Page 109 of The Dead Ex

‘I didn’t do it personally,’ I said firmly. ‘You know that. We went through it before at the time. Children over the age of eighteen months can’t be with their mothers in prison. They have to be fostered or adopted or brought upby a member of the family. I understand your distress.I really do.’

‘Do you have kids?’ Her eyes were glaring like a wild animal’s.

‘No, but …’

‘Then you don’t know what it’s like to lose one. To not feel that soft cheek against yours or a little pair of arms around you. I know I did wrong but why do the kids have to be punished too? What kind of law separates a mother from a child? You say it’s not your fault but you’re the one with power.Dosomething about it.’

‘I’m sorry. I can’t. It’s the law.’

‘Then make someone change it.’

Her eyes were red. Raw. Angry. I couldn’t even look at Patrick, who had remained silent. Then I remembered what he’d once told me. Sometimes you just have to listen. I felt a wave of grief as I thought of poor Samantha Taylor. ‘Can’t you even say anything to me? Stuck-up bitch.’ Then suddenly Zelda lungedtowards me.

Thanks to my training, I was faster. I caught her hand before it had a chance to hit me, placing it in the restraining position.

‘Officers,’ yelled Patrick.

It was all over in seconds.

‘Are you all right?’ my friend and colleague asked me, briefly touching my shoulder in concern as we walked away.

I nodded, quaking inside. But if I’d known what the repercussions were going tobe, I’d have run. As far as possible.

42

Helen

31 January 2018

I go into the office early before anyone else, knowing that David often did the same. This isn’t a conversation I want anyone else to overhear.

‘Hi,’ he says, looking up from his desk. ‘Didn’t you get my text, asking if you wanted to come over last night?’

‘Sorry. I was calling my parents.’

My fingers are clammy. There’s an odd taste in my mouth. ‘The thing is, I wasasking their advice. But really I should have just asked you.’

‘Fire away.’ He looks flattered.

‘I’m pregnant.’

Immediately he leaps to his feet, face tight with anger. ‘You silly little girl. If you think you’re going to trap me like that, you’re mistaken. Anyway, we always used something.’

‘Not the last time we did it,’ I point out quietly.

‘That was only a few weeks ago.’

‘I know, butI was feeling strange and I did a test. I did a few. Believe me, I don’t want to be pregnant either.’

‘Don’t give me that.’

His fists are clenched. I try to move back, but my feet won’t budge for fear. Then he seems to realize what he’s doing and turns away. ‘I haven’t got any money to pay you off.’

‘Of course you have! You own a massive company.Look, David. I meant it when I said I didn’tintend to get pregnant. But you can’t just expect me to manage on my own.’

‘What about your parents?’

‘They’ll be there for me. But why should they bail me out when you got me into this mess in the first place? That’s what Dad said, anyway. Perhaps you’d like to talk to him about it.’ I hold out my mobile.