Stan had killed Coran, that was the long and short of it and although he might, in some eyes, have finally been on the side of the angels, he would serve time for it. He faced the prospect with equanimity. Meanwhile, on remand and awaiting trial he was cooperating with the ongoing investigation, though the truth was, he told Rina when she visited him, he was taken aback by the scale of it.
Haines seemed to have vanished into thin air. Maybe Stan should ask Tim how that was done, it would be a good trick. Haines would be back though. His sort always were.
‘How’s George? I never did get to meet him. But he wrote me a lovely letter,’ Stan told Rina.
‘He’s doing fine. Better than fine. Cheryl’s family regard him as something of a hero. She almost died.’
‘But she’s recovering?’
‘Slowly, but yes. She’ll be fine.’
‘That’s good to hear. And the children?’
‘Are recovering well, apparently. I think the parents may take a little longer, especially Mrs Goldman. Mac says the poor woman daren’t leave them alone for a minute.’
‘Do you think she’ll forgive her husband? Would you? Could you?’
‘Mine would not have done what hers did,’ Rina said confidently. ‘Fred was a simple, honest man. I don’t believe he’d be capable of doing anything so cruel.’
‘Young Joy? Fitch?’ He wanted news about all of them.
‘Joy has decided to stay on at college for another year. She says it’s what Pat would have wanted and Fitch will probably never do one-armed press-ups again, but he sends his regards. The family are very grateful to him and I’ve no doubt he’s got a job for life. You’ll see him in court, I expect. You’ll see us all in court. Did you know they almost charged Tim with criminal damage?’
‘Really?’ Stan howled with laughter at the thought. ‘I imagine he was mortified. And how is his alter ego?’
‘Oh, Marvello is going down a storm.’ She smiled at him. ‘You know we’ll all be fighting for you, don’t you, and that we’ll keep in touch and keep visiting and, provided I’m not too old and grey when they let you out, there’ll be a place for you at Peverill Lodge.’
‘Now, why would you do that?’
‘Why not?’ Rina asked. ‘Actually, I’ve got a question for you from George. I don’t know why he thinks you’re the best person to answer, but he does, so …’
‘What is it?’ Stan was intrigued.
‘He wants to know if you think his sister will come back.’
‘And why ask me?’
‘Like I said. George sometimes has some odd ideas.’
Stan sighed, then he nodded. ‘Of course she will,’ he said. ‘Life moves in circles and one day she’ll circle back towards him. She won’t be able to help herself. He’ll pull her back as surely as if she was tethered to him. And you tell him, when she does, he should hug her and kiss her and tell her that he loves her forever and then buy her the first ticket he can find on any bus or boat or train or dog sled heading out. She doesn’t belong in his life any more and he doesn’t belong in hers. If he did, she’d have taken him with her.’
She smiled at him. Visiting time was over and it was time to go. ‘That’s what he figured,’ she said.
Mac called as she was on her way home. No reason, just to check that all was well.
‘You’ll come to tea on Sunday? George and Ursula will be there.’ This was becoming a semi-regular event.
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘You can bring a guest, should you want to. You know that, don’t you?’
He laughed. ‘I know that but if you don’t mind I think I’ll get to know Miriam a little better first, before I introduce her to the rest of the family.’
He rang off shortly after and Rina smiled at the phone. Family, he had said. That was a good thing, but he was probably right to wait before he introduced his lady friend. The Martin household was a hard act to join.