Then walking out of a garden a few doors down was the postman with his red bag on his back clutching a bundle of mail. Connor ripped the door open and approached him still glancing around at potential suspects. He waited until the postman disappeared into a garden that had good cover from shrubs and trees and followed him down the path.
Connor changed his mood to a less threatening one.
“Hi there”
The postman turned around to face Connor who was now guessing that the young lad could be no older than twenty.
“Hi can I help?”
“Yeah I live in the apartments just back there and I just wondered if you can remember posting this through my door”
At that Connor produced the postcard and showed the confused looking lad.
“Yeah probably if it’s a postcard I must have delivered it”
“So no one gave you this to post”
He started to look nervous and he slightly blushed, which in turn made Connor more suspicious than he already was.
“Do you normally post things with no address on them?” said Connor turning the post card around so the postman could see that it had no address.
For a few split seconds nothing was said as Connor could see the young lad trying to think of an explanation.
“Listen all you need to do is tell me who gave it to you to post”
“Look I don’t know what you mean it was just amongst your mail this..............”
Connor calmly stepped closer to the lad so there faces were no more than a few centimetres apart, interrupting the young lads attempt at an explanation.
“I know someone gave this to you and all I want to know is who it was?.......is he watching you now?”
A quick glance up towards the garden gate made the lad look even more guilty than before as Connor casually turned around to check they were fully out of sight of the road. Before the lad knew it he was on his back and his handful of mail was strewn across the grass.
“Listen I’m not going to hurt you but I need to know who gave you that card to deliver”
“Ok! Ok! An oldish guy gave it to me. He paid me twenty pounds to put it through your door”
“What did he look like?”
“He had glasses.......a beard.....no more like stubble.....yeah grey stubble”
“Is he watching us now?”
“No I watched him walk down the road and disappear around the corner”
Connor realised this meant nothing. They could still be being watched so Connor helped the lad to his feet.
“Did he sound like he was from here?”
The lad was shaking with fear but could also tell Connor would not be happy unless he told him everything.
“Yes he sounded like he was from this area”
“He had no accent”
“No.....no accent....local......yeah local”
Connor left the young lad to pick up the mail as he returned to his apartment, carefully glancing up to see if he was being watched. On entering the room he made his way to the window carefully
studying the street but all seemed normal. Connor studied the card again and took a deep breath. Frustration took hold as the realisation of how close he had let someone get to him. If they could get that close to him it seemed they could easily get close to the people Connor wanted to punish. Had this person already warned his victims, if he hasn’t, will he? The only thing on Connor’s side was that he now had a vague description of the person he would be meeting on Thursday. More significantly it was the Thursday before the big party at Hugh and Sarah’s house which would be the beginning of the end.
Connor remained determined that nothing would now stop the self-proclaimed avenging angel in his work, an angel sent by Lucifer himself.
Connor entered the shower and turned the hot water up to as hot as he could take it, the room instantly filling with steam. This shower would be a quick one as he had an appointment with a certain doctor.
Chapter 12
The receptionist was busy as Connor entered his details into the touch screen computer at the reception desk. It told him to take his seat upstairs in the waiting room which he did. There were four or five people waiting and glancing at the neon sign that beeped and told patients which room to go into when called. Connor looked at his watch and knew any minute now he would be called into room 4, Dr Carr’s room.
Opposite him was a young boy who looked about three years of age. His mother was telling him not to stare at Connor who was now smiling back at him. The young boy kept looking away then glancing back towards Connor mischievously. Connor frowned at him then the boy frowned back. Connor smiled then the boy smiled back. Connor winked and the boy was unsure of what to do. He watched Connor wink again but remained confused. On Connor’s third wink the boy copied him but blinked instead of winked, Connor now realising he obviously was unsure of how to wink with one eye. The rosy red cheeks and the fluffy blond hair of the boy reminded Connor of when he was that age. The pictures he had seen in his grandfathers’ house of himself at that age forced a sad expression onto his face and the boy copied by frowning again.
Emotion had to be put to one side as the bleep alerted the room that another patient was being called. Connor looked up to see a Roger O’Connell being told to go to room 4. He gave another wink at the boy, stood up and made his way to room 4, turned the handle and entered.
“Hello there how can I help?” said Dr Carr as Connor entered the consultation room.
“Hi Dr Carr I’ve come for my pictures”
The room went silent for a couple of seconds until Dr Carr walked from around his desk. On reaching Connor the doctor held out his hand and Connor did the same. He was of a similar build to Connor, lean and fit with short neatly shaved hair with sun tanned skin. His piercing blue eyes lit up when he smiled and they shook hands.
“Connor how are you?”
“I’m fine, how are you?” he replied as they both hugged each other.
“I will be so glad when this is over Connor so we can go out for a drink and not have to play this charade”
“I know my friend it will not be long now. Have you got the pictures?”
“Yes it’s all sorted. Sit down”
Dr Carr pointed to the chair next to his desk as Connor sat down and watched as Carr locked the door so no one could enter unannounced.
“I know Rachel Stewart is not in today but I would rather play it safe” said Carr as he too sat down in his chair at his desk and opened his brief case.
Connor watched as he pulled out a disk in a clear plastic envelope and placed it on the desk.
“I will leave it up to you whether you want to use the video or the still pictures. Either way they are all on there”
Connor picked up the disk and placed it in his jacket pocket.
“A video, Christ Pete you are thorough. Enjoy yourself did we?”
“Well you know me Connor. I also want what you want and that is justice for your father and your family. As for enjoyment I suppose It could have been worse”
Connor smiled at Pete’s comments.
“Justice or revenge?”
Pete looked at Connor with a stern face filled with emotion.
“Both”
“I am grateful for your assistance in this” nodded Connor in appreciation.
“Yeah but like I say I will be glad when we can be good friends again and not have to hide away”
Again Connor nodded because he too missed the friendship they once had with each other when they were both growing up in Much Marcle, even though they were at a very young age. Pete Carr would often stop over at the Chevaal’s house after they had made friends with each other at their local playgroup then school. They would play football together and ride their bikes together in and around the village and Pete was shell shocked when he found out about that fateful night. All of a sudden his best friend had disappeared off the face of the earth and the house he had so often played at with Connor was all but destro
yed with Connor’s family slaughtered inside.
Years went by before they saw anything of each other and when they did Connor was shocked at the situation Pete was in.
*
April 2005.
It was during one of Connor’s first visits back into the UK that he happened to bump into Pete Carr by chance. It was whilst he was watching Rachel Stewart from a distance he spotted Pete walking down the street. Even though they had only been kids when they last see each other Connor knew it was him and gasped at the sight of him. Dressed in scruffy clothes, a ripped coat and trainers barely on his feet he was carrying a rucksack on his back that looked like it had all his worldly possessions in it. Connor approached cautiously not knowing how Pete would react at seeing him.
“Excuse me have you got the time?” asked Connor politely.
“Time for what” replied a solemn Pete.
“Time for a coffee with an old friend”
At that Pete looked at the person stood in front of him, his expression changing slowly as he tried to recognise who it was. Just as Pete started to walk away from the stranger he stopped and turned around to take another look.
“Connor Chevaal............it is you isn’t it?” asked Pete, his lip trembling at the thought of Connor seeing him like this.
Connor could smell Pete from where he was standing and guessed he had not washed for a while but he did not care. Pete also knew this because he too was hesitant in shaking Connor’s hand. Connor was having none of it though and grabbed him by the hand and put his arm around his shoulder. Pete was another reminder of the past, a connection to Connors family and Connor felt his emotions trying to overwhelm him.
“Come on let me take you back to mine and we’ll have some lunch”
“I’m ok Connor you don’t have to feel sorry for me” said Pete as he backed away from him.
“Who said anything about feeling sorry for you? Can’t an old friend make you lunch and a cup of tea”
Pete’s expression was filled with anger and despair but he also looked hungry and Connor tried not to seem sympathetic towards him. After a standoff of a few seconds Pete finally gave in and agreed to go back to Connor’s place for something to eat.
They both walked amongst uncomfortable silences, towards where Connor had parked his car. Small talk was made until in no time at all they were pulling up outside Connor’s apartment. Pete it seemed was remaining strong but as soon as they went inside he broke down and threw himself at Connor with a look of despair on his face.
“I can’t believe what’s happened to me Connor......look at me I’m in a right fucking state......” bawled Pete as Connor reassured him as best he could. Connor would wait until he had let it all out before interrogating him on why he looked like he did.
A few minutes went by before Pete gathered himself and Connor had made him a sandwich and a cup of tea. He was thin and gaunt and his black hair was long and curly where he had not looked after himself. Once he had settled and eaten Connor took control and became the figure of authority and told Pete what he was going to do.
“Right first you are going to get out of those clothes and have yourself a nice long shower. Then we will sit down and chat about what you have been up to”
Pete nodded but remained silent. Connor showed him where the bathroom was and as he disappeared inside and closed the door Connor found out some clothes for Pete to wear when he came out. As he showered Pete became humbled once again as to the fact Connor had not even questioned or judged him and without hesitating, offered him help.
Connor sat at his desk in the window and carried on with what he would have been doing if he had not bumped into his old friend and it was an hour later Pete appeared looking a totally different person to the one that had gone into the bathroom. He no longer had stubble and a mop of scruffy
black curly hair. He was cleanly shaven with his hair neatly combed and looked refreshed and more awake. Connor looked up from the desk as Pete sat down on the sofa.
“Feeling better are we?”
“Oh god yes thanks a lot Connor”
Connor stopped what he was doing and asked if Pete wanted another cup of tea.
“Oh yes please is that ok?”
“So what have you been up to?” asked Connor as he made his way to the kitchen.
“Do you not want to know why I’m in such a state?”
Connor just shook his head and looked back in Pete’s direction.
“I am sure you will tell me when you are ready to tell me. If that is now then that’s fair enough”
Connor returned to the room with the tea and sat down opposite Pete who was now rubbing his forehead nervously, his face creasing up with emotion once again.
“Are you ok?” asked Connor
“Yeah I’m fine it’s just seeing you brings back a lot of memories..........of a different life I suppose”
Pete seemed to pull himself together and focus on wanting to tell Connor everything.
“What are you up to now Connor and what have you been doing for the past hundred years or so?”
“It certainly feels like a hundred years” laughed Connor.
Connor told him about moving over to France with his grandparents so as to be kept away from the media and other people who wished to poke their noses. Connor refrained from telling him too much information because at the end of the day although Pete was an old friend Connor had no idea the state of his mind and what he might do if he found out about Connor’s plans. At the moment he seemed a desperate man and god only knows what a desperate man would do to get himself back on his feet.
“I still remember the day after the fire” said Pete now staring at the floor in a sort of daze.
“You remember where we used to live in Much Marcle don’t you. Drive down the lane from your house for about a mile then it was the first turning on the left. It was the second house on the right”
Connor nodded and smiled as Pete seemed to be opening up to him.
“I remember asking my mum what the smoke was and she didn’t know, or at least that is what she told me. In hindsight I think she knew it was your house though because she ran to the lounge and dialled 999. Being a kid I thought nothing of it and was only interested in the fire engines and police cars that were screaming down the lane. That was until the next morning when you should have been coming round to mine to play and you never tuned up. I was so annoyed and pissed off with
you and thought you had found some other friends to play with. That night my mum seemed upset but she was trying not to let me see she was. I went to bed curious, especially when I heard my dad talking to his friends quite loud in the garden and my mum telling him off because I might be able to hear their conversation”
Connor was now sat with his chin resting on his fist intrigued by what Pete was telling him. He had never heard this side of the story before and was interested in what he thought of what happened through the media. Connor sat listening intently.
“As soon as they had disappeared inside I crept downstairs and listened carefully at the door. It seemed strangely quiet as the noise of the TV blared out and it sounded like all the adults in the room were listening and watching whatever was on the screen. With the TV so far away to be able to understand what was on it I crept through the door and could see it better than I could hear it. I remember calling out your name as I walked towards the lounge where the adults were gathered around as your picture appeared on the TV. The scene then appeared of your house on fire with a family picture of your mum, dad and sister, as my mum attempted to take me out of the room so I would not see the horror but it was too late. I realised then that the smoke I had seen was from your house. I lay in shock that night wondering why such a thing had happened and it took a few days before my mum told me what had happened. The only reason she did was because I would have found out at school a few weeks later. I had to listen to all the speculation from other kids and even teachers of what had happened. I remember crying for days. Afte
r that I never saw you again until about two hours ago”
Pete was now shaking his head as it was Connor’s turn to stare at the window. He could also sense that Pete perhaps wanted to ask if his father had really done what had been reported but guessed he was being tactful in his approach and had too much respect for Connor’s privacy to assume something that may not be true. Connor did not dwell on it for too long and told Pete he would tell him everything when the time was right to which Pete nodded in agreement.
“So what have you been up to since then?” asked Connor with a tone of concern in his voice.
LUCIFER'S ANGEL Page 10