Promises Beyond The Veil Of Light ( PT 17 )

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Story In Forty Eight Parts.

 

 

Part Seventeen

 

It was now 9.30pm on that very same Monday that John Chapman set off for work along the dark streets. Working nights had its perks, it meant there weren't any bosses around to bother him, also the lorries that came in through the gates were fewer and there was also less paperwork.

 

On the other hand it meant winter nights were long and cold, but it did give him the opportunity to patrol the yard, the responsibility giving him a feeling of importance while making sure everything was as it should be.

 

He waddled down the road in his yellow fluorescent jacket with bag slung across his shoulder, his huge belly causing him to limp slightly under the weight. Molly his long suffering wife of thirty eight years had tried to keep his diet in check, but John loved his food too much.

 

He found himself hating the salads she'd prepared in Tupperware containers. “Salads for rabbits,” he'd announce in a matter of fact way, much prefering a pasty or bacon sandwiches followed by chocolate bars instead of yogurts that Molly packed in his bag.

 

As always he headed off into his local newsagents which stayed open late. Entering soft music played as the doorbell rang. Heading down his favorite isle, gazing at the pasties, sausage rolls and pies which sat on the shelf, he picked up a couple of the meat pasties and went to pay for them.

 

“Evening John,” said the shop assistant. “What have we got tonight?”

 

“Evening Bob, think it'll be the usual pasties.” He gazed at the sweets and picked up two mars bars.” John hesitated. “While I remember, I'll pay for my wife's ad for another week.”

 

“No luck in selling the keyboard then?” Uttered Bob, in a cheery fashion.

 

“Nah! Not yet,” replied John. “Thought it would have gone really quick. Would make a fantastic Christmas present for someone musical, but I suppose it's a bit early for Christmas.”

 

“Never too early for buying presents John.” Bob changed the subject. “Molly still got you on that diet I see.” Bob knew that he only came in because of Molly's salads.

 

John plonked the items down on the counter with some money. “Yeah! Wish she'd give up, it's costing me a fortune coming in here every night. It's not in my nature to consume salads, especially at this time of the year.” His face scrunched up at the thought of cold lettuce leaves. “Can't understand what all the fuss is about, bloody doctors keep telling me I should loose weight, life's too short as far as I'm concerned.”

 

John mentioned about how careful Molly was at packing food for him that was healthy, but that he always gave it away to one of the guys at work. “Thankfully Molly has no idea, so I just keep her happy and let her think I'm doing okay.”

 

Bob rang up the till, but wasn't too sure he agreed with John, though he kept quiet knowing it was a waste of time to tell him otherwise when he had a fixed idea in his head.

 

As John was about to leave the shop, he had a bit of time to kill so decided to check out the other advertisements. Scrutinizing them carefully, one caught his eye about a missing girl. He remembered the child from earlier on that day noticing the description fitted her. A rush of anxiety went through him as he felt a lump in his throat and swallowed. Walking back to the counter, anxiously he approached the assistant. “Do you have a pen and paper handy?”

 

“Sure, here you go John,” said the assistant producing an old envelope from under the counter and a pen. “What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost.”

 

Without another word John rushed back over to the window and took down the phone number. Taking the pen back, he didn't even manage a goodbye, just left the shop leaving the assistant bewildered and nodding his head.

 

Once outside he headed straight for the local phone box which sat next to the newsagents. Opening the door he picked up the receiver ready with his coins John dialed the number, it rang a couple of times before a voice said: “Hello!”

 

Slipping the coins into the slots, John stumbled on his words unsure of how to begin. “Um, uh, I'm ringing about a card in the newsagents window...um, it's about a young girl gone missing.”

 

There was a loud excited response, John held the phone away from his ear. “Well it's like this you see. I was patrolling the yard where I work when this young girl that fits the description happened to walk by our gates, I asked her what she was doing, she seemed shy and ran off, but it never registered with me till I saw your ad.”

 

~~

 

Kendrick had gone to bed early that night and had been asleep ready for an early start of searching for Mina. He was taken aback by the call. He sat up immediately still talking to the stranger. “This is wonderful news,” he shouted down the phone. “Is it possible to come and see you now?” Kendrick jumped out of bed grabbing trousers and a shirt, dressing as he talked.

 

John looked at his watch realizing he needed to get a move on. “I'm on my way to work. Do you know the Expand Rubber factory on the main road?”

 

“Yeah! I must have passed it many times today while out searching for my daughter,” replied Kendrick now fully awake.

 

“If you come to the gate and ask for John Chapman, I'll come out and show you which way she headed.”

 

“Right,” declared Kendrick. “I'll be there as soon as I can. Thank you for getting in touch so quickly.” Kendrick had no idea his ad would be answered on that same day.

 

“No problem,” uttered John. “I can't imagine what you're going through and I'm only too glad to help.”

 

Kendrick hung up and grabbed his keys. His long leather coat hung on a hook by the entrance of his caravan. He'd never dressed so quickly and shivered picking up his staff as he opened the door. The night air was damp and freezing, all Kendrick could think about was his daughter out there somewhere cold and hungry. “I just hope she's close by,” he muttered to himself.

 

Kendrick picked up the large torch he kept in a wooden shed next to his caravan, which also acted as an outside toilet and shower room he'd built with wood from the forest. The hinges creaked and sounded loud in the peace of the night. “I must remember to oil that door,” he said making his way out across the edge of the forest and along the path to the car park. It was eerie with night sounds that seemed to echo with cracking of twigs where creatures scuttled about.

 

Kendrick was glad when he reached his vehicle. Quickly unlocking the door and slipping in, shivering he turned on the lights and started the engine which purred into action immediately. It wasn't long before he was driving down the dark lane that led out onto the main road, glad that at least the weather was clear.

 

Reaching the area he was told about, Kendrick parked down one of the side streets that wasn't far from the foster home. All was quiet as he locked the car door and made his way along the pavement. The only people around were a young couple looking like they were on their way home after a night out, they giggled walking arm in arm as they passed.

 

Kendrick thought about his late wife and the times when they'd shared moments of pleasure and became tearful, his eyes glazing over. For an instant he envied this couple, but the feeling soon passed with the probability of loosing a daughter as well as his Nina occurred to him.

 

Turning a corner onto the main road, the buzz of traffic even at that time of night was loud with heavy lorries zooming by. Kendrick noticed the large billboard advertising Expand Rubber Factory. Reaching the locked gates and pressing a button on the intercom, a faint voice spoke. “Hello!”

 

“Can I speak to John Chapman, he's expecting me.” Kendrick said anxiously.

 

“Sure,” came the reply. “Hold on I'll be down in a sec.” John made his way out into the yard towards Kendrick and unlocked the gate. Stepping outside, he pointed in the direction he'd seen Mina walk. “I think your daughter was heading for the underpass, don't think she'd have wandered any further on this side, it's just fields and main road, then there's the river which runs along beside the rail tracks. It's all a bit wild and muddy, can't imagine she'd have got far going that way.”

 

“So what's on the other side of the underpass?” Asked Kendrick, as the crystal in his staff began to slowly light up.

 

John noticed but never uttered a word of what he was seeing, he just felt uneasy and didn't understand. All the same he carried on explaining. “There's just more housing estates, basically same as this side but less traffic.” John paused a moment then continued. “I don't think it's such a good idea to go walking down there at this time of night, there's a lot of drug takers who'll rob for a fix, they'll take anything, even the clothes off your back.” John gazed at the leather coat Kendrick was wearing wondering how expensive it was.

 

The fact that his staff was glowing and warning of danger worried Kendrick even more, he couldn't bear the thought of his daughter being attacked, but he knew to start looking on his own so late at night would be a mistake. “Perhaps you're right,” he declared. “I'll come back at first light tomorrow, hopefully it won't be too late for my daughter.” There wasn't anything else he could do, so thanking John he turned and walked away.

 

John shouted out. “Good luck!”

 

Kendrick turned and waved trying hard to remain positive, but with a dark shadow hanging over him.

 

To be continued...