Authors: Linda Kavanagh
Leaping out of bed, Kerry hurried into the kitchen, feeling a chill of apprehension running down her spine. A late-night caller was never the bearer of good news.
‘H-hello?’
There was no reply, although Kerry knew there was someone on the other end of the line. Breaking her own rule never to respond, she shouted angrily at the caller.
‘Whoever you are, go to hell!’
Then she banged the phone down on the table. She was furious at being woken up just after she’d managed to drift off to sleep. She briefly wondered if she should be worried about this latest call: was it part of some frightening scenario orchestrated by Jeff or his drug-dealer colleague? Quickly Kerry dismissed the idea and accepted that it was probably just a wrong number.
Kerry had seen the strange man again several times outside her place of work, but now she didn’t let it bother her. He seemed completely harmless and he never bothered her, just stood watching her. She was also relieved she hadn’t told Laura about him. Laura would have made an even bigger deal of it. Yet again she’d proved the value of keeping her own counsel. Deciding to make herself a cup of tea, Kerry turned on the kettle. She was wide awake now, and unlikely to get back to sleep any time soon. If she couldn’t drop off quickly, she might even help herself to one of the sedatives Laura had been prescribed but never used. There was an important meeting at Sea Diagnostics in the morning and she needed to be alert. Damn the caller, whoever he or she was.
Although she was no longer frightened, these random incidents had, nevertheless, brought back long-forgotten memories from her childhood. She’d never told anyone – not even Laura – about the man who used to hide in the shadows of Treetops’s driveway and watch her as she played. Even as a child she’d refused to let it bother her, believing that by telling anyone she’d only make it worse, and there was also the distinct likelihood that her mother would restrict her freedom and insist she play indoors instead.
She’d never been able to see the man clearly, since he’d always stayed hidden among the trees. At times, she had convinced herself that this man in the shadows was her long-lost father. She became adept at weaving stories in which this father of hers had a starring role. Sometimes, he’d just returned from overseas, or from bravely fighting in some war or other, and he was unable to resist seeing how his daughter was getting on. But since he seemed unable to visit her openly, she eventually changed her story to one in which he’d been in prison – wrongly convicted, of course – and that her mother had banished him for ever from their lives. Desperate for a father of her own, Kerry had relished
that particular story, and for a while she’d even unfairly resented her mother for keeping this noble man at bay.
Sighing, she rinsed her cup and headed back to bed. It was time to forget about men hiding in shadows and silent phone calls. Sea Diagnostics was about to tender for yet another big project, and it needed her full attention the following morning. Within minutes of climbing into bed, Kerry was fast asleep again.
A
week later, Laura decided it was time to return to the local police station. She was actually looking forward to her visit this time, since she was hoping they might have some news about their visit to Jeff. Hopefully, her ex-husband would leave her alone now that the police had been in contact with him.
In the police station, Laura waited eagerly as the duty officer on the front desk searched for the report and then, having found it, hurried off to confer with a colleague.
Shortly afterwards, Laura was ushered into the office of a different police officer from the one she encountered on her previous visit. This one was a detective sergeant, and he acknowledged her presence with a nod, thumbing through the stack of papers in front of him, extracting several sheets of paper. ‘Hmm, yes, it says here that one of our officers went round to Mr Jones’s apartment last week.’ The DS looked up. ‘But according to this report, your ex-husband says you’re making it all up.’ He looked down again at the wording in the report and read it aloud to her. ‘He says you’re a vindictive woman who’s determined to wreck his life. According to him, you’re out for revenge because he kept some of your wedding presents.’
While Laura sat open-mouthed, the police officer read from the papers again. ‘It says here that he offered them back to you, but you wouldn’t accept them. He maintains that you
refused to take them because you wanted to be able to keep hassling him.’
Laura was aghast. ‘But that’s exactly what he’s doing to me! Can’t you see that he’s hijacking
my
story and using it against me!’ she shouted.
‘Calm down, Ms Thornton. All shouting at me will do is prove the man’s point – he said you’ve even been screaming down the phone at him, too.’
‘That’s untrue – he’s been the one hassling me!’
The DS looked at his notes. ‘Well, he’s got a sound alibi for the time you claim he damaged your friend’s car, and he’s given us a recording of you on the phone to him and, I have to say, it did sound as though you were the one hassling
him.
’
The DS stood up, left the room briefly and returned with a small tape recorder. As he pressed the button, Laura could hear her own voice, strident with tension.
‘You bastard, Jeff! I am sick to death of you – don’t make me do something I’ll regret! You’re nothing but a pathetic loser!’
Laura was speechless. ‘So you obviously didn’t hear the bits where I begged him to leave me alone,’ she said quietly.
‘You were angry. I can hear that. But it takes two to tango. Now, I suggest you calm down and look at the situation rationally.’ Before Laura could answer, the DS spoke again. ‘Your ex-husband has also filed a complaint against you on the grounds that you’re the one who’s making his life a misery – that he’s moved on, but you just won’t let him be!’
Laura exploded. ‘My ex-husband is from a violent, dysfunctional family – his father killed his mother, then hanged himself – yet Jeff saw fit to model our marriage on theirs! He’s told me he works for MI5, but I’ve no way of knowing if that’s true or not. I’m also fairly sure he’s killed someone!’
The DS’s eyes narrowed, and he made a quick note on the report. ‘Things tend to get nasty when couples break up,’ he
said noncommittally. ‘And people have been known to make false accusations against each other.’
‘I’m not making this up –’
He rose from the table. ‘Ma’am, I don’t think there’s much more I can do to help you. If you don’t want to see your ex, then surely you can just stay away from him?’
‘That’s what I’m trying to do, but he keeps turning up everywhere I go!’
The DS looked exasperated. ‘Ms Thornton, I can see you’re very worked up about the situation. And maybe you’re reading more into it than it warrants? But, by all means, call us if there are any further incidents –’
In tears of frustration, she stomped out of the police station. Yet again, Jeff had foiled her attempts to get help by preempting her claims. He was even more devious than she’d thought.
‘I
’ve just been to Kerry’s parent–teacher meeting,’ Ellie told Alan as they prepared to shower after an afternoon of lovemaking. ‘The teachers are really pleased with her progress over the last year, particularly in maths and science.’
Alan nodded. ‘That’s great. But then, I’m not really surprised – we have a very bright child, you know!’
‘Kerry’s also been doing brilliantly on her tennis course,’ Ellie added. ‘She’s reached the junior finals in the end-of-season tournament that’s being held at the club next Friday afternoon – it would mean a lot to her if you could be there.’
Alan nodded, moving over to allow Ellie to step into the shower beside him. ‘Of course I will! But it’s probably best if I go there on my own – I mean, this will be the first time I’ll be seen publicly at an event where Kerry’s taking part – so there’s no point in rocking any boats.’ He inclined his head. ‘I presume Laura won’t be turning up to support her friend? That would be a disaster –’
Ellie shook her head. ‘No, Laura’s not keen on tennis and, anyway, she does ballet classes on Friday afternoons.’ She nudged him playfully in the ribs. ‘Shouldn’t you know that already?’
Alan grimaced. Ellie was right. He was inclined to forget who was doing what sometimes.
‘I’m glad the girls have at least a few different hobbies, and get to spend some time apart from each other,’ Ellie added. ‘Because most of the time, they seem to be stuck together like glue!’
Alan smiled down at her and kissed the top of her wet head. ‘Tell Kerry I’m looking forward to seeing her play next Friday.’
Ellie smiled at her daughter as the child returned from tennis, looking dishevelled, in need of a bath and a change of clothes. ‘You’ve been putting a lot of effort into this tennis lark, haven’t you?’ Ellie said, brushing a stray strand of hair from Kerry’s damp forehead.
Kerry nodded. ‘I’m good at it,’ she replied, with no sense of modesty. ‘There’s a mean girl on the course called Harriet, and she thinks she’s better than anyone else at tennis. But I’m going to thrash her in the tournament next Friday – then she’ll know who’s the best!’
Ellie smiled. ‘I have a bit of news for you – Mr Thornton is coming to watch you play in the tournament!’
Kerry looked wary. ‘How do you know? When did you see him?’
Ellie coloured. ‘Oh, he – er, he was just passing by and dropped in to say hello. And when I told him about your tournament, he said he’d love to attend!’
Kerry smiled shyly. Inside, her heart was jumping for joy, and she wanted to shout out with glee. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her!
Ellie smiled as she helped her daughter out of her grass-stained clothing. The regular loads of washing over the summer period were a small price to pay for the free time it allowed her to be with Alan.
‘Come along and let me run a bath for you – you look like a scarecrow!’
Without demur, Kerry allowed herself to be propelled upstairs. She simply couldn’t stop smiling at the thought of Mr Thornton watching her play next Friday. She’d make him proud of her by beating nasty Harriet and claiming the junior prize!
As the week progressed, all the pupils who had won their preliminary tennis matches were spending extra time on the courts, as they prepared to demonstrate their burgeoning skills to their doting parents on Friday afternoon. Each final match had been arranged on the basis of age and skill, with Kerry and her opponent being from the youngest age group in the competition. Theirs would be the first match played. The winner of each match would receive a small trophy.
Kerry was secretly thrilled as she waited eagerly for Friday to arrive. As she continued to hone her skills against any other pupil willing to take her on, her coach was confident that she could beat her opponent easily. ‘You’re doing really well this week,’ he told her happily. ‘I don’t know what’s happened, but you seem to have developed a real urge to win. Keep it up, and you’ll definitely be taking home the junior trophy on Friday!’
Kerry grinned her thanks, basking in the extra confidence that his words inspired. Right now, she felt invincible. She was going to wipe Harriet off the court while Mr Thornton watched! Having him present would be almost like having a dad of her own! On Friday she’d be just like all the other children, whose dads would be turning up to cheer them on.
As Kerry prepared to leave the clubhouse after practice, her nemesis was lurking outside the door to harangue her.
‘You won’t stand a chance on Friday,’ Harriet said, sneering at her. ‘You’re poor, and you haven’t even got a father!’
Kerry struggled to keep her emotions under control. ‘And you’re just a big bully!’ she told the older girl, her eyes blazing. Kerry’s heart was pounding as she stepped into the abyss. ‘Besides, my father is coming to the tournament on Friday – to see me win!’
Harriet was left with her mouth momentarily open.
‘You really have a father?’ she asked at last.
‘Yes,’ Kerry said. ‘But he’s away most of the time, on very important business.’
‘I don’t believe you!’
‘Well, you’ll just have to wait until Friday, won’t you?’ Kerry retorted, shoving a surprised Harriet aside as she headed off home.
At the Friday morning breakfast table, Sylvia raised an eyebrow and looked at Alan frostily. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten? We’re going to Laura’s parent-teacher meeting this afternoon! They want to report on her progress this year, and discuss her options for next year.’
Alan shrugged. ‘I can’t make this afternoon, Syl. I’ve got an important meeting on.’
‘Well, you’ll just have to cancel it,’ Sylvia said acerbically. ‘You missed the last parent-teacher meeting, and I absolutely refuse to attend another one on my own! It’s important that Laura sees we’re taking her education seriously. Besides, if the teachers can make the effort to see us before the new school year starts, then I think you should be able to show some interest in your daughter’s future, too!’
As they arrived for the tennis tournament on Friday afternoon, Ellie found herself a good vantage point on the sidelines while Kerry strode confidently into the clubhouse where the coaches and the other pupils were gathered. Some were chatting in groups, while others were getting last-minute tips about their serves or their backhands.
Harriet was instantly at Kerry’s side. ‘Where’s this father of yours then?’ she whispered nastily, giving Kerry a sly dig in the back.