Southend U3A

Writing for Fun

September 2015

The Face at the Window - Gerry Miller

The moment he saw her he had known she was the one. Excitement filled his heart as the beauty of her struck right through him again. The long blonde hair and those aquamarine eyes, he watched her through the window as she picked up her drink. Long delicate fingers clasped the cup, she appeared to be talking to someone but whom he could not see. He was well concealed and knew that unless he made a sudden movement she would not know that he was there. Quietly he stood at the edge of the trees still as a statue and as silent as the grave just watching and waiting.

He had been trained to the highest standards, but this one was for him and him alone. Max had first of all carefully surveyed the surrounding area. He had become a familiar face at the local club she went to. Many a time had had followed her home as his longing for her just grew and grew. The house was in an ideal location for him, woods at one side with many footpaths leading out into the surrounding suburb. The luxury was the clear view of the front door and the huge patio doors at the side. He could not have asked for better. The footpaths winding through the woods were well trodden and frequently used by dog walkers; over his shoulder was his rucksack and the dog lead hung loosely around his neck. His ball thrower protruded from the bag though no dog was actually necessary.

It was now his third month of trailing her, nothing he had yet witnessed told him she was not the one. At last his mind was made up, that jerk she was with was just not good enough. Today was D-day. His rucksack had been tailor made to house his sniper gun, it was quick to assemble and just as easy to stow away after use. The tall still man watched and waited the girl poured herself another drink and turned to the window laughing and smiling, the second character came into view and, reaching out, he turned the girl towards him. The glass shattered as the bullet entered the room and the man's head exploded; piercing screams penetrated the silence. But by this time the rucksack was repacked and the assassin walked steadily off through the woods, whistling and calling out for 'Rover.'

When she returned home some ten minutes later Andrea's mother found her daughter in shock sobbing and crying on the floor beside her dead boyfriend. The police swiftly appeared and behind them an ambulance. The family were moved to temporary accommodation as the home was thoroughly checked and then cleaned. Footsteps were found churned up at the edge of the woods but there was no forensic evidence anywhere. The spent cartridge could not be found, though many policemen conducted a fingertip search through woods and garden.

Time passed slowly and Andrea gradually picked up the pieces of her life, and a new man entered her life. He was tall, dark and handsome, and had been in the SAS, he owned his own security company and needlessly to say one of the first things he did was to put a large fence around the garden. On his engagement to Andrea he not only presented her with a beautiful diamond ring but with a small Alsatian puppy which Max had already named Rover.