Storms

by Menon, David

  Annabel was laughing so much she almost spat her champagne out.

  ‘I can’t believe you said all that’ she said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘You got the entire staff on your side in one foul swoop but tell me, why did you hide who you really were all this time?’

  ‘I had my reasons’ Tim answered. ‘I didn’t mean to deceive you, Annabel. After all, we’ve become good friends these past few weeks. But it’s the way I operate. I buy the company and then go to work there in a very junior role so that I can see things from the shop floor as it were. Sitting in meetings with managerial types is all very well and sometimes has its purpose but it gets very tedious and so boring. So I prefer doing it my way and then I get a more truthful understanding of what’s going on’.

  ‘Like on one of those anonymous millionaire programmes on TV?’

  Tim smiled. ‘You could put it like that, yes. Anyway, what do you think of my real house? But I forgot, you’ve already seen it even though it was in the dark at the time you followed me out here’.

  Annabel blushed. ‘I’m sorry, Tim’.

  ‘It’s alright, I understand, truly I do. The way I do things does make me seem a little mysterious and you wanted to protect yourself and Kyle. I get that’.

  Annabel was sitting next to Tim on a large sofa in the living room of his ‘real’ house along the secluded private road on the outskirts of Blackpool. The room was enormous with floor to ceiling windows that opened onto the immaculately kept grounds. Round the other side was a covered swimming pool although the roof could be rolled back in good weather. He clearly believed in minimalism because there was absolutely no sign of the kind of clutter there was in Annabel’s house. He looked more relaxed than usual in a plain white open-necked shirt and a pair of black jeans.

  ‘It’s important to look after family’ said Tim as he stood up and walked over to where he kept drinks in a very modern looking glass cabinet. He poured himself a scotch. A very large one and placed a couple of blocks of ice in it. ‘Sorry but I get a bit bored with champagne’.

  ‘I’ve never had that luxury’.

  ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean … ‘

  ‘ … oh give over I know you didn’t. The reality of your life is different to mine, that’s all’.

  ‘Clive really wiped you out. I mean both emotionally and financially’.

  ‘You could say that’ said Annabel. ‘I kind of resent the fact that he’s starting over again and if he’s successful this time then someone else will share the rewards of that whilst I’m still paying off his debts’.

  ‘How did you even begin to get over his betrayal?’

  ‘Well when you have a son to take of then you haven’t got a choice but to get on with it’ said Annabel who felt that sadness creeping up inside her. She’d always miss Clive. They’d had some bloody good times before it all went sour and she’d always think of him as the love of her life. ‘Do you look after your family, Tim?’

  ‘No’ said Tim. ‘They wouldn’t let me’.

  ‘Why ever not?’

  ‘My father died in a massive fire at our house when I was fifteen. We lived on a big farm back then and my mother and my brother blame me for the fire and they’ve never forgiven me for what happened to Dad’.

  ‘But that’s rather unfair. It wasn’t your fault. Was it?’

  ‘My father and I were having a furious argument, it doesn’t matter what it was about, but we had this big oil heater. I knocked it over as I was running out of the house. We had wooden floors, wooden beams, wooden doors. It caught in a matter of seconds and my father was trapped. He didn’t stand a chance’.

  ‘Oh Tim’ said Annabel. ‘It must’ve been hard all these years knowing that your family blame you for what was an accident’.

  ‘Yes, it has been’ said Tim who still hadn’t sat back down. ‘What made it worse is that my mother and my brother knew my father was beating me at the time. I came out of the house black and blue with blood pouring from gashes to my eye and to my face’.

  ‘Jesus, Tim. Did he always beat you?’

  ‘Yes’ said Tim. ‘Not so much my brother who was big and tough and the kind of son my father wanted. But I was the bookish one. I liked films and I wasn’t into my father’s chosen sport of rugby. I preferred tennis. He said that he had to beat what he called the femininity out of me and make me a real man’.

  ‘What a load of old rubbish’.

  ‘Exactly’.

  ‘But what was your mother doing whilst all this was going on? Didn’t she try and stop him?’

  ‘No she just stood by and let it all happen’ Tim recalled. ‘She never did anything to challenge my father’.

  ‘Did he hit her too?’

  ‘Yes he did. But she always defended him. I became the bad guy for even suggesting she should do something about it’.

  ‘You must’ve had a miserable time of it’.

  ‘Well my childhood wasn’t the best shall we say’.

  ‘My Kyle is exactly like you describe yourself at fifteen’ said Annabel who’d been touched by Tim’s story. She’d never even smacked her son when he was little, she didn’t agree with smacking children, and credit where it’s due, her ex-husband Clive never touched Kyle either. ‘I’m glad he’s going to grow up to be a sensitive, caring human being rather than a brute who can only talk with his fists’.

  ‘You’re right he’s exactly like I was’ Tim agreed enthusiastically. ‘That’s why he and I get on so well’.

  ‘You’ve certainly taken more interest in Kyle than his own father has in recent weeks’

  ‘That bad eh?’

  ‘Oh yeah’ said Annabel. ‘It was Kyle’s birthday last Sunday. Clive said he’d be round to take Kyle out and spend the day with him. Kyle was really looking forward to it. He loves his Dad. Anyway, Clive rang about ten o’clock and said he couldn’t make it after all because something had come up. Kyle was devastated. He ran out of the house saying he hated his life and everybody in it. About an hour later he came back. He fell into my arms in floods of tears. He said he’d seen his Dad going into a pub on Bispham road with his girlfriend. He said that Clive saw him and then looked away. I haven’t spoken to Clive since but when I do he’s going to get it believe me’.

  ‘Parents just don’t know how much they screw up their children with their crass stupidity’ said Tim who meant that more than he could convey. ‘They just don’t see it’.

  ‘Tim, I have to ask you’ said Annabel. ‘How did you make your money? I mean, to be able to take over the group that owns the Carrington must mean that you’ve got something behind you’.

  Tim turned back to the drinks cabinet and filled his glass with scotch once again. ‘My maternal grandparents gave me some money. They’d always known what was going on at home and once my mother threw me out after the fire that killed my Dad they took me in and supported me until I was able to stand on my own two feet. They didn’t judge me in any way. Then they gave me the money and I invested it. I invested it wisely as it happened. One thing led to another and I became known as a venture capitalist. I’ve bought dozens of companies, invested in them, put them on the right road to further success and then sold them on at a profit. It’s what I do’.

  ‘And is that what you’ll do with the hotel?’

  ‘Eventually’ said Tim. ‘Not yet’.

  Tim wanted a cigarette. He knew that Annabel didn’t smoke but he thought bugger it. He was in his own home and he wanted one. So he lit one and let the smoke coil into a round shape like it often did when the air was still. It brought about one of those moments between people that Tim had avoided all his life.

  ‘Annabel, you’re a very attractive woman and … ‘

  ‘ … oh Christ, I’ve just made a complete fool of myself’.

  ‘No you haven’t’ said Tim, softly reassuring her. ‘It’s just that … well I can’t love anyone. Not in the way that you and most people need’.

  ‘Why not? If you think I’m after you for your
money then think again because I was attracted to you before I knew about all of this’.

  ‘I know, I know, and I don’t think it’s about my money’ said Tim. ‘It’s just that when I try and love someone it always goes wrong. I can’t impose that side of myself on you or anybody else, Annabel. You have to believe that it’s not you personally that’s the problem’.

  ‘Are you gay, Tim?’

  ‘I’m complicated’ said Tim. ‘A psychiatrist would have their work cut out if they tried to work me out in that respect. It all goes back to my father and that fire’.

  ‘But you can’t let that stop you from finding personal happiness’.

  ‘Annabel, Annabel’ said Tim as he took both her hands in his own. ‘I can’t be that for you. But I have paid off all your debts. Well, I know they were all Clive’s debts really’.

  Annabel was shocked. ‘What? They run into thousands. It’s going to take me years to pay them off’.

  ‘It isn’t now’ said Tim, happily. ‘I’ve paid them off’.

  ‘But you can’t’.

  ‘Well I have’ said Tim. ‘You’ll be getting no more nasty letters and phone calls. You can start again on your own terms’.

  Annabel couldn’t get over it. She was debt free thanks to this wonderful yet mysterious man. It was like a miracle. A massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She and Kyle could start living again.

  ‘I don’t want to be paid back’ said Tim. ‘It’s a gift. I don’t need the money but you do and even though I can’t get emotionally involved with you I can still be your friend’.

  Annabel threw her arms round him and kissed him. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much’.

  ‘Do you think Kyle will be pleased?’

  ‘Oh I think he will. You’re already a bit of a hero in his eyes’.

  ‘Where is he tonight by the way?’

  ‘A sleepover at his mate’s house’.

  ‘Why don’t I take him on Saturday night?’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Well I know the girls at work are arranging a night out’ said Tim. ‘Why don’t you go with them? Kyle can come over here and stay over’.

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Why not? I’m not doing anything and I like having him around’.

  ‘He’d certainly love this place with the pool and the games room and everything’.

  ‘Then it’s a deal?’

  ‘Well I’ll put it to him but I can’t imagine he’ll say no’.

  ‘Good that’s settled then’ said Tim. ‘And by the way, as you know I’ve let the two duty managers from the hotel go. Would you like to fill one of the positions? It’ll mean quite a step up in salary of course’.

  Annabel was crying. ‘I don’t know what to say. In the space of a few minutes you’ve changed my life completely. I tell you your family are missing out on a lot if they don’t want you in their lives’.

  ‘Well that’s a matter you’d have to take up with them’ said Tim.

  ‘Just one more thing, Tim’.

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Who was the guy who dropped you off at the hotel and picked you up outside your little flat that I now know was only for cover?’

  ‘Oh you mean Joe?’

  ‘If that’s his name? I had thought that you and he were an item’.

  Tim laughed. If only it was that simple. ‘No, we’re not an item. He works for me. He looks after the house, drives me round, runs errands for me and all that. He basically looks after everything so that I can get on with running my business. He’s divorced, single, about the same age as you, ex-army so he’s very fit. And he’s in the kitchen making dinner for us. Like me to introduce you?’

  ‘After that kind of build up you’d better lead the way’.

  Jeff was leaning over a spare desk in the squad room and when he straightened himself back up he launched straight into the latest briefing.

  ‘Melanie Patterson has been charged with multiple and complex crimes that will take a lot of work to nail down the details’ he said. ‘But we have managed to crack the whole Gorton boys gang operation, albeit with a great loss to the force itself in PC Tyler Moore. So the celebrations are tinged with sadness at our loss’.

  ‘Leaving that part of it aside for a minute though, sir’ said Rebecca. ‘How the hell did Melanie Patterson get bail?’

  ‘The judge decided that because of the recent loss of her son it would be inappropriate to hold her in custody’ said Jeff who was bloody glad he hadn’t given in to his impulses when he first met Melanie Patterson. ‘But I agree. The nature of her crimes should’ve kept her detained’.

  ‘Her removal does leave us with a relatively clear way as far as the rest of the investigation is concerned though, sir’ said Rebecca.

  ‘You’re forgetting the murder of her son, DI Stockton’.

  ‘I’m not, sir. I’m just saying that even though we couldn’t prove conclusively that she was behind the mob that prevented the ambulance carrying Evelyn Squires from getting to the hospital, we have been able to get her on ordering the looting of Evelyn Squires house. That means we can concentrate fully on the murders including that of her son Leroy Patterson’.

  ‘And to which now we might have to add Aidan Matthews to the list making it three’ said Jeff.

  Ollie Wright then took a call from the desk sergeant downstairs.

  ‘Sir?’ Ollie began. ‘There’s someone downstairs by the name of Ralph Johnson who says he has vital information with regard to the death of the police officer. He’s an old guy apparently and he wants to speak to the officer in charge’.

  ‘Okay’ said Jeff. ‘We’re due a break so you never know. DI Stockton? You take over from here whilst DS Wright and I go down to speak to this Ralph Johnson. And don’t forget the descriptions we’ve received of a man driving a white type of delivery van who was seen loitering around the estate before both the second and third abductions. That’s another dividend of Melanie Patterson’s fall. It means people on the estate are not afraid to talk to us anymore’.

  Jeff and Ollie got down to the interview room and introduced themselves to Ralph who was sipping a cup of tea that the desk sergeant had got for him. He’d had to take two buses to get there and walk about half a mile. He was done in and his leg ulcers were really playing him up.

  ‘Are you alright, Mr. Johnson?’ asked Ollie. The old man was all dressed up in a collar and tie but he looked pale. He made a mental note to arrange for a car to drive him home once they were done. ‘Is there anything else we can get you?’

  ‘No, son, you’re okay’ said Ralph. ‘Have you had my letter?’

  ‘What letter might that be, Mr. Johnson?’ asked Jeff.

  ‘The one that tells you all I know about the murders of these young lads’ said Ralph. ‘Clearly you haven’t but you see from my flat on the other side of Manchester road I can see right into the estate and sometimes it’s more entertaining than watching the telly’. He took a piece of paper that he’d carefully folded from out of the inside pocket of his jacket. ‘So I’ll have to start again and first I’ll give you this. It’s the registration number of the white van that drove onto the estate a few nights ago. I saw the driver get out and dump the body of your officer who’d been working undercover before driving off again at some considerable speed. I saw it all, detectives. I saw it all’.

  ‘

  STORMS ELEVEN

  Kyle and Tim were in the swimming pool at Tim’s house. They’d done several lengths and were now taking a breather. They were at the shallow end and were floating about with just their heads above the water.

  ‘I’m going to have a house like this one day’ Kyle declared.

  ‘That’s the spirit, Kyle’ said Tim.

  ‘Thank you so much for asking me over’

  ‘You’re welcome’ said Tim. ‘It’ll be something to tell your friends about at school on Monday’

  ‘I don’t really have many friends to tell you the truth’.

  ‘Really? So why do yo
u think that is then?’

  ‘I just don’t find many of them that interesting’ said Kyle. ‘They’re always doing stupid things and getting into trouble for acting like kids. I’ve always preferred the company of older people. I get on better with them’.

  ‘You are quite mature for your age, Kyle’.

  ‘And that’s a good thing?’

  ‘Oh yeah, it wasn’t a criticism’ Tim assured. If only this young man knew just how beautiful he was. There wasn’t a blemish on that perfect skin. No sign of any teenage acne and his hair was free of the grease sometimes associated with the hair on the heads of teenage boys. He was tall, slim. He wore his speedos well. One of Tim’s favourite books was ‘Death in Venice’ in which the protagonist was a middle-aged man who falls for a teenage boy who’s staying in the same hotel as him in Venice. He saw the love that he felt as something pure and beautiful. He didn’t see anything dirty about it and he certainly didn’t think of himself as a paedophile. He was a man who’d fallen in love with a thing of beauty. It wasn’t his fault that the rest of the world didn’t see it that way.

  ‘I don’t see myself as settling down with someone my own age either’ Kyle went on. ‘It’ll be someone older I think. I think I need a guiding hand and someone who’ll lead me through life. I need someone to be the one in charge if you see what I mean’.

  ‘I do’.

  ‘Have you never met anyone you wanted to settle down with?’

  ‘You ask very candid questions, Kyle’.

  ‘Sorry’ said Kyle who didn’t want to spoil this amazing time he was having by being indiscreet. ‘I’m a bit like that’.

  ‘I don’t mind at all’ said Tim. ‘I’m an open book to you, my friend. There was somebody a long time ago. It didn’t work out’.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘They died’ said Tim. ‘In a fire that also killed my father. I’ll tell you about it all at some point’.