Be strong, I know you always have been, but you will need it more than ever now.
Your friend, forever
Edwin
***
“Come home.” May takes my hand.
“This is…” I stop myself, I can’t see this as home, this was a folly. Adam had been right, I should have run away just as Sean had, found a bolt hole on the other side of the globe and hidden. The stupidity of coming to Cumbria, of course, it had only been a matter of time and I would have spent my whole life looking over my shoulder, expecting the inevitable. I had been doomed by my own actions from the very beginning and my only sadness was all those I had hurt along the way.
“Look, your working pupils can look after the stables for a while. They are very able from what I can see. You can take time, decide what you want to do. You know, you are always welcome. I mean it when I say it is your home.”
I look up into the eyes of May, the mother I had never had and Annie who had been overjoyed when I transitioned from staff member to sister. I had so much to think about, decisions to be made.
***
“You have every right to feel proud, both of you. Anderson, your tenacity was amazing, the evidence you gathered has helped us build a strong case. Willoughby, I haven’t forgotten that it was you who put the ringleader away on a long stretch and now we can expect the same for his protégé. This is a major collar, you have, between you, put a major dent in county lines drugs operations in the South East and London. We have been able to round up most of their people and they are all very willing to speak so I am confident that we will have them off the streets for a considerably long time.”
Dan sat back, surveying the scene. Here he was, a local cop from what the Met would have called a country backwater, in the office of the Chief Constable, overlooking the Thames, he had every right to feel proud. The street value of the drugs which had been seized had run into hundreds of millions between them and it was clear that the organisation had also suffered some internal funding issue which had caused many of the associates to be more than willing to speak out against their leaders.
There had been talk of a change of scene, promotion to save ‘wasting a valuable resource’ as he was now seen in the eyes of his superiors. However, there was something at the back of his mind. He had not as much as had a date with Amanda, to do so would have been gross misconduct as she was both victim and, for sometime also a suspect. However, he was falling in love with her, and had a feeling this was mutual. Did he really want to move to London without at least having an opportunity to know more about her? At the very least he felt he should comfort her as she recovered from what had occurred.
A leave of absence would be good. The idea grew in his mind as the Chief Constable spoke, sometime away before he made a final decision. He smiled warmly.
***
“Kate this is May and Annie…” They hugged and we sat down, the wood burner glowing, giving off a comforting heat.
“I’ve heard all about you.” May smiled. “It’s good to see you, how are you feeling now? I am sure you are glad to finally be out of the hospital.”
Kate smiled politely, nodding. Even May realised we were all out of small talk.
***
The slamming of the cell door, the blond-haired man looked up with terror in his eyes.
“Patrick.” Edwin shook his head. “You have disappointed me. I realise there is no honour amongst thieves, however, you took it to a new level.”
“I had to keep the operation running, for you.”
“Do you think that I care about money, drugs, influence? I have influence here, how do you think you were allocated to the same prison as me, the same cell block. This is not a coincidence, it is a show of my, influence. My only concern is for the one I loved. I know I’ve lost her, but I feel somewhat responsible for her welfare and you hurt her. Now, I feel that it is time that you understand the ramifications of this.”
“So you’re going to kill me?”
Edwin laughed. “Oh Patrick, such melodrama. Of course not, how would I do such a thing? No… I am going to make you understand. I will ensure that you know that you are never safe, you will never know what will happen to you or when. Killing you would bring me no satisfaction. Watching you for the next twenty years as you wilt and suffer as she did, that will make me immensely happy.”
“She was just some stupid slut!” Patrick spat.
“Maybe, in your eyes. Maybe that was all you could ever see, amongst the greed and pain. I saw something different, something you will never see. You could never see beauty, and you never will again.” Edwin stood up as the cell door swung open.
The two men grabbed Patrick, the screams were muffled as the door closed, a warden started to run towards the cell, but Edwin stopped him. “You didn’t hear that sound, you were attending to a matter elsewhere. When you return you will call for the medics. If you are quick, you may even save his sight.” Edwin started to walk away. “Don’t rush back…”
38
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I opened my eyes, the sunshine and warmth. Oh good, I was at a show, a summer afternoon in late August, only another few days before I would have to return to school so I had to make the most of it, the last hurrah before winter crept in and there were dark mornings
