The House on Rectory Lane

by Stuart James

  Jake took the phone and viewed the page. The title at the top read, Parents of St Michael’s Junior School, Ramsbury. It had quite a few members. Judging by the activity, it seemed they made an effort in getting to know each other.

  ‘This is great,’ he said. He scanned down the page.

  ‘Hi all, just to introduce myself, I’m Marcia, parent of Oliver Stevens. Great to meet everyone.’ It had fourteen likes. ‘Just to introduce ourselves, I’m new to this like most of you. Claire Towey, mother of Kaitlin. Looking forward to meeting you all.’

  Seventeen likes. He continued to scroll down the page. Kate posted earlier introducing her family, suggesting a meet for drinks. Fiona sarcastically replied, ‘Sounds great. Your place?’ More of the parents jumped on the bandwagon liking and sharing. Jake handed the phone back.

  ‘There’s a few of them coming over this evening,’ she announced.

  ‘Brilliant. What time?’

  ‘I suggested around 8.30 p.m. It will give us time to get ready.’

  ‘Fine. I’ll need to pop into town and get some alcohol. Nibbles. The likes.’

  ‘OK, great. I’ll feed Sean in the meantime and get him ready for bed.’

  ∞∞∞∞ He needed to get into town sharpish. Get everything and bring it back to help Kate get set up in time for their guests. That was a doddle. On the way back, he needed to clear something up. Something that was bugging him. He needed to pay Punchy Man a visit.

  Chapter Eleven Jake made a list, ‘How many are coming over?’

  Kate viewed the Facebook page and made a rough estimation.

  ‘I would guess around nine or ten.’

  ‘Wow, that many?’

  ‘Give or take. You always get the odd one that drops out at the last minute. Babysitter letting

  them down or car not starting. The usual, babe.’

  ‘OK.’ Jake was taking notes.

  ‘Shall I just pick up two boxes of red and white wine? Maybe a crate of beer? I’m sure

  there’s twenty-four in a box. Should do us.’

  ‘Cool, and what about the guests?’ Kate said lovingly.

  ‘Oh, yes. We need to think about them, don’t we?’ They both laughed, and Kate kissed her

  husband gently on the lips. Once he was sure he had everything covered, Jake headed off.

  ∞∞∞∞ He parked up and headed into the first corner shop he found. After introducing himself, which seemed the normal behaviour, he passed the list across to the lady behind the counter. He thought it would just be easier and quicker than scouring through the shop looking for everything. The shop keeper was in her mid-sixties and had a calm, casual way about her.

  ‘Having a party, I see?’

  ‘Huh, oh, yeah, just some friends coming over.’

  ‘You new? I haven’t seen you around.’

  ‘Yes. We moved here a couple of days ago.’

  ‘Well, you couldn’t be in a better place.’

  ‘Thank you. We think so.’

  Jake paid the lady and headed back. He had to make three trips back and forth from the shop

  to his boot, worrying people may think he had a drink problem.

  ∞∞∞∞ Kate bathed Sean. He put up his usual fight. Once clean, she lifted him out in a towel, dried him off and tucked him into bed. She then jumped in the shower. Her guests were arriving in an hour, and she wanted to make an effort. The thought of making friends excited Kate. They were both outgoing and never had any problems in that department. It was something she feared in the days leading up to the move. What if people were cliquey? Oh no, them two, the snobs from London. Their shit don’t smell, oh no. Look, Emily. That’s her. Kate. Has a cleaner if you please.

  Kate cleared her mind as water powered over her body. She could have stood there all night. No problem. The sense of stress melting off her body and into the plughole. When she’d finished, Kate stepped out onto the mat, wrapped herself in a towel, another around her long black hair and went to the dresser. The blow dryer was the only noise that disturbed her tranquil peace. Once finished, the straighteners came out. She pulled a summer dress over her head from the wardrobe, applied a slight amount of makeup, stepped into heels and headed down.

  ∞∞∞∞ Jake killed the lights as he approached the neighbour’s house and let the car roll gently down the hill. He steered it into the side of the closest ditch and applied the handbrake. There was no sound at all. Literally, the dead of night. He’d never witnessed anything like it. Remembering back to the days when they had barbecues in the communal garden at the flat. Something you get used to. Friends laughter. Planes making their way across the night sky. Twin turbo exhausts polluting the streets. A sneeze from a passer-by. Dogs barking next door. A cat leaping onto their fence. Kids laughter. But here, there was nothing. Dead.

  ∞∞∞∞ Kate had only been downstairs a few minutes when the first of their guests arrived. It was pleasing to her, seeing the visitors exiting from a taxi. They were quite obviously drinking tonight. Letting their hair down. Not watching everyone else. Judging. Viewing from the monitor, Kate saw a couple. Arm in arm. Laughing together. A good sign. They pressed the buzzer. The gates slowly opened. Kate waited at the door. A nervous feeling rose up through her body. First impressions last, she thought. Seven seconds and bang. That’s it. An opinion formed. Everlasting. A label you’ll struggle to shake Katy dearest. This is it. Shine baby, shine. She opened the front door, and the alarm went. Not just a low pitch. A bloody air raid siren. The couple at the door held their ears. Sean cried out from the top of the stairs.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ Kate roared. ‘We’ve just had it installed.’ She grabbed her mobile and called Jake. It went straight to voicemail. She re-dialled, and the same thing happened. Damn. Kate darted back inside. The noise was piercing. Grabbing the folder that Adam had left she spilled the contents onto the table.

  ‘Shit. It’s got to be here somewhere.’ A voice came over the monitor, Warning. Warning. Please step away from the property. Continuing in a loop. It reminded Kate of the starship enterprise or Star Wars. All she needed now was an entrance from the stormtroopers. Flicking through the pages, she raced her fingers across word after word. Nothing. ‘Come on for fuck’s sake.’ Then she found it. A small sticker on the back. Alarm code. 020672 – Jake’s birthday.

  ∞∞∞∞ The house was empty from what Jake could see. He shut the car door and walked across the road. No sign of Hugo. Jake peered over the fence trying his best to size everything up. There was a gate leading into the garden. An old, circular handle like a door knocker. Jake tried it. It twisted halfway then stopped. No use, he’d have to jump it. There was no other way. He grabbed both sides of the fence with his arms and balanced. His legs dangled from left to right as he held on. A pommel horse came to mind. He dropped. Half the fence pulled away with him causing a loud crunch. Shit. He’d cut his elbow but would live. He got back in the same position and swung his legs side to side again. Using the force from his arms, he leapt over and landed with ease. Jake decided to give it a few minutes, just to make sure no one was around.

  When he judged five minutes, he removed his phone and cranked up the torch. It gave him just enough light to see across to the pit. He crawled on his hands and knees, keeping as low as he could. He was ten yards away from where Punchy had dragged the sack. An owl, or maybe a pigeon, crowed in a nearby tree. Great, keep it down. Jake grabbed a stone from the earth and hurled it into the darkness and scared the bird off. His jeans had grass stains covering the kneecaps. Wonderful. Try explaining that one to Kate. As he approached the pit, he looked inside. It was about five feet deep. The smell was rancid, reminding Jake of the butcher’s shop he worked at on Saturday mornings on the Caledonian Road. He had to cut up the meat in the freezer out back – the smell had never left him. He shone the torch inside to get a closer look. The sack was still there. Rope- wrapped around the top and bottom of it. Then he saw it. A blood stain near the top. It looked fresh. He could smell it. He gagged as a sou
nd rose over the woods. Jake couldn’t tell where it was coming from. Like an air raid siren. The lights came on in the garden. Big and white, like a runway. Jake froze. Shit, shit, shit. The door to the kitchen swung open, and Hugo darted out. Jake made a run for it. There was no time for acrobatics now. He was going full steam either over, or through, the gate. When he reached the outside, he ran for the car. Someone was running across the lawn towards him. Jake leapt in and tried to get the key in the ignition, but he dropped them and pawed on the floor. ‘Come on please, not now.’ The gate swung open as Jake managed to get the key in and turn the engine on. There was no time to look as he pushed the accelerator to the floor and drove.

  Chapter Twelve He pulled the car just outside his gates and knocked off the lights. Jake held up his phone searching for 4G. It danced between zero and one bar. Eventually, there was just enough reception to google the number for the local police station. He thought about pressing 141 to block his number; it would only arouse suspicion. The line went straight through without any ringing.

  ‘Ramsbury police station. How may I direct your call?’

  ‘Yes, I’m calling to report a possible murder.’

  ‘A murder you say?’

  ‘That’s correct.’

  ‘Can you give me a little more information?’

  Jake proceeded to explain as briefly as possible what had happened the last couple of days.

  There was a pause on the phone. The woman started tapping on a computer.

  ‘And the address please, sir?’

  ‘Yes, it’s the house at the very top of Rectory Lane. As you turn off the main road heading

  for town.’

  ‘I’ll get a couple of officers over straight away. Can I take your name and address?’ Jake had already hung up. He waited in the car another twenty minutes. Jake tried as best he

  could to compose himself, but his mind was racing a hundred miles an hour. Why was this happening to them now? All they ever wanted was a peaceful life. A place for Sean to grow up. Somewhere safe. Jake breathed as deep as he could. Then let it out. Seven or eight times. He picked up the fob and opened the gates.

  ∞∞∞∞ Reynolds and Marsden were parked in town. A typical Wednesday night. The possibility of the odd drunk spilling out of the local. A heated argument between a couple of under-age drinkers. If they were lucky, they’d get someone speeding or using the phone while driving. The radio crackled.

  ‘Reynolds.’

  ‘We have a report of a dead body up on Rectory Lane.’

  ‘I’m sorry, ma’am, I thought you said a dead body?’

  ‘That’s right. You heard me correctly. I thought about calling it in with Officer Styles but as

  the caller mentioned a murder …’

  ‘You did the right thing,’ returned Reynolds.

  Marsden jotted down the address while Reynolds crammed the last of her burger in her

  mouth. They had been partners for a few years now and had already been through a lot together. They had recently captured one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers. But since Reynolds’ elderly mother had become more frail, she had asked for a transfer back here to be closer to her. Her old boss, Sergeant Robbins, had been reluctant to let her go, he had always said she was the best officer he’d ever worked with. Marsden, unable to befriend a new partner properly, had followed her soon after. Reynolds drove as Marsden confirmed the directions with the control room. The house they were summoned to was around ten minutes away. The siren was blaring and cut into the peaceful countryside. Luckily, the roads were quiet as they pulled into the top of Rectory Lane.

  Marsden pointed at the first house on the right. ‘That’s it.’

  The road was steep, and Reynolds decided to pull straight into the drive. They jumped out leaving the car doors open, the siren off but lights still glaring. The house was in complete darkness. Reynolds walked up to the door and wrapped the knocker. They waited. Marsden stepped back and shone a torch into the back garden. A barking dog raced towards them. After a minute or so, she knocked again. She peeked inside through the glass. ‘Marsden, it’s empty. Let’s go around the back.’

  As she moved away from the door, the sound of a chain was apparent, and a lock being turned. A tall, middle-aged man appeared at the door. He immediately noticed the uniforms.

  ‘Can I help you, Officer?’

  ‘I’m hoping you can. We’ve had a report of a body in your garden. Do you know anything about this, sir?’

  The man burst out laughing.

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘Sir, we need access to your garden now. Can you bring the dog in and open the gate?’

  ‘Certainly, Officer.’ He went back into the house and appeared at the back door. ‘Hugo. Come on, boy. Here.’

  The dog went straight over, and the man shut the door. He then crossed the garden and unlocked the gate. Reynolds and Marsden made their way in. Marsden had an industrial lamp which he placed in the middle.

  ‘Officer, can I ask what this is about?’

  ‘Can you please remain in the house?’ She ordered.

  They carried out a search of the garden. When they were satisfied, they both made their way to the front. Marsden sat in the car and Reynolds knocked again.

  ‘Hi, Officer.’

  ‘Can I get your name?’

  ‘Yes, indeed, Mr White.’

  ‘First name.’

  ‘Roger. Roger White.’

  ‘We’re sorry to have troubled you. Have a good evening.’

  ‘You too, Officer. You too.’ He shut the door and turned the lights back off.

  Reynolds joined Marsden in the car.

  ‘Come on, let’s call it a night.’

  ∞∞∞∞ As Jake opened the front door, Kate raced over. ‘Babe, I was so worried. Where have you been?’ ‘Long story.’

  ‘Quick, come and meet our guests.’

  He followed Kate through to the kitchen.

  ‘Everybody. This is Jake. My better half. You’ll love him, and he’s bearing gifts too.’ He placed some of the alcohol on to the side and shook hands with everyone. ‘I’ll do my best, but I’m not great with names.’

  One of the men interrupted, ‘Simon and my wife, Lisa.’

  Jake extended his hand to Simon. Lisa went in for a kiss, making Jake a little uncomfortable. ‘This is Marge, I think. Is that right?’

  ‘Hello, big boy.’ She burst out laughing. ‘Kate, you never told me he was so adorable.’ ‘Hello, Marge, pleasure.’

  The rest of the gang carried on with the introductions. Kate poured everyone drinks while

  Jake got the remainder from the car. In total, there were seven guests. Three couples and Marge. When Jake had finished, he went back to the kitchen and settled down.

  ‘So, how’s your new house?’ Simon asked.

  Jake took a swig of his beer. ‘It’s coming along, mate. There’s lots to do, but you know how

  it is.’

  ‘Don’t I just. Lisa and I moved here a few years back, and we’re still sorting things out.’ ‘Yes, aren’t we just. If you spent a little less time in the bookies, maybe you’d get more

  done,’ Lisa added.

  The preferred drink was red wine, and Jake hoped he had brought enough of it. Simon was

  already on his second beer.

  ‘So, where have you moved from?’ Asked Marge. She had a pleasant face. The jolly type. If

  you were trying to find somewhere in a busy town, she’d be the one you’d choose to ask directions

  from.

  ‘Holloway Road in London,’ said Kate.

  ‘Oh, the big smog. I’ve never been personally. We lived in Derby until my late husband,

  bless him, passed a few years ago. I decided on a new start.’

  They all offered their condolences. The other couple were quiet. The shy type. Jake made an

  extra effort with them.

  ‘Good to meet you both, we haven’t been introduced.’

&nbs
p; ‘I’m Paul, and this is my wife, Helen.’ He blushed as he spoke. Helen just lifted her hand.

  They’d be hard work. Kate went on to explain the mishap with the alarm.

  ‘At least we know it works,’ she proclaimed.

  Jake had heard it. As the evening continued, they couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.

  The drinks flowed. Laughter. Honesty. These were the people they wanted in their lives. They needed times like this. The friends Jake and Kate had made over the years would always be a part of

  them. They’d all gone through so much. Facetime. Snapchat. Skype. Video call. It was so much easier these days. When Jake grew up back in the 70’s the best they had was a walkie-talkie set. He’d

  been one of the first on the street to get a set, and himself and Mick, his best mate who lived ten

  doors away, had many great nights talking on them to each other. CB radio was only for rich kids. Marge stood up on the chair when her song came on. ‘Baby Give It Up,’ by The Sunshine

  Band. Jake wished she would. She had downed at least a bottle and a half of wine and was now

  singing at the top of her voice. Around ten o’clock Sean came running into the kitchen. There was a

  huge arhhhhh from everyone. Kate introduced him to the party, then lifted him onto her lap. ‘It’s way past your bedtime sweetie.’

  He could smell the drink on her breath.

  ‘Scared, Mummy.’

  ‘Baby, there’s nothing to be scared of. You can have five minutes then it’s back up, little

  man.’

  Jake was pleased he’d come down. He loved showing him off. His little performing monkey.

  Hey kid, tell the knock-knock joke. Sing Twinkle Twinkle. Do the trick with the coin. He didn’t

  want to embarrass him.

  ‘The man scared me.’

  Jake darted a look at Kate who was chatting with the quiet couple. They’d come out of their

  shell and now wouldn’t shut up.

  ‘What man, Sean?’

  ‘The man standing at the gate.’

  As everyone looked over at the scared lad, the lights went out. Completely. The whole