  His voice went on but Norrie wasn't listening any more. She didn't have to look at the pleased faces around her to know that Bruno had won—and had made her look stupid in the process. For the second time he had ground her face into the dirt. Pure hatred ran through her and she longed to hit back, to hurt him as he'd hurt her, but all she could do was to stand there and wait, to listen as everyone burst into loud and prolonged applause as he finished speaking. Wait while the Editor thanked him on behalf of the staff for everything he was doing for them. Wait while the union official complimented him on the way he'd accepted their proposals. Wait, and go on waiting until she wanted to scream out her hatred, to scream and scream at the top of her voice.

  'Come back to my office with me.' Sue's touch on her arm brought Norrie back to reality. It was over at last and Bruno had left the room with the Editor and union officials. People were going back to their offices, were giving her odd looks as they passed. She nodded and followed the other woman, not speaking until they reached Sue's office.

  'Here, you look as if you could do with a drink.' Sue poured out a couple of whiskies and put one into her hand.

  'Thanks,' Norrie drank it down in one gulp and then sighed. 'So he's won,' she said bitterly. 'No one will listen to me now.'

  'Maybe he has changed,' Sue suggested. 'Perhaps he was right to act the way he did on your old paper.'

  'Et tu, Brute,' Norrie said with bitter sarcasm, putting down her glass.

  'That was hardly fair. Bruno hasn't behaved anything like the way you described since he's been here,' the older woman pointed out.

  'No, I'm sorry.' She stood up. 'Who do I hand my resignation to, you or the editor?'

  Sue looked at her in consternation. 'But you don't have to leave. Bruno said there wouldn't be any redundancies.'

  'You don't really think I'm going to stay on and work for him, do you? Surely you can see it's impossible?'

  'But what will you do? You might not be able to get a job on another paper.'

  'It doesn't matter. There must be some work I can do, even if it's only scrubbing floors.'

  'Don't be stupid,' Sue's voice rose angrily. 'You can't just walk out of this job. What about Ben? You've got to think of him. You must remember that as a one-parent family you've got responsibilities that you can't just .. .'

  She stopped abruptly. Norrie followed her eyes and saw Bruno standing in the doorway. She hadn't heard the door open so it must have been ajar. There was a peculiar look on his face, as if he was drunk or had been punched on the jaw.

  Norrie swung angrily round to face him. 'Well, I suppose you'll do just as well,' she said bitterly. 'In fact it will probably make your day even more successful. You've got what you want. I'm leaving. Now.' And she strode towards the door.

  For a moment he didn't react but then moved to stop her. 'Wait. I want to talk to you.'

  But he was too late, Norrie brushed past him and walked out of the room and down the corridor. As she went she heard Sue say to him, 'Why don't you talk to me instead?'

  And she'd thought Sue was her friend! Well, she certainly hadn't wasted any time in changing sides, Norrie thought savagely, but then was instantly filled with depression. What right had she to criticise Sue? After all, the other girl's whole livelihood depended on how well she got on with Bruno. And it had been pretty obvious from the start that Sue fancied him. Well, she was welcome to him.

  Norrie had no belongings to collect, no desk to clear, all she had to do was to step out of the door into the street and that would be it, she would be without a job. But she took the step all the same, walking determinedly out of the building and quickly away without once looking back.

  The sensible thing would be to pick up Ben from the child-minder straight away and save some money, but Norrie was feeling far from sensible today and just wanted to be alone for a while, so she walked to the park and sat on a wooden bench beneath the broken walls of an ancient castle overgrown with a riot of climbing plants. It was peaceful here, she could close her eyes and listen to the birds singing in the trees, feel the sun on her face and smell the newly-cut grass. Pleasant sensations that would go on, no matter what. It helped to give her a sense of perspective about the future but it didn't allay her present feelings of outraged bitterness and depression. At the moment she felt as if everything Bruno had done for the Observer had been to spite her. Would he have been so generous if she hadn't been there to reveal the truth about his past? She couldn't see it. And in a year or so inflation would catch up with the rises he had given them, but would the staff then get a
nother increase? Enough to cover the extra work they would have to do to publish five newspapers instead of one? Norrie greatly doubted it. And in the meantime she was out of a job. Tears came to Norrie's eyes and she let them fall. There was no one to see, not even Ben. For once she could give way to her emotions.

  Her eyes were still red nearly an hour later when Norrie went to collect Ben, but she covered them with a pair of sunglasses and the child-minder didn't notice. Her fee took nearly all the cash Norrie had but she just didn't feel up to going back into the town to the bank. Taking hold of Ben's hand she began to walk him home, but he was feeling active and wanted to play all the time, climbing on to walls and trying to play hide and seek with her. Usually Norrie would have joined in but today she just wasn't in the mood. As they neared the cottage he started to run through an alleyway into a nearby field where he often picked wild flowers.

  'Ben. Not today. Come on,' she called to him. And then, when he took no notice, 'Ben, come here this minute. Do you want me to smack you?'

  He came at that, looking up at her with such puzzled eyes that Norrie immediately felt a louse. Tentatively he stretched out his little fat hand full of buttercups, offering them to her. Silly tears pricked her eyes again and she knelt to hug him. 'Oh Ben, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout.' She put her face against his soft skin and held him tightly for a moment until he wriggled free.

  'Look, Norrie. Man,' he said in her ear.

  Opening her eyes, Norrie blinked away the tears and saw a tall, dark shape looming over them. Then her eyes widened as she saw that it was Bruno. Quickly she got to her feet and instinctively took hold of Ben's hand, pulling him behind her. 'What do you want?' she demanded, using her fingers to dry her eyes.

  He didn't answer for several minutes, he was staring down at Ben and there was such a grim look on his face that Norrie was frightened. Scooping the boy up into her arms, she went to walk past him, but Bruno shot out his hand and caught her wrist. 'I want to talk to you,' he said for the second time that day, but this time there was far more menace in his tone.

  'But I don't want to talk to you, not now or ever.' She began to move towards the cottage but Bruno came along with her, so she stood still again. 'Will you please go away? I've told you, I have nothing to say to you.'

  'But I'm quite sure that you do,' Bruno told her forcefully, and began to pull her up the path to the cottage.

  'Let go of me.' Norrie tried to pull free but was hampered by carrying Ben and her handbag. 'If you don't let go of me I'll scream,' she threatened.

  'Okay, go ahead and scream.' Bruno let go of her suddenly but instead grabbed Ben out of her arms.

  Norrie's face went deathly pale and she tried to snatch the child back. 'Give him to me. How dare you touch him?'

  But Bruno kept a tight hold on the boy. 'I'll give him back to you as soon as we get inside.'

  She stared at him, seeing the uncompromising determination in his face, and then looked at the fright in Ben's eyes as he was held in the stranger's arms. And, seeing that, Norrie knew that she had no choice. Quickly she fumbled in her bag for her key and unlocked the door. Bruno followed her inside and shouldered the door shut behind him.

  'Give him to me.' Norrie's voice rose hysterically.

  Bruno's eyes went round the little sitting-room, taking in the toys, the childish drawings pinned to the wall, the kangaroo height chart on the back of the door, and his face became even grimmer. But he gave Ben back to her.

  Norrie hugged the child close for a moment, then put him down and helped him off with his anorak. 'Go and put your coat away, poppet,' she told him as calmly as she could, hating that frightened look in his eyes. 'And then you'd better find a lettuce leaf for Henry. I expect he's hungry.' Henry was the guinea-pig.

  'I'm hungry, too,' Ben pointed out, holding on to her hand and looking up at Bruno uneasily.

  'I'll get you something soon. Go on. It's all right.' She gave him a little push and he went into the kitchen. Then Norrie straightened and faced Bruno. 'Just what the hell do you want? How dare you force your way in here.'

  Anger flared in Bruno's dark eyes. 'I want the truth. All of it.'

  Norrie glared back at him. 'Very well, you can have it. Although I'm sure you must have guessed by now.'

  His eyes widened as he stared at her, but then he said in a soft, almost stunned voice, 'But I want to hear it from you.'

  She shrugged, puzzled by his tone. 'All right. I was the one who wrote to the union and told them of the way you used the staff on the Devon paper—or rather the way you mis-used them. So you needn't try pinning the blame on anyone else; I acted entirely on my own initiative. And I'm glad I did. At least it has stopped you from sacking anyone here.'

  Her voice tailed off as Bruno shook his head at her. 'I didn't come here because of that. I couldn't care less what you told the union about me. I'll make exactly what changes I want whether they like it or not.'

  'Then why did you come here?'

  He hesitated a moment, his eyes searching her face, but turned as Ben came into the room. 'I came here,' he said slowly, 'because of him.'

  Norrie's first reaction, before she even began to think, was one of protectiveness. 'He's nothing to do with you,' she said sharply and caught hold of Ben's hand, pulling him towards her.

  'Isn't he? That's what I came to find out.'

  Norrie stared at him, not understanding, thinking only that he represented some threat to Ben. Perhaps was going to try and get him taken away from her because she no longer had a job, say she wasn't fit to look after him or something. He was looking at her so strangely. 'You keep away from him. I told you; I'm looking after him for someone,' she told him wildly.

  'But I don't believe you. I think he's yours,' Bruno said grimly, his eyes again on her face.

  'That isn't true. He's not mine.' For the life of her she couldn't see where this was leading, but Bruno looked so menacing that she was frightened.

  'You liar!' he shot at her. 'Look at him; his hair, his eyes; he's the exact duplicate of you.' Squatting down to Ben's height, he smiled at the boy and said gently, 'Hallo, old son. You haven't told me your name yet.'

  Norrie moved to interrupt, but Bruno glanced up at her and said sharply, 'Let him speak for himself. What is your name?' he asked Ben again.

  His little hand tightened on Norrie's as Ben glanced up at her uncertainly, but then he looked at Bruno. 'Ben Peters,' he said clearly.

  'And how old are you? Do you know?'

  "Course I know. I'm nearly four. And I can read lots of words. And I know all the A, B, C. And I can count up to a hundred—two hundred,' he amended. Not one to keep his talents hidden was Ben.

  'Bet you don't know when your birthday is, though,' Bruno prodded.

  'Yes, I do. It's the twenty-seventh of September.'

  And suddenly Norrie knew why Bruno was asking all these questions, why he had forced his way into the house, and why he had that terribly grim look on his face. The colour drained out of her own cheeks and when Ben looked up at her and said, 'That's right, isn't it? The twenty-seventh of September?' she could only nod and say faintly, 'Yes, that's right, poppet.'

  Slowly Bruno straightened, his angry eyes staring into hers. 'So now we both know the truth,' he said bleakly. 'So now let's talk.'

  'Darling, why don't you go upstairs and look at your storybooks for a while?' Norrie suggested to Ben. His ears were already pricking up and she didn't want to have to discuss his father in front of him.

  'But I'm hungry,' he wailed.

  'I'll find you a biscuit.' She took him into the kitchen and took a packet of biscuits from its hiding place, thinking that the mistake Bruno had made about Ben would be laughable if she didn't hate him so much. But at least she could let him know in very derisory terms that the mistake was a stupid one. As if Ben could possibly be his child! Ben was far too nice.

  Ben went happily off upstairs with his plate of biscuits and Norrie returned to the sitting-room. Bruno was looking at one of
Ben's drawings on the wall. It showed three people with the names Ben, Norrie, Daddy written underneath them; Ben was obviously himself and he had taken pains to fill in Norrie's long hair and her flowered dress, but the third figure was a complete blank. Ben had no ideas on daddies at all. When Bruno turned round, Norrie had the biggest shock of her life; his eyes were wet with tears. 'Why the hell didn't you tell me?' he demanded savagely. 'Didn't it occur to you that I had a right to know my own child?'

  Norrie was so taken aback that she could only stare at him in stunned astonishment, quite incapable of answering.

  Striding over to her, Bruno took hold of her shoulders, his grip hurting. 'Didn't what we had together mean anything to you at all?' When she didn't speak his eyes grew bleak. 'My God, did you hate me so much that you wouldn't even tell me?' His fingers tightened angrily for a moment, but then he pushed her away from him as if he found her repulsive and strode to the window, standing with his back to her, his hands gripping the sill. 'Were you afraid that I wouldn't stand by you? Was that it?'

  Norrie was still gazing at him in amazement, taking in his scarcely controlled fury, the whiteness of his knuckles, and the bleakness in his eyes. He cared! He really cared! My God, it would serve him damn well right if Ben was his! But she said again, in an unsteady voice, 'Ben is nothing to do with you.'

  Bruno swung round. 'You liar! Everything fits. We were together all that winter four years ago.' His mouth thinned into a sneer. 'Unless, of course, you were having an affair with someone else at the same time.'

  Norrie's cheeks flamed. 'You know damn well that I wasn't. I made such a fool of myself over you that I didn't even look at another man.'

  'So that proves it then, doesn't it?' Bruno moved across to stand in front of her, his dark eyes fixed intently on her face. 'He's mine, isn't he? Admit it.'

  As she gazed defiantly up at him, the wish to hurt came flooding back. And if the only way she could hurt him was through Ben ... Did she dare let him go on thinking that Ben was his child? Norrie lowered her head to avoid his searching eyes. But no, she couldn't do it. Although it would have been a sweet revenge for what Bruno had done to her, and to her father. Especially for his sake. Without looking at him she said, 'No. No, he isn't.'