Treacherous Times by Patricia H. Squire

Author:Patricia H. Squire
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2021-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Esme decided to take advantage of the various exhortations she had received to take it easy and leave work early. Her bruises were increasingly making themselves felt and she was tired. She had driven to work and took the opportunity to detour to the supermarket for a mini-shop. Her cupboards and fridge had looked distressingly bare that morning. As she wheeled her trolley up and down the aisles, she idly decided that when she arrived home she would flick a duster round before having a nap. It was unlikely that Matt would be over early so she would then have time for a shower to wake herself up before preparing a light supper.

She drove home and fairly easily found a parking space on the opposite side of her street―the advantage of getting home before all those still at work. Collecting her bags of food together she walked a short distance and checked the road was clear before crossing it to reach her block of flats. When nearly to the other side she heard the screech of tyres leaving rubber on the road. Looking over she saw a black Range Rover bearing down on her at full speed. For a terrifying moment she was transfixed like a rabbit in front of headlights before suddenly being yanked forward onto the pavement. She lay dazed, then as feeling returned, she groaned. She’d now have bruises on top of bruises. How lucky was that? She became aware of a woman bending over and saying something.

With conscious stoicism and the woman’s help she clambered to her feet. Looking round she spied her groceries scattered across the pavement and into the road.

‘Are you all right? Should I call for an ambulance? Or perhaps the police?’ She sounded undecided of which should take priority.

Esme took a deep breath. She ached and was no doubt bleeding after tumbling over the pavement. But she was alive. And, she thought vaguely surprised, I don’t feel nauseous. Perhaps I’m getting used to being thrown to the ground!

She concentrated on the worried woman, her saviour. ‘No ambulance, I’ll be fine. Just bumps and scrapes.’ She shivered. ‘I’m not sure exactly what happened. There was a huge black car then I was on the ground.’

Reassured now that Esme was standing and talking, the woman burst out, ‘Oh my God. It was unbelievable. I saw you walking across the road, then this car sped out of nowhere and seemed to be aiming at you. Then you turned and seemed to freeze. The car wasn’t slowing so I grabbed your arm and pulled.’ She paused, out of breath for a second. ‘God, look at me, I’m shaking. Look at you…what a pair we make!’

Esme focussed on her. ‘What can I say? Thank you. You probably saved my life―certainly stopped me being badly hurt.’

The woman appeared embarrassed. ‘Oh well.’ She regrouped and spoke more slowly as she went over the episode in her mind. ‘There was no other traffic, but the driver didn’t slow or swerve.

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