His grandmother spoke only once on the phone once he had entered the room and then put the receiver down and walked quietly out. Whatever the conversation had been about, it had visibly upset the old lady.
There was no meal waiting for him so he waited for a few minutes before knocking on her bedroom door. After he knocked a second time she invited him to enter. It was evident she had been crying for some time.
She indicated for him to sit on the bed next to her and she took hold of both his hands. She gathered herself and spoke in a shaky voice,
“Gerald, I’ve some very sad news. Mrs Stockwell died in hospital this morning. It seems she had lung cancer and nobody, not even her husband knew about it”
He immediately put an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him, sobbing heavily. They remained in this position for more than ten minutes and only moved when the phone rang once more. Gerry asked her if she wanted him to answer the call but she shook her head and went to take the message herself.
She was only out of her room briefly and returned, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief and sat back down next to her grandson.
“That was another call asking if I had heard the news about Mrs Stockwell. Would you take any more calls please Gerald? I’m finding the whole situation too upsetting”
He nodded and then told her about the incident in the shop when Mrs Stockwell was in a near state of collapse. She wanted more details of this incident which he gave her and finished by saying,
“You knew her better than me Gran, but when I offered to get the taxi to drop us outside her house she insisted on getting out around the corner and walking part of the way with me. There was no way she would take any advice from me”
She thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I understand. If she used that stare of hers, everyone knew she would have the final word, including her husband. Now I will go and prepare something for you to eat but I just don’t have an appetite at the moment”
Gerry offered to cook himself a meal but she insisted, claiming it would take her mind off events.
After eating his meal, the rest of the evening was spent with idle chat and reflections his grandmother had of the Stockwells and how they had been an important part of the fabric of the community.
The following day being a Sunday meant Gerry would be home to watch over his elderly relative, making sure she didn’t get too depressed and anxious. On the Monday morning he made sure she was in a fit state to take care of herself and he checked she had the phone number of his workplace.
Matthews greeted him in his usual manner.
“What the hell are you doing here? Didn’t Tony tell you his assistant was off sick? Get over there right now and don’t come back here until I tell you to!”
Gerry knew that if he had taken the initiative and gone straight to Hereford Street it would have been wrong anyway.
‘Dammed if I do and dammed if I don’t’ was the thought that went through his mind as he left.
The contrast in the working atmosphere between the two shops couldn’t have been more marked; Tony was pleased to see him and insisted on making him a hot drink before Gerry started work
During a quiet period just after lunch Tony asked him,
“You’re a good worker Gerry, would you consider being transferred here on a permanent basis? My usual assistant has health problems and I can’t be certain from day to day if he will be coming in or not but you don’t have to make a decide right now. Think about it for a few days and maybe give me the answer at the end of the week”
After a more productive and friendlier day at work Gerry was feeling more relaxed but his grandmother put an end to that feeling when she told him of her day.
“Gerald, where have you been today? I rang your work number and a rather rude woman told me you weren’t there and that you were not allowed personal calls at work, then she hung up after swearing at me”
Gerry nearly swore himself but managed to hold back, it could only have been Abigail who answered the phone.
“Sorry Gran, I’ve been sent to another branch and will be there all week. Why were you trying to get hold of me?”
“First of all, I have been told that Mrs Stockwell’s funeral is on this coming Friday at Midday. Then Sally called in to say she is moving to live somewhere in Derbyshire to be near her sister who is, I think, expecting a baby. She gave me some contact details but said not to try and get in touch until the weekend”
At this moment in time he didn’t particularly want to pursue the matter further anyway.
He arrived at work on time the next morning and who should be waiting for him but Percival Matthews. He tried to hide the look of disappointment when he saw Gerry approaching but his mood was quite clear.
“I knew you wouldn’t defy me, I am the boss and you know it! Now go and tell Tony to come here, he’s in the storeroom. And don’t forget, I will be checking on you at every opportunity until you can’t put up with me any longer”
Gerry walked away without rising to his boss’s bait, he could bide his time but not for much longer.
His thoughts turned to Sally and he was puzzled by the fact that she had never even mentioned having a sister or relatives in Derbyshire. So, he concentrated on the other part of the phone call his Gran had made to the shop. And the reaction of that bitch, Abigail. He knew that Matthews had set up a phone link between all his shops, purely for him to keep on the backs of the managers when he felt the need. He would use that link to speak to Abigail to find out what the reasons were for not transferring the call.
That morning was busier than usual, added to which Harry delivered nearly two boxes of trainers another one of their shops couldn’t sell. These trainers, mostly white, had silver buckles on the heels, although some were missing either one or both buckles. Tony commented,
“Another duff line we have to flog. If the other shops couldn’t sell them, what hope have we got. My storeroom is full of junk like that”
During mid-afternoon Gerry took advantage of a quiet period to try and phone Abigail after getting Tony’s permission to use the phone, but inevitably, it was Matthews who took the call.
“What the hell do you want Gerry, if you’ve got time to use the phone it must be quiet over there so you can come back here to do some work”
Gerry had to pick his words carefully so he changed tack slightly before coming to the main point of his call,
“Oh, I’m glad it’s you Mr Matthews I need to make a request to have this coming Friday off to attend a funeral. A close friend of my Grandmother’s has died suddenly and I need to accompany her to the service”
Matthews barked back down the phone,
“Definitely not! Only attending funeral’s for close relatives is the rule”
Gerry tried to protest,
“Mr Matthews this news has badly shaken my grandmother and she hasn’t been well herself lately. Apart from that there is nobody else to accompany her”
“Again, No! That’s twice I’ve told you, and if you ask again you can find another job and good riddance!” And the line went dead.
Gerry was sorely tempted to ring back but decided not to give his boss the excuse to carry out his repeated threats. If Gran didn’t have any reliable person to look after her at the funeral then Matthews could stick his job.
Five minutes later, while he was serving a customer the phone rang and Tony took the call. He came back out of the office shortly after and took over serving the customer from his assistant.
Mr Matthews is on the phone for you Gerry”
He picked up the receiver and it was obvious from his boss’s tone his mood had not improved,
“Answer me this. Was it your Grandmother who phoned here yesterday and this funeral you’re talking about; is it that woman who came into the shop last week you took home in the taxi?”
“Correct on both counts Mr Matthews, and can I say there was no call for Abigail to swear at my Grandmother. S
he was already upset at the news of the death of her friend without having to put up with that”
Matthews lowered his voice slightly,
“Abigail had every right to reply as she did, we were busy and I’m not running a personal answering service. Don’t forget, report for work on Friday or else, now put Tony back on the phone”
Gerry quite deliberately dropped the receiver on the desk but not before he clearly heard Abigail’s laughter. Tony was kept on the phone for what seemed like an age to Gerry. When he came back into the shop his face was like thunder.
There was no communication between them until it was time to close the shop. When this was completed Tony said,
“The boss told me that if you don’t show up for work while you’re working here I have to let him know immediately, or if you phone in sick. Then he will come around here and fire you on the spot, why has he got it in for you Gerry?”
As tony had been straight with him, Gerry decided to tell him about the events since Matthews had taken control of his place of work, including the discovery he and Harry had made on the previous Friday. Tony let out a long chortle when this was mentioned,
“He just won’t learn, Abigail is at least the third woman, to my knowledge, he’s been carrying on with. The first one got pregnant, and the second one tried to blackmail him by threatening to tell his wife. His two sons found out and called her bluff but I’m dam sure it cost them a pretty penny”
Gerry shook his head,
“Well, I’m not going down the blackmail route to keep my job, Anyway, I would need Harry to back me up and I don’t trust him anymore than Matthews. But if My Grandmother needs me to go with her to the funeral, I’m going, and that’s that!”
“I’d like to help you Gerry but my hands are tied. I’ve got a wife and three kids to consider so I can’t put my job at risk”
Gerry nodded, he wouldn’t want anyone else to suffer from Matthews’ vengeful actions and returned home. He had decided to tell his Grandmother about his situation and the threats of reprisals if He didn’t attend work on Friday.
However, he need not have worried. Mrs Reynolds knew that the vast majority of those attending the funeral would be from her generation or slightly younger. She felt sure Gerald would feel out of place so she had made discreet enquiries as to who would be attending. Those enquiries had been prompted by an incident earlier that very afternoon.
They had finished eating their meal and the dishes washed and cleared away before Gerry tried to bring up the subject but his Gran interrupted him as he was about to speak.
“Let me speak first please, there is something I must tell you. Now Gerald, I know you said you would go with me to the funeral on Friday but I’m not sure you will feel comfortable with so many strangers and elderly people around. Therefore, I have spoken to Mrs Byewater, who is a former nurse, and she and her husband will collect me and bring me home. So, there is no need for you to take time off work on my behalf. Now what is it you wanted to say dear?”
Gerry scratched his head, feeling a little perplexed, and he said jokingly,
“You spent too much time in Mrs Stockwell’s company Gran, I was about to tell you that my boss told me if I took time off for the funeral he would fire me” Rather than be amused at her grandson’s comment, Mrs Reynolds went quite pale and sat open mouthed for nearly a minute and she failed to hear Gerry’s question. So, he repeated what he had said, but with more concern in his voice,
“Gran! Are you ok? You’ve gone very pale. Can I get you a drink or something?”
“His raised voice stirred her into responding,
“Gerald. What you said was uncalled for, but also very true”
He was even more puzzled,
“I’m sorry Gran, I wasn’t mocking Mrs Stockwell’s memory but I don’t understand your other comment”
It was her turn to smile,
“You know I often have a little nap in the afternoon. Well, today was no different but this time I had a very vivid dream, or at least I think it was a dream.
“I was visited by Mrs Stockwell and she told me that you were very busy and couldn’t come to her funeral and she was very pleased at that thought. Why I don’t know, anyway, she said it had been arranged that Mr &Mrs Byewater would collect me and bring me back home after the funeral”
He was beginning to think his Gran was getting confused and said gently.
“Gran, you told me you had already arranged with Mrs Byewater to be collected”
She shook her head, looking more serious now,
“No Gerald. I had this ‘dream’ before I rang her. When I spoke to Hazel Byewater she told me that she was on the point of calling me because the same thing had happened to her. She was in her bedroom and she suddenly felt tired so she lay down on the bed and apparently fell asleep. And the same message came to her from Mrs Stockwell, but with one addition”
Gerry felt less comfortable at what she said next.
“Mrs Stockwell also mentioned that we would both have trouble caused by another person in your work. And it would be something you had dreaded happening”
“I bet it will be Abigail but nothing she could do bothers me”
Shaking her head Mrs Reynolds spoke again,
“Not a female Gerald, another man has already done something that will come to light very soon but you won’t have conformation for a long time”
He sat staring into the distance wondering what this would mean and was unaware of his Grandmother leaving the room to make a cup of tea for them both. She also brought in a plate adorned with his favourite ginger biscuits. This was her coded message for ‘let’s accept things as they are’.
At least now he could go into work on Friday and not fall foul of Matthews’ endeavours to fire him but he would still have to be on his guard.
Wednesday and Thursday passed by without any more threats or calls from his boss and after making sure his Gran’s plans were still going ahead he left for work on the Friday morning. He arrived a few minutes before the shop was due to open so he had to ring the bell for attention.
The door was opened by Percival Matthews and Gerry wasn’t sure if the man was about to cry out in frustration. Instead his boss said,
“Don’t think you’ll fool me, I’ll be checking at regular intervals to make sure you’re still here. What time is the funeral due to begin and where is it being held?”
“At the Arnos Vale Crematorium in Bristol, starting at midday” Gerry replied, knowing full well Matthews would have already checked. His boss gave a scowl and turned around to speak to Tony. He talked in a loud enough voice so that both would hear,
“Tony, I will be phoning in to check that Reynolds is still at work in this shop. He knows that if he tries to skive off to attend the funeral of this Stockwell person he will be fired. If you connive with him in any way to trick me I will also be looking for a new manager for this shop. Is that clear to both of you?”
Tony nodded and said,
“Clear and fully understood, Mr Matthews”
“Good, I might call in later if I’m in the area”
Giving a contemptuous look in Gerry’s direction Matthews walked out of the door with an air of victory he felt he had gained over his staff.
“Well, I think we both know what’s at stake Gerry. And you can bet your last fiver he will make sure he’s in the area later!”
Gerry gave a little laugh and Tony looked at him with a hint of irritation,
“I fail to see the funny side, he means exactly what he said!”
Gerry cleared his throat and coughed,
“Sorry Tony, I wasn’t laughing at what he said to us but It’s all a waste of time on his part. My Gran has made other arrangements to go with some friends to the funeral. She didn’t feel I would fit in with the crowd that will be there, and I think she is right. So, chase around as much as you like Mr Matthews, you’re only wasting your own time and petrol”
Tony let out a laugh and said,
&
nbsp; “And it couldn’t happen to a better person. Come on, I’ll put the kettle on to celebrate”
True to his word, Matthews returned to the shop twice that morning and on each occasion he went into the Manager’s office to speak to Tony. While they were talking in their second meeting just after midday the phone rang and Gerry answered. It was the Manager of one of the other shops and asked if the boss was there and he needed to speak to him urgently. Gerry knocked on the office door and told Matthews there was a message on the phone that required his immediate attention. Cursing under his breath he picked up the receiver,
“What the hell is wrong now?” He listened to the message, cursed, and slammed the receiver down and called to Tony,
“Tony! I’ve got to go to the Broadmead shop, they’ve had a power cut, the only shop in the block it seems. I’m going to check it out. If Abigail rings to speak to me let her know what’s happening” And he stormed out of the shop, moments later the lights went out there as well. Tony found a torch and went to inspect the fuse box but a cursory look told him there was nothing wrong in that area. He came back into the shop and was about to report his findings when the phone rang, Gerry picked up the receiver,
“Hello, Hereford Street shop, can I help?”
“For God’s sake Gerry is Percy there, I need to speak to him now!” It was Abigail and she sounded almost hysterical.
“No, he left a few minutes ago to go to the Broadmead shop, they’ve had a power cut but he said…”
He didn’t have time to finish before Abigail’s strident voice interrupted him,
“The bloody lights have gone out here as well, did you hear the laughter?”
Gerry wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly,
“Laughter? What are you talking about Abigail, nobody’s laughing here?”
“I don’t mean you were laughing, you stupid little sod. When the lights went out I definitely heard the sound of a woman’s laughter, an old woman, just like that old crone who you said had died, I want Percy back..” And then Gerry heard a crashing sound followed closely by Abigail’s screams just before she dropped the phone.
The Reluctant Villain Page 14