Just a Glance

By Seamus Omeara

My name is Robin, an Essex boy at heart, and as things go, I live a good life now on and off in the west of Ireland in a beautiful picturesque place called the Galway bay.

There are some people who would have called me and my mates gangsters. Sure we got up to mischief, but it just seemed the right thing to do at the time. We didnt like doing what we did and wanted to get out as soon as we had made enough money. We got into this game by accident in some ways, but then we stayed that far under the radar; we went deeper than a nuclear submarine. Definitely not our interpretation of gangsters. We didnt go around carrying guns, threatening or beating up people, just normal run-of-the-mill guys just trying to earn a few bob and lived by the motto Dont pull, dont push and be lucky.

But now having given up all my wild ways, if you would like to call it that, sold some of my share in the business I have and earned enough money just to spend my time doing the things I love in lifea bit of painting, fishing, part-time teaching, and having the odd pint of Guinness, or as they call it here porter.

For the past twenty-odd years life just cant get better. So with this in mind, it gives me time to reflect on one particular day twenty-odd years ago in a bookies in Romford, Essex.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504987806

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2015 Seamus Omeara. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/27/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8779-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8778-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8780-6 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

The Meeting

Wednesday

Race Day

Back Home

Busy Week

The Week Passed

At the Hall

The Monday Meeting

Day of the Pickup

Audrey’s Story

The Revenge Sting

The Sting

The Event Sting

My name is Robin. Most people like to call me Robby, or sometimes the Gov, but I’m still an Essex boy at heart. As things go, I live a good life now, on and off in the west of Ireland, in a beautiful, picturesque place called the Galway Bay.

There are some people who would have called me and my mates gangsters. But we were just a bunch of guys who grew up together and stayed very tight, looking out for each other. Sure, we got up to mischief, but it just seemed the right thing to do at the time. We didn’t like doing what we did, and we wanted to get out as soon as we had made enough money.

We got into this game by accident, in some ways. Then we stayed so far under the radar that we went deeper than a nuclear submarine. We definitely didn’t consider ourselves gangsters; we didn’t go around carrying guns or threatening or beating up people. We were just normal, run-of-the-mill guys trying to earn a few bob, and we lived by the motto Don’t pull, don’t push, and be lucky.

But now, having given up what you might call my wild ways, I’ve sold some of my share in the business and earned enough money just to spend my time doing the things I love in life: a bit of painting, some fishing, part-time teaching, and having the odd pint of Guinness (or as they call it here, porter).

For the past twenty-odd years, life just couldn’t have been better, so with this in mind, I have time to reflect on that one particular day, in a bookie’s in Romford in Essex. Little did I know that the events of that day would change my life forever!

Things just didn’t seem to gel right that day; everything was going against me, even down at the bookie’s. I could not pick my nose, never mind a winner. I don’t think I will ever get rich on the nags, but then again, I have a few bob tucked aside for a rainy day.

Speaking of which, it looks like rain tonight, just for a change. Yeah, right, so I better get out of here. I don’t need any problems tonight; I’d better get a move on, load up my gear, and get going.

I hope that the traffic isn’t too heavy going through Ipswich; it’s always trouble there if you get the timing wrong. I need to be set up and be waiting. I like to be there, prepared, and get the tide right; I hate to keep people waiting, and I know Jimmy won’t wait. He can’t afford to.

We have a good shipment coming in. It was dropped last night from a container ship, not far from the old WWII gun tower off the Harwich coast. It’s in crab pots, so Jimmy has to go and pick it up. He knows this coastline like the back of his hand, having grown up there, man and boy, fishing these waters. So, with him going in and out all the time, fishing, there is never a problem with the Coast Guard; they just think he’s fishing again.

The crab pots are preloaded into a container up in Columbia with the best uncut 100 percent Colombian cocaine and shipped over, but they never reach the docks for inspection. Funny that they never check them before they leave the place. Perhaps they can’t wait to get rid of the stuff – or is it to keep the economy stimulated? I don’t know.

The crab pots are made in China and then exported to Colombia, which is very handy, as they are nice and cheap, so it keeps the overhead down – not that we worry too much. I dread to think how much money we have made out of it.

We have been all mates from the year dot and have always dealt with the same people. This stuff will only go to the best people in the business; people with the money, who can handle it – you know, pop stars, celebrities, and all that. Not like us; we have a strict policy that no one has any kind of habit, so there is no problem there. We just meet up once a month, divvy up, and have a bit of a party at the local pub out near South Weald in Brentwood.

At the meeting we generally discuss any problems with anything on the last run. If there was a problem, we talk about what we can do to improve it – and best of all, what horse-race meeting we are going to, so we can launder up the money with the bookies.

We like to break even or just under and have a great day at the track, especially at the big meetings like Ascot. You can do a lot of cash in these places, and being the proud owners of the finest equine flesh, we get to sit in the owners’ enclosure. No one bats an eye at the amount of money changing hands. Then you have the bookies electronic the cash to your account, so it all looks above board and, as Del Boy on the Only Fools and Horses program would say, Lovely jubbly.

The winning money then goes to an electrical company that we bought a couple of years back, which seems to just kind of break even. Well, we do employ thirty people there and keep ten apprentices on the go, and they get sent to college free of charge. No one in the firm knows about our business, and they get paid very well – probably too much – but then, we like to employ the best tradesmen and pay our taxes, as well.

I suppose the day will come when we will have to show a profit and get the firm making money properly; when we give all this old malarkey up, or if something goes wrong with the connection at the other end, as it quite often does within the cartel in those places. The talk is that we will stop then, give it up, and come out on top. Well, we hope – that’s the dream, anyway.

OK, the drive was pretty good; it only took forty-five minutes, and now through Ipswich. I like to drive through Ipswich and stop at a local tackle shop to pick my bait up and buy a few bits if I need them. I love the smell of a tackle shop; it always smells of spices and stuff like cinnamon, from the ground baits. It reminds me of bread pudding. The fellow there, John, always likes to have a friendly chat and tell me what’s being caught and keep me up on the local scandal.

I love this drive once I am out of the town and going out into constable country. I know that once I’m past Bentwaters airbase I’m just ten minutes away. It got a bit dodgy there a few years back when it was in use by the Yanks. They had some kind of UFO sighting, and the place was swamped with all kinds of people trying to find the landing spot or whatever. It made things difficult for a while.

The best thing about this pickup point is that it’s almost at the back of the prison at Hollesley Bay. The only thing you get there are birdwatchers and fishermen. There’s no sand, no slot machines, just a lovely deep-water shingle beach that seems to stretch on as far as the eye can see. This makes it ideal for what we use it for.

Nice that I am here in plenty of time, and I park my car not far from the first Martello tower. I think it’s a house now. It looks lived-in, with a garden and all. Sometimes a car is parked there; always the same one, an old blue Ford Escort.

As I look up the beach, it looks just the same as always; even on the hottest days of the year it’s deserted. And today there are only a couple of people with a dog, not far from the river outlet, throwing a ball for the dog to chase.

I have about two or three hundred yards or so to walk before I get to my spot at the next Martello tower. That one has been boarded up; I’ve never seen anybody around it or using it.

All loaded up with my beach-fishing rod, one brolly, crossbow, Tilley lamp, and a seat box, I have time to get there and set up and wait. So there’s a couple of hours to do a bit of fishing, before its gets dark and the action begins.

Lovely. Just two hours in, I’ve caught six whiting and a small codling, and it’s just starting to get dark. It’s not a bad night after all. It’s stopped raining, and the sky is clearing, with a full moon. It’s nice and bright, so I can see what’s going on.

Time to light the Tilley lamp. I just need to make sure I have the red filter on at eight, so Jimmy knows where I am on the beach. It will give him a target to aim at with the boat.

I don’t know, but I think I may have been in a bit of a dreamlike daze while watching my rod. When I looked down the beach to my right, just to check if Jimmy was on his way, I could see what I thought was a shadow of someone walking along the beach towards me. I just thought it was someone out walking, but then I did think it was a bit late to be out on this beach. I still did not pay too much heed to it, but then within what seemed like minutes, she was almost in front of me, stopping to look at me.

Hello, have you caught much? she said in what seemed to be a soft voice that I somehow still heard very well above the sound of the waves breaking on the shoreline.

That’s strange, I thought. Her voice felt as if it were in my head, almost like when someone’s speaking to you as you drift off to sleep.

Just a few. Did you want some of them? You can have a couple of the whitings, if you want, I replied, pointing with my right hand to the fish laid out on a piece of plastic sheet.

No, thanks; you keep them. They make a nice fish pie, if you’re a good enough cook.

Really – funny you should say that. It’s my favourite.

I love fish pie.

You’re very welcome to have some.

Good luck with the fishing, she said and carried on walking.

I looked down then to my left again, along the beach, to see if could see Jimmy. It was getting very close to the time when he should be here. I did not want anybody to see what I was up to and was glad she was going. I thought I’d better check to see if she was still walking away. But when I looked back to my right to see where she’d gone, I couldn’t see her anywhere. I even walked back up to the top of the beach, but she was absolutely nowhere to be seen. She’d just disappeared into thin air. I could not believe it.

I knew things were not right, and it kind of spooked me. Was I seeing things, or what?

I did think she was dressed a bit strangely. She looked like something out of the sixties or early seventies, in what looked like a duffle coat, flares, and a yellow-and-black striped college scarf that reminded me of some ban-the-bomb hippy type.

I just thought it was a bit odd, but I wasn’t sure. There was something about her that looked very, very familiar the more I thought about her.

No! It couldn’t be her – not Audrey. She didn’t’t look old enough; she only looked about eighteen or so.

It did play on my mind for just a moment, but I soon forgot about it, as I had other things on my mind,

I could now see Jimmy. He had just flashed me with his searchlight. Time to wind in my rod. Nothing on it; the bait’s all gone. Jimmy was about seventy-five yards off the beach. I got the crossbow out, with my fishing line attached, ready to shoot to the bolt over his boat so he can attach his line; he was waiting with the stuff attached to it.

He slowed down just enough; time for me to shoot. I took careful aim and pulled the trigger. It’s a good shot, first time: straight over and across the middle of the boat. Jimmy grabbed it quickly, attached his line, and threw it back overboard along with the goods, all within a minute. He waved and carried on, leaving me to wind in.

Blimey, it seemed a good catch; it took me a while to wind it up to the main cord, where I could give it a good pull to get it in. Lovely! Ten packets, each weighing two kilograms, twenty kilos in total. I quickly collected them up, untied them, and placed them in my seat box, out of the way. I reset my rod to stay here for another hour, in case somebody saw what was going on. I can just say I was caught up on some drift rubbish, just some old longline cord, having just rolled that up and put it close to hand to get rid of later.

Having dismantled and packed the crossbow away in the rod bag, not needing that again for a while, I carry on fishing for an hour or so.

My rod hadn’t moved for a while, and I was just having thoughts about taking some of the stuff back to the car. I thought the fishing had finished, and I was winding in to pack up. Then there was this voice again.

Hello, you still here? was spoken in the soft tone that I could hear so well above the light wind and waves.

Christ, you made me jump, sneaking up on me like that! How long have you been there? I replied as I quickly turned to my left to see her standing just a few feet away from me.

Blimey, she’s back again! Now I was wondering if she saw anything that was going on.

Not long, just a few seconds, she said with a smile like I had not seen for a long time.

A few seconds – I didn’t hear you walking along the beach; normally I would hear the shingle crunching.

Sorry, I did not mean to startle you.

No, that’s OK; I don’t mind, but you did make me jump a bit. How could I mind, with a smile like that moving closer to me?

She’s now standing up very close to me, almost touching me; I could almost feel her breath. It felt warm, and the closer she got, the more I had this warm, calm feeling engulfing me. I found it hard to move away. With her black shoulder-length hair just being caught by the gentle breeze, it passed in front of her eyes, and she swept it back with her left hand. She gazed deeply at me, with eyes such as I had never seen before. They looked the deepest of blue one minute and then black the next. They seem to change colour at will as they glistened in the bright light of the Tilley lamp on the stand. I just could not help myself; I felt trapped and stuck on the spot.

It looks like you are packing up for the night. Are you off home soon?

Yes, as it happens, I was. It won’t be long now; I was winding my rod in to get ready to pack away when you sneaked up on me.

I can give you a hand to carry your stuff to your car, if you like.

OK. If you want, you can carry the rods and few light bits. I can carry the box seat; it’s very heavy.

Full of fish, I hope, she said as I gave her the stuff to carry.

No, only what I caught earlier. It has all my weights and stuff in it.

I was still not sure about her; something just didn’t seem right. Did she see something going on? Is she the Old Bill, leading me into a trap or something? So now I am thinking that there will be a bunch of coppers waiting for me when I get to the car, and they will all spring out and get me. I hope not. She seems so nice, maybe dressed a bit oddly but pretty, too, with it. But, my God, she looks the spit of Audrey.

Well, here we are; this is my car. This is great; thanks for giving me a hand with my stuff, I said as I unlocked the car.

You’re welcome. I don’t mind; it gives me something to do to pass the time.

What’s your name, if you don’t mind me asking? I said to her as she placed my stuff by the car.

Oh, my name, yes. It’s Audrey, Robby, she said as she looked up at me and smiled with that look.

What! Not my Audrey. You’re not old enough. You can’t be – impossible! I’m a bit confused. I’m thinking, No, impossible – you only look eighteen or so. No, you can’t be; you’re the same age as me. Never! You don’t look thirty-eight.

It stopped me in my tracks.

I just stood there and stared at her for a moment, now thinking she has to be the old bill or something.

Don’t worry; I’m not the police or anything like that. Look, OK? We went to the same junior school. I also had a sister there as well. She was a year younger than us; her name was Christine. Do you remember now?

Looking at her a bit harder, I asked myself, Is it her? It certainly looks like her. But Audrey? Yeah, sure, she is the spitting image of her, but she don’t look old enough. It couldn’t be her, surely. Wow! After all this time and I bump into her here.

Yes, I do remember, so wow! But how did you recognise me after all this time? You don’t look a day older than when I last saw you, and that must have been around twenty years ago, in Romford market. You was still at uni then, I said to her. But I still have this uneasy feeling about it all. It’s making me very nervous, and I need to be convinced that it really is her.

You may have gotten older, but you still look the same – that shy boy I had a big crush on. Girls never forget their first big crush, she said, looking down at her feet, with a small giggle, before looking back at me.

Right, you caught me out there. I feel very flattered and gobsmacked that you recognised me after all this time, but I still can’t get over it that you still look, well, let’s say ‘young’. So, do you live around here now, or what?

Yes, around. Not far, just around. Nice car. Volvo Estate, isn’t it? Looks like you have plenty of room in there for your stuff.

Yes it is. I like it very much; it’s the second one I’ve had. I wore the last one out. Hey, thanks for helping me with my stuff. Are you always around here? I said to her as I finished loading and closing the tailgate.

Yes, never too far away.

Amazing! All the times I have been coming here, I have never seen you here before.

She just gave a small girlish giggle and said, Will you be coming back soon?

Yes, I may be here again next week for a bit of fishing again. I love this place. It’s so quiet, it gives me time to regroup and think about things. Why, will you be here? If so, I will look out for you.

Yes, I will be here. I’m never too far away, she said and smiled at me.

With that I turned around and gave her a friendly hug, and again I almost felt glued to her for a second. The feeling of calm was so intense and, with the warmth of her breath on my neck, almost put me into some kind of trance, as if I were hypnotised. I have never felt anything like it my life – or is it that I have been on my own for too long and can never be arsed or bothered to find anybody?

Although I was considered a good-looking fellow and most definitely have my pick of woman, I don’t know, no one really hit the mark. I kind of got used to living on my own, with my independence, doing what and when I please, you know the score.

OK, look, I will try to get back here on Tuesday, I told her. If not, it will be Wednesday. Will you look out for me when I come back? It would be nice to catch up on old times. I’m a bit pushed for time today.

Yes, I will look out for you and will see you next week then, she said as I finally pulled away.

With that, I turned round, got in the car, and started up the engine. I looked in the mirror just to check that she had moved out of the way and to wave goodbye. I couldn’t see her, so I started to reverse, looking around, and blow me if she had not just disappeared again.

Blimey, she’s just like magic the way she comes and goes. It seemed so strange, I just sat there for a minute or two trying to gather my thoughts about it. How does she do that? Ah well, back to Romford so I can drop this lot off to Danny."

Arriving on time at Danny’s, I saw him waiting there as always. How did you get on? Any problems? he said as he opened the side door to his garage and let me go first through the door.

Great. Smooth, as normal.

"Excellent. Let’s get sorted then. Peter’s made the arrangements. I’ve got to meet up with the contact at one o’clock lunchtime tomorrow, at the Queen’s Head, down South Street. It will be a quick drink and social chat, I hope, and a swap of car keys, as normal. I hope he has a nice car this time and nothing too flashy. I don’t like flashy motors; they draw too much attention.

Nice twenty kilos – lovely. We will be able to retire soon at this rate, Danny said as we took out the coke from my seat box and packed it away into briefcases, ready for the next day.

I hope so, Danny. Look, I will catch up with you and the lads later for a drink, on Monday night at the meeting.

Right, Robby. Speak to you soon. Be lucky, boy.

And you, I said to Danny as I got in my car and drove off home.

I live in a really nice four-bedroom bungalow in place called Harold Wood in Essex. The house is tucked back into a cul de sac with only three very nice neighbours in the street. It’s set in a half acre of land of land that sets backs onto the park. It has a red-brick front wall and waist-high wrought-iron double driveway gates – nothing too fancy – that are always left open; well, they seem to be.

The house is also red brick, built with white window frames and door, white trim around the roof. On the left-hand side there’s a nice big double garage to park the car, with an adjoining door so you can walk indoors through the kitchen into the house. It took just under a year to have it done up the way I wanted it.

I had it completely gutted out and rebuilt inside, with an extension on the back for a utilities room. It has four nice-size bedrooms and a large, modern kitchen with cream-coloured doors and black marble worktops.

The bathroom has a large, almost double sized, bath with a wet room shower. My pride and joy is my living room. Its thirty by thirty feet, with the biggest TV I could lay my hands on and a Bang and Olufsen stereo system. I can lie out and relax on any one of my three sofas, two double and one four-seater, all made from the softest leather I could buy.

Unfortunately having no children, I have spent my money on other things. I kind of missed out there. Yes, I do sometimes feel a bit jealous when I see dads out playing with their kids.

Well, living on my own, I made up for it with my toys and spoiling my niece, Helen, Her dad had died in a car accident on the M1. They assume he fell asleep at the wheel and hit a bridge. It was quite tragic for her and my sister, so she looks to me now like a dad and tells me that she’s lucky to have me as an uncle.

By the time I got home, it was starting to get to me about Audrey and the way she just came and went. And how come she looked so young? I didn’t say anything to Danny about her, even though he would have known her and her sister from school. It would have spooked him good and proper, thinking that the police were onto us or something.

Home, I put on the kettle to have a cup of tea while watching the television. I let in my cat, Winkle Tinkle, took my jacket and boots off, and was emptying my pockets when I felt something in the bottom of the right-hand pocket. What’s this? It was a piece of rolled-up paper. I didn’t remember putting that in my pocket. I opened up the pedal bin to throw it in, when I felt something in it. I’d better have a look, just in case. Unravelling it, I found a gold cross and chain, and written on the paper was a message that just said, Wear this for me. Audrey.

Boy, that made me smile. I’d just met her again after all these years, and she’s giving me presents, just like at school; she was always giving me sweets and slipping stuff in my pockets. We were always together. It’s strange, I still can’t get over just how young she looked. Or was it the light that done it? I don’t know.

At first glance the chain looked a very delicate, fragile thing, something I had never seen before, but for some reason, it made me think for a few seconds after I’d looked at it – Well, maybe I have seen it somewhere. How in the hell did she get that in my pocket? What’s going on here? It must have been when we hugged; that’s when she slipped it in my pocket.

I put the cross and chain on the table while I was sorting out the fish and cooking some up for Winkle Tinkle. He was now getting under my feet, wanting feeding, and then he just stopped and started to look up at the table where I had left the cross and chain. Then he did something that he never does as a rule, unless he wants something. He started to beg, sitting up on his back legs with his front paws coming together. He learnt to do this, I think, from when I bottle-fed him as a kitten. He was barely two weeks old when I got him; his mum was killed in an accident on a farm. I brought him home and had to bottle-feed him every two hours or so.

Then the cat jumped up onto the table, sat next to the cross, and looking at me, he started to beg again.

OK, what do you want? You can’t have your fish yet; it’s not done, I said to Winkle Tinkle. So I just made a bit of a fuss over him, but when I picked up the cross and chain, he stopped begging.

What’s up? Do you want me to put it on then, or is it you want feeding, you daft thing? Anyway, I thought, Why not? and put it on.

Then I felt an immense calm again, just as I’d felt when I was next to Audrey. The cross and chain seemed to glitter and shine as if the sun were on it. I had never seen anything like it before, so I checked it out in front of a mirror, and it did the same again, shone and glittered. I put the flat of my hand over it. It felt so warm, but it was a very nice warmth, even comforting; it almost glowed through my hand, so I left it on. Why not? It was strange, as I would not wear any kind of jewellery, even rings or a watch, as a rule. They can draw the wrong kind of attention.

Now all fed and watered, Winkle Tinkle was in his box for the night, feeling knackered. I went to bed myself, thinking, I better take this necklace off, in case I break it in the night. Try as I might, I could not undo the chain’s link. It was as if the link were welded up and fixed, and the chain was too small to fit over my head.

Sod it; it will just have to stay and take its chance. If it breaks, I’ll just get a new chain for it. So, with that thought, it was in, covers over, and light out.

It seemed like seconds and I was off to sleep. Next thing I knew was the alarm going off to get me up for work. I just lay there for a few minutes, thinking, Wow, I just had the best night’s sleep I’ve had for years. I felt great, eager to go.

I got up, flicked the kettle on for a cup of Rosy Lee, put some biscuits down for Winkle Tinkle, then headed for a shower and to brush my teeth. I looked into the mirror to pull a few faces, as normal, and saw the cross and chain.

Well it’s still there; it didn’t break. It was such a delicate, fragile-looking thing, very girly, but I liked it anyway. I will have to wear a T-shirt over it while I’m at work, so no one will see it, and it doesn’t get caught up on anything and I lose it.

I got to work, as normal, on time and about ten minutes before anybody else arrived. I was sitting in the office. George was first in.

Morning, RH, George said to me. They call me RH at work. It’s my initials, but I think they call me RH for royal highness.

Morning, George. How are you?

Fine. Looks like good weather coming up for the weekend; be able to get out on the garden and tidy it up before the winter sets in. What about you? What you doing for the weekend?

Not sure yet, George; I think I will be off to my sister’s down on Canvey Island. Her daughter, Helen, has a birthday party, so looks like I will be there. Not sure what to get her for a present yet. What do you think – any suggestions?

Blimey, you are asking for something there. I know, why not get her a necklace or something like that?

I could feel myself starting to go red in the face and thinking What a guess! I could not give that away – but what a coincidence that he should think that.

No, she’s too fussy on things like that. She’s at a funny age, you know what I mean.

Yeah, too well. I think you’ll be better off giving her an M & S shopping voucher. She can buy what she wants then.

Good idea, George. I will do that. I’ll send Sue out later; she can pick it up for me.

The weekend came and went, and the party was a great success for my niece. Everybody had a good time, with plenty to eat and drink.

I had all day Sunday to get over the events of Saturday and was now looking forward to meeting up with the boys that night in South Weald to divvy up and find out what, if anything, had gone wrong. That was for the next drop, which should be in about a month’s time.

The Meeting

Right, it was me first, as usual. I’m always on time, hate to be late. I got myself a pint, and then Danny came in, followed by Jimmy and Martin, Johnny, and then Peter. Now all were there, and everyone had a drink. We went into the back room to get on with the proceedings.

Danny had the cases with him. They were stuffed, packed with twenty- and fifty-pound notes. Well, at just over twenty thousand a kilogram, it should have had close to half a million in it, one way or another.

We each took ten grand in cash, and the rest went back in the pot for a day’s racing and future investment. That way, we all had a little spending power, so to speak, and everybody had the same.

Right, Johnny. What’s planned? I said to get things started.

Gentlemen, looks like a trip to the Aintree meeting on Friday back on Saturday, and that’s next week. If all agreed, our bookie’s going to be there to take care of business. I booked the minibus and a hotel to stay in overnight for us. Is that OK for you all?

Very nice, I thought. I could do with a day’s racing at Aintree; I’d not been to a jumps meeting for yonks. There were always plenty of people there with a few bob.

Martin, what’s happening for the next drop?

All going well, Johnny. Should the weather hold up, it will be at the usual drop-off point in three weeks. But I will wait for confirmation on that in two weeks, so will you let you and Jimmy know more a bit nearer the day, so you can prepare for it.

Lovely. I just need two days’ notice, I said to Johnny.

Peter, how about you – have you arranged the next drop after that yet?

Yep, everything in hand, as usual. It should be loaded up ready to be shipped next, if everything goes to plan, but just waiting to hear, Peter said to Johnny.

OK, gentlemen, any other business? As normal, we just sat there for a few minutes in silence.

I did not want to bring up the subject of meeting Audrey, in case it spooked anyone into thinking that we were being watched. They would have known Audrey from school, but I thought it was the wrong time to bring up that subject. The only one who would not know her was Jimmy; he had gone to a different school. Anyway, now it was time for a game of cards, as usual, before heading off.

I was back home again time to feed Winkle Tinkle and put my feet up and watch a bit of news on the television for about an hour before heading off to bed. Thinking of bed, I have been sleeping so well since I’ve been wearing this cross and chain so I will need all the sleep I can get.

It’s going to be a hectic for me tomorrow; having to meet up with the architect first thing for the job in Stratford, so it looks as if it will be Wednesday before I can get back to the beach to do a bit of fishing.

I wonder whether Audrey will be there this time, and how come I have never seen her there before, and – most of all – How come she looks so young?

I still can’t make it out, that, and the way she can move around on that beach so quietly and then disappear like that. It’s still doing my head in. Never mind, I am sure I will find out soon.

Wednesday

Got away early today. I was a bit excited and could not settle down to anything, just thinking about getting to the beach, wondering if I would see Audrey and, of course, if the better cod were running yet.

I got there about three o’clock and got myself all settled in the usual spot and started fishing.

There weren’t many people on the beach, as normal. With only one elderly couple walking along the shoreline, just away from the surf break, hand in hand, running back and forth and dodging the waves. It made me smile, nice not to grow up too quick and act like kids with the water.

It made a change just to be fishing tonight and looked like a nice evening, not too cold – just right to be in a fleece jacket, sat with the windbreak up and a cup a coffee on the go.

I was sitting smiling, very content in a world of my own, thinking about the next job in Stratford and planning it out in my head, when I felt two arms wrap around my neck and heard a whisper.

Hello.

I nearly spilled my coffee; it made me jump a bit, but it was only for a second. Yet again I felt an amazing calmness come over me as she had her arms around me from the back. I felt her warm breath close to my ear and down the side of my neck.

Sorry, did I make you jump? she asked with that girlish giggle. I didn’t mean to startle you, just surprise you.

I just laughed. No you’re OK, I told her. It’s been a long time since anybody put their arms around me like that."

Did you want me to stop then?

No, definitely not. It’s a nice feeling; I love it.

I thought you might like it; that’s why I done it. Hmmm, I see you’re wearing my cross and chain. Has it helped you to sleep better?

Yes it has; I go out like a light. The only thing is, I can’t take it off. I’m afraid I’ll break it. I didn’t want to damage it in the night or anything like that; it seems so fragile.

Oh, don’t worry; you won’t damage it or anything.

How did you put it in my pocket, and how did you know I had trouble sleeping?

Easy; it was when we hugged, just when you went to get in your car. That’s when I slipped it in.

But how did you know I would wear it. I don’t and would not wear any jewellery.

Oh, I knew you would. Anyway, it suits you, Audrey said with a small giggle.

With that, her left arm came up closer to my neck, over my shoulder like a headlock, with her hand on my right shoulder, but nice and gentle. Her right hand stroked the side of my face down to my neck; she reached in and started to fumble with the necklace. Her hand felt warm as it touched the skin of my neck.

As she leaned into me more, I felt her breasts pressing into the top of my shoulders, and boy, it felt so nice. It was something no one has done for a very long time.

With that she moved her head to the side, resting it on my shoulder. I could feel her warm, soft, moist lips moving below my ear to my neck.

Exhaling her warm breath, she gave me a gentle bite and kissed my neck. It sent shivers down my spine; a mass of goose bumps popped up all over my body with an electric shock.

I was stunned and anchored to my seat. I could not move an inch for a few seconds with the sensation. I reached up and back with my right hand to touch her, but she pulled away.

Wait. With that, she pulled away and came around to the front of me, sat between my legs, pulling them to the front of her and bringing her arms up under my knees. Pulling them together, she linked her hands, almost tucking herself into me, with her head leaning to one side, resting on the upper part of my leg.

That’s better. She was squeezing herself into me.

Have you got yourself comfy then?

Oh yes. I feel safe now.

Safe? What do you mean, safe? I asked in a puzzled way.

Nothing, just nice and cosy and tucked up for a while. Remember we used to sit like this in the school playground? I can’t stay too long today. I will have to go soon, so I will just have five minutes with you before I go.

Go? You have just got here. I felt slightly annoyed, thinking we were going to have a nice chat about old times, but then it was better than nothing. At least I had got to see her again after all this time.

Sorry, but I can stay longer next time. Don’t be annoyed with me. But you will have to look for me in your dreams for now; the necklace will help you do that.

I did not want to push it; I supposed I barely knew her these days. Yes, it was so nice to see her again. I asked her, Do you have a phone number, so I can let you know when I am coming back again?

No, I don’t have a phone, but don’t worry. I know when you are here. I’ve been watching you for some time and know what you get up to here.

What do you mean, watching me? What, fishing?

Yes, fishing. Then she just touched the tip of her nose with a right-hand finger and gave me an I-know-what-you-do look.

Don’t worry; I am not the police, or customs, or anything like that. I just watch out for you to make sure you’re safe.

Make sure I am safe. Yeah, right, you make sure I’m safe. I laughed.

With that, she gave me a look. Her eyes changed from a deep blue to the darkest black, like an abyss with no depth.

Right. I am going now, if you don’t believe me, she said in a stern voice.

Wait – please don’t go. I was just teasing you.

No, I have to go. Do as I say and look for me in your dreams. Her eyes changed back to that deep blue as she stood up and then leaned over and gave me a quick goodbye kiss on the lips.

Can I trust you to do something for me? she whispered as she pulled away.

Yes, of course, you can always. No problem. Whatever you want me to do.

I always thought I could trust you if I needed something and that you would do it for me. But I must go now. Carry on fishing. I will be in touch.

How will you be in touch?

Don’t worry, I will. Bye for now.

I watched her walk back up to the top of the beach and over the top. It’s so strange; I still didn’t hear the shingle crunching under her footsteps. How did she do that?

I got up to watch and see where she was going, but by the time I got there she had disappeared again. How does she do that, just disappear like that, and what did she mean when she said, ‘I know what you do here,’ and touched her nose like that? Has she been watching the whole thing, and if so, has anybody else seen what’s been going on? I don’t know, and went back down to a bit more fishing for another two hours before I pack up for the night and head off home.

Back home, Winkle Tinkle was by the front door, as usual, waiting to see what treats I have for him. I don’t think he minds too much so long as he has a nice fuss, his grub, and a warm spot to curl up on.

I have the old feet up on the settee and I’m watching a spot of TV, when Winkle Tinkle, now all fed and watered, jumps up onto my lap and starts to sniff and rub himself on me as if he hasn’t seen me for a long time. His purring was very intense.

What’s up with you then? Have you been lonely today and need an extra fuss, or can you smell Audrey? Is that it? I say, giving a small chuckle to myself. Well, that’s it, boy. In your box, time for bed; got a busy day tomorrow.

With that he just got up and went straight to his box and sat there, giving me what looked like a deep look for a second or two. I could have sworn his eyes changed colour for a second.

Here we go. Am I losing the plot, or what? No, it can’t be; it was just my imagination. It must have been the reflection from the television or something.

I made my way into the bedroom and turned down the bedcovers to get in. When I looked down at the bed, the cross gave what seemed like a small flash or something. Did I see right there, or what? I’m not sure – did it flash, or was it the reflection from the bedside light?

I got into bed, pulled the covers up, and lied there for a few moments, thinking back to my school days with Audrey. I smiled. She always had to sit next to me in class and was my country dancing partner. Thinking about it, I remembered that she was never too far away; she was like my shadow.

In those days, all boys my age thought of was catapults, building camps, and hanging off a rope to swing across ditches, acting like Tarzan. But I recalled that she had been a good friend to have at school, and we had looked after each other. With these thoughts, I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face.

Next thing I knew was the alarm going off to start another busy day.

The strange thing is, it felt as if somebody had been sleeping with me. I looked to my left arm, which was stretched out as if I had been cuddling somebody, and I felt the bed. It felt very warm on that side.

No, I thought. I must have rolled over just before waking up. Strange, because I normally sleep in the middle, but I was on the right-hand side. No, I must be losing the plot! I shrugged my shoulders, got up, let Winkle Tinkle out, and put the kettle on, as normal, before getting in the shower.

After my shower, I went to brush my teeth and looked at the mirror. It was all steamed up, and I was just about to wipe it clear. What’s that? Looking at the mirror, I could see what looked like a message on the steamed-up surface. It just said, Hello, Robby.

OK, right! What’s going on here? I don’t know what it is, but it’s starting to freak me out a bit! With that thought, I wiped the mirror clear, brushed my teeth, and went looking around my house to see if anybody had been in during the night. I could not find a sign of anything.

Drinking a cup of tea, I thought, I don’t know. It must have been from when I had that party a while ago, and it’s just shown up – someone’s greasy fingers. I hadn’t cleaned it since then, so that must be it.

Race Day

The minibus finally got here to take us to the races at Aintree. I was right up for it. I could do with a good day out, with all this stuff going on. What with work and Audrey, it was just doing my head in. So, with a couple of cases of beer and a bottle of brandy on the bus, we were soon singing and looking forward to a great day out.

We arrived at the racecourse in plenty of time. The minibus driver dropped us off and was sent off to the hotel to book us in and make sure the bags were taken to our rooms. He would then pick us up again after the last race.

We went up to the owners’ enclosure and got ourselves settled in for the day. There was plenty going on there, with lots of people bustling around, all busy, heads buried in the paper or program, picking out their nags for the next race. We had it already planned out for the day, what races would be backed with the bookie. Danny and Johnny headed off with the cases of money to see the bookie. With that done, we could settle down to the racing and do our own thing.

I could not see much going in the first race that caught my eye, but in the second race, I don’t know what it was, but I could not help but look at a horse called My Fancy Girl. When I looked at the odds, it was a twenty-five-to-one shot. I called over the bookie runner for the tote; he was going round tables taking bets.

I want two hundred and fifty pounds each way on My Fancy Girl at twenty-five to one.

OK, sure, the bookie runner said. So he took the money and gave me a slip for it. Then the lads, speaking almost altogether, said, What was that? You just put on two fifty each way on a twenty-five to one shot! Are you having a laugh or what!

No, just having a flutter. Pick your horse, not the price, and go with your instincts. Well, we will see what happens on the finish line – that’s where it counts.

Yeah, but you couldn’t pick your nose, let alone a winner, they all said together, laughing.

Just here for a day out, you lot. So, whose round is it then, anyway?

Yours, if that wins.

OK, fair enough; if not it’ll come out of the kitty. I’ll order them up now, and by the time they get here the race will be over.

Flag went up and ready,

The tape flies back, and they’re off and running.

Halfway through the race, the favourite falls.

From the twenty starters, there are only twelve left in the race now, with five fallers and three pulled up.

My Fancy Girl is moving up in the field and has got into second spot with two fences to go.

Onto the last fence, she joins the leader and passes him, and gets over the line with two lengths to spare.

Well, I laughed! I could not believe it myself, nor could anybody else.

Bloody hell – where did you dig that out from? said Jimmy.

Just went with my instincts, I told him.

Instincts! I don’t believe it.

As I looked out of the window of the bar, down at the track to the winners’ enclosure, I could have sworn I saw Audrey in the reflection of the glass, with a right-hand finger reaching up and touching the tip of her nose. I turned around quick but couldn’t see her. When I turned back to the glass she was gone.

Am I seeing things again, or what? I must be losing the plot. Nothing ever spooks me, but I was thinking I must be going mad.

What’s up, Robby? You look like you just seen a ghost or something. Are you all right? You should be, after a win like that!

No, I am fine, Danny. I think it was a shock for me too, to have a win like that. OK, the drinks are on me."

The racing was soon over, and everything had gone to plan with the bookie to sort out the money electronically from our so-called winnings. We get on the minibus back to the hotel, all in a great mood, chatting in general about the day and what entertainment was on at the hotel that night.

Arriving at the hotel, we split up and went to our rooms to unpack and get ready for dinner and the night’s entertainment.

As I opened the door, I could feel a warm glow come over me, along with the feeling of contentment.

I took my jacket off and throw it over the chair, took my shirt and tie off, and then lay on the bed. Holding the cross between my fingers, I slipped it into the palm of my hand and clenched it, thinking, You’re very naughty, Audrey. Was it you? Did you get that horse to win?

With those thoughts, I could almost feel her breath on my neck, It was as if she were there lying next to me, with the cheeky giggle that she would do. It did make me feel very calm, and I started to nod off to sleep. Next thing I knew the phone was ringing.

It was Johnny. Are you coming down to dinner?

Yes, mate. I was just having a quick snooze; be there in five.

At dinner, we were just talking about stuff in general, and Danny brought up the subject of us as kids building camps and raiding the allotments for spuds to roast on the fire. We laughed at how we would always end up with black faces and smelling of smoke. Then we would get home and one of the mothers would say, Have you been playing with fires again?

It would always be the same answer, and we all said it together. No!

You liar. I can smell it, and look at your face – it’s as black as the ace of spades! Get in that bath, you dirty little bugger.

We all laughed so much talking about what we used to get up to when we were at school. I thought now would be a good time to bring up the subject of Audrey.

Right, here’s one for you. Do you remember Audrey?

Audrey? Johnny and Danny said together.

What, the Audrey that sat next to you in class – your shadow, you mean? She followed you around like a dog at school. I think she had a thing for you. Blimey, what made you bring that subject up about her then? Danny said.

Don’t know, really, but could have sworn I saw her today at the track.

You sat next to her for long enough at school; you must know if it was her or not. Would have thought she would have changed since the old school days. Don’t know if I would recognise her now, said Johnny.

Never mind, forget it. Sure it was just my imagination.

No, it was the shock of that win that done it. They all laughed and pointing fingers at me, saying, Have you still got a thing for her after all these years? They all started singing, It must be love, love, love.

OK, now that the subject of Audrey had been brought up, it shouldn’t be such a shock if I brought that subject up again at a later date. It was only Jimmy who asked, Who is Audrey?

He was told that it was my old school girlfriend and shadow. He just laughed it off, with his head nodding up and down.

Now, we’d had a great night out together; we were all drunk and I had had enough. I went back to my room and left Johnny and Jimmy still drinking; they don’t know when to stop. I thought, I don’t know where they put it.

I made it back to my room and flopped onto the bed drunk, feet hanging over the edge. I was trying to take off my shoes by kicking and using the opposite foot. The next thing I know I’m in bed, waking up to the sunlight coming through the window and thinking it was nice to wake up without the alarm going off. Turning onto my left-hand side, I pull my legs up to my chest and stretch out to wake up properly. I’m blinking and rubbing my eyes.

Where are the clothes I was wearing? I don’t remember getting undressed and getting into bed, and I know I wasn’t capable of putting them away or folding anything. The last thing I remember was flopping on the bed.

I got up from the bed and looked in the wardrobe for my clothes. They were all hanging up, shoes at the bottom, clean and shiny. On the chair beside the wardrobe were the clothes for me to wear that day, neatly folded and ready to go, all laid out. My money was in a neat pile on the desk by the window. I counted it and it was all there, or what I remember having left from last night.

What’s going on? No way could I have done all that the previous night. Here we go again. Am I losing the plot? I asked myself again.

Someone must have come in while I was asleep – but how did they know what I was planning to wear for the journey back? I’m still thinking there was no way I could have done that last night. I’m not sure if I like this. It seems like an invasion of privacy, someone coming into my room without me knowing and going through my personal stuff. When I go down for breakfast, I will ask the others if they had it done as well.

Now it’s half past nine, time for breakfast. I stop on the way at the reception desk and ask the girl behind the desk, Does a maid or someone go into the rooms early in the morning to get things out for the clientele?

No, never, she said. We are not allowed to do that. That’s personal. Unless there’s a request for room service. But no chambermaids go into a room while there is somebody there, until after ten o’clock, for cleaning, She wore