Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past)

by Danielle Rose-West

  She’d hoped Jason would attend with her, but he had decided to stay away completely. He hadn’t wanted to upset Lucinda’s family and he’d told Callie he thought she should stay away as well. She wished she’d listened to him now. It hadn’t brought the closure she’d thought it would.

  “Well, if it isn’t Callie Price herself. I hoped you’d be stupid enough to turn up here today. I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Callie turned at the caustic, rough voice coming from behind her. A plump woman dressed in black glared at her. Straight, dark hair peeped out from under the black hat perched on top of her head. Callie had never seen the woman before in her life.

  “Please, I don’t want any trouble. I just came to pay my respects.” Callie stepped back a pace and held up her free hand. The hatred rolling off the woman was disturbing. “There is no need for any confrontation. This is a funeral, after all. It’s hardly appropriate for this kind of behaviour. We don’t even know each other.”

  “Oh, I know all about you.” The woman stared at her, a slight sneer on her lips. “I happen to be Lucinda’s best friend, Sue.”

  “I’m truly sorry for your loss.” Callie licked her dry lips. She didn’t quite know what to say to this hostile individual.

  “Save it.” Sue’s piercing grey eyes unnerved Callie somewhat. She grinned at Callie, but there was no humour in the smile. “I knew you’d be here today or at least I hoped you wouldn’t change your plans. I’ve come prepared.”

  “What are you talking about?” The woman’s statement struck Callie as odd. Something about this encounter was decidedly off kilter, but she was unsure exactly why. “How could you possibly know I’d be here today? What do you mean you’ve come prepared?”

  Sue’s grin widened. “We have much to discuss, you and I.” Her gaze scanned the area around them. “Why don’t we take a little trip somewhere much more private? I have the perfect place in mind for this particular discussion.”

  “I don’t think so.” Callie shook her head. She didn’t want to go anywhere with this weird woman. Sue didn’t seem quite right in the head to her.

  She glanced around, but the street was deserted. Most people were avoiding the funeral. There had been an article in the local paper covering the car bomb. The community had been disgusted and outraged. Nobody wanted to be seen as supporting Lucinda’s actions by attending her funeral or even being in the vicinity of it. Sue certainly knew what she was doing when she’d picked now to confront Callie.

  “Oh, I wasn’t asking you,” Sue’s brittle voice bit out. “I’m telling you. You are coming with me.”

  Callie snapped her gaze back to the woman before her. She gasped and backed into the wall surrounding the cemetery. In Sue’s hand, neatly hidden from view of anyone else by her bag, was a gun.

  “Like I said, let’s take a little trip.” Sue flicked her head towards a car parked several feet away.

  Callie gulped. What the hell was she to do? She was definitely in the company of a fruit cake. Her eyes flicked around her, desperately seeking assistance. There were several people exiting the cemetery, but they were too far away for Callie to reach them before Sue could stop her. If only one of them would glance in her direction! She might be able to signal for help somehow. It was a long shot, but the only one she had.

  “Don’t even think about it. I will shoot you before anyone can come to your aid, not that Lucinda’s family would be inclined to help you anyway. Is that what you want?” Sue grabbed her arm and dug the gun barrel into her ribs. Callie winced at the sharp stab of pain that shot through her side.

  “Aren’t you going to kill me anyway?” Callie forced the words out from between her stiff lips. Her body trembled. “I may as well just take my chances.”

  “How dramatic! I only want a nice little chat.” Sue dragged Callie to the waiting car and opened the passenger door. “Get in.”

  Callie slid into the seat. She glanced at Sue. Maybe she could make a run for it before the woman could round the car. Sue shot her a warning glare, as if she’d read Callie’s mind. She shook the gun in Callie’s face, the threat obvious.

  Callie’s breath came in short, panicked pants. What was she going to do? How had Sue even known she was going to attend Lucinda’s funeral? The woman may say she only wanted to talk, but Callie didn’t believe her. Who pointed a gun at someone unless they were intent on harm?

  Her head spun and little spots danced in front of her eyes. Nothing made any sense. Why would Sue go to all this trouble to kidnap her? She could understand Sue being upset over her friend’s death, but this was extreme. There had to be more to it, but her fear induced brain couldn’t seem to think clearly.

  Sue climbed into the driver’s seat. She aimed the gun at Callie and nodded at the glove compartment. “Open it.”

  Callie leaned forward and opened the small space. Inside was a set of hand cuffs. She lifted them out with shaking hands.

  “Snap one end on your wrist and the other around the metal bar on the door.” Sue held the gun steady.

  Callie’s heart sank. She had no way of escaping Sue if she was attached to the car. She hesitated. A loud click filled the air. Callie’s gaze shot to the gun. It was primed and ready to fire. Gulping down her terror, Callie snapped one of the manacles onto her wrist and secured the other end to a metal bar that had been screwed into the door. Sue was nothing if not thorough.

  “Very good.” Sue released the hammer and placed the gun on the floor at her feet. She snapped her seatbelt into place and glanced at Callie. “Best buckle up. We don’t want the police to stop us, now do we?”

  Callie bit back a caustic reply. She couldn’t afford to antagonise the crazy woman. She grabbed hold of the seatbelt and struggled to pull it across her body.

  “Why are you doing this? Lucinda is dead. This won’t bring her back and you are going to land yourself in a world of trouble for this. Is it worth it?” Callie wasn’t sure if she could reason with Sue, but she had to do something.

  Sue laughed. “Nice try, but it won’t work. You may as well save your breath. You won’t change my mind.”

  Sue started the car engine and released the hand break. Callie stared out the window. Her eyes scanned the street frantically. She had to find a way to alert someone to her predicament. Panic closed around her throat, nearly choking her.

  Her eyes suddenly skimmed over a small, pale figure that was seated on the cemetery wall. Callie almost gasped out loud. Sophie! The child glanced from her to Sue, fear etched on her delicate features.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get help. I won’t let you down.”

  The words whispered through her mind. Callie wanted to believe that the child could save her, but nobody else had ever witnessed Sophie’s visits. That time in the service station, the only person the security guard had seen had been Callie. Was it even possible that someone else could see the dead girl or hear her? If not, Callie was in deep trouble.

  The church bells pealed out to signal the end of the funeral as the car pulled onto the road and moved rapidly through town. Callie spent every second trying to catch someone’s attention. Nobody paid her the slightest heed. She felt as though she was stuck in a film. She could almost imagine an audience screaming at the people outside to notice the victim trapped so near to them and yet so far from freedom.

  Normalcy carried on all around her, while her whole world had just been sucked into a nightmare. She didn’t want to end up on tomorrow’s news headlines, just another unsolved disappearance or worse.

  Before long, Sue flicked on her indicators and pulled onto the main road.

  “Where are you taking me?” Panic overwhelmed her. Callie yanked on the hand cuffs, but they held firm. She only succeeded in hurting her wrist.

  “You’ll see soon enough.” Sue flicked a glance at her.

  Callie fought to control her rising fear. Her body shook and she prayed with all her heart that somehow Sophie would be able to contact help. It seemed her only hope right now. Sue l
eaned forward and put the radio on. Music streamed out into the car. Callie stared incredulously as Sue tapped the steering wheel in time to the beat.

  “Don’t you just love this song?” Sue said conversationally. She glanced at Callie’s expression and laughed. “I’m not crazy, no matter what you think. I’m not a bad person either.” Her voice dropped, so that Callie had to strain to hear her over the pop song. “I’ve just been pushed too far.”

  “What do you mean? Pushed too far with what?” Callie desperately needed to know. If she could understand Sue’s motivation, maybe she could talk some sense into her.

  “Ah, we’re here.” Sue flipped on her indicator and turned off the road.

  Callie stared at the tree lined, dirt track. Her teeth rattled in her head as the car rolled over every bump and dip along the way. Loud rattling emitted from the suspension. Callie half hoped the car would simply die, but then again it probably wouldn’t help. Even if she could free her hand, they were a long way from the main road and she had no idea where the nearest residence was located.

  “Where is this?” Callie demanded. She gazed around, but there was no sign to indicate their whereabouts.

  Sue didn’t respond. She pulled into a small grassy layby and switched off the engine. The music instantly died, leaving a strange silence in its wake. Sue unclipped her seatbelt and stuck her hand in her pocket. She tossed Callie a small key.

  “Unlock the handcuffs and get out of the car. Oh, and don’t try anything stupid. I will shoot you if I have to.” She bent down and retrieved the gun. “Now move. No delays. I have everything ready for you.”

  Callie’s fingers shook so hard that she nearly dropped the key. After three attempts, she finally fitted the small metal key into the lock and twisted. The handcuff popped open. She rubbed her wrist and slowly exited the car. Sue slipped out the driver’s side, her gun constantly holding Callie in its sights.

  “We have a little walk to do.” Sue flicked the gun and indicated for Callie to move ahead of her.

  Callie strode forward on stiff legs. She gazed around her as they moved through thick woodland area. Something tickled in the back of her mind. She’d never been here and yet she felt as if she should know this place. A sense of doom closed in over her head and her breath hitched in her chest.

  Sue called out instructions as they walked along. Callie wondered how the woman knew where they were heading. They followed no path that she could see. Suddenly the trees opened up and Callie gasped at the small lake before them. Her heart turned to ice in her chest. She clutched a hand to her throat. Of course, how could she have been so stupid?

  “Oh no! Please tell me this isn’t…..” She broke off, unable to continue.

  “It is indeed. This is where little Sophie died,” the cold voice behind her announced, “or more accurately, where I killed her.”

  “No!” Callie whirled around to face Sue. “That’s not possible. Why would you do something like that? I don’t understand!”

  The woman stood by the bank, her gaze unfocused. Callie could almost see the memories dancing behind Sue’s eyes. She wasn’t even sure that Sue had heard her words. The woman was completely out of her mind.

  Sue turned to look at her. “I suppose I ought to tell you. I guess I owe you that much. It would be kind of nice to get it all off my chest for once. I’ve had to suffer in silence for so many years.” She nodded with her chin towards a fallen tree stump a short distance away. “Take a seat. I think you’ll need it. The truth isn’t easy to hear.”

  Callie moved towards the tree stump on stiff legs. She collapsed onto the wooden seat. Sue stood a few feet away, the gun still trained on Callie.

  “I don’t understand why you are doing this.” Callie swallowed hard. She kept her gaze on Sue. Maybe if the woman dropped her guard, she could rush her and grab the gun. It didn’t seem likely, but she was starting to get desperate.

  “Why? Because I couldn’t allow my husband’s bastard children to live, that’s why!” Sue thumped her chest with her hand, her voice bitter.

  Callie jerked. “What? Are you telling me that you’re married to my father?”

  “Yep, and he was Sophie’s father also.”

  Callie stared at the woman, stunned. “But I was told Sophie was Sandra’s younger sister.”

  “Not true. Sandra gave birth to Sophie when she was fourteen years old. Rebecca just pretended she was pregnant to be able to claim the child and keep the secret. Of course, she had no idea who the father was at that time.”

  Callie shook her head, tears blurred her vision. Sophie wasn’t her aunt. She was her sister! How could Sandra keep something like this from her? She had the right to know. No wonder she’d felt so connected to Sophie. It explained so much.

  Trish’s words flowed through her mind. Sandra had been more like a mother to Sophie than Rebecca. That made sense now. Sandra had obviously wanted to mother her child, but Rebecca hadn’t wanted anyone outside the family to know who Sophie’s real mother was.

  “I can’t believe this.” She glared at Sue. “I know it’s an awful thing for your husband to do, but Sophie didn’t deserve to die for his adultery. How could you snuff out such a beautiful little girl’s life? She’d done nothing wrong.”

  Sue laughed, the sound brittle and bitter. “You don’t understand. Neither of you can live. It’s not natural that you exist. You should never have been conceived, let alone born. I can’t bear it. There is no reason why I should!”

  Callie stared hard at her. Sue’s rough voice had started to change. A more refined infliction crept into her accent. It sounded familiar, but Callie couldn’t place why.

  “You are not making any sense.” Callie curled her fingers into the fabric of her skirt.

  Sue glanced down at herself and returned her gaze to Callie. “Do you know that I used to be in the theatre? I was a fine actress, I can tell you.”

  Callie shook her head, wondering where in the world Sue’s mind had gone now.

  “I still have it, you know. I stand here before you and you have no idea who I really am.” She laughed. “Maybe this will help.”

  Sue grabbed her hat and yanked on it. Callie stared in fascinated horror as the hat and Sue’s hair came off in one sweep. Sue’s fingers dug into her face and pulled away the layers of fat. Little by little, her appearance changed until the woman standing before Callie became obvious.

  “There has to be some mistake!” Callie cried out, recoiling against the tree stump. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”

  “No, dear. It’s no joke.” Trish replied, her face deadly serious.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Jason stared at the blackened, burnt out area where half his garage had once been. He mentally calculated the cost as he scanned the damage. It would take a lot of work to put the place back on its feet, not to mention the money. He only hoped the insurance company would pay out. His father had promised to help him if they refused, but Jason would rather it didn’t come to that.

  Even though he’d been in a relationship with Lucinda, he’d never given her keys to his garage. He had to wonder how she’d obtained them. If the insurance company deemed this a scam or that he’d been negligent, they wouldn’t pay him a penny.

  Jason sighed and ran a hand through his newly shorn hair. It felt strange. He just couldn’t get used to it. The barber had cut away all the singed areas for him, which left his head feeling rather bare. Thankfully, his eyebrows were already showing signs of growing back in. He’d been slightly worried that they may have been gone for good. He’d been teased mercilessly by the lads that worked for him and couldn’t bear the thought of years of bad eyebrow jokes.

  The sound of the church bell pealed through the air. Jason’s stomach plummeted into his boots. The funeral was over. He closed his eyes, guilt weighing heavy on his chest. He knew Callie had attended this morning, but he hadn’t wanted to go. His mind continuously played the image of Lucinda’s death over and over again as it was. The sight of
the coffin holding what remained of her body was too much for him to handle. He already couldn’t sleep from the nightmares.

  “Danger, danger. You must help her.”

  The soft whisper tickled at the corners of his mind. Jason scratched his head and turned around. He scanned the surrounding area, but could see no one.

  “Is there somebody there? Who’s in danger?” He spun on his heel once more, his head moving in all directions. Only the wind rustling through the trees and the sounds from the nearby town disturbed the air.

  Shrugging, Jason glanced around one more time, but there was still no sign of anyone around. Chalking the strange incident down to lack of sleep, he decided he may as well head off since there was nothing more he could do here. He glanced over at his van parked a short distance away. Thank heavens he’d left it at his flat the night Lucinda had planted the bomb, instead of the garage as he normally did. At least he could still cover break downs. It would keep him in business for a while, until things could be sorted out.

  “You have to save her. The bad lady came back. She’ll hurt her. Please hurry!”

  Jason jerked at the childish voice that seemed to carry on the wind. He whirled around once more. His jaw hit the ground and shock held him immobile. Right before his astonished eyes, a small figure began to form. At first all he could see was a shimmer. It reminded him of the heat haze that rose up from the ground on hot days in summer. Since the air was bitterly cold, he knew what he was seeing couldn’t possibly be that.

  A glow spread out from the centre of the hazy blur, getting steadily brighter as he stared. Finally, a small figure formed and he realised he was seeing a child. The girl’s face was screwed up, as if she was concentrating hard. Her tiny hands were curled into fists at her side. She wore a summery dress, full of tiny flowers.

  Jason licked his suddenly dry lips. “Sophie?” he breathed out. He couldn’t believe what he was apparently seeing.