Divorced! Now what?
Chapter 124

Bob POV

The game was good, and I tried to enjoy it as much as I would normally do, trying to act as normal as possible. However, the looks I was getting from Bethany told me I was not doing a good job hiding my burning desire to be in the other room, devouring the contents of that mysterious thumb drive. What Bethany may not have seen at the time we had unwrapped the gun was a thumb drive in the wrapping that surrounded the weapon. The curiosity was eating me alive.

The baby, oblivious to our excitement, slept soundly through all our cheering and shouting at the screen; the profanities were gone, all mindful of a child in the house. It was an unwritten rule, a testament to our respect for innocence, not to swear near children of any age.

Jacko's car arrived shortly after the game. Our team lost, but it was so close, and we did have key players out. Being off-season, the coaches gave some new blood a chance to shine, which some did, and some needed more training. Thomas let him in, handshakes and congratulations were given, and Pam gave Judy a box of things for Judy. The room was filled with a deep sense of camaraderie and the joy of the reunion, making the loss of the game seem trivial in comparison.

'These are for you; we all tend to bring stuff for the baby and forget the mother; you deserve a pamper, too! Judy squealed with delight and disappeared with the box in hand from the room.

Pam and Jacko went around the room with idol chatter till I could stand it no longer.

'Come on, let's get to the office before the next game starts, and I have trouble leaving the room.' Bethany was beside me instantly after giving Theo a quick kiss and leaving the guys in the lounge to watch the next game. Jacko was whispering to Bethany, and Pam was at my side. It seems that some sentences in this chapter require you to read the complete chapters on Job ni b.com in order to avoid an incomplete reading experience. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it, a gentle reminder that she was there if I needed her. I unlocked the door and stood to the side to let the others in before closing the door and locking it again, not that I did not trust the others to stay out. Thomas knows I would like him to keep anyone out, but Judy has yet to be around police officers like this before. She may come to offer refreshments and break our concentration or walk in on sensitive conversation.

Pam and Jacko stood by the table, looking down at the books. I lifted my case, brought the blue-clothed item out, and handed it to Jacko, now wearing gloves. Even Bethany had gloves on now, and I wondered if she had been careful not to handle the gun with her bare hands. She has been around me enough to know to be cautious, but under some circumstances, the thought of putting on gloves is not always the first thing on your mind.

'Bethany, would you like to explain this latest collection! I asked, giving her the chance to explain without me giving them the version as I understood it to be.

When I was leaving home, my mother thought it was an excellent time to clear the attic and the storage room. She said there was too much clutter, so I had many boxes. I could not part with things Grandma had made with her own hands. The gun was in with the Christmas decorations, and the other books were mixed amongst other books, some of which, as you can see, had false covers on them. I had just now bothered with most of these boxes when Theo suggested we do up the spare room for guests. I am now going through all my books to make sure they are what the cover says they are. I know that the gun was not in that box when I took it from Mother's place, and neither were these books; I think over time when Cynthia had visited the house, she had brought them over with her and hid them with my things. I had wondered why she was so desperate to locate where I was living now; I felt it was more than to annoy me.' Bethany was looking at the thumb drive that fell out of the bundle; I had deliberately left it in there, with the off chance what just happened would happen.

Jacko took it from Bethany and slipped it into a zip lock bag, and Pam tagged it as evidence. Bethany wanted to open it and see what was on it, but I was glad Jacko would not let her. Pam took each book, one at a time, wrote something on her tablet, and then bagged the book, not bothering to flip through them. I picked up a book that looked different from the rest before Pam could tag it and flipped through it; it was in some code.

Jacko, we might need someone to interpret these in some code,' I said as I placed the book on the table open for all to see. What surprised me was that Bethany picked it up and started reading it as if it were not in gibberish.

'On January second, nineteen-ninety-four, Mum and I went to Mr. Henderson's home and stayed the night. I was only thirteen at the time, and I was not happy with one of the men; he kept putting his hand on my bottom and squeezing it. I felt dirty. That night, he snuck into my room while I was sleeping and took my innocence with force. That was the day my life changed, and I needed revenge on that man. That man was Mr. Henderson; he was married to Helena, one of the mother ladies who often go on holidays together. I told Mother the next day, and she laughed. 'Welcome to adulthood. Now we can start using you, too.' I was initiated into my mother's little group, going on the holidays with her, and became her pawn. I hated Bethany after that day that she got to keep her innocence while I had to learn to cope with being manhandled whenever my mother needed me to be.

'Stop. I need you to come with me to the station, and you can read it out loud into a recording. Bethany put the book down while I sat stunned. I had no idea. I had a murderer out there, and I was at a crime scene. I had no idea Wendy had taken Cynthia with her and left Bethany at home with Thomas. I often came home to find just the two of them home alone after that night, and I wondered what had changed. It annoyed me and usually led to arguments I knew I would never win.

'Sure, when would you like me to be there?'

'Now? Can you forgo your sports day?' Pam urged.

'Sure, I will let Theo know so he can stay here or head home. I can always watch the replays later.' Bethany was understanding. She had always been the one to give up something she enjoyed to help others. Pam tagged and bagged the rest, and we headed out the door. I heard Bethany telling Theo he was going with Jacko to help with their inquiries. Theo kissed her, murmured something in her ear, said her goodbyes, and headed out the door. She was a little uncomfortable in the vehicle's back seat. She looked out the window at me as if pleading to come with them, but I had to stay out of this.

Reluctantly, I returned inside and sat with the family, watching the game. Yet if you asked me later who won, I would not be able to tell you; my mind was with Bethany and the book she was about to read. It could have been a better book, and I wondered if Bethany was up to the challenge. She still had small gaps in her memory; would this trigger her over the top? I will have to contact Hank for advice on this.