Chapter Thirty-Three - Ella
Tim was right. The ghost hunt tour was fun and interesting. A bit of an adventure. Lawrence, the club ghost-hunter was very entertaining.
When we arrived to meet Lawrence, the sun had sunk on the horizon, and Tim and I sat on stone steps in cold shadows beneath the looming silhouette of Holy Trinity Church on Guildford High Street. A bell tolled eight times, and my hackles rose as behind me, a man appeared in the churchyard, resembling a Dickensian clerk in black waistcoat and cap. The sombre presence of this fellow was disturbing enough to warrant scuttling back down to street level.
Tim introduced me to this apparition, as they had already met, and Lawrence seemed delighted to have the opportunity to show us round some of the creepiest locations in Guildford and help unearth the town's dark past. Bizarrely, his interpretation of ghosts didn’t match most people's understanding of them as lost souls of the departed.
“I believe in ghosts, but not in the conventional sense,” he said. “I don't believe they're the spirits of the dead. Electromagnetism has a lot to do with apparitions.”
I was fascinated as he expanded, and I think I grasped what he said. He contended that paranormal activity could be summed up into three main areas: time-slip and stone tape theories and poltergeists. The first two covered the repetitive behaviour most ghosts seemed to display. The former proposed occasional slips in time, which allowed us to witness events that have either occurred or will occur. The latter theory was centred on walls and certain environments absorbing electromagnetic activity, akin to recording machines such as tape players or video cameras. When the conditions are replicated, the event will replay itself.
The third explanation for the paranormal, poltergeists, were far more complex entities and not easy to summarise. Often associated with children and popularised in horror films, Lawrence said, “Poltergeist activity isn't actually linked to dead people.” Instead, he believed they were to do with the living: the power of mind over matter. The idea made me shiver.
Afterwards, Tim thanked him for taking the trouble to show us round, and Lawrence said he was delighted to have been of assistance once again. I had no reason to doubt Tim anymore.
During the walk, I had been attracted by Tim’s enthusiasm for knowledge. Glancing at him sideways, I thought, too, how sexy he looked in his dark-brown leather jacket and jeans—much younger than when he was dressed in his woollen tweed jacket. As we walked back to the car, our thighs touched, brushed against each other, and I swear a spark of electricity jumped between us.
In an instant, I knew it was that special moment when you make physical contact for the first time with someone to whom you are attracted. My mouth went dry. I felt a number of emotions: self-conscious, gauche, shy but happy. The evening had passed so quickly, and it was quite late when we slipped in through the front door. I realised I had forgotten to let Mum and Dad know where I was going earlier. I put a finger to my lips as we tiptoed past their door and crept up the stairs like a pair of naughty kids.
Up on the landing we both paused. I felt breathless as our eyes locked, and I knew Tim was thinking the exact same thing. Without wasting another second, I unlocked my door, grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.
Tim caught me to him, one hand wound in my hair, the other round my waist. Our lips met, and I felt as if I had been scorched, a deep longing throbbing between my legs. We clung to each other, and then somehow drifted along the hallway to my bedroom.
***
The next morning, I finally woke—after a couple of interruptions during the night—to see Tim standing naked by the window of my bedroom. It had been a long time since I had spent a full night with anyone, and I analysed my feelings. I lay in bed, gazing at him, realising I felt indolent, ecstatic and approving of his lean back, broad shoulders and delicious, shapely bottom. Tim was gazing out of the window with the kind of intensity you see in children, as if he too was caught up in the magic of the moment. I felt an ache between my thighs; I wanted to make love again.
He must have felt my gaze upon him, as he turned round and caught me watching him. “I didn’t mean to wake you. It’s still early,” he whispered.
“You didn’t and I was admiring your delectable arse. Have you had lots of admiring women?”
He laughed self-consciously and walked back to the bed. He sank down on the covers and kissed the tip of my nose. “Not really.”
Later, when he dressed quickly, I mused that even after being so intimate—and I believed, relaxed and happy with each other—Tim still wasn’t giving anything away. He seemed not to want to talk about his past or about any past attachments he might have had. With a sense of disappointment, I knew it best not to push things. Didn’t he trust me?
Later, after he had left, I felt my happiness fading as fast as the raindrops sliding down my window panes. I needed to know the real Tim because I realised I was in danger of falling headlong in love with him. But the real reason to know the real Tim was because I truly didn’t think you could really love someone without knowing them.
I was in turmoil. Didn’t real love exist when you loved someone despite what you knew or didn’t know about them? Shouldn’t love be unconditional? As in: ‘Love the sinner, not the sin.’ And what about trust? Wasn’t that much more elusive? Even harder to find?
Chapter Thirty-Four - Ella
The following Monday, I was due back at work and in two minds about going back. Part of me was looking forward to seeing everyone at The Royal Surrey, but on the other hand, from what Michael had said, I guessed Liam would be angry with me. I was surprised he hadn’t already contacted me.
Over the weekend, I contacted Michael and asked him if they had interviewed Liam and whether they discovered anything.
“We didn’t arrest him, if that’s what you mean, but we did have him in for questioning,” he said. “Unfortunately, we drew a blank. Yes, he did go to Chinthurst Hill but didn’t use the car park where the woman was found murdered. He walked on the other side of the hill and nowhere near where she was killed.”
Relief washed over me. I asked him whether they checked it all out. Were they certain?
“We know what we’re doing, Ella. Yes, we are as certain as we can be. We’ve taken DNA swabs from him as a matter of course, but the inspector on the case is certain he’s innocent. When we studied the scratches on his hand, we found two blackberry thorns imbedded under the skin in his right hand, so it seems he was telling the truth. Shame, as I would have liked to have nail him…he’s a conceited bugger.”
“So you let him go?”
“Yes. We had no reason to keep him. We know where he is. What about you? Are you back at work yet?”
“This Monday.”
“Right. Seen any more of your neighbour? Have you found out what he’s up to yet?”
“He’s definitely writing a book, despite your scepticism. He showed me his working notes. Actually, he’s been researching Surrey’s ghosts, and he took me to meet someone in Guildford who’s an expert on them. We had great fun in the dead of night wandering round Guildford castle and some of the older graveyards.”
There was a silence, and I knew Michael thought me quite mad. But I was convinced Tim was no murderer or rapist.
“You really are stupid at times, Ella. After everything I said. You’ll have heard about the latest murder—the third one in what? Two weeks? And when did it take place? In the middle of the night. Trust no one, especially someone who’s just turned up and rented a place on a short lease. You know nothing about him. Why go out with him at all?”
“Because he’s nice and I like him. And we weren’t alone. We had this other guy with us.” I was thinking, what business is it of yours, anyway? But I knew Michael would have turned nasty if I uttered my thought out loud. I hadn’t long discovered how jealous Michael could be.
“Yeah, right. I was forgetting how nice he is. But I bet you got into his car? And who the fuck was this other guy? Have you any idea of the amoun
t and type of crime that goes on under your nose?”
“If you must know, I let my parents know where we were going.” I fibbed and hated Michael at that moment for turning me into a liar. “I really must go, Michael.”
“What about the photographs? What reason has he given for taking them down?”
“Um, he hasn’t said exactly, but he promised to tell me soon. There’s no mystery, I’m sure of it. He just decided to store them away.”
“Soon? Ella, I can’t tell you what to do, only advise, and you already know what that advice is. I’ll be in touch.” And he rang off.
I frowned and then shoved my phone in my pocket. What was his problem? He hadn’t shown me oodles of caring when we were together, so why show concern now? I sighed. Michael was being completely unreasonable, placing suspicious doubts in my mind. I vowed to stop talking to him altogether.
***
“So what’s been happening since I’ve been oop north?” Teresa asked in such a terrible imitation of a Mancunian accent, it sounded more like a Yorkshire one. “You seem different somehow.”
I felt my cheeks grow warm, and I knew they would have been positively glowing if Teresa had her way and wheedled things out of me. Tim and I had seen a lot of each other over the weekend. But despite him being kind and gentle, I knew precious little more than I did two weeks earlier.
“Oho! Wait a minute, I know that look, although I haven’t seen it for a while. Don’t tell me Michael has proposed?” She looked shocked.
I removed my theatre cap and loosened the clasp in my hair. My curly tresses cascaded down around my shoulders.
“No, he hasn’t and you’re way off course. In fact, you’ll be pleased to know he and I have split up.” Teresa had never been silent over my choice of boyfriends in all the time we had been friends, and she was never keen on Michael. I knew she considered me a pushover for letting Michael walk all over me, so the expression of astonishment on her face made me feel slightly complacent. I waited while she finished gasping.
“Really? Wow! You ditched him? Actually, I am not as surprised as pleased. You and he were never right for each other. How’s he taken it? Like water off a duck’s back, I bet, he’s so thick-skinned. He’s always been full of himself.”
I turned to her as I stepped out of my theatre greens and tossed them in a laundry bin. I stood in my bra and pants and reached for my jeans. “No, and that’s the strangest thing. He’s acting as if he’s jealous. Can you believe it?”
“No, I can’t. I’ve told you before he only ever thinks about number one. I bet he’s not upset at all, just peeved you gave him the push and not the other way round. But I don’t understand. Why now? And why do I get the feeling you’re keeping something from me? Come on, hurry up and get dressed, and I’ll treat you to tea and cake in the canteen.”
We found a table in the corner, far away from the busier part of the room where groups of hospital staff were gossiping.
“I’ve met someone,” I confessed finally, once Teresa had placed the chocolate bribe in front of me. “He’s nice and Michael was getting on my nerves.”
Teresa pushed her fork into her cherry slice and paused only long enough to ask me whether he was someone she might know.
“No, I doubt it. He’s not from round here. He’s taken the apartment next to mine on a short lease. He’s a writer—Tim Coleman.”
She widened her eyes and shook her head. “Never heard of him. What’s he written? Crime or action?” She rarely read anything else.
“Neither…he writes travel books.”
“Right. So tell me all about him.”
I paused and looked away for a moment as I wondered what to say. “That’s just it. I hardly know him, except he’s kind and seems gentle. He actually trained as a psychiatrist, but gave it up to write.” I recalled Tim’s dark brooding, desperately sad eyes. “He hasn’t said, but I get the impression something bad happened in his life, and he found he couldn’t face helping other people when he was in a mess himself.”
Teresa eyed me over her teacup as she took a sip. “Er, he sounds deep and interesting, maybe a bit extraordinary but interesting. On the other hand, are you sure you know what you’re doing, Ella? Don’t they say psychiatrists are often as barmy as the people they evaluate?”
“Don’t you start. I’ve had Michael warning me off him, too.” I bit my lip and looked away. “So much has happened.”
Teresa stared at me curiously. “Has he now? I think you’d better tell Auntie Teresa everything that’s been going on while I’ve been away.”
Chapter Thirty-Five - Ella
So without leaving much out, I went over what had happened since we had last seen each other at Alex’s party.
“Jesus! I heard about the murders on the news, but apart from taking an initial interest, we’ve been so busy, and then after the wedding, we went to Wales and toured around a bit. We haven’t seen much of it. So, Michael’s been telling you to be careful? I should say so, too. Ella, are you sure about this Tim?”
I sighed and slumped back in my seat. “Yes. At least I think so.” I was miserable that Teresa of all people wasn’t celebrating my newfound happiness with me. I thought she was the one person on whom I could depend. She suddenly leant towards me and touched my arm lightly as if reading my thoughts.
“Sweetie, I’m glad you’ve finally found someone who cares for you, and I stress, who really does care. But like Michael said, you do have to be cautious, especially these days. There are so many weirdos around.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her old-fashioned expression. “I know and I am careful.”
She went on. “Good, I hope you are. While I think about it, what was bugging Liam today? He could hardly bother to open his mouth when I said hello first thing this morning, and then later, I noticed him button-holing you. I’ve never seen him look so annoyed.”
She was referring to first thing. I had been assigned as scrub nurse for the first two ops before coffee time. Liam was the duty surgeon that morning. Throughout the procedure, he was downright acerbic. More than once I caught the other theatre staff staring in astonishment. He and I always enjoyed gentle banter when we worked together. At the end of the morning list, as I scuttled off to de-gown and scrub my hands, he grabbed my arm, pulled me into an empty office and closed the door. He then demanded what the hell was I thinking of, accusing him of murdering the woman from Chinthurst Hill and getting the police to threaten him with arrest.
“Arrest? But I…I don’t understand, I didn’t,” I stuttered. “I never said anything like that.” I was horrified. Michael swore he wouldn’t be heavy with Liam. He said he would treat him with respect and certainly not accuse him of murder. As I remembered, Michael intimated I wouldn’t even be mentioned. Liam would be invited down to the station, only because he had recently visited the SOC. So much for believing my ex-boyfriend. No wonder there was so much distrust between the public and the police these days.
“Your big-footed policeman boyfriend had me dragged into the station in the dead of night and questioned. He and his pal even had the nerve to take DNA swabs, and when I demanded my solicitor be present, your boyfriend refused.” Liam thrust his face into mine. I had never seen him so angry; the whites of his eyes were very bloodshot, and I swore I smelt stale alcohol on his breath. I shook beneath his hand and stepped backwards, but he still kept hold of my arm. I was shocked, as Michael had told me a completely different story. Between stammers, I tried to explain, but Liam was so incensed, he hardly listened and talked over me.
“Have you any idea how I felt? Being treated like a criminal? I only hope this doesn’t affect my career prospects if any of this comes out. The only redeeming factor was that it was eventually sorted by a senior officer, and I have the police assurance they’ll destroy my DNA samples as soon as the case is closed. What were you thinking? I went up onto Chinthurst Hill to clear my head after receiving some bad news. My younger brother has just been diagnosed with leukaemia. The
last thing I expected was to be suspected of murder! I’m a surgeon, pledged to save life, not erase it.”
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “Really sorry about your brother and…and this. I’m glad it’s sorted. Only you must see my position. You were there only hours before and might have noticed something. But Michael had no excuse to go to those extremes. He must have got carried away. He’s so keen to find the Surrey Punisher.”
“Humph. I’m sure all the police are. What I couldn’t my head round was why he was so aggressive and why all the interest in the theatre and whether I had a thing for young actresses? It was like a bad rehash of that day in the café when we met your father. What part does he play in all this?” He opened his eyes wide, and I noticed a stunned expression on his face as if he had suddenly hit on something. “Ah! I now see where all this stemmed from. Thanks a lot, Ella.”
“I didn’t know that it would get so out of hand or that Michael would get aggressive,” I wailed, wishing the floor would open up and swallow me up. “All the murdered women so far have been connected with the theatre, and my father has nothing to do with anything, except his mother, my grandmother, was a professional actress. But that was years ago. I swear what I’m saying is true.”
Liam frowned and took time to study my face.
“Then maybe they should be talking to him. Then you’ll know what it’s like to be accused. The last twenty-four hours have been a bloody nightmare, and if there’s any hint of a comeback, I’ll be suing left right and centre. Do I make myself clear?” His breath was hot as he hissed the words into my face.
I nodded silently, not trusting my voice as there was an ache in the back of my throat. Liam finally let go of my arm.
“As for you, you’re lucky I’m not taking this further, or you’ll find yourself in deeper shit. I realise, Sister Mallory, our paths will cross at work, but out of respect, keep away from me.”
The Green Room Page 14
