Maddy finished watching her programme and checked her watch. Almost eight o’clock. Alan would soon be home. He would shower and don a fresh t-shirt and shorts before joining her in the lounge. It was rare for Alan to wear long trousers at home, except in the dead of winter. He told Maddy that wearing a suit during the working week was bad enough. He’d had his fill of uniforms.
Alan Duncan jogged along Church Road and turned the corner towards home. He usually enjoyed his weekly run, but tonight something had unsettled him. As Alan reached the Crown Inn, at Giddeahall on the outward leg, a man sat in the beer garden pointed at him. Then he tapped his nose. As Alan turned to head back into the village, he was sure he heard the man say, “You can run, but you can’t hide.”
The man was a stranger. Alan didn’t look back to confirm that he’d heard the comment. He dismissed it as the ramblings of someone who had been sitting in the beer garden since lunchtime and was drunk.
Alan closed the garden gate behind him as a Vauxhall Zafira cruised past. He watched as the car disappeared along the lane. Alan couldn’t recall any of their neighbours driving a Zafira, but why did the driver look familiar?
As he ran upstairs to the bathroom, he tripped on the last step, ending up on all-fours on the landing.
Maddy appeared in the lounge doorway.
“Are you okay, Alan?” she called.
“Yeah, don’t worry, sweetheart. I forgot there were fourteen stairs. Give me ten minutes. I’ll be with you.”
Maddy returned to her seat, and Alan took his shower. As the water cascaded over him, he realised why the driver seemed familiar.
Saturday, 24th May 2008
“What time is Wayne picking you up today?” asked Maddy.
“He wants to be on the road by one o’clock,” said Alan. “I ate a good meal last night, and I’m planning a high-carb breakfast to get me through today’s session. What will you be doing?”
“Can you come with me for the weekly shop this morning?” asked Maddy.
“No problem. We won’t need anything for tomorrow, don’t forget. We promised to go to my Mum and Dad for dinner. I can rely on Mum feeding us until we’re fit to burst. I don’t think she believes we can cater for ourselves.”
“I remember. As for later, Anna might appreciate a visit,” said Maddy.
“No doubt you’ll offer to give Joshua a cuddle to ease her burden.”
Maddy had pulled a face, thrown Alan the car keys, and he’d driven them to the Morrison’s supermarket on the A350.
“Is this the route you took on Wednesday evening?” asked Maddy.
“Mmm,” replied Alan. “I doubled back at the Crown. This supermarket is brilliant for us, isn’t it? Only a ten-minute drive from home. and we never get snarled up in those interminable traffic jams through the centre of Chippenham.”
“Hark at you,” laughed Maddy. “I’ve got the devil of a job to get you to come shopping with me most weekends. Or did you want to change the subject? What happened, Alan? Did you decide to stop at the Crown for a crafty pint on a warm evening?”
“No, nothing like that,” he replied as he searched the car park for an empty space.
An hour later, they drove home. Alan kept checking his mirror but saw nothing.
Wayne sounded his horn as he drove past the house at a quarter to one, turned his car around in a gateway and idled back. Alan was in the lane with his bike, waiting. He stood and watched his friend detach his bike from the rack.
“A good day for it,” said Wayne. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“Warmley via the Cotswold Way, and then back on the A420,” said Alan. “You bet, I’m ready. It should take us two-and-a-half hours. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.”
“It’s a route we haven’t tried before,” said Wayne. “We must be ultra-careful on the busy main road. Don’t worry; I’ll look after you.”
“Yeah, right,” laughed Alan. “Let’s get going.”
Alan checked the car park and the beer garden at the Crown as they cycled past. There was no sign of the Zafira or its driver.
After two-and-a-half hours of steady cycling, Wayne followed Alan back into Biddestone. They were both tired but satisfied with their afternoon’s work. Wayne noticed a man by The Green stood by his car, waving. Ahead of him, Alan cycled harder. Wayne puffed out his cheeks.
“Give me a break, Alan,” he called, “I’m shattered. Who was that guy, anyway? Did you know him?”
“I saw no one,” Alan replied.
That was odd, thought Wayne. He looked straight at us.
Maddy had just arrived home when they pulled up outside the house. She watched as Wayne re-racked his bike.
“How was Joshua?” he asked.
“He slept most of the time I was there,” said Maddy.
“Never mind, sweetheart,” said Alan.
“Typical,” said Wayne. “He’ll be awake half the night now.”
“You love it, really,” said Maddy.
Wayne grinned, and with a cheery wave, he drove home.
“Someone’s going to sleep well tonight,” said Maddy as she watched Alan wheel his bike up the garden path.
Alan wished that were true. As tired as he was. he couldn’t stop wondering what it was the guy in the Zafira wanted. He’d imagined that Wednesday evening could have been a random event. How did the guy know to be in the village this afternoon as they returned from their cycle ride?
Sunday, 25th May 2008
Maddy drove them to Corsham for Sunday lunch with Alan’s parents. Bob and Elizabeth were always pleased to see them. Alan was an only child. Maddy had a brother, Darren, and her
