White Phantom: Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Seven

Maggie had spent every spare moment that she could steal from her days sitting outside Beth’s house. The pretty little semi seemed to be in a state of perpetual neglect. Like a crazed bunny boiler she had also staked out the house on the hill where she suspected that Beth spent her days and nights. Was she still working? The hospital wouldn’t give out any information other than to say that Beth had taken some leave and hadn’t been in for some time, they didn’t know, or wouldn’t say when she would be back. Maggie didn’t know if Beth had left her little house completely to live in the big house. She hadn’t seen her at either residence, though twice she had seen Jennifer going into the big house. She hadn’t seen Marc at all.

Maggie had come so close to marching up the driveway and pounding on the door, but instinct told her that to show her hand would be damaging. She had to see Maggie on her own, to be able to tell her what she knew. The people that she had become involved with were dangerous; above all else, she had to make Beth aware of that. If there needed to be a showdown, if she had to call in the police, that was all well and good, but first she had to talk to Beth.

As well as staking out the two houses, appeasing her man, who was convinced that she was one step away from the nut house, and looking after the kids, she trawled the internet, phone by her side. Maggie had armed herself with facts, lots of them. The deaths that Nanny Nettles had spoken of had all occurred. There had been no blame laid at anybody’s door, they were three reported, unconnected, completely disassociated terrible accidents. The little girl who fell into the brazier, made the front pages, but a week later, after her televised funeral, she hovered around page seven of the local newspaper for a day or two before she was forgotten. Among all the other sentimentality, her obituary spoke of the sister who would always love her and would never forget her. The inquest was opened and closed in fifteen minutes. A verdict of accidental death had been announced, typed and stamped on any official papers that had to be filed.

The death of Marc and Jennifer’s parents was reported in greater depth, but only made the second page of the newspaper. Marc had been questioned extensively by the police in relation to the tragedy. The newspaper report pulled at the heart-strings of the reader by telling of the poor motherless child who had been left behind. There was no mention of the fact that she had already lost a sister in another terrible accident

After the death of their parents, Marc and Jennifer seemed to fall between the nets of the Social Service’s beady eyes. Maggie made phone calls to the school that Jennifer had attended at the time. She spoke to Jennifer’s form teacher. The woman remembered the child. She said that she was bright, but difficult. To the best of her memory she had never had a day’s absence, was always well presented for school with her uniform and kit in order and she had had no cause for concern regarding her home life. Maggie spoke to a lady from Social Services who had investigated the Robinson’s at the time. She said that the family nanny had been retained and was in-situ. There had been no need for further involvement by the agency. Maggie had ended the call abruptly when the social worker became suspicious and had asked for her credentials and why she was poking around in a long-dead case file.

Maggie even spoke to the police but as her only excuse for phoning was a family interest, her being a second cousin of the deceased back from overseas; the police had little to tell her. The desk sergeant suggested she contact the local library to ascertain the facts from old newspaper reports. She’d spent several days in the library, once with a fractious Barry perched on her knee. She alternated between doing the voices of Thomas the Tank Engine and investigating murder. Barry refused to be entertained and she left, after less than an hour, under the pointed glare of the librarian.

While she never found a single piece of evidence that said that either Marc or Jennifer were murdering psychopaths, she had made three pages worth of notes. She was armed with times and dates and cold hard facts, that Miss Jennifer Robinson couldn’t wriggle away from.

Maggie tried to catch Beth in half a dozen times, each time she knocked on Beth’s door after tentatively peeking through the curtains first, the house looked empty and abandoned. When she finally did catch somebody in, she couldn’t believe her luck. She rounded the corner and saw that a light shone in Beth’s living room, her bedroom light was also on. While it looked as though somebody was in, she doubted that her luck would hold enough for her to find Beth in alone. By this point she didn’t care. Her dander was so far up that it had altitude sickness. If she had to face Beth, and confront Marc and Jennifer at the same time, then that’s how it would be. She was more than ready for a fight after psyching herself up over several fruitless visits.

Maggie hammered hard on the door. This wasn’t a friendly social call and she might just as well make that damned clear from the get-go. When the door wasn’t immediately answered, she rapped again.

‘Just a minute,’ the voice on the other side of the door was Beth’s. So far Maggie’s luck was holding. Beth opened the door and Maggie was horrified by her appearance. She looked gaunt, tired…older. Her hair had grown and was pulled back from her face and held in a lank ponytail with an elastic band. Her blonde dye had grown out by over an inch and darker roots were clearly visible. Beth had always been meticulous about her grooming. She had on a pair of old track pants and a washed out T-shirt that looked as haggard and tired as she did. For a fragment of a second, Beth’s eyes lit up when she saw Maggie standing on her doorstep, but the look didn’t last and was quickly cowered as a shadow crossed Beth’s face, and Maggie literally watched her close down all expression. Beth stared at her for a couple of seconds and then replaced the empty look with an equally empty smile. It was cold and devoid of any emotion, the same expression that Maggie kept on a hook behind the door, to fix in place when the Jehovah’s witnesses called.

‘Maggie, hiya, what are you…’ Maggie wasn’t about to be fobbed off with any feeble excuses.

‘Hiya mate, remember me? It’s time we had a catch up. Call it for old time’s sake, if you like.’ She pushed past Beth and walked into the living room and straight through to the kitchen. She scrutinised both rooms as she entered them. ‘I’d like to tell you that you look good. That’s what old acquaintances say to each other when they’re being polite but I’d be lying. How’ve you been? Judging purely on appearances, I’d say, not great.’ She said all of this in a harsh tone, not quite a shout, but pointed enough that Beth knew that she’d come here to kick arse and wasn’t going to leave until she saw a boot print on Beth’s behind. Maggie had picked up the kettle and filled it at the sink while she talked, before putting it on to boil.

‘Yeah, er I’m good thanks. Thing is though, you’ve caught me at a bit of a bad time. I’m busy with some stuff and,’

‘Bollocks. You can cut that out right now, because I’m going nowhere. Got that?’ Beth nodded and Maggie opened the cupboard and took down two mugs. ‘Just the two of us for coffee is it, or am I making for the malignant goth and her brother, too?’ She didn’t wait for an answer and spooned coffee into the mugs before turning to the fridge and taking out the milk. Her lip curled as she shook it and watched the cheesy curd, churn against the side of the plastic bottle. ‘Well, it looks as though you haven’t been drinking much coffee lately.’

‘No, I’ve been, um … busy.’

‘Yeah, you said, not buying it though Beth. It’s time you and I had a good old heart to heart. I’ve taken so much shit from you that I’m seriously about ready to punch you out. Don’t mess with me Beth. One last word of warning, I’m on, and I’m bleeding like a stuck pig, so you really don’t want to pick today to take me on.’ She turned to glare at Beth to show her that she wasn’t going to be messed about and her eyes were hostile and cold and so bloody angry.

‘If I can’t get rid of you, then we might as well open this.’ Beth grinned and Maggie saw a glimmer of her former friend in the smile. Embarrassed under scrutiny, Beth turned to the carrier bag that she’d brought into the kitchen with her and pulled out a fresh two litre bottle of semi-skimmed. ‘I haven’t been in long and was just about to have a cuppa myself.’

‘Got any biscuits in that bag?’ Maggie was still as mad as fuck but couldn’t help grinning back.

‘Didn’t know you were coming?’

‘You could have called, Beth.’ Maggie couldn’t hide her bitterness.’ At any point Beth, you could have rung me. We were supposed to be friends.’

‘I know, it’s just been difficult, that’s all.’ Beth picked up an ashtray and placed it on the kitchen table. Then she added water and milk to the mugs and brought them over before sitting down opposite Maggie. They sat at the table as they had a thousand times before, but they’d never had a brick wall between them as they had now. Maggie had so much to say, but she didn’t know where to start. Beth threw her a cigarette and flashed another grin. Coffee and cigarettes was old, it was familiar, it’s what they did and the only thing that stopped them from being complete strangers now.

Maggie had been going to shout. She was going to confront her friend with her notes, facts, and stories, everything she’d learned. She was prepared to shake Beth if she had to knock some sense into her. She just wanted her friend back and the strange people she’d taken up with, out of her life so that things could be like they used to be. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again.

Beth’s eyes had filled with tears. Maggie watched as she tried to blink them away. Beth took a puff on her cigarette and exhaled along with an escaped sob. The tears broke free from their confinement and rolled down Beth’s cheek. Maggie was up from her seat and had her arm around Beth’s shoulder in an instant. ‘Oh sweetheart, come on tell me. It can’t be that bad, it’s nothing we can’t sort out, you and me. We’re like the A-team, just with less gold.’

Beth wiped snot on her sleeve, ‘Oh Maggie, you have no idea.’

‘So talk to me, tell me what’s wrong. Let’s sort it out. We can you know, whatever it is Beth, no matter how bad it seems we can sort it out.’ Beth laughed bitterly but didn’t say anything.

‘Beth love. It’s clear you aren’t happy with this Marc bloke. I know he’s got you playing nurse maid to his wacko sister. Yes, I know that Jennifer’s his sister, don’t look so surprised. You know me when I feel that somebody’s hiding something.’ she paused to gauge her friend’s reaction, ‘that’s not all that I know about them. I’ve been digging. Fuck Beth you wouldn’t believe where I’ve been. I know a lot of crazy stuff. Maybe I even know things that you don’t. I know what they’re capable of. If he’s hurting you, you have to talk about it. I’ll help you. I promise.’ Beth had pulled away from her. She was frightened now, startled. Her eyes were terrified.

‘He’s not hurting me, Maggie. You have no right. You don’t understand. You have to back off. Don’t get involved.’ She stood and stubbed out her cigarette.’ You have to go now.’

‘I’m not going anywhere. Sit down.’

Beth sat and Maggie threw her another cigarette. ‘Here have some more lung cancer. I don’t care if we have to sit here and smoke our way through a hundred cigarettes. You are going to hear what I’ve come to say, at least. I can’t make you talk, but I hope to God you’ll listen and take heed. I know you’re in trouble.’

Beth sat complacently at first, she looked as though all the fight had left her and she seemed to be almost shutting down on herself and her emotions. Maggie began her story. She started at the beginning with her following Jennifer to the big house and how that led her to the neighbours place, which in turn led to her research and her following adventures. By the time she got to the part about her visit to Sharon Beth was sitting bolt upright in her chair, puffing hard on her cigarette and hanging on Maggie’s every word. She interrupted often with questions and interjections, but mostly she just let Maggie tell her tale. When Maggie recounted everything that Cynthia Netley had told her, and had given her own account of the old lady’s appearance, all the colour had left Beth’s face. She was cold and trembling as the shock of what she was hearing sank in. She looked as though she was about to vomit. Maggie finished, stubbed out her cigarette and instantly lit another one.

‘Well, now have you heard enough to cut that poison out of your life?’

‘I can’t.’

‘Even after everything I’ve told you, it doesn’t make any difference?’

‘It makes a world of difference and at the same time, none at all.’

‘What’s he got over you Beth, what can possibly be as bad as murder, for God’s sake?’

‘It’s not Marc. He’s not even here. He’s had to go away on Business… China… conference, meetings and….stuff.’

‘China? What does he do, run a karaoke night and roll a few sushi on the side?’

‘That’s Japan.’

‘Same difference, so is that it? He’s swanning off building his empire and you’ve been left at home minding the baby? Why Beth? I don’t get it. Just walk away. She’s old enough, and Christ knows she’s ugly enough, to take care of herself. Hell, she’ll probably murder a few babies to feed on till her wacko brother gets back. Walk away.’

‘I can’t. I’m tied…responsible.’

‘Responsible for what?’

‘How are the kids?’

‘Responsible for what?’

‘How’s Graham? Have you had your fanny waxed, recently?’

Maggie didn’t even crack a smile. ‘I wish I had a photo of that old lady to show you Beth.’

‘Leave it Maggie.’

‘Like you keep saying, I can’t. If you saw what I saw in that nursing home, that old lady’s face, Beth, it was… gone. And she had this burned plate of melted cheese where her face should have been. God it was awful.’

‘There’s nothing you can do. Don’t get involved. You could get hurt.’

‘Is that a threat?’

Beth laughed but the sound was false and hollow. ‘Of course not, don’t be stupid.’ Her eyes filled with tears again, ‘Please Maggie, there’s nothing you can do, just leave it.’

‘Okay, I’ll drop it for now, seems you’ve got enough people bullying you without me joining in. But, I’m not having you cutting me out. We’ve been friends too long Beth. Make time for me. I need you, Beth. I’m worried sick about you and I’ve got all this stuff going on with Colin. You’ve heard about that right?’ She didn’t stop to wait for an answer. ‘Him deciding to swan off to God knows where. I had the police around last night asking if I’d seen him. I told them he’ll be lying on some Mediterranean beach with a woman half his age. The kids are upset and asking all kinds of questions that I can’t answer and I’m ready for murdering him as well as you. I’m at the end of my rope and I can’t take much more.’

Beth tried to deflect Maggie’s attention away from her face, she had gone red. She could feel the shame burning her cheeks. She made a show of busying herself collecting up the mugs and dirty ashtray. Three months earlier Maggie would have been on to her guilty look in a heartbeat, but things had changed a lot since then. They had drifted and Beth had undergone a major crash course in deception. ‘How’s the investigation going?’ she asked, ‘I saw the appeal on the news, last night.’

‘But you didn’t think to come round and be there for me, Beth?’ the bitterness in her voice was tinged with disappointment and maybe some acceptance of the fact, too.’

‘I thought about it, but what could I do to help? I’d only have been in the way.’

‘You know Beth, if I had a quid for the amount of times I’ve told that man to go and jump off a cliff, and now, what if he has? The kids saw the news; all the kids at school are talking. They keep asking questions. And fucking hell Beth, it breaks my heart that I can’t tell them anything. I’m going to kill the bastard when he shows up, for putting them through this.’

‘He’ll be okay,’ Beth mumbled,’ ‘You know he will. It’s Colin we’re talking about. He could talk himself out of any hole and he’s just not the type to… well you know. He’ll have gone off somewhere on a whim. Maybe they don’t have Granada telly in outer Mongolia, or wherever he is, and he’s oblivious to all the fuss he’s caused. It’ll be okay. You just wait and see.’ She tried to smile but knew that her expression was shifty and insincere.

‘So where’s his van?’

‘Eh,’ said Beth thrown by the question.

‘His van. Where is his van? If he’s off living the high-life somewhere, why isn’t his van sitting in Manchester airport car park stinking of cheap perfume and bimbo? His passport was in his flat. His bank account hasn’t been touched in over two weeks. He went off to a job in the morning, on the third of last month. He vanished into thin air, van and all, and he hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Explain that.

‘I can’t.’

Maggie smiled and touched her hand, ‘No of course you can’t, but you can just be my friend. The kids miss you. Hell, I miss you. I’m going now, but when can I see you again. Let’s go out for a drink Friday, or just stay in, if you prefer. Something. Anything.’

‘Okay.’

‘Promise.’

‘Promise.’