Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again Book 2) by M Comley (best books under 200 pages txt) 📕

“I’m sorry, Penny, I’m not forcing you to do anything. However, if there’s something we should know, it would be better for you to be open with us.”

Her hand dropped to reveal yet more tears. “It’s hard. I can’t go through that again.”

“Go through what? Are you telling us that your father…abused you?”

Penny gasped and glanced around her to see if anyone had overheard what Katy had said. “I can’t say for sure. I’ve truly blocked my childhood out. Something happened when I was small, and I can’t for the life of me tell you what it was. I used to be very withdrawn as a child, saw several psychiatrists and counsellors throughout my formative years. Maybe that’s bullshit, about the psychiatrists, I mean, they came later in life. I know I was forced to see a few counsellors when I was at school.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you think your mother’s death hit you harder than it affected Nadia? Did she go through the same tussle as a child?”

“No, I don’t think she ever melted down, not like I did.”

“Do you remember why you had the meltdown? What specific incident led to it?”

She shook her head. “No, not now, maybe in time it will come to me.”

“What age did you leave the family home?”

“On my sixteenth birthday. I ran away to make my own life in this world. It was foolish of me, I realise that now, but at the time I thought it was the only option open to me.”

“Did Nadia try to dissuade you?” Katy asked, her heart full of sadness for the woman sitting in front of her.

“Yes, I put the plan into action months before. I tried to make her see sense and pleaded with her to come with me. She refused to leave him, said it would destroy him if we both left. I wasn’t prepared to stick around…”

“And be abused,” Katy finished off for her.

“Yes. I lived on the streets for a few years until I eventually got my shit together and found my husband. We’ve been married for five years, and I couldn’t be happier. A vast contrast to the time I spent with my father, the only other dominant male in my life thus far.”

“You had no other family members around you as you were growing up?”

“No. If there were any, they never visited the house. Maybe that was their choice. I fear it was more at my father’s request. He insisted he didn’t need anyone else, as long as he had his daughters around him and the odd whore to screw now and again.”

“Whore? Are you telling us these women were likely sex workers?”

Her shoulders nudged upwards. “I don’t know. I just presumed they were because they popped up out of nowhere and then disappeared, never to be seen a second time. Not that we ever met them, of course. I’m sorry, I’m not making any sense.”

“I think I understand what you’re saying. They were one-night stands, most of them, right?”

“Correct.”

“I’m sorry to have to press you, but can you tell us what form the abuse was?”

Penny paused, fidgeted in her seat for several moments, and then heaved out a sigh. “Like I say, I think I’ve blocked that side of my life out. All I know is that my existence with him was fraught and filled with unhappiness, that’s all I can tell you.”

“It’s okay. The last thing I want you to feel is uncomfortable answering my questions. Let’s leave it there for now. Will you be okay?”

“I think so. I’ll ring Andy in a moment, he understands me better than anyone. Always manages to say the right thing at the right time. I’m a different person to the one who used to live around here, that’s for sure.”

“And yet you’ve always remained close to Nadia, is that right?”

“Yes, we found a way of staying in contact with each other throughout our lives.”

“Did your father know she was in contact with you?”

“I think deep down he did. I don’t think he had the courage to tackle her about the situation, though.”

“Did your father ever try to get in touch with you?”

“No. As far as I was concerned, I was dead to him the second I walked out on him and Nadia.”

“Sorry to hear that, and yet here you are, why?”

“I’m here to offer my sister the support she deserves. She needs me, although by her decision to continue working, that clearly isn’t true. I’ll see when the funeral is and make my way home again. I hate this area, always have done. Scotland is where my heart lies, now more than ever.”

“Some places draw us more than others, I get that.”

“So true. Will that be all?”

“I think so. I’ll leave you my card. If you think of anything else that might help us solve your father’s case, please ring me.”

“I will. I’m sorry for divulging what I did. I’ve struggled with my feelings towards that man for most of my life. Maybe it was the relief of knowing that he has finally gone that gave me the courage to open up after all these years.”

“Maybe. I’m glad you did. It sheds a different light on what type of man he was and the likelihood of his murderer being known to him in spite of what your sister tells us. One last question, if I may? Did your father work and, if so, where?”

“Nadia mentioned something about him working at a sawmill a few years ago. I don’t know if he was still there, especially if he’d been ill lately. Again, you’d be better off asking her about that.”

“Thanks. Take care of yourself. I’m sorry if talking to us has brought back memories you’d rather have kept buried.”

“Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be fine once the funeral is out of the way.”

Katy reached out and shook the woman’s hand. “Our paths might cross again soon, if you’re sticking around for a few days.”

“No doubt. I hope you