Down in the Woods

by Gary Philpott

  She was halfway through her Harry Potter book for the second time when Anton arrived home. The two embraced as they always did. Anna then switched on the kettle that she had filled with water forty minutes earlier.

  “How was work?”

  “We were two down tonight. It has been a hard shift.”

  “Are they ill? Do they have the cough that I had?”

  “No. They have been laid off. We think it was because they were the lazy ones amongst us and that they complained too much.”

  “Will they be replaced?”

  “No, Anna, they will not be replaced. The restaurant is not as busy as it used to be. This way, Mr Wallace has fewer wages to pay and it sends out the message to the rest of us.”

  “To say you must work hard and not to complain?” Anna scooped a teaspoon of coffee into each mug.

  “That’s right.” He dropped down on the bed.

  “You have eaten, yes?”

  “Oh yes. We still got our meal tonight, but we had less time to eat them in.”

  “Here, drink your coffee and I will cheer you up.”

  “Not tonight Anna, I’m knackered.” He sat more upright and took hold of the mug. “I may well fall asleep before I’ve finished this coffee.”

  “Okay, but if you need help to sleep, you must let me know.”

  “You’re so sweet Anna, I don’t deserve you.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, but love does not pay the bills.”

  She sat on the edge of the bed and started rubbing his thigh. “I need to find work.”

  “It’s the same everywhere. The illegals are the first to go and the last to be taken back on. Edon was hopeful of getting you some hotel work, but he told me tonight that it wasn’t going to happen. He was saying that things usually pick up at this time of year because there are usually more tourists, but they are not spending money as they did.”

  “Don’t worry, I will look in the paper, there are many jobs in there.”

  “Oh Anna, not again, I’ve told you before. You cannot apply for those jobs. Black economy jobs do not get advertised in the evening paper.”

  “Maybe if I meet more people, maybe they will help me find a job.”

  “Where are you going to meet people?” His eyes closed before he finished the sentence.

  “I met Angie at the party. I met someone today.”

  He opened his eyes again. “Don’t go asking Angie for a job!”

  “Why not, she might know someone who wants a house cleaner.”

  “That’s a thought, she might. Leave it to me though, I’ll ask her next time I meet her.”

  “When will you meet Angie?”

  “She’s friendly with a couple of the waitresses at the restaurant. She pops in now and again.”

  Anna laughed. “You know the word ‘couple’. I learnt this word today.”

  “They use it a lot. Couple, few, fortnight. That’s the one that I had trouble with, fortnight.” His eyes shut again.

  “What does fortnight mean?”

  “Two weeks. They say things like; ‘I am going away for a fortnight’. When I first heard it, I thought Mr Wallace was going away to stay in a castle for a night.” He chuckled and dropped his head to one side.

  Anna caught hold of his mug as it started to roll off his thigh.

  “Sleep tight, Anton,” she whispered. “Don’t let the fleas bite.”

  The mobile never left Anna’s side on Tuesday. Every twenty minutes or so, she checked for missed calls and checked the battery was okay. The call from Angie that she was hoping for never came.

  “DS Harrington speaking.”

  “Hello there, this is Dr Stanford.”

  “Oh yes, hello sir. How are things? Did you get any of that money you bid for?”

  “I got about enough to buy a bag of pork scratchings. The thing is; I have a name for you.”

  “Okay, fire away.”

  “I was watching our second team playing a game, as they do every Wednesday afternoon. And one of the opposition chaps shouted Willy. Well, that’s what chaps do when they want the ball, they shout out the name of the chap in possession.”

  “Willy?”

  “Yes, Willy. Studsie was always shouting Willy. Come to that, Willy was always shouting Studsie. It was a bit of a joke commentary they did when the chaps were having a few jars after a match. Willy’s coming on the outside of Studsie, Studsie is refusing to let go of Willy’s ball, that sort of thing.”

  “So, one of Hetherington-Jones’ buddies was called Willy.” Harrington tried to conceal his disappointment.

  “That’s right my boy.”

  “Do we have a surname for this Willy?”

  “Schofield, Peter Schofield.”

  “Peter Schofield! Not Willy or William Schofield?”

  “No, Peter Schofield. Rugby players are strange beasts, they called him Willy because… Well, I will leave you to work it out.”

  “Do you have anything else, something that might save me a bit of leg work?”

  “He was studying engineering. I remember that because he spent six weeks in South Africa, some sort of sabbatical down a gold mine I think. He was bloody pissed off when he didn’t get his place back straight away. He would never have got it back if I had my way, but God intervened.”

  “God?”

  “Yes, God. The replacement that came up from the second team was a damn sight better than bloody Willy. Went in to tackles hard, didn’t complain about frozen pitches, much better all round. And then one afternoon, God decided to break his leg.”

  “Surely it was an opponent that broke his leg.”

  “I take it you do not have faith?”

  Harrington cleared his throat. “So, Peter Schofield is an engineering graduate. Do you have anything else for me?”

  “He may have dated the nurse.”

  “The nurse? Are you talking about the one upstairs or the Indian lady?”

  “I am referring to the cute little creature from the attic room. To be honest, I am not sure if it really happened, or I dreamt it as a result of your visit.”

  “I am not following you Dr Stanford.”

  “The mind plays tricks, doesn’t it? You triggered a memory of the cute girl from the attic. You also sewed a seed in my mind by asking if any of the team associated with her. Now I am left with this film replaying inside my head, over and over again. The question is; did I really see Willy coming down the stairs when I went out into the hallway for a Jimmy one night, or did I dream it?”

  “I will ask him when I see him.”

  “Do let me know what he says. Otherwise it will torment me for the rest of my days.”

  “I will, Dr Stanford. Now, is there anything else? Real or possibly imaginary, I don’t mind.”

  “Don’t mock me young man, I too have a pair of pliers.”

  Harrington was pleased to hear him chuckling on the other end of the phone. “I’m serious. Even dreams can help solve murders. You would be surprised at what silly little things turn out to be the key that unlocks a difficult case.”

  “Well, if I have any dreams about that rabble of a rugby team, you’ll be the first person I call. The second will be a psychotherapist.”

  “Okay, thank you Dr Stanford. Bye.”

  “Bye. And while you’re at it, see if you can find out what happened to attic girl.”

  “I will. Bye.”

  Anna waited until late afternoon before going back to the shop. The shop assistant was busy with a customer, leaving her no option than to browse the array of phones and contract packages available.

  Another ten minutes passed before the man in a dark-brown suit left with his new purchase in a white plastic bag.

  “Good to see you again.”

  “Good to see you too,” smiled Anna.

  “Huh, you’re looking happier already. Have you been calling all your friends?”

  “No, I have not called anyone. I was hoping someone would phone me.”


  “Not to worry girl, I’ve got something to cheer you up big time.”

  Anna stood and waited as he disappeared out the back.

  “There.” He laid the black charger down on the counter. “I thought I would be able to get you one.”

  “This looks new,” said Anna as she picked it up.

  “My mate Alan donated it to a good cause. He always had two mobiles, so only ever used the one charger. He’s upgraded now, so I thought you might as well have the better one.”

  “Does he not want money?”

  “No, he’s rolling in it.”

  “You are right. You cheer me up big time.”

  “That’s the spirit girl. Now tell me, whereabouts in Latvia do you come from?”

  “Do you know Latvia? Have you been there?”

  “Umm… In a word… No.”

  “I come from the capital, Riga.”

  “Perhaps you could take me there someday.”

  “You would like it, it is a good place.”

  “Maybe you could tell me about it over a meal in Derek’s.”

  “If you do not try to hit on me, I have a boyfriend.”

  “So you keep saying. Look, I’ll be honest, I haven’t got a steady at the moment, and I don’t like cooking. So what I usually do is have something like pie and chips in Derek’s, a couple of pints in the Duke of York and then arrive home when the better telly gets going. Therefore, a chat with an interesting girl like you would go down very well indeed.”

  “Do they sell coffee at Derek’s?”

  “Of course they do. Hang about; you will have something to eat with me, won’t you?”

  “I eat later, usually about nine.”

  “Oh well, a coffee it is then. Meet me here at six-thirty, and I hope you get that call you are waiting for.”

  “I hope for this too.” Anna pulled open the door.

  “See you later then.”

  “See you later,” said Anna, with a feeling of contentment sweeping through her body. This is what she had to do, she told herself. The more people she socialised with, the more chance she had of finding work. Just a few hours a week would be a start.

  “Did you get your call?” Jonathan enquired, once they were settled at their table.

  “No, I did not.”

  “Oh well, maybe tomorrow.”

  “No, I do not think Angie will call now. Sometimes people say they will do things, but then they do not do them.”

  “Angie, eh, which raises an interesting fact.”

  “What fact is interesting?”

  “I don’t know your name and you don’t know my name.”

  “Anna, my name is Anna.”

  “Pleased to meet you Anna.” He stretched his arm out over the table.

  Anna shook his hand.

  “Jonathan.”

  “Pleased to meet you Jon…athan.”

  “As I said before, you should smile more often.”

  “This is not comfortable for me. I ask myself; why am I sitting here with a man I do not know? What would Anton say if he knew?”

  “A tea for me Derek, and I think Anna is having a coffee.”

  “Do you want milk in that coffee?” The extremely overweight café owner looked straight into Anna’s eyes.

  “Yes please. I would like milk.”

  “So why did you come then?” asked Jonathan.

  “I am sorry, I am using you.”

  “Huh, is that what you are doing?”

  “Yes, I want to practise my English. I am trying to use longer sentences, not only yes or no.”

  “Well, you’re doing well. And furthermore, I won’t charge you for my services.”

  “I am glad,” laughed Anna. “I could not pay you if you did.”

  “One coffee.” Derek plonked down a white mug in front of Anna. “And one tea. Now, are you ready to order?”

  “Not yet Derek, give us five minutes would you?”

  “I shut at eight, so don’t spend too long chatting her up,” he replied, still as stony-faced as he always was.

  “Ignore him, but he’s right, we should decide what we want to eat. I think I’ll have a cheese and tomato omelette with chips and peas. What are you fancying?”

  “I will not eat. I will eat when I get home.”

  “Come on Anna, I can’t have you sitting there with nothing but a coffee, while I shovel grub into my mouth. I’ll pay for it.”

  “If I let you buy me dinner, then I am letting you hit on me.”

  “Dinner? Believe me, if I was taking you out to dinner, I would offer you more than just a meal in this place.”

  Derek glared at him from behind the till.

  Jonathan put his hand to his mouth and lifted his shoulders in an attempt to look apologetic.

  “Look, I know greasy spoon food is probably not what you would cook yourself, I can tell that by just looking at you, but there must be something on the menu you could have.” He lifted the menu out from between the two sauce bottles and laid it down in front of her.

  “Can you afford to buy me food?”

  “Now we’re getting there. Of course I can. I’m not rich in anyone’s book, but I could lose a ten pound note in the pub and not realise it.”

  Anna enjoyed the thought of not having to try and put a meal together from what they had in the bedsit. And her stomach was telling her it would be good to have something relatively substantial.

  “Can I have ham, egg and chips?” she asked.

  “Ham, egg and chips is no problem. That’s not a bad choice as it happens. When you’ve got a moment Derek,” he said loudly.

  Derek moved halfway towards them and then stopped with his head raised slightly.

  “Ham, egg and chips twice please. And could we have two rounds of bread and butter with that?”

  “I thought you were having omelette?”

  “It’s easier if we both have the same, and you choose better than I do. Now Latvia, that is where you are from, is it?”

  “Yes, from Riga. I have told you this.”

  “And Riga is the capital, and Latvia is near Romania?”

  “No, it is not near Romania.” Jonathan’s smirk suddenly told Anna he was winding her up. “Do not tease me.”

  “Sorry. It’s up the top, below Finland, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is. Estonia is to the north and Lithuania is to the south.”

  “So what brings a nice girl like you to grotty old London?”

  “I have always dreamed of living in London. It is a beautiful city.”

  “But you don’t seem to have any money? And in case you hadn’t realised, London is also one of the most expensive places in the world. Latvia is not as expensive as Scandinavia, is it?”

  “Work that pays well is hard to find in Riga. Although some people have a lot of money, I had to live with my parents in a very small flat.”

  “And what do you have here? I know you live local like.”

  “Anton has a small flat. When I find work, we will be able to find a bigger flat.”

  “Ah, you don’t work then.”

  “No, but I want to work,” said Anna defensively.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. Though, you should be careful.”

  “Why should I be careful?”

  Jonathan leaned forward and spoke very quietly. “Well, I assume you are not married?”

  “No.”

  “And I assume you are not here on a tourist visa?”

  The question cut Anna to the core. She did not need to speak. The look of fear on her face answered Jonathan’s question.

  “Ooh, no need to panic girl, but we best not talk about it in here anymore. So, have you done the Tower of London and St Paul’s yet?”

  “No, but I would like to,” she replied, gathering her composure a little.

  “Maybe one Sunday, I could take you over that way. That’s if you can get away from Anton, that is.”

  “Anton usually works on a Sunday. But I could not
go with you.”

  “You’d rather walk up and down past my shop, would you?”

  “You know I walk past your shop, many days?”

  “I notice all the good looking women that walk past my shop. Mind, you haven’t done it so much lately.”

  “I like to read.”

  Anna jumped as her meal was plonked down in front of her.

  “Two lots of ham, egg and chips, your bread and butter will be over in a minute.”

  “Thank you, this looks nice.”

  “It’s the best you’ll get round here love.” Derek turned back towards the serving hatch.

  Anna watched in astonishment as Jonathan shook the saltcellar above his chips for a full five seconds. He then added an equivalent quantity of vinegar to them.

  “What do you read?”

  “I am reading about a little man called Harry Potter.”

  Jonathan laughed. “You and half the world, it seems to me. I’ve got one of the DVDs at home if you would like… I must stop saying things like that; you’ll get the wrong idea. Sorry, I will leave you to eat your meal in peace. My mum was always telling me not to talk at the table.”

  “Do you live with your mum?”

  “God, no, I couldn’t wait to get away. I may only be twenty-two, but I manage to pay the mortgage on my flat and the lease on the shop, come to that.”

  “Two rounds of bread and butter.” Derek placed the plate with four slices on it in the middle of the table.

  Jonathan immediately started cutting diagonally across the whole pile with his knife. “That’s better,” he said, as he pulled back the knife.

  Anna thought about asking him about his shop and his flat, but decided to enjoy eating her meal in silence. Jonathan followed suit.

  “Have it,” said Jonathan as he laid his knife and fork across his plate. “I can see you’ve been eying it up.”

  “It belongs to you.”

  “It’s okay, I’ve had enough.”

  Anna reached out for the final triangle of bread. “You have not eaten all your egg.”

  “I don’t like the white for some reason.”

  “But you were going to have omelette?”

  “I know, strange, isn’t it?”

  She replied with a nod and a small smile.