It’s All in the Game

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

I’d been surprised and pleased at Mrs Munroe’s candour over what she considered to be her part in my family tragedy. A guilty conscience, the need to atone for one’s mistakes, leaves a person open to all sorts of potential manipulation.

I’d known that to communicate openly with Lily would be difficult; DCI Munroe was watching us both like a hawk, but here was Mrs Munroe, a willing go-between, only too ready to salve her conscience. I could hardly believe my luck.

Since that enlightening hospital visit Shirley and I had exchanged mobile phone numbers and by means of coded texts, Shirley had facilitated a couple of meetings between myself and Lily. Those meetings had been brief, both of us tentatively feeling our way back to a relationship that events had severely damaged but once we were both out of hospital and I was established in my new apartment, life settled into a degree of normality and contact between us became easier.

It was a couple of months after leaving hospital that I felt ready to start the game again. I placed a finger under Liliad’s chin as she sat on my lounge window seat and gently tilted her head back a little, her eyes opening wider.

‘I knew you’d agree,’ I smiled contentedly, ‘we must get back on track.’

Liliad’s head dropped slightly, as though nodding in agreement.

‘First things first – another meeting with Lily is called for.’

I picked up my mobile and sent a text to Mrs Munroe.

Four days later, I arrived early at Dougie’s café so that I could get a table by the window to watch Lily as she approached and so gauge her mood in advance.

As she rounded the corner, I could tell by her slumped shoulders and drooping head that things were far from happy. Entering the café Lily smiled but her greeting was subdued, measured, no longer exhibiting the carefree exuberance of before.

‘Lily, hi.’ I indicated the chair opposite, ‘I’ll get the coffees; what would you like?’

‘Oh, a cappuccino will be fine; small please.’

Standing at the counter waiting to be served I looked across at Lily. Her body language displayed a dejection that seemed excessive, even given what she’d been through. Returning with the coffees I smiled warmly. ‘It’s lovely to see you, Lily. How’ve you been?’

‘OK I guess.’

Staring into the swirls of her coffee Lily absent-mindedly mixed froth and chocolate powder into a brown sludge. With obvious effort she looked up. ‘How are you finding your new apartment?’

‘I love it; it’s so quiet there and the woman in the flat below is very nice although I don’t see her much; she seems to work quite long hours.’

‘That’s good.’

Getting the distinct impression that Lily hadn’t really paid attention to a word I’d said, I asked, ‘Lily is something the matter? You seem so down.’

Lily gave a brief shake of her head. Trying again, I asked, ‘So, how’re things with Barry?’

Shit, wrong question! Lily’s eyes immediately filled with tears as she fumbled in her handbag for a tissue.

‘Oh, Lily, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’

Sniffling, Lily took a deep breath. ‘It’s alright; it’s not your fault; you didn’t know. We’ve split up.’

That was a blow; I’d worked damned hard at getting Barry Mason and Lily together; I’d hoped he’d stay around as a thorn in DCI Munroe’s side for a lot longer than this.

‘But why, I thought you were both so suited.’

‘I guess it was all too much in the end; Dad suspecting Barry of being violent, of being a potential murderer and all that questioning. It didn’t seem to matter to either of them that it was all cleared up; that Barry’s innocence over his father’s death was proven; the atmosphere between them was awful; neither of them were able to forgive and forget. And Barry, he’s so mixed up about everything. He can’t forgive me for not telling him my dad was a DCI let alone the one who was making his life such hell but at the same time he feels it’s his fault I got shot; if he hadn’t asked me to stay at the cottage with him it would never have happened.’

‘Oh, Lily, what a mess.’ Reaching out across the table I gently touched her hand in sympathy.

Lily sighed. ‘It’s no good, there’s just too much for any of us to get over.’

‘I don’t know what to say; sorry hardly seems adequate.’

‘There’s no need, it wasn’t your fault; after all, you were badly hurt yourself; it was Barry’s dogs bursting out of the shed and attacking Dad and DC Wilson; none of it would have happened but for that.’ Lily shuddered slightly at the memory.

‘I know,’ I agreed, ‘that’s why I drove my car at them, I tried to stop them; I couldn’t think of any other way; the noise and snarling was so frightening.’

‘Yes, but it wasn’t their fault, they thought they were protecting Barry and me; it was all just a dreadful mistake and they both paid such a high price for their loyalty.’

‘What happened?’

‘They were put down, they had to be; Barry was heartbroken.’

I couldn’t give a damn about the dogs or Barry. I’d caused the police raid on Barry Mason’s cottage, implying to DCI Munroe that his daughter was in danger there. The irony was that if the police bullet had been a fraction higher Lily wouldn’t be sitting here and my revenge on DCI Munroe would be complete but now I’ve got to start all over again; it’s so frustrating.

I turned to gaze out of the window, deep in thought as a passing car suddenly backfired. Lily’s whole body jerked, her cup dropping from her grasp and clattering onto the table. Picking it up I hastily said, ‘I’ll get us another coffee.’ Returning with a laden tray, ‘Here, I’ve bought a couple of cakes too; I think we could both do with a treat.’

Lily gave a wan smile. ‘Thanks.’

‘So, where’s Barry now? Is he still lodging at the cottage?’

‘No, I think he’s at his foster parents for now but he’s intending to go back up north – he’s applied for a job at some animal sanctuary near Sheffield.’

‘I see and what are you going to do, Lily?’

Lily shrugged. ‘I’m not sure; they’ve kept my job open at the solicitors but I’m not too keen on going back; I don’t seem to be able to cope with pressure anymore.’

‘Well, there’s no great hurry, is there? I expect your parents are quite happy to support you for as long as it takes.’

She paused and then, as if deciding on something said, ‘Yeah, they are. I think I’d like to take up watercolour painting more seriously. I’ve chatted informally with Madeleine McLevitt, you remember, our bohemian art tutor at college.’

For the first time Lily managed a genuine grin.

‘Oh God, yes, she was fantastic!’

‘Yeah, she was. She seems to think I have real talent and is encouraging me to take a residential course in Scotland. I might just do that if only because I’m so sick of Dad constantly watching me, I feel like I’m under surveillance.’ Lily hesitated, deciding whether to continue. ‘I know he’s only concerned for me but it’s so suffocating; I sometimes think he’s got his officers keeping an eye out for me and reporting back.’

‘Surely not!’

‘Oh yes, even before the accident there were occasions when I felt like he was interrogating me after a night out with friends and he always seemed to know more than I was telling him’

I raised my eyebrows, ‘It seems like a stay in Scotland might be a good idea.’

‘I know,’ Lily agreed, ‘when I paint it seems to shut out everything else and Scotland is so beautiful, I want to just be away from everything and everyone. That’s what I need right now, some space.’ Lily took a large bite out of her cake; for the first time since entering the café seeming a little more hopeful.

Gathering my things, I made ready to leave. ‘It’s been great seeing you again, Lily; remember to keep me posted whatever you decide, or better still, perhaps you’d like to come over on Sunday, I’d love to show you my flat.’

‘I’d love to see it but I can’t do this Sunday; how about next?’

‘That’s fine; I’ll get some wine in.’

‘Perfect.’ Lily stood and we briefly hugged.

‘Bye.’

‘Bye, Annalee I’ll keep in touch.’

Walking back to my car I pondered Lily’s news. If she does go to Scotland she’ll be well out of my reach a lot of the time but does that really matter? I don’t need a long drawn-out strategy now; I realised that when I was in St Joseph’s. My relationship with Lily is solid, it can withstand an hiatus and this time I intend for there to be no mistakes; I intend to be much more ‘hands-on’.