Chapter 5
It was early afternoon a few days later. Apart from Allie and the prison guards Bea hadn’t had many visitors, so her and Allie both looked up in surprise when the door to the private hospital room opened and the governor Vera entered the room with the guard on duty that day Mr Jackson.
Vera stopped at the end of the bed and gave a small smile. “Bea, Allie, good to see you, you both had us worried for a while. How are you both feeling?”
Allie looked from Vera to Bea and gave a small smile, “Yeah, we’re doing okay, better than we were anyway,” Beas focus remained on Vera, this was their first time together since Bea and Vera had hatched their plan to set up the freak. Bea knew that Vera was aware by now that she had left the phone on her bed and that she had no intention of making Ferguson pay the legal way. No one had said anything to her about it though and she had been wondering about what had happened back at the prison since her altercation with the freak. As if she could read her mind Vera gave a wry smile and walked round to an empty chair the other side of the bed from Allie.
“I can see from your expression that you have a few questions that need answers. I thought you would, hence my visit. We have a lot to sort out. “Vera held Beas gaze.
In a voice that seemed too quiet and frail for the usual fiery redhead she finally spoke, “I’m…I’m sorry, I never, I mean I did, but I never wanted to get you in any trouble…. I just couldn’t see another way out, I thought Allie was… well you know and everyone I have ever loved was dead as well and it’s all her fault… I just needed to finish it. I needed to find peace.”
Vera nodded, “I know and for what it’s worth I do understand. I was pretty angry at you to start with Smith because you did drop me in it, but the more I thought about it, the more I understood why you did what you had to. It’s just, well, I’m sorry to say, it’s not over yet.”
Bea shook her head, “What do you mean?”
Vera looked down at the bed not having the courage to retain eye contact with Bea. “Ferguson is back at Wentworth. She’s in isolation and this time she will be staying there. But you are going to have to take the stand against her Bea. The trial is in 8 weeks. We need you to go against her once more. This time we need to make sure she’s gone for good!”
Bea shook her head, opening her mouth to speak but finding words were failing her, she tried again to no avail. This felt like another blow to her already damaged stomach and knocked the wind out of her shaky sails. Allie saw Bea faltering and took her hand in both of hers.
“No way, not a chance. She’s not doing it. Someone else can take her on; we’re done.” Allie kept her eyes fixed on Bea as she spoke, making sure that Bea was in agreement with her. When she small the slight curve of her lips, she knew she had spoken for both of them with her words. She knew Bea was tired, hell she’d had enough before Allie had been given a hot shot and Bea stabbed, she couldn’t take anymore. Hearing Vera’s voice brought her back from her silent communication with Bea.
“Look Allie, Bea. I know this is hard, I do. And I appreciate that you can’t take anymore. But what choice do we have. If you don’t testify she’ll get off, she’ll claim self-defence and walk away and then what. Then all of this will have been for nothing. Do you want all this pain and heartache to stand for nothing, because that’s what it will mean?”
Will stood back from the group of 3 women. The strength of those in front of him was humbling, particularly from Bea. And he could see that this was perhaps a step too far. But he knew that she could do it. He knew that each time she was knocked down she just kept getting back up. They had spoken about it once and Bea had told him that she kept the phrase in her head, that if you are knocked down 7 times you get back up 8 times. Will had kept those words with him these last couple of years and he felt he should provide some support at this difficult time.
“Look girls, this is none of my business and I understand that I have no idea how you are both feeling and what you have both been through, but I agree with Vera on this. You need to keep fighting and see this through. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You know that right Bea?”
Bea looked at Will and felt herself at a loss. She knew what he was saying and she knew what Vera meant. But agreeing to take on the freak again, felt like the start of something that could ultimately end with someone dying like so nearly had happened last time. She felt like they had ridden their luck too many times and if they pushed it again, the luck would surely run out.
“I don’t know if I can… I feel like she’s too good, too good at winning. She always manages to come out on top. Why will it be any different this time? And what if this time she manages to kill someone, she’s done it too many times now. It’s a miracle that me and Allie are here… And I’m not risking Allies life again for anyone. Not a chance.”
Vera shook her head, “You won’t be. I’ve told you, she’s in protection and she’s not coming out, then when her trial is over there is already an agreement in place that she’ll be transferred to another prison.”
“She’ll claim self-defence anyway everyone knows it was my screwdriver so I don’t have a chance, then there’s the phone I left behind.”
Vera shook her head and leaned her face into Bea’s ear. “The phone was found next to you Bea; you must have dropped it in the fight. Unfortunately, it hadn’t recorded anything, but it was definitely there.”
Beas eyes darted to Vera’s face as she pulled away from Bea, raising her eyebrows at her, “Your memory is probably just hazy still at the minute Smith, don’t worry about it.”
Bea suddenly had a new found respect for Vera. Hell as governors went she kind of respected her anyway. They had a good understanding going and had helped each other out in the past. Bea understood now just what Vera had done in trying to make sure Ferguson paid for her crimes. She knew she had left the phone on the bed but Vera had covered for her. Maybe she could do this after all. Maybe she could finish what she started and then her and Allie could concentrate on each other without worrying when the next hit on their lives would be.