‘We got her out of the coffin and we threw things at her – stones. Alex whipped her with a branch as we teased her about her dad being a coffin maker. We said they were like the Addams Family.’
Lucy wailed as she listened to what Cherie was saying. Gina took another half-step, still not near enough.
‘How long did this go on for?’
‘I don’t know. Lucy, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I was so horrible back then. I should have stopped it.’
‘But you didn’t, you suggested that he do all those horrible things, didn’t you? I still have the scars. I remember the blood smearing over my arms and legs. You disgust me, Cherie. You! Now your husband and children will know just how evil you are. I have noted all the details of your torturous little rampage against me. Alex listened to you, he did everything you told him to do like some stupid puppy. You could have said, okay we shut her in a box, joke’s over. Let’s all go home, but no, that was just the start of the two hours that ruined me as you laughed and pitched in with suggestions on how to punish me more. I could see Penny wasn’t comfortable, but did she help? No, she just stood by and watched, just like my coward father did all those years ago.’ Lucy glanced back at Gina.
Cherie looked away. ‘I did all that, I did it.’
‘Are you ready to go?’ Lucy glanced back at her. ‘There’s nothing left for you, not now. Just like me, your life has been ruined too.’
Cherie let go of the rail and closed her eyes. Lucy took a deep breath.
‘Lucy, it doesn’t have to end like this. I heard everything and you wanted me to hear, didn’t you?’
Lucy began to rock back and forth against the railings.
Gina’s stomach jumped with every move. The mud had seeped through her tracksuit bottoms and they were now sticking to her knees and thighs, tightening as they dried a little. ‘You wanted me to know how you felt, didn’t you? That’s why you trapped me in a coffin. I felt the fear, the panic and, believe me, I’ve felt what it’s like to be humiliated and hurt. We can talk about this, Lucy. It stings, doesn’t it? There can be life after something so terrible and I’m sure when everyone knows what happened to you, the courts will be lenient.’ She hoped they would, but in reality Gina had no idea how sentencing would go down or how a jury would react to the case. At the end of the day, Lucy had murdered three people and was threatening to kill a fourth. ‘Please, Lucy. Let her go and step back over the railings, then we can talk about everything. I’m here to listen. You know me from the café. You know me better than I know you. I saw your room, in the attic. You didn’t want me to die, you wanted me to notice you and be there to listen. You chose me because you know I’d understand and all you wanted to do was remind me of what it was like. I’m sorry I’m late, but I’m here now.’
Lucy snatched a pair of scissors from her pocket and brought them up to Cherie’s chin.
The woman opened her eyes and flinched as the metal traced her neckline. Lucy swiftly brought the scissors down to the cord that bound them and snipped it in the middle. ‘You now have to live with the fact that everyone will know what you did; your husband, your friends, your neighbours, your poor children. At least they are no longer in danger from the likes of such a cruel, abusive person.’
‘I’d never hurt my children—’
‘Save it. I’m not listening. I’m now free to not have to listen to your bullshit. Before I change my mind, go. Go live with it. By the way, I sent a copy of my notebook to the press too. It should arrive in the post tomorrow and the world will know why.’ Lucy wiped away her tears with the arm of her coat. ‘You know something else, I’m done with crying.’
Cherie edged away but stopped.
‘What are you waiting for? Are you thinking of jumping? If I was you, I’d jump. Tempting, isn’t it?’ Lucy taunted.
As the wind began to howl, blowing the fine raindrops into Cherie’s face, she edged forward slightly.
Gina took another step. ‘Cherie, stop. You don’t want