‘Kes? Thank Christ. You ok, mate?’ Nathan hears the chafing of movement against the concrete floor and peers through the gloom, feeling an overwhelming urge to cry as the dark mass that had been so still changes shape as it struggles to sitting.

‘What the fuck’s going on….’ Kester wheezes and coughs. He takes several deep breaths through his nose, trying to clear his head and stay conscious ‘Where are we?’

‘God knows…lock up somewhere’

‘Who…’

‘Not….absolutely…sure’ Nathan grunts between each word as he tries to make himself more comfortable.

‘You ok? Can’t see you.’

‘Over here…Hurts….a bit….Thought you was a gonner’

‘I feel ……….’ Kester retches repeatedly and finally vomits ‘Oh, God’ he groans ‘……..sorry’ He vomits again

‘S’ok’ Nathan heaves at the smell and groans with the pain it causes ‘…Can you move?’

‘Not much…they've tied my hands and feet. You?’

‘Same’ he replies and falls silent for a while.  ‘I think I’ve…. upset someone…’ he says wryly. ‘You shouldn’t have…’

‘Got involved?’ Kester lifts one shoulder, trying and failing to wipe his mouth against his jacket. He spits. ‘What was I supposed to do, just stand there and let them take you?’

‘Now we’re both in the shit’

‘What happens now?’

‘Wish I knew….Not sure I want to think about it’

‘No idea where we are?’

‘Nope…. bloody freezing wherever it is.’

Kester’s shoes scrape and his jeans rasp against the rough floor as he shuffles sideways. ‘I’ll get to you…we’ll be warmer together’

‘What are you suggesting?’ Nathan snorts and, rigid with pain, blows shallow breaths through his mouth until a wave of nausea subsides.

‘Prat! Glad you can see the funny side of it’

‘I can’t…Jeeze…..that hurt….Shhhh’

‘What?’ Kester stills.

‘Thought I heard something’ Nathan whispers.

‘Them coming back?’

‘Guessed they would. I just hope it’s quick. Sorry I got you into this.’

‘They wouldn’t….would they?’

‘Who knows what goes on in the minds of cretins like them, GBH or murder? Tough call. I’m sorry…I’m really sorry’ Nathan’s teeth clench and as he screws his eyes closed, tears of regret and pain spill over.

‘Can’t hear anything now’ Kester says after a few minutes and starts to shuffle across the floor again.

‘Nor me….must be near….. traffic….somewhere’ Nathan gasps

‘Stop talking, eh? It’s hurting….’ Kester pushes himself backwards with his feet and rests his shoulders against the wall beside Nathan. ‘Perhaps if we….sort of …back to back…we can do something about getting these off..’

‘Like they do on films?’ Nathan acknowledges Kester with a brief nod. ‘These are plastic ties. No way….not without…we’re stuffed!’

‘Well, I’m not just sitting here waiting. I’ve got things to do….people to see…women to…’

Nathan tries to smile. ‘You crack me up you do!’

‘Nothing here we can use…..?’

‘I didn’t exactly… get a…. guided tour…but …nothing I can remember …empty’

‘Easy on the telly, isn’t it?’ Kester mutters.

‘Yep….it is’ Nathan sighs and rolls his head against the chalky render of the wall. ‘There it is again… they’re back’ he says in a quiet resigned whisper, turning sorrowful eyes to Kester.

For a few moments their eyes lock. Kester lowers his face until his cheek lightly presses against Nathan’s bloodied forehead in a semblance of a hug. ‘No worries, eh?’ he murmurs ‘No worries’. Their eyes meet again as he eases away. He grins suddenly ‘Perhaps they’ve forgotten where they left us’ he snorts a nervous giggle.

‘That’d be right….’ Nathan smiles and winces ‘Don’t make me laugh’

‘Sorry’

They both take a sharp breath as the door to the lockup rattles.

‘Jester….you in this one?’ an anxious voice asks.

‘Charlene?’ Kester grins his surprise and relief to Nathan ‘Charlene, is that you? Yes…yes…it’s me’

Charlene bursts into tears. ‘It’s alright…don’t you worry…just a minute….Mu-um!......Mu-um!’

‘Thank you, God’ Kester says in a whisper

‘Who the hell's that?’ Nathan asks.

‘Someone I sort of know….’ Kester tries to scrabble his way to the door. ‘We need help' he yells 'the police...an ambulance…. but get away from here…..they’re coming back!' He waits for a response. 'Charlene?’ He turns towards Nathan. ‘Jeeze….where the hell's she gone now?’

‘To fetch her mum’ Nathan wheezes a tight laugh, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Outskirts of Woodbury

Chapter Five

Woodbury General Hospital

‘I owe you a very big thank you’ Harriet James approaches the girl standing outside the glass doors of the casualty unit. ‘Do come inside, it is so cold out here’

‘I didn’t know…you know…if…There was a lot of people all over the place’ Charlene Baker stands shivering, her arms across her chest, her hands buried in the opposite sleeves of her jumper. ‘I only wanted to know how he was….if he was all right. Is he?’

‘I’m sure he will be just fine, thanks to you’ Harriet puts a grateful hand on her arm.

‘Police wanted to know all sorts, they did. Didn’t want to know when I rung ‘em first off’ she huffs ‘didn’t want to know at all. Think they thought I was mucking about…drunk…you know. I wouldn’t be drunk…I was shopping’ she says indignantly.

‘Come inside’’ Harriet ushers her through the double doors and into the warmth of the brightly lit reception area.

Charlene squints against the light. ‘This all right, is it? I can be with you?’

‘Dear Lord, why shouldn’t it be?’

‘My mum says you’re ever so famous and that’ Charlene lowers her eyes, two spots of colour highlighting her very pale cheeks. ‘I’m real sorry I called you a wrinkly. I would’t’ve done if I’d known you was somebody important’

‘I’m nobody important, bless you’

Charlene lifts her head. ‘You are to him. He reckons you’re the dog’s bol…the best!’ she refutes hotly. Her face crumples ‘He will be alright won’t he?’ She groans and gives a sharp shake of her head to compose herself.

‘They’ll tell us very soon’ Harriet replies, gently squeezing her upper arm to reassure her. ‘He wasn’t beaten’

‘Not like that other poor man, I nearly puked when I saw him. Kester’d puked all over the place anyway, so it wouldn’t have made no difference really. He didn’t half stink’ She makes a face and pokes out her tongue in disgust.

‘I’m waiting on news of him too. Hopefully it’s not as bad as it looks’

‘Couldn’t be no worse’ Charlene declares with a shudder.

‘Have you given the police a statement?’

‘Not a proper one. They said what they’ll come tomorrow. They’re gonna go get the blokes what done it’ Her proud smile falters and she starts to shake ‘I weren’t half scared’ she stutters as tears roll down her face and the shaking becomes more marked.

Harriet envelops Charlene in a warm comforting hug. ‘Oh, my dear girl, come on. You did so well’ She pats her back soothingly ‘If it hadn’t been for you, goodness knows what might have happened’ Harriet kisses her forehead and holds her at arms length, looking at her with concern ‘Let me fetch someone for you’

Charlene shakes her head. ‘No, s’alright. I int hurt or nothing. Me mum’s in the car. She’s waiting for me’ She wipes her nose on the back of her hand ‘Will you let me know when you hears summat? I think I want to go to bed now, I feel a bit wobbly. Will you tell him I said I hope he’s alright?’

‘Tell him yourself’

Harriet swings round in surprise. ‘Darling!’

Charlene gives Kester a awkward smile ‘They let you out? But you looked crap when I saw you. You still smell a bit like it an’ all’

Kester touches a hand to her cheek, brushing away the remains of her tears with his knuckles. ‘Yes, they let me out’ he says softly before turning to Harriet. ‘They wanted to keep me overnight just to make sure there were no ill effects from whatever they knocked me out with but all the tests they’ve done seem ok, I didn’t see the point’

‘Oh, Kester, sweetheart, are you quite sure that’s sensible?’ Harriet looks up at him anxiously.

‘I’ll be fine. A bit woozy…and incredibly thirsty but I’ll be..’

‘S’long as you’re alright then’ Charlene smiles wanly as she nods goodbye to Harriet ‘Thank you Mrs. James…you know….for the cuddle’ She turns and hurries through the first of the swing doors.

‘Charlene….wait!’ Kester calls ‘Harriet…Go after her’ he pleads ‘…please. I don’t think I can hurry’ His knees buckle. Righting himself almost immediately, he stumbles towards an empty seat in the first row of chairs. ‘…actually…I do feel a bit ….’

Harriet hesitates.

‘Go after her….I’m ok…need to sit, that’s all’ He waves her away. ‘Get a number or something….somewhere I can get hold of her…’

‘Kester…’

‘Just do it! ….Please….I owe her’ He wipes the film of sweat from his upper lip ‘Please’