Page 74 of Any Kind of Life

“It’s my job to be here for you, babe. No thanks needed.”

Juliet lowered her head to Paige’s shoulder, feeling tremendously loved. “I know, but after the things I said to you when I woke up, this could have been entirely different. I could have been sitting here alone, wondering what the hell I’d done to us.”

Paige kissed the top of Juliet’s head. “I understood what you were saying in some way. Don’t think that I didn’t. You woke up after someone tried to kill you, not knowing what the hell was going on. Maybe I should have stopped that initial conversation before it got started. You weren’t in the right frame of mind for it.” Juliet felt Paige smile against her hair. “But everything turned out the way it was supposed to. That’s all I’m focusing on. All I care about is your safety. Nothing else matters.”

Juliet appreciated Paige’s love and support. Though, she knew it always would have been this way. There hadn’t been a single moment when Juliet considered Paige’s loyalty, and she doubted that was something she would ever have to consider in the future.

“Juliet?”

Juliet and Paige sat forward at the sound of a voice. Paige turned and looked over her shoulder since Juliet wasn’t able to, smiling. “Oh, hi.” Paige eyed Juliet. “It’s Detective Roache.”

Juliet puffed out her cheeks when the detective crossed the garden and came to stand in front of her. Maybe if Paige helped her back into her wheelchair, the detective could take a seat. She tried to stand, but the detective stopped her. “You…stay there. This won’t take long.”

Juliet frowned. Did this mean they’d caught Cara? “You have her, don’t you?”

“We do.” Detective Roache nodded as she shoved her hands in the pockets of her overcoat. “Cara Swinson is deceased.”

“W-what?” Juliet’s stomach lurched. Had Henry found her and taken care of the problem? No. He promised you he wouldn’t! “She’s dead?”

“We received a call from several members of the public around 11 a.m. yesterday morning. Someone had gone into the dock and hadn’t surfaced.”

Juliet turned to Paige. “That’s when you were there. You got caught up because of the emergency services.”

“Yeah. I didn’t know for sure what had happened, but yeah…I guess that sort of presence makes sense.”

“Cara was pulled from the River Mersey at three fifteen yesterday afternoon. Formal identification has taken place, and her next of kin has been informed.” Detective Roache spoke so calmly that Juliet was utterly confused. What would happen now if Cara was dead? “CCTV in the area shows that she willingly went into the water, and significant injuries to her wrists suggest that she had no intention of being caught. It appears Cara took her own life.”

God. Juliet didn’t know how she felt about that. While she was relieved that she was safe, Juliet couldn’t help but feel terribly sorry for Cara. This had all been down to Ronnie and his influence. While Cara had been the one to bring that knife to the bar, and she had been the one to injure Juliet, this all stemmed from Ronnie. “That’s…I don’t know what to say.”

“I do.” Paige suddenly spoke up. “She’s a coward. Plain and simple.”

“Baby.” Juliet squeezed Paige’s hand.

“No. She tried to kill you, Juliet. And she’s so much of a coward that she couldn’t face any of us looking her in the eye from across a courtroom.”

Juliet understood Paige’s anger, she also believed it was warranted, but she didn’t want Paige to hold onto it for too long. Anger wouldn’t do anyone any favours coming out of this. “I know, but…it’s over now.”

“You know what? Good riddance. That’s what I say.” Paige scoffed as she shook her head. “I have nothing left inside of me for her. What she did to you…I almost lost you. If I had to choose, then I’m glad she’s gone. However it happened, I’m glad she’s out of our lives.”

Assuming that Paige had finished ranting, Detective Roache offered them both a small smile. “The Crown Prosecution Service have decided that they won’t be making a decision on any charges. Given the fact that the suspect is deceased, and we don’t believe anyone else is involved, there will be no further action taken.”

Juliet wouldn’t dare mention Ronnie. If the police believed there was no connection, then she wasn’t going to change their minds. Both of them were gone; what more could anyone do when it came to justice? “Okay.”

“I am sorry we didn’t have a greater outcome, Juliet.” The detective stepped forward and handed over a business card. “I know I’ve already given you one, but in case you’ve misplaced it and have any questions…”

Juliet looked up at her. “Thank you.”

“The police presence at the hospital will be pulled back, but don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns at all.” Juliet took the detective’s hand when she offered it and shook. “I hope your recovery continues to be successful.”

Juliet stared as the detective shook Paige’s hand, her mind going over everything she had just heard. Cara was dead. Ronnie was dead. Juliet…was safe. Had she been alone, Juliet likely would have been in a terrible state right now, but as Paige covered her hand once again, all she felt was tremendous peace.

Two years of looking over her shoulder.

Memories of lying on a floor, dying.

All of it was over from this point on.

“You okay, babe?”

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