‘Surprise Surprise’
One
It’s always the boyfriend they look at first, isn’t it? The minute I got back, could see he wasn’t there but it looked wrong…if I had to put it into words that is. Muddy trainers in the hallway, no sign the bed was slept in and the flat was cold, he always turns the heating on. I knew that if something had happened they’d look at me first, is that shock, realism or paranoia?
Now I’m just waiting for them to come back and ask me more questions, always questions…where was I, who did I see, where did I go? Who cares, they don’t seem to.
Two.
Mark sighed as he slammed the door behind him, dumping his shoes and socks in the cluttered hall. It had been an alright night, he thought, but now he was tired and hungry. The Chinese Takeaway so appealing on the kitchen counter, maybe it would soak up the couple of shots he’d had earlier. At least they were quick up the road, he never felt like hanging around the High Street after dark.
He turned on the oven and unpacked the food from the plastic bag, humming what sounded like an X-Factor song, to him anyway. One of the perks of jogging, he thought, you can cheat with a Takeaway once in a while, wouldn’t kill him just the once. Mark decided to pop in the shower while the food was heating up and his beer getting cold in the fridge, he knew he wouldn’t really feel like it later on after he’d eaten, could smell from his t-shirt it was more a necessity than an option.
After he’d turned off the spray, wrapping a towel around his waist, he carefully pulled all the hairs from the drain, taking care to flush them down the loo, couldn’t be too careful, Adam was always going on about the risk of blocking it, not worth the argument if he left even a few in there. At last, time to sit down and enjoy this dinner, he was starving.
Three
‘What exactly did you see when you got home Sir’, DCI Tina Priesus asked.
‘I already told you, he wasn’t there and it didn’t look much like he had been all day. He was off today, down the gym or the pub I suppose, and then out with some friends last night. He should have been there when I got back, but he wasn’t, was he’.
‘Who called the police’ Tina asked.
‘I did, when I couldn’t get hold of him and found his phone in the bedroom, and his trainers, never seen him go out without them on, loves the bloody things; I thought it was best to call, better safe than sorry.’
I thought maybe she’d smile a bit, I was trying to be sarcastic but nothing, not even a hint, it was going to be a long night.
‘Tell me again from the beginning’ Tina pressed, leaning forward over the Formica table in the Police interview room, ‘once more for the record’.
How did I get in this mess? Repeating myself to the police about something I have no idea about, I wasn’t even there.
‘I was at a friends for the weekend, a stag do, four of us. He didn’t want to come, doesn’t really share our enthusiasm for paint balling, too messy really. Not my type of thing either really, but good for a laugh occasionally, I think he likes a bit of peace and quiet while I go away, or a chance to let his hair down’.
‘How did you know he wasn’t still with them when you got back?’
‘I told you, he’d dumped his trainers, looked like he’d been out for a jog in the park, after he saw his mates maybe, or just because he fancied it?’
‘Maybe he got a cab back?’
‘He doesn’t trust cabs, you never know who you get do you? Too risky, people round here can be really prejudiced, you know.’
I think she didn’t, no surprise there. How long do I have to sit here repeating myself, questions going round and round with nobody any the wiser? Please, just give me a break.
Four.
Mark sat back on the sofa, reasonably content but feeling, if the truth be told, a little queasy. That Takeaway always made the mixed vegetables a bit too greasy; if he were to be totally honest it was swimming in fat, most likely what made it taste nice in the first place. He looked at the empty foil containers, greasy lids and the congealing contents, empty beer can. Decided however tired and lazy he was, couldn’t really leave them for Adam to find in the morning. He’d love that, the flat stinking of Chinese food, all the containers on the lounge table, an argument waiting to happen.
He decided to quickly dump the whole lot in the outside bin. He’d eaten from the containers on his lap so no washing up or mess to tidy, then he could put the telly on and maybe catch Match of the Day, or the last few matches at least! He put his slippers on and tipped the whole lot into the bag it came in. He pulled the front door to but he didn’t lock it, wouldn’t be gone that long, a quick look through the peep hole in the door and then nipped out, his breath catching as he realised it was about -2˚c and he had no socks on, best get a move on then. Bag in the wheelie bin and then he turned, stopping suddenly as he realised how stupid he’d been. If anyone had seen him come out they could be in the flat now, or behind the door waiting right now. ‘Don’t be silly’ he said out loud, as much for his own sake as anyone listening, more likely to freeze to death worrying about it.
Five.
I’ve been sitting in this flat for days now, ‘nothing you can do Sir’ they say. They tell me I’m not a suspect now but that doesn’t make me feel any better, who is then? No escape from wondering what happened to him. Surely he wouldn’t just leave me like that, we were good together, well I thought so anyway. The door was shut; no sign anyone had ever been here except the trainers, didn’t even take his phone with him? I can’t live the rest of my life not knowing, people looking at me like I’m a criminal, but really, if I’m honest I don’t want to think about it, what might have happened, does that make me a bad person?
Six.
I keep the knife hidden behind me, I don’t want him to make any noise, just yet or be frightened, better if they keep quiet as long as they can. He doesn’t see me as he puts the bag I saw him with earlier in the bin, it was easy to get the takeaway to add more oil to the food, I can very persuasive when I want to be. Most people will do anything they don’t think will hurt anyone for £20, luckily for me.
After he left the flat I turned off the TV and closed the front door, one of those ones that lock themselves so he’s not getting back inside in a hurry. Not many neighbours around either, all out or asleep, it’s late, he’ll spot me in a minute I suspect but I don’t think he’ll be afraid, people are so trusting these days, especially when they see the knife, tends to have that effect on people.
Seven.
It’s been more than a week, no sign, no news, no nothing. My imagination is running away with me I think, starting to crack a bit. The bloke in the paper shop was looking at me funny yesterday, thinks I’m guilty of something I recon, besides not paying my paper bill. That lady police woman came round this morning, nice of her I suppose, just to say the usual, no leads, no suspects; no sign…surprise surprise, maybe if they hadn’t wasted so much time questioning me earlier they would have found him by now.
Eight.
It’s really easy to get away with murder, if you know the right people. I suppose you think you know me don’t you, think you know what I’ve done…wrong. You see, I kidnap people for money, quite a lot of money at that. As I say, if you know people in the right places you can get away with pretty much anything. Mark wanted to get away from his bloke and was willing to pay, sounds like a right nasty piece of work if you ask me. He wanted it to look like a random thing, so we agreed I wouldn’t tell him when I’d snatch him, a surprise you could call it. He’s safe now, we’ll find somewhere for him to go when everything dies down and Adam’s out of the way. Soon the boyfriend will be a real suspect, I wonder when I question him again he’ll realise, I doubt it, nobody ever suspects a copper do they?
(c) C Riley 2011
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