by Nick Roteman
Auburn was free and alone the next day and happily spent the morning playing on her computer. After a spot of lunch which today comprised of nothing more exciting than left overs, she decided it was time to pay a visit.
She walked purposefully down Trodds Lane and boldly pressed the bell before taking a short step backwards. Yes, she had looked up the name Rubin Trodds and had eagerly read all about him. Where others would have been totally repulsed with reading about his exploits, she was just fascinated especially with all the gory details. This was a fitting place for Tom Phipps to live after all he was a monster too. She was surprised at how fast her heart was beating and the palms of her hands were moist as she waited on the pavement.
The door opened a tad and he peered out, saw who it was and opened the door wider to beckon her in.
Closing the door he followed after her. “Go straight on to the kitchen, the door off to the left, but of course you know that don’t you?” he sneered.
There was a small wooden table in the kitchen and two chairs, one of which was already occupied by a mountain of a man.
“Sit!” Tom commanded pointing to the unoccupied one.
He grimaced at the other man. “This Wayne is the delightful Auburn, the bane of my fucking life.”
“Well do join us darling, I’ve heard all about you, you’re a one aren’t you?” he growled.
Auburn sat opposite but stared as usual at the table. “I am the one and only!” she sang softly, remembering some silly song lyric. She realised how calm she now felt, she was ready. Ready for these bullies, convinced any friend of Tom’s was bound to be nasty and cruel.
The room fell silent as Tom first insisted on making tea for them.
She waited until he had finished and handed out the mugs before speaking again. “I’m here to talk about why you killed my friend and what has happened to Peter. Have you killed him too?” She boldly asked daring to glance at Tom.
Tom’s reply was a short laugh. “See what I mean Wayne, she’s a bloody gem, just walks into my home and accuses me, us even, of murder!”
“She’s got balls this one Tommy, I’ll give her that!”
Tom nodded in agreement. “So what you reckon I should do with her now she’s here?”
“Well Tommy if you’ve already done in her friend as she says, you might as well do her too eh, and save all the hassle!” He joked.
“It’s not a laughing matter,” Auburn shouted out. “Why did you have to kill Rachel, why Rachel?” Auburn persisted.
Tom had had enough already. “Because she was pissing me off, just like you are!” he hissed.
He winked at Wayne. “Now as you’ve played into my hands I’m not going to let you go, what you reckon on that eh? And what’s to stop me killing you here right now. Who knows you’re here, bet no one does? And Wayne here ain’t going to say a dickey bird, are you matey?”
“Very funny!” Auburn retorted. Undeterred she continued. “Where is Peter, just tell me the truth. All you men just blatantly lie; I just don’t understand the need for it. So where is he, come on I want to know?”
Wayne had heard enough, noisily pushing back his chair he stood up to go. He towered above Auburn, who wisely kept her eyes averted.
“Right better get on, places to go you know. You don’t need me anymore with her do you?”
“Who’s her?” Auburn piped up.
Tom suddenly banged his fists on the table making her start. “Shut the fuck up, we’ll continue our talk, you and me, when I’ve seen my mate out, so just shut it till then and sit there.”
At the front door Wayne hesitated a second. “She’s a right loony that one. Why’s she so certain you murdered this Rachel, whoever she is, not heard of her before, and this Peter chap?”
“Look don’t worry mate she gets confused, she’s not too bright in the head this one, you get my meaning. I’ll have a proper talk with her now and I’m sure we can sort out whatever seems to be bothering her, ok.” He assured Wayne as best he could.
“Hey no worries just curious. Anyway matey must go, see you in the pub later yeah!”
Tom closed the front door and went back to the kitchen. She was the last person he needed around here accusing him, he had to shut her up and be well away before the police came looking but he had to be clever too.
He tried a change of tack, perhaps he could reason with her in some way, after all he had easily won over Alice, and she was far more intelligent.
“How about another cup of tea,” he tried. “I’m having one, then we can have a proper discussion, see if we can sort out your worries. I don’t want to fight you, I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding.”
She sat in silence ignoring his words quietly examining her hands until he had sat down opposite her, tea to hand.
He began softly. “Why are you making these wild accusations in front of others about me and Pete, and about this Rachel person, what you hope to achieve by embarrassing me? I haven’t done anything.”
“Don’t say this Rachel as if she was nothing, she was my friend and you killed her, you need to see the police. You need to be punished, and you will!” Auburn warned him.
“Stop saying things like I killed her, where’s your proof, what have you got that makes you think this? - you’re just plum crazy woman!”
“You sent me a picture, remember.” She mumbled back at him.
“And you brought it with you?”
“Don’t be so stupid, you know you erased it from my screen immediately. But I am not as stupid as you think and I will make the police believe what you have done, I will.” She replied. “And I won’t give up, you killed my best friend and I really liked her and I will miss her, people don’t realise I can!”
Tom finally lost his temper, “Shut up, I’ve had enough of this!” he shouted taking a swipe at one of the cups, which flew off the table to land with a crash and a shattering of bits on the floor.
Auburn threw herself backwards in her chair in alarm, just as he was up, out of his chair, and at her side before she could react further. He pulled her bodily from her chair and with her legs dangling, he held her in a vice like grip his huge hands around her thin neck. She vainly attempted to swing her legs frantically trying to kick him, but he held her away from his body almost at arm’s length. Another minute or two and she would run out of breath.
The doorbell rang followed almost instantly by several loud repeated knocks on his front door. That red mist had descended and he had given in to it, he aimed to strangle her, squeeze every last drop of life from her. Somehow he managed to control himself and pull back from the abyss and away from his deadly intent.
He dropped her back onto her feet but they gave way, and she fell onto the cold wooden floor. Like an automaton, he headed in the direction of the banging. He flung open the front door ready to yell or punch who was there. Ash stood there holding up her warrant card, a grinning Simpson a step behind.
“Yes?” Tom growled, eyes narrowed, chest still heaving, but desperately attempting to control himself.
“Yes indeed Mr Phipps, may we come in?” Simpson retorted pushing past his Sergeant and Tom and walking inside.
“This is not convenient!” Tom warned turning to him.
“Never mind Mr Phipps I’m in now and it is urgent. Either here or down the station, your choice Sir!” Simpson stated keeping his eyes fixed on Tom, praying he might be just stupid enough to attempt to run off.
Just then they heard a feint cry emanating from within and Simpson showed a mean turn of foot by dashing towards the kitchen closely followed by Tom and Ash.
Auburn had struggled to stand up, dazed she was swaying gently as if caught in a breeze when in bounced Simpson.
“Auburn, you ok?” Ash following called out to her, as Simpson gently put his arms protectively around her bod
y to support her. Ash pushed past Tom and held him back.
“What happened love?” Simpson asked, for once genuinely concerned, as he helped her to a chair.
Ash had now stepped behind Tom again and positioned herself blocking the doorway in case he tried bolting.
Tom stood there, there was no point saying anything, she could do the explaining and he would respond to her crazy story.
Auburn tried to free herself. “I’m alright, I am, I need to go,” she said as she managed to push away Simpson’s arms.
Simpson turned on Tom. “What happened here?”
Auburn stood up and walked towards the door, Tom moved aside to let her pass, but Ash did not.
“Where are you going, you ok? Did this man hurt you in any way?”
Auburn lowered her gaze and shook her head slowly. “I want to go home, I don’t like it here!” She stated. He’s a nasty bully, I must go.”
“Are you sure, we can give you a lift home, just tell us what happened here, I’ll happily arrest him!” Simpson answered, more in hope than expectation.
“No just let me go, I must get out, must.”
“We were just talking, weren’t we Auburn. I’ll catch you later!” Tom said smiling at her.
“You sure you don’t want to tell us what happened here?” Simpson called out one final time.
“Nothing.” Auburn replied.
Ash moved out of the way allowing her to pass. “Are you sure we can’t at least give you a lift?”
Auburn ignoring her words walked to the front door, and opening it first time without the usual fumbling, disappeared outside.
She took several deep breaths, breathing in the cool fresh air. That had been awful. She thought one’s whole life was supposed to flash past just before one died. It hadn’t, and she was half disappointed by that yet relieved she was still alive.
She walked on hoping she was heading in the right direction. Her throat was sore and swallowing hurt but she had done the right thing in just walking away, there was a time and a place, and she would chose the place. He was a bully and all bullies met their comeuppance but before then she needed to know why Rachel had had to die and also the whereabouts of Peter. She was convinced in spite of everybody believing he was in Brazil he too was dead. If she couldn’t convince the police of his guilt, then it fell to her to avenge her friends; she would have to kill Tom as punishment, an eye for an eye, it was that simple.
After that performance with Auburn, Simpson arrested Tom on suspicion of the murder of Natalie Lamont, and he was now in one of their Interrogation Rooms awaiting their pleasure.
Ash and Simpson entered the room and sat down facing Tom and his solicitor.
Ash began the proceedings. “Is it true Mr Phipps you knew Natalie Lamont?”
“Yeah we went out together, a few times, as friends.”
“As friends,” Simpson repeated the words.
“Yes I’ll say it again, we were just friends. The guys I hang out with don’t like eating in fancy restaurants, I do but don’t like eating on my own, so like I say as friends, a few times not that many.”
“Interesting, and as friends did you often stay over at her place?” Simpson commented, leaning forward in his seat to stare directly at Tom.
Tom smiled back at him. “Who told you that, one of those nosy neighbours? Their word against mine I think.”
Simpson continued. “Who usually paid when you were out?”
“We took it in turns, fairest way between friends.” He replied, emphasizing the word ‘friends’ to Simpson.
Simpson glanced across at Ash and nodded.
She produced a list of credit card payments on Natalie’s card and showed it to Tom.
“I am showing, for the tape, a record of Natalie Lamont’s credit card statements for the past three months. It shows a restaurant bill on average three times a week. We can get copies of the actual receipts to show the meals were for two people.” She said as she leant back in her chair.
Simpson took up the thread. “So Mr Phipps, how many times did you eat out in one week together, if you paid the other three times? You certainly like eating out!”
Tom stopped smiling at Simpson. “Who says I was out with her on all those days, you got proof it was me?”
“It will take my Sergeant a while to go around all those restaurants with a picture of you, but I reckon we know the answer, so let’s cut the crap now!”
Tom turned to his solicitor and whispered in his ear, the solicitor listened before nodding back at him.
“My client has answered all your valid questions. I don’t think there is anything more to tell you. I suggest you let him leave now or officially charge him.” The solicitor said as he and Tom pushed back their chairs and stood up.
Simpson and Ash also left the station but they headed for the nearest pub, The Black Sheep.
Over a pint and a large white wine, they discussed the case.
“I knew we didn’t have enough actual evidence but I hope we made him think we are hot on his trail.” Simpson suggested. “Just enough to make a tiny mistake, that’s all we need Ash.”
“And there’s Auburn, what was really happening there when we arrived?” Ash added.
“She could tell us a lot more; we will need to question her again.”
Ash nodded, “If you press her too hard she’ll clam up, that’s her way of dealing with pressure.” She warned.
“You some kind of expert now? That’s up to her if she won’t tell then it’s not our problem, as simple as that.”
Ash pulled a face. “Until we find her dead!”
“Possibly, and tomorrow the world might end!”
Ash gave up. “What’s next Gov, we know he’s the common denominator between all the murders but....”
“Tomorrow my dear Ash we start on a list of his seedy friends, well those that are left. Someone has done us a favour on two of them!”
“Yes that’s what confuses me. Surely he wouldn’t kill two of his close friends, what for, that’s madness?”
“True, but we won’t waste time on searching for a super crime fighter!” Simpson said as he downed his pint.
“Your round Sergeant I think. I’m just out for a quick puff, while you get them in.”
“Some things never change,” Ash muttered as she went up to the bar.
Chapter Twenty
Auburn should have gone to work this morning but when she awoke, she felt such an awful emptiness inside of her. The remnants of that last dream on waking were so vivid in her mind that she almost believed it had actually occurred. It had been about Rachel and Peter, and having a curry party with them. But they were not here anymore and that made her sad, she missed them, especially Rachel.
She dragged herself off to the kitchen and cooked herself her favourite breakfast, bacon and eggs, assuming food would fill the emptiness, but today it failed. She had to do something, she had it in her mind now that Rachel and Peter were together, and both were obviously imploring her to find where his body was.
She suddenly remembered Oli she hadn’t even bothered to see if he was up. She slowly climbed the stairs but his room was empty, presumably he had already left for work, and without waking her, typical. She really didn’t want to be here anymore, her hopes of sex with him after cooking him such a welcoming meal, had again been dashed, and she hated him now. She was desperate to go back home to Freddy’s.
Feeling saddened and lost, she wandered into the living room and plopped down into an armchair staring into space for an age. Suddenly her mobile began singing ‘Poison’, at maximum volume and she awoke from her reverie.
Jumping up she ran to the stairs and up, only managing to trip once on the way up to retrieve it from her bedroom.
“Hello, hello!” she said excitedly
into it.
“Hiya Gorgeous how are you, and more important where are you?” Came the reply.
“Oh Freddy come and rescue me, I’m so unhappy oh and bored. Anyway I want to go home, I’m at Oli’s house and I hate it here.”
“Oh Honey, home with me or home to Stell?” he quizzed.
“With you silly! How are you, are you all better now?”
“Truly perfect and scrumptious dear cousin. Give me a few minutes and I will rescue the damsel in distress.”
“And then come for me?”
“Tee hee, me thinks you’ve been mixing with too many people, it’ll turn you mad or even worse normal. Ten minutes, tatio!”
She dropped the phone onto the bed and rushed to open the tiny closet to drag out her two holdalls, which she had stashed there. The phone rang, this time she looked to see who it was; it was Freddy again.
She picked it up. “What’s up?”
“Ha one little thing, I don’t have your address!”
Half an hour later her Prince arrived in his chariot to whisk her away, or rather cousin Freddy and ‘AOK Cabs- any distance, any time.’
Auburn literally took Freddy breath away and amazed him by throwing her arms around him and squeezing him tightly to her.
With some difficulty he managed to push her to arm’s length. “Hey it’s great to see you too Honey, but let me breath, I’ve not been well you know!”
She responded by pulling him back into her arms and holding onto him.
He gave in and allowed her to hug him at least one person loved him.
At length she let go. Putting her bags in the front, they climbed into the cab and headed for home.
Both back home again, they quickly unpacked their belongings. Each item of Auburn’s had to be put away on its designated shelf or drawer according to size and colour, and this took her an hour, until she was satisfied everything was in order.