The Intruders

Windchase Hall near the ancient town of Winchester in Southern England is by no means my favourite place to stay the weekend, but when one is a security guard, and needs an income, I go where the Company directs me. I’d been there twice before on ‘days’ and found the mansion to be depressing and a just little uncomfortable, without I might add any good reason other than that feeling one gets about certain places.

A wealthy businessman built the main house in the early Victorian era. The project had started out in grand style with a dressed stone front elevation and marble entrance, but when money was in short supply much of the building was eventually completed in local red brickwork. High narrow windows and a series of strangely angled pitched roofs gave the whole façade an ominous look even in bright sunlight, and was probably the reason why it had remained deserted for many years prior to the latest incumbent.

The current resident was Gerry Rock N Roller – with a pretentious surname like that he could only have had one occupation. I’d never met him in person, as the only times I’d been called upon to patrol the place he’d been on tour or abroad, and this third visit was to be no exception. My supervisor did inform me that I’d be required to spend the whole weekend there, due to the fact that the only other inhabitant would be Linzie de Love – where do they find these names? She was Gerry’s P.A. and live-in lover. The tabloid press had made much of their supposed torrid relationship, due to Jerry still being married to Gina Gala – The Italian Fireball. Linzie invariably denied everything saying it was purely business, and as she never accompanied Gerry on his tours this seemed to give a ring of truth about it. During the day she spent most of the time on the phone or working away at the computer, and at other times she kept to her rooms at the front of the house. I’d chatted to her occasionally, but being only one of the hired help I spent my time patrolling the dozen or so acres of woodland – if the weather was fine – or around the house if it rained.

I arrived at about six on the Friday evening just as the weekday staff members were going off for a hard-earned rest. I’d borrowed the dog-handlers van, and so parked it out front in the hope it would deter any autograph hunters from climbing the high barbed wire fences that surrounded most of the property. Linzie met me in the front hall and after bolting the door showed me to a small servant’s room at the rear where I could spend the next three nights.

Linzie was an extremely pretty brunette in her late twenties; no doubt obligatory for a pop star’s girl, very short; barely five foot in height, slim and always looked a million Dollars – or should that be Euros – even up close. She was the sort of girl a poorly paid security guard could easily have fantasies about.

Linzie then made a hasty departure to her own quarters, and from then on I expected to have a quiet and somewhat lonely weekend patrolling and watching for intruders.

Eight o’clock saw me checking the front gate and leaving a ‘guard dog’ sign in a prominent position to deter unwanted visitors. With the mid-April light failing fast I sauntered along the winding drive back to the Hall, although to tell the truth I’d rather have been sleeping in the tiny gatehouse than that glowering edifice.

The dark finger-like shadows that were cast from a stand of pine trees had almost reached the Hall doorway when I became aware of someone running across the grass - it was Linzie. She almost stumbled into me, and then catching her breath blurted out. ‘Thank goodness I’ve found you. There’s something in the house.’

‘Right!’ I replied with no great enthusiasm. ‘What part of the house?’
‘The gallery staircase overlooking the entrance,’ she said, gasping for breath.
‘Man or woman?’
‘No idea, man I suppose.’
‘Okay, let’s go.’
‘I don’t think I can enter the place at the moment,’ she said as she jogged alongside. ‘It really scared me. For a second or two I thought it was just a shadow until it moved. I was going to phone the police, but there’s something wrong with the outside line, and to cap it all my mobile’s got a flat battery.’

Stopping at the van I grabbed a torch and a truncheon, and wished I’d had a guard dog with me after all. I didn’t want to admit I’d left my personal mobile on the bedside table at home, but at least the van had a radio so we were not entirely cut-off. ‘You wait here,’ I said, as we reached the steps.
‘On second thoughts, I’ll keep with you. I’m glad you’re around, Gerry would have run a mile by now.’
‘I’m sure he would have stayed to protect you.’
‘No he wouldn’t. Contrary to the media’s reports he is only my boss, and there is really no love lost between us. In fact if I weren’t so damn efficient he would have replaced me by now. You know,’ she said, taking a deep breath, ‘I’m certain he was the one who started all these rumours in the first place. He’s very vain you know, and a real Prima Donna.’
‘I guess you don’t like him then?’
‘He pays well.’

Linzie had left the front doors open and crossing the threshold I switched on the central stairway chandelier. The light chased the shadows away, so I climbed to the top of stairs and moved slowly around the circular gallery.
‘All clear up here,’ I yelled. ‘I’ll check all of the upstairs rooms first.’
Linzie followed a short distance behind as I entered each room, checked it out and then locked the door with the master key. Eleven rooms were clear and just the ground floor with its reception rooms, kitchen, dinning hall, and music studio was left. I felt pretty confident thinking that after all Linzie may have mistaken. Tall ceilings and alcoves often cause strange shadow effects in my experience.
‘That’s the last one,’ I said, ‘and all doors and windows are bolted so I guess whoever it was has gone.’
‘You’re just being kind,’ said Linzie, ‘I’m sure you don’t believe I saw anyone.’
‘I’ve no reason to doubt you,’ I replied, trying to sound sympathetic.
‘I expect you think I’m a drugged up misfit like my lord and master.’
‘Of course not Linzie.’
‘Linda, my name’s Linda Smith, Linzie de Love was Gerry’s suggestion. I thought it was a good idea at the time, but it’s starting to pall a bit. Do you fancy a coffee?’
‘Now that does sound like a good idea.’
‘I’ll have a shower, and then get the percolator going. There’s an old-fashioned buzzer system installed in the servant’s quarters - I’ll give three presses when coffee’s ready.’
‘Thanks Linda, I’ll wait for your call.’

It would appear things between us were mellowing, and to spend an hour or two in her company was more than I’d expected. It was only when I reached ‘my room’ I realised that it was the one place I’d omitted to check out. The door was open and for the life of me I couldn’t remember whether I’d left it that way. The hallway light didn’t penetrate very far into the room and so only the bed was illuminated. The far wall was in darkness and as I stepped forward a shadow moved. I switched on the torch, but no doubt due to its recent heavy usage it failed. I threw the useless object onto the bed and holding the truncheon in what I considered to be a threatening manner yelled. ‘Don’t move! There are three security guards on the premises!’
‘Not true,’ whispered a woman’s voice, a voice that sounded both husky and foreign. ‘There’s just you and that silly girl.’
Her exact wording was considerably colourful, and rather defamatory in nature, but I attempted to ignore that. The illumination in the hallway blinked out, and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness noticed that the moonlight filtered through a large rectangular roof light bringing the room into sharp contrast. The cloaked woman moved to the edge of the bed and threw back the hood. I’d seen the face quite a lot in recent weeks.
‘Gina Gala?’ I said.
‘I’m glad you recognise me, it saves me explaining my presence.’
‘You speak very good English.’
‘I try!’ Gina said, attempting a smile. ‘In normal circumstances I think I could like you, but time is short so you must deliver my message to that undersized, undernourished …’
There continued a tirade of words that I considered to be at odds with such an attractive woman, although I had to admit that the pale moonlight did not enhance her features.
‘Why don’t you speak to her directly,’ I said, ‘she’s not far away, and I think she’s already seen you earlier this evening.’
‘I can’t reach her so you’ll have to do.’
‘Your message?’ I said, noticing how the moonlight now gave her face an almost skeletal look.
‘Tell her to keep away from Gerry. He’s mine, he always has been and always will be.’
‘There’s nothing between them,’ I said, hoping I was right. ‘She doesn’t even like him. It’s all media hype.’
‘I don’t believe you, but I hope you’re telling the truth.’
‘It’s true - you see,’ I said hesitating, ‘the reason I know is that Linzie and I are lovers, and have been for months. She just works for him, the rest is pure publicity.’
‘I see,’ said Gina, her voice losing its authority. ‘Then I apologise to you and her.’ She increased in volume until her voice boomed and echoed around the room. ‘I have done her an injustice. Gerry was always a boaster. I must go to him, wherever he is. I’ll bother you no more.’

The hallway light flickered and came on. The servant’s buzzer reverberated along the corridor, and I turned around almost expecting to see Linda in the doorway. The hallway was empty and the buzzer sounded for a second time. I stepped back into the bedroom and was shocked to realise not only how small the place was, but that Gina had vanished, and a single narrow window opposite the end of the bed stood open. The buzzer sounded for a third time.

Linda was leaning against the doorframe of her room, dressed in what was either a white under-slip or a rather short party dress, either way there was very little of it.
‘Are you okay?’ she said. ‘You look like you could use something stronger than coffee. I thought you couldn’t have heard the news yet, but obviously you have.’
‘News?’ I murmured, being far too pre-occupied with my last encounter to pay her the attention that Linda required.
‘About poor old Gerry. I expect the reporters will be around here at daybreak so I guess we best make the most of tonight.’
‘I met our intruder,’ I said, still not taking in Linda’s remarks.
‘Hell - did he put up a fight?’
‘She!’ I let that sink in. ‘It was a woman.’
‘Not one of those damn groupies? We’ve had no end of trouble with them. Oh well, I guess she’ll be the last intruder tonight.’
‘You said, news,’ I mumbled, my brain slowly getting back into gear.
‘Terrible tragedy, if I’d have really liked him I’d be devastated, as it is I guess I’m out of a job.’
‘What happened?’ I said, beginning to realise just how physically attractive Linda was.

‘Gerry flew to Italy to try and be reconciled with Gina.’
‘And she wasn’t at home,’ I said butting in.
‘Ah, but she was, a place in the north not far from the Dolomites. The report said they were on a twisty mountain road, and the Ferrari just smashed through the barrier and dropped hundreds of feet. Poor Gerry he always hated heights, he must have been terrified in those last seconds.’
‘Dead?’
‘What else? You don’t get up and walk away from a thing like that do you? Now let’s have a shot of whisky, coffee seems a bit tame, and anyway I need you tonight.’

Linda’s three-roomed apartment seemed very grand compared to my tiny room, and I took the opportunity to have a good look around. I’d just finished my second whisky when it hit me.
‘Gina!’ I blurted out, ‘but she’s…’
‘She was driving,’ said Linda, lying back onto the bed. ‘I expect they were having one hell of an argument and missed the curve. Probably about yours truly, which is a shame, as he’d never even slept with me. And while I’m on the subject neither will you if you mooch around like that. So get that badly creased uniform off and make love to me before I fall asleep. Tomorrow is going to be one hell of a day, and I’m beginning to feel like I’m the intruder here.’

The couple of passionate hours I spent in her company proved that she had never been short of admirers, and I eventually staggered back to my room feeling shattered, and deeply in love. I spent the rest of the night trying to visualise life with Linda, but need not have bothered. Linda was right - the following day was hell. Two days later the hall was closed up, and I was transferred to another site. Linda flew to Los Angeles, something about film rights, and six months later she married a producer or director – I never did bother to find out who it was.

That just about brings me up to date. Before writing this I’d never told anyone about that night, partly because of Linda, and partly because of Gina.

I don’t really know what I saw in my room that night, and everything no longer seems as clear-cut as it was. Yet some evenings when I’m patrolling around a wealthy clients’ country estate I look up at the stars and wonder if Gina ever found Gerry again, or like an intruder she still searches the rooms of Windchase Hall.