The Danger Within

Twenty-Six

The next few weeks were not easy for Lilian. But at least there were no further signs that she might be being watched. No more sightings of that black Range Rover. And Charlie’s continued cheery optimism about the outcome of her trial was reassuring.

One Sunday, in a bid to take their minds off all that lay ahead, Kate arranged a lunch party, inviting people from both her own and Lilian’s pasts. For Lilian it was a bittersweet experience. She found herself enjoying the occasion more than she had enjoyed anything in a very long time. But she was also reminded even more of the old days, of how her life had once been, and how cruelly different it had become.

Then, long before anybody wanted the gathering to end, Kate confessed that they’d run out of wine. She normally had it delivered. She must have forgotten to reorder.

Lilian, free at last of the plaster cast on her left ankle and able to walk quite well again, offered at once to be the one who would pop to the off-licence a couple of streets away. Kate and Charlie both expressed doubts. Lilian insisted. This small gesture of independence suddenly seemed very important to her. It was a salient moment, the first time she’d been out of Kate and Charlie’s home alone since her arrival there following her arrest.

She was slightly mellow. And the lunch had cheered her considerably, as Kate had hoped.

She bought four bottles of the cheapest available claret, using almost all of the small amount of cash she had left, divided them between two plastic carrier bags, and began the journey back to Kate’s house.

Suddenly Kurt stepped out in front of her.

At first she thought she must be mistaken. It couldn’t be him, could it? He wouldn’t dare, would he? She’d half expected his brother, or at least his goons, at first anyway. But not him. Not like this. Standing there, his usual cool, confident, handsome self.

She found the very sight of him chilling. All the same, she did not cry out. But she involuntarily dropped the two carrier bags she was carrying, containing the wine. The bottles exploded as they hit the pavement. There was red wine, glass and plastic everywhere.

She tried to run away. This was déjà vu. Kurt merely blocked her way. He didn’t even try to grab her. He just stood in front of her, his bulk making it impossible for her to escape.

‘Relax, I’m not going to touch you,’ he said. ‘I just want to talk.’

Relax? Was he mad? Lilian didn’t want to know the answer to that question.

‘Which is what you told me the last time,’ she said, trying desperately to at least sound calm.

‘I know. I’m sorry about that.’

‘You’ve lied to the police. You’ve had me accused of attempted murder. You know I was just trying to defend myself. You know that.’

Kurt told her he hadn’t wanted her to be charged, hadn’t wanted to make the statement he had to the police.

‘I was forced into a corner, because I was still wanted for questioning for assaulting you,’ he said. ‘But look at the risks I took to see you again, to make it right with you. I even flew back into the country on a false passport. When the police came to interview me in Bristol I’d only just regained consciousness. My brain wasn’t working properly. I was afraid I might go to jail. I had to come up with a story—’

‘Well, you did that all right,’ Lilian interrupted. ‘And, thanks to your story, I’m now facing prison.’

‘I didn’t intend for that to happen,’ he said. ‘I want you with me. For the rest of my life. Like before. In spite of what you did to me.’

‘What I did to you?’ Lilian could no longer keep up any pretence of calmness. She screamed the words out. A young couple walking by glanced towards her, then looked away and hurried by. This was London, after all.

‘I was afraid you were going to kill me,’ Lilian continued. ‘I’ve been afraid you were going to kill me for a long time now.’

‘Can’t we start afresh?’

‘Are you really crazy?’

‘I’ll find a way of getting the charges dropped. You know I could do that. I’ll get the best criminal lawyers in the land working on it. I’ll change my story. I’ll come up with something that will allow us both to be free. We can start a new life together. Go to South Africa maybe. Cape Town if you like. Buy a beautiful new house if you don’t want to move into the family place. Have a fresh start in the sun by the sea. I just want to take care of you. Come away with me, Lilian. Please. Be my wife again.’

Kurt spoke in a torrent of words. He sounded, and looked, so loving and sincere. But only if you didn’t know him.

Somehow Lilian found the strength to side-step him. This time he made no attempt to impede her. She ran. As best she could with her still weak left leg.

‘Never! Never!’ she shouted back over her shoulder. ‘I’d rather be dead!’

‘Maybe,’ he called after her.

The ice she remembered so well was back in his voice. There was no longer a hint of loving sincerity about him.

‘But would you rather rot in prison?’ he shouted. ‘That’s the choice, Lilian. Be my wife again, or go to prison. And I will make sure you never get out.’