A Murderer's Heart (11 page)
She looked at Anne intensely as she spoke.
“You’re right, there’s nothing wrong with being a nurse and your patients are lucky to have you. The way you listen to people is a great asset.”
“You listen too, it’s your job. I just see things a little differently, that’s all. I need to see into a person’s soul, try to figure out their drives – passions. The best way I know how to do that is to listen...find out what’s in their hearts.”
“Yes, I know what you mean. But I think you have a special gift – I envy your insight. I feel compassion for my patients and try to cure their troubles but somehow you see beyond this. As you said; into their soul – their hearts.”
Anne looked at her friend, who hadn’t really opened up like this before and was glad she had chosen to confide in her. Barbara rarely showed her inner self; she always put up a shield – probably self-protection. Perhaps it was the shock of what happened that had loosened her tongue?
“Anyway, that’s not the only reason why I feel so rattled. I’ve been meaning to tell you about Jenny. She didn’t want anyone to know but I think it’ll be okay for me to tell you, under the circumstances. You may be able to help. Has she ever mentioned to you about her being followed?”
Barbara shook her head.
“Apparently for the past year she’s been stalked. Well, it seems that way – Meakin thinks it may be more serious than that, though that’s bad enough. She finally had the nerve to tell David – you know what’s she’s like about not wanting to make trouble. She even doubted her sanity, thinking maybe she’d imagined it all.”
Anne outlined everything she knew about Jenny’s problem. Barbara listened as only she could - serious, thoughtful and attentive.
When Anne had finished, her response was a little sceptical. “We’ve both known Jenny a long time, though she’s closer to you. Do you think it’s possible that she is imagining it all?”
“No, I don’t. Neither does the Inspector. He seems to think the notes she’s made were good evidence of her story.”
“Perhaps that’s all it is, a story she’s working on. She’s been writing for years and she is a little neurotic.”
“She’s only over-protective of her children, which only makes her seem that way. Ever since their birth, she’s been afraid of life and the tragedies it can offer. But no, I don’t think she’s disturbed beyond that. Her stories are always full of life and laughter – she’s a romantic at heart. I think she didn’t tell anyone before because she maybe thought nobody would believe her. Doesn’t that bring out our failures...that she felt she couldn’t talk to us?”
“That’s just typical of you, Anne, always taking the blame upon yourself. What about her husband, why couldn’t she talk to him?”
“Well, he’s away so much, she probably didn’t want to spoil their time together. Well it’s done now. I’m worried about her. After what Meakin inferred, I think she should have some protection.”
“Don’t you think you’re being a little over-dramatic? The police know, so does David, can’t they handle it?”
“The police say there’s nothing much they can do, she doesn’t even know if the stalker is male or female. No threats have been made. I’m going to keep a closer eye on her, I’ve neglected everyone for ages – I know I’ve been working too hard. I’m going to make an extra effort to spend more time with her.”
Anne was determined to keep Jenny safe.
“Yes, you’re right of course. I will too. Why don’t we bring her along to the gym? The exercise will do her good, and it’ll take her mind off things,” Barbara suggested, smiling.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Anne said. “And, I’ll go round to see her after work more often; they don’t live too far from me.”
“Well, that’ll be more difficult for me, being in the city. It’s easier for work. But I could try seeing her a little more. Don’t worry, Anne, she’ll be fine. That lovely husband of hers will be there too. I’m sure everything will work out okay.”
Looking at her watch, Anne realised she’d been talking too long and needed to finish her work. She wanted to call at Jenny’s tonight and speak to Meakin about Alan Burgess’ patients.
Saying goodbye to Barbara, she left her sitting thoughtfully at the table.
{17}
Before Anne left the hospital, she made a call to Inspector Meakin and told him about the possibility of the killer being one of Burgess’ patients.
Although it couldn’t have been anyone admitted into the hospital, some patients attended on an outpatient basis. He’d also had a small private practice, where he worked two days a week.
Meakin thanked her and said he would look into it; though he hadn’t said, the thought had already crossed his mind.
As Anne left the hospital, she was trying to organise her thoughts.
Everything she had been told didn’t seem to make much sense. She must talk to David; maybe he knew Meakin’s thoughts?
When she arrived at their house, she noticed that David’s car was here – good, maybe she’d have the chance to talk without Jenny hearing. She didn’t want her to be anymore spooked than she already was.
As she followed David into the kitchen, she tried to formulate her words.
He told her Jenny had gone out, taking the children to the cinema. They shouldn’t be too long now. Jenny had been nervous about leaving the house but David had persuaded her to take the girls and have some fun. He was waiting for an important ‘phone call. She’d agreed to go, but would not stay out too long – saying she’d be straight home after the movie had finished, probably get back by seven-thirty.
Anne settled down at the familiar kitchen table and related to David all that Meakin had said.
He was obviously shaken at her news, but was not all that surprised. He’d had a feeling Meakin was holding something back. Most people had the same feelings about Jenny – that she needed protection. It was one of the things that had attracted David to her so many years ago. She always appeared so vulnerable, so gentle, and so ready to see the good in others.
“Right,” said David, adding, “We need a plan. I don’t think Jenny should know about this. We need to have some sort of rota where there’s always someone with her. It has to be done in such a way that she doesn’t suspect. She’s very much attuned to her surroundings, it won’t be easy.”
“I think you’re right. But she needs protection; I have a bad feeling about this. Sam will cover for me if necessary; I’ll reschedule my work and be with her as much as possible. I’ve been saying lately how much I’ve neglected my friends – which is true – so that can be a good excuse to be with her more. Anyway, I’ll enjoy seeing my beautiful goddaughters more often.”
Anne tried to smile, seeing the worried frown on David’s forehead. She hadn’t told him about the murders – she didn’t want to trouble him even more. Let him concentrate on his wife and family.
She reached out her hand and squeezed his, he smiled and squeezed back.
Yes everything would be fine.
Suddenly, they heard Jenny’s car screech outside.
They scrambled to the door.
David reached it first.
Flinging it back, he raced outside.
Something was dreadfully wrong.
Following David to Jenny’s car, Anne saw that she had already opened the door and was standing gripping its top. Tears were streaming down her face.
“Jenny, what’s the matter, for goodness sake, tell me!” ordered David.
Panic had seized all of them by the throat.
David pulled Jenny into his arms and held her, trying to calm her down.
Great sobs heaved their way through her, soaking her face.
As she pressed her face into his shoulder she mumbled something.
“What’s that sweetheart, I can’t hear you?”
Sliding two fingers under her chin, he lifted it gently to see pain-filled eyes.
Between the tears she whimpered, “I said, they’ve gone. The twins...they’ve gone – someone has taken my babies!”
******
With pure horror on their faces, both David and Anne peered into Jenny’s car, as if the twins would be hidden under the seat.
It couldn’t be a joke; Jenny would never do anything like that.
Jenny had again collapsed against her husband, now sobbing uncontrollably.
Anne scrambled into the car, not sure why, and looked around in despair.
There had to be something that could help?
They had to call Meakin – and fast!
Racing back toward the kitchen, Anne grabbed the ‘phone and dialled the number while David helped a distraught Jenny into the house.
He sat down pulling her onto his lap, holding tightly – a look of disbelief on his face.
You heard such terrible things about children being taken, about what could happen to them. David shuddered at the thought. His family had been torn apart. If only he’d gone with them. If only he’d taken it all more seriously. If only Jenny had told him sooner.
He stared into space and listened as Anne spoke to Inspector Meakin.
No, they didn’t know what had happened; Jenny had been too upset to say much – only that the twins had disappeared. Yes, she’d taken them out to the cinema – that’s all she knew.
Anne put down the ‘phone and sat, stunned by the news.
She looked at David saying, “He’s coming to see us, now. I’ll make some tea.”
Not that she could swallow anything, but making tea gave her something to do while they waited.
She went over to Jenny and hugged her; still sitting with David, crying like her heart had broken.
When Meakin arrived, Anne answered the door and led him through to the kitchen.
The tea had lain untouched on the table.
Making a fresh pot, she gave a cup to Meakin, who looked even more sombre than usual.
Jenny had moved to a chair beside David, her heart-rending sobs had ceased for the moment.
Meakin sat next to Anne on the bench.
“Please, drink some tea, Missus King. It’ll help. I need to ask you some questions; it’s vital that you think as clearly as possible.”
With shaking hands, Jenny did as she was told and took a large gulp of tea. Its warmth helped to calm her.
“Try to tell me exactly what happened.”
He voice though matter-of-fact, held a kind note.
A mother’s worse nightmare was losing a child.
Holding tightly onto David’s hands, Jenny spoke with a quiet, shaky voice as she related the events of the evening.
“We’d seen a lovely film, the girls were enthralled. They’d eaten popcorn and juice and they were so happy.”
Her voice broke, but she carried on speaking.
“When we came into the foyer, the rain had started to pour and I knew that we’d all get soaked by the time we’d made it to the car. I didn’t want to wait until the rain had passed – l felt an urgency to get home. We’d been to the cinema before; the staff knew the girls well. I thought they’d be safe. I made the girls sit on the bank of chairs by the window – they would be able to see me drive towards them. I asked Polly to keep an eye on them while I brought the car round. There was no problem – I’d done it before...I trusted her.”
Her hysteria was finding its force as she fought through the words.
“I dashed to the car, and was gone for less than a minute, but by the time I got back, the girls had disappeared! I asked Polly, but she said they’d been there only moments ago – she couldn’t understand it. I ran through the whole building, but they were gone.
“Oh, David how could I have been so stupid – what if someone’s taken them, what about that stalker? If only I’d waited a bit longer...the rain’s stopped now. Oh my God!” she broke down fully this time and David took her upstairs saying he would call their doctor.
Anne looked at Meakin in disbelief.
Not Anne and Sally – please no!
Meakin looked down at his notebook and wrote.
When he looked back at her, his face was unreadable.
“What do you think might have happened?” she asked. “Maybe they just moved and got lost? Kids do that all the time. Someone may have found them and is ringing the authorities right now?”
Even as she spoke, her voice held no conviction to her words.
“It’s too early to say, Doctor Blake. These cases have so many outcomes. We seem to be seeing a lot of each other right now.”
“Why do you say that, do you think there is a connection to all these terrible events?”
Anne was alarmed.
“I’m saying no such thing, only that we’ve never met before yesterday, now this is the third time.”
He was stopped from saying anymore by the front door bell ringing.
It was Jenny’s doctor.
He followed David directly upstairs where he gave Jenny a sedative. She needed to rest if she was to find her way through this catastrophe.
