knew his best mate well, he wasn’t convinced there was nothing wrong, but for now, it would keep until Nathan felt ready to tell him. They browsed the extensive menu; the hotel restaurant had an exciting and exotic array of starters, main courses and desserts to suit any palate.
When the ladies returned, both smiled broadly before taking their places at the table, ready to order. They chatted freely over drinks as the first course arrived, the atmosphere one of relaxed indulgence. The conversation never steered towards the events of the previous few months in the UK.
4 – Hello, Barbie …
Salby, North Yorkshire, 19 TH March 2014, noon.
My car spluttered to a halt in the car park of the one and only out-of-town shopping park.
I despise shopping .
There must have been some sort of incident on the outbound route farther up as the traffic was backed up considerably. Drivers honked their horns, angry words were exchanged and some people even began to run towards the incident.
Rubber-neckers! The fascination of the human race with other’s misfortune never ceased to amaze me.
On the plus side, at least there was traffic here.
My journey there was a little hazy, surreal and dream-like. Images of the bloodied schoolboy encroached upon my vision and clouded my reason, turning my stomach. The phone in my hand was as good as useless. Repeated attempts at contacting the authorities bore only silence, no dial tone, no network—nothing.
4G coverage, my ass!
Resigned to my fate, and resolute in my determination, I swung the car door wide and stepped out, intent on heading for the toy store just across the parking area. The main precinct seemed to be pretty quiet despite the number of cars in the parking zones. I weaved between them, snubbing the pedestrian walkways in my haste to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible.
Extensive glass-fronted display windows ran along one entire wall of the south side of the precinct. Designer outlets crammed as much stock as they could into the portals to entice the passing trade. Despite my need to make the toy store, I stopped as my eyes settled upon a sturdy jacket in one of the more well-known stores. The price tag took my breath away—almost a week’s wages for me, but a well-made garment, which certainly looked the part. The dummy in the window looked life-like, perfectly still with an emotionless face, and yet, with such realism, I found myself with my nose almost pressed to the glass in an attempt to satisfy my curiosity.
Although he wore a ski hat, which covered his head and goggles, which obscured his eyes, I could make out movement behind the slightly tinted lenses. His eyes flicked frantically to his right, and his head emphasised the instruction with the barest of forced movement, as if urging me to flee. I stared in disbelief as the dummy repeatedly flicked its eyes to my left, and yet stood riveted to the spot.
The plate glass window two down from me exploded outwards and jolted me from my fixation. A body tumbled across the block paving in a blizzard of broken glass. To most, that would have been their cue to run. I stood fast. The body, that of a teenage shop worker, lay face down and motionless, surrounded by the refracting light sparkles of a million window fragments. The next thing to come through the same window was the janitor. I ran towards the nearest car, dived over the bonnet and landed in a heap, sandwiched between two parked vehicles. I peered around the front of the car, but stayed low enough to be hard to spot.
The janitor, in faded green overalls, appeared to be looking for something, or someone. His head moved slowly from right to left numerous times until his gaze settled upon a lone woman. I followed his stare towards the female.
Shit … she looks like Charley!
While I couldn’t be certain, the woman was about the right height, had the same long hair, and from the half of her face I could see, resembled my ex-wife, Charlotte
When the ladies returned, both smiled broadly before taking their places at the table, ready to order. They chatted freely over drinks as the first course arrived, the atmosphere one of relaxed indulgence. The conversation never steered towards the events of the previous few months in the UK.
4 – Hello, Barbie …
Salby, North Yorkshire, 19 TH March 2014, noon.
My car spluttered to a halt in the car park of the one and only out-of-town shopping park.
I despise shopping .
There must have been some sort of incident on the outbound route farther up as the traffic was backed up considerably. Drivers honked their horns, angry words were exchanged and some people even began to run towards the incident.
Rubber-neckers! The fascination of the human race with other’s misfortune never ceased to amaze me.
On the plus side, at least there was traffic here.
My journey there was a little hazy, surreal and dream-like. Images of the bloodied schoolboy encroached upon my vision and clouded my reason, turning my stomach. The phone in my hand was as good as useless. Repeated attempts at contacting the authorities bore only silence, no dial tone, no network—nothing.
4G coverage, my ass!
Resigned to my fate, and resolute in my determination, I swung the car door wide and stepped out, intent on heading for the toy store just across the parking area. The main precinct seemed to be pretty quiet despite the number of cars in the parking zones. I weaved between them, snubbing the pedestrian walkways in my haste to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible.
Extensive glass-fronted display windows ran along one entire wall of the south side of the precinct. Designer outlets crammed as much stock as they could into the portals to entice the passing trade. Despite my need to make the toy store, I stopped as my eyes settled upon a sturdy jacket in one of the more well-known stores. The price tag took my breath away—almost a week’s wages for me, but a well-made garment, which certainly looked the part. The dummy in the window looked life-like, perfectly still with an emotionless face, and yet, with such realism, I found myself with my nose almost pressed to the glass in an attempt to satisfy my curiosity.
Although he wore a ski hat, which covered his head and goggles, which obscured his eyes, I could make out movement behind the slightly tinted lenses. His eyes flicked frantically to his right, and his head emphasised the instruction with the barest of forced movement, as if urging me to flee. I stared in disbelief as the dummy repeatedly flicked its eyes to my left, and yet stood riveted to the spot.
The plate glass window two down from me exploded outwards and jolted me from my fixation. A body tumbled across the block paving in a blizzard of broken glass. To most, that would have been their cue to run. I stood fast. The body, that of a teenage shop worker, lay face down and motionless, surrounded by the refracting light sparkles of a million window fragments. The next thing to come through the same window was the janitor. I ran towards the nearest car, dived over the bonnet and landed in a heap, sandwiched between two parked vehicles. I peered around the front of the car, but stayed low enough to be hard to spot.
The janitor, in faded green overalls, appeared to be looking for something, or someone. His head moved slowly from right to left numerous times until his gaze settled upon a lone woman. I followed his stare towards the female.
Shit … she looks like Charley!
While I couldn’t be certain, the woman was about the right height, had the same long hair, and from the half of her face I could see, resembled my ex-wife, Charlotte
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