Crossing The Line Chapter 33 by Angharad Copyright© 2022 Angharad

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(title picture Andrea Piacquadio)

Drew sat with his parents while they waited for Carol to let them know how Maddy was doing. He seemed to be thinking about something, which his father noticed but didn’t comment upon. Suddenly Drew asked, “Where’s Jules?” He looked quite alarmed.

“She’s okay, she’s with John and we’ll pick her up from his house later,” said Dave.

Jenny added, “His parents are both home today,” and she smirked to herself. Drew wasn’t entirely sure what she was on about, but his sister was safe and that was all that mattered.

“Oh bugger!” exclaimed Drew after a minute’s further cogitation.

“Gaby, I do wish you wouldn’t swear, it is so unbecoming in young women.” Jenny maintained her opposition to vulgarity, which Drew accepted, albeit with a further murmur under his breath. “I heard that, too!” said Jenny, suppressing a smile.

“I just thought of the bike I borrowed from that girl at the fete; I left it at the farm when we went in the helicopter.”

“The police were at the farm, they’ll look after it I’m sure,” said Jenny, her arm around her child.

“Helicopter rides, eh? Something I always wanted to do. Some people have all the luck. Did you enjoy it?” asked Dave.

“Wow Daddy, it was like, ace!” he beamed back at his father. “Maddy didn’t seem to think so though, she threw up all over the navigator bloke.” Drew chuckled at this recollection. He was amazed how calmly the bloke took it, just wiped himself off as best he could; whereas Drew, would have been tearing his clothes off before he got sick on his body. He suddenly thought how that would have looked to the two policemen in the chopper, not too clever. But, he had this thing about sick, he couldn’t stand it anywhere near him. With some people it was blood; that didn’t seem to worry him too much, even his own. Well, all right, his own was a bit different, that made him ill too: other people’s, that was okay.

Carol emerged from the clinical area, she looked very tired. Dave jumped up to help her back to the waiting area. “How is she?” asked Jenny, beating Drew to the question by a millisecond.

“She’s resting. They think she will probably be okay, but carbon monoxide is nasty stuff and it could take a few more days before we know for sure.” She noticed Drew looking very serious and tears forming in his eyes.

“She is gonna be okay, isn’t she Auntie Carol?”

“I hope so. If she is, she owes her life to you, Gaby Bond. Your quick thinking and actions saved the day and her life.” Carol looked into Drew’s eyes, the tears were still forming and dripping over the edge of his eyelids, running down his cheeks. “Thank you, for saving the most precious thing I have.”

Jenny released her arm from Drew, who rose and embraced Carol. “Thank you and God bless you Gaby,” Carol continued to say, over and over whilst hugging the boy. Drew remained silent, tears running down his face as he contemplated what could have happened and what could still occur. He prayed silently that his cousin would recover completely.

Jenny and Dave watched the embrace with moisture in their own eyes, it wasn’t many days ago that they had been in Carol’s position, a very difficult and painful one. Dave squeezed the hand Jenny had pushed into his, and they glanced at each other very knowingly. Being a parent had its rewards and its price, the agony and the ecstasy; they had felt both.

Dave thought Jenny looked tired, “You okay?” he asked quietly.

“I’m fine,” she said smiling, “just a bit tired.”

“Why don’t you take Gaby back, I’ll stay with Carol.”

“I’m okay honestly,” she smiled at him, “but thank you for the thought; besides Gaby won’t move until she knows Maddy is safe.”

“Okay, how about if I try to find us some tea or coffee?” said Dave trying to make things a little better.

“That’s a great idea, luv. I could murder a cuppa.”

Drew noticed his father had disappeared, “Where’s Dad?” he asked his mother.

“Gone to look for some tea.”

“I’d love a cuppa,” he sighed. He moved back to sit with his mother. Dave appeared a few minutes later, empty handed. He went off to speak with a nurse who emerged from the treatment area. They spoke for a short time and the nurse came over to Carol.

“Mrs Peters?” she said and Carol nodded. “We’re sending Maddy up to the ward in a few minutes, she’s still asleep. It will take a little while to get her settled, so if I were you I’d pop up to the cafeteria and have a cup of tea. It’s quite drinkable and the snacks are okay too.”

Jenny and Dave knew where it was having visited there when Drew was a patient, so Jenny led the way, with Dave shepherding the others along behind.

Once they got there, he went off to the counter to get the teas, while the women sat at one of the tables alongside the window. “I didn’t realise they had such a nice garden here,” said Carol looking down upon an enclosed horticultural space.

“Oh they do in lots of hospitals these days, gives people somewhere to sit or stroll, quite therapeutic.”

“I got us all a cup of tea and a few bits and bobs, in case anyone’s hungry.” He unloaded the tray with four mugs of tea and a selection of sandwiches and cakes.

“Just the tea for me,” said Carol, “I couldn’t eat a thing.” She helped herself to one of the steaming mugs.

“Same for me,” said Jenny, who did the same.

“Oh!” said Dave, taking a tea and a pack of sandwiches, “What about you Gabs?”

“I couldn’t eat a thing either,” said Drew taking a pack of sandwiches and a slice of carrot cake.

Between them, Drew and Dave cleared the table; Dave ate his sandwich and Drew everything else. It was only three sandwiches and cakes. Carol sat at the table smiling, “Where does she put it, eats like a horse and looks like a lath.”

“That’s cycling for you,” said Jenny smiling, glad to have something light to talk about.

“But they said in my women’s magazine, exercise like cycling won’t get you thin. You have to diet as well.”

“If you do enough it will, it’s about burning up more calories than you consume and Gabs regularly does that,” offered Jenny, feeling it was a subject she did know something about.

“Remember Gaby is on a diet as well,” said Dave grinning.

“Could have fooled me,” said Carol.

“It’s a see food diet,” said Dave, keeping his face straight.

“I didn’t know she liked sea food,” said Carol looking surprised.

“Don’t listen to his nonsense,” said Jenny, “it’s a play on ‘see’ food. She sees food and eats it, as per the example…” she indicated the empty table.

“Very funny,” said Carol and her mouth laughed, but her eyes were anything but mirthful. “I suppose I’d better go and see how Maddy is.”

“Can I come with you?” asked Drew.

Jenny exchanged a glance with Dave and said, “Look sweetheart, you go with your dad and collect Jules, and I’ll stay with Carol. We’ll let you know if there’s any news.”

“Can’t I come too?” said Drew pouting.

“Come on poppet, let’s go and find Jules,” said Dave putting his arm around Drew and steering him towards the exit signs.

“Tell her I waited, won’t you?” said Drew, with his eyes moistening up again.

“Of course we will, with a bit of luck, you’ll be able to see her later.”

As they walked out the main exit, Ben ran up to them. “How is she?”

“I think she’s going to be okay,” said Dave.

“Thank God for that,” he blushed and looking at Drew said, “Just as well you were there and saved the day again.”

“I was lucky,” said Drew blushing and shrugging his shoulders.

“Lucky, we’re all lucky you were there and took off like a bat out of hell after him.”

“I cycle,” shrugged Drew, “quite a lot.”

“Geez girl, remind me never to try and race you;” said Ben shaking his head. “She looks quite sweet and helpless, until she gets on a bike and bloody hell, she blasts off like a jet fighter.”

“She is a National Champion,” offered Dave smirking.

“I’m surprised she doesn’t hold the land speed record!” exclaimed Ben. Then he looked serious and said, “I came to say, we’ll need a statement from both of you, so could you call by the nick.”

“What time?” asked Dave.

“Whenever it’s convenient. I’ll be there myself in an hour, so if you want me to take it...”

“I’d prefer to talk to you or Andrea,” said Drew.

“Okay, I’ll see you in an hour, champ,” he walked into the hospital laughing.

“Why did you have to tell him about my championship, he could look it up on his computer and you know what…” said Drew, gently chiding his father.

“Sorry sweetheart, it kind of slipped out. I suppose we’d better go and find Jules and then go and give statements.” Dave led the way to the car.

“Look, there she is,” called a man’s voice and a small crowd of people rushed towards them. In an instant they were surrounded by people asking questions all at once, and there were flashes as pictures were taken.

Dave grabbed hold firmly of Drew and said angrily, “We’ve had enough trauma for one day, she’s only a girl for God’s sake, leave her in peace.” He went to walk to his car, holding Drew protectively.

“She does seem to make a habit of this sort of thing,” said one woman reporter.

“Smile Gaby,” called someone with an expensive digital camera.

“Look, we’ve just been waiting for news about my niece who was injured in the attack, please just give us some space, we’ve had enough trauma for one day.” Dave, suppressed his anger and tried a reasonable approach with them.

Suddenly, Ben and another police officer appeared and shooed the reporters away. “Contact the press officer and we’ll set up a press conference tomorrow. Thank you ladies and gents,” he shouted, forming a barrier between the press and the Bonds. Dave nodded to him, and he and Drew jumped in the car and drove out of the car park more quickly than he should have done.

Jules was having tea at John’s house with his parents, they invited Dave and Drew to join them but Dave declined, oblivious to Drew licking his lips and then looking crestfallen. They drove to Weymouth, and the area police headquarters.

They were interviewed by Ben and a woman detective sergeant, who asked lots of questions. Drew did his best to answer them, trying not to get upset. However, in reliving the experience he broke down two or three times as he remembered how he’d had difficulty breaking into the car, the smell of the fumes and then the memory of pulling her out of the car, not sure if she was alive or dead.

They stopped for a rest and teas were brought. Dave had protested more than once that they weren’t the guilty party, so to go easy on his daughter. The woman DS apologised but said, “The sooner we can get a statement, the more accurate it tends to be. Remember we want any charges to stick.”

Drew accepted this and gave all the help he could, then asked, “Who are you charging with this?”

“I shouldn’t be saying this, but as you’re so involved I will; we’ve got absolute proof it was Rodney Meadows, his prints are all over the Landrover he used.”

“Who was the person they brought to the hospital, the one who died?” asked Drew, beginning to look very pale.

The DS looked at Ben and raised an eyebrow, “I’m not sure,” he said, it was some bloke who went under a truck on a motorbike, don’t know if we have an ID yet.”

“Is this important to you Gaby?” asked the DS.

“Well yes, I thought it was that maniac.” Drew began to get a bad feeling.

“Ben, could you go and see if we have an ID?” asked the DS, “I suppose if it was, it would make life easier all round.”

“Considerably, you’ll never know how much that vermin has affected our lives,” snapped Dave.

“I suppose not,” accepted the DS and sat looking at her notes.

“Some bloke called Walter Runcorn, from Bridport,” said Ben returning a little later.

Drew went very pale and began to shake, “You alright Gaby?” asked Ben.

“I want to go home,” sobbed Drew clinging to his father, “Don’t let him come near me will you?”

“Come on poppet,” said Dave his arm around Drew, “How can you let this scumbag escape every time?”

“I wasn’t there, so I can’t say. I know one of our motorcycle officers chased him for over an hour at speeds in excess of a hundred miles an hour. Somehow he managed to evade him and the helicopter, which we sent to help. As far as I know he’s still out there but we’ll get him, it’s just a matter of time.”

“So until then my family have to live in fear of him trying to kill us again.”

“We have a car stationed outside your cottage, there will be someone watching the house twenty four hours a day. We want this man as much as you do.”

“If he shows his face, I shall do my level best to rearrange it for him,” snapped Dave angrily.

“I wouldn’t try that Mr Bond, he’s very dangerous.”

“I can look after myself,” said Dave and hugging Drew, stormed out to his car.

As they drove across Weymouth, Drew noticed a cyclist. He started and clapped his hand over his mouth. “Oh my God, what about our bikes? We left them at the fete.”

“Matt looked after them, we’ll get ‘em tomorrow,” said Dave. Drew gave a huge sigh, and relaxed back into the seat. “Let’s grab some chips, go home and scoff them. Then you can change out of your cycling kit and we’ll go back up the hospital, see how Maddy is and get your mother and Carol.

“ ‘kay,” said Drew nodding. So that was what they did. They both enjoyed their fish and chips and Drew went off, showered and changed into some tidier togs. He dried and brushed his hair, popped on some mascara, eyeliner and lip gloss and presented himself to his father.

Dave looked up from the paper he was reading, “My goodness Gabs, you look prettier every day, do you know that?”

Drew blushed and looking at his painted toenails protruding from his sandals said, “Not bad for a boy, then?”

Dave blushed but stood and hugged his child. “It was meant to be a compliment, sorry if it sounded like something else.”

“It’s okay,” said Drew quietly, “I know you were trying to be nice to me, but I still don’t know how I feel about everything.”

“I think I can understand that,” said Dave tenderly, “but you have to allow us some lee way too. To my eyes, you are a beautiful young woman and I am proud of the way you conduct yourself.”

“Thank you, I think,” said Drew, “Hadn’t we better get on to the hospital?”

Dave looked at his watch, “Whoops! I think we’d better scram.” They rushed off to the car, Drew pausing to lock the house and shove the keys in his little bag while Dave got the car started.

They waved at the uniformed police officer who was strolling up and down the road outside, “That’s our protection, I presume,” said Dave as they rushed up the road towards Dorchester.

“Can we stop on the way and buy a gun?” asked Drew.

“If it was legal, I would certainly consider it. Sadly it isn’t, but I’m seriously thinking about applying for a shotgun licence when we get home.”

“Kewel,” said Drew, “Will you show me how to fire it?”

“When you’re seventeen or eighteen, whichever the law requires.”

“But dadeeee, I’m the one he’s after.”

“Look Gaby, I suspect neither of us could hit a barn door even with a twelve bore. It’s more for effect than use. Much as I despise that creature Meadows, I don’t want to kill him.”

“I thought you did?” Drew looked perplexed.

“I feel like it, but then if I did it, it would make me no better than him. Is that what you want?”

“No.”

“Do you see what I mean? I was brought up to believe violence is wrong except as an absolute last resort. I had hoped we’d brought you and Jules up with similar values.”

“You have, but I get so angry. What right does he have to hurt John or Maddy or me; not to mention that Cheeseman boy?”

“I’m sorry Gabs, the world is a strange place full of even stranger people. He has no right to any of it, but until someone stops him, he seems to think he does.”

“I’d like to stop him,” said Drew quietly.

“So would a lot of people, including that boy’s parents I expect.”

They entered the hospital car park and paid the fee for a couple of hours parking. Then after enquiring which ward they needed, they set off up the stairs Dave with his arm around Drew’s shoulder and Drew with his arm around Dave’s waist.

They stopped and bought some flowers for Maddy, “Maybe we should have brought in some toiletries and her nightie?” said Drew as Dave paid for the flowers.

“Yeah, we could have done.” He paused for a moment, “Yeah, we probably should have done. Never mind the girls will do it tomorrow.”

They entered the ward and within a few moments found Jenny, Carol and Maddy. They were all talking and laughing. “We brought flowers, ear plugs might have been more useful,” joked Dave.

“Maddy, you’re okay?” shouted Drew and threw himself on her, hugging her long and hard. “I was so worried about you,” he felt tears run down his nose and drip on to Maddy.

“I’m okay, thanks to you,” she hugged him back. “Hey, don’t cry girl, you’ll ruin your mascara.”

“It’s waterproof and tear proof,” said Drew, at which everyone laughed.

“Maddy can come home with us, tonight;” said Carol.

“Oh wow!” exclaimed Drew, “What are we waiting for?”

“Some medication she has to have, and a discharge letter.”

An hour later, they were all back at the cottage, John and his father bringing Jules back when Dave phoned. Despite Meadows still being at large, spirits were relatively high and they celebrated the fact that all of them were safe and sound.

Later, when they were alone, Drew spoke to his father, “Were you serious about buying a shotgun?”

“No, I guess not. If I had it would have meant crossing the line, to Meadows side.”
Drew hugged his father, “I’m glad you didn’t.”

“Yeah sweetheart, so am I.”

The End…………………………… for now!