by Rachel Ward
She could get away now. This was her chance. But she was torn. He looked like he was in real trouble, having a heart attack right there in front of her eyes. Was it for real? He’d spent months lying, calculating, manipulating. Was this one more play in his twisted game?
She could still feel his hands round her neck. It was too risky to go back. Let the bastard die here if this was for real.
She started going down the stairs.
‘Bea! Please!’
He was desperate. She could hear it.
Swearing under her breath, she turned around, went back up the stairs and jogged along the corridor towards him. He was propped up against the wall now, but as she approached he toppled sideways onto the floor and lay there panting
She kept her distance for a moment or two longer, beyond arm’s reach, observing.
‘I can’t . . . catch my breath . . . ’
His face was very grey and his breathing shallow. He wasn’t faking.
‘Oh, Gavin.’ She knelt down next to him. ‘I need to call an ambulance. Wait here.’
She darted back into her office and called 999. Then, she fetched the cardigan from the back of her chair, rolled it up and put it under his head.
‘They’re on their way,’ she said. ‘Hold on.’
It was cold in the corridor, so she took off her coat and laid it over him, tucking it round his arms. He was so helpless now.
‘Thank you,’ he whispered. He was straining for air, trying to say something else. ‘I didn’t mean to . . . I didn’t mean any of this.’
She felt a surge of anger.
‘Stop it, Gavin. Save your breath.’
There was a noise downstairs. Someone was rattling the door, then banging on it. They started shouting, and Bea thought she recognised Ant’s voice.
‘I’d better go.’
Gavin looked stricken. ‘Don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave me.’
‘He’ll let himself in anyway.’
‘I changed the code.’
‘Fucking hell, Gavin. I’ll just let him—’
‘Please. Please. Don’t leave me.’
‘I’ll have to let the ambulance in when it gets here . . . ’
‘Stay until then?’
‘Okay. I’ll stay.’
At the staff door, Ant was going mad.
‘I can’t hear anything,’ said Neville. ‘Is she in there, do you think?’
‘The lights are on. Someone’s in there.’
Ant saw something on the ground in the pool of light cast through the glass panel in the door. He thought it was a spider at first, was going to squash it with his foot. Then he peered more closely, swooped down and picked it up.
‘It’s one of her lashes. She’s in there. Why won’t this fucking door open? We’ll have to smash it in.’
He looked around wildly for something to use.
‘Have you got a car here?’ Saggy asked Neville.
‘Yes, good thinking,’ said Neville. ‘There’s a jack in there we could use.’
Neville hurried over to the middle of the car park, where he’d left his beige Vauxhall. Saggy followed him, while Ant stayed by the door, hammering on it and shouting.
‘Give me the keys,’ Saggy said.
‘What? No. I’ll get it out.’
‘Give me the keys! Just do it!’
Confused, Neville handed the keys to Saggy, who opened the driver’s door and hopped in.
‘What are you—? Wait!’
Saggy started the engine and Neville ran round the front of the car and climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door as Saggy gunned the engine. Ant watched in disbelief as the car disappeared round the side of the store, then it dawned on him what Saggy was about to do and he sprinted after them, shouting and waving his arms.
Saggy drove into the front car park. It was empty. He swung the car round in a big arc.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Neville.
‘We’ve got to get in there, right?’
‘Yes, but— oh no! No!’
Neville held his arms over his face as Saggy put his foot to the floor and drove straight at the front doors. Ant rounded the corner just in time to see the bonnet smash through the plate glass and hear Neville’s anguished high-pitched screams. He was still screaming as Ant crunched his way over the broken glass into the store. From the row he was making he assumed that Neville was actually okay, and Saggy gave him a thumbs up and a massive grin as he ran past the car.
He ran through the darkened shop floor with the burglar alarm ringing in his ears and found the door to the staff area. It was locked, but he picked up a nearby fire extinguisher and bashed the door until it started to give way, then kicked a big enough hole to climb through. He raced up the stairs and there he found Bea and Gavin, still sitting in the hallway.
‘Bea! Are you all right? Christ, is that Gavin? What have you done to him?’
‘I think he’s had a heart attack. Is the ambulance here yet?’
‘No.’
‘What was that noise just now?’
‘Nev’s taken up ram-raiding.’
‘What the actual? Oh, never mind. Have you got anything to cover his legs with? It’s cold, and my coat doesn’t reach.’
‘No. I gave my hoodie to your mum.
‘What? What are you talking about?’
‘There was a bit of trouble at yours.’ Bea started getting to her feet. ‘It’s okay. It’s all sorted. Queenie’s fine.’
‘Really?’
‘Really. We’ll go there when the ambulance has been.’
‘We need the police too.’
‘What, to look into the big hole in the front door? Saggy did it with Neville in the car. I reckon that’s consent, isn’t it? He didn’t nick anything. And it’s not criminal damage because we were coming to get you. Not self-defence exactly . . . ’
‘The police will need to interview Gavin, if he . . . ’ Gavin was quiet, but not unconscious. ‘If he lives,’ she mouthed. ‘He did it, Ant. He killed Ginny. It was Gavin.’
Ant put his hands either side of his head and squeezed. ‘Did he say? Has he confessed?’
Bea nodded. ‘I found the coat he was wearing. He attacked me, and then . . . ’
Ant got hold of Bea’s shoulder and tried to drag her away. ‘Christ, Bea, why are you even helping him?’
‘Because . . . I . . . I don’t know.’
They could both hear the wail of sirens. Gavin’s chest was rising and falling in rapid, shallow movements, but Bea started breathing more easily. Help was on its way.
22
Costsave was closed while the entrance was repaired and the police went through Gavin’s office for forensic evidence.
Bea had anticipated a deep sleep and a long lie-in at last but she had a fitful night. She saw Ginny in her dreams, felt Gavin’s hands around her neck. She woke up gasping for air, too scared to go back to sleep. She got up just after five and made a pot of tea. She was on her third cup when Queenie came downstairs and found her with her laptop open and paper all over the table.
‘What’s this?’ she said. ‘I thought you’d sleep in.’
‘Me too, but I couldn’t. I’m trying to work out why I missed it. Why I didn’t see it was him.’
Queenie stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders. ‘Nobody knew it was him. Why would they? He is – was – seemed a nice man. The police didn’t see it, did they? And they were in and out of there ever since Emma was attacked. He fooled everyone.’
Bea started picking at the pattern on her mug with her fingernail. ‘But it was so obvious when you think about it.’
‘Not obvious at all.’
‘And I should’ve protected you against Dean, too. Can’t believe he came round here.’
‘You didn’t need to protect me,’ said Queenie. ‘I dealt with him myself.’
‘But he was only here, you only let him in because of me. ’
‘No, he was here because he’s a troublemaker. And i
t was fine anyway. He wasn’t going to hurt me, only frighten me. Got more than he bargained for.’
That forced a smile out of Bea. She leaned back and looked up at Queenie. ‘You were a hero, Mum. You really were.’
‘So were you, love, although I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you for going back to Costsave on your own. What were you thinking?’
‘I don’t think I was thinking, Mum. Not straight, anyway. I was so tired. Still am.’
Queenie cupped Bea’s chin and kissed the top of her head. Then she went to fill up the kettle again for a fresh pot of tea.
‘Ant said he found you outside?’ said Bea.
‘I thought it would be safer out there than in here. And it was. I was fine in the garden, waiting for the police. Lovely fresh air and you should’ve seen the stars, Bea.’
Bea smiled and felt tears welling up. ‘You’re amazing,’ she said. ‘Amazing. Perhaps – no, it doesn’t matter.’
‘What?’
‘Perhaps you could try it again sometime. Going outside.’
‘Hmm.’
Bea couldn’t tell if it was a ‘yes’ noise or a ‘no’ noise or something in between. Now wasn’t the time to push things.
They pottered around for a while, then went back to bed. Neither got up and dressed until after eleven.
At about quarter past, Bea heard the doorbell ring. She cursed under her breath – she really didn’t want to see anyone today. She put the chain on and opened the door a few inches.
Ant was standing there. He had an armful of flowers – ten or twenty bunches, each in cellophane.
‘Hang on a minute.’ Bea closed the door, unhitched the chain and opened it again.
‘Who is it?’ called Queenie. She came into the hallway and stood beside Bea. Ant grinned at them both.
‘For you, and you,’ he said, dividing the flowers roughly in two and handing one half to Queenie and the other one to Bea.
‘Oh my!’ said Queenie. ‘Flowers! Again!’
Bea examined the label on one of the plastic wrappers. ‘These are Costsave flowers,’ she said suspiciously.
‘I just went by there on my way. They’re clearing up the front. The car smashed into the fresh flowers just inside the door but the buckets at the back were okay. They’ll be past it by the time the shop opens again.’
‘So you took them, Ant,’ she said, reproof in her voice.
‘Nah,’ he said quickly. ‘The Ram gave them to me to give to you. I blagged some extra bunches for your mum.’
‘The Ram?’
‘Neville’s new name. Mr Ram-Raid.’
Bea smiled. ‘Not sure if it’ll stick, Ant, but it’s worth a try. How was he?’
‘Actually, he looked well bad. Looked like he was wearing yesterday’s clothes and he was pretty pasty. I reckon he’s still in shock.’
‘Was there anyone helping him?’
‘I saw Anna. She came back from HQ as soon as she heard the news. And there were a couple of other people.’
‘Do you think we should go and help?’
Ant looked at Queenie and then rolled his eyes. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Really not. It’s a paid day off. A day off. With pay. Why would we go into work?’
‘’Cos they need us?’
He sighed. ‘There’s something wrong with you, I swear. Your head’s not wired like the rest of the human race. You were nearly toast yesterday. And your mum went through the mill, too. Just have a rest. Chill.’
‘Point taken,’ said Bea. ‘Not even sure I could go back. Not for a while.’ She shuddered. ‘I never thought it might be – well, he was on my list, but really, not Gavin. I just . . . ’
‘Shh,’ said Queenie. ‘Don’t think about it.’
‘Don’t know if I’ve still got a job to go to,’ said Ant. ‘I was Gavin’s pet project after all. Most of the rest of them hate my guts.’
‘Not after this, Ant. I’m sure you’ve got a future there if you want it. Do you?’
He was quiet for a while, thinking hard, while digging in his ear with his little finger. Bea tried not to notice him wiping it on his jeans.
‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Yeah, I do. Going straight is more interesting than I thought it would be. I reckon I could hack it.’
Bea smiled. ‘I didn’t think you’d last the first day.’
Ant huffed a bit. ‘Shows what you know. So, ladies,’ he said, ‘cup of tea, feet up in front of the telly today? What are we watching?’
‘Actually,’ said Queenie, ‘I was thinking of going for a walk.’
They both looked at her. ‘Really?’ they said together.
‘Yes. Really. I could go to the corner shop, get that puzzle magazine you usually get me. I reckon I should do it now before I change my mind.’
‘Well, okay,’ said Bea, trying to stop herself punching the air in front of her mum.
Ant waited in the hallway while Bea put the flowers in a sink of water. She fetched her bag and coat while Queenie went to the bathroom.
‘You could’ve taken some of those flowers to Dot, except she’s out of hospital now. She texted me. Bob’s giving her a lift to her daughter’s today.’
‘Saint Bob,’ Ant said, with a touch of bitterness.
‘No need to be sarky. Turns out he is a Good Samaritan, nothing else.’
‘Well, he’s nice to most people, but I still reckon he’d put me through his mincer if he got the chance.’
‘Better stay clear then. For a while, at least.’
Queenie came downstairs. Bea was keeping an eye on her as she got ready. She seemed quite calm as she fetched her coat from the peg and picked up her bag. She stopped in the hall to check her appearance in the full-length mirror and groaned.
‘Oh gawd,’ she said, and Bea’s stomach flipped. Was she going to have a meltdown? But Queenie was starting to laugh. ‘What do I look like? I’ve done my buttons up all wrong.’
She started trying to undo the buttons, but her hands were shaking.
‘Here, let me.’ Bea undid her mum’s coat, then lined the buttons and holes up and fastened them properly. ‘There.’ For a moment, she got a flashback to her first day at school, T-bar shoes like shiny conkers on her feet and her mum doing up the toggles on a brand new duffle coat. Mum and daughter. Parent and child. The edges had become blurred, but maybe they were coming back into focus again.
‘Okay?’ she said to Queenie.
Queenie took a deep breath.
‘I can’t, love,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry. I thought I could but I can’t.’
Bea felt her shoulders sag. She tried to hide her disappointment.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘It’s okay. Not today, maybe tomorrow.’
Ant was watching from the front door. ‘Here, I’ve got an idea. I saw it on the telly.’ He bounded up to them. ‘Give us a bit of space,’ he said to Bea, who took a couple of steps back. ‘Okay, Queenie, press two fingers into the soft bit of your wrist, like this, close your eyes and think of a time when you were really, really happy.’
Queenie looked at him like he’d lost his marbles.
‘Honest, Queenie, it’s a thing. Trust me.’
She looked at Bea, who raised her eyebrows and hunched her shoulders. ‘Don’t ask me,’ she said. Then she looked at Ant, ‘But I— I trust him. I’d trust Ant with my life.’
Ant looked straight at her. His eyes seemed to be filling up and his mouth was gaping unattractively. ‘Wow. I—’ he spluttered.
‘Shut up, Ant,’ Bea said, before he could get any more words out and the whole thing got too embarrassing.
He turned back to Queenie who had gripped her right wrist with the fingers of her left hand, and shut her eyes.
‘Are you are in a happy place?’ he said.
There was no need to ask. The muscles on Queenie’s face relaxed. The worry line between her eyebrows disappeared and she started to smile.
‘Okay, now open your eyes. Every time you hold your fingers to your wrist now, it’ll bring that happy t
hought back. You can use it when you’re worried, when you don’t think you can do something.’
The frown was back. ‘Just like that?’
‘Yeah. Try it.’
She let go of her wrist and then held it again and started to smile. ‘It’s there,’ she said. ‘That’s bloody wonderful.’
‘It’ll be there outside too,’ Ant said, with a sly look to Bea. ‘Try it.’
‘I don’t know,’ said Queenie. ‘I’ve changed my mind about the shop.’
Her fingers went to the top button of her coat, like she was going to undo it.
‘You don’t have to go to the shop,’ said Ant. ‘Why not just stand in the doorway, admire the view?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘Come here.’ Ant put his arm round Queenie’s shoulders and Bea left them to it.
She’d seen this too many times before. Almost there, but not quite. Just for a moment, she’d thought that Ant might be onto something, but, of course, it was going to end the same as all the other times.
She walked down the hall, opened the door and leant on the frame, breathing in the cold, fresh air. She could hear Ant and her mum whispering behind her, but she tuned out and stared across the rec, letting her eyes focus on a couple of seagulls, flapping and fussing over a chip wrapper near the kiddies’ play park.
A woman, wearing a cream-coloured mac, was inside the fenced off part, pushing a toddler on the swings. Bea could hear the child’s happy squeals drifting across in the cold air, but even at this distance she could tell the woman wasn’t smiling as she pushed the swing in a weary, almost robotic way.
Bea left the doorway and started jogging towards the park. It only took a couple of minutes, but she was out of breath when she reached the swings.
‘Julie,’ she called over the fence.
The woman looked up, puzzled at the sight of Bea in her jogging bottoms and oversize sweatshirt, puffing and panting.
Bea lifted the latch on the gate and went in. ‘It’s me, Bea. I work on the tills at Costsave.’
Recognition dawned. ‘Oh,’ said Julie. ‘Hello. Didn’t recognise you without your uniform. You live round here, do you?’
‘Mm.’ Bea tapped on the screen of her phone. When she found the site she wanted, she held it up.
‘Can you remember this number?’ she said. ‘Or would you like me to put it on your phone?’
