Episode 134: Gotcha!
Previously in Leeford Village:
Meredith is feeling queasy after eating one of Agnes’s out-of-date pickled eggs. Clare tells Hilda to pass the message to Zack that she still loves him. Jason meets his potential publishers who offer him a two-book deal and a ten thousand pounds advance. Colin Simpson, a clerk at Banfield Council, informs Frank that his nemesis, Councillor Lindale, is corrupt. Cody faints in Burry’s chemist’s. Daniel Windrush goes to his aid, but Adam thinks he is responsible for Cody’s state and hits him.
~
Once Cody is safely inside the ambulance, the police, in the form of PC Carr and a trainee police community support officer turn their attention to Adam, sitting forlornly on a chair in the corner.
‘So, Adam,’ begins PC Carr taking out his notebook and asking the PCSO for a pen. ‘Tell me exactly what you saw when you entered.’
Adam looks over at Daniel Windrush, gathering packets and bottles which have been knocked off the shelves by Cody falling against the counter.
‘Adam?’ urges PC Carr.
‘Sorry, Gary. Er, when I came in I saw my dad slumped in the arms of my…of Daniel. It was clear he’d knocked him out.’
PC Carr notes Adam’s words in his book, before putting it back into his top pocket. He turns to the PSCO and whispers, ‘open and shut case, I’d say. We now arrest Mr Windrush.’
The PCSO frowns. ‘Shouldn’t we question Mr Windrush first? Get his side of the story?’ she whispers.
‘Good point, Chloe. I was hoping you’d spot that. Well done,’ says PC Carr.
Daniel places the last tube of glucose tablets on the glass shelves.
‘Daniel.’ PC Carr takes out his notebook again. ‘What’s your side of the story?’
Daniel tells him that Cody came in looking ill and, following a quick examination, he collapsed into his arms. He goes on to say that Adam, on entering, launched at him with a punch that knocked him to the floor.
‘Not so much an open and shut case now, is it?’ whispers the PCSO to PC Carr.
PC Carr grunts.
‘Adam, is this true?’
Adam leans forward and holds his head in his hands.
‘Yes. I thought Daniel had hit Dad. I did throw a punch.’
PC Carr grins. ‘See, I was right the first time. I have a nose for this sort of thing,’ he whispers to the PCSO. He stands in front of Adam. ‘Adam Thornton, I am arresting you on suspicion of…’
He feels a tug at his arm.
‘Hang on, Gary,’ says Daniel. ‘It was clearly an understandable mistake. I really don’t think we need to take it any further.’
PC Carr shakes his head. ‘But it’s a clear case of…of…’
‘GBH? ABH?’ offers the PCSO.
‘Yes, one of those.’
Daniel laughs. ‘No harm, grievous or actual has been done. Except one broken bottle of Gaviscon. I really don’t want to press charges. I mean, Adam is my…my friend, after all.’
PC Carr looks disappointed. He so wanted to impress the PCSO by showing her how to arrest a felon.
‘Alright,’ he concedes. ‘But you need to curb that temper of yours, Adam. Take this as a warning.’
Adam nods his head. ‘I will.’
‘We’ll be off then,’ says PC Carr. He closes his notebook and puts it with the pen in his top pocket once more.
‘PC Carr?’ says the PCSO.
‘Yes. Ask me anything,’ says PC Carr, with enthusiasm.
‘Can I have my pen back?’
~
Sherry Cross throws her phone down on the sofa.
‘He’s not returning any of my calls, Lin.’
Linda bites her lip.
‘Have I done something?’ asks her sister.
Linda polishes the mantelpiece for the third time.
‘Can you remember, Lin? The last time he was here? We didn’t have a row, did we?’
‘Don’t think so,’ replies Linda, wishing for the conversation to end.
Sherry picks up her phone. ‘Right, I’m going round to his hostel.’
Linda stops polishing. She decides that she has to tell Sherry about Carlos’s arrest. However, when she turns round Sherry is already shutting the front door.
~
Jason buys two coffees from Simon Brown’s coffee wagon and takes them over to his brother’s stall.
‘What’s this?’ asks George. ‘You never buy me a coffee. What is it you want?’
Jason smiles. ‘Nothing, dear brother. I’m just in a generous mood.’
‘Oh, right,’ says George taking a sip of his drink. ‘Ah, yes. How did you get on with those book chaps?’
Jason puffs out his cheeks. ‘Let’s just say they were very impressed.’
‘Impressed? What does that mean?’
‘It means that they were impressed to the tune of ten thousand pounds.’
‘Ten grand? They’re paying you ten grand for writing about us?’
‘Us? It’s only based on Leeford, George.’
‘Yes, but a lot of it is true.’
Jason sighs. ‘Based on true events, George. It’s fiction.’
George takes a long drink of his coffee.
‘What do the rest of us get?’ he asks.
‘The rest of us?’
‘Yes. Me, Cody, the other characters in the book?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If it wasn’t for us, you wouldn’t have a book. Ergo, I think some kind of payment is due to those on which you, what was the word, based, your story.’
Jason puts his cup down.
‘Look. Longford Village is a work of fiction. I admit that some of the characters may bear some resemblance to people in Leeford…’
‘…and the stories bear some resemblance to actual events…’ adds George.
‘..yes, but…’
‘There’s no “yes, but”, Jason. I’m serious. I shall be speaking to everyone who I think you have used to write the book and we’ll work out how much of your ten grand is due to us.’
Jason feels the hairs on the back of his neck bristle.
‘You’ve got no chance of getting any money. I wrote the book. And there’s nothing you can do about it.’
George sucks in his cheeks.
‘Tell you what. Give me two thousand and I’ll not involve anyone else. Agreed?’
‘Definitely not agreed!’
‘Then, I’ll make sure there’s nothing left of your ten grand.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Jason squares up to his brother. ‘You will, will you?’
George pushes Jason away. ‘I will. And, in the meantime, I don’t want to see you round here. Leeching off good people to make a buck for yourself. It’s disgusting. Go!’
Jason raises a fist, then turns and walks away, mumbling something indistinct.
George waits until his brother has left the market. He phones Cody, but there is no reply.
~
Once the police officers have left, Adam thanks Daniel and apologises.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ says Daniel. ‘You should get to the hospital.’
‘Do you know what’s wrong with Dad?’ asks Adam.
‘I think it’s probably something he’s eaten, I suspect salmonella, but can’t be certain. They’ll carry out tests.’
‘Salmonella? That’s bad isn’t it?’
‘He’ll feel unwell for a while, but should be okay.’
Adam suddenly feels faint himself. ‘Can you get salmonella from eating eggs?’
Daniel nods. ‘If they are off, yes.’
Adam puts his hand to his mouth.
‘Adam? What’s wrong?’ asks Daniel, placing his hand on Adam’s shoulder.
‘Meredith has been feeling unwell since eating one of the pickled eggs my mother is selling. I bet Cody has eaten one too. Oh, my God, Daniel. She could have salmonella.’
Daniel pats Adam’s shoulder.
‘Don’t panic. I’ll get hold of Doctor Roberts and see if he can go to see her now. He’ll know what to do.’
‘I think she should go straight to hospital,’ says Adam, a look of fear on his face.
‘Maybe you’re right, son. Get back to her and I’ll call the ambulance.’
Adam opens the door to leave.
‘Son?’ he says, without turning round.
~
Sherry walks in a daze through the village, not noticing people passing by. She tries to recall the last time she spoke to Carlos, whether there was anything she said that would cause him to ignore her for the past week. There was nothing. She crosses the main road without looking and an ambulance speeding by with its blue light flashing narrowly misses her. As she approaches the next junction, shortly before arriving in East Banfield, she hears a voice behind her.
She turns around. ‘Carlos!’ she shouts, but, before she can say another word, Carlos grabs her arm and leads her down an alleyway between a hardware store and a hairdresser’s.
‘Carlos! What are you doing?’
‘Sshh,’ implores Carlos, looking behind him. Once he is sure no one has seen them enter the alleyway, he speaks.
‘Sherry. I love you. You know that, don’t you?’
‘If you love me, why are you ignoring my calls?’
Carlos leans against the wall.
‘Because I not allowed to speak to you,’ he says, choking back tears.
Sherry stands next to him and holds his hand.
‘What do you mean?’
‘It long story. But, right now, if you want be with me, we have to go.’
‘Go? Go where?’
‘Anywhere. But we have to go right now. Right this minute.’
Sherry lets go of Carlos’s hand.
‘I can’t just go. And why do we have to? What’s happened Carlos?’
Before he can answer they hear footsteps at the other end of the alleyway.
The next voice is PC Carr’s. ‘Stop where you are, Carlos! Sherry, move away!’
PC Carr starts to walk down the alley. Carlos grabs Sherry’s hand. ‘Run!’ he shouts.
‘Stop!’ shouts PC Carr. Carlos runs towards the main road, dragging Sherry along with him. She stumbles and falls to the ground, bringing Carlos down with her. He struggles to get up. ‘You silly girl!’ he shouts and starts to run again. There’s a loud crack and he falls to the ground.
PC Carr runs up to him, spent taser in hand. Carlos groans.
‘Gotcha!’ says PC Carr, calmly.
Sherry is sitting on the floor rubbing her arm.
‘What just happened?’ she says.
‘I think you’ve just had a lucky escape,’ says PC Carr, putting a pair of handcuffs on Carlos’s wrists.
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