HIDDEN SECRETS (28 page)

“We’ll be staying here for a couple of days and no one will be allowed to leave the hotel; and I mean no one.”

“What are we supposed to eat; there’s hardly anything left in the kitchen?” Kate informed her.

“I don’t really care; it’ll be your job to make sure there’s enough for everyone. You can make a start now, but the boy stays here. Glen you go with her,” she dismissed Kate and turned her attention to Ben and Pat.

“While we wait for your wife-I don’t really think I should call her that- do you Gerry?”

“Give it a rest Anne you’re becoming boring. Why don’t you just tell us what you want,” he replied without bothering to look at her.

“All you need to know is what I’ve already told you. Do exactly as I say and we’ll be out of here on Sunday.”

“The boy you’ve kidnapped is Leo Marshall’s son, isn’t he?” Ben asked.

Anne thought for a while before answering.

“I didn’t know you knew him?” she replied.

“I never said I did; but be careful Anne, you’re not as vigilant as you think you are.”

“What are getting at Gerry?”

“My daddy’s a policeman and he’ll put you in prison,” George shouted at her.

Ignoring the child, Anne repeated her question to Ben.

The answer never materialised as Kate and Glen returned to the lounge with a plate of sandwiches and a dried up salad. Kate appeared to be upset as she laid the plate of sandwiches onto the small table. Ben attempted to catch her attention, but she seemed nervous and preoccupied. George wasn’t deterred by the stale bread, and grabbed a handful of sandwiches as soon as the plate was placed before him. Kate sat deliberately close to Ben, but stared vacantly at the ground. Sensing her agitation, Ben attempted to find out what was bothering her.

“What’s wrong love?” he asked.

“Nothing, why do you ask?”

“I can tell something’s wrong.”

“I’ll tell you later,” she whispered.

Pat, who had been unusually quiet, stood up and headed towards the lounge door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Glen asked.

“I need to pee?” he replied bluntly.

“I’ll come with you; you’ve got exactly two minutes.”

Pat walked out of the room and along the corridor to the nearest bathroom, with Glen following closely behind. As he was about to open the door he turned round.

“You’ll never get away with this; why do you let a woman push you around?” he goaded him.

“Just shut up, you’ve got one minute and thirty seconds.”

In less than a minute, Pat re-appeared and walked back down the corridor. Glen re-joined Anne and whispered something in her ear, while Pat stood by the sofa.

“Sit down,” she ordered him.

Pat could sense an atmosphere of tension developing and took advantage of the situation.

“No I’ll stand, but thanks for asking.”

“I won’t tell you again,” Anne gripped the gun with both hands and pointed it towards Pat’s head.  He kept his nerve and glared directly into her eyes, where he detected a flash of uncertainty. In a split second, he drew his gun from his pocket and held it at arm’s length.

“Put the gun down,” she spoke slowly, but Pat detected a hint of fear in her voice.

“Or what?” Pat challenged her.

“Bring the boy over here now,” she called across the room to Kate.

“Put the gun down Pat before someone gets hurt,” Ben jumped to his feet

“There are three of us Ben doesn’t listen to her, leave the kid there.” Pat began to inch his way towards her as beads of perspiration pricked his brow.

“Please Pat, put the gun down. You don’t want the boy to be hurt do you?” Kate begged him to listen to her.

“Nothings going to happen to him I promise you,” he assured her. 

“Get the boy Glen,” Anne repeated her order as Glen took a step towards the sofa, but Ben barred his way.

“Leave him alone he’s just a kid.”

“Get out of my way,” Glen attempted to push Ben.

“If you lay one finger on the boy I’ll shoot you,” Pat threatened him.

Glen backed off and looked at Anne for guidance.

“Take Kate and the boy out of the room Ben,” Pat spoke never taking his eyes off Anne’s gun, which was still pointing in his direction.

Ben hesitated, prompting Pat to speak again.

“Do it now man, what’s wrong with you?” he spoke through gritted teeth.

“If you attempt to leave the room I’ll shoot the boy,” Anne moved very slowly towards Glen.

“She’s bluffing Ben don’t listen to her; get out now.”

“If you take one step forward I’ll shoot.” Anne now trained her gun towards George as he stood up.

“I don’t believe you could kill a child Ann,” Ben was unconvinced of her threat, and shielded Kate as she held tightly on to the boy’s hand, and guided him towards the door. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest, and her palms were clammy with sweat as she edged her way forward. What occurred in the next few seconds, happened so quickly that Pat had no time to react as he raised his arm and cried out.

“No for God’s sake don’t do it!” his voice cut through the silence as a single gunshot rang out, and Ben dropped to the ground clutching his chest. A stream of smoke rose from the muzzle of the gun clutched in Anne’s hand, as an eerie silence enveloped the room. She expressed no outwards sign of remorse for the life she had taken; no hint of regret for the death of her daughters’ father. Her hard cold stare exposed her for the callous emotionless human being she had become.

     Ben lay motionless on the ground as his blood seeped slowly from the wound. Kate turned round and stared in horror. She let out a pathetic cry of despair knowing Ben was dead, knowing he was gone forever. Dropping to her knees, she gently cradled his head in her hands as tears flowed down her face. Rocking forwards and backwards, she kissed his hair and stroked his forehead as Pat looked on in shocked silence, his face ashen.

“Have you lost your mind? What the hell did you do that for?” Glen was horrified and dropped down beside Kate.

“Get an ambulance quickly he’s badly hurt,” Kate sobbed.

“It’s too late for an ambulance; he’s dead.” Glen failed to find any sign of life.

“No you’re wrong he can’t be; we have to get him to hospital.” She was hysterical but Glen’s attempts to comfort her were rebuked as she lashed out at him, beating him with her fists. 

“Get away from me you bastard,” she spoke through her sobs. Glenn backed away.

Kate lay on the floor next to Ben’s dead body and continued to stroke his face and whisper gently to him.

“Put the gun down now unless you want the same treatment.” Anne turned her attention to Pat, who was reeling with shock and revulsion at the scene before him. As if in slow motion, he placed the gun at the despised woman’s feet and stepped back towards Kate.

“I’m so sorry, I really didn’t think she would do it,” Pat sunk to his knees.

She stared at him, her face stained with tears and eyes wild with rage and grief.

“Why didn’t you listen to her; why?” she cried.

“You really should take me seriously Pat; don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Anne smirked.

“You’re an evil heartless bitch, and I’m going to make sure you pay for what you’ve done,” Kate yelled at her, then turned to Glen Meadows.

“And you are a cowardly wimp hiding behind a woman. Why don’t you stand up for yourself and be a man; if you are one.”

He had nothing to say; because he knew what Kate had said was true.

“Where’s the kid gone Glen?” Anne asked, frantically scanning the room.

“I don’t know; he was here a few minutes ago; perhaps he’s in the passageway outside.”

“Well go and take a look then.”

Glen left the room and began calling the boy’s name; he returned alone ten minutes later.

“I can’t find him anywhere. You must have frightened him with the gun.”

“I don’t bloody well believe this. Why weren’t you watching him you bloody idiot.” Anne snapped.

“Oh no, you’re not going to blame me for this?” Glen shook his head and backed away from her. “This is your shit; you shot an innocent man in front of the kid. What did you expect him to do, stand there clapping and cheering?”

“Oh so you’ve found your voice; well you’d better loose it again, quickly.”

“I told you I didn’t want any part of this Anne,” Glen continued to defy her

“I told you to keep your eye on him.”

“So you expect me to watch the kid, while you kill someone in front of me?

“I expect you to do as I say.”

“I’ve had it with you,” Glen picked up his jacket and proceeded to leave the room.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she raised her voice.

“Away from you, you sick bitch,” he stopped and turned round to face her.

“You’re not leaving; I won’t let you.”

“How do you intend to stop me; shoot me in the back?”

“Don’t tempt me,” she threatened.

“For god’s sake haven’t enough people died?” Pat intervened.

“You,” she pointed at him, “Shut your mouth; this is nothing to do with you.”

Kate slowly rose to her feet. For now, her tears had subsided and she experienced a strange sensation of detachment from the people in the room. Without warning, and with strength that surprised her, she lunged at Anne. The attack was so unexpected that it knocked the unsuspecting woman to the ground. The gun flew from her hand and slid across the wooden floor. Before she had time to react, Kate snatched it and stood over her as the startled woman attempted to rise to her feet.

“How does it feel now eh?” she taunted, waving the gun erratically over her.

Anne laughed out loud.

“Do you really think I’m scared of you; you look like a child pointing a water pistol.”

Kate was seething.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t blow your head off right now?” she waved the gun close to her head.

“Because you don’t have it in you; and I’ve disposed of your cheating husband,” she taunted.

Engulfed by intense loathing and pain, Kate squeezed the trigger with a trembling hand and fired the gun. The bullet caught the despised woman’s shoulder, causing her to cry out as she fell to the floor writhing in pain.

“You bitch, you’ve shot me,” she attempted to stem the flow of blood with her hand.

“For fuck’s sake Kate, what have you done?” Pat rushed over expecting to see Anne lying dead.

“Far less than the vile murdering bitch deserves.” Kate glared at her, the gun still in her hand.

“Give me the gun Kate?” he held his hand out.

“She needs help. You’d better phone for an ambulance Pat,” Kate smiled.

“There’s no way I’m going to a hospital; you know I’ll be arrested.” Anne attempted to get to her feet, but the pain forced her back down.

“You’ve got something right then; I’ll phone the police myself,” Kate reached for her phone, and switched it on.

“Glen stop them now; do something,” she pleaded desperately with him.

“This is the end Anne; you have to be stopped,” he refused to help her.

“We’ve come too far Glen, don’t throw it all away,” she made one last effort to drag herself to her feet, but the pain forced her down and she beat her clenched fist on the floor.

“I’ll make sure you go down with me Glen; you’ll be sorry for what you’ve done,” she continued to chastise him as Pat wrapped a towel over the wound.

“You’re hurting me you big oaf,” she grimaced in pain as Pat tied a tourniquet around the wound.

“Sorry; but I have to stop the bleeding as best I can until the ambulance arrives.”

“You should let her bleed to death; it’s all she worthy of,” Kate sneered.

“If I did that I’d be bad as her,” Pat replied giving the tourniquet an unnecessary twist. He despised the woman, but he was already responsible for one death; he didn’t want another on his conscience. She had to be the most monstrous individual he had ever had the misfortune to meet in his entire life, and he had met some evil people. Still pondering on the evils of Anne Parish, Pat was unaware of the paramedics and police officers who were attempting to gain access to the hotel

“The police and paramedics are here do you know where the keys are Kate?” Pat asked.

“They’re in reception,” she muttered.

“You will tell them that I wasn’t responsible for Ben’s death won’t you?” Glen pleaded with him.

“Get out of my way; you’re as bad as her,” he snarled, brushing him aside.

Six police officers accompanied by Inspector Salt, arrested Anne Parish and led her to an awaiting ambulance. She made one last attempt to free herself from the clutches of the two policemen who held her- due to her injury they were not allowed to handcuff her- but she was overwhelmed, and eventually gave in. Glen Meadows made no attempt to escape; secretly he was glad it was all over.

         Kate looked down at the dead body of her husband, and took his hand. His skin was cold and beginning to turn blue; he was losing his gentle expression and she found it too much to bear. She felt someone place a hand on her shoulder.