Costa Crew 3: Make or Break

Chapter 25 - Aftermath

THREE WEEKS LATER

"I hate this," Ted muttered, tapping his fingers impatiently. "The waiting."

Hannah nodded, pacing back and forth. "Those first few days were the worst. Not knowing how everything was going to turn out. If it was all going to be okay or if we'd lost her."

"At least her parents are with her," Charlotte said. "She's not alone."

"And we'll be able to see her soon," added Paul. "Now that I've been dismissed it won't be long before Becky's out. And I can tell her the news."

The four waited outside a private room in Intensive Care, where they had been waiting for the past few weeks, anxiously awaiting news of their friend. Their minds were more at ease now that the friend in question was upright and talking to her parents.

"Paul asked us to pass something on to you," Faith said softly, a chair pulled up next to Becky's bed. "About what happened after you fell unconscious."

"Is it about Amelia?" asked Becky anxiously. "Did she get away?"

Faith shook her head gravely. "Paul heard you shout and came in to find you and Amelia both badly injured. He called medical in for both of you. But Amelia refused treatment. Paul told the paramedics to take you to the ambulance and he tried to talk to Amelia. But…"

***

"Just get out," Amelia snapped. "Help your friend and get help for yourself. We didn't patch you up perfectly."

Paul shook his head. "Amelia, it doesn't have to end like this. We can help you."

"You're only going to send me back to prison," Amelia sighed. "Even if I make it out of here alive my life is still over."

"I'm not just leaving you here to bleed out," Paul insisted, trying to help Amelia up.

"Paul, please," Amelia said. "Let me have a few minutes of freedom before I go. This is the best option for all of us. You and your friends can finally live in peace. And I'll be with Anthony again."

"Last chance," Paul said. "I'm offering you medical assistance. If you turn it down then I'll do as you ask. I'll leave the exercise yard and let you have peace before…"

"Please, just bugger off," Amelia interrupted. Paul sighed.

"Fine," he said. "Goodbye, Amelia."

Amelia smiled. "Goodbye, old friend."

Paul took one last look at Amelia and then left the exercise yard, leaving Amelia to collapse, alone, next to Anthony's body.

***

"Her body was recovered a few hours later," finished Faith, now reading from a news article. "Ewan Connelly confessed to falsely identifying Lisa Beck's body as Amelia's and to his role in the murder of MI5 Agent Lindsey Holland."

"We'll let Paul tell you the rest," David said. "He was given the all clear to go today and he's been desperate to see you."

"We'll be back later," Faith said reassuringly. "But we're so glad to see you're okay."

Becky's parents left and Paul immediately ran in. "Thank God you're okay," he said, sitting down next to Becky. "A lot happened while we were recovering."

"My parents told me about Amelia…" Becky began.

Paul sighed. "I tried to help her. And it wasn't just to send her back to prison…I honestly didn't want to see her die."

Becky nodded. "I know what you mean. Even after everything she did…there was a time when Amelia Murphy was our friend. And we had some good times together, but it was all a lie. All smoke and mirrors. In the end she was evil but…I just don't know how to feel about her being gone."

"Me neither," Paul confessed. "But life goes on. A day at a time things will get easier."

"It'll be a long time before things get properly better," Becky sighed. "And maybe they never will."

"I made a start today," Paul said excitedly. "I went to Chief Constable Fleming's office…"

"Wait, Chief Constable?" Becky interrupted.

Paul grinned. "Hunt resigned not long after Amelia died. After everything that happened, between corrupt officers in the force, and him getting basically everything wrong when it came to Amelia's fake murder he couldn't take it any more and stepped down. Fleming's Chief now. Which means she was able to authorise this."

Paul handed Becky an envelope addressed from the Metropolitan Police. As Becky slid out the paper inside and unfolded it, her jaw dropped and a tear formed in the corner of her eye. "Oh my God…" she whispered hoarsely, staring at the words on the page.

CONFIRMATION OF PARDON
Date: 21st December 2038
This is to confirm that Rebecca Hidgens is officially pardoned and cleared of all charges pressed against her prior to the above date.
Pardon forwarded by: Detective Superintendent Paul Houston
Authorised by: Chief Constable Kate Fleming

"This means…" Becky began.

Paul smiled. "You're free, Becky."

"Is this real…" Becky asked, unable to believe her eyes.

Paul nodded. "It's real. The fight's over. You can have your life back. Merry Christmas, Becky."

A single tear rolled down Becky's cheek. "Merry Christmas, Paul."