Chapter 26 #2
She opened the front door and stepped into the warm, bright house.
She placed her briefcase by the table in the hallway, hung up her coat and walked into the kitchen where she found her husband, Malcolm, standing by the patio doors overlooking the back garden.
He had a glass of champagne in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
Jennifer had forgotten all about his candidacy today.
From somewhere deep inside her, she managed to find the excitement and joy that went with celebration. ‘You won!’ she exclaimed, a huge smile on her face.
Slowly, Malcolm turned around. His face was ashen. ‘I’m afraid not.’
‘What? But … who?’
‘Neville Jordan.’
Jennifer’s face was one of confusion. ‘Neville … surely you’re joking? There’s no way they’d choose Neville Jordan over you.’
‘Well, they have.’
‘Why?’
He shrugged his shoulders. He looked on the verge of tears.
Jennifer went over to him and pulled him into a tight embrace. ‘I am so sorry,’ she said, meaning every word.
‘Let me pour you a glass of champagne,’ Malcolm said, pulling himself away. ‘It tastes absolutely foul, but I feel like getting pissed.’
‘He’ll win as well, won’t he?’ she asked, sitting down and taking off her shoes.
‘We have a high majority. The by-election is almost a certainty.’
‘We’re going to have to move. I don’t want Neville Jordan as my MP.’
‘Neither do I,’ he said, handing her a glass of champagne.
She took a long swig, and it went straight to her head. She couldn’t remember when she’d last eaten.
She looked at her husband. Malcolm was three years older than her.
He had neat, dark hair with a perfect side-parting down the right-hand side.
He was tall and slim; he cycled and ran most days.
He had a firm jawline and was always clean-shaven.
He had intense dark eyes that looked playful when he smiled and compassionate when he cried.
Jennifer loved him so much. He deserved to have all the success in the world. He worked so hard for it.
‘Was the vote close?’
‘It was, actually. Not close enough to ask for a recount, but close enough for me not to feel like a complete failure.’
‘You’re not a failure. Look, we both know Neville Jordan is a spineless idiot. He’ll be a terrible MP. He’ll mess up somehow before the next general election, then you can step in.’ Malcolm didn’t say anything. He drained his glass and refilled it. ‘Will you stay on at the council?’
‘I’ve got no choice, have I?’ he said, looking despondent.
‘I’ve got those steaks in the fridge. I was going to make us a slap-up meal.’
‘I’m not hungry.’
‘Well, no offence, Malcolm, but I’m starving. I need to eat something.’
Jennifer stood up and went over to the fridge. She took out the steaks and set them on the countertop while she lit the grill.
‘How come you’re home so late, anyway?’ Malcolm asked.
‘Oh, I’ve had a day and a half today,’ she began. ‘I’ve been drafted in to defend Anthony Winstanley.’
‘Who’s he?’
‘The police arrested him yesterday for Alice Patterson’s murder.
You know, the girl with Down’s syndrome who was killed on the night of that big storm?
Anyway, it’s obvious they’re up a gumtree and haven’t a clue who killed her, and as Anthony is a bit …
well, he’s a bit slow. I’m convinced they’re targeting him. ’
‘Can’t you turn it down?’
Jennifer looked up at her husband. ‘Turn it down? Why would I do that?’
‘Jennifer, it’s all over the papers what he did. The Daily Mirror is calling for the death penalty to be brought back for Alice’s killer. Don’t you see how serious this is?’
‘Yes. I do,’ she said with a smile. ‘But this is an amazing opportunity for me. This could help me make partner.’
Malcolm went over to her and held her by the shoulders.
He looked deep into her eyes. ‘Jennifer, they obviously have something on him, or they wouldn’t have arrested him.
I’m trying my hardest to be an MP here. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, and you’ve said you’ll stand by me.
How will it look if you’re representing the most hated man in Britain and trying to get him off? ’
She shook him off. ‘Malcolm, this is my job. It’s what I’m trained to do.’
‘No, you’re right, I’m sorry,’ he said, pulling out a stool and sitting down. ‘This is … wow, this could be the making of you.’
‘I know. I’ve always wanted to defend someone wrongly accused of murder.’
‘You’re convinced he didn’t do it, then?’
She thought for a moment as she began seasoning the steaks. ‘Yes. I am,’ she said, confidently. ‘When I saw him in the police station today, I mean, on appearances, yes, he does seem quite intimidating, but I reckon he’s more scared of his own shadow. Bless him.’
Malcolm went up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck. ‘Sorry for snapping. I just didn’t expect today to turn out like it did.’
She turned around and kissed him on the lips. ‘There is no doubt in my mind that you’re going to be an MP, Malcolm. This is just a setback. We’ve overcome them before.’
‘True.’
‘Just think, in a few years, you could be on the front benches and I could be in the Court of Appeal.’
Malcolm threw back his head and laughed. ‘That’s a lot of work to do in just a few years.’
‘I’m up for it if you are.’
‘You’re on.’
Pauline and Leo were sitting on the sofa, surrounded by silence. Leo was nursing a mug of tea. Pauline had let hers go cold. She hadn’t wanted anything to eat, either. Leo had made himself a sandwich with the leftover ham he found in the fridge.
‘Would you like me to come with you when you go to see him?’ he asked, breaking the silence.
‘Please,’ she said, her voice barely audible.
‘I don’t know where the remand centre will be. I don’t know of one around here. I’ll ask Jeff in the paper shop. He seems to know everything.’
Pauline didn’t say anything.
‘I wonder if we’re allowed to take him things. I could take him a few Spider-Man comic books. He’d like that.’
Pauline remained silent.
‘I’m guessing they’ve…’
The phone rang. Pauline got up to answer it. She opened her mouth to say hello but was interrupted.
‘Your son’s a murdering bastard!’ someone screamed from the other end.
‘They should bring back hanging!’ a second voice screamed.
Pauline threw the receiver down but could still hear their taunting laughs. She collapsed onto the floor, screaming in agony with Leo holding onto her tight.