by Leah Hope
“Don’t worry about it Mrs Williamson, we’re out all day tomorrow too so you might as well hang on to it for now. I’ve got a little something for you as a thank you present for keeping an eye on the house for us. I’ll bring it round in a day or two if that’s ok with you.”
“Oh there was no need, it’s my pleasure and I know you would do the same for me. Just call round when you’re ready, I’m always here as you know. I don’t go far these days.”
Bridget was suddenly struck with a twinge of guilt. The old lady had a heart of gold and keeping an eye on her neighbours’ property no doubt gave her a sense of purpose. Bridget wished she’d spent a little bit more on the chocolate assortment she’d bought for her in the motorway services. Maybe I’ll get her something a bit more expensive from Bath, she thought to herself. As long as it looks as if it could have come from France she won’t know the difference.
Gil had by now managed to extricate himself from the garden wall conversation by virtue of the fact that he needed to point Maggie urgently in the direction of the bathroom.
Sensing that the last member of her audience was about to disappear, Mrs Williamson played her trump card.
“Oh by the way, there’s been a chap hanging around asking for you.”
“For me, or Gil?”
“Oh I’m not sure now, come to think of it”, Mrs Williamson paused, clearly trying to recall the conversation. “I think he said the Honeymans actually, so it could have been either of you. He first called about ten days ago. I was in the garden doing a bit of pruning and before he knocked on your door, he asked if it was the Honeymans’ place. I said it was but that you were both out at the moment. I didn’t want to say you were in France in case he was casing the joint, isn’t that what it’s called?”
“You say he first called ten days ago, does that mean he called again?”
“Oh yes dear, didn’t I say? Yes he called yesterday too, I told him you were expected back today. He thanked me and said I’d been very helpful.”
Not too helpful I hope Bridget thought to herself as she struggled to think who the mystery caller might have been. Probably something to do with the garage she told herself, making a mental note to mention it to Gil later.
Bridget bid her farewell to Mrs Williamson and headed indoors at last in the direction of the teapot. Gil had beaten her to it and the kettle was almost boiled.
Maggie was seated at the kitchen table admiring the view of the back garden. “And you’ve got that lovely sea view at the front too, how I envy you.”
“Yes it’s quite a pleasant spot” said Gil pouring the tea. “We’re far enough away from the centre of town to avoid the crowds and the noise in summer but not so far as to be miles away from the shops. The best of both worlds really.”
Later, as Gil got up from table to pour more tea, he let out a gasp of pain. “Blimey, my knees are worse than I thought, they’ve seized up altogether.”
“Oh don’t be such a drama queen” said his sister rolling her eyes. “Go and have a hot bath, put some of those salts in the water, and you’ll be right as rain. While you’re doing that, I’m going to make your bed up Maggie. Are you going to be ok here on your own for a bit?”
“Yes of course, but let me give you a hand.”
“Thank you Maggie, but I wouldn’t hear of it. You just sit here and put your feet up, I won’t be long.”
“I’ve got a much better idea, besides I’ve been sitting down all day, I think I’m starting to seize up too! As I probably won’t get another chance, I’d like to get a bit of your wonderful sea air and have a walk along the promenade to stretch my legs. Unless I’m mistaken, I’m sure I spotted an off-licence not too far from here, so what if I call in on my way back and get us some wine, and a couple of beers for Gil?”
“What a great idea. I can’t believe we left that crate of wine behind, just think, three weeks in France and we have to go out to buy booze!”
Chapter Five
Gil had estimated the journey from Whytecliffe to Bath would take around two and a half hours, maybe less as it was a Sunday, and he suggested a nine o’clock start. This would allow enough time to get Maggie comfortably back home, unload her bags and be able to see some of the sights of the city before lunchtime. After a light breakfast of tea and toast, to allow for the sumptuous lunch that Maggie had promised, the trio were already to go.
While Gil and Maggie headed for the car, Bridget did a final check that everything was locked up and the oven was switched off. Not that they’d used it since they’d got back from France but it was part of her usual routine and she saw no reason to depart from it now. “Now have I got my umbrella?” She said out loud. Fishing in her bag to check if she’d moved it from her “France” bag to her “UK” bag, Bridget was miles away as she passed the telephone in the hall. The sudden ring nearly made her jump out of her skin.
“Hello” she said rather breathlessly. “Oh hello Heather, your mum’s just making her way into the car, do you want me to get her for you?”
“No thanks Bridget, I don’t want to hold you up so can you just give her a message for me please. When I was speaking to her last night I forgot to mention that she’s left her reading glasses behind. I found them tucked behind one of the cushions on the sofa. I’m sure she’s got another pair at home but could you ask her to let me know if she wants me to send them on. I’m a bit reluctant to if she doesn’t need them as I’m afraid they’ll get damaged.”
“Yes of course Heather, I’ll pass the message on.”
“That’s great thanks Bridget. Enjoy your visit to Bath, oh and tell Mum I’ll give her a call this evening.”
Bridget put the phone down and stared vacantly through the open front door, trying to remember what on earth it was she’d just been thinking about. When she looked back at what happened in those next few incredulous minutes, her abiding memory was how it all seemed to play out like some kind of jerky old home movie. She remembered seeing the top of Maggie’s head above the headrest in the front passenger seat (she’d asked Bridget when they left St Rémy if she would mind if she sat in the front as she got travel sick in the back). Gil was next to her in the driving seat and seemed to be fiddling with the sat-nav, probably entering Maggie’s address. At some point Gil must have got out of the car as Bridget recalled seeing him take off his jacket before stowing it in the boot. Then everything seemed to happen in slow motion.
As Gil closed the lid of the boot, he froze. There, right in front of the car was a man holding a gun and he was pointing it straight at Maggie.
Bridget saw him too, and like her brother, froze to the spot. She noticed as the man, whose face was covered with some sort of mask, seemed to steady himself before bending his knees slightly before taking aim, both arms outstretched. Looking back she recalled the thoughts that flashed through her head like lightning as she tried to make some sense out of the bizarre situation unfolding in front of her. Maybe he’s from one of the theatre groups in town publicizing the latest show. Or perhaps he’s from one of the children’s clubs on the beach playing at cops and robbers, she thought.
The sound from the gun seconds later as it fired through the car windscreen left her in no doubt. This was no stage-prop or toy. This was the real thing.
Bridget tried to scream, but nothing came out. Gil managed something between a scream and a wail. Whatever it was, it had the desired effect. The gunman immediately turned round and sprinted across the road in the direction of the low sea-wall before leaping over it and disappearing out of sight.
By now, Gil had remembered how to use his legs and ran around to the passenger door, yanking it violently open. His sister reminded him later that he had been yelling Maggie’s name at the top of his voice as he did so. Bridget too had found the use of her legs and hurried to join her brother at the front passenger door.
“Oh my god!” Gil yelled as he reached into the car and looked in horror at the sight which met his eyes. Covered in blood, Maggie had slumped sid
eways in her seat, her head gently resting on her right shoulder. Her face was drained of all colour and Gil knew at once that she was dead.
By now, a young couple had arrived in the driveway followed by a couple of dog walkers. The young woman shouted at her partner to give her the bag he was holding and was soon pulling out a large orange and yellow beach towel. She didn’t speak as she hurriedly folded it into a thick pad and pressed it firmly on to the wound just above Maggie’s heart which was continuing to ooze blood at an alarming rate. “Call an ambulance Kev, and the police, tell them to hurry!”
“It’s no good, she’s dead isn’t she?” Gil wailed.
“No she’s not dead, I’ve felt a pulse, but she’s losing a lot of blood” the young woman answered.
After what seemed an eternity, the woman spoke again. “I’m going to have a quick look under this corner of the towel to see if she’s still bleeding so I need you to keep pressing hard. Don’t stop whatever you do. I’m Cat by the way.”
Cat carefully lifted a small corner of the towel and nodded. “I think we’re winning, I think the bleeding’s slowing down.”
“Oh thank god” said Gil who until now had hardly been able to breathe let alone speak. “Are you a doctor or a nurse?”
“Neither” said Cat, allowing herself a half smile. “But I am a big fan of Casualty - I’ve seen this done dozens of times. Good to know it works.”
By now, sirens could be heard in the distance. Kevin stepped in to move aside the small crowd which had now gathered on the driveway. “Out of the way, the paramedics will need to have some room here, don’t block the entrance.”
The first of two ambulances was now pulling up as near to Gil’s car as they could. Two paramedics jumped put, one went straight to Maggie while the other got backpacks from the storage area of the first ambulance.
Within what seemed like no time at all, the paramedic had carried out a brief examination, inserted an IV line and, after checking that the bleeding from Maggie’s wound had almost stopped, applied a large dressing. “Anyone who was here when the lady was shot, how many shots did you hear? Quickly please, this is important?” He shouted out.
“One, only one, I think” Gil answered rather hesitatingly.
“Yes, there was only one shot” Bridget answered. “Her name’s Maggie by the way, well Margaret really but…”
“Thank you. Ok, Maggie, I’m Jim and my colleague here is Sarah. On the count of three, I’m going to move you a little, it may hurt but I need to make sure you don’t have any other wounds” he said. Slipping an oxygen mask over Maggie’s face before he did so, Jim very gently moved Maggie back into an upright sitting position. She made a little moan but to everyone’s relief, her eyes fluttered open.
“Oh Gil did you see that, she just opened her eyes” Bridget gasped. “Do you think she’s going to be all right?”
“It looks worse than it is thankfully” said the paramedic as he finished his examination of the rest of Maggie’s body. “She’s been very lucky though. The bullet’s passed right through her shoulder, any lower and things would be different. I think you’ll find it lodged in the back seat of the car; should make it easy for the forensic boys.” As he spoke, Sarah wheeled a stretcher alongside the passenger door.
After a few tense minutes while Maggie was carefully lifted out of the car and on to the waiting stretcher, she was soon on her way to hospital. The ambulance was immediately replaced by the first of three police squad cars which hurtled to a halt at the bottom of the drive. Six uniformed officers jumped out. “Ok, what have we got here?” said a beefy looking sergeant who had been in the first vehicle.
“She’s been shot, someone just shot straight at her. I thought she was dead” said Gil, his voice trembling with emotion.
“OK sir, take it easy. Now tell me quickly everything you can remember.”
Gil filled in Sergeant Jackson as best he could.
“So you say this man, was dressed in dark trousers, a dark long-sleeved hooded top and was wearing some sort of a covering over his face, possibly a ski-mask. Is that correct sir?”
“Yes I think so, it all happened so quickly.”
“What about his height, build and age?”
“He was quite tall, at least six feet” Gil replied, struggling to control the trembling in his voice. “Average build I would say. His hood was pulled up so I couldn’t see his hair.”
“That’s fine sir, you’re doing very well. Now I know it will be difficult as you didn’t see his face, but could you estimate his age?”
“Well he certainly wasn’t a gangly teenager. I don’t know what makes me say that but there was something in the way he moved to suggest he was a little older. But by the way he vaulted over the seawall, not too much older. My best guess is twenties or thirties. Sorry that’s the nearest I can get.”
“No that’s fine sir, this is very helpful. Now madam”, Sergeant Jackson said as he turned to Bridget “is there anything else you can tell us?”
Bridget looked horrified, she’d never had to describe a criminal before and was frightened of getting it wrong. “I don’t think I can add anything to my brother’s description but there is one thing that struck me and will always stand out in my mind.” She shut her eyes as she tried to recall the scene that had met her eyes just minutes earlier as she stood in the doorway, trying to remember what she’d been doing before Heather rang. “Heather! Oh, I’ve just remembered about poor Heather, Maggie’s daughter. She’s in France you see. Someone will need to tell her that her mother’s been shot.”
“Don’t worry about that now madam, we’ll take care of that. Now, what was it that you were going to say?” Sergeant Jackson asked gently.
“Oh, um, well it will probably sound very silly, but he, the gunman I mean, looked just like an assassin that you see on TV or in films.”
“Can you enlarge on that a little for me madam?”
“I don’t know, it was just his stance. His knees were slightly bent and both his arms were straight out in front of him, he had both hands on the gun. For one moment I thought he was from one of the theatre groups in town, he looked so, well, um, theatrical. I thought it was all some sort of a joke. Until I heard the shot that is.”
“That’s very helpful madam, you too sir” he said turning to Gil. Now I’m just going to circulate this description and after I’ve done that I’m going to brief the rest of the officers so they can start on the search of the beach and surrounding area. We’re going to need reinforcements that’s for sure though, he’s got quite a head start on us.” Sergeant Jackson broke away to make a call on his radio and then beckoned the other officers to gather round him. After brief instructions, they fanned out to begin the search for the gunman.
Dora Williamson, who Bridget had spotted out of the corner of her eye bobbing about in the background suddenly appeared centre stage. “Tea anyone?” she shouted as she held up a tray on which she had placed six mugs together with a plate of assorted biscuits. “Sorry I haven’t got enough mugs for everyone, but I live on my own you see.” A small group of people move forward and Dora was soon surrounded.
“Bridget dear, are you all right? I can’t believe what’s happened” Dora gasped as she forced her way towards Bridget and handed her a mug. “Do you think this has got anything to do with that man I told you about?”
The last thing Bridget needed right now was to get involved in a long conversation with her elderly neighbour, but she was grateful for the tea. “I really don’t know Mrs Williamson, your guess is as good as mine. Gil and I are still in a state of shock. I’m sure the police will want to speak to all the neighbours so make sure you tell them exactly what you told me. But please excuse me, there’s a couple of people I need to speak to before they disappear” she added dismissively.
“Cat, Kevin, please don’t go just yet”, Bridget called out, “I haven’t had chance to thank you both for what you’ve done. You know you saved Maggie’s life, don’t you? I was absolutely us
eless, I was just frozen to the spot, I think my brother was too. I dread to think what would have happened if you hadn’t arrived when you did.”
“Please think nothing of it, we just happened to be in the right place at the right time, anyone would have done the same” said Cat modestly. “We’re just pleased that we were able to help, please give Maggie our best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
“I’ll certainly do that but I think Maggie would like to thank you in person one day.”
“Well you just tell her not to worry about that now and to concentrate on getting well.”
“Sorry to interrupt” said Sergeant Jackson to Gil and Bridget as Cat and Kevin said their goodbyes,” but right now I need you both to go in the second ambulance and get yourselves checked out down at the General. You’re probably suffering from shock and you’ll be no use to us in that state. You are our prime witnesses and we need to take a full statement from you as soon as you’re up to it.”
Gil was about to object but after seeing Bridget shaking her head, he thought better of it.
“Before you go, I just want to brief you about what will be happening here while you’re away. A team of forensic officers will be arriving shortly, or SOCOs as you’ve probably heard them referred to on TV. The house and drive-way will be sealed off as it’s now a crime scene. For that reason I can’t let either of you back into the house until they’ve finished their examination. Anything you don’t have with you you’ll have to manage without I’m afraid, for now anyway. The car and driveway will be the main focus of their attention however and once they’ve finished their examination here, the car will be taken to a secure compound. Do you have access to another vehicle Mr Honeyman?”
Gil laughed. “That won’t be a problem Sergeant, I own a garage in town.”
“Yes of course, Honeyman’s, I knew I recognized the name from somewhere, so not a problem for you then. The SOCOs will also want to examine the house, or at least the door and entrance hall.” Seeing Bridget’s puzzled expression Sergeant Jackson explained that the forensic team would be looking for blood spatter patterns and evidence of firearms discharge, both of which could have travelled some distance. Gil and Bridget would also be required to have their fingerprints taken at some point, for elimination purposes.