A Death Displaced (31 page)

If his dad asked why Juliet never went to the police at the time, then he would say that she was young, only seventeen then, and didn’t know what to do. Also, he’d point out that it wouldn’t have helped, as Samantha would have been dead by the time Juliet said anything. The only difference would have been that the police would have visited Grendel Manor, and Aldrich would have killed them, wiped their memories, or brainwashed them into thinking he was innocent. So it turned out best that Juliet hadn’t alerted the police, or they would never have found out the truth.

Nick would omit what he knew about the missing children. His dad and brothers didn’t need to know. That was something he would tackle if he ever found a way to the Otherworld. But the rest of the story was the same as the twins had witnessed. Aldrich’s ability didn’t work on the boys completely, but they’d managed to force Aldrich to tell them about their mum. Nick would alter one more part, though: he’d tell his dad that Tommy had killed Aldrich in self-defence, not in anger or confusion.

When he arrived, he remained in his car for a moment. How could he go from having next to zero heart-to-hearts with his dad for eight years to jumping in the deep end and talking about the actual event that had created the distance between them?

With the fingers of his right hand together, he tapped the centre of his left palm.
I’m calm, I’m focused, I’m calm, I’m ... SCREW IT.
He flung his arms in the air and laughed at himself, a low chortle of resignation. He’d already thrown in the towel with counselling. If he was going to be his own therapist from now on, then he didn’t want to rely on relaxation techniques every time he got nervous.

He tilted the rear-view mirror to face his own reflection. The hazel green-brown eyes looked back at him, as he pointed at his duplicate and said, ‘It’s normal to get nervous sometimes.’ After nodding at himself in agreement, he got out of the car and approached the door, admittedly anxious. Then he knocked. 

Tom let him in, and the two of them hustled up the stairs to discuss the conversation plan with Tommy. Nick explained how he intended to tell their dad. Tommy protested on some terms, expressing that he felt ‘in the dark’ about certain matters and that not everything matched up. But after some persuasion, he agreed, and Nick led the way downstairs.

His shaky hands pulled out a dining-table chair, and then he sat. Tom and Tommy plonked down on the same side with Nick in the middle. Tom had already asked their dad to join them and had made clear it was important.

Sat across from them, John had a slumped posture. He faced his sons. His grey hair looked matted from a long day’s work, and his mouth was set in a subtle frown. His heavy green eyes waited, curious.

Everything’s okay.

He’ll be able to move on now.

Finally.

He can stop waiting.

The dining-room clock ticked, highlighting the silence that waited to be filled. ‘Dad,’ Nick said, with nervous dry lips.

John seemed to sense the weight in his tone. ‘Yes, Nicolas.’

‘We, uhhh, we have something to tell you.’ He stuttered. ‘It’s about Mum.’

Chapter 26

Lillian hadn’t stayed on Monday night. She’d booked herself in at Tilly House, a hotel lucky enough to have a great view of the hills and the sea together. Juliet had considered letting her gran stay at her home, but in the end she didn’t say anything and offered to walk with Lillian to the hotel instead.

On the way back, she had regretted the offer. When someone came around a dark corner, Juliet jumped with fright, wondering if she would ever feel safe knowing that other people like Aldrich could exist in this world. Could someone make
her
disappear the way Harry Cracknel had vanished from Kim’s life?

That night she made an attempt to process the day’s events, but her mind shielded most of it out. Before going upstairs to her bedroom, she made certain every window and door was locked tight, and all were blinds drawn shut. Although she was terrified to be home alone, and worried the police would come knocking, she fell asleep in exhaustion.

She woke in in the dark, her body soaked in cold sweat.
Did I have a nightmare?
She couldn’t recall, but was too fatigued to think. After rolling over to the other side of the bed, she let sleep take her again.

*

On Tuesday she met with her gran, and they reminisced over Juliet’s childhood. They stayed in Juliet’s home to talk at first, but later went for lunch and then a walk along the cliff edge and up to the hills.

Juliet noticed that Lillian didn’t lack energy. Her gran had a cautious, elderly walk about her, but she kept good pace and performed each action with vigour. With her mind on the subject of good health, Juliet moved her injured shoulder in circles. It didn’t hurt half as much as the day before.
Has it healed already?
she thought, deciding she’d check that evening.

On their walk back along the cliff edge, Juliet became certain for a moment that she would go to the police. She would turn Tommy in. Even though she felt awful for the Crystan family, the law was in place for a reason.

I can’t though.
She shook her head. Because of all the weird circumstances, she couldn’t go to the authorities. Also, she hated the idea of being linked to a murder case.

‘What’s on your mind, sweetheart?’ Lillian looked quizzically at Juliet, the wind flicking her silvery-grey hair about. It was a good time to be heading back, as the sky steadily darkened.

‘I’m just thinking about Mum and Dad.’ Juliet hated lying, but what other choice was there that she hadn’t already considered?

‘I understand. You take your time.’ Lillian nodded appropriately, and they walked the rest of the way in a gentle silence.     
 

When it was early evening and black outside, Juliet asked her gran to join her for dinner again. After they’d eaten, she suggested Lillian stay for a while, at least for the rest of the week. It would be nice to have someone in the house. Maybe she’d feel safer.

‘Are you sure, sweetheart? I don’t want to be in the way,’ Lillian replied, beaming a smile like she’d already got the answer she hoped for.

‘Yes, I’m sure, Gran. There’s plenty of room, and this home deserves to be used more.’

‘Thank you. I have my bag at the hotel. I’ve only packed a couple of days’ worth, though, because I wasn’t even sure if you still lived in Chanton.’

Juliet smiled. ‘Don’t worry about that. We’ll go shopping tomorrow.’

Having slept a lot the night before, Juliet had difficulty this night. She lay awake for a long while, her sense of time off, and found her mind going into dazes. The images of Aldrich’s blood-soaked body were out of reach.

Have I blocked them out? ... I don’t want to face it now.
Again, it was the exhaustion that took her. Her restless mind kept her awake until it couldn’t any longer. 

In the morning she remembered her nightmares this time. She’d dreamt of warm, sticky blood on her hands, and Aldrich with a terrified face, dragging himself along the floor away from her. Stab wounds were all over his body. Then the nightmare had jumped ahead to her being incarcerated. In a filthy cell, she was startled by a noise. She turned to face the spirit of Aldrich. At that point, she woke. Luckily she didn’t have to try to sleep again.

After a pleasant breakfast with her gran, the day was spent shopping in Amiton. Juliet took care to avoid Creaky Crystals; the last thing she wanted was to bump into Nicolas Crystan. She’d begun to relax by now. The police hadn’t visited and there’d been no news of Aldrich’s murder in the media. Ryan seemed to have kept to his word.

She couldn’t stand the thought of her parents and refused to think about them. A decision to not contact them was made. If they even cared enough to notice their daughter hadn’t spoken to them in a long while, then
they
would make the effort to reach her.

In Amiton, she found volumes of clothes she wanted to buy for her gran. Lillian protested at first but eventually came around to her granddaughter paying. She seemed to have what Juliet considered an old-fashioned view on money; she almost cringed at the sight of it, as if it was the root of all evil, and like it was only honourable to spend money that had been earned through a hard day’s work. Maybe it was the root of all evil, but Juliet didn’t think so; she appreciated money and everything it allowed her to enjoy. She also realised that with her wealth she could afford to help others on a regular basis, donating large amounts to charity each month. And the only way she could afford to continue giving was to ensure she stayed financially well-off.

While shopping, Juliet received a text from Roy, asking her to come to Chanton Hillview tomorrow. The new décor was complete.

With the help of Lillian, Juliet scoured the shops for ‘Thank You’ presents for her staff. For Roy and Sandra, she bought a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates each. For the underage Ashleigh, a box of chocolates and a bracelet. As gifts to share, she purchased a cake and a variety of vouchers for popular brands. For presentation purposes, she hunted for a large wicker basket and ribbon, and the last bits she added were a bouquet of flowers and a selection of sweets.

 With their bags and bags of shopping, Juliet and her gran had to book a taxi home. Juliet enjoyed getting the bus, but it wasn’t practical with so many items to hold.

Back at The Haven, Lillian helped her granddaughter label the gifts and then put them all into the basket with a big ‘Thank You’ card. The ribbon was tied into a fancy bow around the handle.    

Juliet stayed up late that night, talking with her gran and hoping to tire. When she retired to her room, she fell asleep excited for the next day.

Thursday morning, she stayed in bed to think. Blocking out what she’d experienced wasn’t something she could do forever, and she knew that. Soon she’d have to face her emotions. As much as she wanted to ignore it and get on with her life, she couldn’t see a dead body with a knife sticking out and not be affected in some way. The horror was still there inside her, and the worry; she knew that. But if she could focus on her excitement about the café, then those problems would stay away for now.

She got up and ready to go to Chanton Hillview, and insisted that Lillian come with her to see it. Roy, Sandra and Ashleigh were all stood outside when Juliet arrived with her gran.

‘Juliet. Cover your eyes!’ Roy shouted as she approached, and he added a friendly rumble of a laugh.

Juliet averted her gaze so she wouldn’t see inside the café. Walking up to her staff, she kept her eyes drawn away, and then handed the heavy basket of gifts to Roy. ‘These are for you three. Thank you so much.’

Sandra’s face lit up. ‘Awh, Juliet. That’s so sweet. You didn’t have to.’

‘I would not thank us too soon. You haven not yet seen the state we have left your café in,’ Roy teased.

Even though she knew he was joking, she panicked slightly in anticipation.

Ashleigh must have noticed, because she chimed in with, ‘Oi, Roy!’ She paused to laugh at her accidental rhyme before continuing. ‘Don’t worry, Juliet. It’s not in a state. You’re going to love it.’ Ashleigh jiggled on the spot and squealed giddily. She could cheer anyone up.

‘Who is the beautiful young lady with you?’ Roy asked Juliet.

Lillian laughed instantly and replied, ‘Young? I think I like you.’

‘This is Lillian, my grandmother,’ answered Juliet.

All three staff members exchanged greetings with Lillian. Roy gave Juliet a confused stare when no one was looking. He’d spoken with her about her family before and knew all her grandparents were supposed to be dead. Juliet leant closer and whispered in his ear, ‘I’ll explain another time.’

‘Okay.’ Roy nodded.

‘Juliet,’ Sandra said in her hard, brassy voice. ‘Your hair looks fantastic. Have you had highlights put in?’

‘No, it’s the same as always …’ she answered. That was two people now who’d noticed a difference in her hair. She’d marked the change herself; it was brighter, more lustrous than ever. And another strange thing was that when she’d checked her shoulder a couple of nights ago, the bruising was gone. Now it was completely healed, as if she’d never injured it.

‘Come on ladies,’ Roy addressed everyone, ‘let’s take her inside.’

Sandra reminded Juliet, ‘Cover your eyes.’

With her hands up over her closed eyes, she heard the café door open and then felt hands at her elbows and back, guiding her inside. She laughed at her own lack of coordination.

Someone tugged at her to stop walking. ‘You can look now.’

She lowered her hands. Her eyes almost didn’t want to open, but she slowly forced them to.

The walls were painted a pale tan colour. Roy had purchased the exact furniture Juliet had shown him: chrome coffee tables, and chairs a shade darker than the walls. Near the glass wall with the hill view there were low, square indoor benches with red tables that protruded from the walls. The floor was unchanged: a medium brown hardwood that Juliet was pleased to see matched the new décor better than the old.

She didn’t know how they’d managed to redecorate the whole place in just over a week … well actually, she did: Roy could be extremely efficient and organised when he wanted to be, and he must have switched into that mode for the week. But also, Sandra was the hardest working person Juliet knew; if you gave her a list of tasks, she’d have the first done and be on to the second before you had time to blink. The only problem Juliet had with Sandra was that her diligent style sometimes transferred into bossiness when she spoke to others.

Her staff had even managed to have new lighting fitted. There were warped square light shades when she looked up. They were red, and positioned in a way that spilt the artificial light across the ceiling unobtrusively. The daylight from the glass wall made electrical lighting less necessary. Towards the entrance, where the natural sunlight couldn’t fully reach, there were a couple of red table lamps.