Simpathe Nation by John Handrahan
Chapter 6: Home is Where the Heart Is
home
CCTV
Josh is walking southward away from Long Lane and is turning to walk across the Park past the duck pond, now exiting the Park onto Burnham Street. Josh turns right on to Station Street. He is arriving at his home address.
Josh didn't feel right. He needed talk to someone about his father. He couldn't live with his father's image popping up all the while. It was only one o'clock so his mum wouldn't be home for hours and he really didn't want to be alone in the house. He took Chloe's number out of his back pocket and sent her a text her asking if she was free. Her message took only a few seconds to come back.
"Have about four hours until dinner, if you want to play, Chloe x."
Josh didn't bother going into his house but continued straight down the street. He had continual feeling of being watched and thought it might paranoia induced by the haunting.
CCTV
He didn't go into his home address. Josh continues down station Street and is now turning right onto Blenheim Road. He is approaching the crossing traffic lights on green. He is crossing now, heading up Blenheim Road. Turning left onto Argyll Close, turning right onto St Peters Street. Lost him.
Chloe lived a little further away than Kate did it on a new estate built only a few years before. The houses were all similar but they were new and clean and perfect. He found her house which was surprisingly different from everything else built around it. It was a quaint old cottage placed in the middle of a brand-new housing estate and must have been there for years. An extensive garden surrounded the building which boasted a little sign with the legend ‘Longacre Cottage 1814.” He knocked at the front door which opened almost immediately, as by magic. Chloe stood in front of him. He could hear giggling in the background, probably her sister and mum he thought.
"My brave man, what has he done to your face?" Chloe looked at the damage. Josh smiled and winced at being called her brave man and then remembered he was supposed to talk as well.
"It's just a scratch, and I’ll be fine. How are, you? Your bruising has almost gone. I see," Josh said.
"Oh I’m fine. I'll get you some cream for those bruises; I have just the thing,” Chloe invited him in softly “please come in."
She guided him through into the kitchen and pulled out a strange looking jar of cream from a cupboard under the sink. Josh sat down gingerly at the kitchen table. It couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds later that Chloe’s sister came through followed by a pretty woman, both announcing their presence by grunts, coughs and yet more giggling.
"Josh this is my mother, Patricia and my sister Emily," Chloe shyly introduced her family.
"Hello," Josh said smiling.
"So this is your brave man then sister," Emily was having trouble speaking through her giggles.
"My word, he did put himself in front of the man for you. Would you like a drink Josh?" asked Patricia.
"Yes please," replied Josh.
"Come on you two,” Chloe said, smiling and pulling faces at her mum and sisters interruption, “how am I supposed to get the cream on with you two teasing him?"
Laughingly Patricia made two cups of tea which she placed on the kitchen table next to the couple.
"Come on Emily, let's leave Chloe to tend her man's bruised bones," said Patricia, sniggering at the word ‘bone’ on her way out.
"Sorry, they are a little brash," Chloe apologised.
"They’re just curious, they wanted to see what I was like," said Josh understandingly.
As Chloe gently rubbed cream into his black eye he felt the cool sensation of it taking effect and then a slight warming tingling.
"Is there anywhere else with bruising?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah, just here," Josh said showing his side to her by lifting his T-shirt, exposing his lightly tanned muscular torso and several black ribs. Chloe rubbed the cream in gently. The skin looked very tender and he was wincing slightly with pain. At the same time he was enjoying every second that her soft, tender hands sensually rubbed cream into his wounds. He closed his eyes.
Chloe led Josh into a long garden full of colourful plants, Wisterias and clematis were climbing vigorously up the walls of the house making the brickwork fade into the colourful riot of flowers. At the bottom of the garden was a quaint summerhouse with two sun loungers stacked against its porch. Chloe pulled them out.
"Okay, your turn to cream me," she said, pulling her blouse and pants off to show her skimpy bikini and passing him a bottle of sun tan lotion. It was almost more than Josh could take but he soldiered on in the hope his efforts would lead to something. Josh started to apply the cream gently across her back and down her legs.
"Make sure you get right in the cracks," ordered Chloe, giggling.
Josh tentatively took a gollop of lotion and started to rub down in between her thighs.
"Josh, Josh," Chloe said shaking his shoulder gently. He opened his eyes.
He had drifted off for a moment; the effect of Chloe rubbing the cream into his back had sent him almost to sleep. He woke with a jolt.
"I'm sorry, I must have drifted off. That was so relaxing," said Josh, blushing at the memory of the dream he had just had.
He was spared further embarrassment by the sound of his phone ringing. It was his mother.
"Hi mom," said Josh.
"Hi Josh, are you back from Kate’s yet?"
"Yeah, I just went to Chloe's for a little while afterwards," Josh said, still looking slightly flustered.
"I'm going to be back early and I’ve picked up a takeaway. Do you want to make your way home?" Miriam suggested.
"Okay, I'll be fifteen minutes or so," Josh agreed.
He locked the phone and put it back into his pocket.
"I'm sorry, I've got to go. Mums got takeaway, probably an expensive one or she wouldn't want me home," explained Josh.
"No, it's fine. It was nice to see you again and you got to meet the family so my mum won't badger me so much now," Chloe told him.
Josh was escorted to the door by Chloe where she gave him a small kiss goodbye. Her lips were as soft as anything he had ever felt and were moist, silky smooth and comforting.
As Josh left Chloe’s house and headed back along St Peters Street he was smiling to himself, happily lost in the memory of her kiss.
CCTV
We found Josh; he has turned right into Argyll Close and is now heading towards Blenheim Road. He has turned onto Blenheim road and is heading towards the traffic lights. A second target appears to be the following him. Josh hasn’t spotted this and is crossing at the lights.
Josh came up to the crossing and waited the man to go green before stepping out. As he did so a van speeded up towards the crossing. The noise of the engine increased, the van clearly wasn't going to stop. Josh wasn't sure he could miss getting hurt but attempted to get out of the way quickly as possible. He flung his body towards the pavement desperately. The van missed him but the wing mirror didn't. It caught Josh painfully on side of his arm. He held it gingerly. He didn't think it broken or anything but it hurt like hell. The vans brake could be heard, forcing screeching tyres to a halt. He looked up, expecting someone to come and apologise. A man got out and ran over to Josh. He didn't look sympathetic to Josh's predicament. He looked angry and Josh began to get worried. The man grabbed Josh by his wounded arm and started dragging him towards the van. Josh struggled but he was much bigger and stronger than Josh and Josh's coat was coming over his head. He felt a dull thud and pain in his ribs and side as the man punched him hard, winding him. Josh felt as if the life had been knocked out of him. He felt weakened and was struggling for breath and all strength had seeped away. The side door of the van opened and the man bundled him in, leaping in after him and slamming the door.
"Where is it?" his attacker asked menacingly, picking up a crowbar.
"Where is what?" gasped Josh, still attempting to catch his breath.
"Your father’s la
"I haven't got it," cried Josh.
The man booted and stomped him.
"Where is it?" The man demanded.
"Left it at home," Josh said flinching to see if the man was going to attack.
"Liar," said the man.
The man kicked him and lifted the crowbar high in the air this time. Josh tried to protect his head with his injured arm and then to his amazement the van doors flew open and the man fell to the ground in an instant. It happened so fast Josh didn't see exactly what happened. He clambered out of the van to see Chloe taking the crowbar from the astonished man who was bleeding heavily from his head. A whirl of sirens could be heard all around them and four police cars appeared with lightning speed, much to Josh relief, as he was in no position to help Chloe this time. The police soon had the situation under control and the man safely in custody. An ambulance arrived and paramedics started looking over Josh and Chloe. Typically they were separated again and they couldn't talk to each other. The paramedics said his arm broken and he would have to go to hospital. He wasn't happy, but it hurt terribly and he wanted it fixed. Chloe managed to escape from the police for a moment and came to see Josh.
"You ok? I thought I would return your laptop and the favour," Chloe fluttered her sweet little eyelashes at him.
"Broken arm, bruised ribs. I need some more cream," Josh said, flirting with her.
Josh noticed the paramedics who were smiling at the pair.
"Could I have a minute?" Josh asked indignantly.
"I suppose it could be seen as part of your treatment. Is she a relative?" The paramedics grinned.
"I'm his girlfriend," Chloe said as the paramedics walked off and gave them some space.
Josh could see a large black van pulled up behind the police cars and, from the corner of his eye, saw his father's old work colleague get out and come and talk to a police Sergeant. He showed him ID and was allowed to walk unchallenged through the police cordon. Josh knew something was wrong, but he wasn't sure what. He wanted to find out what his father had been doing. There was clearly something hidden on the laptop that was worth beating hell out of him for. More importantly, what had his dad done for a living?
"Did you bring the laptop?" asked Josh.
"Yeah, you left it on the kitchen table," Chloe replied.
"That's what the man wanted. Can you keep it for me? The police at will only take it and use it as evidence,” Josh asked.
"Yes sure,” Chloe shrugged.
"Thanks. He knew the laptop wasn't at my house, I'll tell the police It was stolen and I that I hadn't told mother," Josh planned.
"Okay, but why lie?" asked Chloe.
"You see that man,” Josh nodded his towards him; “he was my dads work friend. What is a computer programmer doing flashing a badge and walking through a police cordon."
"I see what you mean,” Chloe said thoughtfully.
The paramedics returned before the conversation could progress any further.
"Time to go Josh, say your goodbyes," the paramedics told him.
Chloe gave him a big kiss and told him he was ‘her brave man.’
From the back of the ambulance Josh could see the police talking to his father's friend, and then his father's friend glanced back at Josh. The ambulance door shut and Josh found himself on his way to hospital. It was weird. He had never been in an ambulance before and they had the sirens and everything active.
CCTV
We have picked him up on the A60 heading for the QMC. Tracking and will advise on position.
Acquired target: QMC emergency department reinforcements on route
The ride didn't take long. The medics wheeled him out on the trolley, although he could walk. They said that he needed to be examined and assessed properly by the doctor but that until then he would have to be sick and needy. So he was moved past several other people on trolleys, some with bandages, and into a cubicle where the curtains were pulled around them. Doctors soon came and examined his injuries. They felt his arm which was caused great pain and then sent him for an X-ray. He had never had an x-ray before. As soon as he was taken off the trolley he could feel other injuries down his left side, mainly bruising he hoped. He lifted his shirt to check; massive bruises flowered all over his skin but he didn't think he broken anything else. He left arm was very swollen. He was now allowed to walk around but only when escorted as his injuries did look dreadful and the medical staff were concerned he could be suffering from shock. A nurse led him along a few long corridors towards the x-ray room. A helpful nursing assistant stayed with him and helped him complete paper work in while he waited outside. He looked around; the corridors were depressing and lifeless.
"Josh," the radiographer called.
"Yes," Josh replied, wondering when his mother would arrive. He knew he was older now and his injuries weren’t life-threatening but the police would have informed her and he had no doubt she would be racing here to see him.
The radiographer, wearing a name badge announcing she was called Helen Gray, led a worried looking Josh through. He was comparing his experiences in the private hospital to this busy NHS one and found it very lacking. He felt that people tend to think too much when there is nothing to distract them. In his case he was thinking about his pain. The radiographer looked at him and saw he was worried.
"Have you had an x-ray before?" she asked.
"No, I've had an MRI at Hastings though," Josh replied.
"Oh, this will be nothing, then," Helen assured him cheerfully. She seated him carefully on a cushion before placing the customary lead jacket over his torso.
"What is this for?" asked Josh.
"That's for protection. It’s not good to get too many x-rays," she answered.
Josh looked at the woman who retreated behind some shielding while he got zapped and wondered how safe it really was. After all, it was only 60 years ago that lobotomy was legal and used by some psychiatrists. A little light came on and went off. She came over again repositioned his hand for a second take. She went back behind her screen again and the little red lights flashed on and he heard the unfamiliar sound of x-ray machine working. The machine only lasted second and the light went off but it was kind of scary having to sit still. The fact that she was hiding behind the shield made him feel so much worse. Relief fell over him as Helen came from behind her shield.
"That's it all done," she explained.
Then the red light came on again and the operating noise. The machine had started again. The radiographer looked astonished and rushed to her control panel behind the shield. Josh heard scream from behind the screen and saw smoke coming up from the partition. Instinctively he leapt up and moved away from the x-ray seat. He saw Helen fall to the floor and ran from the room, shouting for help. His mother was there almost immediately and she screamed at the sight of the stricken radiographer before quickly taking him by his good arm and quickly leading him away back to casualty. Several members of staff ran round frantically trying to turn the machine off.
Josh and his mother were placed in a cubicle and a new radiographer came through to look at Josh’s arm. He apologised very sincerely for what had happened before measuring the amount of radiation his arm had received before Josh moved. They appeared to be no radiation burns.
"Well Josh, you are very lucky young man. There’s no lasting damage, but no x-rays on this arm for a few years. We do have an x-rays to show the doctor though," the new radiographer told him.
"Is Helen okay?" asked Josh.
"I don't know, I'm treating you. A doctor will be with you shortly," he sounded gruff and left the cubicle quickly.
&n
"I'm very sorry for the incident in the x-ray department,” the doctor said, “A nurse will escort you to the plaster room and here is a script for some painkillers for your arm."
He was clearly trying to move Josh and his mother on quickly but Josh wanted to ask what he had broken and how long it would take to mend. The doctor replied in monosyllables as the nurse came in to move him to the plaster room.
"You think they’re worried about us suing them?" Josh asked his mum.
"I think they probably are. It may be worth getting your arm checked out again," his mum sounded worried.
Miriam filled his script from the chemist upstairs while Josh was in the plaster room. Apparently he had fractured one bone in his arm and it would take 6 to 8 weeks to repair. He wondered how he was going to do is final exams and what he was going to wear the prom. On the bright side though he thought he looked hard with his nice tough plaster on his arm. They had given it a nice blue finish with this plastic stuff that was really strong. His mum picked him up from the plaster room and drove home. The drive wasn't a long one but Josh found when he pulled out his phone that he couldn't text or phone Chloe as his battery had gone flat.