Blood Tracks Read Online Free

silent; her ragged breathing filled the room. She couldn’t bring herself to repeat the message.
    The coroner took control of the situation.
    “Thank you, Gina. I realize how difficult this is for you. You can go back to your place now. We have a record of the text,” he continued. “For the purposes of the hearing, let it be known that it read, Forgive me. Dad .”
    But Gina didn’t move. She hadn’t finished. She fought back the sobs that were gathering in her throat and continued. “And then I heard the train screeching, trying to stop and it was my dad on the tracks and I know what you’re thinking, but you see –” she looked imploringly at the coroner – “it doesn’t make any sense. My dad wouldn’t kill himself and anyway, just before he got out of the car, he said that he’d go for a run with me the next day. Why would he say that if he knew he was going to kill himself? He wouldn’t, would he?” She looked desperately around the room, waiting for someone to agree with her, but all she saw were downcast faces etched with pity.
    “You’ve got to believe me!” she cried out. “My dad would never do that to us. He loved us! If you’d met him, you’d know he wouldn’t leave us like this.” Her shoulders shook as her sobs finally erupted. Her mother rushed across the courtroom and Gina felt arms around her, cradling her quivering body.
    The coroner spoke up. “I think we should stop there for the day. We’ll resume the hearing tomorrow.”
    Gina begged, “No! Please, don’t stop. If I leave this room now, I won’t have the guts to come back tomorrow and I need to be here. Please! I’ll pull myself together.”
    “But it’s your welfare I’m thinking of,” the coroner assured her.
    “Then please, just carry on and let me stay.”
    The coroner paused. “Mrs. Wilson, if you believe that it’s in the best interests of your daughter to remain here, then I’ll abide by your judgement,” the coroner said.
    Gina looked pleadingly at her mother.
    Her mum gave a sorrowful sigh. “Yes, I think she should stay. Gina needs to hear everything .”
    “Then, if you go back to your seat, Gina, we’ll continue,” the coroner announced. “Would Mr. Thomas Cotter please come to the witness table.”
    Gina dried her eyes as she tried to compose herself. She wanted to take in every word that he had to say. She scrutinized Uncle Tom as he stepped up to the table. She knew how he liked to keep himself well groomed and fit. She knew that her dad’s boss was never short of female admirers, but today his handsome face looked grey and drawn. Gina realized that her dad’s death had hit Uncle Tom hard.
    She heard Uncle Tom’s voice thicken with emotion as he answered the coroner’s questions.
    “Yes, sir. I knew Martin very well. I first met him sixteen years ago when I opened my warehouse on the docks and I employed him as my foreman. We had a great working relationship which became a friendship. Marty and Clare always made me feel welcome in their home. The kids even call me uncle,” he said, giving Gina a weak smile.
    “And how would you describe Martin Wilson’s character?” the coroner asked.
    “Well, he was a great bloke – warm, kind, a real family man. The other lads at the warehouse really respected him. But I’d been worried about him in the weeks before his death. He was putting up a front for the others at work but I noticed he seemed down, withdrawn, not his usual self at all.”
    “And did you ever ask him about this?” the coroner said.
    “Of course. I asked Marty outright. I was really concerned and I thought it might help if he confided in someone. He did tell me about this feeling he had; this dark cloud. That’s how he described it, ‘a dark cloud’ that hung over him. I asked him why…what was worrying him? I thought maybe I could help him, but he couldn’t even explain what had brought it on.”
    “And was he seeking help for his feelings of depression?”
    “No.”