Chapter 17
There are certain moments in life that remain with people no matter what, good or bad, happy or sad, moments that create ingrained images in people’s minds, that they replay over and over whether they choose to or not. Seeing the face of Joan Ferguson as the cell door opened and she saw who was gathered on the other side of it was just such a moment that Bea knew she would never be able to shake off. Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure everyone around her could hear it. Ferguson slowly stood up from the bed on which she had been sat. She didn’t blink as Jake walked in to the cell and used a mop to push the cctv cameras angle so that it was facing the wall. When that was done he walked back out in to the corridor, his eyes darting both ways, keeping an eye out that no one was coming. Ferguson remained staring at the 3 women now in front of her.
“Well well well. What do we have here? No visitors for weeks and then three at once, what luck I have.”
Allie tried to stand herself in front of Bea, determined to protect the woman she loved at all costs, but Bea wasn’t having any of it and shook her head at Allie, pushing her behind her instead. Ferguson had her eyes focused on Bea, she had barley glanced at the other 2 women in the room with her. Bea had always held her focus. Some would say it was an infatuation. She had wanted to form an alliance with Bea when she had first met her, impressed by the woman’s courage and values and she did everything in her power to get her on side. When that failed and she realised they would never conspire together and the power that Bea held over the other woman, she knew the only way to deal with Bea was to kill her. Although that did sadden her, it became her mission, her focus and her life when she was stuck behind those prison bars. Now she gave a lopsided smile to Bea, never did she think they would get the chance to be face to face again.
“Smith. Nice to see you again. I trust you are keeping well.”
Bea forced herself to stand up straighter, determined to not show any weakness to this woman, this monster.
“It’s not nice to see you,” Bea growled, the cold from the metal of the gun pressing into her back; where it was tucked in the waistband of her trousers. A constant reminder of what she was about to do.
Staring back at Ferguson, she felt herself growing stronger, this was the woman who had tried to kill Allie, and this was the woman who had caused her years of pain and anguish. And all of a sudden the fear she had felt at seeing her again was replaced with anger, anger and a need for revenge, a need for closure.
“We know what you’ve been doing, that you’re behind the attacks on me, that you’ve got Mercado and Stewart working for you, doing your dirty work.”
Fergusons face never changed expression, if she was shocked she didn’t show it. Her calmness and lack of reaction put Bea off kilter momentarily but she continued anyway;
“It looks like you’ve finally been outsmarted Freak, all of a sudden the tables have turned and you’re on your own.”
“Oh I’ve always been on my own Smith, that’s why I always win, never had to rely on anyone, never had anyone to let me down. It’s the best way. You’ll learn one day that no matter what you do, or what relationships you forge, at the end of the day you will be on your own. Oh it’s important to have people to help you and people you can use to your advantage, but at the end of the day you can only trust yourself.”
“That’s the opinion of a bitter and dried up woman who has no friends.” Bea snarled
“If you say so Smith, I see it more as the wise words of a woman who has been there and seen it all. After all I thought we were friends and look how you treated me, turning on me with a screwdriver. Not very friendly at all was it?”
“Ha, I knew you were delusional Freak but even I didn’t think you were that crazy. Friends? Us? Not in a million years, you’re a monster. You have hurt and killed so many people. People that I love and care for. You couldn’t even do the right thing and die quickly when I tried to kill you.”
“Yes well, I did think you would put up more of a fight than you did. Seems you aren’t as strong as you think you are Smith. Not physically or mentally. I saw it in your eyes that day, you were tired, and you’d had enough. I was doing you a favour, taking all the pain away from you, I was letting you go be with your daughter, after all that’s what you want isn’t it Bea? To be with Debbie again, you’d tried once before to join her but failed. I was helping you out. Life in here, growing old alone, all of your friends leaving you one by one, or a quick way out, straight to Debbie, straight to where your heart really lies. Don’t tell me that’s not what you want?”
Bea said nothing for a moment, hating the fact that Ferguson was talking about her daughter and saying things that did actually ring true for her.
“Don’t you dare say Debbie’s name, you have no right to even talk about her. And you have no idea what you’re talking about anyway. Trying to justify your actions will never make them okay. You’re pure evil and that will never change.”
Bea could feel Allie’s breath on her neck as she was pressed up tightly behind her, all the time giving her reassurance that she wasn’t alone in this. As if reading Bea’s mind, Ferguson smiled;
“So if not Debbie, now it must be young Allie here that holds your heart. It’s quite sweet really. Just a shame that it won’t last.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Bea growled, “Don’t bring Allie in to this.”
“Oh but Bea, Allie is part of this. After all, had it not been for Allies hotshot then you wouldn’t have come after me at all would you? The stakes are raised when you have someone to love. It becomes about them then doesn’t it? I saw it with you, walking around the prison with a heavy heart, slouched, uninterested in life, yet when Allie was about, you had a spring in your step, and you looked younger, carefree almost. You made it so easy for me Smith. I knew straight away that there was no fun in targeting you, it was much more fun to target Allie and then sit back and watch you fall apart. I miss those days. And it worked didn’t it? After the unfortunate hot shot, you came after me. It was unexpected, I will give you that. But you had nothing left to live for. I saw it in your demeanour straight away. I have to say though Smith, you are a feisty one. I didn’t think you’d survive those stab wounds. And then each time Mercado has tried to kill you, she too has failed. I’m slightly impressed.”
Fergusons face had a smirk on it and Bea reached behind and pulled the gun from her trousers. Momentarily Fergusons face changed before quickly regaining her composure.
“Anything else to say?” Bea enquired, “Only we are kind of on a tight schedule here.”
“Just do it,” she heard Kaz hiss at her from behind; “We need to get out of here.”
Before Bea had chance to do anything, Will Jackson rushed in to the cell, stopping in the doorway with an exasperated Jake behind him.
“I couldn’t stop him,” Jake said, “He came to find me and saw something was happening, this had nothing to do with me.” Jake said firmly looking at Kaz.
Kaz just nodded, her eyes focused on Will waiting to see what move he was going to make.
“Ah Mr Jackson,” Ferguson said, “Good of you to join us, I believe you've been in a similar situation with Smith before. Gun in hand, hostage situation, Smith out of control.”
“I’m not out of control,” Bea murmured, “I know exactly what I’m doing.”