“But that’s what I meant, young girl… I don’t have a landline. Or one of those horrible mobile contraptions.” Replied Stan. Shark rolled her eyes.
“You’re kidding me? You’ve got no telephone?” She wanted to know. The elderly man shrugged his shoulders.
“There’s no need for one. I lead a very simple life here… quiet, remote, solitary. Which is how I like it. I try to keep any contact with the outside world down to an absolute minimum.” Stan informed Shark. “Sit down, sit down,” he gestured towards a comfortable-looking sofa, “you both look frozen. I’ll go and make you a nice cup of tea.”
“Don’t suppose you’ve got anything stronger?” Asked Shark, cheekily. Stan gave her a look that made the young woman feel slightly uneasy.
“You won’t find alcohol in this home.” He said. “Do you take sugar in your tea?”
***
Mary and Shark sat in Stan’s lounge, as he busied himself in the kitchen, making them all a drink.
“I don’t like this guy.” Whispered Shark. “He’s creepy.”
“Aw, he’s just a harmless old man.” Replied Mary.
“Hmm, I suppose you’re right. I’m just fucking paranoid about everything at the moment… hey, I didn’t ask him if he’d got a car… he must have a car, right? He could drive us into Knighton?” Wondered Shark.
“We’ll ask him when he comes back into the room. Shark, just calm down. We’re safe now. Everything’s going to be alright.” Mary reassured her friend.
“I won’t really feel safe until I know that that little fucker Howard’s been caught, and banged up.” Said Shark, both legs jigging up and down with anxiety and impatience. “He must have a car?” She asked again.
“Yes, he’s bound to have one.” Replied Mary. “You couldn’t live out here without a…”
“Without a car?” Said Stan, suddenly appearing in the doorway, carrying a tray with mugs of tea on it. “I think you’ll find that one can manage perfectly well without a vehicle… and no, I don’t have a car. It’s like I told you before. I have minimal contact with other people. I’ve no need for a car. If I need to visit the village…”
“Village? What village? I don’t even know where we are.” Interrupted Shark.
“Apologies. This farmhouse is one mile from the village of Oakden, and three miles from the town of Knighton. Not that I ever go to Knighton. I purchase all my provisions from the village, once a week, usually on a Friday. I’m a man that needs very little.” Stan advised the two women, and he placed the tray down on a small wooden table in the centre of the lounge. “Now, drink your tea, and we’ll sort out the sleeping arrangements for the night.” He smiled.
For a second or two, Stan’s suggestion didn’t quite register with either Shark or Mary. When it did, Shark was the first to react.
“What are you talking about? ‘Sleeping arrangements’? We’re not staying here.” She said. Stan sat down in an armchair, and sipped at his mug of tea.
“Well, I don’t think that you’ve got much choice.” He responded.
“Look, mister… you don’t understand. There’s a fucking psychopath on the loose somewhere out there… me, my friend here… yourself… we’re all in danger, real fucking danger…”
“Do you mind not using that sort of language in my home, please?” Cut-in Stan, harshly.
“Did you not listen to anything that we told you about what happened to us earlier? Howard Trenton has already killed two of our friends today, and he’s been after us all night. If he somehow finds that we’re here, he WILL find a way in, and he’ll murder all of us… he’s not the sort of person that would have any hesitation in killing an old man, either, and you can trust me on that one…” half-shouted Shark.
“Oh, I’ve heard all about Howard Trenton on the radio today. I know that he’s wanted for the murder of an elderly gentleman in Coldsleet… look, I agree with you. He sounds like a very dangerous individual. However, that doesn’t change the fact that there’s nothing we can do about it tonight. As I said before, we’ll sort out the sleeping arrangements…”
“I’m not stopping here!” Exploded Shark. “Not with that freaky nut-job out there!” She stood up, from off the sofa, shaking. Mary reached out to Shark’s hand, and took it in hers, stroking it gently.
“Calm down, Shark, just take it easy. We’re okay now.” Mary said.
“How can I take it easy? We’re out in the middle of nowhere…”
“We’re not in the middle of nowhere.” Stan tried to correct her.
“We’re out in the middle of nowhere, with a murdering, psychotic, fake yellow-eyed shit-bag hunting us down.” Raged Shark. “It’s hardly conducive to a fucking relaxed atmosphere, is it?”
Chapter Twenty Six
Shark Mako headed out of Stan’s lounge, and down the hallway, towards the front door, followed by Mary.
“What are you doing, Shark?” Asked Mary.
“I’m getting out of here, that’s what I’m doing. If we stay here, then we’re sitting ducks for Howard Trenton.” Shark replied.
“But he doesn’t know where we are.” Pointed out Mary.
“We don’t know that. We need to keep on the move. It’s not safe here.” Said Shark. Stan appeared in the hallway.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He wanted to know.
“How do I get to Oakden from here?” Shark asked Stan.
“You won’t be safe out there. You need to calm down. Even if this Trenton boy somehow shows up here, then I can protect you.” Stan replied. He opened up a door that was built in to the bottom of the staircase, and reached inside. Stan pulled out a large, single-barrelled shotgun, to demonstrate his point about being able to protect the two young women. Both Shark and Mary stared at the weapon for a moment.
“Nice gun. But I don’t need your protection.” Said Shark. “Now, how do I get to Oakden?” She repeated her question.
“You don’t need to go to Oakden. Not now. What you pair need is a good nights sleep. I’ll walk us all down to the village in the morning.” Was Stan’s answer.
“Fine. Don’t tell me then.” Shark looked at Mary. “Are you coming, or what?”
“Maybe Stan’s right… we can get some sleep, then go down to the village in the morning, when it’s light… when it’s safe.” Answered Mary. Shark took a deep breath, trying to contain her temper.
“I’m not staying here, and that’s that. Now are you coming with me, Mary, or are you gonna stay here?” She asked again.
Stan tried to reason with Shark.
“I think that your friend here realises that it’s a lot safer in this farmhouse, than what it would be if you went back outside.” He said.
“Is that what you think, Mary?” Asked Shark.
“I don’t want to go back out there, Shark. Not with Howard somewhere around.” Admitted Mary.
“Are you sure?” Shark wanted to know.
“Yes. I’m sure.” Confirmed Mary. Shark turned back to face Stan.
“Right. I’m going to take my chances, try and reach Oakden. You heard what Mary said. She wants to stay with you, and that’s her decision. So just make sure that you stay true to your word, and protect her, if needs be.” Said Shark. Stan nodded.
“Of course I will. It’s a given.” He assured Shark.
“Now, will you please tell me how to get to the village?” Shark repeated her request. Stan straightened himself up.
“Yes, I’ll tell you.” He replied. “You need to head left, back onto the gravel path. Once you’re on it, carry on down the hill. You’ll come to a T-junction with another gravel track. Turn right. It’ll lead you straight into the village. It should take you about fifteen, twenty minutes maximum” Advised Stan.
“Okay… got it.” Said Shark. “As soon as I reach the village, I’ll arrange for you to be picked up, Mary, so don’t get too comfortable here.” She added. Shark moved over to her friend and gave her a hug. “You’d better look after her.” Shark warned Stan, before opening up the front door and beginning her trek down to Oakden.
After Shark had left, Stan guided Mary back into the lounge. The elderly man carried the shotgun at his side. Mary sat on the sofa, whilst Stan walked over to the window, peeking out of the curtains.