by Sam Michaels
‘You used me,’ he said. ‘You lied to me and you used me. Fool that I am, I should have known better. I was warned about you. They were right.’
‘What?’ Charlotte asked, dumbfounded.
He didn’t respond and stamped out of the room.
‘Wait… Tim…’ she called after him but as she peered up the hallway he was out of sight.
She thought about chasing after him but the sound of Georgina’s heart-wrenching crying reminded her that she was needed here. Charlotte tried to drag her eyes to the corner of the room but she couldn’t stand to look at the pitiful sight again.
‘W-what should I do?’ she asked Lord Hamilton.
‘I told you, get Johnny.’
Charlotte thought that was a good idea. Johnny would know what to do. But how could she get him? He didn’t have a telephone. Oh, dear God, Dog is dead. The thought punctuated her thinking process. Johnny, she had to get Johnny. But Dog is dead.
‘All right, I can see you’re in no fit state to do anything. Just stay here,’ Lord Hamilton said.
Charlotte sat on the sofa and closed her eyes. Georgina’s cries had petered down to whimpering now. The sound was none the less painful to hear. Moments later, she heard Tim’s voice again. He had come back.
‘Come on, come over to my flat. You can’t stay here,’ he said, pulling her gently to her feet.
She searched his eyes but still only saw anger and disappointment there. ‘I can’t leave Georgina,’ she said.
‘Go to mine. I’ll bring her.’
Charlotte walked across to Tim’s in a state of numbness. She recognised this feeling of detachment, of feeling nothing. She’d learned this response when she’d been living on the streets and witnessed the mutilated bodies blown apart by Hitler’s bombs. This was her mind’s way of dealing with things.
She sat at a small drop-leaf table in Tim’s flat, relieved when she saw him leading Georgina in. Lord Hamilton followed, holding her clutch bag and fresh clothes for Georgina to change into. Tim suggested she wash her hands and face.
‘You can’t leave Dog alone!’ Charlotte said, jumping to her feet as her mind cleared.
Tim held her squarely by the shoulders. ‘He won’t know. He’s dead, Charlotte.’ His tone was very matter-of-fact and lacked any empathy.
How could he be so cold? She took a sharp intake of breath through her nose and jutted her chin forward, saying acrimoniously, ‘Yes, thanks for pointing that out, Tim.’
He shrugged, dismissively turning away from her.
Hurt, but too emotionally drained to work out what was wrong with Tim, when Georgina went to wash and change, Charlotte asked Lord Hamilton if he knew what had happened.
‘No, not really. We arrived home together and Georgina came upstairs with me for coffee. Moments after she left, I heard her screaming so came running back down. I was just behind you two.’
‘Jacob Flowers will pay for this. She’ll make sure of it.’
‘I’ve no doubt, and the bounder deserves it! Right, Tim, if you don’t mind me using your facilities, I think we could all do with a cup of tea.’
Tim shrugged and once they were alone, he whispered to Charlotte, ‘I should turn her in. And you.’
‘What are you on about?’
‘Don’t play the innocent with me, Charlotte. You’ve led me a right merry dance. Christ, I’ve given up my career for you.’
The penny dropped and she realised he was annoyed because she hadn’t been altogether truthful with him about Georgina. ‘Please don’t be angry. I wanted to tell you the truth, really I did.’
‘So why didn’t you? Instead you’ve had me feeling sorry for you that your best friend is dead. And you managed to get me to vouch for her death. I bet you’ve been having a right laugh behind my back.’
‘No, Tim, it wasn’t like that, I swear.’
‘How can I ever trust you? You’re a liar. You could lie to me about anything.’
‘I won’t, I promise.’
‘I don’t believe you. See, that’s the problem. I’m never going to believe a word that comes out of your mouth.’
‘Are you saying you don’t want to marry me?’ she asked, her bottom lip beginning to quiver.
‘How can I?’
‘But… I love you.’
‘You don’t. You just wanted a reliable witness. Well, you made a big mistake. I’m still a policeman, Charlotte, and I’ve a legal obligation to report Georgina Garrett as very much alive. Who was the poor soul that burned in the fire? Christ, were you a part of a murder?’
‘No, Tim, let me explain.’
‘Forget it. You can explain it to the judge.’
‘Please, Tim, don’t do this.’
He pushed past her, heading to the door. At the same time, Georgina came through from the kitchen in clean clothes and, to Charlotte’s horror, she was pointing a small gun at Tim.
‘Stop right there,’ Georgina ordered and cocked the barrel.
Tim whisked around, his eyes widening when he saw the gun aimed at him. He didn’t hesitate in throwing his arms in the air.
‘You’re not going anywhere or telling anyone about me.’
‘How are you going to stop me? By shooting me? Are you going to kill me in cold blood, just as you did to that poor woman in the house fire?’
‘If I have to, I will. But I’d rather not.’
‘Please, Georgina, don’t kill him,’ Charlotte pleaded and quickly ran across the room to jump in front of him, defiantly shielding his body from any bullets that might come from Georgina’s gun.
‘Don’t be stupid, Charlotte, get out of the way,’ Georgina growled.
‘No, I won’t. I won’t let you kill him.’
‘Charlotte, move out of the bloody way,’ Georgina hissed.
‘If you want Tim dead, you’ll have to kill me an’ all.’
Tim whispered from behind. ‘Please, Charlotte, do as she says. There’s no point in us both dying.’
‘What the hell is going on in here?’ Lord Hamilton asked, aghast, glancing from Georgina waving her gun to Charlotte standing protectively in front of Tim.
‘Tim is going to the police. I was trying to persuade him otherwise when Charlotte decided she wanted to get involved.’
‘She’s threatening to shoot my fiancé!’
‘For God’s sake, Charlotte. I wouldn’t have shot him. What kind of monster do you think I am?’
‘You was pointing your gun at him!’
‘I was only trying to get his attention. I find a gun is the most effective way. It’s better than shouting.’
Tim moved Charlotte to one side. ‘All right, you’ve got my attention,’ he said, lowering his arms.
‘Good. Lord Hamilton has made tea. Shall I be mother?’ Georgina asked, indicating for them all to sit down.
Charlotte sat next to Tim on the sofa and was pleased when she felt him discreetly take her hand, hoping this meant he’d had a change of heart.
Georgina poured the tea into Tim’s mismatched cups and saucers, handing Lord Hamilton one and then Tim. ‘Please don’t blame Charlotte,’ she said. ‘I’ll be straight with you. She never wanted to dupe you in the first place. Charlotte has been soft on you since she first met you. It was me who put pressure on her to get you to the right place at the right time and she had no idea about the fire.’
‘Look, I don’t care if you’re dead, alive or otherwise. But I don’t like my future wife deceiving me.’
‘She won’t do it again. It’s not in Charlotte’s nature. She’s always straight and bluntly honest. Please, give her another chance. And if you want to go to the police about me, that’s fine, you do that. But by the time they get here I’ll be gone, and they won’t find me.’
Tim looked up at the ceiling, his leg jigging. As he was thinking, Charlotte noticed Georgina’s eyes had fixed on a black and white framed photograph. Her jaw had dropped and she looked deathly pale.
‘What’s wrong?’ Charlotte asked.
/> ‘Who is in that photo?’
Tim followed Georgina’s stare. ‘My mum and dad.’
Georgina violently shuddered and her breathing became rapid.
‘What is it, Georgina? What’s wrong?’
She closed her eyes and drew in a long breath. ‘Nothing. Nothing at all.’
Charlotte didn’t believe her and from the look on Tim’s face, neither did he. ‘Have you met my parents?’ he asked. ‘Do you know my mum and dad?’
Georgina swallowed hard and sat forward. ‘I met your father once,’ she answered, snarling.
‘He’s a piece of work,’ Tim said with equal disgust.
‘You can say that again.’
‘Where did you meet him?’
‘In Battersea Bridge police station, when he violated me with his truncheon. He tried to ram it up my arse. I was fifteen at the time and had been wrongfully arrested. Nice man, you must be proud to follow in his footsteps,’ Georgina answered, tight-lipped.
Charlotte gasped and Tim hung his head in his hands. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said, sounding genuinely apologetic for his father’s shameful actions.
‘It’s not me you oughta be going to the authorities about. It’s him, your father. Your own flesh and blood!’
‘You already knew, didn’t you?’ Charlotte asked him accusingly.
Tim’s head shot up. ‘Yes, and no. I knew he’d attacked women in custody. But I didn’t know you’d been one of them,’ he answered, looking at Georgina ruefully.
‘There were others?’ Georgina asked, sounding shocked.
‘Oh yes, there were many others. He was stopped when the police station got blown up and left him injured. But if that hadn’t stopped him, I dread to think how many other women he would have attacked.’
Charlotte had an inkling that Georgina had something to do with the explosion in the police station and now looking at Georgina’s face, she was sure of it.
Tim continued. ‘You’re right, you know. My father should be behind bars. But I can’t condone you killing an innocent woman to cover your fake death.’
‘It’s not what you think, Tim,’ Charlotte cut in. ‘It was a woman called Babs who died in the fire, but she had cancer and was already at death’s door. She was lucky if she had a day or two left to live and was in so much pain. Georgina promised Babs that she’d take care of her baby. It’s what Babs wanted. Georgina gave Babs pills to make her sleep. She never felt a thing. No one was murdered. Georgina ain’t like that.’
‘Is that true?’ Tim asked, looking at Georgina.
‘Yes. Except the bit about me not being like that. I am… I’m very much like that and I’m going to kill Jacob Flowers.’
‘Yeah, well, after what he did to that poor dog, I can’t say I blame you.’
‘Do you still want to turn Georgina over to the police?’ Charlotte asked tentatively.
He thought for a moment before answering. ‘No, after what my father did, how can I? That would make me a hypocrite. Either I stand up for law and order, or I don’t.’
‘Oh, Tim,’ gasped Charlotte, putting her arms around him.
‘And, as I’m going to marry you and you’re going to want Georgina at the wedding, I suppose I’d better turn a blind eye.’
‘You still want to marry me?’
‘Of course I do! Charlotte, you stood in front of a loaded gun and were willing to take a bullet to save my life.’
‘Actually,’ Georgina quipped, ‘it wasn’t loaded.’
If Charlotte hadn’t been so devastated about the horrific death of Dog, she might have laughed.
Tim rubbed his clean-shaven chin and sighed. ‘I suppose you’d better bring me up to date,’ he said.
‘About what?’ Georgina asked.
‘Everything I need to know about you so that I don’t unintentionally drop you in it. Well, at least until I leave for the army.’
A sob caught in Charlotte’s throat. Such a bittersweet moment. She’d nearly lost Tim. She’d almost sacrificed her life. But now everything was all right. All right that was, except for Dog. And if Georgina didn’t make Jacob Flowers pay for what he’d done, Charlotte most certainly would.
18
Jacob Flowers was infuriated at being called into Temi Zammit’s office on Christmas Day! The cheek of the man, he thought. Temi was nothing like his father and needed to have more respect. Jacob intended to have strong words with the man. After all, he had more important things to be dealing with. If his wife didn’t come home today, both she and that disgusting Dymond fella would be dead by tomorrow. Jacob was sure Elsie was with Dymond and now he’d learned of the man’s whereabouts. They had until the clock struck midnight.
When Jacob arrived in the West End, the club was closed but Temi was at his desk with his usual minions around him. Jacob detested the thugs. He doubted they had a brain between them. Bloody lowlife foreigners, he said in his head as he eyed them with condescension.
‘What is so important that I’ve been summoned here today of all days?’ he asked in an irritated tone as he sat in front of the desk.
‘A festive drink?’ Temi offered.
‘No, thank you. I’d like to conclude any business as soon as possible,’ he answered, keen to return home.
One of Temi’s men placed a drink on the desk, which Temi picked up and slowly sipped, his eyes unflinching as he stared at Jacob. ‘Are you sure you won’t join me?’ Temi asked.
‘I’m sure,’ he answered, beginning to feel uncomfortable.
‘Have you found Mrs Flowers yet?’
Jacob was taken aback by the question and wondered how Temi knew of Elsie’s disappearance. Not that it was any business of his. ‘I’m not here to discuss my personal life,’ he said sharply.
‘No. You’re here to offer me an explanation of where my money has been going.’
Jacob reached into his briefcase and extracted a file. ‘All the information is here,’ he said confidently, dropping it onto the desk. ‘Though you may struggle to understand it. But that’s why you hire me to do your accounts. It’s very specialised. It will look merely like columns of numbers to you.’
‘You’re probably right. It’s not the books I want to see. Looking at your accounts will be a waste of my time because I know that you have cooked the numbers.’
‘W-what are you talking about?’ Jacob asked, feeling flustered now.
Temi leaned back in his seat and placed his hands behind his head. ‘Mrs Flowers has been very vocal, which leads me to believe that you’ve been stealing my money,’ he said casually but with an air of a threat.
Jacob could feel his heart beginning to race and his head perspiring. It hadn’t occurred to him that Elsie would talk about his work, especially to the Zammits. ‘The woman is an imbecile and doesn’t know anything about accounts, money or business,’ he blustered. ‘I’ve worked tirelessly for your family since the day your father arrived in this country. How dare you question me in this manner! I’m insulted that you’d listen to a woman and doubt me!’
Temi smirked, leaving Jacob feeling unsettled. His act of outrage hadn’t fooled Temi and he feared what the man would do next. He was known for his brutality, far worse than his father. Jacob had heard of men who’d crossed Temi and been left paralysed or brain damaged, even dead. But surely the friendship he had with Temi’s father counted for something? And would Temi really believe the word of a woman?
‘Jacob, there’s no point in denying it. I’m fully aware that you cream money off the top of the payments that are supposed to go to the police, the magistrates and the local councillors. Luckily for you, so far they’ve been happy with their lot and haven’t disrupted my business. But you’re a sly, greedy bastard and I know there’s a lot more money besides that you’ve stolen from me and my father.’
It seemed Elsie had told them everything but Jacob was far too terrified to hold his hands up and admit his guilt. Now he could only hope for an outcome that didn’t involve him getting hurt.
�
�Would you like that drink now?’
He nodded. And when he took the glass from Temi’s man, his hand shook uncontrollably. But what he hadn’t noticed was the door behind him opening. Heels clicked across the office floor. Jacob stared into his whisky, his mind filling with all the awful scenarios of what Temi might do to him.
‘I’ll leave you in Miss Garrett’s capable hands,’ Temi said.
Jacob’s eyes shot up from his glass and he looked with confusion over the desk at Temi. Then he heard Georgina Garrett’s voice behind him.
‘This is for Dog,’ she said.
Before he could turn to look at her, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and a warm sensation trickling down towards his chest. He struggled to draw in a breath and felt as though he were drowning. He tried to clear his throat by coughing but instead seemed to suck in more liquid. Panic rushed over him followed by a feeling of doom when he realised she’d slit his throat.
As his blood spurted from his body, he reached to his neck to stem the flow. His hands touched the gaping hole that went almost ear to ear. Wet with his own blood, no amount of pressing or trying to hold his neck together would stop it from pumping out.
She’d killed him. The bitch had killed him. But he wasn’t dead yet. He fell to the floor and saw her standing over him, her face expressionless. Lightheaded now, he tried to claw his way towards her. She stepped back, out of his reach. He tried again, slipping in his own blood on the polished floor as he attempted to crawl to her feet.
He saw her turn to look at Temi and heard her say, ‘Sorry, he’s making quite a mess.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Temi replied, ‘my men will clean it up. That’s why I suggested you kill him here. It’s easier for me to dispose of a body.’
Jacob, spent, instinctively tried to breathe his final breaths but heard a gurgling, bubbling noise in his throat. His own blood, what was left of it, was choking him. It should have been Elsie. It should have been Elsie with a sliced throat. Elsie was his last thought.
