Part 15 (2/2)

The other woman spun and goggled at her in disbelief.

”Christ Sylvie, how the h.e.l.l did you get here? b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l talk about timing.”

With this she grabbed hold of Sylvie by the arm and hustled her into a covered indoor market. Dragging her roughly along she ran down the narrow aisles, twisting this way and that past vegetable stalls and butchery stands. She ran behind a counter piled high with carrots, cabbages and heaps of misshaped potatoes.

”Hiya Stevo, back way open?”

The old man barely glanced up but he grinned and waved a hand towards the rear of the stall. Through the rough wooden door they emerged into a walled yard filled with boxes, bins and cartons. Heaps of stinking and decaying vegetables filled the air with the stench of rot, Sylvie gagged on it as Lennie pulled her towards a narrow gateway, through and out into an alleyway.

For a moment now, in the dimness of this pa.s.sage, Lennie turned and grabbed Sylvie by the arms her fingers digging into flesh still fragile with the abuse of just days ago. She spun her around until they were face to face.

”b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, how come you're here? I thought you were in the hossy with Aunty Marj. What happened?”

”I got into the room, Samuel was there, he was sitting up, well sort of and he looked okay really but then the police came and it all went pear shaped and so I ran.”

”Oh, oh well at least you saw him so that's good yeah?”

”No, no he looked straight through me, he didn't even seem to recognise me at all, it was as if he'd never seen me before. It was horrible. Then I ran and this old woman fell over and there was chaos and I just kept on running. But what are you doing here anyway. I can't believe I met you.”

”Oh s.h.i.+t, I went to the pub. I couldn't rest wondering about you and so I went out. I was 'aving a drink with a mate and then I saw 'em.”

”Who, the police?”

”No, the police aren't after me are they? Mo and Si, in their b.l.o.o.d.y great black car. They were just goin' round the corner I wouldn't 'ave seen 'em except my mate was wavin' to his brother, anyway the point was they saw me and I freaked. I don't know what it was, just the look they gave me and so I came out to get away. I'm a bit scared about goin' back to the flat. I really am panicked, honest. I was goin' to hide at Marjie's”

”Oh no, what are we going to do now?”

”I don't know, I honestly don't. I had this idea. I was going to talk to you about it. I've had enough, I was wonderin'.”

Here the girl paused, fighting to find the right words.

”I'm tired of it to be honest Sylvie, all this. The fear and runnin' and after what they did to you, the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. I'm sick to death of it. I think I want to put a stop to it.

”How, I mean what can you do, how can you stop it? I don't understand.”

”The bizzies, I think we should go to the bizzies.”

As Sylvie began to argue Lennie bent forwards and looked deep into her eyes.

”Think about it love, just really think about it. You shot that bloke because he was goin' to rape you probably and he had shot your fella and you believed he would shoot you. Am I right?”

”Well, yes. Basically yes. But it was all the other stuff, the stuff Samuel was mixed up in and...” now it came the spectre of Phil, the violent scene in the little shack, the blood and horror. Well there's other stuff as well.” She paused When it came right down to it she hadn't actually done anything. Yes, she had been there when Phil was killed there was no denying it, but he had been beating her and Samuel had protected her. As she thought of him then, saving her and taking all the responsibility hot tears flowed from her over-cried eyes.

”Let me think, can you let me think about it all?”

”'Course, look we can get to Aunty Marjie's house down here. Let's go there, have a brew and take some time. We need to let Marj know you're okay anyway and we should be alright there. We need to move though love, if we're gonna do this thing we need to do it now. Mo and Si are evil b.u.g.g.e.rs and if they're up here again so soon you can bet they're up to no good. Come on.”

They scurried together down the alleyway and then, with Lennie in the lead, they made their way to a little terraced house in a narrow street with cars lining both sides and children playing on the pavement.

Chapter 56.

”h.e.l.lo again Samuel. How are you?”

”A bit better, I sat in the chair for a while. My head... well I don't know.”

Samuel's big hands covered his face. They had told him tearfulness was all part of his illness and not to worry but it was still embarra.s.sing for him to cry in front of the detective. Peter Bailey sat quietly with his eyes lowered, giving the other man time to collect himself.

”Well, let's hope we can clear up some of the puzzles for you. We know who you are now. You'd already been told I think. ”

Samuel nodded. ”Yes, bits have come back as well. I still don't know though about Marie and the baby. I've asked the nurses and the doctors about them and all they did was to tell me to wait for you. They said you have all the information. I don't understand it, where is she? Do you know? Have you found her?” Emotion overwhelmed him, his voice cracked and for a moment the power of speech deserted him.

He coughed and tried again, ”I thought I'd seen her, just a few days ago, but they said it wasn't possible and it was all part of the coma.” Now it was too much and he cried, openly and unashamed. ”I'm sorry, I just need her. We should be together; I don't believe we had a break up, nothing like that. I just want her here with me.”

Detective Bailey waited for the storm to pa.s.s, he had spoken to the medical people and understood there was no way to predict what would come back or how long it would take. There was nothing to do but wait and there was no point in trying to predict the outcome for Samuel.

The house in The Lakes was clear in his mind. He had already related many memories from his childhood. He had recalled his mum and dad, could talk about their death and times when he had lived in the house with Marie. They had prepared a nursery. He could describe in fine detail the wallpaper, the cot and baby furniture just as if he'd been there a short while ago. He could remember much of his time in the army and serving oversees. When they asked him about the time after the army there was a gap, he couldn't explain how and why he left and then it was as if a line had been drawn. His life was on one side and then this pain and the hospital and confusion. In between there was a void, empty and puzzling and Marie had fallen into it.

Samuel raised his head and tried a quiver of a smile, ”Sorry, I feel such a wuss.”

The man sitting before him with a large plastic file on his knee simply shook his head. Samuel's eyes were drawn to the file, he knew the answers were in there and he also knew his life, such as it was in this unfinished state, was going to be changed when the plastic covers were opened.

”So, we have the papers from the army, your rank, service record and so on. All okay there, nothing to worry about, impressive really. I'll leave a copy with you so you can have a read.”

Now it was coming, the other man fidgeted on the hard seat, he had made a decision and looked Samuel in the face, a direct gaze. It was kind and it was sympathetic and Samuel readied himself.

”I'm sorry, we have found out about Marie. It's in here.” He lifted the plastic folder. ”It was the reason you left the army. She was killed, I'm really sorry. She was killed in a car accident and afterwards they let you resign on compa.s.sionate grounds.”

He waited then for just a moment before reaching across to touch Samuel on the hand.

”I am really sorry. It's awful for you that you had forgotten; I can't imagine how this must feel. We have a police report about it and the army records. I have read them all and you should ask me anything you want. Or, if you'd rather I can just leave it with you.”

Samuel gulped, shook his head as if he was trying to clear it and then he spoke quietly.

”The baby?”

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