Trodds Lane

by Nick Roteman

  The interior of the old but grand building was unexpectedly modern and light, in sharp contrast to its Victorian exterior. Boldly she approached the front desk, and a kindly looking sergeant put down his mug of tea and got up off his chair to see to her.

  “How can I help you?” he asked, a gentle smile curling the corners of his mouth as he spoke to her.

  “Could I speak to someone concerning a missing person please?”

  “Ok... would you like to take a seat over there,” he suggested pointing his hand in the general direction of the far corner, where a five-seater settee stood, alone and empty.

  “I’ll get someone to come down right away,” he added as he moved off out of sight into the back room, supposedly to call someone.

  Rachel did as he bid, and walked over to the grand settee. The settee was made of some hardwearing fabric in the sensible colour of black, and had probably seen its fair share of bottoms over the years. She sat, back straight, knees together, as was proper, to await the arrival of her guardian of the law.

  DS Sara Ash was not the only officer on duty at that moment, but the only one willing to talk to a missing person’s person. So many of those who were named as missing by relatives or friends were just escapees off to a better life, with no sinister motive attached, although of course some were dodging their debts or worse.

  DS Ash let herself through the reinforced door and into the reception area and approached Rachel.

  “Hello, I’m Detective Sergeant Ash, you wanted to report a missing person I gather?”

  Rachel stood up and shook hands, not sure what else to do. “Yes, I’m Rachel Miller and it’s actually my flatmate Peter who’s disappeared.”

  It was Friday morning and Freddy had already showered and dressed preparing to go to work as soon as he had finished his coffee, the day only officially began after his first cup. He was savouring the strong taste when into the kitchen walked Auburn, still in her pyjamas.

  “Wow darling, you’re blinding me... good morning, and it certainly is I think!”

  Auburn sat down at the table and screwing up her face, fleetingly glanced across at Freddy before looking away as he looked straight back at her. She hated eye contact, it was so unnecessary, and just a prelude to a statement. Just say what needed to be said, then that was an end to it.

  “I’ve just made a delicious pot of coffee,” he conceded. “Can I tempt you my love?”

  “Yes thank you, and why am I blinding you, I don’t understand, is that one of your jokes? I never understand what a joke is or why they’re so funny.”

  Freddy poured her a mug and brought it to the table.

  “Yes it was, sorry,” he said. “It’s just your pyjamas are so bright, but very nice.” He quickly added. It was just a flippant remark but already it appeared to be the beginning of a drama.

  Auburn glanced down at her ensemble and pulled at her top, it seemed ok to her, so how could she blind him. She was wearing a canary yellow coloured t-shirt coupled with bright pink baggy cotton trousers with white little bear motifs covering it.

  Auburn had her hands wrapped around the hot mug. “I won’t wear them again, ok!” she finally said taking a sip.

  Freddy shook his head sadly, “No don’t I like them, honest, I really do! It was a silly joke.” He added lamely.

  A change of tack was urgently required to take her mind off those damned pyjamas. “As its Friday my darling I thought you and me could go clubbing tonight. Eh you fancy a dance about?”

  Auburn was still pouting, not convinced.

  “Oh come on let’s have some fun, just you and me, say yes!”

  Auburn’s only other passion, in fact interest, besides computers was music. She was an aficionado of rock music, heavy rock music, and loved to dance and leap about to it. Her late father had discovered this fact quite by accident.

  Auburn was having one of her, in those days, frequent tantrums, and nothing appeared to be easing the situation. So he had left her in her bedroom kicking the floor and gone into the drawing room to calm himself. To counteract her screaming, he had put on a record, King Crimson, being his choice.

  He was of an age of the rock bands and had amassed a wonderful collection of the best of 60s and 70s rock bands. Ten minutes later Auburn joined him in the drawing room, and started to leap about energetically to the sounds, but what was truly remarkable was that she sang all the words, and was word perfect.

  Auburn’s face softened as she actually looked up at Freddy. “Oh yes it’s been an age, oh yes please!” She then swiftly lowered her eyes and concentrated on drinking her coffee again.

  “Well I’m off to work, I’ll see you..,” He paused, “Aren’t you working today, or have you changed your day. Gosh, can you find your way to work, do you want me to wait for you?”

  Auburn put down her mug with a big sigh. “That is four questions at once. I am not starting until 10 today. You go Freddy, I do know where the library is, but thank you.”

  They decided to go to The Blue Lamp Nightclub because their music was the best to leap around to, although Freddy had manipulated their decision somewhat, wanting to see if Tom might show up there. He hadn’t had any prior information that he was about to, but he had a feeling, and anyway Friday night at the Blue Lamp was always a great start to the weekend.

  Auburn couldn’t wait a minute longer so by 10 O’clock that evening, Freddy unable to take any more of her constant pestering gave in to her demands, and off they set heading for the club.

  They got in easily, and because of the early hour even secured a great table close to the dance area, which suited Freddy allowing him to see clearly who was buying drinks at the bar and also who was dancing. If Tom showed he’d see him. Auburn also loved being so close to the dance floor, as she could slip onto it without having to weave her way around loads of nuisance tables and people blocking her way.

  Freddy was quite happy to sit, sip, and watch or perhaps even ogle, the fit young men gyrating around the floor. But ten minutes of sitting and Auburn could resist no longer, before one could utter a ‘yippee,’ she had slipped onto the floor and was off. Supertramp were playing, a perfect start for her. Allowing the music to flow over her, she was briefly free from the confines of her illness. Unrestrained she shook and nodded her head, like a dog at play, her wild hair flying about her face. Spinning around, this way and that, her arms waving madly in the air, she sang along at the top of her voice. This was her heaven, total freedom, so often desired, but rarely obtained by her, but tonight was her night of unbridled pleasure. She had soon made a space, a circle around herself, as her nearest neighbours, in danger of being flicked painfully in the face by her alarming hair, had discreetly moved over to give her room.

  Freddy had already downed a couple of drinks and was on his third laughing at watching Auburn enjoying herself. It was great to see her having so much fun without anyone pointing her out, or worse still making fun of her. He really loved his cousin, you knew where you were with her, no games, no untruths.

  A good-looking boy, probably the same age as he was, crossed his line of sight heading for the bar, and for a moment his horniness took control. He felt so randy he had to score tonight, and that delightful thought predictably stirred him, as hurriedly he crossed his legs.

  Deliberately he looked away from that boy and into the crowd standing at the bar, all urgently desiring service, and there he was. For an older man he was gorgeous, being tall, well built, with short swept back thick dark hair, and with a designer stubble perfectly complementing his chiselled features. He remembered now that he had met Tom on two occasions, but both had been brief, as Pete had not wanted him queering his pitch, so to speak. Freddy decided he would let him buy his drink before attempting to catch his eye on his retreat from the bar.

  “Hoi, over hear, helloo, helloo!” Freddy called out, his voice r
ising and ending up sounding overly camp and girlie, but hell it had done the trick; Tom stopped dead in his tracks.

  Tom looked at someone waving and screeching madly, and checking to his left and right, decided it must be aimed at him. He roughly pushed through the dancers and headed towards him to see what was on offer. Freddy greeted him and introduced himself explaining he was a close friend of Pete’s, and explaining they had very briefly met before. Tom cautiously smiled and nodded vigorously, but in truth he didn’t recognise him. He wondered if this was something to do with Pete or just a happy coincidence. Nevertheless he decided to have one drink with this Freddy and see how things progressed, and if nothing better materialised well it would be Freddy’s lucky night. He sat down and did the usual preamble of what did he do, and where did he live, and how was Pete. That was his best line and gave him an opportunity to gauge from Freddy’s reaction whether he knew anything. Freddy, flattered, was far too busy selling himself, and giggling like a naughty little girl to realise he was being played.

  Tom while busy chatting, gave Freddy the professional once over. Although he was possibly older than he was searching for tonight, he was nice and thin, and sweet, and of course good looking in a true gay way. Whereas his strength had always lain in his straight appearance, therefore able to attract both sexes at will. It could work out tonight with Freddy, if nothing better showed soon.

  He bought Freddy another drink, followed by another two, and by now Freddy had quite forgotten the purpose of his mission. Pete, Pete who? No tomorrow would be soon enough. He could definitely see what he saw in Tom, and fancied finding out exactly how good he was tonight, and of course that way he could ask him about Pete later of course.

  Sweat soaked, legs aching, Auburn was spent and weaved her way through the crowd back to the table desperate for a drink. She was within a couple of metres of the table when she saw him, bold as brass sitting in her bloody seat, the cheek of it!

  Auburn put out her hands in front of her as if that would somehow stop her forward impulsion, and desperately dug her toes into the ground, but still she moved forward. Suddenly looking over in her direction he caught sight of this strange woman arms flaying almost upon him, before he suddenly recognised who she was.

  She screamed at the top of her lungs, but the massive speakers encasing the dance area easily drowned her sounds, so no one cared, no one came running to her rescue.

  She couldn’t stop, so she did the next best thing, she accelerated. She bumped her hip into the side of the table, yelped as she bounced off it, and ran for the nearest exit. The nearest exit was the front entrance, and as she rushed headlong out the door, she almost collided with Orla Gray.

  Orla watched her flee down the street, and her heart went out to her. She would have run after her but she was not alone, but out with her friend Lizzie, her girlfriend, who tugged at her arm to come on.

  Freddy was also in two minds as to whether he should go after her, suddenly remembering the reason he was here in the first place, or should he stay and get to know Tom. Tom made his mind up for him by resting his sizeable hand heavily on his shoulder before slipping it around the back of his neck and stroking it. For someone with such large hands he was amazingly gentle. It did the trick in favour of Tom, as Freddy turned to him and smiled.

  Tom leaned in to him and whispered in his left ear, “Think it’s about time we left. How about we have another drink back at my place, you’ll like it!”

  Once inside his flat, Tom gave Freddy another large drink before pulling him roughly towards his bedroom.

  Tom had luckily fallen asleep, so very gingerly Freddy slid off the bed and grabbing his clothes off the floor tiptoed out in to the living room, quickly dressed and headed home.

  What had begun as great fun and sexually stimulating, had rapidly turned into a violent nightmare for him, as he found out that beneath that thin veil of respectability he outwardly showed, Tom was a violent savage. He felt used and abused, and sore into the bargain, but he decided not to share this with anyone for the present.

  He limped home and straight into the bathroom. After a long hard soak in the bath he felt a bit better. Lying in the bath afforded him the time to ponder that old chestnut, of where his life was heading, what would happen to him when his looks faded and so on? Having wallowed in self-pity for a full half hour or more, he finally looked beyond his own paltry problems and to the greater worry of where exactly was dear Pete. Yes it was true he did vanish for the odd day, when he had found a new love, and all other thoughts but carnal flew out the window, but to not call after this length of time was totally out of character.

  At least Freddy could console himself with the fact that although he had taken a beating last night, he now knew where Tom lived, and Auburn would be impressed with him. ‘Auburn’ as soon as he had uttered her name his heart jumped. In his usual selfish way he had honestly forgotten the last time he’d clapped his eyes on her she was running as if the very devil was chasing after her.

  He did the naked dash into his bedroom and changed into some clean clothes, then tiptoed towards Auburn’s room. Holding his breath, he gingerly turned the handle and opened the door a tad, and poked his head in.

  He couldn’t help it, he let out a high pitched screamed at the sight that greeted him.

  Auburn was sitting bolt upright in bed, naked (well her top half anyway), and waving a baseball bat above her head.

  “God it’s you!” she cursed loudly back at him. “What time is it?” She asked lowering the bat and dropping it on the bed next to her.

  “Yes I...” he finished with a “whoa!” as he saw her breasts and looked towards the window. Of course she had breasts, but it was just he had never thought about her as being a real woman if that made sense, it did to him anyway.

  He tried again, this time with eyes politely averted he asked, “You’re ok, oh thank goodness, and where did you get those breasts, No I mean bat, bat! Where did you get that...anyway why are you naked? Could you, you know...” he faulted waving his hands vaguely around to signify covering herself up.

  “I was hot, must have taken my pyjamas off.” She replied almost defensively. Suddenly she tittered. “Am I the wrong shape for you cousin?”

  “Just stop it. It’s too much for this hour of the morning. Get dressed and I’ll start with the breakfast, and, well hurry and I’ll tell you all then.”

  “Yes, but what time is it?”

  “Oh I dunno, seven, eight, does it matter I’m starving, so you want to eat too?”

  She nodded.

  He hesitated at the door and turned back to her. “You are ok aren’t you, I’d never forgive myself if anything, well... oh you know, right breakfast coming up!” he said closing the door swiftly behind him.

  Auburn walked into the kitchen ten minutes later fully dressed in a white t-shirt and faded jeans, her favourite combination and the easiest to put on, and bare footed, she hated shoes.

  “Mumm!” she called out as she plopped down onto one of the wooden chairs.

  “That smells truly scrumptious!” she commented sniffing the gorgeous aroma of bacon, as she turned her head to get a better look at Freddy busily cooking a feast for them both.

  With a flourish, he placed her plate down in front of her.

  “Voila ma Cherie!” he cooed.

  Auburn grinned as she examined the meal. “Oh delicious, crispy bacon and a sausage, and oh mushrooms too,” she said tapping each item with her fork.

  “And eggs and yes, beans. Oops that could be trouble later!” She giggled as she tucked in desperate to demolish this feast with relish.

  She had always loved a cooked breakfast, and was herself quite an accomplished cook, although she mainly stopped at breakfasts. She could prepare a Sunday roast for example, but the rigmarole involved in doing every specific item in her own set order, without exception, could
involve the passage of many hours, so she stuck to breakfasts to the relief and patience of her family.

  They ate in silence until with plates empty they both sat back and sighed in unison. Auburn followed the silence by emitting a loud belch followed by a giggle.

  “That was one of your best Freddy!”

  “Yes I think it was, I’m full but would you like some toast now, we’ve got Rach’s mum’s marmalade to go with it?”

  “Ooh yes, maybe just two slices, I am rather full too,” she replied before emitting yet another loud burp followed by a titter. “Gosh those beans already!”

  “Huh, just make sure they stay up that end!” Freddy retorted as he got up and put a couple of slices of bread in the toaster, before sitting down again.

  “Look about last night. I honestly forgot how you disliked Tom, but before I could say anything you’d gone.”

  “Yes I was shocked, he’s a horrible man I had to get away, how could you Freddy?”

  “I had to....”

  She actually looked up and glared back. “But why?”

  Freddy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well, it was some time ago, but I remembered I had met Tom briefly with Pete in a club. Might have even been The Blue Lamp.”

  “I hate him, he’s a creep and a bully!”

  “Yes I know, but...”

  “And he knew Pete, I knew it!” she said, “He’s a bastard!” she added as an afterthought.

  “He certainly is,” Freddy muttered under his breath. “But the reason I was speaking to him and getting to know him, is at least I know where he lives, thought you might still be interested.”

  “Well?”

  “He lives in Trodds Lane, couldn’t be a more apt place for him!”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You obviously haven’t heard about our infamous murderer Rubin Trodds, he’s a celebrity in Bournemouth, one of the more sinister tourist attractions, visitors flock to see where he lived and did his terrible deeds.”