Whispers (45 page)

‘And why would you want to walk with me?’

‘’Cos if I’m to be
nice
to yer, sir, I’m thinkin’ it would be better if we got to know each other a little better.’

Jake Fenton frowned. Why would he want to be seen walking with a maid? But then . . . she
was
a comely little piece and it would be nice to have her ‘on tap’, so to speak.

‘We could walk down to the stone bridge,’ Martha went on suggestively. ‘The river is high an’ it’s a pretty sight along there.’

‘Well, I dare say it would do no harm,’ he conceded, and he then sat back to allow Martha to serve him more hare pie. It could be that he hadn’t lost his looks and his way with women, after all.

Once alone in her room that evening, Martha lay fully dressed with Jimmy’s treasured brooch pinned to her blouse, thinking and making her final plan. There seemed to be no other road left to her now.

6 March

This will be the last entry I will ever make in my diary. Today, I shall walk with the Master to the stone bridge and once there, I intend to kill him. The knife I shall use is already in my apron pocket. It is one of Phoebe’s sharpest and I took it from the kitchen earlier today whilst she wasn’t looking. I shall stab him when we are standing on the bridge and then I shall push him in. The water is high and raging there at the moment, and he will stand no chance of survival in his weakened state. It is the only way I know that will stop him from ever ruining another
girl’s
life as he has ruined mine and my dear Grace’s. I shall then throw myself into the river. I have nothing and no one left to live for now, so my life will be a small price to pay to know that the world will be rid of this evil, depraved man. I only pray now that I will have the physical strength to carry out my plan, for my one purpose in life now is to have revenge on the Master. Once he is gone, the Tolleys, my dear friends, will then be able to live here in peace. And Jimmy, my dear wonderful Jimmy, will some day soon meet another girl who will make him happy. I know that if I lived, I could never be the same again. I am not the same person I was but am now consumed with hatred and bitterness. It may be that Our Dear Lord will not allow me access to His heavenly kingdom after committing murder and suicide, but I am prepared for my spirit to roam the earth forever if I have cleansed this world of the Master.

Now I have but one last thing to do before going to meet the Master. I must make my curse and it is this: May every male Fenton who mistreats his fellow men and women, from this day forward never know a moment’s peace, and may the wrongdoers with bad blood all die a slow and terrible death.

Martha Reid

Jess gasped as she read Martha’s final words and furiously turned the page, but there was no more. The journal was finished.
Surely
there must be another journal somewhere that would carry on from this one? She could not bear the thought of Martha meeting such a terrible end, and promised herself that she would look around the attics the very next day.

Two days later, Karen called to take Jess shopping. Jess still didn’t feel strong enough to drive, and welcomed the treat. She had been searching the attics ever since finishing Martha’s journal but as yet had not found another one, which could mean only one thing. Martha must have carried out her threat and perished with the Master. That would account for her clothes still hanging in the wardrobe. But why would her spirit have stayed behind all this time? It was a puzzle, and one to which Jess could find no solution as yet.

‘You’re very quiet today,’ Karen commented as they made their way home after a brief tour of the shops.

Jess was shocked at how quickly she had tired and was longing to get home. She hadn’t slept well for the last couple of nights thinking of Martha, and that, added to the constant bickering between Mel and Simon, was wearing her down.

‘Oh, I’m still just a bit tired.’ Jess tugged her fingers through her hair. ‘I tend to think I can do a lot more than I can, and then I get all frustrated when I have to stop.’

‘It’s early days yet,’ Karen pointed out. She could only guess at how heartbroken Jess must be feeling at losing her baby boy, and up to now had carefully avoided mentioning what had happened, although she knew she would have to address it at some stage. Jess would be living with her loss for ever, and Karen knew that her friend would need a shoulder to cry on in the days and months ahead.

They were almost at the end of the lane now, and as Blue Brick Cottage came into sight, Jess spotted Laura outside.

‘Pull up for a moment, would you?’ she asked and Karen obligingly drew up alongside Laura, who had just put the rubbish bin out for collection.

‘Oh, hello, Jess.’ Laura looked decidedly uncomfortable. ‘Er . . . how are you feeling?’

‘I’m getting there. But I’ve missed you popping in for a cuppa. Is everything all right?’

Laura nodded hastily. ‘Yes, thanks. But I’ve been busy – you know, looking after Beth and whatnot.’

Jess found this a poor excuse. It had never stopped Laura from visiting before, but she tactfully told her, ‘Well, do call in if you get the chance. I’m still a bit housebound at the minute and I’d welcome the company.’ She had the distinct impression that Laura was keen to get away and she was proved to be right when her neighbour shot away towards the back door of the cottage without another word.

‘So what have you done to her then?’ Karen asked in her usual forthright way. ‘It seemed like it was taking her all her time to even speak to you.’

‘It did, didn’t it?’ Jess tried to think what she might have done to upset her neighbour, but could come up with nothing – unless Simon or one of the girls had upset her, that was. She decided she would ask them that evening.

When Karen left an hour later Jess lay down for a while and had a rest before resuming her search of the big attic. She was still there when Simon arrived home mid-afternoon and she jumped when he suddenly appeared in the doorway.

‘What are you doing in here again?’ he questioned. ‘Don’t tell me you’re still looking for another bloody journal?’

When Jess flushed guiltily, his lips tightened. ‘This is getting unhealthy. You’re damn well
obsessed
, woman! I’m beginning to worry about you – especially with all these so-called accidents you’re having.’

‘What is
that
supposed to mean?’ Jess straightened from the trunk she had been going through. ‘Are you trying to say that I’m going mad?’

He looked at her for a long moment before turning and striding away down stairs as Jess sagged against the wall. He hadn’t uttered a single word but his look had said it all. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she
was
going mad. After all, when she had first moved in she had laughed at Laura for telling her there was a presence in the house, and now here she was searching for another journal that had belonged to the girl, and even talking to her sometimes. It was a sobering thought, and as she snapped off the light and carefully made her way downstairs, her hands were shaking.

It was the following week when Simon unexpectedly suggested one evening over dinner, ‘Why don’t you get yourself off to see Karen for a while? You should be OK to drive now, and if you don’t get back behind the wheel soon you’re going to lose your confidence.’

Jess paused to look at him. She had to admit that she was sick to death of staring at the same four walls.

‘I suppose you’re right, and it would be nice to get back into some sort of routine,’ she admitted.

‘Can I come with you?’ Jo piped up and Jess grinned.

‘I don’t see why not. But I won’t be late – you’ve got school in the morning. Would you like to come too, Mel?’

Before the girl had time to answer her, Simon scowled. ‘I think it would be best if she stayed behind to catch up on some homework, don’t you? Her last school report was appalling and she needs to pull her socks up good and proper.’

Mel scraped her chair across the tiles as colour suffused her pale cheeks. But she didn’t contradict her dad; she merely ran upstairs.

‘That was a bit harsh, wasn’t it?’ Jess said. ‘You could try praise and encouragement instead of barking at the poor kid all the time. No wonder she hasn’t got a good word to say to you.’

‘Spare the rod and spoil the child,’ Simon snapped back. ‘The trouble with you is you’re too soft on the pair of them. It wouldn’t hurt Jo to stay behind and do some homework too.’

Realising that this was in danger of turning into a flaming row, Jess took a deep breath before saying, ‘I suppose your dad is right, Jo. It wouldn’t hurt you to do a bit of homework too. And it’s not as if I’m going to be gone for long.’

Jo’s face fell a foot but she didn’t argue. She simply called Alfie to heel and disappeared off into the lounge with him.

‘
Happy
now, are you?’ Jess said caustically, and before Simon could reply she turned and went to get changed before she said something she might regret. A few hours away from Simon seemed like a very good idea indeed.

Once in the car, Jess broke out in a cold sweat. Simon had been right about one thing. It was hard to drive again after such a long time. Even so she turned the key in the ignition and cautiously reversed before steering the car onto the drive, testing the brakes every few seconds. Her heart was in her throat but she forced herself to go on, afraid that if she gave up now she might never have the nerve to get behind the wheel again.

The journey to Karen’s seemed endless but at last she arrived. Her friend was pleased to see her and instantly made her a nice cup of hot sweet tea. But somehow Jess could not rest or relax. Every instinct she had was screaming to her that something wasn’t right, and the
familiar
whispers were loud in her ear. Within minutes of being there she picked up the car keys and told Karen apologetically, ‘I’m sorry, love. But I have to go.’

‘Bloody hell, you’ve only just got here,’ Karen objected. ‘You haven’t even finished your drink yet!’

‘I know and I’m sorry. But really I can’t stay. I’ll call you in the week.’ Before Karen’s bemused eyes Jess found her coat and seconds later was back in the car and heading towards home.

All the nervousness she had felt earlier in the evening about driving had fled now and she just wanted to be home. Pressing her foot down hard on the accelerator she went as fast as she dared as the feeling of foreboding that had settled on her grew worse by the second. The streetlights flashed past, and by the time she turned into the drive leading to Stonebridge House her heart was pounding. The river was high and raging, even as far as over the road in places, and Jess had to temporarily slow down as the car ploughed through it, throwing up a spray of icy water. The first thing she saw when she screeched to a halt was the back door banging open in the wind and she almost fell out of the car, leaving that door to flap open too as she sped into the kitchen.

Jo was sitting at the kitchen table with her head in her hands sobbing uncontrollably and Jess rushed across to her.

‘Whatever is the matter?’ she asked in a shaky voice as she hugged the girl to her. ‘What’s happened?’

Jo gulped and drew air into her lungs before she could speak as she raised her tear-stained face to her mother’s. ‘It . . . it’s Dad and Mel. I heard them having a terrible row in her room so I came downstairs out of the way. Th . . . then Mel shot past me and ran outside and Dad chased after her.’

‘And where are they now?’ Jess was fighting to stay calm.

‘I d-don’t know,’ Jo stuttered. ‘They’ve been gone for ages.’

‘Well, they can’t have gone far. Your dad’s car and his van are still in the courtyard.’ Jess looked towards the dark window. The wind was howling and it had started to rain. It certainly wasn’t a night for being outside.

‘What shall we do?’ Jo asked in a small voice.

‘We’ll wait for a while and see if they come back. If they haven’t, after an hour I’m going to phone the police.’ Jess could see no alternative although she hated to go to such drastic measures.

They sat huddled together watching the hands of the clock ticking the minutes away until Jess could stand it no more.

‘Look, you get yourself off to bed, pet,’ she suggested. ‘I’ll go out with Alfie and see if I can find them.’

‘I want to come with you,’ Jo replied imploringly, but Jess shook her head as she pulled her outdoor coat on.

‘You certainly won’t. It’s awful out there. I need to know that you are safe at least, so run along and do as I say, there’s a good girl now.’

Jo pouted but meekly walked towards the stairs as Jess tugged the back door open. The force of the wind took her breath away, but with Alfie bounding along at the side of her she set off across the lawn towards the copse.

‘
Mel! Simon!
’ she screamed into the deep night, but the wind snatched the words away. The rain was coming down faster now and she wished that she had thought to bring the torch with her. Within seconds her hair was plastered to her head and icy drops of rain were running down the neck of her coat. The inside of the copse was as dark as the grave, and the wind was whistling eerily through the leafless branches. With her hands stretched out in front of her she ventured a few yards in, but she had taken no more than a few steps when she went sprawling over a fallen branch to land in a muddy heap on the ground.

‘Damn and blast!’ she cursed as she struggled to her feet and then forced herself to stand still and listen as she clutched her still tender stomach. There was nothing but the sound of the wind. Even the night creatures had taken cover on such a wicked evening. Knowing that it would be pointless to venture any further without a light of some kind she cautiously picked her way back amongst the trees until she was on the lawn once more.

‘Which way now, Alfie?’ she mused, more to herself than the dog. He barked and started across the lawn in the direction of the river, and not knowing what else to do, Jess followed him. The Anker had burst its banks and was creeping its way up the lawn, and the grass that ran alongside it was treacherously slippery. Jess tried to keep up with Alfie who was leaping ahead, yapping as if his very life depended upon it. What seemed like a lifetime later they came to the stone bridge, or what remained of it. The river was heaving and swirling here, as it struggled to find its way beneath what was left of the three stone arches. Floating debris had collected there, which made the passage of the water even more difficult. Jess shivered as she looked into the black inky depths. Anyone falling into that would stand no chance of survival and she could only pray that Simon and Mel had not come this way.