Remembering what Chrissie had said I decided to call Daniel before I called the cab to take me to Heathrow. I dialled Daniels number and heard the ringing. He had answered on the forth ring.
“Hello Nadine!!!”
He had sounded very much happy like he won the lottery or something.
“Someone sounds chirpy.”
“I saw your name flashing on my phone screen that’s why I am in such a good mood.”
“Right and you expect me to believe that?”
“Nadine you’re too much, I must admit I have missed not seeing you; so why the phone call?”
“Unless you had forgotten that I happen to be flying out today but I just wanted to confirm one thing from you.”
“Oh yeah I had totally forgot what had you want to confirm?”....
“Well I don’t know whether you would remember but you had mentioned that I should be attending a charity function if I am correct.”
“Yes what about it?”
“I just wanted to know; what is the cause of this function that I am required to attend.”
“It’s a charity we happen to work with, the functions are mainly for us to socialise with people who have helped the same cause, there are many people that would attend such as high earning doctors and people from various professions.”
“I did not see anything regarding a function taking place.”
“Remember I had given you the itinerary, I am sure I handed a small pass in regards to this. Just check your bag.”
“What right now?”
“Well of course silly.”
“Hold the line please if you don’t mind.”
I placed the phone on the bed and checked through my belongings and at the bottom I could feel a pass or some sort. I closed my hands around it and there it was a pass for the charity function. I had felt like a right fool as I clearly had not recalled Daniel had handed me anything other than my itinerary but then again when he had in fact given me all the details my mind had been preoccupied with other things. I placed it bag in my bag and got back to my phone.
“Hello, you still there?”
“Yeah I am see was the pass there?”
“Yes it was but I honestly cannot recall when you handed it to me.”
“Nadine, I had subtly placed in your bag when you went tumbling out of my car if you recollect your behaviour on that day.”
“Oh I see.”
“I took the occasion to place it in your bag and had wanted to announce it to you but surely you must remember your mind had it been elsewhere.”
“I know I know.”
“Look I need to head off now but have a safe flight and drop me a message when you have reached Crowne Plaza hotel.”
“I will do.”
I could hear a females voice in the background.
“Hope I had not disturbed you.”
“Don’t be silly you haven’t. Take care of yourself and will see you when you get back.”
“Will do.”
The phone went dead. At least he had the decency to answer the phone and confirmed the information about the charity function whether he was busy getting laid or whatever he had been doing. I decided to call my regular cab to take me to Heathrow airport. Once the cab has been booked I decided to put on my boots and grab my jacket, taking my phone and suitcase downstairs. I headed back into the kitchen scribbling a note for Chrissie to use whatever food I had left and make use of them. I checked the doors and made sure they were locked and saw my phone flashing knowing that it would be my cab taking me to the airport. I placed my keys, phone in my bag and double checked whether I had my passport and everything else I had required to take. Satisfied with everything I headed out my house and could see the cab parked up. The cab driver had got out of the vehicle and had placed my suitcase in the boot whilst I sat in the back seat of the car. I was keen to get to Heathrow well before the time. The cab driver had started up his car and we were on the way. I had sat in silence most of the way. We had been stuck in traffic for quite some time. I checked the time and could see that it was nearing 4:30pm. Thankfully we had been on the move again and nearing the motorway and had noticed my phone was flashing and could see it was Dane. I had answered.
“Hello.”
“Nadine, How are you?”
“I am on the way to Heathrow airport right now.”
Just then I heard Gunshots being fired at the vehicle.
“What the!!!! Drive Faster!!!!” I shouted to the cab driver. I could see that we were nearing the motorway.
“Hello?! Hello? Nadine are you there?”
The vehicle was moving from side to side, I felt like I was being thrown around like a ragdoll. More gunshots had been fired and the rear window glass had shattered everywhere showering me with Glass.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.”
I was screaming, crying uncontrollably. The cab driver was doing his best he could to drive faster but whoever was behind had taken another shot and blood had spewed on the windscreen and all over the dashboard. I was beside myself knowing that my life was flashing right before my eyes. I knew that it was imminent that I had to try and get in the driving seat. My phone had literally fallen out of my hands. I prayed a silent prayer that Dane was still on the phone.
I started shouting things that I could see on the way to the airport.
“Heathrow Airport.” I shouted.
I had to try and jump in the front passenger seat as the car was still in motion. I had to take a risk from preventing the car from crashing. I had managed to get one leg over and heard another gun shot being fired. The adrenaline was coursing through me pushing me to move even faster. The bullet had hit the dead cab driver again. The entire car was a bloody mess, some of the blood had spattered on my jumper. I had to remain calm despite the circumstances I was in. I had to get a hold of the steering wheel but it was near impossible to move the driver out of the seat. I couldn’t manage it. I saw the satnav locating where we were.
“M4!!!”
“DANE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME PLEASE SAVE ME!!!!!”
More gunshots were fired and the car was out of control. The dead cab drivers foot was stuck on the accelerator. We were going to crash. I knew it then. This would be it. I had to brace myself before the car had crashed. I was down on the front passenger seat with my hands covering my head. I had not realised that there was a police vehicle with its sirens on not that far behind. I was praying that they would reach here in time. I glanced up to see a police vehicle veered ahead of our car and paused which had had looked like they had dropped not one but 3 spike strips. I braced myself with my hands over my head. The Car had come to an abrupt halt, my head had knocked the glove compartment. I was still breathing and still very much conscious. I was too afraid to make a move until I heard someone knocking on the side of the vehicle.
“Nadine? Are you there?”
I could of fainted hearing Dane’s voice.
“Dane is that you?”
“It is.”
Relief had swept right through me. I was in tears and shaking uncontrollably. I tried to move and thankfully I was not injured. I heard the door being open and was on the verge of being in hysterics when I had noticed that Dane had caught hold of me. I embraced him like I had never done before. “Shhhh, there’s no need for the tears.”
I was crying, sobbing to the point I couldn’t breathe. The traffic had stopped without me realising that this had not been a nightmare but had in fact had happened. There were police vehicles all over the place. I was thankful that Dane had been on duty.
“Did they catch whoever was behind the shooting?”
“They hadn’t, whomever it had been had been smart. Didn’t you notice any signs of being tail gated?”
“I wouldn’t have had a clue.”
The ambulance had arrived but my mind was on making sure that I would get to Heathrow on time to catch my plane.
“Nadine we’ll need to check you over.”
“But
can’t you see that I am fine despite my head may have connected with the glove compartment.” I was inconsolable. “Why were all these things happening to me? Nothing was making sense anymore.”
“Please listen to me Nadine it’s not your fault. But we have to check you over so that you are not harmed.”
I felt myself being carried to the ambulance. I glanced at the cab vehicle and notice how serious things had been. The car had been in a bad state, most of glass windows had smashed blood had smeared most of the inside of the car. I had to get my bags and belonging.
“Miss Nixon we have to carry a few checks right now, it won’t take long. Please bear with us. It is for your own safety.”
I waited whilst they checked me over whilst Dane was right there beside me.
“Dane I need to be flying out today. It’s imperative that I need to get on that flight to New York.”
“I know I know. Look I’ll have to take a statement right here. We have a dead guy here.”
“You think I wanted to be the reason why more innocent people were dying?!”
“I am not saying that. But I told you to be extra vigilant.”
“I know and I felt that I had been vigilant until I heard the gunshots.”
“Did you glance behind whilst he was driving you here?”
“No not once.”
“We are in a mess right now you do know that.”
My head was in my hands, I had felt defeated all over again. The ambulance had managed to get the dead cab driver out of the vehicle. He was pronounced dead.
“He wasn’t meant to die. That should have been me.”
“Nadine please you shouldn’t beat yourself up.”
“I feel guilty for the death of this man he was only doing his job to get me to the airport.”
“Seems to me the guy was only a young student, we already done our checks on him he was on a student visa in this country. He shouldn’t have been working.”
“That is besides the point I have blood on my hands, I need to get my suitcase and my bag.”
“You wait here, allow me to go and get it for you.”
I felt helpless not knowing what to do. I was in another predicament. I was thankful that none of my belongings were covered in blood. I don’t think I could have stomached it.
Dane handed my belongings.
“Here’s your phone, I managed to find out it had dropped out of the vehicle where you had been hiding.”
“Thank you.”
I checked the condition of my phone and was relieved when I saw the screen had not cracked. I was thankful that it had been still in working condition and placed it in my handbag.
“Would you need to take another statement from me?” I asked.
“I don’t think we would need to purely down to the fact you gave me an account of what had already happened. I had divulged the information to my other colleagues who are going to remove the vehicle that you were in, we wouldn’t want it to be holding up the traffic.”
“It would be much safer to come with me and allow me to drop you off instead. Take my hand.”
I did what he had asked of me and allowed him to lead the way to his vehicle. I had managed to wheel my suitcase to his car. He paused noticing how silent I was.
“You sure you’re ok?”
“I honestly don’t know, Look at me, again I have another’s person blood on me.”
“Do me a favour when we reach the airport change your top.”
“Can I quickly just change my top in your car?”
“Sure.”
He opened the trunk of his car and took my belongings and placed them there whilst I had to get the keys to unlock the padlock, right on top of the clothes was an identical jersey that was off the shoulder I quickly took it out of my luggage placing the padlock back on. He then had opened the passenger door for me to take a seat.I had quickly removed the jumper that had the blood spattered.
“Here place that top in this white bag.” Dane had instructed me to do so.
“Thank you.”
“I will take care of it for you, not to worry next time when you’re back from your break this top will be back to sparkling clean, I will give it back to you when you get back.”
“Honestly you don’t have to do that.”
“I know but I would like to help.”
It was somewhat daunting to be sitting in a police vehicle like I had committed a crime. I had remembered the first time I had taken a seat on the night of the incident but I hadn’t felt this comfortable maybe that was because Dane had not been the one who had taken me for questioning instead it had been PC Stevens. I felt myself relax a little closing my eyes.
“I want to make sure you are ok before we set off.”
“I could be better; I had not anticipated that the events would unfold especially when I am meant to be starting a new chapter in my life. I was looking forward to flying out but now all of this has dampened my spirits.”
“Nadine you have to trust me when I say this but you are not to blame. How would you have possibly known that someone had tailgated you? It wasn’t as if you had been driving the car which makes sense as to why you had no clue. Stop beating yourself about it.”
“I can’t help it. I didn’t want someone innocent to get involved. I have to thank you for saving me.”
“Don’t be silly I was only doing my job.”
“Had you not come in time, I wouldn’t have been here right now talking with you.”
“I told you that I would try and help you and knowing that you were a key witness to a crime scene. This was bound to happen which was why I had informed you to keep extra vigilant.”
“I know, I should’ve taken more care.”
“Let’s change the topic you looking forward to going to New York?”
“I am.”
“Right we best get going I wouldn’t want you to miss your flight.”
I remained silent for the rest of the journey and could see that we were approaching Heathrow.
“What terminal are you meant to be flying out from?”
“I am sure it was terminal 5 as all British airways flights are based there.”
“We happen to be on the correct route.”
It was a comfortable silence to say the least. When I had been with PC Stevens I had felt beyond uncomfortable but with Dane he had made me feel somewhat safe. I had owed him a lot for saving my life. I was trying to think of ways I could make it up to him. I could see that we were approaching terminal 5. The building was of glass and the architecture of it was awe inspiring. I had to admit this building was slightly better than Gatwick as it had been modernised. I felt Dane slowing down, he was looking to park the police vehicle.
“Dane there’s no need to park, you can just drop me off here I motioned to where all the cabs were dropping off people.”
“It’s fine honestly Nadine.”
He had parked his car and everyone had glanced in our direction as it wasn’t a regular vehicle but a police car. I pulled the lever of the handle and stepped out of the car completely oblivious to the time.
“What time was it?”
“I think it’s just approaching 5:30pm.”
Dane had already taken my luggage out of the trunk of his car and had placed it in front of me.
“Well Nadine, I best let you get off I wouldn’t want to hold you up any longer.”
“Thank you again Dane. I wouldn’t know how to repay you back. How about if we go for coffee sometimes when I will be back in London?”
“I like the sounds of that and remember to message me when you get back. I wouldn’t oblige to picking you up here, all you have to do is call me.”
“I know.”
I gave him a heartfelt hug and could smell a fresh scent that clung to him. It wasn’t anything like Blake had worn. I had so much respect for this man that was standing before me. I would be keen to find out more about him when I had got back from my trip and find out why he had joined the force.
I felt a brush of his lips against my cheek.
“Goodbye Nadine. Take care of yourself and remember that when you are due back in London call me, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick you up.”
“Not too worry I won’t forget. I am already looking forward to that coffee. Take care of yourself.”
I grabbed my luggage and hand bag and watched Dane drive off knowing that because of him I was alive.
Chapter 20
I had walked across the pedestrian crossing entering the building that stood before me. It was amazing how beautiful the structure of this building was. The sun was setting and I headed straight in to departures. There was a queue for check in and I couldn’t help but glance around at my surroundings. There had been a couple standing right before me and it shouldn’t have had no effect on me but looking at them and seeing how much they were in love with each other made me think if only that could have been Blake and I. I guess it was wishful thinking. Eventually I had been called by another British airways staff.
“Would you mind heading this way.”
I had to keep in mind that I had not travelled in some time and had completely forgot that having an e-ticket was a quicker way of doing things.
“Do you have a passport to hand?”
“I do.”
I handed the passport as well as the itinerary and the e-ticket.
“Miss Nixon flying to New York?.”
“That is correct.”
“You already had an e-ticket?
“Yes.”
“You should be boarding the flight just before 8pm so long as you are at the gates for 7:30pm. All the information will be on the flight information board.”
She handed back my passport and itinerary which I placed bag in my bag.
“All I would have to do is issue a boarding pass. Would you mind placing your luggage here pointing towards the baggage belt. I just have to make sure that you are within the allowance limit.” I watched her place a tag on my luggage with my name and the destination. JFK New York.
I watched her as she checked the weight of the luggage.
“That’s fine, do you also have a hand luggage?”
“Yes that would be my handbag.”
Vanished: What Would You Do If The Love Of Your Life Disappeared Without A Trace? (Nadine's quest to unravel the truth Book 1) Page 21
