Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
(All characters are fictitious. No resemblance to anyone alive or dead is intended).
Rubies are Red. Part 28.
Jenny.
It was fully dark as the wheels of my VW Beetle crunched over the short gravel drive that led to the front of Paul's grandfather's house. I glanced at my wristwatch under the courtesy light as I opened the door of the car.
It was five forty-five.
I had agreed to meet Ron at six. I could put the kettle on and have a cup of tea. Not that I really wanted one. My stomach had been tied up in knots all day. Worry about Paul, then my exam the following day and then having to end an affair on top of it.
There had been no word about him. The British Consol had left the capitol and was in a neighbouring country as were most diplomats.
There had been reports of a United States Naval Task Force off the coast. But they didn't seem to be doing anything.
I closed the car door, locked it and hurried up to the front door. It was starting to spit with rain. I took the keys from my coat pocket and opened the door to let myself in. It was cold and dark inside.
I stood still for a moment almost expecting Paul's old dog Millie to come bounding up to greet me. That would never happen again.
I turned on the lights, used the control panel to turn off the alarms, hung up my coat and walked down the short corridor beside the staircase to the kitchen. I opened the door and turned on the lights. It looked very empty.
Probably it would be no use making tea anyway. There wasn't likely to be any milk fit for use in the fridge.
I shivered. It was cold in the house. There was no point in lighting a fire in the front room. I wasn't intending being there long enough for it to take effect. I could switch the central heating on. If only for half an hour. It would take the chill off the air.
I went back into the corridor and stood in front of the large panel in front beside the kitchen door. Alarm controls on the top. Heating below that. I could never get the hang of how this thing worked. It could be set to come on three times a day if you knew how to do it. Start dials, stop dials. I turned one until I heard the water pump in the airing cupboard at the top of the stairs spring into life. The boiler for the central heating was in the cellar. I did know that.
I placed my hands on the radiator in the hallway. It vibrated slightly but didn't feel any warmer. I adjusted its setting to maximum. I could feel something.
There were footsteps outside. I could see the shape of a tall man through the frosted glass panel in the front door. Ron. There was a knock.
I opened the door and we stood for a second looking at each other.
Now was the time to tell him. Before he gets inside.
"Hello Ron." I said.
The phone rang.
I remained where I was, blocking his path.
"Aren't you going to answer it?" He asked. "It might be important."
I might be. Shirley knew I was here. Nobody else did.
It might be important.
I turned away from the door and went to the hall table and picked up the phone.
What if it were Mary? Suppose somebody had seen me driving through the village and had phoned her.
"Hello." I hardly spoke above a whisper.
I heard the front door close behind me and the sound of Ron removing his coat.
"Jenny? Is that you?"
Shirley's voice filled my ear.
"What's wrong?" I asked. "Is it Paul?"
"It is Paul. But nothings wrong."
"What's happening."