by Mel Sherratt
Mary nodded fervently. ‘Like I said, I can’t be certain. But I think … I think it was Seth Forrester. Although someone told me there was a fight in the car park too.’
‘Seth Forrester?’ Grace sat forwards immediately. Could this link him to either incident? She sat quietly, wondering if Mary would offer anything else. But the woman stayed quiet.
‘Did you see him on the walkway before the accident, Mary?’
‘I … I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘But then again, I’m not always looking.’
‘But you were when Tyler fell?’ She emphasised the last word purposely.
‘I was at the kitchen window,’ Mary said quickly. ‘I can’t see everything from there.’
‘Can you see the path?’
‘Well, no. I …’
Grace realised that Mary had sensed she knew she was hiding something.
‘It doesn’t matter if you didn’t tell me everything when I visited yesterday,’ she tried to reassure her. ‘I just need to know what happened. Did you see anyone hurt Tyler Douglas?’
Mary looked pained when she spoke. But finally she nodded.
‘Yes, I don’t think it was an accident.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I saw Seth on the walkway, and then I saw Tyler on the ground. I don’t know what happened in between. I only looked away for a second.’ Mary nodded. ‘Seth was outside the flat where the little boy lives. I saw the boy run into his arms and he picked him up. I saw his parents talking to Seth. And then I must have looked away for a second and the next thing I know, the little boy was on the ground.’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘I don’t know what happened. But I will never forget the screams of his mother for as long as I have left to live.’
Grace had been taking notes but stopped. Was the incident about to turn into a serious crime? She hadn’t thought for a moment that anyone outside of the family would be to blame. It seemed unbelievable that someone could do that to a helpless child. And for what reason? For now, she decided to rule out a few things.
‘Did you see a little girl there?’ she asked. ‘Tyler has a sister.’
Mary shook her head. ‘She wasn’t on the walkway.’
‘And you’re certain you saw both parents?’
‘Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you straight away.’
‘There’s no need to apologise. You came to us today and I’m sure this will be a great help. Is there anything else you’d like to add?’
‘No.’
Grace wasn’t convinced. ‘You’re sure it was Seth Forrester that you saw?’
Mary shook her head, as if now having second thoughts.
‘Well, I can’t be one hundred per cent certain. There was a pillar in the way, but it did look like him.’
‘If he’s causing you problems, I can have a word with him. I can also speak to Trent Housing Association. I could—’
‘No, no.’ Mary stood up, checking her watch. ‘There’s nothing else.’
‘Okay, I’ll write this up as a formal statement and you can sign it and then be on your way.’
‘I have to go now – a doctor’s appointment, you see.’
‘Well, you can come back and sign it for me at a later date. I could bring it to you but I don’t want to antagonise anyone.’ By that, they both knew she meant Seth Forrester. ‘I’ll call you once it’s done.’
Grace showed Mary out but back at her desk she thought on her words. There were so many contradictions that nothing she said could really be used. But why had Mary only just thought to tell her about seeing Forrester? And why the almost change of heart when she did eventually say something? Was she afraid of Seth for some reason?
Perhaps there was more to this. She needed to do some digging.
2012
Ruby woke up with terrible cramps in her stomach. She’d hardly slept at all for the past few nights – her due date for the baby was four days ago. It was two a.m. Finn wasn’t home. She tried his phone over and over until eventually she could stand the pain no more.
As she got out of bed and into the bathroom, her waters broke. After trying his phone for a final time, leaving an irate message, she called for a taxi.
Having no one with her was the loneliest she had ever felt in her life. She didn’t have a birthing partner – no friend, no mum and she couldn’t ask her dad to come, even if she had kept in touch with him. She wanted someone to hold her hand, rub her back, say soothing words to her. She was so scared, so uncertain. Luckily she had a terrific midwife whose patience and soothing calm were second to none.
‘Come on, Ruby,’ she coaxed. ‘You can do this.’
‘I can’t!’
‘You can.’
‘No, I really can’t.’
‘Let’s get this baby out into the world.’
Ruby grimaced and groaned as she pushed again, holding on to the midwife’s hand. ‘I can see the head,’ the midwife said, as Ruby shed tears of joy intermingled with pain and frustration. ‘Not long now, Ruby. Just one or two more pushes, there’s a good girl.’
Ruby took a few deep breaths and pushed again. Minutes later, another push and then it was all over as she heard her child take its first breath, crying out as it entered the world. She had never heard anything so sublime.
‘You have a daughter and everything is looking well. Congratulations.’
Ruby cried as much as her baby, but this time they were tears of relief. The baby was handed to her and she stared in wonderment at what she and Finn had made. Her daughter, her beautiful baby girl. They had chosen Lily for her name. She had her mum’s eyes, her dad’s chin. She reached for her phone and took a photo of her, then sent it off to Finn.
Lily screwed up her tiny face and tried to scream but it came out as a snuffle. Both mother and child were exhausted.
‘I’m going to take care of you, Lily,’ she whispered. ‘I’m going to be the best mother you could wish for. I’m going to—’
The door to the room burst open and Finn came rushing in.
‘Rube,’ he cried, holding a large teddy bear. He kissed her long on the lips and then placed his hand on Lily’s head. ‘Oh my, she’s beautiful.’ He glanced at her. ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t get away. That bastard Dane wouldn’t let me finish. I couldn’t even sneak out as he was with me the whole time. I told him you were in labour too.’
‘You didn’t answer your phone.’
‘I had to put it on silent. I was in charge of a poker game.’
‘You said you would keep it on because I was due.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’ He kissed her lightly on the forehead. ‘Because things are going to change from now on. They have to.’
Ruby wasn’t so certain of that. Over the past few months, Finn had tried to distance himself from Dane and his cronies and nothing seemed to have worked. He’d come home several times with black eyes and bruising to his torso but he’d laughed it off, saying someone had tried to force their way into the club while he’d been on the doors. She knew it wasn’t that. Dane wouldn’t let him leave, wouldn’t let him walk away. It was as if he took great pleasure in making Finn suffer.
Yet she couldn’t help but smile at him as he took Lily from her and held her in his arms.
‘She’s perfect,’ he whispered, running his finger across her cheek. ‘Just like her mother.’
Ruby nodded in agreement. Maybe now he had seen her, maybe now he was a father, he would be there for them. Being a dad would suit him.
‘No matter how hard it will be, I’m quitting,’ he said as he handed Lily back to her. ‘I promise we’ll find a way to get away from Dane, as a family.’
‘That’s right.’ Ruby rested her hand on the side of his face. ‘We are a family. And not even Dane can spoil that.’
TWENTY-FOUR
Shelley was on the doorstep having a cigarette when Luke came out of his flat with Lily. She bobbed back inside so he wouldn’t see her but as soon as he was off the walkway, she closed her front doo
r and walked along to flat 114.
Ruby answered soon after her knock. She wore no make-up and her hair needed washing, which would have been unusual had she not got a child in hospital.
‘You looked wretched.’ Shelley’s shoulders dropped. ‘Is there anything I can help you with?’
‘Not really.’
Ruby let her in and she followed her through to the kitchen.
‘How’s Tyler?’
‘Doing fine, thanks. He’s been brought out of the coma. He woke up but he wouldn’t settle. We were there until eleven last night but thankfully he was sleeping when we left. Luke’s gone to take Lily to school and run a few errands before we head back. I’m exhausted but I’ll be at the hospital soon.’ Ruby yawned as she flicked on the kettle. ‘I’ve just made a coffee. Would you like one too?’
‘Thanks, that would be great. How’s Luke coping?’
‘Not good. He’s edgy all the time.’ Ruby sighed. ‘Can’t say I blame him. This whole thing, it’s a nightmare.’
Shelley wondered how to play it. Maybe she should just blurt it out, see if Ruby denied it.
‘Do you want to tell me what really happened on Monday?’ she started. ‘I was having a cigarette in the doorway and I saw it all.’ It wouldn’t hurt to fib a bit to get the truth out of her.
Ruby almost spilt scalding water over herself as she missed the mug she was pouring it into.
‘Hey.’ Shelley moved towards her.
‘You won’t tell anyone, will you?’
‘Of course not! It must have been awful, though. Do you know him?’
Ruby shook her head. ‘How could anyone do that to a child? Tyler was so helpless.’
Shelley’s ears pricked up. She wanted to know more but had to tread lightly for fear of giving the game away that she hadn’t actually seen everything.
‘I thought he might have been one of Seth’s men but I didn’t recognise him,’ she said. ‘But I don’t think any of his cronies would hurt a child. Do you think it was intentional?’
‘I’m not sure. Tyler was wriggling so much.’
Shelley stayed calm. Was she saying the man had dropped Tyler purposely? What kind of an animal did that?
Ruby picked up the mugs and they moved through to the living room.
‘So you don’t think it had anything to do with Luke, then?’ Shelley posed the question tentatively.
Ruby turned to her sharply. ‘Why would you say that?’
‘Well, it can’t be to do with you, can it?’
‘No.’ Ruby looked away for a moment. ‘Luke’s a good man.’
‘I like him,’ Shelley said. ‘From what I know of him, he’s pretty decent.’
‘He’s a diamond.’ Ruby paused. ‘Earlier you said … why would it be one of Seth’s men?’
‘I didn’t think it was my place to tell you.’ Shelley put down her mug. ‘Seth’s been calling to see Luke a lot lately.’
‘I knew it. I … I think he’s been borrowing money again. I asked him about it earlier in the week. I wanted to know if he’d run up more debt but he said he hadn’t.’
‘Did you believe him?’
Ruby shook her head.
‘Oh, Ruby. I know he is. There’s not much I miss when I’m at home. It’s always good to keep ahead of Seth if you can. When did he last come to your flat?’
‘Monday afternoon. He wanted to see Luke but he wasn’t home. I had to tell him to ring Seth as soon as possible. I went ballistic when Luke got home, but he denied it all.’ She bit her bottom lip before continuing. ‘Luke told me Seth worked for the Steele family, and that you don’t want to cross them. Is that right? Who are they?’
Shelley’s eyes widened at the mention of the Steeles.
‘What?’ Ruby queried.
‘You’ve never heard of them?’
Ruby shook her head.
‘They’re one of Stoke’s criminal families. There are two brothers and there was a sister but she’s been jailed for murder. Eddie and Leon are a law unto themselves. They do what they want, when they want.’
‘Oh no.’ Ruby clutched a hand to her chest.
‘I hope they have nothing to do with this.’ Shelley shook her head. ‘They don’t take prisoners. Seth works for Leon. He’s the younger of the two brothers and worse than Seth.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘They come down heavy on people if they don’t pay their debts off pretty sharpish.’
‘But Luke doesn’t owe money to Leon.’
Shelley raised her eyebrows. Things were getting interesting.
Ruby paled.
‘Seth is his debt collector,’ Shelley explained.
‘How do you know?’
‘I do the books for Seth.’
‘The books? You mean like an accountant?’
‘Don’t look so shocked. I do have exams in maths and English, you know.’
‘I didn’t mean—’
Shelley waved the comment away with her hand. ‘I just do the adding and subtracting.’
‘So you know how much everyone owes?’ Ruby’s eyes widened.
‘I do, but I’m really sorry, I can’t tell you anything.’
‘Please! We’re broke. I need to know.’
Shelley shook her head and got up. ‘You’ll have to talk to him. I’ve said too much already.’
She got to the door before Ruby spoke again.
‘Thanks, Shelley,’ she said.
‘I’m glad you know now.’
‘Yeah, me too.’
Shelley walked back to her flat. Even though she hadn’t learned a lot, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for Ruby. In better circumstances, she could see them being great friends. Ruby was a real sweetheart. She seemed kind and loyal, like she would look after you. She supposed that was the mothering instinct in her.
And it would be nice to have one good friend. Shelley had plenty of acquaintances around Harrison House but no one to call a bestie, someone she could share everything with and know it wouldn’t go any further. Her mate Mandy was okay but she didn’t trust her that much, and there wasn’t anyone else remotely possible. Stoke was a funny place for that. Split into six towns, your friends were often where you lived. People frequented local pubs, worked nearby and knew each other. Even moving a few miles away had left her with no one but Seth and a few of his friends’ girlfriends who she didn’t much care for.
But Ruby was gullible, even though she seemed savvy. Seth wouldn’t let her near the books.
Seth wasn’t going to be very happy about this when she told him. Luke could kiss goodbye to ever feeling safe again, unless he paid his loan off, which she knew he wouldn’t be able to do if they had no money. That was the nature of the beast: borrow, not be able to pay back, borrow more, repeat and then repay the debt in other ways. Which meant being drawn into the criminal world.
Still, Seth would be pleased with the information she’d acquired, which might keep him off her back until she’d found out more about where he was getting the money from.
Ruby sat on the settee, contemplating her next move. She’d hated confiding in Shelley, didn’t trust her as far as she could throw her. Although she was always nice to her, she was Seth’s girlfriend and he was shifty. She avoided him as much as possible. But she’d had to see if her notions about Luke were true.
Finding out they were had been bittersweet.
Had he started to gamble again? That would explain his agitation when she’d told him Seth had called last week. Luke had promised he wouldn’t get into more debt. There was at least one casino in Stoke she knew of, but then, there was bound to be one in every city. He had been getting in late on a few occasions, but he’d always blamed that on his work.
On top of everything else, this was the last thing she needed so she would have to park it for now. Her children were her top priority at the moment. She loved Luke so much, and she would eventually voice her thoughts, but he was the least of her worries right now. He could look after himself, to a cer
tain extent.
But she wouldn’t be letting him get away with it, once she had time to deal with it.
TWENTY-FIVE
Grace was coming out of the supermarket before a visit to Harrison House, her arms full of sweet treats to take back to the office, when she almost collided with a man in her rush to get out.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘My fault. Are you—’
‘Nice to bump into you, Grace. Literally.’
Grace looked up and groaned inwardly. It was her half-brother, Eddie Steele, with her sixteen-year-old half-niece Megan. She and Eddie hadn’t been on friendly terms since she’d come back to Stoke. Him being part of a criminal fraternity was not something she was comfortable with even if she wasn’t a serving police officer. Besides, there were units at the station looking into their activities and she didn’t want to jeopardise anything.
It never failed to amaze her just how alike she and Megan were. They were both slim build, with long dark hair. Each had deep-set eyes and full lips, though Megan wore way too much make-up for her liking, accentuating everything that Grace didn’t, and she was wearing the latest fashionable gear.
Eddie, too, had the same eyes and mouth. He reminded her of their father the last time she’d seen him. That was bittersweet.
Be nice, Grace.
‘Hi!’ She smiled, not really wanting to stop and talk. ‘How are you both?’
‘That’s the most civil thing you’ve said to me since you arrived in Stoke,’ Eddie smirked.
‘Stop it, Ed.’ Megan nudged him. ‘Or she might leave quickly. Do you have time for a coffee, Grace?’
‘I …’ She was completely stuck for words. Although she and Megan had left things on good terms the last time they’d seen one another, it was a long time ago now. It was disappointing in one way as she would like to get to know Megan better, but good in another as it meant she could keep away from the family. Work and pleasure definitely didn’t mix in this combination.
‘No, sorry, I really don’t.’ She hoped she sounded disappointed about fobbing them off.
