A Secret Schemer (28 page)

‘No not at all, I mean my
personal issues.’ I laughed.

‘That’s good; you had me
worried there for a minute.’

‘No the pub’s fine, I’ve just
managed to avoid thinking of the obvious.’ We chinked glasses.

‘Here’s to good luck for you
Lucy, I truly mean that.’ Lucas assured.

‘Thanks Lucas and I wish you
the same.’

When we’d finished our drinks,
Lucas offered to lock up and put the alarms on, so I wandered
slowly upstairs with just one thing on my mind. Another restful
night’s sleep…As I reached my flat I could hear voices, I peered
into the lounge only to find it empty. I kicked off my shoes and
went back to Tim’s room, as I’d guessed the voices where coming
from inside. Immediately my anger returned, how dare he have
someone in his room at this time of night, in fact at any time,
this was my home and business, not a knocking shop. Without another
thought I hammered on his bedroom door….within seconds he opened
the door slightly. ‘Lucy what on earth’s wrong?’ He shouted.

‘You may well ask, who the hell
have you got in your room?’

Before I had chance to say more
he interrupted me. ‘Nobody I’m having a conversation on skype with
a work colleague, surely that’s allowed.’

Shocked by his explanation I
replied. ‘It sounded to me as though you had someone in there with
you.’

He came out of the room pulling
the bedroom door almost closed, and stood in the passage. He looked
annoyed. ‘What’s got into you Lucy, I didn’t think there was a time
limit on skype conversations.’

‘No there isn’t, but it sounded
as though you had someone in there. Why have you pulled the door to
anyway, is there something you’re hiding?’

‘He looked agitated. ‘Not at
all it’s just rather messy; I’m not the tidiest person.’

‘D’you know Tim I can’t be
bothered with this tonight, I’m extremely tired.’ With that I
walked away and slammed my bedroom door behind me, leaving him
standing in the passageway. Lying in bed I kept mulling over what
had taken place, as for skype I’ve never used it. I guess voices in
a room could always come from skype or mobile calls, to be honest
I’d never given it a thought. Today had gone well, until I put my
foot right in it. He probably thinks I’m a complete idiot, should I
apologise? I decided to let sleeping dogs lie, for tonight
anyway.

On the landing below Lucas had
been listening to the heated words, he’d followed Lucy upstairs
after setting the alarms in the bar. He wanted to make sure she was
safe, because if Tim hurt a hair on her head he knew he would
intervene. Lucas had fallen deeply in love with Lucy almost as soon
as he’d met her. To him she was perfect, everything a man could
ever wish for. He’d never made his feelings known, although Mary
had worked it out, Lucas and Mary had become close friends over the
time the pub had been open. However Lucas was sure she would never
voice his secret, as a sincere trust had flourished between them.
Now though his concern for Lucy’s safety was paramount, she was
constantly on his mind. As she’d shared the catalogue of events
relating to this bizarre affair, he trusted Tim Carter as he’d
trust a rattle snake. When he’d heard Lucy’s door slam he went into
his room, and lay fully clothed on the bed. He agreed with Jena
that this guy was up to something shady, illicit even, and he had
no doubt that all the secretive data was logged on his laptop. How
he would love the opportunity of a few hours with that computer so
he could give Lucy the answers she deserved. As for the big
surprise he’d promised Lucy to celebrate his fortieth birthday, he
deemed this as weird. He’d wracked his brain for hours trying to
fathom it out….with a shifty character like Carter he’d found this
impossible….

Chapter 33

Why does that guy always make
me feel that I’m the one in the wrong? So many times I’ve wanted to
hammer on his door and the very night I do it I end up with egg on
my face. I couldn’t shake the feeling of embarrassment off, so once
again I was in the mode of struggling to get cozy and fall asleep.
I felt self conscious and awkward about what had happened, why did
I have to be so impulsive? Finally I drifted off into a troubled,
dream filled sleep…a man, a strange man was walking towards me, and
he looked self assured, fearless. As he approached me I felt an
intense overpowering fear, panic gripped me like ice and I was
frozen to the spot…his arms were around my neck and he was pulling
me close to him, he was foul and offensive. As I screamed he forced
his lips on mine, pushing his lips hard against mine, I struggled
screaming….waking abruptly I realised I was entangled in my duvet
perspiring profusely…pushing the duvet onto the floor I sat up on
the bed, my heart was in my mouth pumping frantically…I attempted
to stand, though my legs felt like jelly, I needed a drink of
water…and then I sobbed silently like a frightened child…Glancing
briefly at the clock I could see it was only five….slowly I calmed
down and managed to walk into the kitchen. Thirstily I drank a
glass of cold water, then put the kettle on to boil, sweet tea I
needed now. Sitting on the bed with a mug of steaming sweet tea, I
reflected on the scary dream, who was this lewd and vulgar man. I’m
striving to understand what is happening to me, what do these
dreams mean, who are these people? I can’t go back to sleep now,
for fear of the dream recurring. I’ll take a shower and go down to
the kitchen, Lucas and Mary will be up, as at this moment in time I
need company, I feel so alone.

As I walked into the kitchen
Lucas was sitting reading his paper it was just seven o’clock.
‘Good morning.’ I said somewhat shakily.

‘Whatever’s wrong Lucy, you
look as though you’ve seen a ghost.’ Lucas got up from the table to
pull a chair out for me. ‘Sit down and I’ll get you a cuppa.’

The tears are stinging my eyes,
I feel like a helpless child. I mustn’t break down, I’m safe now.
‘I think I may have done.’ I said quietly.

‘D’you feel like telling me?’
Lucas asked, as he passed me my tea.

‘Another dream, only this time
it was a lecherous stranger who attacked me. I’ve been up since
five.’

‘You should have given me a
ring, I was awake as well, and we could have talked Lucy.’

‘I’m sure you’d have thanked me
for disturbing you so early. I just have to get a grip on this.
Thank you for offering anyway.’

Desperately wanting to give
Lucy a hug and tell her he’d always be there for her, Lucas knew he
had to simply comfort her with words. ‘You say this man was a
stranger?’

‘Absolutely, I have no idea who
he was.’

‘I wish I knew more about
dreams, you seemed so relaxed last night.’ Lucas added.

As Mary still hadn’t come into
the kitchen I told Lucas about my argument with Tim, affirming that
I was in the wrong and asking if he thought I should apologise for
my mistake. Lucas looked annoyed as I was finishing my story.

‘No way should you apologise
Lucy, never. He’s been a secret schemer from the word go. Also he
pulled the door closed making a feeble excuse that his room was
untidy, anyone could have been in there. Skype could have been an
instant excuse. Please don’t be fooled.’

Watching Lucas I could see he
was a tad uptight over this, I’d never seen him like this before.
Like Jena, he seems to see things in Tim that I don’t. Or is it
simply that I’m allowing him to dupe me? At that moment Mary came
into the kitchen, armed with a couple of black bags ready for the
bin.

‘Let me take those for you
Mary.’ Lucas offered as he stood up.

‘Hi Lucy, shall we have another
cuppa and toast love, you look as though you need it.’

‘Please Mary that sounds
wonderful.’ I noticed when Lucas returned he still looked uptight.
I’ll have another chat to him later. I needed to speak to Jena; I
know exactly how she feels about Tim; however she may have
something useful to say about the dream. It was lunch time before I
caught up with her, as Charles Emerson had called in for a chat.
Evidently the brewery is thrilled with the way the pub is
progressing. Let’s hope they don’t decide to increase my rent. At
least the business side of my life is booming, and to be truthful
that is the most important side.

‘Every time I set eyes on you
Lucy Ross you look decidedly more knackered, come on spill. What’s
the bastard done now?’ Jena declared.

I always love the way she says
it as it is. I shared the events of last night with her. When I
told her I’d hammered on his door, she began to grin like a
Cheshire cat. Nevertheless when I told her about the dream she
looked upset.

‘You should have pushed your
way into the room, for one there could have been someone in there,
or two you would have seen who as on skype.’

‘He said it was a work
colleague.’

‘Really and what work would
that be?’

‘Well he has to be earning
money from somewhere love.’ I added.

‘That’s where you and me differ
honey, you still believe he works, where I believe he’s a
chancer.’

‘He must do some work Hun, how
on earth would he have that amount of money otherwise.’ I
suggested.

‘Easily, he could have been the
beneficiary in a will; he could also have won the lottery. Truth, I
believe he’s messing with something illegal.’

‘Well after his birthday I
fully intend to confront him over the money and accounts, as there
is no way I’m living with all this uncertainty.’ I assured.

‘Seriously, you mean you’re
actually seeing sense at last Lucy.’ Jena exclaimed. ‘Sorry to come
down hard on you love but let’s face it we’ve been telling you for
months.’

Thank goodness I hadn’t
mentioned the fact that I was going to apologise to him for last
night. ‘So what do you think the dream meant Jena?’ I attempted to
change the subject.

‘With what’s going on in that
head of your Lucy, I hate to think. Seriously though please ring me
at any time if something like that happens again; never feel you’re
on your own.’ With that Jena gave me a hug, which instantly made my
eyes sting with unshed tears.

‘D’you know what I think Lucy,
you need a change of scenery, a night out.’ Jena suggested. ‘I’ll
take a look at the rota and see what can be arranged, stay right
there don’t move an inch.’

I had to laugh, although I’m
the impulsive one, Jena comes up with impromptu ideas. However a
night away from this issue could be a blessing in disguise. I
became a tad concerned when Jena hadn’t reappeared after half an
hour, what the hell was she doing. I busied myself opening mail and
then answered a couple of emails. When I saw her coming back she
had one of those looks on her face, a look that said do as your
told and don’t argue, which made me smile; I can’t wait for this
disclosure.

‘Get your glad rags on by six
o’clock as you’re going to the theatre to see Thriller, you need
cheering up and a night of lively music is just the way to go. The
seats are booked, as is the taxi.’ She emphasised.

‘You said seats, who am I going
with?’

‘Lucas, I had last night off
and he’s due a free night. He says he’s happy to escort you, so
long as you don’t mind.’

‘Actually it sounds fun, thanks
honey. You’re a star.’ I grinned.

Lucas couldn’t believe it when
Jena suggested he go to the theatre with Lucy, he realised he had
to appear cool about the offer, although inside he was thrilled to
bits. However spending the evening with someone you are deeply in
love with and can’t show how you feel, would be difficult. Lucas
was waiting in the bar for Lucy, and when she walked in he gave a
little gasp. She was a vision in purple, his natural desire was to
take her in his arms and tell her just how beautiful she looked.
However he had to be wise. ‘Hi Lucy it’s so good to see you
smiling, and looking pretty in purple.’

‘Thanks Lucas.’ I smiled. ‘Jena
do you think all this purple is a bit much?’

‘You look great, now get out of
here the pair of you and have fun. By the way there’s loads of time
the show doesn’t start until seven thirty so time for a bevy
first.’

On the way to the theatre we
chatted about everyday issues, I was determined that Tim’s name
wouldn’t be mentioned. Lucas had been good enough to spend his
night off with me and I didn’t want to be boring. The taxi stopped
on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, as we’d decided to walk up to
the Lyric theatre, so we could have a drink first. Our seats were
in the dress circle so we had a great view. The show was brilliant,
Lucas had expressed he was a Michael Jackson fan, when they played
Billy Jean I wanted to go on the stage and dance. As we were
leaving the theatre Lucas asked me if I was hungry. ‘After all my
terrible vocals (my singing sounds like a bee in a bottle) I
actually am rather peckish.’

‘Hey your voice was far better
than mine, so what do you fancy, a sit down meal or a takeaway, you
choose?’

As we were walking along I
noticed a pizza hut. ‘Let’s get a pizza and take it back to the
pub.’

‘That sounds great.’

By the time the taxi dropped us
outside the Frog and Toad, we’d eaten most of the pizza. In the bar
Jena had Andy working with her, and by the looks of it he was
having a ball. ‘Jena it was a great show, thanks so much for
arranging it. I suppose a free drink is out of the question?’ I
teased.

‘The cheek of some people Andy,
she walks in here at closing time and wants a free drink. Anyone
would think she owns the place.’ Jena laughed.

Jena poured us both a large
glass of wine and we sat at the bar chatting about the show. ‘Come
and join us.’ I asked cheerfully.

As Andy closed the door after
the last customer they came and sat with us. ‘So it was worth
seeing then?’ Andy asked.