The nurse finished with the sling and tidied up all the materials she had used and left, passing the arriving Kite as he walked into Summers’ room.
‘Are you ready?’ he asked.
Summers was happy to be leaving the hospital, to get outside and breathe some fresh air, stretch her legs and so forth. But what she really looked forward to, was putting this whole episode behind her and moving on, which would begin when she had given Eve the letter from Ben.
She grabbed her bag of medication, which consisted of painkillers and sleeping tablets, and gestured for Kite to pick up the rest of her things. He did so with a smile.
‘Welcome back, boss,’ he said.
51
Kite pulled the car up outside the flats where Eve lived.
‘Are you doing this on your own?’ he asked Summers. ‘We ran a check on her, she seems to a good citizen.’
‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘I’ll be fine.’
‘And boss,’ said Kite, ‘you think you’ll be staying on in the force? Now that you’ve, you know, done what you wanted to do?’
Summers smirked.
‘Are you after my job already, DC Kite?’ replied Summers. ‘To honest, I don’t know what I’ll do. But if I go, I’ll put in a good word for you, I promise. You wait here, I won’t be long.’
She awkwardly lifted herself from the car and closed the door behind her. Kite smiled to himself as he watched his boss hobble to the front door. She was buzzed in and Eve was stood at the door to her flat to welcome her in.
Summers looked at Eve and saw how pale and tired she looked, maybe a consequence of discovering the man in your life wasn’t quite who he seemed. She introduced herself, and Eve replied that she had read a lot about her and asked how she was feeling after the attack.
The small talk didn’t last long. Eve sat down on the bed. Summers opted for a wooden chair, thinking it would be easier to stand up afterwards with her injuries.
‘Would you like a cup of tea or something?’ asked Eve.
Summers shook her head, and pressed on with the reason she was there.
She explained what Ben had done, of course Eve had seen all this in the papers, but then Summers pulled out the envelope and gave it to her. It was already torn open, as the police had wanted to know exactly what was written and as was their right; there was potentially something in there to help with the prosecution of Mrs Green.
Eve found the cheque, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She reached back into the envelope and pulled out the letter.
‘My dearest Eve,’ she read to herself before the first tears welled up in her eyes. She shook her head and held the letter out towards Summers.
‘Could you please read it to me?’ she asked, ‘I don’t want to do it on my own.’
‘Of course.’ said Summers. ‘Can I ask… was it a full blown affair you were having with Mr Green?’
Eve shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks, she managed half a giggle.
‘I knew him just a couple of days,’ she replied. ‘Bit of a whirlwind romance, really. Then he just said it had to stop. I thought he’d just used me for sex, but then it didn’t ring true because it felt so much more than that. I bet I sound a right naive idiot?’
‘No, I don’t think you do.’
Summers adjusted in her seat, cleared her throat and began reading the letter Ben Green had written to say goodbye to Eve.
My Dearest Eve,
Never in my life have I met someone like you.
You were the first person to make me laugh out loud for longer than I can remember. I used to be happy, I used to laugh so hard that my stomach would hurt and I couldn’t breathe. Thank you for giving me a taste of that again.
I know we didn’t know each other for long, and there is a chance that the way I feel is not reciprocated. Maybe I am wrong about you, and this was just a fling, but I don’t believe that to be true.
When we talked, about everything and anything, I saw glimpses of a lost soul, an innocent person struggling to make her way in this god awful world. Don’t worry. I know you’ll make it. You question everything, and it’s only a matter of time before you find the answers you are looking for.
I’m sorry that I had to leave you the way I did. I wish you had walked into my life years ago, I can only imagine how different things would have been. Truth be told, if I’d met you even just a few days ago I would have run away with you and given you the world.
I’m sure by now you have read in the papers, or seen the news, and know what I have done, and what I really am. You are probably relieved that you didn’t come to any harm, but I assure you, you will live a long and happy life, so don’t go through it carrying fear, just be your beautiful self and everything else will fall into place.
I have written a cheque for you. It is a lot of money; it is for you to do as you choose.
It was from the will of my father, and I have the right to give it to you, so if the police give you any trouble then give them some trouble right back! Maybe you’ll go back to university and study something that’ll help you make the world a better place, or maybe you’ll give it to a charity. You’re a bright girl, I’m sure you’ll figure out what best to do with it.
I wish I was stronger and could stay to face the punishment that I so obviously deserve, but at the same time, I have grown to understand that I carry a genetic malfunction, like my mother, who you have probably realised by now is the dreaded Phantom killer. I am so embarrassed. I am actually mad! How’s my luck?
I have been hearing voices, like my mother does, for a while now, but recently it has become more and more frequent. I see things, I hear things, I have dark feelings flow through my body and I fear for the safety of myself and those around me. This is why I know I have to take my life.
After my mother dies, our family will no longer exist, and I hope that along with us, this monstrous gene will die and never walk the earth again.
I have to go now. I have to do this before I lose my nerve.
Thank you, for making the last days of my life bearable, those moments of sunshine will be with me forever.
I love you.
Summers folded the letter and placed it on the table beside her. It was a sad moment. The girl sat on the bed in front of her clearly had feelings for Ben Green, although surely the fact he was a murderer would soften the blow after losing him.
‘Are you going to be ok?’ asked the detective.
‘Not really,’ said Eve, shaking her head, tears now streaming down her face. ‘This genetic problem he had, and his mother, was it really what made him mad?’
Summers thought back to her days at medical school.
‘Well, yes, in a way,’ she responded. ‘Sometimes certain genetic weaknesses will be passed down generations, just like tall parents will likely have tall children; the same principle applies to other things such as the mind. Not always, but it’s certainly possible, yes. But don’t worry, it isn’t contagious.’
Eve looked deep into the eyes of Summers.
‘Oh, I know it’s not contagious,’ she said, ‘but I’m pregnant.’
