‘This is really good of you,’ I say.
‘Lizzie is my best friend. I’ll do anything to help her.’
One thing is bugging me. ‘I thought she was staying at yours? What was she doing at her mum’s house at this time of night?’
‘She was at mine. We both went to bed. The next thing I know I’m woken by a phone call from Lizzie, saying someone has attacked George and she’s at the police station. She swears she didn’t do it. And I believe her.’ Jodie fixes me with a hard stare.
I fidget uncomfortably. ‘Are the police accusing Lizzie?’
‘No, not yet, anyway. But from what Lizzie told me she thinks you will. Or George’s family.’
‘Look, I’m worried about Lizzie, yes, but I don’t think she would attack George. She would never hurt anyone on purpose.’
‘Are you saying she might have done it accidentally?’
I think about it. ‘Maybe,’ I say reluctantly. ‘I think Liz is having some kind of breakdown, Jodie. She’s got this idea that someone is out to harm her mum.’
Jodie settles Freddie’s car seat by the sofa then looks up at me. ‘I know and I pooh-poohed the idea too, but now, well,considering the events of tonight, I’m thinking that she could be right.’
We stare each other out for a few seconds. I’m the one to break it. ‘I’d better go. Thanks again, Jodie.’
I head out to the car, Jodie’s words going over and over in my mind. Why did Lizzie sneak out in the middle of the night and go to her mum’s? Did she attack George, convinced in her anxious state that he was harming Judith? I wonder if anyone has told Kenny, Sheila and Alison. I decide to wait until I get to the hospital and see what the situation is, then I’ll notify them.
As I pull up in the police car park, my phone rings. It’s Alison.
‘George has died,’ she stammers, her voice shaking. ‘They couldn’t save him.’
71
ALISON
We all stare down at Dad’s lifeless body, none of us speaking. I can’t believe that he’s dead. The doctor said that the blow to the head was too hard, and Dad was too old. He had no chance of surviving. If only they hadn’t kept me in hospital another night for observation. If I’d been home, I might have been able to prevent this and George, the only dad I’ve known, would still be alive. Kenny looks ashen. His eyes are fixed on George, and his body trembles as he stammers, ‘He can’t be dead. He can’t be.’ Then he turns and bolts out of the room.
‘Poor lad. It’s all too much for him.’ Sheila reaches for George’s lifeless hand and holds it, tears pouring down her cheeks. ‘I can’t believe someone would do this. George would never hurt a soul, he was such a good man.’ Her body wracks with sobs.
She’s wrong, George isn’t a good man but he didn’t deserve this brutal death. I can’t tell her that though, she would never believe me and at the moment I can’t prove anything. But I will soon. I have to speak up for Lizzie. I can’t let her take the fall for all this, even though by speaking up I’m destroying what family I have left.
My phone pings, and I take a look at the message that has just come in from Nick. He’s on his way to the police station to see Lizzie. He’ll come to the hospital afterwards.
I close the message without replying.I’m sorry, Nick, but I can’t protect you any longer.
‘I have to go,’ I tell Sheila.
I walk outside the hospital room, where a police officer is waiting. There’s no sign of Kenny. I’m guessing he’s gone home.
The officer looks up at me. ‘Are you all right, miss?’
I nod slowly. I want to tell him what I know so that they’ll release Lizzie but I have to make sure first. I walk outside and get in my car.
72
It’s all gone wrong.
I’ve got to get away before anyone realises what I’ve done. I grab my passport and throw a few things into a backpack. I’ll have to travel light. I’ve already transferred a lot of money from AT Construction company accounts into my bank account, and that will tide me over for a while. I’ve been doing it slowly for months. There’s not much I can’t do with computers.
I zip up the bag and look around the lounge. The place which has been my home for years. It’s all her fault. She’s ruined my life and now she’s going to get off scot-free, all because I made one stupid mistake. I’d planned all this so well, and it’s been going like a dream, if only I’d been quicker with that cushion. If I hadn’t grabbed that lamp. Tears well in my eyes and a lump fills my throat at the knowledge that he’s dead. And it’s all my fault.
There’s nothing I can do now. I have to get away. I turn towards the door but as I reach for the handle it opens.
