by S G Read
The children woke and had breakfast. Not hurriedly, just a leisurely breakfast which made Wendy think that everything was fine. Then they discussed what they should do today and decided to go for a walk in the sunshine.
'Do you want to come with us mum?' Stuart added as a final sweetener.
'No thank you Stuart, I have to go and see one of my friends today about a coffee morning to raise funds for the village hall.' Wendy replied and ruffled his hair. 'You will be careful today, won’t you?'
'Yes mum we’ll be careful.'
They walked off down the road, turned left and headed for the turning which lead up to Gordon Hall. They were walking away from the road Stuart’s house was in when Wendy tooted them as she turned toward the main road.
'No point in going back home then.' Stuart said watching her drive away.
'Too far to run for me anyway.' Jenny replied. 'But I should reach the phone box if necessary.'
'It won’t be necessary.' Stevey assured her. 'With you watching and using this.' He produced a baby minder. 'This was Stuart’s once but it goes quite a way. I stuck it by the telly and walked up the garden, it was still as clear as a bell then.'
'How does it work?' Jenny asked.
'You switch it to listen and we can hear you but we can’t talk back, so we’ll wave when you tell us something, if you can still see us!'
'Well done Stevey.' Stuart said, looking a little happier. 'This is nearly as bad as searching those dead bodies near the plane!'
'What dead bodies?' Jenny asked.
'Well, when we crashed and the others had gone off for help.' Stuart said and ignored Stevey’s look of dismay. 'I decided to search the bodies for anything which might help us, when I tried to get Stevey to the coast.'
'And did you?' Jenny asked.
'Did I what?' Stuart asked.
'Find anything which helped.'
'Oh yes, a few matches, two pair of specs and Simon’s dad’s lighter.'
'It wasn’t Simon’s dad’s lighter.' Stevey replied.
Stuart looked at him for an explanation.
'They found the lighter at Simon’s house when they got back, it just looked like Simon’s dad’s lighter and he assumed it was his dads.' Stevey continued.
'It didn’t really matter who’s it was, did it?' Jenny asked.
'No not really.' Stuart answered. 'It was just that- oh it doesn’t matter.'
They walked on and slipped into the garden of Gordon Hall. There was no sign of Dan, so they walked as far as the gap where the two fences met.
'Now you go of and watch and let us know when Willie goes out in his car.' Stuart ordered but added. 'It that is all right with you?'
'At least it seems the safe way.' Jenny admitted. 'But if I say run, you two run like hell! Whether you have got anything as proof or not!'
'Don’t worry we will.' Stevey replied and slipped through the hedge out of sight.
Stuart followed him and Jenny hurried on to the big house. She found the keys and unlocked the cellar door. Then after looking around to make sure she was alone, she hurried up the stairs to the east wing. She unlocked the door and walked past the room Tim was already sobbing in. She did not wait but hurried to the window and looked about for signs of Willie. She could not see him and turned on the baby minder.
'No sign of Willie yet.' She reported and saw Stevey wave to let her know they had heard.
Now she made herself comfortable and kept watch, waiting for Willie to appear. As if by magic Willie suddenly appeared and jumped into his car.
'He’s come out and is in his car.' She reported. When Willie drove away she added. 'He’s opening the gate, now he is driving through it. Now he is closing it.' She watched him drive out of sight. 'He’s gone, you can go in now!'
She saw the two boys run across, carrying something. As they ran they waved, then they used the thing they were carrying to break the window. They waved before they went into the cellar, leaving the heavy object outside. Jenny turned her attentions to the gate, waiting for Willie to return. Ten minutes passed with no sign of the boys, then a movement caught her eye. The large crane like machine was moving toward the house and it was carrying an old van upside down. She looked closer and saw it was Willie behind the wheel of the crane like machine.
She pushed the button down on the baby minder. 'It’s Willie! He’s come back, he is going to block of your escape through the window with an old van. Get out now and run for your life!' She shouted.
The two boys heard her say Willie was going and waited, ready to run across. Stuart found an old bumper to use to smash the window and they carried it across with them. They waved to Jenny then smashed the window, threw the bumper to one side and Stuart looked inside.
'It’s a drop but we can do it and there is a bench we can use to get out again!' He announced.
He turned round and bellied his way backwards through the hole left by the bumper. Stevey waited until he was inside then followed him in. The only light came from the broken window and they looked around for a light switch. Stuart found it at the top of the stairs and turned the light on.
'That’s better.' He said with a smile of satisfaction. 'Now we can see what we are doing!'
'Look at all this stuff!' Stevey exclaimed. 'There’s a door.' He walked over and tried the door. 'It’s locked.'
'The way out is up those stairs but we don’t know how to open the door at the top!' Stuart replied. 'We’d best drag that bench over to the window so we can get out if there is any trouble!'
Stevey was for that but the bench was fixed to the ground. In the end they settled for a stool which might just do the trick, then they looked around for evidence but they could not find any, just printing presses and paper to print on! While they were looking the baby minder burped but that was all it did. They waited for Jenny to say something but nothing else happened until there was a loud crash and the room grew a little darker.
'What was that?' Stevey asked.
'I don’t know.' Stuart replied. 'Go up and make sure the escape route is still clear.'
Stevey climbed on the stool and lifted the sheet which was partly covering the broken window.
'There’s an old van stuck in front of the window and we can’t get out.' He cried from the top of the stool.
'Well it wasn’t there when we came in, so it must have just been put there!' Stuart cried and they both knew who had put it there.
With Stuart pushing him Stevey tried to get out but there was no chance of that, with the van blocking the way. There was another crashing sound from behind the locked door, then a motor whirred into life and they watched the door at the top of the stairs open, Willie walked in, stood at the top of the stairs and clicked on his remote to make sure the door closed again. When it was safely closed he walked casually down the stairs.
'Well what have we here? Two little would be Sherlock Holmes, who have stepped right out of their depth!' He sneered. 'Once I have you trussed up like turkeys I am going to get your little friend in the big house and then we are going to have some fun, or at least I know I will!'
The bench was right in the middle of the cellar which meant you were able to walk right round it but that was it apart from the locked side door and the door at the top of the stairs. The two boys moved behind the bench to make sure it was between them and Willie, after that it was a foregone conclusion as to what would happen but they did not give up easy. Stuart picked up a bottle of ink as a weapon and Stevey picked up the broom, he wanted to keep Willie as far away from him as he could and still inflict pain. Willie made his move and ducked under the ink bottle, Stevey poked him hard with the broom which made Willie grunt with pain.
'You’ll regret that boy!' He hissed and charged.
Stevey thrust the broom at Willie again but Willie grabbed the handle and ripped the broom out of Stevey’s hands. Then it turned into a chase round the bench with the two boys throwing anything they could lift. Willie dived and grabbed Stuart’s ankle, seconds later befo
re Stevey could actually find something to throw Stuart was trussed up.
Willie stood up, bleeding a little and covered in ink but happy. 'Your turn next!' He moved round the table but Stevey darted about like his life depended on it, it did. In frustration Willie gave the bench an almighty shove and one end moved, another shove and the bench had Stevey pinned. Willie pounced and Stevey was soon trussed up and dumped against the wall. He carried Stuart over and set down beside Stevey.
Willie stood up and looked down at them. 'It’s going to be one hell of a party and you are the main guests but first I must go and get the little girl. The one who was watching from the big house, as an orderve!'
Before he went he pulled the now loose bench back into the middle of the room, then he climbed the stairs and pushed the button on his remote.
'If you hurt her!' Stuart hissed.
'And you’ll do what? Blow on me?' Willie replied with a laugh. 'If you try that I’ll gag you both. In fact I am going to anyway.' He walked back down and gagged them. 'Hard to plan an escape if you can’t talk about it.' Happy he walked away and left them there.
Chapter 12
Jenny watched as the van was dropped over the window and knew they had been duped. She was not a stupid girl and realised that if he knew what was going on, he also knew where they were watching him from and she knew she would be next on his list. She did not want to be anywhere near him, as she knew what was in store for her. She ran down the corridor, and down the stairs as soon as she realised what was going on. Once in the garden she ran down the drive until sense prevailed. He would be coming for her this way and she was running straight into his trap but she needed to get to the phone. She stopped and thought it through, there was Dan who thought the whole world was rosy and the only other assistance might come from Tim. She thought about it and smiled. Just what would Willie make of Tim? She looked about her, then walked back to Gordon Hall. As she closed the door she looked about but there was no sign of Willie but then, would she see him coming? She hurried up the stairs as far as the East wing then walked along to Tim’s room. Without hesitation she walked in and sat on the bed.
'I don’t know if you are listening Tim but in a short while a man is going to come in here to carry me away to his place and there, he is going to do nasty things to me, before he kills me. That’s if he doesn’t just do the nasty things to me here on your bed. I am asking for your help! Can you hear me? Please Tim, I know you are frightened but believe me, I am more frightened, and not of you!'
She heard footsteps on the stairs.
'I would ask Dan to help me but he sees the world through what my dad says is rose coloured glasses and believes everyone is what they seem to be, he’s coming please help me?'
The door opened.
'Waiting for me are you?' Willie asked. 'Who were you talking to?'
Jenny opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
'She was talking to me!' A boy said from the corner of the room.
'Where did you come from?' Willie asked, looking for another door.
'Oh me, I just appear and disappear when I want to.' Tim replied. 'Like this!' He disappeared and passed right through Willie. When he was next to Willie he reappeared. 'See what I mean? Shall I show you again?' Tim faded and grew brighter as he stood there.
Willie shrieked and ran for his life. He did not stop until he was back in his cellar! Jenny let out a long sigh of relief.
'You certainly took your time!' She complained.
'Sorrrreeey!' Tim retorted and disappeared.
'I didn’t mean it like that.' Jenny called but he was gone and she knew time was pressing. 'Thank you.' She cried as she ran out of the building. She ran as fast as she could down the drive. She ran and ran and ran until she reached the phone box but it was thirty seconds before she was able to say the words "Hat trick" down the phone, even then she was unsure of just who she had got through to! She slid to the floor of the phone box panting for breath, with one leg holding the door open slightly to let the smell out.
'Is that you Jenny?' Simon asked.
'Yes.' She replied, still gasping for breath.
'Has something happened?' Simon asked.
'Willie from the car breakers has just taken Stuart and Stevey prisoner! I want you lot here now, if not sooner!' Jenny replied more in control of her voice.
'What the man who did that to Lenny Mole?'
'Yes, the very same man has them in his cellar, as we speak! I would have been there as well if it wasn’t for Tim.' Jenny replied.
'Who’s Tim.' Simon asked.
'A friend you have yet to meet.' Jenny replied. 'But we haven’t time to chat.'
Where she lay she could see the road and recognised Silas Brent’s car go by and for some reason, she knew that the goalposts had just been moved.
'Oh shit. That was Silas Brent in his limo!' She groaned. 'I think something has happened, get everyone here and quick. And Simon make sure some of them have bikes, I think it is going down today, whatever it is! Now I have to go and keep an eye on them in the car breakers, you do know where that is?'
'Yes of course, it’s near the telephone booth they used to call the police about Lenny’s body!' Simon replied indignantly. 'We are on the way!'
Jenny had nothing left and her side was bleeding again but she ran to the car breakers without stopping to keep an eye on things until reinforcements arrived. Luckily for her, when the gate opened to let Silas Brent in and there was a lengthy discussion, before he drove into the car breakers. Long enough to allow Jenny to run to the car breakers and slip inside unseen. She hid behind an old car, panting for breath, and listened to Silas talking to Willie.
'I can’t help it can I?' Silas remonstrated. 'How the hell am I to know about the French going on strike. We have to move the gear today or you’ll be waiting in a line with all the other lorries.'
'But you said I could have fun with them before I killed them!' Willie complained.
'Well there’s no time for that now! You will be able to go to Thailand and buy what you want, at least you will have the pleasure of killing the little brats!'
'It don’t seem right to me, it’s a waste.' Willie moaned as he closed the gate behind Silas.
Silas stopped just inside the gate. 'Leave it open, Vernon will be here soon with the lorry.'
Willie opened the gate again, moaning as he did so, then followed Silas up to the house. Jenny watched him go, made sure the gate was staying open and started to creep toward the house, keeping behind the piled up vehicles to make sure she was not seen. When she was where she wanted to be she settled down to watch and wait. Her tee-shirt was matted with blood and she wanted to lift it up and look but she was too frightened in case it was bad. She tried to relax and took the telescope out of its case to watch the house closely. A noise made her look back up the drive and she saw a lorry trundle up toward the house. The lorry had a tail lift and the top was a roller door which was open and bounced up and down as the driver picked his way over the rough drive to get to the house. He took the trouble to turn it round and parked with the tail lift down, close to the front door. Silas came out to see the driver.
'Get to work Vernon. We have a lot of stuff to load on before we can leave.' He ordered. 'You’ll get paid off at the ferry terminal.'
Jenny made a mental note, ferry terminal. So they were of to France, then she thought about it some more. Or Holland, or Belgium or Denmark. All she did know really, was that they were going on a ferry somewhere. Willie and Vernon started to carry out boxes and loaded them on the lorry, using the tail lift to raise them up before Vernon used a sack barrow to move them inside the lorry. She seemed to be there ages watching and waiting with the occasional look up the drive to see if the rest of the boys had arrived yet but she saw no sign of them. She started to get impatient and thought of going closer when she spotted a head moving toward the lorry, a quick check and she saw Sherman not far away, just in case Ben found trouble. Sherman had the axe with him! Ben
Climbed into the lorry and disappeared, Willie and Vernon carried another box out to the lorry and Vernon moved it inside. Jenny expected all hell to break loose, she psyched herself up to run over there but Vernon reappeared and they walked back inside for another box. They carried and loaded two more boxes before Ben reappeared, he was carrying a package. He slipped out of sight before they came back out carrying another box. She turned to creep round to where they were but almost walked into Simon. Simon saw the blood.
'Did they get you?' He asked surprisingly quietly for him.
'No my operation is leaking.' Jenny replied.
'You’re not going to die on me are you?'
'I certainly hope not.' Jenny retorted, a little too loud and Simon held his index finger to his lips to quieten her. 'Where are the rest?' She added at a lower level.
'Getting ready.' Simon explained.
'Getting ready for what?'
'Ben and J.C are going to follow Mr. Brent in Ben’s brother’s little van. Sherman and C.J are in charge of the rescue, me and Ant are going to follow the lorry on our bikes and try to sabotage it!'
'And the rest of them?' Jenny asked, impressed.
'Colin is making friends with Marmalade, if the worst comes to the worst he is to let him off to get Mr. Brent. John is already upstairs listening to what they are saying and passing notes down to Toby, and James and Dave are taking turns to run the notes to Sherman and C.J who are in charge of the rescue.'
'You said that already.'
'Oh, sorry.'
'What do I do?' Jenny asked.
Simon looked down at the blood stained tee shirt. 'Stay alive?' He said with a sort of plea.
'I take it you are supposed to look after me until the lorry goes?' Jenny replied.
Simon nodded. She lifted up her tee shirt to reveal the wound, it had stopped bleeding as she sat and waited. Simon smiled.
'You’ll live!' He said happily. 'He had seen worse than that in the jungle!
They moved round slowly and quietly to where Sherman was hiding with Ben. Ben had opened the packet he had nicked and it was full of twenty pound notes.