by Kat Green
When light finally broke through next morning, Edith was up and dressed in record time. Her mother nearly dropped her cup of tea when she was at the breakfast table a good twenty minutes earlier than she’d ever been.
‘Did you wet the bed?’ she joked.
‘No, I’m just sorry about being late last night. I want to make sure I’m on time for school.’
Her mother raised an eyebrow but accepted her explanation. ‘I’m glad you listened to us for a change. You are still grounded, young lady.’ Her voice was firm.
‘I know, Mother.’ Edith said trying not to sound frustrated. Her father had already left for work so at least she didn’t have to face him. He had been furious with her.
As Edith left the house that morning Peter was sitting on a wall opposite her house, which was odd. He looked pale.
‘Have they been to your house yet?’ he asked and glanced around.
‘Who?’
Peter looked frightened. ‘The police.’
‘No. Why?’
‘Jimmy lied. Nancy didn’t come home, and she’s been reported missing.’
Edith stopped, stunned. For a moment she couldn’t breathe. ‘What?’ Tears pricked at her eyes. ‘No, he promised.’
Then the terror hit. Had Nancy been left all night? She would have frozen to death. No, he wasn’t that evil, surely. Not her Jimmy. It must be a mistake. Maybe he did, and she’d got lost on the way home. They walked silently to school. At the gates Jimmy was waiting, looking as cool as a cucumber.
‘What happened?’ Peter snapped, pushing Jimmy in the chest. Suddenly he was furious with his best friend.
Jimmy looked innocently at him. ‘What?’
‘Nancy, that’s what. Police are asking questions. She didn’t go home last night.’
Jimmy looked shocked as he stared at his best friend. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I think it’s pretty clear you didn’t go back.’
Jimmy looked harshly at his friend. ‘That’s how low you think of me? Of course I did. I went back about an hour later. I let her go, gave her coat back. She wasn’t happy, and she was still upset. I know I went too far. I said I was sorry, and I would make it up to her.’
Peter was silent, and Edith thanked the lord he’d kept his promise.
‘Why hasn’t she been home? The police are looking for her.’
Jimmy genuinely looked scared and scratched his head. ‘I swear I let her go. She said she’d go straight home and promised never to tell.’
Then Brenda arrived, looking like she’d been crying. ‘The police have been asking questions about Nancy, knocking on all the doors in my street. What are we going to do?’
Jimmy took charge. ‘I let her go. She was fine when I last saw her, she was walking home. What happened later isn’t our fault. OK?’
They all nodded. In a way he was right, but Edith knew it was their fault. No matter how they tried to convince themselves, it was all their fault.
‘What about her parents? Surely she told them she was meeting us.’ Brenda began to worry as the realization of what they had done and the trouble they would be in began to sink in.
‘No, I made her keep our meeting a secret. I’ve no idea what she told her parents, but nobody knows it was us. If she had, the police would be all over us by now.’
It was true. Peter and Brenda had only had knocks at the door because they lived in the next street. Just in that row of houses had the police begun knocking on to gain any information.
The search grew wider over the days, and into weeks. It wasn’t until the third week when her body was found that they all realized Jimmy had lied. He’d never gone back. He’d got caught up in a row with his parents, who had watched him so closely, so he couldn’t leave. Instead of telling them the truth he’d lied. Nancy had been left abandoned in the cold, alone to die. They could have saved her. She was dead because of them.
13
Edith looked up at her granddaughter, a lifetime of pain in her eyes. ‘I really thought he’d told us the truth. If I had known I would have gone to her. I swear I would not have left her like that I have never forgiven myself for it, never. When she was found in the exact same spot we’d left her, we confronted Jimmy and that’s when he admitted what had really happened. I hated him, but no matter what happened we could never tell a soul. Jimmy would have dragged us all down with him. I was fourteen, a terrified kid.’
The room was silent. Amy couldn’t speak, there were no words to make this better. Nancy Jenkins was dead because of her gran and her friends. And now Nancy was seeking her revenge. Who could blame her? The terrifying truth was that Amy was connected to her death and she was scared that made her more of a target.
‘This is completely screwed up,’ Lee said, finally breaking the silence. Nobody responded at first, they all just stood staring at each other. Ella got up slowly, her face screwed up in anger. ‘My boyfriend might be dead because of your actions. You killed a girl.’
Edith shook her head frantically as if that would remove the truth. ‘No, we didn’t. I didn’t know.’
Ella stormed forward and swiped her hand across Edith’s face. ‘As good as..’ She was seething, and went to hit her again, but Amy stopped her.
‘Don’t, as much as I hate this too, she is still my gran and I believe she never wanted this.’
Ella was dumbfounded and her hatred turned on Amy. ‘Are you fucking serious? You’re defending her? Them?’
‘No. I am not. There’s nothing to defend. But attacking my gran doesn’t change anything. We need to find a way to stop this.’
The air suddenly turned cold, the warmth seemed to retreat to be replaced by freezing cold air. They shivered as the cracking sound began and they heard the sound of scratching from the hall. The jerky movements of a person stumbling. Then the voice, the cries of pain, fear and rage.
‘Come back. Let me go. You left me to die. I will make you all suffer.’
The cracking sound was terrifying, then a hand appeared, gripping the doorway, the body slowly twisting its way around, frozen.
Crack, crack, crack.
Edith got up slowly from the sofa, only sadness showing in her face. ‘Nancy, I know what we did. I should have gone back, shouldn’t have trusted Jimmy.’
Peter couldn’t meet her eyes, too disgusted at himself to face her. Nancy staggered forward, and slowly turned towards Edith. Amy watched not knowing what would happen but knew that whatever did happen she couldn’t stop it. This was unfinished business and she had no right to intervene. Surprisingly Nancy didn’t attack, but leaned in and whispered in Edith’s ear. Shock showed on Edith’s face then faded, replaced by a calmness. Nancy backed away.
‘Do that for me and I’ll keep my word.’ Her words floated through the air then she was gone.
‘I know how to stop this,’ Edith said. ‘We need to go, Peter. Now.’
They left the house despite protests from Amy. All they said was stay in the house and they would call when it was safe.
14
The hall was dim as they were led to the room at the end of the corridor. The smell of dinner from earlier still lingered, cottage pie Edith thought.
The care assistant smiled as she opened the door. ‘He’ll be pleased to see you. He was only saying a few days ago it had been a while.’
Edith thanked her and they went into the room. A TV was on in the corner, that night’s episode of EastEnders played out. The frail old man lay tucked up in several blankets, his face turned away. His wrinkled face creased even more as he saw his old friends enter the room.
‘Hello, Jimmy,’ Peter said, with barely a hint of warmth. It hadn’t been long ago that they’d started visiting him. Jimmy had reached out, his son tracking them down via Facebook. Edith had always been pretty savvy at technology and old age hadn’t put her off. It had been hard to accept the invitation, but they felt it needed to be done.
Jimmy had changed over the years, now kinder and more peaceful. Meeting his wife
when he was twenty-five had given him something to love. But his past had chipped away at him the same as the others. His guilt was worst of all. At the time he’d convinced himself it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t go back to let her go. The truth was that if he’d been a better person back then, maybe none of it would have happened. He’d blamed his father. If he hadn’t been such a drunk, and if his mother had stood up to him and kicked him out sooner, then they could have lived without the constant fear of his anger and maybe he would have been a happier kid, not needing to prove himself outside his home. At home his dad ruled. Nobody disobeyed him. Jimmy was weak, making him need to control others. His dad might be to blame but as Jimmy grew older he knew that the choice he made that night was his own. He chose to be cruel and he hated himself for becoming the one person he hated the most, his dad.
‘Hello, old friends,’ Jimmy greeted them. Holding his hand out and finding Edith’s, their fingers locked. His hold was tight as he held the hand of the woman he should have married. The one girl he loved even back then, even as he built a good life with Josie who he cared for deeply. But every so often his mind would wonder what could have been. Josie had taught him love, and when they married and had a family she gave him the loving home life he’d craved as a child. He had been a doting father, but the secret had never faded, and he’d always felt the regret. Now he was old and frail, his wife was dead, and his children had grown and had families of their own. They visited him, but he wished it was more often. They had busy lives, he understood, and a part of him knew he didn’t truly deserve any more.
‘Jimmy, Nancy is back,’ Edith said.
Jimmy nodded. ‘Your face told me something was wrong. I haven’t seen that look for a very long time, Miss Grants. And she wants something.’ He smiled. Grants was Edith’s maiden name and even now when he said it, she’d get those butterflies again.
Peter cleared his throat. ‘I think she’s well within her rights to ask us.’
Jimmy patted his hand. ‘I know, mate. I know.’
Edith explained what they needed to do and they all agreed there was no other way. ‘If we don’t do this our families are in danger. She is still suffering. Let’s help her rest so they can live without fear. We need to find Brenda.’
Jimmy couldn’t leave his bed for longer than an hour or two, his arthritis was too severe, but he could keep his part of the pact. He could write his confession from his bed. All he asked was that he told his children in person before the letter was given to police. Peter agreed that was a good thing for them all to do. Give their loved ones warning before destroying everything they knew. They had to find Brenda, or it wouldn’t work.
******
The morning had been the usual school morning. Brenda tutted as the boy signed in, late yet again. It was always the same faces turning up after the start of school with excuses at the ready, the ones who cared enough to invent one. She filed away some paperwork and sat back down at reception. Her back ached and her feet hurt, but she still loved the job. She was past retirement age, but she couldn’t stop working. Brenda helped out during busy times or sickness. She didn’t want to sit at home while she still had all her faculties. Footsteps approached but she didn’t look up, expecting another late arrival. When she finally did look up her heart skipped a beat.
‘Edith, Pete. What are you doing here?’ Brenda stared at them. It had been many years, but these were faces she’d never mistake.
‘We need to talk, now.’
‘I’m working. I can’t,’ Brenda snapped, bile rising in her throat. She knew why they were there, and she wasn’t ready to deal with it.
‘You don’t have a choice. Do you have a family?’ Edith asked her.
‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
Peter slammed his hand on the desk, annoyed and desperate. Brenda had always been stubborn and self-absorbed. ‘If you want them to be safe I suggest you listen.’
Brenda glanced around her nervously. ‘Not here,’ she hissed. ‘Meet me at home at four.’
She scribbled an address on a scrap of paper and pressed it into Peter’s hand. ‘Please.’
They agreed and left without a fuss knowing it was the best they could hope for. They hoped Brenda would listen, but Edith didn’t hold out much hope. Even as kids she’d always looked out for herself. Edith used to think it was admirable but in this case it wouldn’t help any of them if she was still the same.
It was a few minutes past four when they pulled up outside the house. A black and white cat groomed itself on the doorstep. It stopped to watch them as they approached then went back to its grooming deciding they were not worth bothering with. Edith pressed the doorbell and the cat jumped up, back arched, hissing like a snake. It was staring right past them, then backed away, fur standing up on end as it continued to hiss. It bolted from the garden still hissing as it looked back. This was not a happy cat.
‘What the hell is wrong with him?’ Peter asked sounding concerned, a chill running up his spine.
Edith shrugged. ‘Cats are funny creatures.’ She wasn’t convinced but they had other things to worry about.
Brenda slowly opened the door. There were tears in her eyes, and she looked scared to see her visitors. ‘I hoped to never see you again.’ It was honest at least. Her tone wasn’t unfriendly, just truthful.
‘Yeah, well believe me if it wasn’t important we wouldn’t be here,’ Peter said.
Brenda let them inside. Peter looked at Brenda and Edith saw the look between them. Brenda looked mad with him, that look you give someone you don’t like. He glared at her. She backed away and smiled a half smile at Edith. There were stairs on the right and a small table with a glass vase full of tulips, and a photo of a small boy. Nothing else decorated the hall. There was something bleak about the house, no warmth and sadness seemed to ooze from the walls.
Brenda led them to a small living room. Not much furniture, just a two-seater sofa and a small flat-screen TV on an old wooden table. No cable Edith noticed. There were some books on a shelf and a few family photos hung on the wall. A small gas fire warmed the room a little but not much.
‘Tea,’ Brenda offered, rubbing her hands together nervously. Brenda had always done that when she was feeling stressed as a kid, and she’d obviously taken it into adulthood. They nodded and were left for a while as Brenda went to the kitchen, trying to avoid the conversation.
Ten minutes later she came back with a tray with their drinks and some lemon cake.
‘Must have cake with tea,’ Brenda said, her voice rising. She was scared, and they knew it.
Peter took charge, wanting to get on with it. ‘We need to talk about Nancy.’
Brenda froze, and wouldn’t make eye contact with them. ‘No,’ she snapped.
Peter took a deep breath trying to keep calm. ‘You don’t have a choice.’
Brenda wasn’t listening. She was pouring tea and asking them about milk and sugar. Offering them cake, even though they’d already said no. ‘Go on, have a piece.’
Edith couldn’t keep her calm like Peter. ‘Brenda, we don’t want your bloody cake.’ She slammed her hand down on the coffee table. ‘Nancy is back, she’s not resting like we hoped.’
Brenda slowly turned to face them, tears in her eyes. ‘I know, but what can we do now to make it better?’
Edith took the lead, and as the words left her mouth it was clear Brenda wasn’t on board.
‘No, I can’t.’
‘We have to, because if we don’t, our mistakes become our families.’ Edith picked up a piece of cake and squeezed it into her hand.
‘No amount of cake or sodding tea will help them.’ Edith snapped still squeezing the cake.
Brenda watched the cake fall to the floor, her mind in turmoil. ‘How do I tell my son what I did? He’ll think I’m a monster.’
‘What’s worse? Telling him the truth and accepting our punishment or Nancy seeking him out and killing him?’
The colour drained from Brenda
’s face. ‘What?’
‘Nancy wants justice. She wants people to know what really happened. For us to pay. If we don’t she will go after those we love. Don’t take this lightly, Brenda. I’ve seen her, she’s really back. All those rumors and strange deaths were all Nancy. We didn’t just kill Nancy. We’ve killed others too because we didn’t tell the truth. Now it’s time we did and end this for good.’
Brenda snorted and got up from her seat, rubbing her hands together. Then she started laughing. ‘This is ridiculous. How can Nancy do any of this? She’s dead and has been for a long time. Get out now.’
Her anger erupted, fueled by fear. ‘Get out, get out, GET OUT!’
Peter and Edith were stunned by the reaction and backed away and out of the house.
‘Stay away from me. I only have my son, nothing else. I’m not losing him, I can’t tell him what I did... You can’t scare me into helping clear your conscience. You are disgusting threatening my son!’
The door slammed shut, Edith hammered on the door, fuming at her ex school friend.
‘You were part of this, you have to listen to us. You will lose your son. She’s coming, Brenda. Nancy is coming, and this time she will win.’
Peter dragged her away and bundled her into the car. ‘We need to go. The neighbors will be calling the police if we’re not careful. We need to do what we need to do, with or without her.’
15
Jimmy searched his sons’ faces hoping to find some understanding. They both stared back at him and the shock and hurt in their faces cut him like a knife.
‘Dad, please tell me you are fucking with us.’ his older son, Adam, begged. He’d always idolized his dad, looked up to him, and that had all just been ripped away. ‘You killed that girl, the one in the woods, the unsolved crime of this area. You?’
