27. “She managed to open the back door of the house,

next to James Jones’s bedroom and escape before the fire took hold. The screaming woke her up and the sickening repeated thuds of the fire axe chopping down through flesh and bone. She had gone to wake them up first of all but when she realised all the noise was coming from the bedroom and then when she saw what she was doing to him; when she looked in there she very nearly passed out. Blood was spurting out from what was left of his neck, covering her, the bedclothes and hitting the walls. And she kept on chopping down on him. It was a scene from Hell as if the very Devil was at work within her.”
“Who was there; I don’t understand?”
“It was my Grandma, Chantelle McCarthy, she was there in that terrible house that night. She did the housework and looked after the baby for Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey. She was their housemaid. She witnessed the murder but she was so frightened that she got herself out of there as fast as she could.”
“Where is she now?”
At that point Shanolla paused and whispered, ”That’s why I need to speak with you some more. Come with me.” She grabbed Richard by his arm.
Richard’s mind felt chaotic. How much of what he had just been told was true? How much of it was made up to impress? He didn’t know and right now he didn’t particularly care. He allowed himself to be led by her to a small rocky cove, where a small stream entered Wild River. As they both sat down, as if accidentally, Richard brushed his hand along her thigh and felt her respond. She moved closer until her body was resting against his own. All other thoughts had already started to disappear from Richard’s mind as they enjoyed their intimacy.