Sins of the Master

by Catherine Taylor

  “If she goes to the media…”

  “She’d be bowled over with a lack of public sympathy. She’s still facing a dangerous driving charge causing the death of four men. The Easton’s memorial is being held today. They were good, decent people, an MP and his wife, gunned down brutally and their daughter abducted or possibly dead. Mairead would be hard pressed to try to say anything that anyone would listen to. Maybe Mairead should be thinking about giving this other arsehole up. If they’re innocent, why is she so bent on protecting Tyler?”

  “I don’t know,” Cooper conceded. “But two weeks in that shithole didn’t budge her and James Vaughn isn’t talking either. He says he’ll accept nothing except the word from his own lawyer that Mairead is cleared of all charges and safely home.”

  “Yeah, well I don’t know about that. Miller is seeking to have charges laid against her over the crash scene.”

  Cooper stared at him. “You’re kidding?”

  “We’re still trying to establish what happened. That poor, bloody truck driver is saying that Mairead deliberately crossed right in front of him, which probably means the other car was in pursuit.”

  “A car with false plates and all its identification removed, occupied by four unknown individuals who don’t seem to have any identity either, except for some highly suspect tattoos, and several automatic weapons.”

  “You don’t believe that bullshit about Russian mafia?”

  “How would I know? Their bodies and all the evidence were commandeered by the SIS.”

  “Anything from ballistics?”

  “Not the official report as yet, except they’re certain Vaughn was hit through the back with a 7.62mm round from a distance. He was lucky. Bullet hit and chipped his collarbone, but luckily ricocheted straight out of him. Some bone fragments pierced the lungs without too much damage. He’s going to have some heavy scarring…” She stopped, shaking her head. “Not as bad as he already has.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “A good third of his back. He must have taken something heavy in Afghanistan. Skin’s been burned down several layers, enough to remove half of a tattoo on his shoulder blade. According to his military records, he spent a year in a London hospital. Nearly died due to infection. This will probably be a walk in the park for him.”

  Her boss nodded thoughtfully. “You’d think he’d be seeking a quieter life.”

  “The man’s got a baby on the way. That’s the quiet life over.”

  “Who says it’s his?”

  Cooper shook her head. “No, it’s his. I’d bet my life on it. You haven’t seen how these two worry for each other. I think they’re genuine and have just been caught up in something they can’t handle.”

  “Blackmail?”

  “I don’t think so. The fact that neither of them demonstrate any hostility towards Tyler, and for a man who’s already been through hell, I can’t see James being intimidated by anyone.”

  “Maybe they just didn’t know what Tyler was capable of until Brendan North got the shit beat out of him, and then they started demanding answers that Tyler didn’t want to give them.”

  “There’s so much about this that doesn’t sit right with me. On one hand we’ve got a terrorist who’s managed to keep himself out of trouble and undetected for nearly twenty years in this country. Then he suddenly announces his presence with a massacre, when he could have just taken North out quietly and none of this would have escalated.”

  “Well, Lizzie, it’s your job to find out, but if you start throwing your weight around with the SIS, you’re going to find yourself out in the cold or worse. This is government at the highest level and you don’t fuck with them until you’re sure you can make a case. And try to remember, I’d prefer not to be dragged down with you, if you can help it. Now, consider yourself officially warned and fuck off out of my sight for a while, so I can get back to the quieter life of solving homicides and felonies.”

  Cooper nodded. “Just keep batting for me, Tobias. I want this one, even if it’s just to see those two get through this and have their baby.”

  “Feeling nostalgic, Cooper?” Collins chuckled.

  She shrugged. “Just nice to see two people that might actually love each other.”

  * * * * *

  The cold gel had Mairead gasping a little as it touched her skin. Her breathing was audible and the woman sitting next to her smiled.

  “Just try to relax and enjoy the experience.”

  Mairead nodded and watched as the transducer probe was brought to her stomach. It felt smooth, with a gentle pressure as it rolled across her.

  “And here we are,” the woman said.

  Mairead looked at her and then turned to look at the monitor. At first she wasn’t sure what she was seeing and then suddenly the shape made sense to her. It took her breath away as she stared at it, stunned to see such a perfect image of what was very clearly a baby.

  “I can see her.”

  The woman smiled. “So a girl you think?”

  “No, I mean I don’t know. Do you?”

  “A little too early to be certain. You’re about sixteen weeks along and we generally determine the sex more accurately at twenty weeks.”

  “Sixteen weeks?” Mairead continued to stare at the screen.

  Suddenly it was real. All the doubts and denial could no longer be sustained. The woman kept pausing the moving image to take measurements and Mairead studiously watched everything.

  She saw some tiny object fluttering rapidly. “Is that the heart?”

  “Yes and it’s a good healthy heart beat.”

  Mairead saw another movement and what looked like tiny skeletal fingers. “She’s moving her hand.” She shook her head and turned away from the monitor. “I don’t want to watch this.”

  The woman looked at her curiously. “Your baby is doing wonderfully. You don’t need to worry.”

  “I’m sorry,” Mairead replied. “I’m just not ready for this.”

  The woman kept on with her measurements. “Not many of us are, but just know we have counsellors here at the hospital if you need some help. Everyone needs a little support, especially if you’re going through this time alone.”

  Mairead wanted to refute her statement and declare how happily married she was, that she had all the support in the world, but the bleak reality was that she was alone and could be for a long time.

  Silently she endured the rest of the scan, but couldn’t watch the monitor any more. It wasn’t right to be experiencing this moment without James beside her, or at least having some awareness of their baby’s existence. When the scan was over, she was quick to pull on the hospital gown and climb down from the table.

  “I’ll get a printout for you,” the woman said, pressing a button before Mairead could say anything. “And I’ll get a nurse to take you back to your room.”

  “I do know the way,” Mairead replied.

  The woman ignored her, taking the phone and pushing a button. “Mrs. Vaughn is ready to return to her room.”

  Mairead scowled silently. Being in hospital was little better than being in prison. They had placed her in the psych ward where she was constantly monitored and kept isolated from other patients. The only people she had seen all week were doctors, nurses and psychiatrists who had plenty of questions and very few answers to her own. They certainly didn’t want to tell her when she was getting out.

  Cooper had been in to see her a few times, keeping her updated on James’ recovery, but saying nothing about anything else. As much as Mairead wanted to push for answers, she held back, accepting Cooper’s excuse of being under orders. Being compliant with everyone was about the only way she was going to get out.

  A nurse entered the room and held the door open. As Mairead went to join her, the other woman called after her, holding out a small black and white picture.

  “Keep that with you and talk to someone with any concerns you might have.”

  Mairead stared at the picture and took it with
a trembling hand. She looked down at the first image of her baby, as her other hand absently went to her stomach. It should have been incredible, but she felt nothing but despair. It was as if a heavy darkness had possessed her.

  Out in the waiting room, there were people sitting about, but Mairead avoided looking at them until a tall man stood up and called her name.

  Mairead stared for a moment and nearly broke down at the sight of her lawyer and Joanne beside him. Thankfully, it was Joanne who burst into tears first and hurried to take Mairead into her arms.

  “We’re taking you home today, sweetheart,” Joanne explained. “Dad’s in your room now. He’s distraught and confused, and he’s just found out he’s going to be a grandfather.”

  Mairead frowned. “They had no right to tell anyone.”

  “Let’s get out of here first.” Ron led them into the corridor, until Mairead stopped to look at him.

  “What’s happening with James?”

  Ron frowned deeply. “He’s just been transferred to the medical unit at Rimutaka, under the same warrant that you had been subjected to.”

  Her lip trembled as she asked, “Is he alright?”

  “I only got to see him for ten minutes,” Ron replied. “He looked good and I was told he was recovering well.”

  “So when do I get to see him?”

  “I have no idea at this stage, Mairead, or how long they will hold him. This is all new territory that none of us have ventured into before. I’m still trying to get my head around the legalities of it, and I have colleagues attacking the way this legislation was passed. Mairead, I was made privy to some of what occurred in the facility you were held in.”

  She shook her head firmly. “Don’t talk about it.”

  Joanne frowned. “What’s this?”

  “It’s nothing,” Mairead smiled. “Just a lot of breakdown in communication that prolonged my time in the system.”

  Joanne pouted tearfully. “It was awful. Your poor father…”

  Mairead hugged her, and got her walking again. “Let’s go and see him.”

  “Just be patient with him,” Joanne pleaded. “He’s hasn’t coped, worrying about you and his suspension from Parliament, and there seems to have been so many conflicting stories.”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  There was so much Mairead wanted to know, but she would need time alone with Ron, to find out what everyone had been told up until then.

  “So they’re just letting me walk out of here?” Mairead asked him.

  Ron’s frown grew deeper and he shook his head. “The police are meeting with us at your house, where you will have to surrender your passport and you’ll be given an ankle surveillance bracelet. You’ll also have a strict curfew.”

  “Even though I’m not charged with anything?”

  “Mairead, under this legislation, you are guilty by association and can be detained for security purposes. It’s taken quite a lot of negotiations to have you released to your father’s care, and it comes with conditions.”

  She stopped walking and glared at him. “What negotiations and who are they negotiating with?”

  “Let’s just get you home and then I’ll take you through everything I know.”

  Mairead had to accept that. Ron was looking strained and she knew he would be doing everything he could for her and James.

  Upon returning to her room, Mairead stopped in the doorway and felt her body attempt another release of tears. Her father stood staring at her, his face contorted with despair as he went to her, pulling her into his arms.

  For a long time they held each other silently. Mairead looked up at his teary face.

  “They finally told you where I was.”

  He nodded, pulling out a handkerchief to dab at his eyes. “Are you alright, baby girl? The scan… was everything…?”

  She smiled. “Everything is as it should be.”

  “Thank god.”

  Joanne moved into hug her again. “Congratulations, Mairead.”

  Ron smiled and nodded his head. “Yes, congratulations, Mairead.”

  She looked at him. “Does James know?”

  “I don’t know. This is the first we’ve heard of it, so I don’t know if that news has been passed on to him. Anyway, I’m going to bring the car up closer. You just take your time.”

  He left, and Mairead looked back to her father to see his unhappy expression. “What’s wrong, Dad?”

  “I don’t understand it. We thought that you and James were going to make it, that you were going to have a decent life together.”

  Mairead frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “For god’s sake, Mairead. You’re pregnant… with our grandchild, and not even that seems to change anything.”

  “Yes, Dad, I’m pregnant, though I would have preferred to tell you myself. What do you mean it doesn’t change anything?”

  “You’re bringing a child into the world.” His raised voice and angry face startled her. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

  “Of course it does. It means everything to me and it frightens the hell out of me. What are you attacking me for?”

  “Because you’re too bloody stupid to deserve that child. Look at what’s happened and tell me what it is that you don’t understand. Your husband is in jail, and you’re lucky to be here, after some fucking joyride that killed four innocent tourists. What the hell were you thinking? You could have killed that child, and yourself along with it. You’ll be lucky if you don’t spend the next ten years in jail.”

  Mairead stared at him, stunned, as Joanne intervened. “Sean, stop it. Stop it now. This is not the time or the place. Mairead needs our support and you are not helping.”

  “Is that what they told you?” Mairead could barely talk. “Who told you that?”

  Sean had turned away and walked to the window.

  Joanne gathered Mairead in an embrace. “We’re here for you, sweetheart, for you and your child. We’re going to get through this.”

  Mairead shook her head. “No, we’re not. I want to know who’s been talking to you.”

  “We’ve been briefed by some people from Intelligence Services. A good man, who wants nothing but to get you through this. He’s told us that you and James are just caught up in a situation…”

  “What man?” Mairead demanded. “What’s his name?”

  “Bevan Miller, a very important man…”

  Mairead pulled away from her, shaking her head. “No, you don’t understand. He’s lying to you…”

  “That’s enough.” Sean turned back to her furiously. “Stop thinking about yourself all the time, and start thinking about that child, because if you don’t, you’re going to lose everything. No more bullshit. You’re going to co-operate with Miller and you’re going to do everything to help your own cause.”

  “Like hell I will.”

  “You lied to us,” Sean returned furiously. “You bloody lied to us. We know everything now that you didn’t tell us. James has already confessed to crimes in collusion with that bloody Dylan Tyler. They have his sworn statement which, thankfully, exonerates you from…”

  “What the fuck are you saying? James has done nothing…”

  Joanne moved in and gripped her hand as she snarled at her husband. “Sean, get out and wait in the car…”

  “What the hell…”

  “Get out.” Joanne glared at him. “I’ll look after Mairead and you just get your temper under control before you incite mine.”

  Sean stared at her, and then strode angrily to the door. “Fine.”

  When he was gone, Joanne held her. “He doesn’t mean to do that. It’s just been a nightmare for all of us. We didn’t know where…”

  “What did Dad mean by all that?” Mairead demanded. “What crimes has James confessed to?”

  “I don’t know, Mairead.” Joanne became tearful. “Your father was supposed to let Ron explain it all when we got home.”

  Mairead smirked bitterly. �
�Before or after the cops put their surveillance bracelet on me? And exactly whose home are we going to?”

  Joanne replied nervously. “It’s a lovely big place, right near the beach and James’ parents will be there with us…”

  “James’ parents are coming?”

  “Of course they are, sweetheart. They’re worried sick, just like we are.”

  “Yes,” Mairead nodded angrily. “Because they think their son is some kind of criminal. Either that, or they think I am, and James is protecting me. Why aren’t we just going to my house?”

  Joanne paused tight lipped before shaking her head. “Mr. Miller has arranged it all. He’s told us how badly you’ve been affected by this whole ordeal, and now you’re pregnant… He had to get a special warrant drawn up to have you released to us, and he’s helping by keeping us safe from media…”

  “And isolating me.” Mairead’s jaw hung as she slowly shook her head. “Miller is a lying prick.”

  Joanne froze for a second, tears running down her face, until she just went about her business, going to the suitcases, sorting through clothes and bringing them to Mairead.

  “Just tell me,” Mairead demanded. “They’re going to lock James away, aren’t they? He’s not getting out, is he?”

  Joanne sobbed. “I don’t know.”

  “Yes you do,” Mairead told her, as she removed her dressing gown. She pulled the hospital gown off and began to dress. “You just need everyone around me to tell me, in case I do something stupid.”

  “Mairead, no,” Joanne pleaded. “We’re all devastated. Tom and Beth are beside themselves with grief…”

  “Miller is playing you all off against us, and you’re all actually listening to his fucking lies. James is innocent, and those men who died were no fucking tourists.”

  “Of course James is innocent, and we’re going to prove that…”

  “How? How are you going to prove it?”

  Joanne sobbed. “You have to tell them about this Dylan Tyler. You can’t cover for him anymore, sweetheart. Mr. Miller has told us that James has a real chance if they can get this man…”