Dark Drive by Phil Miles

Author:Phil Miles
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2018-03-29T23:00:00+00:00

PART FOUR

The Truth

34

Fleabourne

When the mourners had dispersed, I went over to the freshly filled grave, and, feeling like a bit of a creep, I tiptoed around the flowers to get a look at the headstone. The brand new granite glinted in the sunlight as I read these words carved into it: ‘Captain Michael Chapman, Royal Fusiliers. Born April 10th 1986. Died July 22nd 2025.’

It didn’t tell me much but I kept the name in mind as I headed back to my car. On the way I took out my phone to call Drake and tell him what I’d seen. There was a long silence on the end of the line as the information sank in. Finally Drake said: “How sure are you?”

“Hundred percent. I’d know that face anywhere.”

“But how is that even possible?”

“I don’t know, Drake. I’m just telling you what I saw.”

“Did you talk to her?”

“No, she was out of there before I got a chance. She never saw me.”

Drake started to say something, but then the signal broke up and the line went dead. I cursed out loud, drawing a stern frown from an old veteran as he tottered past carrying a bunch of flowers. I apologised.

The phone rang. Drake calling me back from a restricted number; his desk phone, I guessed, not the number I’d called him on. I wondered why he’d decided to switch phones all of a sudden.

“Listen Ash, I need to run this past Laurence. We can’t just put it out there right away.”

“Why not?”

“Because... Think about it. If it turns out the scoop of the century was all bullshit? Try and see it from our point of view.”

“I don’t give a shit about your point of view. These are facts. There is no point of view.”

“It’s not that simple, Ash.”

I stopped walking and turned my face up to the heavens, perhaps out of despair that nothing – nothing – was ever that simple. As I did so, the first drops from a warm, light, summer rain shower pattered on my forehead.

“Ash, we just need some more time here. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? ....... Okay?”

“Sure. Whatever.”

I ended the call, pulled my jacket up over my head. The rain was coming down more heavily now, changing the colour of the headstones from white to gray.

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