Snatched (49 page)

‘Oh, I doubt it,’ Pauline said softly. ‘I knew Jack for years before he moved, and he was a nice man. He didn’t deserve a thug like Dave for a son, so if anyone caused him stress by moving in it was
him
. If anything, you and Connor probably gave Jack some comfort in his last few days. You definitely did in his last minutes, because you were there for him. And there’s nothing worse when you get to mine and Jack’s age than the thought of dying alone, believe me.’

Thanking her, because her words had salved a little of the guilt she’d been feeling, Sue said, ‘He kept telling me to leave, but I didn’t understand what he meant. Now I know he was trying to warn me about Dave.’ Pausing, she bit her lip and shook her head, murmuring, ‘I can’t believe I left Connor with him. He could have done anything.’

‘Yes, well, he didn’t,’ Pauline reminded her firmly. ‘He brought him to me. And that was the best place the lad could have been, because I’d have protected him with my life.’

Smiling sadly, Sue reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘Thanks, Pauline. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us. And I know I don’t deserve it, because I’ve been horrible to you at times.’

‘Don’t you be so silly,’ Pauline scolded. ‘Anyway, never mind all that. You just concentrate on getting you and the kids sorted.’

‘I will,’ Sue murmured, blowing her nose again. ‘As soon as the council stops messing about and gives us the house they promised at the start of this.’

Tutting, Pauline said, ‘They’re buggers, aren’t they? And I’ve seen three empty houses on the estate this week alone. Want me to have a go at them?’ she offered then. ‘As chair of the association, I should think I’ll hold a fair bit of clout.’

‘No, don’t worry about it,’ Sue said quickly, sensing that the council might just dig their heels in even harder if they had Pauline harassing them. ‘The hostel’s not as bad as I thought it would be. And at least the kids have got people around them all the time, so they feel safe when I’m not there.’

Terry and Leanne had just arrived. Spotting them as they headed through the gate hand in hand, Pauline nudged Sue, and said, ‘Do you think we’d best go out the other way?’

‘No.’ Sue shook her head. ‘It’s not her fault, and it’s time we got this sorted once and for all.’ Catching the look of incredulity on Pauline’s face, she said, ‘I know they started out wrong, but they must really love each other if they’re still together after everything that’s happened. And they’re engaged now, so even if I can’t stand her I suppose I should make my peace with her if she’s going to be part of the kids’ lives.’

‘Well, you’re a bigger woman than I’d be under the circumstances,’ Pauline said admiringly. Seeing the wheelchair being pushed through the car park just then, she said, ‘Oh, those policewomen are here. Will you be all right with these two on your own while I nip over and say hello?’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Sue said, stepping behind the huge angel headstone that was towering over the neighbouring grave. ‘But can you do me a favour, and don’t tell the police I’m here? I can’t face them just yet.’

‘Oh?’ Pauline gave her a curious look.

Shaking her head, Sue cast a hooded glance in Terry and Leanne’s direction, indicating that she didn’t want to discuss it in front of them.

Biting her lip when Pauline bustled away, Sue prayed that she’d keep the policewomen talking for long enough for her to say what she had to say to Terry and Leanne then make a quick escape. She knew she couldn’t avoid it for ever, but the last thing she wanted was to get arrested in front of them. And now that Nicky had been interviewed about what had happened that night, it was only a matter of time before they came for her and everyone found out what a terrible mother she was.

Terry was apprehensive as he and Leanne reached the graveside. They’d missed the funeral service because Leanne had wanted to visit her dad in prison that morning. Arriving here now, his heart had sunk when he’d spotted Sue. But when he’d suggested waiting until she’d gone before coming over, Leanne had insisted that she wanted to say goodbye to her grandfather. Terry just hoped she didn’t kick off, because he’d had enough of all the fighting and arguing.

Sue was equally nervous, because she had no doubt that Dave would have told Leanne the truth about what had happened by now. And if
she
knew, then so did Terry. But, much as she was dreading his reaction to seeing her, she knew that she would have to take whatever he threw at her – for the kids’ sakes. They would obviously have to live with him while she was in prison, and the last thing she wanted was for him to turn them against her and refuse to let her see them again. And if that meant building bridges with Leanne, then so be it.

Giving Terry a sick little smile across the grave now, she took a deep breath, and said, ‘Hello, Terry . . . Leanne.’

‘Don’t talk to me,’ Leanne spat, glaring across at her with red-rimmed eyes – the result of seeing her dad behind bars, not the death of her grandfather. ‘I don’t even know what you’re doing here, you cheeky bitch. You’re not family. You’ve got no right.’

‘I just wanted to pay my respects to your grandad,’ Sue said evenly, determined not to allow herself to be drawn into a catfight. ‘He was a nice man.’

‘Fuck off!’ Leanne hissed. ‘You only knew him for a week, so don’t try and make out like you were anything to him, because you weren’t. Just like you’re nothing to my dad.’

Gritting her teeth as she realised that this was going to be even harder than she’d thought it would be, Sue said, ‘I know it’s all been a shock, and I’m really sorry about—’

‘Sorry about what?’ Leanne interrupted nastily. ‘For getting my
fiancé
nicked just because you can’t tell the fucking truth? Or for getting my dad banged up because you couldn’t keep your dirty hands off him?’

‘Pack it in,’ Terry hissed, blushing with shame when mourners from a nearby funeral began to cast disapproving looks in their direction.

Turning on him in a flash, Leanne yelled, ‘Don’t you tell me what to do! And don’t you
dare
defend this bitch after everything she’s done to me, or you can forget about us – and I
mean
it!’

‘I haven’t done anything to you,’ Sue reminded her calmly. ‘I’m just trying to put a stop to all this arguing, that’s all. If you’re going to marry Terry, then the kids will be part of your life as well as his, and I’ve accepted that.’

‘Over my dead body!’ Leanne squawked. ‘You really think I’m having those brats in my life knowing that my dad’s inside because of them? You must be
mad
!’

Narrowing his eyes, Terry peered at Leanne as if seeing her for the first time. He’d been trying so hard not to blame her for any of this, and it had been difficult to keep his cool at times, especially when she talked about her dad as if he was some kind of fallen god whose only crime was to love his child too much. But there was no excusing what she was saying about
his
children now.

‘You know what,’ he said quietly. ‘
I
’m the mad one, for thinking I could spend the rest of my life with you. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and, Christ, have you proved that today.’

‘Meaning?’ Leanne demanded, furious with him for arguing with her in front of Sue.

‘Meaning that you’re just like your dad,’ Terry said flatly. ‘
And
your mum. And to be honest, I don’t know which is worse. Her, for trying to get off with me every time your back’s turned. Or him, for kidnapping my daughter. Or
you
,’ he added coldly. ‘For having the bare-faced cheek to try and blame Sue and my kids for what happened.’

‘Oh, so it’s nothing to do with
her
, then?’ Leanne retorted self-righteously. ‘She didn’t go out and leave your precious brat in the house on his own?’

‘I don’t know what happened,’ Terry replied. ‘And to be honest, I don’t really care right now. I’m just glad they’re all safe. But you don’t give a toss about them. You’re more concerned about the bastard who did this to them.’

‘Don’t call my dad a bastard,’ Leanne warned him.

‘Or what?’ Terry asked, looking at her with disgust. ‘You’ll get him to kick my head in? Sorry, love, I’m past caring. About him –
and
you.’

‘You’d best not be saying what I think you’re saying,’ Leanne hissed, glaring at him with hatred. ‘’Cos if you finish with me and go back to her after all this, I swear I’ll kill you!’

‘I’m not going back to her,’ Terry replied coolly. ‘But I’m not wasting any more time with you, either, because you’re poisonous.’

‘Well, you can have
this
back, then,’ Leanne spat, wrenching the ring off her finger and tossing it away. ‘And don’t think you’re crawling back to me when you realise what a mistake you’ve made, because I’ll be with Zak!’

‘Good luck to him,’ Terry snorted. Then, watching as her eyes followed the ring’s progress to where it landed in the earth covering the coffin, he said, ‘Oh, and in case you’re thinking about sneaking back in to dig it up later, I wouldn’t bother. It was only fifteen quid from the second-hand shop.’

It was a lie, but it hit Leanne exactly where he had known it would, and he didn’t feel any pity when she immediately burst into tears. All it had ever meant to her was another kick in Sue’s teeth, and he knew that now. Although he didn’t know why it had taken him so long to figure it out, considering that the first thing she’d wanted to know after he’d presented it to her was if it was more expensive than the one he’d bought for Sue.

Leanne was sobbing loudly now, her face buried in her hands. But instead of comforting her as she was expecting even after all that had been said, Terry just nodded goodbye to Sue and walked away.

Despite everything that had happened. Sue couldn’t help but feel sorry for the girl. She knew the tone of voice that Terry had used just now all too well, and it signalled that he had made up his mind. And he was the kind of man who never went back once he’d crossed that line. So, just as he’d said that he wouldn’t be coming back to Sue, he would also never go back to Leanne now that he’d broken the relationship off. But Leanne had a long way to go before she would accept that. A long way, and a great deal of pain, when she realised what a good man she’d had and lost.

Exactly like Sue had already done.

‘Don’t cry, Leanne,’ she said now, her eyes filled with sympathy as she gazed at the sobbing girl. ‘You will get over him in time.’

‘Like
you
did?’ Leanne yelled back at her spitefully, the tears stopping as abruptly as they had started. ‘You’ve been hanging around like a bad smell all year hoping to get him back, but it’s never going to happen, ’cos he’s
mine
!’ Then, screaming, ‘
TERRRRY!
’ she turned and ran after him.

Shaking her head as she watched, Sue’s heart lurched when she spotted from the corner of her eye the policewomen heading her way. Her immediate instinct was to run, but it was too late for that. So, taking a deep breath, she turned to face them.

‘She looks upset,’ Jay said, twisting around in the wheelchair to watch Leanne chasing after Terry as Ann bumped her across the rough grass to the graveside. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Not really,’ Sue said, glancing back at Leanne who was grabbing at Terry’s arm now, only for him to shake her off determinedly.

Asking Ann if she could leave them for a minute, Jay waited until she’d gone. Then, looking up at Sue, she said, ‘Sorry I haven’t had a chance to speak to you sooner, but I really wanted to thank you for what you did. If you hadn’t stopped Dave Miller from shooting that night, we wouldn’t have been able to call for help and I’d have bled to death.’

A frown of confusion skittered across Sue’s brow. ‘I’m the one who should be thanking you,’ she said. ‘If you hadn’t taken Connor seriously, Nicky would have died.’

‘You can thank your friend Mrs Wilson for that,’ Jay told her, smiling conspiratorially. ‘She’s very persuasive when she gets an idea into her head, and she was so convinced there was something to the picture that I couldn’t ignore it. Anyway, the children are safe now, so it worked out well.’ Pausing, she gazed up at Sue thoughtfully. ‘But how are you?’

Blushing, because she knew that she didn’t deserve anybody’s concern, Sue shrugged and said, ‘I’m okay.’ Then, breathing in deeply, she said, ‘Look, I don’t know what Nicky’s told you, because she’s not really talking to me at the moment. But whatever she said, it’s true. This is all my fault, so if you’re going to arrest me, I’m ready. Just . . . can you make sure that Terry gets the kids, please? Or Pauline, if it’s too difficult for him. Only, he’s splitting up with Leanne, so he might have to find somewhere to live first.’

Listening to the resignation in Sue’s voice, and seeing the stark sadness in her eyes, Jay decided to put her out of her misery.

‘I’m not going to arrest you,’ she said. ‘I don’t think it would benefit anybody – certainly not the children. Anyway, this case is purely about Nicky, and as she was kidnapped at a different location, what happened at home doesn’t come into it.’ Pausing now, she gave Sue a long, meaningful look, before adding, ‘Mistakes have been made, but lessons have been learned, I’m sure.’

Tears of relief and gratitude streaming from her eyes, Sue buried her face in her hands. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she sobbed. ‘I’ve never done anything like that before, and I don’t know why I did it. I really thought Nicky ran past me when I was leaving, so I thought everything would be okay. But I shouldn’t have left Connor, and I’ll never do it again. I
swear
it.’

Satisfied that Sue meant what she was saying, Jay knew that she’d made the right decision. Reaching out, she patted Sue’s arm, saying, ‘Put it behind you and get on with looking after your family. And don’t worry about Nicky. Dave Miller told her a lot of things about you that she didn’t need to hear, and she’ll have to work out the truth from the lies for herself. But she does love you, so she’ll come round in time.’