In Garrigill, at the George and Dragon Inn, about twenty miles south of Langston Castle, a group of young intoxicated teenagers crammed into a late model sports car and headed down the country lane, toward Alston. The couple in the back started kissing and fondling each other. The girl in the front passenger seat lit up a joint, took a drag and passed it to the driver. “Are you crazy! Where did you get that?”
“From my cousin,” she giggled and offered it to him again. “Go on, take a puff.”
“Are you kidding? That shit fries your brain. I don’t do drugs. What if we get stopped? I shouldn’t even be driving, much less smoking grass! Besides,” he motioned with his head, “… them two in the back are making me horny.”
“Awe, poor baby,” she simpered and stroked his penis, through his jeans. “I’ll take care of that.”
“Come on, now! Cut it out! I need to concentrate on driving.”
“Bring the party back here with us, Stacey.”
Stacey glanced over her shoulder. “You look like you’ve already got more than you can handle.”
“Hell no,” he laughed. “I can handle both of you at the same time. Crawl on back here and join the ride.”
Stacey started unbuckling her seat belt. “What are you doing?” the driver growled.
“I came to get high and get laid. So far, all I’ve got is sauced and let down.” She crawled between the seats.
“Bitch!” he spat and swerved back on the road.
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Richard parked in front of Langston Castle. “Evening, Master Richard. Shall I make you a cup of tea?”
“No thank you, Jack. Is Grandma up?”
“Yes, Sir. I believe she’s in the drawing room.”
Jack announced Richard and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Evening Grandma.”
“Good evening, Ricky,” she spoke cordially. “Where’s Donna?”
“She’s… not coming, and I’m not staying.”
Lady Triplet frowned. “What do you mean she’s not coming, and you’re not staying? Has something happened between you?”
“Don’t panic. It’s not what you think. We’re still together, but we’ve decided to live somewhere else.”
“Why on earth would you want to do something like that? You’ve got a beautiful apartment upstairs. No one bothers you. You have servants, and it’s safe here for you and Donna. Not to mention it would be a wonderful place for your children to grow up, and when I’m gone this will all be yours. What more could you ask for? Whose idea was this – Donna’s?”
Richard grinned. “As a matter of fact it was Grandma. She doesn’t feel comfortable here. She says there’s a presence that makes her nervous.”
“A presence - as in a ghost? Oh, come on Ricky! There’s no such thing as ghosts – you know that! She’s just being difficult, like her mother was. Marie thought she was psychic, too – more like psychotic.”
“I’m not going to argue with you about this. Donna is going to be my wife, and this is what she wants. If that upsets you, I’m sorry. If you want to disinherit me – that’s fine too. The castle is too cold for my liking anyway.”
“Well, where is it?”
Richard grinned. “It’s a short distance from here, further out, into the country.”
“How safe is it? What about the Centre? If it’s further out, won’t it take longer to get to work?”
Richard chuckled. “Getting back and forth to work won’t be a problem.”
Using her cane, Lady Triplet pushed to her feet. “I suppose Donna has decided not to get married in my chapel, as well!” she snapped.
Richard groaned. “No, Grandma, but if she knew your true colours, she probably would.”
“What do you mean my true colours?”
“You’re two-faced, Grandma. You’re all peaches and cream to her face, and then talk about her behind her back. She’s never seen you – angry – like you are now.”
Lady Triplet softly smiled. “I’m not… angry Ricky. I’m just… frustrated. I know how much you want this marriage between you and Donna to work. I’m not sure Donna wants it as much as you do. Answer a question for me. This new place, where you’ve chosen to live, is it anywhere near your doctor?”
Richard forced the air from his lungs and pressed his lips together. “He’s not… far away.”
“Just as I suspected. Don’t do this, Ricky. Donna is attracted to him. From what I understand, most women are. He’s a smooth talker. If you continue to let them see each other, you’ll regret it. Someone else will raise your son – mark my words!”
“OK, Grandma – that’s it! One more word against Donna and you’ve seen the last of me.” Richard headed for the lift.
Lady Triplet followed him and grabbed his arm. Richard looked down at his arm and back into Lady Triplet’s eyes. “Ricky, you have to listen to me. I’ve been around longer than you have. I’ve seen relationships come, and I’ve seen them go. Sam will mean trouble if you don’t put a stop to this preposterous friendship.”
Richard tightened his jaw. “Grandma, I know Donna is attracted to Sam. I know she doesn’t love me like I love her, but if you’ll stay out of this, I know I can make this work. If I start telling Donna who she can and can’t be friends with, she will resent me, and as soon as the baby is born, she will want me to give her a divorce.”
“And you would?”
“Yes! If I knew I couldn’t make her happy, I would. Now let go of my arm. I don’t want her worrying and wondering why I’m not back. I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need your help. I can run my own life.”
Lady Triplet slowly released him; Richard stepped into the lift. “Remember what I said!” she called out.
Richard looked down. “Remember what I said!” he called back. He unlocked his cell phone. “Dad, it’s me. Are you still up?”
“Just got out of the shower, Ricky. What did you need?”
“I need to borrow the chopper. I want to move all of mine and Donna’s stuff over to the complex.”
“Now? Tonight? I thought you were only coming to pick up clothes and a couple of Donna’s things.”
“Yeah, well, I’d planned to, but I thought I would surprise Donna and move it all tonight. That way, she wouldn’t have to come back, but for the rehearsal and wedding. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”
“OK. That’s not a problem. Just as long as it’s here in the morning. I still have to pick up a few things at the Hall, tomorrow. Was there anything else you needed from there?”
“No. Oh – wait. I want to move a couple of the horses. I spoke to Natress, and he said he would keep them at the farm for me.”
“Let me guess, you want the white Appaloosas, and the chestnut stallion, right?”
Richard grinned as he unlocked the apartment. “Yeah. I’m driving back in my car. I’m going to let John fly the chopper, help him unload it and then he can fly back tonight. That won’t be a problem, will it?”
“Course not. I told you to use the choppers whenever you needed to. In fact, why don’t you just keep the one you’ve been using? That way you won’t have to look for John or Frank when you want to use it. Think of it as an early wedding present for you and Donna.”
“Thanks, Dad, for everything.”
“Listen, is it still foggy?”
“A little, up on the fells. That’s why it took me a little longer to get here.”
“Look, just be careful going back. Use your fog lights and take it slow. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I will. Goodnight Dad.” Richard pressed another button. “Jeff, it’s Richard. Did you get that little project taken care of, for me?”
“Which one, the card or the locket?”
“Both, actually.”
“Yes, I did Richard. Did you want to get it tonight, or wait until morning?”
“I’ll pick it up in about half an hour. I’d like to give it to her tonight.”
“Sure thing, Mate.”
Richard ended the call. There was a knock on the apartment door. “Ricky it’s John.”
Richard opened the door. “Your Dad said you wanted to load some things on the chopper.” John’s eyes widened as he stepped into the lounge. “All these boxes?”
Richard nodded. John forced the air from his lungs. “OK… let’s get this done.”
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Lady Triplet winced and rubbed her chest as she cautiously made her way back to her easy chair. She put a small white pill under her tongue and breathed through the pain. This attack was stronger and was lasting longer than before. She was just about to call for help when it started easing off. She wiped the cold sweat from her mouth and brow and put her handkerchief back in her pocket. As soon as she could, she made her way to the lift and went to bed.
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As soon as Richard and John had loaded all the boxes onto the helicopter, John prepared to lift off. Richard got in his car, started his engine and popped his cell phone in the car cradle. Due to the misting rain, his wipers came on automatically. He turned on his headlights, put some music on and turned the car around. Speeding out of the drive, he turned right onto the A686 and headed south, back toward Allendale.
About fifty yards from the sawmill turnoff, a deer crossed the road.
Coming from the opposite direction, traveling at a high speed was the car with the pumped-up and oversexed teenagers. The driver swerved into the other lane.
Richard took the bend, too fast and had to make a split-second decision.
“Oh fuck!” the driver of the other car swore.
Confused, blinded by the glare of their headlights, the deer stood there.
Richard yanked hard to the left and managed to miss the car, but his left wheel went too far over the edge of the verge.
The other car skidded sideways and steered onto the other verge.
The right front of Richard’s car glanced off a small tree. Upon impact, the driver’s airbag popped out. Richard slammed on his brakes, but the car was already sliding down the bank. His head hit the driver’s window. His vision blurred, and he let go of the steering wheel.
The other driver grabbed for his cell phone and jumped out of the car. The man in the back stepped out, zipped his jeans and staggered to the other side of the road. “Get back in the fucking car!” he yelled to Stacey and the women, who had crawled out behind him.
“Watch for a car,” the driver said to the other man. “I’ll go down there and see if they’re alive.”
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Gary, Sam, and Donna were sitting at the dining table in hers and Richard’s quarters, playing a game of Monopoly. Gary took his turn and landed on Park Place. Without checking the board, Donna reached for the dice and took her turn. Owning that entire side of the board, up to now, Donna had been quick to ask for her rent. She slowly reached for her playing piece; the iron. Picking it up, she paused, staring at her hands as if she didn’t know what to do with it.
Gary frowned. “D… are you OK?”
“No,” she whispered.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“I don’t know Sam, but something doesn’t feel right.”
“With you?”
“No… not me, but something is wrong. I think it’s.…”
The door panel chirped; Donna’s eyes turned to two black marbles. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “VICi, who is at the door?” she asked with a shaky voice.
VICi; John Sherriff.
Donna swallowed the bile at the back of her throat, fighting the nausea in her roiling stomach. Her heart started pounding. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. Slowly, she rose to her feet and headed for the lounge; Gary and Sam followed. “VICi, unlock door panel,” she said as she propped her back against the sofa and waited.
The doors slid open. Standing on the other side was John; both hands full. He stepped inside the apartment; the door slid shut. “Ricky decided to move your stuff, tonight.”
Donna reached for her guitar and keyboard. Sam stepped forward. “I’ll take those. Where do you want them, sweetheart?”
She pointed. “Over there. Next to the wall, in the corner.”
“The boxes are on the chopper,” John said to Sam and Gary. “I could use your help.”
Sam glanced at Gary and nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
Donna caught Gary’s arm. “Wait!” she snapped. “John, where’s Richard?”
“He’s coming in his car.” John checked his watch. “He should be here in about twenty minutes, but knowing Ricky, he’ll be here in fifteen.”
Gary and Sam followed John to the door. “I’ll go make some coffee and put the game away,” Donna mumbled and ambled back into the kitchen.
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By the time Donna had cleared the game away and put the dishes in the dishwasher, the men had arrived with some of the boxes. “Where do you want these, D?” Gary called out.
“It doesn’t matter. Just leave me a path!” Donna answered back from the kitchen. She finished wiping off the table and counters, put the crisps and dips away and pressed the button on the kettle. She then sat in the lounge, on the sofa and reached for her Kindle.
The men had brought two more loads of boxes and gone back for the rest.
Checking her watch, Donna noted fifteen minutes had passed. Unless her instincts were wrong, Richard would be there any minute. Donna tried concentrating on her book, but she couldn’t shake her dark foreboding feeling. She glanced at her cell phone, lying on the coffee table and thought about calling him. “No,” she shook her head with a sigh. “John said it was foggy. It might distract him. Richard, please be safe.”
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Bonnet first, at a forty-five degree angle, Richard’s car came to rest, in the bed of the stream, at the bottom of the ravine. Steam boiled from the exhaust pipe. A partial beam could be seen from the other headlight, buried in the mud.
Using the flashlight application on his cell phone, the other driver slipped and skidded down to Richard’s car. Peering through the tinted glass, he could see Richard sluggishly moving around. He’d been left dazed and dangling by his lap belt. The driver banged on the window a couple of times. Richard glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and nodded back off.
The driver crawled and clawed his way back up the bank. “Are they alive?” his friend asked.
“Yeah! Let’s get out of here before he calls somebody.”
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Another ten minutes passed. Donna’s uneasiness was getting worse. The door panel chirped, causing her to toss her Kindle in the air. She grabbed it before it hit the top of the coffee table. “VICi, unlock door panel!” she snapped and grabbed her cell phone as she rose to her feet.
John entered the lounge and set his box on top of another one. Gary and Sam followed suit. “Any news from Ricky?” John asked.
Donna’s eyes glossed. She slowly shook her head. “No. I’ve been tempted to call, but I was afraid it would distract him.”
John checked his watch. “VICi, locate Richard Triplet. Is he in his car?”
VICi; Richard Triplet is in his car. His location is latitude fifty-four degrees, fifty-seven minutes, three point five one seconds, North. Longitude is two degrees, fifteen minutes, fifty-six point two nine seconds West.
Gary jerked his head toward John. “He’s off the road in the stream!”
“VICi, connect to Richard Triplet’s cell phone. Sam grab a medkit and gurney and meet me at the chopper. Gary, go with him.” Donna headed for the door. Sam grabbed her arm. “Stay here.”
“Fuck off, Sam!” Donna snapped. “Get your hand off me! I’m going!”
“Let her come!” John ordered.
Donna and John got to the hangar first. Donna strapped in the co-pilot seat. John glanced at her and smiled. Warming the engine, he quickly went through the checklist. “VICi, open hangar doors.”
“Where are they?” Donna growled.
Sam and Gary wheeled the gurney toward the chopper and jumped in.
Donna glared at Sam. “What did you do? Get lost!” She popped her Bluetooth ear bud in and tapped it. “Richard Triplet,” she said and waited. She blinked to clear her vision. “Come on Richard! Please - pick up!”
As soon as the chopper cleared the hangar doors, John pushed forward on the stick. He looked at Donna; she shook her head. “Nothing,” she choked.
“Call Sir Richard,” John said.
Donna tapped her ear bud, again and waited. Several rings later, Sir Richard picked up. “Dad, it’s Donna. We’re on our way! Richard has had an accident. Gary said he’s not far from the sawmill, in the ravine. I’ve tried reaching him on his cell phone, but all I get is voicemail. John says we’ll be there in about three or four minutes.”
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“Hurry! I’ll wait for you in the Escalade,” Sir Richard said and ended the call. He jumped in his clothes and ran to the lift. He hurried to Jack and Vera’s room and started knocking on the door.
Jack slipped on his robe and opened the door. “Sir?”
“I have to go out. Ricky’s been in a car accident, near the sawmill. Tell Mum I’ll let her know something, later!”
“Yes, Sir Richard,” Jack mumbled and closed the door.
“What is it?” Vera asked.
“Master Richard has been in a car accident. Sir Richard said he would let us know something later.”