by Peter Martin
The washing up done, while Bob was busy outside, she sat there, intermittently glancing up at the clock. With six-thirty ticking on towards seven o’clock, a terrible dread came into the pit of her stomach. Something was very wrong.
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This was the last thing Bob wanted to do, it always took such a long time. But then he never felt like cutting the grass, his passion lay with growing flowers and shrubs.
Anger crept into his head. How could Tim let him down? His son’s eyes had lit up at the suggestion of going to the match; this was the first opportunity they’d had to spend some time together in weeks. So why he should be late, was difficult to understand. He’d always loved playing and watching football, had even played for the school team for a while, until he decided it interfered with his school work.
When Bob finished, he wasn’t happy, he shouldn’t have mowed the lawn when it was that wet and muddy, and now part of the grass had been pulled out and looked a mess. But he’d needed to occupy himself with something.
As he put the mower away in the shed, he was mindful of his son’s absence and butterflies filled his stomach – eight o’clock, and still nothing. Maria couldn’t have heard anything, or she’d have run out to tell him.
He locked up the shed and went into the house through the back door. Then after washing his hands in the sink he carried on to the living room, where Maria sat dithering, a tearful frightened look on her face. Realising how wound up she was, he knew he needed to be calm for her benefit.
‘Still no sign?’
Maria shook her head.
‘No phone calls or anything?’
‘I’ve tried his phone umpteen times. Nothing. I don’t know what to think.’ She sniffed, trying not to cry.
‘This isn’t like him at all.’
‘Bob – I’m panicking. What are we going to do?’
‘Well, let’s not think the worst. If he’s had an accident or got himself into trouble, someone would have told us by now – surely?’
‘Well, we can’t just sit around like dummies, waiting for something to happen.’
‘So what do you suggest?’
‘Phone the police?’
‘Come on, at this time of night, they won’t be interested. Lots of fourteen year olds don’t tell their parents they’re staying out late.’
‘Yes, but they’re not Tim. Something’s not right, I can sense it in my bones. You want to wait until the police fish his body out of a canal?’
‘Of course not, but you’re over reacting. Tell you what, why don’t I sound out a few of his mates and our families, see if they’ve seen him. Someone must know where he is.’
Deep concern came into his wife’s eyes as she glanced at him, but he wouldn’t be bullied into doing anything rash, and went out to the hall. There by the phone, he looked up the telephone numbers of Tim’s friends, his cousins, and other family members. Luckily the numbers were listed under their first names, so he had no problem finding them. Unfortunately no one had any idea where Tim was – until he spoke to Terry.
‘Hi-ya Mr Shepherd,’ Terry said.
‘Terry, seen anything of our Tim on your travels, only he hasn’t come home yet?’
‘Er... Tim you say. Not really. Come to think of it I never saw him in school today. And he never answered his mobile either.’
‘We’ve had no luck with that either. And, he definitely set out this morning.’
‘Really – that’s strange. Tell you what, I’ll ask around and ring you back. Give me your number, Mr Shepherd.’
‘Ok thanks Terry, I appreciate it.’
Bob put the phone down, feeling a tightness in his chest. Was Terry right about Tim not being in school? He wished he knew. This was not good, and bound to set Maria off again. Thank God he’d made the calls on the hall phone instead of the extension in the living room.
When he returned to the living room, he could see the terror in Maria’s eyes, as she looked up at him. Pity he had no good news for her. Upon telling her what he’d learnt, omitting the bit about Tim not being in school, she began to sob. ‘Bob, you’ve got to phone the police now.’
‘No Maria, not yet eh. Let’s wait until his friend phones back. He said he wouldn’t be long. If he doesn’t find anything out, and Tim still hasn’t come back, then I’ll ring them – all right?’
‘Bob, just phone them now.’
‘Look, there’s no point in jumping the gun. He could come back at any time, and then how stupid will we look.’
Maria glared at him. ‘If anything’s happened to him, I’ll never forgive you Bob Shepherd – you hear me?’
He just frowned and sat down on the other side of the sofa to her.
The time slowly ticked by but still Tim didn’t return. He watched Maria get up every few minutes to look out of the window for their beloved son.
Roughly twenty minutes later Terry returned his call, only to confirm no one had seen Tim since yesterday. As Bob put the phone down he noticed it was ten fifteen, his lips moved downwards, resigned to the inevitable. No need for Maria to tell him. He picked up the phone and dialled 999. Tim wasn’t coming home that night.
Table of Contents
Against Her Will
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Author Bio
Author Pic
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