Til Death Do Us Part. Stephen Edger

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       SIX

      Slumped at a table, with only a quiet Tara and her mum for company, Alice’s anxiety had only deepened in the two hours since the police had interrupted the celebration. Her only distraction was the disco ball spinning on the desk by the DJ. Cheesy pop song after cheesy pop song blasted out of the large speakers, and those who were already drunk enough to have forgotten the earlier ruckus were making shapes on the dance floor. Alice had handpicked the list of songs the DJ was allowed to play on the night – classic songs from her time at school, university and since she’d known Ben. Songs that she loved to listen to, each stirring happy memories. Yet as she watched the party carrying on without her, the songs brought nothing but sadness.

      It should have been her on the dance floor, with friends and her new husband, but the thought of getting out there and pretending everything was okay was making her head spin as fast as the disco ball.

      Ben’s parents had headed up to bed shortly after Tara’s announcement over the speaker system. Ray had said his wife had a headache, but she didn’t blame them for wanting to be away from the furtive glances of those who weren’t dancing – the ones who were still looking over and gossiping. Sitting at the round tables around the edge of the room, Alice could only imagine what they were whispering to each other.

      The music was loud enough that Tara hadn’t attempted to offer false platitudes and positive but fruitless statements. Every time a new figure entered the room, Alice would look up in hopeful expectation, desperate to see Ben’s smile and kick things back on course. As yet there was no sign of him though, and despite her dozens of calls to Dave’s mobile, he had yet to respond, save for a single text message to say he and Scott had arrived at the station.

      Picking at one of the pearls embroidered into her dress, Alice leaned towards Tara, practically shouting so she would be heard over the music.

      ‘Where is he? Why haven’t they released him yet?’

      Tara looked like she didn’t know how to answer the question. ‘These things take time I guess,’ she called back. ‘It must be a fifteen to twenty minute drive from here to the police station, right? So multiply that by two – there and back – plus another hour to process him and realize their mistake, and you can see how it would add up.’

      ‘I should have gone there with him. I should have told everyone the party was over and gone to support him. I can’t believe I let Dave talk me into staying.’

      ‘Ben wouldn’t want you to worry, would he? He knows they’ve got the wrong man – as we know too – and it will be eating him up inside knowing how hurt you’re feeling. It wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t already speaking to his solicitor about how to sue the police for ruining the day.’

      Alice fixed her with an affectionate look. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without you here. You really are a true friend.’

      Tara waved away the praise. ‘It’s like you said, you’ll have to return the favour one day, and when it’s my wedding day going up in flames, you’ll be the one fighting to keep me sane.’ Tara suddenly gasped as she realized what she’d said. ‘Oh, honey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that your day was going up in flames. I just meant—’

      Alice strained a smile. ‘It’s okay, Tara, I know what you meant. I just keep thinking about that moment when they burst in. It was like I was watching a film or something, or like it was happening to someone else.’

      ‘I’m sure he’ll be back soon enough.’

      ‘Some of our colleagues are out there though, which means the story will get out at school when the summer holidays are over, which means no matter what happens tonight, there’ll still be gossiping about me even when all of this is over.’

      Tara reached for the tumbler of brandy and took a long sip. ‘Only if you let them. The best thing you can do is to go out there, plaster a huge smile on your face, and show them you’re stronger than this. Hell, you can even lie to them and say Ben has been released. Make it a non-story. The longer you mope and keep yourself hidden away, the more people will talk. Let’s show them. Let’s show them that Alice Tandy – sorry, Goodman – is not a bitch you mess with!’

      Alice suddenly gasped as a new thought hit her. ‘The honeymoon! Our tickets to Barbados are non-refundable. We’re supposed to be at Gatwick tomorrow night!’

      Tara didn’t look concerned. ‘Worst-case scenario, you have travel insurance. Best-case scenario, Ben will be here shortly, and you’ll still make tomorrow’s flights. I don’t think you should worry about that right now. I know you’re looking forward to it, but it might be that you just have to delay the honeymoon until all this has blown over.’

      ‘I’m not sure travel insurance will cover the costs of the flights and hotels because Ben was arrested.’

      ‘No? Let me look into that for you. It’s the least I can do. Either way, Ben is loaded, and the cost of the honeymoon was probably a drop in the ocean for him. You’ll just have to go in a month or so.’

      ‘I’ll be back at school in a month. That’s why we booked the wedding and honeymoon during the summer holidays.’ Alice blinked back tears. ‘I need to know what’s going on. I’m not prepared to just sit back and let someone mess all of this up. Can you tell everyone the party is over? Then you and I will get a taxi to the police station, and we won’t leave until Ben is released.’ Alice sighed in satisfaction, feeling adrenaline coursing through her veins.

      Alice’s mum seemed oblivious to their conversation, tapping her foot in time with the music, making no effort to console her daughter.

      The door to the room opened, and Alice once again looked up in hope. She recognized Dave’s large outline immediately, and without a second’s thought raced across the room to him. ‘What’s going on? Where’s Ben?’ she shouted over the din.

      He bent low and spoke into her ear. ‘Can we go somewhere for a quiet word?’

      ‘I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where my husband is.’

      ‘Please, Alice, let’s go somewhere where we won’t be overheard. Please?’

      Tara was at her side a moment later, linking arms, and staring questioningly at the best man.

      Dave nervously glanced around, feeling the burn of people’s eyes on them. Leaning forward once more, he whispered, ‘The police have processed him, but won’t interview him until the morning. They can keep him in custody for twenty-four hours before they have to release him, and apparently they intend to make full use of the time. He won’t be out until tomorrow.’