Lizzie seemed to have been waiting for Jenny’s knock on her door. It flew open after just one light tap. Lizzie’s face told a story of shock and fear as she pulled Jenny into her room.
“Do you know who this Bernard guy is?” hissed Lizzie in a low voice in Jenny’s ear, as she pulled her over to the window. She didn’t wait for the reply. “This is Bernard Lawler! The one suspected of killing that banker in Singapore!”
Jenny looked surprised and tried to interrupt to no avail as Lizzie continued.
“My boyfriend, Rob, has a whole background on the case. He covered it in detail five years ago when it was front-page news. I only realised the connection when I saw his name on the certificates in the hall. So I called Rob and he confirmed that this is the same guy! Jenny, this man is a murderer! What are you doing bringing us to a remote Lake District estate, cut off from the world, in the hands of a notorious killer?”
Jenny was speechless with surprise, but she realised that Lizzie was in a state of panic and that she had to calm her down.
“Lizzie!” Jenny’s voice was insistent. “Please calm down! I’m here with you. Nothing is happening.”
Lizzie looked Jenny straight in the face, her eyes shining with the fear of her recent discovery. “Rob’s an investigative journalist. He covered the case ten years ago and says that in the last eighteen months, new evidence has come to light which points at this Bernard Lawler!”
“I’m sure Rob is an expert in this case, and knows what he’s talking about.” Jenny took Lizzie’s hand between her two hands reassuringly, and looked into her eyes. “There are a lot of other people here. We all know each other. We’re here to find a solution to the Indians dragging their heels about the move to Swinton. This has nothing to do with Bernard. Ekantika is our facilitator, and Edward and Graham will be with us the whole time.”
Lizzie sighed. Her body sagged as she sat on the bed. “I’m sorry”, she whispered, “I panicked.”
Jenny sat on the bed next to her and picked a stray hair from Lizzie’s face and put it behind her ear. “It’s okay. It’s dinnertime. Let’s go eat together. And then we’ll see what happens. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
Edward and Graham clinked glass beer tankards at the low table next to the window in the bar at the front the house. The only occupants of the bar, they had agreed that they had time for a swift one before the girls arrived for dinner.
“So was it worth the drive?” Edward inquired of his friend.
“Bloody magic!” said Graham, giving full reign to his Rochdalian tones. “Gave ‘er full bore up ‘t motorway. Hundred ‘n bloody fifty!”
“You’re talking about the Porsche, I presume?” Edward smiled.
Graham raised his tankard in recognition and took a long pull of the local beer.
“What’s the latest news from the home front?” Edward turned back from looking at the impressive view outside.
“Don’t go there…” replied Graham with a hint of tetchiness.
“But everybody is still at home?” Edward continued lightly.
“Only just”, said Graham, taking another pull of his beer.
“How are Tina and Sandra bearing up under the strain?” Edward looked sideways at his drinking partner, referring to Graham’s wife and daughter.
“They’re getting over the worst of it”, Graham said thoughtfully, his Rochdale accent receding, “Tina took a real hit when the bastard came out. Jesus. Fucking gays! Who needs ‘em?”
“Oh come on, Gray”, Edward jollied, “you know both my parents are gay!”
“Piss off Ed!” said Graham, raising his tankard to clink again.
Jenny appeared around the corner with Lizzie, saying: “Hello boys! What are we celebrating?”
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This is the third chapter from the Book of Ma'Chi