Beyond Death (12 page)

‘Get up!’ said the knife holder and Val slowly pulled herself onto her feet, dreading what was coming.

‘Take her coat first.’ He nodded to one of his crew and the boy tugged her coat off her. All thoughts of being brave disappeared when Val realized what they had in mind and she shook her head repeatedly.

‘No! Oh no! Just take what you have and leave me. Please.’ She was hugging herself and shaking.

The hoodie with the knife handed his weapon over to one of his accomplices as he undid his belt and started unzipping his jeans. He nodded to the third hoodie who grabbed Val’s arms and put them behind her back. She was frantic now and started to scream, trying to wriggle out of the thug’s grip. They stopped for a second as they heard footsteps and a couple appeared from around the corner, the woman linking arms with the man and laughing up into his face. They stopped laughing as soon as they saw the scene ahead of them and the man quickly took out his mobile, dialled a number and talked into the phone.

The two accomplices looked at their leader for advice.

‘Go.’ He said as he quickly secured his jeans and belt. He gave Val a swift and painful kick to the shin and ran off, but not before the quick thinking woman had taken a photograph on her mobile phone. The couple ran to Val’s side and gently supported her as she collapsed to the floor, shaken and terrified from her ordeal.

The police and an ambulance arrived and Val was taken to the hospital to be checked over. Her waist was grazed but the cut on her arm had to be stitched and Val’s ankle wasn’t broken, but badly sprained. Her face was grazed from the fall onto the pavement and the gutter, and her hands were cut and tiny stones had to be removed from the cuts by a nurse with a tweezers. While she was being checked over and patched up Val had asked the police to contact Marion to let her know what had happened. They also helped her contact her credit card and mobile phone providers and a stop was put on both. She cancelled her other cards by contacting her bank and she was so glad that she’d left her house keys in the hotel, even though they didn’t identify her address. She was able to concentrate while doing this and it wasn’t until she’d given a statement and the police were taking her back to the hotel that delayed shock started to set in. Despite her injuries Val knew that it could have been worse and she would be forever grateful to the people who stopped the attack from going any further. Regardless, she was still frightened and upset and just wanted to go home.

By the time Val arrived at the hotel Marion was beside herself with worry. She had no idea how she would feel under the same circumstances, but knew that she’d want the comfort of familiar things and the security of her own home. Marion had therefore packed her own belongings and as much of Val’s as she could. A policewoman brought Val up to the hotel room and she fell into Marion’s hug, grateful for the security of her friend. The embrace shocked Marion but she held Val and comforted her through her painful sobs. When the sobs abated she sat her down on the bed, the policewoman sitting patiently at the desk all the while.

‘What have they done to you?’ Marion looked at the dishevelled Val and stroked her cheek. The policewoman looked at both women and read something into their relationship that wasn’t there, being unaware of the circumstances that had cemented their friendship. She coughed and both women turned to her, their former intimacy broken.

‘I want to go home.’ Said Val and Marion nodded and told her that most of her things had been packed.

‘We don’t usually do this but I’ll ask my Sarge if we can take you. It’s only right after what you’ve been through.’

Marion smiled at the policewoman, grateful for her compassion. She checked them out while the officer sat in reception with Val and it wasn’t long before they were making their way to Val’s home in the police car. The two constables came in with them and told Val that they’d be back the following morning to go through her statement again and to inform her of any progress. Marion closed the door and made her way to the kitchen to make them both a hot sweet drink. She had a feeling that the attack had put paid to Val’s working trip to Zambia. If this was the case Marion would also postpone her own trip and make her number one priority to look after her friend, and get her back on her feet after her terrifying ordeal.

*****

Ron tried to open his eyes but they felt as if they were stuck together. He struggled and eventually they opened. They felt swollen and when he touched his nose, he knew that something wasn’t right. There weren’t any mirrors so he couldn’t look at his face but by the way he felt, knew that he had at least one black eye and possibly a broken nose. He was aching and bruised but these pains were minor compared to his feelings of inadequacy at not being able to help his wife. He was so relieved that the two people had arrived in the nick of time and Val’s attack hadn’t been even worse. He called for Claire but there was no reply. To his surprise Gabriella appeared. Her eyes took in the state of him and he felt as if he was being evaluated as well as examined.

‘I see you’ve met one of the devil’s servants.’

So that was it. It made sense to him now and he simply nodded.

‘Tell me what happened.’ Ron was surprised that Gabriella didn’t already know and she explained that angels weren’t able to follow the lives of every human being all of the time.

‘We can’t prevent all evil, Ron. But do what we can.’

Ron thought he’d never know how things worked in his new home and he wasn’t too fussed about finding out at present. His top priority was his wife’s wellbeing and that’s what he told Gabriella, after explaining what had happened to Val. The angel remained silent, contemplating the events and action to be taken. Ron wanted action straight away and was unusually impatient.

‘I’m going to get Claire.’ he said. ‘Claire, Claire, Claire!’ She could hear her name being called over and over, but didn’t want to respond. She was still extremely tired and not yet ready to return. She tried to ignore it but Ron’s annoying voice refused to go away.

‘What is it?’ This was the closest Claire had felt to being hung over since her death.

‘About time. What kept you?’ he didn’t wait for a response. ‘We need to get back to Earth ASAP, we’ve got work to do.’

Claire took in Ron’s sorry state and her curiosity made her forget about her tiredness.

‘What’s happened? Are you okay? Who did that to you?’

Gabriella listened as Ron explained and when she’d heard enough she interrupted. ‘Why don’t you both visit her and see how she’s getting on. You may be surprised when you see what’s been happening while you’ve been resting, Claire.’ She added mysteriously and Claire’s interest was certainly piqued. When she’d established that Ron’s injuries would heal quickly, she was eager to get on.

‘Let’s go, I haven’t got all day to hang around this place.’

Gabriella hid a smile as they disappeared and before long, arrived at Val’s house.

Chapter 8

Graham hadn’t told his sons or his estranged wife his new address and refused to answer his phone. After their visit from Claire, Jim and Tony were extremely worried about their father. Even though she was dead they knew their sister wouldn’t let it rest until they’d been to see him. Both were still angry with him but neither wished him ill. The time had come for action and they had coerced his boss into giving them his new address, using emotional blackmail as the lever.

‘So,’ said Tony, on the phone to Adrian Walker. ‘We know our father is depressed and if he attempts to take his life and we’ve been unable to contact him because you’ve withheld his address...’

‘All right. All right. Just wait a minute.’ He buzzed his secretary and she’d looked up the details on the company database.

‘If this goes wrong I’ll deny any knowledge, so don’t tell him you got his address from me.’ Tony thanked him politely and hung up. And now they were outside the front door of their father’s apartment block, both hesitant to knock.

‘How do you start to explain how annoyed you are without tipping him over the edge?’ asked Jim and his brother shrugged. They’d have to play it by ear and try not to lose their temper. The aim was to get their father well again. The recriminations could follow once he’d come through the current crisis.

The twins could hear the noise from the TV inside the flat so knew he must be in. He’d get fed up with the knocking before them so they carried on until they heard a shuffling noise from inside.

‘Keep your hair on, I’m coming.’

The door opened a crack and Graham tried to push it closed as soon as he recognized his sons. He was too slow and Jim had a foot in the door and Tony opened it wider, accidentally banging it into his father.

‘Ouch. For Christ’s sake.’ Graham stood there rubbing his arm without inviting his sons inside. They looked at their father trying to hide their shock. He’d always been big but muscular, not fat. Now that muscle had turned to fat and a big belly dangled out from underneath the stained sweatshirt that was too small for him. His tracksuit trousers were also stained in the groin and the legs. There was more grey in his greasy hair and, as he hadn’t bothered shaving, there was an uneven growth on his face. Still no invitation so the twins walked into their father’s home. Graham sank down onto the settee and Tony moved the empty crisp and biscuit packets and sat next to him, trying not to scratch at imagined bugs. Jim took the chair opposite.

‘I suppose I should offer you a cup of tea or something?’

‘I’ll do it, Dad.’ Tony went to the small kitchen, which was in an even worse state. He walked back into the living room in disgust.

‘How the fuck have you let this happen?’ his hands gestured to his father and then to the flat. ‘If it was one of us in this state, you’d go mental.’

Without saying a word Graham lifted his head and looked at each son in turn. A tear escaped an eye and he didn’t bother wiping it away. It was soon accompanied by another and another and it wasn’t long before he was sobbing like a child. Nobody had seen Graham cry like this before and in perfectly synchronized movements, a son sat either side of him. Jim hugged his father until the sobs subsided. When Graham came up for air, Tony put a reassuring arm around him.

‘I’m sorry, Dad. But what’s happened to you?’

Graham took a deep breath and his whole body shuddered. He calmed himself down and tried to find the words to explain.

‘Your sister. I could cope with everything else, but your sister.’ He shook his head and took another few breaths, desperately fighting back more tears and needing his sons to know how he’d ended up in his current condition.

‘Can you walk or are you physically ill?’ asked Jim and Graham said that he could move, but didn’t have the inclination or willpower to do anything.

‘Right, this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to get you packed and you’re coming to stay with us for a while.’

Graham started to shake his head in protest. The twins ignored him.

‘We’ll get someone in to sort the flat out so that it’s clean and tidy when you come back.’ Said Tony and Graham knew he was beaten.

‘At least someone still cares.’

‘You can tell us all about your other little family and our half-sister later.’ Said Tony and Graham knew he had a difficult time ahead. He didn’t have an excuse for what he’d done and wasn’t sure whether it would be more difficult to explain about his other family, or to get back to his previous good health.

*****

Three weeks had passed since the mugging and the attack had aged Val. Not normally a nervy person, she was now anxious and jumpy and worried about everything. Marion had made a brief visit to Yorkshire to finalise the house sale and Libby had stayed with her mother until she’d returned to London. They all agreed that Marion and Val would be great company for each other and Val didn’t know how she would have got through the post mugging weeks without the support and company of her new friend.

‘Today’s the day then.’ Said Val and Marion nodded. They were waiting for a call from the charity to tell them whether there would be a place for them both on the Zambia trip. Marion knew that even if they were offered a place, Val was in no fit state to go. She was happy to give up her place on this occasion and until Val was more like her old self.

‘You know I can’t go don’t you?’ Val was squeezing her hands. A habit she’d picked up since the attack.

‘Of course you can’t, it’s far too soon.’

‘You know I’ll never be the same person don’t you?’

‘Val, time’s a great healer and you will get through this, otherwise they’ve won.’

Val said nothing and the phone rang. She looked at Marion who answered and it was the call they’d been waiting for. Marion put it onto loudspeaker as they listened to the news that they’d been selected to go to Zambia. Marion declined on behalf of them both. Gail knew about the attack and understood.

‘The next trip is in the summer. Would you like to be considered for that one?’

‘Yes please for both of us,’ Marion ignored Val’s look, ‘we’ve already discussed this.’ After a few niceties they hung up with Gail promising that she would be in touch.

‘Why did you lie to her?’

‘Because the summer will give you something to aim for. I know what happened was horrendous, Val, but you have to move on with your life.’

‘Maybe if they’d been caught I could. But knowing that they’re still out there probably attacking other people makes it almost impossible.

Marion understood and thought she would feel the same. If only there was something that could be done to catch the swines, Val would be able to move on with her life a lot easier.

*****

‘Val needs our help. We have to do something and, sooner rather than later.’ Ron was drumming his fingers, impatience getting the better of him.

‘Hmm.’ Claire was preoccupied. So her mother had moved in with Val and seemed to have had a personality transplant. She considered her mother’s performance, as that’s what she thought it was. In a crisis Claire’s father had always taken charge and she hadn’t thought her mother had it in her to be so strong and supportive.