Trodds Lane

by Nick Roteman

  By luck it was only parked just a few streets away, as parking it the other night she had had to look long and hard to find a residents spot, ending up almost four streets away from her tiny flat, but only two streets away from the square.

  Driving back she parked on the parameter of the square and looked out through her windscreen, but unfortunately it was just too far away in the dim light to see who was who, so she decided to get out and walk closer. There was obviously a competition in progress to see who could lob a bottle the furthest, and the part of the square nearest them was littered in broken shards. This was too dangerous, she was left with no option now but to pull her mobile out of her pocket and dial the station, before getting back into her car to await the cavalry. It took a mere five minutes before the wail from a police van came screeching around the far corner, its blue lights mesmerically flashing. That seemed to do the trick; the boys stopped throwing bottles and fled leaving six burly policemen in their wake.

  Orla started her engine and keeping her eyes peeled soon identified her youth. She slowly drove after him. He had left the pack and was heading in the opposite direction, praying the policemen would follow the pack. They did but Orla didn’t, keeping a respectable distance from him she followed. Rounding a sharp corner, she almost ran him over as he had stopped to light a cigarette confident he was safe. She screeched to a stop ten metres past him, and turned in her seat to glance back. Somehow he must have twigged that she was the police or perhaps he had even recognised her, but nevertheless he took off down a narrow side street, but not before giving her the finger.

  She screamed back at him. “You think you’re so bloody clever, I’ll show you clever, you stupid little turd!” But he didn’t hear her from inside the car.

  Putting the engine into gear, she screeched off down the road, as she knew exactly where that narrow street came out, and she reckoned she could reach the other end before he did.

  As he exited the narrow street, she was waiting, parked up on the left hand side. He saw her, slowed down to a jog just long enough to give her another finger and call her a couple of choice words, before speeding up and turning right to run straight down the middle of the main road. Orla accelerated, wheels spinning and drew level with him. As he glanced over at her, she slowed fractionally before suddenly swerving to the right and opening her door just as she put her right foot down. The sickening thud as the car door hit him reverberated around the road, and without glancing back she was gone vanishing into the night.

  All the way back to find a parking spot, hopefully nearer to her flat for once, she was grinning at what she had done. Her heart was beating furiously, her mind racing, the adrenalin rush almost too heady; revenge was indeed sweet.

  “That’s for you darling Auburn,” she mouthed blowing a kiss into the air.

  “Oh if only I could tell you.... Maybe, maybe one day I will!”

  Once back home, Auburn left Rachel to explain their day to a concerned Freddy, while she made her way as usual straight for her bedroom. Alone at last she happily logged onto the net. As her laptop fired up, she thought for the briefest of seconds back on that day’s adventure. It had strained her almost into having one of her tantrums, but she had prevailed and, and her computer was ready and all further thoughts vanished from her head for now. Excitedly she noticed she had three new emails. Sadly two were nothing special, but the third was interesting and from someone with the tag Deadpan, she opened it.

  ‘Hi my little Ignoramus!’ it began, which certainly didn’t please her, she was far from being ignorant but she read on:

  ‘Be warned, to duel with the Mighty Boss Cocky is to fight beyond your weight.

  Be careful what you wish for, don’t become tedious, boredom kills!

  Be seeing you!

  Teepee x’

  Auburn reread it. It was stupid, childish and not very clever she decided, and obviously the Teepee referred to that bully of a man Tom Phipps. She deleted it without further thought, and decided she would rejoin the others; she was hungry.

  Chapter Five

  Freddy was very relieved for as soon as supper had finished Rachel went back to her flat, and Auburn back to her computer. He was feeling real pangs of guilt, which seemed to wash over him in waves, over the course of their meal, with Rachel telling him more and more about how awfully rude this Tom had been to them, to one point where she actually feared for their safety.

  Alone at last in the kitchen he poured himself another cup of coffee and sat down to ponder. The guilt he had felt earlier was borne by the fact that not only had Pete often discussed Tom, but also he, Freddy, had actually met Tom one night in a club. Why he had not just come clean and told Rachel, he didn’t know, but now he was almost consumed with guilt to the point that he felt he must make reparations, for being so weak. There was only one thing for it, he’d have to find Tom and demand answers from him.

  He knew Pete loved and often frequented The Blue Lamp Nightclub, so it was not too large an assumption to make that it was probably there he had met Tom. No point waiting, strike while the iron is hot, action not words, etc., etc. Yes he had made his decision, tonight, right now in fact, he would sneak out and go to the said club, on the off chance that Tom for some unknown reason, even though he realised he was almost certainly still in Weybridge, would appear.

  It was a fine clear night, so with the stars to light his path, he walked to the club, in the centre of the town. It took him fifteen minutes and he was standing outside the entrance. The entrance was brightly lit, and manned by two ape-like characters dressed in Dinner suites. Both wore a size too small, so their biceps bulged in their jackets threatening to rip through the material at any minute. The club was a widely known gay club, but as the music was second to none, it also attracted many straight men and women wishing to dance the night away to the best sounds in town.

  The time was only just after eleven, but the club was already heaving, and it took an eternity to push his way through the throng to the one and only bar. He ordered a large glass of white wine, and stayed sipping it at the bar but turned around peering through the flashing lights so he could watch the people. It was hopeless, there were so many people milling around it was impossible to see who was who. In fact it was impossible to tell the sex of half the gyrating bodies enjoying the intimate dance floor. He decided perhaps this hadn’t been one of his better ideas and was about to finish his drink and retire, when an arm went suddenly around his shoulder and squeezed him affectionately.

  “Darling where have you been, it’s been an eternity, you must come and join us, oh do!”

  It was Anny, and old acquaintance of his, whom he hadn’t seen since they had had a fumble in the dark outside another nightclub a few months back.

  Freddy smiled back at him.

  “We’ve got a fab table just the other side of the floor,” Anny urged. “You can see just everybody, and it’s such a laugh. Hey you on your own?”

  “Yup!” Freddy replied flashing his magical smile. This was just the one he needed to bump into.

  They took their drinks and weaved their way to the other side and to where Anny had been sitting. There were five others already sat down at the table, three men and two girls, they greeted Freddy warmly.

  Anny leaned into Freddy to make himself heard. “So what’s the story, you after something you little tinker, I know you are, who is it?”

  “I’m looking for a particular man, you might know him, Tom Phipps?”

  “Don’t know the name, any more clues, he owe you something, or just didn’t ring like he said!” Anny said laughing loudly, his head shaking with pure joy.

  “He’s a friend of a friend, in fact Pete, you know Pete Chandler, I’m sure you do?”

  “We have met in a dark alley, naughty, pure naughty boy!”

  “Yeah well Pete seems to have vanished and I’m hoping this Tom
might know something.”

  “Oh god sounds serious, sorry Free I’ll try and help, what’s this guy look like?”

  “Tall, dark, fit, late thirties, prefers the younger ones, but moonlights with the ladies too, I think for money!”

  Anny nodded but stopped grinning; he hated gay men who went with women too. After a pause he said. “I’ll put the word out, give me your mobile, I’ll ring you my dear!”

  “Cheers Anny!”

  Anny put the number into his phone and glancing at Freddy winked.

  “Don’t you wink at me! Come on you old poof you owe me a good leap-about let’s go!” Freddy shouted out grabbing his arm at the same time, and pulling him up and towards the dance floor.

  Freddy arrived home just after 7am, feeling dehydrated and shabby of mind but bodily alive. It had been a great night out, although whether it would actually achieve the initial result, of locating where Tom lived and perhaps meeting him, that remained unanswered, but you couldn’t have everything!

  Auburn was already up and about, and had just finished washing up her breakfast plates, when he walked in.

  “You’re back, you look and oh you smell awful, so you had a good time I guess,” she remarked, making this a rhetorical statement rather than a question, she didn’t expect an answer. “I’ve just finished but I can make you a cup of coffee. In fact I will have one too.” She said going back to the sink and carefully filling up the kettle, while Freddy exhausted delicately flopped onto the nearest seat.

  “Why you up so early Aub you’re not working today are you?”

  “No, but I have washing to do and I need to get ready for this afternoon.” She replied washing up two clean mugs, and vigorously drying them before carefully putting a spoon and a half of coffee granules into each. The look of concentration on her face would normally have raised a wry grin had his head not been thumping quite so much.

  “Ok what are you doing this afternoon, tell me?” he asked at length trying to look interested.

  Auburn placed one mug down on the table next to Freddy before going back and retrieving the other for herself. She had desperately tried on too many occasions to carry two mugs at the same time, but the outcome had always been the same - disaster!

  “Are you going to tell me this great secret of yours?” He asked once more, as he carefully and gratefully sipped the piping hot liquid.

  “Rachel has no lectures this afternoon, so we are going shopping, clothe shopping together! I’m really quite excited, but am not showing it yet, ok.”

  “I’m not working today, I’m free also...” he replied softly, but she did not respond, totally missing the strong hint.

  He tried again. “I fancy coming, can I? I need to get some new shirts.”

  “Yes,” she muttered almost to herself, as she carefully picked up her mug and left the kitchen, but outside in the corridor as she walked back to her bedroom, she was grinning. She would have her best friends together with her, well two out of her three best friends, the other being her newest friend, Moira. She couldn’t remember when she had had three friends all at the same time.

  She didn’t really understand how she felt, but she felt good. Most other people would have just said they were happy. The only way she could relate her present feeling was that it was the same feeling she got when she was waiting for the takeaway curry to arrive. She realised she certainly wanted to be in their company, rather than out alone, so that in itself was mighty, and one could probably deduce from that statement, that this time she was feeling what we term ‘happiness.’

  Chapter Six

  Alice walked into her study and smiled as she saw Tom sitting at the desk, he appeared deep in thought seemingly lost in a batch of papers on which appeared a mass of numbers and crossings out, and underlining of certain words and numbers.

  He glanced up as she came over to him. He looked strained and perplexed.

  “You look lost Tom. What is all this, can I help in any small way? I know I’m no genius with figures as you well know, but if you need a sounding board or something like that, I am here.”

  Tom looked up at her and gave her a smile. “Thanks that’s a great comfort to know you care.”

  He paused and picked up one of the sheets and pointed to it with his index finger. “Pull up a chair, maybe you can.”

  She did as he had suggested and sat bolt upright on the edge of the seat, attempting to appear alert and intelligent, although she was unsure what either should look like. She waited for him to begin, fearful she wouldn’t understand the first thing and he would think her just a stupid female.

  “I’ve been busy working on some figures,” he began slowly, paused then continued. “I don’t know what you think about this, but me and a friend I used to work with have been toying with the idea of purchasing a computer. A very special one for digital design work. My mate, er...Jerry, thinks, well he has actually worked out how much design work we could get and handle, with one of these computers.” He stared straight at her. “It’s a gamble and I don’t know if the bank would loan us the full amount we require, they’re not cheap these computers, but working on these figures...,” he tapped one of the sheets full of numbers with his finger. “Well it seems we could repay the bank in three years, and after the first year we could each earn a good living, which should grow into something big after say the third year, when we have repaid the bank. It’s really quite exciting a venture... I think.”

  He shrugged and pulled a face and waited for her to respond, but instead she remained silent, eyes wide.

  “Oh,” he said at length, as she was still staring into space.

  “Sorry, not ignoring you,” Alice replied, her eyes softening and focusing on his face. “I was just thinking, taking it all in. I so want you to have your own business and be happy darling, it sounds wonderful to me. When do you see the bank?”

  “Umm, Jerry is finishing off the business plan, and we see them end of this week.”

  “So exciting for you darling!” She cooed. “And you let me know all about what happens on Friday. Where is the meeting?”

  “Oh, er... I have to go back to Bournemouth, so I’ll probably stay at my flat Friday evening and I need to do a few things while I’m there, so I’ll be back Sunday, ok?” he explained, finishing off with one of his winning smiles.

  Job done, he thought, but boy he had had to think fast, and staying in Bournemouth was a stroke of genius, he was looking forward to clubbing Friday night, and hopefully scoring, he craved some real excitement.

  While they were in the town shopping, they finally stopped for a breather and popped into Costa for a coffee. Auburn was of course hungry and had an enormous slice of chocolate cake, while the other two reframed. They watched in disbelief as she devoured it without stopping for breath.

  “Where oh where do you put all this food Auburn?” Rachel asked her, “I’ve never seen someone so thin eat so much!”

  Freddy couldn’t help agreeing. “She’s a walking miracle our Aub!”

  “We could exhibit her in a circus. ‘The Constant Eater’ we’ll call her, and make a mint.”

  The silly banter continued between Freddy and Rachel, while Auburn ate, and totally ignored their jibes, she didn’t really mind, at least she was included in the conversation, so had no need to eavesdrop.

  They shopped for a further hour, and with their arms full of bags of new clothing, and even a pair of shoes for Freddy, they slowly staggered back to their house.

  As they reached the front door, Freddy called out to Rachel more than Auburn. “Look girls why don’t we just throw our purchases onto the bed and head straight out for a drink and a good meal, I’m starving, what you reckon?” he asked.

  “Well I’m hungry,” Auburn promptly answered.

  “There’s a surprise! What about you Rach?”

 
They found a good local Thai restaurant and spent a great evening together. While they were having coffee after their dessert, Rachel wanted to talk about Peter again.

  “I know you probably think I’m forever going on about it, but I’m still worried about Peter,” she said. “What you think about me going to the police?”

  “What! Don’t know what they’ll do Rach, but if you feel that’s the thing to do, you go for it girl.” Freddy quickly answered.

  “You mean you personally don’t think it’s the right thing to do Freddy?”

  “No not at all, I‘m just not certain what they can find out, and do we want them sticking their fingers in all our business. You know how homophobic they are.”

  “I think Rachel you should go,” Auburn suddenly blurted out. “After all it’s what the police are trained to do, and they have the man power.” She said glancing briefly at both of them before lowering her gaze as she met theirs.

  “Well, seems I’m outvoted.” Freddy conceded. “You want me to come with you?”

  “No, but thanks, I’ll go on my own tomorrow.”

  It was raining hard as she trundled along the road heading for the police station. Her mood reflected the weather, as she pulled at her scarf before putting her hands back in the deep pockets of her raincoat for warmth. She felt she was doing the right thing, and as no one had heard from Peter, she hoped his mother would not think her a terrible busybody, but they had tried to do the proper thing by first going to her house. It was not their fault that that horrible man had stopped them. She shivered at that thought; he really was a most unpleasant little shit she decided. Yes so I am doing what I think is right, she convinced herself, and if he’s ok, well no harm done.

  She had arrived at the police station; in a previous life, the civic centre until more plush offices had been commissioned in another part of town, and slowly climbed the steps to the entrance.