Fear

As he walked down the narrow alley, he was sure he could hear footsteps behind him. Walking faster he could see the shadows around him growing. Suddenly all he knew was pain and darkness.

Elsie at the lake

The lake sparkled in the sunlight as the trees waved their branches at the water. Elsie sat on the red bench reading her phone, as she did most days. Lost in her dreams, reading Ben’s messenger messages and glad for an unlimited mobile data limit.

She had been with Ben for two years, last night they had a row which lead to him walking out. Usually they were happy but now he wasn’t talking to her. Re-reading her messages of apology, she was confused as to what had gone wrong. Feeling pain in her stomach she could sense that something wasn’t right.

Ben was an accountant, happy in his work, and generally let stress wash over him. Deciding now to phone his mum, she needed to find him.
Listening to the phone ring, she was relieved when Mrs Walsh answered,

“Hi, it’s Else, have you seen Ben at all?”
“No love, isn’t he with you.” Feeling a sick feeling, she said,
“No, we had a row and he stormed out. I will phone his work.”
“If you find him, let me know.”
“I will phone you if I find him, but if he’s not at work I’m phoning the police.”
“Do you really think something’s happened? Elsie could hear the concern in her voice.
“He’s ignored all my messages. I thought he stayed with you last night. Something is wrong.”
“Please let me know if you find him.”

Raising concern

“I will. Speak soon.” Hanging up, Elsie could feel her heart beating faster. Dialling the number for ‘Fraser and Pennings’ she already knew that he was missing. As Emma the receptionist answered, she started stammering.

“Hi, err, it’s Elsie, is Ben available please.”
“Oh Elsie, we were going to phone you. He hasn’t turned up for work and he’s not answering his phone.”
With her head hurting, she now said, “I haven’t seen him since yesterday and neither has his mum. Something’s wrong, I’m phoning the police”.
“If you find him, let us know as we are concerned here”.
“Okay”. Hanging up, now was the time to report him missing.

Ben

Ben Walsh was a handsome twenty-five-year-old accountant. He had no enemies and his friends found him fun to be with. He was easy going and happy most of the time. At least this is what the world saw, he had kept his fears to himself. Fears of being watched that he had dismissed. Deciding that he was paranoid, and blaming the crime shows on the television, he had asked, why would anyone follow him?

Not wanting to tell partner Elsie what was happening. He had been jumping at people hiding in the shadows. It was this that had led to him walking out of the house straight into the local bar. He had worked through clients in his head, who might he have upset? Who might have a vendetta? Where had he gone wrong? He had suspicions, events of the last six months could have led him into trouble and he questioned daily whether he needed to talk to the police.

Ben knew he should have been more careful, now regretting not telling Elsie, as tonight after being smashed over the head he had woken up to darkness and the rocking and engine of a moving car. Where was he being taken?

Investigation

Detective Clare Miller looked at the new file on her desk. The face of the handsome accountant looking up at her. Reading through the notes she replayed his evening in her head. Stressed and maybe angry at Elsie he had run out of the house. Grabbing her coat, she knew the first place to ask questions was the local pub.
Calling to Sergeant Pete Humphrey, she knew she needed back up.

“Come on Pete, ‘Purple Heart’, now”. Pete was ready for a pint, it had been a long day, but he knew this wasn’t a social visit.
Arriving at the pub, it didn’t take Clare long to find out that Ben had been there the previous evening cuddling a pint of ‘John Smiths’. The bar lady reported that he had been there more often than usual, and something seemed to be resting on his mind.

As they got up to leave a young woman approached them.
“Excuse me, err you police?”
“Yes.”
“Err, sorry couldn’t help but overhear. The man at the bar last night, has he gone missing?”
“Sorry mam, we can’t tell you that.”

“My ex, Roy Wallis, followed him outta da pub. Roy is real mean and has a record”. She then looked around her. “I shouldn’t be talking to you”.
“Thank you, and your name is?”
“Paula.”

Clare Miller dug into her pocket, thinking this woman is either stupid or very brave.
“Here’s my card. If you need us, phone.”
Paula nodded and now walked back to her game at the pool table. Clare looked at Pete, what were they dealing with here? What had happened to the young Accountant?

Captured

Straining at the ropes around his wrist, Ben could taste the blood in his mouth. Unsure of what the time was, he looked at his surroundings. Smelling the cold, muddy water, he shivered. His wet jeans clung to him and rubbing his wrists against the wooden pole he was tied to, he asked God, to please help him. To please make the ropes snap and release him from his wet cell.

The gag stuffed in his mouth meant that a scream produced a muffled sound. The despair in his heart, he thought of his family and Elsie. Wondering whether they had alerted the police, did they even know he was missing?

Detective Clare Miller

“Detective look what I’ve found. Roy Wallis look”.
Taking the file from her Inspector, she motioned him to sit down. Reading through she knew this was it, it had to be him. Typing into her computer for unsolved cases. She now read her colleagues notes about a jewellery heist from six months ago. Turning to witnesses questioned she found Ben Walsh.

Ben had been held hostage when a Jeweller’s in the city had been raided. Clare wondered if he ever made his purchase, or whether the heist had put him off visiting places. Reading the records, Ben had given descriptions of his captors but the thieves had not been caught.

The evidence now suggested that Roy Wallis was involved, he had a record of burglary and GBH.
“Come on Pete, we need to bring in Mr Wallis.” She felt the familiar excitement of a case coming together.
Grabbing her coat, she led the way to her car.

Rescue

It was hours later, as night was drawing in that a crew of police officers were sent to the hut at Bleakden Lake.

Roy had given in and spilled everything, telling how he had kidnapped Ben, after Ben had recognised him in the pub. His gang had been watching him for months. He was lucky to have just found himself tied up and not dead. That had been Roy’s next move after he had got the gang involved. The hut at the lake had been the hiding place for a few of his misdemeanours. Ben and that damned detective had all lead to his downfall.

Ben

Cuddling up in Elsie’s arms, he knew he didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. Had those thugs not been in ‘Hardings’ Jewellery Store that day, they could have been making wedding plans right now. To scared to buy a ring, for fear of having another gun put in his face. Ben knew though that life is short, his life would had ended at the lake if Detective Clare Miller and Inspector Pete Humphrey hadn’t have worked it out. If their questioning hadn’t made Roy Wallis reveal his muddy hiding place it is likely he would now be dead. Ben knew that now was as good a time as any to ask her.

“Elsie, you now I love you.”
“Yes, and I love you too.”
Getting to the floor and onto one knee, he took Elsie’s hand. She started to smile, she didn’t need to be asked, she knew her answer.
“Elsie, thanks to the Jewellery store robbery I have not got you a ring yet, but will you be my wife? Will you marry me.”
Smiling she through her arms around his neck and said,
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you”
Holding each other close, this felt right, and a nice ending to something that could have ended in with his death.

Written for Write the Story on Writers Unite

For more see, The mystery of the Greenwood Cave.  Written for writers Unite.

The Movie

The movie was interesting but, I couldn’t enjoy it. Mark is holding my hand, but I’m feeling guilty, as I know that Freda is alone. Am I happy with Mark? Is this what love is supposed to feel like? Torn between my boyfriend and my best friend, I need a plan. Is Freda being unreasonable? She can’t expect me to put my life on hold for her. I know I need to talk to Mark, but he is happier when it’s just the two of us. Freda gets in the way, a third wheel.

Watching him staring at the screen, eating popcorn, a flutter goes through me. This man is special, I’m sure of it. I can’t forsake my future happiness for Freda. However, what sort of friend am I to think like this? Freda is lonely, do I know anyone that could make her happy?

Mark

I’ve always loved ‘Star Wars’, since seeing the first film on VHS, I was hooked. The concept of it pulled me in with its space ships and light sabres. The Jedi and the Sith. Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi. Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, the friendships, Han Solo and Wookie, Chewbacca. The robots R2D2 and C3P0 and now BB8. We are watching ‘The rise of Skywalker’ and though I’m enjoying it, I can sense that something is wrong with Ruby.

She’s been quiet all weekend, I’ve asked her about it and her answer is “nothing”. I know she’s close to her best friend and I hope that she’s okay. Whatever’s happening, Ruby is not saying and thinking about it is distracting me from the film.

We’ve been getting on well and I hope we have a future but I’m fearing that Freda might be an issue. Living so far away from each other doesn’t help. I love the New Forest and can’t imagine leaving it. Will Ruby move here? I don’t know, but her best friend, I’m sure will present problems if she does.

Ruby

Glancing at Mark, I squeeze his hand. In the dark cinema I can’t see his face properly, but he loves ‘Star Wars’ so I’m sure he’s enjoying it. Then as the credits go up and the lights come on, I can see that he’s not smiling and something is not right.

“What Mark, what’s wrong?”
Putting his arms around me, he says,
“Let’s get out of here. Pub?”
Taking his hand, I nod, we need to talk.

Ten minutes later we are at the ‘Royal Goose’ ordering beer and wine. I feel sick now, hoping he will listen and understand. The noise of the other customers makes it difficult to talk, but we cuddle up closely at a table in the corner.
Putting the drinks down, Mark now reaches for my hand.
“Ruby, you know I love you, don’t you?”
“Yes, and I love you too.”

“Then tell me what’s wrong and don’t say nothing.”
Scared of how he might react, I now tell him.

Finally talking

“It’s Freda, she’s finding it hard me spending so much time with you. I’m her best friend and I’ve always been there but since we’ve met, I’ve been neglecting her.”
“Okay, I think neglect is a little harsh, you know that you do have a life outside of Freda.”
“Yes, but Mark, you know she’s had problems and I’ve always been there. I don’t think the stuff with ‘Baby Blue’ helped.”
“That wasn’t my fault, and we did get her music back.”
“Yes, true but it still caused a few issues, we need a plan, she is lonely and she needs me.”

Mark sipped at his pint. Pausing as a young couple walked past our table.
“So, what are you saying?”
“Mark, I don’t know. I want to be with you, but I also want her to be happy.”
“Hmm, I’ve an idea. Next week, how about you bring Freda up to my place.”

Rory

I thought about this, “Why, what are you thinking?”
“As well as showing her the beautiful surroundings, she might like to meet my mate Rory. Rory is a school teacher, he is calm, patient and he could be good for her. He split from his girlfriend about eight months ago and they might be good together.”

“Could it work? It sounds too easy.”
“I think we can only introduce them and see what happens. It either will or won’t work, let’s find out.”

“And why have you not mentioned Rory before?”
“Because it’s only in the last week that I’ve thought maybe he is ready to move on. Rebound is never good, but now Katie is in the past. Freda might be his future, but bear in mind he lives in the New Forest, so a big step maybe for her if it does work out”.
“So, I’m assuming you have no intention of moving here one day?”

A plan

“I don’t know, I love my home town. Come on Ruby, let’s see what happens. They might hate each other, one step at a time.”

Feeling a pain in my tummy, anxiety, I’m sure this plan would worry Freda. Running it through my mind, I know Mark is right. However, for it to work would be too good to be true.

“Okay, but I’m not mentioning Rory till just before they meet. She will be anxious and may refuse to come.”

My brain was racing now, finishing my wine, Mark picked up my glass, and headed to the bar for another. Watching him walk away I knew we had to make this work, regardless of Freda I couldn’t afford to lose Mark.

Written for Grammys grid – first sentence – The movie was interesting but..

For more see Time with my best friend Freda – part 10, this is part 11