Page 56 of Vengeance is Mine

Monday, 4 January 2021

One year ago today, Anthony Griffiths took his own life. The pain he was suffering from the bone cancer which had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes was insurmountable. His evil, murdering son was dead by his own hand, and he felt he could finally join his wife.

There had been two suicide notes in Anthony’s bungalow when Dawn found him the morning after his death. As planned, Anthony had written one for the police, but she had seen the envelope meant for her eyes only and taken it with her. It was something she kept with her at all times.

It was a chilly morning. The sky was grey, and rain was forecast for later, but it was dry for now. There was a slight breeze, and Dawn was thankful for her heavy winter coat. She kneeled down by the grave and placed a bunch of deep red roses on it for her grandfather and the grandmother she never met.

‘I can’t believe it’s been a year,’ Dawn said, as she stood up.

‘Time passes so quickly,’ Rita said, standing behind her.

‘I don’t want a funeral.’

‘Where did that come from?’

‘Look around you, all these graves abandoned, lost to the past, and there’s nobody to mourn them. Who will come here when I’m gone? I don’t want a gravestone of mine being used by vandals for target practice.’

‘You’re very morbid this morning,’ said Rita.

‘Well, we are in a cemetery.’

Dawn smiled. She linked arms with her mother, and they headed down the incline to the gates.

They spotted Barbara coming towards them, a bunch of flowers in her hand. They all stopped, a distance away from each other.

The year 2020 had been one nobody would ever forget, thanks to a pandemic sweeping the planet. The whole of the country had been locked down, and shops, restaurants, libraries and coffee shops had been forced to close. Barbara and Dawn hadn’t seen each other since the night in her living room almost one year ago. Barbara had aged terribly.

‘I had a feeling I’d see you here this morning,’ Barbara said. ‘I hope you don’t mind. I thought I’d lay some flowers of my own.’

‘Of course not,’ Dawn said. ‘How are you?’

Barbara took a breath. ‘I’m… fine,’ she said, with a fake smile. ‘It’s certainly strange getting used to living on my own after all these years.’

‘Mum, could you give us a few minutes?’ Dawn asked Rita.

‘Of course. I’ll just… hover.’ Rita smiled and left them alone.

Dawn waited until her mother was out of earshot. ‘There’s no chance of Harry coming back home?’

‘No. I’ve given up trying. He’s renting a flat close to town, and he seems comfortable enough, by all accounts.’

‘Is he talking to Terry yet?’

‘No. He said he’ll never forgive him for throwing the coat and wig on the fire.’

‘I honestly thought he was going to arrest us.’

‘So did I. Did you know he’s getting married?’

‘Terry?’

‘Yes. He got engaged on Christmas Eve to a colleague. Bella. She’s a lovely woman.’

‘Oh, that’s good news. I’m pleased.’

Barbara linked arms with Dawn, and they walked slowly towards Rita.

‘Does your mum still think Anthony killed his son?’

‘Yes. Terry did well in keeping a lot of what happened out of the press. I hate that we’ve tainted my grandad’s name by having him acting in cahoots with Andrew and his mates, but there was no way to hide what they did to Dominic. There was no chance anyone would believe Grandad could have beaten him with the severity they did.’

‘Anthony didn’t want anyone else to suffer. It was his decision to take the blame.’

‘I know,’ Dawn said, a catch in her throat.

‘We know the truth. That’s all that matters.’

‘I’m sorry the way things have turned out for you and Harry,’ Dawn said. ‘I never expected him to leave you.’

‘It’s a small price to pay. We did the right thing. Nothing will ever change my mind on that.’

Barbara visibly brightened and changed the subject when they caught up with Rita. ‘I was going to call you, actually, Dawn. The book group is starting up again next month. God willing. Will you be joining us?’

‘Of course.’

‘Excellent. I’ll add your name to the email list. Mary’s chosen the first book and has picked Anna Karenina. Do you know it?’

‘I do, but I haven’t read it.’

‘I have, but it was many years ago. You’re more than welcome to join us, too, Rita, if you wish. There’s plenty of room.’

‘I haven’t read many classics,’ Rita said, with an apologetic smile.

‘Now’s the perfect time to start.’

‘Come on, Mum, it’ll be fun.’

Rita thought for a moment. ‘All right. I’ll give it a go. There was one we read when I was at school I really enjoyed. What was it called? A Russian, I think. Crime and Punishment.’

Dawn and Barbara looked at each other, eyes wide. ‘We’ve already done that one,’ they said together.