by K Leitch
‘Mmm perfect, thanks Maggs,’ said Carla taking a big gulp of her wine, ‘bloody hell I needed that,’ she said putting her coat on the back of her chair and sitting down. ‘So what’s the latest girls…ooh Maggie how did the birthday dinner go?’
‘Well apart from the death stares that Maylee and Jools were throwing each other and the fact that Dom loudly disagreed with everything that came out of Jed’s mouth…not bad I suppose. We got to meet little Jukie anyway…’
‘Oh yes what he like…cute as a button I bet,’ Helen said, trying desperately to put a positive spin on things.
‘Oh he is definitely cute,’ said Maggie with a smile. ‘And, as you would expect, dressed top to toe in designer gear, which Maylee priced up for us by the way. She is so weird though Helen, it’s like once she gets into a conversation she sort of zones out on what Juke is doing. For instance he was rushing round the kitchen shrieking at the top of his voice as Greg was chasing him, when he slipped and bumped his head as he fell…’
‘Oh bloody hell Maggie, I bet she was furious with Greg wasn’t she,’ interrupted Tracy.
‘Well that’s what’s so strange, we all rushed over to make sure he was alright, but Maylee didn’t even seem to have noticed that her son was screaming the place down and had a large lump on his forehead, not even breaking off the conversation she was having with Dom. It was only when Dom got up and calmed Jukie down that she seemed at all interested, telling us all how upset she was that her baby was hurt…like I said weird.’
‘Bloody hell that is strange,’ began Tracy, ‘I mean I may be a bit over protective…’
‘No really…surely not,’ teased Carla, who had witnessed many times Tracy’s panic at the slightest hurt that befell her two children.
‘Shut up Carla…I said I know I am a bit, but to not even react if your child is crying…that’s not right is it?’
‘Well I think it’s a bit unnatural,’ went on Maggie, ‘but I must tell you…Greg and I were in stitches once everyone had gone home. Maylee for all her faults is a comedic gem…’ she broke off at the girls incredulous stares. ‘Oh not intentionally darlings, but sometimes it is so hard to keep a straight face, I mean we were talking about a trip that Greg and I had made up to Yorkshire, when the boys were little…you know reminiscing about the things we’d done, when Maylee pipes up, ‘Oh Domie that sounds lovely that does,’ Maggie mimicked in a high pitched voice, ‘maybe we should go there…once I’ve got Jukie his passport of course.’ The girls burst out laughing as Maggie had known they would and felt the tension in her chest ease a tiny bit.
‘How did the Mayoral picture unveiling go Helen…did he like it?’ Carla asked.
‘Oh don’t talk to me about that,’ groaned Helen. ‘Talk about stuffed shirts…and that bloody David Wesley is the worst of the lot of them. They all a bunch of self congratulating, smug, pompous bastards.’
‘Bloody hell Helen, don’t hold back tell us what you really think,’ said Carla laughing, ‘what did they do to get up your nose so badly?’
‘Oh I don’t know…it’s the patronising way that they talked about my work I suppose, which I know is a bit diva-ish of me, but it’s like they’re patting me on the head and telling me what a clever girl I am to be drawing such nice pictures…now go away and play with your little Polish friend. Oh and god forbid that I took Maya with me to the unveiling, despite the fact that she is my wife and several of the councilmen had their wives with them…’ she stopped and took a breath.
‘Well no wonder you’re mad sweetheart,’ Maggie was the first to speak, ‘but you know what, fuck ‘em, if they are too bigoted to recognise a happy couple when they see it then more fool them. I bet half of them are closet gays anyway, that’s why they’re so bitter I bet.’
‘I don’t know if it was because she was gay so much as the fact that she is Polish, anyway she didn’t miss much, just some dried up old canapés and cheap fizzy plonk…’
‘Oh I’ve just remembered another Mayleeism,’ butted in Maggie laughing. ‘I had made some of those little duck thingys that I do, you know the sweet chilli things? Well anyway I made some and I was handing them round while we were waiting for the curry to arrive and she said ‘Oooh can o’peas how posh, I ‘specially like those ones with the tritso on…you know that tritso sausage, they’re my favourite’…I’m telling you the girl is comedy gold!’
All the girls laughed but it was obvious that Maggie was struggling to keep it together; her family was her life. After the break-up of her marriage all those years ago Maggie had made a happy home for her and her sons and apart from the usual family spats, she had never had to deal with any serious rows between the boys.
Carla spoke to her while Helen and Tracy were getting the next round of drinks.
‘Why don’t you speak to Dom sweetheart,’ she began, ‘you and him have always been so close.’ She held up her hand as Maggie would have butted in, ‘I don’t mean to criticise Maylee, I know that wouldn’t work, but just to let him know how upsetting all of this is for you. He loves you Maggie, he wouldn’t want you to be hurt surely.’
Maggie looked at her with tears in her eyes, ‘I’m so scared Carla…I don’t think it would matter to him that I’m upset…I don’t think it would matter to him if he and I fell out, just as long as he did what Maylee wanted. He’s not my Dom anymore…he’s changed, that’s why I can’t talk to him about it.’
‘Well you need to talk to someone love, this is obviously killing you…what about Duncan, what does he say?’
Maggie looked sheepish, ‘I am keeping my distance from Duncan at the moment…’
‘What the fuck for?’ exclaimed Carla shocked, ‘I thought after the thing with Kerry, you two were getting on ok. Bloody hell Maggs he lived with you for a couple of months…what’s happened?’
This time Maggie did burst into tears. ‘He doesn’t want me Carla…I finally find the man of my dreams and he doesn’t want me…’
Carla moved round the table so that she could put her arms round her friend, ‘That can’t be right Maggie, I’ve seen the way he looks at you…the man practically devours you with his eyes, and you two are so good together…such a good team…’
‘Nnnoott annyyymooore,’ sobbed Maggie, ‘heee dooessntt wwaannt meee arroouund…sniff sniff gulp…so I’m staying awaaayyy.’
By this time the other girls had come back and were both suitably shocked at the state of their friend. Carla quickly explained what the problem was.
‘My god Maggie Wendover,’ exclaimed Tracy, ‘you are such a silly cow…the man loves the bones of you, any fool can see that!’
‘Oh I thought he did once...’ sniff…sniff, ‘but it’s obvious now that I am just irritating him, so I have been avoiding him…but what with the situation at home and everything…I just feeeel sooo lonleyyyy.’ Maggie burst into tears again and all the girls crowded round her, each trying to give her their love and support. So much so that they were causing a bit of a scene, until inevitably Duncan, who was working in the bar this evening and had been trying to stop himself looking over at Maggie’s table all night, noticed that Maggie was upset. He told himself that it was none of his business…he argued that the girls were with her and they would look after her, he decided absolutely and finally that he was not going to interfere…just before he pushed his way through the pub to where the girls were sitting.
‘Is everything ok?’ he asked…three pairs of angry eyes looked up at him. Maggie kept her head lowered and didn’t speak.
‘Obviously not Duncan,’ said Carla fixing him with a death stare, ‘but don’t you worry yourself, we’ll make sure she’s ok.’
Duncan gulped but stood his ground, ‘Maggie,’ he said quietly, ‘What’s up love, can I help in anyway?’
Maggie raised her head and looked at him with eyes so full of love and despair, that Duncan almost forgot that he was trying to be honourable and let her go. His heart was screaming at him to pull her into his arms, and kiss her until she ha
d no doubt how much he loved her…but then common sense (the stupid bastard) prevailed. Maggie held his gaze for a second and then shook her head, ‘Don’t worry hun, it’s just family stuff you know…and the girls are here so…’
‘Yes, why don’t you scurry back behind the bar Duncan,’ Tracy said curling her lip, ‘no one needs you here.’
Duncan looked at each of the girls, silently pleading with them to understand, but apart from Helen who gave him a sad smile…they were having none of it. He had hurt their friend and until he made it better he was no friend of theirs.
He turned and walked slowly back to the bar, only to be faced with an even more furious Martha, who was at her wits end with the pair of them.
‘Who would have thought I would have raised such a fecking idiot, I’ve met cabbages with more brains than the both of you so I have,’ she said in disgust turning away from him.
Duncan tried to tell himself that he was doing the right thing, the sensible thing…but then why was it hurting so many people if it was the right thing. I mean Maggie had looked absolutely devastated a minute ago…how was that right? Could it be possible that he was wrong about all of this…maybe what she felt for him was strong enough to over look his messed up face and body. He looked over to where she was sitting, chatting now with her friends. She was simply gorgeous with her long chestnut hair, beautiful almond eyes and full inviting mouth…she still didn’t look a day over forty, nowhere near the fifty odd he knew her to be. Suddenly as if aware that he had been staring at her, she looked over at him and gave him a little smile of regret…oh god, even if there was a tiny chance he should go for it…shouldn’t he? But how the hell was he ever going to convince her to give him another chance now…after he’d been such a prat!
‘Don’t look now Maggie but he is still drooling over you,’ said Carla with a satisfied smirk. ‘I don’t care what you say, the man is besotted and you are not the Maggie Wendover that we all know and love if you don’t put up more of a fight!’
‘She’s not wrong girl,’ said Tracy, ‘you have been an inspiration to desperate women everywhere …fuck ‘em and forget ‘em Wendover, that’s what they call you. And now look at you, letting some Irish grizzly bear get the better of you…buck up woman, if you want him, go get him!’
‘Oh alright then,’ said Maggie calmly, making them all laugh and then let out a big cheer. Helen went and got them all more drinks and soon the evening was restored to its former drunken hilarity.
‘Did I see you with Linda Connelly the other day Carla, how’s she doing, I heard she was working as a reporter or something?’ Tracy asked.
‘Oh she’s great,’ said Carla, ‘she was round at my house the other night. Ted had been doing some investigating in his own time and she wants me to follow up on it.’
‘Hmm how interesting, god you had to love him didn’t you…Ted I mean, he was so terribly straight, and so dedicated to the job.’
‘I know,’ Carla said with a sad shake of the head, ‘It’s so funny really seeing all his notes…all hand written, I felt quite tearful when I first saw them, his handwriting was so familiar.’
‘What was he working on?’ asked Maggie, ‘are you going to help…oh thanks Helen sweetheart,’ she broke off as Helen came back with the drinks.
‘Martha’s in a terrible mood up there,’ Helen reported under her breath, ‘if looks could kill, Duncan would be six feet under I’m telling you.’
All the girls looked round to see, ‘Bloody hell, he looks about as comfortable as a turkey sitting on a pile of Paxo, listening to Christmas carols…tee hee, poor man deserves all he gets,’ giggled Tracy with relish.
They all laughed at that and the evening went downhill from there, until they all happily staggered into their respective homes a few hours later.
Helen to a warm welcome from Maya, who had been sitting up marking books and waiting for her to come home.
Tracy, to a warm welcome from Buster, who then ran straight past her and outside, he desperately, needed a pee.
Carla, to a warm welcome from James, who didn’t seem to be in the least bit bothered that she accidentally fell on top of him whilst trying to get her knickers off in the dark.
And Maggie, to a warm cup of hot chocolate and a long night working out her strategy for bringing Duncan to his knees.
CHAPTER 34 - CARLA
Carla rushed along the busy hospital corridor, checking the signs for Douglas ward.
She spotted Frank wandering about up ahead, he came over to her.
‘How’s he doing?’ Carla asked him breathlessly.
‘It’s a bloody miracle he’s still alive,’ said Frank grimacing, ‘my god Carla, he barely looks human.’
‘Will he be able to talk to us do you think,’ she asked as they made their way to a side room further along the corridor.
‘God knows, I’m not sure what the damage is yet,’ Frank said as they walked, ‘he’s back from theatre, and trussed up like a chicken from what I could see, with tubes coming out of every orifice.’
Carla entered the room quietly, a nurse was checking on one of the intravenous drips that were attached to Turk’s arms. She turned and gave them a stern look, ‘He’s not fit enough to speak to you lot yet…even if he could,’ she added shaking her head.
‘What do you mean, even if he could?’ asked Carla, ‘We need to find out who did this to him.’
‘Well I’m guessing you’re not going to find out from him I’m afraid…poor guy’s had his tongue cut out on top of everything else.’
‘Bloody hell,’ whispered Frank looking closely at Turk’s bandaged face, ‘poor bugger…obviously someone was very keen to stop him talking to us.’
Just then Turk began to stir and finding himself immobilised he began thrashing around in the bed trying to dislodge the tubes that were attached to him, so much so that the nurse pressed a bell and within minutes three other nurses came rushing into the room and Carla and Frank were politely, but firmly, asked to leave.
Outside Carla caught up with the doctor that had assessed Turk when he first arrived at the hospital and asked him what had happened to him.
‘He is extremely lucky to be alive,’ he said. ‘Someone had given him a ferocious beating, shattering both his arms and breaking his nose and his jaw. Not to mention the damage that was done internally and the fact that the poor man could easily have choked on his own blood once his tongue had been removed. Luckily he had the good sense to roll onto his side…although I can’t imagine the agony that that must have caused, but that’s what saved his life…that and the man walking his dog last night who heard his groans and called for an ambulance.’
‘What are the chances that he’ll be able to talk to us doctor?’ Carla asked.
‘Well your guess is as good as mine at the moment I’m afraid. He is still in a critical condition and there is still a chance he won’t survive, so he’s not going to be much good to you for a good while I should think. Even if he does recover, he will never talk again, so you would have to find a different way to communicate with him,’ the doctor finished looking harassed, ‘look I’m sorry I have to go so…’
‘Oh yes of course, thank you for your time doctor,’ said Carla as he rushed away.
‘Bloody hell!’ said Carla frustrated, ‘so close to nailing that bastard Nellie…how the hell did he find out about Turk phoning us. Where was he found Frank?’
‘On the other side of the green, just inside the woods.’ said Frank with a wry smile, ‘He was almost certainly on his way to the station, I suppose he cut through the woods to try and keep as low a profile as possible…he was so close, just didn’t make it.’
‘I suppose there’s no doubt that this is Nellie’s work is there?’ Carla asked.
Frank shook his head, ‘This has got Nellie written all over it…besides it is just too much of a coincidence. Turk phones us with information and then winds up with his tongue cut out…nah, no doubt, no doubt at all.’
The constab
le that had been assigned to Turk came running over to them. ‘Um, I thought you should know that Turk is awake Ma’am…they’ve calmed him down like, but he is conscious.’
‘Right…thanks Martin,’ said Frank. ‘Well I think we should see if there’s any way we can still get something from Turk…what do you think.’
‘Let’s give it a try shall we…but Frank, go easy won’t you…remember what he’s been through.’
Frank pulled a face, ‘Yeh and I’ll try and forget what little Lucy Hunt went through shall I or Amish Patel,’ he held up a hand when Carla would have protested. ‘Don’t worry Carla…I’ll be gentle.’
Carla didn’t arrive home till after eight that evening. Trying to get information from Turk had been a slow and tricky process, after a few failed attempts they had finally worked out a system whereby he would either nod once for yes and twice for no and in doing so had confirmed that it had indeed been Nellie who had beaten him up. But also according to Turk it had been Nellie that had killed Lucy Hunt and Amish Patel. Obviously they couldn’t get any more details from him, and after an hour or so he was completely exhausted and they were once again asked to leave by the nurse. But Carla was feeling a lot more positive about the investigation now, surely even DCI Riley would have to think more carefully about the Kathy Hunt conviction now that they had Turk’s evidence.
She was surprised and a little fed up to see Linda sitting in the kitchen with James when she finally got home. She had completely forgotten that she had invited Linda round to update them on what she had found out about Clive Tutt, and to be quite honest all she wanted to do was to have something to eat and collapse in front of the telly.
‘Linda hi,’ she said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster, ‘I’m so sorry I’m late, things went on a bit longer than I expected…’
‘Oh bloody hell Carla why didn’t you just cancel…it’s obvious you’re dead on your feet…I’ll go.’ But just as Linda was getting up to gather her things together, there was a knock on the back door and Frank walked in.
