My Dearest Kate

It seems to have been quite a while since we last talked to one another. Six years I believe. How time flies, as they say. I'm sorry to hear through the grapevine that you are ill and in a very poor way. I'd like to be able offer you a kind and friendly hand, but as we both know neither of us would want or believe that to be the case. So please, let me cut to the chase. You're going to die soon, and that lovely daughter of yours, and apparently mine, will need to find a new home. As I'm supposed to be her biological father I would be happy to provide her with a place to live. But as you know it is not cheap raising a kid in this day and age. I know that you were always the type that planned ahead and it wouldn't surprise me if you had a life insurance policy that was about to come to fruition. So, let's say I take the kid off of your hands when you're dead and the policy comes my way. We all get what we want. Or if that isn't what you would like, then I'm always open to offers. Please don't take too long deciding what to do. I really wouldn't like you to spend your remaining days in court fighting me over custody of what's her name? Laurie? Yeah I think that's it. I eagerly await your reply.

Roy, The kid's Daddy.

'Of all the shit's in the world this one had to float back up the toilet and back into my life, when I least wanted or needed it. It makes me feel physically sick to think of him even in the same room as Laurie' she felt nauseous.

There wasn't a chance in the world of him getting Laurie or any money from her. She would go to court to prevent him from having anything to do with her daughter, even if she had to use her last dying breath to achieve this. And if at the last she had to, she would kill the bastard and she would die happily in her cell knowing that Laurie was safe and that he was dead and unable to contaminate her daughter's life with the hate and violence as he had done to Kate.

She sat back heavily in her chair, screwed up the letter and threw it across the conservatory. Suddenly breathless she reached down for the oxygen mask. Why did life have to kick her when she was already down and out for the count? The vomit stayed down in the cold pit of her stomach, but the tears flowed fast and fierce as she sobbed loudly into her hands. This was how her grandfather had found her after he had dropped Laurie off at school. He comforted her as he straightened out the letter and read its appalling content. Hate and anger kindled within him. Growing hot and deep, it was soon ready to burst and wreak vengeance on the perpetrator of this abominable crime. He would make this bottom feeder pay dearly if he came anywhere near either Kate or Laurie. He knew the type. This scum of humanity wouldn't keep away. Not when there was a promise of a payday looming over the near horizon. He would harass and threaten her until he got what he wanted and would make the remaining months of Kate's life more unbearable than they were already going to be. Stirling knew what he had to do to stop this quickly in its tracks. As soon as he could he would have to see just how much he was worth and how fast he could gather up his few investments. Then he would go and make the bastard an offer he couldn't refuse. But again, he knew the type. This particular bastard would spend all the money he had blackmailed them out of and just keep coming back for more. Even after Kate had passed he would threaten to take Laurie away unless Stirling could come up with even more cash. Stirling would have to make contingency plans if all other persuasions failed.

The following week Stirling arranged a short trip to Bourneville, a small village swallowed up by the city of Birmingham, to the south of England. He was making a visit to the bastard, Roy Roxon. Stirling knew that the trip needed to be kept secret, so he dusted off an alternate identity that he kept for emergencies such as this. He had used it once or twice in the past, but that had been many, many years ago. He set to work, making plans. First he phoned David Freeston, a long-time friend up in Scarborough, on the North Yorkshire coast, and arranged for him to be his alibi for the weekend, which he was more than happy to do. He owed Stirling much. Then he arranged for Lenny, an out of work teenager from down the street, to take a day trip on the train with his girlfriend to Scarborough beach, with the understanding that he bring back the clipped train ticket stubs and that he told no one of the trip. For his efforts he would receive a tidy sum. Stirling told his neighbor, Mrs Thompson and Kate that he was taking a trip up to Scarborough to visit an old friend who had fallen on hard times and would be gone for several days. He packed a bag with everything he needed and a few items that he would probably need if he was forced back into a corner. He double checked that the manila envelope with all the money he had managed to scrape together was in his inside jacket pocket. Stirling worried about leaving the girls by themselves even for a few days. It made him regret the dire need for the trip. He needed someone he could trust to keep an eye on them and that would be his good friend and neighbor, Mrs Thompson. She agreed to look after Laurie at her house as she had done before. She would also drop in on Kate once a day for the three days he would be away, saying it would be a pleasure. She hadn't seen Kate in a while and it would be a nice for them to spend a little time together. With everything organized and his plans on track, he was ready to commit himself to whatever the outcome. After taking Laurie to school that morning and checking on Kate, he felt much more comfortable taking such a long trip away from them. He walked out into the street and up to his white ford focus and placed his bags in the boot. He started the engine and took one last look over his shoulder at Kate's house. He knew it was a risk not being there if the worst was to happen and he wasn't there to collect her. He also knew he had to deal with this situation now. He still felt apprehensive all the same. Stirling turned the car at the corner of the street and headed off towards the motorway.