White Phantom Chapter eighteen

Chapter eighteen.

“That's right.... Yes, I'll hold.” While waiting on hold Jennifer turned and smirked at Beth, “Didn't think I'd do it, did you.”

“I couldn't give a damn what you do.” Beth replied in a tired voice and was surprised to note that for the first time it was true, she really didn't care.

“Oh, yes, sorry. I was talking to my friend. Yes that's right, I've been attacked and I'd like to report it.” Jennifer, half in profile to Beth launched into a lengthy description... “It happened about an hour ago. You see I was crossing at the zebra and a woman nearly ran me over.”

Beth looked up from her chair, what the hell was she talking about? Jennifer continued, and Beth came out of her slump to listen as lies poured from the girl's mouth.

“Yes I did look for traffic and when I started to cross the road there were no cars there, and then suddenly this red car came around the corner. She didn't stop and then of course the zebra is just around that bend and she didn't look at all just drove straight round.... Yes, my lip's cut and I have a big hand print on my face. No, no, the car didn't hit me... she did. The woman slammed her breaks on and got out of the car and started shouting at me for being in the road. I said that I was on the crossing and that it was my right of way,” at this point Jennifer sniffed a couple of times and pretended to cry, “and then officer ... and then ... she hit me,” she sobbed. “I've seen the woman before, she takes her kids to the same school as my little brother. I think they live on Sands Road. No, I don't know their name ... but think I can remember the car's registration number if that's any help.”

Beth sat in disbelief as Jenner took the piece of paper out of her pocket and read out Maggie's registration number to the police. What the hell was she doing? This was just the kind of attention that they didn't need.

“My name? Oh yes, it's .... Lorraine Vidal, yes Vidal, that's' V.I.D.A.L. Address? Well I'm staying with a friend at the moment. I'm at twenty six Maple Avenue. That's Right. No, I'm sorry I don't think I will be in. There's no need to come round. We've got to go out, you see. No Really, you don't need to come around I just wanted to report it in case she does this to anybody else. “ Jennifer's voice had completely changed. During the course of the conversation Beth noted that she'd gone from being full of confidence to back tracking at a million miles an hour. “Well, um, can't you just go and talk to her. Give her a warning or something. Serious offence? Well it was just a little slap really, shocked me more than anything. Oh really, there's no need. Okay, yes, yes in the next five minutes then. Thank you.” She hung up the phone and turned around slowly. She was chewing her lower lip and she looked terrified.

“You stupid, stupid little bitch. You've shot yourself in the foot now, haven't you?” Beth was furious and wasted no time in having a go at her.

“Well you shouldn't have hit me,” said Jennifer in a petulant voice.

“You do realise, don't you, that by bringing the police to my door you've opened up the very can of worms that I've suffered hell for over these last few months to keep closed. That's it now Jennifer. Your power's gone, the hold you've had over me all this time is broken. In fact. You've already told the police that you've been hit and marked so what's one more slap eh?” She raised her hand. She had no intention of hitting Jennifer again only of showing the girl what it was like to feel bullied and scared. Jennifer flinched back out of the way and raised her arm to protect her head. “Not so big and hard now, are you little girl?” Beth finished her tirade, she'd risen from her chair and was busying herself with putting her purse and cigarettes into her handbag.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ring them. You just got me mad, that's all,” Jennifer was whining now.

“You didn't mean to ring them? Don't be so bloody stupid. You don't mean to stub your toe. You don't mean to drop a cup, but picking up a telephone and ringing the police is a conscious decision. You've done it now you stupid fool.... and what do you suppose Maggie's going to say when they turn up on her doorstep accusing her of all sorts. 'oh yes, officer. I was driving my car over that zebra crossing this afternoon and I did almost run somebody over and then got out of my car and belted her. Please arrest me now?' No, she isn't. The first thing she's going to ask is who has made the ridiculous allegation? And then she's going to drop us both right in it. Before you know it the police smell a rat and start poking into other stuff and we're both finished. Maggie thinks my 'affair' with your brother just fizzled out over a matter of weeks but what if by some chance the police began asking questions and his name was mentioned in relation to yours? How soon before Maggie puts two and two together and makes a connection between me, him and you. You've really done it now ... bravo, little girl, bravo”

“It'll be okay, it's all right, we can sort this out. I gave them a false name. I'll tell them that I was drunk, that I read the number plate wrong. We can tell them that it wasn't Maggie after all. I'll refuse to press charges that way they can't do anything. We can tell them it was all just a big mistake.”

“We? hang on a second, did you say 'we'? No, no no... you're on your own this time. I'm not even going to be here, because while you're spinning your little web of lies to the police I'm going round to Maggie's to warn her that she's about to be visited by the bloody police and to try and sort out some kind of damage limitation.”

“I'll tell them everything.” Phantom changed tack and was shouting now, her voice had hardened and her usual bullying tone had returned. “Don't you dare leave me Beth. If you don't stay and help me, I'll tell them about Marc... and everything else. Don't you want to be my friend any...”

“Go for it,” shouted Beth over her shoulder as she stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind her.

On the way round to Maggie's house Beth racked her brains to try and come up with some story that sounded anywhere near plausible. She had absolutely no idea what she was going to say when she saw Maggie but somehow she had to come up with something to get them all, Maggie included now, off the hook with the minimum amount of fuss.

Beth hammered on the door, there was no intimidate answer so she knocked again.

The living room door opened and she watched Maggie through the frosted glass, “Okay, okay I'm coming,” Beth heard her grumble. “ Beth, well, this is getting to be a regular thing,” surprise showed on Maggie's face as she opened the door and saw Beth panting with exertion on the doorstep. “I'm hoping you've come with some kind of explanation, but you'll excuse me if I don't leave my bag unattended.” Although her voice was thick with sarcasm, Beth knew that she was hurt and confused and was just striking out. Beth pushed the door open and rushed into the living room grabbing Maggie by the sleeve and dragging her in with her.

“The police are on their way, “ Beth was still out of breath and couldn't get her words out easily. “We haven't got long, they might be here any second and I've got to talk to you.”

“Oh, Jesus Beth what have you done? This has got something to do with that kid, hasn't it? What's going on?”

“Huh, it's not what I've done that's the problem. It's what you've done.” Beth stopped and ran a hand through her hair.”

“Me? I don't under...”

“Ugh, I'm not telling this well. No, You haven't done anything, but the thing is, well the police think that you have.”

“What? What are you on about?”

“I'm trying to tell you aren't I? Just shut the fuck up and listen.” Beth's voice had risen in frustration.

Maggie She sat down. “I swear Beth ... you've changed. You've changed so much and it's not a change for the better either. I can count the times you've said 'fuck' on one hand and most of them were when we were kids.”

“Are you going to let me speak, or are we going to have a half hour episode of, The Maggie Show, because I really don't have time for this. Listen, Phantom has grassed you up to the police for something you didn't do. She's told them some cock and bull story about you nearly running her over this afternoon and then getting out of your car and hitting her.”

“What?” Maggie was dumbfounded and it took her a second to stock up on verbal missiles to fire at Beth. “Well the fucked up little Goth freak bastard, I can fucking well prove that I didn't lay a hand on her, my car's been in Col's garage all day for it's M.O.T. I swear down I never touched her. I can prove it.”

Beth couldn't believe her good fortune. Maggie could prove that she hadn't been out in her car at the time of the supposed assault. That should make it easier to get the police off their back. Now all she had to do was get Maggie to make light of the false accusation to the police and to help her get rid of them quickly. That might not be so easy.

Maggie as still ranting. “What a pack of lies. I tell you Beth when I get hold of her, I will fucking hit her. I'll make her wish she'd never been born. I haven't even seen the little bitch, How could I have hit her?”

“I know you didn't hit her... I did.”

“You hit her? Beth what the fuck's going on? You've never hit anybody in your life... not even me and Christ knows if anybody knows which buttons to push it's me. I think you'd better start talking to me Beth and fast because I've got a thing or two to say to the police if they arrive.”

“That's just it Maggie. I need you to help me. I need you to prove that you didn't do anything and then leave it at that. I need you to get rid of them before they start asking too many questions.”

“Questions about what? C'mon Beth, if I'm going to lie to the police and defend you, then I want to know what I'm defending you against. Let me get this straight. I'm confused and just want to be sure that I'm getting this right. Are you asking me to protect that stupid little cow after she's told the police a pack of lies about me? Because that's what it's sounding like to me. Why did she say that I hit her? And anyway Beth, why the hell should I help you after the way you've treated me. We used to be friends and now I don't even know you.”

“I know, I know, everything you've said is true. I can't explain it all now Maggie, but please, please, I'm begging you just help me out this once. All you need to know is that Phantom and I had an argument. I lot my temper and hit her. She wanted to get back at me and she felt that the best way to hurt me was to hurt you. She rang the police in temper without thinking. Please Maggie, just tell the police that it wasn't you and then don't make waves. Just back me up, okay?”

“Why though. Why ring the police and say that I'd hit her when I very obviously haven't? She's not right in the head.” They heard a car pulling up outside and they looked out of the window.

“Oh shit, it's them, it's the police. Please Maggie, just help me get rid of them.”

Beth at nervously on the edge of the settee while Maggie answered the door. She heard her talking in the hall and then the door opened and Maggie showed the two police officers into the living room Beth stood up.

“Hello,” she began lamely as Maggie rooted through her bag for the M.O.T certificate that would prove that her car had spent the afternoon in the garage. “Look this is all a huge misunderstanding. You should never have been called out. It was just a silly teenager having a tantrum because she couldn't get her own way. What happened was...”

“And you are?” asked the lady police officer with her pen poised over her notebook. Beth really didn't want to give her name. She especially didn't want the police to write her name down anywhere where they might recall it later.

“The thing is, it was my niece who rang you. She's at that age, you know, every thing's a drama.”

“Can I have your name please,” asked the policewoman for a second time. “You can tell your part in the story but first I must have your name for my records.”

“Beth,” said Beth reluctantly.

“Beth?”

“Beth Armstrong.”

“Address please?” Beth gave her address too. She felt that each word spoken was taking her closer to life imprisonment.

“And your niece is the complainant, you say.”

“Yes that's right. Well, no not exactly, she's not my real nice, she's my ..um cousin's daughter and she's staying with me for a few days while her parents are away on a skiing holiday.” The heat in the room was suffocating. She sat immobile determined not to give her nervousness away by fidgeting. She wanted to get right away from the subject of Jennifer's parents, what if she was asked their name? She employed a trick of distraction that she'd learned from Jennifer herself. “ Jennifer rang you. What happened was, Jennifer and I were having an argument,” God, she hoped that offering up Jennifer's real name would pay off. As she hoped the police officer pounced on the new name thrown into the mix.

“Jennifer, we have the complaininant listed here as a Miss Lorraine Vidal.”

“Yes, I know, you see she was playing games there too, she gave you a false name. Her real name is Jennifer Brown.” Beth stuck with Jennifer's real name but plucked the first ordinary surname out of the air that she could think of and just hoped that she could distract the police away from names now. She was gratified to note that the policewoman didn't immediately write this new information down. “Jennifer is the typical angsty teenager always wanting to be the centre of attention, always wanting her own way. Maggie and I are going out tonight,” Beth looked towards her friend, “Aren't we Maggie?”

Maggie sighed, “Yeah that's right, long overdue night out, eh Beth?”

Beth picked up the story again, “Well Jennifer decided that she wanted to come too. I told her she couldn't because she's too young and she threw a tantrum. She doesn't like Maggie,”

“That's the understatement of the year,” cut in Maggie sullenly. She was being sarcastic for Beth's benefit but her sullen tone worked in supporting Beth's statement perfectly.

“Anyway,” Beth hoped that her expression was earnest as she continued speaking. “She said that if we didn't let her come with us tonight she'd ring the police and say that I'd hit her. I laughed and told her to got for it because she'd never be believed and I suppose that's when she made up the stupid story about the car and Maggie.”

The police woman turned towards Maggie, “And you corroborate this?”

“Well I certainly didn't hit the little freak, I corroborate that much. Haven't seen her, but I tell you she wants her arse kicking for a stunt like this.” Beth was willing Maggie to stop talking. “I've never laid a finger on the idiot, but I tell you she'd better keep well out of my way after this.”

“Well it seems this is just a stupid childish prank and I think we can draw a line under it.” The police woman turned to Maggie, “And you, being the aggrieved party in all this, you're happy to just let the matter drop if we go back and give Miss Brown a good talking to?”

Maggie opened her mouth to speak, caught the look that Beth was desperately flashing her and closed it again. She nodded her head. Beth assured the police that they needn't waste any more time on Jennifer and that she'd see that she was punished and didn't pull a stunt like that again. Maggie saw them out of the house and watched them drive away. Beth didn't like the look on her face one little bit as she came back into the room.

“Right you either tell me what the hell''s going on, and I mean everything, or you walk out of that door and we're finished. I've had enough of this Beth. Christ, I've got a family to think about. What are you doing, bringing the police to my door like that? So come on sit down and talk to me.”

“I can't Maggie,” Beth realised that this was the last chance she had to save her friendship with Maggie and she was just going to let it go.”Believe me, you're better off not knowing.”

Maggie's voice was almost a whisper and she wouldn't look at Beth. “That's it then, get out Beth and don't come to my house again.” She didn't move from the sofa as Beth stood up to let herself out.

“Bye Maggie.” On the way back home Beth was glad that Maggie had severed all ties between them. Six months earlier she wouldn't have believed that anything could come between their friendship. Since the night she had killed Marc Beth had worried that Maggie would come too close to the truth and be dragged into the mess that her life had become. Now she felt that it was one less loose end to trip her up. Maggie was dangerous and instead of feeling heartbroken about losing the one person who might have been able to help her, Beth only felt relief, it was one small weight lifted form her shoulders.

Maggie drew hard on her cigarette. “I wonder,” she said aloud, “Just how many Brown's are there living in Ulverston?” Her hand as already reaching for the Yellow Pages.