There was a tiny shred of hope, at least of seeing him again. He still had the old carpet, and when Tim had sold that, surely he would come to give her the money, even if it turned out to be only a few pounds?
He might simply send a cheque. Or Tim himself might bring it round. She'd be out at work. And even if by chance they happened to meet, what difference would it make? She'd do far better to forget she'd ever encountered him, and get on with her life.
She'd concentrate on Liz. After this fright her sister might behave more sensibly, and the first step towards this would be to persuade her to find a regular job. Janie began a daily search through newspapers looking for suitable jobs.
It was on Thursday that she found one, in Bath itself, while she was waiting for an estate agent outside a small house in the north of the city. She liked the house, could afford it, and when she rang to arrange an interview for Liz the next morning, the woman indicated that she needed someone who could start right away. Liz could live with her, Janie could keep an eye on her, and, she told herself as she drove home that night, dwindle into a sour old maid.
As she pulled up in front of the flats they were in darkness, which was odd. Liz liked late night TV, and usually sat up watching until Janie came home. If she didn't, she always left the hall light on for Janie. The people upstairs were away. Janie had heard the man talking to the milkman the previous Saturday, stopping the milk for a fortnight, so lack of lights in their flat wasn't unexpected.
As Janie opened the door she could smell smoke through the open living room door. It didn't smell like cigarettes. That had been her first angry thought, that Liz had somehow had visitors who had left the living room, her bedroom, impossible to sleep in.
There was barely time for this thought to formulate before, with a startling whoosh of noise, flames began to devour the living room curtains, outlining the window in a lurid orange frame.
Now Janie could smell petrol. Dropping her bag on the floor she ran through to the bedroom, flicking down the light switch as she went. Nothing happened, but from the glow behind her she could distinguish Liz lying on the bed, on top of the duvet. Her tee shirt nightie was rucked up, but she was lying unnaturally stretched out.
'Liz, wake up! Come on, you've got to get out, the place is on fire.'
Liz gave a strangled moan, and as Janie moved towards her she saw that her sister was bound, hands tied behind her back, feet together, and a rough gag preventing her from speaking.
There was no time to try and cut her free. Besides, if she had been bound for a long time she'd be too numb to move on her own. Behind her the fire had been growing, the noise of crackling joining the hiss of the flames. Janie slammed the door shut, threw a pillow to prevent some smoke creeping under it, and began to drag Liz towards the window. Fortunately it was a big one, and within seconds she had it open and was pushing Liz, feet first, through.
Behind her the smoke was finding its way through the cracks, and Janie began to cough. She heaved herself out of the window, and dragged Liz across the small garden towards the gate in the wall. There she paused, still coughing, and in the faint glow of the street lamps was able to see to untie the knot which secured the gag. The gate was locked, she hadn't a key, and there was no way she could heave Liz over the wall, which was a couple of metrs high.
'Oh, Janie, I thought you wouldn't be back in time!' Liz gasped. 'I was so terrified!'
'Never mind, Let me get your legs free.'
The knots were fiendishly tight, and Janie struggled unavailingly for several minutes. In the flat the flames had reached the bedroom, and a lurid glow lit up the tiny garden. Janie sat back, wiping the tears caused by her coughing out of her eyes.
'I'll try your hands,' she gasped between coughs. 'Then you might be able to grab the top of the wall while I heave you over it.'
Liz nodded. She too was beginning to cough as smoke billowed out of the open window. 'He had a key, he must have done to get in,' she gasped . 'I didn't hear a thing until he was standing behind me. He wore a hood, but it must have been Terry.'
'Never mind that now. Can you try and twist your arms, the way I'm pulling them? That might loosen the strain on your wrists.'
Liz did so, and to her immense relief Janie was able to wiggle the knot and pull one end of the twine that had been used free of it. Within another minute she had the knot undone.
'Listen, that's the fire engine,' Liz said, and Janie lifted her head. The familiar sirens were getting nearer.
'Then perhaps I won't have to tip you over head first,' she said, silently uttering a prayer of thankfulness. 'When they get here they're bound to try the back, so we'll yell.'
Before there was time for more, however, there was a crash against the locked gate, then a pounding on it as though someone was attacking it with a battering ram. She dragged Liz back in case the gate gave way and fell on them.
Another series of bangs, and suddenly the lock broke and the gate swung inwards, crazily hanging on one hinge. Manuel, holding a car jack in one hand and a huge spanner in the other, ran through the gap and almost fell over Liz's feet. His eyes were glittering in the weird glow from the flames in the flat,
He stopped abruptly. 'Anyone else in there?' he demanded.
'No,' Janie gasped. 'Can you help Liz? Her feet are tied together.'
He nodded, and handed Janie the spanner and jack. Then he stooped and picked up Liz, slinging her over his shoulder, then grabbed Janie's hand and led them through the gateway. Outside they met a couple of firemen dragging a hose.
'Everyone's out,' Manuel said briefly. 'What about the flat upstairs, Janie? The flames have reached there.'
Janie glanced back to see that the upstairs windows were glowing. 'They're away, I'm sure,' she said.
'We'll look to make certain, anyway, Miss,' a fireman said.
Manuel nodded and went on.' Best get out of their way,' he said, still carrying Liz.
Able to breath more easily, Janie's coughing had stopped and she wiped her eyes again. Manuel's car, his own, she noted, repaired and looking pristine, the driver's door wide open, was slewed across the entrance to the driveway leading to the back of the flats, where some of the residents parked their cars.
'How did you get here?' she gasped as he set Liz down so that she could lean against the bonnet of the car.
'Just driving past. Hang on, Liz, I have a knife somewhere.'
He pulled a small penknife from his pocket, and snapped it open. It was small but sharp, and soon the twine binding Liz's legs together was severed.
'Ouch,' she whispered as the circulation was restored. Janie was already kneeling beside her, massaging her feet.
'It'll be OK in a minute. Don't cry, you're safe now.'
'I'll go and talk to the firemen,' Manuel said briefly, and went towards the front of the flats, where there were sounds of much activity, a police car having arrived to join the fire crew.
'I'll never feel safe again!' Liz wept. 'Janie, he was so nice, I really fell for him, but I'll never dare go back home! He'll follow me everywhere.'
'No he won't,' Janie soothed her. 'He'll be in prison for even longer after this. We'll have to talk to the police.'
'But where are we going to stay?' Liz wailed. 'Your flat's ruined! And it's all my fault.'
'We can find a hotel, and I'll go and shop for clothes in the morning. I'm almost as badly off as you, all I have is my uniform.'
She thought suddenly about the bag she'd dropped in the hall, with all her credit cards. Unless the firemen had been able to rescue that they'd have problems. She had visions of them both being kitted out by some charity, like refugees. They were refugees, she told herself, but there were so many problems, so many difficulties to solve, that she gave up thinking about them. The only thing they needed for now was a bed.
'The firemen have it under control,' Manuel, suddenly reappearing, said. 'They'll make it secure, but someone will stay all night to make certain it doesn't flare up again. How are the legs no
w?'
Liz flexed her ankles. 'OK, thanks. The feeling's come back, and the pins and needles have gone.'
'Good, get in the car, both of you.'
'Can you take us to a hotel?' Janie asked. 'It's too late to do anything else now, and we have nowhere to go to.'
'You'll stay at my place, if you don't mind sharing a double bed.'
Janie's heart began to thud. For one crazy minute she thought he meant share with him, and then sanity returned.
'You've a spare room?' she asked cautiously.
He turned towards her and she could see the crinkling round his eyes which always indicated amusement. He'd obviously read her thoughts.
'What else?'
'I meant we wouldn't be making you sleep on a settee,' she said hurriedly.
'No. Now, do get in. Liz must be freezing. Why do I always seem to encounter you two when you are dressed for bed?'
His flat, the ground floor of a big Victorian villa, was spacious and furnished with far better quality than the usual rented accommodation. The rooms were large, and still had the original mouldings and cornices. From the hall Janie could see through open doors. There was a living room, so grand it might be called a drawing room, a dining room with a huge table, and two bedrooms. Manuel led the way to the kitchen, well fitted and modern, and filled the kettle.
'I'll get you a dressing gown, Liz. Then I think we could all do with something to drink. I expect your throats are raw.'
They sat round the pine table drinking hot chocolate, laced with brandy, and Liz told them what had happened.
'I was sitting watching tele, having a drink of cocoa, ready to go to bed, when someone came up behind me and held a knife to my neck. I hadn't heard a thing. He must have had a key.'
'The door was properly locked when I came home,' Janie confirmed. 'No one had broken in.'
'Skeleton keys, no doubt,' Manuel said, looking grim.
'He gagged me first, then dragged me to the bedroom and tied me up. He wore a hood over his head, with slits for his eyes, it was terrifying. It must have been Terry, I could smell the aftershave he uses, but he never spoke. Then I heard him moving round in the living room and kitchen, and the front door slammed. A few minutes later I could smell the smoke. I think I passed out from fright, the next thing I knew was Janie telling me to wake up. Janie, what will he do next?'
'We tell the police, and hope they can catch him. I'll phone now, he may not have had time to get home. More chocolate?'
'No thanks,' Liz said, suppressing a yawn.
Janie shook her head too. She hoped Liz was exhausted enough to sleep, but she didn't know if her own jangled nerves would allow her to sink into oblivion.
It was not just the stress of the fire, the fear she had endured as she struggled to get Liz away from the flames. Manuel's sudden reappearance, the surge of delight she had experienced when she heard his voice, had shaken her more than she had expected.
He left the room to phone. A few minutes later he came back to say the police would come and take statements the following morning.
'And then I'll take you to my aunt's. They won't be able to find you there.'
'Mrs Kemp?' Janie asked, startled. 'Won't she object to having us dumped on her?'
'Of course not. And she's close to Warminster, further away from Bristol, so you'll feel safer there.'
'But surely the police will have arrested Terry before long?' Liz said. 'I'd be safe back in Bristol.'
'And it would be much further for me to drive into work.'
Manuel turned to Liz. 'We don't know if he had anyone else with him. Where was Mike? And is there anyone else involved in this stolen car racket? You'd be safer out of the way until the police have investigated thoroughly, and we are sure there's no one else out there who bears you a grudge.'
She shrugged. 'OK. I suppose so.'
'And you'd be better off not going to work for the same reason,' Manuel went on, turning to Janie. 'He may have hoped you'd both be there tonight, and could come after you too.'
'I can't just not go to work! You know how short of nurses we are, especially at this time of year when people are off sick, and we have more cases coming in with brochitis and pneumonia! I'll have to stay at a hotel in Bath.'
He argued, pointing out that she would be vulnerable going to and from work if Terry were still at large and knew where she was, but Janie refused to give way.
'Take Liz, and I'm very grateful to you and your aunt, but I won't go.'
. 'You can stay here then, where I can at least look after you when you're not at work.'
Janie looked at him, too astonished to speak.
He grinned. 'Don't worry,' he said softly. 'Now, hadn't you both better get to bed? There are some spare pyjamas in the bedroom, and it has its own bathroom. Sleep well.'
Liz fell asleep the moment she crept into bed, her smoke-grimed tee shirt replaced by a pair of Manuel's pyjamas, deep red silk, and far too large for her.
Janie, clad in a similar pair of emerald green pyjamas, lay awake for hours. Had she made the right decision? She was certain that she could not abandon her job, but could she cope with living here in Manuel's flat? It would revive all her anxieties. He had come to rescue them from a sense of duty, and offered them refuge from no other motive than kindness. Ought she to accept, impose even more on him?
She was almost asleep when a new thought brought her wide awake again. How was she to get to work? Her keys were in the abandoned bag, so she couldn't drive unless the bag had been recovered. And from the ferocity of the flames she doubted whether it would have survived. As far as she could recall she had dropped it near or even inside the living room, where the fire would have been most fierce. The fabric would have burnt, so would the plastic of her credit cards, and probably the keys would be a melted mass of metal.
She couldn't expect Manuel to drive her, and there might not be time to arrange a hire car, even if they would let her have one without any proof of identity or means to pay for it.
Eventually she fell asleep, to be woken the following morning by Liz, her pyjama legs and sleeves rolled up, bringing her a tray with fruit juice, coffee and toast.
'Do you want bacon and egg, Manuel asked?'
Janie shook her head. 'No thanks, I'm not exactly hungry. What time is it?'
'Only nine, you have plenty of time to get to work, if you insist on going. I'm thankful I don't have to, even if the alternative is Mrs Kemp. Do you remember the fuss she made last year when we had that barbecue?'
Janie grinned. 'I'm sure you'll find her friendly enough. Manuel says the crustiness is only on the surface!'
Then Janie recalled the interview she had arranged for Liz that morning, and groaned. She didn't even have the woman's number, the ad from the paper with the phone number was in her handbag, and she couldn't remember the name of the company. In any case, how could Liz attend an interview dressed in borrowed pyjamas?
'I'd better get up,' she decided. 'If Manuel can lend me the bus fare, I may be able to get to Bath in time for work.'
'No need,' Liz said, and went to draw the curtains. 'Come and look.'
On the driveway at the side of the house Janie saw a small red car, an Escort. She looked at Liz, eyebrows raised. 'How come?'
'Manuel hired it for you. He said your bag was ruined, and everything in it. He'll try and get some more keys for your car today, and he's already asked someone to bring clothes over for us to choose something to wear.'
Janie was beginning to think of all her possessions, lost to the flames or the smoke, and began to mourn her favourite books and clothes. The furniture hadn't been very special, and thank goodness Aunt Janie's antiques were safely in store. With everything else that had happened, the extra task of replacing them seemed too much. Resolutely she thrust the problems away from her, and as she luxuriated in a warm scented bath, thought instead of the problems of coping while she was forced to accept Manuel's offer of somewhere to live.
It would not be eas
y, given how attracted to him she was, and how unattainable someone like him was for her. He'd ignored them for almost a week, and must be cursing inwardly at being drawn back into their lives with yet more trouble.
She pulled on her uniform, wrinkling up her nose at the lingering smell of smoke. Then she went through to the kitchen, to find Liz eating toast and Manuel leaning back in his chair, holding a mug of coffee in his hands.
He sprang up when she appeared. 'I hope you slept well?'
'Thank you, yes. And Liz showed me the hire car. How did you manage it so quickly?'
'No problem, it was the firm I used to hire mine. Come and sit down. More coffee?'
'Thanks, I'd love some. I seem to have a raging thirst.'
'The smoke, no doubt.' He held out an envelope. 'Here, take this until you can get your credit cards replaced. Liz says she knows your size, and what you like, so she will choose some clothes for you when the shop sends someone round. Then when she's respectable enough to meet with Aunt Teresa's approval, I'll take her over.'
Janie looked into the envelope and saw at least a hundred pounds. She stared up at him, startled.
'This is far too much. I don't need more than a few pounds.'
'Buy a few pairs of shoes. That's one thing Liz can't try on for you.'
'You are being incredibly kind,' Janie said. 'I couldn't be more grateful. You always seem to be coming to my rescue.'
'The distress does seem to have attacked the damsel rather more than usual,' he replied. 'Here's a spare key in case you get back before I do. What time do you expect to get home?'
'It's late shift, but I often have to stay over if we're short staffed. It's often midnight before I get back. Don't wait up for me.'
'That's late. Would you rather I drove you and fetched you home?'
Chance-met Stranger Page 7
