of two sombre-looking policemen.
‘Hello, love. I’m DC Adams and this is PC Fortune. Is your mum there please?’
Billie noticed her whole body shaking from head to foot. ‘Mum,’ she said, her voice quivering as she spoke. ‘There’s some policemen here to see you.’
Davey Mullins dashed into the hallway and led them into the living room. Chelle felt an all-round chill of fear as she stood opposite the two coppers.
‘You might be better sitting down, love,’ DC Adams said, removing his hat. ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news for you and your family, Mrs Keane.’
Michelle could feel her body give way as she collapsed onto the sofa. ‘Go and get me a bottle of wine out of the fridge, Bill. I need a drink.’
Billie ran out of the room and sprinted into the garden. She sat on the bench sobbing hysterically with her hands over her ears. She couldn’t be in the same room if bad news was about to be told. She looked up to the sky. ‘Please, God, just make him be OK. Even if he’s seriously injured, please make him be alive,’ she whispered.
Michelle looked at the two Old Bill. ‘Look, before you tell me anything bad, I need to get a drink.’ After retrieving her wine from the fridge and downing half the bottle in one go, Chelle sat back down. ‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’ she asked.
PC Fortune put a comforting arm around her. ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Keane. He was involved in an accident. We don’t think there are any suspicious circumstances, it’s just one of those unexplainable things. His car was found this morning at the bottom of a ditch by a man walking his dog. He was already dead when we arrived at the scene. Due to the extent of his injuries we would advise you not to see the body, although we will need someone to formally identify him.’
Dave nodded. ‘I’m his best friend, I’ll do it.’
Michelle sat in a daze. She felt like she was in the middle of a bad dream and would wake up any minute. Dave was distraught, Terry was his best pal, his mucker, the whole thing was a fucking nightmare. After sitting there for a further half-hour offering words of comfort, the two Old Bill got up to leave. Michelle sat in silence, unable to take in what had happened.
DC Adams spoke directly to Davey Mullins. ‘We can see Mrs Keane is in a state of shock and we’ve still got a few things on the case to sort before we can wrap it up. What we’ll do is send somebody around tomorrow to have a chat and maybe sort out some counselling for the family. There will also be some of her husband’s belongings to be returned, but we can’t do that until the case is actually closed.’
Dave thanked the officers, saw them out and shut the door. Pouring himself a large brandy, he sat down opposite Chelle. ‘You better go upstairs and tell his mother, Chelle. I’ll go and find Billie and break the news to her.’
Chelle topped up her glass. The shock had sobered her up. ‘I’m not in the mood for that old cow. You go and tell his mother and I’ll tell Billie.’
Dave would much rather have been the one to tell Billie, but he could hardly argue with Chelle. Keeping his thoughts to himself, he went upstairs to break the news to Terry’s mum and aunt. Their blood-curdling screams could be heard half a mile away!
Chelle found Billie sitting on a log down at the bottom of the garden. Looking fearfully at her mother she asked the dreaded question. ‘Is he OK, Mum? He will be all right, won’t he?’
Billie knew the moment her mother put her arms around her that her father was dead. Her mother had never cuddled her in the fifteen and a half years she’d been on this earth, so she immediately knew bad news was to follow.
‘It was a car accident, Bill. He was already dead when the police got there. Let’s go inside, love. It’s freezing out here and you’ve got no coat on. You’ll catch pneumonia sitting out here.’
Sobbing, Billie shook with shock. ‘It’s not him, Mum, it can’t be. They’ve made a mistake, they must have. It’s not Daddy, it’s not him. I know it’s not him.’
Michelle wandered back into the house and poured herself and Dave another drink. Pearl was still upstairs with Bridie, screaming blue murder. Handing Dave his brandy, Chelle sat opposite him at the kitchen table.
‘You’re going to have to sort out return tickets or a hotel or something for them two upstairs. I can’t have them round me no more, Dave, and they probably won’t want to go back home till after his funeral.’
Dave looked at Chelle and realised just what a callous bitch she really was. Her husband had just died and she hadn’t even shed a tear. All she was bothered about was getting rid of the two old biddies upstairs. Keeping his thoughts to himself, Dave decided to take Pearl and Bridie to a local hotel first thing in the morning. They’d be better off away from Chelle; at least that way, they could grieve in peace.
Dave’s main concern was Billie Jo. He felt so sorry for the poor little fucker, her old man had been her life. ‘Where’s Billie, Chelle?’
‘She’s in the garden. She wanted to be on her own.’
Dave found Billie staring lifelessly into the swimming pool.
‘Billie, I’m so sorry, love. I really don’t know what to say to you. He idolised you, your father, and I want you to know, whatever happens, I’ll always be about for you.’
Sobbing, Billie threw herself against the hardness of Dave’s chest.
‘My dad was the best dad in the world. Why did this have to happen, Dave? I don’t believe in God any more. He doesn’t exist, I know he doesn’t.’
Trying to find the right words to comfort her wasn’t easy for Dave. All he could do was try his best.
‘Life ain’t fair, Bill. I loved your dad. He was my best pal and I’m gonna miss him big style. You’ve got to be strong, girl. He loved you more than anything and you have to be strong for his sake.’
Sobbing, Billie pulled away from him.
‘I can’t. If he’s dead, I want to die too. I can’t live without him, I just know I can’t.’
Lost for words, Dave squeezed her hand.
Taking off his jacket, he put it round her shoulders and made her sip some of his brandy to warm her up. Leading her back into the warmth of the house, he sat her down and suggested that she go and stay at Tiffany’s. He knew without a doubt that she’d get far more love and kindness there than she would in her own home.
Dave rang Tiffany’s parents and explained the situation. He was relieved when they welcomed Billie with open arms, insisting that she could stay as long as she wanted. Dave dropped Billie off early in the evening, and then he took Pearl and Bridie to a nearby hotel. They’d insisted on going straight away, as they’d both said they couldn’t spend another night under the same roof as Michelle. Popping back round to Chelle’s, Dave was relieved to see that Hazel, her best mate, had come round to stay with her. Clocking they were on the piss, Dave felt he’d done his duty and said his goodbyes. ‘I’ll pop round tomorrow, Chelle. If you need anything before then ring me.’
‘Thanks, Dave.’ Chelle didn’t know how she felt as he left the house. She was glad Hazel was there, as while she had company she wouldn’t have to examine her true
