| The Dream Solution - Extract's |
 |
On this page you will find a extract from
Bernard O'Mahoney's book The Dream Solution published
by Mainstream Publishing :- |
Michelle had murdered Alison
In the morning we got up together. Michelle said she had
to go somewhere — I can't remember where. I stayed
behind to do more work on the book. Michelle's behaviour
had at least had the effect of making me very diligent
in my work on the book: I knew that the sooner I finished
it the sooner I'd be free of the trap I'd helped fashion
for myself.
I sat on the floor in the front room and began to work
my way through a box of case papers marked 'UNUSED'. I'd
flicked through a lot of unused stuff before and I wasn't
expecting to come across anything of use, so I wasn't
totally engaged by what I was reading.
All the same, I was moving through the documents methodically,
if not with any great interest. Then, in the space of
perhaps 20 seconds, I read a document that changed my
life. If a fist had come up from the box and punched me
in the face I couldn't have been more shocked.
What I discovered was a letter from a solicitor's firm,
dated from the early days of the case, not long after
the sisters' arrest. The letter referred to Michelle's
having made 'certain admissions' in the light of which
Lisa was being advised to give evidence on behalf of the
prosecution.
The letter may have been couched in legal phraseology,
but I knew instantly what it meant. Michelle had murdered
Alison. I'd received many shocks in my life, but they
were usually shocks caused by violence. Yet I cant liken
the shock caused by that letter to anything fists, knives,
bottles and baseball bats had done to/my flesh.
Its effect was more instantly devastating. I felt suddenly
chilled, as if my heart were now pumping iced water round
my body. I didn't even need to reread the letter. I'd
understood it completely at first glance. Michelle had
told her legal representative that she was guilty of murdering
Alison Shaughnessy.
For a few minutes I just sat there, barely moving. The
activity was all in my mind. I felt everything —
shock, anger, embarrassment and disbelief. However, what
truly devastated me was the knowledge that I'd been conned.
Michelle had just written me a letter pleading with me
not to make a mug of her in love.
Yet from the very beginning she'd made me the biggest
mug of all. I thought of all the time and money I'd spent
on the Taylors; all the risks I'd undertaken on their
behalf, all the misery I'd inflicted on Debra and my own
children. And throughout that time Michelle and Lisa must
have been secretly laughing at me.
I don't know how long I sat there thinking like that.
Suddenly, I heard a key in the front door. It had to be
Michelle's. I heard the door close behind her. I heard
her footsteps. With the legal letter in my hand, I got
up off the floor and sat on the settee. I'd begun to shake
with temper. I was ready to confront the murderer. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
|
|
|
