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An awkward silence hangs over us once Paula’s ordered her food. She shifts in her seat and taps something on her phone, her long nails clacking on the screen. She’s clearly trying to avoid having any kind of conversation with me.
‘How’s Max doing?’ she asks eventually, sliding her phone into her bag.
‘He’s…he’ll be okay.’ I feel as though I’m talking about someone else.
She glances around, avoiding eye contact. ‘That’s good.’
‘I know you don’t have much time, Paula. Can I be blunt?’
She stares at me. ‘Yes.’
‘Stefan said he thought that things were a bit strained between you and Max at work lately. Did anything happen? Did Max do something to upset you?’
Again, silence wraps itself around us, heavy and uncomfortable. ‘Please, Paula,’ I urge, when she doesn’t reply. ‘You can tell me anything.’
She shifts in her seat, and finally looks at me. ‘I never wanted anything to do with this,’ she hisses. ‘I told Max to talk to you. It’s not me you should be having this conversation with.’
‘Just tell me. Please. It’s Max you’re angry with, not me.’
There’s a long pause before she speaks. ‘A few months ago, I’d gone out with friends after work. I’d, um, had a bit to drink, but I knew what I was doing. I remember everything. Clearly. I was leaving the bar when I realised I’d left my house keys in my desk drawer at work. I’d had such a hectic day trying to get things organised for a presentation Max had the next day, so I was a bit careless. I’d never normally have forgotten my keys. I’m usually on top of everything.’ She pours herself a glass of water. ‘When I got back to the office, I saw Max in the car park, sitting in his car. There was a woman in the passenger seat and it looked like they were fighting.’ Paula stops to take a sip of water. ‘She was…clawing at his face and he was grabbing her wrists, trying to stop her. And then suddenly they were kissing. I turned away. I couldn’t watch any more.’ She stares at me. ‘It made me feel sick, Hannah.’
More evidence. But still it cuts into me as if it’s the first time I’m hearing that Max has betrayed me. It has to be Alice. ‘What did she look like?’
‘I don’t know. It was dark. All I knew was that it wasn’t you. I think she had long hair but I couldn’t tell you what colour it was. I’m sorry, Hannah. This must be hard to hear.’
I don’t tell her that I’m getting used to it. That the more I learn about Max, the more immune I become.I just don’t want the father of my child to be a murderer.
‘Did you say anything?’
‘Not at the time. I was shocked. I went inside, found my keys, and tried to pretend I hadn’t seen anything.’
‘Stefan said you were off with him, and that something had changed between you.’
‘That’s true. After a few days I had it out with Max. I couldn’t keep pretending nothing had happened. I told him I’d seen him. He begged me not to tell you, and promised he’d talk to you himself. But days went by and he kept making excuses for not having talked to you yet. And I realised he was never going to. He was a coward. I could never look at him the same after that. I asked for a transfer but they wouldn’t move me. Stefan said I was an integral part of the team and Max needed me. And all I could think was that I don’t want to work for someone who could do that to his wife and child.’ She lowers her voice, stares at the water in her glass. ‘It’s exactly what my husband did to me.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I offer. ‘And thank you for talking to me.’ I stand up. The walls are caving in on me and I need to get out of here.
‘Wait, what about your coffee? It’ll be here in a minute.’
‘You have it. Sorry, I need to go.’ I turn and head towards the door.
‘This hasn’t been a shock to you,’ she calls. ‘You knew, didn’t you? What’s going on?’
I keep walking and don’t look back.
ELEVEN
Putney Community Group
Public Group, 10.7K members
Anna Field:Does anyone know what’s happening with the Alice Hughes case? I can’t find any info and I want to know that the police are actually doing something. I live right near the hotel and haven’t been able to sleep since it happened. What are the police actually doing?
Comments:
Mark Taylor:Poor you – not being able to sleep. A woman is dead! Get a grip! And as for the police – let them just do their job. Just because you don’t hear anything, doesn’t mean they’re not doing anything.
Anna Field:No need to be nasty. I was just saying. As a woman, I’m extremely worried.
