“There’re just a couple of things I need to buy. I won’t be long,” she said, pleased with the contents.
“No problem, I’ll keep these out of the way until you come back,” he replied.
Anne quickly went into the chemist and found the few things she needed. She hurried herself – she wanted to be home before Barbara arrived, pick some flowers, make up the spare bed, and let the summer evening pervade through the house. Barbara would love it. They’d have such a great time. She must let go of all the troubles for a while.
Unlocking the car, she put the bags into the boot then drove around to Genelli’s, where he helped her load the rest of her shopping.
With thanks and a wave, Anne drove home.
Genelli waved back.
Such a lovely girl – he hoped she enjoyed her little holiday.
******
Inspector Meakin was sitting in Frank’s home office, trying to figure out this latest development.
Miller must know something, unearthed some clue about the killings. Why else would he have been hurt? He had been lucky so far but he may not live. He was still unconscious, so there wasn’t any way Meakin could find out what had happened.
He’d searched his office but there didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary. There was the usual clutter that accumulated in offices. For himself, he always kept his desk clear, his files, books and paperwork were always in neat piles waiting for his attention. Organisation was the key to success. He tackled all his cases in the same way.
Methodically, he looked around the room.
There were bookshelves, crammed with textbooks and framed certificates on the walls, a sofa over by the window, plus the desk at which he was sitting. Pens and pencils were clustered into a cup; more were splattered over the desk, together with a diary, address book and notepad. Folders were piled high in the ‘in and out’ trays.
Meakin opened the notepad, a few scribbles, nothing that made any sense to him. Why did doctors have such notoriously bad handwriting? The diary held nothing unusual – the same as the address book. He reached for one of the folders, noticing they were patient files.
Odd! Miller must have been looking up old case notes.
Meakin looked at another – the same again.
He quickly scanned the dates on the other files; his memory recognising the significance of the dates.
He opened one of the files, scrutinising its contents, doing the same with the others and then double-checked.
Shit!
Why hadn’t he realised before?
He picked up the ‘phone with a sense of urgency.
******
Sam was driving home after a swimming session.
He liked to go whenever his workload allowed. Being Anne’s assistant was very time-consuming.
He was worried about her. Things were getting out of control. She had Barbara with her tonight; he’d have to wait until after the weekend until anything could be done.
Ignoring the answering machine, he headed straight for the bathroom and dialled cool for a shower.
******
Barbara was already waiting when Anne arrived home, and sitting patiently on the front door step.
She’d changed into loose pale grey trousers and a white cotton shirt, managing, as always, to look stylish, even in casual clothes, her immaculate hair in a single plait down her back.
She smiled as she saw Anne.
“Sorry, I must have taken longer than I thought,” Anne gushed. “I stopped to buy some goodies from Genelli’s.”
The two women hugged; it was going to be a wonderful weekend.
Barbara helped her with the groceries before Anne opened the doors of the garden room, telling her to make herself comfortable.
She chose to sit on the bench under the apple tree, marvelling at the cool, after the heat of the day, only closing her eyes after Anne had given her a tall glass of lemonade saying, “I won’t be long...just have to change and make up the spare bed. Relax!”
Barbara was quite happy to sit and wait. The garden was very beautiful, after all.
******
Sam came downstairs to make himself a meal. It was too warm to eat anything heavy. Pasta and salad would do – he was an expert at that!
After he’d put the water on to boil, he went to check his messages.
Meakin had called asking if he could contact him as soon as possible.
Dialling the number, he waited for him to answer.
******
Anne finished tidying the kitchen then went upstairs, sorted the sleeping arrangements and took a shower.
She would listen to her messages later.
******
While Sam listened to what Meakin had to say, his face turned grey.
He slammed down the ‘phone, turned off the gas, picked up his car keys and ran out of the house.
******
After speaking to Sam, Meakin raced to his car and pushed the accelerator – hard.
******
Anne went downstairs.
She’d changed into blue, cotton trousers and a paler blue T-shirt.
Her mood was good in spite of the news about Frank. She felt optimistic about his progress. She’d ring the hospital to find out – she’d check on Barbara first.
“Is everything okay? Do you need anything? I’m just going to ‘phone the General to see about Frank.”
“I’m absolutely fine. It’s so beautiful here – you’re very lucky. We’re going to have a fabulous time.”
Barbara smiled; Anne was delighted to see her friend so content. The garden had that effect on people.
“Yes. It is gorgeous out here, isn’t it? And Sam’s coming on Saturday, we’ll have a barbecue – what do you think?”
Barbara looked up at her, those beautiful grey eyes shining in the evening light.
“Yes, that sounds good.”
Smiling, she turned back to the house as she said, “I’ll just make that call. I won’t be long, then we’ll tuck into that amazing spread, courtesy of Genelli’s.”
Anne went into her study to make the call, leaning over to take the ‘phone rather than sitting at her desk, her back to the door.
After talking to one of the nurses at the hospital, Anne’s optimism soared. It looked as if Frank was going to be fine. Although he hadn’t spoken, he had woken enough for them to know his recovery was only a matter of time – he was now in a peaceful, natural sleep.
Elated, Anne thought she may as well listen to her messages, then she’d make a meal – they’d eat in the garden of course, the weather was perfect.
She pressed the relevant buttons.
******
Before Anne could register the last message, she felt a pressure in her right side.
What was happening?
She looked down to where she had automatically put her hand to the pain and saw blood oozing through her fingers.
Her mouth gaped in total shock, while tears sprung to her eyes.
She turned her head to look behind her and watched in total horror as the knife swung down towards her.
Oh, oh, OH!
What?
Fear clawed at Anne’s heart as she automatically raised her hands to ward off the attack and somehow managed to move to the side of the desk.
She sidled around so that it was between her and her assailant.
How could this be happening?
Blood was seeping from Anne’s side; she placed her hand over the wound again in an effort to stop the bleeding, knowing she’d go into shock if she lost too much blood.
Her face now looked as if it had been bleached, while her green eyes glowered in pain at the same time Meakin’s words bounced around her head.
What was he saying?
But she knew, finally understanding their meaning, as crazed-filled eyes glared at her.
She must remain calm – if she wanted to survive.
“Why, Barbara?”
Silence.
She must say something, but what?
Blood trickled through her fingers.
Anne pressed harder.
Hardly able to swallow she said, “You don’t have to do this. I can help you.”
She stared into Barbara’s grey eyes, now burnished in frenzy.
She still held the knife, ready to strike at any moment. Anne saw beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. Some hairs had loosened from her plait and were sticking to her face.
Barbara didn’t speak but stayed where she was.
Anne spoke again.
“Please, Barbara, tell me what’s wrong, I can help you.”
Unexpectedly, Barbara started to laugh.
Eerily, it sounded so normal, as if this were an ordinary situation.
She said, “
You
listen to
me
. Whenever did you do that? You had so much time for your stupid patients – so weak and pathetic. I enjoyed killing them; they didn’t deserve your time. I loved watching their pitiable faces as they pleaded for leniency. The best part was just watching them. Seeing them struggle with their ridiculous lives – expecting you to solve all their problems. I could see I was agitating them – though they couldn’t quite understand why. Not all of them told the police – they didn’t even tell you, did they? I had to practice on others though – if they’d
all
been your patients, the police would have noticed too quickly. Though they’re quite stupid, anyway...it was easy to fool them. I only had to do something a little different and they were totally puzzled. That’s why I drove Amy’s body to the barn – bodies were found everywhere! It was such fun.”
Anne didn’t want to interrupt but felt she had to ask.
“Did you hurt Frank?”
She felt sick, wanting to run, screaming for help but knew she must find a way to reach Barbara, stop this madness.
“Of course it was me. He’d be dead if I had taken more care. I’d heard his bimbo’s car outside, I had to hurry. I’d hoped he’d die anyway – he’d found out.”
Barbara was staring ahead; some of the fire seemed to have seeped away.
Perhaps there was a way out of this?
“What did he find out, Barbara?”
Anne’s voice was almost a whisper.
She mustn’t antagonise her.
“The files, he’d found the files but I had to leave them...no time you see. He must have realised I was the nurse in charge of all the victims...well those here, anyway. I was also Amy’s key worker. It was noted that she and I had a close relationship. Frank had even warned me because he thought it was unwise to become too close to patients. Poor fool, he had no idea. I saw him with the old files; knew it was only a matter of time. I made my excuses – one of my migraines – and followed him home. I realised he couldn’t have told anyone yet because the police never came. He probably thought he could help me – or maybe he didn’t believe it? He knew when the knife went in though, didn’t he?”
She laughed again – this time it was tinged with pain – a deep, searing pain, Anne recognised.
“He never made a pass at me, you know,” Barbara stated. “I think he knew instinctively that men were not part of my plan – unlike Doctor Burgess. I tried to tell him, but he wouldn’t leave me alone. He thought I was a challenge. Never thought of his wife – all that rubbish about him trying to make a go of it with her. Second honeymoon, he called it. How many times would she have to forgive him for his betrayal? He deserved to die. He didn’t feel a thing – was dead in an instant.”
“I’m sure that he didn’t mean...”
It was as if Anne hadn’t spoken.
“Missus Armstrong was even easier, being so old. I wasn’t going to allow any more of them to take your time!”
Barbara’s eyes flashed over at Anne, and then looked back at the window to continue with the appalling nightmare.
“I’d learnt how to use a knife from my father. He would show me the bodies in the morgue – where the most vulnerable points of death were. I used to hate going into that place. They weren’t the only things he would show me.”
Barbara shuddered.
Anne knew something terrible must have happened.
“Tell me, Barbara.
Only talking would save her.
If she could reach into the dark frozen depths of Barbara’s despair, perhaps they’d both survive?
Barbara’s eyes looked into Anne’s, who held her breath hoping she’d succeeded.
“No!” Barbara screamed. “You don’t want to listen to me. You never have; especially since you’d met Jenny...beautiful, little, pathetic, vulnerable, Jenny; who everyone must watch over and protect. I thought it would be okay, that you’d still have time for me. At first it was all right – you still included me in your life, but I became less and less important. She lived nearer, she had those brats and she was your confidante. I’d been discarded – again. And then of course there’s that ‘back to the world’ nonsense – you’d never have time for me!”