The Passengers(86)
‘No, they’ll wait until sentencing before they announce when the disciplinary procedure begins. But it’s a certainty they’ll sack me and I’ll lose my police pension.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I take full responsibility for what I did.’
‘We secured another contract last week to refurbish council offices in Halifax. So I’ll make sure you don’t go short.’
Heidi didn’t thank him. She didn’t want his guilt money, but with her suspension without pay, she was reluctantly reliant on his earnings until she found something else.
‘The kids seem to be getting on with their new half-brother and -sister, at least that’s what they tell me,’ she said.
‘They are. The same can’t be said about mine and Josie’s two though. They haven’t forgiven me for only talking about our Beccy and James when I was trapped in the car.’
‘Give them time. They need to get to know you properly, all of them do. Kids are usually much older than ours before they discover their parents are human and can let them down. All four of them have had to learn that lesson from not just one but both parents and at the same time and in front of their friends and the whole world. You were never really there for them before the hijacking. Now you can be honest and be the dad they deserve. In the end, they’ll forgive you.’
‘And you?’
‘And me what?’
‘Will you forgive me?’
‘I already have.’ She glanced around the room. ‘Look where being angry has got me.’
‘What’ll you do next?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Heidi shrugged. ‘The best-case scenario is that I’m given a suspended sentence and a community service order. I’ve had offers to do some consultancy work for private detective agencies, public speaking and even some research for TV documentaries. I’ll wait and see. Anyway, I’m likely to be called back in any minute so you’d best go.’
‘It was good to see you.’
Heidi didn’t reciprocate. Instead, she slipped her sunglasses back on before opening the door. ‘One last thing,’ she added. ‘Make sure you look after Josie, okay? She deserves a better husband than I had. You have a second chance with a good woman. I hope all that we went through has changed you as much as it has me.’
‘It has,’ he replied, before turning around and disappearing into a crowded corridor.
Chapter 59
SHAMED actress Sofia Bradbury ended her life minutes before the hijacked car she was told she was about to die inside was halted at the last moment, an inquest has been told.
The 78-year-old Golden Globe winner, who was one of the final five Passengers in April’s hijack, took an overdose of tablets and used a shard of glass from a broken tumbler to fatally injure herself.
Ms Bradbury, whose husband Patrick Swanson is currently awaiting sentencing after admitting eleven separate counts of sexually abusing children, was accused during her ordeal of being complicit in covering up her husband’s crimes.
The inquest at West London Coroner’s Court heard how a post-mortem discovered twenty painkillers and forty-three tranquilisers in her stomach along with lacerations to her arms and wrists. The prescription medication had been used for a longstanding problem with back pain.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Coroner Bee Jones said: ‘While we have no evidence that Ms Bradbury’s death was as a direct result of the accusations made about her by the man commonly referred to as the Hacker, it would not be a great leap of faith to suggest it played a role in her decision to end her life.
‘No note or letter was found, but from the footage of her final moments in the vehicle, it is clear that she was in a very agitated, emotional state. I believe this led to her decision.
‘Therefore, I have no choice but to record a conclusion of suicide.’
Swanson has made many allegations about his wife since his plea, implying that not only did she voluntarily pay hush money to keep the families of victims quiet, but she may also have actively sourced and participated in the abuse of children, accusations that have yet to be substantiated.
All five hospitals Ms Bradbury actively raised money for have since distanced themselves from her name, and, last night, online streaming services have confirmed they will no longer be broadcasting her work again.
Ms Bradbury left ￡18.5 million in her will, split between her adult niece, nephew and her dog, Oscar.
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Chapter 60
‘Thank you for joining us,’ began Katy Louise Beech with a well-rehearsed smile. Her bright-blue eyes stared into the camera with the red light flashing above the lens.
‘In an unusual move, Prime Minister Nicholas McDermott released a statement this morning attacking the mole who leaked preliminary findings of the investigation into the manipulated programming of Artificial Intelligence in driverless cars.’ She lifted a tablet from the surface of the desk she was sitting behind.
‘He said, and I quote, “I completely refute allegations that any members of the current serving Government had anything to do with influencing software in Level Five vehicles. We also vehemently deny that our party has ‘closed ranks’ to protect those accused and awaiting trial. I am very disheartened by the number of damaging leaks emerging from the police investigation and we urge them to get their house in order. And as that inquiry continues, along with our own internal investigation, we will be making no further comments until reports are complete.”