Truth: DVU Tetralogy, #4

With special thanks to Thomas Tomlinson for the generous use of his photograph for the cover. To Kathleen Hulme, Stephanie Hunter and Lynne Martin for their continued help and advice. To Tammy Richards of the Mixing Bowl’s Cakery, and also to Channel 4 Dispatches - for allowing me to use the name of their programme within the story – a huge thank you.

Chapter 1

On Wednesday, January 7th 2009, at two o'clock in the afternoon, Ena Maia Price was baptised in the church where her parents had been married.

Her Godparents were: Eve Brewer, Matt Torrance and Gary Bryden.

Ena wore the Price family christening gown, as worn by her father, and looked beautiful. She cried and renounced the Devil at the appropriate moment then was quiet for the remainder of the service.

After the service and photographs, everyone returned to Martha's home where she'd laid on a sumptuous buffet. As well as the  Godparents, the guests included Carolyn and Owen Trent - Cassie’s parents, as they were old family friends. Uncle George and Aunty Aggy were there, too. A nice, intimate occasion.

Despite the cold day, the sun was shining. Some of the men wandered about outside, admiring, as always, the wonderful lakeside location. Edward himself meandered down to the water's edge. After a few moments, a tired-looking Matt joined him.

'A lovely day, Edward. I think Ena's the youngest baptised infant I've ever known.'

'Hmm. Rae wanted it done before her family start leaving. It's six months next week, you know, since we were married. Time waits for no man.'

‘It certainly doesn’t,’ Matt murmured.

Edward felt some sympathy towards his friend. ‘I guess the decision-making’s not got any easier?’

Matt had been investigating The Network and its other centres around the UK. His findings, when, if, printed, could bring great danger for him, and maybe everyone involved with him. Especially Eve, and possibly Edward and Rae.

Matt shook his head. ‘To be honest, there are times I wished I’d never gone to Barrow, but then I’d not have met Eve, so...’

‘Have you discussed your true fears with her?’

‘Well, she knows what the concerns are, but with everything that’s going on with the DVU she’s got a lot on her plate and I don’t want to, you know, add to it.’

‘You know you can confide in me anytime, don’t you?’ Matt nodded but didn’t look much comforted. ‘I mean it, Matt. In fact, I think it’s time you thought of a Plan B let alone a Plan A. This is going to drag you down if you’re not careful. By March the DVU should be up and running, and I think a board of trustees should be chosen between now and then.’

Matt’s face creased into a frown. ‘What? You mean you’re going, then?’

Edward shook his head. ‘It’s not that easy just to decide to up sticks, but I’m giving it serious thought, and although Rae’s not comitting herself, I think the four of us have got to be realistic. When, not if, your bombshell explodes, then we’ll all need to run for cover and I’ve got my mother to think of as well as Rae and Ena.’

‘Edward, you’re assuming that I plan to land us all in it despite the consequences. You’re wrong. I wouldn’t do that. I am a responsible adult, you know.’

Realising Matt was offended, Edward softened. ‘I know, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you sound reckless, but it does concern me how the powers that be will react. It’s easy to think you’d be safe but deep down, we both know there’ll be repercussions if you go public with your dossier. I’d rather watch from afar if it’s all the same.’

Matt’s face was set like stone. ‘I appreciate all of that, Edward, but you know, I’ve got two kids of my own to worry about, too. I’ve got to think of them as well as the rest of us.’

In Barrow, Carolyn and Cassie were working together in the kitchen, chatting about this and that, when Carolyn’s curiosity got the better of her.

‘Can I ask you something?’ Cassie nodded, but carried on peeling the vegetables for that night’s dinner. ‘Why exactly did Clive and Rae split up?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ Cassie replied in a noncholant tone.

‘Aren’t you curious?’

‘No, not at all. And, before you ask, I’ve also no idea what happened with his first wife.’

‘I’m amazed you’ve not discussed either one, frankly. I know you’re not looking to get married – are you?’ Carolyn’s eyes narrowed, wondering, as always, what went on in daughter’s head.

‘No,’ Cassie sounded vague. ‘Look, Mum,’ she said, putting down the knife and looking directly at her mother, ‘if it bothers you that much, why don’t you ask him?’

Feeling as if Cassie was challenging her guts and integrity, she told her, ‘You know, I just might.’

Conversation between them lulled as they each progressed with their chores.

When Owen joined them in the kitchen he picked up on a slight frost between his wife and daughter. Wisely, he waited until Cassie had left the room before asking Carolyn about it. When she admitted her feeling of doubt about Clive as future husband material, Owen nodded, as if agreeing with her.

‘I expect he’ll tell me it’s none of my concern, but it is my concern, and yours, Owen. He’ll be the father of our grandchild so if there’s anything we should know about how he’s not sustained two relationships that we know of, then I want him to tell us.’

Cassie returned to the kitchen, overhearing the last sentence. ‘Oh God, Mum, give it a rest. As I have no plans to marry him, what does it matter who did what or whatever?’

Carolyn stiffened, preparing herself for yet another argument. ‘Have you even met his daughter?’

‘No. I’m not sure I want to, actually.’

‘Whyever not?’ Owen asked.

‘Why should I? She’s Clive’s daughter, all grown up, and I’m sure she’s very nice, but my life is just fine as it is, thank you, without anymore people in it. Why should I bother to get to know somebody when I may not have a future with their father? It doesn’t make sense to me, so it isn’t an issue. Okay? Can we talk about something else now?’

Knowing when she was beaten, Carolyn nodded, but resolved to talk to Clive when she could.

Her chance came sooner than she expected. Clive called in after they’d eaten and Cassie had retired to her room for the night. Owen was in the church so Carolyn made them drinks and suggested he sat down in the sitting room where a roaring fire made it impossible not to feel cosy.

‘I have a feeling there’s something wrong, Carolyn,’ he said as she sat down.

‘No, there’s nothing wrong, but there is something I’d like to discuss with you, though you might tell me to mind my own business.’

Clive’s face tightened as he narrowed his eyes. ‘Go on. You can ask,’ he said, smiling.

‘Okay, I already know how upset you were about Rae moving on with her life, but I wondered exactly why you parted.’

He shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head, as if wondering if he should tell her anything, and if so, how much.

‘Okay, Rae and I were together about three years, and neither of us was keen to discuss our previous relationships, so we didn’t. Then, one day a message was left on my answering machine... from the daughter I’d not told her about.’ He looked to see if there was any reaction. None. Carolyn nodded for him to carry on. ‘Rae was furious, and I know she had a right to be, but the thing was, Lynne is the spitting image of her mother, my ex-wife, and when Rae met her it seemed the penny dropped, so to speak.’

It was Carolyn’s turn to look puzzled. ‘What on earth do you mean?’

‘Before Rae came to work here, she worked in Birmingham with Eve. I used to live in Birmingham, and my ex-wife, Elaine, was one of Rae’s clients.’

‘What!’ Carolyn’s mouth opened in shock. ‘Why?’

‘Because, well, it’s a long story so I’ll condense it; Elaine wanted me out of Lynne’s life and fabricated a ridiculous tale of abuse that had never happened. I admit to shouting at her, and once I pushed her away from me when she wanted a reaction, but I didn’t do any of the things she accused me of – Lynne’s told me what the accusations were and only a sick mind could come up with such tosh.’

‘So how come you allowed Elaine to stay in your house at Christmas without even trying to see her, to get her to admit her lies?’

‘I didn’t want to spoil Lynne’s time with her mother. Personally, I never want to see Elaine again. She’s a sick individual and it tells you something when Lynne would rather live with me than her, doesn’t it?’

Carolyn didn’t reply, but spent a few minutes just looking at Clive, as if trying to see something in his face that would tell her more than she’d just heard, but there was nothing. For some reason, maybe illogically, she didn’t believe Clive’s version of events.  There was something else.

‘So, there must’ve been more to the break-up with Rae than Lynne turning up, surely?’

‘As I’ve already told you, Rae was Elaine’s case worker in Birmingham, so was told the false lurid details Elaine used to stop me seeing my own daughter. Elaine would stop at nothing to get what she wanted: revenge on me. And she won.’

‘Why did she want revenge?’

‘She had some notion that I considered her thick, an airhead; that I could browbeat her in arguments, yet there weren’t that many rows, just me trying to rationalise her mad ideas about things, silly things but still things that would upset people, mostly her own family.

‘She was like two people in one body and just wouldn’t see reason. She accused me of being full of myself because I wanted to get on in my career. She said she liked coming to functions with me then would show herself up by putting on a posh voice – she’s a true Northerner! Hence why, when I tried to tell her how foolish she made herself seem, she took it as a personal insult. That somehow, I was getting at her or I was belittling her and worse, I was trying to get her put away which was ridiculous!’

‘Was it? If she really felt that, Clive, if she felt you talked down to her, made her feel worthless, then maybe that’s why she did what she did. Nobody likes to be made to feel inferior. Did you verbally bully her?’

Shocked at her directness, Clive sat back. ‘No! Look, not long after we’d got married I was told she’d had mental health issues but she seemed fine to me so I ignored it; I thought those well-wishers were exaggerating. It didn’t take me long to realise that she... well, she lied a lot, about stupid stuff, really, but the thing was, she convinced herself, and others, that the lies were the truth, so she couldn’t separate fiction from reality. It all went downhill from there.’

‘Who told you about her mental health issues?’

Clive looked at Carolyn in the eyes as he said, ‘Her own family.’

‘And does she still have contact with her family?’

‘I don’t know, Lynne hasn’t said, and I don’t like to ask. I’d rather not know anything about her. We’re divorced. She’s nothing to do with my life now.’

‘Yet her stories or whatever they were came between you and Rae, so in a way Elaine came between you. No matter how you dress it up, your past life came back to haunt you and you were powerless to do anything about it. Or so it would seem.’

‘What d’you mean?’

Sensing he was getting angry with her, Carolyn said, ‘If you were really keen to keep Rae in your life, you would’ve told her everything about your past - no matter that you and she didn’t feel the need. When you meet someone you would like to share your life with, you want to know all about them, so maybe you and Rae just weren’t that good together, weren’t meant to be, as they say. Maybe, once Rae ditched you, your feelings were hurt more at being dumped, that she wasn’t important enough...’

‘That’s enough,’ Clive almost shouted, standing up. ‘I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I feel as if you’re judging me when you don’t know all the facts, and anyway, why should I tell you?’

‘Because you’re the father of my grandchild. If there’s anything in your past that can have a knock-on effect on this child then it’s important we all know.’

Clive made to leave the room, but turned, saying, ‘Don’t you think it’s enough dealing with Cassie’s problems? Surely that should keep your brain occupied, Carolyn, rather than my marital past.’

Carolyn smiled. ‘I think you have more issues yourself, but yes, you’re right: Cassie’s issues are enough to deal with which is why I’d like to think you’re the man I thought you were.’

‘But now you’re not sure I am?’

‘No, I’m not. Time will tell, I suppose. It’d just be nice to not have any nasty surprises, that’s all.’

‘I’ll try my best. Goodnight, Carolyn.’

She watched him leave without him going upstairs to see Cassie. She had serious misgivings about where their relationship was going. Indeed, it seemed to her that Cassie was using Clive as a sperm donor and she couldn’t decide what, exactly, Clive would get out of them being a couple, save a new baby. And God only knew that a baby wasn’t enough to keep a couple together. 

Chapter 2

Heather Irving was exhausted, but a fairly happy exhausted. Jasper was feeding well and she was enjoying the bonding between them as she breast-fed, despite Lewis’ comments about putting him on the bottle. She knew he was jealous – how could he be jealous of a tiny baby?

As she tidied up in their bedroom, she saw out of the corner of her eye a loving picture. Lewis was trying to appear in control as he held his son, talking to him in a low voice, as if he was embarrassed to do so with her listening. She knew he’d been nervous about handling Jasper but he was doing okay so far.

Letting him think she couldn’t hear, she carried on with what she was doing, folding and sorting clothes that Lewis had just cast aside. Not knowing which were clean, she sighed as she threw the entire pile into the laundry basket.

‘Is he okay with you while I shower?’ she asked Lewis, who was jiggling Jasper a little too much for her liking, only having fed him half-an-hour ago.

‘Sure, we’ll be fine, won’t we, little man?’

Heather smiled at the scene, then dashed into the bathroom. She was as quick as she could be, but it was so nice to let the hot water run down her back and through her hair; ten minutes of personal bliss.

Drying herself, she could hear Jasper beginning to tire, and she wondered if Lewis would have the common sense to wind him before laying him in his crib. As she walked back into the bedroom, she knew he hadn’t. Jasper had thrown back his milk so both he and his crib needed changing. Lewis was sitting up in bed with his eyes closed.

‘Oh Lewis!’ she exclaimed, frustrated that unless she told him everything, he hadn’t a clue.

‘Whaat?’ he drawled. He leapt out of bed to see what she was complaining about. ‘So, what, he’s puked? Is that it? I thought all babies puked.’

‘Well, it helps if you wind them before putting them down. Here,’ she handed a near naked Jasper to him, ‘hold him while I change his sheets.’

‘You’re certainly keeping your mummy busy, little man,’ Lewis said to his son, taking him to look out of the bedroom window, though the view wasn’t much to look at – a cluttered yard and other houses. Not quite the green outlook she’d like for her child.

Heather couldn’t help smiling at his tenderness. He caught her looking and smiled back. ‘I don’t think he wants to sleep yet,’ he told her.

‘He won’t if he’s enjoying being bounced up and down. He’s not too young to learn that when he’s put down he goes to sleep.’

Lewis looked incredulous. ‘What? He’s only tiny, so how’s he to know it’s sleep time?’ Not waiting for a reply, Lewis turned his attention to his son. ‘You want to play a bit more, don’t you, little one? Hey,’ he sounded excited, ‘I’m sure he smiled at me!’

Heather smiled at the sentiment then shook her head. ‘It’s because he needs winding, I expect.’

‘You did smile at Daddy, I know you did,’ he cooed. Jasper, for his part, just seemed to stare at his father. ‘Look, he’s paying attention – what a clever boy you are.’

‘Evidently, babies can’t focus for the first few weeks, but you’re right, he does look like he’s watching you,’ she stood, watching as she automatically gathered the dirty bedding from the crib. She was prepared to humour Lewis if it meant he’d bond with their baby. She wanted everything to be right for all of them. She just hoped Lewis’ jealousy would be a short-lived emotion. If it wasn’t, then she’d have to think seriously about their future together.

Once she’d finished her household tasks, Heather got Jasper ready and headed outside for a walk. She wasn’t sure where they were going but they both needed fresh air. She’d visited her parents yesterday, so where today?

Her feet took her in the direction of the park and as she pushed the pram towards the lake, she smiled as she thought of the days ahead when she could bring Jasper here to feed the ducks, as she’d done with her mother. Memories of throwing pieces of bread and running away as the ducks followed her for more cheered her. It was those memories of a happy childhood that she wanted for Jasper, not of unnatural silences and threats of violence that she knew Lewis had grown up with. Thinking of Lewis’ family, she turned the pram around and headed to see Lewis’ mother, who Lewis refused to allow to see his son, their son. Well, from today that would stop.

Although Heather had never met Lewis’ mother, Ruth, and had only heard how useless she’d been in her role, Heather reckoned there were always two sides to everything and she’d quite like to find out for herself.

Knowing the Reynold’s family home was just up the hill from the park, she legged it, and was sweating by the time she approached Ruth’s front door. Her tummy was fluttering a little, but now she was here she wouldn’t waste the opportunity to find out for herself if Ruth was a decent enough person to be allowed in to her son’s life.

Thankful there were no steps to negotiate, she pushed the pram along the path, taking in the neat front garden. The net curtains at the living room window looked clean enough, she noticed. Before she lost her nerve, Heather knocked on the door. It was a few minutes before it was answered, and even then the door only opened a fraction as if a safety chain was in use, but she could see there wasn’t.

‘Hello,’ Heather began, ‘are you Ruth Reynolds?’

The woman opened the door a tiny fraction more so she could see her visitor. ‘Who are you?’ a timid voice replied.

‘I’m Heather. I’m Lewis’ girlfriend. Look, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we’ve had a baby and I wondered if you’d like to meet your grandson.’

‘A baby? No, I didn’t know!’

The door opened wide. Heather was shocked at Ruth’s appearance. Not scruffy or unkempt, but bruised. She ignored this, instead smiling wide.

‘Can I bring the pram in?’

Ruth smiled. ‘Of course you can, love. Come on in out of the cold,’ she said, all the time her eyes straining to look in the pram.

‘Give me your coat,’ Ruth said. ‘Go through and I’ll put the fire on. I was upstairs cleaning when you knocked.’

Heather knew Jasper was wakening up so took him out of the pram and when the fire had been turned on, she handed him to Ruth. To see the look on his grandmother’s face was priceless. Her features, which were by no means hard but showed she’d had a hard life, mellowed. She began talking to Jasper, sitting in one of the fireside chairs carefully.

‘Are you okay?’ Heather asked her.

Ruth nodded. ‘I’m fine, lass. Would you like to put the kettle on?’ Heather nodded, surprised that already she was being trusted to mooch in a strange woman’s kitchen. ‘If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to just sit and enjoy him.’

Heather beamed. There was nothing better she could’ve said. ‘How d’you like your tea?’

‘As it comes, love, but never weak.’

Heather was impressed at the neatness of everywhere as she searched for mugs, teabags and milk. Everywhere was spotless. In fact, it was almost too spotless.

‘You’ve got a lovely home, Ruth – d’you mind if I call you Ruth?’

‘No love, I don’t. Thank you for the compliment. We don’t have much but what we do have I like to look after.’

‘D’you live here alone, then?’ Heather realised what she sounded like. ‘Sorry, you must think I’m a nosey parker. It’s just that Lewis won’t talk about you so I don’t know if he’s got siblings, or what...’

‘That’s all right, love. Yes, Lewis has siblings; a brother and sister, though... well, his sister’s not here at the moment. I may as well tell you the truth. She’s in care.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...’

‘Like I said, Heather, you need to know the truth. A few months back I probably wouldn’t have said anything, but that was before... before I saw this lah’l beauty. You probably already knew that Lewis was in bother, hence why he moved out over a year ago.’ Ruth stopped, looking at Heather to see if she nodded.

She didn’t; the girl looked puzzled. ‘No, I didn’t know. Go on.’

‘He’d been in bother with the cops again, for knocking me about. I told him he’d have to go. I couldn’t stand any more of it. One of my nephews came round and made sure he left.’

Heather was horrified. ‘He beat you? Oh dear God.’ There was silence as Ruth lifted Jasper onto her shoulder when he became restless. ‘Ruth, he used to beat me, then when I got pregnant he changed. He was the most wonderful man all the way through. I can’t believe he treated you like that. Did his father beat you?’

Ruth nodded. ‘Aye, I suppose if kids see it they think it’s part of family life, eh?’

‘I don’t know about that. If anything, you’d think they’d want to protect you not add to your troubles.’

‘Huh, well, his sister didn’t think like that. Once Lewis had moved out, she took over where he left off.’

Heather’s face screwed up, revealing the horror she felt. ‘I am so sorry. You’ve gone through such a lot. What about your other son?’

‘No, he’s a treasure, thank goodness. It was him who called the police and got her arrested. It’s been a horrible time, but now, today, it’s become brighter. Thank you for coming. I’d like it if we could keep in touch, though I expect Lewis’ll stop you from coming if he finds out.’

‘Oh no he won’t!’ Heather said, her voice was full of feeling. ‘If he even tries to do that then me and him’ll have serious words, I can tell you. How old are your other kids?’

‘Sadie’s seventeen, and Nathan’s twelve. She’d been quiet until Lewis left, though she’d always had a gob on her, you know, a bit of lip, but Lewis used to shut her up – not hitting her, just a look. Then, once he’d gone, well, talk about jumping into a dead man’s shoes,’ she tutted, ‘she became like a devil possessed. Nathan was terrified of her, not knowing what mood she’d be in from one day to the other. My doctor was wonderful, listening to me, patching me up. In fact, it was her who got the social services involved. We couldn’t go on the way we were, yet it was while we were waiting for our referral to be processed that Sadie went really wild. Put me in hospital, as you can see by the bruises, so our Nathan was on his own. He had to go to my sister’s, which was better than him being put into care, and she, Sadie, had the place to herself living like Lady Muck. When I came home, the place was a pigsty but