Sleepwalk (41 page)

It was the third time Slim had been out with Molly and they were getting on really well. After their rather disastrous first date when she had stormed off Slim had explained the Mrs Wilson situation to her in detail and she had apologised. He had put her little outburst down to her immaturity and general lack of life experience and relationships……. Not that he had had that many relationships himself but jealousy wasn’t one of his traits; or virtues, whichever way you looked at the situation. They were in the conservative club by
Victory
Park
. He’d been a member there for the past twelve months ever since Ginger Westman had put his name forward to join. Neither he, nor Ginger were members for any political reason. They were there for the social aspect and the cheap beer. Slim had an inkling that tonight his luck would be in because Molly had been giving him the eye all night and as they called last orders and he returned to their table carrying a tray bearing four glasses, a small plate with two slices of lemon and a small mound of white granules instead of their usual two glasses, she looked bemused.

‘What’s that?’

‘Tequila. I got us one each as a special treat; didn’t think you’d go much on a whiskey chaser.’

‘Are you trying to get me drunk Stephen Williams?’

‘As if! Reckon you could drink me under the table any day.’

She watched as he licked the palm of his hand and pressed it into the white granules.

‘What are you doing? Is that sugar?’

‘Salt.’

‘Ugh! You’ve got to be kidding!’

‘Try it.’

Slim managed to get four more tequilas before they called
time
by which time a very giggly and vivacious Molly was ready to leave. Slim waited for her while she went to the ladies.

‘Oi Slim,’ laughed Ginger, ‘Looks like you’re on a promise tonight.’

Old John Tressel who had been sitting at the bar drowning his sorrows all night was also ready to leave. He managed to successfully dismount his bar stool that had been supporting his frail body for the past half an hour and stood for a minute to get the feel of his feet on terra firma, then in drink relaxed stupor he began to make his way steadily through the crowded bar.

‘One more for the road John?’ called Ginger.

‘Nah. I’ve had enough. I’m off now.’

‘Go on! One more won’t hurt,’ jeered his drinking buddy. ‘What’ve you got to go home for anyway? Got some bird waiting for you at that luxury penthouse of yours eh? Dirty old bugger.’

Everyone laughed as the old man opened the door onto the street.

‘Least some of us knows when we’ve had enough eh?’ He sneered back at Ginger who was finding it hard to stand up straight let alone walk in a straight line and then he bumped into Molly as she was making her way back to Slim.

‘Watch it!’ she scolded him.

‘Oooh…….. Fiesty young thing you got there Slim me boy.’

Both Slim and Molly erupted into laughter as Ginger bumped into a vacant bar stool and almost knocked it over, then they made their way outside. He took her hand and then as they reached the shadow of the gateway and saw old John swaying unsteadily on the pavement Slim pulled Molly back into the darkness and turned her around to face him. He looked into her big brown eyes and felt her breath on his chin and she giggled.

‘Sshhh ………’ he whispered as he pulled her to him and kissed her softly.

‘I had a good time tonight.’ She smiled.

‘I know.’ said Slim and he kissed her again, more urgently this time and he knew in that moment that she liked it. As he moved in for a third kiss he pressed her gently against the wall and she gasped and gazed into his hazel eyes and parted her lips in anticipation. Somewhere in the back of their minds they had probably heard the engine roaring as it powered closer but the sound was lost in the moment. Then as his lips touched hers and she closed her eyes reality came crashing down on them both as the sudden screech of brakes and the deathly thud of metal as it struck
the old man
sent them running into the street but of course they were too late. Slim watched the little red car as it slid sideways into the pavement on the opposite side of the road and stalled. They ran to the
scene where John
was lying very still in the road. Slim felt for a pulse.

‘He’s alive! Molly! Go and tell Sue to phone for an ambulance….. and the police…. Quickly!’ The girl ran back into the Club house as the driver of the little red car desperately tried to start its engine. Slim got to his feet and began to run to the car but even as he ran the engine had fired up and accelerated away just a few feet in front of him. Slim watched in disbelief as the car took off at lightening speed. The drivers head had turned ever so slightly as the car span off the pavement and he’d just caught a side profile of the face and of course the very long, very blonde hair. The registration plate had been blacked out and was unreadable but Slim was under no doubt that the car was a Ford Fiesta ……….. a red Ford Fiesta.

DI Carter had been up half the night. He had gone past the tiredness stage now after the last interview and now he was buzzing with excitement as DC Peters arrived carrying two cups of black coffee from the vending machine.

‘How did it go with the girl?’

‘Not much use. She saw the car; it was red. That’s about as much as we can expect from her I think. Let’s hope Williams will be more forthcoming eh? Thanks Claire.’ He took the cup she offered him. ‘Sorry to drag you out at this ungodly hour but there could be a connection to the
Wilson
case and I think we need to reinstate our foreign relations.’

‘Already checked Sir; she’s here; flew over last week in fact.’

‘Bingo. Let’s get Williams in.’

‘That could be a little difficult Sir. He’s gone.’

‘Gone? What do you mean, he’s gone?’

‘I asked at the front desk who was in for interview and they said Molly Birchell and Stephen Williams but that they’d lost Williams.’

‘Lost him? Who’s on duty?’

‘Er…… Sergeant Davidson but he’d popped to the loo. It…….. It was PC Coles Sir. Said Williams had a hunch and that he’d be right back.’

‘PC Coles……… I might have known.’

They made their way to the front desk together, Claire Peters remaining always in the shadow of her Detective Inspector.

‘Where’s Coles?’ demanded the Inspector.

‘Coffee break.’ said the Sergeant.

‘Coffee break eh?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘What time’s his shift finish?’

‘Two am Sir.’

‘And his next shift starts at?’

‘Er, ten in the morning.’

‘Right. Tell him to meet us in the car park in five minutes.’

‘Yes Sir. Er, shall I call in relief for his morning shift Sir?’

‘That won’t be necessary. I’ll have him back here in time for his day shift.’

‘Yes Sir.’

Claire followed DI Carter to the car park. She could feel the blue heat rising from his body as he strode purposely forward. Carter was renowned for his
blue heat
. It was East Barton terminology for all up and coming officers of this division who had ever had the misfortune to feel the wrath of Carter.
You play with fire
…….
You get burned
. Many of them had been singed…….. some burned……… and there were one or two who had suffered first degree burns as a result of direct contact. Of course they had either transferred to another area or left the force completely ……….

The phone was ringing. Felicity felt as though she hadn’t had any sleep but she had to stop that infernal ringing before it woke the baby. She pulled back the cream satin covers and sat at the edge of the bed carefully trying not to wake David who seemed more exhausted than she was. As she stumbled in the darkness for the table lamp on her bedside cupboard she felt a chill running down the length of her spine. She turned and glanced over at David who was sleeping peacefully, the covers pulled up over his head, bless him. She decided against turning the lamp on and waking him; he obviously hadn’t heard the phone. Perhaps there was a full moon because there was a small shaft of light in the room coming from a tiny gap in the curtains which gave enough light for her to see where she was going so she gently replaced the covers on her side and began to tiptoe to the door. Then the phone stopped ringing. She checked on baby Charlie in the carry cot at the foot of their bed. He was still breathing, thank God. No matter how she tried Felicity never seemed to be able to sleep properly since he had come along. You heard so many terrible stories about cot deaths; she found herself constantly checking on him to make sure he was okay. She checked her alarm clock. It was
12.45am
. Charlie would want feeding soon and she wouldn’t sleep now if she tried. Felicity crept from the room; went downstairs to the kitchen; turned the baby monitor on and made herself a coffee. She could feel the wetness on her chest as milk began to seep from her full breasts and almost simultaneously came the soft whimpers and snuffles from the baby monitor as Charlie began to stir. She remembered the words of the nice fair haired nurse at the hospital who had said to her, ‘
Your body will tell you when baby needs feeding
…’. She put her coffee down on the kitchen table and crept back upstairs, switching the monitor off as she went. David was still sound asleep; he hadn’t even moved. She scooped Charlie up from his carry cot. ‘Come on little man.’ she whispered, ‘We don’t want to wake Daddy.’

The phone was ringing again. Felicity opened her eyes and realised she had fallen asleep on the kitchen chair; baby Charlie in her arms still suckling occasionally at her now relieved left breast. She put the baby up to her shoulder and stood up, steadied herself and glanced at the round sunshine clock on the wall. It was
1.20am
. Who would phone at this time of night? Something must be wrong. She thought suddenly of her father and rushed through to the phone in the hall, steadied Charlie with her left hand and lifted the receiver with her right…….

‘Hello?’

‘Felicity?’ It was a woman’s voice and not one she recognised.

‘Is Ellie with you?’

‘What? …. No! …. Look….. do you actually know what time it is?’

‘Yes. Yes I’m sorry….. is your husband there?’

‘What?’

‘Your husband… David; is he there?’

‘Of course he’s here. He’s in bed. Who is this?’

‘Are you sure he’s there because …… I thought I saw him here.’

‘Look, who are you and why are you phoning at this hour of night?’ A sudden clicking sound coming from the kitchen then made her stop and lean sideways to look along the hall but she could see through the open doorway into the kitchen that there was no one there. It must have been the element in the kettle cooling down.

‘I’m sorry….. you don’t know me. My name’s Mary. I’m a friend of Ellie’s. I’m worried about her. She went out earlier. I mean …… we’d both gone to our respective rooms and said goodnight and then there was this banging outside and I looked out through the curtains and I saw her with ……. well it looked like your husband and after what happened with him the night before……. She was so scared when she came to me; and she’s scared for Ollie too ……. and for you, and the baby.’

‘Look I don’t know what you’re talking about but it’s half past one in the morning and she’s not here ok? David is in bed and has been all night; and that’s where I’m going right now and I suggest you do the same. Now please…….. leave us alone.’ Felicity slammed the phone down and went back into the kitchen, settled Charlie onto her right breast and then heard a creaking sound on the stairs. David appeared in the kitchen doorway barefoot, wearing just his trousers.

‘What’s going on babe? I heard voices. I thought you were talking to someone.’ He wiped the sleep from his half open eyes and flicked the switch on the kettle, then came over to her and gently stroked Charlie’s cheek as he suckled intermittently at his mothers breast.

‘I’m sorry David. I didn’t mean to wake you. It was the phone. It’s rung twice tonight. It was someone called Mary, Ellie’s friend.’

‘Mary Darch?’

‘Yes. She’s worried because Ellie’s gone off into the night somewhere.’

‘Oh God. She’s not started the sleep walking thing again has she? I told her she shouldn’t drink alcohol but of course she wouldn’t listen to me; out with that woman every night on the town. You know, alcohol just makes any medication you’re on completely ineffective. She should know that. Do you want another coffee babe?’

‘No I’m fine thanks. It’ll be hard enough to sleep tonight after all this. You should go back to bed David; get some sleep. I’m just going to bring up this little mans wind and change his nappy and then I’ll join you.’

‘Let me do that for you Flick. You get up to bed. You look worn out.’ Felicity passed Charlie to him and she kissed them both very tenderly.

‘What did I ever do to deserve you?’ she smiled, ‘I love you David.’

‘And I love you Mrs Felicity Wilson……… now go on, up to bed with you. We’ll be up in a bit, won’t we young Charlie?’

While Felicity slept; albeit somewhat fitfully, David opened the door to the dining room which was next to the kitchen and retrieved a bundle of clothes, then with little Charlie all winded and changed resting on his chest he carried his clothing and the baby upstairs and crept into the bedroom laying Charlie safely into his cot and his clothes tidily across the floor on his side of the bed, then climbed into the big king sized bed, snuggled up to his wife’s warm body and relaxed into the sanctity of sleep.