by El Edwards
“Nothing like that. Sorry, didn’t mean to alarm you. Just been lots going on. I’m following some leads related to those bank transactions.”
“And?”
“Nothing concrete yet. I really just wanted to ring to let you know I’m in Barnstaple but I’ll be back at the end of the week and will call round then.”
“So no news?”
“I’m working on it.”
“And you haven’t found him?”
“Sorry Abigail no, I haven’t found him.” I heard a sob at the other end of the line. “But I won’t give up. Trust me.” A tap on the window made me look up and I saw Ryan standing outside my van. “I need to go Abigail but I promise I’ll be back in a couple of days.”
I didn’t like having to leave her when she was upset but with Rob’s reminder about not being her social worker ringing my ears and the lead I was chasing standing quite literally just a finger tip away, I had to stayed focussed.
I opened the window. “Hello Ryan. Want to get in?” I gestured to the passenger seat.
He walked round the van and climbed in. “Mrs Flanagan said you might try and find me.”
“Are you surprised? After what you told her about Toby, I’m just sorry you didn’t ring me yourself.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Matters to me.” I pointed to the cut on his nose. “What happened?”
“He came out of nowhere didn’t he. Just started laying into me for no reason.”
“Toby did this?”
“Yeah.” He looked down and started picking dirt out of his fingernails.
“Are you sure it was Toby?”
“Wouldn’t say it was him if it wasn’t would I? I’m not a liar!”
“I never said you were. It’s just, the old guy across the road, he saw you, both of you. He said the guy who you were fighting with was bigger, taller.”
“Yeah he was. He had a right mean swing on ‘im. I’m lucky he didn’t break my bloody nose!”
“You just said Toby did this.”
“He did.” He picked at his fingers again. “I mean, it wasn’t actually him. But I know Toby put him up to it. I know it!”
“Hold on, are you telling me I’ve just driven all the way from South Wales because you reckon Toby asked some bloke to break your nose?” I was so cross I wanted to break his nose myself. “Have you got any idea how long it takes to drive from South Wales to Barnstaple? Have you? So now what? I just turn around and drive all the way back again?”
He didn’t say anything but had the good grace to look slightly guilty. I sat there considering my options while he brooded. I was here now and my hotel was booked so I might as well ask around, see if anyone happened to have seen Toby. I turned back to Ryan.
“Why would Toby want to beat you up?”
“I broke the code.”
“The what?”
“The code. It’s a man thing. Stick together no matter what. Don’t rat on your mates. Never pull the same bird. And if anyone comes sniffing round asking questions, keep your mouth shut. The code. And I broke it.”
“And you believe that bullshit nonsense?”
He shrugged. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“What, because I’m a bird?” I couldn’t decide between laughing and smacking him around the head. “Okay I’ll play along. Let’s suppose for one moment that you’re right and Toby really would send someone round to beat you up because you “broke the code”, he’s long gone. How would he ever find out?”
Ryan looked shocked. “I can’t tell you that!”
“Why not?”
“He already had me beaten up. What’s he going to do to me if I tell you everything?” He looked genuinely terrified and as ridiculous a notion as it sounded, I could at least see his logic. He’d also inadvertently told me that he hadn’t been completely straight with me last time.
I turned to face Ryan, forcing him to make eye contact. “You’ve seen him haven’t you?”
He looked at the floor but didn’t say anything.
“Ryan, look at me.”
Still he kept his eyes fixed on a point somewhere just above his left shoe.
“If he’s out there he’ll already know that you’re talking to me today, you approached me remember, so tell me what I need to know and I can help you.”
Remembering what Muriel had told me I tried one more tactic. “Think about your girlfriend Ryan. How’s she going to feel if you wind up in the hospital somewhere? Or your poor mum. You won’t be able to give money to them if you can’t work.”
“That’s why I can’t tell you. If I keep my mouth shut he’ll leave me alone.”
“It’s too late for that Ryan. I just told you, he’s seen you getting into my van. He can’t hear what you’re saying so he’ll have to guess. What do you think his guess will be Ryan? Tell me what you know and I can help you. I have big strong friends with police badges and ways to keep people like you safe.”
“Okay I’ll tell you. But not here.”
THIRTY-ONE
I followed Ryan’s directions as he led me away from McDonalds and into a part of the town I’d not visited yet. Three right turns, a left, two more rights. It felt like we were going round in circles and I was beginning to have my doubts about Ryan’s sanity. As I drove he kept squirming round in his seat to try and see out the back.
“We’re not being followed,” I said.
“You sure?” Still he looked round frantically, his eyes wide.
“I’m sure. I’ve been in this game long enough to know when I’ve got a tail. We’re clean.”
“Okay, pull in here.” He pointed to a patch of mud slightly further back from the road. “There.”
I did as I was told and parked the van. “Where are we?”
“It’s the woods at the back of my old school. Used to come here for a smoke. Toby won’t know about this place. It’s safe. Come on.” He got out of the van and started walking into the woods. I locked up, grabbed my bag and followed him. We walked for about a mile in silence. I was trying my best to be patient but this whole cloak and dagger act was getting a bit tiresome. I’d had a long day and I was just about ready to head over to the hotel for a quiet night.
“This is far enough Ryan.” He’d gone a little way ahead of me but he stopped walking when I shouted to him. “You’re safe here. So tell me about Toby and let me help you.”
He walked back to me. “You really think we’re safe?”
“Absolutely. There’s not another soul for miles. Let’s get this over with. Tell me what you know.”
He glanced around him before speaking. “There’s something you need to know about Toby Rogers.”
“Go on?”
“Appearances can be deceptive.” He paced up and down as he spoke.
“Meaning?”
“He looks like the golden boy, with his fancy haircut and nice clothes. Have you seen the car he drives? I could feed myself for a year with the money he spent on that motor.”
“That doesn’t make sense Ryan. He was sleeping on your sofa, working in a fast food restaurant. No-one said anything about a flash car.”
“I’ve seen the photos. He showed me one day when he’d had a couple of drinks. Told me all about his little wifey and kids back home.”
“I don’t suppose he happened to mention how he ended up in Barnstaple?” I laughed. All this time I’d been trying to find Toby through his work contacts and what I really needed to do was talk to his drinking buddy.
“It’s not funny!” His face changed and he didn’t look like the scared little kid any more. I felt a knot settle in my stomach as I remembered what I’d told him. Not another soul for miles. I took a deep breath.
“You’re right, it’s not funny. So how about you tell me what you wanted to tell me and we get back into town?”
“You’re not going anywhere!” He was speaking through gritted teeth now, his face screwed up in the expression of a snarl.
Shit, where had that
come from?
I felt the knot grow into something resembling real fear as I started weighing up my chances of taking him down. He wasn’t particularly big, still just a scrawny kid, but I’d put money on him being a dirty fighter if it came to it.
“What are you doing Ryan?” I tried to keep my tone neutral. He was clearly a nut job and the last thing I wanted to do was provoke him further. “I thought you wanted me to help you?”
“Stupid little bitch! You think I need help from someone like you? You’re way out of your depth Charlie Diamond. Go back to Wales and find yourself a cosy insurance scam to bust. You’re done here.”
Before I had a chance to react he ran at me, his whole body thundering into mine. I felt myself stumble backwards, my foot connecting with a tree root, and I fell on my arse in the mud. He landed on top of me forcing the air out of my lungs and for a moment I just sat there, unable to move. He snatched my bag and ran in the direction of the van. It took me a moment to register what was happening but I was soon on my feet and doing my best to race after him, gasping for breath. I watched him riffle through my bag as he ran, business cards flying through the air like confetti alongside copies of Toby’s smiling face.
“Oi!” I wanted to tell him to keep running, to warn him that if I caught up to him, he’d be wiping my business cards clean with his face, but I needed to save my breath for more important things like running as fast as I could. As the distance between us grew I began to regret my all too frequent dinners in The Bont. By the time I broke free of the woods he had his hand on the van door and I was cursing the red wine, swearing to God that if I caught this kid I’d never drink again.
“Don’t you bloody dare!”
He turned round and waggled his fingers at me, before jumping into the van and starting the engine.
“You little bastard!”
He pushed his foot to the floor and revved the engine. I wanted to give one last super human burst of energy so I could reach him in time to stop him, I wanted to believe this was all a bad dream, I wanted to be back home in my cosy little house in Gloddfa Bont but when I looked up, all I could see was my van racing off down the road out of sight leaving me standing all alone in the middle of nowhere. Bloody brilliant!
THIRTY-TWO
By the time I got back to Muriel’s house it was dark. For the briefest of moments I’d considered ringing Rob and begging him to come and pick me up but my mobile was in the van and by the time I spotted a phone box I was back in familiar territory. Besides, what kind of a private investigator would I be if I couldn’t cope with a small set back like auto theft? There was professional pride at stake. I was determined to figure this out on my own. I’d have to report the theft to the local police of course, my insurance company would insist upon it, but I could do that from Muriel’s house. I walked slowly up the street, choosing to try and cheer myself up by admiring the Christmas lights in her neighbour’s windows as I went. My feet hurt and I was so hungry my belly had given up grumbling about an hour previously but when I rounded the corner and saw a van that looked suspiciously like mine parked outside Muriel’s house, I picked up speed.
I pinched myself, I had to be dreaming, and could hardly believe that it was my van, neatly parked and locked. I decided Ryan couldn’t possibly be so stupid as to be in his flat so I went straight to Muriel’s house and knocked. When she opened the door Muriel looked surprised to see me.
“Charlotte love? What are you doing ‘ere?”
“Promised you an update didn’t I?”
“But look at you, you’re freezing. Come and sit in the warm. I’ll make you a cuppa.”
She shooed me into the lounge and I sat in a cozy chair next to the fire. After she’d made us both a cup of tea and I’d warmed up, I started to tell her about my afternoon.
“But why aren’t you back in Wales?” she asked.
“What made you think I was going home?”
“Ryan knocked, a couple of hours ago, left me your keys, said you’d gone back on the train cos you weren’t feeling well. Said you’d asked if you could leave your van ‘ere for a few days.”
I sighed. “That little grub worm stole my van, left me in the middle of the woods. I had to walk back. Was going to ask if I could borrow your phone to call the police but there doesn’t seem to be much point now.”
“Ryan did that? Are you sure it were ‘im? He’s always been such a lovely boy.”
“It was definitely him Mrs F.” I thought about what to do next and made a quick decision. “Could I have the keys? I need to see if any of my stuff’s been nicked.”
If he’d taken my bag, that included my phone and purse which meant I couldn’t pay for my room that night but worse still, my tools and paperwork had been in the van. I was too exhausted to have the brain space to consider Ryan’s motivation but whatever his reasons, I hated the idea of him having my whole case laid out in carefully documented detail.
I unlocked the van and looked in the back. My tool bag was in the corner exactly where I’d left it but the contents of my overnight bag had been pulled out and strewn all over the back then I spotted my shoulder bag which Ryan had stolen from me in the woods. My phone was gone as well as the cash from my purse but all my cards were still there.
“Thieving bastard!” said Muriel, who’d quietly followed me outside.
“Muriel!” I was shocked. She looked like such a sweet little old lady, I didn’t imagine she even knew words like that.
“I just can’t believe it. He’s always been so quiet. And I gave ‘im a Christmas cake. What a little rat! Is there much missing?”
“My mobile and a bit of cash. But at least he left my cards.”
“Such generosity.” She oozed sarcasm and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“The only other thing missing is my notes about Toby and Abigail. Why would he want those?”
“I couldn’t say love.”
I sighed, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. It had been an incredibly long day and now thanks to Ryan’s crazy, tomorrow was likely to be equally as taxing. All I wanted to do now was crawl into bed and sleep for about twelve hours. Before I could even think about sleep though I needed to get to the hotel, find something to eat and phone home to hear all the latest gossip about Grace and her cycling ambition. I just hoped she’d managed to find a solution that didn’t involve telling her father I’d left them home alone.
I turned to Muriel. “I need to get going Mrs F. I’ll be back tomorrow though. Is that okay?” I didn’t like to leave her when she’d just learned one of her favourite neighbours was a lying toad but she was a feisty old bird and I knew she’d be just fine.
“Of course love. Don’t you worry about me. What are you going to do about a phone though? I know how you youngsters are lost without them.”
I smiled to hear myself described as a youngster but the reality of everything I still had to sort out threatened to break me. Tears pricked at my eyes and I blinked them away. Now was really not the time to crumble into a mess. I knew I had to pull myself together.
“I’ll sort out a new one tomorrow and give you the number. I just need to sleep.”
I said goodbye to Muriel and unlocked the front of the van. It was then that I saw the note waiting for me on the passenger seat. Next time you won’t be able to walk anywhere. Go home. I crumpled the note into a ball and threw it into the back of the van, my heart pounding in my ears. I’d had just about enough bloody crazy for one day. He’d crossed a line and whether it took me two weeks, two months or two years, I was determined to get to the bottom of this whole sorry mess and make Ryan pay.
THIRTY-THREE
When I woke the following morning it took me a minute to remember where I was. It was still dark outside and there was none of the usual early morning hustle and bustle that comes as standard in most hotels. I glanced at the clock and groaned. It was only six o’clock, the rest of the world was still fast asleep. By the time I’d crawled into bed the previous night I’d been so
drained I’d hoped for a bit of a lie in but something had disturbed my sleep. Now I was awake there was no chance of dropping back off again so I decided I might as well get showered and ready to face the day. I had so much I needed to do, a wave anxiety threatened to wash over me. I was starting the day with yet more questions than answers and without my file and notebook to capture it all, I felt lost.
I stood under the shower letting the water rush over my head and body, the warmth helping to ease my sense of dread. By the time I was washed and dressed I almost felt human again. I knew I had to do whatever it took to keep my head in the game. I definitely didn’t have time for anxiety attacks, even if after the events of yesterday they were completely warranted.
While I’d been in the shower I’d made a decision about the rest of my trip. Until I’d spoken to Abigail, there wasn’t much more I could do here. I also longed to be back home in my own bed and even if that meant forgoing the cost of my second night in the Travelodge, I decided that was a price worth paying. Decision made, I packed my overnight bag and headed to reception. The desk was empty so I posted my keycard into the box and turned to leave. I’d just pushed the door open to head outside when I heard a voice call my name.
“Charlie Diamond?”
I turned to see the receptionist smiling at me. “Yes, that’s me.”
“I have a message for you. From your daughter.”
I smiled. “Which one?”
“Oh, she didn’t say.”
“Not to worry. What was the message?”
“She said to tell you everyone’s fine and she asked me to remind you to send her your new number when you sort out your phone.” She handed me a piece of paper with the same message.
“Thanks very much.”
“My pleasure. Did you break your phone?”
“Not exactly. It was stolen yesterday.”
“That’s awful! Have you reported it to the police?”
“I know who did it. I just need to catch him.”
