Mulberry Lane
Killing For Your Love
Chapter 1
I look at her undulating blonde hair blow as we walk against the breeze.
“You look beautiful tonight, Lizzie,” I say to her.
“Oh thanks, Daniel.” Comes her timid reply.
We stop walking and stare into each other’s eyes for a moment. I place my hands on either side of her cheeks and stroke them softly. I look into her brown eyes, concentrating on the hazel pools that surround the black hole in the middle of her striking eyes.
We cannot be interrupted here; I can do what I want and tell her anything without fear.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I open my eyes and our stares meet. Her neck stretches towards me. Her red lips purse, reaching for mine. They stroke mine. After the first lip encounter, my lips are smothered until I push her off. I hold her mystified face in my strong grasp and whisper.
“I love you, Lizzie.” As I say as I go down onto one knee…
The smell of musk enters my nostrils. My face is cold. I come round, trying to remember the dream I just had.
I remember seeing Tanya. We were walking somewhere, somewhere dark. I saw the kids, they were playing. I looked to Tanya’s smooth skin, her thick blonde hair and her blushed cheeks... I looked over Tanya’s shoulder and saw a broad-shouldered figure. Tanya disappeared from in front of me. I looked to the kids, but they were gone too. I turned around to see the shadowy figure. He began to walk towards me, his face blurred. He stood right in front of me, the same physique and height as me. He stared into my eyes for a moment, until my thoughts stopped.
I try to get the image of Tanya and the kids back into my mind, but I can’t.
This happens every morning. I have had this same dream and similar thoughts almost every night for the last four years. I can always remember my dreams, as if they were events of the day before.
I open my eyes and see under the dusty bed. Great, so I’ve been sleeping on the floor all night. No wonder my neck feels strained.
I stand up and look to the bed; the covers haven’t been tampered with. I didn’t even make it into bed. Oh well, one less job to do, I guess. I shower, in an attempt to wash out this hangover, and get changed into a fresh shirt and trousers.
I walk downstairs to properly evaluate the house. First, I go into the kitchen and put the kettle on, priorities. I walk out and head into the living room. I chuckle to myself, looking at the old fashioned layout and furniture. I definitely need to do this room up, that’s for sure.
I look at the dated green furniture then at the bookshelves and chest of drawers. The bookshelf is empty so I look to the drawers. I open each one, but they’re all empty except for the bottom one. It has a small, black metal box in it. I try to prise it open but it’s locked. I shake it in hope of a clue as to what it may be, but it makes an ominous, quiet, scratching noise. I shut the bottom draw using my foot and put the box on the top of the drawers.
“There must be a key,” I say to myself.
I go into the kitchen and look in the cupboard with my keys. I take the house keys out and put them in my pocket. There’s another set of house keys and a small key. I grab the small key and put it beside my cup and shut the cupboard. I’ll quickly make myself a drink then I’ll open that box.
I make my tea and walk into the sitting room. Putting my mug next to the box, I insert the key into the padlock but the key doesn’t turn.
“OH ffff,” I sigh to myself while I attempt to turn the key.
I take the tiny key out and look at it. I can’t see what else it could bloody open. I leave the key next to the box.
It’s bloody cold in the kitchen, there’s a breeze blowing lightly on my face. I look down to my tea, the swirling steam blows away from me. Where the hell is this draught coming from?
I look to the window but it isn’t open.
“Oh shit.” I whisper to myself as I realise the back door is open.
I must have been left open the whole time I’ve been here. I pull my keys out of my pocket, shut the door and lock it.
I finish my tea and go back to the cupboard to grab the spare keys. I’ll just run them and my book over to Simon. He can have the spare key to look after the house if I ever need to go away for a while.
I leave the house and walk over to the Cann’s’. As I do, I look to the trees where the figure was last night, no one’s there. I look to the grubby house, no activity over there either. That beaten piece of wood is still on the road though. That looks nice…not.
“Do you ever not look smart?” I hear a female voice shout.
I look to the Cann’s’ front door but there’s no one there.
“Up here.”
I look up to see Sandra looking down at me. She has wet hair and a towel around her.
“Oh hi, how’s the head?” I ask.
“Well, I’m not feeling one hundred percent but I’m okay. How about you? Simon feels groggy.”
“I’m okay, actually,” I laugh.
“Aww good. Guessing you want Simon?” Sandra smiles and turns her head to bellow into the house: “Simon! Ryan’s outside”
She turns back to tell me: “He’ll be down in a second. See you soon.”
“Great, thanks. See you soon.”
After a few seconds, Simon walks out the front door wearing a burgundy polo top and jeans.
“Hello, mate,” he says.
“Morning, Simon. How’re you feeling?”
“Not too bad, bit rough, but that’s what happens if you carry on drinking after the guests have left.”
“Yeah, I know that feeling. I’ve come here to give you this” I hand over the manuscript. “Oh, and I found this spare key. I wondered if you’d be able to stash it somewhere, just in case I get locked out or go away or whatever?”
“Oh brilliant. I’ll read that soon.” He takes the manuscript from my grasp. “And we’ll happily look after the spare key. Me and Sandra can look after the house whenever you like. We’re here for you mate, remember that.”
“Thanks, that means a lot. Got to ask quickly, is there a shop nearby? I need to get some food.”
“Yeah, there’s one up the road, in the town. Do you want me to come with you and show you where it is?”
“No, that’s fine, you’ve got your stuff to do and I don’t want to hassle you.”
“Okay, well just go to the end of the road, turn left, go past the park and keep going till you come to an industrialised area. There are some shops there.”
“Okay, Cheers. Well, I’ll leave you to it, have a good day.”
“And you. See you soon,” Simon says as he turns and walks back toward the house.
As I cross the road to head back to mine for my wallet, I notice the beaten piece of wood has disappeared. I pause and look over to the house at the end of the cul-de-sac. I can’t see any movement at all. That house and the grubby man unease me, he gives me the creeps.
I walk into my house and put my jacket on. I pat my pockets feeling for my wallet.
“Oh where did I leave it?”
I search the kitchen but realise that it’s in the inside pocket of my jacket.
I leave the house and walk down the road along the tree line, looking through the leaves and branches and spot the park. As I get to the end of the road, I turn left and see a metal fence bordering a stretch of grass. As I walk further along the path, I get a full view of the park, with children playing on the climbing frames and adults chatting in a circle.
I walk past a row of detached houses, calling ‘good morning’ to the men cutting lawns outside their homes, and occasionally waving to the wife standing at the front door. The people around here seem really nice and welcoming.
Eventually, I find the shopping centre. There are quite a variety; corner shops, hardware shops and cafés. I’m able to stare down the aged, cobbled road and see a ‘Tesco Express.’ Perfect, that’ll do.
After I’ve finished the food shop, I head back to Mulberry lane carrying three bags mainly containing ready meals and whiskey. What has my life come to, I miss my Tanya.
I get to the park, which is empty now. The swings sway in the wind, the screeching noise echoes over the climbing frames and the fence.
I look at the tree line which hides Mulberry Lane and see something moving from within the trees. As I try to focus, the sky darkens as grey clouds are forming. They turn from white to grey, then to a dark ash colour in a matter of minutes.
The temperature drops. The sun has been smothered by the clouds for the first time in days. I look back to the trees and see movement again. I jog home awkwardly with my carrier bags, right up to the door and look back round to the trees, but this time I see no movement.
I put the shopping down in the middle of the hallway, and run back outside in the pouring rain, towards the trees. I can hear the rain pattering on the leaves and slapping the concrete.
I duck into the line of trees; it’s clogged with rubbish. The stench of urine rises to my nostrils, and my nose wrinkles at the stench. I look towards the park; I can hear the rain hitting the metal and the plastic there.
I search my surrounding, turning three hundred and sixty degrees on the spot, but there’s no movement. I make my way out of the tree line. Then I hear leaves shuffle and a branch snap just behind me. I turn around quickly but there’s no one in sight. I walk towards where the sound came from, pushing the branches and leaves out of my face. I hear another branch snap behind me. I turn again but once again can’t see anyone. Picking up a wet branch from the ground, I continue to walk, clutching it tightly, holding it up by my head.
More branches snap ahead of me. I follow the sounds and charge out of the tree line, and end up back onto Mulberry Lane. There’s no one running away from me.
“What are you doing?” A voice booms from within the trees.
I turn around and see Simon exiting the tree line. I quickly drop the damp branch on the grass.
“What are you doing in there?” I ask him.
“I’m asking you the same thing. What were you doing?”
“I felt someone’s eyes on me, so I went to see who it was. Was it you?”
“I only went in there after you. I saw you running across the road, thought you were coming to ours at first, but then you ran into the trees.”
“Oh.” I pause as I look at Simon, not sure if I trust him so much now. “How long have you been in there then?”
“The same amount of time as you. Do you want to come round for a drink and dry off?”
“No, I’m okay, thanks though. Think I’m just going to head home. No idea what it was in there, though.”
There’s more rustling from the trees, making us both look toward the sound.
“What’s that?” Simon says.
“I don’t know.” I say as I reach down to pick up the branch.
A fox trots out from the tree line and sprints away from us towards the grubby house.
“Jesus Christ!” Simon laughs. “Sure you don’t want to come round?”
“Yeah, I’m sure, thanks for the offer. See you soon.”
I nod to Simon and throw the branch into the trees and run home.
I walk into my house and lock the door behind me. I fall back onto the door and slump down onto the floor. Breathing heavily, I look down at my hands. The hand I held the branch with is damp, the skin smeared with green moss.
I go upstairs into the bathroom and wash my hands. As I finish drying them, I use the towel to dry my head and I take off my soaked clothes.
I walk into my bedroom and change into clean underwear and my dressing gown. I put the damp towel back in the bathroom and go downstairs to unpack the shopping.
I walk into the hallway and reach down to pick up the shopping I left earlier. Outside, the rain has come to a stop and the clouds have begun to clear up. I can see the outline of the sun burning its way through the thick clouds. Hopefully, it will come out soon.
I unpack the bags in the kitchen and finally sit down.
Sitting at the table with a cup of tea, I pick up the local paper I just bought and the headline catches my attention ‘Missing Dr Myers’. I look at the article and read about the investigation, headed by Detective Samuel Cann. Wonder if he’s related to Simon and Sandy?
The article reads: ‘We are still heavily investigating the mysterious disappearance of Doctor Andrew Myers. At this moment, there is no more news to report, but I plead to the local community to speak out if you have any information regarding the disappearance. Doctor Myers was last seen by his neighbours at his home, on the day he disappeared. There is some evidence that suggests his disappearance may be linked to a murder investigation. If you know any information which may benefit the investigation, please come by the station or call us on the number below. Any information will help.’
So Andrew Myers was a doctor, Simon didn’t mention that.
I continue reading the paper and see an article titled: ‘Mysterious behaviour of our local foxes.’ I immediately think of the grubby, old man. I wouldn’t be surprised if he captured that fox, and is capturing more. Especially after the encounter I had with him last night, he seems unstable. The next article speaks about the crime rates in Surrey having dropped. Apparently, the areas within a 10 mile radius of Mulberry Lane are the ‘safest areas to live’ in Surrey. The last major crime reported was the suspected murder of Doctor Andrew Myers. What an odd story to report on.
I laugh to myself and throw the paper aside. I lean back in the uncomfortable chair and shut my eyes for a moment.
“Ryan, darling what are you doing?” Tanya says as I attempt to clear the basement.
“I’m cleaning the basement, getting rid of this junk.” I tell her.
“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” Sammy looks at me with her big, sparkling brown eyes.
“Yes, Sammy?”
“Can me and Alex have ice squeam in a minute?” She says while looking into my eyes. “The ice squeam man is here Daddy.”
“Did he play his music?”
“Yeah, he did Daddy.”
“Well darling you know what that means; he’s run out of ice cream.”
“No, he hasn’t Daddy. I’m not that silly.”
“Oh, really?” I ask and laugh. “Well I don’t know darling, I don’t think I heard the magic word.”
“Daddy, please can I have a ice squeam.”
“I’m not sure, baby, let’s see if I have some money.” I put my hands in my pocket. “Oh no, I’ve lost that money I had for ice cream. Oh, wait a second. Did you steal it?” I look at Sammy as seriously as I can.
“No, Daddy, I promise I didn’t.”
“Well what’s that behind your ear?” I reach across to her ear, touch the top of it and pull one pound from her left and repeat it for her right, which makes Sammy and Tanya laugh.
“Thank you, Daddy,” Sammy says, as she runs up the stairs from the basement.
I look back to Tanya. “It’s not going to last long; I won’t be able to do stuff like that with them, soon, will I?” I say to Tanya.
“No, they’re growing up so fast.”
I lean in to kiss Tanya but she pulls away.
“Not now, Ryan. We’re in a dirty basement. I don’t like it here.”
“What’s wrong, Tan?”
“We need to leave. We need to move away from here, leave Mulberry Lane, leave Surrey and leave this country. It’s for the best.”
“I don’t understand, I thought you liked it here?”
“No, I don’t.” Tanya’s voice is raised. “I don’t like it here, this house haunts me. I want to be far away from here with you and the kids. I think I’m going to leave.”
“No, please don’t baby, I love you, don’t leave me. I couldn’t cope without you and the kids.”
“You are coping without the kids, I’m sure you can cope without me.”
“What do you mean? The kids are still here.”
“Where are they then?”
“They went to get ice cream.”
“Oh really? Look behind you, then.”
I look behind to see the figure standing directly behind me again. My vision blurs, I turn to look at Tanya, but she’s gone. I’m in the basement, on my own.
I awaken on the kitchen floor, short of breath. I try to remember my dream as much as I can, I try to remember Tanya and Sammy but I can’t.
I stand up and drink water straight from the tap. I lean over the sink, full of rage. I pick up a glass and grip it as hard as I can, the shards fall into the sink. I sit back down in the chair and try to calm myself down.
I breathe deeply, count down from ten and try to hold back my tears. I can’t break down; I need to stay strong if I ever want to find them again.
I walk out the kitchen into the open hallway, and notice the basement door is slightly open. Why? I haven’t been in there today.
I open the door and take a look down the wooden stairs, they fade into the darkness.
I walk down the creaking stairs, pausing on the sixth step as I hear movement from within the basement. I stare into the blackness and wait for my eyes to adjust. I walk down two more steps and listen again. I hear more movement so I quickly switch on the lights and charge down to the bottom. As the lights begin to flicker, the shadows pulsate along the walls until the lights stay on and I can finally see across the basement.
I can’t see anyone, which is disappointing. I was hoping there would be a conclusion to it so I wouldn’t be constantly paranoid that something’s down here. Why couldn’t there just be an animal down here?
After searching around the basement one last time, I go back upstairs into the kitchen and make myself dinner. Well, I say ‘make’, all I’ve got are microwavable meals, so it’s heated up Spaghetti Carbonara tonight.
After finishing my very small meal, there’s a knock at the door. I get up to answer it. It better not be a sales person or a religious group begging me to go and pray with them, I’m really not in the mood.
Through the frosted glass I make out the familiar shape of the caller. It’s Sandra, holding a plastic bowl in her hand. I open the door.
“Hey there, Ryan.”
“Hello Sandy, how are you?”
“I’m good thanks, you?”
“I’m good thank you. Don’t tell me, is that for me?”
“Yep, I made it especially for you, seeing as you liked it so much last night. So here you go.” Sandra says as she hands me the plastic bowl. “Enjoy it.”
“Oh I will, thank you so much for this. Do you wanna come in for a drink?”
“No, I should probably go back, got things to do, people to see.”
“Okay then, fair enough. Thanks again Sandy” As I finish my sentence, she smiles and walks down the path. I look at her legs. “Was good to see you” I shout after her.
“And you, Ryan.” She smiles again as she turns around to look at me.
I continue to look her up and down until I see a car come down the road. It’s actually the first time I’ve seen someone driving round this estate.
The black Mercedes Benz speeds towards Sandra. I take a deep breath as she steps out into the road without even looking. As I prepare to shout, the car puts on its brakes and comes to a stop in front of the Canns’s home. Sandra pauses in the middle of the road. After a moment, she goes over and hugs the young man who steps out of the car. He can’t be any older than twenty-five.
After they hug, Sandra leads the way and opens the door into her house, welcoming the young man in, too.
I take the Spaghetti Bolognese into the kitchen and put it in my half empty fridge. I put the kettle on and look out into the back garden. I haven’t had a chance to properly look around the woodland yet, might as well go and check it out.
I quickly get changed and walk out into the garden, through the damp grass and stand in front of the dripping wire fence. I walk along the fence to the gate; it creaks as I open it and swings shut after I’m through. I continue to walk through the wooded area. There doesn’t seem to be anything here other than vast woodland.
I walk further in, dodging the branches and vines that sag down from the trees and caress my shoulders.
After a while, I decide to turn back, this just goes on and on. I’ll just look on Google Earth when I get home to see what it backs onto. I guess it’ll probably just lead to a nature reserve or a farmer’s field most likely.
I turn around and walk high-kneed over the trip-hazard branches on the ground. I crack branches and drag my feet in the damp mud and crinkled leaves.
My foot stomps down onto the squelching mud and I hear a branch break behind me. I stop. The bottoms of my shoes are thick with mud and moss.
I start to walk again and hear another branch break. I pause, turning slowly. I stare into the opening of the woods. There’s nobody there, not any form of life. Why do I feel so paranoid here?!
I turn back towards home and get the familiar feeling that somebody’s following me. More branches break behind me so I quicken my pace. I look only forward, as the branches begin to snap closer to me. The leaves rustle right behind me. I want to look but I can’t. I speed up. I can see the gate to the house; I’m so close, I’m nearly there. As I make it up the slope, I step on a branch and stumble. I recover and make the gate. I’m through and safe. I get into the garden and slam the gate shut behind me. Now I can get a proper look. I look into the trees and see movement. I hear the branches breaking, but this time, they’re distant.