If only John had not argued about moving the car that awful night, things might have been a lot different. We had dropped in at our local, "The Red Lion," on our way home from the theatre. We had been to see a play that I wanted to see. John hadn't been all that bothered, and it hadn't been his sort of play, so he was not in the best of moods. Brewing close to closing time the bar was crowded and we had just managed to get some drinks when this guy had come in asking if anyone knew who owned the blue Land Rover. It was our blue Land Rover they were talking about. John had been in a hurry to park it and he had blocked somebody in.
All they wanted to do was to get out, but John, being in an argumentative mood, had began to argue, saying he would move it when he had finished his drink. Obviously this did not go down well with the guy and then his two mates came in and they said in no uncertain terms they wanted it moving now or they would smash their way out. In the end, after more harsh words, John relented and went out and moved it. Apparently when he came back in he said that there had been more harsh words in the car park.
John did not speak on the way home. It was no use arguing with him when he was in one of his moods. Because we were engrossed in our own thoughts, neither of us noticed that there was a car behind us running on dipped headlights, and it was following us.
When we got in I said to John that I was going straight up to bed. John decided to stay in the lounge and have another drink. As I made my way up the stairs I heard the TV come on. He would probably watch it until he fell asleep. That was his usual trick.
I had started undressing and I had just removed my bra when I heard the doorbell sound. Who the hell was coming visiting us at this time of night, I thought to myself? I was standing there in just my panties and stockings when I heard the sound of the front opening. If he had been sober, he would have checked who was there before opening it.
I was startled when I heard the sound of a raised voice and then a crash. I quickly slipped into my wrap and started to go downstairs. As I did so I heard John talking to someone in a raised voice. Then I heard another crash. I quickly ran down the rest of the stairs. In the hall I saw John lying on the floor, the three guys from the pub standing over him.
They had tied scarves around their faces to hide their identities. But I recognised their clothing. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" I shouted at them. "Get out of our house or I'll call the police."
They turned and laughed. "Oh, no, you won't," one of then said, holding up the ripped out phone wire. "We have just come over to teach this husband of yours a few manners."