A Perfect Likeness (10 page)

‘Jackie, you’re not going. Please don’t go. Get me out of here, please.’ She jumped off the bed and held onto Jackie’s arm. ‘I’m sorry, so sorry. Jackie, please take me home.’ Trish was shaking with fear, her face stained with a mixture of tears and black eye shadow.

‘I’m going to speak to the sergeant and see what he intends to do. You have caused a great deal of trouble for a lot of people and I hope you realise that?’

‘I do, I do. Jackie, please help me. Please,’ shouted Trish as the WPC locked the cell door again.

‘Would you like her to stew for a few more minutes, Miss Salter?’ suggested the sergeant.

‘A good idea, but please, no more. I can’t keep this up. It’s hurting me as much as it is her.’

The WPC returned with Trish and stood with her in front of the sergeant’s desk.

‘Miss Lister, on this occasion we have decided not to charge you with drunk and disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest. We are aware you are going through a difficult time at the moment, but please be warned that this conduct will not be tolerated and I am giving you an official reprimand that will be recorded. You are very lucky to have friends like Miss Salter and Mr Lord. Treasure them, don’t abuse them. Okay, off you go and put your life back in order.’

Trish was sobbing. ‘Thank you, Officer, I know I’ve been stupid, hopefully for the last time. Thank you.’ She turned to Jackie and they hugged. She then went over to Mack who had remained seated throughout. He was leaning forward with his elbows digging into his knees and his head resting in his hands. He was crying. ‘Mack, I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.’

‘But you are, Trish, every moment you are like this. For six months I have watched you go down to rock bottom and I can’t stand seeing what you are doing to your life anymore. It hurts more than you will ever know. And Jackie, it’s about time you started thinking about her. She’s taken you on, really because I persuaded her and against her better judgement, I’m sure. I don’t know what the investigation is about, but it has to be very important for her and she has given you a golden opportunity to get yourself out of this mess. What have you done for her? Nothing, except let her down, big-time. Come on, let’s get you home, we’re tired.’

Trish cried herself to sleep and leant on Jackie’s shoulder for the complete journey. She woke with a jump as the car stopped in The Study car-park. She checked her watch. It was close to eight o’clock, but her eyes could not focus. She rubbed them. ‘Where are we?’

‘Home, and we could all do with getting a couple of hours sleep,’ said Jackie.

Trish began recalling the events of the night and she started crying again. ‘What a fool I am.’ She picked up a used tissue from the living room table, turned away from Mack and dabbed at her eyes. He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her; she gave no resistence.

‘Trish, I know this is probably not the best of times to tell you, but despite you putting us through hell again tonight, I love you just the same as I’ve always done. It is a great pity you don’t feel the same way about me because we could make a super couple.’

‘I do, Mack, I do. Please believe me.’ She threw her arms around his neck and they held each other close for the first time.

Trish swallowed hard. ‘Jackie, Mack, dare I ask for one more chance. I know I don’t deserve it, but I want my life back. Please help me, I won’t be able to do it without you both.’

All three hugged together. All three cried together.

Chapter 7

Trish found sleep impossible and was up and dressed within the hour. She had far too much on her mind, the most important being how to make sure she no longer upset Jackie and Mack, especially Mack. At last she had accepted how much they both meant to her and how much she owed them. The coffee had brewed long enough. She poured a single cup and went into the office. An old habit had returned; always check the answer phone first. There were two calls. One was from the manager of Maxfords telling her that the ‘boyfriend’ sketch was ready for collection. The other was a further message from the AA group leader trying to find if Trish was alright and whether she was going to join the group at its next meeting.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be there,’ said Trish, not aware that Jackie was standing at the office door.

‘And I’m very pleased to hear it. That is one big step you have agreed to take.’

‘Oh, Jackie, you made me jump. Didn’t hear you get up. Did I wake you?’

‘No, I think it was the smell of the coffee.’ She raised her mug in salute. ‘I took the liberty of getting myself one.’

‘Great, I was going to bring you one up shortly. I had two messages on the answer phone. The other one was from …’

‘I heard them both,’ interrupted Jackie. They sat, one either side of the desk.

‘I’ve been a total idiot, haven’t I?’ admitted Trish.

‘No. You went through a major trauma, gained comfort in drink and it took over your life. Now I think it is safe to say you’re on the way back. But there will still be the odd set-back on the way so you must be prepared and not let it, or them, stand in your way.’

‘Thanks, Jackie, for everything.’ She reached across the desk and took hold of her hand. ‘I’ll pop over and see Mack and thank him too, now that I’m sober.’

‘A good idea, but leave him for a while, he didn’t get much sleep last night.’ She looked at the wall clock. ‘On second thoughts I expect he’s getting The Study ready for his early drinkers. Ooops! Sorry, I think customers would have been a better word to use. Gosh, I wish Mack wasn’t a publican. Right, Miss Lister, what are your plans for the rest of the day? That’s assuming you are up to doing anything of course.’

‘Cow! First of all I’ll pop over to Maxfords for the sketch, I’m dying to see what dream-boy looks like. Er… Jackie, before I do that, a difficult question for both of us. For me to ask and for you to answer. Please don’t be cross, but could it have been possible that Victoria had got herself involved in, or forced into, anything, shall we say… unlawful?’

Jackie smiled and soothed the apprehension she heard in Trish’s voice. ‘I’ve been expecting a question like that. No, definitely not. I knew my sister so well I could have detected if there was anything going on.’

‘Did they have passports? Mind you, if they did, it is likely Michael’s was held by the police until he was sentenced.’

‘Well, yes, doesn’t everybody. They went abroad most years. Having said that I must admit to not seeing them even though I’ve tidied through everywhere in their flat for the last two years. Why do you ask?’

‘Identity.
If
Michael did
not
kill Victoria and
if
our ‘twin’ was involved, the question is, ‘Why?’ During my sober moments of recent days I have posed this question to myself many times and I can only come up with one answer. Identity. She wanted to become Victoria. For what reason I cannot imagine at this stage, but it would have to be something pretty drastic if she was prepared to kill for it. I’ll phone
Doctor Ingles and get him to ask Michael where their passports are
kept.’

Twenty minutes later Ingles returned the call. ‘They’re in the safe in the main bedroom,’ said Trish as she replaced the receiver, ‘and Michael has given us the code. He also confirmed, via the Doctor, that his passport was initially held by the police, but he’s not sure where it is now. I suppose it’s possible it could have been returned to his parents. Anyway it’s not so important as it’s Victoria’s we are hoping to find. Or not!’

Jackie looked puzzled. ‘Safe, I didn’t know they had one. This is the first time Victoria has kept something from me. I hope there are no more secrets about to be uncovered, particularly after what I’ve just said to you.’ She was concerned that she had not been told.

‘No, Jackie, don’t fret, it was fitted two days before she died so I’m sure she would have told you. It’s behind the headboard. I think we should take a look as soon as we can. How about after Maxfords if you are free?’

*

Trish moved the bed and raised the oatmeal coloured velvet curtain hanging behind it. ‘Look, it’s here, just as Michael said and it’s open.’ Her hopes of an important discovery rising rapidly. ‘And can you see there is a little brick dust on the carpet where it had not been cleaned properly after the safe was fitted.’

‘Doesn’t say much for my cleaning, does it?’ said Jackie, moving forward for a closer look.

‘Don’t worry, I won’t tell on you. Careful now, don’t touch anything, Jackie, just in case.’ Trish put on a pair of latex gloves she’d taken from her handbag and kneeled in front of the safe. She used a pencil to fully open the door. ‘I know it’s over two years, but if we go to the police they may wish to have a close look and I don’t want my prints all over.’ She removed two white envelopes. On one was typed ‘holiday money’ and contained sixty pounds. The other read ‘Passports and Driving Licences’. It was empty. They both stood silent for a few seconds each trying to assess what this meant.

‘Identity?’ asked Jackie.

‘Identity, it has to be,’ confirmed Trish, holding her hands out in front of her. ‘Just look at me, I’m shaking and getting sticky again. Can we talk about this over a coffee or something?’

‘A coffee, yes. A ‘something’, no. There’s a small café just up the road from here where Victoria and I used to go when we wanted a quiet chat together. The owners are a wonderful couple, must be well into their sixties. I haven’t been there since… since Victoria died so it’s possible they are not there now.’

*

‘It’s Miss Jackie,’ shouted Joe as soon as he saw his new customers. ‘Wendy, come quickly, it’s Miss Jackie.’

‘Hello, Joe, how are you both? It’s been a long time.’

‘I know, Miss Jackie, too long. It was a terrible time, we couldn’t believe it and it took such a long time to accept it had happened.’

‘I know, Joe, it was the same for all of us, but we are slowly putting our lives back together.’ They hugged.

‘Mind the grease on my apron,’ said Joe as he tried to pull it from between them.

Wendy removed her apron and joined in the hugs. ‘Wonderful to see you. We miss you both so much. You always got up to mischief when you came, it was such fun.’

‘Thanks, Wendy. This is Trish, a friend of mine. We are working on a project together. Can we have two cups of your special coffee, big ones, and two home-made cream buns.’

‘They are about to come out of the oven. Give me five minutes to get them ready. Joe’s got something to tell while you are waiting. A bit spooky it was too.’

‘It was that alright,’ confirmed Joe. ‘It was a real shock for me, I can tell you. Why don’t you go over and take your usual table in the corner and I’ll bring over the coffee.

They sat at the table and looked out over Draycliffe Marina to the open sea. ‘What a fantastic view,’ commented Trish. ‘I’m ashamed to say I’ve lived here all my life and never seen the marina from this angle before. It really is beautiful.’

‘Best make the most of it, they are extending the marina even more. According to the local press, next to the shopping area over there,’ Jackie pointed to the eastern boundary of the marina, ‘building has just started on a major housing project that will include three high-rise blocks and that will be good-bye to this view.’

‘And half my trade with it,’ added Joe setting the coffee down on the table. He wiped his hands on the tea-towel pinned to his white chefs jacket and sat down with them. ‘I don’t wish to bring back the pain, Jackie, but only two weeks ago if I hadn’t known better, I would have said Victoria was sitting at this very table. I thought I’d seen a ghost, but the woman was real enough alright. I dashed into the kitchen to get Wendy and she almost passed out, poor dear.’

Jackie struggled to retain control and put her hand over her mouth hoping to hide her surprise. She left it to Trish to speak first.

‘Was she alone, Joe?’

‘No, Miss, she was with a man. Big chap he was too and plenty of tan.’

‘Wouldn’t have been this man by any chance?’ asked Trish showing him the sketch she had earlier collected from Maxfords.

‘Well, I’m blowed. What a coincidence. I reckon it is him, you know. Let’s see what Wendy has to say.’

‘Here you are, ladies, I’ve put an extra layer of cream on top.’ She saw the sketch on the table. ‘My God, Joe, look at the picture. It’s him, the man who was with Victoria. Oh… I’m sorry, Miss Jackie, I shouldn’t have said it that way, but you know what I mean.’

‘That’s okay, Wendy, no problem. Take a closer look at the picture just to make sure.’

‘No need, definitely is him,’ she confirmed, ‘but I think he may have his sideburns a little longer now. Level with the bottom of his ears, I’d say.’

‘Did they speak to you in good English or with an accent?’ continued Trish.

‘Oh, yes,’ said Joe, ‘she sounded perfect Queen’s English. The man spoke as if he was from Essex or maybe London. Quite Cockneyish, he sounded, although I’m not good at that sort of thing. I would also say they were more than work colleagues. All over each other they were.’

‘Did you manage to catch any of their conversation, Joe?’

‘No, not really because they stopped when I got near, although I did get the idea they were from the marina because I thought I heard them talking about an extra boat trip that night.’ He looked over his shoulder as a group of six entered. ‘I’d best get back to work, beginning to get busy again. Don’t leave it so long this time before you come and see us. Promise?’