A secret, music and retribution

A Secret

I woke from a long nap to see Mark watching me. It had been a difficult week. He went back to the New Forest on Sunday after an argument about the music, ‘Baby Blue’. Returning this morning we still weren’t talking properly. As I had drifted off to sleep, I knew that there was a secret that Mark wouldn’t tell me. Whatever it is, must be bad because he won’t discuss it. Looking up at his kind eyes, I thought it can’t be that bad, surely.  However, I could see that he had been crying, he needed to tell me. I knew that I must remain calm, but that would depend on what the problem was.

“Ruby, you are going to hate me, but I have to be honest with you.”
I pushed myself up and motioned him to sit down next to me. I remained quiet as he started to stutter and then cry again.
“Ruby, I don’t want to lose you, but I need to report William. After I’ve done that, he will report me.”
“Why? What have you done? It felt like something had reached into my chest and grabbed my heart. What was so bad?

“I have a secret, please don’t tell anyone as I’m ashamed.”

“Alright what is it?” How bad was this?

Holding my hands he said, “About a year before we met, I used to take cocaine. Me and my mates used to sit around and share it. I could be done for possession and dealing.”
I looked at him, this was bad, but putting it into perspective, actually surely this was history.
“Has William got any evidence of you taking and sharing it?”
“No”.

Blackmail

“Then it’s your word against his. There’s no evidence, deny it. It’s unlikely the police will be interested anyway. It’s history Mark, surely, they can’t do you for something, that they can’t prove you once did. Did you ever make any real money from it?
“No, small change”.
“Okay, so you weren’t a hardened thug then, you were doing it more because your mates were doing it. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“And now you’ve stopped? I don’t need to worry about you being a coke head.”
“No Ruby. I would never touch it again. It’s a time in my life that I’m not proud of”.

I put my arms around him and held him tight. “You have nothing to worry about. It’s in the past, the police won’t do anything”.
“Are you sure about that? I can’t do prison.”
“Mark, honestly it’s very unlikely that they will be interested. They have nothing to pin it to, stop the worrying and let’s help the police find ‘Baby Blue’.”

Standing up Mark rubbed his eyes.
“Sorry Ruby, I really thought you would hate me and that secret would finish us.”
“It’s in the past, we’ve all done things we’re not proud of.’
“Like what Ruby?”
I thought for a moment. No this wasn’t the time for airing all our dirty laundry.
“Come on Mark, we need to talk to the police.” I put my hand in his and pulled.

Freda

Freda put her hood up and pulled her coat around her. Throwing the stick for Rex, she wondered why dogs enjoyed playing fetch so much. The park had been quiet. She had observed an elderly couple holding hands and eating chips. Watching them her tummy grumbled and she felt a lonely ache. She had been single for months now.

Ruby had hardly spoken to her over the last week. Hoping that her and Mark were alright, her friend had been so happy over the last year.  Since the theft of ‘Baby Blue’ she had noticed Ruby acting strange. She knew that something wasn’t right but she couldn’t work out what.

Hearing a whine, she picked up the stick again. Feeling bored, she stroked her Labradors furry head.

“Come on Rex, let’s get walking.” She reattached his lead as he barked with excitement. He had always loved to walk. Freda found being out in the fresh air cathartic. Her favourite place was the nearby wood. Kicking the leaves and the woody scents. The bugs, the animals with the occasional squirrel sighting. Rex would always walk, nose to the floor, wagging his tail furiously.

Police

The visit to the police station had been easier than I’d expected. I was feeling proud of Mark as he had finally done the right thing. Squeezing his hand, I felt sure that Freda would soon have her precious music back. I was relieved that the policeman took us seriously. We were lucky as he had heard me sing ‘Baby Blue’ and he had loved it as well. He believed that William had stolen it for a reason and it needed to be found.  It was a couple of days later when I had an excited call from Freda,

“Ruby, the police have phoned. I need to go to the station, guess why?”
Surely not, I thought, “have they found your music?”.
“Yes, they have, and the lowlife has been arrested. We will soon have it back and you can sing it again.”

I felt a rush of relief and then a sick feeling as I thought about Mark, and William’s threat. I was certain I was right, nothing would happen to Mark but then my heart started to race as my phone rang.

Mark

“Hi Ruby, I’m at the police station.”
“What’s happened?”
“I was bought in for questioning. William followed through on his threat, he obviously wanted retribution. However, the duty solicitor says they can’t do anything as no evidence. William said that I’m still dealing. I truthfully am not.”
“Did they request a blood test?”
“Yes, and all they might find is the alcohol from the wine I had last night.”
“Then please let’s not worry about William. Freda has her music back and the right person has been arrested.”

“I felt sick when the police arrived this morning Ruby, I’m sure you are right but this is a part of my life I want to forget. Thanks to William I’m now reliving it.”
“Mark please stop worrying, I guess it was a secret that needed to come out.   Are you coming down this weekend?”
“Actually Ruby, I was going to ask, err, I’m owed some leave and all this is affecting me. Can I see you tonight? I can pack and start driving.”
“I would love to see you, stop agonising. All will be alright.”
“Thanks, I will see you in a few hours, I can’t wait to see you.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you too.”

We hung up, I was pleased that I would be seeing Mark soon. Relieved that ‘Baby Blue’ had been found and glad that William had been arrested. However, despite feeling sure that the police could not touch Mark for anything in his past, I still felt pain in my stomach. A fear that something terrible was about to happen. I told myself that no, everything was going to be alright. Life had not been easy, this needed to work itself out.

Written for  Grammys grid short story prompt, first sentence – I woke from a long nap to see

For more see, Baby Blue a row and suspicion – Ruby and Freda part 8, this is part 9