‘Mrs Carter, it has come to my attention… that is, a parent has voiced concerns… I mean…’
Mrs Everson was becoming increasingly flustered. Beth tried not to smile.
‘Are you okay, Mrs Everson?’
‘Yes. I’m fine. But I think, you know, under the circumstances… that it might not be appropriate for you to be on school grounds anymore.’
Beth fixed her with an unfaltering stare.
‘And which circumstances would those be?’ She wanted to hear her say it out loud.
To her face.
The teacher’s cheeks flushed as she averted Beth’s gaze.
‘Do you really need me to spell it out?’
‘Yes. I think I do.’
She leaned closer, conspiratorially.
‘We know who you are,’ she whispered. As if she were afraid that even saying the name would bring some curse or plague on her.
Beth cleared her throat.
‘May I remind you I was unanimously acquitted by a jury. I was seven. I made a mistake, and I did something wrong. But I am by no means responsible for the actions of Kieran Taylor. I was not a party to it, and I do not condone it. I have spent my entire life feeling guilty about what happened to that little boy, but let’s put things into perspective, shall we?’
Beth’s voice grew louder. Mrs Everson looked uncomfortable, glancing around at the gathering crowds of parents.
‘I have successfully raised two children, without killing either of them. I have been a model citizen since that day. Haven’t even picked up a parking fine. I have gone out of my way to make sure I live a good, honest life. I know this won’t change what I did, or bring Billy Noakes back. But I have done nothing to you people. I don’t deserve to be treated like this.’
‘Mrs Carter, can you please keep your voice down? You’re upsetting the children.’
Kids of varying ages stood with their parents, looking worried. Daisy and her group of friends had stopped chatting.
Beth considered screaming at them all. Telling them all to get lost. But she knew that would do no good. It would only make things more difficult for Daisy.
‘Please can you leave? I think it would be best for everyone if you refrain from coming here from now on.’
Beth’s head snapped towards the teacher, who visibly shrunk away, terrified.
‘Fine, I’ll go. But let me tell you this; I will not be alienated from my daughter because you feel uncomfortable around me.’
She marched to her car and climbed in, driving away from the school. As she glanced in her mirror, she saw Daisy standing at the gate staring after her.
46
Peter was sitting on the doorstep when Beth arrived home, his chin resting on his balled-up fists, looking extremely sorry for himself.
It was nice to see him without his phone.
Beth pulled on the handbrake as Peter stood up, dusting himself off. Guessing the news of her identity had reached him, she prepared herself for what was about to come her way.
She climbed out of the car.
‘I forgot my key,’ Peter said glumly as Beth approached the house.
‘Does your dad know you’re here?’
‘No.’
Beth unlocked the door, standing to one side. Peter loitered for a moment, as if he was nervous to step inside, then crossed the threshold. He trudged down the hallway into the kitchen, throwing his school bag onto the floor.
He slumped down onto a stool at the breakfast bar.
‘Is it true?’
‘Peter, look–’
‘Is it true, Mum? Did you kill a kid?’
Beth wasn’t ready for that.
‘No, Peter! Of course I didn’t. Do you honestly have to ask me that?’
‘That’s what people are saying. Alex says his dad told him you killed this boy years ago and got away with it.’
Beth slid onto a stool beside her son.
‘Peter, that’s not what happened. When I was seven, I made a mistake–’
‘Yeah, I’ve googled it, Mum. I know the official story. I’m asking you, did you do it?’
Beth stared at her son. His frankness impressed her.
‘No. I didn’t.’
‘Does Dad know?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is that why we’re not living here?’
‘Yes. Sort of.’
‘And is that why Cooper got… hurt?’
‘I think so.’
‘That note, the one that came through the door the other weekend. That was meant for you, wasn’t it?’
‘Looks like it.’
Peter sat fidgeting with his hands for a while, peeling bits of flaky dry skin from the ends of his fingertips, exposing pink flesh underneath.
Beth didn’t know what to say. The look on his face, he was disappointed. He was clearly struggling with the version of his mother that he knew and loved, versus the version of his mother people were gossiping about.
The child killer.
‘Do you want me to explain it from my side? In my own words?’
‘No. I don’t want to think about it. About you… doing that.’
‘Okay. I understand.’
Beth reached her hand out to stroke Peter’s hair. He flinched, moving his head away.
Beth stood, filling the kettle and flicking it on. She turned her back to hide the hurt on her face. Her son was afraid of her.
‘Who’s doing this to us?’ Peter asked finally.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Do you think it’s that Kieran guy?’
‘It could be. He got a new identity after he was released from prison. I don’t know where he is.’
‘Seems like you really shafted him. He didn’t say anything under caution. You told them everything. He would have plenty of reasons to want revenge. Eight years’ worth of reasons.’
‘I didn’t shaft anyone. I told the police what happened. Kieran Taylor killed a child. He deserved to go to jail for that. He didn’t speak during the interview because he’s a psychopath. He didn’t feel the need to defend his horrendous actions.’
‘I’m just saying. If you’re trying to narrow down a list of suspects, you could do worse than looking at him. Or maybe Billy Noakes’ mother. Although she’d be too old by now, so that’s unlikely.’
‘She’s in her fifties. That’s not old.’
‘Yeah, I guess, but I doubt it’s her. I think it’s a man.’
‘What makes you say that?’
Peter paused
