Book Three of Five by David Hughes

Author:David Hughes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Short stories, terrorism, action, crime, deception, tragedy, betrayal, intrigue, conspiracy, scheming, subterfuge, deviousness, plot, biological research, poisoning, rodents, eyesight, medical research, superpowers
ISBN: 9780722347881
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2018
Published: 2018-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Stella was already back, busy around the house, she didn’t ask where I had been. I enquired after her aunt and how things were at her mum’s and her reply, as usual, was aimed to tell me it was none of my business really. It wasn’t long after our wedding that it was made clear by her mum that being Stella’s husband didn’t automatically make me a member of the family, far from it in fact.

I found sleep difficult that night and lay awake thinking, not so much about what I had found on my trip but more about the difference between the life in Shenley and the life here. Why was it so different? Was it the place or the people, did the place make the people or the people make the place? Would the same people live the same way wherever they were or not? My mind couldn’t or wouldn’t give me an answer and somewhere along the way I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I was waking up to the sound of heavy rain beating against the window. The kitchen clock was indicating 9.30 as I made myself some toast and tea which I consumed as I read the paper, one corner of which was wet and soggy. I glanced at the clock as Stella made an appearance - 10.45 I noted the same time every Sunday morning, I said “Good morning” and mimicked her reply with my mouth “Good morning, you haven’t forgotten we are going to mum’s for dinner I hope.” Fat chance of forgetting I thought. Why she wanted me, or for that matter her father, as we were totally ignored - men should be seen and not heard seemed to be their motto, her dad hardly spoke unless we were alone in the garden, still the food was always good. I spent most of the time back in Shenley, and I decided I would get into work early and pop over to Barry’s to see if there were any more reports similar to Shenley.

Monday morning found me bright and early in the office, I waited till the place had settled down then slipped out and went to find Barry - surprise, surprise, he was sitting at his keyboard.

“Hi” I said as I sat in the spare chair.

He finished what he was doing before swivelling round to face me, “Don’t tell me,” he said “let me guess, you want to know about rats, right?”

“Right, how did you guess that?”

“Well, it wasn’t difficult. I was going to call you today to let you know we’ve had a few more reports about the same problem.”

“Really?” I replied. “So there is a problem.”

“Certainly looks that way John. I’ve had another ten reports just this morning, so that makes a grand total of thirty so far.”

“Have you established if there is a connection between them yet?” I asked.

“No, they seem to be scattered all over the country.

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