Reckoning by Heather Atkinson

real Rachel, the doting mother, adoring wife and good friend. It didn’t matter to her, Tracey was just grateful she was in her life, Rachel had been very good to her and her and Ryan’s efforts had finally located the body of her missing brother, killed by the serial killers who had foolishly kidnapped Ryan. She would be forever indebted to them. Yes, there were some folk who, now they knew the truth about them, thought they should be forced to leave the area but thankfully they were in the minority. The Laws were big employers, generous with their wealth and many people, particularly the younger generation, found their histories exciting.
    “Kirsty Halliday’s waiting for you in your office,” said Tracey.
    “Why?” said Rachel, puzzled. Kirsty Halliday was a local pillar of the community. After Rachel’s recent outing as a previous violent criminal she couldn’t imagine her setting foot in her establishment.
    “Don’t know,” replied Tracey. “But she was quite upset and she insisted on speaking only to you.”
    “Strange.”
    “I settled her in your office with a cup of tea.”
    “How long has she been here?”
    “About twenty minutes.”
    “I’d better not keep her waiting any longer then,” said Rachel, puzzled as she made her way across reception to her office at the back. When she entered Kirsty jumped up, eyes wide, wondering if she hadn’t made a mistake now she was finally face to face with Rachel Law.
    “Can I help you Kirsty?”
    Rachel sounded very pleasant but Kirsty was suddenly intimidated, she wasn’t used to talking to gangsters, she was used to coffee mornings with her rich friends, organising charity events and arranging flowers.
    “Yes…I…oh God, this is so awkward,” stammered Kirsty.
    “Please sit down and we can chat about it,” said Rachel, taking a seat on the couch that faced her desk.
    “Okay,” she replied, finding Rachel’s calm manner soothing. She perched on the opposite end of the comfortable chocolate leather couch, careful to keep some space between them.
    Rachel had never seen this woman so agitated before, she was usually the essence of cool and calm. She’d met Kirsty at a charity event at the local golf club and she’d passed smoothly between guests, talking and laughing pleasantly, everyone seeking out her company. Now Kirsty was a completely different woman whose hands shook as she ran them through her short light red hair, making the charm bracelet on her right wrist rattle.
    “It’s Gloria,” Kirsty finally began.
    “Your daughter?”
    Kirsty nodded, eyes full of tears.
    “I’ve met her,” continued Rachel. “She’s been in here a few times for treatments. She’s a nice girl.”
    “She was,” she said nastily before hastily adding, “I didn’t mean that. You see, she’s got a new boyfriend and he’s a troublemaker to put it mildly. He keeps her out all hours and makes her do things she never used to do. She drinks, smokes and I’m terrified she’s taking drugs, sometimes she seems so out of it. She backchats me all the time and won’t do a thing I say. Gloria’s a good girl really, she wants to be a paediatrician, at least she wanted to. She’s lost all interest in any sort of a decent future. Now all she wants is to be with Billy.”
    “That’s his name, Billy?”
    She nodded. “Billy Whitelock,” she said, face creasing with disgust. “A vicious little thug, drug dealer and thief. Unfortunately he’s a very good-looking boy and all Gloria can see is his pretty face. She’s my only child and I’m terrified he’s going to suck her into his loathsome world.”
    “That’s a terrible story, I have a daughter myself so I can imagine how you feel,” replied Rachel, already guessing where this conversation was going. “But what has this got to do with me?”
    Kirsty finally seemed stuck for words. “I was wondering if you would…err…speak to Billy for me?”
    “Speak to him?”
    “You understand his world,” she