"Well then it is a good thing that I had this lying around. I am free now if you're up for it?"
"I would be honoured."
Patrick took Jodie's hand gently in his and they walked down the stairs of their building for the last time as Patrick McLaughlin and Jodie Jenkins.
***
As they danced their first dance as a married couple, Jodie held on tight as Patrick took the lead. The restaurant was dimly lit with the piano playing softly in the background and their small selections of guests were gathered round them.
"So, Mrs McLaughlin, how does it feel to be my wife?" Patrick smiled gently as they swayed to the soft notes.
"It feels pretty good if I am honest. Who would have known after everything that happened that we would be here today," she said with glazed eyes.
Patrick pulled her closer. "I told you I would never let anything bad happen to you and I will live my life to that vow until the day I die." He kissed her gently and they continued to dance.
"Are you going to open it?" she asked, referring to the box Jodie had taken from Ross' flat.
"I have been thinking about it. Everything happened so fast, finding out about Ross, how my birth parents lives were such a mess. I had a whole other family out there that was a complete mess and I find out about it because the murderer, who turned out to be first of all my friend Mark who wasn't real, followed us to the cottage, kidnapped you, I turn up to rescue you and find that he is, in actual fact my biological brother."
"I understand if you are not ready and I understand why you didn't tell me you were in contact with the adoption people. I just want you to know that in future, we tell each other everything. After all, we are Mr and Mrs McLaughlin now." she smiled.
Patrick kissed Jodie again. "I will not argue with that."
***
Jodie lay in bed fast asleep. Their wedding day had been an amazing day but an exhausting one. As she lay there, Patrick watched her sleep. She still looked beautiful as he watched her chest rise and fall with every breath she took.
Patrick got up from the bed and went in to the living room. The box had been sitting on the floor in the corner of the room for months and he just couldn't bring himself to open it.
He wasn't even sure if he wanted to open it. What he would find wouldn't change the fact that his life had been turned upside down by a monster who he now knew was his biological brother.
He understood now what his Grandpa had meant when he said all those years ago that he would understand that he had a purpose. Patrick was meant to stop Ross.
He continued to stare at the box and he felt it stare back at him.
Open it.
Patrick looked up to see a woman standing at the opposite side of the room. It was Maria Turner.
Go on. Open it, you'll never know if you don't.
Patrick pulled the box towards him and he sat on the floor. He gently lifted the lid.
There was a photo of him as a baby, with his birth name and date on the back, letters, birthday cards and more.
Patrick searched through them all, reading the letters from Maria to him and from Maria to Ross. He was mesmerised but sad at the same time.
"Now I understand why he was so angry," he whispered to himself.
It does not excuse what he did, Maria replied.
"You know, I had a life before this and I almost lost it because of him. Nothing inside this box is going to change that. I am still Patrick and I will never be Jeffrey. I am sorry if that is hard for you to hear but if none of this had happened I would not know anything about you."
Maria nodded, I understand. I came to say sorry for what has happened.
Patrick did not say anymore. There was nothing too say.
She was gone.
Forty Eight
One month after the wedding
Preston closed the file that was stamped, ‘Ross Turner' and pushed it aside. He sighed a relieved sigh and looked across the desk at Patrick. "Case closed. Ross Turner is dead and all the evidence that we gathered from the materials Jodie handed to us from the flat proves that he was the only person involved in the murders."
Patrick nodded. "You're giving me good cause to go out and buy a very expensive bottle of champagne Preston, thank you. Although, I still don't think there is cause for celebration, four women have died because of him. If anything we should have a drink in their honour."
Lang was stood beside Preston. He nodded and said, "I don't disagree with that."
"At least we can now rest and know that he cannot cause anymore grief to any other families, including yours," Preston said to Patrick.
"Speaking of family, how was the wedding?" Lang asked.
"It was perfect and just what we needed after everything that has happened."
Lang smiled and sat down on the chair next to Preston. "Should we tell him now?"
Patrick knitted his eyebrows. "Tell me what?"
Preston opened the drawer to his right and slid a brown envelope across the table which had Patrick's name on it.
"What's this?" he asked curiously.
"It's a contract," Lang replied.
"The boss was so impressed with what you helped us to achieve Patrick. We had no leads and you led us right to him, yeah OK, it took a little time and a lot of convincing on Lang's part," he rolled his eyes, "but you really pulled through for the case."
Patrick looked down at the envelope and then back to Preston and Lang. "So what are you saying?"
"We're saying the boss wants you on our team. He has had a contract drawn up that has certain policies and stipulations in place. It states that you will work with us on murder inquiries, missing person cases and generally cases like we have just seen. Your title will be specialist liaison officer and you will work with any officers within this region who need your assistance. All you have to do is sign." Lang said.
Patrick laughed. "Lang, I would have thought you would want rid of me after the case was closed."
Lang stood up and walked around the table to Patrick's side. "Well, if I could have it my way." he said sarcastically. "No, seriously I am holding my hands up. You did a great job." Lang held out his hand and Patrick shook it.
Preston rested his hands behind his head and gently swirled his chair from left to right. "So, what do you say Patrick, are you in?"
Beyond Evidence Page 20
