A Time To Pay

by David Woods

  After they left he collapsed in his chair exhausted and frightened. Although he had only drunk police coffee since breakfast, he still could not face food and sat thinking about what had transpired. Later he realised the police had not mentioned his car, so it was obvious they did not have a description yet, and he pondered on this for a while. He decided if someone had seen the car parked down the road from the farm and reported it, he could be in trouble but no one had, and as time went by people’s memories would fade. Besides there are a lot of cars looking like mine, he thought. Without a registration number there would be no proof. He felt better, made coffee and drank it whilst thinking about Heidi.

  He went out in the evening after a brief snack and rang Heidi, who was shocked to learn it was his ex-wife who had been murdered. “I’d like to see you soon. But I can’t today because I have to attend a meeting,” she said.

  “That’s ok. I’m going to the pictures tonight.” After a brief chat they agreed to meet the next day.

  Venk watched a James Bond film, the cinema was packed, and it made him feel safe among so many people. It was an exciting film and he enjoyed it, forgetting all about the police questioning until he left the building and started walking home.

  As he approached the flats with his coat hood covering his face, he noticed two police cars pull up. He stopped in his tracks and stepped back into the shadows as one of the cars moved off and turned sharp left. He stood with his heart thumping, and wondering what to do next. He crept back down the road, turning down a side street, and then ran until he had a view of the rear of the building. The other police car was parked outside and suddenly two policemen ran across to flats, disappearing through the rear door, so Venk turned and walked quickly through side streets, keeping in the shadows and trying not to attract attention.

  He soon caught up with a crowd of people who had just left the cinema on their way to the car park. He joined them, as they slowly walked along chatting among themselves, until he saw his car and then broke away. He drove behind other cars heading out of town, and wondering what ought to be his next move. He thought about staying with Heidi, but if the police had a description of his car he would be placing her in a difficult position, and the last thing he wanted to do was to involve her in any trouble. He drove for a while, remembering an old warehouse where he once used to store stolen jewellery, and decided he could hide the car inside for the night. The warehouse was only a mile away so he drove down side streets until he saw the open yard in front of the building, went in and around the back to find the place had not changed. The sliding doors were open, his wheels making a cracking sound as they ran over broken glass, and the sound echoing throughout the building.

  Parking behind a small office, he turned the engine off, opening the door to the sound of the wind whining eerily through the open-ended structure. He shone his torch around to find a suitable spot to sleep, and discovered a small area behind the office directly in front of his car which would do. After clearing away some rubbish, he took out his sleeping bag and rubber mattress, laid them out and got inside fully clothed. It was uncomfortable and the only way he could see himself getting any sleep was flat on his back. He lay awake for hours, listening to the wind and thinking about what he could do. He re-lived the events of the last two days over and over, until he finally dropped off to sleep and dreamed of Heidi, picturing her face looking lovingly at him and saying how much she adores him.

  Thoughts of Heidi were still in his mind when he awoke the next morning, wanting to go into town and meet her off the bus as arranged. He lay there for some time with his eyes closed and thinking about the good time he would have if he could see her again. It was no good, reality had to be faced but it still made his eyes water and throat choke up when he decided it was too risky to meet her. He winced at the scene surrounding him, rubbish piled everywhere, old oil drums stacked untidily against one wall and the place smelt of dead rats and garbage. He rolled up the sleeping bag and mattress, loading it into the car, and then opened a tin of corned beef, which he ate with a penknife as he sat in the front passenger seat. The morning was spent looking around the old building and watching the entrance from a broken window, with lunch consisting of another tin of corned beef washed down with a bottle of orange juice. Looking at his watch, he thought about Heidi waiting for him in the usual place and it made him feel sick and angry. What can I do? He thought.

  Heidi stepped off the bus expecting to see her lover in the usual place, but as he was nowhere to be seen and when she had waited half an hour, she became more and more worried. It was obvious to her that something was wrong as she walked through the shopping area, as there were a lot of policemen about. When she went on to the block of flats where Venk said he lived she saw a police car parked outside, and had a horrible feeling inside her that he was in trouble. She walked into the entrance hall and seeing a young policeman standing alone and looking bored she smiled. “Hello officer.”

  He grinned and looked into her blue eyes. “What can I do for you, madam?”

  “Why are all these policemen here?”

  “Just routine, madam.”

  She moved closer. “Come on officer, tell me what’s going on.”

  “Nothing much, we’re just waiting to see someone.”

  After she had chatted to him for quite a while, he then said. “We’re waiting to see a man in connection with the farmhouse murder.”

  “What sort of man is he?”

  “Ordinary sort of chap. Lives on his own.”

  “Come on officer, what’s his name?”

  “Can’t say, but it’s his ex-wife who was killed.”

  She just nodded and left, walking quickly away from the scene and trying not to cry. She went into a café, sitting at a corner table on her own and stared at her coffee as she thought about Venk, and how much better he had seemed when she last saw him. Could it be that the woman had tormented his mind to such an extent he had to kill her? The thought made her shudder. Then she remembered the day he saw his ex-wife through the café window, and the affect it had on him. She decided it was possible he had killed her, but what he needed was good treatment and love. She left the café with tears running down her cheeks and the coffee untouched.

  Venk waited all day mostly standing by the broken window. Getting very depressed and miserable, imagining Heidi thinking he was fed up with her and wanting to leave her. He had another meal of tinned meat, waited until it was dark, and then drove slowly out of the building and along a series of side streets leading to a country road. He knew the area very well and was soon travelling away from the town, after half an hour entering a village and parking around the back of a small café. He walked through the back entrance and used the telephone by the door in the rear hall to ring Heidi.

  “I’m pleased to hear from you,” she said, and accepted his apology for not turning up as arranged. “Rolf, are you feeling well?” She did not mention what she suspected.

  “Yes, I love you very much and I can’t live without you. But we can’t meet for a while,” he said in a very shaky and emotional voice.

  She sensed his emotional state. “Is there something wrong, Rolf?”

  “No, I’m fine,” he lied.

  Please tell me if I can help you.”

  “There’s nothing you can do, but thanks for offering.”

  “Rolf, please tell me about it.”

  “I can’t, it would only upset you.”

  “I don’t mind, just tell me and I’ll try to help you.”

  A couple walked from the café and stood waiting to use the telephone. He told Heidi he loved her again, hanging up before she could answer, and then ran out to the car to drive away into the night. Tears came to his eyes and he felt as if his whole world was crumbling about him, but keeping to country lanes he drove for an hour until stopping at another small café for food and coffee. He sat next to the door with one eye w
atching who entered, not thinking about what he was eating, which due to the sick feeling inside him was not very much.

  He left half an hour later, driving aimlessly down narrow lanes, some covered with mud until he reached the old derelict cottage, and parked around the back out of sight and in thick undergrowth. He had difficulty getting out of the car door, and struggled around the back to retrieve the overnight equipment before carrying it upstairs to the room with two bedsteads. He was tired and depressed as he laid out the sleeping bag and climbed in, rolling up the rubber mattress for a pillow and finding the straw mattress more comfortable than a concrete floor.

  He lay back listening to mice running about and scratching in the roof area above him, so he pulled the mattress around his ears to shut out the noise. Then Heidi came into his mind, the things she said on the telephone and had she guessed he was involved or was he imagining it? These thoughts remained in his mind for a while. I told her I love her, he thought, which was true because he had fallen in love and was convinced he could not live without her. He fell asleep trying to imagine himself living with her and sharing her life, awaking in the night and sitting up trying to remember where he was. A rat scampered across the dirty floor which made him shudder, and the wind was stronger making the broken window fittings creak and groan. The whole cottage seemed to come alive with strange noises and he became frightened, sitting up rigid, gripping the sleeping bag and feeling his pulse thumping deep in his stomach. After a few minutes he became accustomed to the sounds when he realised where he was, which caused an even deeper mood of depression and despair.

  He collapsed back on to the improvised pillow, trying to sleep, but the noise became louder so all he could do was lay there and think. This made him so upset that he burst out crying, making the rubber pillow wet and sticky. He shook and sobbed for some time, which seemed to relieve the tension and at last he dropped off to sleep again.

  He awoke to a clear bright morning, and rose feeling stiff, eating a dried up sandwich purchased from the café the night before. The wind had dropped and the cottage was quiet until he walked downstairs, when dried up paper and rubbish crunched loudly under his shoes. He made sure the car was well hidden and retrieved a book from the glove compartment before taking it upstairs to read, as he was prepared for a long stay if necessary. He sat on the bed thinking of alternatives. He could move on after a few days, try to cross the border into France where he used to have friends. He decided this was his best plan, but it would be wise to stay put for a while until the police were fed up with looking and perhaps the border guards would be less vigilant.

  With this thought in mind he leaned back and started reading. He was beginning to get engrossed in the story when he suddenly dropped the book as he heard a police car siren. Sweat formed on his brow as the noise gradually became louder.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Brian and Anna arrived back in Belgium on a wet and windy day. The drive was as usual very tiring, so they were pleased to get to bed early.

  The next morning they were sitting drinking coffee together in the office when Ben rang, sounding rather agitated. He asked briefly how they were and then said. “Have you seen a newspaper today?”

  “No we haven’t” said Brian. “Why?”

  “Venk’s ex-wife has been murdered.”

  “My God, when?”

  “Yesterday, she was found naked, and tied to a bed.”

  Brian’s heart sank and the colour left his face as he remembered Anna’s ordeal, and he hesitated for a moment. “We must meet tonight.”

  “Yes, come to the flat.” They agreed a time and rang off.

  Anna looked at Brian’s shocked face. “What is it, my love?”

  “That was Ben. He said that Venk’s ex-wife was killed yesterday.”

  “Oh no, how did it happen?”

  “She was found naked, and tied to a bed. That evil man has struck again.”

  They discussed the matter at length, and Brian began to feel extremely guilty for not reporting the attack on Anna. “If I had, the poor woman would still probably be alive.”

  Anna disagreed. “How could you have known what would happen?”

  The day wore on slowly, and neither of them was able to concentrate on work. They went out to lunch, but could eat very little, discussing what should be done, and Brian could not stop himself feeling guilty. “Just think how that poor woman must have suffered.”

  “I know how she suffered. Only it must have ten times worse than my ordeal.”

  “Yes. And all because I didn’t report the incident to the police.”

  “But you could not tell them. Besides, how were you to know he would attack again?”

  “He must be found as soon as possible. Before he has chance to kill someone else.”

  Brian, please leave it to the police.” Anna said earnestly.

  “I can’t just sit around waiting. The evil bastard might try to have another go at you.”

  “But surely he will be too busy avoiding the police to bother about us.”

  “Don’t you believe it. That lunatic is capable of anything.”

  “I still think it would be best to let the police find him.”

  “I don’t. I’ll feel better if I find him.”

  After an evening meal, Brian washed up and asked Anna to pack a case ready for the morning, but she argued. “I’ll be all right on my own.”

  Brian would not listen to her protests and became angry. “What’s the point of taking such a big risk, when you can stay somewhere safe?”

  She packed and was ready to leave in the morning. They drove into Antwerp to a rather restrained but warm welcome from Caroline and Ben. Jan was there, and they all got straight down to discussing the matter, studying the newspaper reports which gave details of the dead woman’s life. They read how she was found with a broken neck caused by a heavy blow to the chin, which forced her head back over a pillow positioned under her neck.

  Jan laid out a map and began marking the places Venk used to meet when he picked up jewellery from them in the past. Ben helped and they identified two warehouses around Antwerp together with several disused factories and houses further south.

  “Can Anna stay with you for a while?” Brian asked Caroline.

  “ Yes, of course. I’ve already prepared the spare room.”

  They went home, agreeing to return in the morning to drop Anna off and collect Jan, who was keen to help with the search. They were certain Venk would hide until he was ready to leave the country, and that the police would have no idea where to look.

  The next morning Anna tried to change Brian’s mind but failed, as he was worried about Venk deciding to attack Anna and he would not be satisfied until he was apprehended. Caroline opened the door and hugged Anna, trying to make her welcome and at ease. Brian left her case in the spare room and kissed her. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  She clung to him with tears in her eyes. “Please be careful, and if you find him promise me you won’t kill him, I don’t want you sent to prison.”

  “I promise I will be very careful.”

  Jan stood by the car ready to go. “I’ll give you directions.” And he pointed towards the town centre. They drove off and a few minutes later noticed two police cars outside a block of flats. “I wonder what’s going on?” Jan said.

  They reached the first warehouse within twenty minutes, a run- down place with half the roof missing and demolition equipment parked beside it. “He won’t be staying here long.” Brian said.

  “That’s true, if he’s here at all.”

  The building was much larger than it seemed from the outside and it took an hour to search it, emerging dirty and hungry the next stop was for an early lunch. When they arrived at the next warehouse, it was complete but in a poor state of repair, and they searched for a while together, but then split up. An hour had pa
ssed when Brian heard a shout from Jan, and ran to where he was standing pointing down to the floor. “Look at this,” he said picking up a freshly opened tin. They studied the area and were certain someone had stayed there recently with a car, which had squashed rubbish that had not been blown away by the wind, under its wheels.

  Studying the map again, they decided to try the next building, an old unused factory. Arriving late in the afternoon they found labourers and machines working. The old factory had disappeared. Jan grinned. “He won’t be in there.”

  “So what now?”

  They again consulted the map and discovered the next building was some distance south. Jan said “It’s getting late. I ought to get back.”

  “Ok. I’ll pick you up in the morning,” said Brian.

  Sorry, I can’t make it. I have to go to work. A new lorry is expected and it’ll need checking over.”

  “Fair enough, I’ll carry on.”

  Brian dropped off his friend and thought about going to the flat to spend the night with Anna, but then realised if Venk was in either of the warehouses, he could have seen them coming and easily escaped. He considered the matter for a while and decided to try the next building, the old derelict cottage. He knew the way without Jan’s assistance, and by the time he arrived it was nearly dark, so he parked half a mile away in a field entrance, put on a dark pullover and sat waiting.

  The night was clear with a light breeze and the full moon looked hazy but bright. He changed his shoes and put on baseball running boots in case of a chase. When it became completely dark except for the moonlight, he started walking towards the old cottage, his eyes gradually adjusting to the darkness and his pace quickening. He felt tense and his heart thumped against his ribs.