Steve Wilson - Who Wants To Live Forever?

“I don’t understand,” said Gail, and Trish nodded in agreement. “ What is the real point of it all?”

“Let me explain,” said Louise. “Alfred had a brother, Ernest, who campaigned unsuccessfully to get the death sentence quashed, and he looked everywhere for Eve. Digging far deeper than the police ever did, he trawled through records and managed to discover that she had come over from Canada — otherwise we wouldn’t even have known that about her. He eventually traced Eve’s parents, Mr and Mrs Haborham, who lived in Montreal. They had no more idea where Eve was than anybody else, but Ernest did manage to find out some interesting details concerning their daughter.

“She had married a man called Anthony Rhodes in 1908 — a lovely man, according to the Haborhams — but the marriage hadn’t worked out. Eve walked out on her husband and baby son a year or two later, leaving Anthony Rhodes distraught and the Haborhams threatening to disown their daughter. This all happened just before the Crippen arrest actually, in the first half of 1910. Not wanted back at her parents’ home, and not prepared to return to her husband and child, Eve seems to have disappeared from Montreal altogether; her parents told Ernest that they never heard another word about her whereabouts.

“Ernest refused to give up, though, and eventually found Eve’s name on a passenger manifest for a sailing from Quebec to England — she travelled on the SS Laurentic , the same ship that was used to intercept Crippen earlier in the year. Perhaps she had heard all about the Crippen case and had decided to travel to England to follow in his footsteps. Nothing was ever proven, of course, but I think there is enough in Ernest’s findings to at least doubt the guilt of Alfred Rodgers and raise questions as to the involvement of Eve Rhodes in the murder.”

Louise stopped and began to collect her papers. “Is that it?” asked an incredulous Mike. “You mean I’ve sat here and listened to your theory on why a murderer shouldn’t have been executed but somebody else should have been? And without a shred of evidence? What a waste of time!”

“There is more to this, much more,” said Louise, “but there isn’t time to go into all of that now. Read the factsheets I handed out, and, as the course progresses, I’m sure it will all become clear. Remember, I’ve been researching this for a long time. I wouldn’t expect you to understand everything in one short session.”

Mike clearly wasn’t interested in debating this further. He picked up his belongings and walked out of the classroom without a word to any of us; Emma trailed in his wake like a faithful lapdog. The remaining five of us looked at each other before executing a group shrug of the shoulders, and we all tidied away in readiness for leaving.

I walked out alongside Gail and Trish, with Debbie following just behind us. “That was interesting,” said Gail. “Do you think that woman did kill Enid or was it her husband after all?”

“It’s impossible to say on that evidence,” said Trish. “Doubtless Louise will have some more to tell us next week, or there might be more details in the handout.”

“I didn’t notice anything specifically in the papers,” I interjected, “although I didn’t have time to read them in full. But I agree, we don’t have enough information at the moment. We’ll have to wait and see what Louise has to say next week.” I turned and addressed Debbie. “What do you think about it all? You’ve been very quiet.”

“I know. Sorry. I suppose I’ve just been considering what I’ve heard, taking it all in. I don’t really have an opinion yet.”

“Well, I for one can’t wait for next week,” I said as I bade farewell to the other three and walked slowly home.

I rang Julie as soon as I arrived back. “You’ll be happy to hear that the course is going to run, so that’s my Tuesday nights sorted for the next few weeks. Now it’s just the other six nights I’ve to worry about.”

“Dad! Honestly, one minute I’m having to fight to get you out of your flat at all, the next it sounds like it’s going to be a job to keep you in at night! So what about the others on the course? Have you made any friends yet?”

“Not the way I think you mean, but, yes, we seem to get on quite well. Changing the subject, you’ll never guess what the topic tonight was.”

“You’re right, I won’t. I don’t do history, Dad.”

“I suppose it was history, but not the way I’d expected it to be. The teacher devoted nearly all tonight to talking about a murder that took place a hundred years ago. It was almost as if I’d enrolled on a criminology course after all.”

“That seems a bit odd for a history class. I thought you were there to learn about Lancashire in olden days.”

“So did I, but I’m not complaining. Besides, it did take place in Lancashire, so it did give us an insight into how life was in the county at that time.”

“And was there anything special about the murder? Is it a well-known case?”

“No, not at all. In fact, on the surface it seemed extremely ordinary, but the teacher seems to think that there might have been a miscarriage of justice all those years ago. I suppose that’s one reason why we looked into it, but it did paint a very vivid picture of early-twentieth-century Manchester.”

“Manchester? But that’s not in Lan—”

“Don’t start, Jules. We had enough of that earlier tonight.”

“You’ve lost me, Dad.”

“Ignore me, love. Anyway, as I was saying, I found it both illuminating and thought-provoking.”

“Ah, I can see you’ll be getting your deerstalker hat out later and studying the evidence.”

“Ha ha. You know I only bought that so we could play games when you and Gary were little. Besides, I know nothing about the case other than what was presented tonight. It’s the teacher who thinks the wrong person might have been executed, but I haven’t heard any pressing evidence to support that conclusion.”

“Whether you have or haven’t, from what you said it sounds like you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Yes, I am. I’m glad I enrolled.”

“Huh! Take the credit, that’s right. Don’t forget I was the one who persuaded you to do it.”

“Yes, but when I told you what course I’d enrolled on, you also said I’d be the only one on it, remember?”

“Okay, you win.”

“Enough about me. How are things with you and Dave? I’m still waiting for that call to say I’m going to be a grandad.”

“And you’ll have to wait a bit longer. There’s plenty of time for a family once I’m more established in my job.”

“I know. I understand your desire to progress up the ladder. Like I said, carry on as you are doing and you’ll soon get that promotion. How is your presentation coming along? Are you still having to work late most nights?”

We chatted for a few more minutes before saying our goodbyes. As I readied myself for bed I had to concede that Julie had been right to badger me into going on this course. This was becoming the most interesting thing I’d done in an age.

Chapter Three

Mike — Monday 3 rdOctober 2011

He put the phone down and smirked. That had told them. It would serve them all right if the entire thing was cancelled. Who did they think they were, treating him like that? He had rights, and he knew it. Without him and Emma, the whole thing would have floundered anyway.

Then he stopped for a moment and thought. Perhaps there was more to be gained from this than he’d considered? There were some rich pickings to be had if he played his cards right. He had listened while those old fools had told everybody their life history; she , in particular, was almost falling over herself to show how large her bank balance was.