The Truth: sequel to I Will Find You

by Catherine Lambert

  “I think you should tell the police about the phone call,” Jake suggested calmly.

  “I’ll do it right now,” Marney picked up her mobile and left the room.

  She returned a few minutes later, dropped her phone into her handbag and sank down in an armchair opposite Jake and Lydia.

  “I told them his name, but not about the threat. They are coming to see me; they have something to tell me,” she said in a subdued tone.

  Half an hour later, a police car pulled up outside the house, Lydia opened the door and led the two officers into the lounge. Marney recognised the two police officers but could only re-call P.C. Adams name.

  Lydia introduced Jake and asked the officers to take a seat.

  “Would you like cup of tea or coffee?” she asked.

  Both declined the offer, and Lydia took her seat next to Jake.

  P.C. Adams was the first to speak and she addressed Marney as she did so.

  “We have arrested a suspect in connection with the assault Miss Stephens,” she began.

  “So soon,” Lydia interrupted.

  “The location of the assault was near to the house where Marney was taken in.

  It didn’t take us long to locate a single caravan in a field. The suspect was in the caravan, and after a brief examination of the scene, we discovered evidence which we believe belongs to you Miss Stephens,” she continued.

  “What sort of evidence,” she asked.

  “I can’t disclose the details at the moment, but you’ll be required to attend a further interview. Our forensic team are currently carrying out an intensive search of the area.”

  Lydia studied her sister’s reaction to the news and noticed her withdraw and turn away from the officer.

  “We’ll be in touch when we have complied forensic evidence Miss Stephens,” P.C. Adams concluded and walked towards the door with her colleague. Lydia stood up and followed them towards the front door.

  She spoke to them for a few minutes before closing the door and returning to the lounge where Marney was still contemplating the news and didn’t look up as she entered the room.

  “I told them that Phillips threatened you,” Lydia spoke to Marney’s back.

  “Why did you tell them that; he’ll just deny it,” she spun around to face her sister.

  “I just want it to all end; I’m not even sure if I can face going to court and seeing him again.”

  “You don’t have to, but he’ll be released.” Lydia pointed out.

  “Not necessarily,” Jake disagreed.

  “It depends on the Prosecutor, he can still be charged with the offence unless you can give a valid reason not to. He’ll probably receiver a lesser sentence though.”

  “I’ll tell them it was consensual; then they’ll have to drop the case.”

  “Are you crazy Marney?” Lydia raised her voice.

  “I’m just trying to protect my daughter, surely you can understand that.”

  Marney left the room without waiting for a reply but returned a few minutes later wearing a jacket.

  “I’m going for a walk; I need to clear my head.” Without looking back, she opened the front door and left. Lydia stood up to follow her, but Jake intervened.

  “Let her go Lydia, she’s upset and confused. She needs time to decide what she’s going to do.” Jake placed a hand on her forearm. Lydia hesitated then replied.

  “I’ll get rid of this wine and the glasses while she’s out then,” Lydia said.

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Jake stood up and followed her into the kitchen where Lydia began to load the dishwasher.

  “I am sorry for what I put you through Lyds,” he paused as she turned to look at him.

  “It’s irrelevant now Jake; it was always going to be that way,” she slammed the door of the dishwasher with more force than she intended.

  “I was pig-headed and foolish; I know that now,” he frowned.

  “What exactly are you trying to say Jake?” Lydia glared at him with her hands on her hips.

  “I think you know the answer,” he raised his eyebrows.

  “No I don’t; tell me,” she held his stare.

  “I made a big mistake leaving you for Maria,” he finally admitted.

  “You did that alright Jake; but now you have a daughter. A daughter that should have been ours,” a lump rose in Lydia’s throat and she struggled to contain her tears.

  “You’ll never know how much I regret that,” he looked away.

  “Oh, I see now; you think giving me the money to save the café will absolve you from guilt,” she turned her back on him.

  Grabbing her shoulder, he spoke.

  “No Lydia, that’s not true; I still love you I always have. After Adam died I was so overwhelmed with grief and pain I blamed you. I know now it was an accident, but I couldn’t cope with it. I turned away from you when you needed me most,” he dropped his hand from her shoulder. Turning to face him she replied.

  “I can’t keep dragging up the past Jake; I’ve moved on. I’ll miss Adam till the day I die, but I’ve stopped blaming myself,” she held his head in her hands and kissed him tenderly. Jake put his arms around Lydia and drew her close. With his hands caressing her body Jake kissed her neck and lips. The sound of the front door opening disturbed their intimate moment and Lydia withdrew as Marney appeared in the doorway.

  “How are you feeling?” Lydia asked dreading the answer.

  “I’m going to bed,” she snapped. Lydia knew she had been crying, her face was red and blotchy with mascara running down her cheeks.

  “Shall I come up with you?” Lydia asked gently.

  “I’m not a child Lydia, leave me alone,” she stormed out of the room but returned a few minutes later.

  “Do you have any of your sleeping tablets left?” she demanded to know.

  “I don’t think you should take them with alcohol,” Lydia cringed.

  “I really don’t care,” she snapped.

  Reaching into a cupboard, Lydia rummaged through a box of until she found the tablets.

  “Don’t take more than two,” she warned passing them over.

  “Why; what will happen?” she snatched the box from Lydia’s hand and headed towards the stairs.

  Fighting the urge to comfort her sister, Lydia turned to Jake.

  “Let her go love she needs to be on her own, we’re here for her.”

  It was at that moment Lydia realised she wanted Jake back in her life and she would do whatever it took to achieve it.

  “I think it’s time I left,” Jake smiled.

  “Do you think you should be driving; you’ve had three glasses of wine?” Lydia warned.

  “I can’t stay here.”

  “Why not?” Lydia raised her eyebrows.

  “I don’t think Marney would like it,” he replied.

  “Perhaps not, but you could sleep on the sofa,” she suggested.

  “O.K,” he sounded disappointed.

  “I’ll get some bedding and look in on Marney,” she left the room.

  Treading softly on the stairs, Lydia pushed open Marney’s bedroom door. She was lying on her side deep in sleep and Lydia smiled to herself. Grabbing a duvet and a pillow from the linen cupboard, she went back down to the lounge where Jake was perched uncomfortably on the edge of the sofa.

  “I don’t think I should stay Lydia; I’ll call a taxi,” he picked up his mobile phone.

  “If that’s what you want,” Lydia attempted to conceal her disappointment.

  “No, it isn’t, but I haven’t been completely honest with you,” he replied hesitantly.

  “Go on,” she said taking a seat opposite him.

  “When I said Maria had gone to visit her parents, I omitted to say she has filed for a divorce, and I won’t be contesting it.” He bowed his head and sighed.

  “What about Olivia, you have a right to see her?” Lydia asked.

  “I don’t know; we haven’t reached an agreement on that yet,” he stood up and paced
up and down.

  “I know I have rights as a father, but it means getting on a plane every time I want to see her, and her parents won’t be very welcoming towards me.”

  “Have you met them?”

  “At the wedding, and then they came over when Olivia was born. Maria will tell them what they want to hear, they were never happy about the fact that I was married before.”

  “Oh,” Lydia replied simply.

  “It’s getting late Jake, there’s no point in getting a taxi.” She stood up and placed the bedding on the sofa.

  “Goodnight,” she turned away and walked slowly up the stairs.

  With the duvet tucked tightly around her shoulders Lydia lay awake dwelling on Jake’s predicament. Part of her was pleased that he was back in her life, but a bigger part was dubious over his intentions. Did he genuinely have feelings for her or was using her to get back at Maria? Whatever the answer to her rhetorical question, she would tread carefully. As extreme tiredness washed over her Lydia’s eyes closed. She awoke at seven thirty the next morning and lay staring at the ceiling. The house was in silence as she swung her legs out of bed and slipped her dressing gown over her shoulders. Jake was sitting at the kitchen table and looked up as she entered the room.

  “Did you sleep O.K.?” she asked.

  “Fine thanks,” he smiled.

  “Do you want a coffee?” she asked remembering his preference in the mornings.

  “Please,” he replied without looking up.

  Taking the drinks to the table she took a seat opposite him.

  “What are you going to do today?” she asked sipping her tea.

  “I’ll transfer that money into your account and then I shall have to go home. Maria’s cat will need feeding,” he scoffed.

  “I’m surprised you’ll live in a house with a cat Jake,” a smile spread across her face as she recalled his loathing of all pets.

  “I’m going to re-home it, I only tolerated it for Maria’s sake.”

  “Poor Cyril,” Lydia struggled to stifle a grin.

  “There’s nothing poor about him, he’s fed fresh meat and fish and sleeps wherever he wants.”

  “That’s not a good idea with a baby in the house Jake.”

  “He’s not allowed in the bedroom now.”

  Their conversation was interrupted as Marney pushed open the door and took a seat at the table.

  “Have you been here all night?” she glared at Jake.

  “It’s not what you think,” he began to explain.

  “Is there any coffee in the pot?” she turned to Lydia, ignoring his response.

  “I’ll make you one,” she stood up feeling uncomfortable.

  Placing a drink before her she asked.

  “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Rough, those sleeping tablets knocked me out,” she moaned.

  “It wears off in a few hours,” Lydia assured her.

  Marney sipped her coffee in silence for a few minutes then looked up at her sister.

  “I’ve decided to drop the charges against Phillip’s,” she announced firmly.

  “You can’t do that,” Lydia shook her head.

  “It’s not about what I can or can’t do Lydia, it’s what I have to do.”

  “I don’t understand what you mean sis.”

  “Then let me explain; I know him, I know Ewan Phillips.”

  “What are you talking about Marney?”

  “Haven’t you been listening to me Lydia?”

  “You don’t really know him Marney; he’s been in the café a few times and to the park, but that doesn’t mean you know him.”

  “I’ve slept with him Lydia,” she buried her head in her hands and sobbed.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Lydia stared across the table at Jake who was visibly shocked. Struggling to find the right words, she rose to her feet and put a hand on Marney’s shoulder.

  “I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee and we’ll talk about it,” Lydia sighed.

  Marney continued to cry as Lydia returned to the table with a tray. Pouring the coffee, she glanced up at Jake.

  “Do you want me to go?” he asked.

  “No, not unless you do Marney?”

  Raising her head, she looked up.

  “No, it’s O.K. I’m sorry I snapped at you Jake,” she pulled a tissue from her dressing gown pocket and blew her nose.

  “I’m thick-skinned Marney; I used to be married to your sister,” he forced a smile.

  Ignoring his remark, Lydia passed the drinks across the table.

  “Do you want to tell us what’s going on Marney?” she prompted her to speak.

  “Not really, but you need to know,” she began.

  “Do you remember when I had a huge row with Dan when I found out he wasn’t going to leave his wife for me?” she paused and looked up.

  “As if I could forget.”

  “It was awful, I can still remember his spiteful words, he made me so angry I stormed out and went to the first wine bar I found. I don’t know how much I drank but I remember talking to this guy. He really wasn’t my type, but I was so drunk I didn’t care. When I woke up the next morning I was in bed when him in a shitty Hotel. I was so disgusted with myself I grabbed my clothes and left.”

  “But you’ve told me this before Marney,” Lydia sighed.

  “I didn’t tell you his name was Ewan Phillips.”

  “How can you be so sure it’s the same person?” Jake asked.

  “I recognised the name when Lydia said it; and there was something else. He had a tattoo on his neck, a snake or something like that. When he,” she paused.

  “When he attacked me, I saw it and I knew it was him. I can’t press charges Lydia, I had consensual sex with him in the past. The police have told me the defence will dig up all the details of my past relationships. I’ll be treated like a criminal not a victim. I can’t do it, I really can’t.” she fell silent and drained her coffee cup.

  Leaning over to refill her cup, Jake spoke.

  “He’s a thug Marney, he needs to be locked up before he does it someone else.”

  “There’s something else you need to know,” she spoke softly.

  Lydia felt her entire body tense up, she knew her sister was about to reveal a devastating piece of news.

  “Oh God, what now?”

  “I don’t really know how to tell you this,” she deliberated.

  “Just say it Marney,” Lydia raised her voice.

  “I think he could be Heidi’s father,” Marney finally revealed the truth.

  “What!” Lydia sprang to her feet sending her chair sprawling across the floor.

  “I only think he could be, I’m not sure,” she mumbled.

  “You said Dan was her father,” Lydia argued.

  “I know, I don’t know, I’m confused,” she began to cry again which was something she did when she could not justify her stupidity. Jake picked up the strewn chair and Lydia sat down.

  “Marney, you must know when you slept with Dan,” Lydia softened her tone.

  “A day or two before I slept with Phillips,” she admitted.

  “Oh, I can see why you don’t know who the father is,” Jake spoke up.

  “But you were so sure it was Dan,” Lydia continued.

  “I convinced myself it was; it was easier to pretend Phillips didn’t exist.”

  Lydia stood up and began to clear the table. After a few minutes’ silence and intermittent clattering of crockery, Lydia turned to her sister.

  “You’ll have to do a paternity test know.”

  “That’s virtually impossible Lydia, Dan is dead, remember?” Jake spoke up.

  “It can be done Jake; I don’t know the full details, but DNA can be taken from

  a hair brush, tooth brush even the clothes that belonged to Dan. If there was a Post Mortem, tissue samples would have been taken and there would be DNA present. They can also take a sample from a family member.” Lydia explained.

  �
�How do you know all this?” Marney asked suspiciously.

  “I googled it after you told me about Dan’s uncle,” she grinned.

  “So, if we can find out which nursing home the uncle is in we can get the test

  done,” Marney sat upright.

  “I suppose so, but I don’t know how we go about it sis.”

  “We just go there and get something with his DNA on,” Marney replied simply.

  “We can’t just go in there Marney and rip a clump of his hair out.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because,” she paused.

  “I think what Lydia is trying to say is he may have to give his consent,” Jake intervened.

  “That won’t be a problem, it’s the uncle who wants the test done,” Marney pointed out.

  “We need to speak to this uncle; do you know his name?” Lydia asked.

  Marney picked up her handbag and took out the letter. Unfolding it, she scanned the contents.

  “He’s named Earnest Arthur Gerrity,” she passed the letter to her sister who began to read it.

  “Have you read all this letter?” she looked up.

  “No, just the interesting bits.”

  “Well if you had read it properly you’d have seen the address of the nursing home,” she jabbed the letter with her index finger.

  “He’s in The Willows Nursing Home in a place called Little Norton, there’s a phone number at the bottom of the page.” she continued to read.

  “Where’s Little Norton?” Marney asked.

  “I don’t know; we’ll have to look it up.”

  “It’s about twenty-five miles from here,” Jake revealed.

  “How do you know that?” Lydia looked across the table.

  “One of Maria’s friends lives there; we visited a couple of times when Olivia was born. It’s a small village with a few shops and a school but not much more.

  The Nursing Home is about half a mile from the village.”

  “All we need to do is phone and explain that we are family members wishing to visit a relative; I can’t see how they can refuse,” Marney smiled.

  “You’ll have to do that sis, I’m not a relative,” Lydia stood up and collected the cups from the table.

  Taking the letter into the lounge, Marney keyed in the number of the home and waited to be connected. After a long conversation with the Matron, Marney was informed she would receive a call after she had spoken to Mr. Gerrity. Feeling frustrated at not receiving a more positive response, she returned to the kitchen. Lydia was standing close to Jake and she took a step back as her sister entered the room.