by Sam Short
“And you owe it to yourself to be honest, Jessica,” said Pepper, as people ran towards the car, and the police car bounced across the runway followed by an airfield ambulance and the fire engine. “I don’t think you’re very well.”
“No,” said Jessica. “I’m not. But I’m ready to get better. I’ll begin by telling those policemen what happened to Stan.”
Pepper nodded. “It will be alright,” she said.
Jessica gave a dry smile and pointed towards Oswald Clementine, who leapt out of the back seat of the police car and sprinted towards the Rolls Royce. “He’s not going to be happy,” she said. “I don’t think he’s ever going to see his film on the big screen.”
Pepper opened her door as Oswald reached the car, and looked at Jessica. “He seems to be smiling,” she said.
As Pepper climbed from the car, Oswald pulled her into a hug. “It’s a wrap!” he said. “That was amazing! Are you two okay? Brian is fine, and there doesn’t seem to be any damage to the car apart from a hole in the windscreen!”
“Are there any injuries?” asked a policeman, as he approached the car.
“No,” said Pepper. “We’re both okay.”
“It’s a miracle,” said one of the cameramen. “We all saw the earthquake. It pushed the ground right up around the car! We thought you were goners! He stared at the ground at his feet. “And it looks like nothing happened. The runway is smooth again.”
“I’d like everyone to move away from the area,” ordered the policeman. “We don’t know how stable the ground is. I’m afraid there’ll be no more filming today.”
“Oh,” said Oswald. “I don’t need to film another second. The film is finished, and if I thought people were going to like the ending I’d originally written, then I think I’d be right in suggesting they’re going to absolutely love the ending I have in mind now!”
As Jessica climbed from the car, she smiled at Brian, who sat on the grass next to the Spitfire, his face white as a woman comforted him. “I’m sorry I almost crashed into you,” she said. “I’m not sure what happened, but it’s over now.”
“Are you okay?” asked Brian. “I don’t know what just happened either, but I thought we were going to die.”
Jessica opened the back door of the police car and climbed inside. “No, Brian, I’m not okay. But I will be in time,” she said.
Chapter 34
“You didn’t have to come, Jasmine,” said Pepper, wincing as her sister plucked another hair from her chin with the tweezers she wielded like a weapon.
“Little sister,” said Jasmine, her face inches from Pepper’s. “I turned on my television this morning to see you all over the news. Not just local news, not just national news, but international news! There were a lot of mobile phones present at that airfield yesterday! Of course I was going to come! And then, when I get here, I find out that you’re going on your first date in over a decade in an hour, and that you still don’t own a proper mirror in which to do your make-up!”
“It’s not a date,” protested Pepper. “It’s a drink appointment. And I don’t like mirrors. You know that! They tell too much of the truth for my liking, but I do own one. It’s in my bag.”
“That little compact has been in your bag since you were a teenager, Pepper,” said Jasmine. “And I don’t think I’ve seen it in your hand since you were a teenager.”
Pepper shrugged. “Anyway, I wasn’t going to wear make-up. I’m only meeting the local pub landlord for one drink.”
Jasmine pulled the cap off a lipstick, laughing as Pepper protested. “Just a little bit,” she said. “To enhance your best features. Anyway, forget about your date — sorry drink appointment, for now. I wish you’d let me turn on your television! You’re all over it!”
“I don’t want to see myself on the television,” said Pepper.
“But the footage is amazing!” said Jasmine. “What happened has got the whole world talking about it! Some are saying that what happened was caused by some sort of mini earthquake. Meteorologists are suggesting a freak weather event caused it. The religious folk are saying that God intervened to prevent a terrible accident which would have caused the death of three people.
“While they’re all saying that, Mum and Dad are watching the news on repeat, and laughing so hard they can hardly breathe. They think it’s hilarious that their little introvert daughter has caused all this havoc with a simple growing spell! And they think it’s even funnier that you’d agreed to be in a film in the first place! It must be this new town having some sort of effect on you, Pepper! You’ve certainly become involved in the community!”
“Things just snowballed,” said Pepper.
“You can say that again!” laughed Jasmine. “You managed to get a young woman to confess to a crime which the police didn’t even know had been committed, you’ve joined what sounds to me like a terrifically fun gardening club, you’ve lined up a… drink appointment with a man, you helped a woman discover she’s a witch, and you’ve got a role in what people are saying is going to be the biggest film of the year thanks to all the news coverage of yesterday’s events! Things did just snowball, didn’t they?”
“Yes, well,” said Pepper, wondering what Jasmine was doing to her eyelashes with the tiny brush in her hand. “I feel quite bad for Jessica. She’s been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. She’s not a well woman. She didn’t mean to hurt Stan. She shouldn’t have pushed him, of course, but she couldn’t have known what would happen.”
“It sounds like you’ve done her a favour, Pepper,” said Jasmine. “She needs help, and she’ll get it. What about you, though? Are you excited about the film? I think it’s going to be huge!”
“I’m not sure why,” said Pepper. “It’s a low-budget film called The Pilot and The Potato Picker. The script is ghastly for the most part, and I’m not sure that even the press coverage you say it’s getting is going to help it succeed. It’s just not very good.”
“I wish you’d turn your television on, Pepper,” said Jasmine. “It’s no longer called The Pilot and The Potato Picker! And it’s now the first instalment of two films! Within one day, Oswald Clementine has already secured himself funding for the second film, and some big-name actors are queueing up to audition for parts in it. It’s now called The Pilot, The Potato Picker, and The Nazi Death Ray of Doom.”
Pepper stared at her sister. “You’re joking, aren’t you? You’re making fun of me.”
“Turn the television on, watch some of the interviews with Oswald for yourself!” said Jasmine. “He’s changed the whole story. Instead of Emily and Charles meeting on the runway to exchange a kiss at the end of the film, tragedy strikes instead! The story now goes that as Charles was taxiing towards his fiancée in the Spitfire, the Nazis unleashed a secret weapon which they’d developed in collaboration with a race of aliens from Mars. Oswald goes on to explain that the Nazis had a particular dislike for Charles because he’d shot down so many of their pilots earlier in the war, but instead of killing him, they hit him where it really hurt. His heart! They unleashed their weapon from a swastika-decorated UFO hovering above the airfield, which Oswald says will be added using computer-generated imagery. Then, when what you and I know was a growing spell, wraps the car in a ball of grass, Oswald is utilising as a transportation bubble which will whisk the car, Emily, and Mrs Banforth away to a secret Nazi base on the dark side of the moon. The next film in the series will focus on the mission to rescue them, which will be led by Charles!”
“Really?” asked Pepper. “Will people watch that?”
“Under normal circumstances, probably not,” said Jasmine. “But with the footage of you casting that spell all over the internet and the news, the story about his film has gone viral. It’s going to be huge. I think you’ll probably get offered a starring role in the second film. He speaks very highly of you in the interviews he’s done on television. He’s especially proud of the stunt you performed, although Mum can’t watch that bit. She says you ha
ve no business leaping from bicycles onto vintage cars. She says you’re approaching fifty and should know better. She says she hopes you won’t be performing such dangerous stunts in the next film.”
“I’m still a few years away from fifty!” said Pepper. “Anyway, I won’t be accepting any more roles in any films. My acting days are over.”
Jasmine stood back and studied Pepper’s face. “I didn’t think you would, and that’s what I told Mum,” she said. She smiled and tickled Ziggy behind his single white ear as he jumped up onto the dressing table. “There, Ziggy. What do you think? Doesn’t Pepper look beautiful? The man who has a drink appointment with her is a lucky man indeed.”
Pepper closed her eyes for a moment and took a steadying breath before stepping into The Country Bumpkin. The bar was almost empty apart from the group of men clutching pints who huddled around a table gazing up at the TV screen on the wall.
Instead of the football match which Pepper expected to see, she gasped as images of herself dressed as Mrs Banforth cycling along the runway in pursuit of a vintage Rolls Royce flickered on the screen.
She looked away just as one of the men raised his voice. “Look! It’s the actress who played the woman on the bike!”
One of the other men stood up, and approached Pepper, his pint glass still in his hand. “Tell us the truth!” he said. “Was that explosion that happened really caused by some unknown phenomenon, or was it some sort of clever set up by the director just to get his film famous?”
“Erm… it was real, I think,” said Pepper.
“Oi!” came Michael’s booming voice. “Stop hassling her, Matthew. She doesn’t want your beer breath in her face!” He approached Pepper, and pointed towards the doorway at the end of the room, over which hung a sign saying Restaurant. “I’ve taken the liberty of preparing you a meal. I know we said we were just going to have a drink, but I thought you might be hungry. I’ve done us steak and chunky chips. With all the trimmings of course. I hope that will be all right?”
Pepper thought for a moment and then nodded. “That will be fine. I am hungry, and I like steak,” she said.
“Excellent!” said Michael, his eyes lighting up. “I’ve also taken the liberty of closing the restaurant while you and I eat. I thought it would be better if we weren’t surrounded by noisy families. I like to eat in peace. I don’t know about you?”
Pepper nodded again, this time a bit more enthusiastically. “Me too,” she said. “I don’t like crowds.”
“Then come this way,” said Michael. “May I say how nice you look this evening? I especially like the jacket. I was a big fan of Lita Ford back in the day.”
“Oh,” said Pepper, blushing. “I just threw it on.”
Michael smiled as he walked. “I’ve also taken another liberty,” he said. “I know you liked the jukebox, so I had it moved into the restaurant while we eat. We won’t have to pay for the songs of course, so I hope you can come up with a playlist for us?”
“Oh yes!” said Pepper. “I’m sure I can.”
“Good,” said Michael. He turned to face the bar and spoke to the young man who stood behind it, smartly dressed in a shirt and tie. “Pepper and I are going to our table. Would you bring us the drink menu and our starters, please? I’ve put them on the top shelf of the big fridge.”
The young man smiled. “Of course, Michael. I’ll send my brother through with the menu right away, and I’ll bring the starters.”
As Michael led Pepper through the door into the cosy restaurant room, Pepper looked back over her shoulder. “That was Barry, wasn’t it?”
Michael nodded. “He scrubs up well, doesn’t he? His brother does, too. They came in yesterday asking for jobs. They’d heard that the two girls I was employing had gone back to university. Apparently, all the cannabis in Picklebury has dried up, and during the few days without it, they decided that they wanted to do something with their lives. I’m always happy to help people out, and it’s only been one day, but so far, they’re both doing a wonderful job.” He stopped beside a small table with a lit candle in the centre, and a small vase of flowers alongside it. He pulled out a seat and smiled at Pepper. “Please, sit down. Shall I take your jacket?”
Pepper looked towards the jukebox. “Do you mind if I put some songs on first?”
“Of course not!” said Michael. “I’d love it. I suspect you have impeccable musical taste.”
She smiled to herself as she headed for the jukebox, and then smiled even wider as she saw her reflection in the sheet of glass which protected the records. Jasmine had made her face look nice, and she promised herself that she’d remember to thank her sister.
She scanned the song list and chose three songs, making her way back to the table as the first chords of The Chain by Fleetwood Mac rang out over the speakers.
Chapter 35
When Pepper entered the Upper Picklebury Community Centre, Winston rose from his seat and hurried towards her. “My gosh!” he said, grabbing her by the wrist and guiding her towards a seat. “You had a lucky escape on that airfield! I’ve re-watched the footage over and over, and I saw no safety measures implemented during your performance of that dangerous stunt!”
“You never told us you were a stunt lady, Pepper,” added Agnes, sitting behind the same potted peace lily which had been on the table when Pepper had first visited the hall.
“I’m not,” said Pepper. “I was offered a small part in a film, and things just snowballed.”
“I hear from sources in the police force that you played a large part in finding out what happened to Stan Wilmot, too,” said Geoffrey, gazing over his spectacles at Pepper. “Your gut feeling was correct, although I never doubted you. I’ve even heard rumours that Sergeant Saxon is impressed. Well done!”
Pepper’s face warmed, and she looked away. “It was nothing,” she said. “The girl who pushed Stan was quite eager to tell somebody what she’d done, it seemed. She’s a troubled young lady. I hope things turn out all right for her.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine in the long run,” said Geoffrey. “I doubt she’ll even get prison time. I’m told by my source on the force that she’s undergoing psychiatric tests. She was quite willing to kill you and that other young actor along with herself. Bear that in mind, Pepper. It’s good that she’s in custody for the time being. Her life won’t be easy for a while, but it will get better.”
“It’s the same for poor Mary and Dominic,” said Agnes. “Things are tough now, but they’ll get better. Dominic is back in the land of the living, but the church is deciding what to do with him, as are the police. Mary’s distraught about it all, but she’s coming to terms with what Dominic did. She’s even talking about coming to Stan’s little ceremony next week.”
“What ceremony?” asked Pepper.
“Stan’s son has been emptying his father’s shed of his belongings. Then he’s going to take it down. He doesn’t want the shed to be a permanent reminder of how his dad died,” explained Winston. “And he’s quite upset that he never made the time to visit his father as often as he’d have liked, but that’s life, isn’t it?”
“I suppose so,” said Pepper. “Everybody’s so busy these days.”
Winston nodded. “It’s a busy world. Anyway, Stan’s shed is being taken down, and his allotment is to become a little memorial garden. It will be a place where all the people who own allotments can congregate and talk. That film director chap has offered to buy Stan’s Rolls-Royce from his son, and has donated a large sum of money towards a bench and a water feature for the garden.”
“It’s going to look lovely,” said Agnes. “That tatty grapevine that was trying to grow up Stan’s shed will get much more sunlight when the shed is gone. We’ll give it a proper trellis to live on, and who knows, this time next year, we might be able to eat grapes while we sit on Stan’s memorial bench.”
“What happened to Stan is awful, but life goes on for the rest of us!” boomed Geoffrey, getting to his feet. “Tea, Pepper?
Some cake? It’s not quite up to Mary’s standards, but Winston’s tried his best.”
“I’d say it’s a very delicate and moist sponge, Geoffrey,” said Winston, looking crestfallen. “I’m quite proud of it.”
Agnes pushed the peace lily towards Pepper. “Look,” she said. “I did as you suggested. I filtered the water I gave it. What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”
Pepper nodded. “It is,” she said. “It’s lovely. You’ve done a wonderful job of bringing it back to health.”
“So you’re a proper member of our little club now then?” asked Agnes.
“I believe I am,” said Pepper.
“Good,” said Winston. “It’s good to have friends. It keeps a person healthy.”
“Talking of friends,” said Agnes, leaning closer to Pepper. “Rumour has it that you’ve befriended Mrs Hamilton from Highridge house. One of my friends overheard Mrs Hamilton telling the young lady who was doing her nails that you’re going to be visiting her tomorrow. To offer her advice of some sort. My friend said that Mrs Hamilton was cautious about what she said, but it all sounds very intriguing. May I ask, without appearing nosy, what sort of advice it is you’ll be offering her?”
“Erm… gardening advice,” said Pepper, quickly. “She needs help with a few plants, that’s all.”
“Oh,” said Agnes, adding a spoonful of sugar to her cup. “I see. It seems you’ve settled into Picklebury quite well, Pepper.”
As Geoffrey placed a plate laden with a large slice of cake in front of her, Pepper smiled. “I have. And I think I’m going to like it here,” she said.
The end
If you’d like to read more of my books, why not sign up to my newsletter to keep yourself informed of new releases? I never send spam emails. That’s a promise!
You can sign up HERE
