Trodds Lane

by Nick Roteman

  In a final moment of seriousness, he promised he had not killed Jamie.

  “But you did go out with him?” Freddy blurted out.

  Tom leaned in to Freddy and said softly. “I met him with a friend of his in the club, yes we had a few drinks together, yes we had a good laugh. Nothing happened, just because the cops have me on CCTV with them Freddy doesn’t mean I killed him, they’re desperate to close this case. I walked with them for a street or two then parted and went home alone.”

  “I believe you, if they’re all like that Inspector who called, we’d all be strung up!”

  “Exactly why it saved anymore stupid questioning, you just saying we were together, no harm done and they can go catch the real killer, job done!”

  They left the restaurant together.

  “You fancy a drive somewhere nice, it’s such a great day and I’ve something to show you!”

  “Ooh what?”

  “You have to come with me first.” Tom said.

  They walked arm in arm in the general direction of Tom’s flat, until halfway down one of the side streets lined with parked cars, Tom halted next to a black Porsche Boxter. Slipping his left hand into his pocket he clicked the key, and the lights lit up, and the car blipped just the once.

  Freddy looked at the car then straight back at Tom. “No, you’re kidding me! Tell me, tell me, oh god!”

  They both jumped in and with the hood down they took off, heading in the direction of the New Forrest National Park. They drove to a secluded parking area famous for walkers and the gentle art of dogging and parked. Taking out a rug from the boot, they made off to find a dry flat area unseen from the car park. Tom was deliberately gentle with Freddy this time in an effort to prove this was how he normally was, kind, loving, and generous.

  They got back to Freddy’s place early evening, and so smitten was he after such a wonderful day out he totally forgot about Auburn and invited Tom in for a drink.

  They were cuddled up on the couch when the front door banged shut and Auburn called out from the hallway, “Freddy where are you, I had such a good lesson this evening, I think I should apply for my...”

  She stopped the final word sticking in her throat as she bounced into the living room and saw them together.

  “Hi Auburn, Tom gave me a lift home, he has just bought a....”

  She shrieked turned about and fled the room before he could finish. They heard the front door bang shut again, with this time Auburn on the outside.

  In a blind panic she chose to run upstairs rather than out.

  Rachel, on opening her door, was shocked at the sight that greeted her. Auburn was in such a state shivering with fear, or anger, and mumbling incoherently, that she pulled her inside and hugging her close led her into her bedroom. She sat on the bed next to her and did her best to comfort her, muttering sweet nothings in her ear and just holding her tight, and Auburn allowed her, until at length she had calmed down enough to explain what was wrong.

  Rachel gave her a strong mug of tea and put her to bed in her bed. She herself went and lay down on Peter’s bed. She lay there for an age wide-awake, wondering if Tom possibly had anything to do with the disappearance of Peter, even though according to those emails he was fine; something just didn’t add up.

  Auburn was late for work the following morning, not daring to go back downstairs until she heard the door closing, and peeping out of a window overlooking the front managed to see Tom and Freddy walking along the pavement together.

  Tom was on good form and decided he would spend the morning shopping. Now he had the money he could buy some expensive clothes and perhaps a couple of suites, he loved wearing suites. He felt with a suite on he could go anywhere and be accepted.

  By lunchtime he was exhausted having spent nearly £1100, all on three fabulous woollen suites, just the leg lengths had to be finished off and they would be ready for collection tomorrow afternoon.

  He found a café down the road with seating outside, and suddenly realising just how hungry he was, ordered an all-day breakfast with coffee and toast, and happily sat back content to watch the people walking past.

  His phone suddenly rang and absentmindedly he answered it.

  “Hi Tom, how are you, haven’t seen you in an age where have you been?”

  It took him a second to recognise it was Natalie, his benefactor before Alice had come on the scene, he would have to be careful.

  “Hi I’m good, how are you? Sorry I haven’t been in touch lately but I’m actually away at the moment, business you know suddenly seems to have taken off.”

  “Oh that’s a shame, but good for you, when will you be back, I’ve missed you, you know, but I’m glad your work is going well,” she said sweetly.

  “Yeah I’ve been offered a job in...up in London, so I’m working up here in sunny London, it makes a change from Bournemouth. Yeah, so how are you Natalie?” he pulled a face.

  “Oh the same, life goes on, but I do miss you!”

  Tom’s breakfast arrived and the waitress put in down on the table in front of him, he smiled up at her.

  “Look Natalie, I’ve got a call on the other line, must go. I’ll ring you very soon, promise, you take care ok, bye!” He hung up before she could say anymore, what a call that was, he had completely forgotten about her with his new found wealth.

  He instantly forgot her as he tucked into his meal with relish and had almost finished it when his phone rang again. He picked it up but not before looking this time to see who was calling, it was Alice; what a day this was turning into.

  After another short embarrassing call, he paid his bill and left. His day seemed to have suddenly soured. She had wanted to know when he was coming home to her, to which he had to reply by saying it wouldn’t be long, and then he had to waffle on about how well he thought his new business was shaping up. This was becoming a nightmare with her, perhaps too expensive a price to pay just to keep solvent. Then he thought about his precious car and his wonderful new suites. Perhaps he was just tired, he mustn’t be too hasty, after all this was a great little earner and all he had to do was lie, which was second nature to him and please her ever so often, which was not quite so pleasant but doable under the circumstances.

  He again cut the call short by using the same excuse that someone was on the other line, and promised to ring her again tonight; so he had a few hours to come up with a great story.

  And there was still more hassle to come his way that day, as that evening Freddy rang warning him Auburn knew he was not with him that night as he had told the police, and he was worried she might tell them. He told him he had tried to reason with her, and for the present he was confident he had persuaded her to say nothing. Tom calmly told him to keep an eye on her, but inside he was absolutely fuming with rage.

  He stayed in that night and sank the best part of a bottle of whisky, before crashing out.

  Awaking early from his drunken stupor, he stumbled out the door still in his old clothes and got into his car. His head was throbbing so he put the hood down to get some air and drove.

  The drive did help clear his head and by the time he had parked near to Freddy’s place, he was feeling much better. He rang Freddy’s front door bell. Auburn was already up having her breakfast before going off to the library, and opened the door. Emitting a shriek she tried to slam the door shut on him, but he easily pushed it back open so she let go and fled down the short corridor and into her bedroom, just managing to lock the door before he was pounding his fists on it.

  Freddy still blurry-eyed came out of his room, saw what was happening and instinctively ran towards Tom. He was far from what one could call a brave man but when push came to shove, he was there for his little cousin, blood being thicker than water, or in this case his love for Tom.

  He lasted but a minute in this uneven contest, and flew
backwards through the air landing with a sickening thud against the wall several feet away. He slumped to the floor like a rag doll and was still. With a couple of massive kicks, the lock gave way and the bedroom door swung open, he was in.

  The room was empty, but the large sash window behind the bed was fully open; the bird had flown the coup.

  This being an old and well-built Victorian building, it had a wrought iron fire escape running from the top floor down to the road below. This time Auburn once again in a blind panic, had decided to follow the path of gravity and slipped all the way to the ground. Luckily she was already dressed ready for work so she ran straight there, deciding it was as safe a place as any to be right now.

  Luckily Oli had opened up earlier than usual today as he had a mountain of paperwork to wade through, in preparing the quarterly figures and was surprised when she bounded through the door. The library was her sanctuary, her life, almost the only place she felt at ease and dare it be uttered, felt normal. She refused to let this morning’s horrors invade this happy space, so putting that behind her, as only someone like she could, she smiled sweetly at him. Calmly she asked if he fancied a cup of coffee and it being her he just said yes rather than ask why she was here so early. She nodded contently to him, returned with a mug of coffee and left him to his work. Unfortunately as she had left before Tom broke into her room, she hadn’t seen how brave her cousin had been, nor in what state he was now in, or she would certainly not have been quite so content.

  Tom was still enraged, furious that someone as stupid and as awkward as her had eluded capture. He had also sobered up somewhat and ignoring the plight of poor Freddy, chose to leave in case his heavy handedness had been heard, and the police were already on their way. The flats were solid, the walls thick, and actually no one had heard the fracas, but he probably did the sensible thing in fleeing the building, and it certainly saved Freddy from any more violence.

  Driving back to his place he actually found a parking spot almost directly opposite and inside he packed his trusty man-sized holdall, and glanced at his watch, it was already 9am.

  He rang Alice. “Hi Alice, how are you?”

  “Annoyed with you, you didn’t ring me last night.”

  “Sorry about that darling, the meeting ran on,” he said, “And well you know...”

  “I forgive you, because I love you. So what’s up?”

  “What’s up is I’ve finished and am on my way back to you. Should be with you around lunchtime, is that ok?”

  “Is that ok, of course it is, oh wonderful!” she cooed. “Oh and another bit of wonderful news is that darling Phil has regained consciousness and is well on the mend.”

  “What!”

  “He has no memory of that night, which the doctors say is quite normal!”

  “Oh that’s probably for the best. I’m pleased for you!” Thank you god he mouthed. He said his goodbyes and hung up. This was working out rather well after all. The shops would be open now so he could drive, pick up his suites, and onto Weybridge. It was best he was not around for a while just in case, but an added bonus was bloody Phil not remembering anything about his beating. He still had to deal with Auburn, but he knew where she was, another day would do, he doubted she would go to the police.

  As is often the case when least expected coincidences play their part as if being the norm, so it was today.

  Tom had parked outside the shop and had just climbed out of his Porsche, when by chance Natalie drove by. She did a double take on seeing him, but he was too busy staring in the window of the clothes shop and failed to see her. She turned her car around and parked a few cars down from his, and sat watching. She was fuming he had lied to her, he’d probably been in Bournemouth all the time, and how in hell had he managed to be driving a Porsche; he was always broke and sponging off her. He was handsome, attentive, and great in bed and she knew that came at a price, so she had never minded him taking money off her. He had done wonders for her ego, and being seen with him hanging on his arm was worth every penny she had lent him. Although substitute the word lend for give; for as any parent will attest to, there is no such thing as lending money to children, they never repay it, and so it was with her relationship with Tom, but in her mind’s eye she had allowed for that, this today was something else.

  Tom emerged carrying his suites and folded them carefully into his car roaring off. Natalie drove a powerful BMW, so had no problem in following. The bastard she thought, I’m going to find out who is the new keeper of the purse, for she was under no illusion that Tom’s idea of working for a living involved a rich woman, as she herself was.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Auburn and Oli had both stopped at the same time for lunch and as it was a warm day, had taken their sandwiches outside to eat them together. Sat on the low wall circling the central statue they talked, happily wrapped up in their own world. Auburn suddenly remembered what she had meant to ask him.

  “Oli, my car’s finally ready to be collected tonight. Can you come with me so I can drive it back, please? I have ordered a resident’s parking badge, so I can park it in my street, everything is ready.”

  “Gosh that’s good, but I have to go to a council meeting tonight. Could we perhaps pick the car up tomorrow, lunchtime?”

  “But it’s ready today! Oh never mind, I must go!” She said as she stood up and stomped off back to the library. He watched her until she entered the building. He loved her pixie face, her bright green eyes, her dimples in her cheeks, and her hair streaming out behind her as she moved like now was a delight. He’d never really felt like this before, it was wonderful, she was wonderful.

  She spied Moira in the kitchen having a cup of tea and warmly greeted her. Taking a seat next to her, she asked her if she was free today after work.

  “For what my dear?” Moira asked smiling sweetly, as she put her cup down on the table and glanced across at her.

  “My new car is ready to pick up, and I need someone with a driving licence to come with me.” She blurted out.

  “Sounds very exciting, and what car have you bought, may I ask?”

  “Yes but are you free!” She insisted.

  Moira smiled; there was little or no subtlety where Auburn was concerned, and as for general small talk well forget it. “Yes I think I am. Where is this car my dear, and won’t you tell me what you’ve bought?”

  Auburn ignored the question. “It’s close to where I live, we can go straight there from here, is that alright with you, oh please say yes?”

  “Yes, and I finish today at 4.30, will that suite?”

  Auburn quite out of character leant towards her, gave her a peck on her cheek, and jumping to her feet was out the door all in the one movement. Moira just smiled and picked up her cup to wash it up. Forget her actual age; she was just a child at heart, twenty-three going on fourteen, as awkward yet as engaging as a teenager, with all the angst and hormones thrown into the mix.

  Four minutes before their agreed time, Auburn was standing by the door waiting. They walked arm in arm to the garage, with Auburn being unusually communicative. The car had pride of place on the front forecourt, gleaming in the afternoon sun.

  The first thing to be done was to fit L Plates to it, which she accomplished with alacrity, before leaping in and starting the engine. The salesman did ask if she required him to go through the various switches, but impatient to leave she hastily declined by saying she remembered exactly where everything was and what each switch operated, and she probably did.

  The drive back to the house was uneventful and Moira was very impressed with her careful driving. Luck was on their side as a car pulled out of a parking spot literally in front of the building. She was even more amazed when Auburn parked her car in one smooth movement as if she had been driving for years, and couldn’t help saying so, much to the obvious delight of her.

  W
ith a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth she said. “I could drive you home Moira if it’s too far to walk!”

  “Yes you could, but how would you get the car back home afterwards my dear?”

  “That’s easy, you could accompany me back in it!”

  “Yes but then....” She stopped realising Auburn was grinning.

  “Oh I see, you’re teasing me huh, cheeky!”

  “I can make jokes you know, I’m learning I’m not simple, I just don’t understand them or the point of most jokes.”

  “Far from it my dear. So shall we leave the car here? - and I will walk home.”

  Auburn nodded almost reluctantly and opened her door, but held back. “Will you come up to the flat with me I don’t like going inside alone anymore, will you?”

  “Of course my dear.” Moira replied getting out of the passenger’s side.

  Auburn didn’t think for a minute Tom would be in the flat, but she felt a lot safer if Moira was with her, just in case, but she didn’t relate all of this to her.

  She opened the front door slowly and glanced inside before opening it wide, indicating for Moira to enter first.

  The flat appeared deserted, but Auburn did peer fleetingly into the living room before asking Moira into the kitchen. She put the kettle on and went off to her bedroom. The door was wide open and the lock, what was left of it, was hanging by a thread from it, but the room was empty. Returning to the kitchen she had to pass Freddy’s bedroom, she thought she head a feint sound coming from inside. The door was shut and she hesitated, her hand hovering over the handle, could she, would she, no perhaps not on her own.

  “Moira, Moira!” she called out.

  Moira came rushing to answer her call.

  “What’s up, what is it Auburn?”

  “We need to go in here, we do...”

  Moira frowned, “Are you sure, whose room is this?”