Lesley's Second Story

Chapter 1

Tonight didn’t turn out to be the disaster I was expecting. There are no stains of spilt wine on my dress. My stiletto heels haven’t broken in two and I don’t have the traces of my dinner around my mouth or on my nose. In fact, it’s been a good night. I got back home in one piece with no stomach wrenching, embarrassing moments to remember. What I do remember is that I really enjoy an intimate dinner. My date, Guy, sure knows how to treat a girl and he's a real charmer. The internet dating thing wasn’t what I wanted to do; I thought I would end up with a crazy eyed axe killer, but now that I’ve met Guy I’m not so worried. In fact I’m glad that my friend Charley talked me into it. Maybe I'll see Guy again … maybe. The only thing that seemed a bit funny is that he’s so secretive, I found out very little about him, other than, he's a keen sportsman. He looks fit and has a great body, I could feel that when he held me. It was strange going out on a date again after all these years. I suppose I’m not used to it. But I’m getting back into being single again and learning about internet dating is just a part of it.

When I was married to Sean, I went out with other men meals, but it was on business or just as friends. There was never any romance, I didn’t think of getting involved with another man… I had Sean and he was enough. I suppose he was so familiar that our romantic, candle lit suppers, became a bit run of the mill. Tonight was different, I felt like a teenager, all tongue tied and anxious. It took me ages to get ready, lucky I had Charley to back me up or I would never have gone. That reminds me; I said I would call her. I’m knackered so, Just a quick call then I’m off to bed.

"Hello, Charlotte Jacques here."
"Hi C, it's me reporting in on the evenings events."
"Hey, how did it go, you lucky girl? Did you knock him off his feet? Was he dead sexy and all over you? I want all the details and no missed out bits."
"Let's just say that I would like to see him again. He’s good company and treats a girl well. Would you like to meet him? We can make up a foursome."
"Sounds good to me, I’ll see if Brian is free. What about next Friday night?"
"Perfect, listen, I'm going off to bed, I'm pooped. See you tomorrow."
"Bye Lesley and sweet dreams."

My bed is warm and comfortable. It doesn’t take long to start thinking about Guy. He might be the one to help me move on, but then I think of Sean and there’s an ache just below my heart. I’m still not over him, dam it. A light pops on in my head and I remember that the way to deal with this is to turn my thoughts away from him. I don’t want to go down that angry road again… not tonight.
I get more comfortable and start thinking about the meeting at nine tomorrow with the CID boys. Another unusual murder, the third woman killed this month. There's something about the murders that makes me itch. I can almost grasp an important clue, but it's just out of reach. I let it ride and I'm sliding into sleep. The sound of breaking glass late at night isn’t pleasant. I think it must be a drunk outside using a bottle for target practice, but my heart is beating fast and feels fluttery. I tell myself not to be silly, and suddenly I'm jumping out bed. There’s an explosion in my room, I turn the light on and I see glass from my window all over my bed and on the floor. A house brick is lying on its side, in front of my china dog. I dash to the window and see someone in a dark coat and beanie running away. The house opposite has had the same treatment.

"What sort of idiot did this?" I ask the empty room, and then I notice the brick has a note stuck to it.
'Stay away, darling.' it says.
I ring Charley and I'm blurting it out.
"Hey, Lesley, calm down, tell me what happened."
I tell her about the brick… the note.
"Have you called the Police?"
"No, not yet."
"Well, do it right now and I'll be straight around. What sort of shite, would do a thing like that?"

What sort indeed? This is a shock and it’s something worse than that, it’s an invasion of my home. I look out of the broken window and the road is empty. I don’t need this; it took me a long time to get used to living here. Moving out of my family house into a bachelor girl flat took a lot of adjustment. Now the place is just as I want it. Not the classic style we had in Larne but something that shows my personality. My newfound freedom and optimism shine out here. This flat is giving me a chance to express my creativity and I love it… I don’t want it ruined.

I put on some clothes and go over to Mary, my neighbour. She has a brick present as well but with no little message on hers. I'm wondering why I got a one and not her. It's very odd, but my nerves are settling down.

The next job is the police. They ask for a description and say they’ll send a car around the area to look for suspicious characters and I think 'oh yeh and pigs will fly.’

“Come into police headquarters, tomorrow and make a statement,” they say.
“I’m coming in for a meeting about the Blackgate murders,” I reply and a kind of dread comes over me. That place has some bad memories for me.

The dread stays with me and I start to think of my home in Larne… this sort of thing never happened there. Maybe I shouldn’t have moved to Belfast. Even though this is an attractive area and is only five minutes from Queens, getting a brick through your window isn't worth it. Then I remember, the thing making me itch. Each one of the three murdered women had a brick thrown through their windows. My itch turns to a shudder and I feel a cold breeze blow across my neck.