Help wanted

Jessie walked into the kitchen and her brain knew something was wrong before her eyes saw it. She’d been out late the night before and was still suffering from dehydration and a killer hangover. She opened the fridge and took out the orange juice, placing it on the kitchen table behind her. The orange juice carton wobbled and started to fall. Jessie grabbed the neck of the plastic container just in time. She looked down to see what she had put it on that stopped it from standing up straight. There on the edge of the table was a small white pill. Then she saw another and another. There must have been twenty of them scattered all over the table and at the far end the medicine bottle lay on its side, open and empty.

Within seconds her head cleared and she sprang into action. She took in the scene, scanning the kitchen in one quick movement. At the end of the table the chair was on its side and her mother was lying on the floor not moving. Jessie rushed over to her and felt for a pulse. She tried her mother’s hand. Nothing. She felt around her mother’s neck and thought she could feel a faint flutter as blood continued to pump through her veins.

Jessie rushed back up stairs and grabbed her mobile, dialling 999 as she charged back into the kitchen and sat at her mother’s side. The ambulance was there with ten minutes and all the time they had been waiting the dispatcher had carried on talking to Jessie, making sure she was alright and telling her what to do.

When the paramedics arrived they checked Jessie’s mother and claimed she was stable but obviously needed to get to a hospital. They transferred her to the ambulance and left Jessie to lock up and make her own way there.

Jessie’s mother was admitted and later that day she regained consciousness. Jessie was sitting by her hospital bed, where she had been all morning, as she opened her eyes.

‘Oh Mum, you’re okay,’ Jessie said as she saw her mother blinking in the harsh fluorescent lights. ‘It’s me Jessie. You’re in the hospital.’

‘Mouth, dry. Can I have some water?’ Jessie’s mother asked.

 ‘Of course.’ Jessie poured a glass of water and held it while her mother sipped gently. Her mother nodded when she had had enough to drink and Jessie carefully placed the glass back on the unit at the side of the bed.

‘What happened? What were you thinking?’ Jessie scolded her mother.

‘I don’t know. I guess I just forgot how many pills I had taken and took too many.’

‘Mum you have the chart I made for you. You’re supposed to tick them off and then you can’t forget.’

‘I know but it’s not so easy when I’m on my own.’

‘You have to get used to this. I am moving out next week and you need to be able to manage by yourself.’

‘But we are good together. You helping me. It works okay doesn’t it?’

‘It works for you but I want a life you know. Dave has been patient with me so far but he won’t wait forever. I will only be across town and I will still come and visit.’

‘Excuse me,’ a young white coated man stood at the end of the bed. ‘Miss Carter?’

Jessie nodded.

‘I’m Dr Jones. Can I have a quick word?’

‘Of course.’ Jessie got up and followed the doctor out of the ward.

Once they were in the corridor the doctor turned to Jessie. ‘Miss Carter I have some good news. We ran a tox screen on your mother and she didn’t have any excessive drugs in her system.’

‘What do you mean?’ Jessie stared at him. ‘She took an overdose.’

‘No she didn’t. She had very little food in her system and if anything I think she had not taken enough of her pills. She probably just passed out from lack of food.’

‘Oh God. I am so sorry that we have wasted your time,’ Jessie blushed feeling annoyed at her mother for creating this furore.

‘Not at all. I am just glad it is nothing more serious. She can go home this afternoon.’ The doctor shook Jessie’s hand and headed off down the corridor.

Jessie headed back into the ward to give her mother the good news.

 

                                                                                ################

‘Right that’s me packed Mum. Dave should be here soon and then we can load up the car.’

‘Jessie please don’t go. You know I can’t cope without you. Of course you can. You have your chart for your pills and you cope fine when I am here.’

‘Yes but I need you in case something goes wrong.’

‘No you don’t. You will be fine.’

‘But what about last week?’

‘You had nothing to eat and forgot to take you pills. You just need to be careful.’

‘But I need you. Can’t you see what happened last week could happen again.’

‘Not if you’re careful.’

‘Well maybe I won’t be careful. What’s the point if you’re not here? I’m just a lonely old woman. What’s the point?’

‘Don’t talk like that Mum. You’ll be fine and I’ll pop in to check on you.’

‘Make sure you do or I might have to stop eating again.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Well you only care about me when I collapse.’

‘You know that’s not true. I love you. You’re my mum but I have a life of my own and I am moving in with Dave.’

‘Well on your head be it.’

‘Mum don’t be like that.’

Just then a car horn could be heard outside and Jessie glanced out of the window.

‘That’s Dave. I’m off. Now take care of yourself and I’ll pop in later in the week.

 

                                                                ##########################

Jessie put the phone down and frowned.

‘What’s wrong love?’ Dave asked.

‘It’s Mum, she’s not picking up her phone.’

‘She’s probably just sulking.’

‘I know we had words but I do worry about her. She had all that trouble when Dad died. I don’t want her to feel she’s all on her own.’

‘I’m sure she’s fine but if it’ll make you happier I’ll get the car and we can pop round.’

‘Thanks Dave.’

 

Twenty minutes later they pulled up outside Jessie’s mum’s house. Jessie rang the bell and waited. Nothing. She put her ear to the glass to see if she could hear her mother coming to the door from the back room. Still nothing.

Jessie fished around in her handbag to find the door key. Finally finding it she let herself in. She walked into the living room as Dave headed towards the kitchen.

Jessie spent a few minutes looking around the living room and came out into the hallway just as Dave stood in the kitchen door.

‘I’m so sorry love.’ Dave said as he blocked the door.

‘What, What is it?’ Jessie said as she tried to push passed him.

He blocked her and put out his arms to give her a hug. The only thing she could see over his shoulder was the kitchen table. In the middle lay a bottle of pills open and on its side. Only this time there were no pills left to scatter over the kitchen table.

The Big Day

Brittany couldn’t believe that today had finally arrived. She had been waiting for this day for so long that she was struggling to breathe. She lay perfectly still looking up at the ceiling. Dawn was starting to break through the curtains and she could see shadows from the pattern on her curtains dancing around. She watched the dancing patterns trying to calm her nerves. She took three deep breaths and slowly pushed herself out of bed.

‘Breakfast,’ came a shout from downstairs.

‘Coming,’ called Brittany screwing up her nose in disappointment. She had been hoping to have a final look at the dress. Feel the material flow between her fingers, breathe in the clean, new smell of the silk, but now it would have to wait.

Brittany rushed into the kitchen just as if today was the same as any other day.

‘Hello sweetheart, and how are we this morning?’

‘Fine thank you Daddy. You’re up early.’

‘Big day today.’

‘What, sorry.’ Brittany stared at her father, he couldn’t know, surely he couldn’t know. It was going to be a surprise for him when he got home from work.

‘First day of my new job. You remember I explained all this to you yesterday.’

‘Of course. Sorry.’ Brittany smiled at her father and started tucking into her breakfast. She needed to be careful or he would spot there was something wrong.

After breakfast Brittany headed back to her room and dressed in her normal outfit. She would have to sneak back later after her dad had left for the day.

Ten minutes later, dressed and with her bag slung over her shoulder she started to head out of the   house.

‘See you later Daddy.’

‘Hey hold up. I’ll give you a lift.’

‘No its okay daddy. I’ll get the bus.’

‘Come on sweetie. I’d like the company.’

‘Daddy.’

‘Brittany.’

‘Come on then or I’ll be late.’

Brittany’s dad grabbed his bag and raced after her and she stomped towards the car.

                                                ****************************************

Brittany couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the morning. She was distracted and once or twice she had to be nudged back to the present day by Mary who sat next to her. She kept checking her watch and after what seemed like ages it was finally lunch time.

‘Coming for lunch?’ Mary asked as they packed up their desks.

‘I’ll meet you there.’ Brittany said as she grabbed her bag and rushed towards the exit.

                                                                *******************************

 

Brittany’s dad patted down the many pocket on his new hi-vis jacket trying to remember which one his phone was in. He grabbed it and swiped his finger across the screen.

‘Hello?’

‘Hello, is that Mr Jones?’

‘Yes.’

‘Mr Jones this is Mrs Baker. I am calling about Brittany.’

‘Yes. Is there a problem?’

‘Hopefully not. She was fine this morning but she went home at lunch and she hasn’t come back.’

‘She went home at lunch?’ Mr Jones said. ‘But she was supposed to say with you today.’

‘She normally goes home so no one thought anything of it. I’m sure she’s fine but I just wanted to let you know.’

‘Thank you. I will go and check it out.’

Mr Jones popped his phone back into his pocket and headed off to the site office. This was not looking good, first day on the job and he was going to have to leave to track down Brittany. They were going to need to have a serious chat once he got home.

                                                                *************************************

Mr Jones ran up the drive and pushed the front door open.

‘Brittany. Brittany. Are you here?’ he shouted.

There was no response but Mr Jones thought he could hear something. He strained and tilted his ear towards the stairs. There was definitely some noise coming from upstairs.

He started up the stairs and then for some reason started to creep. He carefully stepped over the squeaky step, listening, trying to work out what the noise was.

He slowly pushed open the door to Brittany’s bedroom. Everything looked different. The bed was pushed against the wall and there were rows of seats set out. All Brittany’s toys were sitting in the chairs and Brittany was walking slowly down the central isle. At the top of the room was her favourite bear and there was a strip of white paper around his throat and a black blanket wrapped around him. The music was blaring out of her Barbie stereo. It was the wedding march.

‘Brittany what are you doing?’

Brittany shot in the air. She hadn’t heard her father enter the room.

‘Daddy. I thought you were at work.’

‘The school rang. They said you didn’t go back after lunch. What are you doing?’

‘I am getting married. Do you like my dress?’ Brittany swung round, flaring out her skirt. She was wearing her best princess dress.

‘Sweetheart you can’t play dress up when you are supposed to be at school.’ Mr Jones knelt down so he was at Brittany’s level.

‘But I had to do it soon. It was for you.’

‘For me? Why?’

‘The man. The one who came and asked for Mrs Jones last week. He made you sad because there was no Mrs Jones.’

‘Only because I miss your mum.’

‘I know. So I asked God what to do and he said I could be Mrs Jones. Mummy is an angel now so it’s my turn to be in charge. That way when the man comes you can tell him I’m Mrs Jones.’

‘Oh sweetheart.’ Mr Jones started to cry. He grabbed hold of Brittany and hugged her close.

‘I’m sorry I made you cry. I thought it would help.’

‘No sweetie. What would help is for you to go to school and not run off in the middle of the day.’

‘But you need a Mrs Jones.’

‘No sweetie. What I need is you. Your mummy is looking down on us and we can ask her when we need help. I love you so much but we can do this together.’

‘Okay Daddy. But if you need a Mrs Jones let me know. Teddy likes his vicar outfit so he can marry me if you need him to.’

‘Oh Brittany. I love you so much.’ He held her tight careful not to get his tears on her best princess dress.

Changes

‘So that’s five pounds and fifty, sixty, seventy five pence change,’ Janey said as she counted the change out into Mr Johnstone’s hand.

‘Thank you dear,’ Mr Johnstone said as he carefully placed the change back inside his little pink purse.

It had been his wife’s purse and when she had passed away he had carried on using it for the weekly shopping allowance. Janey always worried about him as the purse never had very much money in it. Mr Johnstone had been coming into the little village shop as long as she had been there but recently he seemed to have shrunk a little every time she saw him. He was carefully loading his shopping into his little tartan trolley; one item at a time, and a queue was starting to build up behind him.

‘Twenty Benson’s please.’ A tall blonde man wearing a pin stripe suit teamed a garish tie that had a knot as big as his head.

‘Just one moment please,’ Janey said looking at the suit. She leant across the counter and patted Mr Johnstone’s arm. ‘Don’t you worry Mr Johnstone, take your time.’

‘Some of us are in a rush,’ the man in the suit called back.

‘Then I suggest you try the supermarket just out of town.’

‘I realise you probably don’t know who I am, but is that any way to treat a customer?’

‘Mr Johnstone is a customer and once I have finished with him you are my next priority, but I will not push him out of the way. And neither will you.’

‘Fine but you will regret this.’ The man it the suit swung round nearly knocking old Mrs Watson off her feet as he did and stormed out of the shop.

‘You don’t have to worry about me, my dear.’ Mr Johnstone smiled

‘Not at all,’ Janey smiled. ‘These city types need to learn life moves a little slower in the country. There’s no need for all this rushing and panic, is there now?’

 **************************************************************************

‘Papers Janey,’ called Billy the delivery guy as he dumped two piles onto the front steps and turned to fetch the rest from the van.

Janey had already carried the first pile over to the counter and started sorting them for the paper boy when he returned.

‘Where do you want this last pile?’ Billy asked.

‘Just down there please,’ Janey said pointing to the side of the counter. ‘I’d make you a coffee but the paper boy will be here soon.’

‘Yes sorry about that. The new supermarket has a gala opening this morning so the traffic is backed up out of town,’

‘But they opened weeks ago.’

‘Ahhh, this is the official opening and there’s some boy band going to cut the ribbon. There are special give aways and a bouncy castle for the kids. Everyone will be there today.’

‘Oh my gosh.’ Janey froze over the front page of the local paper.

‘Yes that’s the latest boy band. I didn’t know you were a fan.’

‘No not them, the guy standing next to them.’ Jenny pointed at the photo. ‘He was in here last week.’

‘Let’s have a look,’ Billy leaned over Janey’s shoulder to look at the photo. ‘He’s a bit flash looking.’

‘Yes and I pissed him off last week. It’s bad enough having the supermarket there but if he decides to close me down there’s nothing I can do about it.’

‘Come on why would he do that?’

‘Why? Were you not listening? I pissed him off.’

‘Morning all,’ called the postie as he opened the front door of the shop and handed Janey a pile of envelopes.

‘Well I better be off, more deliveries to make.’

‘Yes see you later,’ Janey waved absent mindedly as she stared at the letter she had just received.

*************************************************************************

‘Morning Mr Johnstone. Everything okay today?’

‘Yes, thank you Janey. It’s very quiet in here today.’

‘Yes the supermarket seems to be doing a great trade and a lot of my regulars have started shopping there.’

‘Surely the old folks still come here?’

‘I had hoped but it seems that the supermarket does home delivery and for those who still want to get out they lay on a bus once a week.’

‘I’m so sorry Janey. Will you be okay?’

‘Well I would have been only I have had notification that the landlord is selling up. I may be able to carry on but the new landlord could throw me out or if he puts the rent up…’

‘I’m sure it won’t be that bad.’

‘Well let’s hope not. The auction for this and a couple of other properties is next Wednesday. I have some savings but I’m not sure they will be enough.’

***************************************************************************

The local estate agents had set up in the village hall and most of the residents were there. Janey had closed up the shop and arrived just as the auctioneer was starting his spiel.

The first two items were houses which the tenants bid for and got at a very reasonable price. Janey was feeling positive when the auction started on a number of shops the landlord had owned.

‘So now we will start the bidding on the village shop,’ called the auctioneer as his assistant help up a picture of the shop. ‘Now since the post office concession has been removed, there has been less call for this type of business, but I am sure all the local people will be able to tell you how much they rely on this store.’

‘Not now we have the new supermarket,’ a voice shouted from the back.

Janey scanned the room trying to work out who had shouted but the hall was so full there was no way of telling. She did notice a lot of other heads nodding in agreement. She wanted to save the shop and it was going to take her life’s savings to do it, but what if no-one came anymore? Then everything would have been wasted.

‘Settle down now will someone start the bidding at £100,000?’ the auctioneer scanned the room. ‘No okay £75,000. Yes I see I have a bid, £75,000. Now what about £80,000?’

The bidding continued, a number of people raising the hands, until it reached £160,000.

‘It this my final bid? With the tall man in the corner we have £160,000.’

‘£180,000,’ shouted Janey her hand jumping up in the air.

‘£200,000,’ called the other bidder

Janey thought hard. £200,000 had been her ceiling. She couldn’t afford any more but she had to keep the shop open, ‘£210,000’

The man in the corner shook his head.

‘Is that it?’ The auctioneer asked scanning the room. ‘Any more bids? If not we are selling at £210,000. Going once, going twice.’

The auctioneer raised his hammer ready to strike the desk…

‘£250,000’ Janey swung round. There in the doorway was the man from the supermarket.

‘Wow, okay any further offers,’ the auctioneer asked. He looked over at Janey and she shook her head. ‘In that case, sold to Mr… You name please sir.’

‘Peterson. Jake Peterson.’

***************************************************************************

Janey had four weeks left on her lease and Mr Peterson had told her he wanted her out at exactly five o’ clock on the final day. There was no leeway. The store was practically empty for the first two weeks and Janey began to think that maybe he had done her a favour. If she had won the bid at £210,000 she would have been ruined within six months. All her regulars had started going to the supermarket and she couldn’t blame them. The food was cheaper and there were more options. The bus they laid on for the old folks meant that where they had relied on Janey before, now they only popped in for forgotten items or to chat. Mr Johnstone never let her down. He was in, as usual, every morning buying his supplies for the day ahead but his small contribution was not enough. She was done for.

‘Morning Janey, how are you today?’ Mr Johnstone asked as he arrived for his shopping one blustery morning.

‘As well as can be expected thanks Mr Johnstone.’

‘Still no sign of the regulars coming back?’

‘No, and I have to close in two weeks so I can see why they don’t bother. They’re used to the supermarket now.’

‘I’ll be sorry to see you go. Do you know whether there will still be a village shop?’

‘’Cuse me love. Need to measure up,’ called a man half hidden by a ladder pushing though the shop door.

‘Measure up for what?’ Janey asked

‘Mr Peterson sent us. He reckons he can get an aerobics suite in upstairs and a descent number of exercise machine down here.’

‘What are you talking about? This is the village store.’ Mr Johnstone said.

‘Not after the end of the month. Mr Peterson is opening a gym for all the fitness freaks over on that new estate. Thinks he’ll make a fortune in membership fees.’

‘But that’s over five miles away. How will they get here?’

‘By car Granddad.’

‘Oi. No need to be rude.’ Janey piped up.

‘Sorry. But they can park outside there’s no restrictions.’

‘But the bus needs access and it will clog the roads up.’

‘Not my problem lady now can we measure up or not?’

‘Once Mr Johnstone has finished his shopping and not until. Now you take your time Mr Johnstone.’ Janey smiled.

Mr Johnstone seemed much slower than usual finishing his shopping that day.

***************************************************************************

Finally the 31^st March arrived and after a slow day, there was a rush of customers at five minutes to five. When five o’ clock came round the store was still full and Janey was trying her best to get them all served.

‘What’s going on here?’ Mr Peterson stood in the shop doorway.

‘I’m going as fast as I can but these people need serving.’

‘No they don’t your closed.’ Mr Peterson stormed over to the counter and grabbed Janey by the arm pulling her towards the door.

‘Wait a minute there’s no need for that.’ called one of the old dears.

‘Yes there is. This woman has belittled me in front of people one too many times. Now get out.’

As they got to the shop doorway Mr Peterson pushed Janey and she missed her footing. She teetered on the top step for what seemed like an age until she finally tumbled down the three stone steps. As she lay in a pile on the floor she heard some clicking noises. The next minute her handbag and coat where thrown on top of her and the clicking continued.

‘Mr Peterson, Joe Longton of the Gazette can you answer a few questions please?’

‘What… erm… what are you doing here?’ Mr Peterson looked around to see more residents and a number of men clicking cameras in his face.

Whilst he was still trying to think of an answer a large car pulled up and the crowd parted as Mr Johnstone emerged. A young man she didn’t recognise helped Janey to her feet and Mr Johnstone walked over to her to check she was okay.

‘Mr Johnstone what’s going on?’ Janey whispered.

‘Wait and see.’

From the other side of the car a large white haired man emerged and pointed at Mr Peterson. All the colour drained from Peterson’s face.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ the white haired man asked.

‘Councillor Jacobs. This is nothing for you to worry about.’

‘I think it is. The planning permission for the supermarket was based upon there being no disruption to local businesses. Now I hear you have put this young lady out of business and you’re planning to turn the village shop into a gym.’

‘I haven’t put her out of business. People prefer the supermarket.’

‘Underhand tactics Peterson. Buses for the old folks, discount voucher only valid for ex-customers of this store. All sound very dodgy to me.’

‘You can’t prove it and even if you could what are you going to do. Knock down the supermarket?’

‘I won’t, but your father has told me to tell you’re needed at home. He is sending a new manager to look after the supermarket.’

‘I can’t believe you called my father in on this.’

‘Oh I didn’t. Mr Johnstone was his university lecturer and I think they have been chatting over old times recently.’

‘Well I still own this store and I am turning it into a gym.’

‘Jake, Jake you just don’t get it do you?’ Councillor Jacobs said shaking his head. ‘You bought it with your father’s money as a company asset. He has decided to continue it as a village store and he would like Janey to stay on. That’s if she wants to.’

‘Oh yes please.’ Janey said, tears filing her eyes as she hugged Mr Johnstone.

The press started to crowd round Councillor Jacobs and Jake Peterson and she was led away by Mr Johnstone.

‘I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much.’ Janey hugged Mr Johnstone again. ‘But I don’t think I will be open for long if the takings stay the same as they have for the last four weeks.

‘Don’t you worry about that. I have spoken to Mr Peterson senior and he has promised no more dirty tricks. You might lose some people to the supermarket but I am sure you regulars will be back.’

‘Well I best get down the cash and carry ready for tomorrow. Stocks have run a little low.’

‘You do that my dear, you do that.’

 

If you enjoyed this why not check out Jo’s short story anthology now available for Kindle at Amazon UK and Amazon.com

 

Under the gun

She studied her feet and could see his, almost touching her’s. He was that close.

‘You think that was good enough? You think that was good enough?’ He snarled.

She didn’t look up, didn’t dare. She knew it hadn’t been good enough and she knew how angry it made him when she didn’t try. He placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her face. She looked in his eyes and could see his disappointment.

‘Get back down there,’ he jerked his head behind her to indicate where she needed to move to. She turned and walked in the direction. She walked purposely, not too slow but not too fast. She needed to gather her thoughts. Eventually she stopped and turned to face him. She couldn’t see his face in detail but she knew the scowl he would be wearing, she had seen it enough times. The scowl he had worn before, but this time it was different, this time he knew she had let herself, and him, down. She crouched down and watched as he raised the gun.

She saw the smoke before she heard the sound and she was off. Racing towards him for all she was worth. Pounding along the ground, racing, and covering the ground like a cougar. Breathing in all the right places not stopping to think just doing what was instinctive.

She screeched to a halt meters past him and turned to see his face. He head was bent, looking at his hand. He raised his head and lifted his hand so she could see the contents. A small silver stop watch. The hands stopped at exactly 11 seconds. He opened his arms and she ran to him. He picked her up and swung her round.

‘I knew you could do it.’ He said as he put her down. ‘We’re going to the Olympics and you my sweetheart are going to win the 100 metres.’

‘Oh Dad I knew we could do it.’ She said smiling and hugging him.

Beware second hand laptops

'Where is it?' His gruff voice and the gun pointing at my left temple weren't helping my cognitive processes.

'I told you I don't know. Please just let me go and I’ll forget all about this. This never happened. You were never here. I was never here.'

'I'm not stoopid. The boss said I wuz to bring it back or not bother comin’ back.' He started waving the gun around. His mood was definitely not softening.

'But what is it you want exactly?' The only way I was going to get out of this was to confuse him. The problem was if I confused him the wrong way he was liable to just put a bullet in my head.

'The boss said you had it and I had to get it back.'

'He must have given you more details otherwise I can give you anything and then you'll have to face the boss alone. How will you know to let me go?'

'Easy,' he smiled, happy he knew enough to stop me pulling a fast one. ‘The laptop has a special mark on it and once I have checked it I will know I have the right one. Then I can take it and let you go'

How can I trust you to let me go?' Right, now we were getting somewhere, they wanted the laptop.

‘You can’t,’ he chuckled. Shit I was in deep water.

'Well then we had better go and get the laptop.'

'Ahh so you do know where it is.'

'Now I know you need the laptop of course I know where it is. You’re going to have to untie me and take me with you. I have left it with a friend and she knows to destroy it if I don't come back for it today.'

'So you did know it was important. That will interest the boss.'

 

I had come across the laptop on eBay the week before. It was an absolute steel, a bargain I couldn't resist. My best friend, Kaye, was an IT consultant and so I knew she could fix any small problems for free.

 It had turned up a few days later and I was amazed by the condition. I switched it on and it fired up immediately with all the usual office suite applications loaded and ready to roll.

I still thought a check out by Kaye might not do it any harm so I popped it round with a bottle of wine the following night.

'So this is your bargain of the century is it?' Kaye took the laptop and the wine off me as soon as she answered the door. She carefully placed the laptop on the coffee table and headed off to open the wine and find some glasses.

'Why do you insist on still buying things from eBay,' she called from the kitchen. 'You've spent more on second hand computers and laptops that a brand new Mac air would’ve cost you.'

'But I can't afford a Mac air and you know it.'

'But you can afford to buy five broken laptops and pc's over the last six months,' she handed me a glass of wine and sat down on the sofa with the laptop in front of her.

'You know I need something that works if I'm to start off my writing career. At least these cheap ones have lasted long enough for me to start my novel.'

'And luckily I introduced you to dropbox before the first one imploded and left the hard drive completely unreadable.' She fired up the laptop and started to run some quick diagnostics. The fire alarm started blipping madly. 'Shit,' she shouted as she jumped up and ran into the kitchen. Two minutes later she re-emerged shaking her head, giggling and waving a pan of burnt pasta in my general direction.

'Well this time it’s gonna cost you an evening meal and a pint at Weatherspoons,'

'My pleasure.'

 

As I left Kaye’s that evening I walked slowly through the back streets towards my flat. It was only ten minutes walk but I felt weird all the way home. As if I was being watched. A couple of times I stopped under a street light and looked around, but there was no one about. It was strange. I am not usually a nervous person.

I got back to my flat and noticed the front door to the house was open. I live in a converted Victorian three story house and mine is one of the two flats on the top floor. It was unusual for the street door to be left open so I walked passed and stopped at the end of the street. I couldn’t see anyone else around but a Volvo parked a little way down the street had fogged up windows. A car drove down the street and as its headlights passed the Volvo I noticed a small crack in the driver’s side window and what looked like a stream of cigarette smoke drifting up into the early evening fog.

I started to head back to the flat convinced I was being paranoid when the Volvo driver switched on his lights and started his engine. I ducked into next door’s front garden just as a large man in a dark suit rushed out of the house. I couldn’t see clearly but he had something under his arm. He jumped into the Volvo as it pulled away and zoomed off in the opposite direction to my hiding place.

I waited a good fifteen minutes before slowly rising from behind the wall and entering the house. I tried to listen for any unexpected noises as I slowly ascended the stairs.

‘Jeanette,’ I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of another human being, especially one calling my name.

Standing there in the corridor was Mike, the guy who lived in the flat directly under mine. ‘Been having a party?’

‘What?’ I didn’t think I looked that bad but maybe fifteen minutes hiding behind a wall could give you that partied look.

‘All the banging about upstairs. I was just about to pop up and have a word when it stopped.’

‘I don’t know what you mean. I’ve been out but I did notice the front door was open.’

‘Oh shit, Jeanette. I best come up with you. Just in case.’ Mike said.

We headed upstairs; the door to my flat was wide open.

Mike put his hand out to make me wait and headed towards the open door. Five minutes later he reappeared shaking his head. ‘Sorry old girl but it looks like you’ve been robbed.’

I walked up the stairs and stood in the doorway. I couldn’t get any further. The living room looked liked a tornado had run through it. The desk draws had been turned out and the books had all been pulled of the bookcases. The cushions on the sofa had been thrown onto the floor and the old wooden arm chair had been upended smashing one of the arms. I stood in the door unable to cross the threshold. Mike put his arm around me and slowly walked me back to his flat for a cup of sweet tea and to await the police.

The police were brilliant and once I checked out my room it turned out all that was missing were two of my broken laptops. I guess that must have been what the thug had under his arm when he left the flat earlier. I don’t know why I didn’t tell the police about the thug or the Volvo. I knew there was nothing they would be able to do but maybe they had got what they came for. The fact this had all happened just after the latest laptop had arrived and that was safely at Kaye’s flat didn’t occur to me until the next morning.

I had woken early and decided that a trip to the library was in order. The lack of a lock on my front door had led to a restless night’s sleep, so as soon as the sunlight started to filter through the curtains I got up, showered and grabbed my notebook. My new novel needed some points researching and without a working computer the library felt like the most logical place to go. Authors must have done this all the time before the invention of the internet. How time consuming.

I pulled the door to and fastened one end of my scarf round the door handle and the other round the old iron radiator in the corridor. It wasn’t going to stop another attempt on my meager possessions but it might stop the neighbourhood cat from trying to take up residence. I headed down the stairs, out of the front door, down the path to the front gate and out into the street. That was the last thing I remember before waking up tied to a chair with a thug pointing a gun at me. The lack of bump on the back of my head and a funny tickle in my nose made my think they must have used chloroform or some such thing to get me here, wherever here was. It looked like some kind of warehouse and I was sat on a chair in the centre of a huge empty space. Even if I could get out of the chair I wasn’t going to make the door before the thug tackled me or shot me.

I slowly turned my head to see where the thug had gone. He was on the telephone and things didn’t seem to be going to plan.

‘I need you to bring the car back,’ the thug told his unknown accomplice on the other end of the ‘phone.

‘Well I can hardly take her on the bus can I? A gun in someone’s’ back tends to draw attention on public transport,’ he waited for an answer.

‘Ten minutes, don’t be any longer.’

The thug slowly turned towards me. ‘Right I am going to untie you so no playing silly buggers, all right?’

I nodded. I had no idea how I was going to get out of this but surely something would come up, or maybe they would just let me go once the laptop was in their possession. I didn’t believe that for a minute but I needed to stay focused and keep looking for a way out.

Just then a car horn sounded outside. The thug untied my hands and pushed me from behind. I rose and started walking towards the door. I felt a nudge in my back from the gun and knew that was the signal for me to open the small door embedded the huge warehouse doors and go through. Once outside the same Volvo was parked with its back door open. I got in and the thug pushed the door shut behind me. The driver had a second gun trained on me whilst the thug came round and got into the front passenger seat.

‘Now where is it?’ The thug asked.

‘My, my friend has it.’ I prayed I could think of something before getting Kaye involved but I had completely run out of ideas.

I gave the drivers directions taking a few long cuts, hoping they wouldn’t notice to try and give me thinking time. After thirty minutes we arrived there was nothing else I could do without them becoming suspicious. The thug pulled me from the back of the car and we quickly headed for the front door. The street was surprisingly quiet for the time of day and gave me no opportunities to raise the alarm.

I rang the bell and could see Kaye approaching through the frosted glass of the front door.

‘Hi you. Can’t you wait for me to fix it?’ Kaye was talking as she answered the door. ‘Hello, who’s your friend?’

‘In,’ the thug waved the gun at her and she backed up quickly heading towards the lounge.

‘I am so sorry about this Kaye,’ I said. ‘This erm gentleman needs the laptop that I gave you yesterday.’

‘Well I am sure he could just have asked. There’s no need to come into someone’s house waving a gun around is there?’

I couldn’t believe how cool Kaye was being and I think the thug shrunk back a little, like a bully being caught out by his mum.

‘I just need the laptop.’ He said.

‘Well it’s there isn’t it?’ Kaye pointed to the coffee table on which lay three laptops.

He looked confused, three laptops.

‘Let’s hope that the special mark is still there or your boss will be disappointed,’ I giggled nervously buoyed by Kaye’s bravado.

He walked over to the table and turned the three laptops upside down. He placed the gun on the table and went to get something out of his inside pocket. Just then he saw me look over a Kaye and he grabbed the gun.

‘First I need to deal with you two,’

‘But you said you would let us go. You promised.’ How stupid did I sound?

‘Upstairs,’ he pointed the gun at us. ‘NOW,’

We both rushed out of the lounge and headed up the stairs. At the top of the stairs I thought he smiled to himself just as he pushed us into the spare room.

‘This is too easy,’ he said as he slammed the door behind us and quickly turned the key, locking us in. ‘I didn’t even need to find a way to secure the door,’ he chuckled as he headed back down stairs.

‘What do we do now?’ I asked Kaye.

‘Let’s just wait here and hope he takes the laptop and goes. We can worry about getting out once we know he’s gone.’

The pressure of the previous two days dawned on me with Kaye’s matter of fact comment and I burst into tears. Kaye rushed over and held me.

‘Shush now sweetie,’ she held me close as we sat on the edge of the spare bed. ‘Try and stay quiet just until we hear him leave.’

A few minutes later the noise of a car engine could be heard and Kaye carefully went over to the window.

‘What car were they in?’

‘It was a blue Volvo.’

‘Well it looks like it’s gone. We just need to hang on in here for a while. Don’t you worry, help’s on its way.’

I looked over at Kaye, not understanding what she meant but she just smiled and sat down next to me giving me a hug.

 

I must have fallen asleep as the clicking of the key in the door woke me. I jumped up and stared at Kaye.

‘Don’t worry it’s the help I told you about.’

‘Ah, Mrs. Johnson are you okay?’ A young police officer entered the room and turned to talk to Kaye.

‘Yes we’re fine thank you.’

‘Inspector Fraser thanks you for your help. Unfortunately he is interviewing the suspects at the moment so couldn’t come himself.’

‘No problems constable. I guess you need my friend to come and make a statement?’

‘Yes please.’

Kaye turned to me and seeing the look on my face burst out laughing. ‘I think she needs a good strong cup of tea first and then I will bring her down to the station if that is okay?’

‘No problems. I will head back now and let the Inspector know everything’s okay.’

Kaye led me down to the kitchen and sat me onto one of the stools next to her kitchen island. I still wasn’t sure what was going on and didn’t know what to ask. She put a cup of hot sweet tea next to me and as I sipped it she explained everything.

‘After you left last night I started looking at your laptop and there were some interesting pieces of information on it. I was at college with Inspector Ross Fraser so I gave him a call and he realized it held the information of a big crime ring that had been running in the area. He decided to talk to you this morning but by the time he got to your place you had already been snatched.’

‘But why weren’t the police waiting here?’ I couldn’t believe she had given me no clue as to what was going on. No wonder she had been so cool.

‘A couple of officers had been hiding out in the pantry but they needed the thug to lead them to the gang’s leader so they were to stay hidden unless it got too dangerous.’

‘But I thought he was going to kill is. Surely that’s dangerous enough.’

‘Once there were two of us it was less likely he would kill us. That’s what Ross said anyway. And then they would only have been able to charge the thug with kidnap.’

‘Only!’

‘Talking of which we do need to get you down to the police station and make a statement.’

Luckily they never need my evidence at the trial. So many other things had come to light that Inspector Fraser said he could spare me the ordeal. The day of the trial I couldn’t concentrate all day and I finally breathe a sigh of relief when at the end of the day the radio news said they had all been found guilty.

Kaye came to dinner that evening and brought a gift wrapped box with her.

‘It’s from me and Ross to stop you getting into any more scraps like this,’ she said as she gave it to me.

I couldn’t help but smile when I opened it to reveal a brand new Mac book air. With that and my latest adventure my novel would almost write itself.