Living on the edge

Simone had a murderer in mind. But her real enemy was far closer to home¼

Becca' s sister, clad in black, climbed into Becca' s beaten-up, old mini, slammed the door, crossed her arms and stared dead-ahead.

Becca, meantime, peered up at the office block by the park where her sister worked. They didn' t mind Simone' s rather goth-like dress sense there. They were a charity dealing with the homeless and she appeared suitably edgy and streetwise. She could handle herself, and all the dimmest corners of town likely knew it.

So why have I been summoned this time?'

Simone asked. Is there another family gathering? A dinner party? I don' t want to be anywhere he is. You know that.'

I just thought we could heal the rift.'

This isn' t some little family spat, Becca. He murdered our mother.'

No, he didn' t.' Becca felt no need to repeat the facts for the hundredth time their stepfather Peter Butler had a watertight alibi.

He didn' t do it himself,' Simone protested. He paid somebody.'

Paying them with what?' Becca asked.

The police had searched everywhere for a money or paper trail. They' d checked their stepfather' s phone records and scrutinized his accounts. He' d made no suspicious calls and no large cash withdrawals.

He likely planned it for years,' Simone said. Putting a bit aside now and then. I haven' t got a clue why

Mum' s insurance paid out. Sometimes I think they must have been in on it too.'

Becca scowled. She hated this conversation. It went round and round, following the same route every time. Usually at some point, her sister would storm off yelling some version of the same insults.

Didn' t you love Mum?

Don' t you care? How can you be in the same room with that monster?'

Only this time, Simone just heaved out a sigh. What is it then, this family gathering?'

It' s my birthday soon, remember? My 25th. I' m organising a party at The Pines. Nothing huge. Friends. Family.' Becca expected her sister to tag on The odd murderer or two' , but for once, Simone remained silent, her hands clasped in her lap, her black-painted nails ragged.

She clearly still chewed on every single one, just as she always had when, as little girls, they' d huddled in their beds, listening to their mum and dad fighting downstairs.

When their father finally left the family home, their mother lived alone for years before she met Peter. Once together, they' d done things differently kissing, cuddling, sharing little jokes over dinner. The atmosphere in the house changed completely. Peter was a real breath of fresh air.

OK, I' ll come,' Simone said, pulling her from her thoughts.

You will?'

Sure, why not.'

OK, great. Seven o' clock, Saturday. I' ll see you there.'

Simone stood with her arms crossed, watching Becca drive away that lunchtime.

I'l l never understand her, she thought. We'l l never see Peter the same way, that creepy twerp with his glasses and all his smarmy charm.

She shuddered at the thought of him.

I'l l wear black to the party, she thought.

She wore black to almost everything. She mulled over a plan, a risky one. If nobody could find proof of Peter' s crime, then what else was

As little girls, theyÕd huddled in their beds, listening to their mum and dad fighting downstairs

there to do but resort to desperate measures?

First, though, she needed to do some work with her unfortunate clients.

Lunch, Mackie?' Barely an hour later in the park, as part of her usual rounds for Healing the Homeless, Simone offered a paper bag full of goodies over to a rather pungent mound of blankets and sleeping bags.

Mackie liked a spot way over by the east fence where the kids never played and dogs never roamed. So, bundled up against the cold, she saw only his nose and the gloved hand that poked out of his protective shell.

Have you thought about letting us find you some accommodation? You' re getting too old to sit out here all day and night.'

No, lass,' he replied.

Don' t want no roof. Don' t like em. How' s the young un?'

Karl' s happily settled into a B&B. We got his benefits sorted and we called his parents.'

That' s good,' Mackie said, as he chewed on a sandwich.

In all the times she' d given out food, drinks and clothing, she' d never seen his whole face.

He never spoke much of his past either, but she gathered from her colleagues that he' d joined the Army in his youth. He' d certainly got an aversion to closed-in spaces. Had he been trapped under fire a time or two in Iraq or Afghanistan? He liked a drink to numb whatever pains ailed him. She liked the same herself occasionally.

I' m going to a party,' she said, crouching down. He' ll be there. You know, the murderer.'

You should watch your step with those.'

I think that might have been my mistake. I' ve been careful for two years. Two years! That' s far too long.'

Mackie used the library now and then. He' d definitely read the paper when it happened. He often surprised her, knowing facts that she couldn' t recall mentioning.

Shocking the way they found your mum,' he' d said.

Her mum' s neighbour Mrs Clarke claimed to have only heard fireworks on the night. Simone often wondered about the timing. Nobody would suspect a gunshot with so many bangers going off. Mrs Clarke had gone over the following morning for tea, biscuits and a gossip and instead found only horror. The police had never found the murder weapon either.

I had this idea, Mackie. Only, I can' t involve any of my friends. I know what they' ll say: You can' t do that, Simone, it' s insane.º But you' re on the streets, you understand about living on the edge. Sometimes it' s the only place to be, isn' t it?'

He tilted his head. She saw shallow cheeks and one eye behind his shielding layers.

Ain' t that the truth,' he said. So, does this plan of yours have something to do with the party?'

Unaware of Simone' s plot, Becca frowned on her birthday when her sister breezed into the function room of The Pines, a small hotel on the outskirts of town. What is she wearing now? she thought.

The room already heaved with relatives, friends and their offspring.

One little girl, in a pink dress and pigtails, pointed as Simone clomped by in big boots and a black dress, lace seemingly tacked on raggedly. Her hair, dyed ebony black, tumbled down past her shoulders.

Are you a witch?' the little girl asked.

That' s right.' Simone simply laughed. I left my broom outside.'

She walked towards Becca, holding out a present, equally as darkly wrapped.

It' s OK, it' s nothing weird. Just a few smellies.' She kissed Becca' s cheek. Happy birthday.'

I' m glad you made it.'

I bet Peter is too. It looks like he' s innocent if I show up.'

Now don' t be like that.' Where is he?' Simone glanced about the room. I wanted to say hi.'

He' s not here yet. And why not just keep your distance? He was good to us,' Becca added pointedly. Unlike Dad. I wouldn' t have gone to college without

Peter' s encouragement. I wouldn' t have set up my own business.'

No, you' d have married instead, had kids and settled down. All crimes in Peter' s book.'

They' re crimes to me too. I hated the way Mum expected us to bring home suitable boys. I hated the way she asked us why we should bother with an education, and told us that it would be worthless when we get married and have kids.'

Becca slapped her mouth closed. To

Simone, her mother ought to have achieved sainthood a long time ago. That happens when you' re the youngest and you don' t have to fight all the battles first.

Do you think she'd h ave let you dye your hair black at 14 if I'd h adn't dyed mine red long before you? Becca mused bitterly. Do you think she'd h ave said wear whatever you liked if I hadn't gone to war to wear a push-up bra and heels?

I' ll be good,' Simone marched off, boots clomping as she headed for the bar.

Simone did keep her distance even when Peter entered the room an hour later. He ignored everybody except Becca, hurrying over to kiss her cheek.

Happy Birthday,' he said over the thud of the music now reverberating all around them. I' ve got you something extra special.' He thrust an envelope into her fingers. It' s in the car park. All taxed and insured.' He gave her a little wink.

Becca had to bite her lip. He' d made a few hints weeks before about replacing her rusting mini. It' s not suitable for an entrepreneur in the catering business,' he' d said.

Don' t make a big fuss about it,' he cautioned now.

They were interrupted by a whistling sound and the music dying.

Hi, everybody.' It seemed Simone had wrested the microphone from the DJ. I wanted to make a birthday speech for my sister. Happy 25th, Rebecca. Of course, it would have been an even better night if Mum was here with us. I do have a bit of an announcement to make on that score. As you all know, I work with the homeless. Recently, I heard a few things regarding the night Mum died. I can' t go into details as it' s really early days, and I haven' t spoken to the police yet, but I want you all to know I have a lead on the murder weapon and I might have found a witness.'

As her sister finished,

Becca stood trembling. She gazed at Peter' s stark face.

She' s at it again, isn' t she?' he said. Trying to do the police' s job for them.'

She does work with some shady people. Out on the streets they have their own little network. She says some ex-Army guy pretty much runs it all. I can' t recall his name.'

Peter didn' t look concerned, he simply smiled.

The car' s the blue Mazda. I know blue' s your favourite colour. Don' t worry about your sister, I' ll look after her.'

Simone left the party not long after the cake appeared and the singing started. As she walked away from The Pines, she kept glancing over her shoulder. She doubted very much a creeping shadowy figure would follow her just yet, but even so, she remained watchful while heading for her flat.

Now Peter knew she had information, he' d do something about it. He' d need to know everything, then he' d dispose of her. Would he do it all himself this time or again find somebody else to do his dirty work?

Hurrying across the road, she did notice a figure looming in the doorway of a shop. Her heart thundered. Somebody else waited at the end of the pavement. Were they two revellers out for a drink in town or something else? She ran by, her hair streaming.

Don't have second thoughts, she told herself. You wanted life on the edge, now here you are.

Lunch, Mackie?' The next day she followed her usual routine though nothing at all felt normal.

She' d paced the charity' s offices for hours before she' d loaded up a bag full of food for the homeless at lunchtime. The hairs on her nape had prickled every few steps as she' d walked the streets. She' d kept glancing back into strangers' faces.

Is he the one Peter's paid to do it? she wondered. Is she? Would Peter use the same person twice? How would he even contact such people?

Thanks.' Now Mackie' s grubby, gloved hand appeared and took the sandwiches offered. He' ll likely want it to look like an accident this time around,' he said, as if reading her mind. Watch the roads. A hit and run would do it, in a stolen car.'

He' ll want it to look less suspicious than that.'

Not sure you' re the type to do away with yourself,' Mackie said with a half-smile.

They had discussed this before, days ahead of her announcement at the party. At the same time, she' d asked for help and he' d mobilised a little army.

She was being followed, a man or a woman always at her back, looking out for her protectively. His homeless friends had a code, this young, kind woman was as much a member of their club now as any. She' d helped them all and they didn' t forget their debts.

I just need a tiny bit of proof it was him,' she said to Mackie. Anything, just anything. I can' t wait another two years. Everybody will forget Mum ever existed.'

The bundle of coats and sleeping bags nodded.

Now, have you considered

ÔI do know a lot of people on the streets. Many of them deal in drugs and know criminalsÕ

some accommodation?' she always asked the same question.

Don' t want a roof, lass. I don' t like em. You get back to work now. Others need you more than I do.'

That evening outside the offices of Healing the Homeless, Becca huffed with irritation at her sister' s lack of common sense. She hurried inside, knowing she' d find no security in the rundown four-storey building. She' d walked from her own offices a few streets away, leaving both her cars behind.

You' re always the last to leave,' Becca said, finding her sister still sitting at her desk.

As always, the place appeared dilapidated, full of mismatched donated desks and office chairs with ripped covers. The air smelled of coffee and packets of bread still littered an old table in a corner, now that the evening shift of do-gooders had departed on their feeding schedule.

Have you been making sandwiches? Why don' t you have caterers in to do it?'

`Are you after the job? I doubt we could afford you, we are only a charity,'

Simone said. So, how' s the new car?'

Do we have to talk about that? I didn' t know he was going to buy it, did I?'

I think it suggests a guilty conscience.' Oh please, don' t start all that again. Did you really have to try to wind everybody up with all that talk about new witnesses? I have worked out why you didn' t speak to Peter alone, you know.'

Just about everybody their mum had known had been in the function room of The Pines, even Mrs Clarke her next-door neighbour. Becca had kept in touch with all of them. It seemed the right thing to do.

Don' t play silly games, Simone. Don' t lay traps full of lies.'

Who says they' re lies?' her sister said defensively. I do know a lot of people on the streets. Many of them deal in drugs and know criminals. Word gets around, people let things slip eventually.'

Becca frowned. You' re serious then? If that' s the case, I better walk you home. Then we need to look into doing this a much safer way.'

Simone didn' t argue, she gathered up her things, her coat, her keys.

There is one other thing.' As she stepped closer, Becca dipped a hand into her bag. She pulled out something small, shiny and illegal, something that, like a firework, might well go bang.

As Simone flinched away, her eyes widening, Becca frowned. Didn' t you ever suspect me? Not even the tiniest bit?'

Simone' s head swam. She could hardly pull air into her lungs as she stared at her sister holding a gun. That' s the trouble with living on the edge, you never quite know who might push you off.

No,' she confessed, shaken to her core.

Didn' t we do well then, Peter and me?' Her sister gave a sad smile. You always thought he' d used me as his alibi, us working so hard on a business plan the night Mum died. Only, I used him instead. I was never there. He covered for me, thinking I was innocent and simply terrified of the police. He knew I resented Mum, just not enough to kill her. I told him she got rid of our dad. I heard her the night he left telling him he' d never see us again. She was so vindictive.

Here' s some more bad news I first kissed Peter when I was 18. I was so sick of Mum ordering me about even after I left home. It was such fun getting back at her by having an affair behind her back. One day soon, we' ll come out as a couple, Peter and me. People might be shocked but they' ll get over it. They' ll think it' s recent when it goes back years.

He did give me some of the insurance money. I knew he would. I did make one horrible mistake though. I should have made Mum' s death look accidental. I learnt a lesson there.'

She waved her little gun. Now what do I do with you? You might know things and I can' t risk that. I have to look after myself first. I' m afraid I always do. You do like to brag about knowing dodgy people, people who deal in drugs. I don' t suppose anybody would be terribly surprised, looking at you, if you had a secret addiction or if you took an overdose. You might do it here, alone, late at night. I did bring a syringe along. I really don' t want you to suffer. You are my sister, after all.'

Simone stood shaking her head in disbelief. Outside, the street folk kept watch but in here she was trapped.

She thought of Mackie, the ex-soldier, running the ranks of the homeless. If she' d known him better, she might have learnt the motto of his regiment Utrinque paratus. Ready for anything.

Put the gun down. It' s over.'

As her sister jumped in shock at the sound of a voice behind her, his words gave Simone time to act.

Working where she did, she' d thought it wise to learn a little self-defence. She made a grab for the weapon. It went off with a firecracker bang as she tried to wrestle it away.

Deafened but hardly discouraged, she hooked her foot behind Becca' s ankle and pushed her over. She fell with a clatter and a scream, colliding with a desk.

By that time, Mackie had scooped up the dropped weapon in his grubby gloves. He pointed it at Becca.

Simone stood trembling with adrenaline. I thought you didn' t like it inside?' she said.

I don' t.' His reed-thin face was at last exposed. He looked frail and tired of battle. But in the Army, you look after your mates.

They' re the ones you' re really fighting for.'

Have you thought about¼'

He laughed. You' re asking me that again now, under fire? Well then, yes, I have. I' d like a little flat, maybe. Somewhere warm where all my friends can visit. It' s not nice living on the edge, lass. Take my advice

as soon as you can, take a big step back.'