An Eye For An Eye
6
Aaron once again found himself shaken by Jerry's words. What did he mean he was responsible for Hazel dying? How was that possible? "How did she die?"
"The broken heart she'd been nursing for the last seven years finally gave in."
Aaron was now wary of asking for more information, he knew Jerry would somehow use it against him. Still he couldn't just leave it at that, he really cared about Hazel, he needed to know what had happened to her, "A heart attack?"
"Would that be easier for you to live with?"
"I'm not responsible for her dying!" He wasn't, he wouldn't take the blame for that, and Hazel certainly wouldn't want him to.
"She couldn't live with the guilt, for what she watched you do, and the knowledge she should have stopped you!"
"It was Jackson's decision, it's what..."
"Don't tell me it was what he wanted! He wasn't in the right state of mind to be making such a decision. A few months down the line and he would have seen things differently. But you're not here to talk about Jackson, this is about you."
"What do you want from me?" Nothing he said or did would change the way Jerry felt about him so what was this about?
"I want you to do the right thing for the first time in your life."
"Meaning?"
"People would be a lot safer if you weren't around. Robert, his son, your sister, mother, oh and her new sprog when it arrives."
Aaron had to force down his rising anger, Jerry was threatening his loved ones but he was still no wiser as to what he wanted from him, "What are you saying?"
"It's time for you to do another runner, another disappearing act."
"You want me to leave? Leave everyone and everything I care about behind?"
"The penny's finally dropped."
"You're off your head! Like I'd ever do that."
"You've done it before, you legged it to France."
"That was different!" Aaron snapped. He'd thought he was doing the right thing leaving with Ed, he'd taken the blame for Adam's wrong doings knowing full well he couldn't come back. But it had all gone pear shaped in France. Ed had cheated on him and he'd realised then that he didn't really want to be with Ed or in France. He hadn't been able to hack it on his own, the loneliness and bouts of despair had been unbearable at times. He had needed his family desperately and knowing Adam was in trouble again he'd headed back to Emmerdale, to the only place he would ever think of as home.
"Only in that you wont ever come back!"
"You seriously think I'll give everything I have now up because you say so?"
"Yes. Unless you can live with the consequences of you staying."
As ridiculous as it all sounded Aaron knew Jerry would make good his veiled threats, he'd already proved that. How did he get through to him? Remembering Jerry's earlier remark Aaron said, "What would Jackson think? What would he think about what you're doing."
"He'd understand."
Aaron shook his head in disbelief, "You're insane!"
"You've got... shall we say until Friday to pack up and leave."
"I'll go to the police..." Aaron said out of desperation "I'll..."
"Do you really think they'll take a Dingle's ravings seriously? They already know you've got it in for me..."
"If you were to act on your threats they will! You'd be the first door they'd knock on." Aaron felt a small measure of relief on voicing that thought, it should make Jerry think twice.
"I can't be in two places at the same time now can I?"
Jerry would of course arm himself with an alibi! The older man's smug, cocksure tone had infuriated Aaron sending his voice soaring, "You think you've got it all worked out, that you hold all the cards, well you don't!"
"We'll see."
Aaron now felt cornered, it seemed he was damned whatever he did. But he couldn't just accept the situation, he couldn't give in to Jerry's demands, how could he? He had to somehow talk him round," Jerry..."
"Friday!"
Aaron was suddenly desperate to understand Jerry's actions, "You've had seven years to get back at me, why now?" It wasn't fair, just when... That was it! Jerry couldn't stomach the idea of him being happy, of all being right in his world. He was out to destroy what he had one way or another, "Jackson would hate you for doing this."
"Let's make it Thursday. The sooner you're gone the better."
Something snapped inside of him, unleashing the rage Aaron had tried so hard to contain. The only thing between him and Jerry was a desk and he quickly upturned it, seconds later he had Jerry pinned up against the cabin's wall. "This ends now!" He snarled menacingly, he had to convince Jerry to leave him alone, to stop this nonsense. But he could see no fear in Jerry's eyes, just the sickening glint of satisfaction... Jerry had got what he wanted, a violent reaction from him! Well that was as far as it would go. Determinedly mustering up some self-control Aaron released his hold on Jerry and backed away, as he turned and made for the door Jerry's words followed him...
"It ends when you leave Emmerdale."
/
Robert had answered the knock on the front door to find two policemen standing there.
"Aaron Dingle?"
"No. He's at work. Is this about the break in? I can help you with that."
"No, we're here about a different matter. Could you tell me where to find him?"
Robert felt a pang of dread, something had happened but what? "What's this about?"
"I'm not at liberty to say. Now if you could just give me the information I've asked you for."
Robert dithered momentarily, finally deciding to do as he was bid, After directing the officers to the scrapyard he closed the front door and hurried over to his phone. After getting only a voicemail message from Aaron's mobile he rang the scrapyards number, that just rang out. Why wasn't he answering?
/
Aaron was just a few miles from Emmerdale, parked up in a lay-by. The closer he'd got to the village the more worked up he'd become, he'd started to feel physically sick and had told himself to stop and get a grip on his seething emotions.
The mornings events had really taken their toll. He had no reason to believe Jerry was lying about Hazel and despite not seeing her in years he was upset by her death. He was also filled with regret, he knew he should have made more effort where she was concerned, he could have at least phoned her instead of texting her. He should have honoured Jackson's wishes where his mother was concerned, and made sure she was ok. He'd let them both down.
Then there was Jerry's ridiculous demands, and the fact he didn't dare ignore them. If that wasn't enough to deal with he'd let Jerry get to him and had lost his temper. Ok, so he hadn't hit him despite desperately wanting to pound him into the ground. He'd still let himself down though... and badly.
His head ached with it all, with trying to work out what to do, finding a solution he could live with was proving impossible. Maybe he should tell the police? Maybe they would hear him out and take him seriously? Yeah right! He was known to them for all the wrong reasons, to be fair they had no reason to believe anything that came out of his mouth. Would anyone believe him? Yes, Robert would now and his family would but... well the shit really would hit the fan if they got involved, and the fallout would bring its own risks. There was no guaranteeing his loved ones safety. Any one of them could get hurt, and he wanted to avoid that at all costs. This was something he had to deal with himself, but what should he do?
As far as he could see he really only had two options, walk away and leave his heart and soul behind him... or call Jerry's bluff? He had so much to lose, but it would be easier to give what he had up than have it cruelly snatched away.
tbc