Part 10 (1/2)
”Autopsya that's what it's called, isn't it?”
Mary Thorp's voice stayed low, completely controlled. No sobbing. No shaking. No hysterics. Policewoman Susan Derry knew there was a h.e.l.l of a lot of pent up emotion inside the woman. She sensed it building like a volcano ready to rip its top. The policewoman steeled herself, ready for the outburst of emotion to come. She'd seen it before. But the violence of that release would still be shocking.
”Autopsya” The woman repeated the unfamiliar word. ”Autopsya autopsy. It won't hurt him will it, when they cut?”
The policewoman shook her head.
”No, of course it wouldn't, would it?” Mary Thorp licked her lips. They were chapped and sore looking. ”It can't hurt him, because he's dead. And it's my fault.” She locked her eyes onto those of the policewoman. ”Did you know that I could have stopped Liam being killed?”
”It's not your fault, Mary.”
”You don't know what really happened? When the letter camea”
”What letter?”
”The letter I found under the stone outside.” Mary Thorp nodded toward the door. ”I should have done what the letter told me to do.”
”This letter was from Joe Budgen?”
”No, of course not.” She sounded irritated as if asked an absurd question. ”It was the start of the letters again. It's happened before. Ask anyone. But I ignored it. I thought it was kids playing stupid tricksa I just threw it away. And when another came I did the same. And it wasn't-”
”Mary, sit down,” the policewoman said. Here comes the dam burst. She checked that the box of tissues were nearby. They were. But if anything, before the tears there might come anger. She also did a quick take of the kitchen to make sure there were no knives or heavy objects Mary might grab.
But Mary Thorp continued in that rapid whisper. ”Kids and their tricks. We've seen it all before. Stones thrown at the windows, dog s.h.i.+t through the front door. That's when everyone thought Stevo had snitched on Joe, but that wasn't true. So when the letters started I thought it was just more of the same. Just kids p.i.s.sing us about. But what I should have done is take that chocolate straight up to- ”
”Chocolate?”
”The letter told me to take chocolate up to the cemetery and leave it on the grave.”
”Mary, sorry, I don't understand. What grave?”
”Jess Bowen's. Oh, you're not local, then? Otherwise you'd know. It's famous round here. But if I'd just done what the letter saida if I'd left the chocolate up therea everything would be all right. None of this would have happened. Liam would still be up in his bed, fast asleepa oh G.o.da G.o.d, G.o.d, G.o.d, G.o.d.” She rocked now, her hand to her mouth. But there were no tears.
”Mary, take it easy. Here, sit down.”
Mary did as she was told. But now something had loosened inside of her. She continued speaking-words joining seamlessly together. ”See, just one lousy bar of chocolate. All I had to do was what the letter said. None of this would have happened. Everything would have been all right; but now he's having that autopsy done to him; they won't hurt him, will they? I couldn't bear it if I thought they were hurting him.”
”They'll look after Liam, Mary.”
”If you get one of those letters, Susan. And-and it's got those demands. You do everything it asks. Everything. Because it'll tear your life apart if you don't.”
The policeman came to the doorway. He caught the policewoman's eye and tilted his head by way of a question. She went across to her colleague.
He whispered, ”What's she been saying?”
The policewoman kept her voice low so Mary wouldn't hear. ”Nothing that makes sense. If you ask me she's completely out of it.”
”Did the Doc give her any knock-out drops?”
”He did. Not that they've had any effect.”
”Put her to bed anyway.”
”Keith, she doesn't look like she's ready to sleep yet, does she?”
”She might, once she's in bed.”
”All right then.” She sighed, relenting. ”But I'll stay near her bedroom where I can keep an eye on her.”
”Pizza?”
”Show some respect, Keith. For just once in your life.”
”I'll take that as a 'no' then, shall I?”
3.
”Careful, Val, the garlic bread's hot.”
”Oh, I'm ready for this.”
”See, I told you that good honest toil on the land would give you an appet.i.te.”
”It's toning up my thigh muscles, too.”
”Really? Let me feel.”
”John Newton, that isn't thigh muscle.”
”Nowhere near?”
”No.”
”You'll have to give me a conducted tour of your body later.”
”John, stop it.” She giggled.
”Show me every nook and cranny.”
”Shha Paul will hear.”
”No, he won't. He's watching something unsavory on television in his bedroom.”
”If you don't move your hand I'll scream.”