A Secret Schemer

by Charley Dee

  About ten o’clock in the evening I received a text message from Tim to say he may not be back until late on Sunday night, and not to wait up. I neglected to reply as I was working behind the bar and had forgotten to switch my phone to silent. I didn’t give the message much thought as we were busy and therefore my mind was on other things. Me, Jena and Lucas were working as it was Archie’s night off. To my surprise just before closing Vie Butler made an appearance with the scruffy mutt trailing on his piece of rope behind her. This clarified that Kate and Jeff were no more, and Vie was making that abundantly clear. My heart went out to Kate as I knew how hard this would be for her, especially after the problems she’s endured with Jodie. By the end of the evening I was flagging so I left the locking up to Jena, knowing it would be a good chance for her and Andy to have some quality time together.

  Making myself comfy under the duvet my first regard was sleep, as I really felt exhausted. However my troubled thoughts were making me restless and sleep once again eluded me. Thoughts were gushing through my brain like flood water and I was back inside of that shambolic bedroom once again. Why is he living in such disarray? The milieu emerged like a makeshift, temporary arrangement that he could make a swift exit from should the occasion arise forthwith. There wasn’t anything about the façade that instilled confidence into me concerning any long term plans. So what is this guy all about? He tells everyone he wants to become a millionaire by the time he’s forty (of which there are only a few months left). I have always found this an amusing reverie, and after today’s insight into his domesticity I find it even more farcical. They say you don’t know anybody until you live with them; the thing is we don’t live together, in the same building maybe. The times we spend together are limited; he creeps into my bed sporadically, however when I wake up he’s never there. When he leaves I’ve no idea as I’m always so tired, the man’s an elusive enigma….Investigate I will, how to reveal I’ve seen the inside of his room without confessing will be difficult, although I could always suggest paying him a night time encounter. Should he refute that idea, I could always don a sexy Ann Summers outfit and after copious amounts of wine, burst into his room using my master key…. The outcome of that encounter could prove to be very interesting.

  My mind once again drifts to Kate; she’s going to be so upset in the morning. I wonder if she’s discovered who he’s seeing. If Harry Miles’ interpretation of Jeff is anything to go by, she’ll just be another notch on his bedpost anyway. Men, they can be so complex, no wonder they all come from Mars. Yawning wearily I turn on my side and drift into a dreamless sleep….

  I awoke with a start to the sound of my mobile ringing, bleary eyed I grabbed the phone and muttered my response. I was a tad surprised to find it was Tim on the other end, just to assure me he would be back this evening. I was far too drowsy to join into a conversation after yet another night of insufficient slumbering. Stretching slowly I roused myself and slipped out of bed, donning a robe I went to the bathroom for a much needed shower. The warm water was invigorating and after a few minutes I felt refreshed. While dressing I considered how my conversation with Kate would go, I knew she was going to be devastated and apart from offering my support could I do anything else to ease her misery. I realised there was little else I could do; unfortunately any kind of grief has to be worked through. So in my usual impulsive manner I hastily ran down the stairs to face the day ahead. Jena, Mary and Lucas were all sitting around the kitchen table drinking tea, no sign of Kate. ‘Hi everyone.’

  ‘Good morning Lucy.’ They said in unison.’

  ‘Sit down love and I’ll pour you a cuppa.’ Mary offered.

  ‘Thanks Mary as always you’re an angel, has Kate arrived yet?’

  ‘No Lucy it’s barely eight o’clock.’ Jena added.

  ‘Silly me I hadn’t even looked at the clock.’

  Lucas and Jena seemed to be engrossed in the Sunday papers so I took my tea into the office to sort out the money. Kate is due in around nine o’clock on Sunday as roasting the joints always takes longer. At least she has tonight and tomorrow off work, which I’m sure she’ll be grateful for. If only I could magic her up a decent guy, one that would love her and not be a game player. That brought a smile to my face as let’s be honest I didn’t appear to be doing so well in the relationship stakes either. As I started to bag up the cash the office door opened and Jena’s head popped around the door. ‘Kate’s just come in Hun and I think she could do with one of your hugs, I’ll finish the cash for you.’

  ‘Cheers Honey I was prepared for this.’ As soon as Kate saw me she held her arms out, as I hugged her she dissolved into racking sobs. Slowly I eased her towards a chair, and I could see Mary was busily making a pot of tea. The proverbial cup of sweet tea which is said to cure all our troubles, only for Kate I believe she’ll need more than a cup of tea to heal her heartache….

  Chapter 21

  Later on Sunday afternoon I caught up with Jena and Andy in the restaurant, we all tucked into one of Kate’s delicious roast dinners and then relaxed with coffee, cheese and biscuits. ‘Thanks for this morning Jena; it’s going to take Kate a while to come to turns with Jeff dumping her, on top of the Jodie state of affairs. If only she could meet a reliable guy.’

  Andy added with a grin. ‘What like me you mean Lucy?’

  ‘Actually Andy, without allowing your head to swell too much, yes just like you.’ I laughed.

  ‘She does need to toughen up a bit first though Hun.’ Jena explained. ‘She’s a lovely girl; nevertheless she’s far too vulnerable.’

  ‘I make you right there Jena, you’re the one to put her straight where guys are concerned, as let’s face it I seem to be a pushover.’

  ‘No you’re not a pushover Lucy, too busy to take control of an unconventional situation. Believe me Mr Carter won’t know what’s hit him if he sees the other side of your sword.’

  ‘Is she really that scary babe?’ Andy asks Jena with a smile.

  ‘You’d better believe it, wait until you see her throw a wobbly in the bar.’

  The three of us had a fit of the giggles. ‘I’ll leave you ladies to it I have a date with a movie.’ Andy declares.

  ‘Yeah that’s a likely story Lucy; I bet he’ll be observing the inside of his eyelids within five minutes.’

  As Andy made a hasty exit from the table I looked at Jena drowsily. ‘Please don’t talk about sleep Hun I’m knackered.’

  ‘That sounds as though you’ve had yet another restless night.’

  ‘Yeah yesterday was a weird kind of day.’ I added.

  ‘Would you like to talk about it?’ Jena asked.

  ‘Why not Hun you know I always value your opinion.’

  After my detailed explanation I couldn’t wait to hear Jena’s response. ‘Does any of that shock you?’ I probe.

  ‘Not in the least Lucy, that guy is inscrutable. Surely you intend to confront him with this?’

  ‘I intend to question him about his parents, as for the state of his room that’s a different matter, he pays his rent therefore he deserves his privacy.’

  ‘Oh come on Lucy Ross aren’t you supposed to be having a relationship with the guy?’

  ‘Yes, however we are not living together, so what reason could I give him for looking in his room. I mean there’s no trace that anything improper or unseemly is going on.’

  ‘He isn’t behaving in a normal way though is he?’ Jena probed. ‘Why didn’t you have a good nose around while you were in there?’

  ‘To be honest, apart from an over filled waste paper bin there was nothing to search through. The only piece of equipment that could give me information is his computer, and I don’t have a hope in hell of logging into that.’

  ‘That’s what worries me, the guy’s not normal.’

  ‘I’ve had an idea though.’ I giggled. ‘You know he creeps into my bed late at night, well how about if I have a few drinks and don my wench’s outfit and burst in on him.’

  ‘Br
illiant! You have to give it a try, let’s face it if it’s ok for him to do it. I’d love to be a fly on the wall.’

  ‘He’d be horror-struck, as he probably has no idea that I have a master key. Copious amounts of wine would be crucial before I endeavoured to give it a go.’

  We both fell about laughing. ‘I’ve got an image of you struggling to open his bedroom door in the dark while dressed in that wenches outfit, especially pissed, you’d never get the blooming key in the hole.’

  ‘You’ve forgotten the fact that I’d be shaking like a leaf also.’

  ‘Guess you better rule that idea out then.’

  ‘Ok smart arse lets see if you can come up with a better one.’ I laugh.

  ‘Lucy all joking aside you have to sort this out, what time is he due back tonight?’

  ‘Late I think, actually if I go up and have a kip now, the bar’s well covered, I could surprise him by waiting up.’

  ‘Well it’s a start; let me know how it goes.’

  Much later I settled myself in the kitchen with a large glass of wine and Lucas’s Sunday paper. I’d managed to grab a couple of hours sleep during the evening, so now I felt refreshed and ready to meet the invincible Mr Carter. I can imagine his surprise when he opens the outside back door and I make my hasty appearance. I have wedged the kitchen door open so there’s no way I’ll miss his entrance. Meanwhile as I wait I scan the gossip in The Mail on Sunday, so much unrest in this world of ours. By midnight I was beginning to wonder if he would be back, however as he hadn’t contacted me to the contrary, I decided to wait it out. After another large measure of wine I was fearless. When I heard his key go in the lock it was ten minutes to one. Where did his mother live, in the Outer Hebrides? His face as he noticed me was a picture, with or without wine I could tell he blushed, why I wondered. I didn’t utter a word, time for him to speak I thought.

  ‘What are you doing here Lucy is something wrong?’ He mumbled.

  ‘Why should there be, had you forgotten I live here.’ I replied with sarcasm.

  ‘No..No of course not, just strange to see you downstairs so late.’

  ‘Well I thought I’d wait up to have a chat, being as I see so little of you these days.’

  ‘Rather late for a chat don’t you think babe, as we both have to work in the morning.’

  ‘Like I said I rarely see you to talk to so I’m sure you can give me half an hour of your precious time.’

  ‘I’ve been at my parents all weekend and I’m extremely tired love, could we possibly leave it until tomorrow evening?’

  ‘No chance Tim I haven’t waited up for the benefit of my health.’

  ‘Why are you so angry Lucy what have I done to upset you?’

  ‘For starters you’ve once again gone to visit your parents who may I add you never speak of, or I have no idea where they live. Why are you so bloody secretive?’

  ‘Well we’re not that close and I don’t see much of them so I suppose I didn’t feel it was relevant.’

  ‘Close enough to on the spur of the moment spend Christmas with them, and now a long weekend again unexpectedly as your mother is unwell.’

  ‘Darling I had no idea how much this was upsetting you.’

  ‘If you actually gave it some thought Tim, you may just realise that you know all of my movements and you’re so elusive. Imagine if something untoward occurred I would not be able to inform your parents or friends even, as I have no address or telephone number. While you’re living on these premises I believe I deserve that out of pure respect.’ I explained bluntly.

  ‘Of course babe I hadn’t thought of it like that, I’ll write down the address and a landline number for you tomorrow. I’m probably as elusive as you say because I’ve lived on my own for so long.’ He enfolded me in a hug. ‘Come on Darling let me take you up to bed, you must be exhausted. How about we go out for a meal tomorrow night?’

  ‘You mean tonight I guess, as it’s now almost two o’clock in the morning. You should remember Tim I have to be around to help Grace with meals on Monday evenings as it’s Kate’s day off.’

  ‘Sorry again babe I forgot, how about Tuesday then?’

  ‘Yes that’s ok, are you going to give me the address, and by the way where do your parents live? I probe.

  ‘They live in Orpington Lucy and I’ll write the address down tomorrow and leave it in the lounge, now come on sweetheart let’s go upstairs.’

  ‘Orpington that’s only about fifteen miles away, what did you walk back?’ I asked sarcastically.

  ‘No we had a late meal and one thing lead to another, you know how it is.’ He said hesitantly.

  As I was far too weary to dispute the issue any more tonight I walked slowly up the stairs to bed. Tim kissed me gently on the lips as we said goodnight, then once again went into our separate rooms…

  Monday morning, and I’m still feeling weary after a late night, the details of my meeting with Tim weighed heavy on my mind. I still find it incredible that his parents only live in Orpington and yet it was almost one in the morning before he returned. The journey when taken late at night should only take at the most about forty minutes. If his mother was unwell surely she would have wanted to retire earlier than midnight. Is he duping me? Oh well I’ll find out later when I get the address and phone number. Now I must get a move on as its Kate’s day off and there’s always more work to cover in the kitchen.

  ‘Gosh Lucy you look drained.’ Jena greeted me with. ‘Not another sleepless night Hun?’

  ‘Not the best night, anyway let’s have a cuppa and I’m sure that’ll perk me up. Where are Mary and Lucas?’

  ‘Mary’s cleaning the loos and Lucas has gone for his paper, so what happened last night?’ Jena probed.

  ‘If you make me a cuppa we can nip in the restaurant and I’ll fill you in.’

  ‘I’m on it Hun.’

  ‘Hi Lucy are you alright, you’re looking rather tired?’ Lucas asked as he came back into the kitchen.

  ‘I’m ok Lucas thanks, nothing that a good night’s sleep won’t cure.’

  In the restaurant Jena eyed me sceptically. ‘So a good night’s sleep will cure you then, is that right.’

  ‘Well not quite Honey though at the moment I would be grateful for eight hours uninterrupted slumber.’

  ‘So what time did the shifty Mr Carter arrive home?’ Jena quizzed.

  ‘Just before one, and before you say a word I let him have it honey, he’s now definitely had a taste of the other side of Lucy Ross.’

  ‘About time Lucy, so did you learn where his parents live?’

  ‘Would you believe Orpington?’

  ‘Orpington, its round the blooming corner, so why was he so late?’

  ‘Seems they had their meal late and then one thing lead to another.’

  ‘Yeah I just wonder what those ‘things’ were, aren’t you just a tad concerned Hun.’ Jena quizzed.

  ‘Undeniably, however he’s going to give me their address and landline number later today.’

  ‘Mm, so how did you respond to that?’

  ‘Well I guess it’s a start, he’s suggested we go out for a meal tomorrow night.’

  ‘He certainly has a way of charming you, be on your guard though honey.’

  ‘I will, sooner or later I want to get in his room when he’s there, I’m working on a legit reason.’

  ‘Lucy this property is your responsibility so you have every right to check out the rooms.’

  ‘I know and I will, I’ll just see how things go for a while.’

  ‘He definitely needs checking out if you ask me, don’t let him dupe you.’

  ‘He looked stunned last night when he saw me in the kitchen, red-faced; I really did challenge him sarcastically. You’d have been proud of me.’

  ‘I’d be a lot prouder if you checked him out Lucy, that guy is odd.’

  ‘I will Jena; I’m more than a little curious now.’

  ‘Thank goodness, wow look at the time, the bar will be ope
n shortly, work to be done.’

  ‘Catch you later Jena, I need to give Grace a hand in the kitchen.’

  After my confab with Jena my mind’s all over the place, nevertheless I need to concentrate on the tasks ahead. Tim Carter can be dealt with later.

  About seven o’clock I received a text message from Tim to say he’d put the address in the lounge and as we weren’t going out was it ok if he had an early night. I replied it was fine, and what time were we going out tomorrow night, and where. He replied that it was to be a surprise. Let’s hope it’s not pizza express again. After I’d finished in the restaurant I nipped upstairs to collect the address, out of interest of course. I was surprised to see they lived in a flat; I’d pictured a Victoria style house for some unknown reason. I quickly saved the phone number in my mobile, and then jotted the details down in my address book. Well this has to be headway into the mystery of this elusive guy. My mind drifted back to his early night, surely seven was a tad over the top. Oh well no early night for me, so I hastily ran downstairs to keep an eye on what’s transpiring in the bar tonight. I certainly feel less edgy about Tim now I have his parent’s address; I’m sure as we get to know each other he’ll be less secretive, like he said he’s been on his own for a long time….