The Promise ( Part 3 )

Paul didn’t have to wait for the knock on the door; he was already waiting with the door open when Paul arrived.

Paul walked straight passed him and went into Tom’s kitchen, Tom went running after him.

“Well?”

Paul ignored him and got out two whiskey tumblers from the cupboard. He then passed Tom again and went into the living room where he filled the glasses each with a large measure of the amber liquid.

“Well, what’s going on?”

Paul walked over to Tom and handed him a glass.

“Take this and sit down, we need to talk”

Tom did as he was told and sat down.

“Ok, I’m sitting down, what’s the story, have you found her?”

“Take a drink Tom and then I’ll start”

Once again Tom did as he was told.

“I’ve got a mate that works in the NCIS, I asked him to run Stella’s National Insurance number and date of birth; he rang me with some details about half an hour ago. I then came straight over here”

“Come on mate, out with it, why all the dramatics?”

“It’s bad news Tom, Stella died five days ago”

Tom sat back in his chair and emptied the contents of his glass; although the whiskey hit his throat hard he made no reaction. He sat there for a while looking at the ceiling.

“I’m sorry mate, didn’t really know how to tell you, so just came out with it, thought you should know straightaway, you ok?”

Paul stood up and took Toms glass, he poured another large scotch and gave Tom back his glass.

“I know it’s a shock mate, drink this, but a bit slower this time!”

Tom still said nothing, just took the glass and had a sip.

“I’m staying here tonight mate, if that’s ok, thought you could do with the company”

Tom sat up and wiped his eyes, his voice was trembling.

“Are you absolutely sure mate, there’s no doubt that it’s my Stella?”

“Positive, Stella Ramsey, same N.I. number, same date of birth, it’s her mate”

“Can you give me the details, you know, how it happened, where?”

“According to the records, she was living in a place called Little Common, near Bexhill in Sussex. Working for a Letting Agency. The death certificate shows cause of death as Road Traffic Accident, the date of death was 26th February, five days ago”

“Bloody hell, that’s only about an hour or so drive away, all these years without her and she was so close all the time”

“I know mate, but she always knew where you were, if she wanted you she would have got in touch, so don’t you go feeling that you could have changed things because you couldn’t have. Stella moved on, she made it clear, she wanted to go and she did, now you’ve got to do the same, put all this behind you and get on with your life, it’s just a chapter that’s now closed mate”

“You do know what this means though don’t you?”

“Yeh, it means that you’ve got to get over this and move on, that’s what it means!”

“No you tosser, Stella died five days ago right? Well that’s exactly when the dreams started, in the dreams she’s trying to tell me something, I still need to find out what that is”

Paul looked up in despair.

“Tom, let it go, she’s gone, there is no way you’re ever going to find out now, is there?”

“I can’t let it go, every time I close my eyes she’s there, I made her a promise, I intend to keep it”

“How you gonna do that”

“Well if Stella died five days ago then it’s likely that the funeral hasn’t taken place yet, I’ll find out when and where it is and I’m going!”

Paul sat back in his chair and finished his whiskey.

“OK, if it will give you some closure on this thing, then I’ll find out the details, but I’m coming with you!”