Heathen/Nemesis

Ninety-Two

From where they sat they could see the uniformed men approaching the house in Conduit Street. Donna watched them scrambling out of their cars, running towards the front door. Others headed off up the alley at the side of the building.

She watched impassively, her mind blank, her eyes devoid of emotion. She felt as if every last ounce of feeling had been sucked from her. She was drained, incapable of movement let alone rational thought.

And yet still Dashwood’s words echoed in her mind:

‘He was one of us.’

She lowered her head momentarily and closed her eyes.

‘The police will be looking.’

Julie’s voice seemed a million miles away.

Donna raised her head and looked at her sister.

‘The police will be looking for whoever killed those men,’ the younger woman continued.

‘They won’t be looking for us,’ Donna said.

Julie gazed at her for long moments.

‘Are you satisfied now?’ she said finally.

Donna didn’t speak.

‘They’re dead. You’ve got what you wanted. How does it feel?’

‘We have to go back to the cottage,’ Donna said quietly. ‘Dashwood said I’d find the truth in the cellar. Only the cottage has a cellar. We have to go back and look there.’

‘Not we, Donna. You. I’m finished. I’m leaving now. If you want to stop me, you’ll have to kill me.’ There were tears in Julie’s eyes.

Donna looked wearily at the younger woman.

‘I wanted to hate you for this,’ she said softly. ‘For what you did. For taking Chris from me.’

‘I didn’t take him,’ Julie protested.

‘I know he didn’t leave me, but like I said to you before, you shared part of his life. A life that should have been just mine and his. And I do hate you.’ She felt her own tears beginning to run warmly down her cheeks. A bitter smile creased her face.

‘You’ll never see me again, Donna, I promise you,’ Julie said, wiping her eyes. She opened the car door.

‘You think I’d just let you walk away?’

‘What else are you going to do? I’m sorry. Believe that, at least. I am sorry for what I did.’

Julie held her sister’s gaze for a moment, then moved to pull herself out of the car.

‘I can’t let you walk away, Julie,’ Donna said almost apologetically.

‘You can’t stop me,’ the younger woman said, and swung herself out of the car.

Donna slid her hand inside her jacket and pulled out the Beretta, keeping the pistol low, aimed at Julie’s stomach.

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

A look of fear flickered behind Julie’s eyes.

‘You’re right,’ Donna said, her voice cracking. ‘It is all over.’

Donna turned the gun round quickly, bent her head forward and opened her mouth.

She pushed the barrel into her mouth and squeezed the trigger.