In any ordinary life (In any oridnary Book 1) (37 page)

She has married James and whether you like it she feels compelled to do the right thing. For Christ sake John she even told you when she arrived home that you need to move on and be happy without her.

   Then she has you James and when she needed belief, understanding and you to trust her all she got was lies and accusations. When she needed her husband to lovingly protect her you pushed her away in fear of your own ego. What did you both expect her to do? She has been so much and always on her own. So she left and I’m not surprised and then she turned to John and knowing you’d follow her like a blind fool she got what she needed to solve this mess on her own.

   You both ought to be ashamed of yourself and James these letters are not just hurtful but derogatory and bitter and I don’t care that these are dated whilst she was pregnant with his child but if you love her that much why say it in the first place. Both of you make me sick this woman is crying out for help and you isolate her even more.

   What are both trying to prove or is this just point scoring. James I think you need to understand what love is because you told her that night that she was a part of your life that you couldn’t live without but nothing what you have said or done has proved it. The only person that seems to be showing that is him and that’s because he’s an idiot.

   Jeanie gave up her freedom, her family, her child and nearly her life to be with you. Too many lives have been marred by a thoughtless psychopath and his assistant and she now thinks someone is trying to ruin her marriage and her new life and she’s probably right. 

   Excuse me gents if I’m not too sympathetic to your plight but I’m really finding it difficult to understand which psychopath I’m hunting for when I have two sociopaths in my own room. I going outside I need some air…” Matt placed the journal under his arm and closed the door firmly, seeing the pain shudder John sat back down on his seat next to James

“You love her a lot don’t you...?”

“Yes and I would do absolutely anything for her if it made her happy even give her up.” Glaring at each other, they felt each other’s pain.

“Matt’s not right about everything I’m not letting her go John. This last month…this last month I’ve been the happiest I’ve ever been. The one thing he has got right is that I have been thinking about me and not her and when she needed someone she turned to you. How do you think that makes me feel?” John threw his chair back angered that again her was thinking about himself.

“It’s not all about you! I never had a chance because of you and now…now I don’t sleep without her, I don’t eat and I can’t fucking breath because I don’t have her and you treat her like shit because you can.

“I’m fucked off with hearing how you can’t operate without my wife she’s my wife and it’s not a fucking competition. You can’t give her what I can.” John grabbed hold of James’s collar,

“And what’s that fucking lies and letters which tell her how much of a slut she is or sex on tap because she completes you.” Punching John in the throat he fell back against the wall.

“I’m not doing this with you.” John stood up and adjusted his collar not willing to give up the fight so easily.

“Why cause she isn’t good enough or is it that you know if you fucked up she’d run to me in heartbeat…”

“You’re such a fucking arsehole stop being a cock. I wasn’t the one who left her at the train station John…Who was given chance after chance to marry her….love her be with her and you ran away and married the generals daughter cause it fucking benefited you.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“What was it like then John after asking her to marry you she found you in bed with Ivy or was it the fact that after a drink you used to use her like a punching bag. Well fuck me…I wrote a few letter’s to a ex fiancé not very nice ones but I didn’t trip up and stick my dick in her sister did I,”

“I never felt good enough for her.”

“What? Don’t give me that bullshit.”

“It’s true. I don’t care whether you believe me, but its true I always thought she needed better than me. So you’re right I did marry a general’s daughter because it befitted me. But it was all in my fucked up plan to prove I was good enough.” James paused, calming down quickly as the moment had pricked his conscious.

“Fuck…I know what’s going on John get Matt we have to go now.” John puzzled grabbed his hat. James leant on the car trying to be patient

“Can we hurry up please?” Matt jumped into the back seat and started to ruffle with some papers. “Who’s Mildred?” James turned around and looked at the paperwork Matt was holding. “Catherine’s aunt…..why?”

Grabbing the paper from his hand and reading the contents he felt sick.

“John drive faster….I’ll explain when we get there...”

   John pulled up at the side of the road, the long hours in the car had felt like an emotional prison trapped between Matt’s conscious and James lucidity he felt like a puppet waiting for his strings to be pulled.

“Matt this isn’t Brentwood. I’m going into the city.”

James grabbed the piece of paper from the dashboard and jumped out before the car come to a stop. Throwing the car onto the curb John chased after. “Matt I don’t understand why we are here?”

“I’m sure everything will become clear. Let’s just go.” Running up the stairs the trio congregated at top of the landing between the conservative collections of front doors.

“Can someone start talking please this is becoming slightly fucked up and unnerving….” John panted heavily anxious about what he was going to see next. “John I know your carrying, I’ll go next. James follow up at the back.”

   The door was slightly ajar and the decadent interior of the corridor cried opulence, John starring into the dark black space manoeuvred around the archway into the large living room. The stench of death emanated around the flat and as John counted to ten he could feel the blood pulse in his veins.

“There’s only one reason this place stinks. James check the bedroom. Matt stay in here I’ll go and check the kitchen.”

   As the Gents separated John’s apprehension increased, the smell grew stronger and as he moved closer to the kitchen he expected death.

“Matt, James there’s something definitely in here…” John stood frozen to the spot as the blood washed over the kitchen floor.

“Whatever is here it’s in that pantry!”

   James hadn’t moved from the bedroom, the large wardrobe in the corner had captured his attention and the small spots of blood which had been dripping out of the door made him go cold. Grabbing the poker from the hearth he took a deep breath before opening the door. Slowly unhinging the lock the large door swung open and as he stepped back he realised inside it was empty, except for a large pool of blood. Moving quickly he met the gents at the kitchen door.

“John, Matt it looks like…” The blood marks streaked along the kitchen floor marking there deathly course into the pantry.

“Moved…it looks as if someone has been moved….”

“There’s bullet holes in the cabinet look. Whatever’s happened they have had a fight…” John rubbed his fingers along the wall.

“Jeanie!” Reaching for the light anticipation grew between all of them, as to who or what had happened.

   “James, Matt have you ever seen anything like this….” James checked her pulse knowing she was already dead, shaking his head he stood and wiped his hands.

   The woman lay blooded on the floor, she had been strangled at first with barbed wire, and it had cut deep into her throat exposing her windpipe. Her wrists had also been slashed down to the tendons. Clothes lay around the floor where an attempt to save her had been made.

John switched off the light trying to at least give her some dignity.

“Do you know her?”

“She’s Catherine’s aunt she’s the one I bought the cottage off for Jeanie.” Matt leant on the kitchen door wiping his forehead with his handkerchief, looking at the art deco table in the hall way he noticed a photo. Taking it back to the gents in the kitchen, he was intrigued to know who the gathering was.

“Do either of you know these women…”

“Those two on the end….that’s Catherine and her aunt. John?” John only glanced having see the picture a thousand times.

“That’s Olivia this was taken at her bridge club that was before…before I left…shit…”

“You’re ex wives knew each other! John when did you last see Olivia.” “Just after I got back she still wanted closure on that stupid deal. Come to think of it she wasn’t exactly…You don’t think…” Matt grabbed the picture feeling he would need it later for evidence.

“We need to go.” Before closing the door John looked around the hallway nostalgic at his former life.

“I remember buying this place and look at it now. I know your right James. I married Olivia to help me and I also did a lot of things just for me. We can’t leave that woman in my pantry Matt. If anyone finds her including our maid were in deep shit.”

“I’ll make a call but if something’s going to happen it looks like it will be soon and it looks as if Jeanie has disturbed someone…” James paced the corridor running through the scene over and over again.

“I know why we are here. I just don’t get how Jeanie ended up here…” John placed his gun back in his pocket. “Catherine must have the same picture.” James turned pale, looking at the photo still in his hands.

“The sideboard in Brentwood. In fact she’s mentioned your wife on a couple of occasions I never thought…John both of them must know about Jeanie…”

Chapter 36

Jeanie arrived back at the cottage, clattering through the door she stripped off down to her vest and as she stood bare in the kitchen she tried to take small breaths.

“I think you better put something on.” Jeanie closed her eyes as the gun dug deep into her ribs, trying to keep composed she raised her arms. “Why did you do it she only had a small part to play I don’t understand.” Binding her arms together Jeanie felt the rope pull tight.

“You don’t go this far not to complete what you set out to do. I mean it now would be a tragedy saying that a mindless troglodyte like yourself wouldn’t understand that. Stand up please.” Jeanie felt the gun dig deeper into her rib cage. Feeling trapped she scoped the kitchen for a solution.

“So Jeanie Rutherford Watson tell me the story so far I’m intrigued to know how much you’ve found out already.” Jeanie took the spare of pants from her hands and still in silence she started to dress.

“This isn’t a game so you better start talking.”

“You approached Signthorpe and Kowalski coinciding visits to check up on progress and recently you’ve been spying on me in my own home.” Jeanie felt her hands being tied to the chair, being forced to sit down the rope burnt further into her skin.

“In summary I think you’ve done alright. You’ve missed a few things out but I’m sure I can forgive you for those minor indiscretions.”

   Her once white vest had started to turn a distasteful shade of brown and as it cracked with every discomfort shall flecks started to fall on the floor.   

   Jeanie stared into her eyes trying to figure out their next move. The war had taught her many things, but Jeanie’s impatience for action spurred her to react further.

“What did I ever do to you?” Without question the blunt thud of the end of the gun split the top of her eye and as the blood ran down Jeanie’s cheek it seemed to anger her visitor more than her question.

“You don’t have the right to ask any questions plus all good things come to those who wait...”

Hours seemed to pass and Jeanie watched the break of dawn rise through the kitchen window.

“I know this is about James and I know you couldn’t care less about whether I live or John lives. Just tell me one thing. Who else other than Catherine is pulling the strings? Cause I know you couldn’t do all this on your own.”

“You think you’re so fucking clever don’t you. I had to finish this once and for all but you just couldn’t follow a simple plan could you. I really don’t understand why two men would even be interested never mind fight over you.

   John seemed to have such good taste but this was all about you. Your right in one way I couldn’t have done all this on my own but I haven’t been on my own have I. Frank and my dear Mike helped. By the time we had finished with him he hated you and taking pieces of your hair and gathering your nails just made it more believable for John.”

   The sun had started to stream through the blackened kitchen and as the shadows hovered over the sink a car had started to pull up in the driveway.

   “Oh look someone I need to kill! Jeanie I think your husband and lover are here,” Feeling the gun raise to her temple Jeanie closed her eyes once more. Regaining her thoughts she followed the fire arms directory and cocked her head to one side. “Scream and they all die now….”

   Jeanie sat still at the kitchen table as the three men entered the house, the door closed superfluously behind them revealing the unwanted guest. “Good morning gents I didn’t think you’d be here this quick but I suppose I have to commend you for some things. Now if don’t mind lowering to your knee’s James is going to be a dear and tie you up, “Olivia please where’s Catherine?”

“Just making her entrance now darling so I suggest you kneel.” Kicking his feet from under him James fell to the floor.

“Hello darling missed me! And I see you’ve all been invited to our little soiree….” Looking at Jeanie James tried to move towards her.

“Catherine I don’t understand.” Catherine took hold of Olivia’s gun and pointed it back at Jeanie’s head.

“That’s a pity you see Jeanie has more of an understanding then all of you don’t you…”

“Catherine it’s me your angry at not her please don’t do this,” Catherine smirked and kissed Olivia tenderly on the cheeks.

“Tut tut tut see that’s where you are wrong my darling and this runs much deeper than just a woman scorned. She’s the cause of mine and my angel Olivia’s pain and you two well you’re just caught up in Jeanie’s entrapment of lies. I mean James look at her if you where going to leave me for someone at least make them well in the same league.” Jeanie gritted her teeth; the blood had started to crack as it had dried on her face, speckling dried droplets onto her lap.

“We saw the photograph Livy,” Spitting violently at John Olivia rushed over to where he knelt.

“You don’t have the right to call me Livy anymore you useless piece of crap. You left me with nothing you owe me and to be humiliated by her do you know how that felt. ”John had never spared her feelings, and today was no different. “Olivia you where fucking a subordinate when I reached home what do you expect me to do get involved.”

“I know everything John and I know all about your fucked up web of business deals but when you involved me as one of them and use me as a stepping stone I felt a little dejected. Especially when I thought you loved me.”

“Baby come on he’s teasing badly and revenge is so much sweeter when it’s justified. James your very quiet in all this nothing to say,” James glanced at Jeanie then over to Catherine her gun still pointing at Jeanie’s temple.

“What if I did Catherine you would never listen you’ve only been interested in yourself and how far I could take you and I got tired of it of you. Jea…you’ve given me more love than I ever had from her in ten years,”

“Lovely James but the sentiment is well a little dull especially now she has read those lovely letters! Anyway let’s have a little game shall we seeing as it’s now a party. My game is called guess the reasons why we are both here. Let’s see if you’re wife gets it right.” Olivia wiped her hand along the top of Jeanie’s shoulders.

“If she understands what’s going on she lives and if she doesn’t she dies simple enough for everyone...” John tried to stand not able to put her in harms way again.

  “Don’t move John because I will shoot her and then you.” lowering himself, John tried to keep control of his temper. Catherine shoved the gun further along Jeanie’s temple. Jeanie pulled at the binds around her wrists, feeling the gun pressured further into her skull, she looked at the three gents knowing if they where ever going to make it out she would have to play their game.

“Is it my turn” sliding the gun down to her throat Jeanie looked directly into her eyes. “Don’t make me kill you now tell the rest of the group the whole story as I’m sure they’re dying to know.”

   Jeanie didn’t drop her gaze, she wasn’t frightened anymore knowing Catherine and Olivia had constructed this elaborate plot made her more determined to see it end.

“I suppose I better start with Mike. I know he had already been arrested a couple of time’s in London he didn’t exactly tell me the full details of his sentence but I knew he got off on a technicality. It must have been serious enough to have even got him to a technicality. He met Signthorpe just after his short stint in prison. I later realised that Mike had been blackmailing him to carry out the attack on me. If he didn’t Mike said he would go public with what he had done to another girl. The problem was Mike didn’t know how much of a psychopath he was. He was later introduced to Olivia and Catherine as a man that could sort out their problem. Me being the problem. He reported back on my relationship with James….he also experienced some of my relationship with John and which from reading the letter’s caused James to run back to Catherine and John to seek out Olivia. That’s why she turned up at the hotel. I’ve read Signthorpe’s journal John didn’t know until now that I stole it from him. I saw the the cloth and hair in the book could and piecing the puzzle together it could only have been taken by Olivia. How do I know this well there is an entry in his journal which would prove he was never at the hotel. Catherine instigated Mike’s attempts at getting to Mary. Because I didn’t die the first time and a new plan was needed. In fact it was a crucial part of killing me off they had to produce an official document for me to believe that James was missing. They needed me out of the way and the only way of doing that was getting to Mary.

   Mildred was easy…all Mildred had to do was whisper a few words in my ear telling me I was a resourceful girl. Mike was James’s babysitter and had to be there to make sure I didn’t come back.

   James was supposed to be comforted by Catherine and for Olivia John was supposed to die leaving his money, business and whatever else to you since you are still married.

    I messed up their plans when arrived home safe as did John. The time away wasn’t long enough to settle what business had been started. The only thing I don’t understand is why kill Mildred?” Olivia slapped her across the face.

“You don’t have the fucking right to question us” Catherine moved her to one side still trying to play the part of a graceful host.

“She has a question the least we can do is oblige before she dies. You see Mildred found out about our little plan and she came to confront me. She said she’d posted the letters but we needed to stop and well before she got to the police. You know the rest don’t you.”

“Catherine please don’t do this. I was wrong…I was wrong about lots of things but please don’t do this.” Jeanie rose in her distraction and as she removed her final binds she snatched the gun out of her grip.

“You see Bitch going to war taught me a few things as well. Drop to the floor and place your hands on your head. Olivia why don’t you give your gun to James and we can all have a good chat. In the meantime slowly move over there.” Olivia stood tall not able to acquiesce her request.

“You fucking bitch let her go or James dies now.” Jeanie walked around the front of Catherine looking more like the predator than the prey.

“I don’t think your friend wants that do you.”

“Not him Livy I only want her.”

“You see I’m sick and tired of this bullshit and all I wanted to do was live a normal happy life and you two twisted fucks keep messing everything up. Now I know you both know I killed Mike in fact I shot him point blank in the head so I suggest Livy you drop the fucking gun before I shoot her.” Olivia lunged towards Jeanie pushing Catherine out of the way, defending herself Jeanie dropped the gun and started to grapple at the carving knife, Olivia held in her hand. James pounced towards the fallen gun and as Catherine stood he knew he was too late.

“All of you move now.” Tying John and Matt’s hand together she wrestled with James binding him to the radiator. Shooting Matt in the leg, she wiped away the blood which had splattered on her face.

“That should keep you busy excuse me gents.” Catherine shot twice into the ceiling trying to take back some control

“Now I’m going to tell you once before I shoot again I’m running this show. Livy drop the knife. Jeanie back against the wall…”

   The room had descended into chaos and Olivia lunged again at Jeanie grabbing her hand. Jeanie pushing on her chest plunged the knife deeper feeling it tear through bone and sinew as forced it through.

   James tugged at the bindings loosening them off he ran into the kitchen.

I heard two shots there was only two shots. Jeanie please.

   Jeanie lay motionless on the kitchen floor Catherine had vanished and the blood swilled around the cottage like an abattoir.

“Jeanie baby hold on. Come on baby we can do this remember,” Jeanie raised her arm up to James’s face and as the blood poured from her mouth as she started to choke.

“Baby don’t leave me now you can’t leave me now I need you I love you.” Jeanie’s body shook violently as she drowned on her own blood.  

   John ripped the ropes from around his wrists, Matt still clutched his leg torn between the two John looked at Matt for guidance

“John go…go…” running into the kitchen the red river swam around his feet. “No…No...Jea. James what do we do JAMES!.” coughing Jeanie exhaled, the breath diminished from her lips.

“Tell Elizabeth…I love her.” James screamed violently

“Jea…please don’t go stay with me baby come on.” Olivia laughed as Jeanie slowly slipped away.

“You can’t have her now!” Olivia smiled as John ripped the knife from her chest. “Fuck you! James…please we need to get her to a hospital.”

   Holding her close in his arm her lifeless blooded body draped over him like a shroud, the blood still dripping from her lips seemed to drown any life she had left.

“How am I going to live without you how am I meant to do this without you Jea. I’m sorry…I’m sorry...” Lifting her off the floor he ran to the car. John raced into the driver’s seat; James ran his hand over her pale clammy skin, the sparkle from her eyes dwindled and as the car sped around the country lanes she clung onto him desperate to live.

   John looked on anxiously not knowing what to say he felt powerless. Landing at the hospital the Signthorpe seen played out over and over again, this time James was then one in the waiting room. Catherine had disappeared into the night getting away with sordid plan. Search parties had been set up to see if she could be captured but all they could do was wait.