Wuthering Dormice (aka Bike) Part 797 by Angharad

“How did you know I’d come?”

“My invitation was irresistible.”

“Think a lot of yourself, don’t you?”

“I have to, otherwise this business would kill me.”

“It might anyway.”

“Not if I can help it.”

“How do we get my family back safely?”

“That’s a tricky one.”

“I’m well aware of that, but you’re supposed to be the expert.”

“That is so true.”

“Did you follow me here?” I asked wondering if they saw me purchase the knives.

“No, we put a tracker on your car.”

“How did you know I’d come up here?”

“I didn’t, but from here I’d be able to see you approach the house, and it did occur to me you might come to reconnoitre.”

“I was praying for inspiration.”

“You found him.” Bill’s manner was irritating to say the least.

“I think I prefer James Bond.”

“The ladies always do, it’s a real travesty of justice.”

“I don’t know how you could let them kill four coppers and do nothing.”

“Sacrifices, sometimes there are sacrifices.”

“How do I know I’m not lined up as your next one?”

“You don’t.”

“For all I know, you could be one of them.”

“I could show you my ID.”

“I could show you my belly button but it wouldn’t mean anything, would it?”

“It’s probably more interesting than my ID. Are you sure you used to be a boy, you are such an attractive female.”

“If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.”

“Oh very droll, Miss Watts, yes very good.”

“I might not be joking.”

“I think you’ll find it harder to do than it looks – even with the knife shoved down your trousers.”

“Maybe,” I shrugged – I didn’t trust him any further than I could throw him.

“So do we wait until nightfall, or what?”

“They have infra-red, not much point is there.”

“Except they’ll be more tired.”

“So will we,” I was tired now and it was only lunch time.

“We could go and rest up a little until after dark.”

“I think not.”

“Suit yourself,” he said casually.

“I will, Bill – hey that rhymes, nearly as good as kill Bill.”

“Fancy yourself as Uma Thurman, do you?”

“Not really.”

“Pity, you’re actually better looking.”

“I hope you don’t have a gun,” I said.

“Why?”

“With your defective vision, you could be dangerous.”

“Very funny, Cathy, yes very good. I’m entitled to my opinion, and I think you’re prettier.”

“We’ll have to agree to differ, then.”

“Have you always had a problem with compliments?”

This man was driving me nuts, much more and I would kill him. “What’s it to you?”

“Defensive behaviour, eh? Must be getting warm.”

“I’m not sticking around while you play mind games.”

“I’m a spook, it’s what we do.”

“Not with me you don’t. Goodbye.”

“Don’t you want to know where your family are?”

“I presume in my house.”

“It’s dangerous to assume.”

“Is it? I assume you’re a right pig – haven’t been wrong yet.”

“Touché, you’re a bit too aggressive at times, did you know?”

“You ain’t seen anything yet.”

“God, I’ll bet you’re beautiful when you’re angry.”

“I have killed someone, don’t push me to repeat the experience.”

“Yes I know, Cathy. I know all about you.”

“And I know nothing about you, do I?”

“What would you like to know?”

“Where are they holding my family?”

“You know, I’ve just forgotten.”

“You are a total shit, Bill. Yes Bill-shit, I like that.” I turned and he called something else but I ignored him. Given a chance, I’d beat him senseless and I suspect he’d do the same to me.

I walked back to my car and looked all over it, trying to find the tracking device. Eventually I found it under the bonnet, but kept looking in case there was a second. There was, under the tail gate. I stuck them on two different cars and drove off on to the Downs, to think and plan.

I ate a sandwich and drank some water, then went for it. I drove back to near my house and parked up near the back of the house. Bill could watch all he liked, he wouldn’t see anything from up there.

My plan was really very simple, across the garden of the house behind mine. Over the wall and hide behind the garden shed. Actually, there’s a loose panel at the back of the shed, I can remove and sneak inside and watch them from inside it. There’s a small knot hole in the door I can spy through and I can pick the lock from the inside quite easily.

It seemed as good a plan as I was going to make – it also gave me room for a tactical withdrawal if the odds were too overwhelming. I wasn’t the stuff of suicide bombers.

I made it across the garden and to my wall. I peeped over the top and I couldn’t see anyone watching me. I hopped over the wall and ran to the back of the shed. Using my Swiss Army knife, I pried off the loose panel and stepped into the shed carefully avoiding the lawn mower. Then I pushed the panel back into place. The whole manoeuvre had only taken me three or four minutes.

The knot hole had been filled, then I remembered having done it back in the summer. More operations for my penknife and the hole was available for my voyeuristic intentions.

I peered through the hole for nearly ten minutes – my back was aching through bending down to look. I couldn’t see anything in terms of movement. Were they still there or was it a simply a trap? I cleared the stuff off a large wooden box and sat myself down to wait.