A Winter's Tale Competition Entry

A Winters Tale
By
Jannet H. Brown

The tone in old guy's voice deepened.
"It only happens when it's a pea souper like tonight; some folk say he
is waiting for something or someone..."
The pause bought a lump to Annie's throat.
"Strange things happen?"
The fire glistened in his cold deep eyes as he bent forward to relight
his pipe, taking in several deep long draws.
"Like what?" Annie sat on the edge of her seat waiting intensely for
him to continue.
"?Who ever sees him, they go mad? MAD, I say, - or something terrible,
happens."
David laughed out loud and stood with his empty glass.
"Come on old timer what's your tipple?"
"Not for me lad, I need to keep me wits about me, tonight of all
nights." His Stare pierced Annie to her chair.
David shrugged and went to the bar leaving Annie to listen to the tale,
his voice now a spooky whisper. Annie shivered as a chill travelled
along her spine and down to the tips of her toes.
"Who is he?"
"Now there is a question - No one really knows."
"I trust you've never seen this mystery man then?" David scoffed,
shaking his head jovially to the barman.
Annie gave David a glare, telling him to stop jeering.
"Aye I've seen him alright." An expression glazed his eyes into a fixed
stare and as the flames flickered across his face, it was evident he
was reliving the moment.
"It was horrible; I can still smell the sickly sweet mead spilt on his
tunic. The Friars used to make that, you know. The hood covering his
face and the lamp, the bundle he was carrying dripping with what I can
only assume was blood, fresh blood."
The story teller's face filled with horror.
"Aye I would say it's the hood covering his face that really gets you,
not being able to see those eyes, beneath. But should you, who'd know
what would happen?"
Sam caught the gaze of Annie as she searched the old timers face for
answers.
"So, if you're not mad - what happened to you that was so bad?" David
said disbelieving.
The old timers face changed, to one of anger, "You may mock lad! But
you won't catch me, out late on my own, on a night like tonight." And
with that he supped his last and bid everyone farewell.

The pub fell strangely quiet and Annie could feel eyes from around the
room staring at them.
Dave shrugged, "What's his problem? Nutty as a fruit cake, I'd
say."
"No lad, he just doesn't talk about it. No one around here does," Said
the barman.
Annie joined Dave at the bar as the landlord pulled another pint.
"Last orders Gentleman, Please." He rang the old bell that hung from a
large wooden pillar, standing proudly at the centre of the room. It had
a faint inscription around its rim? ~'ye old Blue Bell Inn'~
Annie rubbed her fore finger across the raised surface, spelling out
the name of the old public house.

The barman continued, "Since that night he's never been the same." He
said shaking his head.
Annie felt un-easy; she didn't care for all this talk about ghosts. It
was a long walk back to their digs and the weather was really starting
to look grim.
"The only one who really knows what happened that night was his
wife."
"Was?" Annie started to pull on David's sleeve she wanted to go.
"Aye a rumour has it; Sam and his wife were walking across the bridge,
back to the village from this very pub. They saw him, the friar, over
yonder down past the stocks, and close to the waters edge. The next
thing he knew he was coming around in hospital with a nasty bump on his
head."
"His wife?"
"Dead!"
"David can we go now, - please!" Annie thought she was about to
cry.
"She drowned, caught in the current, it pulled her under, you see. The
whole village searched for days before the body was found."
"You find her further down stream, then?"
"No lad, at the foot of the Arch." He gestured over to the window. "On
a clear day you can see the only part of the abbey still standing." And
between the wisps of fog and street lamps, far in the distance a 40ft
Chancel window could be seen, eerily standing proud, amongst the
village houses.
He continued, "The mystery is how a dead woman got there?"
"She was taken there, obviously?"
"Aye?," his eye twitched as he finished the tale, "?we never found any
drag marks. That fields a bog. Only if you know the path well can you
get to the arch with out slipping and to carry a dead woman and leave
no trace of your whereabouts. Funny business that?"
~*~

Annie was relieved to get outside the quaint pub with its oak beams and
horse brasses and although she tried to shake off the ghostly talk it
had un-nerved her. Especially now she'd seen how thick the fog
was.
David stumbled as he missed the bottom step out of the pub, as always
he'd consumed just one to many.
"I know we are tourists. But who are they trying to kid?" He rubbed his
expanded waste line.
"What's he the amateur dramatics group, lead player?"
"I thought he seemed convincing. He was adamant that this Friar only
appears when something bad is about to happen." Annie shivered and
grabbed hold of Dave's arm.
"Nothing in that pub was real, the beams were plastic and those Toby
jugs, I looked on the bottom, one said made in Taiwan."
"The fire was nice though."
"Oh Annie your a romantic, it was one of those real flame gas
fires."
Annie giggled, "Was it? I never noticed."
"I need a slash, I won't be a minute and with that he wobbled back into
the pub."
~*~
It was a terrible night the fog hung in big bands over the river and
she shivered as it wrapped itself around her. She felt a breeze from
behind and the pub sign, 'The Blue Bell', creaked above swinging
backwards and forwards uncaringly as she pulled up her collar to keep
out the midnight air.

Some romantic weekend this had proven to be. Annie had been looking
forward to this for months. They'd been working so hard and hardly
spent anytime together. So, when Dave sprung, "Let's go away for a few
days?" It couldn't have come at a more welcome time.
"Some quality time together," He'd said. She'd even hoped for some sort
of proposal. She thought of the lovely jewellery in one of the local
shops. 'Blue John' they called it. Perfect, for an engagement
ring.

She heard a shuffle from behind.
"About time too, do you think there's a chippie or curry house in this
village? I'm Starving." She saw a shadow walking away from her. "Dave
I'm here!"
No answer, this annoyed her, he often turned a deaf ear. She quickened
her step to try and catch up with him. The figure also quickened its
step, disappearing into the haze of the fog.
"David, this just isn't funny." Her breath like a steam engine,
churning chunks of hot air out and the dampness of the mist in her
hair; she trotted, huddling her self into the collar of her coat.
"David, - please wait!"
Out of breath she lent on the side of the bridge, pausing, her chest
grasping for warmer air. Suddenly, the figure stopped and turned. She
didn't recognise the shape, it seemed menacing. Annie strained her eyes
to see through the mist. Who had she been following?
"David! Is that you?" The figure came towards her; she was struck with
isolation and fear.
"Who's there?"
He came closer, holding a lamp, and raising it upwards towards his
hooded face.
She started to back away; she almost unbalanced her self and fumbled
around the stocks.
He held out his hand?
"No, - no," she screamed?
~*~

"Annie! For god sake woman where are you?"
David scratched his head. She was here, or so he thought. He stood for
a moment wondering which way she'd gone. He could see how the fog was
shifting and hanging just above the water as if dangling on
strings.

Maybe she's gone on with out me, he thought, even though he knew it
wasn't like her and he decided to go back into the pub and see if she
was waiting in the bar.

"Sorry son were closed." The towels were already draped over the pumps
and dirty glasses collected on the bar.
"Erm, excuse me, have you seen Annie?"
"Annie?" The barman looked across to the barmaid, whilst emptying the
last ashtray into a bin liner, "Who is Annie?"
"The girl I came in with?"
"I thought you were alone."
"No you're mistaken; I came in with my Girlfriend, Annie. We sat just
ten minutes ago with you at the bar."
"Yes Sir you did. But, you were alone."
"No, we sat with the old geezer, whose wife died."
"Old Sam? - I haven't seen him in tonight. Have you Jane?" He looked at
his wife.
She shook her head. "No love, I don't think I have," she continued
dunking the glasses.
David insisted, "You told us of the monastery. The Friar that lived in
the cave, the hermit and how you believe he still haunts the area. He
comes back when something bad happens. You said that."
"I think you've had one too many, son!"
"You want me to ring for a taxi for you, ducky?" The barmaid asked
smiling.
"No" I want my girlfriend. What have you done with her?"
"We haven't done anything with - who did you say, Angela? I think you'd
better leave before I ring for the coppers, mate."
"Yes, ring the police, ring them - you're the ones that have something
to hide, not me - ring them."
The publicans looked at each other with astonishment, before reaching
for the phone.
"Hello, police... please?"
David ran back to the door way and shouted, distraught.
"Annieeeeeee?"
"Come on mate, the missus is making coffee; it might help to clear your
head."

~*~

"Right so let's go through this, one more time," The police sergeant
said.
"I've told you."
"You're Mr??"
"Henry, David Henry. We came for the weekend.
"Who is, - We?"
"Annie Baker, my girl friend and me."
"Ok, I'm with you so far!"
"We were doing a bit of site seeing in Matlock, the illuminations, the
fire works; it was the last display for this year and then booked to
stay at the bed and breakfast across from the river here in Abbey Dale.
We were going to explore the remains of the monastery in the morning,
and make our way home after a pub lunch tomorrow, but these guys have
kidnapped my girlfriend."
"Kidnap is a very serious accusation, Sir."
"So where is she then?"
A police officer came in and wanting to speak urgently with the
sergeant asking questions, coughed politely.
The two officers left David supping his now cold coffee and were
whispering for several minutes before he returned.
"Where did you say you were staying?"
"How many more times, the B&;B across the road," He was frustrated
with this form of questioning.
"The Address?"
"I don't know! Abbey Road, I think! Here's the booking confirmation."
David pulled out a piece of paper from his wallet and handed it to the
officer, who read and examined it thoroughly.
The sergeant passed the receipt to the officer, who then raised his eye
brows giving a vacant knowing smile, as he acknowledged in disbelief.
What it read.
The sergeant rubbed his chin and cheeks roughly, with his thumb and
forefingers, feeling his stubble beneath.
"Right - Mr Henry, will you come with me?" And with that they all went
out side.

The fog had disappeared and it was a clear winters evening, crisp, with
a hint of frost.
"Are we going to look for Annie?"
"Shortly Sir," he was still rubbing his chin and placed one elbow on
top of the other arm that was folded across his chest to keep warm,
"but first tell me, what do you see?"
Frustrated, David looked across the road. "A bridge going over a river,
a farmhouse, with a few out buildings, fields and a church at the
bottom of a hill with a grave yard."
"Anything else?"
David strained his eyes, "The Arch, the remains," he added, his breath,
a cloud.
"?and the place you're staying, the bed and breakfast? Do you see
that?"
David swung round, and then spun for a second look. He jogged across
the lane and up to the bridge, looking back at the pub. Checking to the
left and then the right, he rubbed his hands through his hair, rubbing
at his scalp.
"It was here." He pointed to the other side of the bridge, "I'm telling
you it was here."
The officer didn't comment.
"What car do you drive, Mr Henry?"
"A 'K' reg Nissan, it's done about 6,000 miles on the clock."
"Where did you park your car before you went into the pub for a
drink?"
"Around the back, why are you asking these stupid questions? Shouldn't
we be looking for Annie?"
"All in good time Sir, I need to have all the information I can, first.
You do understand that - don't you?"
"Yes of course, I'm just worried, that's all; it's been ages since I
saw her. She could be dead, you know!"
"Indeed! Now - where exactly did you park your car?"
He half ran and half walked around to the side of the public house. "Oh
my god!" He fell to his knees in a heap. "Where's the bloody car?" He
was distraught, "Oh, Annie where are you?"
The officers helped David back to his feet and escorted him back
inside.

~*~

It was several hours later, with the first signs of sunrise creaking
across the horizon of the public house roof, before the ambulance doors
were finally closed. The pub sign hung knowingly in the cold morning
air. A mild frost had taken form over the ground and a still mist held
the ancient spot, like a scene from a Christmas card.
"Is that it then?" The Sergeant asked.
"Yes sir the case on Henry and Baker finally closed."
"How is he?"
"It was a difficult arrest and we had to sedate him in the end."
"Has he any recollection at all."
"I don't think he has! When I told him we found his girlfriends body
some ten years earlier, he went crazy.
"Hmm, I can imagine!"
"We managed to get him into the straight jacket and when I read him his
rights, he was shouting and screaming something to do with a Friar and
sweet mead, but I don't think we will ever find out what really went
through his mind on that night. It seems all the DNA samples
match."
The Sergeant acknowledged with a nod. " What do you think
happened?"
"It's difficult to say Sarg, possibly an argument. When Annie's mother
reported her missing and an investigation was made we were several
months trying to find her. Finally, she was found at the foot of the
ruins." He gestured with his head, his hands deep in his pockets,
trying to gain a little warmth. "We had to identify her by the clothes,
she was wearing. Her lungs full of water, so maybe he'd drowned her
then full of remorse, preyed for forgiveness and took her to the only
holy place he knew, who knows!"
"?and the car?"
"After we had taken it to pieces to find Annie's killer, it was
returned to the company more than nine years ago. It was David's
company car and he was the soul registered user. It'll all be in the
report, Sarg."
"Good work."
"Any idea's on where you think he's been hiding for the past ten
years?"
"Hmmm, that's a hard one. The B&;B was knocked down and the
re-development started, shortly after the girl went missing. So he
certainly didn't hide in any derelict buildings. To be honest, that's
the only part of his story that doesn't add up and to be truthful I
have no idea!"
"We can't afford any loose ends here. The papers will cripple us on
this one."
"No, Sarg." The officer continued. "Prior to the redevelopment, the
cottage 3 Abbey Road had been empty since old Sam's wife died. You
remember that one?"
The sergeant shook his head. "No sorry."
"Well, old Sam couldn't bear to live there alone and moved in with his
sister up in the village next to the church, at the foot of hermit's
hill."
"How long ago is that?"
"According to the locals, it's around twenty years, Sam's well into his
70's now. Mad as a hatter - so they say."
"Shame."
"Yes all the ends have been tied, except." The officer paused trying to
find the right words, "I can't explain how he managed to remain in
exactly the same clothes that he was reported to be wearing over a
decade ago?" He looked baffled, "The jacket, jeans and shirt, I mean
they don't look shabby, dirty or even worn, - and he had an old ?20
note, in his wallet, which went out of tender about 6 years ago. Not to
mention the dated receipt, like new." The officer pulled the invoice
out from his note pad. "This evidence looks like it was written only
yesterday."
"What's that on the back?" He unfolded the document, stained with red
liquid to reveal what was written.
"It looks like a wine recipe sir!"
"How very odd!"
"Yes indeed, Sir!"
And again as the old sign silently watched the police vehicle pulling
away, no more was said.
The case was definitely closed?
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