Before 24 Billion and Counting

Chapter 16 Part 2 The restoration of normality - sort of

At the police station I handed the Amex over and the cash and a cheque, and Ward was led into the interview room and sat at the table, whilst his rights and duties were explained to him. He looked at me, and I looked at him. He was deflated. Just a tired, grey, flabby, balding, middle aged man with red rimmed eyes. 

"Come on - let's go home." I said. Ward started to say something. "Save it. I'm not in the mood for talking." He subsided into silence. We made our way unsteadily, he with the remnants of the alcohol, me with tiredness and a throbbing headache, to Dave's car. He drove us to Ward's home, and Joan took him and put him to bed, whilst Dave and I made some coffee. 

I took a warming mouthful. "I hear what you say Dave, but I think it's going to be too hard for him to cope with a punishment for hitting me. Surely all else that's going to happen to him is enough retribution." 

"Well that'll be up for his lawyer to argue with the judge. But if some starving kid thrown out by his drug dependent parents slugs you one night to get the price of a square meal from your back pocket - are you going to say, please let him go he's been punished enough?" 

"I don't have all the answers. Just a million bloody questions most of them beginning with why." 

"I'm sorry Charles, but I pick up the pieces from the crap end of this society and I have the impression that I'm doing it to keep a lot of people like you safe from it. And the reason that it's crap is not totally their fault. It's then I really resent having to deal with the affluent half fighting each other about film scripts." 

Joan came in. "He's desperately sorry, and wants me to thank you. I've given him a sleeping tablet." I thought 'on top of all that alcohol - oh well he's strong enough.' 

"Look Joan. You've got to get your father to see that he can't go on boozing anymore. Get him to accept some therapy. When he wakes up give me a call. As long as it isn't before mid-day. 

"Dave take me home - please." 

Dave was silent during the trip. 

He stopped at the end of my drive. He looked up and down the well tended road, tranquilly lit by street lamps. The big houses and bungalows spread well apart, fenced and hedged from each other and the road. The forest setting, the occasional boat or camper-truck parked on a forecourt. 

He shook his head and sighed, "You people. You're in a world of your own - a world of your own." 

"Are you coming in for a nightcap or morning coffee?" 

"No. I've got reports to write about this nonsense. I won't finish work until six this morning." 

"Thanks for the lift - and the lectures. I just don't see a solution to poverty that anyone would accept." 

"You'll be needed at the station again for statements." 

"Well we'll probably meet again then - good night." 

I was back in nightmare country. Ward was punching me again and again and hurting my face, and I was fighting back but he was a hologram, so however hard I punched he smiled as my fist went through him. I awoke with a shudder. My nose and eye throbbed, there was blood on the pillow. The sun shone harshly into the bedroom. I was sweating. 

A breakfast of milk and aspirin, and my ablutions took me to eleven in the morning. I started up the home commsystem. 

Messages from Jacob, and Ellen in Hawaii. Why hadn't I rung as arranged. 

I thought, 'To be expected. Jacob knew how usually punctilious I was in trying to keep in touch.' 

Message from Kelly - Ring back asap.