Crimwife by Tanya Levin Page B

since that morning and she is now in a happy relationship, with a new job. She says there’s enough distance now that she doesn’t feel sad.
    “I was young then, and naïve, I know that. I didn’t know that there were people who could act as if they had emotions. Can they really do that, do you think? Can someone really go through all the motions but not feel anything? I thought she loved me. I really did. But it all happened fast, I suppose.”
    Mel’s parents insisted she go to the police. The three of them filed a report, but there was almost nothing that was certain about Jade, even her name. She was using one of her aliases, a twist on her last name. There was no chance of getting back the money or any of Mel’s belongings. Still, the police report revealed some more details about Jade. She had a criminal history for robberies, fraud and drug offences. Three weeks later, she was arrested for shoplifting. The police found stolen goods at her house, but none of them were Mel’s.
    Jade served nine months for various charges, including stealing from Mel. She had been thieving throughout their relationship and was found in possession of heroin. Some of this made sense to Mel when she remembered Jade showing her a new ring or piece of clothing that she would say she’d stumbled on in an op shop. As for drugs, Mel said she knew Jade could be vague and sometimes she slept a lot but Mel thought that was stress. She says she has no idea when Jade was using.
    Desperate for answers, Mel called Jade’s sister, Renee, whom she had met at the refuge. Jade had rushed Renee out when Mel walked in. Later she explained that Renee was a drama queen and a gossip. “She’ll make something horrible up about you and lie to the family,” Jade had said. “It’s better we see her after we’re out of here.” But Jade had left some numbers lying around and one of them was Renee’s.
    “I can’t talk to you for long, Mel,” Renee said. “Jade doesn’t like me talking to her exes. I’m sorry. But I did speak to her today. She called from jail. She wanted money, of course.”
    Mel says she wanted to ask a million questions. She wanted to ask how and why and where it had started and whether she felt any guilt, but she decided just to listen to what Renee would say when she asked, “Has she said anything about me to you?”
    “Yes,” Renee answered. “She said she had a wonderful girlfriend on the outside and that she was very happy for a while, but see, she gets restless. Always has. Now she’s in jail she’s back with Debra, like she always is in jail. Debra looks out for her, protects her. They only ever really see each other in there, but when they’re in there, it’s serious.”
    Mel started to cry a little. Renee must have heard her because she said, “Oh, love, really, be glad. You got off lightly. I’m sorry for whatever she’s done to you, but there’s three blokes out there looking after five kids of hers that have done it a lot harder. One of them gave up his house for her. Plus all the stuff she put Mum and Dad through. She’s had plenty of chances to settle down but she just never does. At least you’re out there and not in with her. That could have happened, you know.”
    And with that, Mel realised that what had devastated her world was everyday life for this family. Despite the setbacks, Mel could move on, but Jade was Renee’s sister for life.
    “That was very liberating,” says Mel. “Even though my heart was broken, I knew I had some choice to get away from her. They didn’t. And if they didn’t understand her yet and couldn’t stop her, then I couldn’t either. That way it wasn’t all my fault for falling for her.”

 
    There is no such thing as a typical relationship, if you ask the individuals involved. For each person, their situation is complex and unique. There is also no accurate way to predict how a relationship where one or both partners are involved in criminal activity will turn