Sorry it has taken me sooo long to update, I didn't realise that I hadn't since Feb! I've been really busy. Any way heres goes
Chapter 26
Three weeks later.
"What will you do now?" asked Harry as she and Pipa meandered side by side through the park. August was drawing to a close and along with it the summer. The sun still shone brightly in the cloudless sky but the temperature was noticeably cooler than in recent weeks. Harry, as always, was dressed elegantly in a knee length skirt and a pale blue cotton blouse, Pipa similarly but less formal.
As they reached a park bench both women took a seat, a suitable vantage point to watch Matthew play with a toy plane a few metres away from them.
Pipa watched him carefully as she answered "We're going to stay with my mother in Brighton, she hasn't been the same since Daddy left and…well you know, get out of London, take stock and start again I suppose."
In the three weeks since Robert's arrest Pipa had time to asses her and Matthew's situation. She had time to reflect on recent events and she had been mortified to learn a few distasteful things about herself. Looking introspectively she had to admit her behaviour had been that of selfish tart rather than that of a mother and the memories of what she had done to Harry appalled her.
She took a deep breath and carried on "I've decided to concentrate on Matthew one hundred per cent, he's been through a lot and it's up to me to give him stability….it's not going to be easy with Robert going to….." she glanced at Harry hoping that she would fill in the information without openly asking the question.
Harry turned to her "It may not come down to prison in the end."
"Why?" replied Pipa puzzled.
Harry composed herself, Pipa needed to know "He's been transferred to a psychiatric hospital."
"What?" said Pipa slightly alarmed.
"Sorry Pipa, but you need to know. He's had some sort of a breakdown apparently. He's not fit to stand trial." Harry was deflated. In a way she wanted Robert to pay for what he had done, but a small part of her felt sorry for him and she wanted to protect him. Dempsey, when Spikings had given them the news, was less than sympathetic. He wanted to lock Robert up and throw away the key 'What sort of looneytunes legal system is this? Only the Scrubs is good enough for a low life like him.'
Wormwood Scrubs was exactly where Robert had ended up, to begin with, blatantly, after just two weeks, it was clear he wasn't coping being locked up 24/7 with murderers and rapists and there was a touch of irony in that he had represented a number of his fellow inmates. However, Dempsey had become more forgiving when Harry's 'Decree Absolute' dropped on her door mat. Dempsey was so delighted Harry thought he was going to skip and dance to work.
For Harry the piece of paper represented closure enough, she was no longer tied to Robert Makepeace.
Now, sat in the park with Matthew running around with his plane making the engine sounds as if the past month never happened, the two women were aware they had to find some sort common ground to be able to move forward.
Harry smiled warmly as she watched a happy little boy and commented "He's a lovely little boy Matthew, you're so lucky have him."
"Yes he is, and yes I am." Pipa smiled back "I'm so grateful to you and James, it could have so easily gone the other way. You could have refused to help me, then where would I have been?"
"We couldn't just stand by, besides we had just as much to lose."
Pipa let the smile drop from her lips as if a thought had suddenly occurred to her "I am sorry Harry, I never set out to hurt you…you know that."
"Really?" Harry raised an eyebrow but there was no harshness to her voice.
"Really, I was a silly, immature, selfish cow….I really wasn't thinking of you, I had too much to drink one night while you were out busting a gut to keep the streets safe. Robert caught me on low ebb and it just sort of happened…"
Harry showed no trace of emotion as Pipa recounted her tale. She was hoping for some sort of reaction, Harry remained blank and expressionless.
Pipa tried even harder "Please Harry, I really don't remember much about that night….and after that it was too late, you do it once then it's too easy to do it again….."
Harry thought for a few seconds they muttered tonelessly "Hmmm, they say that about murder, you kill once then you will kill again."
"Pleeeeaase Harry" implored Pipa, seeking forgiveness.
Harry looked directly ahead "Pipa I can't forgive you, I just can't, but!"
"But?"
"We can't turn back the clock, we can't change what happened in the past. However I am prepared to let bygones be bygones and…."
"And?" said Pipa hanging hopefully on to Harry's every word.
"And, in some sort of peculiar way you have done me a huge favour, but If you ever do that to me again…"
"I won't Harry, promise…" breathed Pipa
"I shan't be responsible for my actions, understand?" the statement was delivered bluntly.
Pipa let out a relieved chuckle "I assure you James is quite safe, I'm so not into him, I mean really."
Harry frowned "Not sure whether I should be pleased or offended by that comment. What's wrong with him?"
Pipa laughed loudly "Nothing, nothing at all cept a) he's not my type and b) he's your man. Ooops should have put that the other way around….I mean a) he's your man so….."
Harry turned to Pipa and smiled "Pipa, shut up!"
A broad grin lit up Pipa's face and she flung her arms around Harry in gratitude "Thank you, thank you!"
As Harry and Pipa embraced Alex and Maddy appeared laden with Ice cream. "Queue was as far back as the lake." grumbled Alex slumping down next to Harry "My bloody ankles are killing me."
"And we had to stand behind this huge American tourist who stank of BO."added Maddy "He kept asking for nutty flakes, sprinkles and fancy sauces which the ice cream seller didn't have, what is it with Americans wanting everything bigger and more complicated? Nearly told him to shut it and just stuff it into his gob….you know Leroy has about ten different barbecue sauces in his fridge for different meats…and don't get me started on pizzas, he says no one in the UK knows how to make a decent Pizza….Harry do you have this problem?" Maddy joined the others on the bench plonking herself next to Pipa before handing over an ice cream.
Harry took her ice cream off Maddy and grinned thinking of Dempsey "Yes I've had the Pizza speech and constant moaning about the state of our hotdogs…..and I know what you mean about several bottles of sauces."
"Don't have that problem with Gene." said Alex, ice cream in one hand her sore swollen ankle in the other. "According to Gene there are two sauces, Brown and Red, apart from when he has pasta, then it's 'what the bloody 'ell do ye call this sauce?'"
Maddy chirped "I've had Luigi's 'What the bloody 'ell do ye call this' sauces, they're very tasty whatever they are."
"Haha," laughed Pipa "I've been accused of making that type of sauce many a time, but apparently weren't that tasty. In fact the only compliment I received about my cooking was 'My God, this is actually edible!' Matthew your ice cream's here."
"Yes, but you were living with an ignorant shit, if you don't mind me saying so."sSaid Maddy with no compunction "Leroy and Dempsey are Yanks so they can be forgiven for being picky eaters and Gene, is well Gene."
The girls fell silent while they licked their ice creams and Pipa helped Matthew with his. He settled down quietly between Pipa and Harry and contentedly slurped his '99'.
After some thought Pipa announced "Maybe I should find a policemen."
"What?" replied the others.
"Well, you three are very happy with yours, maybe that's where I'm going wrong….erm any single policemen left in your stations, or will we have to import one from Manchester or New York?" They could tell by Pipa's impish grin she wasn't being remotely serious.
"We have just the man for you." beamed Alex "You don't mind moustache's do you?"
The girls fell about laughing "Ray Carling!"
Pipa shook her head "On second thoughts, I'll give men a miss for the time being….that's it, I'm officially off men."
"I wish I had been off men."groaned Alex "Look at the state of me now, I feel like a heifer." She was awkwardly perched on the hard wooden bench with her legs outstretched and her back against the slats. All eyes now rested on her bump which stood proudly from her slight frame. "The boys are threatening to stick a sign on my backside saying 'warning wide load'"
"That's unkind." giggled Harry "When is the little bundle of joy planning on making their entrance?"
"Christmas….looks like it's going to be a Christmas baby, we've managed to work out when it all happened."
"Really? Gosh, didn't realise they could be so accurate with these things." replied Harry finding the subject more interesting by the minute.
"Modern technology Harry, the baby may as well have 'made in America' stamped on it." chuckled Alex. Of course Harry still had next to no idea what exactly went on in New York, with all the problems with Coltrane and Micky kidnapping Alex, it was quite a surprise to the couple they had managed to find time to be together let alone make a baby.
Harry was suddenly struck with an idea "America! That's it!" she declared beaming.
"What's it?" replied Maddy "You're not planning on making babies in America are you? Although you are next on the list."
"What list? Wasn't aware there was such a list….I hope not….oh no, don't tell me Ray has got another book going, I will personally strangle him myself."
"No he hasn't, Gene put a stop to it." reassured Alex "Bu,t what has America got to do with things, apart from the obvious…come on spill."
"Yes come on Harry." goaded Pipa "we're all intrigued"
"Well," said Harry mischievously "Dempsey owes me a onetime special offer which he can't refuse….call it a forfeit as penance for behaving like an insensitive idiot. I haven't cashed it in yet and I've been wracking my brains how we would go about it. Now I have my answer…..New York!" Harry looked very pleased with herself as the others looked at her in perplexed curiosity. "Ha! It was so obvious…"
"What was?" chorused the others.
"I'm not telling you, it wouldn't be fair to Dempsey."she sang with a wicked smirk then crunched into her ice cream cone.
Across town a very agitated Dan was fighting his corner in the dingy hotel in Wembley. "No I haven't found him yet, he doesn't exist!" he barked down the phone "He's disappeared…"
"Don't give me that." replied Coltrane on the other end of the line "You sure are a lousy detective Dan." The assistant Commissioner of the NYPD was in no mood to mess around any longer. Slowly, too slowly for his contact's liking , the plan was coming together, but there was one piece which was stubbornly refusing to fall into place.
"Gee, thanks boss, you really know how to give a guy a boost."
"I'll give ya boost alright, my toe connecting with your ass. Now do I have to do every God-damn thing myself?"
"I'm on it Boss, I'm on it." cried Dan in frustration.
"No ya ain't, I'll do it….you just keep on schmoozing the Irish. Have a nice day." With that Coltrane slammed down the phone "Lousy amateur".
Dan replaced the receiver and glared at it in contempt "You too asshole."
Coltrane picked up the phone again and proceeded to dial the next number on his list "I'll do it myself." He grumbled "Morning Ma'am, hows lil ole England today….really? You still have sunshine? Well ain't that nice? Constable Granger, can you please put me through to Lieutenant Banks…I thank you."
"Banks here." Came Leroy's low growl. "Oh it's you, whaddya want?"
"You know what I want Leroy, did ya do what I told ya?"
"Like hell I did." He scowled.
"You know the deal Leroy." said Coltrane with menace.
"I dint make no deal, I told ya straight, I don't do deals with sewer rats."
Coltrane chuckled "You just don't get it do ya Leroy, I ain't giving you the choice…."
"There's always a choice…" he countered
Coltrane lowered his voice and spoke darkly "Well maybe I got something to make that choice easier, You see I got Jasmine blowing through my mind…."
Leroy suddenly balked and the blood began to drain from his face, his hands becoming clammy, his heart pumping fiercely in his chest.
Coltrane continued in the same menacing vein "Let's just hope she doesn't get blown away."
Hands up who hand forgotten Dempsey's 'One time special offer' to Makepeace...teehheeeeehehe