First to Fall (22 page)

‘Oh, Mr. Connelly, thank God,’ came a breathless voice from behind.

Turning, Aiden was shocked to see Father West. The priest’s face was flushed and his hair dishevelled as if he had been running. He was clearly panicked about something.

‘If you have come to read Brandy the last rites you are too late.’ Aiden could not conceal the disgust in his voice. ‘I don’t know how you can even have the audacity to show up.’

He turned away from Father West, having nothing else to say, at least not here. Another time, another place, preferably when he had a good few beers in him, he would have gladly punched him square in the face, man of God or not.

‘Please, it is imperative that I talk with you.’

‘Sorry, Father, but I’m all talked out.’ Aiden began to walk off. He was already distressed enough about losing Brandy; he didn’t need any more aggravation.

‘Mr. Connelly, I must insist, it is urgent.’ He grabbed at the young lawyer’s sleeve, preventing him for walking away.

‘Urgent, is it, Father? Really? Like you even understand the meaning of the word! Get off me, I’ve somewhere to be, no thanks to you, you disgust me.’ He shrugged him off and carried on walking but the priest followed.

‘What I have to say to you, I’m afraid that it is a matter of life and death.’

‘Oh really?’ Aiden yelled dramatically. ‘Brandy is going to die because of
you.
You were too cowardly to testify for her and in a few minutes, she will be dead. I hope you are happy to let that sit on your conscience for the rest of your life. Maybe if you pray real hard God will forgive you, but I never will.’

‘I couldn’t take to the stand, I know I let you and Brandy down, that is why I’m here.’

‘Why couldn’t you take the stand? Were you too worried about the precious people of Avalon hating you? You were willing to sacrifice a life for your own reputation!’

‘That isn’t it!’

‘Then what the hell is it?’

‘I couldn’t testify because I cannot lie.’

‘What?’

‘Please, there is much I need to tell you, we haven’t got much time.’

Aiden found himself once again in the informal interview room, only this time he was sitting across from Father West instead of Brandy. The priest was clearly shaken by something, he was sweating profusely and his eyes were constantly darting around the room in a nervous manner.

‘Don’t waste my time; say what you need to say.’

Patrick West took a moment to collect himself. His entire world was about to change but he had no choice.

‘When you went to see Brandy, after I spoke with you, I told you to tell her to tell you everything, but you didn’t, did you?’ His voice was calmer now.

Thinking back on the times he had spoken with Brandy Aiden tried to recall what he had and had not said to her.

‘No, I don’t think I did. Why, what does it matter?’

Father West looked at Aiden with a strange desperation in his eyes, like an animal being led to the slaughter.

‘It matters because the poor girl has been harbouring a secret, a secret which she was willing to die for.’

‘What secret?’

‘She didn’t kill Brandon White.’

‘Then who did?’

‘I did.’

Silence settled between them as Aiden absorbed the huge bombshell which had just been dropped on him. It didn’t make sense.

‘Brandy told me herself that she killed him, how she did it.’

‘She is lying.’

‘Or maybe you are lying in some ill-judged attempt to clear your conscience for letting her down.’

‘No.’

‘If it’s true why didn’t you speak up sooner?’

‘I was afraid.’

‘And now?’ Aiden snapped, still struggling to believe what he was hearing.

‘I cannot let an innocent woman die. The truth needs to be told.’

‘OK then, tell me the truth.’

Patrick West thought back to that fateful night when his plan to help Brandy White escape her abusive husband had tragically backfired.

‘After she came to church, pregnant and beaten up, I decided to talk to Brandon. I thought it was the best thing to do at the time. He had always been a polite enough young man, he seemed approachable. I had hoped that I could make him see sense, help steer him back onto the right path. But I was wrong. He put on an act for me, apologising over and over, even crying, said that he was going to repent his awful ways and treat Brandy like a queen. Like a fool I believed him. Not long after, she was back in hospital because of him and she had lost her baby. I knew that I was to blame. If I hadn’t interfered…’

The priest shook his head sadly at what might have been.

‘When she got out of hospital I went round to see her. He had messed her up pretty bad and she was clearly terrified. I had to help her get out of there. Over the next couple of months I helped her save up a bit of money and found a suitable safe house a few states over. She could start a new life from there, finally be free of him. She told me he was going away one weekend and it seemed like the perfect time for her to make her move. She packed her bags and was all ready to leave. I went round to collect her as I was going to drop her off at the station and when I walked in Brandon had her pinned on the floor, his arms around her neck, he was killing her.’

‘So you attacked him?’

‘Not straight away. At first I tried to pull him off but he was so strong, much stronger than me. I was yelling at him, begging him to release her, but he wasn’t listening and her face was starting to turn blue. I had no choice.’

He dropped his head in his hands in shame.

‘I picked up a knife and launched myself at him; I lost myself in a mindlessfrenzy. How could he treat good, sweet Brandy like that? She had never hurt anybody. I resented him, loathed him and wanted to make him pay. I didn’t mean to kill him, I just wanted to hurt him but I got carried away. I stopped when Brandy began to scream. She was horrified. She looked at me like I was a monster.’

‘Then what happened?’

‘I calmed her down and we talked it through. I told her that I had only been doing God’s will, and then, Lord forgive me, I told her that she had to take the blame. I couldn’t go to jail for murder, I’m a priest, people look to me as their moral centre. It would destroy Avalon if word ever got out. Brandy is so devoted to her faith, and therefore me, that she agreed. I told her she would probably have to die and she was willing even to do that. I made it clear that no one was to know the truth. She waited until I was long gone before alerting the authorities, and you know the rest.’

Aiden couldn’t quite believe his ears. It was a lot of information to take in.

‘So Brandy is innocent?’

‘Completely.’

‘You were going to let her die for this’ He began to grow angry.

‘No, I couldn’t, that is why I came to see you. I know I should have told you sooner, but this will destroy everything.’

‘No, it will destroy you.’

‘I never meant to kill him. I just wanted to save her.’

‘Well, now is your chance to save her, by telling everyone the truth.’

‘So what happens now?’

‘I get to go be the hero and save the damsel in distress.’ Aiden’s hand was on the door handle when he turned back to Father West. ‘Just in case you are still not as good as your word, I taped our entire conversation.’

Time was running out as Aiden ran down corridors, dashing past confused guards. Brandy White was innocent; he wanted to cry out at the top of his lungs. Now, he could truly save her.

He had never run so fast before in his adult life. He nearly slipped on the slick flooring a number of times but he didn’t dare slow down. He was almost at the viewing room when he crashed straight into the back of Clyde White.

‘Easy, where’s the fire?’ He smoothed down his suit and shot Aiden an annoyed glare.

‘I need to talk to the –’

‘Woah, woah, you can’t go running around like a mad man. You almost knocked me over!’

‘Sorry, Mr. White.’ Aiden tried to catch his breath and compose himself.

‘So what’s the hurry?’

‘I can’t talk right now.’ He tried to pass the businessman but he obstructed his path. Clyde White’s eyes bored down upon him as if trying to extract information subliminally from his brain.

‘Please, Mr. White, I have urgent news regarding the case. I must speak with the proper authorities.’

‘Oh, give it up, Mr. Connelly. All this drama, it is just pathetic. You made a spectacle of yourself in the courtroom. You lost, deal with it.’

‘OK, good advice.’ He tried to pass again but Clyde White would not budge.

‘So what is this urgent news regarding my son’s death?’

‘I’ve found the killer.’

‘I know, glad you have finally accepted the truth. I’m looking forward to seeing her get what’s coming to her.’ An evil grin spread across his lined face.

‘I mean the real killer.’ Disregarding etiquette and manners, Aiden slammed into Clyde White, sending the smartly dressed man hurtling to the ground, as he ran past with just seconds to spare.

‘Stop, stop everything!’ He ran into the chamber where Brandy was being prepped. The morbid onlookers from the viewing room gasped in shock.

‘You fool, someone get him out of here, he just attacked me!’ Clyde White had caught up with him and was adding to the drama of the situation.

‘Let her go,’ he ordered the guards holding Brandy. She looked at him, her brown eyes full of confusion, then realisation began to dawn in her.

‘He told you?’ Her voice was soft.

‘Yes, he did.’ Aiden wanted to reach out and touch her, to take her in his arms and tell her that everything was going to be all right.

‘Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on here?!’ Clyde White yelled furiously.

‘Allow me to explain.’ Father West appeared in the doorway. He had gathered himself together and looked every inch the respectable priest.

‘Father West, thank God, maybe you can help sort out this madness, they are shitting all over the memory of my son!’

‘I’m sorry, Clyde.’

‘It’s all right, fFather, just sort this mess out.’

‘I’m sorry that I killed your son.’

Clyde White stared at Father West, too stunned to speak. The people in the viewing room looked on, speechless, their mouths agape. It was Aiden who broke the silence.

‘Brandy is innocent, she never did anything.’

The guards, also in shock, released their grip on Prisoner 929 and she ran over to Aiden and collapsed in his arms.

‘Thank you, thank you so much,’ she cried.

‘This is an outrage!’ Clyde White was still struggling to take everything in. He turned to Father West. ‘Why are you covering for her?’

‘I’m not.’

‘You are a man of God, you cannot kill somebody!’

‘I’m sorry, Clyde, but I’m human. I can and I did kill somebody. I killed Brandon White and I’m willing to accept the consequences.’ He turned to Brandy. ‘You are such a beautiful, wonderful creature. You were willing to risk it all for me, but I couldn’t let you do that. I hope you can forgive me.’

‘For Christ’s sake!’ Clyde White punched Father West square in the jaw and the priest toppled over to the ground. ‘He…he…’ He looked at Brandy, not quite knowing what to say. For so long he had seen her as the enemy, now to learn that she was also a victim was too overwhelming for him.

‘Brandy White, you are finally free,’ Aiden said to her. She clung to him with more ferocity and he felt like a hero.

‘I’m so glad you came to Avalon,’ she whispered.

‘Yeah,’ he mused. ‘Me too.’

Chapter Thirteen: Unlucky for Some

Avalon had changed and, to Aiden, so had the entire world. Gone was his idyllic safe haven away from the city, in its place stood a town where even the most respected and unassuming members of society could be harbouring the darkest of secrets. He realised with a heavy heart that deceit and corruption knew no bounds and could easily extend far beyond the reaches of the city and suburbia. He had been naïve to think that Avalon would be pure.

The perky female reporter found herself once more on the parking lot of Eastham Ladies Penitentiary with the cinder block castle as her backdrop.

‘The small community of Avalon is still reeling after the shock confession to the murder of Brandon White by local priest, Patrick West.’

Since the revelation that he was the killer no one had referred to him as Father West. Nothing had been done officially, but in the hearts and minds of his parishioners he had already been stripped of his title and was now just an ordinary man; a man who they now loathed and resented. How quickly the masses can turn.

‘Brandy White was originally found guilty of first degree murder, but now in a remarkable u-turn as a result of recent events, she is due today to walk away a free woman.’

Aiden smiled at the television screen. He was so happy for Brandy, she was finally free. She had the rest of her life to do whatever she wanted. Despite his glee that she was being released he felt strangely melancholic. He was draped across his sofa staring at the television set in front of him. In the kitchen Isla was baking cookies with Meegan. They had not really spoken about all that had happened. In all honesty, he was still trying to wrap his head around it all. More than anything he was confused by his feelings for Brandy. He loved her, that much was true. But he was a married man with a young daughter, what happens now that she is a free woman? Free to live and love whomever she chooses? Would she want to be with him? Would he want to be with her? He knew that at some point he would have to address both Brandy and his feelings but he was procrastinating.

‘Babe!’ he called towards the kitchen. ‘Could you bring me another beer?’

Trinity Church was in disarray. He had been predictably targeted by vandals. The words
Liar
,
Murderer
,
Devil
were scrawled across the outside walls. Patrick West had let everyone down, most of all himself. He sat in his cell with nothing but time. Time to think, time to cry, time to sleep. Just time. He’d gone over things time and again in his mind; it was all going perfectly, no one had suspected him in the slightest, he just needed to keep his mouth shut until after Brandy was dead. Then he would repent to the Lord and all would be forgiven. But his guilty conscience had been burning away at his soul. Brandy White was many things but she was no killer. Day by day it was destroying him as he stood by his decision to let her take the blame. In the end he knew he had to act, no matter how dire the consequence would be. He could still see their faces all too clearly when he told them he was the killer. They had once held him in such high regard, looked at him with loving, kind eyes, but now he was the embodiment of the devil. He understood their anger, their hatred. But at the same time, the only thing he regretted was not speaking out sooner. He had lost his faith a long time ago, he only carried on because he felt that he had a duty to the community and that people needed him. Killing Brandon had made him feel alive, more alive that he had ever felt in his entire life. He had never done anything remotely violent before and it scared him. Yet he was still glad that he had done it. As soon as Brandy had told him of the abuse and she lost her baby, he knew in his heart that Brandon deserved to die. It made him sick to think of him sitting there in church week after week with his father whilst poor Brandy was left at home, hiding her battered and bruised body away from the world. He wanted to expose Avalon’s angel for who he truly was. But now Father West was the monster, somehow Brandon was still the victim in all of this. At least Brandy was free of their hatred; that gave him some comfort.