The Phantom Ritual (DCI Morgan Chester: Case One)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jane stood on the threshold and looked down the hallway. The home they built together for years was now tarnished with deceit and misery. She thought they were the perfect couple. All their friends were jealous of their relationship, and her family called him the perfect man. Oh, how wrong they all were. She stepped over the small step and wandered down the hallway towards the kitchen.

Aaron was close behind her. His eyes carefully watched her every move. The entire journey from the police station back to their home in South Kensington was tedious. He was furious with how she had acted, but her silence was deafening. She had not uttered a word to him.

"What is on your mind, love? You are scaring me." He casually leant against the kitchen counter and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

Jane refused to look at him. It would break her heart to look into the eyes of the man who betrayed her once again. She did not want to admit it, but the tidal wave of emotions was too large, and she felt herself giving in.

Their marriage was a lie.

"You broke your promise," she stared down at her wedding ring. "When did you start sleeping with her?"

Aaron exhaled loudly and shrugged his shoulders. "Probably around three months ago... I am really sorry."

"How did you meet?"

"In a bar in London Bridge one night when I went out with colleagues from the hospital."

Jane slowly turned and approached him. She lifted her hand and let it collide with his cheek with a satisfying clap. Despite being mortified and humiliated, her facial expression was calm.

"So, everyone at work knew about your dirty mistress?"

"Steven and Brian made a joke about her being my type, but everyone got drunk, and we just slipped out without anyone knowing,"

"Did you ever bring her here? Did you fuck her in our bed?"

"No. I know I am a monster, but I would never do that to you; that is our bed."

Jane pursed her lips and walked towards the kitchen island. Tears stung her eyes as she tried to blink them back. She took a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth.

"I had a nice talk with DCI Chester's boss, who told me everything about what happened to Emma Davies and her baby...." She choked on the final word coming out of her mouth. The hurtful betrayal in all this mess was he got Emma Davies pregnant when he promised Jane that they would continue trying all methods for them to start their own family.

Aaron looked at her with his mouth hung open, speechless of what to reply.

"She was going to ruin our lives, Jane-"

She felt a tug and then a snap deep down inside her.

"No. You ruined our lives, Aaron. All because you cannot keep it in your trousers and tame that wandering eye." She spat in his direction.

"I thought I was careful. It was never meant to happen."

"That poor girl was murdered with your baby still inside her. Please, tell me you had nothing to do with her death." She sternly warned him.

Aaron wandered around the kitchen with his head in his hands. His heart was telling him to be truthful to Jane, but his gut was telling him to make up a lie to get out of this mess.

Jane watched as he stared into space, his face contouring with confliction. She wanted nothing more but for the ground to swallow her up whole.

"Did you kill Emma, Aaron?"