Scandal (2 page)

   She didn’t need her key to unlock the door; it was open, which was unusual.  Their door was always kept locked so thieves couldn’t help themselves if Lee and Linda were asleep.  There was a low mumble of voices which stopped abruptly when Ashleigh walked in.  It was quite a shock being confronted by two police officers.  Walking in timidly, Ashleigh bit her finger nails, looking around for Linda.  Linda looked up, turning away abruptly as she caught her daughter’s eye.  It was hard for Ashleigh to tell if Linda had been crying.  Her eyes were often red and puffy.

   A smile touched the lips of the female officer as she stood up to greet Ashleigh.

   “You must be Ashleigh,” she began pleasantly.  Ashleigh nodded to confirm this.  “Can we talk to you for a minute please?”  Linda didn’t look up at her daughter a second time.  She just sat in her chair smoking one cigarette after another, hands trembling as she sucked the cancerous stick.   Taking the police lady’s lead, Ashleigh took a seat at the table.  “Ashleigh,” she began.  “Can you cast your mind back over the past couple of weeks please and think if your father had any men come here to talk to him.”  She thought for a second, there had been Gregg.  “Anyone at all?” she pressed.  Ashleigh cleared her throat.

   “There was a man.  I think he was called Gregg.”

   “Good girl,” she replied.  “Have you any idea what his surname was?”

   “No, but I think he was Irish.”  A quick glance to her male colleague signalled for him to scribble notes on his pad.

   “Now Ashleigh, I want you to think very carefully about this next question.”

   Ashleigh shuffled nervously on her chair, palms moist with sweat.  “Okay, I will.”

   “Do you know why he came here or what he talked about with your dad?” 

   Thinking hard, she could only remember being sent to her room.  She remembered her parents talking later that day about a big job and a jewellers but the police lady hadn’t asked her about them, only Gregg and what he’d spoken to her father about.  She hadn’t heard any of that conversation.

   “No,” she replied several seconds later.  The police lady sighed.

   “Did you notice if Gregg had anything with him?”  She could remember the carrier bag on the table this morning which her father kept touching.  It had been in the cupboard for a while too.  She was unsure though if it had been Gregg who’d brought it with him originally or if her father had acquired it from somewhere else.  “Take as long as you need Ashleigh, this is really important.”

   “I don’t know miss, I didn’t see him for long.”

   “Okay.  Good girl.  You’ve been very helpful.” 

   As the female police officer got up to leave, Ashleigh knew she needed some answers too.  Why were they even here?

   “What’s happened miss?” Ashleigh enquired meekly. 

   The police gave each other a sly glance.  Linda hung her head down.  Sitting back down, the police lady who seemed to have been in charge took Ashleigh’s hand.  The training she’d had with situations such as these came into action as she prepared herself to give the shocking news.

   “A jewellery shop in the centre of Leeds was the target of a robbery this morning.  Two men have since been arrested.  One of the men had a gun and he shot dead the manageress, seriously injuring another member of staff.  One of the men arrested was your father.  We think he was the one with the gun.  Police are looking at C.C.T.V. footage at the moment.”

   The conversation she’d heard her parents having had been about robbing a jewellers.  Their words now swam around in her head.  After Gregg had been round last week, that’s when her father had started to talk to Linda about a big job.  The thing was, she’d never actually heard Gregg and her father’s conversation.  Ashleigh wanted to tell the police constable what she knew but felt guilty, thinking that she should have spoken sooner about her concerns.  If she had, the manageress may still be alive.  Her mum had known about it also.  Ashleigh realised at that moment that her mum held information, vital information that could see her arrested if the police were to ever find out she’d held it from them.  This made her suddenly feel sick.  Certain her father would go to prison didn’t actually bother Ashleigh.  She loathed him.  He could rot in jail for all she cared.  But her mum, that was different.  She didn’t love her but she pitied her.  With Lee out of the way, maybe their life could be better.  There’d be no more beatings for her mum to take and if she was to get a job, sort her life out even, perhaps they could help each other to turn things around.

   Ashleigh knew she had to lie.  She mustn’t tell them what she knew.  This was the only chance she’d have to salvage any bond with her mum.  How she longed for that, longed for a normal mother-daughter relationship.  Perhaps they could even go shopping or buy a cup of coffee in a cafe once in a while.

   “Will he go to prison?” Ashleigh asked after much deliberation.

   “If he’s found guilty then yes he will,” the officer announced.  She stopped in her tracks, turning to face Ashleigh.  “Just one last thing before I go.”

   “Yes.  What is it?” Ashleigh asked nervously.

   “Did you hear your father mention anything at all to anyone about what he was planning to do?” 

   By now Ashleigh’s palms were soaked with sweat.  The tissue she’d fiddled nervously with was now just a pile of dust on the table.  Not wanting to give anything away, she kept her eyes away from her mum.  It seemed to take an eternity for her to speak; the slow response only adding tension in the room. 

   “No,” she began.  “I heard nothing.”

   “Thank you Ashleigh.  We’ll see ourselves out.”

   As the door closed behind them it was as though the whole flat breathed a sigh of relief.  Linda opened another bottle of gin, pouring herself a generous helping.

   “What do we do now mum?  What if dad goes to prison?” 

   Lighting another cigarette Linda drew hard on it, blowing smoke over her daughter as she spoke.

   “I’ll have to find work because your dad
will
go down for this.  He was the one with the gun.  Gregg was there to put the jewellery in the bag and drive the car.  The stupid bastard, he can’t do owt right.”  Ashleigh reached for her mum’s nicotine stained fingers, feeling she needed to show her support.  “Get off,” Linda snapped, pulling her hand away as if her fingers had just been burnt.

   “We’re in this together mum.  We have to help each other.”

   “Just keep quiet about what you know or you’ll end up in care.” 

   A moment passed in silence as Ashleigh thought about the future.  If she told the police about the conversation she’d overheard between her mum and dad, admitting she’d been suspicious, would Linda go to prison also?  Would she herself get into trouble for lying or worse, be put into care?

   “I promise I won’t say anything mum.”  Ashleigh knew this to be the truth.  There was no way she could grass her mum up to the police.

   “Make sure you don’t.  Now, do some toast and warm some beans up for tea.  I’m starving.”

   Doing as she was told, Ashleigh struggled with the rusty can opener, cutting her finger a little on the lid.  She began to warm the beans from the tin, sorry for her mum and herself that this was all they had to call their tea. 

   The two sat opposite each other as they ate.  Linda prodded and poked her measly meal, more interested in how empty her glass was to bother with her beans.  Ashleigh ate hungrily.  The toast was soggy from the ample serving of juice surrounding the cheap brand of beans, but once she’d cut off the mouldy bits, it was fine.  Knowing Linda wouldn’t be eating her meal, she pulled the untouched food towards her, eating it quickly before Linda changed her mind.

   At least her stomach was lined with something, Ashleigh told herself as she proceeded to clear the table.  The television was on loudly.  Linda sat back in her chair, the half empty bottle of gin by her side.  Ashleigh looked over at her, unsure of how her mum was feeling.  She hadn’t shown much emotion really.  Her puffy eyes had looked as though they’d cried fresh tears before Ashleigh had returned from school but she couldn’t be certain. 

   Whilst in her room, Ashleigh thought it would be good if her mum did get a job.  To get out of the house and meet people could be what she needed; a turning point in her life.  But then she asked herself the question - how would
she
actually get a job? Knowing that her mum had gained few qualifications at school, if any, and not having worked since the day she left school at sixteen, the odds were greatly stacked against her.

   Her bedroom door remained unlocked that night, knowing Lee wouldn’t come in anymore to touch her.  Now she could feel safe.  How she hoped he’d go to prison.

   Ashleigh read some of her bible that evening, praying for guidance and strength for her mum and herself.  Her parents had never been religious, had never gone to church once during their sorry lives.  Ashleigh had never told them about the visits she’d occasionally made on a Sunday to St. Peter’s.  She’d only been a couple of times but everything about the church and what it stood for intrigued her.  The sheer beauty of the stained glass windows engulfed her, leaving her feeling safe and at peace.  She’d always crept in during the service on Sunday mornings, keeping as quiet as a church mouse at the back.  Not knowing what the priest had been talking about didn’t matter to her.  It was the comfort her surroundings provided which appealed.  The sense of security it wrapped her in temporarily took away some of the pain she felt.

It was late in the night but she awoke, unable to sleep because of earlier events. Thinking about having to go to school later, she hoped nobody would know what had happened to her father the day before.  She’d deny any gossip, that’s what she’d do.  Her life at school was hard enough sometimes because of her parents.

   When she did eventually awaken from a restless night early the next morning, to the sound of voices, Ashleigh wondered what was going on.  One voice sounded a lot like her mum’s, the other was deep and muffled.  She could hear laughing also.  A deep sense of dread filled her when she realised it must be her father.  Could he have been released on bail?  Tiptoeing out of bed, Ashleigh closed her bedroom door quietly, sliding the lock on.  So much for feeling safe!

   The dry piece of bread Ashleigh had for breakfast that morning was washed down with water.  When her mum came out of her room laughing, she enquired about her father. 

   “Is dad back?”

   “No you silly cow, he’s in prison.  Didn’t you hear the pigs tell you?”

   “I just thought I heard voices that’s all and thought he must be back.”

   “Well he isn’t,” she snapped.

   Ashleigh didn’t bother to say bye as she went to school.  Picking up her school bag, she eyed a pair of large trainers by the door.  They weren’t her fathers, certain he’d have his on.  So whose were they?  They didn’t smell too fresh either.  

   The fresh air during her walk to school failed to clear her head.  All she could think about were the voices she’d heard coming from her mum’s room.  If it wasn’t her dad’s voice she could hear, then whose had it been? 

   Before the school gate came into view, the first of the jibes came within ear shot.  Pretending not to have heard, Ashleigh’s footsteps became smaller and quicker.  The sign displaying the name of the school loomed nearer, meaning she’d soon be safe.  Just as her foot was about to step onto school territory, a huge body blocked her path.  It was a boy in the same year as Ashleigh who prevented her from entering school.  His whole manner was intimidating to her.  As his lips went back to speak, small decayed teeth showed themselves.

   “So, here you are.  Hasn’t
your
old man been a bad boy?”  There was only a group of four boys gathered around but it was enough to create an unpleasant scene.

   “Let me pass.  I don’t know what you mean.”

   The head of the gang laughed mockingly.  “Is that so?”  He moved closer to her, the smell of his bad breath wafting under her nose.  “Let me fill you in then shall I?”   His words held a sense of iciness.  The bully pushed Ashleigh back several steps.  He spat his words out at her, his followers laughing.  “Your good for nothing dad got greedy and tried to rob a jewellers but only having a small brain, it went wrong and he ended up shooting someone,
dead
.”  His last word echoed in her ears.  “The woman he killed was my Auntie.  Did you know that?”

   “No,” Ashleigh stammered.  “How could I?”

   “She’s dead now because of your dad.  She was my Auntie, my mum’s sister and now my mum can’t stop crying.” 

   Ashleigh didn’t know what to say.  She remained transfixed to the spot, praying this nightmare would soon end.  The bully was now only inches from her face, determined to make Ashleigh pay for what her father had done.  Suddenly feeling the updraft of his fist, she pulled her head into her hands, waiting for the blow.

   “What do you think you are doing Connors?” a voice boomed.  The gang scarpered, leaving the bully Connors to face the music.

   “She deserves it sir,” he replied.

   “My office, now.”

   “Her dad killed my Aun…”

    “
Now
,” the teacher shouted.  Connors didn’t look back.  He skulked into school with his tail in between his legs.