Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Pauline had hardly slept. Leo kept telling her to go to bed – even if she didn’t sleep, at least she would be comfortable, but she refused to move from the armchair.
Her mind continued to haunt her into the small hours of the morning, imagining the hell her son was going through.
It was almost three o’clock when she finally gave in to exhaustion and nodded off.
Leo went upstairs and into a bedroom he’d been in only once before, and that was for the innocent reason of repairing Pauline’s wardrobe door.
He stood in her darkened room and took in the large space, the make-up neatly lined up on the dressing table, the clean nightie laid out on the bed ready for her to change into.
He picked it up and held it to his face, felt the softness of the fabric against his skin, inhaled the scent that was distinctly Pauline.
He smiled and placed it carefully back onto the bed.
This was a room he could feel at home in, if only Pauline would let him.
He took a blanket from the bed and went back downstairs, tucking it around a sound-asleep Pauline to keep her warm.
He went back to the sofa and curled up, using his coat as a makeshift blanket.
He was cold and uncomfortable, but he was near to Pauline. That was all that mattered.
Leo woke at seven, glanced across at Pauline and saw her still in the same position in the armchair.
She looked sweet and pure as she slept. He stood up and stretched.
He ached in places he didn’t think it was possible to ache, and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror above the fireplace.
He looked a wreck. His hair was sticking up in all directions, his face was creased, and his stubble was coarse.
He wrote a hasty note to Pauline telling her he’d gone back home to freshen up and would be back with his toolkit to make a better repair of the broken back-door window to replace the bodge-job he’d quickly done last night.
He put the note on the coffee table in front of her, then left the house as silently as possible.
Today was going to be a big day. Pauline would need all the sleep she could get.
As Leo left his house feeling refreshed, he saw more people out on the street than usual. There was an atmosphere in the cold air. He felt all eyes on him as he made his way back to Pauline’s.
‘Good morning, Mrs Meyhew,’ he said politely as he passed the old woman out brushing her front doorstep.
‘It’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it, Mr Mulligan?’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘Anthony Winstanley. Always polite, always smiling, do anything for anyone. Then he goes and rapes and murders a young lass with Down’s syndrome.’
Leo looked around him and took in the whole neighbourhood who seemed to be out and waiting for a response. The press had gone, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before they were back.
‘You’ve heard?’
‘It was all over the wireless this morning. It’ll be in all the papers, too, I wouldn’t be surprised, especially with the way them reporters were knocking on everyone’s door last night.’
‘Did you talk to them?’
‘You know I never answer my door after dark.’
‘He didn’t do it, Mrs Meyhew. The police have made a mistake.’
‘Aye. That’s what they all say, isn’t it?’ she said, propping her brush up against the side of the house and folding her arms across her bosom.
‘Anthony was at home with his mother on the night of the murder. It’s a simple mix-up that will soon be rectified.’
‘Hmm,’ she said, remaining stony-faced. ‘No smoke without fire though, is there?’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘She’s never let him stand on his own two feet, has she? Wrapped him in cotton wool all his life. It’s only natural he’s going to snap one day.’
‘Mrs Meyhew, I don’t mean to be rude, but you don’t have the first idea what’s going on. And given the things your son got up to before he was conveniently transferred to Glasgow, I’d have thought you wouldn’t give in to spreading rumour and gossip.’
Her face reddened with anger. Leo smiled at the little victory, turned, and headed for Pauline’s house.
He rang the bell and waited. As Pauline began opening the door, he pushed himself inside and quickly closed it behind him so she wouldn’t have to see the hordes of neighbours out there keeping a watchful eye on her house for something to happen.
‘What’s going on?’ Pauline asked.
‘Nothing.’
‘I saw … why are there—’
‘It’s nothing, Pauline,’ Leo cut her off. ‘You know what they’re like around here. You can’t do anything without a street full of beady eyes gawping at you and reading something into nothing.’
‘Is everyone talking?’ she asked, her hand going to her chest.
Leo looked at her, took in the sorrow on her face and wanted nothing more than to hold her tight and not let go.
‘Hilda Meyhew had a few words to say, but then she has a few words to say about everything. Take no notice. I could do with a cuppa. That milk in my fridge has gone off,’ he said, heading for the kitchen.
‘I’m not going to be able to step outside my own front door, am I?’ Pauline asked, following him.
‘Yes, you are,’ he said firmly. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong. Anthony has done nothing wrong. He’s innocent, and we’re going to prove that.’
‘How?’
‘I’ve got the number of that firm of solicitors I told you about last night.
I gave them a call this morning and I’ve booked us an appointment to see …
can’t remember her name. I’ve got it written down,’ he said rummaging around in his coat pocket.
‘Jennifer Ripley,’ he said, reading the torn piece of paper.
‘I don’t think I can afford a solicitor. I’ve only got a couple of hundred in my Post Office savings account.’
‘We’ll worry about that later. We just need to make sure we get Anthony out of that police station and back home.’
Pauline smiled, though she looked nervous. She pulled out a chair and sat down while Leo made a cup of tea for them both.
‘Leo, can I ask you a question?’
He turned to look at her. She was back to biting her nails again.
‘Go on.’
‘Do you think Anthony is innocent?’
‘Of course I do. Do you?’
It was a while before she answered. ‘Yes.’
‘You don’t sound so sure.’
She swallowed hard before she spoke. ‘I … I should have allowed Anthony more freedom. I was … I was worried. You’ve seen how people have treated him over the years. I’ve had to protect him.’
‘Pauline, you’ve been a wonderful mother. You’ve done nothing wrong. And neither has Anthony.’
‘What if the police find out about Susan Livesy?’
‘Ah,’ Leo said, sitting down.
‘I mean, even if the police don’t, this solicitor is going to ask about everything to do with Anthony, his past and his previous … you know, people he’s liked. Should I mention Susan?’
‘Only you can answer that one, Pauline.’
‘But I’m asking for your help, Leo. What should I do?’
He took several breaths before he answered. ‘If I was you, Pauline, I’d only answer the questions I was asked. Don’t give them any other information.’
‘But what if they find out some other way? What will happen then when they ask why I didn’t tell them?’
‘You didn’t think it was relevant. Or you’ve been so preoccupied with worrying about Anthony that you completely forgot all about her. Shrug it off as a non-event.’
‘I’m really worried, Leo,’ she said.
‘You don’t need to go through any of this on your own. I’m here for you, and for Anthony, every step of the way.’
She gave him a small smile. ‘Positive thinking, yes?’
‘Absolutely,’ he smiled back.
‘I suppose I should have something to eat before we go and see this solicitor then.’
‘That’s the spirit.’ He leaned forward and kissed her on the nose. He stood up and went over to the cooker where he turned on the gas and took a can of baked beans from the shelf. He smiled to himself. It felt good to be needed.