Author's note: all characters in this story are over 18 years old (ages are given within Chapters 1 or 2).
The new neighbours: Chapter 4
Sakura let Jessica out and she ran back to her own house, fumbling with the key in the lock and then slamming the front door behind her. Her first thought was to phone Mike, but he was probably already in his car driving home. Instead, she pulled out her phone and rang the police.
When she tried to report what was concerning her, they didn't seem very interested. After all it didn't sound like anyone was in any immediate danger. Finally, to get them to listen, she claimed her friend Ellie had been kidnapped and that she had been threatened too. Well, the latter bit was true in a manner of speaking and perhaps the former was as well ... sort of.
***
Two hours earlier:
Malcolm Brooke's job was listed as a Senior Executive Officer in the UK civil service and he looked much as you would expect of that title, just over 50, greying hair, smart suit. He had never drunk Martini in his life, preferring the occasional pint of real ale. He drove a Volvo estate rather than an Aston Martin. And he had been monogamously married for 25 years to Jane, and was proud father to three children; two daughters and a son. None of which, of course, stopped him being an Intelligence Officer.
The Security Service hadn't even run as far as giving him a glamorous secretary. His PA was a very bright 28 year-old named Philip Harris, who had just entered his office after a polite knock on the door.
"What is it, Phil?"
"Phone call for you, sir. I thought I had better warn you before I put it through. It's Mr. Mills." There was an edge to Harris' voice, like he knew his boss would not be happy.
"Oh. Right, then. You'd better put him on." Malcolm Brooke did not sound enthusiastic.
Moments later he was listening to Geoff Mills' always attractive voice.
"Hello Malcolm, it's Geoff".
"What do you want, Mills?" As his handler, Brooke was obliged to deal with the man who called himself Geoff Mills, but he was under no obligation to like it.
"Excellent, I like a man who gets to the point. I am expecting a woman named Jessica Roberts to visit my home today, after which I anticipate she will make contact with the police. She may also mention another woman, Ellie Walcott. They are from the same road as I am. Nos 37 and 31. I have the situation well under control but, just in case it's necessary, I want you to contact the local force and make matters clear to them."
"I take it that you have used your ... methods ... on these women?" asked Brooke.
"Correct. You know our agreement. I get to play my games with some of the little people and in exchange I provide certain services to your employers. Remember the information I got you last month from the Russian Ambassador."
Although he knew the world of secret intelligence was a morally ambiguous one and compromises had to be made, Malcolm Brooke liked to believe that his work was done in order to protect the people of his country. The idea that this involved handing over a small number of those people to a man like Mills was hard for him to take. But it was a decision that had been taken at the highest levels.
"Very well," he said.
"Good" said Mills. "And in case you have any trouble, you might want to remind the Chief Constable that I still have than video of him with two of my girls. I really don't think he would want that to come out."
"You're a bastard Mills."
Geoff Mills laughed, "Indeed I am, but I'm your bastard Malcolm, and don't you forget it".
Mills ended the call. As Brooke put the phone down, Harris came in. He had, in accordance with standard operational procedure, been listening in and recording the conversation.
Brooke looked up. "Ok Phil, you had better ring the county force and give them their instructions. Knowing Mills, it won't be much of a problem, as he will have everyone agreeing to whatever he wants anyway."
"Yes sir."
"I want a report later on what happened. Also run checks on the two women, just for the record."
"Of course," replied Harris.
Brooke sighed. "You know, this doesn't seem right. I have two daughters, Phil. 21 and 18. How would I feel if Mills wanted to enslave them?"
"Well," said Harris thoughtfully, "it is not like he actually harms anyone physically. And they all seem happy enough in their new lives. And it is only a few people. After all, there are only so many women any one man can want."
"Ah, but how do we know, Phil? Mills' psychological profile suggests that he gets his real kicks not from the sex but from messing up people's lives. How do we know that he hasn't mind-controlled you? Or me? Or anyone, really." Malcolm Brooke was expressing thoughts he had long brooded on.
"From what we understand of how he does what he does, that it highly unlikely" replied Harris.
"Maybe", said Brooke, "but if I get the chance to take Mills down a peg or two, I might just take it."
***
When Mike got home, Jessica felt a bit safer. She gave him an outline of what Ellie had said, albeit in less explicit detail, and what she had told the police.
The first police car arrived at in Park Drive half an hour later, followed by a second a few minutes afterward, each carrying a male and a female officer. Mike was surprised; he hadn't really expected any reaction at all and certainly not that quickly. The cars weren't using sirens or acting as if there were an emergency. They just drew up and parked in the street.
Mike and Jessica were, naturally enough, watching events from their bedroom window and saw two officers approach Park Manor, knock on the door and then, after a brief conversation, enter. The other two went to the Walcott's house. These latter were only around five minutes before returning to their vehicle. They spent a few moments, presumably making a report, and then drove off. The pair that had gone into Park Manor were inside longer, around 20 minutes. When they emerged, they didn't return to their car but instead surprised Mike and Jessica by heading for their house.
Mike went downstairs, followed slowly by Jessica. The doorbell rang and when Mike opened the door the male police officer said, "Sorry to bother you Sir. May we come in? It is a slightly delicate matter and I wouldn't want to discuss it on your doorstep."
"Yes, yes, of course" Mike said, disconcerted. Surely this wasn't normal police procedure?
The officers entered and the male one said to Mike "Perhaps Sir, you and I could have a word in the kitchen? My colleague will stay with your wife."
Once in the kitchen, the policeman said to Mike, "I don't know if you are aware Sir, but your wife made a report this evening that a woman had been kidnapped and held at Park Manor and that she had also been threatened. We have spoken to the person in question, to her parents, and to the other residents of Park Manor, and it is entirely clear that she is there of her own free will."
Mike was not surprised by this, but what the officer said next was another matter.
"I am afraid, Sir, that we don't believe that your wife has been threatened either. The owner, Mr Mills, told us he suspected who it was that had made the report, and that he has been concerned for your wife's mental health since meeting her. He was most persuasive. I feel I should also tell you that Mr Mills is a personal friend of the Chief Constable and well known for many charitable and public service works. I would ask, Sir, that you talk to your wife. Perhaps you should seek medical assistance for her."
Mike was stunned and angry. There was no way was this was proper police procedure. "Let me be clear, are you threatening my wife?"
"Now, now, Sir, there is no call to take that tone. Mr Mills has made it clear that he has no wish to escalate the situation, although I should remind you that making false allegations can have both criminal and civil consequences."
Mike's anger had turned cold. "Well, officer, if that is all you have to say, perhaps you could leave my house," he said, with a bitter politeness.
***
A couple of minutes later the police had gone. Mike found Jessica in the living room, shaking with shock. She had been crying. He sat next to his wife and hugged her.
"Mike, that policewoman, she told me that I could have been arrested and charged with making false reports and wasting police time and that Geoff Mills could sue us for defamation."
"That's all crap," Mike said. "They were just trying to frighten us. It's that bastard Mills. It seems he has got some sort of hold on the police too."
"Mike, what are we going to do?" Jessica had started sobbing again.
"We are going to get out. Tonight. Pack a few things and we will go and stay with your parents for a few days. Once we are away from here, we can work out what to do next. I'll go get some stuff together and you ring your mother and let her know we are coming."
Mike left the room and went upstairs. Jessica picked up her phone to make the call to her mother.
As she did so, there was the 'ping' of an arriving text. She opened it. It was from Geoff Mills, although Jessica couldn't recall ever having given him her number. The text said 'When your phone rings, answer it'.
Almost immediately, the phone rang. The incoming call was from Geoff. She took it. Part of her was trying to tell herself not to speak to that man, but she was overwhelmed by a compulsion to do so.
"Hello Jessica."
Oh my god, that voice, Jessica thought. "Hello..."
"Jessica, from now on I want you to call me Master, unless we are with strangers."
