Born Bad (33 page)

‘That was a long time ago, Phil, but I chose you in the end. I said yes when you asked me to marry you. That should tell you something, shouldn’t it?’

‘All it tells me is that you only latched onto me, because he deserted you.’

‘No, Phil! It was
more than two years after he’d gone. I was over him,’ she lied. ‘I wanted
you
. When you asked me to marry you, I was thrilled, you know that.’

For a long, unsettling moment, he stared at her, then in a kind of whisper, he demanded to know, ‘There’s something that still puzzles me.’

‘What is it?’ She was grateful that he seemed more curious than angry.

‘Why did Blake leave you, and in such a
hurry? One minute he was here, and the next he was gone – and nobody knew where.’

When she hesitated, he asked again, in a harsher voice, ‘Well? Cat got your tongue?’

Made nervous by his persistent questioning, Judy answered, ‘He went to join up. What’s so strange about that? He left because … well, because I told him I didn’t want him; that I didn’t love him any more.’ The last thing she wanted
was for Phil to know the truth; that she had been pregnant, and the reason Harry left was because she had deceived him – not because she wanted to, but because she could see no other way.

‘You might as well know. I’ve been doing my sums,’ he revealed.

‘Doing your sums?’ She never knew what he would say or do next.

He rounded on her. ‘Don’t come the innocent with me! Do you think I’m stupid?
As far as I can make out, you were still only fourteen when you and Blake were together.’ He looked at her in a way that really unnerved her. ‘Why did you let everybody think you were sixteen?’

Judy went on the defensive. ‘No reason.’

‘So, if you and he were at it, Blake broke the law. He should be in jail.’ And he would be the one to turn him in, he thought.

Judy’s stomach turned. She knew
without a doubt that her
husband would go to the authorities. It would suit him down to the ground to get Harry put away. ‘We were not “at it” as you say.’

‘Am I supposed to believe that?’

‘Of course. It wasn’t that kind of relationship. I was just a kid. We were just going out together, that’s all.’

‘So, are you saying I was the first?’

‘Yes, because you were.’

He paused, biting his lip,
deep in thought. ‘I never really gave it a thought until now. Maybe I should have.’

Judy’s mind was spinning. ‘Think about it, Phil,’ she suggested. ‘You know how that first time with you was very difficult. Remember how painful it was for me.’

He paused again. ‘There was a drop of blood on the carpet, I remember that.’ He peeked at her out of the corner of his eye. ‘So he never touched you
in that way?’

‘No! I just told you.’ Because of the circumstances, she had deceived Phil, and he was conceited enough to believe he was the first, but he was not. As far as she was concerned, Harry was still her one true love to this day.

The only reason she had agreed to marry Phil was to hide many dark truths, and to feel safe so she would never be hurt again.

Because of that, she had held
out on Phil right up until the wedding night, when he had been so hungry for her, he took her right there on the bedroom carpet.

Taken unawares as she came out of the bathroom, she had instinctively resisted his vicious attack. That was the reason for the blood. That was when she realised what a terrible mistake she had made.

That was when the past came flooding back with all its horrors
.

Her present ordeal was not yet over, for now he had started the engine and was roaring away, demanding over and over, ‘You’d best tell me what you and Blake have been up to – and don’t give me no lies! Not if you know what’s good for you.’

He was relentless. ‘I’ll deal with you first. Blake will keep, for now.’

He sounded so calm, but Judy knew from experience, that this was when he was at his
most dangerous. Over the years she had learned to read his moods, and right now, he was more crazy than she had ever seen him.

Inside the store, Mr Jacobs had emerged from his office, in time to hear the last exchange between Saunders and Harry.

‘Is there some kind of issue between you and that man?’ he asked sternly.

Harry confirmed. ‘There was – years ago.’

‘And now?’

Harry looked at
him, but said nothing.

‘I see.’ Jacobs was not best pleased. ‘I will not tolerate trouble in my store. If you and that man have a grudge, you must keep it outside these walls. If you don’t, then I shall simply have to let you go.’

Harry nodded. ‘I understand.’

‘So tell me, Harry – do I need to be worried?’

‘No,’ Harry assured him. ‘You have no need to worry.’

‘Good!’ Crossing to Amy, Jacobs
asked her to bring him the sales figures and a mug of strong coffee.

Compiling the figures for the day’s sales, Amy took the paperwork up to the office, where Bernie Jacobs spread them out on his desk. ‘So what do you think then, Amy? Did we do well today?’

‘It’s been really busy,’ she replied. ‘Best sale yet, if you ask me.’

‘Thank you. Oh, and would you remind the salesmen about the office
meeting … eight-thirty tomorrow? I know I’m bringing them in early for a Sunday, but I want them all here on time, raring to go, and full of ideas for the Christmas promotion.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘That’s all for now, Amy.’ He looked up at the wall clock. ‘It’s almost five o’clock. Tell the others it’s time to lock up. Then they can go. I’ll see them in the morning, eight-thirty sharp.’

Amy delivered
his instructions.

Half an hour later, after the monies were counted, bagged and duly delivered to the safe in Jacobs’ office, the salesmen left one after the other, until only Harry remained, leaning on the counter, his thoughts miles away – on Judy, and the thug she had married.

He wondered if that was his fault. Whether after he had left, Phil had moved in like the predator he was, and Judy
turned to him because she had no one else.

If that was the case, then he had to carry some of the responsibility. Unless, of course, it was right what Saunders said – that Judy had never really loved him, and that she was glad to be with Phil instead.

He could see Judy in his mind; the way she had been then and the way she was now. She still had that magical loveliness, he thought.

Through
all the years, he had loved Judy as much as he did in
the beginning. All this time, he had carried a picture in his mind of the small, quiet person who had stolen his heart.

Was Saunders right? Was it true that she had never really loved him? Thinking about the way it was between himself and Judy, Harry found the man’s claim hard to believe. But then he reminded himself of other times when Judy
had seemed cold, even hostile towards him, before becoming clinging, almost like a frightened little child. He always comforted her when she was like that. But he never understood, and Judy would not discuss the reason for her moods.

Yes! Now he came to think of it, there had been times when he thought she did not really love him at all. He angrily dismissed the thoughts. His deeper instinct
told him that Judy loved him, as much as he loved her.

Sometimes though, she had been distant … and kind of sad.

‘Hey! Penny for them?’ Amy’s shrill voice startled him.

He looked up. ‘Sorry, Amy, I was miles away.’

‘Yeah, I could see that. It’s a good job the others have gone, because you were talking to yourself – something about Saunders and Judy.’

Harry was shocked. ‘God! Was I really
talking out loud?’

‘Well, more like muttering.’ Curious, she asked, ‘Is there something wrong? Was it that man – a nasty piece of work, I thought. I saw how agitated he was getting.’

‘It was just a shock to see him,’ Harry explained. ‘He was an old acquaintance from way back. There was an argument that was never settled, and which he can’t seem to let go of.’ Harry felt able to confide in Amy,
at least to some extent. ‘He was someone I never thought, or hoped, to see again.’

‘Oh, right. Like that, was it?’ Reaching underneath the counter, the girl withdrew a packet of Wrigley’s spearmint chewing gum. ‘Want one?’

Harry shook his head. ‘Thanks all the same, but it’ll only end up sticking itself somewhere on my jacket.’

‘Okay.’ Rolling a strip of gum into her mouth, she mumbled, ‘That
bloke, the one you haven’t seen for ages?’

‘Saunders,’ he answered. ‘His name is Phil Saunders – not a man you’d want to get mixed up with.’

‘I gathered that.’

‘Why?’ He did not think she had heard Saunders’ threats.

‘I dunno.’ She replaced the packet of chewing-gum in the drawer. ‘I’ve got a feeling I’ve seen him before.’

‘What?’ Harry sat up straight. ‘Where did you see him?’ He was excited
that she might know where he and Judy lived.

‘Is he a mate?’ Amy asked. ‘Thought you didn’t like him.’

Harry gave a wry little smile. ‘Not so’s you’d know.’ Impatient, he pushed for an answer. ‘Amy, think! Where did you see him?’

Amy cast her mind back. ‘He was coming out of some pub in Bedford town centre – blind drunk, he was – fighting-mad and cursing at passers-by. He got into a fight and
somebody called the police; they took him away in a Black Maria.’

Her eyes were popping out of her head. ‘Cor, if you ask me, he’s a right bad lot! That’s why I was surprised when I saw you and him talking together. I didn’t think you were the type to mix with a bloke like that.’

‘Amy?’ Harry had another question. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’d know where he lives, would you?’

‘Not
bloody likely!’

‘Okay, so has he ever been here, in this store before – apart from today?’

Amy shook her head. ‘Not that I recall, and if he had, I’m sure I’d remember.’ She cringed. ‘Not only is he a loud-mouthed thug, he even looks like one!’ She made a face. ‘Ugly bugger, ain’t he?’

‘Look, Amy, it’s important that you help me here.’

‘I
am
helping you,’ she groaned. ‘Matter o’ fact you’re
beginning to get on my nerves! It’s my birthday, remember, and me mum’s making me a special tea. I want to push off soon.’

‘Do you think he might be a home-buyer?’ Harry asked. ‘Maybe he hardly ever comes into the shop, but just buys from the catalogue and then pays the tallyman?’

Amy wasn’t sure about that. ‘We don’t have many customers who just buy from the catalogue,’ she said. ‘Not unless
they live miles away and can’t get in, but that’s not usual.’

He had to try. ‘Could you not take a peek at the register?’ he pleaded. ‘Phil Saunders … his wife’s name is Judy.’ It really angered him to say that. She had always been Judy Roberts to him, and now she was Judy Saunders. It riled him, to think she had taken that thug’s name.

‘Why didn’t you just ask him for his address when he was
here?’ Amy was puzzled.

‘I’ve got my reasons. Please, Amy, just take a peek at the register.’

While Harry kept an eye out for Mr Jacobs coming down, Amy went through the list in the company register. ‘He’s not in here,’ she said, slamming the ledger shut, ‘but I’ve a feeling Len keeps
a separate, more personal register, of valued clients and all that. You never know, this Saunders bloke might
be in there.’

‘Len hasn’t been in today, has he?’

Amy shook her head. ‘Nope. He had four days’ holiday long overdue.’

Harry bit his lip. ‘When will he be back?’

Amy counted on her fingers. ‘Day after tomorrow.’

‘Does he keep the ledger here, in the office maybe?’

Pursing her lips, Amy thought for a minute. ‘Nope, he takes it home. Matter o’ fact, I don’t think anyone’s ever seen inside Len’s
ledger. He keeps it close to his chest.’

Making big eyes, she leaned forward, whispering as though sharing a secret. ‘Maybe he’s an axe-murderer. Oooh! Maybe it’s a list of them that he’s killed.’

Harry had to smile. ‘Will you give over, and tell me how I’m supposed to find out Saunders’ address?’

‘Well, I don’t know, do I? Who d’you think I am – Rosie of the Globe?’

Harry laughed out loud.
‘Who the devil is Rosie of the Globe when she’s at home?’

‘She’s the old gypsy on Yarmouth Pier … read my hand once. Said I was gonna marry a handsome man with a fortune.’ She winked at Harry. ‘That wouldn’t be you, would it?’

‘No, not unless you count a good head of hair and a wage that only lasts Friday to Friday.’

‘Naw!’ She made a face. ‘It can’t be you then.’ More’s the pity, she thought.

She gave a long, shivering sigh. ‘Trouble is, while I’m waiting for this handsome rich fella to come and rescue me, I’m getting older and uglier. So, by the time he turns up, he won’t give me a second glance.’ She giggled mischievously. ‘That’s when I’ll come after you.’

‘What!’ Harry feigned indignation. ‘Do you think I’ll settle for some ugly old woman who only wants me for second best? I don’t
think so!’ He led her back to what was urgent. ‘That pub you mentioned?’

‘Yeah, what about it?’

‘Can you remember the name of it?’

‘I’m not sure.’ She twirled the strands of her hair, as she did when thinking hard. ‘I don’t know,’ she admitted, ‘but I can tell you whereabouts it is.’

‘Wonderful!’ Harry listened while she outlined the directions,
‘… onto the Boulevard and it’s right there in
front of you,’ she finished.

By the time they parted company, Harry felt a whole lot better for having discovered the place where Saunders went to drink. Moreover, seeing Judy with his own eyes was so gratifying.

From where he was, she looked just as lovely as ever – older, yes of course, and maybe too skinny – but a wonderful, heart-warming sight nevertheless.

W
HEN WORK WAS
done, Harry’s first instinct was to go straight to the pub and ask questions, but then he thought of Kathleen, and how she and Tom had both seen the argument with Saunders. ‘I should go home first,’ he murmured. ‘Put their minds at rest.’

He was uneasy, itching to discover more about Saunders: where he worked, where he lived, how he and Judy got on together.
Was it an idyllic marriage? Did he treat her well, or was she unhappy?

When all was said and done, she had tied herself to a bully like Saunders, though somehow Harry could not let himself believe that she actually loved him. But then for whatever reason, she had married him.

His fears for Judy were very real. After all, Saunders had come at him like a bull at a gate, convinced that he and Judy
were having some sort of affair. So, if he could tackle another man like that, what was he really capable of? Would he treat Judy with the same contempt? Would he hurt her? Was he right now, at this very minute, torturing her with his warped and unfounded suspicions?

If he could only discover where she lived, he would at least be able to keep a watchful eye on Judy.

He glanced at his watch.
It was ten past five. The pubs wouldn’t be open yet. Besides, he didn’t want to make too many waves. It would only call attention to himself. It was best if he went in as a customer, and got casually chatting to the barmaid. That way, people would not be so wary of him, and he might then pick up more information.

So he turned the car towards Fisher’s Hill and home, where he would spend some time
playing with Tom, chat with Kathleen about events, then head back to Bedford and find the pub Amy had described in such detail.

The journey home did not take too long. It being a Saturday, most people were relaxing over tea, until either they got ready for the pub or the flicks, or even a twirl on the dance floor at the local Palais.

As for Harry, he had made his plans for the evening, and
was looking forward to the chase.

‘Daddy! Daddy!’ Tom was watching for him. The minute Harry was parked and on his way up the garden path, Tom came rushing out of the house, to run straight into his arms. ‘Whoa!’ Harry laughed as he caught the boy and raised him high. ‘You’ll have us both upside down in the bushes if you’re not careful.’

Tom was so excited he couldn’t stop talking. ‘I’m sorry,
Daddy, my balloon popped. I’ve been waiting to tell you. Kathleen said I could sit at the window and watch. I saw you coming up the street. We’ve got tea ready, and I’ve got my Wellington boots and everything!’

‘So, where’s Kathleen?’

‘In the kitchen. I told her you were here, and she said she won’t be a minute.’ He whispered in Harry’s ear. ‘Kathleen’s made jelly, but I’m not supposed to tell
you because it’s a secret.’

‘Okay. I won’t tell, don’t worry.’ Kathleen always did make the most wonderful jelly, he thought, licking his lips.

At the door he put the boy on the floor. ‘Go and tell Kathleen I’m home,’ he said, chuckling contentedly when his son went off at the run.

He heard Tom yelling as he ran, ‘Daddy’s here! Kathleen, Daddy’s here!’ Then in a lower voice, ‘I never told him
about the jelly.’

In the kitchen Kathleen had to smile to herself. ‘So, you never told him about the jelly, did you?’ she said, as he came rushing in through the door. ‘Sure you might as well have, the way you’re yelling and shouting!’

She came out to greet Harry, and though she did not mention the day’s incident with Phil Saunders, or her own observation regarding Judy and the bruises, each
knew they had to talk, and plan, and look for the best way forward – but not in front of Tom, and not until they had eaten.

‘I expect you’re famished, are you?’ She set the table with a pot of tea, two cups, milk and sugar, with a glass of Kia-Ora for Tom.

‘It’s fish pie, chips and cauliflower.’ She grinned. ‘Oh, and we’ve got raspberry jelly with fruit for afterwards.’

‘Sounds perfect!’ Harry
declared. ‘Just what the doctor ordered.’

Thrilled to have his daddy home, Tom went into a long excited
explanation of how ‘Mr Butterworth from the post office said if we keep eating all the fish there’ll be none left in the sea. He told Kathleen he never eats fish, but he likes a crab now and then. Kathleen told him a crab bit her toe once when she went to Blackpool, and it really hurt.’

He
made a grimace. ‘I don’t want a crab to bite my toe, Daddy. I just want to watch them swimming. Can we? Can we watch the crabs swimming?’

‘I don’t see why we can’t go crabbing one day. Yes, if that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.’ Harry finished his cup of tea and poured another, while topping up Kathleen’s at the same time. ‘In fact,’ he went on, ‘a day at the seaside might do us all
good, but not just yet, son. Soon though. When I’ve got time to spare.’

A few minutes later, dinner was served.

‘You’re an excellent cook,’ Harry congratulated Kathleen. ‘Trouble is, me and Tom will be fat as elephants if you keep feeding us like this.’

‘So you’ll not be wanting jelly and fruit afterwards then?’ Kathleen winked aside at Tom.

‘Hey, I never said that!’ Harry exclaimed. ‘I’ll
just have to walk a bit faster on the rounds and work it off.’

‘Ah, so you’re back on the rounds soon then, are ye?’

Harry nodded. ‘Next Friday, or so I’m told.’

‘You prefer that to being inside, don’t you?’

‘I do, yes, but we’ve got one man down with the flu, and another away on holiday. The sale was already scheduled, and it was every hand to the deck, so to speak.’

His quiet smile spoke
volumes. ‘If I hadn’t been inside today, I would never have seen Judy.’

Tom was intrigued. ‘Is that the lady Kathleen was talking to? I like her, she’s nice. She found my balloon.’

He had more important things on his mind. ‘I’d like some more jelly,’ he piped up. Having already served him a whole dishful, Kathleen was not so sure.

‘Maybe just a little taste,’ she said. ‘We don’t want you having
a tummy upset, now do we, eh?’

Tom thought a little was better than nothing at all. ‘All right then, yes.’ Impatient, he began bumping up and down in his chair.

‘So you want some more then?’

Tom nodded his head.

‘What was that?’ Kathleen wanted the ‘magic’ word. ‘I didn’t hear you?’

‘Yes, I’d like more jelly.’

This time Harry pulled him up. ‘And what do you say?’

Tom had a think. He had
told them he wanted more jelly already; and he did what Kathleen wanted and said he would have just a little bit. So, what else should he say? ‘Oh, I know.’ He giggled. ‘I forgot, sorry, Kathleen.
Please
may I have some more jelly?’

‘Why, o’ course ye can.’ She gave him a swift cuddle. ‘Jelly coming up.’ Off she went to dish him out just the smallest portion.

Later, Kathleen cleared the table,
with Harry’s help.

‘It was so good to see Judy today,’ Harry confided. ‘Was she well, d’you think? Did she say much? Is everything all right between her and Saunders?’

‘Why do you ask that?’ Kathleen had still not mentioned the bruises on Judy’s face. She wondered if Harry had seen them, after all. But then from that distance, it was hardly likely.

‘No particular reason,’ Harry answered. ‘It’s
just that I would never have put her and Saunders together, never in a million years.’

Kathleen had little to say until the cutlery and dishes were in the sink and the table-cloth neatly folded.

When she saw Tom yawning, she decided, ‘Right, me boy. It’s an early night for you. You’ve had an exciting day, and you look bushed, so ye do.’ Taking him by the hand, she led him to Harry. ‘A kiss for
your daddy, a quick bath and pyjamas, then into bed.’

She was right about him being bushed. Soonever the boy was washed and dried and in his pyjamas, she put him to bed. Even before she got to the door, he was fast asleep. ‘Aw, bless yer little cotton socks,’ she murmured. ‘You’re just a babe, so ye are.’ Blowing him a kiss, she softly closed the door.

On arriving downstairs, she was amazed
to see the dishes all washed and put away. ‘Well, I never.’ The smile on her face went from ear to ear. ‘That’s wonderful. Thank you, Harry, but you shouldn’t have.’

‘It’s the least I could do,’ he replied. ‘Tom and I would be in a poor situation if it wasn’t for you.’

‘Well, now you can go and sit down,’ she ordered. ‘I’ll make us a fresh brew and then I’ll join you. I have an idea there’s
something on yer mind that won’t wait.’ She peeked at him through bright little eyes. ‘Am I right?’

Harry nodded. ‘You are, as usual.’

‘So, it’s to do with Judy, is it?’

‘Right again.’

‘Do like I said, and make yourself comfortable while I brew the
tea, then we’ll talk. Young Tom’s out to the world, so it’ll be just the two of us.’

When Harry went away, deep in thought, Kathleen made the
tea, which she then carried through to the sitting room. ‘Here we …’ She stopped in her tracks. Harry was nowhere to be seen, ‘Harry?’ When there was no answer, she called again, ‘HARRY?’

Still no answer.

‘Where the devil’s he gone?’ She wandered from room to room, and still there was no sign of him.

She set the tray down and went to the window, where she looked out, and there he was at the
bottom of the garden, leaning over the fence and looking up to the skies.

Saddened by that lonely, troubled figure, she wondered where it would all end. ‘What’s gonna become of yer, eh?’ She was concerned that having seen Judy, he might have detected her deep unhappiness, just as she had done.

For a few minutes she stayed by the window, watching as he leaned on the fence, head bent and looking
as though he had the whole world on his back.

After a while, she collected the tray and went out to the garden, where she set the tray down on the little wooden table. She called him over. ‘This tea will be stone-cold if it’s left much longer!’ she chided, ‘I thought you had things you wanted to discuss?’

Harry turned and looked at her, then he nodded, and now he was on his way over, ‘Sorry,
Kathleen,’ he apologised, ‘how long have you been there?’

‘Long enough,’ she said, ‘Now come and sit down, and tell me what’s bothering ye?’

While he talked, she poured the tea, and when she took a sip of it, she made a miserable face. ‘Whoo! It’s mashed in the pot, so it is!’

Harry took a sip of his own. ‘Tastes all right to me,’ he said. ‘Thank you, Kathleen, this is a lovely way to round
off the evening.’

‘So, what’s on your mind?’ she wanted to know. ‘All through dinner you were listening to Tom and talking to me, and sure ye weren’t even with us at all. You were someplace else … back there with Judy, I shouldn’t wonder.’

He nodded. ‘Are you ever wrong?’

‘More often than not.’ She laughed. ‘More times than I care to remember.’

Harry fell silent for a moment, and during that
tense moment, Kathleen sipped on her lukewarm tea, and waited.

After a while Harry spoke. ‘It was amazing, seeing Judy today,’ he told her. ‘I’m still shaking inside. Oh, I knew straight off it was her. She has a way with her – the way she stands, the way she holds her head slightly to one side as though considering something. How was she, Kathleen?
Really
, I mean, and don’t just tell me what
you think I want to hear.’

‘Well now, let me see,’ Kathleen answered carefully. ‘She seemed all right, I suppose, but …’

Harry prompted her. ‘But what?’

Kathleen took a deep invigorating breath. ‘Don’t get all riled up now, but I’m not altogether sure she’s happy. But then, I can’t be sure she’s not.’ Winking knowingly, she went on, ‘She’s always held her cards very close to her chest, so she
has.’ She distinctly remembered Judy being that way as a young girl.

‘You both saw him, didn’t you,’ Harry prompted, ‘wanting to settle things with his fists? Accusing me of seeing Judy behind his back.’ He gritted his teeth. ‘I should have taken him outside and thrashed him!’

‘Oh, aye? And what would Judy have thought to that, eh? Moreover, what would it have solved?’

Harry shook his head.
‘Nothing, but it might have given me some satisfaction.’

‘He hasn’t changed then?’

‘No. If anything, he’s got worse. The thing is, Kathleen, I’m concerned that he might be taking out his temper on Judy. He’s such a big brute, and she looked so fragile.’

Judy’s image washed through his senses. ‘It all seems so long ago, and yet it was like only yesterday …’ He began to reminisce in his mind.
‘I can’t get over the fact that I’ve actually seen her,’ he said with a fleeting grin. ‘Except she looked so vulnerable. What if Saunders
is
making her life a misery? What if he’s going at her like he went at me?’

Seeing how agitated he was, Kathleen calmed him down. ‘Now stop that,’ she warned. ‘Getting all worked up won’t solve a bally thing.’

‘Did she happen to tell you where they lived?’
he asked.

‘No.’

‘Or whether she was happy?’

‘No.’

‘Does she intend seeing you again?’

‘She didn’t say, and I let her be the judge of that. It’s never wise to force things.’

Harry was both hurt and puzzled. ‘There were things Saunders taunted me with – about me deserting Judy and all that awful business. He said Judy went to him; that she never wanted me. It was him she wanted all the time,
that’s what he said.’

Kathleen tutted. ‘What utter tosh!’ she exclaimed. ‘The man is deluded, so he is. To my dying day, I will never understand why she ever agreed to marry that monster in the first place. It’s almost as though she didn’t care what happened to her after you were gone.’

‘How long after I was gone did she go to him, I wonder?’

Kathleen shrugged. ‘Who knows? All I know is that
she never once mentioned him to me. Then some two years after you left, a neighbour told me she and Saunders were wed. Sure, I don’t rightly know whether they meant Judy and Saunders had only just got wed, or if they’d wed some time ago. I was so thrown by the news, I just wanted to get home and think about it.’