by Anne Lown
“I don’t think this is mine.”
Jenny turned around. A middle-aged lady held the package out for her to take back. Jenny apologised and returned with her hand outstretched to receive it. Her fingers were just touching the plastic wrapper as a young man appeared in the hallway.
“Is that for me?”
He must’ve been in his early twenties, dressed in only his boxer shorts and nothing else. Jenny averted her gaze so as not to stare at him leaning forward to take the package from her.
“Thanks. I’ve been waiting for that.”
His mother didn’t seem too amused at how he was parading around the house. “Don’t you ever put any clothes on?”
The young man winked at Jenny and disappeared.
“Sorry about that,” his mother said and shut the door on her.
Jenny’s knees gave way, and she had to grab the gatepost on leaving the garden. She couldn’t believe what had happened. She hadn’t been prepared for anyone actually being home. Her hands shook—they matched how she felt on the inside and she had to force herself to stand still to regain her composure.
Back at the van, she told Adam about the encounter.
“Crap,” he said. “I’ve never had that happen to me.”
Knowing that didn’t make her feel any better. The rest of the shift passed by with Jenny in a state of shock and fear
This is the only time I’m doing it. Never again.
She was relieved on their return to the mail centre. They split the tasks like they always did, and Jenny checked to be sure no little parcels were left in the mailbags or van. It would be the end of her job and a trip to the police station if management found anything. She dropped off the scanners and was about to go for her locker until Nadine walked towards her. The woman was smirking with a twinkle in her eye.
“Good day at work?” Nadine called out.
Jenny ignored her. She had more pressing concerns, like finding Les and telling him what he could do with his offer. She’d decided she would never do it again, and he was going to hear that before the day was out.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hot water cascaded over her body. Jenny scrubbed her skin so hard she felt red raw from the effort. It didn’t remove the feeling of being soiled from her actions that day because it was one thing to put up with Scott’s deviant behaviour, but another to do it herself.
Jenny pushed the button on the shower unit to kill the water. The sound of her phone ringing replaced its noise. She wrapped a towel around her and left the steamy room, shivering at the change in temperature in the rest of the house. Her mobile had been left in the kitchen and it meant she had to pad down the stairs to get to it. She didn’t make it in time.
She turned to walk back upstairs but the phone rang again. This time she answered it, although it would’ve been better if she hadn’t. Nothing was on the other end of the line except someone breathing. No one spoke. She cancelled the call and dialled the number finder service in the hope it would tell her the caller ID, but she was out of luck.
Jenny grabbed a notebook and pen from the kitchen draw, noting down the time and day of the call. If she needed to prove anything, the police could look it up with the phone company. It might be a small victory, but she’d take anything right now.
Getting dressed, she pulled her jumper over her head, only just aware there was a knock at her front door. She peeked out from the living room window and was relieved to see only Nick standing in her garden. She rushed to let him in, well aware anyone else could be hanging around. “Hey, Nick.”
“I’m not at work until next week so I thought I’d pop by.”
Jenny showed Nick into her living room. She’d been hoping she’d see him at some point.
“I’ve been thinking and I’m now sure one person didn’t react the same as everyone else once we realised the knives were missing. When I thought about their significance and who it was, I think it really does matter.”
Jenny nodded, not wanting to knock him out of his flow.
“I think certain knives were taken on purpose because of their meaning. The one that possibly killed the dealer was a Kalahari African Full Tang hunting knife, and the second was an Out of Africa Bowie knife.”
“You say this person should have reacted the same?”
“Yeah, even more so.”
“Nick, before you tell me, I’ve got something to tell you. It’s not good.” Jenny wrung her hands. “I was persuaded to distribute weed today.”
“What? By who?” Nick’s mouth hung open, his eyes seeming wider.
“I don’t want to say because it involves other people, but I didn’t agree to do it. They made me.”
“Did you actually do it?”
“Yes. I had to put it through with the post. I’ve been getting threats.”
Jenny told Nick about the break-in and the writing in blood in the bath. Then also feeling like someone was watching her and the phone call a short while ago.
“You do realise what you are doing is wrong?”
“Yes, and I don’t want to, but I can hardly go to the police about it, can I?”
Nick paced the room, deep in thought. “If you did, they may want to use you to catch your supplier and anyone else doing the same. That wouldn’t do you any favours round here after everyone gets arrested. Might put you in more danger.”
Jenny placed her head in her hands. The whole thing seemed hopeless.
“I’ll tell you what. Let me go speak to the person I haven’t told you about yet and see what I can find out. If there is any information we can use as leverage, that might help you. Until then, just do things as normal.”
Jenny looked up. “Do you really think you can help?”
“Don’t get your hopes up just yet. I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise anything. All right?”
She nodded. She was sick of being a fool, and Nick probably couldn’t do anything, but at least he was trying. He squeezed her hand and said he’d get back to her. Jenny saw him out, feeling a little bit better than when he’d arrived. That was until the phone rang again and the same thing happened—no one would speak. Something itched at the back of her mind. It was a thought she didn’t want to entertain.
Funny how it rang only before and after Nick was here.
*******
The next morning at work, things were no better. She needed to get hold of Les and tell him she wouldn’t do the drops anymore, but she couldn’t get him on the phone. Adam was already busy getting their essential equipment together, but he still wasn’t his cheery self.
“Hey, Jen, you all right?”
She acknowledged him with only a nod, so they went about their business in silence until they were safely back in the van.
“I had two silent phone calls.”
“I’m so sorry,” Adam said. “I really didn’t want you dragged into this.”
“I think I might have dragged myself in.” She gave Adam a rundown of all that had happened so far. It didn’t seem fair to let him believe it was all his fault for doing the drops for Les. They’d built a friendship over the months, and she didn’t want to see that ruined.
Once in Chapel End, they did the same routine as the day before. Adam gave her the list with the supplies she needed, and she hid them in her mailbag. Trying to be discreet was wearing on her and had kept her awake for most of the night.
The first house was not the same. She presumed they each got their supplies on different days to spread the chances of getting noticed. Jenny approached the door, half expecting someone to open it like they had the day before. She reached into her mailbag, pulled out a small package, and dropped it through with the letters. Sweat formed on her upper lip despite the cold day. She wiped it away with her trembling hand and moved on to the next house. They did the same at every park and loop point.
Eventually, Jenny found herself on the high street, close to the charity shop. She really needed to see a friendly face. She pushed open the door to the shop
and found Carmie behind the counter. The woman glanced up and gave her a broad smile.
“I saw him, Jen, he’s real.”
Jenny was perplexed. “Who did you see?”
“The alien, I saw the alien.”
She’d forgotten all about the alien and the campers. How that had happened was beyond her, but Carmie had brought it all back. Jenny waited while Carmie shuffled over to the shop door and locked it, then Jenny followed her into the office.
“I was closing up last night and I saw him. He was on his own coming out of the convenience store. He recognised me and scurried away.”
“What did he look like?”
“He was really scruffy. Had wild curly hair and a scraggy beard, like a tramp.”
I hope not. If the police took his tent, he could leave the village.
“You’re not happy. I thought you would be pleased.”
“No, it’s all right,” Jenny said. “I’m glad you now know he’s real, but it doesn’t help me find him if he’s a tramp.”
A pang of guilt crept under her skin. She was happy for her friend but she had too many troubles to show it.
“I’ve got to get back to work, I’ll see about dropping by later if I can, so we can have a proper chat.”
Adam was waiting for her on her arrival back at the van and had just finished on the phone. “That was you know who, said he’s going to come by and see you tonight.”
“He’d better have a decent answer when he turns up.” Her anger at what Les had got her to do was growing. At this rate he’d be the one in danger from her.
The shift progressed, and eventually they were able to call it a day. Back in the village, Jenny stopped outside Jason’s house. She locked the car and strolled over to the gate, half expecting to find no one home. She was in luck. He’d seen her approach and opened the front door with a broad smile.
“You coming in?” He turned after he’d said it and led the way through to the kitchen.
Jenny closed the door behind her and followed her host. The house was cold. It was then she noticed the layers he was wearing. She sat at the table and waited while he made them a hot drink.
“I’ve been looking for a job. Sarah from the manor was in town earlier, and I ran into her. She said she needed someone to give Ben a hand, clearing up the garden and getting things ready for the spring.”
“You saw her in town? What, in Bishop?”
“Yeah,” he said, “she was being pushed around the shops by that Colette. They were browsing.”
“You mean your latest conquest.” She winked as she said it, trying to make light of the sudden pang of hurt she felt at the mention of the woman’s name.
“Well, you weren’t interested, so a man’s got to move on. That’s unless you’ve changed your mind?” The sly grin said it all. There was an agenda after all.
“I don’t know, we didn’t really get off on the right footing last time.” That was the truth. They had the death of Annalise Jessop hanging between them and a murderer on the loose. “How would it be any different this time?”
“Do you want to try it and see? Maybe it’d cheer you up.”
Jenny sighed. “I can’t help it, you know. I just feel so angry all the time since Martin attacked me. Scott doesn’t care, he thinks I’m being dramatic. Now Martin’s after the diaries again. No one understands.”
Jason was quiet for a minute. He was back to picking at his thumb like before. Then he looked up. “I do. What do you think it was like for me coming back to the village? Everyone thought I’d killed her and blamed me for Paul and Emma dying. What I wouldn’t give to solve what happened to Annalise. I did love her, I still do.”
In that moment, Jenny had an epiphany. She now knew what it was like to have your feelings dismissed by someone who had no point of reference in their own lives. “What do you want me to do?”
“Help me work it out. Find the diaries before Martin does and finally give her justice.”
She reached her hand across the table and entwined her fingers with his. “We’ll do it together.”
They sat there staring across the table and gazing into each other’s eyes. Then the clock in the living room chimed, and Jenny was knocked out of the moment.
“I’ve got to go. I said I’d see Carmie before she shuts up shop today. Call you later?”
“Sure,” he said, “I’ll be around.”
Jenny found her own way out. The day had become a little brighter, and the weight bearing down on her back didn’t feel so heavy, but it was small comfort. She parked near the charity shop and spotted Les in the pub car park opposite. Just the thought of him made her angry. Now she could see him, she wanted to do him some real damage.
He had seen her and crossed the road. His hand was on the door handle on the passenger side. He clearly intended to get in. “I’ve been searching for you,” he said, making himself comfortable in the seat and closing the door behind him.
“You have my number, you could just ring.”
“I’ve got something to show you. Thought I’d send it to your phone, but I wanted to talk to you as well.”
Jenny’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She’d left it on silent while she’d been out with Adam. Opening it up, she saw she had a couple of new text messages. She looked over at Les, wondering what he was playing at.
“Open them.”
Jenny did just that. They contained a couple of pictures. The touch screen was large enough for her to make out the details of what they were. It was from the morning before, the first drop-off, and she was putting the package through the door. The second was of the woman clearly holding it out to her, and she had her hand outstretched to take it back. They showed Jenny distributing weed.
She choked on air, spluttering and coughing. “I can’t believe you’ve done this. I thought we were friends.”
Her mind whirled with shock. Glancing down at her phone, she was having a hard time taking in what she was seeing. This was evidence that she was part of it all, just like the rest, and no one would believe what was really going on.
“Don’t think of using this woman to prove you’re innocent. She’ll say you put drugs through her door and she made you take them back.”
“What about her son? They were for him.”
“She doesn’t have a son. She lives alone. You of all people should know that, you deliver her post every day.”
“You bastard!”
“Now, now, Jenny. We can’t have name-calling, can we?”
Les pulled the latch on the door, opening it in readiness to get out. Before he did, he had one more thing to say to her. “Do what Adam says and don’t tell anyone, all right? Then everything will be fine.” He got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind him.
It wasn’t until after he’d left her that Jenny remembered she’d already told someone. Nick was going to investigate and find out what he could, especially about the person who hadn’t reacted the same way everyone else had.
Have I put Nick in danger?
Jenny got out of her car and ran across the road to the pub. In her distress, she yanked open the heavy door with such force it bounced back off the wall and nearly hit her on its return.
“Hey, watch it with my door,” Dave shouted from behind the bar.
There were few people in the room; it seemed most had yet to turn up. One of the ones already there was Tom, not someone she wanted to see. He scowled at her, but she ignored him. He clearly had the wrong idea about something. She strode to the bar to speak to the landlord while making sure to stay away from Martin.
“Dave, do you know where Nick lives?”
“Why do you want to know that?”
The question hadn’t come from Dave, but Martin. He’d inserted himself into her conversation uninvited. She tried to ignore him and waited for Dave to reply.
“Don’t know, sorry. You want a drink?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Jenny walked back outside and then ran to her c
ar. It was only when she went to reverse she saw Martin in the pub doorway through her rear-view mirror. She gave an involuntary shudder. The man creeped her out big time. The thought of him watching had her wanting to scrub her skin. She forgot about Carmie and their arrangement. Instead, she headed home so she could call Scott. He was the best chance she had of finding Nick. Next time she’d ask the man where he lived.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jenny had been trying to get hold of Scott from the moment she’d got home. He’d not picked up his phone, and the text messages she’d sent had gone unanswered. It had been over two hours, and she’d not heard a thing in response.
“Where the hell are you?”
There was no one else in the house, but that didn’t stop her talking to herself. Her feet were sore from pacing the carpet with no socks on. Now she’d put her mobile back on charge, she didn’t know what to do with her hands. Jenny could’ve cried, but she didn’t want to be defeated. Not by the likes of Les Mack and Nadine. That was why the woman had been smirking—she knew what he’d got her to do.
I’ve been a fool.
The words rang through her mind. All the emotions she’d been feeling in the last eight months were closing in on her, pressing down and making her feel like she would burst. She’d never felt so stressed before. She had to do something or she was going to crack.
Jenny balled her hands into fists and punched the air in front of her. Each movement was backed by a powerful force raging from her insides. In her head she could see all of her tormentors standing before her, their smug faces taking the impact from her thrusting muscles. For every punch she threw out a kick, ramming her foot into her imaginary foes. Over and over, she moved across the room like a prize fighter winning his battles. Next came a forearm jab into their chest, crushing their sternum and dropping them to their knees. Then a back-fisted smash, breaking noses, and jabs to the throat.
If only the real ones were here right now, I’d take on the lot of them.
A bang at the front door brought her out of the spell. She shuddered to a halt, almost unaware of what had happened until she heard it again. She looked out of the living room window.