The Reunion

Chapter 4

 THE FUNERAL

The funeral was scheduled for eleven o'clock. Although the fans had been requested to stay away from the private event, there was quite a crowd gathered outside the church.

Judith and I made our way inside. We were handed a service sheet by Richard, Graham's cousin. It was only family and close friends. Mr and Mrs Adams, Graham and Parveen would be following the hearse. Samantha, Gillian and Tony were already inside. Somehow they had managed to sneak in without being noticed. It is amazing how good disguises are these days.

Apart from them, there were two other famous faces inside, Andy and Chris, Graham's other cousins who were in his other group, Kids' Stuff. I went and had a brief word before continuing to our pew.

The church itself was only just over half full. The organist was playing Robbie Williams' "Angels" which sounded quite amazing.

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Susan was a big Robbie fan. My wife was also a big Robbie and Take That fan. Unbeknown to us, we were both at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium (it will always be called that despite how many name changes it has. When Ladies and Gentlemen first played there it was called the Principality Stadium) to watch Robbie rejoin Take That for the Progress Tour back in 2011. Judith also went to see him perform at the O2 twice (yes, again it will always be called to that for my generation).

I briefly went up to the three group members, who were there with their partners, and said hi.

'How did it go with Chris yesterday?' Gillian asked.

I didn't think now was the right time to go into detail without Graham being present so I said, 'Suffice to say there was a lot for my mind to process.' I think they accepted my reasoning for not going into detail about yesterday's meeting although I thought Tony gave me a funny look. I went back and sat next to Jude.

I hadn't got much sleep last night. I kept replaying the meeting in my mind. Had I missed something? Was he playing me? Or worse, was he toying with Graham Longmuir? But then, what if he was telling the truth? What if he was innocent? In the end I got out of bed, went and made myself a coffee and sat in my study beginning my first draft of the reunion. The service sheet showed that there were to be no sad songs. Graham had got his own way with that. I looked around the church and everybody had kept the black dress code. The two coffins were to be brought in with Pharrell Williams' "Happy" playing in the background. This, apparently had been Susan's favourite song and was always singing it.

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The other two songs were also ones that she loved – "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke and "Roar" by Katy Perry – and would sing whenever she could. Looking at those choices made me wish that I had known Susan better. She certainly had a great taste in music. Like I said before, although I worked for her father, I never really got to know Graham or Susan. I was six years older than Graham and four years older than Susan. So I was close to leaving high school just as Susan was starting it.

'May I join you?' A voice disturbed me from my thoughts. I looked up and saw Detective Inspector Martin.

'Of course,' I replied as Jude and myself shuffled our bottoms along the pew a bit so the policeman could sit down.

He bowed his head as though he was saying a prayer, as normal people do when they go to church. I noticed he crossed himself as he finished he silent offering. Did this make him Catholic? I was not religious myself, more agnostic than anything.

'This is my wife, Judith,' I introduced.

They reached across me to shake hands. 'Pleased to meet you,' he said.