AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘You’re welcome.’ He stood up. ‘Have you been to see him yet?’
‘No. I’m still in two minds whether to or not. Do you mind me asking your opinion, if you think I should see him?’
‘That really is a question only you can answer. If I were in your shoes…’ He paused while he thought. ‘I have no idea. I’m sorry. He’s served his time in prison. I like to think that in the past twenty years he’s repented and is genuinely sorry for what he’s done.’
‘Even though he still claims his innocence?’
‘Maybe he really believes he is innocent, especially if he’s been reading all the reports about that drug.’
‘What do you think about the drug?’
‘I don’t know enough about it to form an opinion. However…’ He sat back down again on the edge of the chair. ‘Every brain reacts differently to that kind of medication. One person sues the company who made it, then others jump on the bandwagon, looking for a way to excuse their own behaviour. Unfortunately, we’re living in a time where people look to blame others for their actions and don’t take responsibility for what they do. Fenadine could have made Dominic react violently towards Stephanie. Or maybe he’s spent twenty years looking for a way out and finally found one.’ He stood back up again. ‘I really hope you find the answers you’re looking for.’ He held his hand out for me to shake.
‘Thank you so much.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He gave me a smile then turned away, buttoning up his coat as he left the coffee shop.
I watched as Joby Turnbull headed back to work with his head held high. I smiled at this remarkable man. He had been through a horrific ordeal at a very difficult age. He had attempted suicide but had managed to come through his nightmare and out the other side a better person. He was doing good work. He was settled in a loving relationship, and he seemed happy with life. He was the perfect example of someone facing adversity and pulling himself back from the brink to achieve greatness.
I was no closer to discovering the truth, but I had been given another snapshot of my dad’s behaviour while he was taking Fenadine.
I pulled my phone out of my bag and saw I had two missed calls from Mum. I felt tears prick my eyes. I really needed her right now. More than ever, I wanted my mum to put her arms around me and tell me everything would be all right.
The problem was, I didn’t think it would be.
Chapter Sixteen
I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the information I’d received from Joby Turnbull. Could everything Dominic had done be due to a drug, or did it just lie in his own dark personality? I needed some fresh air. I suddenly felt claustrophobic in the coffee shop, surrounded by chattering lunchtime drinkers and squawking machines.
It was another bloody cold day in Newcastle, but the sky was a brilliant blue, and the low sun was shining. I buttoned my coat up and walked aimlessly, hands thrust deep into my pockets. One problem I had was that only one person had had anything good to say about my father, and that was my mother. His own father wanted nothing to do with him. His mother had killed herself over what he’d done, and he had no friends, it would seem. Even an ex-neighbour had called him a bad egg. So who knew the real Dominic Griffiths? Did he suffer from multiple personalities? Was he a cold-blooded killer using the Fenadine scandal as a way to get out of prison early? Was he innocent, panicked when he found the body in the allotment shed and hid it, like he’d always claimed? If so, he’d suffered a massive miscarriage of justice.
I stopped walking and let out a huge sigh. I was really struggling, and I felt completely alone. This was too much for me to do on my own.
A possible answer lay across the road. I looked up at St Andrew’s Catholic Church. I’m not a religious person, and I’ve never even been in a church. I went into a mosque for a school project once, but that was the closest connection I’d had with religion. One issue I was wrestling with was whether I could actually forgive Dominic when he was released, especially as all the signs were indicating that he did actually kill Stephanie. And who knew more about forgiveness than the Catholic Church? In for a penny…
The church was a beautiful building from the outside. I walked through the iron gates and saw a gorgeous wooden door ahead. There was a plaque on the wall in honour of the church’s founder, Father James Worswick, whom the street the church stood on was named after. The background noise of traffic and twenty-first-century life faded away. I felt calmer just being within the grounds.
The inside was bright and airy with pure white walls and tall, beautiful, ornate stained-glass windows above the altar. The pews were empty. I walked slowly down the aisle, my footsteps resounding around the space. I looked about me, marvelling at the beauty of the place. It was so clean and welcoming and peaceful.
‘Can I help you?’
I almost jumped out of my skin. I hadn’t thought there was anyone there. I almost screamed out ‘Jesus’ but managed to bite my tongue at the last moment.
I hadn’t seen the priest come into the main part of the church. He’d obviously been alerted by my footsteps.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,’ he said, in a soft, smooth accent that I couldn’t quite place.
I was slightly disappointed. In my head, I had pictured Andrew Scott from Fleabag walking out. Unfortunately, this was no Hot Priest. He was tall and gangly. He had a warm smile, but his crooked teeth were off-putting. He wore Hot Priest’s costume, but it didn’t seem to fit him as well. Never mind. I wasn’t there for an illicit tryst.
‘Sorry, I was wondering if I could have a word.’ I sounded like I was shouting. My voice echoed around the space.
‘Of course.’ He held out a hand to offer me a seat at a pew.
I unbuttoned my coat and tentatively sat down. It wasn’t very comfortable, and I could have done with a cushion for my back.
‘I haven’t seen you here before, have I?’
I smiled. I wondered if he knew every single one of his parishioners. ‘No. I’m afraid this is my first time in a church,’ I said, pulling an apologetic face.
