25

Vicky walked down the pathway from the child-protection centre entrance, out of the gate and along the empty street towards her car around the corner. As she approached it, reaching for the lock with the key, she stopped and looked up. Standing across the road watching her was Stratton.

Vicky was a little shocked. She’d expected never to see him again and did not know what to say or how to react. Then she looked down, ignoring him, and opened her car door.

‘Vicky – I need to talk to you,’ Stratton said as he crossed the road.

She stopped and watched him walk around the back of her car and step onto the sidewalk to face her. ‘I spent two hours with the FBI today. You’re wanted for two murders,’ she said.

‘Those were the men who killed Sally.’

‘My God,’ Vicky said, putting a hand to her brow. ‘Despite all that has happened I somehow hoped they were wrong. How stupid does that make me? Three men died in that car you blew up. Did you know that?’

‘They came to kill me.’

‘You’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you? You’re crazy, John. You’re certifiable. We have a process of law in this country.’

‘Not for everyone. If you knew the whole story you’d understand.’

‘I don’t think so, John. There is no way I am ever going to condone murder, even for revenge. Josh’s kidnapping is your fault, John.’

‘I know.’

Vicky could see Stratton’s pain and was unable to stop a sudden feeling of sympathy for him.

‘Now I have to put it right,’ he said.

‘How are you going to do that?’

‘Give them what they want.’

‘You?’

‘Yes.’

‘Go to the FBI, John. There has to be a way to work this out.’

‘You don’t know these people. They want their revenge and they’ll have it one way or another. If I go to the Feds I’m out of it. I’ll get locked up. They’ll never let Josh go, anyway. They’ll kill him even if they have me. It’s a mess, Vicky. I came here to tell you I’m sorry for everything – for you, for Josh, maybe for us too.’

Vicky thought she had dealt with this after their last meeting. But her emotions welled up and she was unable to beat them back.

‘We won’t see each other again,’ Stratton said. ‘It hurts me to say that.’

She blinked hard to stop the tears.

‘Bye,’ Stratton said before turning away and walking up the street.

‘John!’ she called out, a part of her wanting him to come back and talk to her. But deep down she knew that it was futile. He needed help, which was what she was supposed to be good at, but this was beyond anything she had ever experienced before. She had been ready to give herself to him, something that was so very difficult for her to do. Stratton had released something in her. A desire she had not felt for anyone in a long time. She had even daydreamed of going back to England with him, fantasised about waking up with him in his home. It seemed obvious that Stratton would adopt Josh and she would play the role of the boy’s mother. It was an idyllic prospect: an instant family, a man, a son, a purpose – and then suddenly it was all shattered.

Vicky watched Stratton walk away until he disappeared around a corner. Then she climbed into her car and, unable to drive for the moment, sat there feeling a terrible sorrow for Stratton, for Josh and for herself.