Writing for Fun
February 2022
Pursued - Pete Norman
Caroline was still in bed when he left so he did not disturb her. She had been under a dark cloud for weeks. He knew that it was partly due to the responsibility for her chronically sick mother and she needed her sleep but there were clearly other problems as well that she simply was not prepared to discuss.
Graham closed the front door quietly, fired up the Mondeo and reversed out into the close.
It was a small close, only about a dozen houses or so and they had lived here for some time. It was a close knit community and everybody knew everybody else. He passed Frank’s MGB GT – which for many years he had been threatening to restore to its former glory; further along was Reg’s vintage Mercedes, which was only a couple of years younger; then there was Ruth’s outlandishly pink Smart car which always brought an instant smile to his face; there was a strange car parked in Maria’s drive but no doubt it was a district nurse helping out after her hip operation.
Everything in the close was absolutely normal except . . . except for the nondescript grey Hyundai parked up on the other side of the junction. He had no time to give it much thought because at that very moment his phone rang. He answered it hands free as he followed the SatNav around to the right – it was his first customer of the day confirming the appointment time.
His full attention was now focussed on the upcoming meeting, running through the likely questions he might be asked and the stock answers that he would give, dependant on the customer’s individual requirements. Selling computer software was not in itself difficult but every company had subtly different needs, which definitely keeps you on your toes and this first appointment today did sound like a bit of a challenge. However his experience could usually deal with most low ball questions and as a result his sales figures were looking very healthy indeed.
A few minutes later he was surprised when the Sat Nav took him away from the motorway, which he was not expecting, however he decided that it was always prudent to follow it as it might be diverting him away from heavy rush hour traffic and in a job like this he could not afford to be late.
The chosen road took him through some quite narrow but scenic lanes but he was still making good time and it was ‘a pleasant day for a pootle through the lanes’ as his father used to say. He was quite enjoying himself but he was keeping a wary eye on the Sat Nav because he was in unfamiliar territory.
After a couple of miles a left turn was signalled. From years of Police driving habit he subconsciously checked his mirror but the car behind him was too far back to warrant signalling so he slowed down and swung into a lane which was even narrower than the one he was leaving. At first he was a little anxious but at least there wasn’t any grass down the middle of the road – for now at least!
The road snaked through very pleasant open countryside and, apart from a skittish pheasant, he did not pass another living thing and he was thoroughly enjoying the drive. At the junction the Sat Nav signalled a right turn and again he checked his mirror – there was only one car in view but it was quite some distance behind.
There was a fair amount of traffic on the more major road so he had to wait a few minutes for a gap. As he finally pulled out he checked his mirror again and saw that the other car had stopped some way back up the road.
The SatNav was now showing only ten minutes to his destination so he began to focus his thoughts on the interview once more. He repeated the client’s name a few times to familiarise himself so as not to repeat the cardinal sin he had committed on one of his early jobs.
Soon he hit the town and he navigated through heavy local traffic to a large red brick building with ‘Harveys’ emblazoned across the entrance doors. He abandoned the Mondeo in the visitor’s bay and whispered to himself, ‘Now let the fun begin.’
The interview was thorough but predictable and seemed to go very well. He was pleasantly surprised when he was asked if they could have a moment to discuss a few points – that was usually a good sign. He was directed to a small ante room but he stopped for a few moments at a huge picture window in the corridor which offered a panoramic view of the town. Traffic out there was heavy and he was so grateful for the use of the visitor’s bay because out there it seemed that parking spaces were at a premium. One car, a nondescript grey Hyundai, was even parked on double yellow lines but the driver was still in the car so he might be able to fight off the Blue Meanies if they swooped.
A polite call drew him away from his reverie and he returned to the Board Room to sign, seal and deliver the package at a surprisingly favourable rate.
With the first box of the day neatly ticked he headed back to the car. The next customer was not until the afternoon and the SatNav was giving him a journey time of just over an hour so he had plenty of time for a sandwich and a coffee – which was just as well as traffic was heavy and he had to wait at the gate before he could pull out. As he was checking in both directions he noticed that the grey Hyundai was still parked on the double yellows and that the driver was still at the wheel.
A small gap appeared in the traffic and he pulled out quickly, carefully following the circuitous instructions on the SatNav. He came to a cross road and checked his mirror – there was only one car in view but it was quite some distance behind. An uneasy feeling crept over him and he checked his mirror again – the car was a nondescript grey Hyundai.
A small gap appeared and he turned right and after a few seconds he checked his mirror again and it was still there . . . he had a tail. He was still running through all the possibilities in his mind when he saw an opportunity - a multi-story car park was looming up ahead. He turned into the entrance and took his ticket from the machine. Once inside he put his foot down and spun the car up onto the first floor, racing the length of the car park to the down ramp and then back down and out again.
A little further on was a narrow service road. He reversed in and sat just far enough back that he still had a clear view of the car park exit. Nothing happened for a few minutes and he was beginning to think he was being paranoid – imagining the whole thing. He checked his watch – he would have to abandon this nonsense soon or else he might have to miss out on his lunch.
Then he saw it – the grey Hyundai was at the exit gates, pulling out. The driver, a middle aged man, was carefully checking both ways as if he was uncertain which way to turn. Graham smiled to himself; he was not paranoid; now the hunted could become the hunter – but he could use some back-up.
He made a quick call to Robert. In his Police days he and Robert had been on the same shift and Robert still worked in the Traffic Department here. As he dialled he crossed his fingers, hoping that he was actually on duty today. The gods were smiling on him and he quickly explained his dilemma. As he pulled away, he promised to keep the phone line open so that he could give a running commentary as he and the Hyundai wove their way through the town.
The other car was driving slowly, methodically checking every side road as it passed and it was easy enough for Graham overtake it slowly enough to give the driver a good view of his car. The bait was taken and for the next half a mile or so they drove steadily out of town, always with a respectable distance kept between the two cars. Graham kept his eye on his mirrors and soon there was the welcome sight of the marked BMW approaching. With the blue lights and a quick ‘blip’ of the two tones the Hyundai pulled over and stopped. Graham smiled to himself as he reversed back to join them.
The driver was vehemently denying any wrong doing but Robert pointed out the camera in the rear window of the Mondeo. A more subdued driver handed over a card which Robert passed on to Graham with a whispered, ‘That car looks like it’s in need of a complete vehicle check. I’ll take it back to the Garage . . . which should buy you a little time . . .’
Graham made good use of the opportunity and he drove for home as if his life depended on it.
Her car was still on the driveway but there was no sign of Caroline downstairs – surely she couldn’t still be in bed? A few moments later she appeared in the lounge doorway. ‘What are you doing home so early?’ It was an accusation rather than a question.
He took a deep breath. ‘I bumped into one of your mates.’
She looked puzzled.
He handed her the card. ‘Why have you got a Private Detective following me, Caroline?’
She stared at the card as it was toxic. She began to shake. Tears coursed down her cheeks.
His anger evaporated instantly and he engulfed her in his arms. ‘Look, sweetheart, I don’t know what made you even think I could do such a thing but all I am doing all day is trying to earn the money to keep us afloat. There is no way I could ever cheat on you, my love.’
She was still shaking when he released his embrace.
Then there was a faint sound.
An unmistakable sound from above.
The sound of a creaking floorboard.
A look of abject terror crossed her face.
Graham took the stairs two at a time . . . .