Utterly Rafted by Pauline Manders

Author:Pauline Manders [Manders, Pauline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ottobeast Publishing
Published: 2013-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Matt waited in the Nags Head car park. He sat on the Piaggio, his position screened by the large waste bins. It felt safer, lingering out of view with the two-stroke engine idling quietly beneath him. A moment later and a throaty grumble ricocheted off the pub walls as Chrissie started her TR7. He slipped his white helmet on as his pulse whooshed fast in his ears. In his comic-strip book he’d be clean-shaven, square jawed, oiled and as taut as a bow string. He took a deep breath and tried not to sag. He was ready.

They’d made a plan, Chrissie, Nick and he, huddled over more beers after the raft meeting. He would ride ahead; Chrissie drive behind. She was to hang back and if Tom was following, Chrissie would see. They’d avoid the A14. The lanes would be quiet and any other car obvious.

‘Hmm,’ Matt murmured, ‘and if ’e’s followin’, then I just keep ridin’ an’ come back to the Nags Head.’ He hoped the Piaggio Zip’s 49cc engine could live up to its frisky name.

Chrissie had said there was no way she’d drive back to Ron’s workshop at that hour, and Nick agreed with her. Everything left there would have to stay for now. And anyway, Nick was off to meet Kat.

Matt eased out of the car park with nothing more than the clothes he was wearing. Leaning forwards, he accelerated hard, urging the scooter ever faster. The engine whined and his denim jacket flapped. The air blew cold against his arms, and the speedo read 31 mph. He checked his mirrors. It was clear behind.

When he reached Woolpit, he did a circuit past the church, doubling back on himself into the centre and then back up onto the main road. The only car he met was Chrissie’s, coming the other way. He pulled into the side and waited to see if anything was following her. He hoped she would have noticed if anyone was following him. Ten minutes later he parked outside No 3, Albert Cottages. He reckoned he’d made it. The Pale Rider of his comic-strip imagination had outrun the dark forces of Tom.

A few minutes later, Chrissie drew up. ‘Why the hell did you double back on me? One moment I’m following you, the next I’m meeting you head on. I drove around for ages afterwards to see if everything was OK.’

Matt pulled off his helmet. ‘I saw it in a film.’

‘Well, it would’ve helped if you’d warned me first. Anyway,’ and she grinned, ‘it looks as if no one’s followed you here. Let’s get inside.’

Matt hugged his helmet as he hurried into Chrissie’s narrow hallway.

‘This is only temporary, Matt. You can stay one or two nights, but that’s all.’ She tossed the words over her shoulder as she disappeared into the kitchen.

‘Thanks, Chrissie. Jeeze!’ He stopped dead in his tracks.

‘Now what’s up?’ Her disembodied voice glided across the mirror in front of him.

‘J-e-eze,’ he repeated more softly as he viewed the sandy growth on his face.

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