Laura was amazed. An axe! Was it for smashing the interior display cabinets? They surely weren’t hoping to smash their way through the metal shutters and toughened glass? She gasped when she saw something Xandra could not. There was another man inside the jewellers and he was heading towards the door.
A shout drew her eye back to Xandra . The man on the ground was clutching his groin, rolling in agony, and Xandra wrenched off his balaclava. The robber with the bat had lost his balance as his accomplice fell on him but he soon regained his control. Undeterred by the frightening balaclavas and weaponry, Xandra faced the man with the bat as he lunged at her. She sidestepped and blocked his arm. Her other arm slipped around his waist as she turned her back on him. Yanking him over her hip, she kicked back and down he went too. Laura could not believe her eyes – how could Xandra do this? It had happened in a flash. As the man tried to stand, a well-aimed stamp and a triumphant shout kept him down while she whisked off his balaclava.
Shocked, Laura watched through her opened window as the man already in the shop yanked the third man through the door with Xandra shouldering her way in after.
Only in films had Laura seen so much happen in so little time. The man who’d been let into the shop was now propelled into the toughened glass door. There was a crack as his head hit the pane and he staggered out and swayed up the hill after his two scarpering accomplices heading for a hatchback revving up.
Sirens heralded the arrival of the police. The leading squad car skidded to a halt outside the jewellers. Three brawny policemen leapt from the car to the doorway and hurled themselves through the closing door.
“Ambulance, call for an ambulance,” yelled one from inside to those arriving in the second car.
Laura’s head finally moved her rooted body. She hurtled down the stairs and out into the street straight into one of the policemen who’d been alerted by the noise of her thundering footsteps.
“Xandra! Is she injured? Please let me see her.”
Xandra was trying to direct the police to follow the escaped robbers. Limping and with blood pouring from her leg, she called out, “I’m fine, Laura. It looks a lot worse than it is.”
Typical, Laura thought. Bleeding all over the place and what does she do? Reassures me.
“I’m afraid I met my match and between us we smashed a glass cabinet. I seem to have come off worse and he seems to have disappeared.” Xandra looked around her. “Must have got out the same mysterious way he got in.”
“Ambulance is on its way, Miss; won’t be long. Let’s see if we can stem the flow… could be an artery..”
Laura knew nothing, absolutely nothing about medical matters. Veins, arteries – what was the difference? Her education had not covered such things; how could it? She reasoned the best way to help was to rush back to her office, shut and bolt her window, snatch both their handbags, lock the doors, and return to the street.
The ambulance arrived quickly and whisked Xandra away. Laura was allowed to follow in the police car accompanying it.
~
At the hospital Xandra was hurried past the waiting queue.
It was about an hour later when a nurse called out Laura’s name. “I understand you have Xandra Radcliffe’s handbag?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Laura said, holding up the brown leather bag.
“We’re going to keep her in overnight as we’ve given her a tetanus injection and a transfusion.”
“A transfusion? Has she lost that much blood?”
The nurse raised her eyebrows indicating she did not feel she should have to justify their treatment of Xandra. “Sufficient.”
“May I see her?” Laura asked.
“Not now, it’s quite late and she’s giving the police a statement. We’ve removed all the splinters of glass and she’s had stitches. She needs a peaceful recovery time so we’ll make her comfortable for the night. She tells me she has no one to inform who lives close other than you. Telephone us tomorrow morning and we should be able to discharge her then.”
Bossy woman; and whatever was a ‘tetnis’ injection?
~
“It’s so good of you to collect me,” Xandra said to Laura as she hobbled towards her in reception the following morning. “I could have ordered a taxi, of course, but I’m a little nervous. The police have contacted me this morning and are arranging protection. They think it’s a repeat performance of a recent robbery in Three Beeches, possibly stealing to order. I’ve given a description of the two whose balaclavas I pulled off.”
“What about the man on the inside? He got away, the police said. Did you see him?”
“Not really; he was out of my league; like something from an action thriller – and also disguised by a balaclava which I hadn’t a hope of getting near.”
“Xandra, I feel honoured to help a heroine. I’ve never seen anyone move so fast. And,” Laura paused, “I’ve never moved so slowly.”
Xandra smiled. “It’s not often I use my Jitsu training and now I’ve used it twice since I met you.” She laughed and hobbled towards the disinfecting stations with Laura following. “I didn’t think I needed a transfusion, it seems I lost more blood than I realized. I was more worried about embedded glass but they said it’s all removed and going to heal well.”
“Well, I’ll take you home and you must have a quiet day.”
“I’d sort out a few more villains if I had the chance.”
“You are a rarity, Xandra,” Laura said in a way that failed to disguise her admiration.
“So’s my blood. It’s Rhesus A negative.”
Laura momentarily closed her eyes as her head reeled and her knees felt weak.
“Laura, are you ok? You look as though you might faint.”
“No, I’m fine, really I am.”
“I thought perhaps you didn’t like the mention of blood.”
Should she tell her? What purpose would it serve for Xandra to know all she suspected? None. All these strange feelings and happenings might stem from nothing more than a series of coincidences. It was just a shock to find they both had the same blood group, that’s all.
“You don’t look too well, Laura. Would you like me to drive? I have the same car, it’s even the same colour,” Xandra said with a smile.
Well it would be, wouldn’t it.
“I chose a Micra because it was assembled in Britain,” Xandra said. “I’m not yet resigned to the loss of the Empire.”
Laura smiled; she had chosen her Micra for the very same reasons. She couldn’t possibly have a French car; Napoleon was French. “I’ll be fine, I really will.” She unlocked the car and removed a paperback from the passenger seat.
“‘On Chesil Beach,’ Xandra commented. “I’ve been meaning to read that.”
“You’re welcome to borrow it.”
“Thomas Hardy called Chesil Beach Dead Man’s Cove – such an evocative name for a place which caused so many shipwrecks,” said Xandra. “I was reading, just the other day, The Alexander was wrecked there at Easter, 1815. Only five people saved and none of them spoke English so none could give an account of what really happened. Imagine being washed ashore and not being able to explain.”
“Frustrating, to say the very least. Life-changing, that’s for sure.” Laura shuddered as she sat behind the wheel. Somehow she must keep going. “You read a lot, don’t you Xandra?”
“Yes. I wish Jane Austen had written more. I immerse myself in her world.”
Laura put the key in the ignition and started the engine. The radio came on.
“I love this one,” said Xandra.
The Byrds’ old hit was playing, with its quotes from Ecclesiastes. “To Everything There Is a Season.”
“And a time to every purpose under the heaven,” continued Xandra.
Laura felt quite sick but could not stop herself voicing her thoughts in an inappropriately portentous tone, “The Word of God.”
“I am reminded constantly,” Xandra said lightly.
“
What?”
“The words of God. I live next to a church with one of those notice boards that carries what they hope will be eye-catching quotations or messages. I’m afraid I’m a lost cause. The current one has me mulling over past times rather than anything godly. The pace of life seemed more leisurely and occasionally I wish I’d been born… I’m not sure when – certainly not in Biblical times but perhaps in the Regency era. But, here we are, trapped in our busy lives, in a time of plenty – even in a recession – yet so short of time.”
They were still stationary in the car park. Laura knew that somehow, with enormous effort, she must put everything else out of her mind and drive this suddenly spirited Xandra home.
As they pulled up outside Xandra’s flat, Laura could see the church notice board. There was a picture of the latest Doctor Who on the left side of the poster with the caption, ‘The Current Time Lord’. On the right hand side was a picture of Jesus with the caption, ‘The original Lord of Time’. If confirmation were needed, this was it, thought Laura. Something strange was happening. If she could get off this train, she would, but it had gathered too much speed now.
Hide in Time ~ Anna Faversham
CHAPTER FIVE
It was September 26th, the day of the Pirates’ Party, and the last thing that Laura wanted was to be dealing with bookings from people who were not even clients. Yet, here she was with a persistent man on the phone pressing her to allow him to attend.
“I’m sorry, but it’s for clients only.”
“I’ve completed the form you sent.”
“What did you say your name was?”
“Barry, Barry Bolton.”
Laura was puzzled. She was absolutely sure she had not had an enquiry from a Barry Bolton. “Where did you obtain it from?”
“I rang. Long time ago now, perhaps you’ve forgotten me.”
It wasn’t a question; it was a forlorn statement. Indeed, she had forgotten this man. Perhaps everyone did. “Ok then Barry, if I give you all the details, you can join us for this evening and then we can consider full membership after that. I need you to bring your signed application form, your payment, and something like a Driving Licence to confirm your identity and address. You will not be allowed on board without them.”
This was a mistake. She was sure of it. A moment of compassion for this sorry-sounding soul had overruled her instincts. Or was it her lack of time? Time! She had none for further consideration. She must change into her long flouncy skirt, grab her camera, and get to the boat.
~
As she approached, she could see that the owners of the paddle steamer had put a great deal of effort into turning their ‘Maid of the River’ into ‘Redbeard’s Revenge’. Laura thanked them then positioned herself at the foot of the gangplank to welcome the guests. She wished Matt had shown some enthusiasm and been persuaded to come; he ‘didn’t like pirates’ he’d said. She guessed that Nick, Xandra’s original date, would be first and yes, here he was, way ahead of the others, striding down the towpath. What a sight! He was wearing a red scarf wrapped around his head and tied at the back, an earring, a white grandpa style shirt open at the neck, a black jerkin, and blue and white vertically striped trousers. He was toting a pair of pistols in his leather belt which, on seeing he’d caught Laura’s eye, he began twirling around his fingers before taking aim at some nearby waddling ducks.
“What do you call a pirate who steals from the rich and gives to the poor?”
Laura wasn’t any good with jokes. She was always relieved if she even got them, so the ensuing silence had to be filled by Nick.
“Robin Hook.”
Laura looked puzzled.
Nick tried again. Solemnly he adjusted his eye patch. “I was going to wear two eye patches but I didn’t want anyone to think I was ‘Oirish’.”
“Oh no, I suppose I’m going to be giggling all night,” laughed Laura, delighted to find she understood.
“Arrrrrrrr, here comes Mary. I’ll have to stop the Irish jokes now or she’ll be telling me off.”
“That’s why you tell them, you naughty man.”
As Mary hurried towards them, Laura greeted her, “Hi Mary, welcome on board. You’ve met Nick before, I know, but never looking so menacing, I hope.” Laura watched as they exchanged a nod and Mary cautiously crossed the gangplank after the striding Nick. Mary, dressed as a serving wench was, Laura assured herself, certain to hit it off with Nick. She’d brought a large parrot (‘not a real one’ she’d hastily said as Laura peered at it closely) and she was now attempting to fix it to Nick’s shoulder. Yes, they were a good match. Years of happiness coming up.
A rabble of pirates and wenches arrived with a few princesses for ‘eye candy’ as Nick kept saying to provoke Mary into whacking him. Laura had prepared herself for Xandra wearing an identical outfit to her own but she wasn’t. Xandra had opted for a striped T-shirt and black knee breeches with shiny gold buttons. It flashed through Laura’s mind that perhaps she always wore trousers so that if she needed to defend herself, or rescue someone, she wasn’t hampered by a skirt. Maybe she wasn’t so wedded to the nineteenth century as Laura had begun to hope. Perhaps the wistful thoughts Xandra had fostered were attractive only from the comforts of the twenty-first century. Laura’s welcoming smile masked the thought, What if I’ve got this all wrong? “Good to see you looking so well, Xandra, and minus your protection officer, I see.”
Xandra glanced over her shoulder, “Oh he’s not far away, I’ve left him on that bench there. He said I’d be fine on board as the boat doesn’t stop anywhere and I’d be surrounded by lots of known people. If there is a problem, we can phone him for help. Here’s his number.”
Laura made a note on her file. “If you are worried at all, please let me know. Should be all right though – your old friends are here, Andy and Nick, though I’m afraid you’re too late for Art now – he’s met someone.”
Xandra caught sight of Nick with the parrot on his shoulder and smiled, “I think he’s found someone too by the looks of the girl patting the parrot.” They both enjoyed watching them for a moment. “Oh by the way, I’ve finished the silver ring you asked me to make. I’m wearing it around my neck tonight, so I cannot ask you to pay for it. It will be my gift to you for looking after me so well at the hospital.”
“Xandra – you can’t…”
“I can.”
“Oh how kind. How very kind.” Laura looked down at her empty ring finger. The original was locked in her jewel box and she had trusted only Xandra to see it. Bittersweet memories flooded her thoughts but she swept them away – she must put her energies into the party. Laura sometimes received cards, flowers or chocolates but a silver ring was too much, especially as she had not found anyone for Xandra. Not yet.
“Your ring is very unusual, Laura. I’ve never seen one like it before. Antique in style, yet clearly quite new. Did you have it made?”
Laura looked away. She had forgotten that the hallmark would alert Xandra to the date it was made. She’d rather not answer but Xandra had touched on a little bit of her history she’d rather keep to herself, so she just muttered, “Cornell’s made it.”
This was not a subject to be pursued on a party night – she had guests to think of. She checked her watch. Time to cast off. No sign of that pushy new chap she was relieved to note. But just as the gang plank was about to be pulled away a stocky pirate, maybe forty years old, with a patch, a red scarf tied round his head, a stripey jumper, and a brace of pistols leapt aboard. “I’m Barry,” he said grinning. He’d blacked out some of his teeth; he was not a pretty sight. “I’ve got me identification and I’ve brought cash. Are you Laura?”
“I am,” said Laura as she looked at the Driving Licence and the photo thereon. Hmm, she thought, I suppose that’s him. The name was the same, so she relaxed. She took the proffered envelope. “I don’t usually take cash, Barry; a cheque confirms identification. Is this the application?”
“Yeah. I’ve filled it in right. Lea
st I think so.” He grinned at her again. She wished he wouldn’t.
Her business head told her he was most likely a pirate in real life in one way or another, yet she felt she should give him a chance. Everyone deserved another opportunity to start afresh; hadn’t she been granted that? “You can tell me all about yourself some other time, Barry. Let me introduce you to one or two people now.”
“I’ll just get meself a drink first.” He disappeared inside the boat and headed towards the bar.
She wished Matt was here. Andy came towards her. “Is everything all right, Laura? You look a little worried.”
“Oh Andy, thanks. I expect I’m worrying for nothing as usual. How are you?”
Andy touched Laura’s arm lightly, “I’m here if you should need me. If you come across any fish out of water, I’m here to throw them back in again,” he said clutching his black, pirate hat and bowing low.
Laura smiled, comforted by Andy’s thoughtfulness. All would be well, she reminded herself. Andy, Nick and Xandra could deal with any drunken buccaneers.
The paddleboat steamed slowly along the river. The late September sun was sinking dramatically into the water and the lights on the bridges added sparkle to the glow. The splendid buffet had reduced by plate-loads every time Laura checked. Great – it was being enjoyed. Several female guests were sitting on the fringe of the dancing, hoping. The men were taking their time; she’d have to encourage them. The band was good, better than she’d dared hope, everyone said the drummer looked like David Beckham, and that, apparently, was good. She eased her way through to the bar where many of the men were standing. “You mustn’t stand here looking like the only thing you’re interested in is the booze, you know,” said Laura to two of the men leaning on the bar. “You must show off your fine qualities. We ladies don’t bite.”
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