CRUEL SECRETS Page 23

  Curiously, Eddie looked up and gazed at one of the photos. “Is that my Kelly?” He stood and approached the fireplace. Betty just watched him.

  “Ahh, little Billy. Sorry to hear about him, Bets. He was a baby when I got locked up.” He snatched the one of the three children, roughly nine years old, and slowly he turned and faced Betty with a frown and his head tilted. “He looks like Kelly, Bets. Anything I should know?”

  Betty struggled to get to her feet. “Ya have a fucking lot to answer for, Eddie Raven. You destroyed our lives. I loved my Dave but he buggered off because of you. Me sister, God rest her, turned into a raving nutcase, and little Kelly was left with a mother that needed to be institutionalised, all down to you and your lot.”

  Eddie leaned forward, trying to browbeat Betty. “What d’ya mean, ‘my lot’?”

  She folded her arms under her breasts. “Your bleedin’ sicko sister. Just like Mo, following you around, as if she was tied by a piece of string. That Toni is a cruel bitch. The night after you raped me, yes, fucking raped me, Eddie, she came to see me, with a knife at my face. She threatened me if I told anyone, she would slice me face up.”

  Eddie sneered, showing just the tips of his teeth. “Well, like it or not, Bets, me sister’s inside with me daughter, banged up together, nice and fucking cosy.”

  Betty was taken aback and had to sit down again.

  “And, for your information, I’ve been to see me girl, and she wants me back in her life. So that’s why I’m here.”

  Hot tears pricking her eyes, the thought of Kelly in Eddie’s clutches made her shudder. “Surprises me, your sister being shacked up with the kid that killed her ol’ man. I mean that is fucked up. But then I suppose the whole Patrick thing is.”

  Eddie glared. “You what?”

  Betty knew she had his attention now, and the anger inside her resulted in her saying everything she’d never dared say before. “Well, it was weird. I mean, Patrick suddenly being your best friend. He used to be Mo’s boyfriend before she met you.” She paused, waiting for a reaction.

  Eddie looked as if his confidence was melting. “She dated him before me?”

  Betty laughed, “Oh ya didn’t know that, eh? Well, let me tell ya this for fucking nothing. The truth is, he married your shit stain of a sister to either get close to Mo or to you. I mean, didn’t you find it odd that Patrick, with all his money and clout, was arse-licking you all the time? I watched how he looked at you. Fucking in love with ya, he was. Anyway, none of it matters now he’s dead and so is me sister. So, what do you want with Kelly? She ain’t cut from the same cloth as you.”

  Eddie regained his posture and laughed. “Don’t delude yourself, Bets. My girl is just like me and she is gonna follow in my footsteps.”

  Betty took a deep breath; if she’d had the energy and the strength, she would have stabbed him in the chest and killed him herself than have him anywhere near her niece.

  “So, that’s why I am here. I wanna make things right. I wanna be a good father.”

  Betty laughed. “You, a good father … don’t make me die! Your fucking heart swings like a lead brick.”

  “Kelly asked me to take her toy bunny, the one she kept for comfort, into the prison on the next visit. I don’t know why. She should be more like a teenager not a baby. Anyway, that’s what I’m here for.” He softened his belligerent attitude, hoping to appeal to her caring nature.

  Betty frowned; this was fishy. Kelly would ask for a girly magazine or perhaps a hairbrush but not a toy; she was no baby. “Oh, that old thing.”

  She watched as Eddie smiled, but the grin was an eager one. Too eager, in fact.

  “Yeah, I remember it. She carried it everywhere with her.”

  He was nodding too enthusiastically and she established then that something didn’t sit right. “Well, her mother threw that old thing in the bin, years ago. It broke Kelly’s heart, but she got over it.”

  Eddie’s face dropped; he was visibly white. “Are you fucking sure?”

  Betty began to fear that deranged look in his eye. “Yeah, I was there. The evil cow snatched it and threw it in the bin, just before the bin men came. I swear, poor Kelly was inconsolable.”

  She watched his odd reaction, as he ran his hands through his hair. With a deep sigh, he carefully replaced the photo and left, without another word.

  Still shaking, she forced herself out of the chair to lock the back door.

  That was a first, locking the back door.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Six weeks later

  The morning of the court case arrived and it was greeted by Kelly with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, in equal proportions. As far as she was concerned, she wanted the day over with as soon as possible. Not knowing her fate was worse than serving time.

  In so far as it was possible, in a prison with over three hundred inmates, she preferred her own company. And since that confrontation with Toni, when she told her she was leaving her cell for good, she had stayed out of her aunt’s way, although Toni had tried on many occasions to grab her attention. The only inmate Kelly spent time with was Ruth.

  Sophie had sent in a suit, tights, and decent black shoes, all appropriate for court. “Don’t wear make-up and keep your hair neatly clipped back. You have to look like a well-groomed schoolgirl.”

  Kelly did everything as Sophie instructed. She wasn’t able to see herself, except her face, for there were no full-length mirrors. She’d had to pack all her belongings, in the event she would be released. And Sophie had also prepared her for the worst, as there was a strong possibility she may not return to the same prison. Under her bed, she had a box filled with letters from Rudy, Lippy, and the boys. She also had pretty cards from her aunt Betty. When she’d received the first one, she had cried relentlessly, as her aunt had blamed herself, and it had floored Kelly to think of her ever feeling that way. Straightaway, she had responded with a letter, letting her aunt know she was still held dear in her heart.

  Charlie had arrived; Kelly heard her marching down the landing. She stood in the doorway, beaming. “Ya ready, Kelly?”

  Kelly nodded and stood up. Charlie noticed how young and innocent she looked; even her expression was childlike. “Ya look smart, Kelly, perfect really. I want to wish you luck, love, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I never want to see you again.” She smiled and patted Kelly on the arm.

  “I can’t promise it, Charlie, but …”

  Charlie laughed. “I know, love, I also know you aren’t meant to be here. You will do well in life, that I can promise.”

  “Thank you, Charlie, I do intend to.”

  She escorted Kelly to the prison van. Again, she was accompanied by two officers; she knew Kirsty but not the other one. As they arrived at the court, Kelly was shocked to see the amount of people outside. Cameras were flashing. “It’s all right, Raven, they are the reporters. Looks like your case is a high profile one. Didn’t expect that many, though. Keep ya head down.”

  The van swerved inside the back entrance of the courts, away from the public gaze. They hurried Kelly into the building. She was led down the stairs and into a holding room; it was nothing grand and consisted of just a table and chairs. Before she could sit down, in came Sophie, who looked immaculate but flustered.

  “Right, have you had coffee, tea, anything, do you want a drink …?”

  Kelly was surprised by how the usually cool Sophie was tripping over her words.

  “I’m fine, Sophie, but are you?”

  Sophie flopped on the chair and took a deep breath. “I am okay, Kelly. It’s a bad habit of mine to panic just before we enter the courtroom. Take no notice of me. I am on the ball in the courtroom, where it matters.”

  Kelly observed Sophie’s calm composure return. She appeared very sharp in her magpie suit, with the wig neatly placed on her head.

  “Now then, we have been over everything, and when Weirs, the other barrister, starts questioning you, remember this: he will try to
make you angry, a habit of the old git. Don’t rise to it, remain composed at all times, shed a tear if need be, but don’t lose your temper. That jury will be watching you, like a hawk.”

  Kelly smiled. “I know, Sophie, we have been over everything, like you said. I am word perfect.”

  “Yes, good, good. Now, it’s going to be nerve-racking but just take deep breaths—”

  Sophie was interrupted by a knock on the door. She jumped up and quickly pulled in the visitor, after a furtive look up and down the corridor. Kelly’s heart pounded and she felt her cheeks redden. There was Peter, looking anxiously at her.

  “I just wanted to see you, to make sure you’re okay.”

  Kelly was shaking inside. The man she visualised every night, before she went to sleep, was there in the room with her, looking more handsome than ever. He was wearing a slim-fit white shirt to go with his pinstriped charcoal grey suit. His hair had grown almost to his shoulders; he put her in mind of an angel, with golden waves and eyes that shone. His half-smile made him appear even sexier. She wanted to run to him and throw her arms around him, but she stood still, too embarrassed to move.

  Sophie grabbed the files from the table. “Right, I need to hand these over to the junior. I won’t be long, and remember, Peter, you are here as her doctor.” She winked at him.

  The door closed behind them and Peter moved towards her. “Are you okay, Kelly?” He put out his arms and she fell into them, feeling a lump in her throat and trying to hold back the tears. It was awkward; was he hugging her as a child or as a woman? She hoped the latter.

  “Thank you, Doctor, err … Peter, for the clothes and …” She wanted to say for giving me hope that one day they could be together.

  “I want to give you more, Kelly. I know you’re young and this is wrong … oh, Christ, what am I doing? Look, I care about you perhaps more than I should. I had to come.” He ran his hands through his hair and began to pace the floor. “Kelly, I don’t know what to say. I can’t tell you how I feel, it’s not right. But I can tell you, I am here for you. I’ll be around, if you need me …” He stopped pacing and looked at her face. Her eyes were wide and filled with tears, ready to tumble. He couldn’t hold back. He grabbed her in his arms and held her tight, gently kissing her cheek. Perhaps his lips lingered longer than was necessary, but she didn’t mind that at all. Kelly was silent, absorbing the depth of feeling he clearly found difficulty in holding back.

  The bang on the door caused the sudden separation. It was Sophie; she looked at the pair of them and smiled. “It’s time, Kelly.”

  At that precise moment, her heart felt as though it had stopped. The sensation that gripped her was as if she were about to go to the gallows and they were saying their last goodbyes. Sophie nodded to Peter and observed his look of deep sadness. Holding Kelly’s hand like a child, and gripping it tightly, he whispered, “I’ll always be there for you, Kelly.”

  The court officers took her to the stairs that led up to the dock. Kelly could feel her heart racing. This was it – probably the most important moment in her life. She wasn’t crying for herself but for the family that may be seated in the gallery and who would feel the pain of seeing her in the dock. Hesitantly, she climbed the stairs, and as she reached the courtroom, all its finery was in view. The grandness was unnerving. She looked from left to right, absorbing her surroundings. Her eyes fixed on the gallery, and to her surprise, her aunt Bet was there. She had aged and appeared frightened to death. Kelly smiled in her direction and Betty waved, mouthing the words, “I love you.” Then she saw Ditto, Reggie, Phoenix, and Solly dressed in suits. They were nudging each other and giving her the thumbs up. And there was Lippy, who was edging herself along the seats, moving people out of the way, and not in a subtle way. In her attempt to dress for court, she looked more like she was dressed for a wedding. Her hat, with its huge rim, matched her cerise pink satin dress and it was finished off with a navy-blue short linen jacket. For sure, she was a sight for sore eyes and stuck out among the black and blue suits. Then, Lippy saw Kelly, and with absolutely no decorum whatsoever, she started blowing kisses and then blew her nose. She watched her aunt, like a magnet, sliding her way closer to Lippy and whisper something to her, resulting in Lippy clutching Betty’s hand, as they cosily huddled together. Keffa was sitting at the back, with a blank expression; she couldn’t work out if he was angry or nervous. Then, her heart began to beat faster still when she saw Eddie, standing at the back, blanketed with contempt. What a shame, she thought: all her loved ones were there, and then there was Eddie, with just the sight of him ruining her otherwise perfect family picture.

  Kelly was then led to the seat next to Sophie. The jury, like Sophie, were watching her every move. Sophie was confident her client, dressed in a modest suit like a schoolgirl, would appear lost among the formal accoutrements of the judge, barristers, and clerks, which was what she had intended. She wanted the jury to feel compassion for her client. With the judge, in his wig, sitting dauntingly high up on the bench, controlling events, Sophie felt her client would indeed be given some level of sympathy by those who would shortly be deciding her immediate future.

  The first witness was called. DI Maddox was asked to take the stand. Kelly remembered him from her arrest. He looked dishevelled and less confident than she recalled. His hair had grown and his tie was skew-whiff. Weirs, barrister for the prosecution, asked him to give an account of the findings at the murder scenes; the jury were then handed the shocking photos. The prosecution were playing a dangerous game by producing photos of both murdered victims, as if these had happened on the same night – almost dismissing the fact that the crimes were weeks apart. Sophie was annoyed and she didn’t care much for Weirs either; he was a brute in the courtroom. Maddox looked uneasy and Kelly noticed him shoot a glance in Eddie’s direction.

  “So, there was no forced entry? In your opinion, would that suggest the perpetrator may have had a key or be known to the victims?”

  Maddox nodded. “Yes.”

  “What can you tell us about the condition of the rooms inside the property?” It was a loaded question to which Weirs already knew the answer.

  Maddox looked at the jury and replied, “There was no damage except in the accused’s bedroom. The wardrobe and chest of drawers were pulled out, as if they had been ransacked. Clothes were strewn around the room and there were contents of the drawers on the floor.”

  “So, no other room was touched, would you say, except Miss Raven’s bedroom?”

  Maddox nodded again. “Yes, correct.”

  “Detective, would you describe to the Court the inside of the property, and in particular, in relation to what you would expect of a home where a teenage girl would live?”

  Sophie looked at Kelly and frowned, but Kelly guessed what he was getting at.

  She watched as the jury’s faces became more engaged at this point. It was such an odd question to an observer, but not to Kelly.

  “The house was particularly sparse. There were no pictures, photos, or ornaments, but there were religious icons and crosses on the wall. The bathroom had no toiletries that you normally find in a house with two women. The accused’s bedroom contained four items of furniture. There was a bed with a plain sheet and blanket, a wardrobe which contained unfashionable clothes, a chest which held the usual underwear, T-shirts and so on, and under all the clothes there was a copy of the Bible; and, finally, there was a desk with schoolbooks and pens. All the contents from the furniture were strewn across the floor. The room had been ransacked, as I said.”

  “So, there were no items that you would usually find in a teenager’s bedroom, no magazines, books, make-up, childhood toys, an old favourite teddy, CDs, music centre, or radio?”

  “No, not even a mirror,” replied Maddox.

  Sophie and Kelly knew where this was going. Sophie had been given the prosecution’s evidence, as soon as the court date was known. She knew who they would call and why. But Sophie and Kelly were prepared.


  Sophie didn’t cross-examine Maddox, as there was no need. Kelly had turned eighteen and could take the stand herself. The prosecution had really gone to town with their homework, digging up Kelly’s past. They were going for a premeditated murder, using Maureen’s abuse as the motive.

  Kelly detected Maddox glance one more time at Eddie, before he left the stand. Her blood was boiling and she was beginning to despise her father.

  The next witness called was Doctor Ranjam. He was sworn in and stood erect, waiting for the questions.

  Weirs rose and smiled. “Doctor Ranjam, you placed a report to social services when the accused was under your care. Please would you tell the members of the jury why?”

  He nodded and cleared his throat. “Miss Raven arrived at the hospital with pneumonia. She was very sick and hard of breathing. I examined my patient and found her to be so sick that without oxygen she might have died. On my examination, I noticed deep scars across her back. They looked like whip marks. Old scarring. When her mother arrived, she was less than sympathetic and gave me grave cause for concern. So, I called social services and made a report,” he replied.

  Weirs, in his pompous accent, asked, “Do you believe that Miss Raven was abused by her mother?”

  Sophie jumped up, “Objection, Your Honour, Doctor Ranjam is not qualified to answer that question.”

  The judge nodded and turned to the witness. “You may not answer that question.”

  Sophie smiled. Radcliff was a fair judge.

  “Did you have reason to believe abuse, though, thereby contacting social services?” Weirs asked, revising the question.

  “Yes, correct, we cannot confirm abuse, but if we feel there is a concern, it is our duty to contact social services.”

  Sophie allowed the prosecution to build a story of Kelly being neglected and abused to give the jury a reason to believe she had a motive. She would, at the right time, flip the story on its head. She declined to cross-examine this witness.

  When Sophie stood up to call her own witness, her voice was polished and Kelly noticed the jury soften both in their facial expressions and in their body language.