Threadbare by Malcolm Hollingdrake

Author:Malcolm Hollingdrake [Hollingdrake, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Billy Hurst sighed as he opened the door to the cottage and collected the mail that had built up. It was the usual leaflets and flyers apart from two letters. He had deliberately left his case in the hallway. His feet ached and he was tired. What he needed was to piss and then make tea. Coniston had been everything he had hoped for. The weather had been kind, he had enjoyed some trapping and some shooting. Laying the traps for the foxes had been easy. The farmer owning the cottage he had rented was only too pleased with the results.

Leaning back against the cabinet he checked the mail again, keeping what he believed to be important. The rest went in the bin. It was as the kettle was beginning to whistle that he saw the framed photograph propped up on the table. He did not immediately move towards it but lifted the kettle from the gas. Knowing the picture had definitely not been there when he had left, he felt a tingle run down his neck. He scanned the rest of the kitchen. His eyes stopped at the knife block. Two were missing. Listening carefully he heard nothing but the occasional bird call. He slid the largest knife remaining from the block and ran his thumb across the edge of the blade. It was sharp, a throwback to his apprenticeship as a butcher. The blades had certainly had some use and had been sharpened many, many times to the point where they had changed from their original shape. He glanced at the initials on the handle, BHB.

“Billy Humphrey Butchers, Chadderton Manchester. Not Hurst, but Humphrey.” The voice was light and nonthreatening, seeming to come from the lounge. “You mix and match those names to suit your present lifestyle I imagine. Don’t you get confused, Billy? You were never the sharpest tool in the box.”

Billy dropped the knife but quickly bent and retrieved it, his grip now stronger as if ready for a fight. He moved cautiously through to from where the sound had emanated.

“Unlike you to be timid, Billy boy. Always swift with the blade when you were in the fields with the lads, if I recall. See the photograph did you …? Bring memories flooding back did it? Memories of your old mates? Have you asked yourself how they’re getting on these days, Billy, have you? Remember that specific day and the year?”

Billy stopped in the doorway. The sun streamed into the cottage, highlighting the thin layer of dust on the glass coffee table next to the chair. His heart was pounding and he felt fear course through his body. Perspiration seemed to drip slowly from his temples and onto his cheeks, his hands were sweaty too. His senses were vibrant.

“Good holiday? I’ve been waiting patiently. Knew you were back today but unsure as to the time. However, I’ve all the time in the world. Retirement is the best job anyone could have, providing of course, you keep yourself amused and you have a bit of brass in the bank.

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