Coming Home – Shirley

2016
Wheathampstead

As she looked over the slightly overgrown ground, Shirley Xavier smiled, picturing in her mind the building that had once stood there, the place she had grown up in, the place she had called home until that fateful day when she was eighteen.

Her life had changed, in a way she had thought for so long as irrevocable, after that day – and she had only been back here twice since then. Once was to say goodbye to her father. The second time…

“Penny for them?”

Shirley smiled as she turned and saw Catriona Cuthbertson standing next to her. “Letting the memories come back,” Shirley said as she looked around.

“Good ones or bad?”

“Both – does that sound strange?”

“Not really,” Cat said as she looked at the site, “I mean, your childhood was here, and I have memories of this place too, but…”

“It’s that day that keeps coming back, isn’t it – the day we both had to come here after Hannah called.”

“Yeah – the day Xavier Manor burnt down…”

1996
May Bank Holiday
London

They made a striking couple as they left the Inns of Court – the blonde haired woman, wearing the “uniform” of a dark jacket and skirt with a white blouse, the heels on her pumps a sensible height, and the tall fair haired man wearing a suit with an open necked shirt underneath. The way he bore himself, however, suggested he was a military man.

“Why they insisted you had to come into the office, Cat, I’ll never understand,” he said as they walked into the city, “after all, the courts do not sit today.”

“That’s rich, coming from you,” she said as she giggled, “when was the last time you actually had a public holiday and you were not on duty?”

“I withdraw that comment,” her partner said as they both laughed.

“Seriously, Jimmy, that could not wait – and we’re in plenty of time to meet them.”

“I still don’t quite understand why we meet them in quite places – would it not be better out in the open?”

“She’s my oldest friend, Jimmy – and she likes for her own reasons to keep her life private. Just the fact we have some time with her, here is a miracle in itself,” Catriona Cuthbertson said as she held her husband’s hand and they made their way towards the river, then crossed to the South Bank and approached one of the small cafes under the National Theatre.

“Well, she should be around here somewhere…”

“Hello, Cat, Jimmy.”

Both of them turned round as they heard the deep, rich voice to see a couple walking towards them, the woman’s dark hair falling over the shoulders of her tailored trouser suit, her partner wearing a casual jacket over a blue shirt and smart jeans.

“THERE you are, Shirley,” Cat said as she walked over and hugged the new arrival, taking her by surprise as the two men shook hands.

“Robert – how are you keeping?”

“I’m... We’re good,” he said with a smile, “yourself?”

“Contemplating if it is time to retire from active service, if truth be told – not an easy thing to do.”

“Indeed,” Shirley said as she kissed Jimmy on the cheek, “well, shall we go in?”

“You know,” Jimmy said as he wiped his chin, “one of these days we have to visit you at your home.”

“I don’t think that is possible – unless Robert drags me out of the office, I tend just to sleep when I am not at work.”

“Besides.” Robert said with a grin, “trust me – you don’t want to see what is effectively a bedsit. Not to say she does not need to take breaks – but she needs someone to remind her.”

“That I can believe,” Jimmy said with a grin – and then a glance at Cat as he felt the kick on his shins.

“Enough shop talk,” Cat said as she looked at Shirley, “this is that rare thing – a day off for all three of us. By the way, I was speaking to Hannah yesterday.”

“Hannah White?” Shirley smiled as she said “so what is she doing these days?”

“Hannah? She’s an investigative reporter for the BBC – that’s why she called me. She’s looking into allegations of possible mistreatment in care homes, and she wanted my advice as to the legal requirements.”

“Bit out of your usual modus operandi, isn’t it?” Robert said with a grin.

“A favour for a friend…”

The Headquarters of Madame X
Later that night

“So, are you glad I accepted the invitation to go out to lunch,” Robert said as he sat beside Shirley.

“I am actually – but my work must always come first, as you well know,” Shirley said as she looked at him. “I wonder where exactly Hannah is looking at issues?”

“Why? We don’t have any controlling issues in care homes, do we?”

“Apart from the BA one, no – and those are charitable donations,” Shirley said as she swirled the glass, and then heard the telephone ring. Walking over, she picked up the handset and said “Hello?

“Cat – what’s the problem, want to change our tennis lesson…

“I see – yes, I can understand that. Look – there’s a country pub I know. How about we meet there for a drink tomorrow, about two?

“Good – you bring her, and I will see you there.”

“Problem?”

“I’m not sure,” Shirley said as she put her finger on the set, and then dialled another number.

“Madeline? I need you to be here early tomorrow, and bring your car…”

Tuesday

The pub sat next to a canal and river, quiet, with a sign like so many country pubs had – an unusual one, but then many were. As Maddie pulled up in the car park, she got out and looked round, the wind blowing her auburn hair around.

“Okay – coast clear,” she said as she opened the door and Shirley got out, looking round before they quickly walked in. The landlady looked at them and nodded as they made their way to a side door, removing their coats when they entered the small anteroom to reveal their black pants and jumpers.

“Okay, so we’re meeting Catriona Crawford and one other person here,” Maddie said as she poured some wine into two glasses, “why here and why now?”

“To forestall some awkward questions,” Shirley said with a smile as she accepted the glass, “and, believe it or not, to meet a school friend.”

“Another one? Shirley, next thing you know you’ll be attending the Footscray reunion!”

“Unlikely, but I get the point,” Shirley said as the door opened and Cat came in, casually dressed, with a second woman. She was shorter than the other three women, and wore a black leather jacket over a white jumper and a pair of black trousers.

“Shirley? Is that really you,” she said as Cat closed the door.

“It is, Hannah – my personal assistant, Madeline Moore. Madeline, this is Hannah White, a fellow graduate of Footscray Lodge.”

“Pleasure,” Maddie said as they shook hands, while Cat poured two drinks and handed one to Hannah. “So, how can we help you today?”

“Just give me a moment – when Cat told me you were alive, but not to tell anyone, I had one question in my mind Shirley.”

“Why?”

Hannah nodded as Shirley said “I ask you to accept my word, that in my line of business anonymity is important. My business is now focused on discrete import and export, and is private – we submit tax forms, and pay our taxes, but everything else is confidential. Keeping my life private assists with that which is why Catriona, I am sure, asked you to keep this knowledge to yourself as well.”

“Yeah, I can understand that,” Hannah said, “so I’m glad we were able to meet today. Would you be offended if I got straight to why we need to talk?”

“I would always prefer that,” Shirley said quietly as Hannah took out a notepad. “I’m going to take notes – but no personal reference. Acceptable?”

“Of course.”

“Cat, I believe, told you I was researching rumours of issues at care homes?”

“She mentioned it yes – but my company does not manage or own any care homes, so why are we meeting?”

“Because,” Hannah said with a sigh, “one of the establishments we are looking at is Xavier Lodge.”

Maddie and Shirley glanced at each other, before Shirley said “my childhood home? I have not visited it since my father passed – his will donated the building to a charitable trust. I would be surprised to hear there were problems there.”

“Well,” Hannah said as she consulted her notes, “eighteen months ago it was bought by a group called Restful Holdings – the residents in situ at the time of the sale were relocated to other homes, and now it seems to be very exclusive.”

“In what way,” Shirley asked quietly.

“Only a few residents at a time - and it seems to specialise in end of life care. Those who go in tend to leave in coffins.”

“I understand,” Shirley said quietly, “but I truly had no control over that sale. So why approach me?”

“Well,” Hannah said as she handed a list to Shirley, “when I look at the most recent people to be admitted there, I start to see a pattern. All were sent there by a member of the family, all died, all were cremated, and…”

“and,” Shirley said as she raised an eyebrow, and then passed the list to Maddie.

“Two things – their wills left sizable amounts to the holding company, as well as the relatives who admitted them, and then there is the curious thing.”

“There is a curious thing?”

“Medical records are non-existent – no medical staff outside the home staff are allowed in. It just does not seem right.”

Shirley nodded slowly before she said “I truly wish I could help, but as I said, I do not live there anymore. But – if you wish – I could make some enquiries through my solicitors, mention I have heard some disturbing facts about the current owners, see if that gets any response. Beyond that, I am not sure what other help I can publicly give to you.”

Hannah nodded, before she said “any help will be welcome. So come on- what happened to you?”

“I grew up,” Shirley said as she sipped her drink.

As they left, Cat whispered to Shirley “what about private help?”

“Leave it with me,” Shirley replied as quietly as Cat went with Hannah, then she looked at Maddie.

“Call the office, I want a full report on the current owners in two hours, and also details on the estates of the names on that list.”

Two hours later
Madame X’s Headquarters

“Come,” Shirley said as she heard the knock on the door, looking up as Maddie came in.

“What do you have for me,” she said as she put her pen down.

“Let’s start with the deaths,” Maddie said as she sat down and opened a file, “the wills lodged with the Records office are exactly as Hannah said – and they are almost identical in wording. Forty per cent of the disposable estate to go to the owners of the home, the remainder split between one or two relatives. There is something disturbing, though.”

“Oh,” Shirley said quietly, “and that is?”

In all cases, at least one of the relatives subsequently left the country, and had not been heard from since. Their bank accounts emptied after the will was probated, and they just vanish into thin air.”

“I agree, that is curious,” Shirley said quietly, “what about other relatives?”

“We talked to one or two of them this afternoon – they were also surprised when their relatives disappeared, but thought they had just decided to move somewhere else. I got the distinct feeling family bonds were not that strong on any of them.”

Nodding, Shirley said “so, what about the owners?”

“Restful Holdings? Private company, chief shareholder one Dennis Compton. Here are the details.”

She handed Shirley a sheet and watched as she glanced down it.

“Not a lot on the record about Mister Compton.”

“No – we’re digging deeper,” Maddie said as the telephone rang. Shirley looked at it, picked up the handset and said “Hello?

“She’s what?

“I’ll meet you there – where’s Charlie?

“Okay – Robert will drive me down. Wait there,” Shirley said quietly as she ended the call.

“Catriona?”

“Yes – Hannah White has phoned her to say she’s going to trick her way into Xavier Lodge, as a potential client. I need to…”

“go,” Maddie said quietly, “I’ll communicate when we know more.”

9pm
Xavier Lodge
Wheathampstead

It was a strange feeling for Shirley as she made her way up the darkening driveway. The last time she had being on this drive was when she left the lodge after her father’s funeral, with Maddie and Sandy, under their guise of the nursing team that had tended her father in his last days.

Memories came back to her of those last days – once he had recovered from the shock of seeing his dead daughter alive by his side, Uncle John watching. They had talked of the family, of their history – and how his qualifications as a doctor had covered the real purpose of the clinic he ran from the lodge.

Shirley had known, or at least suspected, what that purpose was, but the years under His control had opened her eyes, and she recognised his benevolence. She had never had the privilege of knowing her great-grandmother, but when he talked of Annie Xavier, and what she had done in particular in the war years, then she had fully realised her inheritance – and why he had drawn up his will the way he had, to allow her to build on what she could have.

“Penny for them?”

Shirley swung round as she saw Catriona standing behind her. “Don’t do that,” she hissed, “and where’s Charlie?”

“Waiting at the end of the lane with Robert – still hate the look of the place?”

Shirley turned back to look at the white stone building they could now see at the end of the driveway, before she said “I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of the architect, put it that way. Something strike you as funny?”

“The lack of lights in the rooms for a rest home?”

Shirley slowly nodded as she said “and only a few cars outside – any of them belong to Hannah?”

“The Ford Fiesta – blue,” Cat said quietly, as the front door of the lodge opened, and two men wearing white tops and dark trousers came out. They watched as they walked towards the Fiesta, and then get in before it drove off.

“Damn.”

Shirley slowly nodded as she said “well, this complicates matters.” She then took her mobile phone out and said “Madeline – what do you have for me?

She glanced at Catriona, before she said “are you sure?

“No – do nothing until I call you. And my thanks.”

“What’s wrong?”

“We need to get inside – now,” Shirley said quietly, “let me show you the rear entrance….”

She headed back into the woods, Catriona following as they walked through the trees. Both women were wearing dark jumpers and pants, as well as walking boots, Shirley moving determinedly forward.

“What did Maddie say?”

“Dennis Compton – it’s an alias.”

“Oh – so who is he….”

“His real name is Dennis Crawley.”

“Crawley? You’re joking – any relation?”

Shirley merely nodded as they came out to the rear of the Lodge, the lawns in darkness. Cat was about to walk out when Shirley held her back, and pointed to the building.

“Do you see them?”

Cat focused on the dimming light, and then saw the two men walking up and down – with guns in their hands.

“This is not a rest home, is it?”

“I think not,” Shirley said quietly, “follow me.”

They watched the men for a moment, before Shirley ran across the lawn, Cat following as she slipped down a recess and waited. The two men walked past, before she pressed on one stone, and a door noiselessly opened inwards.

They walked quietly in, the door closing behind them as Shirley took out a pen light and shone it round.

“A secret passage?”

“Yeah – I found it when I was a young teenager, and I used to go into the private clinic to watch that way.”

“Your father was a kidnapper?”

“He was – and yeah, I should have asked myself why the doors were always locked, but I never did. Have a look.”

She indicated a pair of small holes in the wall, Cat looking out into a corridor with various doors on the opposite side. “Okay – fair enough. So where are we going?”

“My father’s office. Come along…”

“What do you think is happening?”

Robert looked at Charlie and said “I wish I knew. Shirley hasn’t been back here for years, but this Hannah White must have been a really good friend for her to drive here at no notice at all.”

“She must be – you know, she doesn’t talk much about her schooldays. That’s where she met Cat, right?”

Charlie nodded as he said “they were like sisters there – and even now, it’s almost as if they can read each other’s minds…”

The office was dark, but the crack of light opened and disappeared quickly, before Shirley moved across the room and turned on a desk light. “It hasn’t changed much,” Catriona said as she looked round the dark panelled walls, the bookcases full of learned tomes.

“Yeah, it does look the same,” Shirley said quietly, before the main light went on and they both turned round.

“Well, well – two friends of that snoopy reporter?”

The man who was standing in the doorway was wearing a three piece suit, but both women recognised the two men with him – and saw the guns in their hands as he continued “I recognise one of you – Catriona Crawford, QC, but you are a stranger to me. Allow me to introduce myself – Dennis Crawley. You are?”

“A friend of Hannah’s – where is she?”

Crawley smiled as he said “you can join her – I need to prepare for our latest client. Make sure they have a good and secure seat as will.”

“Move,” one of the two men said as Cat and Shirley raised their hands, and walked in front of them, across the hallway, and down a set of stairs before they were forced into a control room.

“Hshhht, nhtuhhswhl.”

They saw Hannah White there, sat in what resembled a dentist’s chair, her arms and leg strapped to the heavy wood with leather straps. A red ball was between her lips, the black straps round her head.

“Hannah – what did they do to you?”

“What we’re doing to you now,” the man said as both women were forced to sit down in matching chairs, watching as their forearms were strapped down to the wooden armrests, their ankles to the legs of the chair.

“Hannah, are you all right,” Shirley said as she looked over, “apart from being scared?”

She slowly nodded as she watched her old friends being ball gagged like her, before the men stood back, watching the screen that was facing the three women. They could see two operating tables, before tow more men dressed like their captors brought in a woman in her early thirties. She was dressed in a white robe, but white tape was also pressed down over her lips, and she was thrashing around.

It was a futile gesture, however, as the two men strapped her down to the table, her head moving from side to side, her eyes wide open in fear before she looked to the door.

Dennis Crawley walked in, helping an older woman who was leaning on two sticks. She looked at the captive, and mouthed something before she was helped to lie down. Shirley’s eyes narrowed as she found herself unable to look away – she could hear the breathing of the other two women, but not much else.

Dennis put his hand on the older woman’s forehead, her eyes slowly closing as the younger woman looked over, shaking her head and to Shirley’s eyes obviously trying to say something. Dennis looked over and put his free hand on her head, closing his eyes before he started to speak.

The picture had no sound, so none of the three captive women could actually hear what he was saying – but they could see the eyes of the captive woman open ever wider as a blue glow started to appear round her – a glow which to their eyes started to envelop Dennis as well, and then the other woman.

“Hmmhlhrdd,” Shirley whispered as both women started to change – the younger one seemingly growing older, and the older one younger, as Dennis continued to talk. Eventually, it looked as if the two women had changed beds – except the captive one now looked old, her head twisting round before her eyes suddenly opened wide, and stayed open.

“Nhhhh.”

Shirley and Cat looked at Hannah, a tear running down her cheek as the old body was removed and carried away, Dennis helping the younger woman to stand up and walk out of the room with him. The two men guarding them snorted as they walked out, the screen still showing the two beds.

“What’s wrong?”

Robert looked at his watch, and said “time’s up. Shirley said if she did not contact me by now, I was to go in.”

“I’m coming with you,” Charlie said quietly.

“I guessed as much,” Robert said as he opened the car door, and retrieved a gun from the glove compartment. “Need some fire power?”

“To save Cat from whatever mess she is in now? I came prepared,” Charlie said as he showed Robert the service revolver, the other man nodding as they started to walk up the driveway.

Cat looked over as Shirley closed her eyes, breathing in and out before she twisted her left arm round. She wondered what her old friend was doing, before she saw the strap loosen and her arm slip out. The dark haired beauty looked at her and put a finger to her lips, before she released her other arm and unbuckled the gag from her mouth.

“that’s better,” she whispered as she let the ball drop to the ground, and reached down, unbuckling her legs before she stood up and went to Hannah. As the ball was eased from her mouth, Hannah gasped before she whispered “Oh God, Shirley, Cat – did we just see…”

“I don’t know what we just saw,” Shirley said quietly, “and if I am being honest, I don’t want to know. Did you recognise them?”

“I recognised the woman – she was one of the people I interviewed, who has just agreed to having her mother moved here.”

“Hthhrmhfhrhrsrhghst?”

Hannah looked at Catriona, before Shirley removed her ball gag, her old friend coughing before she said “Hannah, who initiated the move?”

“Her mother…” Hannah then blinked as she said “don’t tell me…”

“Then I won’t,” Shirley said, “but this ends now.” She released her two friends, before she looked at her watch. “The backup should be on the way up to the house now, but that my home should be used for this… We’ve got to get out of here, raise the alarm.”

“Agreed,” Catriona said as she slowly stood up, “but how do we get out of here?”

“We don’t – they let us out,” Shirley said quietly, before she picked up a tray, and threw it at the screen, the glass shattering as sparks flew out. Thin strands of smoke started to rise from the screen, as Shirley pulled drawers open – and then handed the other two women a surgical mask.

“Put these on,” she urged, “and then we wait…”

“We do advise discretion until the execution of the will is completed,” Dennis said as he stood with the young woman, “but you will be notified of the sad passing of your mother tomorrow.”

“I understand,” she said as she left with one of the other men, Dennis smiling as he said “right – our uninvited guests…”

The fire alarm made him look round, before he said “where?”

“The viewing room.”

“Check it out…”

The two armed men ran to the door and unlocked it, throwing it open and running in – then falling to the floor as Shirley and Catriona hit them on the back of the head with the fire extinguishers. Hannah stared at them before Catriona took her by the arm and said “come on” through the mask. All three women walked quickly out of the room, looking up and down before Shirley said “this way.” They ran along, Shirley quickly opening other doors before they reached a set of stairs, and ran up.

As the car passed them, Charlie and Robert started to run up the driveway, seeing the lack of lights in the windows.

“What do you think,” Robert said quietly as they ran to the main doors.

“I have no idea,” Charlie said as he looked round, “knock on the front door?”

The flames were now licking out from the shattered screen, the fire growing stronger as the two men lay on the floor – and the heat reaching a set of gas canisters against the wall.

“Which way do we go now,” Cat said as they reached the end of the corridor.

Shirley shook her head, as she said “I don’t know” and then they heard the explosion.

“What was that,” Hannah said as she turned round, and saw the orange glow behind her.

“Crap,” Shirley whispered – and then she saw a woman standing down one of the corridors, dressed in a grey cardigan and dress, smiling as she beckoned to her. She looked like a smaller version of Shirley, and smiled as she looked at them.

“This way,” she shouted as the three women ran towards the figure, the light growing brighter behind them.

“Do you hear that?”

Charlie nodded as they head the alarm, and Robert pulled the door open. Both men going in as Dennis Crawley turned round.

“More visitors – but you can die just as easily,” he said as he aimed a gun at them – and then fell as Charlie fired his pistol.

“CAT!”

“SHIRLEY!!”

Both men looked round as a door opened, and Cat and Shirley came out, Hannah between them. “Help her,” Shirley said as Robert came over, lifting Hannah in his arms as Charlie helped Catriona. She walked over to where Dennis was on his back, looking into his lifeless eyes – and then saw them start to glow before the flames erupted from the open doorway.

“SHIRLEY – RUN!”

She turned and ran out of the open doorway, joining the others as they ran across the front lawn – and then falling to the ground as the windows exploded outwards, the fire now taking control of the lower floors as other staff members ran out.

“What happened,” Charlie said as he looked at Catriona.

The three women looked at each other, Hannah shaking her head as the fire started to consume the building.

“Later,” Catriona said quietly as Charlie saw the bruises on her arms, “just get us out of here…”

2016

“I remember the coverage of the fire,” Shirley said as she looked across the ground, “and the fact the cellars were burnt out as well. Hannah never mentioned what happened in her report – and Maddie’s research helped the authorities to shut down the shell company Crawley had set up.”

“But all those people – what he did…”

“I know – but the fire cleansed the ground, removed the stain.”

“Yes, it did.”

Both women turned to see the same woman who had been in the corridor standing behind them - but she looked like a shade, a pale shadow.

“You – who are you,” Shirley asked quietly.

“Well,” she said with a smile, “I guess I really am a Ghost now…”

Shirley swallowed as she said “Annie Xavier?”

“Oh yes – I am glad I could save you both then, and glad this place will see life again. You have come a long way, Shirley Xavier – and your happiness will only grow greater. Maisha has prepared you for what is to come.”

“Maisha – prepared me how?”

“By letting you become a mother – as you will see…”

The figure faded as Catriona and Shirley looked at each other…

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