off heaven only knew. His fingernails were bleeding, but he managed to grip the wrist of Pamela Watters. It happened so unexpectedly that it appeared she slowed down just to give Bob a chance of saving his friend. A chance to stop the madness.
But again Pam rallied. She had much more to lose. She tore at Bob with her fingernails – first his hands, then his face and eyes. Bob screamed in pain, but he would not fail again. Blood soaking his back and side, he would hold on to this hand. Still Pam scratched and screamed.
Aid opened his eyes and positioned himself on the rug. He was under starters orders. He ran and charged into Pam Watters.
There is a crash of people. Three bodies tumble towards the front window. Arms grab arms, teeth gnash. Eyes stare at each other. Embraced with pain. Limbs break on wooden frames, glass shatters. Three bodies fall as one onto the decking outside. A knife pierces skin. A knife pierces flesh and scrapes at bone. An arterial vein is pierced. Black blood spurts out.
Deep cut.
Deep Red.
Dark blood.
Dark sky.
Aid found himself under two bodies.
He stared up to the night sky.
10
Police sirens sounded again as Monica and Marie ran from the vehicle. Mon looked across the darkness and saw torchlights, vehicle headlights shining across and so many officers milling around.
A body bag.
Marie let out a scream and made to run to the scene but was restrained by a burly constable who was attaching police tape to the fence posts.
‘Sorry, love, you can’t go through’
‘But it’s my husband.’
Still he restrained her, but Marie screamed out
‘Bo-----b!’
Monica just stood, hand over her mouth. Disbelief setting in. Eyes tearful. Fearing the worst.
'Marie! I'm over here.’ The voice from the ambulance led to an acknowledgement from the policeman that Marie could run over to her fiance.
Aidrian looked up and searched the horizon for Mon. He would be OK now the paramedics were here. Still in a daze he prayed for a beautiful sight. No more secrets. He held his stare as the blur became a person, became a beautiful sight, the most beautiful - his Mon. She turned and he could see her eyes glistening. She saw him as she turned, despite the mass of police and emergency service crew who were purposefully moving about, doing their jobs, taping the crime scene, wearing the necessary white coats and surgical gloves, and she smiled. For him.
One tear ran down her face and before more could follow Aidrian felt her embrace as she forced her head, with deep sobs, into his shoulder.
‘Are you OK?’
‘Yes. A wee bit sore. But I’m fine’
‘What about the others?’
‘I think Spiv is going to be OK, now, but he was in a pretty bad state. Bob’s fine, but I guess you can hear that.’
Mon looked at him through tear filled eyes, gave a chuckle, then fell silent again, her head back against Aid’s shoulder.
'Why didn't you tell me about the letters?'
'I couldn't worry you. I didn't want to scare you.'
'You need to talk to me Aid. A problem shared...'
'I know. I know.' He held her tight and she reciprocated. 'No more secrets.'
'No more secrets'. Mon stared into his eyes with her wet, red eyes. The truth was going to hurt, but no more than all the stuff that had come before.
'Bob and I did something stupid, and we are going to have to pay for it.'
'It's OK. Whatever it is. I'll be here for you.' She held his cheeks softly with her hands.
‘I was just doing it for you and the kids.
I'm so sorry. I promise that I'll never keep anything from you anymore'
There was a shout from nearby.
'You stupid fucker!' Marie's voice was loud and shrill. She jumped down from the back door of the ambulance, looking at Mon in despair.
'Did you hear what Bob did?'
Aid looked into his lap. Mon was still holding onto him warmly.
'Just went and lost his fuckin job.....again!'
'How?'
'By being a twat!'
'Marie, I'm sorry. I'm an Idiot. Marie? Come back and talk to me; I never finished the story...'
Hearing Bob’s voice echoing from the back of the ambulance, brought a wave of happiness to Aid. He caught Mon's eye, and he laughed. He laughed hard, so hard that tears welled and words couldn't form. Mon laughed too, and her tears of worry and sadness turned to cries of hilarity.
'Fuck sake. I don't believe you two!' Marie paused by them.
Aid couldn't get the words out quick enough.
'And that’s you before you hear what else we got involved in.' Aid continued to laugh.
'Oh don't Aid. Just don't'. Monica warned him, but the laughter was contagious.
