Ghosts
Siân stared at the phone. The message in black print staring back at her. She had just received a death threat. Glaring she saved the message, knowing it was evidence. Should anything happen to her then it could be a clue. She picked up her coffee mug trying to work out what was going on. Evans was in prison and would be for a very long time. There was no way he had access to a phone. She bit her lip, trying to think who would want her dead.
Xxxxx
Mared got into the passenger seat of the car as Tom climbed into the driver's side. He had no idea what to say. She had been right; it wasn't over. They'd been followed. Prosser was still on demand. He started the engine in silence as Mared stared out of the window. Seconds turned into minutes as he drove. The sky clouded over as he headed towards the police station.
"Sorry."
Her voice was small, almost childlike as he pulled the car into a pub carpark. She blinked back a tear, determined that she had cried enough tears over her past.
"You have nothing to apologise for." He sighed as she touched his hand. "Evans can't hurt anyone now. He's locked up."
"Pending appeal."
"Which, as Siân says is never going to happen." He held her hand as she spoke.
"I know." She smiled slightly. "I had to look him in the eye. I had to show him I'm not broken."
"I know." Tom looked at their entwined fingers. "You are the sensible one, the one with her head screwed on. Not like me. So you have nothing to apologise for."
"I lied to you. To Elin and my friends. For years. The things I was called as a teenager. Aberystwyth wasn't the most forgiving or progressive place back then. I suppose I didn't want you or Elin to think that if you found out."
"Nothing could make me think any less of you." His voice was low as she smiled slightly. "You and Elin are close; she's a bright girl. You know why she's never really asked about it?"
"No."
"When you were missing we were talking. I'd gone to your house to speak to your parents. Your Mam scuttled off to the kitchen leaving me with Elin and your father."
"Sounds like Mam."
"Yeah, that's what Elin told me." Tom paused. "She likes to bury her head in the sand. Elin told me she was worried about you before you went missing. That you'd been quiet, distracted."
"The case was getting to me. Normally I would be able to switch off." She sighed. Tom nodded.
"But this time?"
"Too close to home." She paused. "And that was before I was taken."
"Yeah." Tom paused. She knew how every case was personal to him. He always identified with the families or the victims whereas she was able to cut off her emotions to a certain extent.
"But why?"
"I dunno. Honestly. The women were all around my age. They were all professional and I dunno why but it got to me." He covered her hand with his own.
"I asked Elin." He paused, looking away. "When you were gone, your Mam refused to say anything about your private life. I had to ask - if there had been anything or anyone that wanted to hurt you. Your Dad had no idea, but then dads tend not to with girls."
Mared sighed. "So?"
"I asked her if she had any idea if there was someone you were scared of."
"She wouldn't know."
"You know the routine. It's also how she found out about us." He blushed. "I asked if you had any enemies? If there was someone, like her father perhaps."
Mared nodded.
"What did she say?"
"She had no idea why anyone would want to hurt you. That she had no idea who her father was and had no wish to. That you were the only parent she needed."
Mared but her lip. She sighed as he linked his fingers through hers. Tom looked away, his hand holding hers tightly.
"She's a good girl."
"Yes she is."
"Tom; I didn't tell her because she deserves better. She's the child of a. She's the result of." Mared shook her head as her voice wavered. "I thought she would hate me."
"You have protected her all her life. Of course she doesn't hate you." He spoke calmly as Mared blinked back a tear.
"I'm so fed up with crying."
"Hey." He kissed her lightly on the lips as his phone sprang to life.
"Mathias." He snapped as he answered the call. "Lloyd, calm down."
"What is it?" Mared asked.
Tom shrugged. "Lloyd? Ok, ok." He paused. "Sian's ok? Good. Ok, we're on the way back. Stay with her, Lloyd."
He started the engine as Mared raised an eyebrow.
"It's Siân. Someone just shot her."
Xxxxxx