The Woman Before Me by Ruth Dugdall

Author:Ruth Dugdall
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Arcade Publishing
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

25

Arriving back at Bishop’s Hill after her meeting, Cate couldn’t settle. Her computer screen remained blank, despite her intention to at least begin Rose Wilks’s report. Her mind kept flitting back to Jason. His anger, her decision to leave quickly and spilling the coffee all over the carpet. The abrupt end with Jason crouched on the floor, fighting back sobs.

He hadn’t been able to cope with the interview, and was defensive from the outset. He was near tears when he spoke of his dead son, and also when she’d probed about his marriage to Emma. He was a hurt and angry man. But still he stayed with Rose, and didn’t condemn her for stalking Emma. Cate wasn’t clear how he’d been able to forgive her. In fact he acted as if Rose had done nothing wrong, even though he knew she had entered the Hatcher’s home and nursed their son.

Cate hadn’t known that Rose was unable to have children. Her own stomach contracted at the thought of forever having only emptiness inside. Jason would have found that hard too, but there was something else about his behaviour that made her wary. He was hiding something and she recalled his parting words.

The parole board met in just three weeks, and she had a report to write. She needed some answers.

Cate picked up the telephone and dialled Jason’s mobile number. No one picked up and after several rings it went to the messaging service.

“Mr. Clark? It’s Cate Austin. I’m sorry our interview ended as it did. I wonder if we could arrange another meeting? I could come at 10 a.m. Monday, if that suits? If I don’t hear otherwise, I’ll see you then.”

She replaced the receiver, which had the print of her sweaty palm on it. Restless, she needed to move, and decided to head into the main part of the prison. She phoned D wing.

A gruff voice answered after one ring. “Yes.”

“Cate Austin, probation. I’d like to pop up and read Rose’s unit file.”

There was a pause. “You mean Wilk’s file. No first names in here.”

Cate sighed, annoyed at being patronised. “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

The line went dead abruptly.

Going into the heart of the prison required much key-turning and slamming of doors, as the dark corridors led deeper into the main accommodation block. Dave Callahan had told her this was called the ‘landings’, the rows of cells stacked on top of each other around an open square used for ‘association’, which was the area where prisoners could come together to bully or bribe, gossip or goad. In the association area were a pool table, a large TV set, switched on to This Morning, and blaring out so loudly it hurt her ears.

Surprised to see so many women glued to the screen, Cate looked at her watch; it had just gone midday. Education classes had finished for the morning and lunch would soon be served. A game of pool was in progress, a game she hadn’t played since college and had never liked.

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