The Victim by Gillian Jackson

Author:Gillian Jackson [Jackson, Gillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Published: 2021-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

24

Caron Rivers was to have one more visitor that day when Liz unexpectedly arrived in the early afternoon. Caron’s face must have reflected her surprise; the sisters hadn’t seen each other for over four years.

‘Can I come in?’ Liz asked. Caron remained silent but opened the door wider to allow her caller to step inside. Following into the lounge, Liz’s darting eyes took in everything she saw in the place her sister called home.

Eventually Caron collected her thoughts enough to speak. ‘Why are you here?’

‘To see if you’re all right and if I can help in any way. You must feel lonely at the moment; how are you coping?’

‘I’m doing fine. What makes you think you can help anyway?’ Caron frowned.

‘I was thinking of company for you; someone on your side?’ Liz sighed, ‘I’m offering an olive branch here, Caron. We used to be close, and I thought you might need your family after all that’s happened.’

‘I’m surprised you’ve bothered.’ Caron almost spat the words.

‘You always did find it difficult to believe anyone’s motive could be pure, forever assuming the worst of people. But I wasn’t the one to cut off contact, was I?’ her sister countered. ‘You decided to have nothing more to do with us once you found your rich husband. Were we not good enough for you, then?’ Liz took a deep breath, doubting the wisdom of her visit. ‘Look, Caron, I’m here to see if you need company. For all I know you may have dozens of wonderful friends and some of Bill’s family too to support you, although I would imagine after what happened his family and friends won’t want to know you anymore. You did kill the poor bloke, didn’t you?’

‘Only in self-defence! He abused me. I’m the victim here, not Bill. See for yourself!’ She pulled up the sleeve of her jumper to show Liz the cigarette burns.

‘Ouch.’ Liz had the good grace to wince. ‘I’m surprised you let him get away with it. You were never one to be bullied as I remember. It was usually you doing the bullying.’

‘That’s when we were kids at school and you were no angel as I remember; you don’t know what my life’s been like since then. Bill terrified me! I’ve been living with a monster. He was as bad as Dad, worse at times. It was Bill who stopped me from seeing you. He didn’t want to know anyone from my past and insisted I severed all contact.’

Liz listened in silence, staring at her sister, trying to see the young girl she’d once known before reminding her, ‘You cut us off long before you met Bill. Did you never wonder how we were; how Mum was or Daisy? I only saw you a couple of times after you left home and then only when you wanted money.’

‘I had issues, problems. I can give you the money back now.’ Caron rose to leave the room but her sister stopped her.

‘I don’t want your money. We’ve managed fine without you and it’s too late for that now.

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