Followed

by Cara Alexander

  The police officer yells at Martin to move away then pokes his head close to mine. ‘What about him, can't you stay at his place?’

  I remember Mum saying Martin had some friends from France staying with him so shake my head. He shrugs, the ambulance doors slam shut.

  At the hospital, Jamie's wheeled into the Accident and Emergency room. A nurse says a doctor is on her way, then leaves.

  As soon as she’s out of earshot Jamie grabs my arm. ‘I don't want to stay here, Mum,’ he hisses. His face is black from the smoke and he's shivering. ‘Can we go home?’

  ‘Don't worry, I'll be with you, they have to check you, make sure you're alright.’

  Ten minutes later a doctor arrives to examines him.

  ‘He's suffering from smoke inhalation,’ she says. ‘It's not serious but I'm keeping him in for the night. We'll see how he is in the morning.’

  Jamie's wheeled into a ward and within minutes of being tucked into bed he's fast asleep. I sit propped up in a chair beside his bed deep in thought. I eventually drop off for a few minutes but I’m soon wide awake. I sit listening to the sounds of the hospital, I still can’t believe what happened. Who would do such a thing and why? We don’t know anyone here. Things were bad in Athens, I thought we’d be safe here but maybe we’re not. First someone tries to rape me, then our house is set on fire. I sit staring into space what the hell am I going to do?

  ‘Cup of tea love?’

  Tears spring to my eyes. ‘Thank you Nurse, I’d love one.’

  She puts her arm around my shoulder and looks at Jamie lying peacefully in the bed. ‘Don’t worry, he’ll be out of here tomorrow, things always seem worse at night.’

  3

  A few days later

  Evesly, Cotswolds

  Wiley and Jonas work in a factory near Evesly; on their days off, they go to pubs to catch their prey. Sometimes they take trips on the local train, or travel from London to Oxford and then onto Evesly, it all depends on how they feel. The women always travel alone. They watch then follow them. They often get lucky. Their victims are usually young and too scared to go to the police, they know what will happen if they do.

  Wiley frowns, screws up his watery pale blue eyes and touches his sore face.

  After it happened, he'd watched her go back to the train station in Evesly. He couldn’t follow her the state he was in, so he called Jonas, told him to get a cab to Evesly station and follow her. He told him what she looked like, it was easy. He smiles thinking of what he did to her, then he scowls and touches his face. She’ll suffer for this. He picks up the local newspaper to check the racing results. A smirk suddenly appears on his face.

  LOCAL WOMAN ATTACKED IN FIELD

  He sits reading the article chortling to himself, but then he gets to the bit about the attacker's description. He re-reads the article and screams with rage. ‘She’s only gone and given the police my description.’

  Jonas laughs. ‘What ya gonna do?’

  Wiley walks around the room cursing her. ‘I’ll have to buy new clothes, make myself look different.’ He suddenly stops, looks at Jonas and screams. ‘The bitch, I’m going to kill her.’

  ‘Don't be a dickhead, I don't believe in killing. Do all the other stuff but not murder.’ A sly smile spreads over his face and he licks his lips. ‘Don't worry - you'll get her back in other ways, she's one of those women...’

  ‘You're the dickhead,’ snarls Wiley, tearing the page from the paper and screwing it into a ball. He thumps his fist so hard on the table his coffee cup falls over. His face is contorted in rage as he throws the newspaper over the coffee to soak it up. ‘Bitch - fucking bitch – this time I'll shut her up!’

  Suddenly he catches sight of his reflection in the living room mirror and hurls an ashtray at it. Then glaring at Jonas, he runs to the front door, wrenches it open and storms out. His face is red and blotchy, his blood pressure high.

  ‘Where're ya going?’ Jonas shouts, taking his eyes off the TV screen to watch him.

  Wiley strides off, slamming the door behind him, Jonas goes back to watching TV.

  Sometime later, Wiley returns with bags of shopping. He disappears into the bathroom and an hour later emerges.

  ‘What d'ya think?’ he asks, parading in front of Jonas. His long greasy limp brown hair is now platinum blond.

  ‘What the fuck...’ Jonas eyes him up and down, then sniggers. ‘You look like a woman. The blokes at work will think you've lost it.’

  Wiley grabs Jonas's packet of weed, runs to the toilet and empties it down the toilet. ‘Now who's laughing, wanker!’

  Jonas sits looking stunned, Wiley returns to the bathroom.

  Ten minutes later he comes out and saunters over to Jonas.

  ‘I look good, don't I?’

  His limp long blond hair has been replaced with small gelled blond spikes all over his head. Jonas takes one look at him and runs from the living room into the bathroom, laughing and clutching his pants.

  Wiley just ignores him and grabs his new clothes, off come the faded blue low waist jeans and on come the tight skinny leather trousers. A slow smile spreads over his pockmarked face as he surveys himself in the smashed mirror.

  ‘She thinks she's so clever,’ he mutters, narrowing his cold watery blue eyes. ‘She won't feel so clever when she gets what's coming to her.’

  4

  Oxford Hospital

  7.43am next morning

  It's early morning and already the hospital's a hive of activity. After eating a bowl of cereal, a slice of toast and drinking two glasses of orange juice, Jamie looks and feels a lot better than he did last night. I'm stacking the empties onto a tray at the end of his bed when a young dark-haired police officer appears in the ward. After talking to one of the nurses for a couple of minutes she walks over to me.

  ‘Mrs Papadakis, I'm PC Hamilton, we need to talk.’ She looks at Jamie, then back at me. ‘Don't worry, he'll be alright, I've asked one of the nurses to come and stay with him.’

  Just then a nurse comes over and starts puffing up his pillows. ‘Let's get you ready for the doctor, see if you can go home today, you'd like that wouldn't you?’

  Jamie's eyes light up at the sound of going home - the nurse smiles and takes his temperature.

  I give him a wave then follow the PC into a small room outside the ward. She sits down at a desk and points to a chair opposite.

  ‘Do you have any news, about the fire?’ I ask, sitting down and watching as she flicks through her phone.

  ‘Sorry but I'm here to discuss alternative accommodation.’

  ‘But surely you can...’

  ‘You'll have to ask at the station about the fire,’ she replies, briskly. ‘Now is there someone you can stay with for a couple of days?’

  ‘No, we've only been here a few days, my mother's on holiday - I know the living room's a mess, but I don't think the fire reached the upstairs bedrooms.’

  ‘Well, we have to make sure it's safe before you can return, forensics might still be there, I don't know if they've finished checking it.’

  ‘Can you find out, please?’

  She nods and speaks to one of her colleagues.

  ‘Well, you’re in luck,’ she exclaims. ‘It often looks worse than it is. The kitchen and top floors of the house are okay. Forensics have finished so you can go back if you like.’ She pockets her phone then hands me a card. ‘Give me a call if you need anything.’

  She stands up as if to go then turns and looks at me. ‘I believe you are due to make an official statement at the station tomorrow?’ I nod and slip the card into my trouser pocket. ‘If you have any concerns you can discuss them with the detective in charge of the case, I think it’s Detective Chief Inspector Thomas.’

  I thank her for her help, she leaves, I return to the ward. Still no doctor so I go in search of a strong cup of coffee and a chocolate bar for Jamie. When I return the doctor's there.

  She turns and smiles at me. ‘Your son can go home today.’<
br />
  Jamie is over the moon, I call a cab.

  On the way home he’s very quiet, probably thinking of what happened last night. We can’t stay at Mum’s, I'll look for somewhere to stay, maybe a hotel for a few nights? But what if it takes longer to fix? Then I think of Mum's lovely living room. Is she insured?

  Suddenly the taxi screeches to a halt, Jamie leaps out and runs to the house whilst I search for some change to pay the driver.

  ‘Mum,’ Jamie yells, running back to the cab looking flustered. ‘There's a policeman in our garden.’

  I follow his gaze - a young police officer is watching us.

  The taxi driver raises an eyebrow, gives me a knowing wink then drives off.

  ‘What the hell is he doing here?’ I groan. ‘I thought they'd gone.’

  ‘Is anything wrong?’ I ask, walking over to the officer.

  ‘It's orders. I thought you knew. There's an officer at the back as well.’

  I'm speechless. I wouldn't have thought they'd have the budget for even one officer, let alone two.

  Jamie follows me into the house, we pass the blackened door of the living room; I'll look at it later, when Jamie's in bed.

  We walk into the kitchen; Jamie looks out of the kitchen window then at me.

  ‘Why are they here, Mum?’

  ‘I'm not sure, but they won't be here for long.’ I’m amazed that they're here, I nearly add, but don’t. He looks very glum, so I quickly add, ‘At least we still have the garden.’

  He stares at the young officer at the end of the back garden. ‘But we can't sit in the garden with him over there, can we?’

  ‘Don't worry, I'll sort something out. Now let's have some orange juice.’

  He stands frowning, then looks over to the living room door. ‘Do you think it'll happen again?’

  ‘No, of course not, the police will soon find out what happened.’

  ‘But I saw it,’ he says, looking surprised. ‘It came through the window, someone threw it.’

  Even though I had a feeling it wasn’t faulty electrics I still feel shocked. I wish he’d said something earlier, but then again why should he, he probably thinks we know what happened.

  ‘It was probably a couple of kids larking about and their homemade fire-bomb ended up in our living room.’

  He gives me one of his looks, as if to say – you must be joking. It’s times like this he reminds me of his dad, he’s only eleven years old - well nearly twelve, he looks young for his age.

  ‘Don't worry,’ I say, giving him a hug. ’The police will soon find out who did it.’

  He’s just about to say something when there’s a pitiful meow coming from the back door. Jamie looks at me in alarm then rushes to open it.

  ‘Poor little Tab,’ he croons, scooping Tabitha up into his arms. ‘We forgot all about you, are you hungry?’

  Tabitha meows and nuzzles her head against him.

  ‘I know, I'll feed Tabitha,’ I say quickly, glad of the distraction. ‘You have a shower, and then I’ll have one.’

  ‘We're not staying here, Mum, are we?’ he groans.

  ‘Of course not, we’ll shower then go and get something to eat.’

  His face brightens up. ‘Can we go to McDonald’s?’

  I laugh. ‘Of course.’

  ‘And can I get some new jeans?'

  ‘Yes, now go and have a shower.’

  ‘Yay.’ He runs upstairs, I feed Tabitha.

  When we leave, Tabitha's watching us from the bedroom window, probably hoping we won't forget to come back and feed her.

  I suddenly shiver and look back at the house. It could have been much worse. Who would do such a terrible thing?

  5

  Next morning

  I'm sitting in the garden thinking about Mum, I still haven't told her what happened, I don’t want to ruin her holiday but… I pick up my phone.

  ‘Hi Mum, how are you?’

  ‘Beth, what a surprise, I’m fine how are you?’

  ‘Listen Mum, I've got something to tell you.’ She doesn’t say anything, so I continue. ‘There’s been a fire at the house, but it’s okay now.’

  ‘A fire, what sort of fire?’

  ‘The living room’s a bit of a mess, but the rest of the house is okay.’

  ‘But how did it start?’

  So, I tell her, just as much as I need to.

  ‘Are you alright?’ she gasps.

  ‘Yes, yes, don't worry Mum, we're both okay. I'm sure the police will sort it out soon.’

  She pauses for a few minutes. ‘Okay, I'll book a flight. I'll be home tonight.’

  I knew she’d say this. ‘No, finish your holiday, I'll get the living room cleaned up.’ Then I remember the insurance. ‘Mum, are you insured?’

  ‘I have house insurance, but I'm not sure if this is covered, I'll have to find out.’

  ‘Can I help?’

  ‘No, I'll call them, you go online and get some tickets to Palma, let me know when you're arriving, I'll be at the airport to meet you.’

  Of course, she's right, how can Jamie stay here. ‘Okay, but I'm staying here, I'll clean up the living room, get some new furniture...’

  ‘Are you crazy, Beth? What are you going to do? Let the police deal with it.’

  ‘I need to find a job, Mum. I'll stay here, get this place sorted, and don't forget Tabitha, someone's got to look after her.’

  She's silent for a minute. ‘Do you remember Nick?’

  Now it's my turn to be surprised. ‘What has he got to do with it? I haven't seen him since we were at school in Evesly.’

  ‘Give him a call, tell him what happened.’

  Then she mutters something I don’t quite catch.

  ‘What did you say, Mum?’

  ‘I said if he doesn’t know already. Now promise me you'll call him.’

  ‘But I haven't seen him for years,’ I groan. ‘How on earth can he help?’ I know word gets around quickly in Evesly, it always does in these small Cotswold villages, and it’s not as if Nick and I were close at school.

  ‘He can help Beth - you must give him a call; he still lives in Evesly.’

  ‘Yes, okay, I'll call him, now I must go, I have to let Jamie's school know what’s happened.’ Schools hate parents taking kids out during term time, in fact the government passed a law in the UK banning it, but this is different, he's not going on holiday to have fun.

  ‘Okay, let me know when his flight is and tell him not to worry.’

  After saying goodbye to Mum, I key in the number of the school, I’m put through to the head-teacher and I was right, she isn't pleased.

  ‘But he's only been here two days!’

  ‘Yes, I know, but this is an emergency, you can check with the police.’ I feel terrible doing this, we were lucky to get him in at the last minute. She's not happy but finally agrees.

  ‘Alright, but don't make it too long, keep me up to date with what's happening.’

  ‘Yes, of course, as soon as I know I'll call you.’

  I check on-line for flights then realize I must check about children flying alone. Iberia the Spanish airline, say the child must be twelve years old to fly alone, he’ll be twelve this month, but he’s still eleven.

  I do a search on google - it says an Escort service can be requested for minors at the same time as the booking, I have 24 hours to do this. Then there’s a list of things I must do - I quickly read through them then check for flights.

  There’s one leaving tomorrow at 11.45 – I’ve just enough time. A few minutes later I’ve booked the flight and completed the form. Now to tell Jamie.

  ‘I heard you talking in the garden,’ he growls, peering at me over the top of his duvet.

  His bedroom window is slightly ajar, I always check the windows, I'm sure it was closed when we went to bed. I go over to the bed, puff up his duvet and casually ask. ‘Did you open the window last night?’

  ‘No, I don't think so, I don't remember, maybe I did, it was hot last nig
ht.’

  I can see him watching me. He has that worried look on his face. I sit down on the bed next to him and ruffle his hair. ‘Cheer up! I just spoke to your head teacher, she said it's alright for you to have a few days off - you're going to stay with Nan in Spain, she said its lovely, you can...’

  ‘But I want you to come with me. You can't stay here on your own.’

  I hug him tight. ‘I want to come, but I can't, I have to stay here and sort things out.’

  He snorts and buries his head in the duvet.

  I draw in a deep breath. ‘The flight crew will look after you,’ I say, trying to sound happy, ‘There’s no need to worry, I’ve sorted it all out.’ I don’t want him to go alone but what can I do?

  He covers himself with the duvet. ‘If I have to go anywhere, I'd rather go to Athens.’

  ‘Look, I know it's difficult, you miss your friends, but Nan will take you to the beach every day, you can go swimming, play football.’

  He sits up in bed, props his face in his hands and looks at me. ‘Okay, but I'm not going back to that school.’

  ‘We'll talk about that later. Now have a quick shower and I'll make breakfast.’

  When he's safely in the shower, I run downstairs to call Helen. No reply.

  A few minutes later Jamie slides down the stairs wearing his new jeans.

  ‘What shall we do after breakfast,’ I ask, pouring him a juice.

  He sits thinking for a minute, then his eyes light up. ‘What about a Harry Potter tour? We can see Hogwarts. Let's go there?’

  ‘Okay, let’s have breakfast first, then we'll go.’

  ‘Yay, cool!’ he exclaims, his face beaming. ‘What's for breakfast?’

  I sigh with relief. We'll have a good time today, tomorrow he'll go to Spain, then I’ll contact the police.

  6

  Jamie Goes to Spain

  The drive to the airport is usually a happy event but today we're both quiet. I'm worried, it's his first time flying alone, he says he's looking forward to the flight but I'm not so sure.