Chapter 50 Section IX

Catherine and Tom bought another bottle of Bushmills on the way back.Tonight they intend to bury the ghost of Alison Carter forever.So, she thought, wine would be very useful for their day.They would probably all have headaches and nausea tomorrow, but Catherine figured they didn't need to worry about that.All she wanted was to be so drunk that she passed out when her head hit the pillow tonight.As long as I can forget the horror and depravity Hawking left in this world, I will do anything. After entering the house and closing the door, Catherine said, "Well, that's it," and it was the first time they spoke since they left Alison, who was trapped in memories. "We know all the truth." She went to the sideboard and poured them both a shot of strong whiskey.

Tom silently took the glass.He looks at the pictures on the wall and confronts the harrowing truth.Ma Lomas and her family have really fooled the world and sent Philip Hawking to a road of no return through a legal trial.Although this proved that his intuition about Philip Hawking was correct, he didn't feel complacent at all. After all, this man was not a murderer. Those photos of Alison were hard for them to take.Facing these photos, Catherine couldn't help but come to the conclusion that the villagers of Scardale had the right to turn their quiet, desolate and remote place into a execution ground, because they knew that only death could stop Hawking's death. Continuing to do evil will save Scardale's children from his ravages.Even if the villagers send their own children away, his bestiality will continue, and he will kill other children; he has money and power, and he can do whatever he wants.Even if someone dared to testify, no one would believe it. "I never thought there would be so many people involved," Catherine said sadly.

"Yeah!" Tom turned and sat down on the chair. "I can't think of any reason to blame them," Catherine said. "If I were in their position, I wouldn't hesitate to join them," Tom agreed. "The irony is that Philip Hawking's hanging was a momentary agony compared to what happened to Alison, whom she had endured every day for thirty-five years. She had lost so much. In her mind Deep down, there is always an uneasy feeling that one day she will open the door and see someone like me standing opposite her." Catherine picked up the whiskey bottle and placed it on the table between them.

They sat dumb, saying nothing, as if they had just narrowly escaped from a terrible disaster, and had not had time to recall how they had escaped.They smoked one after the other, both lost in thought. "George is right," Catherine said finally, "I cannot publish this book. It was a well-known case that turned out to be based entirely on lies and deceit, and if I were to disclose this, I would win a lot of money." However, I cannot do that for the sake of George and Annie. Not only would George be humiliated, but he would have to watch Paul and Helen Lauyan separate before his eyes. Besides, not only Alison, but everyone involved in this matter Scardale If they are still alive, they will be prosecuted." She felt that this was simply an ancient Greek tragedy.Thirty-five years ago, that afternoon in Scardale, the aftermath will continue to this day and shake the lives of others who were innocent and did not deserve to be implicated .

Tom finished his glass and filled another. "I want to drink to your idea," he said, "I think everyone will approve of your approach." "You'll tell George tomorrow morning," said Catherine. "Don't you want to tell him yourself?" She shook her head. "I have enough things at hand. I want to cancel the book contract, but I can't tell the real reason. So, Tom, you tell him, it's the best way. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know that Helen is Ellie I will not let the daughter of Sen who was ravaged by Stephen Hawking tell everything, and I will not keep silent. So, this is all your credit."

He snorted. "Credit? For handling this tricky matter? Don't give me credit if it doesn't do you any good. However, I'm happy to tell George that no one else will affect the lives of Paul and Helen. I know it's going to be to him." How important. I won't tell him all the details, though." Catherine reached for the bottle. "Good idea," she said.She poured some more whiskey, "I suggest that we all forget about the past few days!"