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A Friend in Need Kyorii The latest story starts with some unfinished Business and follows on directly from the end of the story JULIE. It is one of the several stories in the slowly expanding Stevenson universe. This story has been written to be stand-alone but If you are new to the Stevenson universe I suggest that you read at least The River and River2 (The birth of an Angel) to get an appreciation of some of the main characters within my stories. For those who know my stories skip this next bit and go straight on to Chapter one, for others read on. The main characters in my Stevenson stories are Joy... she met Alice whilst on a day out with her parents in Northumberland (North East of England UK) and fell hopelessly in love with her, of course at the time Joy was a young man called John. John had an undiagnosed medical condition that meant at first glance he looked quite feminine. Alice... although very pretty was a very mixed up little bunny following the repercussions of horrific sexual abuse from her uncle as a child. John was encouraged by Alice to explore his feminine side and became Joy for Alice as an experiment. John realised he quite liked being a girl and after an incident where she became quite ill decided to become a girl full time. Joy and Alice are married and have three children, Susan and twins Dawn and Lucy. Joy contracts cancer following a business trip to America, Alice is abducted soon after. Joy fights to regain her health and fitness with the help of Terry a disgraced Ex special forces Marine and a semi-retired Mossad agent called Aliza. It is realised quite early on in her training by both Aliza, Terry and his men that Joy is actually something quite unique and they start to refer to her as 'The Angel' for reasons known only to them. Eventually Alice is rescued but has been both physically and psychologically scarred by her ordeal. With the aid of a skilled psychiatrist and interrogator called Bob, and two very skilled Doctors/surgeons Alice is slowly brought out from her nightmare and nursed back to health. With Alice's approval Joy continues to work with Terry and his men only stopping once after becoming pregnant following the implantation of her mother's womb. Theresa (Terri) becomes the latest addition to the Stevenson family just over a year later. A suggested read order for my stories would be. The River 1-4 (With part one being a love story) The Modelmaker and Trish the Prequel to The Modelmaker. A lost Angel. The ACA incident. Forgiveness part 1 and 2 Julies story The intervention (optional). [The chronology of the Stevenson Stories with suggested alternate titles: The River - Establishing story - (Love blooms and skirts billow) Birth of an Angel (The River part 2 (Amended and retitled)) The River part 3 (A Ministering Angel - alternate title) The River part 4 (Ascending Angel - alternate title) Trish (Expands the Stevenson 'Universe' and is chronologically parallel to River Part 4.) The Model Maker (Of which Trish is a Prequel) A Lost Angel The ACA incident. Forgiveness part 1 and 2 Julies story The Intervention (A side story) A Friend in Need (This story)] Chapter 01 Unfinished Business Joy Stevenson turned her own recently restored SAAB 99 onto one of the smaller roads along the North Yorkshire coast she smiled to herself with satisfaction as the steering felt much better now following the track rod end and lower ball joint replacement she and her father in law had completed earlier in the day on the front nearside suspension, Glancing briefly at her passenger and friend Silvanus as they headed towards the house of the grandmother and only close living relative of Ian Thompson, disgraced policeman and ex-boyfriend of Susan Stevenson. Unfortunately for Susan, and her family, Ian Thompson has not come to terms with the fact that Susan no longer wanted anything at all to do with the suspended policeman and has been making somewhat of a nuisance of himself to the extent that he tried to plant a weapon in her vehicle and even set fire to her bedroom within Stevenson Towers causing significant damage to the old house. Tonight it was Joy and Silvanus's turn to do surveillance on Ian Thompson's grandmother's house. Parking in a small layby they left the car they'd arrived in and made their way over the fields to their vantage point in the field at the rear of Ian Thompson's grandmothers house where they'd been observing the pensioners house for some evenings mow. "I'll do a quick review of footage on the covert camera Joy; you see if there is any activity in the house itself." said Silvanus. Leaving Silvanus reviewing footage on a tiny hooded monitor, Joy moved around to the rear of the property where she could get a good view of the living room and kitchen. Ian's grandmother was at the sink doing dishes and was looking out into the darkness of her garden unnerving Joy a little as she appeared to be looking directly at her. Joy watched Ian's grandmother finish the dishes and then move into her living room where she lit a cigarette and started to watch her small television. Joy lay quietly in cover watching through her field glasses for nearly an hour before noticing the headlights of what she knew to be a delivery van coming along the narrow lane towards the old woman's house, it parked outside and the driver started to unload two carrier bags of groceries. By this time Silvanus had joined Joy. "Three times a week she gets groceries Joy, usually the same driver though, we've already checked out all the drivers from the supermarket, the milkman, her usual postie and the man that collects her paper bill money." They watched via a lamp-post mounted covert camera as the delivery man rang the doorbell and as the old lady got up to take the shopping in, when she returns however she quickly closes all of the curtains. "As of earlier today Joy we have a camera inside her home. Dix posed as a gas board official earlier and whilst doing a gas safety check with a military gas engineer, he planted a small covert camera in the vent grille of the fire in the living room." Silvanus then brought up a picture displayed on the dim shielded monitor. Placing both carrier bags on her coffee table Ian's Grandmother rummaged through them until she found what looked like a small folded piece of paper, she then took the bags into the kitchen and started to unpack and stow away the groceries before lighting another cigarette, pouring a glass of what looked like gin and sat down with the note reading it, she then took out an old phone from down by her side on her seat, opened up the back and removed the existing SIM card replacing it with one that had apparently been provided within the folded paper. "Someone had been reading old spy novels Joy, new SIM and new phone number for every single call and an ancient phone." "This is all a bit cloak and dagger though Silvia isn't it?" asked Joy "Says the woman dressed in black, spying on an old lady via a covert camera planted in her house." Joy had to work hard to suppress a laugh, Of course Silvanus was correct, this whole Thompson affair was completely out of hand and needed to end soon she thought to herself. "Okay she's making a call now I'll just log onto the local cell towers and see if we can find out who she's ringing." Joy then unexpectedly heard Taff through her earpiece. "On it Ma'am." She was surprised to hear from Taff, as he was away somewhere in the world on business, but had obviously been listening in from wherever he was, within seconds Joy heard a conversation between Ian Thompson and his Grandmother through her earpiece. "Ian love It's your Nan." "Can't talk for long Nan, but everything should be sorted this evening I promise and then it will all be okay again." "I had the police here again the other day asking about you Ian." "Don't believe anything they say Nan. I told you before I've been right royally stitched up by that Stevenson lot, they have concocted so many lies about me to keep Susan and me apart." "The police said that you'd set fire to their home Ian." "That's a lie, I did no such thing Nan, I wouldn't put it past them to have set that fire themselves to claim the insurance, it's him, that Matt Stevenson that should be locked up, he, he's never liked me." "Ooh that's not nice dear is it?" the conversation continued with Ian Thompson continuing to make up a very plausible story which as with all good lies contained several grains of truth within, only to be interrupted by Taff's voice saying. "The call is coming from a mobile phone located to the Eastern end of Liverton Beck high street Ma'am about three quarters of a mile from Susan's tracker signal." "Thanks Taff she's at the school with the twins and Leah, I need to warn her," "Just sent her a Text Ma'am and am contacting the school as we speak." Silvanus had already got up as Joy stood from her lying position, she knew that she was only a few minutes away from the school so they both sprinted across the field towards Joy's car and had soon screeched away from the layby towards Liverton Beck high street. Chapter 02 That Bloody Policeman Within minutes Joy and Sylvanus had arrived at the twin's School and were let in through the main entrance by the caretaker who was guarding the front door. After a brief discussion with Susan and a short wait, the twins and Leah were taken home by Matt and Aliza whilst Susan and Joy left in Susan's new car, a fully restored SAAB 900 Turbo with Silvanus following at a discrete distance in Joy's trusty old 99. Joy was now operating on a gut feeling or intuition and was almost certain that Ian Thompson was about confront Susan in some way. Joy and Susan drove out of the school car park and turned left, Susan pointing out quite unhelpfully the school gates where she'd been abducted earlier in the year. Joy then turned onto the high street and headed along towards the main coastal road then as they approached the traffic lights at a cross roads the lights turned to red. Joy slowed the car to stop at the lights but the lights then unexpectedly turned back to green but as Joy accelerated Susan said very swiftly and for Susan in a quite panicky voice, "MUMMY STOP THE CAR NOW." Slamming on the brakes Joy brought the car to an abrupt stop only to be caught a glancing blow on the front bumper by what appeared to be a Bin truck that careered across the junction without stopping, Susan immediately got out of the car and ran up the road from where the truck had just come from shouting at the top of her voice angrily, "IAN THIS ENDS NOW." leaving the SAAB Joy quickly followed Susan up the road and turned into the same back lane she'd run into only moments earlier and as she approached a right turn Joy heard Susan shouting at Ian Thompson "Ian what the hell was that? Were you trying to hurt me is that what it has come to?" followed by the voice of her ex-boyfriend, "No no Susan you have it all wrong, I wasn't trying to hurt you just get you away from your family so that we can be together, I could never hurt you Susan." Stepping silently onto the front wing of a parked car Joy leaped up onto one of the high walls that lined the back lane then moved along the wall so that she could get a good view and also protect Susan if necessary from her unstable ex-boyfriend. "You just don't get it Ian do you? I don't want to be with you anymore." "But Susan if you would just listen to me everything will be all right." "Ian everything is all right now I've moved on from you and want nothing more to do with you." "Oh that's not you talking Susan, they've gotten to you haven't they? They've poisoned your mind against me that's it isn't it?" As Joy crouched on the felted concrete roof of an old coal house above Susan and Ian Thompson It occurred to her that Susan had been putting up with this nonsense from her ex for quite some time now and she realized Susan had been dealing with the implications of her break-up almost by herself with minimal help from Alice or her, Joy started to feel quite ashamed. Ian Thompson to Joy's eyes was not going to leave Susan alone ever, his mind was just not wired that way and after recent incidents his actions were becoming more and more extreme. Moving along the wall out of view of the pair below them Joy got behind Ian Thompson then silently slipped down into the back lane and approached him from behind, Susan could see her mother approach but said nothing until she was directly behind her ex where she simply tapped him on the shoulder. Turning quickly Ian seemed rather shocked and unsure what to say for a very short time before launching into. "Ah Mrs Stevenson, Susan and I were just talking abo..." "Oh do shut up." Joy said as she felled him with a single well placed blow. "Taff can you contact Bob for me. I have a subject I'd like assessed before we hand him over to the authorities. "Already done Ma'am, if you would deliver the little toe-rag to the bunker He'll be waiting for you." "Thanks Taff." Susan came over to Joy and hugged her tightly "Mummy I'm so sorry for all the trouble he's caused us." Silvanus who had also been lurking in the background simply said, "None of this is your fault Suzy, never ever think it was." Joy pushed Susan away from her a little and looking her directly in the eyes mirrored what Silvanus had just said adding "What Silvanus said was correct Susan, you've done absolutely nothing wrong, he had us all fooled for a time, we all liked him." "I didn't." Commented Silvanus. "Mummy." "Yes?" "I think we need to talk; can we go somewhere? Not home." Joy glanced at Silvanus to see her looking serious and nodding, "Leave the annoying little git with me, I'll ensure he's delivered to Bob alive, can't guarantee I won't dent him a little though." Joy nodded and took Susan by the hand and they left the back lane together leaving Silvanus to deal with the unconscious Ian Thompson." Joy and Susan drove in silence into Redcar where they found a semi quiet seat in a burger bar near to a supermarket, Joy ordered snacks at one of the self-service monitors and returned to the table. "So Susan, do you want to tell me all about it?" "I think it's well past time Mummy, do you remember the day I finished with Ian?" "Yes I do, Mummy Alice and I thought it quite strange at the time." "Well I had just had a really strange dream you see." "A dream?" Susan then proceeded to tell Joy at length the parts she could still remember from a strange dream she'd had and as she did it reminded Joy of the times she'd also had similar experiences including just after Alice had gone missing and after she'd been rescued from the religious cult in America. "Oh Susan why didn't you come to me sooner?" Asked Joy with genuine hurt in her voice "Mummy I was going to but then you got injured whilst at work, after that it just didn't seem that important anymore, I did confide some of it with Silvia though, she told me I should talk with you." Joy smiled as she knew that Susan had at least confided in someone she trusted. "I think she may have even been there when I broke up with Ian mummy, or at least a mad old tramp lady that looked suspiciously like her was," Susan then paused took a large slurp through a straw from her drink and asked, "What will happen to Ian now Mummy?" "I really don't know Suzy, it's obvious that he has psychiatric issues so Bob will assess him before he's handed over to the police, what happens after that is up to the courts." The drive back to Stevenson Towers was quiet and Susan was still quite subdued, so Joy asked, "Is something playing on your mind Suzy?" "It's just, I was wondering if it was too early for me to start another relationship Mummy." "You mean with Mick don't you?" "Well yes." "Why don't you discuss it with him, I'm sure he'll understand if you want to take a breather." Susan went quiet for a moment or two, "No Mummy, I don't think I will." Joy Smiled "Good girl that's the spirit, let's just hope we never hear from that policeman again." Chapter 03 A Trip to The Park For the next few days life was quiet for the Stevenson family, Susan got on with the business of being educated with Trish at University in Newcastle and In Terry's bunker on the grounds of 'The Centre' Ian Thompson spent two very uncomfortable days being assessed by Bob before being handed over to the local police, Alice decided that Joy needed a little time away from work and her other duties. Joy is currently sitting on an old wooden bench in a park in Newcastle with her head resting against Alice's shoulder with the late autumn sunshine warming her face whilst remembering fondly an event from her past when she was someone completely different a young teenage boy called John. John/Joy. Clouds, lots of large fluffy swiftly moving clouds darted across the sky presumably powered by the stiff breeze keeping us cool as me and my mate Brian barrelled down one of the smooth wide footpaths of our local park on our bikes, me on my trusty but ageing Raleigh Chopper bike and him on his new racing bike with five gears I pulled the lever on the frame mounted gear lever to engage the Sturmey-Archer hub gear hoping that third gear would actually engage and that it wouldn't slip, "Come on John mate try and keep up." Shouted Brian from in front as he pulled away from me pedalling like a kid possessed, I was racing Brian to the ice cream van at the bottom of the hill near to 'Pet's Corner' and it was becoming increasingly obvious to me that I was soon going to need a new bike. I arrived at the van about thirty seconds after Brian and noticed him already in the queue for ice cream so I placed my bike against the chain link fence of the petting zoo as he had already done and joined him in the queue. "Your new bike's like a rocket mate I'm really jell." "It's brilliant isn't it? Me Mam and Dad got it from the catalogue for me birthday cos they said I couldn't have an air rifle." "Oh an air rifle that would have been even cooler Brendon Seeley has one of them and shoots cans with it up at the pit heap." "What can I getcha lads?" Asked the man through the hatch of his ice cream van. "Strawberry Mivvi please." "And one for me too mister." I added, we paid for our lollies and headed into the park area wheeling our bikes as we walked then placed them on the grass in a patch of shade and sat down. "School starts again soon John and you know what that means dontcha?" "No more holidays?" "No ya divvy, conkers it'll be conker season soon." "Oh yeah." "Sometimes mate it's like you're not even with us I think that electronic stuff is scrambling your brain." he was referring to my new found hobby, I'd been given an electronics kit for Christmas and had promptly ignored it but after rediscovering it at the end of the summer term, learning about electronics and the way the individual components acted had become a little bit of an obsession with me over the summer holidays, "Sorry Brian conkers we were talking about conkers." "Yes well down there just over the river in that bunch of trees is a massive conker tree you see it?" "Oh yes it's a bit difficult to get too though cos we'll have to go across the burn and look at all those nettles." "You've still got your scout's knife haven't you?" "Well yes but." "Well we'll come down here when the conkers are ready and plodge across the burn then with your big knife we'll cut a path straight through the nettles so we can get to the conkers." I looked up at the massive conker tree on the other side of the burn and just stared at it. My reminiscing however was pleasantly interrupted by, "Sugar cone 99 with monkey's blood." "Uh sorry Alice, I was daydreaming." I'd been brought back to the present with a bump "Thank you, this is just what I needed." I noticed as I spoke that Terri was looking at her own cone with distrust and had not touched it, I then started to laugh as I realised what her literal little mind was thinking. "It's not real blood Terri it's just a fruity sauce, we used to call it monkey's blood when I was little like you." Terri giggled nervously and tentatively touched the deep red sauce on her ice cream with the tip of her tongue, "Mmmm that's nice mummy I think I like monkey's blood." Alice sat down next to me once more and asked. "So what were you daydreaming about then?" "About when I was younger, you see that big horse chestnut tree over there on the other side of the burn?" "Oh yes the conker tree." "I was remembering arranging with my friend Brian to go over there and get conkers, the odd thing is that we never did." "Oh, why not?" "Just after the new school year started he moved away, somewhere down south I think, he never even told me he was going." "Did you ever find out why Joy?" "Not really my mum said that he had to move because his dad had got a new job at a factory somewhere down south but she didn't know where." "Mummy what's a conker." Asked Terri who was now demolishing her cone. Lucy who had now joined us with Dawn said. "They are really cool Terri you put string through them and then use them to hit other people's conkers." "That's silly Lucy." "No Terri Lucy is right; I'll tell you what if Lucy and Dawn will run back to the car and get our wellies we'll go and see if there are still any conkers left under the big tree over there." I passed my keys to Dawn and the twins both ran over to where we'd parked the car returning soon after with our Wellington boots. Lucy and then Dawn crossed the shallow Burn in seconds whilst I hiked up my skirt a little and gave Terri a piggyback across, Alice stayed and guarded our bags on the other bank. It didn't take long before Dawn shouted, "Found one Mummy," and she brought the small green spiky ball with brown patches over for Terri to see "It looks all icky Dawn." Said Terri looking at it with distrust, undaunted Dawn placed her fingers into a crack that had formed in the outer shell and peeled it off, "Ooh that is pretty and really shiny and smooth." Terri turned to me "Can I find one Mummy can I?" I just couldn't help but smile at Terri's enthusiasm as Dawn took her hand and they headed into the bushes to search for more conkers. It only took twenty minutes for two grubby twins and one absolutely scruffy younger sister to emerge from the bushes with pockets full of conkers. I just couldn't help but smile at the look of triumph on Terri's face as she showed me her collection the fact that she was scruffy was of little concern to me. "Let's show Mummy Alice what you've collected shall we?" I asked as I took her hand deciding not to carry her this time as we crossed back across the burn to reunite with Alice. After placing the collected conkers into the boot of the SAAB and changing back into more sensible footwear Alice and I took Terri into the petting zoo whilst Lucy and Dawn played in the play area or just messed about on the grass. It was whilst Terri was holding a large soft and very friendly rabbit that I noticed the first of the blue flashing lights crossing the flyover adjacent to Armstrong Bridge the flashing lights reappearing a few seconds later after coming out of the underpass and then doubling back on themselves coming down the steep hill into the park before turning right and heading away from us, three more police cars, a large incident van and an ambulance followed all heading into the other side of the park. "Mummy can we go up to the boating lake now?" Asked Lucy. Alice looked over at me and I nodded she then answered, "Yes but for heaven's sake have a wash first, you both look like a couple of ragamuffins." "Okay mummy." they replied as they headed towards the toilets by the visitor centre, "Am I a ragamuffle too mummy?" Alice and Terri touched noses. "Yes you are and we wouldn't have you any other way would we Mummy Joy?". Chapter 04 An Unexplained Death. Detective Inspector Heather Fieldhouse was irritated. She'd been hoping to have a later start than this as she'd been working until four that morning at her flat on a case that had been infuriating her for some time, so this call was not a welcome distraction, she indicated and pulled her car off the dual carriageway and crossed the junction at the traffic lights only to double back on herself and go down the narrow road that led down to both the Dene and the park. The detective parked behind one of the police cars and was met by a young female constable who escorted her to the lower reaches of the park through a breach in an old stone wall where several other policemen were in the process of cordoning off the area. Heather could see a body lying partially covered lying against a wooden sculpture in a sunken concrete area that she reasoned may have once been a paddling pool but had long since been abandoned. "Who found the body?" "The usual Ma'am a man walking a dog, the victim was apparently still alive when he contacted the ambulance service but was dead by the time they'd arrived." As the Detective approached the victim a tall stocky man wearing a dirty old waxed jacket stood up. "Ah Detective." "Hello Dr Barmston, what do we have here?" "Interesting one this, female late teens possibly early twenties, as you can see she appears to be dressed in a hospital gown and from my initial examination she's had several surgeries recently, what's curious though is that I believe that our victim may have died from a severe allergic reaction." "Really?" "Yes her tongue is badly swollen and her skin seems to be very inflamed the poor lass was in a really bad way." "So what happened to her fingers?" "Glad you noticed that, someone has actually surgically removed the pads of her fingers so no fingerprints and also she has no teeth either so dental records will be tricky also on her thigh it looks like a tattoo has also recently been removed, let's hope that she or a relative shows up on the DNA database, curious though isn't it?" "It is, when can you get me your full report?" "Probably tomorrow morning Detective as I have Rugby practice this afternoon." "Thanks Doctor." After spending some time conferring with the other officers and the witness at the scene the Detective decided that a little late lunch was in order so remembering that there was a small caf? on the other side of the park she turned her car around and headed towards it parking just behind an old SAAB car. On entering the small caf? the detective picked up a tray and waited patiently to be served whilst in front of her a small girl and her mother were paying for their food. "So what can I entice you with young lady?" Asked the older man behind the counter. "Oh can I have the chilli please?" "In a baked potato or with rice?" "Rice please." "Coming right up." Said the man behind the counter as he started to populate the plate he'd just picked up. "Hello." Said a voice to the detectives side, she looked down to see the little girl from the till smiling up at her. "I'm Terri, I can't reach the straws." The detective smiled broadly at the little girl. "Oh Hold on a second I'll get one for you." the detective reached over and took a straw from the dispenser by the cake display "Here you go, Is one enough?" "Um can I have one for Lucy and one for Dawn too please?" "Yes of course here you go." The little girl then announced proudly to the Detective, "I've been conker hunting, want to see my conkers?" The Detective was just about to answer when she heard. "Terri what is taking, oh hello there... It's Detective Fieldhouse isn't it?" The detective looked at the woman blankly for a second before finally recognising her. "Mrs Stevenson?" "Oh I hope Terri hasn't been a trouble to you?" "Not at all she was very polite." Terri looked quite smug at this, "I've been telling the lady about my conkers mummy Alice." Alice offered her hand to Terri and she took it. "We're just through in the other room detective if you need somewhere to sit." "Thank you Mrs Stevenson." The detective took a sandwich from the display as Alice left with her daughter and then paid after adding a coffee and a cake to her tray. When the detective entered the sitting area all of the spare tables were occupied and she found herself taking up Alice Stevenson's kind offer of a seat. "I'm sorry to impose on you Mrs Stevenson but I didn't fancy sitting out in the courtyard. "Oh that's fine Detective, you've already met Joy and of course you've met Terri, those two scruffs are Dawn and Lucy." The detective nodded to Joy and the two girls and smiled at Terri as she placed her tray on the table and sat. As the Detective ate she talked politely with Alice and Joy, Joy seemed to her to be the quiet one of the family though. The detective also noticed that she was being closely observed as she ate by the little girl she'd met at the counter it unnerved her, "Is your name really Detective?" The Detective laughed out loud at the little girl's question. "No my name is really Heather but I work for the Police as a detective Terri." "Heather like the flowers on the moors?" "Yes just like that." "Heather is a nice name; are you my mummies friend?" asked Terri as she tucked onto the sandwich from her lunch box, "We met Detective Fieldhouse after a party Terri, something nasty happened at the party and she was one of the people who investigated it and helped us." Said Joy "Ooohh." Terri then went quiet and concentrated on her food, in the lull in conversation, however. "So do you carry a gun then if you don't mind me asking?" Asked one of the other girls the one called Dawn. "No not routinely, I do have a collapsible baton and handcuffs though, oh and I am firearms trained." "Glock?" "Err yes although I did use a gun called a Ruger during training." Alice then piped in, "I'm sorry detective but our daughters have quite an interest in firearms and martial arts." "That's okay Mrs Stevenson I understand; curiosity should be encouraged." It had not gone unnoticed to the Detective however that Joy Stevenson was now looking intently at both her daughters. "Nun chucks or Ninja throwing stars do you use them?" Asked Lucy, Detective Fieldhouse laughed out loud once more at the girl's question. "No Lucy I'm afraid the Newcastle force doesn't use Nun chucks or Ninja throwing stars yet." The conversation then became less strained and the detective started to become more relaxed in the company of the Stevenson family and their inquisitive and very talkative daughters only to be interrupted by an urgent phone call. "I'm sorry but I have to go now, it was nice meeting you again Mrs Stevenson and meeting you three for the first time." As the detective got up to leave Terri produced from one of her skirt pockets a large shiny conker and offered it to the detective, she took it gracefully, "Thank you Terri I will look after this I promise." She then took a tissue and wrapped the conker with it before placing it in her shoulder bag. Chapter 05 A Name from The Past After finishing their lunch the Stevenson's drove the short distance to Joy's old home where Alice and Joy stocked up the cupboards and fridge with extra tinned food and non-perishables for Susan and Trish who were at University today and would probably join them later in the afternoon. Alice was making a cup of tea in the kitchen aided by the twins whilst Joy took Terri upstairs to clean her face. "Mummy?" Asked Terri as Joy wiped a flannel over her daughters grubby face. "Yes dear?" "Guess what?" Terri grinned at her mum, "Um, I give in." Terri giggled then placed her finger onto one of her upper front teeth and started to move it gently back and forth, "Ook iks oggily." "Oh you have a wobbly tooth you'll be getting your grown up teeth shortly." "Yes and the tooth fairy will leave me money won't she, like she did with Andi?" "Yes but she only leaves money for good little girls and boys." "I'm good aren't I?" Joy smiled "Of course you are... most of the time." "Mummy?" "Yes Terri." "Did Lucy and Dawn get lots of money from the tooth fairy?" Fortunately for Joy she didn't have to answer Terri's question as her phone started to ring. "Mum?" "Oh yes we're up in Newcastle at the moment at the old house." "Okay see you soon." "Who was that mummy?" Asked Terri "That was my Mummy she'd heard we were up in Newcastle from grandma Iona and she's coming to visit us here in a few minutes with your grandpa Raymond." "Ooh goody." Joy spent the next few minutes trying to remove as much dirt as she could from Terri's dungarees and thick tights before re-joining Alice and the twins downstairs. After finishing cleaning Terri up Joy went back downstairs and asked the twins to tidy themselves up a little for the impending visit of their grandparents, they left the front room without argument and went up to the bathroom. Joy was not the least concerned that the girls were a little scruffy but she knew that her father would probably say something inappropriate so she figured it best just to avoid conflict. "We haven't seen your mum and dad for a while Joy, do they even know about your recent injuries?" Asked Alice referring to Joy's recent abduction, beating, torture and rape in the Ukraine. "No Alice, I don't think so," Joy Paused "Matt told them I'd been hurt but not the details, I don't want my mum to worry about me." Alice came to her wife and gently held her, "I understand Joy, I do. But if they ask I think that you should be honest with them." "Even about my rape?" "Possibly yes but I would just go with injured unless pressed." "What's rape?" Asked Terri innocently, shocking both women who'd completely forgotten she was there. "Joy you have some dirty smudges on your face, sort your makeup out and I'll deal with miss inquisitive here." As Joy left the front room to go back upstairs Alice sat Terri on her lap. Soon after the hallway of Joy's old home echoed with 'Ding Dong' as a small metal hammer propelled by a small battery operated solenoid hit two small tuned steel bars within the doorbell. "I'll get it." Shouted Alice up the stairs. Joy heard the front door open and an excited little voice shouting, "Grandma, Granddad." Joy was smoothing down one of Susan's flowing skirts she'd just borrowed from her eldest daughter's Newcastle wardrobe as her own skirt had muddy marks on it from Terri's wellies, she then released her hair from its plait teasing it out until it fell into a cascade of gentle waves past her shoulders and a little way down her back, she smiled at herself as she looked into the mirror to the sound of the twins bounding down the staircase to greet their grandparents. Finally Joy came downstairs and as she entered the living room she smiled at her mum who was holding Terri, "Hello Dear." "Hello Mum." Joy kissed her mum on the cheek and then went over to her father. "Hello Dad." She kissed him too before asking, "Tea?" "Oh yes that would be champion wouldn't it Raymond?" "Err oh yes but none of that scenty stuff, Tetley will be fine." "I'll do it, you can chat with your parents Joy." said Alice The usual pleasantries followed for the next few minutes followed by Joy's mother asking tentatively. "Are you fully recovered from your injuries now Joy." Joy nodded and smiled, "Yes mum all healed now, I'm fighting fit again." "Are you sure? Because from what Matt was saying your injuries sounded quite serious." "Yes mum they actually looked much worse than they were." Raymond, Joy's father was a lot more aware than his wife of the danger that his daughter could put herself in so he wasn't entirely convinced; he'd also noticed the expressions of the usually quite exuberant twins had changed slightly. "If Joy says she's all right that's good enough for me love, oh have you mentioned who we met the other month?" "Oh yes you'll never believe who we saw coming out of Morrisons in Byker a while back." "Archbishop Desmond Tutu?" Joy enquired with a smile, "No, you and he used to go to school together, oh what was his name again? You know the one who was sick on the dining room carpet at your birthday party." "Brian, Brian Fitzpatrick." Interrupted Joy's father, "Oh yes that's it, can you remember him Joy?" Joy nodded, "Well he recognised us immediately didn't he Ray, apparently he was settling his daughter into halls she's up here doing a degree or something, well we didn't recognise him at all did we Ray with his big pot belly and that bushy beard. It's funny though as we don't usually go to Morrisons do we Ron? but we needed pasta and sweetcorn so we thought we'd pop in on the way to see your auntie Ediee" "Ooh that is funny Mum I was just thinking about him earlier when we were down at the Dene, Spooky." "Well he was asking after you dear, asking how you were, we said that you were married and had a family now and were living in North Yorkshire." Joy smiled and nodded, "Yes I suppose I've changed quite a lot since we last met he probably wouldn't recognise me at all now would he?" "No especially as you look about twenty years younger than he does now." "Ron that's not nice." "Sorry dear." Joy actually felt quite complimented by her father's comment; he'd also changed a lot over recent years and was now more like the father that she'd always wanted. Joy's mum became distracted with Terri and the twins and her father gestured for her to follow him so she did as he left the living room passed through the dining room and into the kitchen area and out into the quite narrow but long garden. "Joy?" asked Ron as they walked down the path by the lawn towards the sheds at the rear of the garden. "Yes Dad?" "I didn't want to say anything in front of your mother, but are you okay now?" "Yes Dad I am." "It's just when Matt rang to tell us you'd been injured a while back I could tell that he wasn't telling us everything." Joy felt herself swallowing involuntarily to remove the lump in her throat, she turned to look her father in the eyes and could see real concern in his expression and as he looked down into her almost pleading eyes he realised that her main injury may not have been a physical one at all and in an instant knew why Matt Stevenson had been so upset, "O, Oh Joy." He offered his daughter his arms and she came over to him resting her head on his chest as he gently rubbed her back, "Joy I'm so sorry I didn't realise." Joy sniffed as the occasional tear leaked onto her father's shirt, "It's okay Daddy really it is, I had help, Alice was with me my entire recovery." Ray for once did not say anything but instead just held his daughter in a moment of intimate closeness they hadn't shared for a very long time. If Joy or Ray were to have looked back towards the house they would have noticed Alice standing by the rear bay window mug in her hand with a smile on her face as she watched her wife share a long overdue moment with her father. It didn't take Joy long to recover however, but instead of returning to their usual standoffish postures Joy slipped her hand into her fathers and she talked about recent events openly with him as they circled the lawn. After an evening meal with Susan and Trish in a local restaurant and a drive back to Stevenson Towers, whilst Alice took Terri up for her bath Matt invited Joy into his office. "Did you have a nice day Joy?" "Yes thanks Daddy I believe it was just what the doctor ordered." "Or Rather Alice." Joy smiled and then asked, "You have something you'd like to discuss?" Matt smiled and passed over a flyer. "Iona found this in the twin's room," Joy scanned it and shrugged "Halloween Prom sounds like a great idea, I'm all for it." Matt frowned "The school was asking for sponsors and donations Joy; I've made a few enquiries and it seems that they got virtually no interest from local businesses and shops so the event was finally shelved last week." "Oh that is a bit sad, the twins would have liked that." "I agree Joy, they deserve a treat so I was wondering if we could give the event a little kick start." Joy's smile started to grow as she looked at her father in law's own very mischievous smile and twinkling eyes, "How big of a kick start Daddy?" "Enough to make it memorable." "Would you like me to approach the school?" "No, leave that to me," Matt paused for a second thinking before saying to himself "I wonder how long the playing fields are?" Chapter 06 Misplaced Whilst Joy was relaxing in the library of Stevenson Towers Detective Fieldhouse was sitting at a random desk in the communal office she shared with several other officers. She was going through several files of young men and women that had gone missing over the last three years, usually whilst out on an evening visiting bars or clubs. Three of these individuals had been found dead at low tide embedded in the thick mud of the banks of the Tyne and had been presumed drowned but most were never located. What worried the detective though was that the frequency of these disappearances was now increasing. The detective's phone went off, "Fieldhouse." she announced "Ah detective good you are still at work." "Doctor, I thought you had rugby practice today?" "It was cancelled can't get on the pitch for 24 hours as it's being treated for something unfortunate by the ground staff so I thought I'd pop back into to work and perform the autopsy." "Did you find anything?" "It's what I didn't find that is of more interest detective, fancy popping over for a look before you go home?" "I'll be there in 20 minutes." "Make it thirty and pick me up a Donner kebab on the way if you wouldn't mind, lots of chilli sauce. Oh and I'm at the old place the refrigeration has gone again at the new one." "Okay then." The detective neatly tidied the copies of the files placed them into a folder then into her bag and left the desk for the next person to use and headed across the open expanse of other 'hot' desks, "You coming out to 'The Monty' later Fieldmouse?" shouted over one of her colleagues, ignoring her colleagues deliberate mispronunciation of her name she answered "Sorry got to meet with Dr Barmston, I'll try and get there later though," as she left the room, Heather didn't really want to go drinking with her colleagues after work, but if it would help with her integration into the team she was willing to try as there were still some in the department that resented her apparent 'meteoric' rise in the ranks following her graduation from university, only made worse by the force giving her a year off to study for her masters a couple of years ago. As the detective was about to leave the building she literally bumped into her old Sergeant and mentor. "Oh sorry Sergeant Bradbury I wasn't looking," "Neither was I detective let's call it a draw shall we?" The detective laughed "Actually I wanted a quick word with you Detective." "Oh?" asked heather "Yes, you've had dealings with the Stevenson family in the past haven't you?" "Well yes but only to take a statement and offer counselling." "It's just we've had a communication from Teesside force. One of their officers who was on bail has skipped and is on the loose they've asked us to keep a look out for him." "What was he accused of?" "Arson and planting evidence amongst other things, looks like he tried to burn down the Stevenson's home." "Really?" "Yes according to my mate Douggie in smoggyland, one of the Stevenson girls broke up with him, he didn't take it too well." "Have the Stevenson's been informed?" "I would imagine the Teesside force would have done that detective but you know what they're like?" the detective nodded. "I'm Sorry Sergeant but I have to dash maybe have a cuppa later this week?" "Look forward to it." replied the sergeant as the detective left the building. Heather drove to the hospital via a local kebab shop and arrived outside the old Victorian building then entered by the old morgue entrance and headed down to Dr Barmston's office in the basement. On entering she smiled at the Doctor, "So what do you need to show me Doc?" "Did you get chips too?" "Yes with salt and vinegar and a bottle of cola too." The doctor moved over to a wall adorned with large square stainless steel hatches with chromed handles and opened the one marked with a large 06 pulling it until over six foot of it was exposed, "It's empty" "Exactly, it wasn't when I left for rugby practice earlier, then it contained the young woman from this morning." "Do you know who took it?" "Nope, place was in darkness when I returned." Noticing the cameras in the room Heather asked, "What about the camera's did they see anything?" "Contacted the security room just after I discovered or rather didn't discover our young friend." "And?" "Apparently they had a power outage between 17:06 and 18:15 when the site electricians discovered a tripped breaker and reset it, may I?" Asked the doctor gesturing to the carrier bag. "Of course help yourself." "Thank you I'm starving, what do I owe you?" Asked the doctor as he took the carrier bag over to his office. "You can owe me a meal if you like." "You're on, care to join me?" Heather smiled and followed the doctor into his office "Oh my preliminary notes were taken too?" He added as an aside as he popped a large bundle of stringy pickled red cabbage into his mouth. The detective reported the theft of the body and requested the Scene of crime team to visit the next day and left the old morgue after sharing the doctor's evening meal with him. After getting into her car she headed north towards her home but after less than four miles as she was driving through the suburb of Gosforth a warning message appeared on her dashboard: **WARNING LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL** Followed immediately by **PULL OVER AND CONTACT SERVICE** followed by an annoying and insistent 'dinging' noise. Heather did as requested and as she was now only a fifteen minute walk from home she left her car and decided to cut through the park leaving sorting the car out until tomorrow. After turning off the well-lit high street Heather walked past a virtually empty car park to the rear of the high street and was just about to enter the park itself when she noticed out of the corner of her eye that she was being discretely followed, Heather took her phone casually from her pocket and discretely brought it to her front, unlocked it and made a call, she'd only just identified herself to the other end when she was struck across the head immediately losing consciousness. Chapter 07 Morning at 'The Centre' Alice woke in the early hours to Joy mumbling in her sleep, she knew better than to startle or try and wake her wife so she snuggled into her and gently stroked her stomach hopefully letting her know that she was there for her. Joy was having a dream it was not a nightmare nor was it particularly pleasant. She seemed to be in a back room or kitchen somewhere where there was a man sitting by himself with a tumbler of what looked like spirit's Joy looked over the man's shoulder and noticed a large portrait photograph of a teenager in school uniform smiling back at him lying on the table, the man seemed to be agitated or frustrated and most certainly upset as Joy could see that tears had dripped onto the photograph. Joy could also sense a deep feeling of loss and helplessness from the poor man as he sat motionless just staring at the picture. It was then that Joy heard the faintest of voices in her head, a voice she'd heard several times before and a voice she somehow knew she'd be very unwise to ignore unfortunately she couldn't quite make out what it was saying. Joy woke with a deep intake of breath causing Alice to squeak a little in surprise. It only took a second or two for her to regain her senses. "Was it a really bad dream Joy?" Asked Alice worried that she'd been reliving her recent bad experience abroad. "No. no nothing like that. It was just a weird dream I think my mind is running overtime that's all." "Would you like to snuggle into me?" Joy didn't need to answer she just turned lay her head on Alice's shoulder and draped her arm over her whilst Alice stroked Joy's hair, within minutes Joy was once again fast asleep sucking her own thumb." Joy. I woke in the morning hugging my old and very well loved Teddy bear Basil, yawned and asked, "So what have you done with Alice you naughty bear?" I knew of course that Alice had provided Basil for me to hug as I was obviously still asleep when she'd woken. Not two minutes later Alice entered our room with a tray of breakfast goodies. "I see that Basil woke you Joy." she said brightly as she placed the tray on our bed and kissed me full on the lips, even though we've been married quite a long time a kiss from Alice still makes my heart race and long may it continue. After our little breakfast Alice and I went for a run followed by a punishing workout in the old barn. "Remember you have an appointment with Bob this morning Joy, I'll get Terry to drop me off at work see you about lunchtime?" I puckered my lips and pointed to them getting another wonderful kiss, "Yes I'll see you for lunch." Alice left to get a shower whilst I stopped by the dining room to pick up a buttie after which I found the twins and Leah dressed for school in the living area. "Mummy have you heard what grandpa wants to do?" Asked Dawn, as I entered "He did mention something yes." "Grandpa is taking us to school today, he wants to speak with the headmaster about something but he's being very secretive about it." I smiled at the twin's enthusiasm it was then that my attention was taken by a picture on the local news. "Could you turn that up for me please." Lucy picked up the remote and turned up the volume enabling me to catch some of the presenters comments. "Injured last evening following an unprovoked attack near a local park, the detective is thought to have undergone surgery in the early hours..." "Mummy isn't that the nice policewoman we met yesterday?" said the twins looking at the photograph on the screen, "It is Dawn, I do hope she's all right." "Byeee mummy." Said Terri from the door whilst standing next to Aliza and Andi, "See you later Terri and Andi have lots of fun at school." with that Terri and Andi left holding Aliza's hands for one of several taster trips to big school she'd be having over the next few months, I picked up my coat and satchel and also headed off for my appointment at 'The Centre' to meet with Bob. Unfortunately today I was unable to use the Saab as it was having its water pump replaced (again) and as it was already in the garage Sarah had insisted on replacing both trailing arms on the rear suspension for me, so today it was one of the pool Fords. On arriving at 'The Centre' I noticed Robert Biddlestone sitting in the caf? area with Colin his cat, he was dressed quite casually and was now looking much better than only a couple of weeks ago, he waved over at me exposing the dressing that still covered the tip of his recently severed finger. I joined him at his table Colin immediately coming over and making himself comfortable on my lap. "May I get you a tea or a soft drink Mrs Stevenson?" Asked Robert "No I'm fine thank you but get yourself one if you like, Colin can keep me company Robert seemed to waver for a second or two before saying. "I, I think I'll get a juice and some cereal." Robert then got up from his chair and walked over to the serving area. I watched him as he seemed to dither over every single decision as he followed the queue avoiding the gaze of the other guests, "I think Robert needs you a lot more than I do Colin." I said quietly to the gently purring cat in my lap, it was obvious to me that Robert was still suffering badly as a result of his mistreatment at the hands of his captors. When Robert returned he placed every single item from his tray onto the table in front of him and spent an inordinate amount of time aligning them before finally starting to eat his cornflakes. "Did you know that one of my doctors is called Robert too, but he likes me to call him Bob," "Oh really?" "Yes he's a psychiatrist I think, not sure why I need a psychiatrist though as I'm as right as rain aren't I Colin?" Colin did not answer of course, this worried me a little as I had known Robert for a long time and he'd always been such an apparently strong individual. Robert seemed outwardly cheerful for a minute or two longer before he dropped his spoon into the bowl and started to become frustrated with himself, it was most disconcerting, placing Colin onto the seat adjacent to me I moved towards Robert whilst also attracting the attention of one of the members of staff, "What's the problem Robert?" I asked with concerned, "M, my cornflakes they've gone soggy I was just to slow, too slow and stupid to eat them before they went soggy." Robert was quite obviously still deeply disturbed from his ordeal and my heart went out to him. "I can get you more cornflakes Robert if you wish?" "It's too late now Mrs Stevenson they're ruined now." "Tomorrow Robert why don't you get two bowls, one with milk in and one with cornflakes and then you can add cornflakes to the milk as you need them keeping the others dry." "Why didn't I think of that? Oh I'm so stupid." "Robert you are not stupid you've been through a terrible experience and need some time to rest and recuperate." "Hello Robert, cornflakes again?" I turned to see Bob and an orderly standing to Robert's side, Robert smiled at Bob, "Mrs Stevenson has worked out how I can stop them going soggy, she was always the cleverest of the design department." "Yes Robert she does have rather a knack of finding unique solutions to unusual problems doesn't she?" "Is it time for my therapy now Mr Bob?" "No not yet but I do need to have a little chat with Joy if you don't mind?" "Oh Mrs Stevenson of course." I got up and brushed a couple of cat hairs off my dark skirt "I hope you'll be feeling much better soon Robert." I said as the orderly moved to sit with Robert. As I walked with Bob towards his office I commented, "It wasn't the cornflakes at all was it?" "You really are quite perceptive Joy, no it wasn't, when Robert eats he's forced to confront the missing tip of his finger, it's really eating him up inside." "Even when he sees some of the horrific injuries that 'The Centre' deals with every day?" "He only sees his injury Joy, but don't worry too much about it, you've just removed another excuse from his list, I'm expecting a breakthrough any day now." Bob opened the door to his office and I entered. "I took the liberty of getting tea and biscuits." "Thanks Bob, I'll be mother." I poured whilst Bob talked. "So, weird dream last night eh?" I laughed out loud, "Has Alice already been on the phone?" He smiled. "She has, anything you think I should worry about?" "Na, not really, I think my subconscious mind just joined together a few events from my past and made a little movie for me to watch, it wasn't upsetting just a bit odd." "Keep talking." Said Bob so I explained my dream to him and he nodded knowingly. "Nothing to worry about there Joy. I'm actually quite impressed at your recall, who do you think that man was?" "I've been thinking about that, he seemed familiar, he could have been my friend from my youth Brian, but I haven't seen him since I was at school in Newcastle so I have no real way of telling." I paused and then remembered that my Mum had recently seen him "He does have a beard though and now I remember the guy in my dream had a beard." "Maybe you should give him a call?" "Maybe, but I really don't think he'd recognise his old chum John anymore, do you?" I gestured to myself, Bob smiled broadly, "Yes I see what you mean." Our informal chat went on through two more cups of tea and ended just before lunch, "I'm going to recommend that you are made fit for duty once more but I will not pass my recommendations on to Hillary until your good lady wife gives me the all clear too, after all she knows you better than anyone else on the planet." "Thanks Bob." I hugged him before leaving his office. After Bob I met with Major Simmons and Dr Mike who between them gave me a thorough medical examination, then after a quick shower and a light lunch I bumped into Julie and Izzie as I was leaving, Julie is still quite nervous of me and is a bit of an unknown quantity as she seems to have zero ambition but Izzie her sister she is absolutely lovely and such a fighter. That afternoon I spent at work and enjoyed it immensely leaving with Alice just after five chomping on a couple of jelly babies provided by Martin as I left the workshops. Chapter 08 Flowers Back at Stevenson Towers. After Matt Stevenson's meeting with the headmaster of the twin's school, things started to move really fast. Lucy and Dawn along with Leah were given the job of finding a theme for the Halloween prom unfortunately even with the might of the Stevenson organisation behind them there was just not enough time left for the prom to be held at Halloween so it was decided by a vote to hold it in the evening the following Saturday with a themed autumn fair in the afternoon this afforded a little more time for the school and event team to prepare. Matt Stevenson had insisted that Lucy and Dawn be given limited control of organising the festivities being supervised at a local level by Leah and with overall supervision by a professional event supervising team. The first thing that the twins did was to have a meeting one lunchtime to discuss the theme of the prom, Matt had expected it to be Halloween themed or Ninja themed but to his pleasant surprise the entire event was to be as the twin's described it "A 1940's steampunk-ish fusion event" Matt did not have a clue what this meant so to avoid showing his ignorance he caught Toni the very next morning as he crossed the hall with a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea. Toni's reaction was not what he'd expected though as her face beamed, "Can anyone go Mr Stevenson?" "Err I think so; I believe that there will be a family event before the ball in the evening but I'm sure I'll be able to get you an invite." "I must tell Sarah; oh this is wonderful." "Well before you do lass would you mind explaining what it is." "Sorry Mr Stevenson basically it's just dressing up in period costume, in this case clothing from the 1940's but with elements of other era's incorporated, it could really be anything from a laser gun to a steam powered bazooka or wearing the most beautiful ball gown with welding goggles, did the twins think of this themselves?" "No they had a vote on it at school and this was the compromise." "Would you like Sarah and I to make you a costume Mr Stevenson?" Matt thought for a second or two before, with a growing wry smile, he replied, "You know I think I may just take you up on that." "I'll email you with some styles later, do you think your wife may like to participate too." "Ha, I'll ask her young lady, we'll see." Toni left Matt and headed off towards the Dining room being stopped in her tracks in the hallway by the twins and Leah. "Toni, Just the person." Matt smiled and closed his office door. Earlier. Somewhere in Newcastle Upon Tyne It was around mid-day that Detective Heather Fieldhouse regained consciousness only to find that she was in hospital. "Ah good, I was wondering when you'd wake." Heather turned to find a nurse by her bed, she tried to get up but the nurse firmly pressed on her shoulder. "Not just yet pet give it a couple of minutes." Heather was glad of the Nurses advice as she felt a wave of nausea overcome her from her exertions. "Ooh I feel like I've been hit by a bus." "Fortunately pet you don't look it, few scratches and bruises and a little concussion." Heather knew that that wasn't all but before she could ask she heard another voice. "Hello there, my name is Dr Wrigley, I heard you were waking, you gave us quite a scare last evening but fortunately your injuries were not as bad as first feared." Heather listened as the Surgeon explained that she'd also been stabbed but that the blade was short and that it had missed anything important. Heather was moved to a private room early evening where after a while a woman appeared bearing a large bouquet of flowers with a card that read, 'Wishing you a swift recovery Detective Fieldhouse.' It was signed ' Alice and Joy Stevenson.' Heather smiled at the gesture, it was the only such gesture that Heather was to get during her entire stay in hospital and apart from her acquaintance Dr Barmston and a colleague whose visit was purely to take a statement about her attack she had no visitors. Heather was only in hospital for two days and by the next weekend she was recuperating back at her own flat in a suburb of Newcastle called South Gosforth. Unlike most however Heather wasn't taking her doctor's advice and resting she started looking through the backup copies of the files she'd lost during the assault on her, unfortunately these were just the bare files and didn't have the copious notes scribbled on them that the originals had but she did her best to remember as much of the information as she could. One of the jobs that had been taken care of by her colleagues was to have her car taken to a local garage to get its brakes checked, the returned report from the mechanic made curious reading. On inspection of hydraulic braking system was found it to be in working order, the fluid level was within acceptable parameters and pedal travel was normal. Diagnostic results showed no outstanding fault codes, the braking system of the vehicle was in very good condition (Both front flexible pipes having been replaced very recently) Was unable to replicate customers initial complaint. The document was then signed by the chief mechanic of the local dealership. What Heather couldn't remember was if any work had been carried out on the braking system of her car on previous services, this troubled her. Chapter 09 Alice Investigates "What are you up to?" Asked Joy one evening around a week later just after work when she noticed Alice lying on their bed looking at what appeared to be police documents on her laptop. "Oh nothing really I was just wondering what Detective Heather was investigating before she was attacked so I asked Hillary if he could get me some details about the cases she's been working on." "And?" Asked Joy as she lay down beside Alice and started to play with her hair. "Missing persons and a couple of deaths by the river mostly young women and men and mostly students. "Hmm, they all appear to have been accidents or alcohol related." "Yes Joy, Detective Heather seems to be seeing something we're not though," Alice paused "And the final body It was found on the morning we were last in Newcastle she must have been investigating it when we saw her." "What does the report say about that one Alice?" Asked Joy who was now getting more interested, "Well there's not much in the report as the body actually went missing the same day as it was found, oh the poor girl was alive when found but died before the ambulance could get to her, now here is the strange thing, she had no fingerprints, her teeth had been removed and also a tattoo had apparently burned away." "Any photographs?" "No Joy they also went missing." "That is odd." "It is isn't it I'm glad we have someone shadowing Susan and Trish at the moment, I suppose it wouldn't hurt if we spent a little more time up in Newcastle also Joy." Joy thought for a second and smiled then planted a kiss on Alice's lip's. "So why the sudden interest in Detective Fieldhouse Alice?" "She was kind to us during the ACA business and Um." "Yes Alice." "She's back in hospital." "Was she attacked again?" "No this time she was involved in an incident whilst parked at a level crossing she was shunted from behind and very nearly pushed into the path of a moving Metro Tram, she's been admitted as a precaution." "It certainly looks like she's upset someone Alice, I may just pop up with Dix or Terry tonight and have a look around." Alice passed Joy a small memory stick. "The 99 is ready now Joy I'll just pack us an overnight bag It'll be nice to see Susan and Trish." "Alice." Said Joy sternly "Don't worry, I won't get involved I'll stay with Suzy and Trish I promise." It was nearly seven when Joy and Alice pulled into the quiet wide tree lined street where Joy's childhood home resided, Alice left the car with Joy and were met at the front door by Susan who hugged both her mums, Joy then hugged her daughter and was Joined by Terry, "Dix will be along shortly to look after you, Terry and I are just going for a drive." "Be careful Joy." said Alice, Joy smiled as she turned and headed back toward the old SAAB. As Joy pulled away from her old home, "I've had Taff look at the footage from the level crossing camera's Joy." Said Terry "And?" "Power failure on the CCTV system about three minutes before the incident took place." "Convenient that, wasn't it?" "Yes but Taff did get some footage from the local sweet factory, grainy as shit but it did look like our Detective was pushed as she'd said." "We'll be at the crossing soon Terry so we'll scout out the area and see if anything turns up." "There's also a great chip shop there if my memory serves me Joy." The journey to the Western end of the city did not take very long as the roads had quietened considerably now, Joy parked the car to the side of a local undertakers shop and took her long warm coat from the back seat and after slipping it on fastened it up as it was getting quite cold now she also removed her court shoes and placed her stockinged feet into sensible flat's. "You should have changed into more suitable attire before leaving Joy." "I know." replied Joy as she took out her satchel. Terry and Joy then headed slowly towards the crossing where the 'Accident' took place and as they arrived two flashing lights and a warning sounder started followed a few seconds later by long barriers being lowered across the road. Joy looked at the scene before her for several seconds seemingly confused before asking, "The barriers Terry they aren't damaged have you got that footage still?" Terry took out his phone, "Yup just bringing it back up now." Joy watched the grainy footage but it was of such poor quality that she couldn't tell if the barriers were up or down at the time of the incident. Joy stood and looked around hoping to see another camera locally but was unable to locate one she then took her phone and scanned the area using the camera on her own phone. After a minute or two she smiled and started walking towards a local chemist shop, Terry followed. "Have you found another camera Joy?" "Yes Terry it must be mounted on the eves of that building over there, it's pretty well hidden but it's infra-red illumination has given away its position." On entering the chemist store Joy and Terry made their way to the rear where they were met by a polite uniformed middle aged woman. "Can I help you?" Terry showed her an Id card. "We're investigating the incident that happened at the level crossing last evening, may we look at your CCTV footage please." "Ooh err, Mr Fulmore." Shouted the assistant through a hatch in the wall and an elderly pharmacist then appeared shortly after and after a short conversation led Terry and Joy to the rear of the store. "We've only recently had our system upgraded Detective?" "Percy." the pharmacist then showed Terry and Joy a quite impressive modern CCTV set up with an HD recorder and several infra-red illuminated high definition camera's, "It's mainly to cover our cars in the car park as some of the local druggies don't take it too well if we refuse them their methadone." Joy set about locating the footage on the digital video recorder whilst Terry continued chatting with the pharmacist. "You refuse them?" "Sometimes yes especially if they've tried to Alter their prescription, they're a devious lot." Joy smiled as she noticed a quite considerable UPS (uninterruptible power supply) mounted on the floor meaning that even if there had been a power outage here the cameras and recorder would have stayed on for a while at least, quickly she located three cameras of interest and placed a memory stick from her purse in to the front mounted USB port of the recorder, she then clicked the burn icon on the screen. "Should be a few minutes now Sir." Stated Joy. "Time for a cup of tea then?" Suggested the pharmacist. "Thank you Mr Fulmore, two sugars for me and none for my associate." "Sweet enough eh?" Said the pharmacist as he used the recently boiled kettle to fill a teapot up only pausing to shout out to the assistant serving "Mary 'The Trout' is heading towards us, lock the doors until he's gone for me please." "The Trout, that's a strange name." Commented Terry "His name is Kelvin I believe, he was a lovely lad right up until his mum's death, really intelligent and did well at school but over the last year or so, well look for yourself it's quite heart-breaking." Joy and Terry watched as a young man walked with purpose towards the chemist shop he stopped at the door and pushed it only for it not to move, he then tried the door once more applying slightly more force only to have the door resist him once more, "The front door and windows are specially toughened, cost me a fortune, here's your tea." "Ta." said Terry as he accepted his tea. Joy noticed three other youth's across the road starting to egg on the young man called 'The Trout' making him become less confused and more angry culminating in him kicking and head butting the door, Joy turned to Terry, "He's going to hurt himself Terry." She commented with concern as the young man now in a complete fury threw himself at the glass front door whilst all the time being egged on by the youths loitering nearby. "Just leave it Joy, oh too late she's off." Said Terry with a resigned voice as Joy left the dispensary area and headed across the sales floor towards the front door tying her hair back as she did. "Open the door Mary." Joy heard a series of quick clunks as the magnetic locks were released, she then swiftly opened the door and with one flat punch winded Kelvin who immediately fell to his backside on the tarmac pavement gasping for breath. The young men who'd been egging him on to hurt himself did not take kindly to having their entertainment spoiled and crossed the road from where they'd been. "What you do that for? It was funny?" Asked one of the youths whilst trying to be menacing and puffing himself up to look taller "I didn't think it was very funny and stop trying to make yourself bigger, you look ridiculous." Stated Joy sternly whilst looking up at the young man "You think I look ridiculous do you, do you, you think I look ridiculous?" Joy sighed, "Yes now go away little boy before I get angry." "You think I'm scared of you do you, do you?" Said the youth who was now bouncing about on the pavement from foot to foot not sure what to make of the woman in front of him. By this time Terry had approached the door to the chemist shop cup of tea in hand, "Spose you're going to get your boyfriend to beat him up are you." said one of the other youths. Joy turned to him to answer and as he did the bouncing youth took the opportunity to attack Joy only to receive a blow to the chest from her that not only winded him but caused him to stagger back several steps and fall onto his own backside. "Don't need him, he's probably here for your protection." The other two youths stood motionless for a couple of seconds looking at their friend struggling to breathe on the pavement, the first finally said, "Sod this I'm off," and sprinted away up the road leaving his other two friends to fend for themselves, the second who was still looking at the ground asked, "He's my big brother can I help him up please?" "Yes, he should be okay in a minute or two, I didn't hit him hard enough to rupture anything." The youth walked over to his fallen brother and helped him up before guiding the dazed breathless teenager away. Joy then turned to the young man she knew was called Kelvin, helped the wheezing lad up from the ground and guided him over to the wall where she sat him down. From the smell that was emanating from him he had been living rough for some time, his breath smelled of stale tobacco and alcohol and from the size of his pupils Joy knew that he was obviously on some form of medication, legal or not she didn't know. "Why'ja stop me?" "Because you were hurting yourself, I couldn't allow that." Replied Joy as she produced a clean tissue and started to mop up the blood that was now coming from his nose cleaning some of the dirt from his face as it did, Joy noticed Terry on his phone and smiled. "You should have just left me missus." "I couldn't do that; I would never do that." The young man started to cough a deep rasping cough, Joy passed him her handkerchief, "Here take this, have you had that cough seen too?" "No point." "I don't understand, what do you mean?" "Just that are you stupid, hospital will cure it and then a few weeks later I'll just catch another infection, so there's no point." It was then that Joy remembered her friend Trish's story and how far she had sunk before finally asking for help. "May I ask you a question?" "F'you like." "If I were to grant you one wish, grant you the one thing that you wanted most in the world what would it be?" Kelvin snorted, "Eezy money, lots of it." Joy parted the young man's greasy hair to show his eyes and whilst looking directly into them said, "I'm not joking Kelvin." "Anything?" "Yes anything." Kelvin paused and Joy noticed his eyes glistening, "I." "I would give anything f, for," he paused once more "for one last hug from my mum." Joy placed her arm gently around the troubled young man and drew him closer allowing his head to rest on her shoulder as she held him to herself she said quietly, "I'm sorry Kelvin, I could never replace your mum but just close your eyes try and think of her as I hold you." After a few seconds the young man's body ceased to be tense as he started to quietly weep, Joy stroked the young man's hair as he did. After a minute or two a mobile phone screen was placed in front of Joy, 'Have contacted Tanya, she contacted local charity, they're sending minibus. You want chips?' Joy looked up at Terry and nodded. Terry then went down past a mostly shuttered parade of shops and into the local chippy leaving a now warm cup of tea on the wall beside her. It took just over fifteen minutes for a small minibus from a local homeless charity to appear, a middle aged man accompanied by a young woman appeared and approached Joy. "Kelvin." Kelvin who had been semi dozing between sobs got up and looked at Joy, "These people are from a local charity they have agreed to help you." Kelvin didn't appear to know what to do. "You will at least go with them won't you?" Kelvin nodded, Joy then took both of his hands and whilst looking him in the eyes, "Kelvin, don't let your grief destroy you, please let the charity help you." "I'll try." "No Kelvin make me a promise, give it a month at least." Kelvin looked into Joy's dark pleading eyes. "I promise." "If you break that promise I will find you Kelvin." Kelvin simply nodded at Joy as the two charity staff helped him up and guided him to the minibus." Terry reappeared just as the minibus was pulling away out of the street and passed Joy a wrapped paper packet that smelled strongly of vinegar. "He remind you of Trish too?" Joy simply nodded as she opened the packet up and headed back towards the chemist shop. Once they'd finished downloading footage Joy deleted just over an hours footage from just before they'd arrived and paused all recording for ten minutes allowing them to leave the area without being caught on camera and in the car as they headed back, Terry asked. "We going anywhere else this evening Joy?" "No I think that'll be it for tonight are you okay staying up here this evening or do you want to go back home to be with Aliza and Andi?" "Here's okay Andi will be all tucked up in bed now, tomorrow if I get some spare time I might go and visit me Mam." "Oh we'll make time for your mum Terry don't you worry about that." Chapter 10 Jimmy's Gym That evening whilst Terry and Joy along with a remotely connected Taff watched footage of Detective Heather Fieldhouse's car deliberately being pushed into the path of an oncoming Metro tram, Dr Barmston a little the worse for drink and very merry indeed after an evening socialising with his team mates left his rugby club and meandered along towards one of the taxi ranks on the high street, he didn't see his attacker or really feel the blade as it entered his body but when he saw the blood on his hands he quickly sobered up and called for assistance. Fortunately for the doctor an ambulance was nearby returning from an aborted hoax call and the skilled paramedics on board with the doctor's guidance managed to stem the blood flow before he went into shock, he was taken straight to surgery where a surgeon worked on repairing a severed artery until the early hours. The next morning just before getting up to do her usual morning exercise Joy was snuggling into her wife not wanting to be awake when her peace was disturbed by the mobile phone on her bedside table going off, "Yes." "Hello Joy, I'm so sorry for calling you this early in the morning but there has been a development." "And a good morning to you too Hillary." Said Joy as she pulled herself up into a seated position. "Sorry Joy but one of your Detective's associates was attacked last evening." "Oh, is he or she okay?" "It was touch and go for a while but I have it on reliable authority that he should make a full recovery, the chap's name is Dr Trevor Barmston, he's a home office pathologist, bit of a rugby fan I believe, I'll forward you his file, Looks like your good lady wife's hunch was correct Joy." "Should we warn Detective Fieldhouse?" "No, not at present but I would like you to covertly shadow her, a job I believe that Silvanus will relish, she's already on her way up from Brunsfields to join you." "Will you be joining her Hillary?" "On Friday yes, if you can fit me in?" "I'll tell Trish, Chris and Terri, they will be so pleased, they love you visiting." Joy and Hillary talked for several more minutes but had to cut the call short as Alice who had now also woken had gone under the sheets, parted Joy's legs and was being very mischievous with her tongue and fingers on Joy's most intimate parts. After sharing a quick shower Joy and Alice went for a jog around the housing estate she'd grown up on she then asked Terry to take them both to the western side of the city to do their morning gym work and sparring whilst Terry visited his mother who lived locally. "Are you sure that this is the right place?" Asked Alice as they walked towards the dilapidated looking gym adjacent to the north banks of the River Tyne. "It doesn't look much outside Alice but hopefully the proprietor will remember me." As Joy entered through the front doors she immediately noticed that internally the Gym had been updated with new equipment and a lick or two of paint but essentially it was the same place she'd come to rely on when she'd lost her memory, "Tracy?" asked a surprised looking Geordie voice to Joy's left, she turned and smiled "Actually no it's Joy isn't it?" The old man wiped his hands on the towel that was almost perpetually on his shoulder and offered Joy his hand but Joy pulled Jimmy towards her and hugged him. "I'm sorry I haven't been back sooner Jimmy." "It's okay um, Joy it was all explained, I understand." Joy broke her hug and proudly introduced Alice, "This is Alice my wife." "It is a pleasure to meet you Alice." Alice smiled and shook the friendly old Geordie's hand. "So what brings you down here then?" Asked Jimmy "I was hoping we could use the floor to do a little sparing?" Jimmy smiled "Of course, oh we have a ladies changing room now, with showers." he added proudly, "So how much for the two of us?" "The same as I charge your daughter Susan and her friend Trish hin, nowt." Joy smiled at the old man, he'd obviously figured out where the grant for the upgrades and repairs to the gym had come from. "Thank you Jimmy." "The ladies changing rooms are over there I'll swipe you in, I'll have a couple of passes done for you before you leave." Alice and Joy sparred for nearly ten minutes before Joy noticed Susan and Trish entering the Gym, Susan waved to her mums then headed to get changed. Once Susan and Trish had fully warmed up Alice said "You go with your mum Suzy I'll spar with Trish for a bit, she has me exhausted." Jimmy stood by the mat and watched quietly as Susan and Joy started their sparring session, it didn't take long before the usual gymnasium noises slowed to a stop as more and more of the regulars became distracted by the fight on the mat. "Jimmy mate, you not going to stop them?" "No why should I? They know exactly what they're doing." "Are you sure mate cos one slip or misplaced punch and one of 'em will end up in hospital." "Like I said they know what they're doing." Finally after deliberately falling onto her back whilst flipping Susan then getting her into a strangle hold Susan submitted, followed closely by fits of uncontrollable breathless giggles for some unknown reason from both women. "Bloody hell mate, they're nuts both of them." Jimmy smiled at the small assembled crowd, "C'mon lads show's over, unless of course you fancy your chances." "Not bloody likely mate, I remember her from last time." When Joy and Susan finally left the mat they noticed that Trish and Alice had already showered and were waiting by a row of vending machines. Once showered Joy and Susan joined Trish and Alice, Alice kissed Joy on the lips, "Did you enjoy that dear?" "Very much so," Joy then turned to Susan "Is there still a buttie van just up the road?" "Yes Mummy, Dix is probably up there now reading his paper in my 900." Joy picked up her satchel and backpack with her training clothing in then took Alice by the hand. "I hope that they still do Cumberland sausage mushroom and egg." It was just after nine in the morning when Joy and Alice parted company with Susan and Trish as they headed off to university with Dix as their escort. Susan did not really like having a bodyguard but until her Ex- boyfriend was found again and dealt with she accepted it with good grace. Joy and Alice however walked up the hill towards Terry's mum's house hand in hand happily chatting in the cool breeze until they reached their destination and after a cup of tea they left with Terry to meet Silvanus at the train station. After picking up Silvanus, they all made their way to Detective Heather Fieldhouse's street where Joy and Silvanus were dropped off. "Hillary's department managed to find this flat, it's not ideal but still gives us a good view of the detective's home." Silvanus said as she carried two large aluminium utility carrying cases up the short concrete footpath to the flat. The pair entered and they took their equipment upstairs, Silvanus opened one of the cases and passed several small items to Joy. "The detective is not being released from hospital for another hour so I'll keep watch whilst you place the devices in her home. Joy simply nodded. "The alarm in the Detective's flat is a Securimaster 1450, they are susceptible to RFI (radio frequency interference) spikes, so set the NL/1B to a 37.164 MHz square wave and hold it just to the left of the keypad, "Never used one of these before Silv, I assume it just locks the processor up and causes the watchdog to kick in?" "Yes Joy you usually get 6-7 minutes before the system reboots and tries to rearm itself but until the watchdog kicks in it simply freezes." Two minutes later Joy was standing at the detective's front door, lock pick gun in hand and seconds later she had entered, 'beep, beep, beep, beep." Went the entry timer of the alarm system, Joy made her way quickly to the main keypad on the hall wall placed the emitter plate of the NL/1B to the left of the numeric keypad and pressed the disable button, the alarm system then made a high then low tone and the display showed the time and date followed by 'restarting please wait' Joy left the alarm panel and quickly found the main incoming telephone junction box noting that it was the older NTA5a type she quickly undid the screws on the faceplate and using an IDC (insulation displacement contact) punch down tool from her satchel connected the first of several surveillance devices before replacing the lid and moving on to the living room. It only took Joy 5 minutes to complete her work and after leaving the detective's flat waited for just over a minute to verify that the alarm had re-set itself, she then returned to where Silvanus was loitering keeping watch. "All done, pictures and sound Okay?" Silvanus turned a small handheld screen towards her and said, "Yes, good views of the hallway, living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom." "Smashing, Tea?" asked Joy Joy went back to the small upstairs flat to put the kettle on whilst Silvanus popped into the nearby corner shop for milk, tea, chocolate biscuits and other essential surveillance supplies. When Sylvanus returned to the flat Joy was sitting in the upstairs bay window looking down the street through the lace curtains and glancing occasionally at a small multi-screen monitor, "Kettle has just boiled Silvia, Detective Fieldhouse has not returned yet, but I believe we may now have some competition in the observation stakes. "I'm listening." Shouted Silvia from the other room. "An old Audi estate car pulled up as I was setting up and the gentleman inside appears to have quite a large camera." "Have you run his plates?" "I will as soon as I can connect to the WIFI, ah here we go we're connected now." "And?" said Silvanus as she entered with two mugs of tea and a selection of biscuits on a tray. "Plates are from a Ford Mondeo, unfortunately it was scrapped three weeks ago." "Curious, Kit-Kat?" "Ooh thank you." Joy and Silvanus quickly drank their tea and whilst Joy continued to observe the detective's flat Silvanus got changed. Joy observed a little later Silvanus who was now using one of her favourite disguises shuffling along the pavement behind the estate car. Silvanus fell against the car and then started to swear drunkenly at it prompting it's driver to get out and confront her. Within seconds several high resolution pictures appeared on the screen of her laptop of the driver's face from the concealed camera within the many layers of Silvanus's disguise, Joy immediately sent them off for analysis to see if they could get an identity of the mystery man. Soon the driver had managed to shoo away the madwoman who was arguing incoherently with him and she continued to shuffle down the street arguing with herself as she went. It was dark when Detective Fieldhouse finally arrived home by taxi and, after entering her flat, changed before starting on her evening meal in her kitchen. "Silv the guy in the car is making a move, he's putting gloves on and a ski mask." "On it." Silvia quickly left the house via the rear door and Joy continued to watch the man in the car, once Silvia was in position Joy placed an earpiece in her ear and left her post and went downstairs then waited by the front door for further instructions. "Car just started; he's slowly moving over towards the detective's flat." Joy opened the front door and entered the tiny front garden area using the high privet hedge for cover. "He's leaving the car now; he's armed with what appears to be a sawn off shotgun." As soon as the man who was now wearing black leather gloves and a Balaclava had left his car and entered the front path of the detective's flat Joy entered the road and headed at speed towards Detective Fieldhouse's flat arriving the same time as Silvanus and just as he was about to ring the doorbell. Joy wasted no time in relieving the man of his shotgun as he crumpled to the ground following a blow to the neck from Silvanus. Placing the Shotgun to one side Joy helped Silvanus to pick up the man and drag him back towards his car. Joy and Sylvanus with some difficulty folded the man back into his car and using a pair of military issue handcuffs handcuffed him to the steering wheel, Joy then recovered the shotgun and placed it still loaded under the driver's seat whilst Silvanus monitored the still unconscious man, Joy then turned on the ignition then using a hair grip shorted the horn switch causing it to blare loudly, the pair then made a very quick exit. Joy had just taken their evening meal from the cyclist at the door when the street started to fill with ever increasing amounts of blue flashing lights. "What's happening over there, do you know?" Asked Joy whilst pointing in the rough direction of the flashing lights, the delivery cyclist answered. "Not sure but the police had some gadgie pinned to the ground as I went past they seemed pretty angry with him." Joy gave the cyclist a ?10.00 note as a tip. "Thank you for being so quick." The pair tucked into their meals whilst intermittently glancing at the monitors or checking emails. "Oh we have a match on the car's Vin number Joy, the car was reported stolen in September from outside a business in Simonside South Shields, Whelpington Pharmaceuticals, it was a lease car used by staff to travel between that site and their other site in Hebburn." "Anything on the chap in the car." "Yes the police have identified him as Marcus Limpke, low level thug not really very bright, recently released from prison on licence." Joy sighed and after finishing her meal suggested, "Why don't you have a nap Silv? I'll wake you up if anything interesting happens." Nothing happened until 01:38 when the landline in Detective Fieldhouse's home started to ring, Joy listened through her headphones. "Uhh hello?" Asked the detective groggily. "You will drop your investigation if you don't want to end up like the good doctor." Stated a distorted but obviously local voice. "You've been warned." there was a click and the line went dead. Joy highlighted the phone number that had displayed on the computer and the program identified the location of the caller whilst simultaneously bringing up all street cameras within a mile. The caller had used a phone box within a council estate in Jarrow, Joy's attention was drawn to a white Golf GTI speeding down the street the call had originated from. Joy then initiated an ANPR check for the number plate she'd noted down. Within seconds there were over fifty matches all in the South Shields and Jarrow area, the car was also showing as having been stolen. Joy noted down all of the details on the laptop and continued her observation of the Detective's house, being relieved an hour or so later when Silvanus woke. Chapter 11 Heather Heather. I woke this morning and immediately understood what the doctors meant by discomfort, I ached absolutely everywhere as the effects of the last few days seem to have caught up on me all at once. I get up reluctantly from my bed and go out to the bathroom where I locate a couple of the painkillers the doctor's prescribed for me then I dressed for the day not in my usual smart pant suit with sensible shoes but stretch jeans tee and doc martins for comfort. After quickly doing my face and tying my hair back I had a quick breakfast and was just about to leave when the doorbell went off. On answering it I found it was my car mechanic, "Car is sorted Luv, entire braking system has been checked and as it was coming up to its service I did that too, you might want to call into a tyre place in a few weeks though and get them to check the tread on your rear tyres though, as they are getting near to the wear indicators." "Thanks' Tom, will do." "Is it true that someone tried to push your hire car into the path of a Metro?" I couldn't help but smile, "Yes Tom it is but I'll try not to bend mine, at least for a while, oh do you need a lift back to the garage?" "Naa Eddie's waiting for me in the van but thanks for the offer." I took the keys from Tom the mechanic and went back into the house, collected a hoodie and a warm coat then picked up my bag and left my flat after setting the alarm system. As I was currently classed as on sick leave I could do anything I wanted with the exception of what I had planned to do today. As I drove I started to wonder about the incident just up from my house last evening and it worried me a lot! I'd been told to stay away from work but for me this is not currently an option so I'd decided to have a trip back to the crime scene at the park, there was just something about that scene my mind wasn't letting go of. Parking in the small free car park I left the car and walked in the cold breeze down past the old pavilion and the now unused bowling greens, somehow some of the trees had managed to keep a few leaves on choosing now to let them drop and be blown at me. It didn't take me long to arrive at the area where the body of the poor unfortunate young woman had been found and although it was no longer a crime scene there were still remnants of police tape draped over a couple of bushes. I tried to remember the positioning of the body and then looked around. I then reasoned that she could not have come from at least three directions because even really early on in the morning there is a lot of dog walker traffic up the hill and on the adjacent footpaths so I looked back towards the road that ran adjacent to the burn separated from the park by a large sandstone wall. I walked towards the wall and then along towards a section where the wall had partially collapsed, then clambering through the gap found myself to be on the road where I'd initially parked on my first visit. I crossed the road and noticed a breach in the fence near to an allotment that kids probably used to gain access to the Burn. I decided to walk along the road roughly southwards following the course of the small river until it vanished into thicket and weeds. Looking forward I noticed that the valley seemed to just peter out this confused me a little as the burn had to go somewhere, it was then that I noticed something down by the river bank partly hidden by weeds and nettles, something that looked very much looked like a slipper much like the disposable ones I'd been given in hospital. I climbed through a break in a chain link fence and half walked half slid down the bank where I retrieved the semi concealed item of footwear. I bagged the slipper and headed further along the banks of the stream until I was confronted by a large concrete culvert with a rusty steel door to its side and hefty steel bars going vertically from the concrete roof down into the water of the burn forming a large impenetrable fence to me but allowed the water to flow freely in. As I approached the steel door I noticed that the hasp on the padlock had rusted through so I pulled at the door and it gave enough for me to slip in, unfortunately it was very dark inside and my phone torch afforded me very little illumination so reluctantly I turned around and headed back to the car to get my more powerful torch. It didn't take long for me to reach my car and as I took out my powerful torch from the boot I noticed and then recognised an old SAAB I'd seen previously and remembered that it or a very similar one had been parked on the other side of the park near to the caf? on the day the young woman's body was found. Taking my phone I contacted work and asked for a check on its registration, "Could you repeat that registration again please Ma'am?" I re-read the registration, "Oh that's curious, it's not coming back with a registered owner Ma'am, oh wait a moment." The line went quiet for what seemed like ages and when the line became active again it was a very polite and well-spoken man who spoke. "Detective Fieldhouse?" "Yes," I answered, "Who is this?" "My name is relatively unimportant but if you would check your emails in a couple of minutes you will find one from your chief constable asking you to discard that particular vehicle from your enquiries, it has no bearing whatsoever on your investigation do you understand me?" "I understand you, but I am investigating a suspicious death amongst other things." "I understand completely Detective but I can assure you that this car is not involved in your enquiry." As I was arguing with the pleasantly threatening man on the phone I hardly noticed the other car that had just entered the car park until four very intimidating individuals approached me brandishing weapons ranging from baseball bat's to a sawn off shotgun. I immediately dropped my phone and reached for my baton in the boot but before I could deploy it I was hit across the wrist by the baseball bat. What happened next I'm still not sure I believe but a woman appeared out from behind a rhododendron bush brandishing what I can only describe as two stiletto knives followed by a younger more casually dressed woman wearing a hoodie who appeared out of apparently nowhere to my right and went immediately for the man with the sawn off shotgun dodging one blast and hitting him square in the head with a half brick she'd picked up and thrown at him, she immediately turned towards another of the men who was holding a long serrated edged divers knife and started to dodge his swipes and thrusts. The older woman took on the bat wielding man and ducked as he took a swing and as the bat returned for another go she grabbed it pulled the man towards her before head butting him and stabbing her blade into his right shoulder until it protruded through to the other side, she then moved the blade in a circular motion before removing the blade and then kneeing the batsman in the groin. The younger woman had now somehow disarmed her attacker and was subjecting him to several lightning fast jabs about his body whilst he staggered back trying in vain to protect himself before falling to the ground unconscious, The final man ran in fear back towards his car only to fall to the ground as a result of having a knife thrown by the older woman pierce the soft fleshy area at rear of his knee, the younger woman then restrained the unconscious man with what looked like cable ties before moving over to the man who had until seconds ago been brandishing a shotgun and was now very dazed from being hit in the head with a brick, as the man started to get up from the ground he immediately fell back onto ground as the younger woman kicked him in the head. I was shocked and did not know quite what to do, these two women had almost certainly saved me from a beating or worse but they also did not use what I would have classed as the minimum force required, I was just about to announce myself as a policewoman when the older woman picked up my phone and said "Hillary?" "Yes four assailants." "No she's okay, a little shocked maybe." "Okay will do." The older woman than passed the phone back to me. "Hello?" "Ah Detective good, before we talk further would you check your work inbox for me please." I quickly checked my inbox on the phone to be confronted by an email from the chief constable himself ordering me to cooperate fully with the man on the phone. "Okay so what is this all about?" "We'll speak soon detective but I must apologise in advance." "For what? Apologise for whaa." I felt a tiny pinprick on my neck and almost instantly was unable to string together a rational thought before my legs simply crumpled under me. Chapter 12 Terri and Matt Terri finished at big school just after lunch, she was enjoying her trial weeks at the local infant school but was glad to be home, as she entered Stevenson Towers she removed her coat and after standing on a small plastic stepper then going on tip toes managed to hang it on its hook before sitting on the floor and unbuckled her T bar sandals then slipping her feet into a comfy pair of fluffy slippers, Terri then went through to the dining room where she found her Mummy Alice sitting surrounded by paperwork with her laptop open. "Hello Mummy." "Hello Terri, did you enjoy school today?" Terri smiled. "Yes Mummy we did lots of things today, Sums and history and Geogloraphy and we had a story too." "You did do lots didn't you? So what did you learn in Geography then?" "About trees and things, trees make coal but it takes lots and lots of years and they have to dig it out of the ground." "You did learn a lot today didn't you? And what was the story you got?" Terri clambered over onto her mum's knees. "It was about a mermaid; it was really sad mummy." "Oh the little mermaid, that is a sad story, did you enjoy it?" "Yes but not the sad part," Alice touched noses with her daughter and hugged her, Terri snuggled into her mum "I like happy endings better mummy." "So do I Terri so do I." Alice said quietly as she played absent- mindedly with Terri's hair. After a minute or so Matt appeared at the door. "Alice have you seen, oh hello there Terri I didn't hear you come in." Terri slipped off her mum's knee and back onto an adjacent seat and said, "Hello grandpa Matt, I was quiet and I hanged my coat up and everything." Matt crouched a little until he was nearly at eye level with his granddaughter, "And did you enjoy school today?" "Oh yes and I had a school dinner too." "Really, was it nice?" "Not as nice as we have here but it was okay, I had pizza and beans." "Ooh with all that food in you you're going to need a long walk this afternoon aren't you." Terri nodded brightly as she knew what her grandpa was going to suggest." "Would you like a walk down to see how the tree planting is going down at the old farm?" Terri offered Matt her arms and he lifted her from the seat to the floor, Terri then ran out of the dining room to get changed. "Wellies warm coat and mittens Terri." Shouted Alice towards the open dining room door. "Busy?" Asked Matt "Yes a little, just catching up on office work and emails." "I've just been contacted by Hillary; it looks like we may be having a guest for our evening meal, possibly this evening." "Silvanus?" "No a detective, err detective Heather Fieldhouse, Joy and Silvia have taken her into protective custody I believe they are heading here or rather to 'The Centre' now." "'The Centre' Is she hurt?" Asked Alice with concern, "She's hurt her wrist and Silvia sedated her for some reason but otherwise I believe she's fine." "I'll finish off here and head to 'The Centre'." Terri appeared at the door to the dining room, "I'm ready grandpa Matt." Matt and Terri walked together through the rose gardens towards the wood Terri's small mittened hand holding tightly to her grandfather's soft leather glove, the weather was cool it was cloudy with a biting cold wind coming in off the coast but neither cared as they were both wrapped up warm and enjoying the walk. "In the spring Theresa that muddy area over there should have lots and lots of bright flowers in it," Matt pointed to an area that until very recently had been the compound for the contractors that had been working on restoring one of the feeder streams of the lake to its original path." "And those sticks Grandpa?" "They are new trees; the little plastic pipes are to protect them from animals until they are bigger." "Oh, are you growing coal then? I learned that trees made coal." Matt smiled "No Terri I think we'll just have them as trees for now." Matt and Terri continued through the woods, along the banks of the lake and onto his latest project, neither noticing that they were being observed. As Matt and his youngest granddaughter headed down towards the new woodland that he was having created and enjoying her company, Toby the gamekeepers dog was lying in his basket in the utility room of the gamekeepers cottage with his head resting on his cuddly penguin when suddenly he raised his head sniffed at the air then bounded out of the back door of the cottage leaving his penguin and owner Daniel behind. Terri looked over a muddy field with its bright yellow diggers lying dormant to its side and listened to her grandfather talk, "And next spring Terri those bare trees over there will hopefully get lots of leaves and in a few years we'll have an even bigger wood to walk around in and if they get big enough it might stop a bit of that nasty cold wind that comes off the sea sometimes too." "Did you put those big trees in too Grandpa?" asked Terri looking over and pointing at a row of larger trees that had recently appeared. "Oh those? Well spotted Terri yes those are a few years old now they were planted to be a small wood but the owner of the site decided to make some more buildings and they were going to chop them down so I had them rescued and brought them up here on big trucks I hope that they take. After a while a thick drizzle formed blowing up on the breeze from the sea, cutting short Terri and Matt's walk so they turned and headed back along the lakeside footpath towards Stevenson Towers, it was about a minute into their return journey just after the pair had re- entered the older established woodland when a man stepped out in front of the pair taking Matt by surprise and scaring Terri a little. "Ian Thompson you are trespassing." Stated Matt coolly "Mr Stevenson, there has been a huge misunderstanding, if I could just see Susan, I'm sure that we could sort it out." "There's been no misunderstanding son." "If I could just see her I would explain, she'd understand." "Oh she understands all right, she finished with you so you started to harass her at every opportunity then set the police on her and then finally set fire to my house." "I can explain sir if you would just let me see Susan." "Not going to happen son and what I am about to say is for your own safety, leave here now and hand yourself back into the police." "Or what old man, what will you do?" Said Ian Thompson menacingly just before he heard an even more menacing low growl to his side, Ian Thompson was quite startled by this and turned to see a very large and extremely angry looking Irish wolfhound slowly coming towards him with his teeth bared and growling, "L, look I don't w, want any trouble, call your dog off." Matt shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry but he's not my dog he's the gamekeepers dog." Step by step the large drooling dog advanced on Ian Thompson until finally the ex policeman turned tail and ran as fast as his legs would carry him being pursued by the bounding wolf hound that seemed at times to be herding him until he had no option but to run though a particularly thick patch of gorse bushes. Matt picked up Terri, "He didn't scare you did he?" Terri clung to her grandfather's neck and replied, "A little but I think he was more scared of Toby grandpa." Matt smiled. "He was wasn't he?" Toby returned a little later, gone was his menacing demeanour and he walked happily with the pair as they headed back to their home. "Grandpa Matt?" "Yes Theresa?" "That man was he the 'Bloody policeman' that auntie Silvia talks about?" "Yes he was but I wouldn't say the bloody bit in front of your mummies if I were you." "Oh" After a few minutes they were joined by Daniel the gamekeeper who was looking for Toby, he was just about to tell the dog off when Matt stated, "Toby deserves a big treat Daniel, see the butcher in the village and charge it to my account, Oh and get the lads to keep an eye out for Susan's ex on the grounds as Toby has just seen him off again." "Will do sir." Toby stayed with Matt and Terri all the way to the front door of the big house he then barked happily and gave Terri's face a lick with his huge tongue causing her to giggle. Matt on entering the house left Terri to get changed and went straight to his office to contact the local police to report seeing Thompson and find out what if anything they were doing to apprehend Ian Thompson now that he was once again at large. Chapter 13 Awakening Heather. I woke a couple of minutes ago completely bemused as to where I was and why, the last I remember was being attacked and my wrist being hit with a baseball bat then two women appearing out of nowhere to help me. Now I'm lying on a very comfortable bed feeling like I've been at the gin all day with my wrist in a cast. I notice a jug of iced water by the side of the bed and shuffle myself into a position where I can pour myself a glass from the jug, I take a sip and it seems fine so I take several gulps, then I look around the room it's quite bare, with a toilet and shower cubicle at one end and a single metal door but no windows, quite similar to a police cell with the exception that the bed is really comfortable. I get up and walk over to the mirror noticing that my Dr Martins have been removed and my sweatshirt, but otherwise I'm wearing the same clothes that I dressed in this morning. Up in the corner of the room is a small eyeball type camera and by my bed is a phone so I go over to the phone and pick up the receiver it being answered by a very polite male voice, "How may I help you Ma'am?" "I suppose that there is no point in asking where I am is there?" "No Ma'am I'm sorry." "In that case could I ask for a little food?" "Certainly Ma'am what would you like?" "Would a cheeseburger and fries be too much to ask?" "Not at all Ma'am, would you like a beverage too?" "Diet anything would be fine." "It should be with you shortly Ma'am." answered the voice, the line then went dead. "Hmm well at least I have civilised jailers." I commented to myself, I picked up a magazine to flick through. After about twenty minutes I heard a clunk and the door to my cell was opened by a man wearing what looked like army fatigues, this gave me the first inkling that I was either in serious trouble or that I was in serious trouble! A woman entered the room a woman I didn't recognise, she was tall, casually dressed and very elegant, she was carrying a tray, "I have your food Detective, where would you like it?" "Oh, err the bed please." I was taken aback by her manner; she spoke softly with a slight accent and had a very disarming smile. "I have supplied proper cutlery and would appreciate it if you used it as intended and not as a weapon." Looking at my meal on the tray I could instantly tell that it had been hand cooked, the chips were not of the frozen variety; the burger looked to have been made from the finest minced beef topped with grated cheese and even the side salad was presented perfectly. I looked up at my jailer, "Don't worry I've a feeling I wouldn't get very far if I tried anyway." The woman then passed me a napkin and proceeded to pour me a sparkling drink into a glass. As I ate my meal my jailer sat quietly on the bed to my side and made polite conversation whilst I ate the magnificent burger. "I must say you are the most civilised captors." She seemed a little affronted at this. "Oh Detective we are not your jailers, we have simply taken you into protective custody, you will very probably be released from here later today." "So where is the rest of my gear then do you have my bag as it has evidence in it?" "The slipper within the evidence bag is currently being analysed and I can tell you that our technicians have managed to recover a viable DNA sample from it and also some curious deposits from the sole, the results of which we will share with you when they become available." "Oh." "When you have finished Detective I will provide you with a laptop giving you access to your usual databases and emails so that you can continue your investigation." This surprised me greatly "Err thank you, I think." My jailer smiled. "My name is Aliza." "Thank you Aliza." we continued to talk until I finished my meal, my Jailer Aliza tidied up the tray making sure all cutlery was still there and got up to leave." "Would you like some fresh clothing Detective?", "Oh, yes please if you wouldn't mind." "I'll return shortly it'll give you the chance to shower and clean your teeth, carbonated drinks are so bad for your teeth." I laughed and actually said, "Yes mum." As she left my cell. The shower cubicle was private so I undressed and showered and washed my hair and as I was finishing I heard the door to my cell open and I assumed Aliza entering. I wrapped a large bath towel around myself and pulled the water resistant cover off the cast on my wrist. "It's only a hairline fracture Detective, but our Doctor felt it best to immobilise your wrist completely at least for the next few days, I have some underwear here, a couple of blouses and skirts, a selection of tights and shoes. I'm sorry we don't have any of your usual makeup but have supplied what we found in your bag." "Thank you, I'll manage." I said looking at the neatly folded clothing and underwear still in its wrappings on the bed. "I'll give you a little privacy to get dressed Detective, give me a minute and I'll have the camera disabled." With that Aliza left and I started to get dressed. The styling of almost all of the clothing I'd been supplied with was a little less business like and more feminine than I'd been more recently accustomed to wearing but it really did feel nice and I found myself smiling as I modelled in front of the mirror. After a while I was led into a small interview room and had a long interview with a most objectionable man who asked me many quick fire questions about my recent cases and my personal life before asking me to sign the official secrets act. I was then led not back to my cell but into a kind of canteen area where after a while there was a knock on the door and a tall well-dressed man stood by the entrance. "May I come in Detective?" I immediately recognised his voice as the voice on the phone from earlier today. "Do I have a choice?" "A fair question under the circumstances detective." "Come in." The man came into the room and sat opposite me then offered me his hand, "My name is Hillary Simpson Ms Fieldhouse and I must apologise for the way we recovered you yesterday." "Yesterday?" "Yes it was my decision to bring you in and the doctor's decision to keep you sedated whilst they treated your injuries." The man called Hillary was still offering me his hand so I took it with my plastered hand and he gently shook it. "Now as to why you are here, simply to ensure that you remain alive I think would be the most accurate answer, there are people that want to harm you detective, the sabotage of your car, the attack near to the park, the level crossing incident and then incident outside your home, followed by the blatant attack on you whilst investigating that poor young woman's death." "Wait, what do you mean the incident outside my home, I thought that was just some drunk." "I'm afraid not, the gentleman was stopped at your door carrying a sawn off shotgun, my associates rendered him ineffective." it was then I realised that these people must have been watching me. "I've been under surveillance?" "Yes but not to interfere with your investigation, simply to keep you safe, unfortunately the assault in the car park rather tipped our hand and we had to intervene." Somehow I felt that the man called Hillary was being sincere and I was grateful he then went on to explain that he worked for the British government although he didn't mention in what capacity. "Oh good lord! Look at the time, Detective I would be honoured if you would accompany me to a meal with some very good friends of mine." "Do I have a choice?" "You do but it would be rather impolite to refuse an invitation from your host's." I sighed. "Okay then lead on Mr Hillary." "Just Hillary if you wouldn't mind." Hillary offered me his arm and I took it he then escorted me out of the room where two men stood to attention, and up along a gently curving and quite steep corridor until we reached a set of metal doors where I was offered a warm coat, Hillary helped me on with the coat and we exited the doors into the darkness and almost straight into the back of a waiting black car with a chauffeur. The car pulled away slowly and I noticed to my right a large steel and glass building, "That's where you were initially treated detective, sort of a rehabilitation centre for the battle weary." "Battle weary Hillary?" "Yes mostly for the military but is also used for others who need specialist care following trauma be it physical or mental, it is something we are all immensely proud of." A barrier in front of us was opened and we left the well-lit compound and headed into almost total darkness. Chapter 14 An Evening with The Stevenson's Heather. Once we'd turned onto the main road Hillary informed me "We will be dining with very dear friends of mine this evening Detective, I believe that you have met them before, they will also offer you the use of their home. I expect you to courteously accept their invitation of accommodation." "Wouldn't that put your friends at risk if people still want to harm me?" "For that to happen they would need to know your location my dear, besides the entire estate as of this morning has perimeter security." I stayed quiet as the car smoothly turned off the main road and negotiated a couple of short country roads, to my right I briefly thought I could see the sea but wasn't sure. "Ah here we are." Stated Hillary as the car slowed right down to negotiate a tight corner into an entrance between two large stone pillars. I noticed the intermittent glint from water on my right through bushes and trees as the car headed onwards into the almost pitch darkness. Then I caught a glimpse of a large house just to my right up ahead. Our driver pulled up onto a gravel area at the front of a large old house and once stopped he opened my door for me and offered me his hand, I accepted and was joined by Hillary who once again linked arms with me before escorting me up the steps to the large front door. It was a little disconcerting to hear my heels clicking on the stone of the steps as I couldn't really remember the last time I'd actually worn proper heels; they certainly weren't really suitable for police work. As the front door opened I initially did not recognise the quite beautiful woman at the door dressed in the most exquisite of evening gowns but Hillary quickly confirmed her identity. "Detective Fieldhouse I believe that you have already met Alice Stevenson." I smiled as best I could and offered her my hand but instead of taking it she hugged me. "I'm really glad that you could come Detective, please come in." As I entered I noticed another woman descending the large stone staircase at the rear of the entrance hall with a small child. I looked at her almost entranced as she seemed to glide down each step in her heels, she was also wearing a beautiful evening gown that hugged and flattered every single curve of her perfect body, Joy Stevenson looked absolutely perfect as she smiled and talked with her daughter as they descended the stairs. "Oh Detective I was a little worried that you wouldn't come," She then also proceeded to hug me. Terri stood quietly with her hands behind her back as her mum hugged me. "And of course you remember our youngest daughter Terri." Terri was dressed in a party frock and her hair had a slight curl to it, she smiled at me, I crouched a little and hugged her. "You look very pretty tonight Terri" She blushed a little and smiled "Have you still got your conker detective Heather?" I remembered that I had put it on the windowsill in my kitchen, "Yes Terri it's hardening at the moment at my home." "Oh good some of mines are in viginar." Joy took Terri's hand "That would be vinegar Terri." her mum corrected. At that moment two more girls descended the staircase with another young woman I didn't recognise. I was more struck however at the two shy looking pretty young women however as the last time I'd seen them they were so tomboyish and muddy. After being re-introduced to the twins and to their elder sister Susan, Joy asked me, "Our evening meal won't be for a while yet Detective, we've prepared a room for you, would you like to freshen up at all?" Frankly I was feeling completely overwhelmed now and severely under dressed. "If it's okay?" Joy's beautiful smile seemed to hypnotise me and she slipped her hand into mine. "I'll show you to your room." Joy led me up the wide staircase to the first floor and then along a corridor into a beautiful room and through to another room where I noticed three gowns hanging by long hooks from the picture rail adjacent to a large mirror. Joy then looked quite apologetic and said, "We were going to invite you over earlier and ask if you would like to dress for this evening Detective but Bob insisted on interviewing you first and therefore scuppered Alice's plans." "The bathroom is through there, Aliza purchased some of your usual brand of cosmetics earlier I hope she chose the correct shades." I just didn't know what to think. "Thank you Mrs Stevenson for your hospitality but this is all too much." "Oh we've offended you, I'm so sorry." "No Mrs Stevenson it's not you, it's I who should be apologising, you've all been so hospitable. It's just such a long time since I've had to interact socially I just think I'm a little rusty." Joy touched my hand, "I understand Detective, I do, would you like me to leave whilst you freshen up?" "No I'd probably get lost in your big house would you mind staying; I won't be long." I left and went into the bathroom where I cleaned off my makeup amongst other things and returned to Joy sitting demurely on a chaise lounge with her hands in her lap and her legs together, she smiled as I entered, I immediately went over to my new makeup and set about putting on evening makeup which was made all the harder as my right hand was in a cast, It didn't take long before Joy started to make suggestions and finally came to my side and with practised skill started to take over, "You keep glancing at the gowns detective, we do have enough time if you wanted to try one on." She said with a wry smile and a glint in her eye, I started off by refusing but somehow was overcome with an almost naughty curiosity as to what they would feel like. Joy was absolutely wonderful and within minutes I was changing my underwear and stepping into the most wonderful soft silken creation. Joy held my good hand as I stepped onto the staircase feeling like an heiress or a film star I'd never dressed this femininely in my life before and would probably never again so I was going to savour every single second of it, I knew very little about the Stevenson family and at that moment just didn't care they simply seemed to me to be the most wonderfully eccentric people I'd ever met. After our evening meal and an hour or so of conversation I retired to my new room and after removing my gown and new underwear I slipped into a silken nightshirt and whilst lying in bed opened up my new laptop and checked on something that had been mentioned by Hillary this evening. I was listed on the staff portal as 'on secondment' Earlier I had been informed that I would be continuing with my investigations into the disappearances of young men and women over three police authority's jurisdiction with the exception that I would be working for Hillary and I would be accompanied at all times by one or two of Hillary's associates. My secondment had already started and I will be meeting with my minder tomorrow morning at ten. I turned off the laptop and slid under the sheets. Chapter 15 Babysitting Heather. "Absolutely not, no way." Were the first things I said when I was informed that Joy Stevenson would be riding along with me today, I understood why the very scary old woman Silvanus would be with me as I had seen her fight but Joy Stevenson, I'd seen her following an incident a year or so ago, after she'd been given a spiked drink and there was absolutely no way that I was going to babysit her today; but Silvanus assured me that she would make sure that Joy came to no harm so I reluctantly relented. The library of the Stevenson home had a section at the rear that had been cordoned off for me with screens; pin boards and whiteboards that had been set up with the pictures of several missing men and women and also several unidentified dead bodies that had been found over the last couple of years along with autopsy and toxicology reports. I also now had access not only to the police DNA database; but an international one and also another one that was overseen by Military intelligence. Silvanus assisted me and was surprisingly good at sifting through data, Joy appeared just after 10:30 and sat quietly observing Silvanus and I before eventually saying, "We have a partial DNA match on your missing girl Detective." "Partial?" "Yes a Corporal Daniel Templeton of the Black Watch based at Fort George up in Scotland, his cousin Melissa Kilne went missing three months ago whilst visiting friends in York, he was interviewed this morning by Military Police and has confirmed that she had a tattoo on her right thigh of an," Joy seemed to pause before she said "An Angel, something she kept secret from her parents, so they didn't know about it." "That was quick." I commented "The residue found on the soles of the slipper has traces of ferro- concrete, quite an old form of concrete, curiously the nearest ferro- concrete structure to where to Melissa's body was found is a culverted section of the Ouse burn only three hundred metres away." "That's near to where I found the slipper." I answered "Oh this is good." said Silvanus "The culvert was converted into a bomb shelter for use during the second world war, the culvert itself is 655metres long and had canteen facilities, offices and even a sickbay, there is an entrance to the North and one to the south where the burn heads down towards the river Tyne." "Is it accessible?" I asked "Allegedly not, the council handed over control to a private property maintenance company four years ago however that company went into liquidation and it seems nothing has been done since." I leaned over to get my coat, "I think we should have a look." Silvanus said, "I'll drive," and Joy promptly added, "Use my car Silvia, it has more room." At least I now know who the old SAAB belongs to I thought to myself. Silvanus's driving was unconventional but we did make it up to Newcastle intact, I sat in the front whilst Joy sat in the back of the car using her laptop, we parked on the narrow lane near to where I'd found the slipper and after Joy had changed out of her heels and into what looked like a pair of army boots she slung an old satchel over her shoulder and armed with a powerful torch said, "I'm ready, this is quite exciting isn't it?" Silvanus passed me a torch and helped me down onto the embankment where we slowly made our way down to the burn. "Just here there is a door, oh it has been repaired and there is a new padlock on it." I said in surprise. "Back in a mo." Said Joy as she passed Silvanus her torch and vanished the way we'd just come returning quickly with a large pair of bolt cutters. "Knew these would come in handy one day." she said as she retrieved her torch and gave Silvanus the cutters. Silvanus made very short work of the padlock and opened the old metal door, I entered first followed by Silvanus and Joy. As we entered I noticed a recently installed wooden platform suspended above the Burn below after a few metres we found that ahead of us the tunnel was lit so I extinguished my torch. Soon the tunnel opened up wider and several structures made of wood and plastic sheeting came into view. "Looks like someone has been storing things here Detective." said Silvanus. We systematically checked out each structure as we made our way further into the tunnel and with the exception of a little litter they were all empty, apparently having recently been emptied of whatever they had been holding. As we approached what I determined to be the centre of the tunnel complex more permanent structures were revealed including what appeared to be several cell like cages, I turned to see if Joy was okay, she seemed to be okay but had her hand poised near to the flap of her old satchel. "Over there in the wall, that is the old sick bay." Stated Silvanus as she headed towards the large orifice in the side wall of the tunnel. As we entered a smell reminiscent of my old family dentist hit my nostrils. The room was quite large with a polished floor and white panelled walls and was empty but for remnants of what looked like pieces of medical equipment scattered randomly on the floor. "This room has been very recently stripped." Stated Silvanus. Moving further through the old shelter I started to notice more and more equipment and boxes stacked as though ready to be moved, Silvanus turned to me and said, "Keep your eyes peeled detective as I think whoever has been using this place could return at any moment to retrieve their possessions." I turned to Joy. "If anything happens Mrs Stevenson, run back down the tunnel as fast as you can and contact the police immediately." After a while we encountered another side room off the main tunnel and inside we found a tea boiler several tables and cooking facilities it was obvious that someone had been using this site very recently indeed, we moved along a few more metres to an area that had thick opaque plastic sheeting stapled to large wooden frames forming makeshift walls, we negotiated several of these frames and just before we passed into a narrower section of tunnel Joy stopped me. "I can hear something up ahead." I stopped and listened and could only just hear a scratching noise as though something was being dragged along the floor. "Stay here, we'll investigate." I said to Joy, Silvanus and I headed quietly forward. There was a sharp bend in the tunnel and from our vantage point I could now see three men in casual clothing pushing and dragging a large packing case along the concrete floor. Announcing my presence as a police officer was probably not the wisest thing I'd done recently and seemed to take Silvanus quite by surprise, she immediately pushed me over to one side causing me to fall behind a large wooden packing case just as I heard a bang from what I assumed was a shotgun judging from the many holes that appeared in a wood panel slightly to my side. I checked my phone to call for backup, but there was no service, I then hoped that Joy Stevenson had the good sense to run back and get help, I was not however expecting two metal cannisters to roll from behind us and stop adjacent to Silvanus. Silvanus retrieved the cannisters and gestured for me to cover my ears, she then pulled something on the cannisters and threw them both forward. What happened next were two very loud bangs in quick succession, the shock wave of which nearly took my breath from my lungs followed by followed almost immediately by Joy Stevenson passing my position with her skirt billowing as she went this was closely followed by Silvanus getting up and just before going forward saying loudly, "Stay." Just as I heard several loud cracks similar to that a pistol makes followed by shouting and screaming, retrieving my baton I rose and holding it in my left hand I slowly moved forward not quite knowing what to expect but really not expecting to see Joy Stevenson slide past a make shift barricade and fire three shots into the man behind it. Silvanus grabbed me and pulled me into an alcove. "I told you to stay back." I then watched as two men came out from another room set into the rust stained walls, one grabbed at a metal bar swinging it at Joy and hitting her thigh a glancing blow ripping her skirt and exposing her stockinged legs. Joy twisted and kicked the bar wielding man in the face, spun around and caught the other man's wrist just before his fist made contact, somehow she managed to smash his jaw with her elbow before thrusting his wrist into the concrete wall of the entrance of the room he'd just come from shattering his wrist, she then pushed the man into the room apparently using him as a shield, "Excuse me." Stated Silvanus as she left me and followed Joy into the room. This time I stayed put. It didn't take long for the noise in the room to quieten down and for Joy to emerge with Silvanus who was wiping blood off her knives with a paper tissue. "Help me subdue these men." Ordered Silvanus. I complied and, using plastic ties, restrained the men on the floor by the wrists and legs, "We are going to need to get these men some medical attention Silvia." "I'll try and get a signal a little further on Joy, back shortly." Silvanus left me with Joy Stevenson, a woman I had just realised was not at all what she'd seemed. As I looked around the tunnel counted seven men, of which three appeared to be dead, two unconscious and one lying on the ground whimpering. "You and Silvanus have just taken on seven men?" "Nine, there were two more through there." Stated Joy pointing at the entrance to the room, she then proceeded to sigh, "These stockings were new on this morning and just look at them, ruined!" Silvanus took that very moment to reappear, "We have more company Joy, Truck pulled up outside the south entrance just as I reached it they must have been tipped off by this lot somehow as they're armed." Joy looked into her satchel, "Only have two clips left, we'll use that room for cover," Joy then stopped as we heard what sounded like semi-automatic gunfire, Joy smiled, "You contacted Terry didn't you?" asked Silvanus; she nodded her head, "Yes when I went and got the bolt cutters, just as a precaution." We moved into the room located just off the tunnel and kept out of the way occasionally hearing bullets whistling past the entrance until I heard a voice shouting. "All clear, are you clear Ma'am?" "All clear here Dix thanks for the assist." it didn't take long for a man in combat gear and helmet carrying an automatic weapon to appear at our location. "The Major is keeping the entrance clear Ma'am I've taken the liberty of ordering you a Taxi to take you back to your vehicle, we'll see that this lot are dealt with appropriately and inform the local plod." "Thanks Dix, much resistance?" "Not really probably just local muscle with a couple of armed wannabes." Finally I decided to speak up and try to assert my authority over the situation. "I'm sorry but this is a crime scene and you are all witnesses, you will all need to stay here, firearms have been discharged." Joy seemed to ignore me and continued to talk with the soldier ensuring that the injured would be dealt with appropriately "It's probably time that you made yourself scarce now Ma'am." I felt Joy's warm hand slip into mine. "Come on Detective We'll explain everything once we're safely out the way." exiting from a different, much wider. entrance into a wider open valley we were met by another man dressed all in black sporting a semi-automatic weapon; this one however had a local accent, "Taxi's ready, looks like the detective is going to need a strong cup of tea there Joy." "Thanks Terry I'll see to it, see you back home?" He simply nodded. "We can't just leave a crime scene Mrs Stevenson." But before Joy could answer Silvanus said, "It will all be taken care of Detective, I assure you but we need to leave here now." I allowed myself to be led up the rough concrete steps that at some point had been cast into the steep hillside towards the top of the valley where a waiting taxi took us swiftly back to our vehicle but instead of joining us inside the car Joy opened the boot and deposited her satchel and reclaimed her heels. Back in the car Joy said simply. "Okay." We stopped off on our way back down to Stevenson Towers to allow Silvanus to buy a replacement skirt for Joy to replace her torn one and I noticed in the vanity mirror Joy replacing both her skirt and her stockings as we drove, she also expertly cleaned and dressed the cut on her upper leg part of the dressing being visible above her stocking top. Chapter 16 Lunch and Explanations Joy. Detective Fieldhouse sat in the front of my car looking both bemused and shocked, I didn't blame her as she'd probably been thinking that she was babysitting me, but I also knew that explanations were now in order, the wound on my upper leg was smarting a little but I knew that it was just superficial so I put it to the back of my mind, "Okay I've waited long enough just who are you people?" Asked the detective finally, Silvanus looked into the rear view mirror and caught my eye. "Joy, you want to take this?" "Take the Redcar turn off Silvia, I know a little place we can talk and eat, I'm starving." Soon we had parked and I took the Detective by the hand once more and led her out of the car park, it was hard to tell whether her shaking was due to what she'd witnessed in the old tunnel or Silvia's driving but the poor detective was in need of reassurance and an explanation. I led her across the road and along the main shopping street then just off it into a small Cafe. As we entered Silvanus took the detective's hand and guided her to a table at the rear of the long narrow cafe whilst I greeted the man behind the counter. "Mrs Stevenson, it's so good to see you." I embraced the man "It's really good to see you too Andy, how is your uncle Barney?" "As good as can be expected, he really misses auntie Flo though." "I'm so glad that you kept the Caf? on Andy." "I think it would have done for Uncle Barney if I'd shut it besides it is actually a good little earner, oh give me a second and I'll get you a tablecloth." "Thanks Andy, Oh three teas, one very sweet please." I joined Silvanus and the Detective. Sitting opposite her I looked her in the eyes. "I'm sorry Detective that must have been quite shocking for you, but you took us both by surprise. Announcing yourself as a police officer in front of armed criminals wasn't the wisest of moves." "I realise that now Mrs Stevenson but your response..." "We were there to protect you detective and as such the threat had to be neutralised." "Neutralised, you had bloody stun grenades and firearms." "And if we hadn't intervened Detective?" "I, I just don't know." Andy the caf? owner picked that particular moment to come and set our table for us. "Will you be staying for a meal girls?" Andy seemed to sense that Detective Fieldhouse was troubled, "Tell you what I'll leave a couple of menus, come over when you've decided." I smiled and thanked him and he made a tactical withdrawal. "We've been assigned to protect you Detective and until we get to the bottom of who's trying to stop you and your investigation I'm afraid you're stuck with us." I said "But you, you're just a businesswoman." I smiled, "Yes you are correct I am; but along with my friends we help people too." I continued and explained a little about how we worked, but the detective seemed sceptical. We did manage to order food however and I enjoyed a home-made Chicken pie with chips and peas as did the detective, Silvanus opted for a cheeseburger. I was relieved as the local news came on the television that the screen was behind Detective Fieldhouse and that the volume was turned down as on the screen was a breaking news report of our mornings activities with footage of the aftermath at the wide entrance to the old tunnel which had been now been adorned with a large hand drawn set of angel wings drawn in chalk. "Heather." "Sorry?" I replied "My name is Heather remember," Stated the Detective as she ate "Detective sounds a little too formal." She smiled at me, "Mine is Joy." "And you can call me Silvia." Said Silvanus as she looked at something on her tablet, "Detective, sorry Heather your house was visited about ten minutes ago, do you recognise any of these men?" Silvanus placed the tablet on the table and Heather looked at several surveillance images from outside her home and then grainier CCTV images from within. "No I don't think so; wait a minute these pictures are from inside my home who on earth are these people?" Silvanus quickly explained, "These images are from early this morning as you can clearly see someone is tampering with your car." "What is that?" Asked the detective as she watched a hooded individual take a small package and place it under the car. Silvia continued quite matter-of-factly, "From its look and it's positioning I would say probably an explosive charge attached by magnets and triggered by either a tilt switch, mercury switch or by remote detonation we should soon find out as the Army bomb disposal team will be there within the hour." "Bomb disposal?" "Yes we've had the area cordoned off and evacuated hopefully they'll manage to defuse the device without detonating it." The look on Heather's face was one of total confusion and fear, she looked over at me and I could see tears brimming in her eyes, "Silv, tissue." Silvanus passed Heather a tissue and placed her arm around Heather's shoulder. I thought it best not to discuss the day's events further with Heather as it was obvious that the last few days and unfolding events were finally taking quite their toll on her, I even suggested that she sat in the back of the car with me as we headed on the final leg of our journey back to Stevenson Towers, an offer she accepted. As we reached the turn in to Stevenson Towers I noticed coming the other way from the village towards the entrance was Aliza's Range rover I smiled as I knew that Terri would be on board. Once parked up I got out of the car followed by Heather and from the range rover Terri, who ran towards me and launched herself at me. Catching her, I twirled her around myself a couple of times before holding her up and getting a nice long hug. "Do you think that Deflective Heather would like a hug too mummy? She looks like she needs one." "Why don't you ask her?" I placed Terri back on the gravel and she crunched over in her wellies to where Heather was waiting by the front door, then stood with her hands behind her back looking up at her. Heather crouched down to see what Terri wanted but instead of asking she grabbed her and hugged, Heather did not resist. "I really like your car Joy it's nearly as much fun as mine to drive, I'll just take it round the back." Said Silvanus, when I turned back around once more Terri and Heather were holding hands and Terri was leading her into our home. Aliza then joined me with Andi, "Rough day?" She asked, "For the Detective yes." "I received Terry's report just before, read it whilst I was waiting for school to let out I think we may have inadvertently stumbled on an organ trafficking cell." "Organ trafficking?" "Yes that kind of thing was once thought of to be mostly fictional, but more recently there have been many cases of people illegally donating body parts in return for money, especially on poorer countries." I sighed, "The team think that one of the areas within the tunnel was being used as a makeshift hospital Joy and have uncovered a lot of medical waste, it's being analysed as we speak." "Eew." "Hopefully we'll have more info when Hillary gets the full report." Aliza left me to head back to her home with Andi by her side. I entered our home and wondered what had become of Terri and Heather. It didn't take me long to find them however as Terri's excited laugh took me to the library where I found them both sitting on the rug happily playing snap together. I watched in the doorway, Heather's mood lifting as she played the card game with Terri and after a moment or two felt two soft hands encircle me and gently hold my tummy, I then felt Alice's warm breath as she started to nibble at my earlobe. I turned back into the hallway, out of view of Terri and Heather, and kissed Alice passionately. Sometime later as I was sitting with a large glass of ice cold milk watching Alice doing paperwork on the large dining room table, Toni entered, she was wearing a lilac tee shirt that did little to hide her breasts, shorts and black patterned tights and looked a little flustered. "Have you seen The Twins?" she asked. "They're still at school Toni is there anything I can help you with?" I offered "Oh it's the outfits we're making for them and Leah for their prom, the twins have agreed on the designs for their dresses but I was wondering about their undergarments, will they be wearing modern undergarments or should Sarah and I be sourcing period correct underwear and nylons." "I suppose it depends on how seriously they are taking the whole event Toni." "Oh Joy they are taking it very seriously they've even been looking at makeup and hair tutorials on the internet to try and get their look just right." "Hmm, in that case I'll give Maud a ring and see if she has any ideas for suppliers." "Thank you Joy, um will you and Alice be attending?" "The Prom?" "No the afternoon before the prom it's going to be a themed afternoon, Parents and guests are being encouraged to get into the spirit and come dressed up too." I turned to Alice and could instantly tell from her look that we would be going to the event too. "Yes Toni I think we'll be going; will you and Sarah be attending?" She nodded her head with a smile. "Oh yes, it seems such a long time since we've dressed we're really looking forward to is as is Chris and Trish, would you like us to make you your costumes too?" I looked into Toni's hopeful almost pleading eyes. "I think that we would both love that Toni?" "Oh thank you Mrs St, I mean Joy." she then for no apparent reason embraced me and left the room. I just smiled at the door where she had just left, I really did like the mess of conflicting emotions that was Toni. Of all the people we've helped over the last few years Toni's recovery has been one of the slowest. Ironically she is also the one with the sunniest outlook on life, I involuntarily felt myself swallowing and started to feel myself begin to tear up just as Alice arrived by my side and took one of my hands in hers. "Of all the people we've helped Joy, I think Toni is my favourite, do you know if she's decided on surgery yet?" "We talked a little about it a while ago, she's not decided yet but there's real no hurry, she'll let us know when she's ready." Chapter 17 A Chance Find For the next few days Detective Heather stayed at Stevenson towers sifting through the masses of data collected at the old tunnel and making use of the vast facilities offered by Joy and Hillary. It became obvious quite early on that the tunnel had been being used as a quite sophisticated medical facility and from the containers of biological waste recovered it was looking increasingly likely that some form of illegal organ trading had been taking place this was confirmed by one of Joy's operatives, a man called Taff who had been digging around on the dark web and had found a site where the potential tissue matches and DNA information of potential donors was posted along with a price list for organ's required, Taff had also uncovered several videos of auctions where the potential donors were shown, they all appeared to be under the influence of drugs and were usually being supported to help them stand. From the prices being charged on the dark web this was obviously a very lucrative market and the detective now understood why her life was in very real danger. The Twins and Leah, along with several other students from school, were now. with the guidance of the event management company employed by Matt. forging ahead with preparations for the rapidly approaching Halloween prom and had even enlisted the help of Matt on occasions for advice which he was very happy to give, Toni and Sarah, with the assistance of a very old and very knowledgeable woman called Maud were now working full time on gowns and other items of period clothing for the event and as Sarah was spending less time in the Stevenson's garage and more time with Toni they also brought their baby with them more often to the Stevenson home a result of which was that Joy became quite broody. The first break in the case however happened in the most unusual of places however when a young woman of Indian descent who'd gone missing nearly a year ago whilst on an evening out with friends in York was accidentally found alive in the Netherlands during a police raid on a suspected illegally operated private brothel. The young woman was found in a small room at the rear of the brothel in a very poor state of health and after thorough medical checks was found to be missing her right kidney, womb and ovaries, her liver was also compromised as a large portion of it had been removed at some point. It took doctors several days of painful withdrawal from heroin and an intensive course of antibiotics before the young woman was well enough to talk to the local police, unfortunately she was still far too traumatised by her ordeal and months of being prostituted out to make any real sense. When Khushi's father visited her in hospital he didn't actually believe that the woman now lying in the hospital bed could ever have been the beautiful smiling innocent daughter he'd kissed goodbye on her first day living in halls but he somehow sensed that it was her and broke down by her bedside. After a while at his sleeping daughters bedside he was approached by a tall well-dressed Englishman who introduced himself as Hillary and offered to have his daughter repatriated at the British government's expense. "I cannot show Khushi to my wife like this Sir it would kill her it may be better that she stays here until she recovers." "My offer is not only to have your daughter repatriated sir it is also to have her many medical conditions both physical and mental addressed and for her rehabilitation." "Why would you do this for me Sir?" asked Khushi's father, the tall man called Hillary turned to Khushi's father. "We need to find the men that did this to your daughter sir and punish them but in order to do that we will need to find out what your daughter knows about these people." "Look at her, she will be of no help to you at all she's completely traumatised by her ordeal, it would take years of psychiatric care to return her to anything like normal." "The medical facility I have in mind is used by the military and is a state of the art complex I we already have a top eye specialist on standby to hopefully restore your daughters vision." "And what of her fertility how can she marry and bear us grandchildren now?." "If we can locate the people who committed those atrocities on your daughter there may still be a slim chance of repatriating what was taken sir." "You say that you want to punish the people that did this to Khushi, would that be through the courts?" "No sir it would not, what I have in mind is beyond the court system." "You seem to me to be an honourable man sir I therefore give you my consent." Khushi was wheeled onto a military transport plane two hours later being attended to by a nurse called Peggy and a surgeon called Harry. It took two further days of recovery before Khushi met with another doctor called Bob and a young woman with a soft soothing voice who held her hand the entire time, she was called Chris. Matt Stevenson as the Halloween prom grew nearer started to take an increasing interest in the weather he was obviously up to something but no one could get out of him what it could be much to the irritation of the twins. Chapter 18 Dress Rehearsal. Joy. The twins are getting quite nervous now about their first prom and at Alice's suggestion we're having a sort of dress rehearsal for the evening event tonight, Even Dot and Dawn her assistant are getting into the spirit and have prepared a suitable meal for us to eat, I'm hoping it's not entirely authentic though. Alice and I are currently sitting in our robes doing each other's hair, with a couple of hairpins in her mouth she carefully removes the rollers from my hair and gently brushes it out before taking hair from one side of my head just behind my ear and moved it over to the other ear pinning it in place Alice then combs my hair at the front out giving it even more body before applying a little lacquer to hold it in place I watched smiling as she watched the video on her laptop and followed the instructions of the young woman almost to the letter. Soon I had a very simple but most effective wartime hairdo and with the addition of a silk flower my hair was completed, I then moved on and duplicated what Alice had just done to me until we soon were sporting nearly identical hairstyles. "I must say that Sarah and Toni have completely outdone themselves this time Alice, they even managed to source parachute silk to make our camiknickers and bra's" "Yes and have you seen the stockings yet?" "No why." "They are seamed and have a re-enforced heel they're a modern copy of original 1940's rayon stockings." I looked over to where Alice had draped a pair over the sofa." "Is that skin tone or Taupe?" "Taupe, I think they are going to look delicious on us don't you?" I nodded so that she could see me in the mirror. Makeup was next which took a while to get just right and we both enjoyed applying immensely followed by a modern suspender belt to support our stockings and then our delicious underwear and T bar heeled shoes and finally we both slipped into the cool fabric of our shirtwaist dresses mine being of a red polka dot cottony material and Alice's being of a blue polka dot material, after doing up the buttons on the front of the blouse section of the dress and adding the supplied wide belt I smiled at myself as I swished and posed in front of our mirror. "Toni and Sarah have completely outdone themselves Alice, I would wear this outfit around the house any day it's just sooo comfortable." I turned to see Alice straightening the seam of one of her stockings. "I am not going to disagree with you Joy, I wonder how the twins are getting on with their new clothing as they're trying out their prom gowns this evening." I couldn't help but smile mischievously as I said. "They've both been supplied with vintage girdles to help with their curves I heard Lucy complaining to Susan about hers as I came up for my shower." Alice and I slipped on the short lace trimmed gloves that had been supplied and after stopping to add a pair of bakelite clip on flower earrings we headed off to see if the twins were ready yet. As we approached the twin's rooms I heard Terri giggling and as we entered the twin's room found her sitting on a chair swinging her legs happily whilst Susan plaited her hair, Terri was wearing a dress very similar to ours with little white socks and black sandals, Susan however looked every inch a sophisticated woman of the period with her hair combed back and held in place with many pins and clips, her beautiful figure hugging gown coming off her shoulders showing a significant amount of cleavage, "There you go Terri all prettified." She said as she stood up in her heels showing off her own sheer nylons as the side slit on her gown moved to expose a little thigh. "Mummy's oh you both look wonderful," She then with a glint in her eye said, "Come through you just have to see the twins." Terry took Alice's hand and Susan mine and they both guided us through the twins rooms to their dressing room where they were both sitting quietly whilst their grandmother Iona added what looked like finishing touches from her own jewellery collection. I felt Alice's hand slip into mine as I let out a little gasp on viewing the twins as if for the first time as beautiful and sophisticated young women. Lucy noticed us first then Dawn and they both rose in a most ladylike fashion and stood in their heels and gowns before us. "Oh Lucy, Dawn, you both look absolutely beautiful." I stated hardly believing that the two tomboy's that had earlier been swinging on a rope from a tree by the lake were now somewhere under all of that lace, silk and makeup. Dawn smiled and asked, "Do you really think so mummy?" Both Alice and I just nodded as Lucy added, "I don't really like the underwear mummies but look it makes us all curvy." As she traced her hands daintily down her sides and over her hips. "Come on girls gloves, handbags." Stated Iona to the twins as Terri tugged on my free hand. "Is Lucy and Dawn ladies now Mummy?" she asked with concern in her voice. I crouched a little and placed my gloved fingers under her silky smooth chin, "For tonight yes Terri but I'm sure that by tomorrow they'll be back to normal." Terri started to look relieved. "Ooh good cos I want to go out in my bike," Terri then paused, smiled and pointed at my painted lips, I knew exactly what she wanted so I puckered my own lips a little and gave her a peck on her lips transferring a little of my deep red lipstick onto her lips cleaning the excess off hers with a tissue. "Am I a lady now too mummy?" "Oh Terri you are far too pretty to be a lady." Terri then hugged me tightly. "I love you mummy." then after a second or two went over to Alice and hugged her, "And I love you just as much." Chapter 19 A Curious Evening Heather. I never wear stockings, I hardly ever even wear tights as it's just too much of a faff but this evening, I find myself dressing for dinner in period costume, the period being somewhere during the Second World War. Normally I wouldn't even entertain such nonsense but the Stevenson's have somehow gotten under my skin and even now as I apply my makeup I find myself smiling, there have recently been at least two attempts on my life and a bomb had been placed in my car and I'm sitting in front of a vanity mirror dressed in vintage underwear smiling like a simpleton and I just don't care as work for the day has finished and it is now time for me to let my hair down. This afternoon I noticed a man on the lawns who I recognised as the soldier who had met us near to the exit of the culvert back in Newcastle, he was standing with a young woman and they were taking turns with a radio controlled aeroplane of some sort, when I approached the pair the young woman greeted me first. she was called Trish and was a little standoffish at first I got the impression that she may have at some point have had a bad experience with the police but after a while she became a lot more friendly, the man was called Dix or Dixie, he didn't say what his first name was but was at least civil with me. I glance over at the clock on the wall and reach for my shoes then slip my foot into the first one being careful not to ladder my stockings as I fasten each of the four tiny buckles on the cross straps. Once finished I leave my room and head along the corridor to the first floor landing where I hear several voices downstairs, the only thing that spoils my look being the cast protecting my wrist from further damage, fortunately it will hopefully be coming off tomorrow. I carefully descend the staircase and am met at the bottom by Alice Stevenson who has a very wide smile on her face. "Oh Heather you look just wonderful Daddy is in the living room serving drinks if you'd like a fruit juice or something stronger." I thanked Alice and headed off to the left of the library and into the area the Stevenson's call the living area, an area filled with comfy chairs and a large assortment of games of both the board and computer variety. I'm met at the door by Matt Stevenson who is dressed in a very stylish (for the 1940's) pin striped suit. "We usually just serve fruit juice Detective but we also have wine and a few cans for Terry if you would prefer one of those." I assured Mr Stevenson that fruit juice would be absolutely fine and took a glass of what I assumed to be red grape juice over to one of the comfortable sofa's and sat down. As I sat two women that I hadn't previously seen before entered, they looked to be about the same age and had very similar features unfortunately one of the young women very slightly dragged one of her feet presumably because of a stroke or possibly mild cerebral palsy I thought to myself. The two young women took drinks from Mr Stevenson and I watched as he pointed me out to the girls, they then headed towards me. "Hello there, Matt suggested that you may like a little company my name is Julie." "And mine is Izzie." Said the slightly disabled girl brightly. "I'm Heather, pleased to meet you both." I quickly found out that Izzie was recovering from a brain tumour and that her condition was improving every day. Izzie and Julie were also very open and honest and I got the impression that they had also been helped by the Stevenson family in some way quite recently. Soon we were called through into the dining room and were guided to our places at the table by a member of the Stevenson household staff. When Joy and Alice appeared with their daughter Terri it was quite obvious that a lot of attention had been paid to their evening wear and they both looked almost perfect in their simple period dresses. It wasn't until the twins appeared nervously standing in the wide doorway that I realised that this evening was for them as they looked just perfect, every single detail from their hair down to their heels were absolutely perfect Mr Stevenson and Dix stood up and pulled out their seats for them as they approached the table and they both sat demurely looking slightly embarrassed at the attention they were so rightly receiving. When Susan Stevenson entered the room a man who I recognised as the one who'd interviewed me held her chair for her also. Our meal was simple, but also magnificent. The Stevenson's cook and her assistant had really outdone themselves bearing in mind that they could only use limited ingredients. Conversation around the table was a little stunted at first, but soon everyone was talking to the people beside them and occasionally to others across the table, even the twins shy nervousness subsided as they talked to the woman I'd met earlier, Trish and her wife Chris. After our meal whilst in conversation with Sarah and Toni I found out that they had made Joy and Alice's dresses for the evening and that the twins evening gowns were not replica gowns but were actually real vintage gowns from the late thirties that they'd altered to fit the twins. Sarah worked as an apprentice car mechanic for the Stevenson's and I assumed that Toni was a seamstress. Toni and Sara left me after a while to pick up their child from the nursery and I was left for a moment or two standing by myself only to be joined by Susan, the Stevenson's eldest daughter. "This has been a wonderful evening Susan I must thank your mum's." "Oh they are taking Terri to bed at the moment, she's tired herself out." "Ah." Susan looked around the room and smiled, "It's hard to believe, looking at some of the people in here, that their lives could so nearly have ended in tragedy." "But they all look so happy Susan." "They do, don't they, see over there Trish. She's my best friend, she literally dragged herself out of the gutter and now look at her." "Out of the gutter?" "Yes at one point she was as low as a person can get but she turned her life around and fought back, she found love and lost it, but never gave up hope and fought to get back the one she loved even though it put her own life in danger." I looked over at Trish who was smiling whilst looking into her wife's eyes. "We helped her, when I say we I mean my mummies helped her and earlier this year she actually saved my life nearly losing hers in doing so." "She sounds like a special person." "She is Heather, as are most of our guest's this evening; some of which my mummies have helped and some which help my mummies." "So does the government give your mummy her jobs to help people Susan." "Sometimes, but mostly they just seem to find her." "Like what happened to me then?" "Yes, something like that." Chapter 20 The Investigation Continues Whilst the Stevenson family and friends enjoyed their evening in North Yorkshire, down south in a little village just to the west of Norwich a bearded man almost the same age as Joy Stevenson but looking much older exited his van locked it and carrying his lunch box and newspaper walked across the road to his home, placing the key into the lock on the door he opened it and entered and after closing the door he pressed play on the ancient answering machine sitting on a small occasional table in his narrow hallway, "Hello, Timbles here just to let you know that we've managed to locate the gas valve you require, I've put it to one side for you give us a ring when you're likely to pick it up." Walking into his kitchen he dumps his lunch box by the drainer on the sink unit after tipping used wrappings, crisp wrappers and empty yoghurt carton into the bin, "Hello, it's Mrs Smart here, that thermostat thingy you fitted a few years ago has a little battery on it now and it's flashing." Dropping his jacket on the seat of the kitchen table he moves over to the kettle and picks it up then takes it over to the cold tap to fill it. "Hello, Johnson here. That boiler you just fitted doesn't seem to have a pilot light, damnedest thing though blighter is still working, appreciate a call old chap." kettle filled he sighs at the previous message, "Hello It's Martha Tillington-Paglehurst here from the old rectory in Toddley Smedlington, my boiler is saying that I need to reset it, I checked the code in the book and it says I've had a power cut and I should press the reset button, the thing is I don't remember us having a power cut although I was in town all afternoon, I was wondering what I should do." "You could've tried pressing the bloody reset button!" He said out of frustration as he'd already attended to all of these faults during his day at work. "Hello Mr Fitzpatrick, I tried your mobile but got no answer It's Mary from the university, we spoke yesterday on the phone about your daughter Naimh, I've been talking to her friends and it seems that no one has seen her since Tuesday evening, I believe that you have already called the Police to report her disappearance, just to let you know that they visited her halls today." He sighed placed the kettle onto the worktop and picked up his mobile phone logged onto his favourite booking site and booked a train ticket the next day to Newcastle Upon Tyne and after booking his accommodation online too he went over to one of the wall mounted cupboards and took out a bottle of cheap whiskey and a tumbler, he then sat at the table poured himself a generous measure then whilst looking at an old school photograph of his daughter sipped at the whisky, he felt absolutely helpless, "Where are you Naimh?" he said to the picture as tears started to drip onto the glass of the picture frame on the table. The mobile by the side of the picture pinged and he opened the email. 'Mr Brian Fitzpatrick ' and then the words Booking Confirmation appeared. Next morning back up in North Yorkshire Alice noticed as she was getting dressed that Joy after her morning exercise and shower seemed a little preoccupied, she moved over to Joy and rubbed her bare back gently, "You okay?" She asked cautiously "I'm honestly not sure Alice." "Want to share?" "It's probably nothing it's just when I was jogging down by the lake earlier I remembered that dream I'd had the other evening." "Oh yes I remember the one, something about a photograph." "Yes that's the one." "Hmm that is curious, maybe someone is trying to tell you something?" "Might be Alice, I'll probably talk it through with Bob later though just in case." "Yes he should be able to put your mind at rest, are you off anywhere nice today?" "Terry and I were thinking of taking the Detective to meet with Dr Barmston later." "Oh the pathologist that was stabbed, I think I'll nip into work for an hour or two, stock up on jelly babies and come back here for lunch." "Take Silvanus with you." "She'll want to drive Joy, I'm not sure my nerves are up to that." Joy laughed out loud at her wife's comment and kissed her on the lips. Joy, Terry and Heather arrived to the North of Newcastle at around eleven and after a little confusion were allowed to see Dr Trevor Barmston who was resting in one of the day rooms of a ministry funded convalescent home reading a newspaper. Joy and Terry waited whilst The Doctor and the Detective became reacquainted, before joining them over a cup of tea, "It's ridiculous here Heather, they seem to treat me as some kind of invalid, I don't even think they believe I'm a real doctor." "Well Doctor you are an invalid at the moment and until your injury heals fully I don't think you'll be playing any rugby." The Doctor then asked Heather. "You wouldn't happen to have a laptop on you would you, one I can VPN into work on, the rubbish they have here hardly runs the browser." "I do Doctor." Joy offered as she pulled a small notebook computer from her satchel. "Oh brilliant, pass it here." Joy passed the computer over to the doctor and he placed it on the surface in front of him. "This isn't your average laptop is it? Razor, don't think I've heard of them before." After several mouse clicks and a little typing the doctor finally said. "Ah here we... Bugger, all my files have gone, now that is downright nasty," he turned to the Detective "But as we all know, you should back up your files, fortunately I sent them encrypted up into a cloud of some sort so let us have a little look here, Oh the crafty bastards those files have been removed too, hmm." Dr Barmston then started to type once more and logged on to his rugby club's website. "I'll just log on as administrator and then go into the directory marked Harlequins, then open the folder marked winners and Viola all of my backed up files." Joy asked seemingly no one "you getting these Taff?" she seemed satisfied with the answer. "Okay ladies I'd found something very curious in the blood of our victim before her body was spirited away." "I'm all ears Doctor." said the detective, "Do you remember when I first examined the skin on the young ladies body was inflamed and her tongue was swollen?" "Yes you said that you thought that she may have died from a severe allergic reaction." "Yes well done detective. you remembered well/ I did manage to get a sample of the unfortunate young ladies blood and sent it away for analysis the results make interesting reading." "We think that she was called Melissa Kilne Doctor." "Ah good a name. Anyway her immunoglobulin levels were significantly raised indicating that she was indeed having an allergic response to something. but what?" The doctor paused and seemed to look down a list of test results. "Anyway after a bit of digging I found these two compounds at very low levels in her blood these are both compounds that are normally never found in the human body and as far as I am aware there is only one company in the UK that is currently investigating their properties in combination with other drugs as a possible treatment for pancreatic cancer." "And that company is Doctor?" Asked the Detective "Stevenson Biotec down in Smoggy land." Joy immediately got onto her phone and within seconds was saying. "Hello this is Joy Stevenson I need to talk to Ruby in research immediately." Twenty minutes later as Joy, Terry and Heather Fieldhouse headed back down towards Teesside the atmosphere in the car was very tense and no one was speaking. Joy had recently spoken with her friend Ruby who had assured her that although they were working with the compounds found in the young woman's blood, they were also years away from starting human trials of any potential drug. Joy was travelling down to check the site out nevertheless Joy had just finished using the change machine at the Northern end of the Tyne tunnel when her mobile phone started to ring. "Hillary I wasn't expecting to hear from you today." "I'm sorry Joy but I fear that you may be on somewhat of a wild goose chase. Stevenson Biotec is not the only company currently using those compounds, there is another and they are very close to your current location," "Close Hillary, how close?" "Just across the Tyngggg ghnmd nnd." Terry helpfully said. "Probably lost the signal as we're now in the tunnel Joy." Joy had already figured that out but thanked him, nevertheless. "It's bonkers isn't it I can still get radio 4 but can't get a phone signal." "That's technology for you." Almost the instant the car came out of the tunnel Joy's phone started to ring once more, "As I was saying before being rudely cut off there is another company just up the road from your present location that has a license from the MOD to experiment using the aforementioned compounds, may be more fruitful for you to pay them a visit first. "Olfa Swan okay Hillary?" "Yes I've contacted site already and they are expecting you, contact name Tarryn Slatecroft. Sending you the address now." "Thanks Hillary, on our way." "Oh before you go." "Yes?" "I was thinking of popping up this weekend, possibly joining in with the festivities at the twin's school." Joy smiled broadly "Hillary you are more than welcome you know that." "I was also thinking I could pick up a certain young man on the way, it would probably save you money on Susan's phone bill too." "Oh Hillary that would be a lovely surprise for Susan, thank you." "Love to Alice and Terri." "I'll tell them. Bye Hillary." Joy indicated and pulled into a layby took out her tablet and started to scan through pages of notes and text, "Whelpington Pharmaceuticals. I've heard that name recently." Joy looked at her Tablet "Yes the car your potential attacker used was stolen from there in September, I'm thinking that this may not have been a coincidence." The detective said. "I agree with you Joy, that is definitely not a coincidence would you like me to call for backup?" "No Heather I think that we'll manage, we don't want to spook anyone just yet do we?" Terry went to the rear of the car and removed a shirt and Jacket from the boot along with a pair of dark trousers he then got back into the passenger seat and slid the seat back as far as it would go and proceeded to change out of his jeans. Once changed he opened the glove compartment and passed Joy several documents including impressive looking ID badges. "It's obvious to me that you two have done this kind of thing before, I was wondering how I should behave?" Asked the detective "Exactly as you would during any other investigation Heather, we'll get you in and be your backup should anything unfortunate happen, but the investigation is yours." said Joy as she pinned her own hair back into quite a severe bun. Ten minutes later the old SAAB pulled into the industrial estate and after looking at the company board at the entrance to the estate headed towards the rear of the estate where eventually they came across a two storey red brick facade with a large and very out of keeping with the style of the building sign announcing that this was the corporate headquarters of Whelpington Pharmaceuticals. Parking in the car park they walked over to the main entrance of the building and after waiting for four and a half minutes for their ID's to be verified, were finally led into the main reception foyer where the receptionist after apologising for the delay offered the three hot beverages. The reception area was very modern and not at all in keeping with the 1950's exterior of the building. It took several more minutes before a man in a suit appeared alongside another man with close cropped hair. "Good afternoon I am so sorry to have kept you, I hope Glynis has furnished you with refreshments and biscuits," Without even waiting for an answer he continued "My name is Tarryn Slatecroft pronounced like Darren and I manage this site, I have to apologise but we have been taken quite by surprise by your visit." My name is Detective Inspector Fieldhouse and these are two ministry inspectors, there is nothing to worry about as we are just doing a routine inspection Mr Slatecroft." "Oh okay, I'm sure that everything is in order here Detective." Joy was not particularly interested at that moment by Tarryn as she'd noticed that when the detective had announced her name Tarryn's associates eyes had involuntarily darted to her position before quickly returning to looking straight ahead. "And your friend?" Asked the detective. "Oh him, Mr Murton he's one of our security staff he's here for my personal protection." "Really Mr Slatecroft?" "Oh yes company policy I'm afraid." "Even in the safety of your own building? Now that is quite unusual." "May we enter Mr Slatecroft, we have travelled quite a distance today and would like to get started." Stated Joy with pompous irritation. "Oh certainly yes, what would you like to see?" Joy passed over a thin folder "Any information you have on these particular compounds, results of animal testing and any drug trials carried out by yourselves or third parties involving either or both of those compounds." Tarryn looked at the folder, "Yes I believe that we have been granted a licence but as I'm purely administration we'll have to go and see our chief researcher, he should be able to furnish you with the information you need," He turned and said "if you would care to follow me." As Joy Heather and Terry walked towards the rear of the reception area, Terry walked alongside Mr Murton and asked, "Ex-military?" "Para's" he replied proudly "Oh really where did you serve?" "Territorial Para's." "Oh the hobby Para's, I see." Terry replied sarcastically On entering the rear of the reception area they appeared to instantly step back five or six decades. "Whoa not so flashy back here is it." Stated Terry, "Oh our updating is progressing in stages Mr?" "Donaldson Terrance Donaldson." "Okay in order to get to the Research area we'll need to traverse the production floor so if you wouldn't mind putting on this protective clothing overshoes and dust masks." Stated Tarryn as he took a white dust coat and slipped it on over his jacket. Once suitably attired Tarryn led everyone through the semi-automated factory, giving a history of the company as he went, "Whelpington's has been on this site since 1994. Initially we manufactured pharmaceuticals for the veterinary industry but since 2000 have been producing generics for the NHS and other organisations. Five years ago we started investing in our research department headed by Dr Randolph Chamberman." "And what are you currently working on?" "Mostly new targeted cancer therapies, we're doing a lot of research also for the military on the possible negative effects of multiple vaccinations on the human immune system." "I see." Said Joy. Once they had entered the research area they met a dismissive man who did not seem at all pleased that he had visitors and actually told Tarryn to "Bugger off and take your cronies with you, I'm far too busy for this crap." But when Tarryn explained that they'd been sent by the government his arrogance moderated to mildly suppressed irritation. Joy and Terry were given access to the relevant research documents whilst Detective Heather asked several seemingly unrelated questions including if the research department was doing animal or human trials. Joy watched with interest Murton the Security man as he observed the teams interactions with Dr Chamberman. It became obvious quite early on to Joy and Terry that they weren't really needed as Detective Fieldhouse was doing an excellent job of making the staff in the lab area feel ill at ease. About twenty minutes into their visit Joy heard through her hidden earpiece. "Its Taff Ma'am. I've taken control of the trading estate camera's and thought you'd like to know that someone has just placed a device under the front driver side wheel arch your car, too small to be an explosive charge so checked for tracker activity, you have an L10 Tracker device. Say unexpected to acknowledge." Joy smiled inwardly knowing that wherever Taff was today he still had her back, "Hmm unexpected." She said to herself "Aliza is on standby she'll remove the device and take it for a ride once you've left the estate Ma'am" It took just over an hour before the trio were escorted back through the ageing production facility and back into the reception area and a further ten minutes before they had all entered the old SAAB. Joy knew as they pulled out the estate that Aliza now had the tracking device on board her car and would probably soon be attaching it to another vehicle very soon to confuse whoever had placed it on her vehicle. "Of course I will still need to speak with your representative at Stevenson Biotec too Mrs Stevenson, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't." Joy nodded in acknowledgement, "Of course detective I'll get out at Stevenson Controls and pop into work for a couple of hours, Terry, can take you to take the detective to see Ruby, Alice can give me a lift home." Chapter 21 Sewing Bee Joy enjoyed her afternoon and spent most of it alternating between Alice in her office where she curled up on the sofa with her laptop whilst sneaking peeks at Alice as she worked and her Research department where Martin updated her on their latest project and she ate the occasional jelly baby. After work however Joy changed out of her skirt and blouse and into exercise clothing and went for a run around the lake. Joy. Today has been frustrating for me as nothing really happened and I seem to have achieved even less, I hope that Heather has at least ruled Ruby out of her enquiries. I decided as I slowed down after my run to call in on Toni and Sarah to see how they are getting on with the rest of the costumes for the school Halloween event so as I crossed the new bridge over the recently restored stream I turned and headed towards the garage, stopping at the first of the outbuildings where inside I watched Trish, Susan and Dix working on a new model with Chris curled up near to one of the radiators reading a book, Trish was smiling and holding a long piece of balsa wood as she talked animatedly to Dix, she looked happy and for a moment or two I thought of the young man from a few nights earlier, Kelvin, and wondered if he was sticking to his promise. Just past the next section of the outbuilding where we stored our bikes I looked in on Sarah and Toni who were both sitting at sewing machines opposite each other. Toni was sitting with Julie and seemed to be instructing her on how to use the machine. I stood silently just inside the warm room as firstly one then the other sewing machine started their 'rat a tat' noises Toni guided Julies hands as the fabric flowed past the rapidly moving needle of the sewing machine and encouraged her as she did, "That's it Julie you're doing it, keep the tension on the fabric and move it slowly past the needle." Encouraged Toni as the beaming Julie appeared not to believe that she was actually using a sewing machine. Toni is almost never seen without a smile on her face, she's always polite and always helpful, I believe she is one of life's givers always wanting to please, a truly lovely person in every sense of the word, which makes what happened to her even worse and for a second I started to feel unnecessary guilt for not helping her and Sarah sooner. I of course knew that I couldn't have intervened any sooner but I still felt guilt. Toni has not yet decided what gender she wants to be and is dressing as a female at the moment, Toni can of course never fully become a male again as her captor's had her castrated and her urethra relocated, her captors also gave her female hormones and drugs that affected her brain chemistry, she and Sarah however seem to have a wonderful trusting relationship and now have a young son that they both dote upon and I know that both Sarah and I will respect and support any decision she makes over her future. "Oh hello there Joy, fancy a sewing lesson?" Asked Sarah as she notices me. "I don't think I'd be any good Sarah but I love watching you so I'll just observe if you don't mind?" "Not at all." Sarah smiled at me and brushed her long wavy hair behind her ear as she took two pinned together segments of fabric and slid them beneath the presser foot of her sewing machine. "I thought I'd do another nice little dress for Terri from some of the fabric we had left over from your costume Joy I found a wonderful old pattern in the local archives and had it copied." I looked at the pattern from the 1940's and could feel myself breaking into a huge smile, "Oh Sarah, I just know she'll love that, you do realise she'll want to wear it all the time don't you." "Thought she might." Said Sarah wryly as she expertly guided the fabric around a gentle curve. Sarah then looked over at Toni who was now at the back of the room by the cutting table with Julie and smiled, "She is absolutely beautiful is she not?" I nodded "I wasn't sure at first if I could continue our relationship after what those bastards the Fischers did to her, but I was wrong Joy, oh so wrong." I nodded and smiled weakly as Sarah took another two pieces of pinned fabric and started on them. "She's the perfect partner and mother and shares feeding duties without complaint." "I'm sensing a 'but' Sarah." Sarah turned and I could see she was hesitant to share with me. "Fancy a cup of tea?" I asked, she nodded, I shouted out over the hum of the overhead heater fan, "Sarah and I are going for refreshments would you like us to bring some back with us?" "Just milk for me please." Asked Toni "Tea please and some of Mrs Burton's cookies if there are any left." Asked Julie, Sarah slipped into a pair of flats and into a fleece; I took her hand and we headed towards the house together. I tried Matt's office initially but he was deep in negotiations with someone I then tried the library but Heather was there busying herself on her laptop I then tried our living area only to find the Twins and Terri playing a board game with Andi so after going to see Dot I took Sarah down into the basement to my workshop, "You know Sarah at this rate we're going to need a bigger house," pulling up a couple of chairs I sat opposite Sarah, "You were saying Sarah?" "Oh Joy after all you've gone through this year I really don't want to burden you with my problems." I smiled. "Too late now fess up what's eating you?" "It's, it's just I feel that I'm getting more from our relationship than her Joy," Sarah hesitated once more, "I absolutely adore Toni and she pleasures me almost every single night Joy even to the extent of sometimes wearing a strap on to penetrate me but when I offer to reciprocate she shies away." "She's had a lot to come to terms with Sarah." "I know that Joy but I want to make her feel as wonderful as she makes me feel I really don't care that her bits have been irreparably altered." I took Sarah's hands. "I think that she does though, that's the problem, I talked with her a while back as we walked around the lake. Toni is agonising over whether to have surgery or not I did ask her to speak with you about it though." "I didn't realise Joy, I've been so busy at the garage recently, probably too busy to listen to Toni." "Well I want you to take time away from the garage now Sarah and spend more time with Toni, she really needs your understanding and support at the moment to help her decide what to do next." "I will Joy I promise." Sara and I talked for five or six minutes more before we left to take tea, milk and snacks back to Julie and Toni; but not before I promised to talk to Toni again in the near future. Still dressed in my exercise gear I re-entered our house sometime later only to be accosted by the twins. "Mummy do you know what grandpa is up to?" "What do you mean Lucy?" "Well when we asked him if we could use one of his old cars to take us to the prom day he just laughed and said it was all in hand, what does that even mean Mummy?" Asked Dawn, I actually had no idea myself but I knew he was planning something special for them I assumed probably a second world war vehicle of some sort, or a jeep maybe. "I'm sorry girls, I have absolutely no idea what Grandpa is planning; but whatever it is I'll bet it's really special, anyway how are your preparations going?" "We've been practising dancing in heels Mummy. At school at lunchtimes in the drama room and at home too, sometimes Lucy leads and sometimes I do. Terri thinks it's really funny and imitates us sometimes." "I look forward to seeing you dance at the prom girls." Lucy and Dawn looked a little shocked at what I'd just said. "Mummy you're not going to be there for the night-time are you?" "Yes but I promise I won't cramp your style, I'm just there to watch over Susan as she's volunteered to be a chaperone for the evening." "Is that because that Policemen is still bothering her mummy?" "Yes Lucy, he even turned up the other day and scared Terri, a little but Toby saw him off." "What should we do if we see him mummy?" "Call for help or find one of us to deal with him, he's not a very nice man, he could hurt you." "I'd like to see him try I'd kick him in the nuts." "Lucy, language." "Sorry Mummy." "Anyway isn't it time for Ninja practice?" "Oh yes! Seeya later mummy." The two twins then both ran upstairs to get changed and I headed upstairs for a well-earned bath. I'd only just run the bath when Alice appeared in our room, "May I join you?" She asked with a smile as she kicked off her shoes and started to unbutton her blouse. "Of course, I was hoping you'd appear." I said as I allowed my silk gown to slip from my shoulders and fall to the ground revealing my completely naked body to her. Chapter 22 A friend in need. Joy. On Friday afternoon Heather and I had just called into her office in North Tyneside to pick up and drop off paperwork and were heading to my old home on the eastern outskirts of Newcastle to rendezvous with Terry when her police radio burst into life describing a disturbance at a local student halls of residence, normally I would have just zoned out the information but for the name Fitzpatrick which literally sent a shudder down my spine, I immediately called Alice who was trying to work back at Stevenson Towers whilst also providing backup to us. "Alice it's probably nothing but can you check for any recent activity on the name Fitzpatrick on the police computer." "Will do Joy just let me open up their system," I heard her quickly typing followed by "Oh." "Joy another young woman has recently gone missing, the file was only just uploaded this morning but she's been missing since earlier this week." "And?" I Asked cautiously "She's called Naimh, Naimh Fitzpatrick, Joy." I felt another cold shiver run down my spine, "Alice can you check on who her father is please." I heard as Alice typed quickly then she said, "Brian Gordon Fitzpatrick, oh Joy is that your friend?" Heather immediately called in on her radio and took the call as I sped along the main dual carriageway towards the universities halls of residence. "Terry has been listening in Joy he'll be there in just over a minute." When I arrived Terry was trying to intervene in a standoff between the site security staff which numbered six and a very distraught man who was lying on his front both arms up his back being firmly held by a security man to the carpeted floor of the entrance lobby. "Police, who's in charge here?" Barked Heather firmly as she showed her warrant card. "I am." Said the man who had been talking with Terry "This man came in here ten, fifteen minutes ago demanding to see his daughters room." "And did you show it to him?" "Well no, we don't know this guy from Adam and his attitude frankly stunk." "His daughter went missing earlier this week he would be understandably worried if not distraught, so I'm assuming you played the whole jobsworth routine on him and were surprised when he got upset? Release him now." I went over to the man who I have to admit I just didn't recognise as my childhood friend Brian just as his restrainer slowly released his grip with the warning. "No funny business or you'll be back on the floor mate." I offered him my hand and as I took it I smiled at him hoping to look friendly. "Please try and control yourself Sir." "All I wanted to do was go to Naimh's room but they said no, I'm sorry miss, but I got angry." Said the man who I still just couldn't recognise as my old school friend. "I'm Joy, and you?" I said trying to sound chirpy. "Brian, Brian Fitzpatrick." He shook my hand and as I looked into his eyes I saw only hurt and despair, I turned to Heather, "Would it really hurt if we went to the young woman's room and had a look around?" she turned to the security man. "Randall get the keys to 314 for the policewoman." After opting to use the stairs as both lifts were broken Heather, Terry, Brian and I entered the long dimly lit narrow tiled corridor and headed through a fire door before locating Naimh, Brian's daughter's room. "Here it is." Said heather as she took the shiny new key and opened the door using the just as shiny lock, Brian rushed in and shouted. "Naimh" several times as he searched the tiny room and it's even tinier en suite bathroom in vain. We stood and let Brian conduct his futile search until he stopped and sat on the bed with his head in his hands, "What the hell was I thinking coming up here? I'm not a detective I'm a bloody heating engineer for Christ's sake." Said Brian as he sat heavily down on the bed, I approached and sat next to him whilst Terry and Heather started their own search of the room for evidence. "Your daughter, she's called Naimh?" "Yes It's Irish, my wife was Irish." "Was?" "Yes but she buggered off with some arty farty type when Naimh was only six." "Naimh is a lovely name Mr Fitzpatrick." "She's was a lovely child miss and she's grown into a responsible caring adult too, it's just not like her to just go missing like this it's not." "Does your daughter have friends locally that she could possibly be staying with?" "I've already rung around them Miss." "Diary, does your daughter keep a diary?" I asked hopefully, Brian smiled "She did when she was a little girl she used to hide it from us so we couldn't find it by slipping it behind the hot water tank in the airing cupboard." I smiled at Brian, "Maybe she kept up the habit here Mr Fitzpatrick." "Doubt it, this block won't have a hot water tank, it's probably a pumped hot water system fed from a central calorifier taking its heat from the buildings boilers." I entered the bathroom and looked around for a small hidey hole or somewhere small enough to hide a diary, then just as I was about to give up I noticed that the paint was cracked along the seam of a bath panel just to the side of the toilet brush, I moved the brush to one side and using a metal nail file eased the tight panel out revealing a resealable plastic bag containing what looked suspiciously like a diary. "Detective in here." I said in a raised voice, Heather appeared quickly and carefully removed the package." "That's it, that's the diary I bought Naimh for Christmas last." "May I?" Asked Heather of Brian, he nodded. Heather then went over to the bed and after opening the resealable bag started to go backwards through the diary with Brian watching over her shoulder whilst I went over to Terry. "Problem?" He asked. "Well yes sort of, it's this room, unless I have the messiest daughters in the entire world this room to me seems far too tidy." "You notice the new lock too?" Asked Terry, I nodded I then had an idea and quickly left the room noticing as I entered the corridor that there were camera's at either end. I knocked on the door opposite but there was no answer so I went one along and knocked on that door this time a young woman answered. "Hello I'm sorry to bother you but we're just inspecting the student accommodation, on a scale from 1 to five how would you rate it?" "Oh three probably, it would be four but I've been trying to get a dripping tap sorted since the start of term and it's still dripping, keeping me awake at nights it is." "May I come in and look?" "Oh err well it's not too tidy at the moment but I suppose so." The young woman let me enter and I found what I expected to find clothes piled on the floor and in the bathroom underwear drying on the towel radiator with three or four pairs of tights hanging from the towel rail. "See it just drips no matter how hard I turn the tap." "I see." I said as I made a show of taking a picture using my phone. I then took several more pictures of her room. "Hopefully the tap issue will be resolved soon Miss." I said a few minutes later as I left the young woman's room. As I returned to Naimh's room three security staff entered the corridor and made their way towards me then in a quite menacing tone asked why I had been in another student's room and as I wasn't really in the mood to answer their questions I decided to ask some of my own. "Ah good, gentlemen may I ask you when the lock was changed on the door to Naimh's room, who has been tidying it and may I see the recent footage from your CCTV system please?" "I'm sorry but you will have to leave now I'm afraid as you are causing a disturbance." Said one of the security staff ignoring my questions, Terry joined me in the corridor. "Lads before you go any further we have authorisation from the university itself to conduct our enquiries." "Means nothing to us mate as we aren't employed by the university and as the university hasn't informed us of your visit you will need to leave NOW." Heather then appeared from the room with Naimh's diary now in an evidence bag, "It's okay we were just leaving gentlemen." she said as Brian exited the room behind her. "You can't take that I'm afraid." Stated the guard "It's done, it is now evidence in a missing person enquiry." One of the security guards reached over to grab the evidence bag only for Terry to swipe his hand away. "Now we have a problem." Said the apparent leader of the security men, I prepared for an altercation only to hear from behind the security men, "Do we have a problem here Fieldmouse?" Heather turned to see two men in cheap suits one of which appeared to have what looked like congealed egg on his tie. "No I can handle it Collins, we were just leaving." Heather led a bemused looking Brian past her colleagues and I gave the leader a wry smile as I passed him, "I'll be back later for the footage, don't lose it." "Anytime pet, we'll be waiting for you." "I wouldn't advise that if you want to keep your balls intact lads, in fact I would take the night off, just saying." added Terry helpfully. Chapter 23 Stand Off at the OK bakery Joy. As we left the building Brian said. "I probably should be getting back to my hotel now, Thanks for helping me." Terry nudged me, "I'll take the detective back Joy, why don't you offer Mr Fitzpatrick a lift and we'll see you back at Suzy's place." Meaning my old home. "Would you like a lift back to your hotel Mr Fitzpatrick?" I asked a little half heartedly "I would appreciate it thank you, I'm staying on Osborne road." I led Brian over to my SAAB. As we drove towards Brian's hotel I noticed us being followed pretty quickly by a black Renault staying constantly three cars back. "We appear to be being followed Mr Fitzpatrick, I'm so sorry about this." all he could think to say was, "Oh" this was followed by my mobile phone going off and after I answered Taff informed me, "Someone is trying to access the DVLA records of your car again. Ma'am." "Thanks' Taff, that may explain why I'm being followed, anyone in the area?" "Mrs Percy, she's been visiting The Major's mum Ma'am." "Can you ask her to rendezvous with us at the old bakery just off the North Road if she's free, I may need a little backup." "Will do, be careful Ma'am" within a minute I received a text 'Give me ten minutes to get there and set up then arrive' We drove in silence for a minute or two before Brian asked, "You're not actually a policewoman are you?" "No I'm not but I am here to help you and your daughter if I can." "Why are we being followed?" "I'm not really sure Mr Fitzpatrick." I lied. At the next set of traffic lights I got out of the car and went to the boot returning before the lights changed with my satchel. At the next lights I took out a lipstick and touched up my lips using the vanity mirror, "Now is probably not the best time to... Christ is that a gun?" Asked Brian as on returning my lipstick to the bag I pulled out my Glock and checked the clip. "Insurance just in case." I said as I slipped it into the door card pocket to my right. "Just who the hell are you?" "A friend," I said and 'A very old friend' I thought as I indicated right and turned towards the old abandoned bakery site that would afford us some privacy if things got nasty. Driving into the car park I positioned the SAAB in such a way that I would if necessary be able to escape quickly if required and hoped as I got out of the car that she wouldn't sustain any more damage as a result of my actions. "Stay in the car Mr Fitzpatrick." I ordered as the black Renault pulled into the car park noticing briefly a red flash on its number plate indicating that Aliza was already in position. The Renault stopped about twenty yards from our car and with its engine still running, an older man and a young man got out leaving two others in the car, judging from how they were dressed they were no more than petty criminals or council estate thugs and as such undisciplined and unpredictable. "Hello." I said sweetly "The book. give us the book." "Oh the diary, sorry haven't got it." "We saw you put it into your satchel outside the flats so don't give me any more shit pet." I smiled once more and knowing that Aliza was listening in I said. "Oh I'm so sorry about your car." I heard the air sear to my left as the supersonic projectile shot past me and embedded itself in the engine of the Renault causing it to grind to a halt venting cooling fluid and oil on the road surface as it bled out before finally dying in a huge plume of steam. "What the f...!" said the man who had just been talking followed by a long pause as the two men tried to process what had just happened, instead of being sensible and putting their hands on their heads as should have happened the two men attempted to rush me, forcing me to move to the side quickly to avoid their blows. Punching the first man in the throat I used his body to swing around and kick the second man in the thigh driving the heel of my shoe deep into his flesh then ripping it out sideways causing the thin heel to tear at the flesh, creating a long gash in his muscle and the loss of my heel. I quickly took my other heel off and using it as a weapon I returned to the older man who was still choking from the blow to his throat, I dodged his fist feeling the wake from it as he just brushed my cheek, dropping to the ground I leg swiped him in the process tearing at the side seam of my skirt affording me even greater freedom of movement and as the older man fell to the ground I grabbed his right arm and thrust the heel of my shoe up and into his armpit feeling his flesh tear as all 3" of the heel entered the tissue within. By this time the third man who until now had been sitting in the deceased Renault came towards me only to be stopped in his tracks by Brian who rugby tackled him to the ground and started firing a barrage of punches into his target. The younger of the two men I'd been fighting had now recovered enough to restart his attack on me albeit with a badly damaged leg. Noticing that Aliza was now sprinting towards us I punched my attacker in the testicles and as he dropped I kicked him in the head with my now stockinged feet sending him sprawling to the ground. Brian having now lost the element of surprise was not faring as well as he had been as his attacker had now gotten off the ground and was toying with him. The years had not been kind to Brian's fitness and although still quite well built was out of condition and breathing heavily, making a move to go and help Brian I was beaten by Aliza who attacked Brian's assailant with merciless precision and ferocity that rendered the moderately talented thug unconscious in under three seconds. I couldn't help but smile at Aliza as she said. "Ooh I needed that It'll help me stay calm this evening when hubby and I go shopping." I then turned to Brian who was staring at me as though he'd just realised something profound. Aliza set about restraining our attackers and arranging for their transport for interviewing and I went over to Brian. "Oh Mr Fitzpatrick you're bleeding." I said as I produced a tissue and started to dab at the blood that was now flowing freely from his nose and down into is thick beard. The younger of the men that had attacked me started to regain unconsciousness and groaned but as he was right next to me I simply stamped on his head with my stockinged foot smashing it onto the road surface. "Oh this is ridiculous just look at my stockings, that's twice this week." I said whilst twisting my leg to get a better view of the ladder running up the fine mesh on my right leg." "Your skirt hasn't fared much better Joy, the side slit now is almost indecent do you have any safety pins?" "I'm not sure I'll just check." I passed Brian another tissue and headed back to the car pausing to liberate my heels and give them a quick wipe with a moist wipe. Brian just stood staring at me as I went through my satchel and found a couple of safety pins in my makeup bag. Putting my foot on the top of the drivers wheel of my car I undid the suspender tabs of my right stocking before rolling the near tattered remains down my a leg then slipping my now bare foot into my heel I then repeated for the other stocking before then pulling the fabric of my ruined skirt together with the safety pins. Aliza approached me. "We can't really let him go back to his hotel now Joy, nor can he really go back to your old home could he, I could ask Terry's mum if she'll put him up if you'd like?" I shook my head, "No Aliza she's been through enough, we'll take him back with us." Aliza knew I was conflicted about this decision and offered a mildly better solution. "How about he stays with us, I'm sure that Terry would appreciate someone to play video games with." I smiled and hugged Aliza. "Thank you Aliza." "Now off you go and leave the clean up to me." I drove out of the abandoned bakery's car park just as the first of the battered looking vans of the clean-up team turned down the road coming towards us, Brian was sitting in the passenger seat and was shaking visibly as he looked forward probably unsure of what to do or say next. "We can stop for a cup of tea on the way back if you would like Mr Fitzpatrick?" "I err." "Or not, I'll just drive shall I and if you fancy a cuppa just say." Brian sat in silence for nearly twenty minutes then as we drove down the A19 passing Sunderland he finally said, "You stabbed those men with your shoes." "Yes I did, they would have hurt us otherwise." "But you used shoes you had a gun." "Shoes were the least lethal option Mr Fitzpatrick; would you like the radio on?" "Your friend she had a sniper rifle, she killed their car." I pulled over at the upcoming layby, "I think that you may be a little in shock Mr Fitzpatrick." I wanted to say, 'Stop stating the bloody obvious.' but I restrained myself as to me my actions were both obvious and appropriate but to a 'Normal' person like Brian I figured they probably were not. I placed my left hand onto the hairy back of his work hardened hands, "There's a smashing little caf? just down the road here in Pennywell. I'll get you something to drink." "Okay." He said almost on automatic, I re-joined the carriageway and left the road at the next exit then as I parked up Brian opened the door to the car leaned out and threw up onto the curb, I smiled as I remembered something else from my past that had been buried deep in my memory. Getting out of the car I moved over to the passenger side and offered Brian a wet wipe. "Feel better now?" I asked, knowing fine well that throwing up was Brian's usual reaction to extremely stressful situations like the time he'd had his brand new pocket calculator stolen at school and was worried about what his dad would say when he got home. "Yes a little thank you." He replied, we left the car and I walked with Brian into the caf?, it was another of the many small caf?'s that Matt had taken Alice too when she was a child and Alice had introduced me to over the years. "Hello Miss, haven't seen you in quite a while how's the old man?" "Still fighting fit Peter." "And your good lady wife?" "At home doing paperwork I should think; I'll tell her you asked after her when I return though." "You do that Miss and Mr Stevenson too, now what can I do you for?" "Just two teas please one sugary, oh and a few of those ginger biscuits as well please." "Pull up a pew, I'll bring 'em over to you when they're ready." "Thanks Peter." "If you don't mind me saying miss I think your friend looks like he could use a whisky or two." I nodded in agreement. "He's had somewhat of a shock Peter the sweet tea is for him." I led Brian over to an empty table and sat opposite him. Peter appeared quickly with two mugs of piping hot tea and several plastic wrapped biscuits Brian started sipping his tea and occasionally dipping un- soggy sections of his biscuit in it. I sat taking the occasional sip my own tea and nibbling at a ginger snap whilst Brian slowly calmed down, finally asking, "So where are you taking me then?" "Somewhere safe." "Look I really don't know you from Adam, why on earth should I trust you?" "Fair question Mr Fitzpatrick, you don't really have any reason yet to trust us and if you wish I can arrange for you to be kept under police protection, but at least for tonight I ask you to trust us as I would like you to speak with a friend of mine as in the process of interviewing you he may be able to recover a snippet from your memory that your daughter might have inadvertently said during a conversation giving us a clue as to her whereabouts." "An interrogator, you're kidding me?" "If he finds information that helps us to find your daughter?" I asked with raised eyebrows whilst looking him in the eyes, he looked down at the plastic patterned tablecloth and slowly nodded and without making eye contact said. "I know that you can handle yourself miss, but can you really keep me safe?" "For this evening at least you'll probably be staying with a Royal marine and his wife, his wife is called Aliza." "The woman from the car park?" I nodded and smiled wryly; Brian then looked at me strangely. "Have we met before, it's just that there's something very familiar about you." Playing it cool I said. "If that's a chat up line I think I'd better tell you I'm happily married, you may meet my wife later." "Oh, err, ah I, I'm sorry I didn't realise." I gathered up my satchel and said. "We should be making tracks now, drink up you can take the biccys with you Mr Fitzpatrick." The trip back to Stevenson Towers was relatively quiet with Brian mostly just sitting looking out of the passenger window until I finally pulled into the estate when he started to look around, "Where are we, Joy?" Asked Brian, "This is where I live Mr Fitzpatrick, where you will be staying is just along here behind those trees." I gestured over to the right in front of me and continued along the long winding driveway towards Stevenson Towers. As I pulled into Terry and Aliza's driveway I noticed Alice, standing in their doorway with Terry and wondered what she was up too. I parked the SAAB and as I got out Alice came over to me hugged me and kissed me on the lips, I introduced Alice to our latest guest. "Mr Fitzpatrick this is my wife Alice." Brian held his hand out took hers and shook it gently. "I'm so sorry Mr Fitzpatrick but there has been a slight change of plans, you will now be staying with us in the big house, we've had your luggage retrieved from your hotel and is waiting for you in your room." What on earth was Alice up to? That was the last thing I wanted, or was it? I looked at Alice with bemused confusion as she talked with Brian. "Are you coming Joy." I snapped out of my confusion to see Alice offering me her hand which I immediately took. "Have you been fighting with the boys again?" She asked with mock disapproval as the three of us headed back out by foot on the short walk up to the house. "Sorry Alice." I answered, playing along. "I've been told you've ruined another pair of stockings too, and your skirt. Oh Joy and what on earth have you gotten on your heels?" "Oh That's just a little blood but I thought I'd wiped it all off." Heaven knows what Brian was making of our conversation, I don't think he was paying particular attention however as he was looking over at two radio controlled planes dogfighting above the lawns to our right making a sound like two large very angry bees. I looked over to see both Trish and Dix flying the models with Susan standing watching. "Dix and Trish have just gotten the model Messerschmitt Bf 109 they've been working on flying this afternoon it's dog fighting with the spitfire." I smiled as we reached the house. "Normally Mr Fitzpatrick we'd let you use one of the bigger rooms upstairs but we're sort of full up at the moment so I hope one of our guest rooms will suffice." "I'm sure that it will be fine um?" "Alice." "Sorry, Alice." Alice led Brian to the corridor by Matt's office and into the first guest room where after a couple of minutes we left him. "He seems nice Joy, is he anything like how you remember him?" She asked as she grasped my hand firmly and led me up the stairs towards our room, I smiled inwardly knowing from the look she was giving me that we would soon be caressing each other's naked bodies. Chapter 24 The Rolls Joy. That evening as Alice and I sat together after finishing our evening meal. I noticed Matt deep in conversation with Brian they seemed to have hit it off almost instantly Matt and Brian had spent most of our meal talking about heat reclamation and ground source heat pumps and if the look of enthusiasm on Matt's face was anything to go by I sensed that soon Stevenson Towers would be resonating to the sound of contractors machinery once more. Alice gently caressed my thigh through the thin fabric of my dress and even though we'd spent the latter part of the afternoon making love to each other I could feel myself once again becoming aroused, I turned to see Alice smiling obviously happy to see the reaction her caressing was having upon me. I was just about to excuse myself when I noticed that the twins had quietened down quite considerably from the start of the meal and were both now glaring at Matt who was still talking to Brian and actively avoiding their gaze, turning to Alice I asked. "What's with Lucy and Dawn, they look furious with daddy." "Oh they are Joy; he's refused to let them use the vintage Rolls Royce to go to the prom in but won't tell them how they will be getting there." "Yes I did catch him plotting something the other day, I wonder what he's up to." "It's best not to ask Joy, but I'm prepared to bet it'll be something special. I think that there are going to be fireworks though as I heard him talking about pyrotechnicians earlier." I then leaned over and whispered, "If you carry on doing that Alice, I'm going to need an early night." Alice just bit her tongue and smiled, "That's the point." Lucy at this point got up from her chair and stormed out of the room, hesitantly followed by Dawn. "Uh oh, it looks like your skills are needed elsewhere Joy." I smiled and kissed Alice on the lips and excused myself from the table then went in search of the twins finding them after a couple of minutes in the old barn taking turns to attack one of the punch bags with an aluminium baseball bat. Dawn noticed me enter as Lucy was too busy hitting the punch bag. It amused me a little to see her in her dress and heels beating the living snot out of the poor bag, but at least she was venting her frustration on it and not keeping it bottled up. Slipping off my own heels I stepped onto the large mat we use to spar on. "Want to work off a little of that frustration on me Dawn?" I asked "Shouldn't I change first?" "Would an attacker allow you to change?" I asked "S'pose not Mummy," Dawn loosened the straps of the heels she'd been wearing and stepped out of them before entering the mat. The twins usually didn't wear heels but for the last week or so we'd all been encouraging them to get used to wearing them for the prom. "So what should I doooooooooo." Said Dawn as I immediately grabbed her and threw her. Dawn landed well and was back on her feet almost instantly launching a counterattack on me. Matt's mind games must have really gotten to the twins as Dawn was really showing some aggression towards me, "Just remember Dawn, don't lose control of your emotions, that's when you make mistakes." I said as I grabbed her foot following a roundhouse kick that missed its mark and flipped Dawn onto her back. Noticing Lucy coming over to the mat and removing her own heels I pinned Dawn onto the mat and asked, "You want to help Dawn?" "Yes please Mummy." Lucy entered the mat as I released Dawn from my hold and let them regroup to formulate their strategy. The twin's rushed me Lucy going low and Dawn going high so as to get in at least one attack, I jumped up avoiding Lucy's attack and then dropped to the mat using my legs to sweep Dawn from her feet. It took just over ten or so minutes for the twins to finally give up, mostly through exhaustion, but by this time they'd almost forgotten their irritation with their grandfather and I felt it would be easier to talk with my two red faced daughters. "That was really fun Mummy." "Yes it was that was awesome." I got up onto my knees and smiled at the twins, "So do you want to talk about before then?" "Err." "Um" replied the twins followed by Dawn finally admitting, "It's grandpa Mummy, we asked if we could borrow one of his cars for the prom afternoon to arrive in style but he just says he'll think of something, then doesn't commit." Then Lucy added, "We've all worked really hard mummy to make the school prom work, the teachers and the other kids and Leah." "But hasn't your grandpa offered to supply lots of cars to bring people to the prom girls?" "Yes he has, but Lucy and I were hoping to go in the old open top Rolls Royce with Leah, we sort of had our minds set on it." I understood how the girls felt, they wanted the prom to be special but I also had a feeling that Matt was working on something very special for the twins, I just didn't yet know what." "Listen girls if I were you I'd give grandpa the benefit of the doubt for now as, if I know him as well as I think I do, then he'll have something pretty special lined up for you both on the day." "Do you really think so Mummy?" I nodded "I do Just wait and see, trust him." The twins then both hugged me tightly before we returned to the big house. Chapter 25 Forced to rest With the assistance of Terry, Dix, Aliza, Sylvanus, Joy and their resources Heather Fieldhouse slowly started to piece together links between most of the missing students. On Friday Heather's wrist cast was removed by Dr Mike at a local hospital then following a thorough examination she spent an hour with one of the site's physiotherapists before being driven back to Stevenson towers to work for the rest of the afternoon on the case, being joined occasionally by Brian Fitzpatrick who kept asking questions about the investigation and seemed to look rather lost in the big house before being hijacked by Matt Stevenson who dragged him away into his office to ask him more questions about heating systems. Heather was visited by Bob in the library just after seven that evening. Heather. "Hello there, may I join you?" Asked a voice behind me as I reviewed some of the data on missing students and other missing person reports. "Oh hello there, err yes certainly." "Ah good, I've just come for a quick chat before Harry and I visit the twins." "Harry? Oh you mean Dr Simmons," I stopped for a second to think before adding "The twins, are they poorly or something?" "No nothing like that we're just verifying that they're flying fit that's all." "Oh" "Enough about them though, I've come to chat with you." "Oh Okay." "I notice that you are still hard at work and didn't join the family for their evening meal." "I grabbed a sandwich from the cook earlier, I think I'm getting close to a breakthrough I just need to find a couple more pieces of the jigsaw and then everything should fall into place." "And you think pacing up and down staring at files you've probably looked at a hundred times already will do that do you?" "What else can I do Mr?" "Bob, just Bob, well you could have a day or two off and allow your mind to digest the information." "And in that time another young man or woman could be abducted, Mr Fitzpatrick's daughter could be harmed." "What use are you if you are completely exhausted Heather, I can if I wish force you to rest but I'm asking you to take a day have an early night and at least tomorrow off, come back here on Sunday and continue if you wish but tomorrow is a day off." "So nobody will be working on the case." "Oh I wouldn't quite say nobody heather." I reluctantly placed the tablet I'd been using onto the desk, "So what do you suggest I do then?" "Well that's really up to you Heather but if I were you I would pop in to see Toni and Sarah as I believe that they have produced rather a lovely outfit for you just in case you decided to attend the twins event at school tomorrow." I really didn't have time for this nonsense but I also knew that Bob could really make my life difficult for me if I didn't comply so I simply nodded picked up my jacket and left the library still quite annoyed at being stopped. Leaving the large house I walked around and to the rear where there was a row of outhouses. I noticed as I walked that it was getting quite misty and in the darkness there was quite an eerie glow emanating from the two windows of the two outhouses currently in use. I knocked on the door of the one I knew Toni had been using and entered only to be confronted by Silvanus in a state of undress having a skirt adjusted and pinned to her body as she stood on a chair. "Come in Detective have you been roped into attending too?" asked Silvanus "Uh well yes, sort of, that Bob fellow ordered me to have a day's rest, can he do that?" "Yes he can and it's best not to argue with him, just do as he says." It was then I was approached by Toni whose face was beaming. "Heather Oh I'm so glad that you came we have a wonderful outfit for you It's very Peggy Carter, we've built the entire outfit around a hat I found in charity shop." About an hour later as I walked back to the house carrying my entire outfit with me I was smiling, Toni's enthusiasm was infectious and I was now looking forward to tomorrows event, I was still feeling guilty about not working on my investigation but I now realised that I had no option at least for a day or two so sod it I would take Dr Bob's advice and try to enjoy myself. Arriving back in my room I opened up my laptop and looked at makeup and hair tutorials to give myself a more authentic look, makeup wasn't really my thing as sometimes I needed to be up and ready for work at a moment's notice so I was quite out of practice but one thing I knew as I looked over at the tube of almost outrageous bright red lipstick that Toni had given me with my outfit, I was going to at least give the lipstick a try now, so feeling like a small child excitedly playing with her mums makeup I undid the top and gently twisted until the shaped red stick rose from its protective sheath then whilst looking in the mirror guided the slick pigment over my lips changing them from pale pink to bright red, I rubbed my lips together and blew a kiss at the mirror then started pouting at my own reflection. I'm not sure why as I normally had no great desire to make myself up or look pretty, I tied my hair back wiped the lipstick away and turning to the selection of make-up I'd been supplied with started to make myself up following some of the simpler tutorials on my laptop, within an hour and after repairing several errors a new and improved Heather Fieldhouse looked back at me, the reflection I saw was still me but without the blemishes, my skin looked wonderful and with the exception of the bright red lipstick I thought I looked more natural than I did naturally! One unexpected side effect of my looking at my own reflection was that I was starting to shift uncomfortably on the small padded stool crossing and uncrossing my legs and involuntarily pressing my thighs together trying to subdue an itch from beneath my moistening panties, I couldn't believe it I was turning myself on, I hadn't actually felt like this since I was fifteen or sixteen and had a crush on Steven Plumbley who was a year above me at school. Noticing my bare short nails and the false nails that Toni had helpfully supplied I proceeded to prepare and fit them one at a time until I had a full set of beautifully shaped but bland claws, I then found an outrageous red nail polish that matched my lips and started to apply it to my new longer nails soon ending up with ten bright red talons slowly drying as I held my hands aloft gently wafting. The itch in my slacks had now become quite unbearable so feeling very naughty and nervous I padded through to the bedroom locked the door and whilst biting my lip decided to retire to my bed and have some special me time. Chapter 26 History Repeats Whilst Heather relaxed with a raunchy novel she'd found in her room; Susan was relaxing downstairs playing computer games with the twins in an effort to get them to relax. She was enjoying the game and was completely at ease and totally unaware of two friends currently travelling at over 100 miles per hour on a train hurtling North and only 50 miles from their next change at Darlington, one of the men was Hillary and the other was very nervous and was called Mick. "Have you actually visited the Stevenson home yet Michael?" Asked Hillary "No I've only met with Suzy once since the ship usually Suzy meets me somewhere and we stay in a hotel, er separate rooms of course, this is actually really daunting for me." "You've met her parents though and her grandparents and they like you." "Yes on the ship and at the safe house but her mum Joy she's the, the, I mean how do I talk to her considering what I've seen?" "You will talk to her exactly as you would talk to any one of your friends mothers as that is exactly what she is, Joy is a beautiful friendly and very intelligent woman as is Alice, talk to them as you would your own parents." "But she's also my employer and to be honest if you don't mind me saying, scares the living crap out of me." "Son, you need to put those images out of your mind completely, Joy Stevenson is one of the most caring compassionate people I know." Unfortunately Mick was finding it difficult to erase from his mind the images he'd watched on a live TV feed of Joy Stevenson, semi naked and apparently near to death being tortured by the now deceased Lucius Withers, then somehow rising and mercilessly attacking several of her captors before collapsing into the arms of an old traveller called Milosh." (See previous story, Julie) "Is she normal Hillary? I mean she's not enhanced or anything like you see in the Movies is she." Hillary laughed out loud at the question. "Joy is as normal as you or I, well when I say that she almost certainly has a higher IQ than I have and is definitely fitter than I've ever been and her reactions are lightning fast but essentially she's all natural." Mick wasn't convinced "So," Asked Hillary "Are you looking forward to this weekend?" Mick smiled at the thin suited man. "Oh yes I can't wait to see Suzy again." Hillary looked at his watch, "Hmm give it a couple more minutes and she'll probably know that you're coming." "What! She doesn't know?" "No, we thought it would be a nice surprise for her." Mick however could only say, "Oh boy." "Anyway we'll probably still have time for a cuppa before we need to change I believe it's your turn to buy young man?" Back at Stevenson Towers, Susan had achieved her goal of taking the twin's mind off the upcoming prom and was playing a car racing game where she was apparently a plumber in an improbably bouncy car, she had just lost the race to a small green dragon and a princess when both her mum's entered the room. "Would you like to come with me to the station Susan Hillary is due in soon." "Yes if you like, I'll just get my coat. Sorry gal's it looks like the rematch will have to wait." Susan then left to get a warm coat for her trip out, "Aww." said the twins in unison. "I'll play if you like?" Said Alice as she picked up the recently vacated controller and sat down. In the hallway as Joy walked with Susan she said, "Oh Hillary is bringing young Mick up with him too." "WHAT, oh mummy why didn't you tell me before now, I mean I don't have anything planned. Oh gosh my hair is a mess; I'm not even wearing any makeup." "Susan he's coming to see you and you look very pretty as you are." "But Mummy." "Want to drive?" "The 99?" "Of course." Susan beamed at this, she loved her own car of course but she'd learned to drive in the 99 and it held a special place in her heart. "May I?" Joy passed Susan the keys knowing that it would at least temporarily take her mind off her boyfriend. Susan got into the old car and patted the dash, "Hello old thing how are you today?" She paused as though waiting for the car to answer then placing the key in the ignition started it and after strapping in pulled away. "So are you excited about seeing your boyfriend?" Joy asked. "Mum he's just a friend." "Yes Susan keep telling yourself that, I've noticed you hiding away in one of the guest rooms to get privacy from your sisters so that you can talk to him, you really like Mick don't you?" Susan paused once more before answering. "Um yes Mummy he um gives me butterflies in my tummy when I'm with him." Joy smiled inwardly as she still got the same feelings sometimes when she was with Alice. "Mummy?" Susan asked a couple of minutes later as they headed down the almost pitch-dark country lane towards the station at Saltburn illuminated only by the headlights of the SAAB, "Do you think it's a bit early for me to be getting a new boyfriend?" "Why do you ask that?" "Well after Ian maybe I should just concentrate on my studies." "Would that make you happy?" Asked Joy, "Well no it would make me miserable, but my education is important and Ian used to take up so much of my time." "Does Mick take up valuable study time Suzy?" "Well no, he's even been giving me revision tips and helping me with some of the mathematics." "Susan you're answering your own questions. Mick seems to be a lovely lad, a bit weird maybe but he's nothing like the policeman and best of all Silvanus likes him as does mummy Alice." "What about you mummy, do you like him?" Joy paused as an image of Lucius Withers flashed through her mind briefly, Joy then remembered Alice saying how he'd almost certainly helped in rescuing her with the assistance of an as yet uncovered hacker group. "Mummy?" "Sorry Suzy my mind drifted a little, yes, yes Suzy I think I do like him." "He likes you a lot Mummy, he's always asking how you are." "Don't worry Suzy I'm a one-woman woman." Susan gently punched Joy in the arm, "No mummy he doesn't like you like that, he watched you as Withers taunted you and then as you attacked. He threw up in a litter bin when I was comforting Mummy Alice after it was all over and when I saw him next, I could tell he'd been crying, he's even been getting help from Bob Mummy." "I'm sorry Susan I didn't know." "It's okay Mummy." Joy and Susan continued their journey in mostly silence for the last couple of miles but as soon as the car stopped Joy hugged her Daughter. As Joy and Susan stood on the Eastbound platform waiting for the now late train Joy realised that Susan was standing in almost exactly the same place on the platform as Alice had been all those years ago when she had first arrived on the train as a young man called John, Joy looked at Susan standing looking nervously into the darkness rubbing her fingers together. Susan to Joy looked just perfect in her black and white pleated plaid skater skirt, thick black tights and plimsolls, her warm coat covering her top half. "Nervous?" "Very. In fact, if I had a cigarette now I'd probably be smoking it." instead of being shocked at her daughters admission she nodded as she remembered that Alice had been smoking too when they met at the station for the start of her great adventure. "I know that Ian's grandmother tried to get you into bad habit's Susan but..." "It's okay Mummy I threw the packet away I haven't smoked since my breakup with, Oooh is that the train? it is it's the train, Mummy the train is coming." The lights from the train got brighter as the train approached and slowed with Susan becoming even more excited as the small train squealed to a halt. There was a short pause before the first of the doors opened followed by several others and finally the first of the passengers stepped down onto the platform. "I can't see him, Mummy are you sure it was this train, oh maybe he's changed his mind or missed his, oh mummy look, look it's Mick," Susan started waving at Mick then left her position and ran towards him nearly knocking him off his feet when she reached him. Hillary was completely ignored by Susan who was now kissing Mick passionately on the lips, he joined Joy and hugged her gently. "Good call Hillary, thank you." Said Joy with a tear in her eye as she watched her almost blissfully happy daughter continue to hold a slightly bemused looking Mick. "It was my pleasure Joy, he's actually a smart lad." Joy looped her arm through Hillary's, "We'll wait in the car, shall we?" Joy and Hillary left the platform with Susan looking up into Mick's eyes, smiling with the most beautiful of smiles whilst Mick had one hand in the small of her back and was gently caressing hairs out of her face with the other, they had both locked out the outside world and were now completely oblivious of everything but each other. Back in the car, Hillary sat in the front passenger seat with Joy in the driver's seat and unlike his usual business-like manner asked first. "Have the twins managed to achieve all that was asked of them Joy?" "I would like to think so Hillary as they've worked really hard with Leah and their year group to make Saturday's event unforgettable, Hillary said, "Oh it'll be that alright." Joy furrowed her brows "Okay Hillary spill the beans; Daddy has the twin's all wound up over this weekend what's he got planned?" "Something very special Joy something very special indeed, he'll even be requiring our assistance tomorrow morning." "What for?" Asked Joy cautiously "To abduct them of course." "Abduct?" "Yes, actually it's not just the twins it's Leah too." "Hillary I know I'm going to regret asking this but what the hell is going on?" in the twenty or so minutes it took for Susan and Mick to exit the old station, holding hands Joy's smile grew wider and wider as Hillary finally divulged why her father in law had been so secretive. "Whatcha talking about mummy?" Asked Susan as she entered the rear of the car with Mick, "Oh just some top secret stuff with Hillary dear." "Mummy I can't tell if you're kidding or not." "Might be." Said Joy, "Or not." Added Hillary with an uncharacteristic smirk Chapter 27 The Big Day (Early Morning) At 06:15 precisely Joy woke Lucy from her sleep, Alice woke Dawn and Trish woke Leah then working from a pre-prepared script they all asked each of the girls to quickly dress in the brown cotton overalls provided when Lucy asked. "Where are we going?" Joy simply placed her gloved hand over her daughters' mouth and whispered, "no questions you'll see." At 06:30 the three were led, hooded, out of Stevenson Towers into the back of an old army truck where they were un-hooded as soon as she canvas flaps had been laced and their destination masked, each of the three young women was flanked by two soldiers dressed in combat fatigues similar to that worn during the second world war. After about twenty minutes of driving Leah was re hooded along with the twins then almost as soon the truck came to a jerking stop the truck started again a few seconds later with the crunch of gears and the whine of an overtired gearbox except when the twins were un-hooded this time Leah had gone, This Unnerved Lucy and she started to look around the truck in panic. "It's okay Ma'am Trust us." Said one of the soldiers reassuringly who she didn't recognise in the semi darkness and because of his camouflage face paint. The truck carried on for quite some time before it stopped, and the twins had hoods placed over their heads once more before being led from the truck. As the twins walked across what felt like tarmac or concrete underfoot they could hear orders being issued in the distance and the sounds of marching along with other vehicles and what Dawn assumed to be aeroplane engines in the distance. Soon the twins were led into a building and the temperature increased significantly. Upon being unhooded the twins found themselves sitting on two old wooden chairs with Harry Simmons and Bob standing erect in front of them dressed in period military uniforms. Harry smiled at the two bemused girls. "Sorry about all of the cloak and dagger girls, but your big day has started a little earlier than you expected, everything that happens from when you leave this room until you arrive at school later has been laid on for you both as a special treat, I'm here just to check that you are fit enough to continue and Bob will be monitoring you throughout, he will pull you however if he thinks that you are becoming too stressed or upset." "What's happening Harry?" Asked Dawn, Harry took off his cap and pulled up a wooden chair and sat opposite the twins. "You and your sister have worked very hard over the last week or so to arrange a themed school event followed by a prom this evening is that correct?" "Yes Harry, But." "Well your grandfather has taken it upon himself to expand the event a little to give you an appreciation of the era you chose." "Oh." said both twins almost in unison, "So I suggest that you follow instructions and enjoy your day." "Okay then." "Actually it's Yes Sir, or Major, recruits. Now into the next room for your medical before you get your uniform from the quartermaster store." "Yes Sir." "That's better, now follow me recruits and we'll see how fit you both are." The twins followed Harry into a virtually bare room with blacked out windows and tape running diagonally from each corner of the metal window frames in an X pattern each of the many panes in the window was taped in such a fashion. Two metal light shades with incandescent light bulbs provided the only light in the room. After several minutes Major Simmons declared the twins fit for duty, "Okay recruits the sergeant will escort you to pick up your uniforms." "Sir." Said both twins in unison before turning to see who had just entered the room, it was Silvanus she was dressed in a WAAF uniform. "Okay recruits follow me." The twins followed Silvanus out of the room they were in and into the fresh air where they both gasped a little as they appeared to be on a small airfield but not a modern one a very old one with one old aeroplane parked and another just landing on the concrete airstrip. In the background were several military personnel going about their work and ignoring the Twins completely. "Lucy look over there is that a barrage balloon like we did in history?" "Yes and over there that's a real Spitfire that's just landed.." "Recruits please refrain from talking" "Sorry, Ma'am" Said the twins as they looked right and left taking in everything that was happening around them. What neither the twins, nor most of the Stevenson family didn't know, however was in the background Matt, with the willing assistance of Toni and Sarah, had contacted several WWII re-enactment societies and with their help and others had had organised a little extra something to fill in the morning and provide a fitting start to the schools Autumn Faire/ Prom event. After being passed their uniforms by a quite surly female quartermaster the twin's dressed in silence and in private emerging from the changing rooms dressed in semi authentic WAAF uniform including their underwear. "Almost right recruits." Said the quartermaster as she proceeded to redo the twin's hair and rearrange their cap's. "Off to the plotting room now where you will get your induction." She ordered, the twins now getting into the spirit stood to attention. "Ma'am" and joined Silvanus who was waiting by the door, they then left in full uniform walking in their sensible shoes towards the plotting room wondering what on earth would happen next when suddenly from nowhere and totally unexpectedly two of the Spitfires that had been parked several hundred yards away on the other side of the runway exploded in flames. "Quick into the shelter recruits." Said Silvanus with some urgency as a siren started and uniformed men and women appeared from Nissen huts. There were two more loud explosions and fireballs just as the twins descended the concrete steps bordered by stacked sandbags at the entrance to the shelter. Once in the shelter several more loud bangs were heard and lots of what sounded like gunfire. Meanwhile less than thirty miles away Leah was getting a very unusual driving lesson and after her initial nervousness now wore a very large smile. Chapter 28 The Big Day (Mid-Morning) Joy. This morning was good fun I hope that the twins are enjoying their experience, Daddy has certainly pulled out all the stops to ensure it will be memorable for them. He finally confided in us last night what he had planned for them and both Alice and I approved although heaven knows what it's costing him. I giggle a little to myself, getting Alice's attention and a kiss on the lips. "I think your involuntary little giggles are one of your most endearing features Joy, I absolutely love them, that and you sucking your thumb sometimes in your sleep." I was still in my exercise clothing and was just peeling off my Lycra top when we heard a knock on the door. "Mummy it's me Susan can I come in please?" "Of course." Susan entered as I slipped off my shorts leaving me wearing my sports bra and panties. "Do you know where the twins have got to mummies? They should really be getting ready for School now." Alice gave me a wry smile and said. "Oh they've probably run away to join the RAF or something like that Suzy, nothing to worry about I'm sure." Susan looked a little confused for a second or two then furrowed her brows, "Okay Mummies what's up? Lea's gone missing too, as has Silvanus, and Terry is acting even odder than normal." "It would spoil the surprise Suzy if we told you, honest it would, let's just say that your grandpa is giving the twins a gift that they will probably never forget." Answered Alice as I slipped out of my sport bra and into a silken gown. "Is this like when he bought a ship because he'd always wanted one?" "Yes something like that Suzy." Susan's smile broadened. "It's themed isn't it? He's re-enacting the Battle of the Somme for them or something like that, isn't he?" "Wrong war Suzy but very close." replied Alice "Oh I'm so jealous, lucky cows." "Don't worry I believe that you won't be left out as there will be a final briefing for us at 11:00 and you'll find out what you'll be doing then." "Aw Muuumm." "Now listen carefully as I will say this only once, get out of those jeans and into something more fitting of a young woman of the 1940's" "Okeedokee mummy, see you soon." And with that Susan left Alice and I to get ready ourselves. "I don't think she understood my clue Joy." Alice and I decided to forgo the speediness of our shower and as we still had lots of time before we needed to get dressed entered the bathroom to the bath that had been running in the background. "Oh smellies and bubbles too, smashing." I said as my gown slipped from my shoulders and my panties slid down my legs just before dipping my toe tentatively into the bubble covered water and then dropping down allowing the warm water and bubbles to engulf me. "Oh honestly Joy I sometimes wonder who the biggest child in our family is." Said Alice as she stepped into the bath facing me and sat down only to get a face full of bubbles flicked off my hand, Alice sighed. Showers are great and handy but baths are the best especially when you take them with the one you love and trust and I love taking baths with Alice. This may account for why we were over five minutes late for the trip to the twins school and Daddy looked at us disapprovingly as we walked down the stairs into the main hallway, Matt was dressed in a pinstripe suit and had obviously added padding to make him look overweight, he also had a bowler hat on and actually looked really good Susan was dressed simply as befitting her role, as was Mick whose hair was slicked back and was sporting a tiny glued on pencil moustache. Terri's outfit was timeless and suited her perfectly, on her head she wore a blue beret with two pigtails ending in blue ribbon bows, her coat was made of the same felt like material as her beret and fastened with three large wooden buttons the hem of her checked blue dress just peeping below her coat, tiny white socks and leather sandals finished off her outfit. She came over to Alice and me. "Toni made this for me too mummy," pointing at the box suspended by cord from her shoulder "It's for an um err, gas mask." Heather came downstairs trying to adjust her hat as she approached us. "I'm so far out of my comfort zone now it's scary Mrs Stevenson." I smiled. "Joy." and Alice said. "Alice." "Sorry hard habit to break." Then a real surprise Brian appeared from the guest accommodation corridor his beard had been trimmed and he was wearing a Naval officers uniform, he did not look comfortable. Alice whispered into my ear, "He looks terrified Joy let's put him at his ease." I nodded in agreement and we both went over to him. "Would you care to escort us sir?" and then without asking we linked arms with him. Last evening as we got ready for bed Alice had asked me why I was being standoffish with Brian, I couldn't really give her a good answer, I don't think it was because of recent events I actually think it is more fear of him finding out that I used to be his best friend John and admitted it to Alice resulting in a long and understanding hug from her. As we drove down the long drive towards the main road, I noticed that there were two Jeeps and a canvas covered wagon parked outside Terry and Aliza's house Terry was standing talking to Hillary and someone who looked suspiciously like Taff, they were all dressed in WWII commando uniform and Taff was carrying a Sten gun with its long magazine pointing down, Terry noticed us and waved us to stop. Once he'd approached us. "The lads will join you shortly Joy we're just about to get scruffied up, care to join us?" "Not just yet Terry, Daddy would kill me if I got these leather seats dirty." "Okay then, see you soon." He banged the side of our vintage Daimler and our driver continued on out of the grounds. We arrived at the twins school just after twelve and pulled into one of the playgrounds that were being used as a car park. Matt had arrived just before us and was speaking to the nervous looking headmaster and a man wearing a hard hat and florescent jacket bearing the words 'Pyro technician.' in large letters on his back. I approached Matt, "Problems Daddy?" "No lass just a couple of certification issues and a final insurance query. It'll be sorted in a minute or two, off you go and get yourself ready." "Okay, see you soon." Alice, Terri and I left Matt and headed into the main building where one of the halls had been set aside as a congregation point for the re-enactment societies to prepare themselves for the opening ceremony where I approached one of the event armourers. "Joy Stevenson and Susan Stevenson reporting for induction." "Ah good if you would just care to follow me I will go through the safety drills and procedures, have you ever used a firearm before?" he asked us as we entered a small back room and left Alice standing with Terri. Fifteen minutes later Susan and I left the small back room significantly dirtier from makeup and with the armourer scratching his head. "You didn't really need to field strip each gun and then reassemble it Suzy, I think the armourer realised pretty quickly we weren't novices after the first time." "If I hadn't then all of that studying on 'World of Guns' would have gone to waste mummy." Susan replied with a smile. Susan and I Joined Terry and Taff along with several other marines who had come up for the school event, he passed Susan and I small earpieces similar to the ones we normally wore on jobs but not as advanced. I looked around at the rear playground area bordering the large playing fields, the playground was now quite full of parents and children some of whom had made the effort to dress for the occasion and some who hadn't and some who simply looked bemused at the whole affair. On a raised wooden platform decked with bunting the headmaster and several teachers stood talking to Matt preparing for the start of the afternoon. In the playground and in the hall it was a mixture of old fairground rides, food vendors and stalls that you would normally expect to see at any school fair. The school playing fields however were cordoned off and being patrolled by several yellow jacketed security men preventing anyone entering the fields, the fields themselves were for today at least devoid of any goalpost's rugby posts or any other normal items of sports equipment having been partly transformed into what looked like a simplified version of war torn France, littered with military vehicles and re-enactment players. "Mummy look there's Trish and Chris with Sarah and Toni they must have arrived with the special guests." I looked over at the rear of the playground to see Trish pushing a wheelchair, it's occupant wearing a blazer with a military insignia, he also had several medals pinned to his chest and was wearing a beret. Chris's guest had much the same as did Toni's and Sarah's guests the guests were all old soldiers and at least two of the frail old soldiers I was informed were survivors of Dunkirk, Trish had immediately volunteered her services to be a companion for the trip as had Chris. All of the old soldiers had been fully informed of what was about to happen and were prepared. "Ladies, gentleman boys and girls your attention please." said the Public address system as it squealed into life a few moments later giving Susan and I our queue to join Terry on the playing fields, I smiled to myself as I knew that around twenty or so miles away the twins would be getting the shock of their lives about now. "I would like to thank everyone for attending our first ever themed autumn fair." The headmaster started droning on then about sponsorship and descriptions of the stalls and welcoming the guests to the event amongst other things before finally saying. "And finally we are about to get to the starting ceremony which will include a few loud bangs so we have a supply of earplugs for anyone of a nervous disposition." I noticed at this point Dix and another man coming out from behind the two large steel containers that were being used by the pyrotechnicians as a command centre. "And now to start the event I will hand over the microphone to Mr Mallory from our history department to give us a little background history and commentary." A middle aged man stood up and took the microphone. "Good afternoon, firstly a message to pupils from my year eight and nine classes, pay close attention as we'll be covering this period over the next few weeks. As some of the older members of our audience today will already know the Second World War started on the first of September 1939 and the war in Europe lasted until the second of September 1945. Most of the people here today will not have lived through the second world war, some may have been children during the war, but our special guests today actually fought in the war and endured the horrors it brought." I watched as two radio controlled planes took to the skies one a scale model of a Spitfire and the other a scale model of a German Ju87 (Stuka) bomber, the history teacher continued with his commentary, "By the end of May 1940 the war was not going well for the Allies as the Germans outflanked the expeditionary force and were reluctantly forced to retreat back through The French countryside back towards the English channel, the events at and around the small French coastal town of Dunkirk took place from roughly the 26th of May until 4th June 1940 and was codenamed Operation Dynamo by the British. In that time around 300,000 allied soldiers were rescued." On the playing fields the re-enactment soldiers and our commandos were diving for cover as the Spitfire was engaged by another model German fighter plane meaning that the Model Stuka was temporarily free to make a simulated bombing run along the lines of allied troops, The history teacher on the stage kept on with his narration of events of 1940 and to his script even as an unearthly scream was heard from the pa system as the model dive bomber came in on its bombing run and deployed a small plastic bomb. The bomb on hitting the ground surprisingly caused a massive explosion at the bottom of the playing field as a large plywood facsimile of a truck exploded. This action got the attention of nearly every member of the audience on the playground, causing every single child and lots of adults to rush to the edge of the playground where the safety barriers were to see what would happen next. The model Stuka then circled the field and lined up on the soldiers in cover and began a strafing run on the field immediately causing small divot's of grass to fire into the air as two rows of small charges that had been planted by the pyrotechnicians exploded in sequence simulating rounds from the attacking aircraft hitting the ground. The history teacher who was still talking was interrupted by a very familiar voice the voice of Hillary. "Ladies and gentleman I have just been informed of an incoming Messerschmitt heading towards the lines of soldiers retreating towards the coast, if you would care to look up at the sky behind you." most of the audience turned to look back at the main school building expecting to see a radio controlled model fly overhead but instead at that very moment a full size Messerschmitt Bf 109 thundered across the sky above the playground and then the semi dispersed lines of re- enactment soldiers, two long parallel lines of small explosions fired in sequence along the playing field from south to north with soldiers falling to the ground as they played at being shot. Terry took his Sten gun stood atop a bale of hay and started to fire at the German plane as it banked for another simulated attack run. Both Susan and I also broke cover along with several of the other soldiers I picked up one of the fallen soldiers Sten guns and after moving the magazine up to the horizontal position pulled the bolt back and also started firing randomly at the sky. It must have looked odd a woman in headscarf dressed as a French woman with a weapon firing at a German Aeroplane but the audience on the playground were now apparently spellbound at the whole spectacle before them, The Messerschmitt after turning in a wide circle came in once more and attacked the retreating soldiers at an angle causing more of the re- enactment soldiers to fall and more of the school field to get holes in it but this time there was not only the noise of the German plane to be heard as in the distance and getting louder but still out of sight of the crowd a single Spitfire fighter plane was making its way up the valley it's Merlin engine easily giving it away. Suddenly from just above the new Engineering block the Spitfire emerged causing the Messerschmitt to break off its ground attack and start a steep climb into the sun. There then started a dogfight in the skies above whilst on the ground a patrol of reenactors dressed as Germans started to attack the retreating soldiers, I joined Terry and Susan joined Taff with Corporal Jones taking cover behind bales of hay whilst the British soldiers dug in and using their Lee-Enfield's, pistols, sub machine guns and other weapons fought with the small contingent of Germans. The re-enactment went on for several minutes culminating in the Messerschmitt, trailing smoke as it went into a dive then just as it went out of view there was a very large explosion behind the bottom wall of the sports field making it look like it had just exploded. Hillary was now enjoying himself immensely as he continued his narration as in the sky above us the Spitfire had now been joined by two more Spitfires a Hurricane and a Lancaster Bomber circling in the distance with the Messerschmitt joining the formation at the rear. At the bottom of the field a facsimile of a German tank appeared near to the German positions followed almost immediately by the Germans discretely leaving the area as to the right of the playground by the caretakers house the sound of a large engine could be heard starting followed by a plume of smoke as a Mk IV Churchill tank entered the field at speed its tracks tearing up the grass as it got into position. Within seconds the tank stopped and it's turret moved menacingly to the right and it's gun raised slightly followed by a very loud bang and moments later an explosion at the bottom of the field as the facsimile of the German tank blew to shreds. Hillary stayed silent as the dust settled on the field. At this point a lone figure wearing a protective helmet and headphones emerged from a hatch on the Churchill tank smiling broadly and waving a small union jack, it was Leah. "Ladies gentlemen and children If you would now care to look to the left you will see a Lancaster bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight followed by two privately owned spitfires and a privately owned Messerschmitt, there will be a flypast followed by a small air display and then the fair will open proper." Susan and I assisted Terry and the rest of the event staff to clear Bales and other items off the field as the display roared on overhead and by the time I re-joined Alice on the playground the BBMF aircraft were just about to do one final low level flypast in formation, Alice nudged me as the aircraft approached from the west and I noticed that all of the wheelchair bound veterans were now Standing erect, some with help and were all saluting the Aircraft as they passed at quite low level across the playing field from left to right. Matt approached us from where he'd been watching the event with Iona, "Having fun girls?" Alice, Susan and I all nodded and Terri said excitedly. "I reeeeely liked the big bangs and the fire grandpa and the scaryplanes." "Scaryplanes?" "Scary aeroplanes it's a new word that she's invented Daddy." Replied Alice, Matt crouched a little and said, "Well if you watch really closely in a minute Terri you might get a surprise as two of those scaryplanes are going to land on the field." I then crouched down low and said, "Up on my shoulders then and you'll get the best view of all." Within seconds Terri was on my shoulders and holding my head as I held her cool bare legs to steady her. Hillary was still talking in the background about the forthcoming Remembrance Day celebrations and pointing out the two poppy sellers on the playground before getting a message and announcing. "Ladies gentlemen and children I've just been informed by my esteemed colleague that two of this year's event's attendees are about to arrive so if you care to look just down towards the bottom of the playing fields." "Mummy look there are two of those Scaryplanes." said Terri excitedly as the first of the two seater Spitfires came in low towards the large break in the concrete fence at the bottom of the playing field passed low over the field and then pulled up whilst banking to the left as it went over the school building, the trailing spitfire banked right as it mirrored the first plane's manoeuvre. The first of the spitfires then circled in a wide arc before this time landing on the now marked grass landing strip of the playing fields closely followed by the second. The two planes then taxied to a cordoned off part of the field where their ground crew was waiting for them and just after the two powerful Merlin engines had stopped steps were brought to the rear of the wing sections whilst the wheels were chocked. "Mummy, mummy look, look who's getting out of the planes It's Dawny and Lucy." shouted Terri as she bounced up and down on my shoulders pointing excitedly. "It was their treat for trying really hard this year at school Terri." "Mummy they have really funny hats on." "Oh they are flying helmets Terri." "They look really warm in those boots and furry jackets Mummy." The twins met up with Leah and excitedly exchanged comments on the field before being literally mobbed by their school friends as they were escorted through the safety barrier by event staff. "Ladies and gentlemen there will be a firework event prior to the Prom ending this evening for children and parents starting at approximately 10." Said the headmaster, by this time the twins had somehow made their way over to where Alice Terri and I were, "Mummy did you see us?" They said excitedly "Keith let me fly," "Dave my pilot let me fly too and I started the engine." the twins continued their excited disjointed conversation for several seconds before I suggested, "Why don't you go and thank Grandpa as this has all been his treat?" The twins immediately located Matt and headed towards him excitedly still dressed in their flight gear. "Daddy has been filling in insurance forms, risk assessments and method statements for over a week now and to be honest I think he got his money's worth Joy don't you?" Mentioned Alice. I simply nodded as I knew that asking him what this whole event had cost would be pointless but I knew Matt had made both Leah and the twin's year. Chapter 29 The Big Day (Evening) Following the events of the early afternoon the rest of the afternoon was a much quieter affair with the Faire running up until about five in the evening and then after all of the days guests and parents had left the main hall a team of set decorators employed by the event company set about transforming it into a ballroom suitable for the evenings events, Some of the pupils who had decided to stay at school were allocated changing rooms so that they could prepare for the evenings events, this included the twins, Susan, Leah and what seemed like most of the girls from their year. In one of the smaller halls caterers had set out a buffet which was frequented by event staff teachers and pupils alike. Joy and Alice were getting ready for the evenings dance and changing into their evening wear with Terri, Andi Silvanus and Aliza. In the staff room. Whilst the men used the back of the old Transit van they sometimes used whilst on business to dress. However unknown to anyone in the school there was one small but persistent fly in the ointment lurking nearby in the shape of Ian Thompson who'd been observing with increasing anger Susan and Mick most of the afternoon from an abandoned property near to the school. About forty minutes before the evening event was due to start Susan and Mick who were already dressed headed out into the cool evening air hand in hand. In staff room Terri sat looking out of the window whilst waiting to be taken by Grandmother Iona back to Stevenson Towers the lights in the staff room were turned off as she liked looking at the starry sky and she was humming to herself as she dotted the plough on the semi steamed glass of the window. Terri's attention was drawn to a shadow to her left changing near to a prefabricated classroom on the edge of the playground, Terri drew back from the window a little and sat in silence. After a minute or so the shadow moved and ran from the shadow of the prefabricated temporary classroom past a lighted area and back into shadow again. Terri gasped and slipped down off the chair she'd been kneeling on. She exited the staffroom and entered a small corridor before then entering another room with several women in in various stages of undress, Terri headed straight over to Mummy Joy and tugged her arm, "Oh hello Terri has Granny Iona not arrived yet." Joys face immediately changed when she noticed her daughters worried expression. "What's the matter Terri?" Asked Joy gently as she lowered herself down to Terri's eye level. "I've just seen someone but I can't tell you because grandpa says I can't use that word." "Oh Terri I won't be angry with you I promise, who have you just seen?" Terri winced a little, "I' I've just seen that Bl, bloody policeman mummy." Joy's face changed and she asked slowly, "Where did you see him Terri?" "I was at the window and he went from there to there." Terri gestured with her arms. "Can you show me?" asked Joy as she picked up her satchel and stepped into a pair of flats. Meanwhile just behind the boiler house adjacent to the gym Susan and Mick were holding hands and looking down the field towards the coast where what moonlight there was glinting off the sea. "You live in a beautiful part of the country Suzy, where I live is okay but here is wonderfoofff." Mick buckled as he received a blow to his side from Ian Thompson who'd sneaked up on them. "What's this?" Asked Ian accusingly whilst pointing at the buckled up Mick. "This you lunatic is my new boyfriend." Stated Susan defiantly "No, no, no he's not, you love me and I love you." "Don't you get it Ian we're not a couple anymore and harassing me, setting fire to my home and attacking my new boyfriend is not going to change that." Susan has now balled up her fists and stepped out of her heels and was just about to attack the Ex policeman when he pulled a long knife from his jacket, this was followed almost immediately by his left leg giving way as Lucy copied one of the moves Aliza had taught her and embedded one of her own heels into the soft flesh behind his kneecap. "You" said Dawn as she kicked him in the balls." "Will not" added Lucy as she punched him in the throat. "Spoil." said Dawn as she elbowed him in the jaw. "Our Prom, you psychotic piece of crap." Said the twin's simultaneously as they both hit nerve points on their assailant robbing him of the ability to stand and seemingly the control of his bladder. "Girls, language." Said Joy as she arrived to see the ex policeman in a crumpled heap on the ground with Terry Taff and Heather Fieldhouse approaching at speed. "Mummy the twins were just protecting me." Said Susan as she smiled at the two girls who were breathing heavily and still in defensive positions over their fallen target. "They, they attacked me without provocation, all I wanted to do was talk to Susan." said Ian Thompson. "Have you heard yourself Ian? Do you even understand that what you've been doing is wrong?" "I'm going to press charges for this unprovoked." Dawn slapped Ian across the ear causing him to whelp in pain. "God do you ever shut up?" She said irritated as she stood over him her underwear only just being covered by the flimsy silk slip she was wearing. "Can someone call the police please?" Asked Susan "No need Susan, I can arrest him," There was a short pause before Heather read Ian Thompson his rights "Ian Thompson I am arresting you for..." Come on girls let's get you dressed properly." Said Joy as she led her two brave daughters away leaving Terry, Taff and Heather to deal with Ian Thompson hoping that she would never see him again. "Will you and Mick be okay now Susan?" she asked. "Yes mummy, thank you and thank you both too." She said to the twins as she attended to Mick who was still recovering from being winded "I see that you've been paying attention in self-defence girls." "Yes mummy." They both said in unison. The entire evening after that went without any real issue and ended with a spectacular firework display. Later that evening as Joy returned from saying goodnight to two exhausted but elated twins, she noticed that in the hallway downstairs, Brian was carrying his suitcases towards the front door. "Are you leaving us Mr Fitzpatrick?" Joy asked as she padded down the wide staircase towards him. "Yes," he said as he placed a holdall on top of a suitcase "I've ordered a taxi, it'll be here soon, thank you for your hospitality but I need to find my daughter." "I can't stop you but would you please reconsider?" Brian turned towards Joy there was fire and venom in his words when he said. "Look Mrs Stevenson you are a nice person and all that but you are not a detective and you just seem to be playing at detectives here, I want proper policeman on the case not just some woman and a few old blokes." Terry appeared from the library "Who you calling an old bloke?" Brian looked really frustrated now, Joy however kept her calm, took Brian firmly by the arm and led him into the library. "Ow that hurts." Said Brian more than once as Joy guided him to the rear of the library, "Firstly Mr Fitzpatrick, Detective Fieldhouse has been working so hard on the missing persons case that she's had to be removed for her own health for a couple of days." "And?" "And secondly in her absence we have a couple of volunteers helping." "So big deal they aren't detectives though are they." Joy turned to Taff who was sitting next to Mick separated by a large cooling partly eaten pizza, "Taff what do you have access to?" "All databases from Europol, Interpol, GCHQ and MI5 along with full access to police files I'm coordinating data to try and find links between any young missing persons at home and abroad that fit our profile Ma'am." "Thanks' Taff and you Mick." "Trawling the dark net, do I call you Ma'am too?" Joy turned to Brian. "I can't stop you leaving Mr Fitzpatrick, but if you are not here with us we can't protect you so I urge you to change your mind and stay with us or alternatively go home but do not go back up to Newcastle please." "I used to live in Newcastle I know how to look after myself pet." "Can you dodge a bullet?" "Well no." "The detective has already had at least three attempts on her life Mr Fitzpatrick." Brian looked down into Joy's eyes and instantly knew she wasn't lying, "So what do you expect me to do? I can't just do nothing." "I would like you to stay here for at least a few more days and enjoy our hospitality or if you would prefer we can put you up in a safe hotel Mr Fitzpatrick." "Brian my name is Brian why do you keep calling me Mr Fitzpatrick?" Joy hesitated before saying "Please Brian just stay for a few more days, Daddy enjoys your company." Brian thought for a few seconds. "Okay then but I'll need something to occupy my time, perhaps I could take a look at your heating system and suggest some improvements." Joy smiled warmly at Brian and looked relieved. Chapter 30 Breakthrough On Sunday morning Heather after a leisurely breakfast walks into the library with a mug of coffee and is surprised to find Trish sitting looking through several of her printed out files she had them spread out on a table, "You there, you can't be in here." Trish looked up from the desk stared at Heather with a look she'd seen many times before on people when confronted by an authority figure. "Suit yourself," Trish leant over, picked up her coat and was slipping on her shoes when Heather's curiosity got the better of her. "You don't like the police very much do you?" Trish sneered at Heather and suppressing her contempt as much as she could said sarcastically, "I can see why you made detective, no flies on you are there?" Comments like this Heather was used to, usually from her own colleagues and the public, but from this pretty politely spoken young woman they seemed somehow completely out of place. "May I ask, have I upset you in some way, err Trish isn't it?" "Not you personally, but you're all the same, this was a bad idea." Trish started to move away but something in Heather possibly an instinct made her ask. "Bad idea?" "Yes." "What do you mean?" "Joy asked if I could help and look at your evidence from an alternative angle, a fresh perspective but you obviously don't need me it was a mistake." "A fresh perspective?" "Yes I have a past and I'm sure the second I leave here you'll look it up." Heather realised she'd hurt the young woman's feelings and rushed to the library entrance where she caught up with her as she was leaving. "Look Trish I'm sorry, I'm not used to working like this, you just caught me by surprise that's all, to be honest with you I'd be glad of any help." Trish appeared to be genuinely surprised at the detective's admission. "You would?" "Yes I would." Trish hesitantly returned to the desk where she'd been looking at several folders spread out on its surface. "Did something catch your attention with these people?" "Well yes," replied Trish "This one here in particular caught my attention." "Oh the Rock pool suicide? That's quite an old one." "It is but why on earth would a happy 22 year old who'd already gained a degree and was working towards her masters suddenly go missing for no reason as though she'd vanished off the face of the earth and then turn up in a rock pool nine months later having died of an apparent heroin overdose?" "It happens." "It does, but if you look at her finances for just before she went missing, they improved a little." "She got a job I suppose?" "Could have but then I looked into her past, she was a county level runner and continued with her running and fitness all the way through her degree and into her Masters' year." "And?" "Well when she was first found in the Rockpool the witness stated that the water was stained a brown colour unfortunately the police didn't arrive until the tide had once again covered the pool so when the body was recovered the water was clear. "Yes the autopsy showed that she had been a heavy smoker, she died however of respiratory failure as a result of a heroin overdose." "And why would someone with everything to live for, loving parents and with such a thirst for life suddenly just go completely against their own nature and abandon everything?" "It happens." "I'm sure it does, but look at this case here." "Ah yes well she was obviously held against her will as we found her ankles and wrists had been bound." "Or she could have been having kinky sex that just went wrong." Trish went through several other missing persons files offering alternative scenarios to the ones Heather and other of her colleagues had imagined. "This one here the poor woman woke up in her own flat minus her kidneys just over a week after going missing whilst away on a hen weekend." "Yes, but that case is not connected is it?" "You tell me detective; did you check the list of people on transplant lists waiting for a new kidney that suddenly got better?" "I would think so, I'll just check." Heather said as she opened up a new window on her computer. "Oh I don't have access to that database." Trish smiled "Here let me." Trish typed in a password and the screen opened Heather and Trish then scoured the database but really couldn't make head nor tail of the technical jargon it held until she picked up the phone by her desk and dialled the number of a friend, "Trevor It's Detective Fieldhouse here, are you still on sick leave?" 'Yes and bored senseless Heather.' came the deep booming voice over the speaker "Well I was wondering if you could help us?" 'If I can yes.' Heather then proceeded to explain what she needed and sent him a secure link to the database. 'Oh yes, I see what you mean well there was only one good tissue match from the list, a forty three year old woman with end stage renal disease but she was removed from the list two days after your unfortunate victim went missing, curious.' "It is, do you have a name for the woman?" 'I do.' Dr Trevor Barmston then sent the patient's details back over the secure link. Heather typed in the details on her computer. "Well, that's a bit of a turn up, I take it that kidney's just don't get better by themselves Trevor?" 'Not from end stage Detective.' "Well either I'm looking at a miracle or someone has been really naughty, thank you doctor for your help." "So who is she then?" asked Trish "Wife of a suspected career criminal, those pictures are from her Facebook page from last week she looks pretty well to me wouldn't you say?" "Oh and look at that big scar, you can just see it on that photo there." "Hmm yes but she's in Spain at the minute, extradition is sketchy at best from there at the moment with the whole Gibraltar thing raising its ugly head once more and could take months, Ughh her husband is with her too, look at that photo." Trish picked up her mobile and selected a number, when it was answered simply asked, "Dix fancy a quick trip to Spain? Recon." Meanwhile that morning Joy after doing her morning fitness regimen was strolling alone through the old wooded section of the grounds just up from the lake shore she was thinking about Brian and if she should tell him that she was once his friend John, in the end however she decided that unless pushed she would for now not mention it so as not to complicate an already complicated situation. Joy moved down towards the lake following the new limestone steps that had been put in alongside the reinstated burn and noticed Toni gently rocking a pushchair as she sat looking out at the lake. Joy went over and greeted her friend. "Hello Toni, daydreaming? Good for you." said Joy cheerily. "Oh hello there Joy, Dylan had a rotten night last night and kept us both up, he's teething I think." "We've probably got a tube or two of unopened teething gel back home if you need any Toni." "Thank you Joy, I was going to drive out and get some later." Joy looked into the pushchair at Dylan who was reclined and chewing furiously on one of the straps of the buggy." "Have you got sore gums have you?" Dylan looked up at Joy who was smiling broadly, "You have haven't you, you've got sore little gummy wummies haven't you?" Joy turned to Toni, "May I?" "Of course." Toni answered, Joy took Dylan out from his buggy and held him in her arms. "Oh look your little cheeks are all red, you poor thing." Joy then crooked her finger and allowed Dylan to chew on it. "Oh you do have a powerful little bite; those teeth will be through in no time won't they?" Dylan continued to chew. "I've been thinking Joy?" "Oh?" Enquired Joy as she sat next to Toni on the long park bench style wooden seat, "Maybe I should get my surgery before Christmas and become a complete woman." "Toni you don't need to rush into anything you know?" "I know Joy It just seems right, I really love my life now and can't ever see myself going back to being plain old me again, even if I did I could never be the man I once was and to be honest I don't really think I want to be him anymore I really like being Toni." "Have you discussed any of this with Sarah?" "Yes we both discussed it at length and the other evening I decided to go ahead and have the surgery." "I am so pleased for you Toni, have you talked with the doctors yet?" "No Joy apart from Sarah you are the only other person that knows." Joy felt a lump develop in her throat, "Toni I'm really touched that you've confided in me, congratulations I think you're making the right decision I truly do." Joy leant over and kissed Toni on the cheek. "Is it still a secret or can I tell Alice?" Joy asked hopefully "Of course you must tell Alice." "Oh she will be so chuffed for you?" Toni smiled and then yawned, Joy realised that Toni must have had a very long night with Dylan so offered, "If you would like Toni, I can take young Dylan here for a while so that you and Sarah can get some well-deserved rest?" Joy asked hopefully as she was really enjoying holding Dylan, at this Toni perked up, "Would you? Oh that would be fantastic, thank you." Toni leant over and hugged Joy then explained that Dylan's changing bag was on the buggy's under tray and as he'd only recently been fed the only thing really stopping him from sleeping now was his sore gums. Joy and Toni walked for a while before she headed back to the cottage she shared with Sarah and Joy returned to Stevenson Towers happily humming to herself as she pushed the buggy with the grizzling baby in it. It only took five minutes after the application of teething gel to Dylan's gums before he'd nodded off. By lunchtime Heather was more than impressed by Trish's skills and after quite a lot of trawling through messaging and dating App histories Heather asked. "So your saying that the rock pool victim found herself a 'Sugar Daddy' to help with her bills in return for companionship Trish?" "That's what it looks like?" "That's just prostitution though." "Not at all it happens quite a lot now, nobody wants to be lumbered with a ?30- ?40,000 debt at the end of their education so some students agree to become companions to rich lonely blokes in return for financial help, rarely is sex involved." "But in this case I'm guessing something went horribly wrong?" "Looks like it doesn't it, probably the man wanted a little more than she was prepared to give, my guess would be that he locked her away somewhere and indulged his fantasies with her." "Really?" Asked Heather. "You'll probably find out at some point anyway but some time ago I worked the streets and some punters liked me to indulge their fantasies whether it be me dressing up as a saucy secretary or a schoolgirl for sex or in some cases to work through entire scripted scenarios." "You worked as a prostitute?" Asked Heather with surprise. "Yes." "And does Mrs Stevenson know this?" Trish ignored Heathers comment "One particular customer liked me to smoke whilst I was with him, but the trouble was that every visit his scenarios became more and more extreme and he'd get me to smoke more whilst he was fucking me until finally one evening he tried to get me to snort cocaine." "And did you.? "No, I made a promise once never to do drugs again so I terminated our agreement, that was the last time I ever went to his place," Trish paused and smiled "Within a year I'd met Chris and my life changed forever." At that point Mick entered the room with Taff and Chris was carrying Dylan, Sarah and Toni's baby in her arms, Chris kissed Trish on the lips, "Joy was looking after Baby Dylan for Toni and Sarah who are having some 'me' time this morning, Joy's had to take a call so it looks like Dylan is stuck with Auntie Chris and Auntie Trish for a while at least." Without even asking her Chris passed the sleeping child over to Trish who took him and ever so gently cradled him in her arms before locating a rocking chair near to the window and sitting in it started to rock gently. "Ha I knew it you're just as bad as Joy, I think you're both a little broody at the moment aren't you?" Said Chris with a broad smile. Taff asked if any headway had been made and Heather appraised him of what she and Trish had been doing unaware that Dix was now in the departure lounge of Newcastle International airport waiting to board a plane to Spain. Chapter 31 The Witness After lunch Joy Stevenson received a call from 'The Centre' it was from Bob saying that he was now happy for his patient Khushi to have a supervised interview with the detective. Joy. Bob has just contacted me to say that Khushi, the young woman that Hillary had medically evacuated to 'The Centre' can now be interviewed by Heather; but that he would need to supervise the interview, 'that poor girl she must still be in quite a bad way.' I thought to myself as I approached the library to speak with Heather. As I entered Heather was sitting with Chris working on her laptop whist Susan, Mick and Taff were scouring various database in pursuit of whatever their task was, Trish was sitting by the window rocking gently as she held sleeping Dylan in her arms, I smiled, I'm not sure I'd ever seen her look so serene. "Heather do you have an hour or so to spare?" "I am actually rather busy here Joy." She answered tersely "I was wondering if you would like to interview a young woman who quite possibly could be a witness and survivor." "A witness, why was I not informed before now Joy." "Because she's only just been pronounced fit to be interviewed Detective, she's been receiving medical treatment at our facility nearby." "I'll get my coat." Stated Heather as she got up from her seat In the car as I drove heather to 'The Centre' she said. "There are still things you aren't telling me aren't there?" "I'm not sure what you mean Heather." "Well for instance Trish, she doesn't really have much time for the police does she? I suppose that's because she's worked as a prostitute in the past Isn't it?." "It has nothing to do with that Detective, it has more to do with the fact that when she asked the police for help with a missing person they basically ignored her and when she persisted and became a nuisance she started to get visits from the local drug dealers heavies threatening her." "Ah." "We got involved with Trish as a personal favour to Hillary and kept her safe until the whole sorry affair was sorted out." "And the fact that she was a prostitute, that didn't matter to you?" "No, why should it? Trish had given up selling her body by then detective and was working doing a normal job and paying taxes, even if she had still been selling her body I don't think it would have mattered to Alice or me though." I slowed the car to a stop and looked Heather in the eyes. "Trish was hurting badly when we first met her Heather, she needed help and was brave enough to ask for it, Hillary believes that we intervened just in time." "Who was the missing person, if you don't mind me asking?" "Chris." "Chris her wife? The one that always wears that choker?" "That's her, we located her in Venezuela." "Do you help many people? If that's not a secret too." Asked Heather "Some." I replied as I didn't really want to go into details but knew in my heart that she'd probably find out sooner or later. "Oh." The rest of the journey went by mostly in silence until as we pulled in towards 'The Centre' and it came fully into view. "Good lord is all this yours? It looks much larger in full daylight" "It was Alice and my idea, Daddy built it for us and it helps mostly servicemen and the occasional civilian." "So it's a proper hospital then?" "Of sorts, you were treated here when you first arrived before being sent over to the bunker, you probably don't remember." As we approached the barrier Arnold the security man waved and I waved back at him as he opened the barrier for us, I stopped briefly by his cabin and asked. "Do you have a pass for Heather Fieldhouse here Arnold or is it in reception?" "I got it here Ma'am just needs a signature." he passed the pass and a pen through his window and I passed it to Heather, I then asked, "Grandson still staying with you and your wife or has he gone home yet?" "Oh he'll be with us a few more days, the missus is loving having him up here, will miss the little blighter when he goes home I will." "Bring him in one day before he goes back, let him use the pool." "If that would be okay Ma'am?" Asked Arnold, I smiled. "It'll be okay don't you worry." "Thank you ma'am, the missus will be chuffed." After pulling through the barrier completely I took out my id and lanyard and parked. On entering the main building Bob was quick to appear. "Okay the young lady is called Khushi she is in a very fragile state of mind so go easy with your questioning. She has several underlying medical problems which mean she still gets fatigued very easily, I have prepared a dossier of her history and what she has gone through I would like you detective to read it before she is interviewed in my presence. So off you go to the cafeteria I'll see you both in about half an hour." with that Bob shooed us away towards the small caf? area where a table had already been laid out with tea and biccy's. "I can't imagine that guy being anything but adversarial, are you sure he was the right man to help this victim? I mean he was unrelenting when he questioned me." I think my expression answered before I did. "I initially disliked him when I first met him but he has proved to be exceptionally capable and I trust him, you should too." "So does he have a second name, should I call him doctor or what?" "Probably, he prefers Bob." "He's really that good is he?" I nodded as I opened my copy of the dossier that Bob had prepared for us. "He helped me regain my memory after I'd lost it a while back although he didn't cure me of my fear of thunderstorms, that was actually the travellers, s? le binecuv?nteze (Bless them)." Heather looked at me in a strange way and then opened her copy of the dossier. It took us a good twenty minutes to read Bob's detailed report and just as we were about to get up Robert Biddlestone noticed me and came over, he had Colin in his arms. "Hello Mrs Stevenson, I managed breakfast today." Robert seemed genuinely pleased with himself. "Oh that is good news and how are you feeling in yourself?" He frowned "Getting there Mrs Stevenson, getting there, still having the nightmares but when I do Colin usually wakes me with his claws, oh it's time for my physio session." Robert turned and left me. "What's up with him?" asked Heather a little unsympathetically "PTSD as a result of being tortured, the tip of his finger was cut off with a conduit cutter and fed to his torturers dog amongst other things." "You're kidding me?" I got up from my seat, Heather followed. "You aren't are you?" She asked quietly. "No I'm not, Robert is responding well to his treatment now though." We met Bob at the door to Khushi's room, he knocked gently and announced himself then waited until he heard a weak slightly accented voice say "Come in." When we entered Khushi was sitting propped up in bed, her hair was tied back and she'd made some effort with her looks. "Khushi I have brought two friends to see you, one of them is a policewoman called Heather and the other is a very dear friend of mine called Joy." I approached her and initially was about to offer her my hand but instead I said, "If you wouldn't mind could I just hug you?" She looked at me strangely but nodded nervously I leant over and gently hugged Khushi, curiously as I released she increased her grip on me a little as if asking 'Just a little longer.' I then sat next to her and took her left hand, "My friend is now going to ask you a few questions about the time leading up to your abduction and maybe a little about your captivity, if at any time you would like a break or for us to stop asking questions just say stop, but any help that you can give us may help put a stop to these abductions." I went to take my hand away but Khushi held on to it, I didn't mind at all. Heather then started her interview and with only a couple of breaks where Khushi became emotional and almost broke down. Khushi showed great strength talking about her experience increasing my resolve to help her as much as my team and medical science could, she even noticed when as she talked about her time in the brothel a tear ran down my cheek and asked me if I was all right! this did not make me feel better. One thing that Khushi did mention that the detective noticed too was that prior to her abduction she'd volunteered for medical trials to earn a little extra money but had been turned down as being unsuitable after having blood and tissue samples taken. As we were leaving she asked, "Will you find these people?" I nodded. "Yes Khushi we will." "And will they be punished for what they've done." "Oh yes." Was my only reply. Bob emerged from Khushi's room soon afterwards, "Thank you girls for not inflaming her already delicate mental state, and thank you Joy for holding her hand throughout, sometimes I forget how comforting simple human touch can be." "I know that Khushi's mental health is in good hands but what about her other conditions? Can we help her with them?" I asked. "I've talked with Harry, Khushi can live quite happily with only one kidney Joy and now that her health is improving her liver should be able to regenerate itself." "And her reproductive organs?" "Ah now here we have a difference of opinion Both doctors agree that there is virtually no chance of re implanting her ovaries but Harry thinks that with the correct surgical team and provided he can revascularize the organ there may be a chance of re implantation provided her uterus has been transplanted and not discarded and that it hasn't been rejected by the recipient. Mike however favours the surrogate approach provided her eggs can be located that is." "What is your opinion Bob?" "Probably the same as yours Joy, if at all possible we should return the young woman to as near her original state as possible." I nodded and smiled with approval. "I don't want to give her false hope Joy but I know that you and the team along with the detective will do your damnedest to accomplish those goals." "We will, oh we may have a lead on a couple of missing kidneys from another victim." "I'll look forward to seeing the report. Is the donor still alive?" I looked over to Heather, she nodded. "I'll contact her doctors just in case." Thanks Bob "Joy?" "Yes Bob?" "Be careful and keep your wits about you." "I will, thanks Bob." Chapter 32 Costa Del Crime Dix didn't particularly care what the woman's name was nor who her husband was as he sat drinking from a large diet drink whilst enjoying an early evening burger outside an American burger bar just off the sea front of one of the many small coastal towns to the east of Marbella on the southern coast of Spain, the temperature was still in the high teens and the sun was about half an hour away from setting. Picking up his phone he texted, 'located cousin Monica, will monitor her performance, report later.' Dix sat back and allowed the evening sun to warm his face as he looked over at his target sitting outside a small street side restaurant knocking back drink after drink while she laughed with her husband and two other as yet unidentified companions whilst their personal security team of several uncomfortably hot looking men tried unsuccessfully to look inconspicuous. After a while Dix's target and her party along with security entourage left the restaurant and headed east along the road before walking along the busy promenade, Dix followed at a distance and even at one point overtook the party before stopping to take photos of the calm gently rippling sea allowing them to overtake him once more. Dix's target found a bar and seemed to settle in for a night of drinking. Dix watched his target from a distance and after midnight followed her and her entourage back to a villa about three miles inland. The villa's perimeter was surrounded by a low wall with steel railings attached giving Dix a good view of the well-kept gardens and security patrols. "Amateurs" He said to himself at around 01:10 as he posted encrypted footage back to Stevenson Towers of the entire villa's external layout along with a message. 'Extraction should be relatively clean team of four preferred, will a statement need to be made?' The next morning when Dix woke in his hotel room and checked his messages he smiled as he read. 'Auntie Mabel sends her regards and is looking forward to meeting with you later as is cousin Olfa.' Dix decided to go for a jog before breakfast and the sun became too hot for exercise, he then enjoyed a cold shower before breakfasting and taking in the morning sun by the hotel's pool until he was approached by one of the bar staff just before three in the afternoon, "Excuse me sir, I believe that your relatives have just arrived in the reception area." Dix thanked the waiter and headed towards the reception area where he was met by Joy, Terry, Aliza and Taff. "Jonesey is here too, he's just parking the van." Said Terry as he shook hands with Dix." "Hillary has arranged for us to use one of the hotel's conference rooms, I'll brief you there." Without a word they all followed Dix to the rear of the hotel and into a small but well equipped windowless conference room that was mercifully air conditioned. "The room has been swept for surveillance devices Sir, not that I think it really matters but best to be safe." "Dix we've been here before haven't we, yes that's it we met here just before the Tangiers job, it was one of Hillary's last jobs before he was injured." "Yes Sir, he was injured just before Christmas that year, the lads didn't think he'd pull through." "So is this still a safe house then?" Asked Terry "I believe so Sir, Hillary organised it." "So what's the plan for this evening then Dix?" Asked Joy "Initially Ma'am I thought that we could just take our target whilst she was out and about but Hillary suggested that we make a point so we are going to take her from her own Villa showing her husband and his underworld friends that they aren't safe anywhere." Dix then placed several official drawings and handmade sketches of the villa and its surrounding area on the large conference table. After their briefing Terry decided to relax by the pool whilst Joy did the only sensible thing and took a taxi into town with Aliza where after a leisurely lunch by the sea they spent several hours in boutiques and other shops whilst also fending off the occasional young flirty man and the inevitable timeshare terrorists. The evening was warm and darkness descended quickly as Joy, Terry and the team prepared for stage one of their extrication exercise. After their target had left the villa for the evening taking a sizeable contingent of the villa's security staff with her Joy and Dix entered the secure compound via the barren scrubland to the side and headed silently towards the adjacent garage building where Joy set about disabling the remaining vehicles parked both outside and within. Using a long nozzle and a can of fast set expanding foam Joy first filled the exhausts of the cars, then as Dix stood watch she slipped under other cars cutting strategic cables to fuel pumps/ignition circuits/cut off solenoids, to render the cars completely immobile. She then left the cars and placed a small remotely controlled explosive cutting charge near to the point that electricity entered the Villa's electrical distribution system. Joy re-joined Dix at this point and they proceeded towards the villa proper where they were joined by Taff and Terry, Aliza was covertly watching their target in town. Joy and Dix split from Terry and Taff and headed to the rear of the Villa where they entered by an open patio door into a large bedroom, from that room they could hear talking and the sounds of a loud television. Dix left Joy and exited the bedroom heading left whilst Joy went right and took refuge in the semi darkness of an open plan kitchen area behind a marble breakfast bar. It didn't take very long before across the expansive marble floored hallway a door opened and the sound of the blaring television became louder. "Sure you don't want a lager Jack?" "Naw but if there's any crisps or some of those cheezy nacho things." replied an unseen voice from within the TV room." "I'll get you crisps but those cheezy things stink like sweaty socks, Nghhh." said the man as he entered the darkened kitchen and was disabled by a single blow from Joy. As Joy dragged the man back into the shadows the voice in the TV room said. "Worcester sauce then if they have any Steve." Joy taped the man's mouth and eyes after restraining him and lay once again in wait. "Or beef I like roast beef too and nuts if they have any salted nuts." shouted the man through from the TV room. "Mate can you hear me?" "Steve?" "Steve.?" "Leave it Jack he's probably just gone for a waz or something." Said another voice. "I'll just check on him and give him a hand with the munchies." Said Jack a minute or so later as he crossed the hallway not noticing either Dix or Terry crouching either side of the darkened doorway as he entered the marble floored hallway. As Jack entered the kitchen he turned on the light only to see his colleague lying trussed up on the floor by the fridge. "What the f..." stated Jack just before receiving a blow from the stock of Joy's Mp5 that rendered him unconscious. The other two men having been alerted by Jack ran into the hallway to find Dix and Terry standing weapons raised. "DOWN ON YOUR FRONTS NOW." Shouted Dix threateningly, the two men complied and were immediately restrained and gagged by Terry, "Don't worry lads, we don't want you and if you're good boys and don't wriggle too much you'll come out of this evening relatively undented." Assured Terry as he dragged one of the men into the kitchen area followed by Dix dragging the other. As soon as all of the men were secured sitting up in a row against a wall of kitchen units, Joy set about disabling the recording facilities of CCTV security system taking the hard drive out of the recorder and moving several of the perimeter camera's to cover the entrances and the access road to the villa. It was once again after midnight when the headlights of the first of three vehicles appeared turning off the main road and coming up the dusty road towards the Villa, 'Three cars Ma'am, ETA 90 seconds' Joy tapped her throat mike twice to acknowledge Aliza's warning then She, Dix and Terry pulled balaclava's over their heads obscuring their faces leaving only a slot for their eyes. Dix and Terry stood either side of the large front door with the lights in the spacious hallway turned off whilst Joy left via the back door and circled around behind the garages where she met with Taff who passed her three explosive charge packs, "I'll cover Dix and the Major Ma'am." Joy nodded. The three cars rolled up the drive and parked followed by loud talking and giggling, Joy watched as their target Marjorie Seddon and her husband Dennis escorted two additional couples towards the entrance to the Villa followed by two of their three security men the third seemingly staying behind to listen to something on the radio. Joy quickly crawled around in the pitch darkness and tied a length of mono filament cable to the front driver's side Alloy wheel and then whilst he was distracted by something in the car quickly and silently pulled the mono filament across the path tying it to a brick pillar effectively creating a trip wire, Joy then lay in wait as the Seddon's and their guests finally reached the Villa only to be surprised by Dix and Terry. It was Taff entering the house from behind however that caught the man in the car's attention and he opened the door quickly saying "Shit, shit, shit, Wha, oofff." to himself as he got out of the car and as he headed towards the house tripped on the mono filament and fell to the paved road surface followed by a single blow to his head from the stock of Joy's weapon. Joy secured her prisoner and rolled him across onto the lawn and continued with her task and had soon planted the three small explosive devices on the fuel tanks of the three recently returned vehicles. Taff passed Joy two minutes later firmly holding the arm of a hooded female who was shouting obscenities at her husband, "Just what the fuck have you gotten me into Dennis you little shit? You told me that you'd finished with all of this gangster malarkey you little turd. If I get out of this alive buster and you're still alive I'm going to kill you myself." Joy passed Taff her roll of Duct tape as they passed. "Thank you Ma'am." "Ma'am who the hell has kidnapped me the bloody Queen?" shouted the irate woman as she was led away. Joy followed Taff and as she passed Aliza in her car she gave her the remote detonators and codes. In less than two minutes Joy Terry and their team were speeding away to their rendezvous point and from the rear window of the van Joy noted several large explosions lighting up the evening sky behind them as the vehicles she'd booby trapped exploded. "So what happens now? Am I going to be ransomed or something?" Asked Marjorie Seddon through her hood as she sat quietly between Taff and Dix. "We just want to ask you some questions that's all." Marjorie's hood was temporarily removed and she was handed a can of diet pop which she took in her bound hands and took several large swigs of before realising her mistake as her vision became blurred just before she passed out. Mrs Seddon woke later that day in a small windowless room somewhere in North Yorkshire. Chapter 33 Awkward. Whilst Mrs Seddon slept off the drugs she'd been given in Terry's bunker, Brian was taking a late morning walk through the grounds of The Stevenson estate. Brian. I woke up really early this morning and just after breakfast was hijacked again by Matt Stevenson, he dragged me into his office and had me go through plans he'd had drawn up based on some suggestions I'd made the other day. I can't really make Matt out, he's probably one of the most powerful businessmen in the country yet is so easy to talk too. Last evening Matt asked me if I would work with him to survey a couple of his UK plants to see what if anything can be done to improve their energy usage and heating bills, I said I'd think about it but already knew what the answer would be. Joy Stevenson was not at breakfast yesterday and only reappeared about an hour ago jogging around the lake with her wife. There is something quite unnerving about her and it's irritating the hell out of me as I'm sure we've met before somewhere, at first I wondered if I'd met her at school but she has to be a good ten years younger than me, then again her daughter is old enough to go to university so looks can be deceptive. One thing is certain though, she's a very good scrapper! I looked at my watch to see that it was nearing lunch time and wondered if I could sneak in and get an early lunch before all the others appear but am distracted by the noise coming from what looks to be a converted barn structure so feeling nosy I decide to take a quick peek through the door. What I see surprises me as Joy is on a large floor mat facing up to Terry's wife Aliza and the older woman called Silvanus, Joy Is pink in the face and defending herself against attack upon attack on her from the two other women, what really surprises me though is that all three women aren't just play fighting they are really going for it and the older woman Silvanus appears to be just as fit and agile as the other two. "Hello." I turn to see the Stevenson twins dressed in black judo costumes. "Are you watching Mummy fight Mr Fitzpatrick?" Asked one of the girls. "Yes I am she's really good isn't she?" "Yes." Said the other twin "But then again she needs to be." Said the first "Do you train here?" I ask, "Yes Aliza takes us for our um," the first paused momentarily "Um Judo classes yes judo classes." "Are you really good?" both girls brightened up at this question. "We nearly won at a judo competition but the big lad we were fighting beat us." "Oh and as we don't have belts they were not sure what to do with us, Suzy took us it was in Newcastle and was great fun." "That does sound like it was fun girls, does your mum teach you?" "Sometimes but usually it's Aliza." "And sometimes it's Silvia or Suzy." They replied taking turns to answer. I talked with the two well-mannered but very endearing girls for a few more minutes before they were called onto the mat and my rumbling stomach got the better of me and I headed off in search of food. I needn't have bothered to avoid the rush for lunch as there wasn't one and Mrs Burton quickly made me a ploughman's which I ate with only Mr Dixon and a young woman everyone called Trish for company, I found it curious that Trish had struck up a friendship with Mr Dixon as he must be at least twice her age but they seem to be genuine friends and share a common interest in modelling, Mr Dixon or Dix as he seems to like being called is not someone who I would like to get on the wrong side of. Trish was joined by her wife Chris after a few minutes and on entering kissed her, I'll admit this made me feel quite uneasy and awkward but Mr Dixon didn't even bat an eyelid, I suppose he must be used to living here, we were joined soon after by a moderately eccentric Scotsman who likes to call himself Taff and I believe is a Royal Marine or something like that. Once I'd finished my lunch I left the dining room and went to my room, it was there that I started to think about where I was staying, On one hand it was a beautiful country estate, I'd of course heard of the Stevenson industrial empire but meeting with Matt and his family was somewhat odd as they, on the face of it, just seemed like normal people, except they were not normal at all Joy and Alice were lesbians they both called Matt daddy so I had no real idea who Matt's daughter actually was and there were at least two other lesbian couples living on the grounds, was this also some kind of weird lesbian commune or was I missing something major? Then there was the whole investigation being run in the library, that policewoman Heather and her helpers had access to information sources the normal police could only dream of it was all very confusing to me indeed. I lay on my bed and pondered this and other questions in my head for quite a while before deciding the best way to find answers would be to actually ask some questions. I had a quick wash and left my room then headed along the corridor back towards the dining room and as I passed the front door on the way to the dining room the doorbell went off so out of instinct I stopped and opened it, and just looked at the two people standing waiting to enter. I must have stood mouth open for several seconds before, "Oh hello there Brian fancy seeing you again so soon." "I, I." was all I could say initially as I was wondering why on earth the parents of my old school friend John were standing in the doorway of the Stevenson's home, "B, but why are you here?" I asked more out of confusion than anything else, I then thought that somehow they must have heard about Naimh being missing and had come to visit me, not realising how stupid that was Joy then appeared behind John's parents with her daughter Susan, I watched as Joy smiled and hugged Johns parents whilst Susan grimaced and said under her breath "Awkward." "You haven't told him yet have you?" Asked Johns mum, "Not yet Mummy." Said Joy whilst I was struggling to try to remember if John had a younger sister. "Ah, that explains it then, don't you think that you should?" "Yes it's probably time now mum," Joy did not look her usual confident self when she approached me. "Brian, would you join me in my workshop please?" She asked and as I started to follow Joy across the hallway I heard her daughter say to Alice Stevenson, "I'm just going to message Bob." I followed Joy down into the well-lit basement and through into a brightly lit compact workshop that had a workbench against one wall and a desk with three comfortable chairs against the wall adjacent to the entry door, Mrs Stevenson was slightly pink in the face from her recent exercise session and was still wearing her exercise clothing, she sat and I sat opposite her, "I'm sorry Brian, firstly I assure you that regardless of the outcome of this conversation we will continue to try and locate your daughter, that aim will not change." "Right, so what do you need to tell me? I mean you called John's mum and dad Mum are you his little sister or something or, or were you adopted by them and where is John, do you know where he is?" Mrs Stevenson looked up into my eyes, her eyes were glistening, I watched as she gulped before she said, "You're looking at him Brian." I couldn't believe my eyes and refused to believe them, I just stared at the pretty woman who was quite obviously several years younger than I was and said. "No." "It's true Brian, I was once John your friend." "No, you're shitting me." "I'm not and I wish that we had been reunited under more controlled circumstances." "You're John?" "Yes Brian." It just wouldn't register in my mind, this couldn't be him it just couldn't, "Do you remember one of the last times I saw you?" She asked me. "Not really." I replied as I really couldn't remember, "You asked me if I still had my scout knife as you wanted it to cut nettles to get under a conker tree." "Where?" I asked "Jesmond Dene." "What the fuck happened to you? I mean have you had it cut off, oh this is fucking freaky." John/Joy tried to explain what had happened but I'd stopped listening I was thinking of the other lesbians she had as friends, was this some sort of sick cult? I'm not quite sure what I said next but I'm sure I said several very hurtful things to him/her before I stormed out of her workshop, went to my room, packed one of my bags and left the Stevenson home and caught the first bus that came by me. I'm now sitting at the station in Saltburn waiting for a train to take me back to Newcastle or anywhere I don't particularly care. On reflection now that I've had a little time to cool down I know I said things to Joy/John that I now regret but I can't really retract them now as I know that I will never be welcome at her home again. I start to think more clearly as the cool breeze helps me to focus and am now remembering her sobbing and apologising to me as I left her workshop, I sink into the bench just as I'm overcome by the feeling I've just right royally screwed up, "What a shit you are Brian." I say loudly and angrily to myself on the empty cold platform already regretting my recent actions. "I'm not going to disagree with you there." I turn and notice the woman called Silvanus, where the hell did she appear from? "Look I don't want to fight; I just want to leave and go back up to Newcastle." "Well you can't not just yet, we need you to see someone first, what you do after that I don't particularly care." I turned the other way and was very surprised to see Aliza standing near me, "Look just leave me alone will you, I've burned my bridges now, there's no coming back from what I've said." "It wasn't a request Brian, Terry and Dix were going to come and get you but Aliza and I figured this way would be safer for you." Said Silvanus, I got up and said, "Look lady I just want to go back to Newcastle." Silvanus somehow in an instant had me pinned to the station wall with her hand on my neck then said through gritted teeth." "Joy is a very dear friend, I love her as I would my own daughter, how you reacted to her was inexcusable." "Silvia put him down, let us be civilised about this." Silvanus released my neck, rubbing my neck I thanked Aliza, "Don't thank me if it were up to me I'd be kicking your backside from here to Middlesbrough, I'm doing what I know Joy would do if she were in any fit state." "Fit state?" "You rejected her you prick, has she shown you anything but kindness over the last few days?" "Well no, I've hardly seen her really and she's a bloke." Aliza shook her head sadly at me. "A couple of hours of your time and then we'll drop you off wherever you want to go." "Do I have an option?" I asked. "No" replied both women. I picked up my bags and followed the two women out of the station and up the street to a parked Range Rover, "I'm sorry but we are going to have to hood you." Silvanus then hooded me and guided me into the back of the vehicle managing to bang my head on something on the way. "Oops sorry." She said unconvincingly. When we arrived at our destination I was led into a room where I was met by a man I'd met briefly before called Bob, he didn't shout at me or threaten me but instead told me a story it was a love story of sorts involving John and Alice and within an hour Bob had actually managed to reduce me to tears more than once, I quickly came to the realisation that my own life long prejudices and those of my parents had almost certainly destroyed any chance of a future friendship with Joy or her family. I was given refreshments and then escorted by two soldiers who were obviously recovering from injuries from a kind of bunker built into the hillside into a large bright building that they called 'The Centre' where I was given a guided tour and introduced to several patients. A Doctor called Mike left me in no doubt that I had badly wronged Joy and informed me that the entire hospital complex had been Joy's idea. Sitting by myself in the caf? area a little later I was feeling like a complete shit and deservedly so, I went up to the counter and asked the young woman behind the counter if she had any paper and a pen, she handed me a small notebook and pencil asking, "If you don't mind me asking what do you need it for?" "I need to write an apology; I was monumentally wrong about an old friend and really need to apologise." "So why don't you just tell them?" I pondered this for a second, "Because I'm a coward, I just couldn't." I took the pen and notebook and started to write my apology but was interrupted after about fifteen minutes by a little cough, to my left I looked up to see Alice standing just to the side of me, she was with Joy and was holding her hand tightly. Joy's eyes were bloodshot and puffy, it was obvious she'd recently been crying. "Joy has something to say to you Brian." and before I could say anything Joy said "I should have told you who I was immediately I met you Brian I'm so sorry." Joy's apology hit me like a brick, this was just so wrong it was me that should be apologising to her, I got up from my seat and offered her both my hands, she took them hesitantly and with Alice watching my every move like a hawk I looked her in the eyes. "Joy I was just writing an apology to you as I was too ashamed to face you personally, I behaved appallingly towards you and I realise now it must have been hard for you to open up and tell me of your past. I'm so sorry for how I behaved and one day I pray that you will be able to forgive me for my intolerance." To my utter and complete surprise Joy moved forward wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my shoulder. I placed my hands on Joy's back and held her as I would have done my own daughter when she was a little girl and had hurt herself. Joy smiled weakly at me when we released sometime later and whilst dabbing at her eyes with a tissue asked if I would like a cup of tea or a drink. "It's okay I'll get it." I offered but Joy insisted and left Alice and I together. As soon as Joy was at the counter and out of earshot she leaned over and whispered into my ear, "You may be Joy's childhood friend Brian but if you ever upset her like that again I'll personally rip your gonads off." She then smiled at me and started to make polite conversation until Joy returned with beverages. When Joy returned with our drinks I asked about 'The Centre' and Alice explained that it was a hospital that mostly helped military personnel but also helped others and that it was now almost entirely funded by the recovered assets of criminal organisations that had been closed down. I noticed to my right a soldier entering the building and making his way slowly towards us by swinging his hips in a most unusual way, he stopped by our table and Saluted Joy. "Sorry to disturb you Ma'am but I've been told to inform you that there has been a breakthrough of sorts, Major Percy has requested your presence." "Thank you corporal Thomas," Said Joy before she commented "You seem to be getting the hang of the prosthetics." "Yes Ma'am I'm getting used to them slowly." "Would you care to escort me over to the bunker then Corporal?" "It would be an honour Ma'am." Joy now seemed to me to be a completely different person, she got up from her seat kissed Alice on the lips and said, "See you soon my love." before linking arms with the soldier to help steady him and walking slowly with him out of the building. "He lost both legs to an IED, it's hard to believe that he was suicidal when he first arrived isn't it?" Alice smiled "now look at him another couple of months and he'll be discharged straight into a good civilian job." "He called your wife Ma'am, is that some courtesy?" "No Brian Joy is a Major and as such it's either Major or Ma'am." "A major, I don't understand." I said "It doesn't surprise me, it's complicated." Alice didn't elaborate. Apart from her initial threat Alice was really good company and spent nearly an hour with me explaining what had been going on in the background whilst I'd been moping around the Stevenson estate worrying about my missing daughter Naimh. Alice's phone pinged and after reading the message she asked, "Do you have your passport with you Brian?" "No I didn't think I'd need it." "No matter," Alice got up from her seat and offered me her hand, I took it and she led me to one of the centre's walls. "This looks bland enough, stand against the wall and look directly at my phone." I did and she took several pictures of me before forwarding them to someone. "Passport should be ready before we leave." "Leave?" I asked. "Yes, Joy is off up to Newcastle or thereabouts now to interview someone but it looks like we'll be taking a short flight over to Amsterdam." "Amsterdam, why?" "Message didn't say Brian but it did specify that our ship may be needed." "You have a ship?" "We do but we won't be travelling on it as it's just off the Norwegian coast near Stavanger at the moment, we'll be getting a plane across and meet with our ship there late tomorrow." "Do you know where Naimh is have they found her Alice?" I asked hopefully, "No the message didn't say but as the message stated that you should come with us I would hazard a guess that there's a very good chance she could be nearby." Somehow I knew that I was getting close to finding my daughter and because of that I started to develop an ache in my stomach, I knew that it was just nervousness but it was there, nevertheless. Chapter 34 The Recruiter Joy. Things had progressed fast following the evidence we'd gained from the two victims and from Marjorie Seddon who it turned out was actually quite oblivious to where her new kidneys had come from and became very angry at her husband who had arranged her transplant in a private clinic in the Netherlands, Mrs Seddon had even asked if the kidneys could be transplanted back into the person they'd been stolen from and as a result of that she was currently fasting before going into surgery to see if re implantation would be possible of at least one of her kidneys into its original owner, a very risky procedure. Terry is driving as we head up towards Newcastle with Heather staying back at Stevenson Towers as the pieces of her jigsaw puzzle of a case start to fall into place at an increasing pace. We're attempting to find a young woman by the name Colleen Aitchesonn who Heather believes is recruiting young women and men with the story that they can make money from medical trials of a new indigestion medication. Colleen is known to the police of several authorities for mostly petty crimes and according to Heather has never shown any remorse for her crimes. "So you okay now Joy?" Asked Terry cautiously as we turned onto the A1 and accelerated to meet the dual carriageway, I didn't answer. "Aliza was really pissed with your mate Brian." "My revelation was poorly timed Terry, he had enough on his plate without learning that one of his schoolmates is now a woman." "Joy don't make excuses for him, what he said to you was bang out of order." "I appreciate what you're saying Terry I really do, but I need to focus now on finding this woman before she disappears." "Fair enough, should be there soon." We arrived outside the campus that Taff had found Colleen working twenty minutes later and as Terry and I headed towards the entrance I spotted her leaving, she was dressed smartly in a dark suit with skirt just above her knees and was carrying a leather briefcase, she also had security in the form of two bruisers walking about four paces behind her. "Get the woman Joy, Dix and I will take care of her security." Stated Terry, I nodded and he broke off from me as Dix appeared to my left. The two Bruisers fell to the ground almost simultaneously as I closed in on Colleen. "Miss Aitchesonn please come with me." I stated tersely as I approached her, "I think not." She turned and shouted "Lads." Just before noticing them lying on their backs on the ground." I grabbed her elbow and led her towards the van Dix had arrived in. Smugly Colleen stated, "You have no idea what you're getting yourself involved in have you?" she then spun around trying to get away from me but my grip on her arm remained steady. "They'll be watching on the cameras; you bitch they'll come for you and your friends." "Cameras have inexplicably been turned off, curious that." I stated, Colleen then grabbed me and putting one of her legs in front of me tried to unbalance and trip me. I easily avoided this by twisting with her and with her leg outstretched and supporting her torso stamped on her knee causing her to scream in agony. "I'll have you for this, this is police brutality this is." She said with tears in her eyes, "I'm not police, your actions have gone far beyond the police, now be a good girl and don't annoy me anymore as I'm not having the best of days." I helped her up and we continued towards the van with her continually complaining. "You're a psycho you are, you're not right in the head." Dix and Terry arrived by my side and literally picked up Colleen then a few seconds later deposited her in the back of the van. Inside the van colleen was bound and placed against one of the side walls, I left with Terry to go back to our car just as the van door slid shut to the sound of Bob saying, "Good afternoon Colleen, I have some questions for you." "Right Joy, now we have enough to pull him we'll pick up Tarryn Slatecroft and his arsey boss Chamberman." Unfortunately when we arrived at Whelpington Pharmaceuticals just under thirty five minutes later we were informed by Glynis the receptionist that Both Tarryn Slatecroft and Doctor Chamberman had been called away on business and were travelling to a conference in Europe, Tarryn's personal protection Mr Murton was hovering and watching every move that Glynis made, I went over to him whilst Terry continued to talk to Glynis. "If I didn't know better Mr Murton I'd think that you were making sure that your receptionist was keeping to a prepared script." "And if I wasn't so trusting I'd be now thinking that you and your friend weren't inspectors at all." "So do you know where your boss actually is Mr Murton?" I asked. "I think it's time for you to leave now." he said whilst opening his jacket a little and showing me a brief glance of a handgun." Mr Murton was at least six foot two and outweighed me by several stone but was completely unprepared for my throat punch followed immediately by a slap to his left ear to disorientate him, staggering a little as he recovered I removed his firearm and threw it towards Terry who caught it in one hand, I then jumped onto an adjacent table matted my fingers into his shortish hair and proceeded to hit the back of his head into the wall behind him until he fell to the ground unconscious. Terry turned to Glynis the receptionist and said, "She's having a bad day." Glynis looked stunned for a second before finally saying, "They have Mr Slatecroft and Dr Chamberman in the old staff canteen, they were going to go to the police over that girl that died then these men turned up and threatened Tarryn, I think that Mr Murton called them." "Where is your canteen Glynis?" Asked Terry "Through there along the corridor, you can't miss it." I finished securing the now groaning Mr Murton as Terry instructed the receptionist to call the police. I joined him at the entrance to the long corridor. "Bloody floor tiles on concrete, they'll hear us coming a mile off." "Take your shoes off then." I said as I slipped off my own plimsolls. We made our way along the corridor checking each door as we did. Terry had my spare Glock17 and both weapons were silenced. As we reached the double doors to the works canteen I kicked open one of the double doors as Terry entered with weapon at the ready. "Clear," he indicated almost immediately followed by "Man down." I entered to see Tarryn lying propped against a wall, he was holding his side his hand, jacket and shirt were covered in blood, I went to Tarryn, "Can you hear me Tarryn?" "Y,.. yes they bloody stabbed me, took the doc." Terry had now left me and was on his mobile, he returned a few seconds later with a large first aid box he'd found. "They said that they were legitimate, The Doc vouched for them said they were licensed and everything." "Let me stem the blood flow, try not to move too much." I said after moving his jacket away and peeling his shirt back. "After your visit I checked our records and got suspicious, Ahhhhh." "Sorry that probably stings a lot." I said as I cleaned the entry wound before packing the area. "I'm sorry but this will really hurt but we need to stem the blood until the ambulance gets here." Tarryn was panting now, "I told the doc I was going to contact the police this morning and at around three several men burst in and took us hostaaaaaahh that bloody hurts." "Sorry but you could die if I can't stop the blood." I heard the sound of sirens it looked like Tarryn was going to be in luck as there must have been an ambulance locally, I tried to reassure him and said, "Don't you worry we'll find the men that did this to you," he grabbed at my arm, "No y, you don't understand it was the doc that did this to me, bloody Randolph Chamberman did this to me." Terry placed his hand on my shoulder, "We need to get going, we've done all we can here." I looked at Tarryn "Tarryn tell the police what you've just told me, don't miss anything out I'm really sorry but I have to go now." "Thank you." Terry and I slipped out the same way that Tarryn's attackers probably had and we quickly made our way to the SAAB, Terry drove as I cleaned Tarryn's blood off myself as we headed back through the Tyne tunnel where I knew I'd be able to borrow some of Susan's clothing at my old home before heading to the airport for our flight to Schiphol, hopefully getting there in time for an evening meal with Alice. Chapter 35 Old friends! Joy. When Terry and I checked in at the Airport my satchel was taken from me by a waiting member of the security staff and not X- rayed, "We were informed that you would be arriving soon, Sir, Ma'am, you have both been pre-cleared, Mr Dixon and Mr Jones are already on board the flight." stated the uniformed man as he ushered us through the backstage areas of the airport bringing us out into an empty departure lounge. "Here are your boarding passes and I'm returning your Satchel to you Ma'am, have a good flight." Our unscheduled flight landed at Schiphol almost exactly sixteen minutes after Alice's Scheduled flight and I caught up with her as she waited by a large baggage carousel, waiting for our bags. Even though we'd only been apart a matter of hours Alice embraced me for so long that she missed her bags and Terry had to rescue them for her. "Come on girls let's get to the minibus and get booked into our hotel, Jonesy give us a hand with these bags, Jeez Alice did you pack for a month?" I looked into Alice's eyes and she looked into mine and then she burst out laughing. "Only the essentials Terry, Only the essentials." She replied. I sat with Alice near to the back of the minibus and could see Brian sitting with Silvanus, he looked extremely nervous and completely miserable. "Alice?" "Brian looks miserable, you haven't been giving him a hard time about what happened earlier today have you?" Alice shuffled a little uncomfortably in her seat. "Oh Alice." Alice took my hand and placed it on her leg. "You were terribly upset earlier it was a natural reaction." "What did you do?" "Me nothing but Silvia and Aliza took it upon themselves to liberate him from the station and take him to see Bob," "Bob, really? Is that why he apologised to me earlier, because Bob told him to?" "No Joy All Bob did was to talk to him in his own unique way that is all." "Alice?" She placed her lovely warm hand on top of mine and cringed a little. "And I may have said something like if he was to upset you again I'd rip his balls off." "Oh Alice." "I'm sorry Joy but I was still really annoyed with him, I don't like to see you upset." I leant over and rested my head against her shoulder and sighed, "I love you Mrs Stevenson." I whispered We arrived at the hotel and after checking in Alice and I took the stairs up to our room, on entering Alice flopped down on the large double bed I joined her and within seconds our lips were locked together as we expertly removed each other's clothing and underwear. It didn't take long for Alice's tongue and fingers to bring me to a crashing climax, I even heard myself squeal with delight completely wide eyed as my body went into involuntary spasms, I of course reciprocated and soon Alice was enjoying her own moment as she shook violently whilst taking control of my fingers and guiding them into her. We lay naked and semi clothed on the bed sometime later looking into each other's glistening eyes, smiling Alice gently placed her hand on my tummy, "You would love another child wouldn't you?" I nodded "There are enough stored eggs for a few more cycles Joy." I placed her hand over mine, "It's not our life I would like to bless Alice, It's Trish and Chris's" Alice smiled at me "You want to be a surrogate for them?" "I think I do?" "Wouldn't that be a little difficult, I mean they were both born boys?" "With Chris or Trish's stored sperm and a donor egg they could still have a child." I offered, "Or... If a close relative say Leah agreed to donate an egg and it was fertilised with Chris's stored sperm." Offered Alice, it was then I realised she'd already thought about it, she then sheepishly admitted, "I was thinking about offering my own little incubator to them Joy, great minds think alike eh?" Alice then leant over and gave my exposed nipple a playful peck. "I wonder if they'd like two babies? We could be pregnant together." "Mmmmm" I said as Alice latched onto my nipple and started to gently suck. Alice and I entered the dining room later than we'd agreed, we were dressed casually and holding hands and I was probably wearing a silly smile. Dix and Terry got up from their seats as we approached and like the gentlemen they were, helped us to our seats on the large table. "We were just about to order," Said Aliza as she passed us a menu. Alice and I perused the menu and the many dishes, she pointed to one of the dishes, I grinned and nodded, "So have you decided what you'd like then girls?" Asked Aliza "Burger and fries." "Oh honestly!" Replied Aliza in mock disgust. During our meal Brian sat at the lower portion of our table between his namesake Jonesey and Taff, they kept him busy in conversation the entire meal, it was obvious to me however that he was very nervous in our company, especially as Silvanus had taken to watching his every move. After our meal Alice and I didn't follow the others to the lounge instead opting to go for a walk to work off some of our meal. "I've never been to Amsterdam before Joy believe it or not." Said Alice as we boarded the courtesy coach that would take us into the centre of town. "I've only been here once Alice, this is where I met Jeremy and Nigel." (A Lost Angel) "Oh yes they're a lovely couple." "They are and I think I'll always be indebted to them." Alice frowned "Oh yes, the incident in the Pub." "They stayed up all night and made sure I was okay afterwards; I was in a hell of a state apparently." "Well at least nothing happened, that's the main thing." "No that was left to Lucius Withers, several thousand volts and an electricity induced heart condition, lasul (coward)," I felt Alice's hand grip mine." "El a fost (he was)," I had found that we sometimes lapsed into Romanian occasionally since returning from staying with our good friend Milosh and his extended family, I didn't mind at all and listening to Alice speak in a foreign language was frankly turning me on. The bus slowed and I, Alice and three other passengers got off, I thanked the driver and we stopped to get our bearings. We were roughly in the centre of town and standing by a rack of bicycles that looked a like a little museum of cycling from the traditional with baskets to the latest mountain bikes. "Oh look Joy a canal." Said Alice as she headed over to the railing and peered down into the calm black water." "There are a lot of them in Amsterdam Alice It's what they are famous for." She ignored me and said. "Look over there a lovely bridge, selfie time," I followed Alice as she dashed over to the arched bridge over the canal watching as the hem of her warm coat billowed. "Come on slow coach," She said as I reached her, already with her phone out "Say cheese," I came in close and said the obligatory "Cheese." as Alice took several selfies of us on the bridge, "You do know it's too dark to get the canal in don't you." "I don't care, I know it's there Joy." Alice stated. "That's good enough for me, Cheese." Alice then took me by the hand and we started to explore the area and window shopped as many of the shops were now closed, unlike England however few of the shops had shutters and the windows remained illuminated so the experience was still fun. It was at around 11:15 just as we were returning to the pickup point for the courtesy bus that I first heard the loud roar of motorbikes in the distance bringing memories of the Biker gang I'd had a run in with on my previous visit. Alice and I stood at the kerb waiting to cross the road when the approaching motorbikes passed us one by one in single file and started to park in the bays of a communal square a couple of hundred metres to our left. "Joy?" Asked Alice whilst tugging my sleeve. "Yes Alice?" "You must have made quite an impression on your last visit." "Why is that Alice?" I asked not knowing what she as getting at. "Look at their leathers, the logo on the back." I looked at the next Biker who rode past us on his improbably loud bike. "Oooh." "Exactly." somehow they had copied the Angel wings I'd roughly drawn on my would be date rapists forehead as he lay unconscious in his grubby little flat and the bikers now seemed to be using it as their group's new logo. "Do you think that they will remember you Joy?" Asked Alice as she tugged at my arm, "Alice no, I don't think this is a particularly good idea." I might as well have been talking to a wall or the pavement as she'd already decided she wanted to meet the bikers, I however was more concerned with her safety. When we arrived at where the bikers were congregated I undid a couple of buttons on my coat just in case I needed more freedom of movement, the bikers looked at us suspiciously as we approached only for me to hear a familiar voice to my side, "You, you have returned?" I turned to see their leader. "You remember us yes?" He asked I looked up at him, his face was almost emotionless and as such I was having trouble gauging his mood "Yes I remember you, you helped me." "We were held by the National police until someone intervened and we were released." "I didn't know I'm sorry." "Ha I am not we took your logo." his face opened into a broad warm smile "It is cold here I would say that you should not be out but I know different, who is lady with you?" "This is my wife." "Wife, she is as beautiful as you are but is she as deadly?" I smiled a wry smile "She can be." "We never gave away your Identity." "Thank you." "Joris, my name is Joris." Joris held out his hand in apparent friendship I offered mine and shook it "I will not ask yours but will just call you Engel, it suits you." "Thank you Joris, and your friends?" "Oh yes they know of you, you have of course met Lars before and Antoni." Joris then proceeded to introduce Alice and I to his gang. "We were getting a, er, bring away, no, takeaway, food to take back to club huise, you are welcome to join us." I smiled at Joris surprised at the change in him and his gang since we'd last met, "You say house just like a Geordie." "Geordie as in the mad English soldier and friend who came looking for you?" "Yes that'll be Terry." "He drank a lot of tea, Engel, did he find you?" "He did." "And your memory has it recovered?" "It has." "Goed goed, I am glad for you, ah here is food, will you join us?" I turned to Alice surprisingly she smiled and nodded. "Okay you take this get on my motorfiet, put your feet there and hold tightly, your wife she will go with Lars okay?" I checked with Alice; she was already slipping the offered helmet on seemingly relishing her little adventure. I got on the back of the motorcycle and wrapped my arms around Joris's leather clad waist. "You lean when I lean and we be okay yes?" "Yes." the small heels of my shoes located on the rear foot pegs and Joris's large motorbike's engine roared into life as he started it. I'm not sure if it was stupidity or instinct but I knew that somehow Joris and his gang had now changed and that we would be safe with them as we roared through the narrow wet streets of Amsterdam on the way to their clubhouse, one thing I didn't realise or expect was the effect that the vibrations of the large engine travelling through the seat would have on me and wondered if Alice was having the same sensations. On arrival at the gang's club house I noticed as Alice took off her helmet that her cheeks were flushed and wondered if mine were too, I smiled at her and raised my eyebrows she gently bit her tongue and gave me a most wicked smile. Inside the club was part workshop and part recreation area, we were shown to a large leather sofa and soon the table in front of us was decked with an impressive array of takeout meals like a huge Buffet, Alice and I were provided with tea and we both helped ourselves to small samples of food whilst the other gang members tucked in. Although rough around the edges the gang members were in a weird way very similar to Terry and my Marines they were polite but occasionally a little weird, Alice seemed to be quite at home here which surprised me a little until I remembered that she'd spent a lot of time on her school holidays as a child with Matt travelling and visiting trucker stops, contractor caf?'s and other places Iona probably wouldn't approve of. "So why do you visit our city then? Why not the summer when we are at our best? is it work?" I nodded, "Work of the Engel?" Asked Joris, I nodded once more through politeness as I was chewing a particularly good piece of sweet and sour chicken. The other Gang members stopped eating and all looked at me directly. "We should assist you; you will need base to work from, use our clubhouse yes?" He asked, I swallowed, "That is very kind of you Joris but would that not place you and your group at risk?" Joris leaned over the table, "Before you we had no purpose, after you a purpose, we will help you yes?" I smiled and nodded, "I'll inform Terry tomorrow, thank you for your kind offer." "Good, when you have eaten we will take you back to Hotel." It was after Midnight that Alice and I were delivered back to our hotel I thanked Joris and as I took off the worn leather jacket he'd given me to help stay warm to give him back he said, "No you should keep a gift from us to you." "We'll be in touch," I said as we left the bikers outside the hotel. On entry Alice turned to me she stretched her arm out and looked at her new but well-worn leather jacket, "Susan is going to be sooo jealous when she sees this, what lovely people." I sighed. Silvanus appeared as we approached the reception desk, she was wearing a coat and it was damp around the shoulders, "Making new friends girls?" she asked. "Yes and possibly a base of operations." "Oh good that'll be one headache less, oh love the jackets, reminds me of a time," Silvanus paused "A story for another time perhaps, I'll see you girls at breakfast?" We both nodded At Silvanus as we watched her leave and take the stairs presumably to her room. "She's been watching us hasn't she?" asked Alice, I nodded "She has, I noticed her a couple of times this evening, I think she still feels guilty about what happened when." "I know Joy, I know," Alice took me by the hand "Bedtime I think," and as we crossed the large reception area being eyed suspiciously by some of the guests she asked quietly "Did Joris's big motorbike give you a lovely tingly feeling down below too?" I just nodded. "Mmmm maybe we could take bike lessons." Chapter 36 Preparations Plans and Little Sightseeing. That evening Joy slept a little uneasily as her sleep was interrupted by not nightmares but of dreams where she recounted some of the events following her loss of memory, Alice didn't wake her wife however she merely got closer and gently hugged her, making sure that Joy knew that she was with her. Joy actually woke refreshed and went for a Jog leaving Alice to her slumber before joining her in the hotel Gym before breakfast. After breakfast Joy and Terry had a short meeting where she informed him of Joris's offer at around 09:30 Joy made the phone call to Joris and by 11:00 several of Terry and Joy's men were setting up a command centre in the clubhouse under the supervision of Taff. Brian was quiet in the hotel not knowing what to do or who really to talk to so he basically went up to his room after breakfast and watched cable TV until lunchtime. At around 13:00 Brian finally decided to go down to the hotel bar for a snack lunch and was just slipping his arm into his jacket sleeve when there was a knock at the door to his room. "Err just a minute," he said as he turned the TV off and headed towards the bedroom door. "Sorry I was just about to go downst, oh hello there, It's Susan isn't it?" "Yes it is, I'm just going to skip over the part where you were nasty to mummy as you've probably already suffered enough at the hands of Aliza and Silvia." "I, yes." was all he could initially say before finally asking, "So what can I do for you?" "Well we've decided to take you sightseeing." "We?" "Me Trish and Chris." "I don't think so, but thank you for the offer." Susan smiled at Brian placed her hands behind her back and gently rocked back and forwards on the balls of her feet. "Oh well never mind, plan B then." "Plan B?" "Yes Silvia figured that you wouldn't want to come sightseeing with us so she'll be keeping you company all afternoon." "A, actually I probably could do with a little fresh air, where were you thinking?" "Oh just a walk down some of the shopping streets maybe take in a gallery or a museum, then go down and see 'The Alice' come in." "Sounds great Susan lead the way." Brian left the room with Susan and as the pair reached the hotel's reception area they were met by Trish and Chris; an outnumbered Brian left the hotel into the dull greyness of the early afternoon before boarding a Taxi that would take them into town. Susan had successfully played Brian with her ploy of getting him out of the hotel as at that moment Silvanus was sitting in a small private Jet strapped into her seat as the pilot prepared to land, she was re reading several quite disturbed and almost incoherent text's sent to Susan's old Sim in the early hours of the morning, Susan thankfully was not aware of the texts and as such was enjoying her trip out, she was however aware that Aliza was following her discretely as they walked with Brian. At that moment Joy, Alice, Terry, Detective Heather and several other members of their team were being aided by Joris and his group slowly working their way through The evidence they'd gained that had pointed their investigation to the Netherlands more importantly to three private clinics that had appeared more than once in seized documentation. "Er Joy I think I have something it's a little freaky though." "What is it Mick?" Asked Joy "Well you know I've been trawling the dark web and internet looking for strangeness?" "Yes?" "I've just come across this on one of the boards, it's for an auction, Joy the auction is for people, they're selling people." "Like slavery?" Asked Joy. "No it's in parts it took an age to decrypt but for a price this group will provide a male or female, the purchaser then leases that person for a fixed sum decided at auction to do with what they will and after the lease has ended they will dispose of that person for the lease." "A bit like cars you mean?" "Yes but they also have a catalogue, I have the text but haven't decoded the pictures yet." Joy looked at the first page of text and scanned through it, one section caught her attention, 'Whatever your fetish or need we have it covered, do you want to turn an innocent virgin into a whore or possibly have a young man turned into a gay lover? We can do that and much much more, whatever your kink or fetish or perversion we can accommodate you. Our service is discrete and untraceable back to you. On completion or if you tire of your purchase or lease we provide a removal service too.' Joy read further down the page at case studies, "Oh that's just sick," Said Mike as he got up from his chair "A list of potential services, what kind of sicko would force someone to smoke or turn a bloke gay or feminize them? That's just messed up." "It's worse at the bottom of the page Mick they are even offering a tissue typing and transplantation service, I can't read this anymore." Joris who had been until then not been particularly paying attention said, "These are sick people Engel, they are not right in the head, you will stop them yes?" Joy turned to Joris and said, "Yes." Back in the UK Silvanus had now landed and had been met by Matt Stevenson, Silvanus asked first, "How is the dog?" "Toby, he's recovering from surgery, I dread to think what may have happened if he hadn't raised the alarm though." "Why didn't the police raise that alarm when Thompson escaped the unit?" "They didn't know, he overpowered and 'shanked' I believe the term is one of his guards and then somehow managed to get out of the secure unit he was being held in." "The guard, did he survive?" asked Silvanus. "No, by the time he was found in Thompson's bed he'd lost too much blood, did you read the texts?" "I did, the man is deranged, Hillary has arranged for protection for you and your staff, Thompson is mine." Matt nodded but didn't comment. "He blames you and your family for his breakup with Susan he wants to punish you all." "I know Silvia I only wish that the police and medical staff had heeded Bob's warnings about him the first time." "Drop me in town Matt please I don't want you or your family to be associated with what happens next." Matt did exactly what Silvanus said and dropped her off near a small taxi rank on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough. Chapter 37 Reconnaissance. By late afternoon Joy came out of one of the surprisingly well kept toilets of Joris's clubhouse, she was dressed in stretch jeans biker boots two layers of upper clothing, her hair was strategically messed and she was holding a helmet, Alice joined her dressed similarly a few seconds later Susan by this time had also joined her mum as had Trish, Chris and Brian, Susan didn't need to change her attire too much nor did Trish as they were passed helmets. "Okay girls this is just reconnaissance remember do not intervene is that understood." All four women nodded. "Joy you will be with Lars, Alice you are with Joris, Susan..." Terry continued to assign riders to the girls Joy had ensured that Alice would be with the leader as she knew that he would ensure her safety. The mission was simple they would take live footage of the perimeter of several 'Clinics' in town and in the outskirts hopefully one would stand out, the bikes would travel in two's, one bike with pillion passenger and the other as escort with the exception of Alice who would have three bikes escorting her. Joy and Alice donned their recently gifted jackets. "Mum's where did you get those from? They are sooo cool." Alice laughed and turned around to show the logo on the rear as Joy watched with semi amusement as her daughters eyes widened as the stylised Angel wings came into view. "Ooohhh Mummy!" Within minutes eight bikes left the clubhouse with Chris, Taff, Heather and Mick viewing footage and providing guidance via the bikes newly installed tracking devices. In the kitchen of the clubhouse Jonesy and a biker called Tan were having creative differences over the evenings cuisine, Brian who had just been sitting quietly and nervously wondering if he was actually going to see his daughter again was approached by Aliza. "You can help me to get our kit ready just in case." She passed him a claw hammer and a crowbar. "What are these for?" "The large wooden crate that will be delivered in three minutes, it will be very well packed for reasons that will soon become obvious." A few minutes later as Brian prised the large nails out of the very large wooden crate in the centre of the garage area Terry approached him, "Here give me the crowbar you concentrate on those nails." "Thank you." Brian removed several more nails from the very secure crate allowing Terry to gain a little purchase on one of the wooden packing pieces. "You still have no idea do you?" "About what?" Asked Brian, "About who she is." I know who she was Terry and that was enough of a shock so I'm not sure that I really want to know." "Suit yourself, oh come on you little bugger." There was a creak and one of the side panels opened very slightly allowing Terry to get his fingers in. "Grab the other side and pull will you?" Brian pulled with Terry and the entire side of the crate opened revealing a waxed foil wrapping, Terry produced a knife and cut through the foil, "Good lord are those guns?" Asked Brian a little stupidly as that is exactly what they were. Terry, Aliza and Dix then proceeded to unload the crate creating several piles of kit along the rear wall of the clubhouse, Brian stepped back and just stood watching and listening to Chris over at her monitor, she was scratching at the scar under her choker as she talked "Joris slow down a little, Alice just raise your head and look a little more to the right...yes that's spot on." followed by Taff a few seconds later, "I think that one is a bust Ma'am move over to site Charlie." And back to Chris, "Can you make another pass Joris I think that there may be a CCTV tower to the north of Anders lane. Alice look up this time please and try and pinpoint any Infra reds please." "Oh, oh my decryption algorithm is creating images." Said Mick as the decryption software he was running on his laptop started to produce photographs slowly revealing them on the screen of his monitor as though being created by some modern day loom. Brian noticed Mick's comment as did Terry, "Brian do not move, stay right there." He ordered as he passed him and headed towards the table where Mick was working." Heather Joined Terry and as they looked at the photographs appearing on the screen they started to slowly identify from them an increasing number of missing persons, "Is Naimh there?" Asked Brian hopefully. "Her picture hasn't appeared yet Brian." Brian sat with a thump on one of the club's chairs. For the next few minutes pictures were decrypted and printed with Heather matching a significant number to historic and current missing person's cases. Whilst Terry got on his phone, "Major Simmons could you meet me at my current location I need an expert opinion on something." there was a short pause, "It's very urgent yes." Terry finished his call and continued to look at a picture of Brian's daughter on his screen along with several pages of technical and medical data and an invoice for 792,000 Euro's Meanwhile elsewhere in the clubhouse Chris was talking Alice and Joris, "Return to base, thank you we have all we need now." And Taff was recalling Susan and Trish, Joy was already on her way. Terry waited patiently outside of the clubhouse about twenty minutes later, he really didn't want to tell Brian that he'd found his daughter but that he thought she was scheduled for surgery that he was almost certain would kill her, where the hell was Bob when he needed him? Major Simmons arrived approximately a minute after Joy and Alice had returned from their reconnaissance and when he exited his vehicle he was not alone as he had his niece with him Joy was the first to notice and whilst saying "Sandy." Loudly and with a broad smile on her face she embraced her friend as did Alice who'd finally met her the previous year. "I must say that this is a new look for you both, I like it." said Sandy, Harry broke the reunion by saying, "So what is the urgency Terry?" Terry turned to Joy and winced a little "I hate to ask this Joy but could you somehow lose Brian for the next few minutes, he really doesn't need to hear or see what I'm about to show Major Simmons." Joy simply nodded and entered the large club house and over the following quarter hour she kept her old friend busy and out of earshot of Harry and Terry. "I've just been told that Terry is special forces Joy." Mentioned Brian as he and Joy headed towards a small convenience store at the end of the road to get Sugar and Milk. "As is Taff and the others Brian.." "But special forces, are they even allowed to be here?" "You don't really want me to answer that question do you?" "I suppose not," Brian stopped on the pavement "What I'm having trouble with is where you fit into all of this, I know that you can handle yourself and everything but what is your role?" "I work with them Brian." "So you are a soldier then?" "A Marine." "A Marine?" "Yes a Royal Marine, I have a Beret and everything." "No, you're messing with me aren't you?" "If that's what you think." "So the biker gang then, you seem very pally with them how do you know them?" "Oh I stabbed their leader once, then he helped me with a situation involving a serial date rapist, that of course was when I was suffering from amnesia a while back." "You stabbed, wait no, you do realise that what you are saying makes no sense at all don't you?" "I do Brian but it's what makes me so cute and adorable." Joy smiled at Brian and whispered under her breath. "The actual truth would make your toes curl." Whilst Joy and Brian were 'At the shops' it became clearer to the team investigating back at the biker clubhouse where their next objective was to be and that it would have to be that evening if they stood any chance of rescuing Brian's daughter Naimh alive. Chapter 38 Misplaced loyalty Back in North Yorkshire. Silvanus. Matt Stevenson was worried today when I met him, worried for his family, his friends and his staff, he is a good man and does not deserve the heartache that Ian Thompson has caused him. I met with Daniel the gamekeeper earlier he is distraught over the injuries to his hound and friend Toby he was being comforted by Julie one of the newest Stevenson guests, she was genuinely concerned for the Gamekeeper. I am currently outside the home of an acquaintance of Ian Thompson's after getting his address from his grandmother. I do not like intimidating old people but Thompson has to be stopped before he kills again, in truth I believe I would have handled him differently but I applaud the Stevenson's for their restraint. As I wait in the car for signs of activity I look at the pictures of Toby's injuries on my tablet and feel a deep anger build within me. Toby certainly saved several members of the Stevenson family from injury or worse with his bravery raising the alarm even when seriously injured, if he'd been a military dog he almost certainly would get a Dickin medal. I drop in my seat as I notice a car move slowly down towards me, it stops for a second and one man gets out and heads over to the house I'm watching, he's carrying three stacked Pizza boxes and struggles a little to open the front door, I notice as the man struggles that the net curtains upstairs twitch very slightly. I quickly tie my hair back and reach around for a pair of heels and a carrier bag. I leave my car after 'Smartening' myself up a little and as I pass lamppost mounted litter bin I reach in and remove a handful of rubbish, placing it into my carrier bag to pad it out, I then place a lanyard and random identification around my neck and ring the doorbell to where I hope Thompson is holed up. It doesn't take long for the door to be answered by a young man in his twenties, I see a police uniform hanging in the background, 'makes sense' I think to myself as I recount how sluggish the police have been over the whole Thompson affair. "Yes?" Says the man impatiently. "Charity relief? I say as I hold up my carrier bag. "Eh." "Charity relief, I dropped off a collection envelope the other day." "Oh ah, hold on I think I may have some change." He didn't comment any further as he was no longer conscious, catching him as he fell I pulled him into the house bound and gagged him before, walking slowly through into the kitchen area where I could hear noise. "Who was it mate?." "It was me." Ian Thompson was genuinely surprised to see me standing before him but quickly regained his composure and reached for a large bread knife, he wasn't fast enough as I knocked it away from him grabbed his hand and dislocated his thumb. Reeling in agony he backed away from me. "L, look I don't have a problem with you lady, just the Stevenson's it was them who turned Susan against me." "Bollocks, you brought this all on yourself you little worm." I stated "No, no you have it all wrong." He said as he faced me and tried to move to his left towards the door, "And your guard in the holding facility?" "He, he had it coming, the dog too." "They deserved to die because they irritated you, is that what you are saying?" "No, no, you're twisting my words, Gahhh you are just like the rest of them you just don't understand." "Oh but I do Mr Thompson I do, unfortunately now because of your own actions you are a threat to people I care for greatly." "So what are you going to do then kill me?" Thompson had made it to the kitchen door as he asked his question and immediately made a break for it, I caught his arm rotated it and dislocated his shoulder, he squealed at the pain but still made it out of the kitchen into the utility room beyond I walked through slowly towards him as he frantically unlocked the bottom bolt and undid the lock and as he opened the door I kidney punched him hard. In the rear yard he found a section of washing pole and started to wield it threateningly, he jabbed it at me and I moved to let the old and splintered wood go past me I then took firm hold of it and pulled, Thompson was caught off guard and was forced into my waiting fist. Releasing the washing pole from Thompson I took control of it and smashed it across his right ankle, he didn't scream the pain having overloaded the pain receptors in his brain. "Get up," I said quietly "You were a disappointment to your parents Thompson." "No." He said as he dragged his broken ankle across the concrete towards the back gate, "You are a huge disappointment to your poor old grandmother." "No, you're lying, she loves me my parents loved me." "An embarrassment to the Police force." "No, no, no." "And a lousy boyfriend." "No, stop saying those things." "It's hardly surprising that you committed suicide." "Eh!" "Suicide, I have the note here in your own handwriting, it states how you have badly disappointed everyone, oh and there's a very touching part where you apologise." "No, I didn't write it?" Thompson said in a panicky voice, "Experts will testify that you did, the paper is even torn from your own diary." I advanced upon Thompson once more and watched as he exited the yard. I then followed him as he pulled himself with broken ankle along the lane and almost around to the front street. "Thank you Mr Thompson, there will be just fine." "Wha..." I rendered him unconscious with one blow and took my phone, "Ready for pick up." cancelled the call and started to head back in the direction of my car. "I pray that you will learn from this life in your next incarnation." I said to the unconscious body as I passed it. I stopped once to release the man I'd bound and gagged he was still unconscious, hopefully he will also learn from his mistake, his misplaced loyalty was not something I could punish, Thompson was a master manipulator after all. Chapter 39 Rescue? Joy. When I returned after shopping with Brian Trish took him to one side and distracted him whilst Terry appraised me of the situation. "We have to act fast Joy, Naimh is pencilled in for surgery this evening, with Mick's help we now know with pretty good certainty where she's being held and thanks to Alice and Joris we also have footage of the perimeter security on site." I listened to Terry as I changed from my day clothes into night combat gear with the other marines. "This is a relatively new base of operations it seems having only moved from the UK just over a week or so ago so hopefully security routines won't be completely embedded yet, we'll travel up the Amstel by rigid raider paddling the last few hundred metres then we'll use several sacrificial drones to cause confusion at the front of the compound whilst we breach the fence to the rear," Terry pointed at a recent satellite photograph of the site "From the plans supplied by Taff the site has a re-enforced lower level we think that this may be where the captives if any are being held." "So what was this site then?" "A medical facility until it was de commissioned two years ago, it was recently taken over by a property development company as a training facility." "And can we expect resistance?" I asked "Unknown, the footage from Alice and Joris's camera's showed patrols but no obvious weaponry to speak of, the entire site is pretty much in the countryside so hopefully we won't encounter much local interference." "So we're pretty much going in blind this time Terry." Terry nodded, "Unfortunately yes, Silvia is back in the UK dealing with a problem so even if she'd been cleared by Bob for combat missions we couldn't have used her." This I was surprised to hear as I was certain that she would have opened up to Bob by now about why she'd frozen on our last mission. Terry then slapped me on the back. "See you in the van when you're ready kidda," He then turned towards the kitchen area and said, "So who do I need to see to get some scran then?" -*- Chris came up to me just as I was about to go over to Alice and then Brian and hugged me tightly, "Please be careful Joy, please." "I will I promise." I then headed over to Alice who was chatting quietly to Taff, there were no words between us just a long hug ending in a smile and us touching noses, I noticed that she was now packed and ready to head to the safety of 'The Alice' As I approached Brian he didn't seem to recognise me for a second as he stared at my weaponry and night combat clothing. "You weren't kidding were you?" He asked quietly, "No Brian, I'll be leaving soon and hopefully we'll return with good news about your daughter." "Thank you." Was all that Brian managed to say before Aliza came over and asked, "Ready?" I nodded as she passed me a crossbow. The van dropped us off at a quiet wharf and we boarded our transport heading up the river at speed, after about five minutes it started to rain, it took a further twenty minutes before we did our radio checks and paddled the last few hundred metres to the rear fence marking the perimeter of our target. Leaving the Raiders behind we made our way up the embankment and hit an immediate setback. "Damn, water has got into the receiver circuitry of four of the drones, can't get them to boot up." Said Jonesey I knew that our drones were still really just prototypes but made a mental note to improve their IP rating when we returned. We then heard over our earpieces, "Mr Joris says he can make a noisy diversion if you would like." Joris and his bikers had agreed to be in the local vicinity just in case we needed a quick getaway from site. "We still have two drones control, additional noise and distraction would be appreciated though." there was a brief pause then, "ETA 90 seconds." In the intervening time Taff and I managed to get another drone working by using several sachets of powdered milk on the circuit board of the receiver to absorb moisture. It didn't take long for the noise of the powerful motorbikes to attract the attention of the people within the complex and soon several men headed towards the large front gates. "We now have conformation that the site security is armed, lethal force is approved." Taff and I launched the three drones and immediately control was taken from us as they were now being guided remotely to their targets, "Joris pull back now and thank you." We cut our way through the chain link security fence and made our way quickly across the grassy expanse of ground towards a small copse of trees and bushes about 20 metres away from the large flat roofed two story building. Terry and Taff deployed two grapples as the drones exploded at the front of the complex, they immediately climbed the rope only occasionally using the side of the building to stabilise themselves, Jonesey and I were next followed by Aliza and the rest of our marines. Once on the roof area Terry went over to one of the three doors and placed an explosive charge on the hinges whilst other marines did the same to the other entrances Aliza recovered the ropes we'd climbed up whilst I prepared our crossbows. In the background I could hear small arms fire as the site security fired randomly at the sky possibly in an attempt to down any more drones. I made my way across the sodden roof to the front of the building where I got my first view of our opponents, I noted with resignation that one of the vehicles in the car park although unmarked now I could still see the word Sentinel where it's livery had been removed. Moving to the left of the building I noticed two men now patrolling the perimeter fence heading towards the breach we'd made in the perimeter fence, by this time I'd been joined by Aliza, we both took aim and fired simultaneously the crossbow bolt's each passing straight through its respective target rendering it harmless. I heard two brief 'thuck's from the other side of the building the marines having eliminated another patrol with their silenced weapons. Three simultaneous explosions happened soon after with Aliza and I making our way down the rear staircase to the building and Terry the front right with Taff and his men the front left. Our aim was to take the security room which was located on the first floor it was adjacent to the plant room and didn't take us long to find. Unfortunately the security room had a large security door controlled by a proximity card access system, Aliza and I however ignored the security room and we removed a wooden panel giving us access to a riser duct and more importantly one of the main hubs on the security door system. After undoing the four screws on the lid and removing it I connected a small tablet from my satchel to the comms connector via a common network port, I quickly attempted to communicate with it by pinging the default IP address, success I then affixed the tablet computer to nearby metal trunking with a magnetic clamp, I quickly established remote comms and listened, "Okay I have established communication with unit, verifying IP, I'm in," followed quickly a few seconds later with "I now have complete access to all security doors in building." "Prepare to open the security room door." "Preparing." Aliza and I made our way around to the small corridor that held the security room, then crouching at low level I said "Open security room now." "Opening" There was a barely perceptible dunk as the maglocks on the door released I immediately rolled a prepared flash bang into the room and following a second or two's confusion there was a loud bang that caused the door to slam shut once more. Aliza and I quickly entered the room, there were three men stunned and not sure what had happened they were unarmed so we quickly subdued them and bound them. "Team two you have incoming." Warned Terry from wherever he was, Aliza immediately went to the door and exited it and I quickly checked over the camera's to see four armed men coming up on us along the corridor towards the plant room, I joined Aliza and gestured that there were four targets to our left, she took a grenade and I took a flash bang we both lobbed our projectiles down the corridor and took cover until we heard two explosions we immediately came out of cover and fired into the smoke filled gloom. The fire suppression system kicked in a second or two later and I heard powerful fans starting up which quickly cleared the smoke revealing three dead men and one who was just starting to regain his senses, I Covered Aliza as she bound the injured man, behind us I heard footsteps on metal as more targets ran up the fire escape towards us. For a second or two everything went silent until two armed grenades were thrown into the corridor several yards back from the control room corridor, Aliza and I took cover in the plant room as the grenades triggered one after another, I quickly looked down the rows of circuit breakers on the wall nearest to me and knocked off the lighting in the corridor and the plant room, We then both switched to night vision and waited for our attackers to enter the corridor. "Did we get them?" "Shut the fuck up stay silent," Said male voices, Aliza and I entered the corridor low to see the images of at least six men moving towards us I fired two short bursts as did Aliza followed by one grenade down the corridor as we dived back into the cover of the plant room. "I'm hit, someone fucking shot me," Said a voice just before the grenade went off. After subduing the survivors Aliza and I made our way back to the control room where after a moment or two I regained control of the cameras. I checked that the corridors were clear on our route to the basement whilst Aliza looked through the other systems. "Joy look at this" I turned and looked at a video wall featuring about fifteen young women and three young men each apparently in their own bedroom, they were all scantily clad and either posing provocatively or masturbating, "Just look at the counters under each one Joy Obviously web sex is very lucrative." the counters were in dollars and were rising rapidly, I then noticed on the console that there were several other screens that could be switched over each with multiple screens within them, I pressed the one marked special requests. Aliza and I stood looking at the screen for several seconds before turning it off. "That is just sick Aliza." She didn't seem surprised but did agree with me "I've heard of this before Joy they take a perfectly ordinary young man or woman and corrupt them for their own entertainment whether it be forced weight gain, body modification, smoking or even in some cases gender modification someone somewhere will have a fetish for it and will willingly pay criminals to enable them to act out their fantasies." I wasn't surprised just saddened. "Okay, in basement now, large steel door blocking our way, any chance that you can unlock it?" Asked Terry, "It's not on the access schematic I have no control over that door." Stated Trish through my comms, I looked over the console in front of me, "I do I can also plunge the entire basement into darkness." "Great, any time you're ready then get yourselves down here." "Understood." I flicked the manual release switch on the console whilst Aliza went into the plant room and turned out the basement lighting, I then quickly went over to one of the several computers and placed a USB device into one of the ports on the case, within seconds I heard Mick in my earpiece. "Okay I'm through their firewall accessing data and shutting down all live feeds now." I joined Aliza in the corridor and after checking our weapons we made our way down the North fire escape to the basement where we heard sporadic small arms fire but by the time we'd reached the security doors the firing had stopped. "Ma'am, we've secured the area search is now in progress." "Thank you lance corporal Mathers," "Major Percy requests that you meet with him immediately." "Lead the way." Aliza and I followed the marine to where Terry was. Terry was standing over a man sitting in a chair the man had sandy blond hair and didn't seem to be particularly worried about his predicament, Terry made a gesture to cut my throat mike, this I did, "Naimh isn't here Joy, she was but not anymore according to Matey here." I turned to the man sitting and took the tablet with Naimh's picture on, "Where is she?" "Gone." "I know where she isn't, what I asked you was where she was." "I want to see legal representation." "Don't try my patience." I stated menacingly Aliza raised her pistol and shot him in the foot. "The next shot will be your manhood, where was the girl taken to?" "You wouldn't," Aliza started to raise her weapon but something different caught his eye and he started to talk very quickly. "She's gone for surgery she's been gone over an hour now, you're probably too late." "Where?" I asked menacingly "Th, Th, the, the old maternity h, hospital b, but it's guarded, the buyer has his own security team." I turned to see that almost all of the screens on the walls of the basement were now showing a picture of Angel wings and that was what the seated man was looking at, I wondered if he thought Aliza was 'The Angel' Terry was straight on to our control. "I need transport ASAP and possibly surgical backup." he said as he entered the coordinates of the old hospital into his tablet computer, "Transport is nine minutes away sir I will inform the Major's." "Nine minutes, too long." "May we be of assistance?" It was Joris "We are less than a minute away, open the gates and we will enter." Leaving a contingent of marines behind to ensure the safety of the captives Terry Aliza Taff Jonesy Dix and I along with three other marines climbed onto the rears of several powerful Harley Davidson motorbikes and screeched into the night towards the old Hospital. Chapter 40 Naimh Little over an hour ago Brian's Daughter Naimh was pulled from her cubicle where she'd been reclining in lingerie, camera's watching her every move as she posed provocatively in front of a camera, Naimh hadn't been requested to perform any lewd acts or have sex yet but she thought it would only a matter of time before she would, Naimh was being compliant because of the hopelessness of her situation and the fact her food was being laced with medication that made sure she was. She didn't complain when she was pulled from her warm cubicle as she knew it was pointless, she was given a coat to put on and escorted by two burley men into the back of a waiting car unaware that unless she was rescued soon this would be the last trip she would ever take. Naimh. I think that I'm being given a check-up at hospital, I wonder if I should say anything to the nurse about me being abducted, the man sitting by my side has just passed me a gown, and said "Take your slut clothing off and change into this." I hear myself giggle and teeter into the cubicle. I remove my heels and undo the straps holding up my stockings up, why am I wearing stockings? Tights are so much easier oh yes it's for the people watching me, I start to undo the hooks and eyes on my, my oh what do they call it again? No matter it's undone now. I don't think my boobies liked being held up like that. 'Uhhhh' I hear myself say as I rub my temples god I feel so fuzzy my face feels funny, oh yes it's the makeup that old hag puts on for me every day. 'This is not me.' I hear myself saying as I look at my long dark fingernails, I know that dad wouldn't approve... Dad why did I just think of him? I slip into the gown and hear someone entering the room, "She's in the cubicle changing." Says my guard "Well get her out, we haven't got all day." Said an angry sounding man, my guard enters and pulls me out of the cubicle and sits me on a seat, "Good evening I just thought I would visit you and thank you for your service, you are one of our most profitable acquisitions." "I am?" I answer, "Yes you've been very popular I hear with the online crowd and this evening you are going to make us nearly a million more possibly if the second auction goes through in time," "Auction I don't understand." "Of course you don't dear as you are pretty much stoned but I will explain it to you simply. You my dear are to be an organ donor," "I am?" 'Oh this isn't right he can't just do this can he?' I think to myself as I feel myself starting to panic, "Yes your lovely healthy fresh lungs are going to give another woman a new lease of life her lungs are now slowly dying due to misuse over the years but if you are really lucky and our auction makes enough money the doctors may transplant her old lungs into you giving you maybe a year or more of life, of course you'll need to be permanently on oxygen from now on though." "But I need my lungs I don't want you." he slapped me, "You my dear don't have a say in the matter, we own you now and we will do what the hell we like with you." He turned to my guard "Keep her here, the anaesthetist will be along shortly. "Sir." it's been ten minutes now I was given something a few minutes ago into the tube they've put into my hand I feel really woozy now, I don't think I'm going to come out of this alive I just have a feeling, I can feel myself shaking and tears forming, "What's the matter with you?" Asks my guard, "I want my Daddy." I hear myself whimper "Ha you'll need a bloody miracle for that to happen, you daft tart." I then did something I hadn't done since I was a little girl I prayed, prayed for my Dad to come and hug me one last time. My prayers were not answered as a few minutes later I was put onto a bed with wheels and taken to a room where there are several security people and a doctor is about to inject something into me. "Hold her arm for me please." one of the guards holds my arm down whilst the masked man injects a cloudy liquid into the tube in my hand, "Nighty night." Says the masked man as I fight to stay awake. At this point Naimh loses consciousness and after she is stabilised and prepared is wheeled into one of the two operating theatres being used this evening, one to remove the diseased lungs from the middle aged wife of a European diplomat and one to harvest perfectly healthy lungs from the perfectly healthy young woman called Naimh. Chapter 41 The Hospital Joy. We were now heading along mostly empty roads at speed, Joris obviously conscious that if we didn't make it Brian's daughter would very probably die, Naimh a young woman I'd never met and if we failed never would. I noticed as the landscape became more and more built up that Joris hadn't slowed even a little and then I realised why as every single side street and junction had been blocked by Bikers and from their jackets not just from Joris's group these were from many different biker groups, "I asked for help on behalf of 'The Engel' they responded; it is good yes?" said Joris via my earpiece. I no longer cared if my identity was exposed I only had one purpose so I said, "Yes Joris, thank you." "We are nearly there, prepare yourself." I looked over Joris's shoulder and noticed four men at the entrance gates to the small private hospital, they were armed. Resting my mp5 on Joris's shoulder and raising myself up on the rear foot pegs I took aim and fired three shots into the chest of the leftmost guard. The two middle guards fell at almost the same time and then the rightmost guard, unfortunately Taff's bike had been hit and he came skidding to a halt, "We're okay I'll catch up." Said Taff as I watched him get up and start running towards the gates. Joris slid his bike literally up to the entrance of the hospital, I dismounted, "Get clear and thank you." I said just as a man in a dark suit rounded a corner and took aim at us with a pistol, I fired as he did and felt his round glance off my helmet, he wasn't so lucky and fell into a puddle by the side of the Ambulance bay, his spurting blood quickly mixing with the water of the puddle. As I entered the building with Terry Aliza and Dix two men dressed in combat fatigues and sporting automatic weapons confronted us. I fired into the leftmost man and Terry into the rightmost, stepping over the two bodies I went to the building plan on the wall. "Operating theatres Ground floor, just through here, Taff escort the Major to us when he arrives." "Ma'am" The corridor leading up to the operating theatres was a long straight one and afforded us no cover whatsoever so we approached it via the old pathology labs and surprised several armed men and a woman waiting outside the Theatre complex, "ON THE GROUND," Ordered Terry, one man reached for his weapon I fired two silenced rounds into his chest. "ANY MORE HEROES? ON THE GROUND NOW." Repeated Terry the remaining men and woman complied, on entering the outer room a nurse rushed up to me and attempted to stab me with a surgical implement, I simply disarmed by breaking her wrist and throwing her to the side where Aliza caught her. I entered the operating theatre to the right where I was confronted by several medical staff around a patient whose chest was in the process of being opened up, it sickened me to my stomach was I too late? One of the male staff came up to me brandishing what looked like a wood saw I simply raised my Glock and shot his knee out. "What!," Said one of the surgeons who'd finally noticed me, "I don't know who you are but get out of here now." "Donor or recipient?" I asked "What?" "Donor or recipient? It's a simple question." the surgeon looked over at another of the staff. "Get rid of her." But before he could get anywhere near me I shot him in the thigh, he collapsed onto the white tiled floor. I walked closer to the surgeon and levelled my pistol at his head. "Donor or Recipient?" "Donor." He finally said as he reached for an as yet unused scalpel, "If you touch that scalpel I will blow your brains out?" "And if you should do that who would put this unfortunate woman back together?" Sneered the arrogant man, "I believe that would be me." Said a welcome female voice behind me the surgeon made a grab for the scalpel but instead of keeping my promise I beat him to the blade grabbed his hand and stabbed him in the wrist making sure that I took out as many tendons as I could in the process. I then punched the surgeon in the face unmasking him and basically continued hitting him until he fell against the nearest wall unconscious, I felt Sandy's hand on my shoulder, "It's not as bad as it looks I promise you." I kicked the surgeon in the testicles for good measure and turned to face the rest of the medical staff standing around the operating table, "You are now working for this woman here and that man over there," I said pointing at Major Simmons who was wearing a surgical gown and had already scrubbed up "Do you understand?" Every person nodded, Harry looked down at the open chest cavity, "Hmm lungs deflated and on bypass, we're just in time I think." I didn't agree but kept quiet, "Major Trotter scrub up, I wouldn't trust these butchers to carve a roast." Sandy turned and left the room, he turned to me, "If you wouldn't mind stepping back a little also please." I did as requested. "Oh but keep your weapon handy just in case one of this lot tries something stupid." "Sir." Major Simmons worked swiftly issuing orders to the medical team until Sandy returned, "Okay you, you and you are no longer required so go." "Anaesthetist keep an eye on our patient's blood pressure" I took one of the nurses and handed her over to Terry who was standing outside the operating Theatre, "How's it going in there?" "No idea but I think Harry is pretty annoyed." "Hillary has informed the local authorities; they're staying back at the moment as they think it's a NATO exercise." I wasn't particularly interested as I wanted to get back into the operating Theatre, I turned and did just that and as I entered I heard The Major saying to Sandy. "They're pinking up nicely now, let's try taking her off bypass." I watched in awe from a distance as the Major and his niece worked as a flawless team on Naimh's body, "Okay let's get her sternum back together then get her back to the ship where plastics can tidy her up." "And what about the recipient?" Asked Sandy "Mike is in with her now can you finish off here?" "Yes." Harry left Sandy to finish off Naimh's operation. Sandy looked over at me and even though I couldn't see her face I could tell that she was smiling, "It's okay we did it, Naimh is going to be okay," Her interpretation of okay and mine were obviously quite different as she would now have a very large scar on her previously flawless chest, this angered me greatly 'If only I'd gotten here sooner' I kept thinking to myself along with how disappointed Brian must be in me at this moment. Aliza approached me as Sandy closed Naimh up and passed me a rucksack. "Alice has sent this through Joy, we need to get you out of here now." "But what about you and the others?" "We're not 'The Angel' are we? You need to disappear." I passed Aliza my weapons and headed out of the operating theatre. Chapter 42 An Unbearable Weight Whilst Joy changed to make good her exit from hospital, back at the biker gangs clubhouse Brian had been sitting intermittently watching the evenings events unfold live on several screens via very grainy live headcam footage with increasing incredulity. Alice had been with him the whole time fortunately for him the footage had stopped just before Naimh had been located sparing him the heartache of seeing his daughter with her chest opened up. Brian. I'm still not sure what I have just witnessed, it looked real and felt real to me even if the pictures were jumpy and at times grainy. I'll be leaving here soon to go to a ship that's moored in the port a sort of hospital ship I believe, where I'll be meeting with Bob as apparently he needs to talk with me. There's no news yet on whether Naimh has been located, this is worrying me. Alice Joy's wife has been with me for the entirety of the evening since Joy left me and has kept me calm the entire time by talking to me and explaining what was happening. What did just happen? I really have no idea; I mean I've seen snippets of footage when the light was good enough and heard lots of bangs and shots being fired from guns but unlike a war movie what was happening was very hard to make out but from what I heard two places were visited this evening. Susan has just told her mum that our transport is nearing us and everyone is quickly packing away laptops and communication equipment, I think Susan's boyfriend if some sort of computer wizard as he can certainly drive a keyboard, Trish and Chris worked together to collate and coordinate information before passing it on to Terry and his men, Detective heather was assisting too but I think that she felt almost as useless as I did. I'm still not sure what Joy does I'm assuming she works in a support capacity but after seeing her fight the other day it wouldn't really surprise me if she also did a little combat too. "Brian we're ready to go." Say's Alice, "Oh sorry I'm a little distracted, does anyone know if Naimh has been found." I watched as Alice paused. "She has and she's alive." "Oh thank god, when can I see her." "Probably tomorrow Brian." "Why not now?" I heard myself asking as my stomach performed back flips," Alice took my right hand, "Naimh is in surgery currently Brian but don't worry she's in very good hands." "She's been injured?" "Brian I can't say any more I'm sorry." Detective Heather came over to me, "I'm sorry Mr Fitzpatrick but we really do have to leave here now," I knew it would happen I'd been suppressing it for a while now but I let go of Alice's hand, placed it over my mouth and ran towards the club toilets only just making it to a basin before the contents of my stomach were expelled with force through my open mouth. I was joined by one of the bikers just as I was rinsing the sink. "Go with the others now, de engel and her friends worked hard for you this night, many parent's will wake tomorrow and find that their missing kinderen have been found, this is good." I nodded dumbly at the stout leather and denim clad biker, straightened myself up and left the bathroom. Alice met me and we headed out towards our transport which was basically just a contractors van. It took just over fifteen minutes for us to get to the ship and the moment I boarded I was met by Bob, "We need to talk." "Naimh she's okay isn't she?" "In order to put your mind at rest, she's alive and should make a full recovery." "Recovery from what?" "My office, then we'll talk, would you like someone with you?" "Err." I turned to Alice "Certainly Brian," She said, Bob glanced at me as he turned "Okay but when Joy returns Alice will need to leave." I nodded but didn't enquire why. I was led off the deck and down into the ship where eventually I was led into an office. "Take a seat please." I complied "You have questions?" "Yes I do where is my daughter and is she okay?" "Your daughter is in recovery at the moment following surgery Brian and as soon as our surgeons say she is fit to travel she will be brought here to recover." "Surgery, what for was she injured?" "No Brian she wasn't injured, what was done to her was both despicable and deliberate, earlier this evening we finally managed to decrypt data that gave us the location of your daughter but also her intended fate." "Fate? I don't understand." "Let me go back to the beginning, when your daughter started at university she along with many young men and women at Universities and colleges throughout the North of the country read the noticeboards in her halls and even in her room, one of those notices was for a medical research company it offered free money for a blood sample with the promise that the research being conducted was being used to defeat many different types of cancer, your daughter enrolled and gave her blood sample but was then called back to give a tissue sample a few days later, both donations she received a sum of money for, in the background however her blood and tissue was tested and analysed and she was found to be a very good match for a middle aged woman suffering from lung disease." "What! They wanted one of Naim's lungs?" "No Brian, your daughter was then abducted one evening on return from an evening's festivities in town and firstly taken to a holding area and then shipped over here where she was auctioned." "Auctioned?" "Yes the highest bidder would then own her and decide what became of her, obviously the highest bidder in this case was a very wealthy man buying new lungs for his wife." "He succeeded?" I asked, I could feel tears running down my cheeks and Alice's cool hand in mine as I did. "He did, that is why we had to act so fast this evening, unfortunately we were under the impression that the transplant operation would be taking place at our first objective, we were mistaken." I could feel myself start to shake, "H' how bad is she?" Bob didn't answer just continued with his story, "A small team split from our primary objective and located the hospital where the operation was taking place but we arrived too late to prevent the start of the operation, fortunately your daughters lungs had not yet been removed from her chest cavity. It was then that our surgical team took over Major Simmons and Major Trotter are two exceptional surgeons; I won't lie to you and say that everything is going to be as it was before as it's too early to say but." There was a knock on the door interrupting Bob's talk. "Come." A soldier entered and apologised, "Sorry to disturb you Sir but Major Stevenson has returned," He hesitated a little before adding "she's gone straight to sick bay to have her shoulder checked out Sir." Alice looked at Bob and he nodded, Alice got up from her seat and left me alone with Bob. "Hmm I wonder where she hurt her shoulder?" Said Bob I however was feeling less benevolent by the second and was starting to get annoyed. "So despite all of your words of comfort my daughter still came out of this whole affair hurt at the hands of some maniac whilst you all played at policemen and soldiers." Bob's face changed, "You may be one of Joy's oldest friends Brian but you really don't deserve the title, what happened in your life to turn you into such a self-centred arsehole? she and her team risked their lives for you tonight you ungrateful bastard," I looked open mouthed at Bob as he continued, "Let us just review some facts shall we? Firstly there was no real evidence of your daughter being abducted and if it had been left to the police they would still be sitting on their padded backsides making 'discrete enquiries' secondly Joy almost certainly saved you from, at very least, a good kicking and at worst an early death, thirdly and most importantly almost everyone that has been helping you over the last few days has done so voluntarily and with the exception of detective Heather and the team from The Special Boat Service the entire trip had been funded by Alice and Joy Stevenson." I was still digesting what Bob had just said when I blurted out, "I' I didn't realise, I'm sorry." "What the hell are you apologising to me for? You haven't been a shitty friend to me have you? What I suggest is that you go up on deck now and walk around it several times and think really hard about the last few days and your behaviour, I'll be here if you need to talk but I won't tolerate any more of that self-pitying crap from you, understand?" "I, Yes, yes I do and thank you." I left Bob in his office and headed onto deck where I took Bob's advice and just walked and walked, it must have been two or three in the morning when I finally went back below decks and eventually located the small cabin I'd been allocated. I'm not sure when I drifted off to sleep but I woke with a start to a loud klunk followed by a gentle throbbing noise I drifted slowly back to sleep after that. Chapter 43 The Unexpected Injury Some hours before as Joy changed into unmarked motorcycle leathers in the toilets of the small hospital where Major Sandy Trotter was closing up after operating on Naimh Fitzpatrick and Harry Simmons and Mike Newton worked to Stabilise the unfortunate woman who'd expected to wake with new lungs. A man sat in a Bentley just outside the old maternity hospital's hospital gates he'd been in the hospital up until just before it was attacked he'd gone back to his car to retrieve his laptop from his briefcase and when the attack started he'd quickly moved his car around to one of the service roads to the rear of the hospital. Dr Randolph Chamberman was extremely irritated that the operation he'd been managing successfully for the last three and a half years had been all but obliterated in less than a week, he had wondered if the remnants of the now defunct Sentinel had leaked information on his operation but he knew it was more likely that the nosey policewoman that had linked the student's death from severe allergic reaction to the compound's they'd been working with despite his best efforts to have the body vanish. It came as quite a surprise to Randolph however to see a very familiar face from his very recent past climb over the rear fence to the hospital and meet with a biker on the road. "Olfa Swann." he said under his breath as he watched her place her helmet on over her head before mounting the bike and heading away. Randolph started his engine and pulled away slowly so as not to arouse suspicion he then followed the large noisy motorbike at a discrete distance for a while whilst thinking what his next move should be. It didn't take long for Randolph to make his decision however, he knew exactly what he was going to do, Randolph put his foot down on the accelerator pedal and within seconds had come up on the bike, the bike was only travelling at thirty or so miles per hour so, he nudged the rear mudguard of the bike causing it to lose traction on the wet road surface and fall to the side, the rider stayed with the bike as it slid on the asphalt issuing sparks as its metal guards skidded along the road surface but Olfa was thrown clear and rolled several times along the road surface before seemingly impacting the kerb with her head. Randolph pulled to a stop and with his engine still running located a tyre lever in the boot of his car, as he moved towards the woman lying on the ground she stirred and on seeing him got up and ran across his path and seemed to run straight into a lamppost with apparently enough force to make her scream out loud, Randolph smirked at this, he raised the steel rod as he approached he was going to enjoy making this woman suffer. Joy. I could see the car following us via the bikes mirrors I warned Mutt my rider and he contacted someone via his helmet mounted Bluetooth phone, I didn't expect the car to come up on us so fast however and was barely prepared as I was thrown from the bike, Mutt stayed with his bike and the metal work of it seemed to protect him from the worst of the impact. I skidded and rolled to a halt on the wet road coming to rest against the kerb where my shoulder and head took the brunt of the impact. It became quite obvious to me from the pain in my right shoulder that I'd dislocated it and that defending myself would now be tricky. I recognised the man in the car now it was Dr Randolf Chamberman from Whelpington pharmaceuticals he exited the car and went to its rear and removed a bar of sorts from the boot, this was not good. I quickly looked around and noticed a solitary lamp post and wondered if I could use it to assist in relocating my shoulder, I picked myself up as best I could and with Randolph advancing menacingly on me I half ran half staggered into the lamppost hitting it with my shoulder whilst using my left arm to manipulate the joint back into place. My vision started to grey as the pain hit me followed by a most satisfying feeling as the ball relocated into the socket, I dropped to my knees for a second before feeling the full force of what I assumed to be a steel bar hit me across my crash helmet, fortunately the helmet absorbed nearly all of the strike and I turned onto my back and attempted to leg swipe Chamberman. My swipe missed its mark but did afford me the opportunity to regain my footing and adopt a more defensive posture, I could tell from his eyes that he was in no mood to talk to me as he swiped the metal at me once more narrowly missing my helmet, I hadn't quite regained my senses from the crash yet so I maintained a defensive stance edging nearer and nearer to the lamppost. Chamberman was breathing heavily at this point and made ready for another attack just as I reached the lamppost and stood before him taunting him with my eyes, "Gahhhh" he said as he swung his arms, I waited until the last millisecond to move causing his bar to hit the lamppost transferring all of the energy of his blow back into his arm and wrist. Now was the time to go on the attack, I initially punched him in the face followed by kneeing him in the stomach but the pain from my recently re- socketed shoulder caused me to rethink my next attack opting instead for using my left arm instead, I kicked away the metal bar and using the heel of my left hand broke his nose, he staggered back at this but caught me with my next blow turned it to his advantage and threw me onto my back. I quickly jumped up and we started circling each other both looking for a weakness, I noticed quickly that he was trying to get to his metal bar I also knew not to underestimate him now so ignoring the pain from my shoulder I launched an attack that I knew he could easily counter which he did, what he didn't notice however was my knee until it hit him in the testicles followed by a throat punch, my third blow never reached its target however as he smashed his fist into my shoulder and from seemingly nowhere produced a thin stiletto type knife, "You are a skilled fighter Ms Swann or whoever you are and under normal circumstances could probably best me but I think you'll agree that with your current injuries you are no match for me." He was trying to get into my head, I knew I was badly bruised from the crash probably had borderline concussion but I am not a quitter, I kept telling myself that as I dodged the swipes and thrusts of the razor sharp blade. By this time Mutt the biker that had been taking me back to 'The Alice' had come round and curiously had slid his biker gloves across the street towards me. 'Why the hell had he done that?' I thought to myself as I nevertheless moved towards them and then I realised they were Kevlar lined and would afford me at least some protection from the blade I made a break and picked up one of the gloves and slipped it onto my left hand just as Chamberman thrust towards me I grabbed the blade and a portion of his hand with my gloved hand and steadied it with my right I then used the only other weapon available to me and bit into his wrist, he screamed in pain releasing the knife I quickly took it and stabbed him in the thigh then dragged the blade down his muscle until he pushed me off him dislodging the half shell bikers helmet I'd been wearing. Chamberman retrieved his knife but I retrieved his metal bar, he lunged for me in anger, I dodged him and hit his wrist full force breaking it, I then shattered his left kneecap finally hitting him across the shoulders causing him to fall to the ground seemingly unconscious. I took his knife and the bar and went over to Mutt who was trapped by the leg under his bike. With his help I managed to free Mutt from his bike, "Ha Joris was correct about you Engel." I didn't get a chance to ask what he meant as in the near distance converging on us at speed were many very loud motorbikes. "The cavalry it is late is it not?" laughed Mutt as he nursed his leg and within seconds we were surrounded by about twenty or so motorbikes with very angry looking riders, Mutt got to his feet and started talking to the bikers who soon turned and approached Chamberman. "He tried to kill my motorcycle Engel; he has to pay." I nodded. "Will he live?" I asked "He will." "When you've finished with him can you ensure he's handed over to the relevant authorities please?" "Ja I promise." "Thank you Mutt, I'm so sorry about your motorcycle." I then hugged him and kissed him on the cheek above his bushy beard, he blushed, "I get you a ride back to your boat yes?" I left Chamberman in the bikers care and was helped onto another bike by two very large courteous bikers and was escorted the rest of the way back to the dock where I thanked my escorts and boarded the ship. As I boarded a young marine saluted me and asked if I needed help. "No but could you find my wife for me please I'll be in the infirmary, getting my shoulder checked out." "At once Ma'am" I took myself below decks and upon entering the infirmary found Harry, "Any chance you could give me the once over please Major my trip back was not without incident." Harry looked up from what he was doing "Will you be able to undress or do we need a nurse?" He asked, I winced slightly as I unzipped my jacket, "I'll be okay I think? I thought you were still in surgery?" "I was Joy but came back to prepare for Miss Fitzpatrick's arrival. She's being looked after by Sandy and Mike." Harry started to examine me, "You are going to have a nasty black eye Joy and your shoulder what on earth happened there?" "Got knocked off a motorbike, dislocated it, popped it back in though with the help of a lamppost." Harry Sighed "You are as bad as Silvanus." I weirdly smiled at Harry's comment, taking it as a compliment. Harry's examination was swift with only one x-ray to check I hadn't fractured my skull. "I'm going to prescribe a low dosage pain killer and anti-inflammatory for the pain but I want you to rest for a few days so and I know I'm probably talking to the wall, no strenuous activities." It was then Alice entered and came to my side and gently hugged me. "Hard night?" She asked "Not one of our smoothest operations." I replied, "Never mind I'm here to kiss it better now, so where does it hurt?" Harry got in before me and said, "Hold on Alice If you are going to kiss Joy everywhere it hurts I'll probably need to give you some lip balm." I just couldn't help myself I started to giggle at Harry's suggestion. "Off you go girls, see you tomorrow." I smiled and let Alice help me down from the examining table. Alice and I walked hand in hand to our cabin, none of the medical staff seemed to even notice that I was only dressed in my sport bra and pants and I really didn't care. I lay down on the cool crisp sheets of our bed whilst Alice got my hormones for me, my head was throbbing now and I needed a cuddle. "Here you go." I took my pills and with a swig of water swallowed them before being joined in bed by Alice "How is Brian? Does he know about his daughter yet?" I asked as Alice rested her head gently on my good shoulder, "He's still confused and angry Joy I don't think he's taking much at all in at the moment, he was with Bob when I left him." Alice cupped my right breast gently in her hand and kissed me on the cheek. The next thing I remember is waking to Alice applying witch hazel liquid to my bruises with a cotton wool pad. "Good morning beautiful I thought I'd make a start on those nasty bruises whilst you were sleeping." I yawned and stretched a little. "Oh and Harry dropped this off, he'd like you to wear it for a couple of days." I looked over to see a sling for my arm and frowned. "Yes I said that would be your reaction," commented Alice with a smile "So how do you feel then?" "Like an old woman Alice, I must be slowing down because Chamberman was really hard work and he must be at least twenty years older than me." "More like Twelve Joy and he is a fifth Dan black belt or at least that's what his wiki page stated." I lay as Alice tended to my many bruises and cuts. "I love you Mrs Stevenson." Alice smiled and kissed me on the nose. "Exercise or are you giving it a miss today?" I thought for a second "Will you jog with me?" "Of course." "In that case exercise I think." "Just remember don't overdo it today." I nodded and reached over to kiss Alice. It was barely light when we entered the deck and the cold took my breath away for a second, we were at sea but because of the gloom I couldn't tell what direction we were travelling. "Are we heading home?" I asked as we warmed up "No we're heading north up into the Arctic circle Hillary has arranged a little light diversion for the lads, actually I think it's his way of helping to finance our trip." "Diversion." "Yes, a military exercise in some Fjord they've been invited to test nocturnal security, then after that we are taking them off the coast of north Africa." "So we are going to be aboard for a while then?" I said as I stretched out feeling my bruised muscles complain as I did. "Yes, think of it as a semi enforced holiday." I smiled as I twisted from side to side, "I assume Bob has had something to do with this." "Of course." Our warmup exercises finished Alice and I started a slow jog around the deck, it was quite curious but we found the port side of the ship to be much cooler and windier than the starboard side so our jogging became faster on the port side and slower on the starboard sheltered side. We occasionally caught glimpses of coastline on the starboard side as we jogged. After our jog I skipped any sparring in the gym and we headed back to our cabin to shower and change for the day, Alice had already selected my outfit for the day so I picked up the soft cotton bra she'd selected for me and slipped my arms into the straps, the bra was pink and had fun multicoloured spots all over it I loved it, my panties matched my bra and were beautifully soft, the tee shirt came next along with stretch jeans and plimsolls with little white socks. I initially tied my hair back but Alice decided that plaits were more fun today, I was about to disguise my bruise with a little concealer when Alice said, "No, let your face breath it'll be easier for me to apply witch hazel if you don't cover it with makeup." Alice was of course correct. We left our room at about quarter to eight, I was very hungry but we called in to see how Naimh was first, Dr Mike was on duty and as I approached he got up from behind his desk and hugged me. "What was that for?" I enquired "I can't hug your men so I'm hugging you Joy, thank you for last evening." I nodded and asked, "How is Naimh and the other injured?" "Couple of cuts grazes and a flesh wound or two, nothing that warranted admission, Naimh is comfortable; Comfortable, what the hell am I saying Joy she's as comfortable as a woman who's unnecessarily had her chest cavity hacked open can be." I gave Dr Mike a sympathetic smile, "I wish I could have gotten there sooner Mike I'm sorry." "Oh Joy you have nothing to apologise for, nothing at all." Mike led me through into the ship's high dependency unit where I noticed Peggy sitting monitoring her patient, "We're going to bring her out of the coma so she can start breathing on her own later but we'll keep her sedated for a couple of days to allow time for her skin to knit." "Has Brian been to see her yet?" "Bob has advised against it at least until we've removed some of the drains and other plumbing." I went over to her and brushed her hair away from her forehead, "She looks so peaceful." I leaned over and kissed her forehead then whispered "I'm sorry." As I stroked her hand it twitched a little, I turned to Dr Mike, "I'm going to have a word with Bob, Naimh needs her Daddy with her even if it's just sitting by her bedside." "I don't think he's being cruel Joy it's just that he doesn't think Brian can handle seeing his daughter like this just yet." I understood but it just didn't feel right. "Come on let's get to breakfast, I'm starving." Said Alice, I turned and smiled. "You sound just like Terry." Alice scrunched up her features in a most adorable way and said, "I'm going to take that as a compliment, I think" Alice and I linked fingers and headed out towards the Mess. Chapter 44 Friendship Brian. Last night I walked and walked around the deck thinking of Bob's comments about me, what had happened to me? Was it the breakup of my marriage or my upbringing after we'd moved from Newcastle? Things I did now know for certain were that without Joy and her friends I would now either still be in the dark as to Naima's whereabouts or to be mourning the loss of my only daughter and that I had been a very poor friend to her. When I woke a while ago I caught a waft of cooked food, proper food so I dressed quickly and after asking where I could get breakfast was directed to the Mess. Upon arrival I found a relatively large room with tables and benches, there were several men at one of the tables in fatigues some wearing green Beret's eating. One of the soldiers approached me, "It's self-service mate, just go up to the galley, help yourself pull up a pew and eat." "Oh err thank you." I went over to where several large aluminium serving dishes had been arranged under heat lamps and helped myself to Sausages, bacon eggs and all the accompaniments to a good breakfast I then found a table between a group of nurses and crew members sat by myself and started to eat. After a few minutes the room went quiet and the uniformed men all rose from their seats, I looked to the door to see Joy with her wife and her friend Aliza, Immediately the uniformed men made room for Joy Alice and Aliza and two of the soldiers went to the Galley with trays and started to gather food for them. Joy's face was sporting a bruise by her eye and there were several small cut's on her arms along with more smaller bruises. Soon the noise in the room returned to its normal level with Alice and Joy joining in the conversation, laughing and joking with the other men. On the table behind me I could hear hushed whispers from the nurses, "Apparently she was ambushed on her way back to the ship by some psychopath who knocked her and some biker off the bike she was on, she actually fought him with a dislocated shoulder" Said one nurse, "No." said another, "Yes and from what I heard she stabbed him with his own knife and beat him half to death with an iron rod." "Eww, where did you get this rubbish from May?" "It was on the radio this morning someone witnessed it from their bedroom window." Another voice joined the conversation, "Ladies you should know better than to speculate, there will be a briefing later." I turned to see another nurse with a name tag that simply said 'Peggy' on it sit down, the nurses stayed relatively quiet after that. As I wiped the remnants of tomato sauce from my plate with a slice of buttered toast someone sat down opposite me. "It's hard to believe watching her now with the lads that she was in action last night isn't it?" It was Terry, Joy's friend. I'd figured from some of the conversations I'd managed to hear last evening that Joy was quite technically capable and assumed her role to be in some form of support capacity so I nodded. "The only reason she and Alice aren't over here at the moment is because they haven't noticed you yet, Joy has good memories of your friendship Brian, don't let who she is now spoil that." "Honestly Terry the fact that she was once my mate doesn't bother me at all now." Terry smiled at me and shook his head, "You still have no idea do you?" "No idea, I don't understand." "Hello Brian, If I'd known you were here I would have joined you may I sit?" I looked up, it was Joy and Alice. "Please I was just finishing off though." I said as I took the final slice of buttered toast and bit the corner off. Joy shuffled herself in next to Terry and Alice sat next to me. I could now see Joy clearly; she was badly bruised with several bruises near to her eye that appeared to be merging into one large shiner. "How did you do that?" I asked pointing at her bruised eye "Bullet hit my helmet or was it falling off the motorbike, it was one or the other." Terry smiled broadly at her answer. It was then that I decided I needed an answer one way or another about Naimh so I asked, "I need to know Joy, is my daughter okay, no one is telling me anything and to be honest I'm freaking out with worry?" Joy leaned over the table "Finish your toast and we'll go and see Bob." "Can't we see someone else? I don't think he likes me." I finished my toast and Joy after getting up offered me her hand. "Come on we'll go together." "Oh Joy before I forget there'll be a mission debrief later in the entertainment room where we'll also be discussing our next Job If you're feeling up to it." "We'll talk about it later Terry." Said Joy. As we left I heard Alice saying to Terry "So soon, are you sure?" "Alice it'll be fun, nothing too strenuous I promise." Joy led me into the hospital section of the ship, where we were greeted by a man Joy called Dr Mike, "Hello Dr Mike, is Bob about yet?" "He's in his office Joy, he's expecting a visit from you and Mr Fitzpatrick." Joy thanked the doctor and headed over to a door to the right, she knocked on it Tap tap, tap, tap, tap. tap, tap, "Come in Joy it's open." Said a voice from within Joy pushed the door and entered tugging me a little as I was quite hesitant to meet with him again. "Ah good, a little earlier than I expected. So how is the shoulder?" "Tender but you know I'm not here to talk about my shoulder or last evenings excursion." "I know Joy and I have already been in conference with the good doctors." "And?" "Supervised visits, that's what we've decided on." "I don't understand Bob why supervised?" Said Joy, I did and I knew exactly why. "It's okay I know Joy, it's because of my temper isn't it?" "Yes Brian, you have quite a volatile temperament and you have been shown at times to be barely in control of your anger, these issues would not be and probably haven't been an issue to you so much until recently when your stress levels were ramped up considerably, I will however work with you to help you to contain your emotions; but until I'm happy that you have them under control visits will be supervised at least until your daughter is out of danger." Bob turned to Joy, "Shall we." Joy gripped my hand tightly and waited until Bob had passed us and was leaving the room before we followed. "Don't be shocked by what you see Brian." Joy warned, this worried me, what had happened to my daughter since she'd gone missing? As I walked along the corridor past nursing staff and military personnel I started to get a the familiar queasy feeling in my stomach once more and started to wish I hadn't had such a full breakfast and as we approached the high dependence unit I was getting stomach cramps, I tugged on Joy's hand, "I'm not sure I can do this Joy." I said panting, Joy turned to me and took my other hand, "Brian look at me, control your breathing, just like the games teacher showed you before we did our Silver swimming award." I cast my mind back to when I was at school and I'd had a similar experience, "That's it Brian slow and steady, there's a seat behind you now so slowly sit down." I sat whilst Joy looked me in the eyes, "Okay now put your head forward and try to relax." I did as Joy instructed, somehow she'd managed to remember something I'd completely forgotten, I was passed a glass of iced water and started to take sips from it. "If you don't mind me asking Brian how long you have suffered panic attacks?" Asked Bob "Ever since I was little, it happens rarely now though." "But does happen when you don't feel in control of a situation." "Yes, I'm sorry I don't think I can go through with this." I started to get up but Joy pushed me back down into the seat, "You can do this Brian; I know you can." I doubted it but then something completely absurd slipped into my mind, something that took the edge off my cramps, I started to laugh, "Well something tickled you." "I've just remembered something, something utterly ridiculous Joy, from when we were kids." "Oh?" "When I had the panic attack before our silver swimming award." "Yes." "Well we were in the changing room at the time, I just realised I've seen you topless." I continue to laugh it just seemed so funny, Joy sighed, "Men, is that all you lot think about?" "As a psychiatrist Joy I can say yes, pretty much so, I'd worry if we didn't." It didn't take long for me to feel well enough to enter the high dependency unit where Joy continued to hold my hand as I approached Naimh's motionless body, "I can do this, I can do this, oh lord." "Concentrate Brian, you can do this." Followed by Bob "You're doing really well Brian" I reached over to touch Naimh's hand but stopped short. "I, I, is it okay?" "Of course it is Brian." I touched my beautiful daughters hand It wasn't warm like it usually was but cool and a little clammy. "She's cold." "That is quite normal I assure you." Said the nurse sitting by her bedside monitoring a myriad of displays on the machines attached to her. "What are those tubes coming out of Naim's chest for?" "They are just to drain excess fluid from your daughters chest cavity, they should be removed in a day or two." I followed one of the tubes to a small plastic bottle, it had blood in it, I immediately felt my breathing rate go up until I could hear myself panting like a hot dog. I felt Joy place her hand on my back and start to gently rub my shirt. "Come on Brian let's go up on deck for some fresh air, you've done really well." I agreed as I was now fighting my own gag reflex and was fighting the inevitable. we'd just gotten into the corridor when Joy passed me a pressed cardboard bowl, "It's okay Joy I think..." Was all I managed to get out before I lost a fair percentage of the contents of my stomach to the bowl. I was passed several moist wipes by Joy over the next few minutes and then guided into the fresh air, "Bob wasn't being cruel before Brian, he's very shrewd and had already worked out that you were subject to panic attacks, I don't suppose being on a ship helps your tummy much either does it?" The breeze on my face was refreshing after being inside and I was starting to feel better. "Will I be able to see Naimh again?" Joy smiled at me "Of course you will you silly boy, but speak with Bob first, he'll help you." "He doesn't like me." I said "Oh Brian, it's not that he doesn't like you, I promise you he will help you." "Actually I think I've managed to upset quite a few people during my stay, including you and your wife, she even threatened me." "Ah well yes, that was because of me I'm afraid, Alice is very protective of me." "But you can stick up for yourself I've seen you fight." I said "Brian it hasn't exactly been plain sailing for either of us from our teens until now, we've both had our share of heartache over the years." "But you are both so happy with each other Joy even I can see that you both love each other deeply." Joy blushed a little, "Yes we do, I believe we were always meant to be together." "I would love to hear more about your past one day Joy, especially how you met Alice." I really did want to know more about Joy and how she became Joy. "No time like the present, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give you a brief potted history." Joy then started "It all really started for me on a day trip with my mum and dad." Chapter 45 Ian Thompson's Unfortunate Demise. Back in the UK whilst the twins watched sketchy reports of the previous evenings events in Amsterdam on the morning news before going to school with Leah, Terri sat in the large Dining room of Stevenson Towers with her Grandfather Matt and Grandmother Iona, Silvanus had only just entered after her morning exercises and smiled at the Stevenson's as she sat. "Grandpa?" She asked "Yes Terri?" "Is Toby coming back?" "Oh, well he's at the animal hospital at the moment as he's very poorly Terri," "But is he coming back?" she asked again, "I hope so Terri but he's still very poorly." Julie entered the dining room and sat at the table as Terri talked with her grandfather. "Has he got his Pengling with him?" "His Pengling? Oh you mean penguin; I don't know Terri." "He should have his Pengwling with him, it will make him feel better Grandpa." "I'm not sure he'd be allowed it Terri." "Have you asked?" "Well no but." Terri placed her hands on her hips, "Why not?" "Err." Julie who hadn't yet spoken said. "Daniel and I are going to see how Toby is doing later Terri, maybe you could come along with us once school has finished and see him?" Terri's face brightened, "And maybe you could make him a get well soon card at school?" Added Silvanus. It was at this point that the doorbell went off followed a few seconds later by one of the Stevenson staff entering the dining room and going up to Matt, "There are two policemen at the door sir, they are asking to see Susan." "Show them to my office would you please?" Matt turned to the other diners and whilst shovelling the remnants of his breakfast into his mouth said, "Excuse me." Matt left the dining room with a mug of tea and half a slice of buttered toast. As he entered his office a female uniformed Pc and another male officer in plain clothes stood just inside the door. "I assume you've come to tell me that you've apprehended that lunatic Ian Thompson again have you?" Matt could be heard to say as the door to his office closed. Inside Matt's office he was informed of the death of Ian Thompson by apparent suicide and was then asked if they could interview his granddaughter Susan, Matt informed the police that Susan was aboard a ship he owned currently and that he'd sent her abroad for her own safety then in his own words said "I had to do this because you lot have been wholly useless over the last few months in keeping my granddaughter and my family safe." What actually happened to Ian Thompson however was entirely of his own making and relied completely on his own arrogance. In the early hours of that morning.. About three hours before dawn at a popular viewpoint on one of the higher cliffs of the North Yorkshire coast Ian Thompson woke to find himself in the driver's seat of an old family car, more specifically he woke to the radio saying. "Thompson wake up!" loudly, several times "I assume that you are now awake." Said the female voice "Who is that? Where are you?" asked Thompson, the voice didn't answer, after a pause the voice continued. "You will notice that you are bound to your seat and that you cannot move, this is due to a chemical that is blocking nerve signals to your brain, fortunately you can still breath and your heart continues to beat, unfortunately you are still able to talk and I imagine you are already shouting for help. It will not come." Thompson stopped shouting at the radio a few seconds later. "In a few long minutes you will start to regain feeling in your limbs but I urge you not to attempt to release yourself from your bonds for that will end badly for you." "Fuck you woman, nobody tells me what to do." The radio continued, "If you manage to resist trying to escape, you will be picked up by two men in exactly an hour who will take you away to a new life where you will firstly pay for your crimes and then be rehabilitated, this will not be within the borders of the United Kingdom however." "Oh screw you." "You are being offered one final chance Ian Thompson, take it." The radio then went silent for the final time. Ian Thompson sat quietly in almost total darkness in the old car until he started to get feeling back in his arms, he immediately started to struggle against the radio voices advice and quickly realised the folly of his actions as his bindings had also been attached to the gear lever of his vehicle and he had just pulled the car out of reverse and into neutral, Thompson felt the car start to roll forwards on the grass towards complete blackness, he attempted to move his leg to press the brake pedal but screamed in agony as he was reminded of his broken ankle. In the last seconds of Ian Thompson's life he finally realised that he was out of his depth and probably should have stepped away from Susan and the Stevenson family whilst he could. It was a realisation that came many months too late for him, Thompson felt his body become weightless as the car careered through the cliff top fence and over the top, he screamed all the way until it was smashed against the rocks below and pummelled by the waves of the high tide and rough sea. Within minutes the binds that held Ian Thompson's deceased body dissolved in the saltwater and dispersed the only thing holding him in the car being his broken ankle trapped within the mangled steelwork of the cockpit. Silvanus didn't even blink as she stood by the hole in the fence at the top of the cliff holding a throwaway phone to her ear and said in a nervous voice, "Hello police please." Back in the present. Matt Stevenson kissed his granddaughter goodbye as she left for her morning at school making the two impatient police officers wait before returning to them, "Sorry about that, you were saying that good for nothing arsonist, stalker and now murderer had done the decent thing and committed suicide, sad yes but I for one will not be shedding a tear over his demise." "We will still need to speak with your granddaughter Sir" "To what end? I personally think she's been through enough at the hands of that maniac don't you?" "It would just be an informal chat Mr Stevenson nothing more." "Well at the moment she is completely unaware that Thompson is dead so I suppose you could break the news to her personally, she'd probably appreciate that from you as so far you did pretty much sod all to protect her from him." "Sir I appreciate that you are angry Mr Stevenson but." Matt cut in, "Angry, I'm not angry at the police I'm bloody furious with you lot, now if you want to interview my daughter I suggest that you contact Detective Inspector Heather Fieldhouse as my granddaughter has been assisting her recently and they are travelling together." "She's travelling with a detective?" "Yes." "Why didn't you tell us that first sir?" "Because you didn't ask, now if you have no further questions may I suggest that we adjourn to the dining room where if you wish Mrs Burton will make you a very good cooked breakfast." When Susan found out later that day about Ian Thompson's demise from Detective Heather and her mum Joy she was shocked, surprised and relieved in equal measure fortunately Mick was on hand to offer his support and several much needed hugs. When Terri returned from School she found Matt and Silvanus in the dining room, Silvanus asked, "Do you still want to meet with Toby Terri?" "Yes, I made him a card and everything." Terri proudly showed a soggy piece of card covered in glitter with a picture of what everyone assumed to be a dog or spider on it. Matt smiled at his granddaughter and passed her a small packed lunch in a unicorn lunch box. "Will you be okay with Auntie Silvanus?" Asked Matt "Yes I think so Grandpa." Silvanus offered her hand to Terri which she willingly took "We'll walk down to Daniels house, then go and see if Toby is feeling better today shall we." "Okay." answered Terri happily, Silvanus, Terri, Daniel and Julie all arrived at the veterinary hospital in the same vehicle and were escorted to see the vet treating Toby, the vet explained that although Toby was recovering slowly he was still quite lethargic and was not eating, Daniel asked if he could see Toby and was shown through to the back area unfortunately no one else was allowed to go, this disappointed Terri who was still holding the card she'd made for him and a small worn stuffed penguin. When Daniel returned he was visibly upset at seeing his dog in such poor spirits and was comforted by Julie. Unnoticed by Daniel, Julie or any of the staff Terri tugged on Silvanus's sleeve, Silvanus knew exactly what Terri was up to and joined her if only to protect her if necessary. Terri entered the door Daniel had recently exited from and quickly found the Perspex fronted kennel where Toby was lying, Toby was lying on his side; several areas of fur had been shaved from his body and head the shaved areas were covered in dressings and Toby wore a ridiculous looking plastic cone around his neck. Terri approached the clear Perspex door to Toby's kennel, "Hello Toby." She said, one of Toby's ears pricked up, "I made you a card, it has glitter on it, it's to help you get better." Toby opened his large eyes and looked at the little smiling face looking into his kennel, "Grandpa says that you are a very brave dog, I think you are brave too, oh and I got your pingwin too." Terri produced the penguin from behind her back prompting Toby's eyes to open further and him to attempt to get up, Terri undid the catch on the Perspex door and leaned into the kennel, "Here you are Toby." she placed the cuddly toy just inside the kennel, the large dog with great effort moved forwards took the toy in his mouth and placed it to his side he then looked at Terri's smiling face and moved forwards towards her, Silvanus moved closer as she was not sure what Toby's intentions were but Toby simply licked Terri's cheek and barked weakly, then returned into the kennel and placed his head on his cuddly toy. Terri undaunted by this sat just inside the kennel and took out a small chunk of meat from his bowl. "When I'm not feeling well Toby, mummy sometimes helps me to eat." she holds the chunk of undefined meat up to Toby's nose, he sniffs at it a little and opens his mouth, Terri gently places the chunk between his teeth, "That's it Toby good boy." over the next few minutes Terri coaxes Toby to take several more meaty chunks from her fingers and even lap up a little water from his bowl with Silvanus watching intently for any sign of aggression from the large dog, Terri then looks at her gravy coated fingers and wonders if she has a tissue but Toby simply licks them clean for her, by this time Daniel Julie and the vet are all standing in the doorway watching, Terri notices, "I think I have to go now Toby; she smiles at him and waves, Toby barks once and watches as his little friend is passed a wipe by Silvanus. "He just needed his pengwin, that's all." Said Terri before adding "Dogs need cuddlies too you know? Byee Toby." This earned Terri another "Woof" from a significantly cheerier hound. Chapter 46 Revealed Brian. Okay I was completely wrong about Joy and I admit it, she's just spent half of the morning and some of the afternoon telling me about her life and how she became a woman although I'm not actually sure she would have ever admitted who she was to me if her mum hadn't given the game away. I do however believe that she would have still helped me, a hell of a lot has happened to her since we'd been at school together and not all of it has been good. I mistakenly thought that Joy and Alice were women of leisure but they own an electronics company where they work most of the time, I am still completely in the dark as to her association with the Royal Marines or Special Boat Service but I think it may be a little more involved than Joy is making out, I mean how on earth does a rich English woman get involved with those hells angel types back in Amsterdam? I keep getting the feeling that the more answers I get the more questions would keep appearing. One thing I do know however is that she made good on her promise to help me and even though Naimh is in hospital now she's safe, I dread to think what has already happened to her whilst in captivity though. I'm just heading to see Bob now hopefully he can give me some answers about that. About twenty five minutes ago Joy and I were approached by the detective who told her that someone called Thompson had committed suicide, she then asked Joy if she would help her break the news to her daughter Susan, they left me on deck where I stayed and watched the coastline come and go in and out of view a couple of times before observing Joy's daughter Susan and her boyfriend come on deck and start walking around, I decide to leave and give them some privacy so I went back to my cabin. On the way back to my cabin I literally bumped into Detective Heather and almost knocked her over. "I'm terribly sorry Detective." I say apologetically as I help steady her. "Oh it's okay it was mostly my fault; I was in a world of my own." The detective says as she regains her footing, "I was just going back to my cabin, I've been doing paperwork best part of the day, thought I'd have a rest." "I was about to do the same thing myself Detective, everyone else seems so busy at the moment." "How about a cup of tea of coffee in Rec room?" She offered "Rec room?" "Yes they have a recreation room here It has tea and coffee and if we are really lucky sandwiches too." "Lead the way," I said as I had no idea where it was. "Just give me a second to dump this paperwork in my cabin and get out of my work clothes." I followed Heather to her cabin and waited in the corridor whilst she changed, we then went to the recreation room. On entering Heather went over to the tea and coffee making facilities at the rear and used the Hydroboil to make two coffee's as she returned to where I was seated we both noticed two nurses enter, one of the nurses went immediately over to the large television set whilst saying, "Hopefully now the Marines are having their debrief we can catch up on last evenings goings on." Said one of the nurses, Heather passed me one of the mugs of hot milky coffee and we made polite conversation until my attention was taken by what was happening on the TV, "You are not going to believe what's on the TV detective." I said as I pointed in the direction of the wall mounted TV, the detective turned around and noticed the logo of a 24 hour news channel. "It's just a news report from some kind of siege or something," Her voice tailed off as she realised that she was watching police and news agency footage of the aftermath of last evening's activities, I felt a chill run down my spine and started to feel cold as the reporter stood in front of the main building and reported on the casualties on site and then on the nearly one hundred captives that were found in the building's basement, the most chilling images of all were of the Angel wings apparently being displayed on every single TV screen and monitor within the building and the giant spray painted Angel wings on the large glass panels of the main entrance to the building. "Well some detective I am." Stated Heather calmly. "No Detective, you don't get it, that means that someone on this ship is 'The Angel' and quite frankly that terrifies me." I said as I could feel myself once again slide into panic mode. One of the nurses watching the TV must have noticed me and came to my aid and quickly started to talk me down, averting yet another panic attack, "Oh Christ, I can't believe this, Brian what on earth have you gotten yourself into this time?" I heard my own voice asking myself, the nurse answered quickly, "Just think of it this way pet, you are not her enemy so you have nothing at all to worry about." "B. but what if I inadvertently piss her off or upset her in some way." The nurse smiled and said "Then if you were wrong you would apologise to her like anyone else would." Stated the nurse. The nurse stayed with me for three or four minutes helping keep me calm before I heard, "Peggy what have you done to my friend?" It was Joy "He was hyperventilating I just calmed him down." "Oh so what brought this on then?" Asked Joy "He's just been watching last night's news on the telly Mrs Stevenson." "Ah." "Then he seemed put two and two together and got seven, thus triggering a panic attack" "Okay but how would that trigger an attack?". "He's under the impression that 'The Angel' is aboard and that if he upsets her she'll come and get him." Joy looked at me "Oh really Brian, I'm sure I remember you being a lot quicker at picking things up at school." "But Joy the things she's done I've watched the news." "Would it help if I said I've forgiven you for upsetting me the other day?" "Well yes but," I felt myself stall for a second or two as it sank in what she was saying to me before finally saying "O, Oh." Joy crouched down in front of me, "'The Angel' is not one person I promise you; we are a team that work together really well." "But on the news they always refer to 'The Angel' as one person." "Well it isn't, I can assure you." "But you have killed people haven't you? You must have." "That Brian is I'm afraid classified, just use your imagination." I was using my imagination and it was running riot, this didn't help at all. My best friend from School who used to be a boy is now a very beautiful woman millionairess inventor that works with British special forces occasionally, it was just so ludicrous it had to be true as nobody would ever make up a story like that would they? It was at that moment that I realised what a true and great friend Joy was, she'd helped me and saved my daughter from almost certain death and was now smiling sympathetically at me whilst holding one of my hands. I hadn't really cried in many years, of course I'd sniffed a little or shed a private tear when no one was looking but cried no not since I was a child but now as the strain of the last few days was finally lifting I found myself starting to sob my heart out, Joy didn't even flinch she stayed with me even when most of the others in the room exited probably out of embarrassment for me. I'm not sure how long it took but eventually I stopped. "Feel better?" Asked Joy as she passed me a tissue, I took it and looked around as I said, "Yes much Thank you," I noticed Bob leaning against the doorway with his arms folded. I got up nearly spilling the half-drunk cup of milky coffee in the process and as I did Bob said, "Alice is waiting for you in your cabin Joy." I think it may have been his way of saying to Joy 'Sling your hook he's mine now' Bob then turned to me and said, "I think we'll freshen you up a bit Brian and then we'll go and see a young lady who has only recently regained consciousness and is asking for her Daddy." I immediately felt myself fighting the tears once more and turned to Joy who was still Sitting demurely opposite where I'd just been, "Thank you." was all I could think of; she smiled and tipped her head at me. Chapter 47 Us Time Joy. As I entered our cabin Alice was lying on our bed, all she was wearing was a thin tee shirt and panties and when I entered she put the laptop she'd been using to one side and asked, "So how was Brian?" "Still freaking out a little, this time it was in the Rec room, fortunately Peggy was at hand, he really was never good with stress." "Does he know that Bob has been helping him yet?" "Not yet Alice, he actually still thinks Bob has it in for him, I can understand why though." Alice got up onto her knees, she smiled mischievously at me, "So are you ready for a massage then?" "You know what Mrs Stevenson, I think I am, where would you like me?" Alice's face beamed, "I can think of a few positions I'd love you in but first a massage I think." Alice had been getting instruction from 'The Centre's' Physio's and from Silvia and was very good now at massaging the aches in my muscles away. Within minutes I was feeling relaxed and as Alice used one hand to gently massage my bruised shoulder her other hand was creeping down my tummy her naughty fingers ever so gently tracing across my skin as they did, "Mmmmm, that feels good," I sighed as her fingers reached my pubic mound and started to trace along the fleshy folds of my vaginal lips. Within seconds I felt one of her fingers slip inside of me and as her finger returned it lubricated me as it slid past my urethra and on to its ultimate goal my now quite swollen clitoris. Alice's other hand had now abandoned my shoulder and was gently cupping one of my breasts as her fingers and thumb played with my painfully erect nipple, I could feel Alice' lips and occasionally her tongue as they slowly made their way down my body, I was in heaven and the anticipation was killing me. Suddenly I felt her fingers part my lips and the first tiny little touch of her tongue on my clit before her lips engulfed it and start to apply gentle suction. It was at this point I stopped thinking and just accepted Alice's ministrations as my entire body started to react. Orgasm's are wonderful, multiple orgasms even better but even as I lay on my back with half open eyes breathing heavily, I knew that Alice wasn't finished as she slipped one end of the strapless double dildo past my lips, my greedy vagina appearing to suck it as I tensed my muscles, Alice then straddled me and lowered herself onto the portion of the dildo sticking from my crotch impaling herself with a sigh as she did. Alice then lowered herself onto me until our breasts pressed into each other and we kissed. We continued to kiss as we ground our hips into each other until she orgasmed and I followed quickly afterwards. "Is the ship moving more than usual?" I asked a little while later as we both lay naked in each other's arms on our bed the strapless dildo still vibrating quietly within us both. Alice raised her eyebrows, "Perhaps our lovemaking has caused the ship to rock?" I actually felt my face flush a little before realising that Alice was kidding. "Maybe we should get up, shower and investigate?" "Or better still we could just lie here together until the batteries in the vibrator go flat, that would be nice too?" "Mmmm yes, I'm sure if it were something important they'd tell us wouldn't they?" So with that decided we pulled a sheet over ourselves and continued to snuggle. -*- Alice and I couldn't stay entwined in each other's bodies forever however and eventually we separated only because we were getting peckish and a little curious as to why our ship was rocking so much. After an invigorating shower Alice and I dressed and headed off into the ship, the reason the ship was rocking so much was of course obvious, it had found some weather! The Captain instead of heading towards one of the many Fjords on the Norway coast for shelter decided to head up the coast for a few hours so that we could reach our destination in another Fjord further North. I was particularly glad I'd chosen to wear flat shoes as walking in heels would have been tricky at best with the ship's constant and apparently random movement. Alice and I made our way up to the Mess where Taff and Jonesey seemed to be enjoying a game of bowls using a melon and several cans of pop, the aim being not to hit the cans when the melon was rolled along an alley made of upturned tables. Taff and Jonesy saluted when the noticed me, "Hello Ma'am as the upper decks are off limits at the minute we were just having a game of un-bowls, want a shot?" "Not at the moment Taff, we were hoping for a little food though. "Chef's out back Ma'am, he was swearing a lot before, you would think he'd be prepared for a little rough sea wouldn't you?" I nodded "I don't think he got the memo; I think he's just about sorted now though." "Okay, I think we'll take our chances then." "I would advise against soup though Ma'am unless you get it in a Sippy cup." "Thanks Taff, we'll bear that in mind." The chef seemed to Alice and I to be a perfect gentleman, he quickly made us a couple of chicken burgers with lots of salad, we decided to take our food into the Rec room and met with Terry on the way out, "How on earth did you get cookie to make you food?" "We asked him nicely." "I asked him not half an hour ago and he suggested I went and indulged in self-copulation," Alice sniggered at Terry's attempt at tact, "Hmm on second thoughts I think I'll get Aliza to order our food." "We'll be in the Rec room if you want to join us Terry." "Okedokee see you in a bit." We left the Mess to Terry shouting through to the kitchen, "Hoy Cookie you awake in there?" It was quieter in the Rec room; Alice and I took a corner seat and enjoyed our evening meal. For a time the ship continued to rock but after a while settled down to a gentle barely perceptible forward backwards motion. After our food I brushed a few errant crumbs from my skirt and asked Alice, "Fancy a game of scrabble?" "Okay but I should probably do a bit of catch up work later." I smiled "I should too but I don't believe the ship has a decent workshop I can use for research." "That can easily be remedied Joy." Alice then came over to where I was sitting, kicked off her slippers and snuggled up against me, "On second thoughts I think I'd rather watch a Movie." I took the remote for the large wall mounted TV and together we browsed through the subscription channels until we settled on one of our favourite films. Alice and I had just started watching when Aliza came into the room. "Have you seen Terry girls? Oh I haven't seen this for a while, may I join you?" I nodded. Within minutes we'd been joined by several nurses, three large bowls of popcorn and several other snacks. Alice didn't manage to stay awake the entire length of the film missing the last ten minutes or so and woke as the end titles rolled. "So what happened at the end then?" she asked sleepily, "The accountant managed to patch it up with his ex and they had a belated wedding." "Oh yes silly me of course he did?" Alice yawned "Bedtime I think." Alice and I slipped into our footwear and headed back to our room, leaving the now full Rec room, I think we were both asleep within seconds of putting our heads on the pillow. Chapter 48 At Peace Brian. After the day I'd just had I just couldn't sleep so after asking a member of crew if it was okay I went onto deck, the ship was no longer moving anymore and about an hour ago I heard a lot of noise I'm assuming was the anchor being dropped. It is pitch black when I look out but on the left side of the ship I can see the occasional light, the sky however is full of stars, not the few bright ones I can see at home but thousands and thousands of them and even more when I turn off the deck lights where I'm standing. "I wonder where we are?" I ask myself a few minutes later as I fasten up my coat to keep the cold breeze out, not expecting an answer to my question I was surprised to hear, "A fjord mate, can't remember its name but we'll be here for a couple of days." The light came on and I noticed Terry, Joys friend standing by the light switch, "Couldn't you sleep either?" "Yes I could but I was alerted to you being on the deck by a crew member." "Why?" "Well I suppose just to make sure you didn't jump over the edge or do something silly like that." "I would never do anything like that." "Mate, you've been under a lot of stress recently and I believe you don't respond well to stressful situations so just to be sure please accept me as your guest babysitter." Terry who was wearing jeans and a camouflaged jacket joined me and leant against the railing next to me. "So how is your daughter then? I believe she regained consciousness earlier." "She was confused but still happy to see me, I'm not actually sure if she was aware of what has happened to her recently, she just kept talking about missing her lectures and asking where her mum was, the thing is she has only seen her a couple of times since she left us and Naimh was only six at the time." "We can locate her if you wish." "No not yet at least but thank you." "Your daughter is in good hands Brian, Harry is an excellent surgeon, I've seen his work at first hand." "May I ask you a question please err Terry?" "You can ask me anything you like within reason, ask away." "Joy." Terry laughed "Okay the big one first." "Did you know her when she was a boy." "Nope, next." "Stupid question, the thing is I can hardly remember John it was so long ago and to be honest she looks a good twenty years younger than I do, I'm actually finding it hard to believe that she was actually John." "So what do you remember of her when she was him then?" Asked Terry, "He was just a mate, nothing special at all, we hung around a bit, I seem to remember that he had an old chopper bike and he didn't really get on with his dad but nothing much more than that, I'll probably remember more as time goes on though. So how about you, how did you meet Joy, was it on some kind of secret mission?" Terry frowned at me, "No mate, I was possibly at the lowest point in my life when Joy found me and even though she had massive problems of her own at the time she still made sure I was cared for and even let me convalesce at her own home." "Oh, so were you treated at 'The Centre' then?" "No Brian this was pre 'The Centre' and pre Angel, Joy was at the time Simply trying her best to get over a very serious illness, run a business and several other things I'm not going to talk about but she became 'The Angel' within weeks of us meeting." "No that's not what she says, she says that 'The Angel' is all of you, you and your men." Terry laughed "Well that's a crock for a start it was Taff I think who first referred to her as 'An Angel' the name just stuck, I think Joy is a little embarrassed by it but she does deserve the title." "You mean after the incident with the little girl at that hotel?" "Yes exactly, I would have just stepped over the body as would most people but she treated that tiny mite with such dignity and respect" "I've watched the news reports, sometimes things go horribly wrong too though don't they?" "If you are referring to the border incident, my team was not even involved and Joy was only there in a surveillance role, when it went tits up she saved lots of lives, it also cost her dearly." Terry looked at me and from his expression I could tell he didn't want to go any further. "Of course you can't ever utter a word of what I've told you to another soul, tomorrow you will be signing the official secrets act." "She's a very special woman isn't she?" "You could say that Brian. Whoa look a shooting star." Terry pointed in front of him but he needn't have as I couldn't really miss it. "So do you know why we are parked here then?" I asked Terry "Yes." "It's classified isn't it?" "You're catching on mate, fun little job and then back out to sea." "Will Joy be joining you?" "Only if her she's pronounced fit by the M, O. Hope she is though as it'll be a hoot." "You do know that you are a very strange man don't you?" "Keeps me sane, oh on the subject of that how is Bob treating you?" "He doesn't like me." Terry started to laugh, "I don't see the joke I'm afraid." "Fancy a beer?" asked Terry, "There's beer here?" "Yes, got a few crates in Amsterdam, it's in the engineers room below deck, Care to join us?" "Us?" "Yea It'll probably just be Taff and Bob now though." "I don't know." "Good that's decided follow me." And with that I followed Terry into the bowels of the ship. Chapter 49 A Fun Evening in The Woods. The next day. Joy. We left 'The Alice' just over twenty minutes ago and for a while we let the powerful engines of the rigid raiders take us deeper into the Fjord, the last few minutes though we've been drifting being drawn by the tide deeper into the Fjord whilst we prepared for the first part of our mission, Terry boards his canoe first and I board mine just afterwards with Dix behind me. Paddling silently towards shore I feel my shoulder twinge a little but it subsides quickly as I warm up. The calm black waters of the fjord ripple gently as my canoe slices through them. It doesn't take long for me to reach shore and Terry who has already stowed his canoe away in the bushes helps me up the pebbly shore, within metres my canoe and I are engulfed by the thick vegetation of the forest, I had assumed that the forest would just be of pine but this forest seems to have an abundance of bushes and other varieties of trees including the usual evergreens. Dix Joins us, his canoe hoisted up on his shoulder. I open the waterproof compartment of my canoe and remove my ghillie suit and quickly don it as Terry covers our canoes with cut ferns. Our objective is a small encampment of British territorial and regular soldiers called Alpha Camp inland about a mile and a half to the north, Taff has another assignment to the east of us Bravo camp manned by Alpha camps Norwegian counterparts. Our aim is simple, to disrupt the 'Capture the flag' exercise planned for tomorrow by hopefully capturing both teams flags this evening under the cover of darkness. Although we are armed our weapons are dummy's and fire only an infra- red beam, however our flashbangs are very real and will disorient if used. Terry Dix and I make our way slowly towards Alpha camp, we have gained access to their radio chatter and can hear as we approach one of their officers talking to someone. "I've been reliably informed that this evening there may be an attempt to capture our flag, so there will be a double guard on it from 16:30 hours until dawn tomorrow." "I'm betting Hillary has tipped them off about our arrival, sly git." said Terry "It will certainly make things a little trickier Sir, challenging even." stated Dix. When according to our GPS and terrain maps we were within three hundred metres of camp Dix and Terry Boosted me up onto the lower branches of an old tree and I proceeded to make my way up it until I found a small break in the foliage and after securing myself took out my binoculars and scanned the large clearing in front of me, this was not a small gathering as we had been briefed, there must have been at least forty large tents with a perimeter fence and patrols, our objective being at the westerly edge of the encampment with very little cover. I guide Terry and Dix as they make their way slowly through the undergrowth towards the edge of the clearing and then into the wide bushy overgrown area before the perimeter fence, once in position Terry guides me to join them and I arrive at their position just as the final remnants of daylight start to fade, several times over the next seven hours guards come to within feet of us as we lie in wait with the camp becoming quieter by the hour, patrols of the perimeter stay regular and are replaced every two hours. I check my watch and see that it is 23:45 only fifteen minutes until we launch into our operation, Terry comes up by my side I can see him through my night vision goggles, "Seems a little too easy doesn't it?" he whispers "It does." "I'm thinking our target may have been informed of the time of our arrival too Major" I'd also been thinking that our fun evening out had been a little too easy for quite a while now so I suggested, "Maybe we should fall back to the wood and see what happens?" "I concur." Terry issued the order via a secure channel on our comms to fall back to better cover, Dix who had made his way to the easterly side of the compound responded so did the other team. At 00:05 exactly we heard several fadoomff noises as extremely bright flares were launched into the night sky followed by dozens of fully kitted soldiers exiting their tents and running up to the perimeter, we watched as powerful torch lights scanned the bushes and grassy areas around the camp and the soldiers fanned out searching the scrub land and bushes for intruders. "Okay they certainly were expecting us; someone obviously has loose lips." stated Terry "We've got Flashbangs and mono filament and they're not all professionals, perhaps we could entice them into a hunt?" "Okay might still be fun." "And as they're using non-lethal weaponry too possibly teach them a lesson or two in tactics." "Taff Dix you hear that?" "Roger." we spent the next few minutes setting our traps in the woods as the regulars got progressively closer to us, I then left Dix and Terry heading roughly north past the camp then doubled back and stayed in cover until I watched the red glow of three flares to the south followed by the flickering of torches as they headed towards the flares. "Like moths to a light." I said not quite believing what I was watching. And then after a minute or two the forest started to light up as the flash bangs were triggered one by one followed by their bangs a second or so later. I slowly made my way to the perimeter fence crawling slowly through the long dry grass only to see it still having a guard of sorts. I lay in wait and watched in disbelief as one of the soldiers guarding the flag stepped over the fence and moved towards me, had he spotted me? I wondered but didn't break cover. He stopped inches from my legs I then heard him undo his zipper, 'he's not, oh please!' but he was and soon I felt a warm stream of liquid on my ghillie seeping through to my night combat gear, 'ughh' I thought as the soldier hummed to himself. "Wathca up to mate." asked the guard at the flag into the darkness "Just having a quick slash back in a sec." "Be quick cause if that Sarge catches you." "I know I know." The flow stopped and I heard a zip being drawn up and watched as he turned to leave I then pulled his legs from under him whilst simultaneously firing three simulated shots into his chest feeling the solenoid in his chest plate vibrate with each shot and whilst covering his mouth whispered, "Bang you're dead." he knew the rules so flopped to the grass, just in case however I placed a prepared length of duct tape over his mouth and bound his hands. "Mate, get your arse back here or you'll have us up on a charge." followed a second or two later by, "C'mon this isn't funny as he moved from the semi darkness of the flag to the total darkness where I quickly disabled him. I quickly removed my sodden Ghillie suit abandoning it and moved towards the flag, Terry and Dix's distraction was working like a treat, I could hear one the camps officers guiding his men through the forest so I approached the flag, lowered it and ran our flag up the pole after first knocking out the lighting in the area. I then made my way over to the generator and shut it down plunging the camp into almost complete darkness, I took out a set of pliers from my belt and cut the starter solenoid wire going to the starter motor of the generator in two positions placing the length I'd just cut in my pocket, there was no moon this evening so the camp became dark as pitch with the occasional torch beam searching. I did encounter three soldiers on the way but managed to avoid them, the command tent was empty on entering so I disabled their communication system, quickly left a gift and as I slid under the tarpaulin at the rear of the tent I heard from the front of the tent, "They're trying to make a fool out of us Sergeant call up command we need to put a stop to this at once," he paused for a second. "and get the bloody power back on too if you could." "Sir." I rendezvoused with Terry and Dix about twenty minutes later. "Taff has just reported back, flag captured and present left." "So is that it for this evening then?" I asked "Not bloody likely one more job I think." Terry Dix and I headed towards Taff's team with the sounds of a now disorganised leaderless rabble in the background. Later as we canoed back with the tide towards our exfil point I pointed up at the huge starry sky, "Is that the aurora," "Dunno Ma'am never seen one before." to be honest I wasn't sure either as it just looked like thin wispy cloud but after a while the cloud changed to a greenish colour and as we sped towards 'The Alice' we were witnessing a full auroral event with reds and yellows in streamers across the sky, it was beautiful, I hoped Alice had stayed up and could see it. "Is that a new perfume Major? If so you need to get your money back." asked Terry "This is your fault Terry; my camouflage was so good one of the camp guards urinated on me." "I think I'll go for what the twins would say, Eww." Said Terry Chapter 50 The morning aftermath The next morning in the grand marble floored lobby of a government building to the east of London Hillary Simpson has just entered and after the usual security checks and briefcase search approached the security desk where he would sign in for the day, "Morning Mr Simpson." "Good morning Mr Crocker and how is Mrs Crocker?" Hillary signed in at the desk, "Complaining about her hip as usual sir." "Has it not been seen to yet?" "No sir, operation has been cancelled twice now, oh and we have a pouch for Mrs Tanner I'll get the lad to run it up for you." "No need I'll take it up with me." "Thank you sir." Hillary took the pouch and headed over to the lift. On entering his outer office Hillary smiled at his secretary. "Good morning Mrs Tanner anything urgent." "Good morning Mr Simpson, from your smile I think you already know the answer to that sir." "Ah yes of course, have I had any calls?" "Yes, Sir Lawrence has asked if he could have a chat before he attends his meeting with the ministry, he will be arriving in five minutes." "Ah then I'd better get into my office then Thank you Mrs Tanner oh and hold my calls until Sir Lawrence leaves would you please?" "Sir." Just over four minutes later Mrs Tanner knocks on Hillary's door and opens it, "Sir Lawrence to see you Mr Simpson." "Thank you Mrs Tanner." "Sir Lawrence, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" The old man closes the door behind himself and then grinned at Hillary, "Don't worry Hillary I'm not here to reprimand you and it's Carlton remember?" "Ah well I wasn't sure after last evening." "Got any of that fine whiskey Hillary?" "Coming up sir." "Bloody good show last night, laughed out loud when I read the report at breakfast almost choked on my toast, wife thought I was having a funny turn." Hillary passed Sir Lawrence a small tumbler with an amber liquid in it, "The team had to improvise sir, change their tactics to suit the new situation." "And top marks to them, just need to find out who leaked the information now and kick a few bottoms really not sporting not sporting at all. "I agree sir, have all of the soldiers now been accounted for?" "Yes, few scuffs and scrapes a broken ankle two broken arms and a couple of ruptured eardrums." "Sorry about that Sir." "Not your bloody fault Hillary, so whose idea was it to replace the flags with The Wings logo?" "Oh that'll be Taff sir, he has a very unique sense of humour." "I like it and the digestive biscuits? Nice touch." "I believe that was a joint idea between Joy and Terry, I suppose they thought it would help them digest what had just happened." "Very good very good and the little logo on the packets nice touch too. So how many men did you have on the ground last evening?" "If you include Joy that would be eight no seven as one stayed with the raider." "So your report will say thirty, we don't want to humiliate the regulars too much now do we?" "Thirty it is sir." "Now on to the Amsterdam affair, all dealt with now I assume?" "Just about sir the bikers we worked with are hesitant to let us pay for damage to their bikes and seem to have formed quite an attachment to 'The Angel'" "Could this be a problem for us in the future Hillary?" "I don't believe so sir they're actually quite an honourable lot according to Major Percy." "I've approved Reimbursement of all costs for Mrs Stevenson of course, I'm also quite disturbed to hear that Sentinel has reared its ugly head once more." "Yes, I don't think we've heard the last of them I'm afraid." "They thrive on misery and degradation Hillary; I want them gone." "Unfortunately Sir they seem to be moving their operations abroad now but when we can we'll intervene and take them out." "Well you seem to have everything well in hand here old chap, I have a meeting with the Admiral at ten but I'll be free by one would you care to dine with me at my club?" "I'd love to Carlton thank you." "Good, good and whilst we dine you can tell me all about that charming woman you're courting, Silvanus isn't it?." "Yes sir she's an old family friend." "And one of your Fathers final field assignments if my memory serves me Hillary, Belarus yes it was Belarus I believe, nasty business." "I was still at School at the time I'm afraid." "Oh yes of course you were, damned memory, well can't stay here old chap, see you at one." Chapter 51 Outmanoeuvred Joy. Terry was correct yesterday's diversion was fun, I really enjoyed the whole exercise and it helped me unwind from the previous few days events. I woke this morning to Terri's cheeky little smiling face on Alice's tablet, it was a beautiful way to wake up and Terri's cheery enthusiasm set me up for the day, After my morning routine and breakfast I called into the medical bays where I watched from a discrete distance Brian and his daughter, she was sitting up in bed and was talking to a smiling Brian. I also called in on Dr mike to discuss a personal matter I've been thinking about for some time. With all of the children on the estate at the moment and especially Toni and Sara's beautiful little boy Dylan I've felt myself becoming quite broody, I don't however want another child for myself but have been considering offering my services to Trish and Chris whilst I still can. Dr mike suggested I should speak with them before making any final decision and did mention one obvious problem, the lack of an egg to fertilise. I already knew that both Chris and Trish had donated their sperm during their transitions but that there was a question mark over the viability of Trish's sperm as she'd already been on hormones for some time before coming under Dr Mike's care. I decided to wait to broach the subject until we were home and in more familiar surroundings. In the meantime its work of sorts for us and until lunchtime Alice and I were involved in three video conference calls only one of which I enjoyed as it was very short and only Martin and I were involved and as he hates being seen on camera I talked to his Anime avatar, which makes a change from an animated version of his Warcraft character which to be quite honest can be a little intimidating. After lunch I contacted Joris to find out why he and his bikers had refused to allow the British government to pay to have their damaged bikes to be repaired, it was both simple and sensible, they wanted to do the work themselves so I asked them to forward a list of parts and equipment they required to do their repairs so that I could order them on their behalf, this Joris agreed to without complaint, he then invited Alice and I to stay next summer for a week or two in the countryside in the Netherlands. Something I'm considering. Mid-afternoon I had a session with the ship's physio and then a session with Bob, mostly just an informal chat though. Later on in the afternoon as it was starting to get dark I found Susan in the gym with Mick, she was talking him through a few basic martial arts moves, he looked like he was enjoying himself greatly and as I watched Susan I noticed she was relishing every single moment with him and seemed to have regained most of her sparkle, something that has been lacking over the last few months because of that Policeman. Oh yes that policeman, I can't help feeling that there are things about his demise I'm missing and will need to have a long talk with Silvanus when we get back. I sat and happily watched Susan for nearly an hour before she invited me onto the mat so that she could demonstrate some moves on me and as soon as I'd warmed up we sparred for a while with Mick looking on smiling, I stopped when my shoulder began to twinge. I then found Alice and went for a bracing walk on deck where after a while we were approached by Heather Fieldhouse, "Good afternoon Heather, Is everything okay?" Asked Alice "Yes, I was just getting a little air as It was starting to feel quite claustrophobic below deck. "How is the case coming?" I asked "Oh, err," She paused wondering if she could tell us then realising that we would find out anyway said, "It's coming along at quite a pace now, there were several early morning raids across the UK this morning culminating in seventeen arrests, Border force has also been very busy and at one site had to hire three bus's to take away immigrants trafficked into the country from Poland and the Czech Republic, I'm going to be busy for months with the paperwork, I don't suppose there is any chance of borrowing Trish and Chris for a while longer is there?" "Sorry Heather Trish needs to get back to University soon and Chris is invaluable in my own office." Apologised Alice, "Oh well, it was worth a try." "How much work can one person get through in one day Detective?" I asked "Well one day's work of course." "So if we put several people with you then you will get through several days' work in a day." "Well yes but." "If we were to get you several days ahead in work then you could forward a good day work each day whilst having a little recreation time knowing that you have the next few days work already banked." "Yes I suppose." "Well that's that then, you're having a holiday." "I'm sorry Joy but it doesn't work like that." Alice then added, "You look tired Heather maybe I should talk with Bob and have him take you off the case for a while." "No, no then no work would get done and, oh I see what you're doing." "How do you fancy Malta? The ship is heading towards the North African coast so I see no reason why we can't stop off at Malta for a week or two before returning home." "That's a very kind offer Mrs Stevenson but I need to work." "Detective do you remember the day you called on us at our house in Newcastle the day after the hotel incident." "Well yes." "And you offered to get us counselling for the trauma we'd suffered?" "Well yes but." "I'm offering you the same but as a holiday, you've been working on the original missing person case for how long?" "Oh about two and a bit years on and off." "In work time or your own?" "Well mostly my own." "That settles it you are having a holiday, It'll take us a few days to get to our destination and in that time you will get as much help as you need to get ahead on your paper work, you will however be allowed one hours communication with your office per day whilst on holiday." Heather simply nodded and said, "Thank you Alice." She stayed on deck a few more minutes before succumbing to the cold breeze and going back below deck. "That manoeuvre had Bob written all over it Alice." "It did didn't it? He put me up to it, I accepted the mission, so how did I do." "Flawless Alice, worthy of both a hug and a kiss." Chapter 52 Goodbyes and hello's The 'Alice' made its way back down the North Sea, negotiated the English Channel and headed down the coast of France skirting the Bay of Biscay before the weather improved dramatically as the old cargo ship skirted the Portuguese coastline. As the ship entered the strait of Gibraltar the marines on board prepared to disembark to join a Naval ship which would take them to their next job. Joy took a break from sunbathing as the pilot boarded to guide the Alice into port and changed out of her bikini into more suitable attire, as she entered the front deck area she noticed Terry leaning against the railings looking out to the rapidly approaching dock, "Bet you wish you were joining them don't you?" She asked. Without turning to look at Joy Terry continued to look forward, "Yes and no Joy, I do sometimes miss the action but I don't miss the boredom between jobs, I think semi-retirement suits me better at the moment." "Semi-retirement, you're probably busier now than you've ever been." Terry turned and smiled broadly, "I know great isn't it?" he paused before continuing "Do miss the lads though." "I know what you mean Terry." The ship came to a slow stop by the dock and as it was being tied up Joy noticed a lone marine arrive at the dock. "Whoa that must be our welcome party, whoopee doo." Said Terry sarcastically, "It's not just any welcome party Terry, have you not recognised who it is?" "Terry squinted and then smiled." "I'll meet you on the dock in a couple of minutes Terry I need to find Alice." "Kay." Joy quickly located Alice and as they reached the walkway leading to the dock She also recognised the marine standing surrounded by Terry Taff Jonesey Dix and other marines, "John." Shouted Alice as she waved, Alice ignored the marines and hugged John, "It's good to see you miss." He said standing erect wondering what to do, Joy also ignored protocol and hugged her friend, this embarrassed John terribly. "So are you now completely fit for duty now?" "Asked Terry." "Yes sir, you heard about me breaking my ankle just after my fitness assessment?" "Yes, couldn't have done it whilst being assessed could you?" "I didn't see the pothole sir." Joy and Alice stood back whilst holding each other's hand as John talked happily with his colleagues and became re acquainted, they attempted to sneak away unnoticed after a couple of minutes but heard "Ma'am?" Joy turned to find that John was saluting her "Hope we can work together again soon Ma'am," Joy stood erect and saluted back. "I hope so too John." the other marines all saluted Joy before she turned to go back to the ship. "They are all gentlemen in their own way aren't they." commented Alice as they both stepped onto the boarding ramp. "Yes Alice they are." Said Joy as she involuntarily swallowed and fought back tears, Alice squeezed joy's hand gently "We'll see them all soon Joy, hopefully over Christmas." -*- Alice and Joy went shopping that afternoon for 'essentials' with Heather Trish, Chris, Aliza and Susan whilst the men went exploring the tiny British dependency of Gibraltar. On returning that evening laden with bags Joy noticed that on deck was Naimh she was standing with a nurse and was smiling at Brian who was now rushing up the boarding ramp to meet her, Joy nudged Alice she caught sight of Brian as he met with his daughter at the top of the ramp. "I was wondering when she'd finally brave the big wide world Joy, she looks happy though doesn't she?" "She does," Joy was looking at Brian though and he was smiling, "and so does he and he's trimmed his beard again hasn't he?" "I think he has." "Harry seems to think that when we get to Malta it'll be safe for Naimh to disembark and join us on our holiday." "The sun will probably do her the world of good and this late in the season It shouldn't be too strong." Alice nodded and then suggested, "I think we should dress up this evening Joy." "Formal?" "Oh yes, the works, whilst you were in the jewellery shop with Aliza I bought us both the most luscious silk stockings to try." "Real silk?" "Yes that's what it says on the packets." Joy felt herself shiver in anticipation as she knew that with Alice the fun was the preparation and they had plenty of time to prepare before evening mealtime, she didn't even particularly care if they were the only people dressing for dinner that evening. "Did you just mention dressing for dinner girls?" Asked Aliza "Yes we thought it would make a nice change." "Count me in, it'll give me a chance to wear my new frillies." "Me too mummy." Said Susan, Mick didn't look as keen, however. "Okay I'll just go and see the lovely man in the galley and see if he can set up a couple of tables for us." Said Alice as she split from Joy and headed up the ramp. Joy Took some of her bags and with Mick and Susan's help brought them aboard. "Joy." Joy turned to see Brian gesturing to her. "We'll take your bags mummy," said Susan "Go and see what Brian wants." Joy relinquished her remaining bags and headed over to where Brian Naimh and the nurse were now sitting, Naimh had tight hold of her father's hand. "Naimh this is Joy, she's one of my oldest friends." "Hello Naimh, I am glad to see you up and about, how are you feeling?" "Sore to be honest but happy all the same." "Joy and I went to school together Naimh." She looked at her father and then at Joy and then back at her father. "Are you sure about that Dad because you look a hell of a lot older than she does." "I'm sure Naimh, let's just say I had a harder paper round than she did." "Wow yours must have been really hard dad, I suppose the beard doesn't really help either." Naimh then began to laugh, causing Joy to smile. "May I?" Asked Joy pointing at a vacant seat, "Of course." Replied Brian, Joy sat placing her hands in her lap once seated, "I'm sorry for not visiting you until now Naimh as I wanted you and your dad to have as much time as possible together." "I know that you are my dad's school friend Joy as my dad has just told me but other than that who are you?" "Good question, my name is Joy Stevenson and this is my ship, my friends and I helped to rescue you from your captors," "Dad said it was the Marines that saved me." "And he would be correct also, I sometimes work with the Special boat service." Naimh looked quizzically at her father, "In Joy's case looks are deceptive Naimh, she stopped your operation, shot one of the nurses and stabbed the surgeon with his own scalpel and then beat him senseless." Naimh looked at Joy obviously wondering if her father was making it all up but she quickly realised he wasn't. Naimh brought her hand to her chest and started to trace her finger down her scar through her tee-shirt, "They still managed to fuck me up though didn't they? I've seen my scar I look like the bride of Frankenstein now," "They did and I am sorry for not getting to you in time Naimh." Naimh looked shocked at Joy, "No Joy that is not what I meant, I owe you and your friends my life, I'm eighteen I'm supposed to be enjoying life and sod the consequences but now I'll always be looking over my shoulder wondering who is genuine and who is trying to scam me or worse, I suppose that my university career has also ended too before it really began." "Not necessarily Naimh we've already negotiated to have your lectures and notes sent to you on a daily basis whilst you are recuperating with us and with your compensation you and your father could..." "Compensation? What compensation?" "You were sold to the highest bidder for over seven hundred thousand pounds Naimh, I can't see any reason why that money shouldn't now go to you and your father." Joy turned to Brian, "Perhaps you could spend the money on a house up in Newcastle so that you can be close to Naimh at least until she's fully recovered and settled in back at university." "But what of my business?" Asked Brian, "Well perhaps you could relocate up to Newcastle or even apply for a job that has just become available within the Stevenson organisation dealing with renewable energy and energy conservation within the entire organisation," Naimh reached over and held her father's hand, "I would feel a lot better Dad if you were close by, can't Graham take over from you?" Brian Sighed "I'll contact him and ask; he's been covering for me for a while already." "Good, oh before I forget we'll be leaving port in an hour or two and then we'll be heading to Malta for a while, your accommodation is already organised, "But what about my medical treatment?" "All sorted you will have a nurse available at all times and a doctor when he's not sunbathing, the hotel gym is also suitable according to the physio, we'll have you fighting fit in no time Naimh." Naimh leant forwards, "I'd like to hug you Joy, is it allowed?" Joy smiled "Allowed it's almost compulsory." Joy met Naimh halfway and ever so gently held the recuperating young woman and after a few seconds Joy broke their embrace. "I have to go now I'm afraid but hope to see you at dinner if you're feeling up to it." -*- Naimh didn't turn up for her meal that evening as she was very tired but did managed to the next night with Brian. Chapter 53 Arrivals Joy. Alice and I have only been in Malta less than a day but now find ourselves standing in our halter top bikini's with thin wrap around skirts in the airport waiting for Terri and Andi who are joining us for a few days. "Look Joy just over there by the passport place." Said Alice excitedly as Terri and Andi stood whilst Silvanus sorted out their passports. Toni and Chris were behind them in the queue with Julie and Izzie following and Leah was with the twins after them. Alice and I waited patiently until Terri was finally allowed to come over and see us, "Mumee's" She shouted as she ran towards us in her little pink wellies and bright yellow waterproof coat, Andi was close behind her running towards Aliza and Terry. Alice caught Terri first and after a long hug she grabbed for me. "I missed you mummy." "And I missed you too, have you been good for Auntie Silvia, grandpa and grandma?" "Yes I think so mummy. I've been to visit Toby too, three times." "Oh is he feeling better?" "Yes he's wagging his tail again but has to wear a big plastic necklace, it looks silly." "That is good news." "Mummy?" "Yes Terri?" "Why is it not raining here? It was raining at home and I dressed for it." "That's because we are in another country now Terri and the weather is different." "Will I still need my wellies?" "Mmm, you might but I don't think you'll need that big coat." I placed Terri on the ground and helped her to unbutton her coat." "Ooh that's better mummy, should I take my jumper off too?" I smiled and touched noses with Terri as I nodded and said. "Hands up." as I grabbed her sleeves and pulled the warm jumper over her head. Terry offered me her hand. "Mummy do other countries have ice cream?" "I'm sure they do; shall we try and find some?" Terri offered her other hand to Alice and we headed out to our waiting hire car. After getting Terri settled in at the hotel she went exploring with the twins whilst Alice Susan and I kitted up for our first dive in the crystal clear waters just offshore. "Been talking to the local dive school Joy, the diving here is easy but watch out for a chilly little thermocline just off the headland at about seven metres otherwise just watch your depth. I partnered with Alice and Susan partnered with Terry. Soon we were taking our first steps in the cool water and within seconds Alice and I were under water with only the tiniest of adjustment of Alice's weight to get her buoyancy correct consisting of a rock I placed into one of her waist pouches. I had opted for a full but thin water sport wetsuit instead of a shortie wetsuit I would normally wear in warmer waters with Alice following my lead Susan had opted for the shortie type and Terry tee- shirt and shorts, our equipment was basic but functional unlike the rebreather apparatus I used sometimes and I hadn't tied my hair back so my hair was flowing randomly in the water, Taking Alice's hand we descended a little, equalising as we did and headed along the shoreline watching the fish and other creatures as we glided silently above the sandy and occasionally rocky sea floor. After the last three weeks the tranquillity of our dive was absolute heaven to me and I could feel myself relaxing more and more by the second. The theromocline was a little disconcerting as we dropped through the boundary layer between warmer and colder water but soon the water seemed even clearer as we dropped a little deeper, I was glad of my full wetsuit though, I checked my air and noted I still had over 180 Bar on checking Alice's she was down to 160 Bar which was absolutely fine, I signalled to her to dive a little deeper and she acknowledged. And were joined after a few seconds by Terry and Susan on a patch of sand surrounded by rocks at about 32 feet and watched as many and various fish swam around us without fear but with a lot of curiosity, Terry took a hard-boiled egg from a small pouch and started to break it up in the water and within seconds we were surrounded by hundreds of fish feeding on the floating egg fragments Alice used her camera and took many pictures of both the fish and Terry Susan and I posing. We returned to the shore a little later by retracing our steps and the occasional glance at the GPS on my dive computer. On our return to shore I helped Alice off with her tank and she with mine, we then carried our tanks onto the beach placing them against a handy wall. "Oh that was such fun I'm just going for a quick shower to rinse off Joy." Alice passed me her dive knife and weight belt then kissed me with her cold lips before heading up towards the shower just off the beach, I smiled as I knew why she wanted a shower and also felt pleased that I hadn't needed to warm myself up in that particular way. After checking the tanks I noted that both still had over 100 Bar in them enough for a little messing about in the shallows so I asked. "Anyone want a shot?" Leah immediately got up from her sun bed, "I'd like a go please." Leah was wearing an all in one swimsuit that flattered her now slimmer figure and as she approached she asked, "Will I need a wetsuit?" "No I shouldn't think so as we'll just be in the shallows but a tee shirt will protect your skin from the harness." Leah entered the water and with Terry's assistance we kitted her up. "You'll need more weight today Leah as the sea has a lot more buoyancy than our lake." I said as I strapped the weight belt on her waist. Terry helped with my tank and passed me a little note board so that I could pass messages to Leah whilst we dived. "Just like before, breath normally and don't hold your breath for any reason okay." Leah smiled and gave me the okay sign even though we hadn't gone under yet. "We'll start with a bit of swimming on the surface then I'll guide you down to two or three metres." I walked in the shallows supporting Leah's tank until her breathing had stabilised then I guided her into slightly deeper water using my snorkel in order to conserve my own tank's air then we dropped to the sandy bottom where I checked her air and checked she was okay, she was. Terry circled above us snorkelling as we explored a small patch of rocks and after about ten minutes my computer indicated that I should be making my way to the surface. As we exited the water Leah stopped briefly to remove her fins and Smiled broadly at me, "Can we do that again sometime please?" "Of course." I removed my wetsuit as Leah washed the saltwater from her body at the standpipe shower and I followed then quickly towelled myself off and used the towel as a shawl whilst I put my hair in a plait. "Leah would you care to join me for a snack at the bar?" "Yes of course." At the bar we ordered Toasties and soft drinks. "Leah I have something I'd like you to consider, it concerns Trish." "The answer is yes Joy." I took a sip of my drink, "But you don't know what it is yet." "I don't care." "But you might when you hear what I am asking of you." "I've grown up a lot in the last two years Joy and I notice things, things like the way Trish looks when she sees baby's and how she is when she's with children, you want me to be a surrogate for her don't you?" "No Leah I wouldn't ever ask you to do that." "But I would and willingly for her." I smiled "No not yet Leah but you were correct about Trish wanting children." "Ah, so what do you want of me?" "Would you consider donating some of your eggs." "Oh, so who would carry the baby then?" "I know that this sounds quite selfish but I would love to carry at least one more child before my womb is rejected." Leah smiled warmly at me, "I knew it, Susan owes me a tenner." "Susan." "Yes she thought I'd be asked to become a surrogate at some point for Trish but I didn't think it was a good idea as we are both sisters, so what would it involve then?" "Some eggs would be harvested from you and then some of them would be hopefully fertilised with Chris's stored sperm, they would implant the fertilised egg into my womb and hopefully nine months later Trish and Chris will be new mum's." "The best possible Christmas present ever," said Leah quietly and thoughtfully before smiling broadly "Yes, yes, yes and yes count me in, I'm on board, have you talked with my sister and Chris yet?" "Not yet Leah I wanted to make sure it was feasible first." "So when are you thinking of telling them then?" "I was going to wait until after our holiday here to give time for everything else to be organised." "Can I be with you when you tell her?" "Of course." Leah then bit into her cheese and onion toastie, "Firstly Silvanus then Susan Trish and your family, I am so glad that I met you all Joy thank you." "How is your mum and sister now Leah." "My sister is studying hard and finally enjoying what life brings, mum not so good but she is improving slowly, still thinks Trish is just my friend though." "These things take time." Leah and I sat by the bar for a good ten minutes longer before we were joined by Alice, "Well?" she asked, Leah smiled and nodded "Oh thank you Leah." She then gave Leah a long hug Chapter 54 The Gift Unlike a previous holiday this one went without a hitch with the exception that a foolish young man attempted to steal Joy's Satchel whilst on a shopping trip resulting in two black eyes and a broken collar bone on his part. The Stevenson's ship went on to the north African coast where it would be on this trip helping to treat eye complaints and cataracts, Joy and Alice returned to work soon after returning to North Yorkshire as did Detective Heather Fieldhouse, Naimh continued to convalesce at The Centre whilst attending University two days a week with medical supervision. Brian who's beard by the end of his holiday had now been reduced to designer stubble went back home to tie up his affairs before returning to his city of birth after accepting a position with the Stevenson organisation in Newcastle. Slowly life returned to normal within the Stevenson household with the exception that Leah and Joy had started a series of medications in preparation in Leah's case to encourage the production of extra eggs to be harvested for her sister and in Joy's case to prepare her womb for pregnancy. Toni was also now preparing for her surgery and was becoming increasingly nervous at the prospect. -*- Toni was admitted to hospital early December after undergoing pre- operative checks at 'The Centre' a couple of days earlier, Both Joy and Alice drove Toni and Sarah to the hospital and stayed with them until Toni was wheeled away into surgery Toni was calm although nervous and smiled throughout Sarah was very nervous and weepy though and after Toni was wheeled away broke down and needed to be comforted, "Don't worry Sarah it'll be over soon." "But what if something goes wrong Alice?" "Nothing will go wrong Sarah Toni is in very good health." Joy and Alice comforted Sarah and even managed to distract her for a while by taking her out to lunch followed by a shopping trip to buy Toni loose comfortable clothing for during her recovery. Toni was in surgery for just over five hours and by early evening was awake and talking to her wife and although still a little doped up was sipping water she was not in any pain as the area was still numb from the nerve block that had been administered. Toni was moved to 'The centre' two days later and a week later she was taken to her cottage where Sara would look after her until she'd healed properly. Toni had many visitors during her recovery from surgery and was never seen without a smile on her face. Trish. I'd just been dropped off by Susan after a day at Uni and was in the dining area of our little cottage setting the table for our evening meal when the doorbell went off, "I'll get it Chris." I said as I walked over to the door. On opening the door Joy stood there with Leah, Joy was carrying a large brown envelope and looked nervous but Leah seemed to be excited." "Hello Joy, I wasn't expecting a visit." "May we come in?" She asked, "Of course, would you like tea or a soft drink?" "Tea please." replied Joy as she entered and sat on the leather sofa "Pop for me if you have any?" asked Leah, "Coming up" shouted Chris from the kitchen. "So what brings you here to our little cottage?" I asked "Have I ever told you, this is where Alice and I fell in love Trish?" Asked Joy "I knew that you lived here for a while with Alice but no I don't believe you have." "We'd sit and watch the TV together at night snuggled up together under a duvet on the sofa, it was one of the most magical times of my life." "Trish and I love to snuggle up on the settee too Joy." Said Chris who'd just entered with a cup of tea for Joy and glass of pop for my sister, "I really love this cottage." "So do we." I said "Unfortunately due to Daddy's plans for the estate's expansion things will to have to change and that includes this row of cottages." "Oh Joy he's not going to knock them down is he?" asked Chris "No Chris I would never forgive him if he did that but, he's having the main road outside the cottages diverted further north meaning that there will be much less traffic outside the cottages, and the cottages themselves will need to be modified in keeping with modern standards." "Oh." "I have the plans here if you would like to look girls." Joy passed over an overview of what would be happening on the lower portion of the estate and then the plans for our cottage, it appeared that our cottage and the one next door would be knocked into one and every other cottage in the row would have the same treatment reducing by half the cottages but doubling their sizes, that along with further extension's into the garden and above would make reasonably large houses. "Of course you would have to move out along with Sarah and Toni whilst the work took place but I guarantee all of the work will be finished outside and in within 9 months." "But when will we need to move out Joy?" I asked "Not until April or March and we'll be happy to have you all up at the house whilst the work is taking place." I started looking at the plan for our cottage and the architects drawings made it look beautiful with a large living room and dining room attached to a sizeable kitchen and utility with the bedrooms moving upstairs. I looked again at the upstairs floor plan there were three bedrooms a master bedroom, guest bedroom and a nursery/children's room and even as I read the words Nursery I felt a longing in the womb I didn't have for a child I so desperately one day wanted. "Is everything okay Trish?" Asked Joy, "Y... yes it's just I noticed that there is room for a nursery." "There is isn't there? And that brings Leah and I onto our next subject Christmas." "Christmas?" I was confused, Joy sipped on her tea nervously and Leah looked me in the eyes whilst Chris sat next to me. Leah and I have had an idea for a present for you and Chris we hope you'll consider." "Oh?" "Firstly please accept my apologies as we've gone behind your back big time over this and if I have misjudged the situation I am going to feel such a fool." I felt myself nodding but not really knowing why as Chris took my hands. "Joy you are starting to scare me." I said not knowing what she was about to say to me, Joy took Leah's hand and turned to her. "Leah has agreed to donate some of her eggs to you and I am offering you the use of my womb for the next nine months." "I, but." Chris then added "I found out this morning Trish, my frozen sperm and Leah's egg would mean that we could have a child we can both be mummies." "But I, the doctor told me that my sperm was poor that I may never be able to have a child." "Yes but Leah is your sister Trish and as such is very similar genetically to you so the baby would be a little bit me, a little bit you and a little bit Leah." I turned to Joy I knew that my face was reddening and I know I must have sounded stupid as I asked "We can have a baby?" "Yes Trish if you accept our gifts, this time next year you and Chris could be preparing for your child's first Christmas together." images flashed through my mind of a big Christmas tree in the corner of the living room surrounded by presents with Chris and I posing by the tree in silly Christmas jumpers with a small child in my arms. I thought that my life until now had battle hardened me but Joy and my beautiful sister's gesture completely destroyed all of the defences against hurt I'd built up over the years and I felt the tears start flowing. "Thank you, thank you both and thank you too Chris I, just don't know what to say." My mind was working overtime now and images flashed into my mind of times I'd nearly thrown in the towel and just given up, the people who'd helped me, Maureen and Peggy, Carl and Tanya from the charity and then my wonderful old friend Alfred who taught me to have pride and confidence in myself again, I imagined Maureen and Alfred looking down on me now and smiling. Chris embraced me "Trish are you okay?" she asked as she held me to her bosom. I nodded but didn't speak then after a moment I smiled brightly I could feel myself beaming at Joy and Leah, the tears were still streaming down my cheeks, I noticed that Alice and Susan were now standing at the open door to the kitchen they had tears in their eyes. "Yes you wonderful people yes and thank you so much." I hugged Joy and then Leah and Susan and Chris and Alice I just couldn't stop myself hugging and kissing. It took a while for me to calm down enough for my sensible mind to take control and I started asking questions about when and how? "If you are free tomorrow morning Trish you and Chris can come to hospital with me where some of my eggs will be removed and passed on to the lab, where Chris's sperm is already being prepared Joy has arranged for you both to be present all the way through the procedures including fertilisation." Said Leah "And then in about five or six days you are welcome to watch as the hopefully fertilised egg or eggs are placed into my tummy." "Really?" Asked both Chris and me. "I'm not shy girls and you should be there, shouldn't they Alice?" I turned to see Alice smiling and nodding. I hugged Joy and Leah once more before they made excuses and left Chris and I together. Just as they left our house and we were alone once more I asked Chris, "I don't understand Chris how have I ended up with such wonderful friends." "By never giving up on yourself and me Trish and knowing when to ask for help." "Oh Hillary I need to ring him." "No you don't he'll already know Trish." "I'm going to ring him anyway." -*- The next few days flew by, Chris and I held Leah's hand as doctors removed several eggs from her whilst being extremely careful to keep her virtue intact as she is still a virgin and quite proud of it. We watched the technicians as they combined Chris's sperm with the unfertilised eggs and a few days later I held her hand as Joy was impregnated with the remaining viable fertilised egg. And after a warning from the doctor that there was only a 25% chance that the egg would implant we both went home quite dejected. After implantation however we called in on Joy every day and could see a change in her she seemed always to be content and happy and told us not to worry as she had a good feeling about her pregnancy. -*- On Christmas morning Chris and I woke to the doorbell ringing and when we opened the door to a large bunch of flowers and Terri dressed as an elf with a huge grin on her face. "Hello Terri, I like your costume." I said, "Mummy aksed me to give you these." Terri handed me an envelope and Chris the flowers, I opened it and it read, congratulations mummies to be." The End (Until next time) © Kyorii 2019 Epilogue. Whilst Trish Chris the Stevenson's and their friends enjoyed the Christmas break together one person was absent and had been for some time, Silvanus had decided to take some time out to think, she knew that without opening up about her own dark past and the reason why she had frozen in the Ukraine she would probably never be allowed to work in a combat role with Joy again. It was a very cold February afternoon when Silvanus finally re appeared in Middlesbrough, she immediately rented a car and headed directly to a large Victorian terraced house in the suburbs, Silvanus knocked on the door and waited then after a while the door was opened. "Hello Peggy, is Bob in?" Peggy took one look at Silvanus and invited her into her home, "Yes he is he's in his study, I'll take you to him." "Thank you." Bob was indeed in his study and was attempting to finish a very large jigsaw puzzle he'd been given for Christmas when the door opened and Peggy announced, "Bob you have a guest I'll make some tea shall I?" "Bob looked up to see Silvanus, she looked tired." "Silvia where on earth have you been you had us all worried." Silvanus ignored Bobs pleasantries and said simply. "Bob I think it's time, I'm ready to talk." "Yes, yes of course please take a seat." Bob couldn't believe it Silvanus the 'Ice witch' as his colleagues had once called her was finally ready to talk about her past. "I trust you Bob do not abuse that trust." "Silvia you should know me better than that by now." "Sorry Bob I'm finding this difficult and if it hadn't been for Leah, Joy and of course Hillary I may never have come to you, so where would you like me to begin?" "The start Silvia just tell me about yourself and your parents." "My parents, they worked in the diplomatic service, they worked in Belarus mostly but sometimes travelled to other areas within the USSR for the British government." But this is another story entirely. The above work is entirely fictional and as such any similarities to real world situations, events or people are purely coincidental. Please feel free to leave reviews and comments in the reviews section, I hope that you have enjoyed the story or found it entertaining in some way, I really enjoy writing stories and will continue as long as there is still demand. The Stevenson family will return in a new adventure. Thank you.