“In other words, you’re telling me all this is my fault.”
Katy rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. “No, I’m not saying that. I think it was a combination of things and the stress of the situation got to your uncle.”
“And Daniel. What’s wrong with him? I knew he was ill. I tried to tell my aunt and uncle, but they refused to listen to me.”
“He’s unwell, to what extent, we’re unsure; we’re waiting to hear back from the hospital.”
“I want to see him, but if I show up at the hospital, you’ll swoop, won’t you?”
“I would allow you to see your relatives and then ask you to give yourself up. Where are you, Megan? Why don’t you give yourself up? Or at least, hand Matthew over to us. He doesn’t deserve to be involved in this.”
“Doesn’t he? What’s his father saying, is he showing any sign of remorse yet? Because since the accident, it has been severely lacking, even during his time behind bars.”
“He feels guilty. He’s fearful you’re going to hurt his son, but I don’t think that’s your intention at all, is it, Megan?”
There was silence. Telling Katy that maybe the unbearable thought had filled Megan’s mind after all.
“Megan, please don’t do anything rash.”
“I know, I know, he’s an innocent child. So were we once upon a time before that damned crash. Before those men wiped out my parents and robbed my brother of any decent quality of life. Tell me why I shouldn’t hurt him the way Daniel and I have been hurt over the years.”
Distant sniffling caught Katy’s attention. “Is he there, listening to this conversation?”
“Where else would he be? Don’t worry, I’ve put him right on a few things. Did you know his father secretly told him about the incident, told him it was a simple accident? That he did nothing wrong stealing that car and driving it at over a hundred miles an hour?”
“He probably didn’t want to scare his son, all he was doing was protecting him from the truth, Megan. He kept the incident from his partner. Perhaps, he was ashamed for what he did? And no, that’s not me making excuses for him.”
“Ashamed my arse. Like I said, he’s never shown any kind of remorse. Never once reached out to us as a family to offer his condolences, neither have the others. Even when I watched the light fade from their eyes and they took their dying breath, those men didn’t have the decency to utter an apology. The world will be a better place without them.”
“Okay, there’s not a lot I can say in response to that. What’s your aim here, Megan?”
“My aim?”
“Yes, you have to have an ultimate goal? Why have you kidnapped Matthew if you have no intention of harming the lad?”
“That, Inspector, is for me to know and you to find out.”
Katy’s lip curled. She tried her hardest to remain calm, but the urge to shout at Megan was playing havoc on her tongue. “Megan, let’s open a dialogue on where we go from here, shall we?”
“You can try.”
“Do you even know? I’m begging you not to do anything rash, Matthew needs to be back with his family. You know how important that is, don’t you?”
“Yes, we used to have a family unit that was strong and filled with love, once upon a time, until his father stole it from all of us. Maybe I’ll break Matthew’s neck, see how his mother and father cope caring for him when he’s classed as paralysed. Maybe, just maybe, Ethan will find it in his heart to show some remorse then. What do you think, Matthew, shall I break your neck?”
“No. Please, don’t hurt me.” Katy’s heart went out to the tormented little boy.
“Megan, you’re better than that. Don’t sink to Ethan’s level. I doubt if you’d ever be able to live with the guilt. Answer me honestly, would you?”
“No. Maybe I have a get-out clause, an escape plan sorted to combat that particular issue.”
Charlie frowned and whispered, “Suicide?”
Katy nodded. “You’re talking about ending your life, aren’t you, Megan? Why? There are people here who love you and who are relying on you for your support.”
“Auntie Gail can carry on looking after Daniel, if he pulls through this. You know disabled people have a limited time to live, don’t you?”
“No, I wasn’t aware of that fact. Megan, we’re going round in circles here. Please, come to the hospital, meet me there and we’ll sit down and have a chat. Bring Matthew with you. I can get him home to his mother, think of her, of what this is doing to her. She’s as innocent as her son. Don’t make them suffer when your grievance is with Ethan.”
“I don’t want to get arrested. I did what needed to be done. People can’t rob a family of their relatives and only be punished with the minimal sentence. It’s not right.”
“I get that. Come on, let’s discuss how we can make things right.”
There was a click on the line.
“Megan? Are you there?”
Silence.
11
“Please, let me go. I want to go home.”
Megan slammed the phone down hard on the table and stormed across the room to stand in front of the quivering boy. “You want, you want. That’s all you kids ever say today.”
She raised a fist to thump him, and he shielded his head with his arms and screamed.
The ear-piercing noise brought Megan out of her fury. She stepped back and apologised. “I’m sorry. Forgive me. I shouldn’t take my foul mood out on you. That wasn’t my intention at all.”
“I need my Mummy and Daddy, please…” the boy sobbed. Snot running into his trembling mouth.
“You’ll see your parents soon enough. Stop bugging me. I have to think.”
It was imperative for her to change her plans. Her thoughts were all twisted, and she paced the floor in confusion. She needed to get to the hospital to see her brother and her uncle, but the risk would be too great to just
