Mummy's Favourite (37 page)

Meg pulled a chair up for Charlie, sitting down on the one next to it and patted the seat for her sit down. She did as she was told, smiling at the realization that she always did as her mother instructed.

‘Well?'

‘Well,' Meg took hold of her hand. ‘You're not the only one who has been busy. Do you remember me telling you recently I'd taken on two new boys that were special needs in a new school?'

She nodded, vaguely remembering the conversation.

‘Well it wasn't any old school. It was Ryan Hubbard's school. I had to do something, so I persuaded my boss to let me go on a placement. I phoned the school direct and offered my services as a child and adolescence mental health service counsellor. I said I was doing work on the mental health of young adolescents who had been traumatized by recent events. Did they have any children that might fit this category? Luckily they came back to me with two, one of whom was Ryan, as I'd hoped. They didn't have a clue you and I were connected, otherwise I doubt they would have ever let me work with him. I know it was a bit unethical, but I couldn't bear what that man, Keith, had done to you and how he'd got away with it.'

Meg shuffled in her seat, looking uncomfortable. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to flatten out a stubborn wave, and tilted her head to one side. Charlie suddenly realized how alike they both were.

‘You know me. I can't just let these things go. I thought that if I worked with Ryan and befriended him I might be able to find out what really happened that night and whether Ryan had witnessed anything.'

‘But Hubbard said Ryan was in a room downstairs and didn't see anything.'

‘Yeah, well it turns out that Ryan has managed to see an awful lot more than his dad thought he had. He's a sweet kid really, always eager to please. Even in the short period of time that I worked with him, he got quite attached to me and I to him. I gave him lots of attention, something he apparently hadn't had from either parent, and he responded straight away. I would read with him and was there to give him any extra support he needed. Even though it's only been a few weeks he started to talk very openly about what's been happening recently.

‘The other day he came in with a load of bruises on his arms and a cut at the side of his mouth. He wouldn't tell me where they came from to start with. Anyway, as luck would have it, we had a visit from the local schools police officer that day. He was only doing a talk about road safety but it seemed to get Ryan on edge. I had a session with him straight afterwards and we started chatting. He said he wanted to tell the police officer something but last time he'd spoken to one, his dad had beaten him up. I asked him what he meant. He said that he had seen his dad beaten up the other night by two men who had forced their way into the house. He'd heard exactly what they had said to his dad. He even heard their names, Bear and Ratman.

‘He didn't tell the paramedics or police at the time what they had said because Keith had told him not to, but afterwards the police had come and spoken to him again and he thought he should tell them, because his dad's injuries looked so bad. He thought he was doing the right thing. The two attackers got arrested a few days ago, as has the main guy Ryan said they'd mentioned. Keith was asked again if he wanted to press charges but he still didn't want to know. Of course he found out that it had been Ryan who had spilled the beans. That's how Ryan got the bruises. Apparently Keith gave him a backhand across the face and threw him about a bit.'

‘Poor kid,' Charlie was horrified. ‘I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of that man's fury. I thought he stooped low enough beating up women, without taking it out on kids too. So what happened then?'

‘Well… Ryan was in a right state. He was upset and angry. He told me he hated his father and didn't want to live with him anymore and that he wished his mother had taken him away too when she disappeared with Richard. He kept punching his fist down on the table. I told him he should tell the police what his father had done to him, but he said it was no use, because his mum had tried that in the past and nothing had happened. Keith would just take it out on him even more. I tried to say that wouldn't happen, but it's sad really; even at his young age he's realized that victims don't get the help they need.

‘Then he went all quiet. I asked him if he was OK. He said that he knew something that his father had done that would mean he would get sent to prison for a long time. I think I guessed what he was about to say, but it was still a shock when he told me. He said he'd been there that day when you and Hunter had come round. He said how his dad was in a foul mood thinking his mum had walked out on them. He had been swearing and shouting and going round the house taking down all the photos of the family and scrubbing and cleaning every little thing that reminded him of them. He was calling her a bitch and saying how he hated women. Ryan had pretty much hidden himself in the lounge with the Play-station. Anyway, he remembered you arriving and talking to his dad and how he was worried when his dad followed you up the stairs. I think he kind of knew what might happen. He left the Play-station on so that it sounded as if he was still playing and went into the hallway to see what his dad was doing. Charlie, he saw his father kick you down the stairs and laugh at you lying crumpled at the bottom.'

‘And he didn't say anything…?'

‘He wanted to, but he was too scared. His mum and brother were gone and he was frightened that he'd lose his dad too. At that point, having a father like that was better than not having a father at all. Since Keith has turned on him though, he knows that it will never end. His dad will do this again and again, just like he did to his mum.

‘I told him he was a brave boy to have told me and that I was very proud of him for having the courage to speak to me about it. But in the back of my mind I knew I needed to get him to tell someone else. If I went to the police with what he'd said, they could just say I'd made it up. Certainly any defence would. So I persuaded him to tell his teacher. Once his teacher knew it was easier to then go to the police.

‘So that's what I've been doing. Ryan came with me and his teacher and made a statement about what he'd seen that night and also what Keith had done to him more recently. I didn't tell you or Hunter because I didn't want to get your hopes up if the CPS refused to charge, and anyway you were too busy. Luckily the new investigating officer in the case has done a great job. I even got to speak to the same CPS lawyer that was at court with us. He remembered the case and how he felt that we'd been badly let down by the system. He wrote the advice for Keith Hubbard to be further arrested and charged, Charlie. He thinks we should have no problem now we have an actual witness, albeit the defendant's son. Hopefully Hubbard will plead guilty, rather than drag his son into the witness box, but even if he does, Ryan is adamant he will do whatever he needs to this time. He's living with his grandparents at the moment. I'd like to stay in touch with him, if he wants me to. As I say, he's a good kid who just wants to do the right thing.'

Charlie was amazed. Meg had not said a word about what she was up to, but all this time she had been quietly working towards this moment. After being failed by the justice system after Jamie's death, the family were at least being allowed the chance to obtain justice for her this time.

‘Thanks Mum.' No other words were needed.

Wordlessly, Meg put an arm around her and gently pulled her head down on to her shoulder. She tensed but then relaxed and allowed herself to rest, though it did feel strange. Meg was more practical, than demonstrative. The sights and sounds of the last day all seemed to blur.

There was a knock on the door and Hunter poked his head in, grinning from ear to ear.

‘I've just been told the news, Charlie. I'm so pleased. Meg, now I know where she gets it from.' He threw an arm around each of them and kissed Meg enthusiastically on the cheek. ‘Oh, and look who else I just found, skulking about by the gates.'

He pushed the door ajar and she could just see Ben propped up on his crutches against the wall. He looked freshly showered and smart.

‘Sorry,' he sounded a little embarrassed. ‘I heard how well you'd done getting that madman and I thought I'd try and catch you by the gate. I just wanted to say congratulations. Your boss here saw me and literally frogmarched me in. I didn't mean to intrude.'

She lifted her head off Meg's shoulder and smiled towards him.

‘You're not intruding at all, Ben. It's lovely to see you. Hunter is just about to take us home and, if you'd like to join us, Mum here will make us all brunch, won't you Mum?' She turned towards Meg who shrugged.

‘Do I have a choice?'

‘No, of course not. Not when it comes to home-cooking. Ben, she's the best.'

A few minutes later, Charlie, Ben and Meg were sat in Hunter's Jag as he pulled slowly out on to the main road. A dozen or so journalists parted to let them through and within minutes Hunter was away from them and heading homeward.

‘Thank God they moved quickly?' she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I had a sudden vision of a bowling ball hurtling towards ten pins.'

‘Strike one,' Ben shouted and they all laughed. A sudden surge of relief swept through her at the knowledge she would soon be back in the safety of her family home, with food and sleep awaiting. Having Ben there was a bonus.

She was just starting to drift off slightly when Hunter slowed at some pedestrian lights by a small parade of shops. A small group of youths sat on the back of a bench under a nearby tree. Her eyes scanned over them hazily, taking in the nonchalant way the tallest of them threw an empty beer can on to the ground next to the tree and stamped down on it. He obviously couldn't care less and it annoyed her. She peered at him again, concentrating on his posture and the way his chin jutted out arrogantly as he moved. Suddenly she remembered why she recognised him.

‘Stop the car,' she shouted, opening the door and running towards the rear of the bench before the others knew what was going on. Deftly, she grabbed hold of the youth, dragging him down on to the ground, where she pinned him to the concrete, kneeling on his arms so that he couldn't move. He barely had time to shout out or struggle before she had him detained. The other youths jumped off the bench and stared at their friend.

‘Police! Get back,' she roared, worried for a brief moment that they would try to free him.

She could hear the sound of footsteps running towards them as Hunter came into view, red faced and panting at even this small exertion. The other youths turned and sprinted off and then Hunter was with her, kneeling down to help keep her captive restrained.

The youth was still now after a brief struggle.

‘What's going on?' Hunter raised his eyebrows towards her questioningly.

She could see Ben swinging himself towards them on his crutches. Meg hurried alongside.

‘Wait a sec.'

‘What's going on?' Ben repeated Hunter's question as he joined them. The youth turned his head to look at who was talking and a look of recognition crossed his face.

‘It's you!' Ben's look was stern. ‘I should give you the same pasting as you gave me when I was down on the floor, you cowardly bastard.' He stopped a foot away from the youth's face and lifted one of the crutches in line with his head.

‘Well, if it's not our fallen hero,' the boy sneered, trying and failing to raise his head further as Charlie leant down on his shoulders. He spat impotently towards Ben. ‘Go on then, hit me, if you've got the bottle. Oh wait, you can't, can you, you've probably drunk it and chucked it away.'

She saw Ben tense as the youth sniggered. He stood stock-still staring at him for what seemed like ages then lowered the crutch and shook his head, a brief glimpse of sadness replacing the anger.

‘You're not worth it. I'm better than you and I always will be. I wouldn't kick a man when he was down, like you did, because you have no honour.'

‘Oh yeah prove it.'

‘You've just done that for us,' she pointed towards the spittle. ‘We'll compare that against the spit you left last time. I recognized you as soon as I saw you, but if they don't believe our identifications they'll believe the DNA. Cheers.'

‘Strike two,' Ben added, raising his hands and clapping them against Charlie's.

*

The blue lights were fading from view when Meg turned towards Charlie.

‘How on earth did you know it was him?'

‘I'm not a super-recognizer for nothing, you know!' She laughed, yawned and rested her head back down on her mother's shoulder.

‘I never forget a face.'

 

 

 

We hope you enjoyed this book!

Sarah Flint's next book is coming in spring 2017

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