The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fault Lines: Episode 29
“ Alice stood there, hair a mess, eyes puffy, a raincoat over a summer dress
Surtsey frowned for a second before remembering. “Hal, I’m so sorry. How did it go?”
“Thanks for asking.”
“Christ, don’t, I’ve had a crazy day. I forgot for a moment.”
“It’s fine, I was just sweating in the police station lying for you, for reasons I don’t understand, while you sat here playing happy families with your new buddy.”
“They interviewed you at the station?” Halima’s face softened. “It was easier for me to go there on my way home, that’s all.” Her wine glass was empty already so she refilled.
“How was it?”
Halima sipped. “It was actually OK. They phoned me at the office after you did, I said I’d pop in. They took a statement.
“I said we were alone together at home that night, like we agreed. Said we just sat watching comedy and drinking. Which, like you said, is true.” “Thanks, I really owe you.”
“Yes, you do.” Halima went to the doorway of the kitchen and looked up the stairs, checking to see if Donna was coming.
“I still don’t understand why you can’t tell them where you really were.”
“I told you I panicked,” Surtsey said. “They were a pair of misogynist boors. They thought I was a tramp because I had two men on the go, I didn’t want to add a third.”
Best friends
Halima narrowed her eyes. “Is that really it?” “Yes.”
“There’s nothing else you want to tell me?” “Like what?”
“We’re best friends, right?”
“Right.”
“I said I had you covered and I do. But if there’s something else you want to tell me about this whole mess, now’s the time.”
Footfall on the stairs, the squeak of a hand sliding down the banister.
“I’d best be going,” Donna said as she came into the kitchen. She hovered at the doorway looking at her wine glass, hardly touched on the table. “Thanks for the drink.”
Surtsey got up, smiling. “Thanks for today, Donna, I mean it.”
“It was nothing.”
“What happened today?” Halima said. “Donna helped me take Mum to the Inch.”
“I was really just doing my job,” Donna said. Surtsey began to walk her out. “It was more than that, and you know it.” Donna was at the door now. She looked back to the kitchen.
“Nice to meet you, Halima.”
Halima raised her glass. “Cheers.”
Surtsey opened the door. Donna touched her arm, gave a little rub. “You’re being amazing for your mum.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You really are,” Donna said. “I wish I’d been as good a daughter as you.”
“Enough,” Surtsey said, not unkindly. “Are you working tomorrow?”
Donna nodded. “Early shift.”
“I’ll pop in, not sure what time.”
“Bye, Surtsey.” Donna’s hand was still on her arm. “Bye.”
She watched Donna go down the path and through the gate, sodium lamplight making her dark hair glow. The way she walked wasn’t confident, a selfconsciousness about her body as she loped along the prom.
She looked back and waved, and Surtsey was glad she’d stayed at the doorway to return the gesture.
Music playing
She closed the door and went back to the kitchen where Halima was pouring the wine from Donna’s glass into her own.
“Nursey seems nice.”
“If you’re annoyed with me, fine,” Surtsey said. “But don’t take it out on her.”
“Whatever,” Halima said, heading upstairs. She dug out her hash pipe. “I’m off for a bath.”
Surtsey went back to the kitchen and picked up her drink. She sipped it and looked out the back window at the boatshed. She heard the bath running upstairs and the bathroom door closing, music playing through the floor. After a moment the doorbell rang. Surtsey headed for the door sipping her wine. She opened it and her eyes widened. Alice stood there, hair a mess, eyes puffy, a raincoat over a summer dress.
Cowering behind her legs were her daughters. Gracie was wide-eyed, staring at her mum, while the younger one, Belle, looked sleepy and confused. “Oh,” Surtsey said. “Alice.”
Alice’s head was shaking, as if she was disagreeing with herself. “Why did you come to my house this morning?”
Surtsey’s eyes shot to Gracie, who had her hand over her mouth. She was holding her little sister’s hand with the other, and gave her a worried glance. Surtsey smelled booze on Alice’s breath.
“I know all about you,” Alice said, pointing. Her weight shifted, her hand wavering.
“Did you drive here drunk?” Surtsey said. “With the girls in the car?”
Alice narrowed her eyes and focused. “Damn you.” Surtsey stepped forward and put an arm out towards her. Alice threw a hand wide and smacked the wine glass out of her hand.
It smashed against the doorframe, showering them in shards, leaving Surtsey holding the stem and a ragged, curved star of glass. She noticed that the girls had bare feet.
“Careful,” she said to them. “Step back.”
Alice put an arm around Gracie. “Don’t tell them what to do. They’re nothing to do with you.” “Then why did you bring them?” Surtsey said. “Because I have no one to look after them. My husband is dead. I have no one else.”
Surtsey wanted to reach out but she kept still. The girls were both nervous now, Belle woken into focus by the breaking glass.
Investigate
“Why don’t you let me phone you a taxi,” Surtsey said. Alice shook her head for a long time as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I think you did it,” she said.
“What?”
“You killed Tom.”
“Wait a minute,” Surtsey said.
“I spoke to the police,” Alice said. “Told them what I know. Told them to look into you. They said you had an alibi, that you were here at home.
“Do you think I’m stupid? They might believe that nonsense, but I know you had something to do with Tom on the Inch. I just know it.”
“I’m sorry, Alice,” Surtsey said. “You’re wrong.” “If the police won’t investigate you, I will, I’ll find some evidence.”
Surtsey thought about the phone in her pocket. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not going to leave this,” Alice said. Her nose was running, voice trembling. “I’m going to make you pay.”
“Mum,” Gracie said. “Please.”
“It’s OK, darling,” Alice said. “I’m just talking to this…”
She couldn’t find the right word.
More tomorrow.