The Broken Ones: Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine: Revelations

(Adam)

This past week without Sarah had been torture! But I had to find John's killer! I also had to figure out how I was going to confess to her that I lied about my reason for being on her doorstep a few weeks ago.

I'd also lied to Karen, I told her that I had read about the case a few months back and I wormed my way into her paper to investigate. She was pissed off at first, but she finally admitted that she admired my "savvy". She gave my article the green light, but I asked her to keep it between us. She wasn't too keen on that and wanted Stevie in on it, but I tried to explain that things were delicate.

I didn't know Stevie that well, and I didn't know how well she knew Mark Caldwell! It was a chance I couldn't afford to take. I thought about the flashbacks, they were becoming more frequent the more I thought about "Caldy". That name was so familiar to me, even before I heard Alison Payne utter it.

So if I didn't kill John, which was appearing less likely as I investigated, then why did I feel like I was involved in some way? And why were so many things feeling familiar about it? So many unanswered questions. "Listen hun!" Karen made me jump.

"What?"

"I want you to take some advice, I hope you don't mind but try and be a bit more discreet with Sarah Wallace. Mark has always been, let's just say, protective of her." She nodded at me, I smiled in reply, what more could I do? And Mark, protective? Well, that was one way to describe it!

I couldn't think about all that right now, I had a meeting with Jim Browning this afternoon, he'd finally got in touch. I was going to come clean to him too, it was a risk, but I was sick of lying and I didn't care what the consequences would be! No more hiding!

(Sarah)

One whole week without Adam! I ached for him, I missed him so much! Una was late for work again and she looked furious. "Una are you okay?" I mumbled, as she stormed towards Thom's office.

"Una?" She spun around and glared at me, shoving past me.

"Yeah, sure Sarah. Just peachy!" What had happened?

"What's wrong?" She let out an exasperated laugh and her shoulders shook, was she crying?

"Oh like you didn't know? You back stabbing BITCH!" She spat.

"What..." And then it hit me, Mark had obviously told her about me and Adam. "Adam!" I nodded sadly.

"Yes, Adam! Mark took great pleasure in telling me that my crusty old vag, as he called it, was no longer required around here as his sister was the new town bike!" I gasped and took a step back, how dare my brother talk about either of us like that!

Una headed to her own office, but I chased her. "Una please, I can explain..."

"YOU KNEW!" She cried, "You knew I liked him, and you went and fucked him anyway!"

"No!" I almost choked on my own breath, "No we...we made love!" My voice came out so quietly, but the look of horror on her face made me feel sick.

"Oh my God, you're in love with him aren't you? I knew you liked him but..."

"Una I never meant to hurt you, please believe that!" Her face turned a dangerous red, the tears ran down her cheeks, oh my God what had I done?

"So what was all this poor little bereaved widow routine? Huh?" I couldn't believe she just said that. I stared at her in complete disbelief for a few moments, then I finally found my voice.

"It was no routine...my husband DIED Una!"

"Well you got over it really quick! John's side of the bed isn't even cold and you've replaced him already!" This was not Una, she didn't talk like this! Why was she being so awful?

"That was a low blow! You know how much I loved John! You know what I went through these past seven months! How can you say those things to me?" Una's head fell and she sniffed back more tears.

"Yes...I...I'm sorry Sarah!"

"I'm so sorry!" She whispered, and I was too. I had no idea she was that into Adam! "I just...when's it my turn?"

"Oh Una!" I comforted her for a little while, poor girl! All she ever wanted was to be loved!

"I thought, you know fresh start! He's new in town and doesn't know my rep! But no, he fell for you instead!" She wept on my shoulder, and for the second time in a matter of weeks I really did feel sorry for her. 

But Adam belonged to me, he'd come to me not Una, and I wasn't going to give him up for anyone!

(Adam)

I waited in the same spot where I met Jim Browning the first time, and my whole body shook with nerves. I had to confess, I had to tell someone the truth and he was the best candidate right now. He appeared a moment later and nodded in my direction before sitting down beside me.

"Afternoon young man!" He greeted me.

"Hi, listen before we start, there is something I need to tell you..." He looked expectantly at me and I took a deep breath, then I just dove in. "I came here to Brindleton Bay about a month ago because I...well I believed that I had done something terrible!" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"What is this son?"

"Around about the time John Wallace was murdered, I discovered my then fiancee in bed with my then best friend. I took it badly and...well I went on a bender that night and woke up with complete memory loss the next morning." Jim Browning examined me with his eyes, wondering what my point was, as I continued.

"My car keys were lying next to me, and I thought nothing of it until a couple of days later when I read about John's death. As soon as I saw his face I got flashbacks...of him and of a night club I assume I was in. I believed that I was the one who killed him. So I came here to confess, first to Sarah his widow, and then to the police. But..." Jim looked at me like I had two heads.

"...Sir I drove a silver Citroen!" He looked puzzled, "The car that killed John was red, and a totally different make of car!"

"Son what are you trying to say?"

"I didn't do it, but I think I was there that night, around John! And that is why I remember him, that is why I get the flashbacks!"

"I need to know what happened that night, for my own peace of mind and for justice for my...for Sarah! All I ask from you is...will you help me? Please?" Jim Browning stared at me for a long time, as if he was trying to read if I was lying or not. Then he finally nodded and said,

"I will help you son, just because you can't remember what you did that night doesn't make you a murderer!" I let out a long sigh as tears stung my eyes.

"Thank you!" I choked, "There is one more thing though, John isn't the only one I remember, I remember seeing Mark Caldwell too and he was really upset. He bumped into me at the bar." 

"Will you do me a favour?" He looked me square in the eyes.

"Yes sir!"

"Here's the number for a really good psychologist, she's a friend of my daughter Lauren and she's helped me out with a few cases in the past, so I trust her. She specialises in regression therapy! I want you to go see her ASAP. I'll let her know you're coming and explain why."

He handed me a card with the name Doctor Janice Kerr on it, "Okay!" I looked down at the card feeling bewildered.

"Let's get your memory back! Because son, you could be the key witness we were missing all along!"

Doctor Kerr was nice. She gave me a broad smile and ushered me into her office. "Hi Adam, Jim told me all about your memory loss and how you need to get it back to solve a case he's helping the police with." So I wasn't the only one who was sketchy with the truth.

"Yeah!" Was all I could say.

She talked me through the process, got me to sign a couple of things as it was going to be recorded and used as evidence, and then she got to work. A few breathing exercises, a lot of talking about where I went after finding Holly and Billy screwing in our bed...

...and I felt as if I was floating. I heard her voice, "Now Adam, you've just left your old flat in San Myshuno. Where are you going?"

"To the...karaoke...bar!" I mumbled sleepily.

"Good, and what do you do once you get there?"

"Get pissed as a newt!" I chuckled.

"Are you at the bar?"

"Yes!"

"Who is with you? Are you alone?"

"Yes, I'm alone and I'm...drinking...oh God!" My stomach lurched a little, "Whisky and Drambuie! Rusty Nails!"

"Look around you, is it busy?"

"No...I get up! I need a slash! Sooooo drunk!"

"What do you do next Adam?"

"I get knocked...hey watch it mate! Some twat just bulldozed into me, wait, Mark!"

"Who is Mark, Adam?"

"He's Sarah's...brother!"

"Who is Sarah?"

"She's my...the widow!"

"What does Mark do Adam?"

"He's...he's upset, he's...crying, and he said sorry!"

"What happens next?"

"I'm pissed off, I'm drunk and I wanna kick his head in!"

"I go after him, dick! He's arguing...with, with...with John!"

"He's begging him, I can't hear, he's crying like a girl!"

"John's having none of it, he's angry! He shouts to him that that's enough and he storms off!"

"What happens next Adam? Do you see what happens?"

"Yeah..."

"Can you tell me what happens?"

"No, I...shit it's blurry I..."

"Okay Adam we'll stop!"

I was actually relieved to stop, because what I saw made me feel sick. I had seen John that night, as well as Mark, and I saw them arguing! "Well done Adam, that's enough for today, but I do want you to come back. Give it a couple of days, I don't want us overdoing things!" Janice smiled.

After I left her office I felt completely drained, and the overwhelming urge to see Sarah! I knew I was innocent, I felt it! Yes I'd lied to her, but I would make her understand. Right now I wanted to be with her more than I wanted anything in my whole life.

She opened the door and let me in straight away, we looked at each other for a few moments...and then we were kissing...hungrily, as she wrapped her legs around my waist and moaned into my mouth...

...we were upstairs and undressing...

...we were in bed...

...and I'd never felt so alive!

(Sarah)
When Adam appeared, I needed him so much, I needed his touch and his lips and his skin next to mine. We never spoke, we just let our bodies do all of the talking.

He made me feel like I was the most beautiful woman on Earth, he made love to me with such tenderness and attentiveness, so much more intense than the first time. I'd never felt so loved!

And as we lay together, exhausted and content, he finally spoke. "I...I love you Sarah!" He mumbled. And my heart threatened to explode. I was complete, and strangely I no longer felt I was betraying John's memory, I no longer felt guilty for finding someone so soon after his death. Because John was beginning to feel like a complete stranger, like an idea I had in my head from the age of fourteen.

John wasn't love, so what was he? And why did I fixate on him for all of these years? Why did I not jump at the chance of carrying his child? Was I just feeling like this because at this moment I was in Adam's arms? Suddenly I heard myself answer with complete sincerity, "I love you too Adam!" And I felt him sigh with relief.

To Be Continued...

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The Broken Ones