We had gone to London for a bit as the hunting grounds were closer and no one seemed to notice that we were culling the neighbourhood so to speak plus it was a proper buffet, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Spanish, Italian, African, Irish …great choice. We had bought a holiday home and it was huge loads of room for Vera to wander around safely. Vera was getting big now and we figured it would do her good for the experience new cultures. There was a woman in her 50’s that was the daily cleaner of the house when we were away at home. So we figured we’d have her continue to take care of the house when we were there. Vera in particular took to Mrs Beth Goldman. She would run and jump into her arms and give her hugs. Mrs G. was human, retired due to the bereavement of her husband who had died tragically from cancer. She had care for him and watched him die and it upset her so much she had felt unable to return to work. She had become a caretaker for our house when the elderly lady who lived there before us had broken her ankle and was unable to care for herself. Beth had taken over and when the old lady died too, she had inherited the house and property. Lottie had met her in a book shop. Vera ran and hugged her without knowing her. Lottie was staring in surprise at her. Beth was chuffed that this beautiful little girl would run and hug her so affectionately. The ladies got chatting and Vera stayed around Beth hugging her a lot. Lottie mentioned we were looking to buy a house here and Beth offered this one to us. She was as taken with Vera as Vera was with her. So we bought the house and decorated it in pretty shades of green and rose red and Vera had the run of a beautiful garden set with all kinds of pretty flowers and shrubs too. Beth called daily to clean the house and Vera would rush up to her and cuddle her and hang around and play tidy up with her. This carried on for a while. One night the Dugo rush came on me and Lottie was afraid to leave Vera on her own while we went out. But she was craving it herself in a bad way too.
“How bout we ask Beth if she would mind looking after her for a little while, we don’t have to be long, no playing just a drink? Vera loves her anyway” Bastien suggested. I nodded and looked up her number on my phone and dialled it. Beth picked up on the 3rd ring
“Hey Beth, would you mind awfully looking after Vera while we take a little break? I’m sorry to ask you on such short notice and we won’t’ be very long.”
“Of course my dear, I’d love to spend some time with my little girl.” She giggled. “Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be there.” She said humming to herself as she always does as she hung up the phone. Five minutes later the doorbell rang and Beth was standing on the porch carrying a little bag that was stuffed with books and colouring books and big fat crayons.
“Go on you two and enjoy your break, I and Vera will have a lovely time.” She almost sang as she took Vera buy the hand. Vera started to walk then she stopped suddenly and turned and ran to hug me and Bastien. She squeezed her arms tightly around the back of my neck.
“What’s wrong honey?” I asked. “I and daddy will be back in a couple of hours, you’ll have fun with Beth lovey.” She nodded but said nothing and then as we were going out the door she turned and said “bye” with sad eyes. I wanted to go to her but Bastien pulled me by the arm urging me to leave.
“She’ll be fine Lottie, c’mon we’ll be back in no time, once she gets colouring she’ll forget everything, you know how she is honey.” I nodded and shrugged off the weird feeling I had in the pit of my stomach, thinking maybe I was just being a mom. We went hunting and we had 2 drinks each and half way through draining my second Italian I got that horrible feeling again in my stomach.
“Something is wrong Bastien we have to get back Vera needs us now” I said and dumped the body that was dead already into the hole we dug half full and shoved earth on top and turned and raced home. I had a choking feeling in my chest and I felt like I couldn’t’ breath. I raced even faster and I pushed open the front door just ahead of Bastien and I stopped, gasping when I walked in the front door. The room was messed up, furniture flung upside down, broken mirrors, blood splattered everywhere and I felt my throat burn at that. Where is Vera? I looked at Bastien; his face was in shock too. “VERA” I shrieked, “where are you honey?” I stopped and listened …..SILENCE greeted me. I went nuts then so did Bastien lifting up bits of furniture and flinging it trying to find our little girl. I listened and listened for her heartbeat and heard nothing. Did Beth kill her? I trusted her OH MY GOD and I left my little girl in her care, how could I be so stupid. I was racing from room to room flinging furniture around and didn’t even hear it landing; I was desperate to find my little girl. I knew Bastien was blurring into each room too because I’d hear the swish of air as he passed me. Dam why was this house so bloody big. I paused, I heard a sound, it came from upstairs so I dashed up the stairs with Bastien on my heels and shrieked when I saw the carnage before me. Vera was sitting on the floor covered in blood. I wanted to go and lick her but I was afraid it was her own. She was siting slumped over Beth’s’ body, her hair clumped and knotted with blood. A wide gash across her arm that appeared to be healing itself as we watched. It was amazing yet completely freaky. I got down on my knees getting covered in blood myself.
