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Angela's Dead

Page 31

by Lou Peters


  ‘Did Richard say anything else?’

  ‘What like?’

  ‘Of my involvement?’ Rachel didn’t know why she’d bothered to ask the question. From the detective inspector’s manner, it was clear he hadn’t a clue the old lady had died because of something in Rachel’s past and not Jackie’s.

  ‘Who with… Jackie Riley?’

  ‘No, Ruth Montgomery.’

  ‘You knew Mrs. Montgomery, after all? I thought you’d told me...’

  ‘I know detective inspector and I’m sorry.’ Rachel said, cutting the policeman short. ‘But the old lady was from a part of my life, which I’d preferred to forget. By my not admitting to knowing her, somehow made it feel that I didn’t know her, if you can understand what I mean. I mentally blocked her and her name out of my consciousness.’

  Walters looked confused. He wondered where Rachel’s confession was going to lead him.

  ‘I’ve been hiding it from myself, I suppose. But yes, I knew Ruth...’ She hesitated. Looking the detective inspector straight in the eye… she said, ‘I was her neighbour in Upton by Chester... I’m Angela, Angela Hastings.’

  ‘But Angela’s dead.’ Obviously, the detective was having problems correlating what she was telling him, to what he already believed to be the truth.

  ‘Not quite detective inspector,’ Rachel gave him a tight smile. After a brief pause and a deep breath, she went on to re-tell the events of that day in August 1996 and before. Watched the range of expressions cross the policeman’s face, as each piece of new information was digested and chronicled in his mind. Saw the look of empathy for the little girl, as her mother had been taken from her, in such extreme circumstances. Thoughtful, when he’d heard of poor Mary’s demise. Of the cover up that’d occurred in the wake of the events having taken place in the old French house and her adoptive father’s subsequent suicide twelve months later. It was such a tragic tale and one that as yet, had no end.

  ‘What do you think will happen to me, detective inspector? She asked after re-purging her soul for the second time in a relatively short period. Rachel felt ashamed. She couldn’t bring herself to look at the inspector’s face. To see whatever expression she would read in his startlingly blue eyes. Nervously, she fiddled with her hands, as she said, ‘I suppose I’ll have to go to prison, to pay for what I’ve done?’ Finally finding the courage, Rachel raised her eyes to meet Walter’s gaze. However, the policeman’ head was downcast. Not a good omen.

  Sitting at her bedside, for a moment Walters didn’t answer, unsure how to respond to the unexpected revelations. ‘I think that’s a strong possibility,’ he said eventually. He raised his head his eyes locking with hers. ‘I’d like to be able to say my lips are sealed, with what you’ve been through already. The dreadful knowledge, you’ve had to live with for all of these years. It can’t have been easy. But then my own conscience wouldn’t be clear and I am after all, an officer of the law... but you can rest assured, I will lay your case before the relevant board, in the most sympathetic way that I can. I would say a custodial sentence would be on the cards. Hopefully, it may be of a short duration, but I can’t promise that.’

  ‘Thank you detective inspector Walters, I’m sure you’ll do whatever you can for me.’ Rachel’s voice had become small. The inspector reached out and grasped her hand, giving it a quick reassuring squeeze. A warm smile lit up his tired features. It suddenly seemed to Rachel such a long time ago, although it was only mere days, that the four had sat around the kitchen table at River Cottage, the inspector, Sergeant Cooper, Jackie and herself. Rachel had felt at that time that the officers were the enemy, how wrong could she have been.

  A rap on the door forced her to lose her forlorn expression. Detective Sergeant Cooper poked his head around the partially opened doorway.

  ‘Is it okay if we come in?’ The large man enquired a grin on his charismatic face. ‘We heard voices through the adjoining wall and somebody was keen to see you.’

  ‘Have we finished detective inspector?’

  Walters smiled again. He rose from the chair, ‘for now,’ he said.

  He still had to break the news to Rachel about the death of her adoptive mother. The inspector was certain, in the light of recent events; the autopsy would reveal the woman hadn’t died from natural causes. But that she’d had a visit from Jackie Riley. Despatching the woman for the same reason Ruth Montgomery had had to die. In an effort to contain the truth about the past of the woman she loved. But Walters conceded Rachel had already had too much to absorb in a short time. He would leave it until later, at least, until after her reunion with Johnson.

  The door of the room widened. The detective sergeant shuffled in, Richard leaning heavily on his arm, weak after his ordeal. Clean shaven and in fresh, borrowed pyjamas and dressing gown, he looked more like the man Rachel knew. He smiled his crooked smile at her as she lay prone in the bed. His grey eyes searched hers, making her heart leap in her chest. She did so love him. The inspector pulled out the chair he’d just vacated from beside the bed. Positioned the seat to enable Johnson more ease of access.

  Rachel dragged her eyes away from Richard’s gaunt face. ‘I believe I have you to thank for saving my life, Detective Sergeant Cooper.’

  ‘All in a day’s work,’ the sergeant replied cheerfully.

  ‘Nevertheless, I’m extremely grateful.’ Rachel could sense the big man’s embarrassment. Perhaps if the two had been alone in the room, it would have made her sincere declaration, easier for him to accept. However, Richard still clung to his arm for support and the detective’s boss loomed in the background, not affording the sergeant the opportunity to make any further comment. He returned Rachel’s smile, nodded his head in acceptance of her words of thanks. With the sergeant’s assistance, Richard was lowered into the seat. The policemen then discretely left the room, quietly closing the door behind them.

  For a moment the silence in the room was deafening. Rachel wanted to say so much to the man sitting at the side of her bed, who she loved so desperately, but was afraid to speak. Not knowing how he was feeling in light of her shocking confession and what his reaction to her would now be.

  As it was, Richard broke the deadlock. He reached for her hand, grasped it tightly within his own. ‘I’m so sorry Rachel, so very, very sorry. Can you forgive me for being such an idiot?’ His voice was hoarse and not just with emotion. Richard too had come close to death. Without the police officers’ timely intervention, he would be dead, a cadaver on a slab, as she herself would’ve been.

  ‘I’m the one, who needs to ask for forgiveness,’ she responded, her own voice husky. Richard bent his head to kiss Rachel’s lacerated hand, remaining firmly enclosed within his. She could feel the warmth of his tears on her skin. Saw his broad shoulders shaking, as emotion over took him.

  ‘I’ve been such a fool,’ his voice was muffled, his face pressed against the bedding. However, Rachel could hear every word. ‘I thought I’d lost you forever Rache, thought you’d never forgive me... I love you so much... from now on I’ll be there for you, if you’ll let me. Stand by you, no matter what the future holds.’

  Rachel stroked his head. Felt the softness of his curls between her fingers, as though she was re-enacting her dreams of the recent, lonely nights. ‘I love you too, Richard,’ she said simply through her veil of tears. Rachel now knew deep within her heart things would work out. As long as she had Richard’s love and strength beside her, she’d get through whatever lay in store for her. Maybe she’d even grow to love River Cottage as much as Richard did. She realised, with a sudden lifting of her spirits, that by unlocking the doors to her past, she’d released herself to face the future head on. Knowing the little girl, who’d committed that dreadful act all those years ago, was no longer a part of her. Like a Siamese twin, separated by the cut of a surgeon’s knife, Rachel could leave Angela Hastings and all of her emotional baggage behind her. Angela was, finally dead.

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