Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Funeral
The Platts were keeping a low profile today as it was Leo's funeral. The hearse pulled into the street. Jenny, Rita, Daisy and Daniel standing outside the parlour. Leo's coffin surrounded by flowers spelling out 'Leo' and a rugby ball-shaped wreath leaning against it. The only other three guests Paul, Billy and Ed waiting by the second funeral car. Jenny placing her own bunch of flowers on top of the coffin. Stepping back to let George close the window. She briefly walked over to the other three men as she thanked them for coming.
"It's no trouble. He was a mate...And I hope you don't mind but because it's a bit tough for me to get upstairs now. Me and Billy got Summer to do some sandwiches and cups of tea for afterwards" Paul began to explain.
"You didn't have to...I didn't expect anybody to even think about that. Thank you" Jenny responded in a sad tone of voice.
"We really liked Leo. He was a good worker" Ed chimed in with his hands by his side.
Jenny thanked them again before returning to the funeral car as it was ready to go. Rita was ushered in first as Jenny sat besides her. Daisy and Daniel in the back. Some other people in the street looking out their windows or standing on the pavement as Leo's coffin was driven slowly though the street with the two funeral cars following behind. Bethany standing with her arms crossed with Sarah as they watched from the side.
"Who do they they think they are?" Daisy asked with a small scowl as she looked Bethany dead in the eye as they were driven down.
"It's okay. Just ignore them" Jenny responded as she didn't want anything to do with the Platts today. Today was about Leo.
"Bethany and Sarah are nice girls. They won't mean any harm...They been through a lot themselves throughout the years" Rita tried to say as she gave Daisy a quick pat as she could see her still seething.
"Right okay" Daisy responded unconvinced as they left the cobbles and drove towards the church.
The street resuming normal duties once the funeral cars were out of sight. Sarah felt awful again having seen Leo's coffin for herself. She was worn out slightly and was worried for her gran. Being in Toronto with Stephen in the state he was in, the sooner they found them and brought them back the better. Bethany and Sarah perched them on the brick wall between the Platts and Yasmeen's house.
"That Daisy girl gave me a right dirty look...We don't even know the full facts yet. It could have been an accident. Uncle Stephen had years to hurt people, so why did he start now. It doesn't make sense" Bethany began with a scoff.
"They found his DNA on the body. He covered it up at the very least" Sarah reminded her.
"Yeah but there's no proof he did anything else yet"
"He kept banging on about granddad Malcolm before he left. Gran kept talking to me about how he died and questioned me. I didn't understand at the time but now I do. He did him in, didn't he?"
"Why would you even say that?"
"Well what other reasons would he have to go on about it? Listen, Bethany. I know it's hard but he wasn't the man you thought he was. You saw how angry he got at Elaine, he hit her. He was a liar"
"It doesn't make sense, that's all. And what about Gabrielle? You think she suddenly snapped too?"
"No. I don't think she has anything to do with the murders...She's just covering it up because she loves him. Twenty-six years of marriage doesn't go away like that"
"Well I want to talk to her" Bethany began as she got up.
"Wait...Bethany, I don't know if you should" Sarah replied as she began to follow her to the bus stop.
Bethany sat back down again as she waited. Determined to talk to 'Aunty Gabrielle' (as she use to call her as a child) about this. She needed to see for herself as she found this hard to believe. Sarah perched next to her again with her arms recrossed, she understood her reasoning of course. She found it difficult to buy at first too and she had a lot more time to process it.
"It's not fair you know. All those happy memories in Milan and I'm suppose to suddenly think none of it happened? Stephen and Gabrielle were so nice to me...And now what? They are these crazy killers?" Bethany asked with a hint of irony.
"No. I don't think Gabrielle's a crazy killer actually. And those memories in Milan were real. He just lost the plot...You know you sound like gran. She thinks he's golden too. You and gran were lucky to see him at his best"
"You said you think he killed granddad Malcolm?"
"I don't know. I don't want to think it and he did have a heart attack...Maybe he just watched him die"
"How could anybody do that to their own dad?"
"Well he did...Twice. The police found his DNA at Geoff Master's crime scene too. His actual dad's flat. Another normal old man who suffered. I think that's what made him lose his mind truly in the end. When they find him, he's going to be a wreck of himself. And it won't be pretty"
...
"Leanne told me what happened at the cafe. Can we come in?" Nick asked as he came round to talk to Gabrielle with Bethany.
She really wanted to talk to her with or without the family's blessing. So she went to her other uncle Nick and asked if he would take her. Gabrielle let them in, knowing they had the least amount of anger towards her. She led them towards the living room and one of the things they noticed was the missing photographs that Audrey took before going to Toronto. Nick and Bethany sat on the opposite side while she took the single chair near the fireplace.
"Mum doesn't even know I'm here, she thought she talked me down but I needed to see you and talk to you. I don't believe what I'm hearing. Neither do you surely otherwise you wouldn't have helped him flee" Bethany began as she was convinced it wasn't as bad as it sounded.
"I don't know what you heard but they found his DNA on Leo and Geoff. There's no way he wasn't involved. I'm sorry, Bethany" Gabrielle replied with regret.
"So, what? The man you were married to for twenty-six years is a serial killer?"
"It appears so and I don't like the thought. But what choice do I have when there's DNA evidence?" Gabrielle questioned and she could see Bethany looked upset as the last bit of hope was gone, he did it alright; she quickly added..."I'm still the same though. I had nothing to do with any of it"
"I thought there must be a mistake but now you're even saying it. And what's this about granddad? Malcolm I mean...Mum says he kept going on about him. I know he had a heart attack. So that obviously proves he didn't do it...He was upset about it, I was only a kid I know but I still remember him being upset over it" Bethany continued as she tried to dig for the whole truth.
The whole truth is something Gabrielle didn't want to give. Nick could sense her brief lapses of thought. She was trying to think of something to say but was finding it difficult. The family did wonder about the whole Malcolm thing and it just seemed like that once simple heart attack was something more sinister. That did make sense to why Gabrielle didn't automacially turn on him. It wasn't love or disbelief, it was fear and guilt.
"I don't know anymore but he told me it was a heart attack. That's it" Gabrielle said after a few tense moments of silence.
"You don't know anymore?" Nick asked as he wondered what she meant by that.
"I found out a lot of things about him lately, okay? I have no clue what he got up to behind my back. Everything is under a microscope right now but some things were what they seem"
"Exactly...As if he would have done that to granddad. He was a wreck for weeks after that. He went to Toronto and only came back for the business" Bethany chimed in again.
Nick just shrugged and he was unconvinced. So he did a little flitter back then too after Malcolm passed away. He hardly saw his uncle when he worked for him, only saw him for special occasions and serious business talks. Which suited him fine at the time but now he wonders why he was so distant.
"I like you Gabrielle, I always have done but I don't think you're being straight with us. You do know more" Nick spoke up firmly.
"I know he had some dodgy deals and it was fun for a bit. You knew too Nick, so don't go acting like you didn't. But that's it...I didn't know he would have gone as far as he did" Gabrielle quickly responded.
"We all make mistakes, you and David know that as much as anybody. So what's the police going to do now with ya?" Bethany asked as she believed her great aunt-in-law totally.
"Well so far my charges are aiding and abetting, fraud, making a false statement and attempted theft. They are trying to get me in trouble over Leo too but my lawyer says it won't stick. I'm trying to sort out my business but nobody wants to buy it. It's got a bad rep now or something" Gabrielle explained as she was happy to change the subject onto something more familar.
"The business is still doing well, isn't it?" Nick questioned as he tried to help. Lowering his defences after being reminded of his previous mistakes.
"Yeah but the director is pestering me. Saying I'm running him and eveybody into the ground. Luckily I'm the biggest shareholder and the ball's in my court for as long as I'm alive. I might have to just pass down the reins to somebody else. I might just give it to him for as long as my sentence is" Gabrielle expanded.
...
Leo's funeral was very subdued and the wake aftwards in Paul and Billy's flat was no different. Summer brought cups of tea and sandwiches around before sitting down at the dining room table. Sadly not many words could be expressed about him as only Jenny seemed to really know him well. He was just somebody Paul and Ed had a laugh with sometimes at work and they only went because they felt bad for Jenny having nobody else going besides her friends. Everybody just sipped their teas in awkward silence.
"We had some good music at Leo's funeral, didn't we? A bit of Coldplay and Oasis...Wonderwall of all things. He had great taste in music, it's why I let him choose the radio station and not Paul when we did our builder's work" Ed managed to speak up.
Getting small smiles and chortles back but they weren't much else to say.
"Well my music was more cheesy, that's all. Leo and you mocked me for my bad taste" Paul replied from the other side.
"Britpop they called it" Billy chimed in.
Jenny just sitting in silence and she could tell the men felt awful for not having anything more personal to say. Daisy just looked between them with a sad smile as she knew they were trying.
"I'm going to go after this. Thank you Summer for the tea and sandwich...I just need some time by myself" Jenny spoke up.
"That's no problem. It's understandable" Paul assured her.
"I just can't believe Stephen's got away. He's with his mum in Toronto and I'm here having to pick up the pieces. Leo didn't even get a chance to make something out of himself and he had such big plans. And all anybody can say is that he had good taste in music on the builder's site" Jenny began as she began to wipe away tears again and this left the room in silence again.
Ed went to say something but couldn't get the right words out. Everybody gripped onto their cups of teas and tried to find some words of comfort but there wasn't any. Nothing could make this better. Only Stephen being found and charged could bring her any closure.
"I'm sure they will find him. He's on the wanted list now" Ed said.
"So what. Won't change anything even if they do find him...Leo's still dead and Teddy's probably dead too. And when they do bring him back, I'm going to have to see Audrey's face and maybe hear how much he's struggling inside. How much prison is breaking him. While my son, my fiance...Won't even know what's going on"
"Jenny. Come on...Let's go" Daisy spoke up as she could see how upset she was making herself.
"Okay. I'm sorry guys, I am really grateful for you coming. I just have to go" Jenny replied as she put down her cup of tea and uneaten sandwich. Rita and Daniel saying their goodbyes too. Billy seeing them out as he said sorry again and hoped things would get better for them eventually.
He retreated back inside with a look of relief. He was glad that was over despite feeling bad for her.
...
"I don't know why you insist on muttering to yourself. I'm here if you want to talk" Audrey spoke in the darkness as Stephen seemed to be doing his frantic nightly mutterings to himself.
He's got worst since he got to Toronto and his hosts were beginning to notice. They keep asking about his pin number, his business and when he's going back home. It's been nearly a week now. And he's got no more lies to peddle as he keeps finding holes in them. His mother's concerned voice broke him out of his nightly trance again as he remained staring at the dark ceiling.
"I've got nothing to say to you about it" Stephen responded as he kept an emotional distance like usual.
"But I know everything-"
"No you don't! You don't know everything...Unless you wish to find out, I'll keep yourself out of my business"
He heard his mother turning around to the corner as she grabbed onto her blanket. Trying not to cry as she thought how far away she was from the rest of the family. She knows it's her fault for insisting on coming but she thoughts things would be different. That he might have a second plan or an idea except he doesn't and he doesn't seem to be wanting to think about one. They all thought they could outrun the law but they can't and it's only a matter of time. They prolonged the process and nothing more.
"Sorry okay. I just don't want to talk about it...Not to you" Stephen added as he could sense he has scared and upset her again.
"I already know the worst of it. You're worried about them catching up to you, aren't you? But me and Gabrielle are going to be in trouble as well...You're not going to be on your own. And you can explain how Malcolm and Leo were accidents. You didn't mean to do it"
"But I did it"
"But they don't need to know that, do they? They can't prove you didn't do what you did out of desperation. You didn't mean to kill them" Audrey insisted.
"Doesn't matter. I still did it and I have to live with that...I wish" Stephen paused before adding..."I wish I didn't have to see them every night. Geoff was the worst, I can still hear his muffled screams"
"You suffocated him?"
"With my own coat"
Audrey felt sick as she got out of bed and had to go across the hallway to the bathroom. Just to get away from him for a bit. She had nowhere to go and that the worst thing about being figuratively chained to him on the run. She sometimes went to the bathroom to have time to herself and this was one of those times.
...
TBC