The Look of Love

by David George Richards

  Louise suddenly looked up. “You scared the hell out of me!” she said with more fire. “Where have you been? Why did you run off like that? Why didn’t you wait for me?”

  “I was too upset. Everyone was looking at me, and Zach was laughing at me. I didn’t know how to deal with it.” Victoria shrugged. “I don’t know. Normally I’m drunk and half naked when something like that happens. I can deal with it then. I’m used to being a slut and what everybody thinks about that, and I don’t care. I’ve told you that before, haven’t I? Anyway, this was different. I didn’t want them to know, and suddenly they all did. I ran. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.”

  “Where did you go?”

  Victoria told her about the cemetery. “I often go there to think. Daft aren’t I? I hate him, but I still love him too. Anyway, that’s where I bumped into Zach, he knows me that well, and we got talking. He almost persuaded me to leave you.”

  “What changed your mind?” Louise asked.

  “Let’s just say I saw the light.”

  They stared at one another for a moment. Then Louise said in a soft voice, “Please kiss me, Vikki.”

  Victoria smiled and they kissed. It was a long and passionate kiss, and when it was over they hugged and kissed again.

  Afterwards, when they were just standing and staring into one another’s eyes, Victoria said, “Your face is as wet as my bum.”

  Louise laughed. “You say the most romantic things!”

  “I know. I don’t know why you love me.” Victoria put her arms around Louise and began to spin her around as she continued, making Louise laugh even more.

  “I’m over-wrought, self destructive, I have a drinking problem, I fart when I’m drunk, I’m emotionally scarred, I’m untidy, I say the most embarrassing things, and I’m totally undependable. Apart from that, I’m perfect!”

  Louise laughed and cried at the same time. “I love you, Victoria Kenyon!”

  “I know you do, and I love you too, Louise Taylor! And I don’t care who knows about it!”

  Victoria stopped spinning Louise around and held her at arms length, that familiar cheeky grin on her face. “Right, Louise! I’ve got the rest of today and tomorrow all mapped out. First, help me unpack my bags –again. I want to change before my bum goes numb. After that we can put on a soppy movie and eat everything in the kitchen. Then after that you can drive me wild in the bedroom. That way we’ll have a smile on our faces when we go into class tomorrow. Because we are going back to class tomorrow. And when we get there, we’re going to be so embarrassingly lovey-dovey, that no one is going to dare to say anything, ever! Okay?”

  Louise stared up at Victoria’s happy expression. She had never felt happier or stronger than she did at this moment. And with Victoria by her side, she felt like she could face anything. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled brightly.

  “Okay!”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Confessions

  Billing and Max were waiting in interview room one. Connors was on his way there when he met Shawcroft coming the other way.

  “How did it go?” Connors asked.

  “Just like we planned,” Shawcroft replied with a smile. “He’s in interview room two, and he’s probably scared shitless.”

  “Good. Give me a few minutes to get started with Max, and then wheel her in. She’s in interview room three.”

  They reached interview room one, and Connors took a deep breath, nodded to Shawcroft, and then went in.

  Billing stood up as soon as Connors entered the room. “I want you to understand that my client–”

  Connors interrupted him. “Shut up and sit down,” he said bluntly, and dumped his file on the table in front of them.

  Billing was indignant. “I don’t care for your attitude, Detective Sergeant!” he said.

  Connors ignored him. He was very abrupt as he went on. “Before I start this interview, I’m going to give your client one last chance.” He leaned forward on the desk, talking directly to a very frightened looking Max. “Now, I’ll tell you this for nothing, Max. We’ve spoken to the waiters at the Shere Khan. Every one of them remembers you that night. You were angry, loud and abusive.”

  Billing tried to head him off. “I protest! John King’s statement clearly–”

  “John King isn’t going to last five seconds when he sees their statements, and you know it!” Connors said, interrupting him again. He turned back to Max and hovered over him menacingly.

  “This is your last chance, Max. Tell the truth, now, or so help me, I’ll bury your whole family!”

  Max stared up at Connors in horror. His lips quivered. “I didn’t mean to do it!” he blurted out. “I didn’t mean it! I loved Jo! I didn’t mean it!” Max then collapsed on to the table, crying like a child, his head in his arms.

  Scott was sitting on his own in interview room two when the door opened. It was Shawcroft, and he held the door open as Chrissy came in.

  “You have five minutes,” he told her, then he closed the door.

  Scott stood up and stared at Chrissy in surprise. She stayed by the door. She looked scared. For a moment neither of them spoke, and then Scott broke the silence.

  “What have you told them?” he demanded. The tone of his voice was harsh, and its effect on Chrissy was like a starting pistol.

  Chrissy stepped away from the door and shoved Scott hard in the chest, knocking him back against the table. He was so surprised by the attack that he ended up sprawled over the table and could only stare up at Chrissy as she stood over him.

  “You lying bastard!” she shouted. “How could you sit there with me, talking about going out and acting all nice and sweet, when you knew all along that Max had killed Jo? You heartless bastard!”

  She thumped him on the chest.

  “Why are you covering for him?”

  She thumped him again.

  “Why haven’t you told the police?”

  And again.

  “Why, Scott?”

  Another thump.

  “Why?”

  Scott finally reacted to Chrissy’s onslaught. He stood up and grabbed her hands, trying to push her away.

  “Keep your voice down!” he demanded. “They’ll hear!”

  Chrissy didn’t give up so easily. She pushed back, and they ended up pushing and shoving one another around the table.

  “They know anyway!” she shouted at him. “What do you think they are? Stupid?”

  “They don’t know anything!”

  “They know you’re a liar!”

  “Keep your voice down!” Scott wanted to keep her quiet, but all the time, Chrissy kept ranting at him.

  “Why are you lying to protect him?”

  “I’m not lying!”

  “Tell the truth!”

  “Max didn’t do anything!”

  “Liar!” Chrissy almost screamed. “You know it’s Max! Why don’t you tell the truth?”

  “Because he didn’t mean it!” Scott screamed back. He shook her then, he shook her and then suddenly let go, a look of horror on his face.

  There was momentary silence. Only the sound of their heavy breathing filled the room. Chrissy stared at Scott as he backed away and turned towards the wall. He was almost in tears. He leaned against the wall and shook his head sadly.

  “He didn’t mean it,” he repeated in a weak voice. “He just wanted to walk her home, that’s all. She was with another boy. Max saw him off. He just wanted to walk Jo home. She didn’t want him to. She said he wasn’t her boyfriend anymore and they argued. He shook her, that was all. He shook her and she fell down.”

  All the time Scott spoke he kept his face to the wall. Chrissy just stood and stared at his back. She couldn’t say anything. She had gone rigid.

  Scott swallowed and shook his head. “When Max came home he was in such a state. He kept crying about Jo. He told me what had happened. He kept telling me how he didn’t mean it. And he kept crying and crying. He loved Jo. I know he didn’t mean to
do it. He was so sorry. He begged me to help. What was I supposed to do?”

  Scott suddenly turned round and faced Chrissy. There were tears in his eyes and on his face.

  “He’s my brother! What was I supposed to do?” he repeated.

  Chrissy found her voice. “Tell the truth,” she whispered.

  “Oh, what the hell would you know about it?” Scott said derisively. “You don’t have to look out for your brother. You only think about yourself!” Scott took a step towards her. He smacked himself on the chest and he spoke emotionally. “I have Max! He’s younger than me! I looked out for him at school, and when he was older he stood by me! We’ve always stuck together! We’ve always been together! And I’m not going to ditch him now! He can’t go to prison! He’s terrified! It would kill him!”

  Chrissy suddenly understood. Scott was right; she had never had to look out for her brother. They were never that close, and he always seemed to manage alright. To her shame, she had to admit that she never really worried about him. But with good reason. With his headphones on, her brother could walk through the eye of a hurricane and not notice. Scott’s relationship with Max was obviously very different. And from what he had said, Chrissy now knew that Scott’s intentions for lying were just as obvious.

  “And what if they charge you? Will you go to prison instead of him?”

  “Yes! If I have to!”

  Chrissy was horrified. “You’re a fool, Scott! You’re going to throw your life away for nothing! Lying isn’t going to help Max; he’s still going to know what he did! And now he’ll have the extra guilt of knowing you’re in jail instead of him! You have to tell the truth!”

  Scott was having none of it. “Jo’s dead, and I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do about that now. But if you think I’m going to kill my brother just to satisfy your sense of justice you can think again!”

  “Always the big brother, aren’t you, Scott?” Chrissy said in disgust. “Even for murder.”

  Scott walked right up to her. “It wasn’t murder! He didn’t mean it!” he shouted.

  Chrissy stood her ground and shouted back, “Of course he meant it! Jo’s dead, isn’t she!”

  They were almost nose to nose in the middle of the room. Scott’s expression was almost a snarl.

  Shawcroft opened the door behind them. “Time’s up,” he said.

  Chrissy backed away, keeping her eyes on Scott.

  “You always told me you were a realist,” she said. “Remember how you told me that you knew what you could get out of life and that you had accepted it? Well, I know now that that was a lie, because you’re going to throw even that away. You’re a fool, Scott, but I don’t hate you. But I can’t love you either. You’re not the person I thought you were. In fact, you were never that person. You were just a lie.”

  Turning quickly she walked out of the interview room. Shawcroft held the door open for her, and once she had gone through he said with satisfaction, “Your brother has confessed, Scott. It’s over.” Then he closed the door behind her.

  Scott was left on his own. His expression turned quickly from one of anger to one of sadness, and he burst into tears. He slumped down on the chair, dropped his head down on the table and sobbed.

  Chapter Fifty

  At the Pictures

  Chrissy wore white jeans and a red sleeveless top. Both items fitted her delightfully well. She also wore her jacket from Friday night, but now it was clean and pressed.

  Adam smiled at her as she closed the front door behind her. “You look lovely,” he said.

  “Thank you,” Chrissy replied and kissed him on the cheek. “You look smart yourself!”

  Adam sighed. “It is rare that I wear anything else but a suit and tie. I fear it has become a habit.”

  Chrissy linked arms with him and they walked down the path to the car. “You probably wear a tie with your pyjamas!” she remarked.

  “Is that not normal?”

  “Shut up!”

  As Adam opened the car door for her, Chrissy noticed the car was un-occupied and so quickly asked, “Where’s Charles tonight?”

  “I have obtained my revenge for his aid to you during our game by despatching him to Equatorial Guinea to study their financial institutions.”

  “You pig!” Chrissy laughed and got inside.

  Adam closed the door and walked round the car. When he was inside and was starting the engine, Chrissy asked, “You didn’t really send him to Equatorial Guinea, did you?”

  “Would I joke about a thing like that?”

  Chrissy’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t put it past you.”

  Adam was dismissive. “Enough about Charles! Now, my dear, where do you wish to go?”

  Chrissy put on a haughty voice. “Salford Quays, and be quick about it, my man!” She waved him on, and Adam drove the car off.

  There was a wide choice of films at the cinema. Adam and Chrissy stood together outside, staring at all the posters and times. Chrissy held a large bucket of popcorn that Adam had bought for her inside. She was already dipping into it as she tried to make up her mind about which film to see.

  Adam pointed at one of the posters. “What about this one?” he suggested. “You could cry on my shoulder and I could console you all night.”

  “City of Angels?” Chrissy shook her head. “Too sad.”

  “Alright.” Adam looked again. “What about The Horse Whisperer?”

  “Too horsy.”

  “Sliding Doors?”

  “Too repetitive.”

  “Titanic?”

  “Too wet. I’ll be wanting to go for a wee all the time. Anyway, they’re all romantic films, Adam. I want to see something more exciting, something to take my mind off things.”

  Adam pointed less enthusiastically at the next poster. “How about this one?” It was Godzilla.

  “Too big.” Chrissy pointed at another one of the posters. “I fancy this one.”

  Adam stared at the poster. “Starship Troopers?” he asked in dismay.

  Chrissy nodded brightly. Adam sighed and took her hand, and together they went inside.

  After the film was over, and the bucket of popcorn had long since been consumed, Chrissy was exhilarated. She dragged Adam out of the cinema at a trot.

  “Wasn’t that great?” she said, as they burst into the night air.

  “Unusual,” Adam replied with less enthusiasm.

  “Unusual? Is that all you can say? What about the special effects?”

  “Bloody.”

  Chrissy laughed. “Well, after all that blood and carnage, I need a burger! Come on! I’ll take you to Starvin’ Marvin’s! My treat!”

  Starvin’ Marvin’s was an American style diner on Trafford Road. It even had a chrome finish exterior. Inside, Chrissy and Adam sat in one of the booths. They had a burger each, but Chrissy also had large fries and a strawberry milkshake. Adam soon finished his burger, but Chrissy took longer in eating. She was much too busy still talking about the film. She hadn’t stopped talking about it all the way from the cinema. Adam was surprised by her excitement.

  “Do films with blood and guts always have this effect on you?” he asked.

  Chrissy nodded as she chewed on her burger. “There’s nothing like a good disembowelment to make you feel hungry!”

  Adam laughed. “In that case, remind me to feed Charles to an over-sized grasshopper the next time you visit.”

  Chrissy also laughed and took a drink from her milkshake. She stared at Adam over the rim of her cup as she drank. Although he had laughed and continued to smile at her, something in his eyes told her that he was sad. When she put her cup down she said more seriously, “You would have preferred to have seen one of those romantic films, wouldn’t you?”

  Adam shrugged. “My taste in films is rather old fashioned. But I would have thought that most girls your age would have shared my taste for romance rather than mindless violence.”

  Chrissy looked momentarily annoyed. “I’m not most girls!” s
he snapped. “And don’t go on about age!” Having admonished him, she brightened again. “Anyway, there was romance in the film. The hero got his girl at the end, didn’t he?”

  Adam shook his head. “No, he did not, and maybe that is what makes me sad.”

  Chrissy looked surprised. “But he did get the girl!” she protested. “They went off together with their friend!”

  “Ah! But it was the wrong girl!” Adam replied. “The girl the hero should have ended up with was the one that was killed, Dizzy. She truly loved him. You could see it in her eyes when she looked at him at their last school prom, and when she tried to dance with him. But he was blind to her. He was transfixed by this other girl, Carmen. He followed her into military service even as Dizzy followed him. In the end, he was the loser.

  “The girl he was interested in was more concerned with flying and her career, and she soon dumped him. And the girl who did love him was killed. Only when she was dying in his arms did he see the truth, but by then it was too late. From that moment on, the life of the hero was condemned to be one of lonely service to the military. Even though he and the other girl were together at the end of the film as you say, he knew by then that with her he could never be more than just a colleague. No, it was a sad film.”

  Chrissy stared at him. “You bugger!” she exclaimed. “You’ve just ruined the whole film for me now!”

  Adam laughed. “I’m sorry! I take things far too seriously, don’t I? Please ignore my sadness and my comments. Who knows, maybe they fell into one another’s arms after the credits rolled, and even as we speak, their house is filled with the sound of little troopers running around!”

  “Crap!” Chrissy snapped, and stuck her tongue out at him. She took another bite from her burger and followed it up with a handful of fries. Adam continued to smile at her as she ate, but at least the sadness had now gone from his eyes.