Searching for Love - Part Five

Searching for Love - Part Five.

gOOd Reads, Novel, Novelist, Writer, Writing, Blogger, Free Books, Free Serialized Books, 

Normal service resumed! 

Those of you who subscribe to my Blog, Website, or Newsletter will already know that my laptop suffered a total failure. Subscribers have received personal updates by email from me during the outage. For the rest, I'm in a updating frenzy to get up to date. So, there's an unexpected inducement for subscribing. You can find the opt-in forms in this Blog, the Website nicahlacortes.com, or email with me directly at nicahlacortes@gmail.com (please use the words 'Subscribe' or 'Newsletter' in the Subject). More about my computer meltdown in another post. 

You can't help notice the change of title and the new cover art. After much hand wringing I decided it was the right thing to do. I've never been completely happy with the title or the series name. I'm sorry for any inconvenience. Let me know what you think about it in the 'Comments' section.

I was working in the changes when disaster struck. I knew something was wrong when my laptop glitched at ten-thirty pm as I did the nightly backup. The power light went off and a red light flashed. The battery was visually draining  as I tried to rescue as much as I could. I quickly copied the text of the book to a USB stick, but when nic looked at it next day the files were corrupted. I won't bore you with the technical details but it affected the automated publishing system I use for the serial episodes of the book. If your tried to read the blogs I was working in the changes when disaster struck. 

The text lost part of its formatting and became almost unreadable. I'm sorry and I'm republishing the series.

n. 

------ o O o ------

--------- o O o ---------

12.

That night Maddie had phoned as usual, Rose put them on speaker-phone. For some reason the sound of the phone ringing spooked Kellie. Her tummy turned a somersault and she felt queasy and empty. She knew that something was wrong immediately. Her mother's voice sounded strange low and muffled and her words were stilted like they were being rehearsed or was being read. It didn’t sound like the bright, bubbly, Maddie they knew and loved. 

“You alright mum?" Kellie asked, “You sound a bit weird.”

“KT my love, I’m so sorry, but dad passed away. I’m sorry,” she stifled a sob trying desperately to bravely to be strong for her daughter. She used the name John had called her KTUR, (Kellie Turner yoU aRe, shortened to KT) since she was about ten, and her world was wrapped-up in all things Star Wars. She had pestered him for weeks, slowly wearing him down until he finally caved. He set up her first email and social media accounts but only so she could message him on a private server at work in the next room. Kellie had always managed to get her own way with John. Those memories washed over her as she recalled a young Kellie excitedly pecking at the keyboard with one finger as she messaged and wriggling in her seat in excitement as she waited for a response from her dad. They were shared memories of special, happier times. 

The thought of her only daughter impatiently waiting for a response from her dad that would never arrive now struck a chord in her heart. She felt a numbing ache of emptiness, as real as any physical blow, leaving her struggling for breath, freezing her mind with the sudden shock of it. In her mind she heard the strident ping of the heart monitor that seem to hypnotise her. She felt like she was falling from a great height, tumbling out of control, and plunging into an icy freezing lake.  She longed to follow him. The black frigid water embraced her; She stopped breathing, limp, weightless, without feeling in the darkness, she was free. 

The shrill monotone of the heart monitor alarm disturbed her peace as she became aware of a faint sound, like voices. “Mum, mum!” she heard Kellie's voice in the distance. 

She forced her mind turned to the present she couldn't linger in that place, she had Kellie to think of. She gasped for air as she realised that she had been holding her breath. 

“KT, are you alright? Are you there?" The flicker of panic tinged her voice. “Sorry,” she would never be alright again she thought.

“I. . . When. . . What. . . What happened? Why? I thought he was getting better." Kellie's brain skittered through fragments of thoughts seeming to fast forward, trying to pull herself together. The use of their special nickname, the sound of him calling out to her, was like a dagger in her heart. ‘KT, Kay Tee’ the words seemed to echo in her mind as she realized she would never hear his soft smiling voice again. She shuddered, with a sharp intake of breath, she was suddenly cold and pale as the blood drained from her face and tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

“I thought you had fainted”, Kellie sounded concerned, as Maddie thought she couldn’t handle any more today, “was he in . . . ”

“No. No the doctors said he slipped away peacefully,” she reassured her, “he had a relapse, it was fast, he fought but his injuries were too bad and in the end he slipped away. I’m so sorry my love. But I wanted to be the one to tell you." She lied, she could never tell the brutal truth of his last moments. Fighting, conscious, desperately gasping for breath, clinging to life, eyes wide, seeing her own distress and fully aware what was happening to him.  She desperately tried to erase sights and sounds from her mind. She was unravelling fast now as she edited the account, no point in the others knowing the true details of his last traumatic minutes, especially not Kellie. “Tim will call Rose in a few minutes. I’m getting back home to you as fast as I can. May another day or two. Formalities. I love you; I'll speak to you tomorrow. Bye.” The sound of Maddie’s sobs echoed as the line disconnected. 

Kellie sat in a shocked silence, staring blankly as the tears streamed her pale face. Rose and Marte, hugged her as they sat each side to her on the settee, Rose putting a box of tissues on her lap.

“I’m so sorry sweetheart,” Rose said as she kissed her wet cheeks and dabbed her own tears. The news shocked them all. Rose went into the kitchen followed by the sound of the kettle. Marte cuddled close to her shoulder and stroked her hair, no one spoke until Rose reappeared with three cups of tea.  Without telling them she Rose had fortified it with a dash of whiskey. She needed a nip of something to ease her own pain and it might help the girls to sleep, Rose justified her actions in her mind. 

They all sipped their 'tea' silently lost in their own private thoughts, occasionally dabbing at a tissue until Rose finally spoke. “Did I ever tell you how your dad was the first member of the family to see Marte?" She reminisced, plunging on with the story before anyone replied. “Per’s flight off the rig was suspended due to bad weather and I'd gone into labour with Marte three days early, so with Per away John ended up rushing to maternity and staying with me until he arrived. He and Maddie had only got engaged a few weeks earlier. Anyway when the midwife finally let him see Marte and me, she was howling up a storm and mercifully my drugs had just started to kick in, but John just picked her up, cradled and cuddled her, soothed her to sleep like it was most natural thing in the world to do. I knew then someday he would be a wonderful father. I remember telling Maddie about it, and when you were born he was just the same way with you. He has a way with babies. When Kellie was born, he was just so proud and happy father it was like he’d done it all the work himself without any help from Maddie," she laughed smiling at the memory.

Kellie and Marte managed as faint smile. Kellie had never heard that story before, and thinking about it and being with family distracted and comforted her. The phone rang again stridently jarring their moment.

“That’s Tim," Rose announced checking the caller Id. She didn’t use the speaker-phone this time, aware of Tim knack of speaking before thinking of Kellie’s emotional state.  After bustling around to get a pencil and pad she made a long list of notes, until eventually they hung up and Rose explained what was happening. 

Tim got provisional flights for him and Maddie; She wanted to be with Kellie and the family as soon as possible but there were a few things to do before they could leave. Apparently Alrik Mertz, was in Berlin and will be able to expedite the legal matters to get John’s effects home. Rose remembered meeting the German policeman with Tim and John in London. She was dating Per at that time, but if she hadn’t been swept off her feet by Per she could have fancied the handsome German herself. Anyway that was long ago and no one needed to want to hear about that she reminisced.

They planned to get home in the early evening and Tim would stay over night and head to his office the next day. Rose would prepare dinner for everyone before she and Marte went home. She would come back and fro the for next few days to help. Marte suggested she stayed with Kellie and Maddie and help to look after them for a few days, saving a lot of time and petrol, not to mention Rose still had the bakery to run. Marte’s suggestion would help everyone. Kellie agreed, and Rose said she would think about it if Maddie didn’t mind. 

So Kellie and Marte started to pack, not that there was much packing to do. Then Marte snuck Yoda upstairs. Yoda had camped in the conservatory with his carrier and basket, the only place that Rose would allow him to live. He had soon scoped that it was in fact the best location in the house, the hottest and sunniest position, and thereafter he defended his territory against all-comers. After Marte kidnapped Yoda they all ended in Marte’s room. Crumbling before a double onslaught from Marte and Kellie, Rose had agreed that they could share Marte’s room tonight. Thankful for the company tonight Kellie agreed. Rose brought them up a warm milky drink with an herbal sedative as Marte stuffed a startled Yoda under the quilt before Rose saw the contraband moggy. 

Overnight Kellie cried herself asleep, sobbing into her pillow until there she thought there were no more tears left. Marte comforted her and had heard her sniffling too during the hours of night as they cuddled together. With her mum in Berlin, Kellie needed someone to be near in the darkest hours of her life; she sensed that Marte needed her too, they had bonded like sisters over the last couple of days. 

Yoda ever the opportunist was willing to share favours with whom seemed the most warm and comfortable at the time. He took turns at sleeping on each of them alternately, purring and snoring loudly and contentedly all night.

Rose had been clattering pans in the kitchen since it had been light. Eventually, they could bear it racket no more so the two still bleary eyed bed-hair monsters dragged themselves to the kitchen in the search for caffeine.

“Wait! I’ll get my phone. A selfie moment to treasure”, Rose mocked.

“You dare!” Marte said rolling her eyes and scowling, “anyway, it isn’t a selfie if the one taking the photo isn't in it,” she pointed out, knowing how Rose felt about having her own picture taken.

She placed mugs of coffee in front of them and cereal bowls and spoons beside them. 

“Come on. There’s a lot to do and very little time to do it. I'm not waiting on you two." Rose was in bossy mode today, today of all days. Marte rolled her eyes again and groaned, she had seen this all before, and Kellie was subdued. Rose barked orders left and right, like a sergeant major on a parade ground, no point of making a bad situation worse, especially as neither of them had the will for a fight. They knew that it was her way of coping with the situation. 'Do something, anything, just keep busy until it passes.' was her mantra.

As it happens, it turned out that keeping busy helped, as there was no time to feel sorry for themselves. So while the girls thoroughly cleaned the house and packed everything. That included Yoda, who reluctantly allowed himself to be locked back in his travel carrier until he seemed to sense that he was heading home. Rose was fussing in the kitchen to prepare a beef in beer casserole with dumplings. 

“Do you really need two large suitcases Marte? Rose remonstrated, ”Kellie managed with an overnight bag".

“I'm dropping some to the charity shop, and some for Kellie. We’re the same size-ish, and a girl can never have enough clothes." Marte smiled conspiratorially to Kellie.

“That is definitely true in your case dear,” Rose agreed, “now don’t forget to switch on the slow cooker as soon as you arrive. And if I’m late put the tray of dumplings in the oven to bake until they are done and crispy then pop them on the top of the pot at least an hour before serving. That way they are crispy on the top and nice and soft and moist on the bottom." Rose instructed. 

With that the girls headed to Kellie’s with Rose’s instructions echoing in their wake.

They were turning into the front of the Turner house, when Marte tooted the horn at someone walking slowly down the road outside the Fire Station.

“What was that?” Kellie had fallen into a silent funk during the drive.

“Oh, just your boyfriend."

“He’s not my boyfriend."

“Of course he's not. Silly me.” The sarcasm was lost on Kellie.

They parked and started unpacking as Solo neared the car. He’d sped-up limping slightly at the unexpected chance of meeting them. Marte was carrying the precious casserole as Kellie wrangled Yoda and his stuff. She thought he had more luggage as she did, with carrier, bed, food pouches, dry food, milk, toys, cat litter and tray.

“Be a sweetheart and bring the cases in,” Marte commanded Solo like he was a bellhop. He half carried, half dragged the case after her without hesitation. If Marte had commanded him to 'march through the fires of hell’ for her, he would have without question, such was the extent that she appeared to have bewitched him.

“Oh, great, thanks! Just what I needed." Kellie grumped ungratefully.

Solo winced as he mullered the cases into the hall. Marte noticed he was moving clumsily.

“You OK?" she asked.

“Rugby injury.” he lied. Not a smart lie, he didn’t look like he could tackle a feather leave alone a rugby full-back and the rugby season was long over, but apparently none of them knew better, least of all for Solo.

“What are you doing here anyway? You should be in school.” Kellie interjected irritably. Marte ignored Kellie and asked about his injury. 

“Cracked ribs and bruising that’s all, nothing I haven’t had before."

“Yeah, that and a hole in the head.” Kellie added sarcastically.

“It’s only three or four stitches, a scratch." he made light of it, but it was all bravado, his head was throbbing and his ribs hurt like hell especially after carrying the cases. Marte was shocked, she hadn’t noticed the injury on the back of his head. 

“OMG, shouldn't you be in bed?” she blurted.

“Yeah, I was going home to lie down. I just came from A&E when I saw you."

“I’ll drive you," she offered.

“No. No really, it’s only a couple hundred yards. I’ll be home before you can get the car out." 

He didn’t like the way the encounter was shaping out and was regretting meeting them so he decided to cut his losses and go. Marte followed him as he turned to the door. Kellie went into the kitchen blanking him when he called out ‘bye.’ As he opened the door Marte touched his shoulder and whispered.

“You’ll have to forgive her; she’s not feeling herself, her dad died last night." Marte feeling the need to explain Kellie's behaviour.

“OMG, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I'm so sorry, is she alright?" He asked. “Of course she's not. Sorry. I'm such an idiot. Please convey her my condolences an' her mum an' everyone. Sorry.”

“Why don't you tell her yourself, you're right here?”

“No, She'll just be more pi... Sorry! she'll get even more angry if I don't go.” Caught by surprise, and with very little to say at any time he could find the words to say but she noticed the sadness in his eyes. He left without even saying goodbye to Marte.

Back inside Marte was the one who was hacked off. “Well, that was rude. You totally blanked and kicked him to the kerb. Why are you being such a mean girl?”

“Huh!”

“After what happened and what you said about Anja's mother I should have thought you might try to be a little kinder to people. Try to develop a little empathy.”

“She killed my father.”

“No. Your father died due to a tragic accident. He was a hero who died trying to save her mother. You can't blame her any more than him, it was an accident.” 

“But I can't help it. I hurt so much. I need to hurt someone back.”

“Well you definitely managed that. I'm surprised you didn’t you kick him in the head or beat him up or something.”

”Huh! He's got his father to do that for him."

“What! That's not funny.”

“You heard. His father beats him up, and he just takes it."

“That’s sick! Why would you say something like that?"

“Yeah! It is sick, but it’s also true. He told me himself."

Marte grabbed her car keys, “Where does he live?" She demanded.

“Leave it. He told me never to tell anyone. He begged me." Kellie pleaded.

Marte pushed Kellie out the door and bundled her into her car. 

“**** that!” Marte swore.

Kellie surprised by the anger of Marte’s response sat meekly as Marte started the car. Marte fiddled with her phone for directions before forcing into the traffic. Kellie pointed left, fortunately the direction they are facing.

“What are we doing?"

“Start by finding him. Then I’ll find out the truth. Why can't I see him?" Marte scanned the road ahead. There was no sign of Solo.

“Left, when go to the end then right then right again at the next corner. I don’t know the number. It’s one in the long terrace I think.” Kellie pointed the direction. 

“We should had seen him by now." Marte turned the corner and stopped looking at Kellie.

“Well there are other quicker ways to get there, like through the cut, if you are on foot. The path is between the terraces,” Kellie pointed to the gap between the terraces.

“What number does he live at?"

“I don't know. He's not my boyfriend. I never go to his house; His father's scary.” 

“Careful you're on thin ice. Its three strikes and you're out with me, and you're got two already.”

“It’s true, I haven't been round theirs for years. He can come to mine but I'm not allowed to go to his." 

“OK. We’ll stop here and watch. We can see the whole cul-de-sac from here."

“Unless he goes in the back way," Kellie added, “like through the cut." They sat there for a few minutes.

“Well you’re the internet expert find the house." Marte ordered.

Kellie started clicking on her phone.

“Now, while we wait, tell all. Just what kind of weirdo is he?"

Kellie revealed what she knows about Solo and his family. Even she was surprised how little she really knew about him other than that she was banned for going to Solo's home, that he said his father beat him and that she'd only found out about that a couple of days ago.

“You knew about that and didn’t say anything to anyone? Don't you care? That’s called misplaced loyalty! He could have been killed, still could be. Let’s hope he’s OK." they sat silently for a few more seconds. Then . . . 

“Got it, found it with a spam search." Kellie triumphed, but Marte was clearly still angry.

“OK, you’re right about one thing, you’re certainly NOT any kind of boyfriend. You’ll need to try harder, and there’s a lot for you to do yet, but you may be redeemable. Come on, let’s see if he’s in."

“What if his dad is there? What will we say?" Kellie asked.

“That I’m his girlfriend and you are his friend, and we heard he was in hospital and were worried about his injuries."

“I thought I was supposed to be the girlfriend?"

“You don’t deserve to be the girlfriend.” Marte said as they reach the door and knocked. There was no answer.

“Try again," Marte demanded. 

They waited. Still no answer. “Walk across the road and pretend to look up and down the road but check if the curtains move.” 

Marte waited at the door as Kellie looked up and down the street, but there was no sign of life. 

“Where’s this cut?" asked Marte. Kellie pointed. They walked around the close and checked down the cut.

“Alright we can’t wait here all day, we’ve got the house to sort before everyone comes home. You can message him, and we can arrange to meet him later.”

“I've phoned, but it just goes to answerphone. Maybe he's out of credit.” Kellie paused and looking contrite she said, “You do know I have Asperger's don't you? And that means that my emotions are all screwed up. I'm not making excuses, and I am sorry.”

“And I'm sorry for getting on your case, but it's Solo that you need to apologise to.”

“OK, you are to mean to me too you know.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

The remainder of the afternoon was spent cleaning and going to the supermarket. They bought fresh flowers for the lounge and the family room, with a big bouquet of Calla Lilies, Maddie’s favourites, for her bedroom. They had been getting regular updates on Maddie and Tim’s progress all day. Rose had arrived with cake for dessert, and ‘inspected’ the troops, she was still in Sergeant Major mode. Kellie and Marte both texted Solo, but he hadn’t responded. 

The aroma of coffee and beef stew permeated the house as with tummies rumbling they waited for Maddie and Tim to return. Yoda, had stretched the length of the window sill in Kellie room to sun himself from the moment he'd arrived was eventually overcome by the smell of the stew. He alternated between staring the oven and pacing to and fro in front of it, meowing and ducking for cover whenever he saw Rose. 

Eventually, a message a single word ‘HOME’ was received, and seconds later they pulled up on the forecourt. It was an emotional but sombre homecoming with lots of hugging and kissing and tears, not at all the way they had imagined the homecoming had expected. It hadn’t been as traumatic as Kellie had expected probably the initially shock had subsided a little. Everyone's mood was subdued especially Kellie as they drank the tea Rose served. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt like someone had torn her warm, beating, heart from her chest, but she endured it. She followed the example of her mum, if Maddie could endure it, with calm and dignity then she could too.

Rose, did her usual thing, shepherding everyone to the diner table, and despite their protestations everyone managed to eat. With the travel and exertions of the day no one had eaten all day. It was agreed that Marte would stay with Maddie and Kellie to look after them for a few days. Tim explained that the bureaucracy surrounding John’s return to the UK would be handled by Alrik and the funeral directors as per Maddie instructions. Exhausted and emotional Maddie took a sleeping tablet and retired to bed early.

The girls loaded the dishwasher and tidied the kitchen. Tim and Rose were quietly talking on the sofa as the girls sat down to hear the end of the conversation. Rose headed home and Tim would return to London the next morning and return on the weekend.

Needing to clear his head Tim sat on the patio staring at the clear sky on the moonless night. The milky-way shimmered in all of its majesty. Granted it was somewhat dimmed by the backwash of light from the street lights, but he could see far more than he could in London. He started picking out a few familiar stars and constellations whose names he remembered from long, cold, black New Forest nights gazing at the heavens with his brother. His brother, he blinked looking down as his eyes watered, it was another of those empty moments when he wished he hadn’t given up smoking. 

A little flash of light caught his eye as he scanned around the garden. He watched and saw it again. Intrigued he stalked silently toward it. At the end of the garden, there were the garage and a store. Beyond that was a gravel drive between the properties on Grove road. He could see now a slight glow was coming from the back of the garden, it appeared to be on the ground. At first all he could see was a pale light glowing like it was escaping from under a door and then a chink of light escaped from higher up. He hadn’t realised there was a door there at first, but he could just make it out as his eyes became accustomed to the darkness. 

His policeman's instinct took over, Maddie and the girls were inside, so there was an intruder, probably after tools or worse one of the cars. He gripped the door handle, twisted and swung the door with all his considerable force. There was a thud and a crash as the pale light momentarily brightened before it went out. In the pitch dark he heard someone wince in pain and heard an expletive.

“****!”

Accustomed to the darkness Tim’s eyes adapted to the dim light quicker than his adversary and he saw a shabbily dressed  youth holding his head with one hand and one arm across his chest. He looked like he could use a decent meal, probably a thief or some homeless derelict looking for a roof for the night and something to steal he guessed. He clearly caught him in the act of stealing from stuff from the store, like that laptop that was lying on the floor.

“I’m a police officer,” growled Tim, “so don’t even think about giving me any trouble."

Tim grabbed the intruder, who was just laying there and groaning, under the arm roughly hauling him to his feet and frog marched him toward the house. The youth howled in pain, struggling to get free. Suddenly the garden was flooded with light and the two of them stopped in their tracks. The youth fell forward yelping again. Hearing the disturbance Kellie had switched on the security lights.

“OMG Stop! Don’t hurt him." Marte was running toward them shouting. Kellie followed.

“What are you doing?" Kellie had reached them while Solo just lay there whimpering with his arms wrapped around his chest. Tim was standing above him blinking at the girls. 

“I’m arresting him." said Tim.

“No, you’re not,” Marte shouted getting into Tim’s face, “what is he supposed to have done?"

“I caught him red handed with a laptop and if I right there’s another bag of stuff there too.”

“It’s probably his laptop and bag. I let him store it at ours,” Kellie was trying to help him to stand, “can’t you see he’s in pain. Help get him in the house." 

The girls got him to his feet and helped him to the house. Tim went to the store to retrieve the laptop and a bag. He was not convinced, and noted that there was an old settee by a computer, and a bunch of circuit boards, obviously where someone had been making themselves comfortable.

“I’ve got some painkillers in my bag,” Solo pointed to the bag this Tim had dropped on the floor. He looked like he could faint  from pain. Solo fished round and found two packets of tablets.

“Hold on! Let me see those,” Tim grabbed the packs, “what are they and what are they for?" He demanded.

“The hospital gave me them; they’re my prescriptions, they’re painkillers an' sleeping pills. I got a couple of broken ribs an' bruising an' four stitches on my head.” Solo was plainly in pain from his ribs when he breathed, his head was pounding and Tim obviously intimidated him.

“Leave him alone, he got beat up and he only got out of hospital this morning.” Kellie exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Turning the medicine boxes over in his hands Tim studied the labels, Co-codamol, and Zopiclone, a painkiller and a sleeping tablet. Finally, Tim gave them back to him. Kellie had made tea and he swallowed the tablets with his tea, then Yoda arrived to find out what all the noise was about. He immediately climbed on Solo’s lap and settled down purring. Maybe he saw the opportunity to attack the stew or maybe he intended to have a meal of Solo. Who could tell with Yoda? 

“OK, are you using anything else?" Tim peered at Solo and turned his arms to check for the tell-tale signs of drug usage.

“They have told me that I can take given Ibuprofen as well, but I haven’t taken any yet."

“All right, what’s the story? Who beat you up? Why? And what were you doing in the Turner’s house?" Tim got a pen and paper.

“For goodness sake it’s not an interrogation,” Marte said as both girls rolled their eyes.

“Yes, it is. That's exactly what it is," he said, “let’s start was the easy ones. Name, address and date of birth?"

“Frank Solomon, Solo, no address, and I was 18 yesterday.”

“Happy returns. If we knew we would have sent you a card.” Kellie said oblivious to the irony.

“You don’t have anywhere to send it. That’s what you said,” Tim glanced at Kellie, this time she smiled at the irony, “so why don’t you have an address?“

“I was 18 yesterday, so my old man threw me out an' threw my stuff out. He told me to either get a job an' pay rent or fling my hook. I want to go to college and get a degree, I expect to get the grades an' I was going to stay with a mate but he is on holiday. So I went back to the old man to ask if he’d let me stay a couple of days but he was drunk an' beat me up for coming back an' put me in hospital again. Happy birthday to me.”

“OMG You’re telling me he’s done this before?" Marte looked accusingly.

Kellie who mouthed,”I told you that.”

“How long has this been going on for and where’s your mother in all this?" Tim demanded.

“Since mum died about four years ago, he’s been getting worse. He gets drunk and gets violent. I tell people that they are sports injuries, cracked ribs, a broken arm, a fat lip an' black eyes an' stuff, but now I don't care no more."

“And was he in the habit of hitting your mum?" 

“She was always getting bruises an' strains an' they were always having fights an' shouting, but I was younger an' I never saw him beat her.”

“I didn’t know all that. I just thought he was a bit of a scary weirdo.” Kellie pleaded, and she turned to Solo, “Sorry,” she said. 

Solo nodded to her mouthing, “I know, Its OK”.  

“And what were you doing tonight?" demanded Tim.

“Kellie let me put some of my stuff in their store. So I was going to sleep there, just while they were away. I needn’t know they were back or I wouldn't have done it.”

“And I guess that one of you two must be the boyfriend?" He raised his eyebrows looking in each girl in turn.

“Not my boyfriend.” they chanted the familiar refrain together.

“Thanks!” he said, “but we’re just friends.”

“Friends,” Tim repeated sounding dubious, “and if I check-up on this story?"

“It’s true I’ve known him since kindergarten.” Kellie started. “Not that, I mean the story about his father.”

I didn't know that.” Kellie felt stupid.

“Tell me his father’s name and address and the school details,” demanded Tim adding, “and get him something to eat before he starves to death or the damn cat decides to eats him.” Tim said as Solo’s tummy grumbled.

“I don’t want anything to eat. I just want to go.”

“Where will you go?” Marte asked

“You’re not in any condition to go anywhere. Your stitches are bleeding and need seeing to. Just lie down while the girls clean your wounds.”

He was too tired to fight and his head and his ribs ached so he let them clean his cuts and soon slumped asleep on the sofa. Tim meantime borrowed a computer and checked police records then phoned the principal of the college. About an hour later Tim switched the computer off and sat down with a sigh.

“Well, it all seems to be true. He’s never been in trouble with the police, but his father in known by the local force, all D&D and domestic. The principal will vouch for the kid's grades, and his behaviour is good, he recalls him being absent with injuries a lot but never recalls him participating in any team games. It looks like he slipped between the cracks in children's services. We’ll wait until tomorrow before we can sort anything with him. He’s out for the count now.” He looked at Solo slumped exhausted on the couch. “They must have given him the good stuff, there’s no way he’s doing anywhere tonight in his condition. So the ‘boyfriend’ best sleep in my bed tonight and I’ll take the couch."

“Not my boyfriend," they chanted again with a hint of a triumphant grin. Neither of them wanted to see him tossed out again in the middle of the night. They were feeling sorry for him, and especially Kellie who was beginning to realise the depth of the loss of her own father. She would sneak into her mum’s bed tonight. 

“We could put him in one of the other guest rooms,” Kellie suggested.

Tim, who despite his tough exterior had a good heart, still worried. He felt it was now a part of his personal responsibilities to protect his nieces particularly Kellie, the daughter of his dead brother. He didn’t care for having a strange youth in the house but guessed that having him sleeping between himself and the girls room would have to do. Anyway Solo had taken enough pain killers to drop a donkey; He should be safe asleep until midday.

Email: Anja to Oma Ritter

Dear Oma Ritter,

I hope you don't mind me calling Oma Ritter and adopting you as my Oma Ritter - I met the family of my Urgrossmutter,  Hope at the hospital - they promised to attend mama's funeral in Berlin next week and invited me to visit them in England.  It turns out that Hope ended-up in England where she married and had a family in Hampshire, England.

Email:  Oma Ritter to Anja

Dear Anja,

I am thrilled and proud to be your adopted Oma.  Wonderful to hear you've found part of your missing family I'm so happy for you. Please keep me up to date on your progress with Oma Love. I haven't had much progress so far on the search in the USA. There is no record of her in the immigration files. That could mean she used a false name, or got married and changed her name. She could have been rejected because she was German and of the war, or maybe she went ended elsewhere like Oma Hope. Don't worry we are only getting started.

13.

Maddie woke with Kellie and Marte in bed beside her, and a steaming cup of tea on her night stand. They explained the events of the night and the circumstances of Solo's stay. Yoda had started sleeping on Kellie's bed and ending finding him this morning curled up with Solo in one of the guest rooms. Uncle Tim had been rattling the rafters, snoring so loud Marte thought he would wake the whole house. That’s why she’d gone down to brew a pot of coffee, his snoring had woken her. In fact she thought everyone had heard except or course Yoda. Kellie commented that Yoda could sleep through an earthquake, but be awake instantly at the click of the cat-food cupboard opening. As if to prove it he appeared on the bed. They all laughed as Yoda mewled for food.

Maddie was thinking of the problem of Frank. He worked with John and Kellie for while. He had even stayed over a couple of nights when they were working all night on a project. He was little Frankie Solomon; Why did they keep calling him Solo? He had been invited to Kellie’s parties when she was little. She had banned Kellie from Frank's home after a nasty fight with his father. It wasn't the boy's fault. She didn’t recall seeing him for the past few months, a shame as he had always been a quiet and polite boy. She’d not been a close friend of his mother, more a passing acquaintance. She’d been quiet and withdrawn like her son. Given his story, no wonder.

Maddie made a suggestion. She asked the girls what they would think of Frank staying here until it he got a place of his own or went to Uni. The girls were all for it. Kellie said she could help him finishing her project. Maddie warned them it wasn't a done deal and she was still mulling it over.

“That doesn't mean that you girls would be getting a personal slave,” she warned, remembering Kellie's fondness of dumping Frank with her chores when they'd worked together.  

The thing that troubled her, was Kellie's relationship with Frank. They had been friends since kindergarten and were now leaving senior school with never so much a hint of a romantic connection. Or course they were both on the autistic spectrum and Maddie was worried what would happen if one of both of them wanted to take the relationship further. Even without that she worried what will happen when they went to uni. Kellie didn't cope well with change, and with the sudden loss of her father she was already seeing the signs of stress. She worried that it would only be a time of time before Kellie cracked.  The loss of her lifelong friend Solo as well could be more than she could bear. 

'What a mess! If John was still here, he would know what to do.'  John always did the right thing. The girls noticed Maddie’s eyes starting to well-up, and Kellie hugged her and changed the subject.

“I’ll make breakfast.” Marte announced.

After breakfast Tim explained that he was going to the office and needed to sort out a few things at his flat. He would be back late tonight with what he hoped the answer to the problem of Solo. In the meantime to keep him in bed until the Doctor could visit him. 

“Stupid name Solo." Tim commented.

“Its a Star Wars thing.” Maddie informed him. 

“I thought it was because he was ‘Johnny no friends’. You know solo, loner!” Tim grinned at his own wit.

Kellie rolled her eyes and said, “Mum, it’s S-O-L-O as in S-O-L-O-mon, “ as she spelled it out. “It’s his internet handle.” 

“You know I never got this Star Wars thing, never even seen it. In my day we just had cowboys and Indians. . . ” He said turning to Maddie, “are you sure about keeping him today. I can put him in the car and take him with me you know?"

“He won’t be any trouble, really. Anyway, he needs bed rest.”

“I don’t want you two girls near him," he ordered looking at them sternly, “it’s just for your own protection.” he added.

“We don’t need your protection. Yeah!” they bristled like pair of velociraptors circling their prey, ready to pounce.

Maddie stepped in. “Oh dear! Wrong thing. Walk away now backward slowly and don’t break eye contact or they’ll attack. You have a lot to learn of today’s young women.”

“In my day . . . “ He started, but Maddie chastised him with a raised eyebrow and a look that said, don’t even start with this. 

“Yeah. Since your day they’ve discovered fire, and the wheel,” Kellie ever the smart mouth snipped and Marte added, “and women got the vote.” 

Realising he was in a fight he couldn’t hope to win he got in the car and headed for London.

The day unfolded quietly, Solo didn’t wake until nearly midday and managed to shower and get in bed again. He managed a little leftover stew, watched by Yoda who coveted every spoonful. After he had more painkillers Solo went back to sleep until the Doctor came. The Doctor was satisfied that there were no more complications and that he should start beginning to take light exercise but not to overdo it.

Maddie and Kellie were able to see the family solicitor and instruct her as to John’s affairs. They prepared some company documents for the Bank and Companies House. Maddie expected Kellie would follow her mother lead and petition to wind-up the business but Kellie was adamant that it continue. She would run it as her father's legacy. Unenthusiastically Maddie conceded. Was her daughter's intransigence a sign of her normal unwillingness to change or was it something else? They would talk about it again later. 

Alrik had sent a letter covering the procedures in Germany and a class action case against the vehicle’s manufacturer. Maddie was concerned that John’s wallet was not among his effects  returned in the package for Germany, but maybe Tim knew where of its whereabouts.

Marte cleaned, shopped and got dinner. She spoke to Rose and confirmed they were managing alright and had everything under control, so she would come over on the weekend. Marte didn’t mention Solo, who slept most of the day along side Yoda. She suspected that the sparking clean dishes emerging from Solo's room after each mealtime had something about Yoda's devotion.

Tim had given Kellie an address of a web page that contained a test paper that he wanted Solo to answer. He suggested that Kellie and Marte might try it also. Maddie would supervise and time the test, no talking or cheating. She made them to work in separate rooms and let Tim know when it was done. He said would tell them the results when he got back on the weekend. He couldn’t tell them anything else right then. Shortly after that were sent another test. This contained IQ test and math, logic and language problems, with another which seemed to be some personality test or aptitude test. They were all intrigued to find what it was all about.

It was just before nine when Tim arrived back, having grabbed a burger to eat in the car after filling up with fuel at Fleet services on the M3. Tomorrow was Friday and they had already agreed he would stay over, leaving until Sunday for a start to work on Monday. Solo was still in his room with Yoda who only left him to get fed. Kellie was beginning to resent Yoda’s apparent preference to Solo’s male company, he was her cat. Like Marte she suspected that Solo was feeding Yoda tidbits from his plate up stairs.  Anyway, Tim had gone up to talk with Solo and it was over a half an hour before he returned with Solo in tow. 

“Go on,” Tim prompted Solo, “he has something to say.” They all stopped talking.

“Mr Turner has offered me a job." Solo he stated flatly, adding,  “and somewhere to live.” He looked uncomfortable and embarrassed. He was mumbling, looking at the floor and trying not to catch anyone eyes. 

The words ‘Mr Turner’ jolted Maddie and Kellie, and even Tim noticed.

“Call me ‘Tim’ no need to be formal now." He wanted to say something to soothe the pain he saw in their faces but he didn’t have the right words. He spluttered on, hoping to cover the silence, “He . . . Uh, he can stay at my flat . . . Until he starts his first term at Uni.”

“Is that what you want Frank?" asked Maddie using his given name as she quickly recovered from her surprise. He didn’t seem too excited. Maybe Tim had been putting pressure on him.

“Oh yes, it’s great... My dream job... An' I can go to Uni... It feels like I’m living in a dream. I can’t believe it’s all happening.” He mumbled unenthusiastically looking like he wanted to be anywhere but there.

“Then I’m happy for you,” Maddie stood and hugged him kissing his cheek making him blush, “you deserve a little happiness after all that you’ve been through.” she said. It was obviously a complete surprise to her. She had been watching Kellie and her reaction during the exchange and she registered the look of shock on Kellie's face despite her attempt to hide it. She needed to talk to all of them.  

Tim as talking again. “Problem solved. Well, all but the paperwork , just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. Next week he will start as an intern at the NCA and can stay at my flat in London. Those papers were devised at the people at GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) as part of the selection process for applicants to the intelligence services. He passed. Well, his grades were high enough to work for my section so I agreed to sponsor him.”

“OMG you’re going to be a spy.” Kellie was surprised and tried not to sound as hurt as her heart as it splintered a little more. They needed to talk urgently but she didn't know what to say or how to say it. 

“I totally see you as Q, you’d make a cute Q.” Marte gushed.

“I won’t be able to work on any secret stuff, just regular filing and copying, but it’s a start." He said. Marte started to chatter about the sudden turn of events and Kellie brooded silently. 

She also wondered what grade she’d got. Apparently, not as high is Solo’s, not even worth mentioning. That hurt her competitive spirit, but she decided to copy the others but be pleased for him despite suffering another crushing blow to her plans for Solo. 

Tim indicated to Maddie to follow him to the formal sitting room. Congratulating himself, he shut the door and launched in his news. “Don’t tell Solo this but they found out some stuff about him from those tests. His scores were exceptional, no doubt about his ability, he paused. 

“And but, there’s always a but,” Maddie prompted. This was not what she expected.

“He’s got Asperger's that’s high-functioning Autism. They call it the geek syndrome,” he started.

“I know, I know all about it. I have a husband and daughter who have it, and I suspect a brother in-law too, for that matter. I’ve known about it for years. It sometimes runs in the family,” she informed him quietly.

“You couldn’t know, I’ve only found about it.” His brow furrowed.

“I’ve known for years. All three of you.” She smiled knowingly. 

“Hold on, you said 'All three of you.’, which three are you talking about?" 

“Why! John, Kellie,“ she touched Tim’s arm, pointing with her finger as she said, “and you of course.”

“ME! I’ve not got Asperger’s!” Tim dismissed the thought.

“Really, Tim?" Maddie arched a brow sounding incredulous, “With John; you would hardly notice it even if you knew it, - Kellie, well she’s a really smart young woman, a master of disguise, she watches and learns, copies other women’s behaviour, but you. . . Not some much. You should stop and think about it some time, you'll see. Anyway, what does it matter, you all cope in your own way. It’s not catching or dangerous, so what!” Maddie was talking as though John was still with them, and it troubled Tim but he dismissed the thought at the time.

“Anyway, I’m sorry, I was going to say that Kellie is too." 

“What? About her Asperger, or that she's brilliant, or both?”

“Both her scores were fantastic, higher than his in fact. She would qualify to join the NCA or CESG, but I wanted to talk to you first."

“Thank you, I appreciate you speaking to me, though I have no idea what all the initials NC or CS whatever means. I don't think she's likely to accept but you can ask her yourself if you want.” she frowned.

“She doesn’t have to know. The Asperger.” he said.

“That would only make it worse. Anyway, she found about it years ago. She tries to put a positive spin on it.”

“We’ll talk again tomorrow when Rose comes I'll have to tell Rose and Per about it.” Tim continued .

“I wanted to speak to you about Kellie and Frank. That was before you side-tracked me.” Maddie started. “Oh dear, I wish John were here. He always knew what to do in these kind of situations... Well here goes. I'm surprised to hear that Frank was going to work for you. You see last thing I heard he was going to work with Kellie on a project that she and John had been working on.”

“That's the first I've heard of it.” Tim interrupted and Maddie waggled he finger to silence him.

“Well, Kellie and Frank have been working together for over a year. Although she hasn't said it yet I'm sure she plans to take over John's work and the Company and Frank was destined to become an important part of those plans. All three of them have worked so long and hard. She sees it as John's legacy to all of us. I'd hate to feel their efforts have been thwarted by anyone's unintentional actions.”

“I don't understand.”

“Butt out! I can't make it plainer than that. Let them sort it out themselves. You've seen their test paper results; They're bright enough. I've seen the figures the accountant showed us; They've already built a multi-million pound business. They don't need anyone else's help so far and they are smart enough to ask for help if they do.”

“But John was the ideas man he...” Maddie was waving her hand in his face to stop him.

“Not any more. Kellie is the one now. John told me he couldn't keep up with her any more. He said he was just a marketing suit now, a figurehead, and he was enjoying his semi-retirement.”

“Really. Maybe I need to speak to them again.”

“No. Just let them sort it out themselves. Kellie's is a smart girl she’ll figure it out maybe with a little help with Marte.”

Maddie thought about Kellie. She was an enigma. On one side she was the brains behind a multi-international business and on the other she was a teenage girl who didn't like to get out of bed and go to school in the morning. She'd changed during the last few days though. In fact it was the longest time they'd been separated since Kellie was born, but considering the circumstances that couldn’t be helped. Was that the start of a new maturity.

Rose hadn’t mentioned she had a problem, surely she would have said something if there had been a melt-down. And what about Marte, maybe she should say something. She would ask Marte tonight and check with Rose tomorrow. She returned to the family room and saw the youngsters still talking, so she sat to the side and watched as she appeared to read a magazine.

She noticed the two girls were dressed similarly, but with slight differences not wearing her usual androgynous black jeans and tee any more. She didn’t remember Kellie having bought these things, maybe Marte had loaned or given her the clothes. Girls were always swapping and wearing one another’s clothes. There was something else, but she couldn’t place it. The conversation was banal but she noticed that Marte was in the habit of saying OMG, and Kellie seemed to have picked-up the habit too. There were also other small changes, she was wearing makeup and had a manicure, not her standard smear of thick black eyeliner and mascara; this had been carefully contoured by an expert hand. 

None of these things were a big issue, but they could be 'tells' leading to a melt-down or it was a sign of her growing maturity. When Marte went to the kitchen to get Frank, she couldn’t think of him as Solo, to get a hot chocolate to have with his tablets Kellie told her to, “Stop fussing over him. He can get his own. He doesn't deserve it.” Her tone laced with spite. 

Maddie had noticed at Frank was unusually quiet and moody and had assumed the pain from his injuries was wearing him down. Now she suspected another reason. Had Kellie and Frank had a falling out? Was it about Marte? But the two girls were still talking. She was just puzzling over that when she noticed it. “Have you got a belly button piercing?" Maddie blurted before she could stop herself.

Kellie’s face reddened up and she instinctively tugged her top down to cover it.

“Look, we’ve got matching piercings.” Marte grinned pulling her and Kellie’s tops and showing off despite Kellie’s attempts to cover-up. Apparently Kellie had failed to mention about her parents embargo to Marte when they were planning the piercings. 

“Yes, lovely." She was phased. It wasn’t lovely, she and John had specifically banned her from her to getting piercings and tattoos, but what was done was done and couldn’t be undone. She needed to sit down and have a good heart to heart with her daughter before this all started to escalate out of control. The tells were showing, except for the hair thing, she hadn’t witnessed that yet, but that doesn’t mean she was obsessing but what or who about, she had become more adept at masking the signs at she grew. Maddie needed to think carefully about this tomorrow, after she had talked to John. 

14.

The next morning Maddie got up early, before anyone else was up and went down to brew a pot of coffee. She sat on a stool at the kitchen island with her mug of coffee enjoying a few quiet minutes contemplation before starting breakfast; Before the ravening hordes smelled the aroma of fresh coffee drifting around the house. It was Frank who appeared first although he was the furthest from the kitchen. Probably he'd been woken by Yoda. It occurred to Maddie, not for the first time, that she always used his given name Frank rather than Solo, his nickname.

“Good morning Frank, I hope you’ve had a good night’s rest, how are you feeling today?" Maddie poured him a mug of coffee and placed it opposite hers.

“Good morning Mrs Turner. I’m feeling much better thank you.” he said as he filled Yoda's bowl. He was formal and seemed a little awkward around her but she sensed something else.

“Help yourself to milk and sugar,” she smiled, “I’ll make a cooked breakfast after my coffee and in the meantime just help yourself to cereal if you want it.”

“I’m fine with the coffee thank you, Mrs Turner.”

“I’m the same in the morning. I need at least two mugs of the magic beans before I can face food. And call me Maddie or aunt Maddie if you prefer,” she noticed his cheeks colouring slightly, “I don’t want to pressure you Frank, but I’m worried about you working with Tim. I don’t want you to feel that you have to take this job; you can stay here, I’m not going to throw you out you know.”

“Oh no! It’s an amazing opportunity.”

“Really, because I didn’t think that you didn’t sound so keen last night. I’m worried that you may have been pressured by Tim, he can be very pushy at times.”

“No. I was just worried about something else he said.”

“All right, as well as you’re happy. You know you can talk to me at anytime Frank.”

“Thanks, Mrs Turner.”

“What about the girls, What do they think about it?”

“Kellie’s really pi . . , I’m sorry Mrs Turner.”

“I think the word you are looking for is peeved,” she said diplomatically.

“Thanks Mrs Turner. I mean she's really peeved off.”

“Why?”

“Because she didn't beat me. She's an awesome hacker.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“An' because I like working with Kellie.” He said shyly. He was a little uncomfortable admitting that, “Please don't tell her I said that.”

“And she told me she likes working with you too.” She didn't want to be an interfering parent but 'for the better good' she would. “So you aren't really happy to work with Tim, are you?”

Frank concentrated on his coffee and shuffled in his seat.

“You two need to talk, before it’s too late. You can live here, you don't have to go. Do you want me to have to bang your heads together. She likes working with you. She doesn't want you to go. Talk to her before it’s too late. Won’t you miss her? I thought you two were friends or have you got another girlfriend?”

”I've never had a girlfriend. I don’t have any friends except for the tech guys at schools.”

“That’s a shame.”

She was interrupted by the sound of Tim pounding down stairs.

“What’s a shame?” asked Tim as he appeared.

“Frank was just saying he’s never had a girlfriend,” Maddie gave Tim a telling glance.

“It’s not for me, but there are a couple of guys in the department who live as... Er... an alternate lifestyle.” Tim started.

“No! I don’t mean I don’t like girls,” Frank sputtered, “I’ve just never had a girlfriend. Girls don’t generally talk to guys like me. They seem to prefer the Neanderthal types and they call us ‘nerds.’”

“Teenage girls these days are so cruel. I hope Kellie, and Marte haven’t been cruel like that.”

“No, they are really nice, especially Marte.”

“What’s not to like eh lad?” Tim winked leeringly. Maddie gave him a withering look, “I mean that my young nieces are a credit to their parents, they have beauty and brains,” he tried to catch the slip, but the damage was done.

“You’re a Neanderthal,” Maddie shot back winking at Frank just as the two girls wandered down stairs, “well, maybe not so much of the beauty more of the beast.” Maddie commented as the two of them wandered down in their dressing gowns, sleepy eyed and bed headed. Yoda had already been fed as soon as Solo had come down but he had returned for another sitting with the girls and Marte promptly fed him again. That got Yoda purring loudly.

“What’s that about beauty and the beast?” Asked Kellie as she poured them each a mug of coffee and tipped four spoonfuls of sugar into her mug. Maddie shook her head at her, raised her eyebrows and mouthed ‘sugar’ in disapproval. Kellie rolled her eyes in response as she slumped on a barstool.

Maddie asked Tim if he had seen John’s wallet as it wasn’t in his room at the hotel nor in his case.

“Ah yes, where did it go? I saw it at the police station, but I didn't pick it up. Maybe it’s in the package that I signed for at the hospital. I put it in my case; it’s probably still there in the car.” Tim went out and retrieved the case.

“That must be it. John didn’t wear jewellery, or a wrist watch, just his wallet and his phone.” Maddie said waiting impatiently.

Kellie tried to swallow the lump in her throat at the mention of the phone remembering the picture of the melted phone in the paper. Tim returned and handed the package to Maddie.

“Sorry, I put in the pocket of my case and I completely forgot about it.”

Maddie turned it over it, already knowing that it was too fat to be John’s wallet, but somehow she couldn’t stop herself for ripping it open. It was a padded envelope sealed with a sticker printed in German. She opened it and slid the contents into her hand: Two rings, earrings, a wristwatch and a cameo on a silver chain. It all obviously belonged to a woman.

“This isn’t John’s stuff. I’ve never seen this before,” Maddie dropped it on the island. She sat motionless, staring at it. They were around the island silently looking at the jewellery; It wasn’t that it looked valuable, it didn’t, but the girls gasped.

“Would you pack this up and send it back to the German police. Tell them what happened and ask them to return my husband’s belongings to me?” Maddie was downcast as she added, “I’m going up to my room.” She swept up the stairs and locked the door.

Suddenly Marte sprinted up the stairs and returning moments later. She placed her cameo on the centre of the island and slid beside the other one. Everyone stared at the two cameos. They were almost identical.

“Isn’t that Rose’s cameo?” Queried Tim his neck felt prickly with a sense of deja vu when he saw it.

“Well, it’s mine now,” said Marte, “mum gave it to me. She was given it by Nana, your mum.”

“****! Don’t tell me this is the stuff from Jana Turnau?" Kellie groaned, balled her fists and started pinching and digging her nails into her arms. Marte acted quickly to grab her to stop her from hurting herself. Kellie had put it all together moments after her mother.

“It’s alright sweetie, don’t get upset. Don’t hurt yourself.” Marte whispered to her.

“What do you know about Jana Turnau?" Tim snapped, suddenly coming alert oblivious was drama unfolding around him.

“It says so on the paper,” Kellie pointed to the folder sheet of paper that had been in the envelope,“it says.‘Personliche Effekte von J Turnau’, Personal effects of J Turnau. Jana Turnau was the woman in the car with dad.”

“How did you know her name was Jana? That wasn’t in the papers.” He demanded.

“It was in the German papers; she lied. She’d read the German press and the victim’s names had never reported the victim's ID.

Maddie came down following the noise as Rose appeared from the front door.

“What on earth is going on here?"

Maddie took over soothing Kellie, and Marte explained the situation.

“Its OK I'm not upset but I need to talk to you two girls. I was going to wait until Rose came on the weekend but I fear that events have overtaken us.”

Tim took the hint and motioned Solo to follow him upstairs,

“and I did to talk to with you and I want some straight answers,” he said.

“There is something you need to see too”, announced Kellie.

“We don’t want to freak you out, but it’s important,'' Marte continued and they both opened their hands to show the two cameos, “look they’re identical.”

“That must have been Jana’s cameo,” Maddie exclaimed, “Where did you find the other one?”

“We found it in an old box of Nana's photos," Marte explained.

“And there's more. We found an old photo of these three girls they were all wearing the same cameos"? Marte continued.

“Nobody knows anything about them, the cameo and the photo, just that they were with Nana's stuff,” Kellie said.

“And that it brings bad luck to the wearer”, Marte added.

“It certainly brought bad luck to that Jana woman.” Kellie said unable to contain herself.

“That's not a very nice thing to say Kellie.” Maddie remonstrated, “Anyway luck is all superstitious nonsense.”

“That's what Mum says but she still doesn't wear it.” Marte confirmed.

Maddie picked-up Jana's one with the chain and examined it more closely. “It has the name 'Vera' engraved on the mount. Is 'Vera' German?”

“Could be, it a common eastern European name, German, Slav, Russian even English.” Kellie said.

“I can't make it out, but there is some more engraving on the actual piece. Its exquisite. It's a shame the original mount is with yours,“ she mused, “ I wonder if its the name of the owner or the name of the piece?”

“It was the name of the owner.” Marte, who had been fiddling with her phone, announced, “She's one for the three girls in the photos she's the Vera or Faith in “Faith, Hope and Charity.” She handed her phone for Maddie to see. “You can see the cameos in the photo.”

“Well, it probably won't be a surprise to you then, to hear that Tim and I met our long-lost family in Germany.”

“OMG don't tell me you saw Anja?” Kellie gasped still hoping it wasn't true, but knowing in her heart it was.

“Yes, It turns out that she's the daughter of the mysterious 'other woman', Jana. John and Jana met the night before the accident. She was taking them to where the family lived before the war when it accident happened.” Maddie blotted her eyes with a tissue. “Its OK, I'm alright,” Maddie said toughing through it.

But Kellie wasn't; she was trying not to show it but it seemed that her worst nightmares kept coming to haunt her. “I’m going to do some research on the computer,” she muttered standing to go but Maddie rested her hand on her arm causing her to pause.

“Well before you go, you should know that Tim and I will be returning to Berlin for Jana's funeral and I want the two of you to come as well. It will be just a day trip. I think its right and proper under the circumstances, and it will be a chance to meet your new family member. We are her only family now.”

Kellie shook her arm free turned and stomped up the stairs muttering to herself. 

Maddie sighed watching leave with sad eyes, “I'll take that as a no then.” Maddie said, the disappointment sounding in her voice.

“I'll ask if mum will let me go with you,” Marte said, “but I'm afraid Kellie has issues with Anja and Jana, she blames Jana for her father's death.”

“I was afraid of that. Kellie's reaction I mean. I'll talk with her, but it may take a little time for her to adjust. Its all a bit much for her the handle at the moment.”

“I need to go to town,” Marte said. “Anyone need anything from town.”

In town Marte visited the museum where she showed the cameo to the curator. Not an expert of jewellery the curator phoned one of the conservators at the County's archives near Winchester who was able to help track the origin of the piece. Although not a masterpiece like Lalique it was still a fine piece and worth mounting and preserving.

She told her that this type of cameo was likely to be of Italian origin and was still produced today by craftsmen whose families who had carved them for generations. It could be from Del Gatto, Parlati, Garofalo or from one of the lesser known families. She explained how to identify who had carved it as they found a makers mark . Cornellian or Sardonyx cameos depicting 'The Three Graces' were a frequent motif for several carvers. The workshops of several master craftsmen can still be found in Sorrento, Torre del Greco and other locations around the bay of Naples.

Back at the house she used her new found knowledge with a bright light as she found the carvers mark on the back and photographed it. She searched the internet and eventually was able to identify the carver. Excitedly she emailed the workshop for confirmation and waited. Although she was excited and buoyed by her success she decided to keep her project to herself for the moment. No need to aggravate the situation with Kellie unnecessarily.

Kellie was still talking in monosyllables hiding in her room and ignoring anyone who came near her after the news about the funeral in Berlin. Marte eventually tired of her sour mood and went searching for Solo hoping for more pleasant company. He wasn't much better, but at least he tried to make an effort for her.

“Wha'ch doin'?”

“We put a real-time trace on Anja. Look, I'll show you.” Solo opened his laptop and maximised an application. The screen showed a map with an icon in the centre.

“Is that Berlin?" Marte queried. She was trying not to show her annoyance.

“Yeah. An' this is where she is right now. That’s ESCP Europe.” he pointed at the bullseye in the centre of the screen, “That’s where she goes to Uni.” Solo tapped a couple of keys and lines appeared across the streets joining locations on the map.

“What’s that?" She pointed to the yellow lines that traced through the streets. She knew, but she was caught between curiosity and pique that he and Kellie were still stalking Anja. She decided to let it play-out and see where it was leading.

“This is where she has been since she landed from her flight from Boston the other day,” he pointed to Tegel Airport where the to line and followed the route to a big building in the Wedding district of the city. “She drove to Charite Virchow-Klinikum Hospital, or something,” he struggled trying to pronounce it, “I don't speak German. Anyway she stayed for less than an hour, then she went home. No calls or messages. Yesterday she spent most of the morning at home on her computer except to going to the shops for food and fast food.

She's on the move again today. She went out about half nine an' went to a Solicitor for an hour, then to a Bank, then McD’s an' to Uni. I think she's took a taxi or got a Uber 'caus she doesn’t have a car now. She was on the phone a lot during the journey. I don’t know what she said 'caus she was speaking in German an' she didn’t send any texts. I got a log of all her calls an' her messages.” He looked pleased with his work. “It’s all about the WiFi signals an' their strengths. An' her phone logged on at the Solicitors, the Bank, an' McD’s, an' she’s still logged on to the University.”

“Is that why Kellie's mad with you? She told me she wasn't stalking Anja any more. I thought she was in a bad mood about the Berlin funeral thing.”

“No it was something else. Please don't tell her about this. I screwed-up with Kellie big time. Now she doesn't even want to speak to me. She called me a traitor, an’ told me to get out, an' never see her again. I don't know how to fix it. Anyway, I shouldn't be talking to you about it. You're girls an' you tell each other everything. Right?”

“First, it's the first I've heard about it, and I'm really ticked off that you're stalking Anja. That's just creepy! Second. No, girls don't tell one another everything and that I haven't heard about it proves it.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and avoiding her gaze looking at the floor. “So you better tell me about it or I will tell her everything.” Marte demanded.

He looked conflicted as he struggled with his options. He continued avoiding eye contact with her, looking around the room, anywhere but her. She was plainly making him uncomfortable, squirming silently on his seat, as he wrestled with his dilemma .

“If you want me to fix it for you you'll have to trust me.” She prompted

That he had trust issues was obvious, but he started to relax as he started talking and suddenly it the dam broke. It seemed that even the most minor request from his father was accompanied with a punch, a shove or a smack around the head. Increasingly any disagreements were settled by conflict rather than compromise, almost inevitably involving a visit to the A&E for him. This wasn't an isolated occurrence. It had been continuing for two or three years since his mother had died and finally culminated by his being thrown out of the house just days before.

“What if I end up like him? I don't want to be like him.” He pleaded. He appeared to be on the point of crying as he defiantly forced back his tears his voice fading.

He doesn't care about you? He doesn't care about anyone? You do! You care about him.” She hugged him. “You care about other people. That's why you will never become like him. You're better off without him. You care about me and especially about Kellie.” She was close to tears herself. He was plainly uncomfortable with the display of affection. “Now tell me what you did to Kellie?”

She listened as he told what had happened. It was true; he cared about Kellie. The one constant in his life appeared to be Kellie. She had grabbed hold of his hand almost immediately she entered the class on her first day at kindergarten. They had been inseparable ever since. They were like brother and sister.

“Wu's the matter?” Solo asked.

“Got mascara in my eye.” Marte replied wiping her eyes to stop the tears forming. “Carry on.”

They graduated from working on their homework together to working together when Kellie started building applications for her dad's company. They were a good team and soon became the company's first free-lance employees. It was in their last year in school things fell apart. He started skipping school, not turning-up for work when promised and missing project deadlines. Her dad suggested he cut his work hours if he was finding it difficult to squeeze-in both work and study. His study and exams had to come first.

She said it was OK and she understood that they couldn't work together. But he was lying. He wasn't having trouble with school or work. He was having a problem with his dad. He beat him and hurt him and he had to go to the Doctor or the hospital. That's why he kept losing time at school and work.

He didn't know what to do. Every time it happened his father said he was sorry and he'd never do it again. Then it would be OK for a few weeks and he'd had a bad day at work and he blow-up again. He couldn't wait until he could leave and go to Uni. But he needed to get good grades to go to Uni. and escape. He missed working with Kellie. Marte vowed to confront and pay-back his father.

Then a possible solution appeared. Kellie called him to help her with a problem with her phone, which was weird as she's usually the high-priestess of hacking, a real wizard. She was crying, she said her dad was in hospital in Berlin and they were going to visit him. He asked her if he could keep some stuff in her store. He didn't tell her it was him: he wanted to sleep in the store. He didn't know what else to do.

He'd beat him up again. “He jumped me when I was moving my stuff out of me room and knocked me halfway down the stairs.” He knew his ribs were busted again. That was the second time that week he'd gone to A&E. They would be getting suspicious soon if they, social services or the police, weren't on to him already. Marte doubled down on her vow to sort that monster that was his father.

“I was coming back from the hospital when I saw you. I'd been sleeping in the store in the garden. I knew I was in big trouble when as soon as I saw her. I never saw her look that way. She avoided me; she didn't speak or even look at me. I thought she'd found about my sleeping rough in the store. They have all kinds of CCTV and remote video feeds. She probably recorded me on the monitors.

I'd lied about staying with a mate, I don't have any friends and nowhere to live. Without somewhere to live, an address, I can't go to Uni. I could handle that. I only needed to manage for a couple of weeks. Then you know what happened and they let me stay but I still needed to work and pay for my keep.

Then out of the blue Tim offered me a job and somewhere to live for a few weeks. Well, he told me I couldn't stay here; It wouldn't be right. I thought I could make a new start, a job, somewhere to live until uni. It was a dream come true everything I needed. Yeah! So why am I was miserable? I'd trade it all to sleep rough in the store at Kellie's house but she won't even speak to me.” He eyes welled up was trying to control it.

“And you haven't told Kellie about all this?”

“She won't talk to me.”

“Obviously you've spoken to Tim. What about Maddie? What does she say about it?”

“She said I needed to talk to Kellie and that you might be able to help.”

“Did she say that? That I may be able to help.” Marte glowed with pride, “and did she said if you can stay here?” She said insistently.

“Yes, but I haven't got a job now and no money for rent.”

Marte discovered that Tim was out; probably all for the best. She spoke to Maddie who advised her that she was afraid it had gone too far and not to get between the two of them; to let them sort it out for themselves. Never one to accept good advice, Marte marched ahead regardless.

Without knocking Marte burst into Kellie's room. “Your, 'not my boyfriend', is suffering.” Marte informed her.

“Good! How can I make him suffer more?”

“That's not nice. What has he done to you?”

“Not you as well! Don't you think I've got more than I can handle right now. I'm frantic with work, worried about mum, with dad's funeral, that Anja bitch and the traitor. Waste of time.” Marte's eyebrows shot-up at the 'b' word and the venom in her words about Anja and Solo. One thing at a time she thought as she concentrated at Solo.

“That's why I'm here, to help you. By the traitor I assume Solo?”

“Huh! As I said the traitor.”

“He's not a traitor. Have you talked to him?”

“Huh!”

“Your best friend, your only friend in the world - except for me of course - your best friend; He's been thrown-out by his father who beats him then he's turned out by his best friend who won't speak to him.”

“I haven't turned him out. No-one has turned him out. He's still in the guest bedroom if you noticed.” Kellie interrupted.

“As good as. He thinks he’s not wanted and he thinks he's a burden to everyone and needs to go find a job and somewhere to live.”

“Oh. Boohoo! He's got a job - had a job,” she corrected.

“OK this is a circular argument. He couldn't work because he was hurt and he has nowhere to live because he can't afford anywhere to live.”

“He has a job and a place to stay; with Tim. He's cut and run at the worst possible time for me. I've lost my dad. I've got so much extra work, I'm struggling with the Siemens job: I need someone who I can rely on now. I don't have weeks to train someone else.”

“Have you actually offered him a proper contract or even spoken to him. I spoke to him. I'm sure your dad wouldn't ever had sacked him it he'd known about his family situation and he says you've never actually offered him a job or paid him for that matter. He doesn't want to live and work with Tim. He's only agreed to it because Tim strong-armed him into it. Uncle Tim has trying to recruit me to join the Civil Service after college too. He was after you too until your mum told him to back-up and leave you and Solo to sort themselves out. Obviously he never listened and Solo has no other options.”

“He should have talked to me first.”

“Excuse me. Didn't you tell me you weren't speaking to him?”

“Huh!”

“Speak to him now. Tomorrow he will be leaving with Tim and then it will be too late. It would be stupid of loose your best friend over a misunderstanding. I'm only saying this because I'm your friend and I'm guessing that your list of friends is a bit on the short side right now. Lets see now, there's me and then there's – Oh yeah, that's it, just me.

Look, the logical solution is simple. Give him a job, a proper job with a contract, and pay him, at least until he starts Uni. If you're serious about your company you need to get it sorted, put it all on a professional level. Think about it. He works for you on Siemens, that gets you more time, you don't have to train anyone new and he can start today. Tell him he'll have a proper contract next week and he needs to start today and don't accept any other options.

And while I'm handing out advice. Anja. It's not the ideal position, but she is family and she's the only other cousin we've got even if we don't like it. We've only just found her, don't you think we should give her a chance too? She's lost her mum and she is the only blood relative we know of. It's hard to talk about her behind her back if we don't know her. ” She continued talking.

“You can kill two birds with one stone in Berlin. You go to the funeral, meet Anja, play nice with her and meet Siemens.”

“Huh!”

“No listen. That keeps your mum happy and more important it looks good to Siemens. Remember her mum worked there. It's politics, the smart thing to do. You contact them and ask to meet while we are there. Reassure them and whatever. That means it won't be a waste of time. Say yes and I'll make it happen. I'll make all the arrangements and you concentrate on your work.”

“OMG do you never stop. You've turned into your mother and mine together.”

“That's just nasty. I'm ignoring that because you're upset.”

“Alright, I'll go but only if you shut-up and stop bugging me, but you owe me big and I'm not going to Berlin without you. You have to suffer too. You'll have to promise to distract mum when I go to see Siemens”.

“Oh goody.” Marte said clapping her face in joy.

“Why do I think you won't be suffering much? How are you going to do to distract mum while I go to Siemens?”

“Oh. I'll find something to do. Do you think that they might have shops in Berlin? For consoling the depressed. You know, for comfort shopping. Retail therapy.”

“I know I'm going to regret this. What's comfort shopping therapy?”

“It's for my medical condition. That's when I'm suffering, depressed and lonely and I need cheering-up. Shopping is my therapy. You must have heard of it. I'm certain the Germans must have a word for comfort shopping. They have a word for everything. It's on the tip of my tongue. No, lost it. Anyway I believe it was named after the famous German psychoanalyst Sigmund Kaufhof.”

“Really, didn’t he have and chain of treatment couches for the fur trappers and native Indians in all the Hudson Bay Company stores. I guess you suffer from this kind of depression a lot then?” Kellie's expression of mock surprise ended with an exaggerated eye roll mirrored Marte's expression of puzzlement. “I think the Sigmund you're thinking of was Freud, and Kaufhof is a chain of German Department Stores owned by The Hudson Company Company, but nice try.” Kellie smiled.

“Damn!” Marte sighed her redesignation. “But I do suffer with depression. Massive depression. Massive. Retail therapy probably saved my sanity if not my life.”

Marte talked and Kellie listened as she worked. Little by little Marte talked her round. Then they went to speak to Solo together, who was visibly horrified when both girls decided to hug him.