Episode 133: Seconds Out, Round One
Previously in Leeford Village:
Sergeant Stephen Miller and PC Gary Carr arrest Carlos in East Banfield. They interview him, but Stephen’s superiors instruct him to release Carlos on bail. Cody eats a pickled egg that is four years out of date. Zack returns home to the vicarage but won’t speak to anyone – including his mother. Frank Watson finally realises he has made a mistake with the census forms and calls Councillor Lindale. Frank tells him he will deliver the forms today.
~
‘What is it, Meredith?’
Adam has demonstrated to his fiancée that he is going to be a nervous father – through the pregnancy, the birth, and maybe for many years after they become parents. Adam loves Cody, but has promised Meredith that he will not use his father – his ‘adopted’, not biological father – as the standard by which to pursue his career as a parent. ‘Career?’ Meredith had queried. ‘Career? It’s not a job, Adam.’ Like his dad (the ‘adopted’ one), Adam doesn’t always choose his words carefully. To Meredith, however, Adam is an open book, and she loves him for it.
‘Just a twinge. It happens. I’ve read all the books and received regular advice from your mom.’
‘Oh, right. Bet that was enlightening.’
‘You may scoff, but Agnes has all the experience. After all, she did give birth to both you and Jasmine.’
‘True, true, but what sort of twinge? Should I take you to Doctor Jeremy?’
Meredith gives him ‘the look’, a look that she could have learnt from her future mother-in-law.
‘No, but I tell you what, could you pop down to the pharmacy – oh, sorry, I forgot.’
‘Forgot what?’
‘You don’t really want to see Daniel, do you?’
‘Well,’ says Adam, ‘I do need to talk to him about his mom’s villa.’
Meredith smiles. She is relieved that Adam has calmed down after the revelations. She is now feeling slightly sick but hides it from Adam.
‘So you’ve decided to keep it then? Nice for our holidays.’
‘Yes. Swallowed my pride. Anyway, what do you want from the pharmacy?’
‘Just something for indigestion. I had one of those pickled eggs that Agnes is trying to push on special offer. I think it might have disagreed with me.’
‘I’ll pop down and get something for you,’ says Adam, concern etched across his face.
~
Zack misses the telephone call by minutes. He had grunted something about ‘a walk in the park’ to his mother without waiting for a response. Hilda picks up the phone and answers with her usual ‘Leeford Vicarage. Can I help you?’
‘It’s Clare,’ comes the reply. ‘Is Zack there?’
‘He’s just popped out, love. Are you okay?’
The sniffles and sighs down the line tell Hilda that everything is far from okay. Clare, between sobs, recounts the story of her fateful visit to the club, where Richard had attempted to take advantage of her.
‘Couldn’t you lodge a complaint, Clare?’
‘To whom?’
‘The college? Your lecturers?’
There is a pause while Clare composes herself.
‘No chance, Mrs Peterson.’
‘Oh, Clare, please call me Hilda.’
‘Thank you. No, there’s no point complaining. Richard would say I led him on.’
‘You didn’t though, did you?’ enquires Hilda.
‘Not intentionally, but you know how these things happen.’
Once again, Clare pauses, then continues.
‘It’s all my fault, I suppose. I have been thinking that Zack has begun to take me for granted.’
‘I can identify with that, love, believe me. I’m his mom. All moms are taken for granted!’
This makes Clare laugh, and it seems to settle her somewhat.
Thank you for listening, Hilda. I’m so glad that we’ve always got on.’
‘Do you want to leave a message for Zack?’
‘Just tell him I’m sorry. I will understand if he doesn’t want to speak to me.’
‘Is that all?’ asks Hilda.
‘No, one more thing,’ says Clare. ‘Tell Zack that I’ll be down for the village fête. I’m staying with Mom and Dad for a few weeks. Yes, just tell him that. Oh, and tell Zack that I love him. Thanks again. Bye.’
It is Hilda’s turn to sigh.
‘Bye, Clare.’
~
‘Mr Owens,’ says Simon Leech, ‘it’s so nice to meet you.’
Jason, his heart thumping, takes Simon’s right hand with his own. The train journey from Wolverhampton to Euston has allowed Jason time to think about the meeting. Too much time.
‘I was so pleased to receive your letter, Mr Lice.’
‘Leech.’
‘Sorry?’ says Jason.
‘Leech. My name is Leech.’
‘I do apologise. Bit nervous.’
‘Don’t worry, come through to the boardroom. Our junior staff have studied your work, and they love it. It’s now down to us to decide.’
Jason gulps. ‘Us?’ he asks.
‘The three partners – George Grab, Reginald Rattle and myself.’
Jason smiles, stifles a nervous giggle and resists the temptation to repeat the names.
Reginald Rattle and George Grab, he thinks.
The huge oak double doors are opened by a man who looks remarkably like a 1930s butler in a Hollywood movie. Jason gasps as he is presented with a room that seems larger than his house. The boardroom table seats sixteen people.
Simon Leech points towards the seat intended for Jason – the other end of the long table from the three senior partners. As Jason sits down, George Grab immediately starts the meeting.
‘Tell us about Longford Village. We believe that it is based on the village where you live – Leeford.’
This is Jason’s opportunity, and he takes it. The next fifteen minutes are the most exciting of his life. He waxes lyrical about life in a small village on the Staffordshire border. He skims through the backstories of the main characters. He is grilled by all three partners and they like him. They ask him to leave the boardroom for a few minutes while they consult. It feels like seconds to Jason as the door opens and he is recalled to the table. Simon Leech is the first to speak.
‘We’ll come straight to the point, Jason. We would like to offer you a two-book contract. We will pay you an advance to demonstrate our confidence in you.’
‘Oh, thank you. How much is the advance?’
‘Ten thousand pounds. We believe we can sell your book. Congratulations, Jason. We look forward to working with you.’
~
When the phone rings, Megan answers it. Frank has been sitting quietly for an hour, but his eyes light up when his daughter tells him the identity of the caller.
‘Dad, it’s Colin Simpson for you.’
In contrast to his body language and movement before the phone rings, Frank virtually jumps out of his chair and grabs the phone from Megan.
‘Colin, nice to hear from you!’
‘Hello, Frank. Are you free to talk?’
‘Of course, Colin. What can I do for you?’
There is a pause as it seems that Colin needs a deep breath before continuing. Colin has decided that after twenty years as a clerk at Banfield Council, he has finally decided to do something about a situation he has struggled with for more than a year.
‘Corruption, Frank. Corruption.’
‘What? Really?’
‘You’re not kidding, Frank.’
‘Who?’
‘I think you know,’ says Colin, ‘and I’m sorry that last time we spoke I said, “not dodgy as such”, and I was wrong.’
‘Are you talking about Lindale?’ asks Frank.
‘Absolutely.’
‘Why are you taking the chance now, Colin?’
‘I’ve had enough. If we can’t get Lindale and he crucifies me, I’ll walk.’
Frank beckons to Megan to pass him a chair.
‘Tell me more, Colin.’
~
Cody is on his way to Windrush Pharmacy in Leeford. Like all of the Leeford Village locals, he still calls it “Burry’s Chemist’s”, not recognising the authority or even the professional status of the man he now simply calls ‘Windrush’. Although he has told Agnes that he would avoid Daniel Windrush and use the chemist’s in Bordsley, he does have two reasons for the visit. Yes, of course, he wants to confront Daniel, and even Cody is not sure what good it will do, although that has not stopped the reactive and emotional chip shop owner in the past. Also, he feels that the pickled egg he ate yesterday hasn’t quite agreed with him. For all his loathing of the man, Cody accepts that Daniel will be able to recommend a medicine to settle his stomach.
‘Morning, Cody. How are you?’
‘Bit queasy, if you must know.’
As pharmacists are now authorised to take on some of the work that used to be carried out by general practitioners, Daniel takes a closer look at Cody’s face. There is no one else in the pharmacy, so Daniel doesn’t bother to offer his customer the privacy of the consulting room.
‘Let me have a look at your tongue.’
‘Why?’
‘You do look a bit peaky. Stand still. Open wide.’
Cody’s tongue is beyond description, and Daniel realises something is going on.
‘Open your eyes wide, please, Cody.’
Cody complies, and Daniel gently pushes Cody’s lower eyelids down, one after the other.
‘Bit yellow, Cody.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Possible infection. Have you eaten anything different in the last twenty-four hours?’
At that, the door opens. Adam walks in. Almost immediately, Cody faints, falling into Daniel’s arms. Daniel almost gets a good grip of his patient, but Cody slumps to the floor.
‘Oi, Windrush!’ shouts Adam. ‘What are you doing? Did you attack him?’
As two other customers enter the pharmacy, Adam rushes toward the counter and swings his right fist, connecting with Daniel’s chin. He falls in a heap. On top of Cody. The first customer, Jasmine, screams out ‘Dad, what has he done to you?’ The second person, Justin, immediately calls for an ambulance and the police.
Comments