White Phantom: Chapter Seventeen.

Chapter Seventeen

‘That's right. Yes, I'll hold.’ While waiting on hold, Jennifer turned and smirked at Beth. ‘Didn't think I'd do it, did you?’

‘I couldn't give a damn what you do.’ Beth replied in a tired voice and was surprised to note that for the first time it was true, she really didn't care.

‘Oh, yes, sorry. I was talking to my friend. Yes, that's right. I've been attacked and I'd like to report it.’ Jennifer, half in profile to Beth launched into a lengthy description... ‘It happened about an hour ago. You see, I was crossing at the zebra and a woman nearly ran me over.’

Beth looked up from her chair, what the hell was she on about? Jennifer continued talking and Beth came out of her slump to listen as lies poured from the girl's mouth.

‘Yes, I did look for traffic and when I started to cross the road there were no cars there. And then suddenly this red car came around the corner. She didn't stop and then of course the zebra is just around that bend and she didn't look at all. Just drove straight round. I could have been a little kid. Yes, my lip's cut and I have a big hand print on my face. No, no, the car didn't hit me... She did. The woman slammed her brakes on and got out of the car and started shouting at me for being in the road. I said that I was on the crossing and that it was my right of way,’ at this point Jennifer sniffed a couple of times and pretended to cry, ‘and then officer... And then... she hit me,’ she sobbed. ‘I've seen the woman before. She takes her kids to the same school as my little brother. I think they live on Sands Road. No, I don't know their name. But think I can remember most of the car's registration number, if that's any help.’

Beth sat in disbelief as Jenner took the piece of paper out of her pocket and read out Maggie's registration number to the police. What the hell was she doing? This was just the kind of attention that they didn't need.

‘My name? Oh, yes, it's Lorraine Vidal. Yes,Vidal. Like the shampoo. Address? Well I'm staying with a friend at the moment. I'm at Twenty-six Maple Avenue. That's Right. No, I'm sorry I don't think I will be in. There's no need to come round. We've got to go out, you see. No really, you don't need to come around. I just wanted to report it in case she does this to anybody else.’

Jennifer's voice had completely changed. During the course of the conversation Beth noted that she'd gone from being full of confidence to backtracking at a million miles an hour. ‘Well, um, can't you just go and talk to her? Give her a warning or something? Serious offence? Well, it was just a little slap really, shocked me more than anything. Oh really, there's no need. Okay, yes, yes if you have to. In the next five minutes, then. Thank you.’ She hung up the phone and turned around slowly. She was chewing her lower lip and she looked pensive.

‘You stupid, stupid little bitch. You've shot yourself in the foot now, haven't you?’ Beth was furious.

‘Well you shouldn't have hit me,’ said Jennifer in a petulant voice.

‘You do realise, don't you, that by bringing the police to my door you've opened up the very can of worms that I've suffered hell for over these last six months to keep closed. That's it now, Jennifer. Your power's gone, the hold you've had over me all this time is broken. In fact, you've already told the police that you've been hit and marked so what's one more slap, eh?’ She raised her hand. She had no intention of hitting Jennifer again only of showing her what it was like to feel bullied and scared. Jennifer flinched back out of the way and raised her arm to protect her head. ‘Not so big and hard now, are you, little girl?’ Beth finished her tirade. She'd risen from her chair and was busying herself with putting her purse and cigarettes into her handbag.

‘I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ring them. You just got me mad, that's all.’

‘You didn't mean to ring them? Don't be so bloody stupid. You don't mean to stub your toe. You don't mean to drop a cup. But picking up a telephone and ringing the police is a conscious decision. You've done it now, you damn fool. And what do you suppose Maggie's going to say when they turn up on her doorstep accusing her of all sorts. “Oh yes, officer. I was driving my car over that zebra crossing this afternoon and I did almost run somebody over and then got out of my car and belted her. Please arrest me now.” No, she isn't. The first thing she's going to ask is who has made the ridiculous allegation? And then she's going to drop us both right in it. Before you know it, the police will smell a rat and start poking into other stuff and then we're both finished. Maggie probably thinks my “affair” with your brother just fizzled out over a matter of weeks but what if, by some chance, the police begin asking questions and his name is mentioned in relation to yours? How soon before Maggie puts two and two together and makes a connection between me, you and him. You've really done it now. Bravo, little girl. Bravo.’

‘It'll be okay. It's all right, we can sort this out. I gave them a false name. I'll tell them that I was drunk, that I read the number plate wrong. We can tell them that it wasn't Maggie after all. I won’t press charges. That way, they can't do anything. We can tell them it was all just a big mistake.’

‘We? hang on a second, did you say “we”? No, no, no. You're on your own this time. I'm not even going to be here, because while you're spinning your little web of lies to the police, I'm going round to Maggie's to warn her that she's about to be visited by the bloody cops and to try and sort out some kind of damage limitation.’

‘I'll tell them everything.’ Phantom changed tack and was shouting now, her voice had hardened and her usual bullying tone had returned. ‘Don't you dare leave me, Beth. If you don't stay and help me, I'll tell them about Marc. And everything else. Don't you want to be my friend any –’

‘Go for it,’ shouted Beth over her shoulder as she stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind her.

On the way round to Maggie's house, Beth wracked her brains to try and come up with some story that sounded anywhere near plausible. She had no idea what she was going to say when she saw Maggie but somehow she had to come up with something to get them all – Maggie included – off the hook with the minimum amount of fuss.

Beth hammered on the door. There was no immediate answer so she knocked again.

The living room door opened and she watched Maggie through the frosted glass. ‘Okay, okay, I'm coming,’ Beth heard her grumble. ‘Beth, well, this is getting to be a regular thing.’

Surprise showed on Maggie's face as she opened the door and saw Beth panting with exertion on the doorstep. ‘I'm hoping you've come with some kind of explanation, but you'll excuse me if I don't leave my bag unattended.’ Her voice was thick with sarcasm, Beth knew that she was hurt and confused and was striking out. Beth pushed the door open and rushed into the living room, grabbing Maggie by the sleeve and dragging her in with her.

‘The police are on their way.’ Beth was still out of breath and couldn't get her words out easily. ‘We haven't got long. They might be here any second and I've got to talk to you.’

‘Oh, Jesus, Beth what have you done? This has got something to do with that kid, hasn't it? What's going on?’

‘Huh, it's not what I've done that's the problem. It's what you've done.’ Beth stopped and ran a hand through her hair.

‘Me? I don't under–’

‘Ugh, I'm not telling this well. No, you haven't done anything. But the thing is, well, the police think that you have.’

‘What? What are you on about?’

‘I'm trying to tell you, aren't I? Just shut the fuck up and listen.’ Beth's voice had risen in frustration.

Maggie sat down. ‘I swear Beth, you've changed. You've changed so much and it's not a change for the better, either. I can count the times you've said “fuck” on one hand and most of them were when we were kids.’

‘Are you going to let me speak, or are we going to have a half hour episode of The Maggie Show, because I really don't have time for this. Listen, Phantom has grassed you up to the police for something you didn't do. She's told them some cock and bull story about you nearly running her over this afternoon and then getting out of your car and hitting her.’

‘What?’ Maggie was dumbfounded and it took her a second to stock up on verbal missiles to fire at Beth. ‘Well the fucked-up little Goth freak bastard. I can fucking-well prove that I didn't lay a hand on her. My car's been in Col's garage all day for it's M.O.T. I swear down I never touched her. I can prove it.’

Beth couldn't believe her good fortune. Maggie could prove that she hadn't been out in her car at the time of the supposed assault. That should make it easier to get the police off their backs. Now all she had to do was get Maggie to make light of the false accusation to the police and to help her get rid of them quickly. That wasn’t going to be easy.

Maggie was still ranting. ‘What a pack of lies. I tell you, Beth, when I get hold of her, I will fucking kill her. I'll make her wish she'd never been born. I haven't even seen the little bitch. How could I have hit her?’

‘I know you didn't hit her. I did it.’

‘You hit her? Beth, what the fuck's going on? You've never hit anybody in your life. Not even me, and Christ knows, if anyone can push your buttons, it's me. I think you'd better start talking to me, Beth, and fast because I've got a thing or two to say to the police if they arrive.’

‘That's just it, Maggie. I need you to help me. I need you to prove that you didn't do anything and then leave it at that. I need you to get rid of them before they start asking too many questions.’

‘Questions about what? C'mon, Beth, if I'm going to lie to the police and defend you, then I want to know what I'm defending you against. I think you need to tell me what’s going on, now, this has gone far enough. Let me get this straight. Are you asking me to protect that stupid little cow after she's told the police a pack of lies about me? Because that's what it's sounding like to me. Why did she say that I hit her? And anyway, Beth, why the hell should I help you after the way you've treated me? We used to be best friends and now I don't even know you.’

‘I know, I know, everything you've said is true. I can't explain it all now, Maggie, but please, please, I'm begging you, just help me out this once. All you need to know is that Phantom and I had an argument. I lost my temper and hit her. She wanted to get back at me and she felt that the best way to hurt me was by hurting you. She rang the police in temper without thinking. Please, Maggie, just tell the police that it wasn't you and then don't make waves. Just back me up, okay?’

‘Why, though? Why ring the police and say that I'd hit her when I very obviously haven't? She's not right in the head.’ They heard a car pulling up outside and looked out of the window.
‘Oh shit, it's them, it's the police. Please, Maggie, just help me get rid of them.’

Beth sat nervously on the edge of the settee while Maggie answered the door. She heard her talking in the hall and then the door opened and Maggie showed the two police officers into the living room. Beth stood up.

‘Hello,’ she began lamely as Maggie rooted through her bag for the M.O.T certificate that would prove that her car had spent the afternoon in the garage. ‘Look, this is all a huge misunderstanding. You should never have been called out. It was just a silly teenager having a tantrum because she couldn't get her own way. What happened was –’

‘And you are?’ asked the officer, with a pen poised over her notebook. Beth really didn't want to give her name. She especially didn't want the police to write her name down anywhere where they might recall it later.

‘The thing is, it was my niece who rang you. She's at that age, you know. Everything's a drama.’

‘Can I have your name, please, madam?’ asked the policewoman for a second time. ‘You can tell your version of the story, but first I must have your name for my records.’

‘Beth,’ said Beth reluctantly.

‘Beth?’

‘Beth Armstrong.’

‘Address please?’ Beth gave her address too. She felt that each word spoken was taking her closer to life imprisonment.

‘And your niece is the complainant, you say?’

‘Yes, that's right. Well, no not exactly, she's not my real nice. She's my, um, cousin's daughter and she's staying with me for a few days while her parents are away on a skiing holiday.’ The heat in the room was suffocating. She was immobile, determined not to give her nervousness away by fidgeting. She wanted to get right away from the subject of Jennifer's parents, what if she was asked their names? She employed a trick of distraction that she'd learned from Jennifer herself. ‘Jennifer rang you. What happened was, Jennifer and I were having an argument.’ God, she hoped that offering up Jennifer's real name would pay off. As she had intended, the police officer pounced on the new name thrown into the mix.

‘Jennifer? We have the complainant listed here as a Miss Lorraine Vidal.’

‘Yes, I know, you see she was playing games there, too. She gave you a false name. Her real name is Jennifer Brown.’ Beth stuck with Jennifer's real Christian name but plucked the first ordinary surname out of the air that she could think of and just hoped that she could distract the police away from names now. She was gratified to note that the policewoman didn't immediately write this new information down. ‘Jennifer is the typical angsty teenager. Always wanting to be the centre of attention, always wanting her own way. Maggie and I are going out tonight.’ Beth looked towards her friend. ‘Aren't we, Maggie?’

Maggie sighed, ‘Yeah, that's right. Long overdue night out.’

Beth picked up the story again, ‘Well, Jennifer decided that she wanted to come, too. I told her she couldn't because she's too young and she threw a tantrum. She doesn't like Maggie.’

‘That's the understatement of the year,’ cut in Maggie. She was being sarcastic for Beth's benefit, but her sullen tone worked in supporting Beth's statement perfectly.

‘Anyway.’ Beth hoped that her expression was earnest as she continued speaking. ‘She said that if we didn't let her come with us tonight she'd ring the police and say that I'd hit her. I laughed and told her to go for it because she'd never be believed and I suppose that's when she made up the stupid story about the car and Maggie.’

The police woman turned towards Maggie. ‘And you corroborate this?’

‘Well, I certainly didn't hit the little freak. I corroborate that much. Haven't seen her, but I tell you she wants her arse kicking for a stunt like this.’ Beth was willing Maggie to stop talking. ‘I've never laid a finger on the idiot, but if you get called back in an hour saying that I’ve hit her again, I probably have this time.’

‘And this girl, she’s what age?’

‘Seventeen,’ Beth said. ‘You know what they’re like at that age.’

‘I do, love, I’ve got one of my own.’ The officer closed her notebook and pocketed it. ‘Look, fair enough. We should probably speak to her again, but…’ She looked at her watch. ‘Just make sure she keeps her nose clean, yeah?’ She turned to Maggie. ‘And you're happy to just let the matter drop if we go back and give Miss Brown a good talking to?’

Maggie opened her mouth to speak, caught the look that Beth was desperately flashing her, and closed it again. She nodded her head. Beth assured the police that they needn't waste any more time on Jennifer and that she'd see that she was punished and didn't pull a stunt like that again. Maggie saw them out of the house and watched them drive away. Beth didn't like the look on her face one little bit as she came back into the room.

‘Right, you either tell me what the hell’s going on, and I mean everything, or you walk out of that door and we're finished. I've had enough of this, Beth. Christ, I've got a family to think about. What are you doing, bringing the police to my door like that? Now, sit down and start talking.’

‘I can't, Maggie.’ Beth realised that this was the last chance she had to save her friendship with Maggie and she was just going to let it go. ‘Believe me. You're better off not knowing.’

Maggie's voice was almost a whisper and she wouldn't look at Beth. ‘That's it then. Get out, Beth, and don't come to my house again.’ She didn't move from the sofa as Beth stood up to let herself out.

‘Bye, Maggie.’

Maggie drew hard on her cigarette after Beth had left. ‘I wonder,’ she said aloud, ‘Just how many Browns are there living in Ulverston? She brings the fucking police to my door and then just expects me to drop it. Not in this fucking lifetime. Little Miss deranged wants to play some games? Well she just invited in the big girls.’ Her hand was already reaching for the phone book.

On the way back home, Beth was glad that Maggie had severed all ties between them. Six months earlier she wouldn't have believed that anything could come between their friendship. Since the night she had killed Marc, Beth had worried that Maggie would come too close to the truth and be dragged into the mess that her life had become. So many times she’d wanted to go to her, but she couldn’t risk implicating her and her family. Now she felt that it was one less loose end to trip her up. Maggie was dangerous, and instead of feeling heartbroken about losing the one person who might have been able to help her, Beth only felt relief.