Zodiac's toy, John Jones [nonfiction book recommendations .txt] 📗

was too much, and he fell back.

"I didn't, honestly Lee I didn't," but then Ray made a rapid decision. He could do without the hassle of ambulances and police, so backed away, turned and headed for the exit before the paramedics showed up. He managed to get far enough away, and watched as an ambulance screeched to a halt outside the high-rise. He turned a corner, and walked quickly into the town.

He found he still had his wallet, so didn't hesitate to find a pub and sit drinking his favourite pint. As he relaxed, an elderly man approached him.

"Can I buy you a pint of water sir?" Rays frown was his answer.

"I'm the water-bearer you see".

"No..no thanks". The man simply turned and walked away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 43

 

He didn't want to go back to the high-rise. Not for a while, but the thought of asking Caroline to stay was daunting, but she couldn't refuse him, and getting in the way of her and Wayne was not something he wished for either. Yet, where can I go? he asked himself. Put up with interrogation, not just from the police at the flats, or face his sister who would flat out refuse to let him stay. Knowing he may have to play the 'but it's half my house' card, so finished up his pint and slowly made his way there.

To find no answer. They would both be at work. He'd only ever visited her workplace once, and that was when she started, but now he knew he would have to go there, find her and persuade her to give him the front door key so he could go and get one made, and stay for a few days.

It took a long and stuffy bus-ride, with a large gentleman in a flat-cap taking up three-quarters of the seat pressing him against the window, but eventually he was relieved to be stepping off and reluctantly heading into the garden centre, which was bigger than he remembered.

He wandered by garden ornaments. His eye was caught by what looked like a maiden holding a sheaf of wheat. Next to her was a crudely carved Lion. Behind that was a stone bull. There were also several pairs of fish dotted around. There were no other kinds.

He frowned and walked away from them, through the outdoor furniture and just beyond the artificial plants to customer services, where he waited in a small queue to ask to see Caroline.

He was told to wait at the side and five minutes later she came out, looking rather harangued, as if she had been in a tough business meeting.

"You alright?" Ray asked.

"Yes, just in a business meeting with bosses who are trying to make changes. It's all...oh nevermind, what is it?"

"Erm...well. Just for a couple of days. Can I stay at the house?"

"No," she said, and made to move away.

"Please. It's been mental back at the flats and Lee's annoyed with me, I just need a place to stay for a couple of days".

"Nope, me and Wayne are up our ears in the wedding, so I'm afraid you'll have to sort it out with Lee".

So then he played his card.

He was quite surprised she didn't resist further. Instead she just sighed and took from her pocket the keys, unhooked the front door key and handed it him.

"I need that back before I leave at five". So he thanked her, and also mentally thanked the bosses out the back for seemingly wearing her down. With whatever her superiors were saying, and the wedding preparations, now was as good a time as he was going to get to get back into the spare room, or the sofa, at least for a short while.

He was not familiar with this part of town, so spent around ten minutes finding a key-cutter, and was soon making his way back to the garden-centre. She took another few minutes to come back out.

"That was quick," she said, “but it's only for a few days though. Promise". Ray nodded emphatically and gave her the key back.

 

On the bus-ride back, around halfway it pulled up at red lights, and he had the seat to himself. A biker pulled up alongside and looked at him. She got off and stepped across to his window. In all the gear, helmet and high-vis jacket, she looked to be in her late twenties, and banged on Ray's window. The other passengers all looked in that direction.

"My name is Virginia," she said loudly, "Please fuck me. Fuck my pussy. Oh hang on...if you fuck me I won't be virgin any more". The lights turned to amber, then green, and the bus pulled away. He saw Virginia looking confused as she got back onto her bike.

He was soon inserting the new key into the door, and had the house to himself. Not hesitating to make himself a cup of tea.

 

In the evening, Caroline explained to Wayne that Ray was up in the spare room. Wayne could only react with disappointment, and lowered his voice incase Ray heard.

"Caroline...we can't have him staying. He'll just...get in the way".

"I know, but I can't really refuse him, and he said it's just for a few days".

"A few days?...but how are we supposed to...you know..I'm not going to feel comfortable with him in the next room".

"No. Nor am I, he better had leave soon".

 

In the morning, Caroline was up and out early. There were two staff meetings she needed to attend so left in plenty of time. Wayne though, was in the cafe at ten am, so was in no rush. He came down to find Ray watching television with his feet up.

"Alright," he said, as he went through to make breakfast. He was soon sitting at the table with his bowl of apple-blueberry granola until he realised there was something Ray could help him with, so he took his breakfast and sat in the armchair.

"Ray," he said, "I'm wondering if you could help me out with my wedding speech. Have you got any funny stories, or things about Caroline I could say?". Ray simply smiled and turned off the television.

He thought for a while, then said: "When she was about five, there was a time we all went to the supermarket, and Caroline was in the ice-cream section, and because the freezer was so big, she was reaching in to grab something, but fell inside. The manager was close-by but instead of rushing to help, he just burst out laughing". Wayne smiled and nodded.

"Or there was another time, her and Vanessa in college, or uni were good at tennis. They played doubles and reached the semi-finals of some important cup or something. Did she tell you that?" Wayne nodded.

"Yes," he said, "she's mentioned it a few times".

"Or back in her early twenties I think, one of her other friends, her parents were having some posh do to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The 30th or whatever, and they were having it at some local golf club. So Caroline got herself all dolled up. Posh dress, new hairdo, and got a taxi to the club, but the driver made a wrong turn and parked up near one of the greens. He couldn't find the entrance so Caroline said it was alright, she'd walk from there, so when she got out of the taxi, it sped off, leaving her to walk across the grass. But then it started to rain, and I mean rain. It was an absolute downpour. So she ran to the club, but by the time she got there she was drenched. Soaked to the bone. She had to change, but there was nothing but some of the jackets or whatever the chefs have to wear. So she spent the whole night looking like she worked in the kitchen". Wayne smiled.

"Yes, I think I can use that. And, is there any pictures of her? Embarrassing ones that I could use. I was thinking of copying some and putting them up at the reception".

Ray remembered that in the back of the cupboard in the main bedroom, there used to be a shoe-box of photographs, and wondered if perhaps something was in there he could use.

However, because of where it was, he was quite reluctant to simply go in there now, such was the sacrosanct nature of the most private room in any household. It seemingly belonged to Caroline and Wayne now, and he almost felt like asking permission to enter.

"I think there's some in...your bedroom in the cupboard". Wayne stood up and beckoned him.

"Whereabouts?" he led him up and into the bedroom. Ray opened the cupboard and found that the box was not where he thought it was, but in the next cupboard along, at the back of a large drawer.

He took it out and placed it on the floor. Wayne looked at his watch.

"Alright. I need to skidaddle. At least I know where they are. Will you put them back in the same place?"

"Ye," Ray said, and Wayne left. He picked a few out. His parents having a cocktail on the balcony of a hotel in Valencia with sunglasses and a background of deep blue sea.

Shelley and one of her friends standing on a sand dune.

His parents, Caroline, Shelley and Ray all together when it was his Fathers 60th birthday celebrations in the foyer of a local social club which had now closed. Ray smiled at the memories. Everyone together. Happy.

A time before his parents grew more and more disappointed with him. A time when he still had good prospects, before they went down the sink. When they were still semi-proud of him.

Perhaps this would make a good wedding present, he thought. She probably hasn't seen it for ages. Maybe years, so I could present it in a good frame. Not a tacky one from the supermarket, but maybe get it made specially.

He hid it under his spare bed, and when Caroline and Wayne were back in the evening, he was sat at the table with his arms folded while they continued finalising their wedding.

"Wayne," Caroline said, "could you please find something for Ray to do".

"But there's nothing left. Everything's done...oh hang on, yes, there is one thing. I've written out a play-list for the DJ to play at my stag-do, but I can't email because he's one of those guys that doesn't use computers, only plays vinyl. Could you go and give him the list for me". Ray sighed.

"Alright," he said, better than facing Lee anyway, he thought. "The stag-do. What is it you're doing?"

"We're having a river cruise down the Thames. It'll be relaxing as the DJ plays seventies instrumental rock".

"Right. What about you Caroline?"

"Me and the girls are going on a spa break in a country mansion hotel. We're just gonna chill and be pampered. It'll be great".

"So where can I find this DJ?"

"He'll probably be on one of the boats on the Thames. That's where he works".

"Okay. I'll do it tomorrow".

 

He found that it was easier to get a train, and wasn't happy about paying the fare himself, but said nothing and sat by the window for the fifteen minute journey into London.

Along the way there were graffitied walls gliding by.

'Gemini' 'Gemini' 'Gemini' he saw in various colored font styles and felt the thin ice of his lack of belief cracking more, but it held.

A long walk through the streets eventually brought him to the riverside, which gave him another walk of around a mile before he eventually found the cruise boat he sought moored near a bridge. As he approached, he could hear music. 1920s ragtime, where a small group of pensioners were chatting, dressed up in suits stood close to the walkway which led aboard.

'Guests only' said a small sign hanging from a steel railing, and Ray guessed that all he had to do was walk on, find the DJ station, leave Wayne's play-list if the DJ wasn't there, or give it to one of the staff. So Ray simply walked aboard, a few people looking at