Sammy Jo looked vulnerable and upset. It has nothing at all to do with her, it has nothing to do with you either Jason. Its between him and me. I quite like his calls. They interest me.
Jason let out a sharp yell of frustration and raised his eyes and hands towards the ceiling as though pleading with an invisible God. Sammy Jo dont you understand anything? Dont you see whats happening here? Dont you understand that it doesnt matter what the hell it is that he says to you on the phone, it doesnt matter whether hes swearing at you are singing Gregorian chants, the issue here is power. Power, do you remember? Cant you remember the endless conversations with Lucy and I about why it is that people telephone other people anonymously and abuse their time and their privacy? Its a power thing. Hes making you passive. You dont question him, he is in control, he is powerful and you are passive. He probably gets exactly the same kick out of it as if you were involved in some sort of direct, sick, sado-masochistic relationship. Hes dictating your life, Sammy Jo, cant you see that? Cant you?
As he finished speaking he leaned towards her and snatched hold of her arm. She didnt meet his gaze, her arm hung limp in his hand. After several seconds she said quietly, You think I dont know all this, dont you? You think Im so bloody stupid. Well youre wrong. I know all about this shit. Maybe you think that I actually enjoy being dominated, that I actually go out of my way to get into situations where I can be dominated
Jason dropped her arm, What do you expect me to think, Sammy Jo? Do you expect me to congratulate you on getting an education? Do you expect me to go to night classes to learn French so I can discuss Sartre with you in the original? What the hell do you expect me to feel? Pleased? Delighted? Grateful?
Sammy Jo sprang up and pushed Jason in the chest with her flat hand. Dont you dare patronize me, you bastard. How dare you speak to me like this? Ill do what the hell I like with my time and you cant stop me. You just resent him because he is offering me something that you have never bothered offering me.
Jason laughed. It sounded like the wail of an angry hyena. So you think. Im threatened by this pervert do you? You think Im intimidated by some sick bastard who gets his kicks out of telephoning vulnerable women and talking about philosophy with them? Look at me, Sammy Jo, Im not threatened, Im angry. You should be angry too.
Sammy Jo pushed past him and marched over to the cot. She lifted Charlie up with one hand and reached under the mattress with her other hand. She grabbed hold of her three new books and then replaced the baby on top of her blankets. Jason watched all of this in silence and then said harshly, Well, thats very mature, Sammy Jo, hiding books under the babys mattress, very adult. You thrive on this sort of deception, dont you? You love your little secrets, your private collusions.
Sammy Jo marched past him and towards the door. Im going upstairs for a while. I dont want to be disturbed.
Jason slammed his fist down hard on to the table, the force of which caused a coffee cup, the telephone and pizza pad to jump up into the air by almost an inch. The telephone made a little jangling, ringing noise as it landed. He yelled, Give me those books Sammy Jo, give them to me now!
She held her books against her chest and glared at him venomously. Youll have to kill me first, Jason. Be warned, Im not quite as passive as youd like to believe.
They stared at each other venomously for several seconds and then Sammy Jo turned and left the room.
In the kitchen the ratatouille was starting to burn. Jason switched off the oven and started to prepare a bottle for the baby. His hands were shaking.
After forty-five minutes Jason had fed the baby and watched half of Coronation Street. He kept listening out for any noises from upstairs, but the house was silent. He switched the television off, opened his briefcase and took out his address book. He found Lucy Cosbies number and dialled it. It rang several times before she answered it.
Hi, Lucy here.
Her voice was depressingly familiar to him. He said, Hello, Lucy, its Jason Wells here, Sammy Jos husband.
This took Lucy Cosbie several seconds to register, then she responded warmly: Oh, Jason, hi. Is something wrong? Youre the last person I expected to hear from.
Jason cleared his throat. Lucy, Sammy Jos in trouble again. She said you phoned her the other day. I wondered whether shed told you about it. Im somewhat concerned.
Lucy Cosbie sounded mystified. Jason, Sammy Jo said nothing to me about any problems. Is it the baby?
Jason smiled. No, nothing like that. Im afraid shes receiving anonymous calls again.
Lucy responded sharply. Who from? Same guy?
Jason was surprised. No, I dont think so. She didnt suggest to me that it could be the same person. I think she wouldve said that. I hope so anyway.
Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. Im glad to hear that, Jason. Its all a bit complicated at this end because Ive seen a fair bit of him lately. I was assigned to his case recently. Im sure you can understand that its something of a conflict of interests.
Jason nodded. I can imagine. Anyway, Lucy, this new guy is really weird, they arent dirty calls as such. In fact Sammy Jo seems very happy with the arrangement. It seems that hes teaching her philosophy, you know, Philosophy the Anonymous Callers Way.
He tried to crack this joke light-heartedly but it fell somewhat flat. Lucy Cosbie was silent for a few seconds and then she said, rather slowly and hollowly, Oh dear. I think this could all be slightly problematic.
Jason scratched his head and then tightened his grip on the telephone receiver. Why? I didnt think what was said made any difference. Hes still pestering her. Its the same thing isnt it? The same as before?
When Lucy next spoke she sounded a fraction testy. Jason, I think maybe I should speak to Sammy Jo about this. Is she there? Can I have a word?
Jason was irritated. Shes upstairs at the moment. Weve had a slight disagreement about the whole thing. Shes being a bit irrational.
Lucy was persistent. Im sorry Jason, Im afraid that I cant talk to you any further about this without chatting to Sammy Jo. Id prefer to deal with her personally. Id appreciate it if I could speak with her privately.
Jason frowned. After a short pause he said, Ill go and call her. I dont know how responsive shell be though. Hang on.
He put down the telephone and walked into the hallway. He stood at the bottom of the stairs and shouted up, Sammy Jo? Lucy Cosbies on the phone, she wants to speak to you.
Sammy Jo was lying on their bed engrossed in her book. She swore under her breath at Jasons untimely interruption and turned over the corner of the page to mark her place. She got up and shouted back as she began to make her way towards the door. Im coming!
As she walked down the stairs she glared at him. I bet you phoned her. He shrugged as she brushed past him and decided that it was probably better to say nothing.
Sammy Jo picked up the telephone. Hi Lucy, Im sorry about this. Im sure youve got more pressing matters to deal with. This isnt at all important.
Lucys voice was low and apologetic. Sammy Jo, Im sorry, but I do think that this is my business. Im pretty sure that I know who it is thats telephoning you and also how and why.
Sammy Jo frowned. I dont understand.
Lucy sighed. I think its my fault. Ive been a bit slow on the uptake. Maybe I havent been careful enough. That man, Duncan Sands, who was telephoning you before, well, he was recently assigned to me
Sammy Jo interrupted nervously. I thought he was in prison.
No, he was in an open prison for several months but hes been out for a while now. You were hardly the only person involved in the whole mess well, you know all about it, anyway.
Sammy Jo shook her head slowly while she listened to Lucy. Im sorry Lucy, but this person is different, they arent the same, they dont sound the same.
Lucy was insistent. Sammy Jo, he may not sound the same because hes saying different things, but I know its him. He often asks about you. He wanted to meet you a while back to talk things over. He sincerely believes that hes better now, that he was sick and now hes better. I somehow have my doubts about that. Anyway, hes been heavily involved in community service work and maybe he thinks that hes doing you some sort of a service. He started a sociology course in prison and hes really into educating himself. I helped to get him a job a few weeks back, only part-time shop work, but with prospects. Next year, if they keep him on, hell probably be eligible for a day-release scheme to go to the polytechnic. He wants to get a degree in Communication Studies.
Sammy Jo laughed. I suppose thats kind of ironic.
Lucy wasnt amused. He mustve managed to find out your number from me at some point. I dont know, maybe he got a peek at my diary or something. Anyway Sammy Jo, Im going to have to do something about this
Sammy Jo bit her lip. Lucy, you arent going to tell the police are you? Or jeopardize his job?
Lucy was silent for a moment and then she said, Hes violated my trust, Sammy Jo. I have a responsibility to do something.
Sammy Jo interrupted angrily. Thats stupid! Its none of your business. Youd never have known about this if Jason hadnt told you. As far as Im concerned, his involvement with me is with my full consent.
Lucy tutted irritatingly. Sammy Jo, you know its not as simple as that. This whole anonymous calling thing is about power, it doesnt matter what hes saying, its wrong. We both know that its wrong.
Sammy Jo said slyly, You let him get my number, Lucy, that was irresponsible, what if I wanted to make something of it?
Lucy wasnt impressed. That makes no difference to me, Sammy Jo, I dont intend to follow one piece of misconduct with another.
Sammy Jo wound the telephone wire around her middle finger and tried to think of some sort of compromise. Eventually she said, Lucy, I swear to you that if he telephones me again Ill phone you and tell you, then you can contact whoever you like. Just leave it until the next time. Maybe you could phone him tonight and warn him off