Crossing The Line Chapter 11 by Angharad Copyright© 2022 Angharad

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(title picture Andrea Piacquadio)

Juliette was sitting on a chair, surrounded by her family with Carol and Maddy. “It was horrible,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “John and me were walking along, when suddenly, as we passed the gateway to that field, a man jumped out and tried to grab me. John pushed him away, but he was too strong and he hit John, who fell against the gate. I screamed, but no one heard me. I tried to run up the road, but he was too quick and got between me and the village. So I ran down the road. He was chasing me, so I kept going, and then I ducked into a field and just kept running. After a bit, I hid behind some bushes. I couldn’t see him, but as I didn’t know where he was, I just waited. I didn’t know what to do, so I waited.”

“That’s alright, love,” said Jenny, cuddling her daughter. Drew watched all this with a state of shock and anger. He looked at his father who was, weeping but making his hands into fists. Drew knew that Dave would like a few moments alone with Rod Meadows, preferably accompanied with a baseball bat.

Maddy went out to make some tea, she couldn’t bear to hear anymore of the story. Drew saw her leave and went with her. “I can’t believe that man,” said Maddy. “How can he get away with watching us, and not be seen himself?”

“Dunno,” said Drew, thinking about the question Maddy had posed. “He must be watching us, he knew we went out when he tried to run me over. He must have known the cars were unguarded, he must have seen Jules go out with John. So where is he?”

“If I knew that, I’d tell the police,” answered Maddy.

“I wonder, ”said Drew, almost to himself. “If he can see us, then we should be able to see him, unless he’s got Harry Potter’s cloak of invisibility.”

“He could be hiding.” Interrupted Maddy, “Can you bring the milk and sugar in?”

“But wouldn’t the police spot him with their thermo-wotsit equipment?” said a puzzled Drew, following Maddy back to the lounge.

Jules was still telling her story, “…and then, I saw the policeman and his dog and I knew I was safe.” Dave threw his arms around her and hugged her, he was too overcome to speak. The night went on, with everyone feeling tense and no one wanting to go to bed.

Drew disappeared for a few minutes, he sneaked up to his bedroom. “Hi, it’s Gaby Bond, can I speak to Harry?” He waited holding his mobile to his chest while he listened to ensure he wasn’t being eavesdropped upon.

“Hi Harry, thanks for your help in rescuing Jules and saving John.”

“It was nothing,” said Harry, his chest swelling with pride. Recognition from the most important person in his world.

“Can I still borrow your crossbow?” asked Drew.

“Yeah, course you can, do you need anything else?” asked the obliging and lovesick boy.

“Like what?” asked Drew, uncertain about what else he could need.

“Like a knife or stick. I’ve got a cricket and a baseball bat.”

“Yeah, they could be useful. I’ve got an idea,” said Drew, speaking very quietly.

“I’ll help as much as I can,” said his co conspirator.

“This guy must be able to see what we’re doing, so he must be able to see the house, and be close enough to rush out and try and grab Jules. I want to have a look around and see if I can spot him.”

“I hate to say this, but won’t the police have already done that?” said Harry, feeling guilty about challenging his love.

“Yeah, but they must be missing something, I wondered if you and me, might just find it.”

“What do we do if we find him?” asked Harry.

“Run back and call for help, why, what did you think I was gonna do?” asked Drew in astonishment.

“Nothing,” said Harry with feigned innocence.

“You thought I was going to shoot him with your bow, didn’t you?” said Drew accusingly.

“N…nnno,” said Harry, knowing that he had thought exactly that, and he also knew that Gaby knew he’d thought it. “Course I didn’t.”

“The crossbow, was just in case he attacked us, then you could shoot him,” said Drew, triumphantly.

“Mmmmmmeeeee?” said Harry. “Mmmmee…shoot him?” He hesitated several times saying this.

“Yes, why?” asked Drew in a very matter of fact tone.

“Well, I don’t know if I could,” said Harry, wishing he had the courage to change the subject. This was getting a bit tough.

“What, not even to protect me?” said Drew in best seductive Gaby tone. He was sure that Harry wouldn’t be able to resist Gaby’s charms.

“I…I…I…ddddddon’t know,” said Harry, sounding very unsure of himself.

“You said you’d do anything for me. Was it a lie?” asked Drew, now twisting the knife.

“I…I…I...ddddddddddddddon’t know what to sssssssssay,” said Harry, now on the verge of tears himself. Here he was, talking to the object of his desires and to whom he had declared his undying love, being asked to prove it and he was in great danger of falling at the first hurdle.

Drew was feeling a little concerned. He’d played the blackmail card and it wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do. This boy is supposed to be a mindless robot in Gaby’s hands, and it seemed he wasn’t. What would Maddy do?

“Why can’t you carry the crossbow and I’ll hold the baseball bat?” asked Harry, having taken a deep breath to stop him stammering. “If you miss him, I’ll try and stop him with the bat, while you go for help.” Drew couldn’t fault this reasoning, except, he’d never fired a crossbow and could well miss, but the rest of Harry’s offer was ace.

“Okay, but you’ll have to show me what to do. I want to get out there at first light.”

“But that’s like, five o’clock?” gasped Harry.

“Yeah, so?” snapped back Drew.

“Alright, I’ll come up for five,” acquiesced Harry, full of doubts about the wisdom of this plan.

“Great. Wait at the end of the drive, it’s all alarmed. I’ll come down at five,” Drew clenched his fist and punched the air.

“Aright,” said Harry, “See you,” he put down the phone with a heavy heart. What had he got himself involved in? He should feel more positive than he did. This was the girl he loved and she was asking for his help, how could he refuse? So why did he have such a sense of dread about things. It was dangerous, perhaps too dangerous. No that would make him a coward. Him a coward, the boy who stood up to Cheeseman and came out on top. No, dammit, he was going to do it. He strode away from the phone his chest puffed out.

“How is Gaby?” asked his mother.

“She’s fine, her sister was found safe,” suddenly, he felt as if he’d stepped on quicksand.

“Oh good. Wasn’t that nice of her to phone to tell you?”

“Yes, Mum,” he paused wondering how he would manage to bend the truth for his next statement. He took a surreptitious deep breath and said, “She wants to go for an early ride tomorrow, before the traffic builds up.”

“You don’t like getting up early,” his mother reminded him, something about which he already had misgivings.

“I know, but I said I’d go, to keep her company and protect her.” Once more he felt his chest begin to swell with pride.

“Maybe she’s having a better influence on you than I thought,” said his mother enigmatically.

Planning his early morning campaign to catch Meadows meant an early night, so he bid everyone a ‘goodnight’ and went to bed. Jules was still holding forth and Drew was content that she was keeping them all up. It meant they’d be tired in the morning when he went off on his recce with Harry. His excitement meant he didn’t sleep easily, but he did finally get off though he was aware of Jules coming to bed sometime later. However, he did go off again.

The vibration made him jump, and he almost shouted before he realised it was the alarm on his mobile. It was half past four, he yawned and wondered if he was doing the right thing. “Probably not,” he whispered to himself, then picked up the bundle of clothes he had left together when he went to bed. He stole downstairs and dressed silently in the kitchen. He felt like a soldier going out on patrol behind enemy lines, or how he imagined one would feel, pretty nervous. He had to go to the toilet, again.

He quickly ate some cereal, although he was almost too nervous to swallow, but common sense meant he needed some carbs before exercise, and if they did find Meadows, they might be taking some very intense exercise, in the form of making the legs move as quickly as possible in the opposite direction.

He had dressed in jeans and tee shirt, with a denim jacket. He carried his small handbag, with his mobile and some money. He also took a small pot of ground black pepper, which he put in his bag. He tied up his trainers, and checked his hair in the mirror and after dabbing on some lip gloss, slipped out the door closing it almost silently behind him.

He was about to walk down the drive when he recalled the alarms. He could crawl below them or go round them. He chose the latter. He scooted around the back of the house, up the apple tree and dropped quietly into next door’s garden. Then he tip-toed down the garden and out into the street. Realising how easily he’d bypassed the alarms, didn’t inspire confidence in them. Harry was just walking up the street as Drew got to his own gateway. They waved silently to each other.

“I brought my binns with me,” whispered Harry.

“What?”

“My binns, binoculars.”

“Why don’t you speak English? You don’t hear me talking about Campags and Prestas and SPDs, do you?” Said Drew asserting his moral authority.

“Yes you do, you’re always on about Campags,” replied Harry. Drew felt an uncomfortable feeling in his solar plexus, it was trying to tell him that, ‘there was dissent in the ranks’. He had to stop the mutiny, there and then.“Well, it doesn’t make any difference. Let’s go.” He wheeled about and set off up the road. “Where’s the crossbow?” he asked as Harry drew level.

“It’s in here,” said Harry, indicating the pack he had on his back, I’ll put it together as soon as we’re clear of the houses. Drew wondered how big it would be. The pack was a decent sized rucksack, but even so, the baseball bat protruding from the one side indicated the crossbow wasn’t very big. They walked on for about three hundred yards, then Harry stopped and pulled out the bat. “Here,” he said handing the bat to Drew, “hold this a minute. If we are surprised by Meadows, aim for hands, elbows or knees. It hurts and it’ll slow him down. If you get a chance of a clear bash on his head, go for it.”

“I thought you were going to do any bashing which might be necessary? said Drew, suddenly realising the enormity of the task they were undertaking. He almost suggested a tactical retreat.

“I will, don’t worry but I can’t put this bloody thing together while holding a baseball bat, can I?” he began drawing bits out of the bag.

“I suppose not,” said Drew feeling a little ashamed of himself. Skilfully, Harry’s nimble fingers turned three pieces of wood and metal, into the recognisable shape of a crossbow. He screwed it all firmly together and cocked it, putting his foot into a stirrup at the end and pulling the cable up to the trigger. He then pulled out a handful of bolts. He kept one and handing the rest to Drew, loaded the bow. He took aim and fired at a tree some fifty feet beyond them. The bolt hit the trunk with a loud ‘thunk’. Drew was gobsmacked, it was so fast.

“Wanna go?” asked Harry, Drew nodded. They swapped burdens and under Harry’s tutelage, Drew learned how to cock and load the bow. It was harder to pull up the cable than he thought, so Harry was stronger than he thought. Then taking aim, he fired at the same tree and missed it.

“But it looked so easy,” exclaimed Drew, “When you did it,” he was disgusted with himself. This girl stuff must be getting to him.

“I spent a whole summer shooting this in my garden. That was your first go. You did alright for a girl,” said Harry, meaning to reassure his friend, but it undermined Drew’s confidence even more.

“Maybe you’d better carry it, then.” said Drew, and I’ll do any bashing necessary,”as he spoke, they disturbed a pigeon, who exploded into flight from beside them. He was so on edge that he jumped literally into the air and squealed. His doubts about the wisdom of the task were growing. However, he had a theory and he needed to check it out.

They walked to the tree and Harry retrieved his bolt, Drew was scouring the grass beyond for his. He eventually found it some thirty feet further on. This was some toy, a lethal one. It scared Drew, and he was holding it. If they were caught, they could be in deep doo-doo, but they needed some protection while he tested his idea.

“Where are we going?” asked Harry.

“I want to do a circuit of this valley. If he can see where we are and not be seen by the copper-chopper, then he must be hiding somewhere up over there.” He pointed to the side of the valley with its scruffy farm and bedraggled hedgerows. “It’s about the only place where he could see everything.”

“Yeah, but how would he get down here so quickly?” reasoned Harry, “It’s got to be half a mile away.” Drew felt rattled at this and said nothing. They walked up towards the farm.

“What about surveillance equipment?” asked Drew.

“All we’ve got are these,” said Harry holding out the binoculars.

“No. I mean, what if he is using some sort of video camera? he could see what we’re doing and could be some distance away. Far enough to scarper when the police are about.”

“Could be I suppose. He’s probably got the dosh for it,” agreed Harry, “But wouldn’t the police have seen it?”

“Only if they were looking for it,” suggested Drew, as they approached the farm.

They wandered amongst the chickens and then sheep as they walked across the farmyard and into the first field. “What’s that over there?” said Drew, pointing at a small brick building.

“Dunno,” said Harry, “Some sort of animal shelter.” Then as they got closer, “No, it’s an old air raid shelter.”

“Quiet,” hissed Drew as he made a circular approach to its opening. They stood for some moments before they decided what to do next. They looked at each other. Drew loaded the crossbow and Harry grasped the bat very tightly. They both felt dry mouthed and could hear their heart beats pounding in their ears. “Now,” shouted Drew, and rushed into the shelter. Harry hesitated, taken by surprise, then followed.

It was empty of life, or at least human life. There was a dead rat which was crawling with maggots and the air smelt sickly sweet with the scent of death and decay. Apart from the deceased rodent, it was full of fence posts and assorted farming implements. They emerged from the gloom and smell into the cleaner, sunnier air outside. Drew walked to the front of the shelter. “See,” he hissed, “you can see our place quite clearly from up here.”

“Yes you can,” said a man’s voice behind them. Drew nearly soiled his knickers. Then Harry and he spun around, the crossbow inadvertently going off as they moved, the bolt embedding itself in a nearby tree.

They saw the man standing about ten feet from them. “Oh dear,” he said, “she’s gone and shot a tree. Now what yer gonna do fer protection?” he stepped towards the teens.

Drew felt sick and Harry didn’t feel much better, but as the man stepped closer, Harry strode out in front of him and waved the bat. “Run Gaby, get help.”

“I wouldn’t if I were you,” said a second male voice, from behind them he brandished a shotgun.

“We’re decoys, the police are watching from down there,” said Drew, pointing to the village.

“ ‘sfunny we cain’t see ‘em.” said the man with the gun.

“Course you can’t, but they can see you,” continued Drew, bluffing. As he walked towards the man with the gun, he was feeling inside his bag for the pepper. He carefully flicked off the top with his thumb and held it over the open end.

“Them things is illegal,” said the gun holding man, indicating the crossbow.

“That doesn’t seem to stop him doing things,” answered back Drew, nodding backwards at Meadows.

“Plenty o’ sauce, this un,” said the gun man, smiling at Drew, “an’ purty too.”

“Should see ‘er on a bike, goes like the wind. Tough luck Barbie, you left yer bike at ‘ome.” Meadows laughed as he said this.

Drew got to within two yards of the gun man. The man still held the gun across his chest, rather than pointing it at the teenagers. Then as he stepped one pace closer, Drew pulled and threw the pepper at the face of the gun man. It hit his surprised face and he dropped the gun as he screamed with pain and coughed and sneezed. Drew swung the crossbow once, caught him on the side of the head and the man fell like log.

Meadows dashed at Harry, who swung and missed, falling over in the process. Drew watched Meadows rush at him, and flung the crossbow. It caught him on the arm and chest and slowed him down enough for Drew to be able to grab the shotgun. He pointed it at Meadows, who stopped and blanched.

“C’mon Barbie, you ain’t gonna pull that trigger,” said Meadows as he slowly advanced on Drew.

“Get your hands up and stand still,” ordered, Drew.

Meadows continued his advance. “Put the gun down girly, or use it.”

“Keep back, or I’ll shoot,” said Drew, not meaning a word of it.

“Gotta release the safeties first,” said Meadows, and as Drew hesitated and looked down at the gun, he jumped forward and wrestled it from our hapless hero. Drew was thrown to the ground in this struggle, short lived as the unevenness of strength would prevail. “Works every time, bloody bimbo.” He pointed the gun at Drew, lying on the floor. Then exclaimed, “What the f…” collapsing onto the ground as Harry belted him with the baseball bat on the back of his head.

Harry then picked up the gun and snapped at the now shaking Drew, “Call the police.”

After Drew dialled 999, and quickly explained the situation, and the presence of a firearm, sirens were heard within five minutes. While Drew shivered in post-combat shock, Harry quickly, emptied the shotgun and then dissembled his crossbow, putting the incriminating evidence into his bag. Then he put his arm around his shaking girlfriend, kissed her on the cheek and stood guard over the fallen enemies until the police arrived.

In ten minutes the helicopter was overhead, just as a stream of squad cars screamed up the farm drive. The first policeman, rushed from his car waving a pistol, “Get away.” He called to the teens, waving with his other hand for them to move away from the fallen villains. Moments later he held onto the empty and ‘broken’ shotgun, while his colleague examined the two injured men. An ambulance was summoned.

“I thought we told you not to get involved in this,” said a familiar man’s voice. It was PC Ben Martin. “You’ll probably get a medal, but it should be a hiding, you pair of clowns. These guys could quite easily have killed you.”

“But they didn’t thanks to Harry,” said Drew hesitantly.

“No, we had one each,” said Harry, puffing out his chest.

“You saved my life,” said Drew, seriously to Harry, still held by the boy, then kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“I reckon you did the same for me too,” said Harry and kissed Drew on the cheek, “Thank you.”

“Come on, let’s get you love birds home,” said Ben, “In the car.”

“My Dad’ll kill me,” whined Drew, suddenly realising how close they were to real danger. He began to shake again, and then came the tears. By the time they were back at the cottage, he was quite upset and crying on Harry’s shoulder.

As Ben entered the drive, so the alarms protecting the drive went off, and Dave came rushing from the house. “What’s going…Gaby? What the hell is going on?” he demanded, as he saw the two teens escorted by the tall policeman.

“Panic over. Batgirl and Robin, here, have just helped us apprehend a dangerous criminal. Can we turn the alarms off Mr Bond?” shouted Ben over the cacophony, smiling as he did.

Jenny came rushing out, “Gaby, what’s happened? Are you alright?” she rushed up to the two teens and hugged them both. “Are you okay?” Drew hugged his mother and sobbed as the shock took over. “Let’s get you inside,” and she led both teens and the tall copper into the house, followed by Dave as soon as he neutralised the alarms.