Betrayed by Carol Thompson

Author:Carol Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780624058533
Publisher: Media24 Books
Published: 2011-06-05T04:00:00+00:00

In limbo

Tracey’s service had been the day before the Easter weekend, so there was a few days’ respite from work, but Tuesday morning arrived and life had to be faced again. Going back to work was the only way I could think of to get my life back on track and pull myself out of the twilight zone I had been living in, but I wasn’t looking forward to it.

The drive to work was filled with jumbled memories and thoughts of what had happened over the last two weeks. I got to the office early, before many people were there, so I could slink to my desk and try and pretend my world was still normal. But then people started to trickle in, their reactions reminding me of my reality – whether it was hugs from some or others turning and walking away to avoid me, not knowing what to say.

It was as if I had started a new job in a strange environment. Nothing felt familiar, long-time colleagues felt like strangers. I couldn’t concentrate and I spent the day on tenterhooks waiting, hoping in vain for a call from the police to tell me about their progress in what had now become a murder investigation.

When the funeral home phoned to tell me that Tracey’s body had been released and was in their care, I told them that only close family would attend the cremation. They explained that the funeral home had two crematoriums – one in Brakpan and one in Springs. But only Springs had a chapel and we wanted that one, even though it was busier than Brakpan so there would be a delay. Perhaps fate had a way of playing into our hands . . .

I was starting to get a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. Why hadn’t the police called? I knew that they hadn’t interviewed Tracey’s housemates yet because Trudy was still staying in my home. Wally had also phoned to say that neither he nor his girlfriend Wilma had been interviewed. Then he went into a convoluted account of why he had to take some responsibility for what had happened to Tracey. If I had been thinking straight, perhaps I would have absorbed more of what he was saying. Finally he asked me if I could fetch him and take him into town.

“Me and Wilma can’t get to work unless I can pick up spares for my car and get it fixed,” he complained.

I was stunned. My daughter was dead and this comparative stranger was asking me to run him around because he had transport problems! He hadn’t attended Tracey’s memorial service or offered any help during the week she had been missing, yet now he expected my help.

“Sorry, I can’t help you out,” I said bluntly and put the phone down.

A week after Tracey’s body was released from the mortuary, I was drinking a cup of coffee, staring blankly out of the window, when the sound of a telephone pulled me back to reality.

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