Web of Lies

CHAPTER 3 A MOTHER’S WORD

CHAPTER 3

A MOTHER’S WORDThe man lunged at the woman on the carpet, his fist pounding into her cheeks countless times. His child flinched in horror and cowered in the corner of the living room.

“You fuckin betrayed me, b***h. Never again.”

The woman covered her face, blood dripping down her cheeks. Her eyes were bloodshot, surrounded by purple bruising. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please...no...more…”

He gave a toothless grin. “I own you, woman. Never forget that.”

***

Jamie staggered towards the double-storey mansion that was her parents’ house in Williamstown. She rang the doorbell, her chest tightening at the prospect of seeing her mother devastated after her father’s arrest. But it would be more of a problem due to the scandal it would create among her rich circle of friends.

The door opened and she nodded in greeting. “Hi, Gregory.”

Her father’s long-time friend and lawyer pulled her into a hug, but Jamie was in no mood to be cuddled, so she froze with her arms by her side. “Your mother has been trying to call you.” He pulled away from her, his dark eyes piercing her own. Specks of grey hair showed in his short, brown hair, looking handsome and young for his fifty-two years. Gregory and her father had been close friends since college. For the last ten years, he had been their family lawyer in civil matters rather than criminal.

The scraping noise of stiletto shoes alerted her to her mother’s presence. Her blood-shot eyes and pale complexion appeared worse than usual. For a forty-nine-year-old woman, her mother, Violet, was striking, composed and beautiful with her long, wavy red-brown hair, huge but dull blue eyes, slim physique, and graceful walk.

“Jamie. I have been trying to call you, but you didn’t respond. Did you hear the news?” Her mother shook her head. “Such a travesty.” She kept her distance as they all sat on the pink L-shaped leather couch which gave a view of the shrubbery through the closed bay windows. Luckily, the multitude of windows didn’t make the house gloomy, but rather emitted a sense of space and light.

Jamie would not have thought of it that way. “Why are they accusing him of murder, Mother? Why?”

Her mother remained silent as she turned away, fingering her long pearl necklace over her tight-fitting black dress. “I will let Gregory explain. I cannot rehash it all again. But I know in my heart that your father is innocent of the crime. I know.”

Gregory gave her a reassuring smile and touched her on the shoulder. “Oh, Jamie. I wish I didn’t have to tell you this, but you have to know the truth.” He got up from the couch and paced along the shiny floorboards. “They found semen matching your father’s, as well as his fingerprints on the girl’s person. They found nothing else to suggest that another perpetrator was involved at this point. They don’t have anything else, but I can get him out on bail through the court system. It will take time, but hopefully, within a week he’ll be back home and he can explain everything.”

Jamie looked at her mother staring into the distance. She wanted to disappear into the ether. Her hands rushed towards her mouth to cover it. “Does that mean...?”

Gregory nodded. “I’m afraid so.” He turned to her mother with sympathy. “He admitted to having s*x with the girl but not to murder. He said he’d never been violent with the girl. And the last time he saw her, she was alive.”

Jamie squeezed her hands. “But the paramedics mentioned she had been stuck in the boot of a car. Whose car was it?” Gregory didn’t say anything.

Her mother intervened. “She was in your father’s car, but he claimed to have not known how she got inside. He thinks he was framed.”

Jamie joined Gregory near their dining table. “Does he have any enemies?”

Gregory gestured with his hands. “It’s hard to say, but he did make a few bad investment choices for several clients over the years. Who knows if they would have turned to murder? I guess anything is possible, Jamie.”

“So what happens now, and what can I do?”

Her mother got up from the couch and sat on a dining table chair. “Oh, Darling. Once he gets out on bail, he will need your support. I will let you know when that happens.”

Gregory nodded. “Exactly right. He’ll need you here, Jamie. But I’ll make sure he comes home soon. I will consult with a criminal lawyer of mine who can help. I doubt it will even go to trial.”

Jamie jolted at the banging of the door. She rushed to the front door and winced at a the sight of a bald man holding a video camera. “What do you want?” The damn media had already got the juicy details.

“Just a scoop to throw doubt on the charges against Marty Porcelinn. Do you believe he is capable of murder?” She closed the door in his face, but the man kept it open with his foot. “Please, just a quick story to get the real version of events. Just a quick interview.”

Gregory approached. “You get the hell out of here or I will sue your arse.” The man took a few steps back with a shake of his head. Gregory shut the door and faced them. “I don’t know how the media got the story on this already, but don’t worry. I will handle them.”

Her mother threw her hands up in the air. “Marty’s reputation has already been tarnished, Gregory. How will you handle that?”

He gazed at her earnestly. “The police will get to the true story of him not murdering that poor girl. The truth will come out.”

Jamie leaned against the edge of the table, her surroundings feeling surreal. “But he slept with the girl. How can you keep it out of the papers?” Gregory said nothing. “And how old was she?”

“Fifteen,” said Gregory in a whisper.

Jamie clutched at her chest, unable to breathe. “Dear God, Gregory. Mother. How could he do this to a poor innocent girl, and why would he? It is s****l abuse and for that

alone he should go to prison.”

“Such a scandal,” her mother said. “I am sure Gregory can sweep it under the rug. We don’t need such scandal to destroy our reputations, Jamie.”

Jamie’s eyes bulged as she leaned closer towards her mother. “Are you serious right now? He abused a fifteen-year-old girl, Mother. There is no excuse for that, and he deserves to be punished for such a crime. Why should it be hidden? So that he can do it all again?” She gave a mocking laugh. “Not only was she an innocent minor, but he also cheated on you. He betrayed the poor girl and his family. There is no coming back from that.”

Gregory grabbed Jamie’s hands and held them firmly. “Listen to me. We will deal with that when the time comes. For now, you need to keep a clear head and be there for your father. I am sure he has an explanation for it. Sometimes these young girls lie about their age simply for the money. It is hard to tell a girl’s age sometimes with the clothing and make-up they wear.”

Her mother frowned. “I will go make us a cup of tea.” She held a worried expression, and she bowed her head as if she was defeated.

Jamie shook her head. “No, I’m leaving. I have to see my friends.”

Her mother rubbed her hands. “But it’s late, Dear.”

Jamie looked at her phone. It was nine-thirty. “I am sorry, Mother. I have to go and process this. I will call you tomorrow.” She leaned in and gave her a kiss and then hugged Gregory. “Please keep me updated about the case.”

Gregory nodded. “Of course, Jamie. You take care and we’ll speak soon.”

She headed to her car, her whole body shaking. Picking up the phone, she dialled Liz, who sounded happy. She hated having to change Liz’s mood. “Jamie, hi. What’s up?” Silence hung in the air as Jamie struggled to get the words out. “Jamie?”

“Can I come over?”

“Of course you can. Is everything okay?”

“I have bad news, Liz.”

“What is it, girl?”

“I’d rather tell you in person. Is that okay?”

“Of course. I’ll be waiting.” Jamie hung up with a heavy heart and drove over to Liz’s apartment in Altona. She needed her friend.