Followed

by Cara Alexander

  He slams on the breaks. ‘Sorry.’

  He's driving much slower now. He's taking the long way round to his house, probably to avoid going near Helen's house. Suddenly, he starts driving fast again, what's wrong with him? Then he slows down and pulls up outside a very large house.

  ‘This is it, stay here, I won't be a minute.’

  He slides out of the car and hurries over to where two-armed police officers are standing. He talks to them then beckons to us to go inside.

  I don't know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t this. Snow white carpets, an expensive looking chandelier towering above us, and the living room - well it's huge, with large French windows leading onto a garden. Two long red sofas and four deep, comfortable looking armchairs set around a large open fireplace – it's lovely.

  He switches on a couple of table lights giving it a cosy feel, then gestures for us to sit down. ‘Make yourselves at home, drinks are over there in the cabinet, I'll be back in a minute.’

  I can feel Helen watching me. ‘I'm booking you a ticket,’ she says, leaning over and giving me a reassuring hug. ‘You're coming back to Athens with me for a while.’

  A few minutes later Nick comes back, he walks over to the drinks cabinet. ‘What would you like?’ he asks, looking from Helen to me.

  In the refrigerated area are bottles of wine, champagne, beer and soft drinks.

  ‘White wine for me,’ Helen says.

  ‘Sauvignon Blanc if you've got it,’ I say.

  He nods and opens a bottle. ‘I'm heating some food, it won't take long, and yes Beth, it is veggie.’

  He hands us our drinks. ’This is a nice wine, I like it a lot, tell me what you think.’

  I sit swilling the wine around in the glass then take a sip. It’s really very good. I can see him watching me and smile. ‘It’s one of the best I've tasted, Nick.’ I can tell that's pleased him, his face softens, he looks happy for a change. He's a weird guy, sometimes I really like him, other times he makes me nervous, he's very intense, maybe if he relaxed a bit?

  He turns and takes out a beer. ‘I'll make up some beds in a minute, then you can get some rest.’

  ‘Don't worry, Nick, we can make the beds later.’ I’m not hungry either, but I don't say that. Under normal circumstances I might enjoy this but I'm too on edge, I can't stop thinking about those men and what they did to me. I sip my wine, Helen starts talking about the old times.

  ‘You used to live with your parents, in the village, Nick, didn't you?’

  He laughs. ‘That was a long time ago, they live up North now. I was married for a while then after the divorce I sold the house and came here, the other house was too large for just me.’

  Now he has surprised me, houses in the Cotswold don't come cheap, if this is smaller than his first house, the other house must have cost him a fortune.

  Helen goes with Nick into the kitchen, I follow. Just like the rest of the house, the kitchen is huge with granite work surfaces and the latest high-end equipment. The microwave pings, Nick grabs some bowls and begins scooping piping hot lasagne into them. I usually love the stuff, but not now, the thought of eating makes me want to puke.

  I turn and walk back into the living room. ‘I'm not hungry Nick, maybe later.’

  He follows with the bowls of food. ‘I won't be offended if you leave it, just try to eat something, it will do you good.’

  I try but I can't swallow. I keep shoving bits of pasta around the plate with my fork pretending I'm eating, then to my relief, Nick's phone rings.

  ‘Sorry, I have to take this. I'll be back in a minute.’

  Helen stacks up the bowls with my leftover lasagne on top and carries them into the kitchen, I'm told to stay in the living room and rest, she’ll wash the dishes.

  I sit thinking about what Nick said, this has happened before, so…

  Suddenly the water’s turned off, the sound of washing up coming from the kitchen dies down, I hear Helen talking very quietly to Nick, I try to catch what they're saying but the door is closed.

  A couple of minutes later, Nick comes in with a tray of coffee and chocolate biscuits.

  Helen sits on the sofa opposite me and starts flicking through her iPad. ‘There's a flight leaving at 11.30 tomorrow with Aegean Airways,’ she says, peering at me over her iPad as if waiting for a reply.

  What does she want me to say? She knows I'm not going; I lean forward and take the coffee Nick hands me.

  ‘She's right.’ He gives me one of his serious looks and stands looking at me with his soft brown eyes. ‘Go back with Helen, your Mum and Jamie can join you later.’

  I groan and roll my eyes. ‘Not this again, how many times do I have to tell you.’

  Nick leaps to his feet and stands staring at me. ‘And what exactly are you going to do here, Beth?’

  ‘I'm going to find the bastards who did this.’

  He turns and looks out of the window then swings round and glares at me. ‘Why are you being so stubborn, think of your son, he needs a mother, not a corpse.’

  I can't believe he just said that. ‘That's why I'm not going to Athens I'm thinking of them; these monsters have to be stopped. If you lot got your act together...’

  His face is ashen, I can tell he's trying to control himself; he looks over to Helen for support, she just rolls her eyes and looks away. He comes over and squats down in front of me.

  ‘Okay, stay here with me, at least then I'll know you're safe.’

  ‘No Nick, I can't stay here, I'm staying at Mum's house, and if you don't like it...’

  He grabs my hands. ‘What do I have to do? I'm only trying to help, if you won't stay here, I'll come and stay with you.’

  Shit. I didn't think of that. Then a thought comes to me. This could work to my advantage.

  Helen sighs, puts down her iPad and sits next to me. ‘Beth, you know what I think, but it's up to you.’

  I sit thinking of what Nick said. If he stays with me, he can have Jamie's room, it's not very large, but there's a double bed and most of the time he'll be at work, he won't be any trouble, and it won't be for long, just a couple of days at the most.

  ‘Okay, but if you stay with me Nick, you must let me help, I want them caught.’

  He's looking at me with a weird smile on his face, sometimes I wonder what he's really thinking.

  ‘Okay. I'll pack a few things and leave them at your place when I drop you off in the morning.’

  When he's gone Helen turns to me. ‘Beth, I have four bedrooms, there's enough room for all of us. Jamie can go back to his old school. You know your Mum loves Athens so do you.’

  ‘Helen, I would love to but that won't solve anything, will it?’

  ‘I think it will. At least you'll be safe. I don't want to leave you here, for God's sake Beth, it's not safe.’

  ‘Don't worry Helen, I'll be alright, I have the police guarding me and Nick.’

  ‘Yes, but for how long?’

  At that moment Nick comes back into the room, he gives me a strange look.

  ‘It's getting late, why don't we all go to bed. We can talk about this again in the morning.’

  I look at him in surprise. ‘But Nick, we just decided that you were going to stay with me.’

  He shrugs. ‘I just thought it would give us time to think. Anyway, if you need anything, give me a shout, I'm a light sleeper.’

  ‘I don't have to think about anything, my mind's made up.’

  He sighs, shrugs his shoulders as if to say, you win, then goes to bed.

  Half an hour later, after dozing on the couch, Helen and I go to our room. The beds are made, we undress quickly and lie down.

  ‘Wow, the bed’s very comfortable,’ I say, snuggling under the crisp white duvet. ‘What do you think Helen?’

  She laughs. ‘Let’s say it won’t take me long to sleep tonight. Night Beth.’

  It feels strange to be in Nick's house, Helen soon falls fast asleep and even though I'm shattered, sleep evades
me. I'm just dropping off when I'm sure I hear a car pull up outside. I lay there trying to listen, but I'm so tired, my eyes keep closing...

  14

  NICK

  It’s strange waking up in Nick's house, Helen's still asleep so I crawl out of bed, creep over to the window and peer out. Our bedroom is in the front of the house and I can see the two police officers who were there last night, then I remember the car I heard, I wonder who it was?

  I tiptoe to the en-suite bathroom so as not to disturb Helen and have a quick shower. Everything in this house is top notch, the beds, the bathroom even the tiny chocolates Nick placed on the pillows last night were a nice touch.

  ‘Is that you, Beth?’ Helen calls from the bedroom.

  ‘Yes, I'm just having a quick shower, we don’t have long, Nick's dropping us off first, then he's going to work.’

  I wrap the luxurious white bathrobe around me and pad into our bedroom, enjoying the luxury of the deep piled carpet.

  Helen crawls out of bed, staggers over to the bathroom rubbing her eyes. ‘I couldn't keep my eyes open last night it must have been all that brandy and wine, now I'm dying for a coffee.’

  ‘I'll get dressed quickly, go downstairs and see if Nick's around.’

  A couple of minutes later I’m downstairs heading for the kitchen.

  Nick looks up as I open the door. He’s drinking coffee and looks just like he always does, I don’t know how he does it. I on the other hand feel like crap and probably look it.

  ‘Did you sleep well?’ he asks, sipping his coffee.

  ‘Yes thanks, the bed was very comfortable.’

  He smiles and pours me a coffee. ‘There's juice in the fridge and toast keeping warm under the grill. I'm just going to put my things in the car so be quick, we must get going soon.’

  After breakfast Nick drops us off at Mum's then drives to work.

  Helen switches on the kettle then goes into the garden. ‘Well, at least we've got the garden, it could be worse.’

  I remember saying those very same words to Jamie when we returned from the hospital, it seems so long ago, but it’s only a couple of days.

  ‘I'll get Nick's room ready,’ I call, heading for the stairs. ‘And give Mum a quick call.’

  ‘Do you want something to eat?’ she asks, coming in from the garden.

  ‘No, but I’d love a coffee.’

  Once I’ve changed the bed linen, I leave the window slightly ajar for fresh air, then call Mum.

  As soon as she answers I can tell something's wrong. ‘What is it Mum? Is Jamie okay? Are you alright?’

  She seems hesitant to say anything but then it all comes spilling out.

  ‘Oh Beth, I didn't want to worry you but I think I must. Jamie's not very happy, he's trying to put on a brave face, but he's worried about school, he doesn't want to go back to Oxford, he wants to go to Athens with you.’

  ‘Mum, he hasn't really given it a chance, has he? He's only been there a couple of days.’

  ‘But he misses his friends and the life he had in Athens.’

  ‘I discussed it with him,’ I reply, indignantly. ‘He thought it would be great, he couldn't wait to get on the plane. I know he's not really fitting in, but he must give it a chance, once he makes friends, he'll be alright. Anyway, all the schools are full, you should know, don't you remember how difficult it was to get him in here?’

  ‘Yes, I know, but he really hates the school.’

  ‘Mum, please don't worry, I'll talk to Jamie, we'll sort something out.’ I have no idea what, but what else can I say? ‘Oh, I nearly forgot, Helen's here, she's staying for a few days then going back to Athens.’ I know this will make her happy and it does, I can hear the relief in her voice.

  ‘That's good, I've been so worried thinking about you all by yourself, call me if you need anything, okay? Now I'll pass you to Jamie, he wants to talk to you.’

  ‘Mum, when are you coming to Spain? I thought you'd be here by now.’

  ‘Soon, I'm just trying to sort things out here. How are you? What have you been doing?’

  ‘You know I'm not going back to that school, don't you Mum?’

  I'm shocked at the desperation in his voice. ‘Don't worry, I'll sort something out.’ He doesn't say anything and hands me back to Mum. I can hear her telling him to get a drink for her from the fridge.

  ‘You see Beth,’ she whispers. ‘He's really worried, maybe you should go back to Athens.’

  I'm just about to say something when she changes the subject.

  ‘Oh, I forgot, I've transferred some money to your account, go and buy some new furniture, I’m not waiting for the insurance to pay up, we need it now.’

  ‘Okay Mum, any particular style or colour?’

  ‘You choose, now take care, I'll call you tomorrow, and say hello to Helen for me.’

  I hurry downstairs to the garden, Helen’s looking at her iPad with a worried look on her face. She sees me and points to the coffee. ‘Have some while it's hot, are you sure you’re not hungry?’

  ‘I had a piece of toast at Nicks.’

  She sits staring at her iPad. ‘Beth, I've been thinking, I know you want to stay here but if you come back with me, just for a few days, it will give you a chance to think more clearly.’

  Here we go. ‘Helen, I know you're trying to help but you know I have to stay here, Nick says they're doing all they can, but I'm not so sure.’

  She gives me a reproachful look. ‘So, ask him to get more people on the case?’

  She's right. Then I think of that awful place – what if they take more women there? Nick says it's a crime scene now, but who's to stop them? The police aren't there, all the time.

  ‘Just a minute Helen, I must call Nick.’ Maybe there's CCTV inside the shed? I quickly tap in his number, but it goes to voicemail, I leave a message for him to call me saying it's urgent.

  Helen's frowning. ‘Beth, you know I can't stay here any longer, Tula has another job, she's only filling in for me to make some extra cash. I'm booking a flight for the morning. We can get tickets for your Mum and Jamie, it will be like old times, imagine how happy Jamie will be.’

  I knew she'd try to make me go back with her, but this is getting ridiculous. ‘Helen, we both know I've got to stay, so let's not discuss it anymore, please.’

  She shrugs, goes back to looking at her iPad, I pick up the empty cups and go inside.

  I start washing up then suddenly feel bad. She's only trying to help. I'd probably do the same if this was happening to her. Leaning forward over the sink I open the window.

  ‘I know, let's go to the pub, we can have an early lunch?’

  She looks up, closes her iPad and comes inside. ‘Beth, you know we can't, anyway we don't need to, there's lots of food in the fridge.’

  ‘I'm beginning to feel like a caged animal - I can't stay in here.’

  She laughs. ‘I know, so come back to Athens with me.’

  I roll my eyes; will she never stop?

  ‘Okay, but if you want to stay here promise me, you'll stay inside, and if you have to go out, take Nick with you.’ She suddenly looks very serious. ‘You do realize it might take weeks to catch them, what will you do when your Mum comes back?’

  I look at her in desperation, hasn't she been listening to me? ‘That's why I'm so worried. Mum and Jamie can't come back here with those nutters on the loose. The police won't keep the officers guarding us for much longer, they can't afford it. I think Nick's behind them being here, I thought that from the start, it’s very good of him but for how long can they do it?’

  ‘I'm so worried, you've been through so much recently, what with Athens and now this.’

  I let out a groan. ‘What happened in Athens seems a lifetime ago.’ I shrug. ‘Why the hell does everything go wrong.’

  She comes over and hugs me. ‘I just can’t bear to think of you being here all by yourself.’

  I look at her sad face, she came all the way to see me, I feel so angry, so frustr
ated. Why haven’t the police caught them?

  ‘Are you alright, Beth?’

  ‘Of course, I was just thinking.’ I force myself to smile. ‘I know, let's make something nice to eat or shall I order something online?’

  She opens the fridge. ‘There's lots of cheese so we can make macaroni cheese, it's quick and easy and you used to love it.’

  ‘I still do, I love home-made food, but recently I haven't felt much like cooking.’

  ‘I know, I often eat salads and ready-made meals, it's not worth cooking just for one is it?’

  I look at her in surprise. ‘But you're not on your own, what about your Theo, he loves his home cooked meals?’

  She pulls a face, mumbles something about him always working and changes the subject.

  After we finish eating, Helen calls Tula about her flight, I go into the garden. A few minutes later there's a knock on the door, it's Nick.

  ‘Something smells good.’ He sniffs the air and goes straight to the kitchen, opens the oven door and peers inside. ‘Wow! I didn't know you could cook, Beth.’ Then he disappears upstairs, I go back into the garden.

  After he's eaten, he joins us in the garden.

  ‘Thanks Beth, it makes a change to have home-made food, it was delicious.’

  I laugh. He gives me one of his funny looks and plonks his laptop down beside me. I move up to give him some room and glance at him sideways. He's changed into lighter clothes and there's a hint of French cologne, I suddenly realize how good looking he is. I'm still watching him as he taps in his password and without meaning to, I see what it is, it's quite simple and wouldn't be difficult to hack. He seems oblivious, so I take a quick sip of wine and look away.

  Helen comes into the garden, she’s watching me with a smile on her face.

  ‘I'll get another bottle,’ I mumble, jumping up quickly. ‘Be back in a minute.’

  As soon as I'm in the kitchen, I jot down his password on the back of Mum's calendar. You never know, I might need it.

  Back in the garden, Helen gives me a knowing smile, I just ignore her and tell them about the new furniture I ordered. ‘Mum asked me to choose the colour, I hope its alright, it's being delivered tomorrow.’ Then I remember the state of the living room. ‘Oh no, the room, I’ll have to clear it out.’