Run!: He's coming for you

by K Leitch

  CHAPTER 47

  Colin Pickles stood in the empty living room of his dad’s house. He couldn’t believe his dad was gone, it had only been a couple of weeks since he’d last been here and he’d seemed fine, full of beans in fact, asking for advice about his new camera. They’d had a bit of a laugh when he’d set it up in the bedroom overlooking his neighbour’s garden. Colin had teased him about fancying the old dear, trying to catch her out in her nighty, getting footage of her smalls on the washing line.

  ‘Smalls!’ Jim had cackled, ‘Flaming bigs more like, her knickers must come up to her armpits by the size of them.’

  ‘Oh ho,’ Colin had laughed, ‘so you have been looking you randy old dog.’

  Colin smiled sadly as he thought about Jim’s laughter at that remark. His dad, his funny old dad was gone…he was going to miss the old bugger.

  ‘I couldn’t find any coffee so I made you tea, is that ok? And it’s with dried milk I’m afraid I forgot to pick some up on the way here.’

  Colin turned and smiled at his wife Natalie who had come in with a mug of tea in each hand. ‘I’ll pop round the corner and get some later don’t worry,’ he said taking one of the mugs from her. ‘Bloody hell Nat, I don’t know where to begin. Maybe we should just get one of those house clearance companies…get rid of the lot of it in one fell swoop.’

  Natalie put an arm round his shoulders, ‘Well maybe that’s what you’ll end up doing love, but you need to make sure you don’t let go of something that you might want later on, you know something that will mean something to you.’

  Colin reached up and squeezed the hand on his shoulder, ‘You’re right I know and there’s no hurry I suppose so…’

  ‘Yes well there may not be any hurry in the big scheme of things darling, but we have only got,’ Natalie paused and looked at her watch, ‘two hours and twenty minutes before Max is due home from school and I have to take him to football training this evening so let’s just load up anything of value that you don’t want to leave in the house for today, we can always come back another day to sort out the rest can’t we?’

  They drank their tea and made a start, Natalie concentrating on the downstairs, leaving Colin to go through his dad’s more personal items upstairs.

  Colin had found his dad’s watch and wedding ring on his bedside table. He gathered together some precious photographs of his mum and dad together and a load of letters bound together with a ribbon which had been hidden in a box under the bed.

  As well as his dad’s papers, bank details and his Will, he found his diary…he would read that at another time he thought, putting it in the box with everything else. Moving into the second bedroom he was surprised to see that it was in a state of disarray, things had been knocked off the window sill and were lying all over the floor and the tripod that had held his dad’s precious new camera had been overturned, he couldn’t see the camera anywhere. Colin put everything back where it should be and started to hunt for the camera, he found it at last, lying on the floor behind a chair. He had no idea how it could have got there but at least it didn’t look like anyone had broken in, the windows were still securely locked and there was no sign of anything missing. It was a mystery and of course he couldn’t ask the one person who’d be able to tell him what had happened. Colin sighed again and put the little digital camera in the box with the rest of his dad’s stuff. He wondered fleetingly if the camera had picked up anything interesting, he’d have a look when he had a spare minute.

  CHAPTER 48 - TRACY

  Tracy hastily parked her car and made her way along the high street until she came to the little tea room where she had arranged to meet Helen.

  She was really late, Juno (the Head’s secretary) had asked her to print off some permission slips to give to the parents of the children in class three, who were visiting the Natural History museum at the end of the month and half way through, the bloody printer had run out of ink. It had taken her at least ten minutes hunting round to find the relevant cartridges and another five to figure out how to put them in the damn machine!

  Then just when she thought she could get away Mrs Fleming (daughter Julia age 5 and son Richard age 7) came bustling in, complaining in a loud voice about Mrs Dodge (daughter Sabrina age 5) who she claimed, had blatantly taken Julia’s rather expensive Ralph Lauren coat from her peg and was claiming it as Sabrina’s. When Tracy asked if the coat had a name tag sewn into it, she got really belligerent and demanded to speak to the Head. Luckily Juno (who took no prisoners) came in at that point and gave the woman short shrift. Telling her that if she was stupid enough to buy expensive designer gear for her five year old and not take the trouble to label it, then she’d got what she deserved.

  By the time Tracy had managed to slink out of the office, both women were an alarming shade of red and going at it hammer and tongs. Which was all very amusing but had made Tracy seriously late for her meeting with Helen.

  Helen waved at her from a table near the cake counter which Tracy determinedly tried to avoid looking at as she went over to greet her friend.

  ‘Oh I’m sorry I’m so late,’ she said giving her a hug before pulling out the chair opposite Helen. ‘How are you honey, it feels like ages since I’ve seen you.’ The girls had decided to suspend their weekly cauldron meeting until Carla was well enough to join them, it just hadn’t felt the same without her.

  ‘I know,’ Helen said pouring out a cup of tea for Tracy from an elegant little teapot, ‘it feels so strange not seeing everyone once a week, but I don’t think it’ll be for too much longer. Carla is looking so much better, she’s had three sessions with Chrissy now and the difference…oh Tracy you wouldn’t believe it.’ She handed the tea to Tracy and then turned towards the cake counter, ‘do you fancy anything else…I’ve been eyeing up that carrot cake for the last ten minutes so….’

  Tracy shook her head firmly, ‘No I mustn’t, I promised myself that I would lose at least 3lbs this week and so far I’ve been really good.’

  ‘When do you get weighed?’ Helen asked turning away from the counter with a sigh, if Tracy couldn’t have it then she really shouldn’t.

  ‘Tonight!’ Tracy said pulling a face, ‘and I’m telling you now Helen if I haven’t reached my goal this week I won’t be going again. Why the hell should I put myself through the humiliation of being told off like a naughty school girl in front of half the village each week? And it’s not like I’m not trying,’ she went on getting more and more animated, ‘last night do you know what I had for dinner eh?’ Helen held her peace assuming that this was a rhetorical question. ‘Two wafer thin slices of chicken breast with some chopped up tomatoes and cucumber,’ Tracy went on holding up her hands to illustrate her sacrifice. ‘I ask you how is a busy mother of two who is holding down a part time job meant to survive on that, you tell me…how?’

  Helen couldn’t tell her, so she just shook her head and said, ‘Well I know that wouldn’t satisfy me love, but then I’ve got quite a big appetite and I’m not as bothered as you about how I look.’

  ‘Oh I wish I felt like that,’ Tracy said shaking her head sadly, ‘but even Simon’s started telling me off if he sees me with a biscuit in my hand and he was really scathing the other night when I suggested that we got in a Chinese. Saying that he was sick of me blowing hot and cold with my diet, I should either stick to it or stop complaining about how I look…can you believe it…what a bastard,’ she said in disgust.

  Helen smiled. ‘Well he does have a point Tracy…you’re not happy when you’re not dieting because you think you look awful. Which by the way you NEVER do, and then you’re not happy when you are dieting because it’s really hard giving up all the things that you like, and that causes arguments between you and Simon…there must be a middle ground somewhere love.’

  Tracy thought for a moment then rolled her eyes at her friend, ‘Yeah, yeah I know you’re right Helen, I’ve been a proper nightmare to live with while I’ve been dieting…my poor kids, poor Simon. I wi
sh I could just be content with myself…like you are, like Maggie is…it’s not fair.’

  ‘Well what’s stopping you, you silly cow,’ Helen said with a laugh, ‘You must know that Simon adores you, just as you are! And your kids love you to bits, they wouldn’t care if you were a twenty stone toothless old crone, they’d still love you. And as for your friends,’ she went on flinging her hands up in exasperation, ‘well you are just Tracy with the lovely eyes and the beautiful smile, who makes us laugh and always has a friendly word. So if everyone you care about loves you as you are, why can’t you?’

  Tracy stirred her tea thoughtfully for a moment. ‘Yes you say that Helen and I know you’re right...’ she paused biting her lip, ‘but look what’s happened to Carla and James. Who would ever have thought that James would go off and sleep with someone else? I mean anyone could see that he adored Carla and fancied her like mad…but even he decided to try out a younger, slimmer model. So what hope is there for the rest of us, especially the plump, vertically challenged variety like me?’

  ‘Bloody hell Tracy,’ Helen said exasperated, ‘James having a fling had nothing to do with Carla’s weight. It makes me so mad,’ she went on angrily, ‘women always blame themselves, the way they look, what they weigh. If that was what made men unfaithful then how come Jude Law cheated on Sienna Miller…you couldn’t possibly say she was overweight or frumpy and what about Thomas’s fling with Maggie’s mum…Maggie’s one of the most glamorous women I know, so what’s that all about?’

  Tracy laughed at Helen’s fierce expression, ‘Okay, okay I see what you’re saying. So what is it then that makes people…and not just men, cheat on the ones they’re supposed to love?’

  Helen rolled her eyes, ‘Who knows sweetheart, maybe it’s an ego thing, or a fear of growing old. The one thing I do know though, is that it would be more likely for Simon to be tempted by someone else if you are a nagging, growling, miserable old bag, because you’re constantly obsessing about your weight, than if you allowed yourself just to be yourself…and be happy about it!’

  Tracy sighed and shook her head. ‘Oh, I don’t want to talk about it anymore anyway, tell me more about Carla. Has she spoken to James about the kids yet? It must be killing her not having them around.’

  Helen grimaced, ‘Yes it is, but I think James is right to give it time…she’s speaking to them every day and they all came over to ours for supper at the weekend so it’s not like she’s not having any contact with them.’

  ‘And what about her and James?’ Tracy asked, ‘any progress there, it sounds as though they’re speaking at least.’

  Helen nodded, ‘Oh they’re being very civil to one another,’ she said raising her eyebrows, ‘It’s obvious that James is still desperate to put things right,’ she sighed, ‘but I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen. Carla may be making progress with her drinking and getting her head together, but she is still desperately hurt and bitter about James.’

  ‘Well who can blame her,’ Tracy said shaking her head, ‘you know what Helen I think I will have a piece of carrot cake after all…I mean fuck it, what the hell does it matter in the big scheme of things.’

  Helen laughed and ordered some more tea and cakes and the two girls spent a comfortable hour or so gossiping until it was time for children to be picked up from school and they went their separate ways.

  Tracy (late once more) rushed back to where she had parked her car. On the way she was stopped by a man who was handing out flyers asking if anyone had seen a young woman in the area. Apparently it was his wife who had some mental problems and had disappeared a few weeks earlier taking their two year old daughter with her. The poor man seemed really worried and Tracy’s heart went out to him.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said as she took the flyer, ‘I haven’t seen her but I hope she turns up soon you must be so worried.’

  The man nodded sadly, ‘I just want her home safe,’ he said his eyes welling up, ‘and my little girl, she must be so scared, so confused.’

  Tracy put a hand on his arm, ‘I’ll keep my eyes open… good luck,’ she added as she rushed off putting the flyer in her coat pocket.

  Trevor Hibbard sighed as he watched the woman walk up the hill, he was getting nowhere. This was the third village he’d trudged around handing out pictures of Lucinda and so far he’d had no luck at all.

  ‘Oh fucking marvellous,’ he said to himself as it started to rain, he’d had enough for one day. He put his flyers back into the bag he was carrying and headed back to his car. Maybe Howard or Reggie who had come with him had been more successful he thought as he drove despondently back to his hotel in Redbank. That stupid little bitch was going to pay big time for all the trouble she’d put him to, nobody made a fool of him and got away with it. Trevor cheered himself up by thinking of all the ways he was going to hurt and humiliate his errant wife so that by the time he reached the hotel he was in a much better frame of mind and was able to enjoy a meal while he waited for Howard to report back.

  CHAPTER 49

  Ruben landed with a thud on the soft muddy floor. Slowly…very slowly he opened his eyes. Above him he could see trees and a clear night sky filled with stars. He tried to raise his head, sucking in his breath at the agonising stabbing pain that shot through his temples as he did so. His brain felt thick and fuzzy and for a couple of minutes he was completely disorientated but then the memories came flooding back and he started to shake uncontrollably.

  The shelter, Lola reaching out to him, burning up with fever, reaching out to her…and then nothing. Someone had hit him… hard, he knew that. He gingerly touched the back of his head and felt a huge swelling, his hair was sticky and matted with congealed blood.

  He wrapped his arms around his body, trying to stop the shaking. How had he got here, why wasn’t he in the shelter anymore? He was lying on the ground amongst thick brambles which were catching at his clothes and skin when he moved…where the hell was he? In some sort of wood that much was obvious, he tried to think…which woods, the only one he knew was the Glory Woods but that was miles away from the airfield.

  It must have been that fucking prick Billy Hobbs, he must have come back and spotted him trying to get Lola out...oh God Lola! Ruben remembered her wild vacant eyes, her claw like hand reaching out to him. What had Billy done to her? He needed to get the fuck out of here, he thought struggling to get up, he needed to call the police. He sat up groaning as he did so and then began to hunt through his pockets for his mobile. Nothing…his pockets were empty, all his money and his keys were missing as well.

  Okay…well fuck it, he’d just have to make his way out of the woods and get some help at the first house he came to, surely someone…CRACK!

  Ruben’s blood froze in his veins at the sound, he wasn’t alone… someone was here, someone was watching him.

  He swivelled round frantically trying to see who it was, beyond the trees gruesome shapes and shadows seemed to close in on him. His ears were on stalks listening out for the slightest sound, his breath catching in his chest with every rustle and creek.

  Suddenly out of the darkness there emerged a huge shadowy figure right in front of him, standing over him. Petrified, Ruben let out a scream and scrabbled backwards into the undergrowth, he rolled himself over and tried to get to his feet, thrashing about, desperate to get away.

  He was caught easily enough and dragged backwards by the scruff of his neck, to be thrown once again onto the woodland floor.

  Ruben rolled onto his back and saw Billy Hobbs looking down at him.

  ‘Wwwhat the ffuck Billy,’ Ruben stuttered, ‘I ain’t gonna tell no one…I don’t care how you get your kicks Billy man…I…’

  ‘Got to take care of you,’ Billy said, ‘you shouldn’t have been in there.’

  ‘No, I know Billy mate,’ Ruben said, ‘but I ain't gonna to tell anyone…I swear, you know me Billy I don’t rat…NNNOOOO!’

  He finished on a scream as Billy grabbed him by the throat and dragged him up a
gainst a tree.

  ‘You got me into trouble you did,’ Billy hissed at him, ‘I got to get rid of you…I said I would.’

  ‘No…no Billy,’ Ruben could hardly speak with Billy’s huge hand around his throat pressing on his wind pipe. ‘You know me… let me go I promise… you’ll never… see me again…please!’ he gasped.

  Billy seemed to be thinking about it and for a moment he loosened his grip on Ruben, who took full advantage punching him hard in the stomach. Billy let out a grunt of pain and pulled away giving Ruben enough time to make a desperate dash for the blackness and the shadows between the trees. He ran like a wild thing crashing from tree to tree in his panic all the time aware of Billy following relentlessly behind.

  He was losing this race…he knew he was; his head was spinning, his ears were ringing and his legs were buckling beneath him. All too soon he felt hot ragged breath on the back of his neck and it was almost a relief when a heavy blow sent him flying to the ground. Huge hands round his throat again…squeezing the life out of him, the trees and the night sky began to fade away….

  CHAPTER 50

  ‘I’m telling you it was her,’ Howard said excitedly, ‘oh I mean she’s changed her hair and I didn’t see her close up, but I’d swear it was Lucinda.’

  Trevor tried to contain his excitement. His club manager Howard, although a good man to have by your side in a fight, wasn’t known for his intelligence and this was the third time he’d been sure he’d seen Lucinda since they’d been in Surrey. The first time with embarrassing consequences when Trevor had grabbed the woman only to be confronted by her giant of a husband. He’d had to apologise profusely which had put him in such a violent temper that he’d gone back to the hotel and blacked Reggie’s eye, just because he’d spilt some coffee on the bloody rug. Reggie had been very quiet ever since and Trevor was toying with the idea of sending him back to Devon, he was as much use as a chocolate teapot here that was for sure. Anyway the experience had taught Trevor not to rush into anything even though Howard was convinced he’d found Lucinda. He’d check it out himself…carefully, and take his time…before doing anything more.