The Best Years Of Your Life: Chapters 5-8

CHAPTER FIVE: That Night

Jonny's PoV

"Jonny, you don't have to do this if you don't want to" Chris said, trying not to smile. He wanted to. I knew he wanted to.

"I want to" I proclaimed. I really wanted to.

"What do you want me to do?" Chris asked.

"Just" I paused to think. "Just...do stuff to me" I pleaded. I'd never really done this sort of stuff, I'd only just slept with a girl for the first time yesterday but I'm more excited about what is to come today than of what happened yesterday. She didn't excite me. Chris does.

Chris slowly walked over to me, looking over his shoulder to make sure that the door was shut...then he stopped and listened. Listening to see if anyone was coming up...his mum, his dad, one of his brothers...there was nobody. The house was silent, a far cry of what it was like several minutes ago.

Knowing that the setting was right, Chris continued to walk towards me until we were almost touching. He proceeded to take my school uniform off, slowly. First my tie, then my jumper and then my shirt which he stopped to smell. I began to feel increasingly uncomfortable but that didn't last for long, the night was the most comfortable I had spent with Chris ever. I learnt so much about him, I learnt what he liked...and what he didn't but most importantly we learnt what we could enjoy together...as a couple.

"I'd just like you to do one thing for me" Chris asked.

I stopped and looked at Chris.

"I'd like you to finish Sophie" Chris asked. I smiled.

"Of course I will" I said, I'd do anything for this guy right now and at that moment it struck me- I wasn't straight.

I was not straight. I was the think that I mocked kids at school for, the thing every kid swore that they were not- gay. All these years I had been drooling over girls was a lie- It was myself wanting, wishing to be straight but I am not.

"Chris" I said.

Chris looked over at me, I was lying beside him- catching my breath.

"Yeah?" he said, his eyes wide.

"I think I'm gay" I admitted.

"Really?" Chris asked. "We've just been at for almost an hour, and you've just realised" He laughed.

I grinned.

"You know what" Chris said.

"What?" I asked.

"I think I'm in love" Chris replied.

Without a word being said, we quickly made ourselves comfortable again and slowly drifted into sleep in each others arms.

-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

The door slowly opened. It was Chris' brother Al. He walked towards Chris' desk, not noticing Chris and Jonny. He grabbed a pen and as he turned to walk out, he spotted Chris and Jonny in each others arms. He looked shocked before walking out of the room, closing the door and sighing, throwing the pen on the floor and putting his head in his hands.

CHAPTER SIX: When Everything Was So Perfect...

Chris' PoV

"Jonny" I whispered into his ear. His eyes slowly opened. I smiled and looked over to the door, to make sure no one was there- no one was.

"Y'alright, Chris?" Jonny asked. I just continued to smile. "Hey, hey, there's something I need to remember, I need to hand in my Geography homework, write a note for me or something so I don't forgot"

I walked over to my desk and grabbed a piece of paper and looked around for a pen.
"Jonny, have you seen my pen?" I asked.

"No I haven't" Jonny replied. "Don't worry, I'm sure I'll remember"

"Okay" I grinned. "Do you want any breakfast?"

"Nah, I don't think I will. Your Dad will find some reason to have a go at me!" Jonny said. I stared, listened and savoured his voice. That was one of the things that attracted me to Jonny- his voice. His deep, husky voice. I snapped out of it.

"Yeah, sure, that is probably smart" I said. "Anyway, why don't you get dressed and I will meet you at school!"

Jonny smiled and got out of his bed- he was only wearing his boxers. I watched as he slowly got his school uniform on which was crumpled up in his bag. He paused before looking over at me.
"I can't believe that was the last night I could stay at yours!" Jonny said, sighing.

"I'm sure my dad will come round!" I said, I hoped.

"Til' then, you can stay at mine" Jonny said, winking.

"Are you serious?" I replied. "I thought your mum hated people staying at your house!"

"Yeah- people. You are not just a person. You are my friend. My best friend" Jonny said, chuckling as he adjusted his tie and put his backpack on. "I'll seeya at school kiddo!" he said, slapping me on the back, quite hard. And then he walked out of my room.

A few minutes later I made my way into the kitchen where Mum, Dad and Al were sat at the breakfast table.
"Where's Jonny, then?" Al asked, looking at me with daggers in his eyes.

"Uhh, he has gone to school" I replied, sitting down at the table and grabbing a piece of toast.

"I was serious you know, about Jonny staying here. He's not staying here again" Dad said, bluntly.

"Oh, I know" I said, standing up. "That reminds me, I'm staying at Jonny's tonight"

"Okay dear" Mum replied, smiling. Dad stared at her with his menacing eyes. "Oh for goodness sake, let him stay at his friends"

"Oh fine, as long as he doesn't come anywhere near this house!" Dad exclaimed.

"Don't worry, he won't" I said, nodding my head as I turned to walk out the door.

"Chris" Al said. I turned back around. "Do you want your pen?" he asked, his arm extended and the pen in his hand. I grabbed it.

"Thanks" I said.

"Anytime kiddo!" Al said. "And hey, say hello to Jonny when you see him, I didn't manage to talk to him last night, I guess you were just too busy!"

"Haha, yeah" I said, forcing a smile as I walked out of the front door and closing it behind me and walking down the street.

------------------------

"Guy!" I exclaimed as I walked out of Maths. He was trying to ignore me, I ran up to him and put my arm on his shoulder, he turned round and looked at me.

"What?" he asked.

"We need to talk" I said, smiling. At that moment Will turned up.

"Is everything alright?" Will asked.

"Yeah, everything is fine" I said.

"Alright then, I'll see you in Geography" Will said. Guy was already gone. Someone else ran at me and jumped on me, I turned around- It was Sophie.

"Hiya Chris!" she said, chewing on a piece of chewing gum.

"Alright?" I said.

"I guess you heard then" Sophie said.

"Heard what?" I asked.

"About me and Jonny- having sex for the first time"

"Uhh yeah, but, excuse me, do you want me to say congratulations or what?" I said, getting angry.

"Chris, there is no need to be like that!" Sophie said, sniffing.

"But there is, you are using my best friend, you are nothing but a slag!" I exclaimed.

"Excuse me!" She shouted.

A crowd started to gather.

"Yeah, you've told him that you lost your virginity to him but I know for a fact that you've slept with loads of guys!" I exclaimed, pushing her.

At that moment, Jonny ran up to me and Sophie.
"What's going on?" he said.

"Nothing" I said, starting to walk off. Jonny grabbed me. "What are you doing, Jonny?"

"Stop messing with my girlfriend,eh!" he exclaimed. I was shocked.

I started to talk quieter, "I thought you were finishing with her!"

"No" he said, Sophie putting her arm around him. "Where the hell did you get that idea from?"

CHAPTER SEVEN: Trying To Move On

Jonny's PoV

"Jonny...Jonny" Sophie said. I was ignoring her. I just walked off, to Geography. I sat down in my usual seat, the one nearest the window on the back row- next to Guy. Chris was on the other side of the room, trying to ignore me. Sophie doesn't take Geography, an excuse to get away from her.

The lesson began and as usual me and Guy didn't listen. Mr Booth wasn't a very interesting teacher and didn't seem to mind if we didn't listen whether that was because he did not mind or that he couldn't be bothered to do anything. Anyway, he wouldn't want to mess with Guy, last time some teacher had a go at Guy- Guy kidnapped his dog.

"Guy" I said. He wasn't being his usual self. He knew, of course he knew, I almost forgot. "I'm sorry"

"Sorry for what?" Guy asked.

"Do you know?" I asked, starting to question myself.

"About you and Chris? Yes" Guy replied.

"What do you think?" I asked, treading carefully.

"What do I think? I think you are making a bloody big mistake, you've got a girlfriend" Guy exclaimed, however trying to be quiet.

"I know I am, well, I did" I said before taking a deep breath. "But...it's over now"

"Really? Was it just a one-night sexual exploration?" Guy said, grinning.

"I...I guess so" I said, smirking.

"Well...Chris doesn't seem to think so!" Guy said.

"Oh...he does" I said, scratching my head.

"Y'know, I always thought he was gay" Guy said. "But not you, you seem too masculine!"

"That's because..." I said, lowering my voice. "I am not"

"Good to know!"

"Hey...you haven't told anyone, have you?" I asked, my eyebrows raised.

"No, of course not, what sort of friend would do that? I was just shocked when Chris told me" Guy said, brushing his hair to one side.

"Well, at least, say sorry to Chris, he is gutted that you two have fallen out" I said, trying to make myself feel better for betraying Chris.

"Yeah...I guess I have been a bit harsh" Guy said.

I saw Chris look over at us. I looked back and smiled, he ignored me. I deserved it.

The lesson continued for about another twenty minutes, and for the first time in my life at school, I listened to the lesson and actually learnt some stuff as I tried to forget. The bell rang and I saw Guy rush out of his seat and run to talk to Chris.

I strolled past, trying to catch what they were saying, they were smiling- that was good enough. I made my way to the toilets in which I stared into the mirror. Re-arranging my hair, and washing my face, I looked at the guy I had become, the guy I saw in the mirror- the guy I didn't like.

CHAPTER EIGHT: Two Can Play At That Game

Chris' PoV

"I'm just glad we are friends again" I said, shaking Guy's hand.

"Best friends, dude. Best friends" Guy said, winking before walking off. This made me a hell of a lot happier. Now all I had to do was make up with Jonny. I started walking towards my next lesson- English, upstairs. As I made my way up the stairs, someone tapped me on the shoulder, I turned around- it was a girl I had never seen before.

"Hello" she said.

"Hello?" I replied, my eyebrows raised and a grin on my face.

"Hi Chris, my name is Jane, I saw you square up to Sophie earlier, that was very brave of you" Jane said, flicking her long, blonde hair.

"Thank you" I said. "I'll see you later Jane" I continued to walk upstairs but paused and looked back.

"Hey...Jane" I said.

"Yes?"

"I don't know if you are doing anything after school...we should meet up" I said, smiling. She smiled back.

"I would love to" she replied.

"Great, I'll meet you at the front of the school after the last lesson, yes?" I asked.

"Great" Jane said.

"Alright then, it's a date, I'll see you there then" I said, continuing upstairs, grinning.

------------------

The bell rang. It was the end of school. I ran down the school stairs, several teachers stared at me but I continued and waited patiently at the front of school for a girl I had only met a few hours ago. I waited a couple of minutes when I heard a voice calling my name. It didn't sound feminine. It was Jonny.

"Jonny" I said, sighing.

"Chris" he said. "I'm sorry"

"What the hell did I do?" I said, not trying to get too angry.

"You did nothing!" Jonny said.

"Then why did you treat me like shit?" I exclaimed.

"Because I'm a coward!" Jonny said.

"Yes that is exactly right, you are a coward!" I snarled.

"I'll finish with her, I promise" Jonny replied.

"You said that before, but you seem to be closer than ever, if you don't finish with her- I will" I exclaimed. At that moment Jane came up to me.

"Hi Chris" she said. I smiled at her and then looked to Jonny.

"Who's that?" Jonny asked.

"This...Jonny, is Jane" I said.

"Nice to meet you Jane" Jonny said, obviously not very happy. "So" he said, looking to me. "Are you staying at mine tonight?"

"No" I said. "I'll see you around Jonny" I continued, taking hold of Jane's hand and leading her away.

The Best Years Of Your Life: CHAPTERS 1-4

|||||||||||||||||||| CHAPTER ONE: Out Of Curiosity ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Chris' PoV

"Chris!" Dad shouted up. I turned round on my bed, looking up to the ceiling. "Jonny is here!"

My eyes widened. I was about to get out of bed when he entered my room.
"Alright, Chris?" Jonny asked, playing with the football he had in his hands. "Do you want to go and play footie?"


"It's like almost nine, my dad won't let me come out" I said, sighing. "Just stay here and we can play some poker or something!"

"It sucks with only like two people, we need to get Jonny, Guy and Phil and the lads over and we'll have a proper poker night. Remember that last time when we all got drunk and your dad threw me out!" Jonny said, chuckling.

"Haha! Yeah, that was funny. He still doesn't like you that much" I replied, laughing even more than Jonny was.

"He does! Everyone loves old Jonnyboy, especially your mum!" Jonny said, grinning.

"Watch it dude! Don't make me beat you up!" I said, raising my eyebrows in a sarcastic matter.

"I'd like to see you try" Jonny said, jumping on Chris' bed. "So, what are we doing then?"

I looked around my room before hearing a crash of lightning outside and a huge rainfall. I turned my back to Jonny and grinned as I approached the window. "I guess we are staying in!" I said before turning back round to Jonny and approaching my bed. I got on my knees and got my safe out.

"What is that?" Jonny asked.

"Haven't you ever seen it before? It's my safe!" I said, opening it and producing two cans of Carlsberg lager.

"You legend, Chris!" Jonny said, taking one of the cans from my hand and opening it.

"No worries, just be quiet, If my dad see's us drinking, he'll get right pissed off. I got grounded for three weeks last time!" I said. It was really annoying, he didn't talk to me at all for that amount of time.

I watched as Jonny made his way through the can of lager. He was always a lightweight.
"You're getting drunk already!" I said, smiling.
"Am I heck!" Jonny replied, slurring his words.

"Do you want me to go and ask my dad if you can stay over tonight?" I asked.

"Anything to stay away from Sophie!" Jonny said, smiling.

"Dude, why don't you just dump her if you are so sick of her?" I said, thinking it was logical.

"I'm not going to dump her. I'm scared of her" Jonny exclaimed. "Anyway, yeah, go and ask your dad while I finish your drink!"

I started walking out the room.
"Okay you can have a bit of it, just don't drink too much of mine. I'll get you another one later!" I said as I ran downstairs. My dad was staring at me.

"I've just had Jonny's mum on the phone" he said. I looked up at him.
"Oh yes?" I replied.

"Her sister's ill, so she has asked if Jonny can stay here tonight! You can tell Jonny it's alright but no drinking, after what happened last time!" Dad said. "Oh alright, cool, I'll tell him, goodnight dad!"

"Goodnight!"

I walked back upstairs and into my bedroom, Jonny was looking at one of my dirty magazines.
"Chris, you dirty bastard! I didn't know you were into this sort of stuff!" Jonny said, laughing.
"Uhh, I'm a guy, aren't I?" I replied, grinning. "Anyway, your aunt's ill so your mum is staying with her tonight so you can stay here anyway!"

"Oh okay" Jonny replied, more captivated in the magazine. "Look at her tits!" he said, pointing to one of the girls. I simply smiled. I didn't feel comfortable. I just bought the magazines to be like every other guy.

"Jonny" I said bluntly, my voice was stern. Jonny looked at me. "Do you think we can try something? You know, out of curiosity"

"Like what, do you want to kiss me, Chris?" Jonny said, sarcastically.

I paused before replying;
"Yes"

Jonny moved in and kissed me. It didn't last long. I don't know if he even meant it but he did it. It left both me and him speechless. Without a word being said, we kissed again.

||||||||||||| CHAPTER TWO: The Morning After The Night Before |||||||||||||||||||||||

Chris' PoV

The bell rang. I rushed out of Maths and into the hallway. I looked around for Jonny. I had to find him. I had to talk to him. He left my house this morning before I even got up. Maybe he felt bad about the night before. I had no idea, the only way to find out is to find him. I finally spotted him coming out of Geography, I ran over to him, he was wife his girlfriend, Sophie.

"Jonny" I said, smiling.

"Alright mate?" Jonny said. "Crazy night last night, wonnit? I can't remember a thing!"

"You are so crazy!" Sophie said to Jonny before she snogged him in front of me.

I just walked off. I couldn't be dealing with him. He must have remembered what happened last night, mustn't he?

"Chris" a voice said. I looked around, I didn't know what was going on. I looked up, it was Guy.
"Chris, are you alright?" Guy asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" I replied, pulling myself together. "What lesson have we got now?"

"Dunno" Guy said. "I think it's German and if it is, I'm not going, I can't stand Mr. Deacon!"

"What are you going to do, then?" I asked.

"I'm going to bunk off, you coming with me for a smoke?" Guy asked. I looked behind me and saw Jonny and Sophie kissing some more. I couldn't take it any more.

"Yeah sure, why not?" I said. "Let's go"

Guy lead me outside, we climbed over the fence surrounding the school. He led me down a small track I had never seen before and made me climb through a hedge. This revealed a sort of 'smoking area' where there were cigarette butts, alcohol, and plastic bottles littering the place. There was also a smell of drugs that I don't think could ever go away.

Guy got out a cigarette and a lighter, and proceeded to light his cigarette and smoke it. I watched as the smoke seemed to clasp onto my clothes.
"Do you want a drag, Chris?" Guy asked, smiling.

"No thanks" I said. I'd never smoked before, I've told everyone that I have. You know, just to try and sound cool.

"Guy" I muttered.

Guy looked up."Yes?" he said.

"I've got to tell you something" Chris said.

"Go on, tell me anything, I won't judge!" Guy said, winking.

"Last night I kissed Jonny. Guy, I think I'm gay" I said, sighing.

"Wow" Guy replied, smoking the last of his cigarette. "I don't know what to say, so, I suppose, I won't say anything"

Guy got up and walked off, leaving myself time to think.

||||||||||||| CHAPTER THREE: Confessions |||||||||||||||||||||||

Jonny's PoV

I sat up.

"What's wrong?" Sophie asked.

I shouldn't have done it. Why the hell did I just have sex with Sophie.
"Sorry, Sophie, I just need to be somewhere. I forgot" I said, giving Sophie a quick kiss.

I started getting dressed and got out of her house as soon as possible. I jumped on my bike and started biking- towards Chris' house. I knocked on the door. His mum let me in and I slowly walked up to Chris' room, opened it and walked in. Chris stared at me as I walked in.

"Jonny" Chris said.

"We need to talk" I said. "About...last night"

"I'm really, really sorry" Chris said. I was proud of Chris for saying sorry, I smiled.

"There is no need to be sorry mate! We both had a part to play last night" I said, sitting next to Chris on his bed.

"Well" Chris said. "Did you like it?"

I paused to think.
"To be honest, I'd never thought of you in that way before. I'd never thought of any dude in this way before and I don't know if I feel it for you now!" I said, probably kidding myself. I did enjoy it, in a way.

"Did you like it?" I asked.

"Yes. I did" Chris said. "I'm sorry"

"Stop saying sorry" Jonny replied.

"So what shall we do about it all? Forget it?" Chris asked.

"I'm not sure if I want to forget it" I said. Chris' face brightened up.

I wasn't even sure what I was saying or how I felt.

"I've got to tell you something, I've told Guy what has happened!" Chris said.

"What?" I exclaimed. I couldn't believe what I had just been told. "Why the hell did you do that, Chris?"

"I'm sorry, I needed to tell someone" Chris said.

"Well, what did he say?" I asked, sighing and shaking my head.

"Nothing really, he just walked off" Chris said.

"Fanfuckingtastic!" I exclaimed. "Well, everyone is going to know soon!"

"Guy isn't like that!" Chris said.

"He bloody well is" I replied, collapsing on the bed. "Look, I'm sorry Chris, I mean, I've kind of got a confession too!"

"What is that then?" Chris asked.

I sighed before muttering the words; "I slept with Sophie"

||||||||||||| CHAPTER FOUR: Repurcussions |||||||||||||||||||||||

Chris' PoV

I don't get angry in normal circumstances but this was not a normal circumstance.

Before getting too angry, I calmed myself down.

"Did you just say that you slept with Sophie?" I asked, shaking my head.

"Just before I came here, yes" Jonny replied.

I snapped.
"You said you hated her! It's not about love with you, is it? It's just sex, sex, sex with you. If anything ever started between the two of us, you wouldn't love me, would you?" I exclaimed, picking up a glass and throwing it at Jonny.

"What the hell are you doing? I'm sorry!" Jonny said.

I heard someone running upstairs, my Dad burst into my room.

"What's going on here, then?" My dad exclaimed, demanding to know what was going on.

"I just dropped a glass" Jonny said.

"Why the hell were you shouting at him for breaking a glass? He is a guest in my home, not your home!" Dad exclaimed.

"He wasn't shouting at me, I dropped the glass without Chris knowing and then asked him to shout at me to get him into trouble, I was just being stupid!" Jonny said.

I was shocked, he was defending me.

"You are a very stupid kid, Jonny! You used to be nice when you were younger, but now your a teenager, all you are doing is being stupid and getting drunk. Chris isn't much better!" Dad said, turning to walk away but then stopping in his tracks.

"In fact, no, I am sick of this" Dad said, turning back round. "Jonny, you can stay here for tonight but after tonight I don't want to see you in my house ever again!"

"Dad!" I shouted out in protest.

"This is not up for debate!" Dad shouted before walking out and slamming the door behind him.

"Well, we better make the most of tonight" Jonny said, winking.

My NaNoWriMo Entry 2009: Lifestyles of the Rich & Stupid

Lifestyles Of The Rich And Stupid

CHAPTER ONE: TOO LATE

The flat was small and full of discarded rubbish, out of date food and one very disorganised man and his constantly crying son. Peter Freeman is 20 and a single dad of an 18 month old baby boy. Peter works in the kebab shop around the corner from his house on the estate of Springhill. At the kebab shop he cleans up, takes orders and occasionally, if he’s lucky, gets to prepare the customers food. You could say that Peter Freeman is unlucky in love, the night his baby was conceived was on a one night stand. He wonders why girls don’t seem to want to date him but maybe the fact that he smokes, drinks and takes hard drugs is the problem. Peter’s job is a low-paid job, he barely has enough to feed his addiction, never mind his son.

The time was 10’o clock. Time for Peter’s night shift at the kebab shop. As his job is from 10 until 5’ o clock in the morning, he is told to sleep during the day- but Peter chooses not to. Peter spends his time to catch up on his vices, his smoking, drinking and drug taking. Peter was already late for work but decided it was time for him to go, he picked up his son and walked out of the door and down the street.

“Peter, you are late- again!” Peter’s boss said, giving Peter a hard stare.
“Yes, I am” Peter replied, putting his son on the counter.
“And why have you brought your kid with you again?” his boss continued.
“Where else am I supposed to leave him? At home?” Peter asked.
“At his mums, his grandparents, anywhere!” his boss replied, his tone of voice getting louder.
“I don’t know where his mum lives, my mum and dad don’t want anything to do with me, and his mum’s parents? Good luck finding them!”
“Get out!” Peter’s boss said sharply, showing him the door.
“What?” Peter replied, in disbelief.
“Go on! Get out, you are fired!” his Boss said in delight. Peter shook his head and walked around the counter, grabbing the fire extinguisher.
“What the hell are you doing?” His boss asked. “Get out of my shop!” He demanded. Peter walked over to the shop’s front door, and smashed the glass with the fire extinguisher.
“You bastard!” Peter’s boss said. “I’m calling the police!”
“Go on! See if I care!” Peter replied, picking up his crying baby and casually walking out of the shop and down the street with a smile on his face. He contemplated singing but decided against it, he didn’t want to be too casual. That wasn’t his style.

CHAPTER TWO: FLUSHED AWAY

“Will you stop bloody crying, you little brat!” Peter shouted, right in his son’s ear but his son began to scream louder. Police sirens began to blare. Peter definitely wasn’t the best of fathers. Well neither was his father so he didn’t have any one as a role model.
“Oh for god’s sake!” Peter shouted, running round the corner back to his flat, to be met by his landlord.
“Peter!” he said, stopping him in his tracks. “Where is my money?”
“For gods sake, I’ve just lost my job, give me some more time!” Peter said, not believing his luck.
“You owe me money from four months ago!” his landlord said, not looking impressed.
“And I will get it for you as soon as possible!” Peter said, trying to get past him, but being blocked by him. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m not joking around! If you don’t have, and I’m being generous here, half of the money by the end of the month, you are being evicted!”
Peter just stared at him, pushed past him and walked into his front door.

The police walked round the corner, seeing Peter’s landlord.
“Excuse me, are you Peter Freeman?” one of the policemen asked as they both walked towards his landlord.
“No, I am his landlord, this is his flat here, he has just gone in!” his landlord replied, smiling.
“Thanks!” The other policeman said, walking towards Peter’s front door.
“What has he done, if you don’t mind me asking?” Peter’s landlord asked.
“I’m afraid it is Police confidentiality!” the policeman replied.
“Of course!” His landlord replied, gutted that he didn’t know what was going on. The policemen knocked on his front door.

“Peter Freeman! It’s the police, can we come in?” One of the policemen asked.
“No!” Peter replied, desperately running around, trying to hide his drugs. Peter took a decision- the only thing he could do was flush them down the toilet. He rushed around, grabbing the drugs from his drawers, his pockets, the kitchen table, cabinets and ran to the toilet, sighed and dropped them in. The police burst through the door, just as he flushed them. Peter quickly ran out of the toilet to meet with them. They did good search around the place before Peter approached them.
“Why the hell did you come through my door with out my permission?” Peter asked, his chin up, glaring at the two men.
“We have a report that you caused criminal damage to the kebab shop down the road!” One of the policemen said, glaring back at Peter before staring at Peter’s crying son.
“What the hell!” Peter said, shaking his head.
“Well I’m afraid we will have to take you down to the station!” The policeman continued, handcuffing Peter.
“What about my son?” Peter asked.
“Well he will have to come with us!” The other policeman replied before picking up Peter’s son, smiling at him and leading Peter out of his front door.

“I knew it! I knew you were trouble!” Peter’s landlord said to Peter, pointing at him as he still stood outside. Peter wasn’t in the mood for his snipes.
“Get a life!” Peter replied, smirking. That was more like him.
“Can we have enough of that?” One of the policemen exclaimed, opening the back door of the police car and leading Peter into it.
“You don’t have a baby seat do you, for the car?” one of the policemen asked, looking at Peter.
“I don’t drive!” Peter replied, bluntly.
“Well this little one will have to sit on my lap!” the other policeman said, tickling the baby’s chin before closing the back door and walking round to get into the front passenger’s seat as his colleague sat in the driver’s seat.

CHAPTER THREE: AN HONEST MISTAKE

“This man is here for suspected criminal damage!” One of the policemen said at the front desk of the police station as he chewed some gum.
“Do you have anything on you?” The policeman asked.
“No” Peter replied, before being checked by the other policeman.
“He’s clean!” The policeman concluded, before taking him down to the interview room. The room was a small dark room, very different to the interview rooms you see on TV.
“I’d like you to sit there!” said the interviewer, who was in the room, as he showed him where to sit. “Now, can you tell me what happened?”

Half an hour later, the interviewer led Peter out of the interview room, to meet with the two policemen who arrested him.
“We have no evidence!” The interviewer said.
“You are free to go then” One of the policemen said, handing Peter his baby.
“Thanks, but, how am I going to get home?” Peter asked, staring up at the policeman.
“That is your problem!” The policeman said, looking down at Peter before walking away. As the policeman walked away, Peter put his middle finger up at him before walking the other way. As he walked, Peter got his wallet out of his pocket, to see how much was in it. There was a tatty five pound note and several twenty pence pieces. The money he had in his pocket was all he had.

Peter walked towards the payphone in the hospital, put five of his twenty pence pieces in and called for a taxi.
“Hi, this is umm Marcus Cole, please could I have a taxi from the police station to Springhill? Cheers!” he said, before putting the phone down. Peter walked out of the police station and began to wait for the taxi.

A taxi pulled up, Peter walked towards it. “Is this for Marcus Cole?” he asked.
“Yes, it is!” The taxi driver replied. “Get in”
“Where are you going again?” The taxi driver asked.
“Springhill please!” Peter said, sitting back. “Uhh, how much do you think it will be?”
“To Springhill….about £12!” The taxi driver replied.
“Okay” Peter said. The taxi driver began to drive out of the taxi towards Springhill.

“Here we are, Springhill! That will be £12.60 please!” The taxi driver said, looking back towards Peter. Peter got out his wallet.
“£12.60, is it?” Peter asked.
“Yes” The taxi driver replied.
Peter slowly moved his hand towards the side door, turning the handle ever so slightly. “Here you go!” Peter said, throwing a 20 pence piece at the taxi driver before jumping out of the car, and running down a street and down a back alley. Peter could hear shouting as he ran but tried to drown it all out, he had a sigh of relief as he realised he was safe before realising that he had left his baby in the taxi.
“Bloody hell!” Peter screamed, falling to the floor, his head in his hands for several minutes before taking his head out of his hands, standing up and walking around the corner to his flat. His landlord was no longer standing outside as Peter entered his flat, walked towards his bed and collapsing on it.

CHAPTER 4: A RAY OF SUNSHINE

After only a few hours of sleep, Peter got out of his bed, it was 10’o clock in the morning. Peter had an idea, he looked around his flat for something valuable before spotting his watch which was beside his bed, Peter grabbed it and walked out the front door towards the bus stop where he waited for the bus into town. Peter waited over ten minutes before the bus actually arrived and jumped upon it, getting a few weird stares as he did so.
“Could I have a return ticket to town, please!” Peter asked.
“Yep, that will be £4.75” The bus driver replied. Peter sighed as he got his five pound note out of his pocket and gave it to the bus driver. Peter forced a smile as he was given twenty five pence back and his return bus ticket. Peter walked over to an empty seat, which there were plenty of, and sat down, gently closing his eyes. At the next bus stop, a woman sat next to Peter.
“Hello” she said, waking Peter up who was actually getting some sleep.
“Hi!” Peter said, smiling.
“Where are you off?” she asked, grinning.
“Town!” Peter replied, raising his eyebrows.
“What a coincidence!” the woman replied. “I’m Susan by the way!”
“I’m Peter!” Peter replied, trying to hide the fact that he knew Susan was hitting on him. Peter barely looked at Susan before it was time to get off the bus and he realised how pretty she was. As she began to walk off, Peter stopped her.
“Susan, wait!” Peter said, smiling. Susan looked back. “Yes?” she asked.
“Can I have your number?” Peter replied.
“Of course!” Susan said, before producing one of her business cards. Peter took it off her and looked at it.
“Wow, you are a lawyer!” Peter said, in disbelief.
“Yes I am!” Susan replied before getting off the bus and saying, “See you around”
Peter followed her off the bus but he was heading off in a different direction to her. Peter didn’t want to lose her but he had no choice.

Peter began to walk down the high street which he knew like the back of his hand before making a left and entering a pawnbrokers. Peter walked towards the desk.
“I would like to sell this watch please!” Peter said, embarrassed. The man looked at the watch very quickly.
“I’ll give you £90” he said, getting £90 out of the till and handing it to Peter.
“Thank you” Peter replied, before walking out of the shop.
Peter began to walk further down the street and into ‘Back Taxis’. Peter recognised the man he was confronted with straight away, his taxi driver from last night.
“You!” he exclaimed.
“Yes, it’s me, I’m sorry, I have your money here, in fact, I will give you £20!” Peter replied.
“I don’t care about your money, you left your child!” the taxi driver replied, still in shock.
“I know, I know! Is he still here?” Peter asked.
“You are lucky, he is, we were about to ring social services and the police!” the taxi driver replied.
“Thank you for not doing it, I am really sorry!” Peter said.
“Well at least you haven’t been a coward!” the taxi driver said, going into the back and getting Peter’s baby.
“Here he is!” the taxi driver said, passing Peter’s baby to him.
“Thank you so much!” Peter said, before passing the taxi driver £20.
“Do me a favour, though!” The taxi driver said.
“And what’s that?” Peter asked.
“Next time you need a taxi with us, make sure the have enough money and make sure you take your kid with you!” the taxi driver said, in a jolly mood.
“Don’t worry, I will!” Peter said, smiling as he walked out to be met with Susan.
“Susan! What are you doing here?” Peter asked.

“Well I need a taxi!” Susan said, laughing. “And is that your baby?”
Peter closed the door of the taxi place.
“Yes, a mate of mine what just looking after him! Anyway, you followed me here didn’t you?” Peter asked, smirking and laughing but secretly delighted.
“Maybe!” Susan said, looking away.
“Do you want to come with me for a drink?” Peter asked.
“Yeah, a coffee will be great!” Susan exclaimed.
“I meant a beer but coffee is great too” Peter said, before escorting her to the coffee shop down the road.

CHAPTER 5: COFFEE PROGRAMMER

“There you go!” Peter said, giving Susan her coffee as they both sat down.
“So, Peter, what do you do for a living?” Susan asked, looking very intrigued.
“Me? Well if I’m honest, I’ve just been made redundant” Peter said. Peter was used to lying, it was only a little white lie.
“Oh that’s horrible!” Susan exclaimed, in shock. “You poor thing!”
“Yeah, it’s awful on the little kid!” Peter said, looking for even more sympathy.
“I’ve got a bit of money but I will need to find a new job soon!” Peter said, looking up at Susan before taking a sip of his coffee.
“What are your qualifications?” Susan asked. Peter almost spat out his coffee but resisted the temptation of what such an inconvenient question can do to you.
“Qualifications? Well I have a degree in, computer programming!” Peter said, thinking on the spot.
“Really, that’s amazing! You are sure to get a job somewhere!” Susan said, taking a sip of coffee.
“Well, I don’t really care what job I get, I’d be lucky if I worked in a kebab shop!” Peter said.
Susan laughed before sympathetically saying, “Awww, you poor thing!”
“Well, I’m taking every day as it comes, I’m hoping to go to a few interviews soon!” Peter said.
“You know, I think there is a job for a computer programmer at my Law firm!” Susan said.
“Uhh, is there?” Peter asked.
“Yes, I’m sure of it, one of my colleagues was talking about it the other day!” Susan said. “Let me just give them a ring!”
“Susan, there’s really no need!” Peter said.
“Oh I insist” Susan replied, reaching for her phone.
Peter raised his voice, “Susan! No!” Peter said.
“Oh, okay, I was just trying to help!” Susan said, annoyed.
“Look, I’m sorry!” Peter said.
“There is no need to apologise!” Susan said, getting up from her seat.
“Where are you going?” Peter asked.
“Home!” she exclaimed before storming out the coffee shop.
“Susan! Susan!” Peter shouted. People in the coffee shop looked around at Peter, giving him awful looks.
“What are you all looking at?” Peter shouted before getting hold of his son and storming out of the shop.


CHAPTER 6: WINNING HER BACK
“Susan!” Peter shouted down the street as he began to run after her.
“Go away!” Susan replied, not looking back at Peter but continuing down the street.
“I’m so sorry I raised my voice, the only reason I didn’t want you to ring is because, well, I’m nervous of interviews!” Peter said. Susan stopped in her tracks.
“You are?” she replied, looking back.
“Yes” Peter said. “I’m sorry”
Susan began to walk towards Peter.
“Well, I’m sorry too, that was a bit harsh to walk out on you after such a little thing!” Susan said, smiling.
“So, you want to finish that coffee?” Peter asked, delighted that he had won Susan back.
“No but If you do want to make it up to me, you can buy me dinner tonight and if you are lucky you can have coffee at mine!” Susan said, cheekily.
Peter grinned with delight.
“Yeah of course!” Peter said.
“So what restaurant are you taking me to?” Susan asked.
“How about I make you dinner!” Peter asked, looking for a smile on Susan’s face. He got one.
“That would be lovely! I’ll give you a ring later and you can come round to mine!” Peter said.
“Pick me up from mine about seven o’clock!” Susan said.
“Yeah, sure!” Peter said, forcing a smile as he waved Susan off before realising that he had no method of transport to pick Susan up with, Peter thought on his feet and ran down town.

Peter knocked on a door. The door swung open, a small, fat man was stood at the door and stared down at Peter.
“How are doing, Scott?” Peter asked.
“Not too bad, thanks!” Scott replied, scratching himself in an embarrassing place. “What do you want?”
“I was wondering if I can borrow your car for tonight?” Peter asked.
“My car! Forget it!” Scott replied, shocked at Peters question.
“Please, I really need it! I’ll pay you for it!” Peter said.
“How much?” Scott asked, seeming much more interested in the offer.
“£20!” Peter said.
“£40!” Scott replied, driving a hard bargain.
“£35!” Peter said. “And that’s my final offer.
“Done!” Scott replied. Peter passed Scott £35 and Scott threw his car keys at him. “Now, I want it back tomorrow morning!”
“No problem!” Peter said, delighted.
“Do you want anything else while your at it?” Scott asked.
“Like what?” Peter replied, puzzled.
“Some weed?” Scott replied.
Peter tried to resist the temptation but knew he couldn’t. His baby began to cry, almost like he knew it was a bad thing to do.
“Go on then!” Peter said. “£20 worth!”
Scott stumbled back into his house and came back to his front door thirty seconds later with several packets of cannabis.
“Cheers Scott, you are a life saver!” Peter said, taking the drugs off Scott before passing Scott a twenty pound note. Scott smiled before closing the door on Peter.

CHAPTER 7: TEMPTATION

Scott started the day with £90, having spent thirty-five pounds on a car, almost five pounds on coffee and twenty pounds on cannabis, Peter only had about £30 left. Peter walked towards Scott’s car, unlocked it, put his baby in the passengers seat and got in the driver’s seat. He searched his pocket for skins, a filter and a lighter so he could smoke his weed. Luckily he had all three. He got one of his skins out of his pocket, put a filter at the front of it and wrapped some of his cannabis up in it. Peter lit the end of it and began to smoke. Peter’s baby began to cough and cry but Peter ignored it as he began to get high on the drugs, after smoking, he opened the door and threw what was left of it onto the pavement, closed the door again and began to drive back to his flat.

Peter pulled up by his flat, where his landlord was standing yet again.
“Why are you not locked up?” Peter’s landlord asked as Peter got out of the car.
“Who’s car is that? Did you steal it?” Peter’s landlord continued, but Peter chose to ignore him as Peter got his baby out of the car, locked the car and walked into his flat. Peter searched his flat for any food which he could serve for Susan but was disappointed when there was nothing to be found. Peter sighed as he walked out of his flat, leaving his son. His landlord was still outside.

“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Not that it is any of your business, I’m going to the shops!” Peter exclaimed.
“What about the little one?” Peter’s landlord asked, looking around.
“He’s inside!” Peter said.
“You can’t leave a little baby on his own!” Peter’s landlord shouted.
“Fine!” Peter said. “I will go and get him!”
“Well you jolly well should!” Peter’s landlord replied, more grumpy than ever. Peter entered his flat again, grabbed his son and walked back out. His landlord was talking to him yet again but Peter just ignored his whining and walked round the corner down to his corner shop.

Peter walked down to the aisles to the sound of depressing music ringing in his ears, his son in one hand, a shopping basket in the other. Peter decided to grab some spaghetti and some bolognaise sauce and walked back up to the counter.
“What is you are buying, the Spaghetti or the baby?” The shop assistant said, laughing. Peter laughed back, trying to humour her.
“The spaghetti” Peter replied, sarcastically as he handed the money over and walked out the shop.
“See you around!” the shop assistant shouted back to him. Peter glanced down at his watch, it was 1 o’clock. He turned back round into the shop.
“Hey!” Peter said.
“Yes?” the shop assistant asked.
“What’s your name?” Peter replied with a question.
“My name is Amy!” she replied.
“What time do you get of work?” Peter asked, walking towards her.
“I get off at 5 o’clock!” Amy replied, grinning.
“How about you come back to mine when you get off work? I live just round the corner, you know the load of flats, I live in Flat 3!” Peter said. “You know which ones I mean!”
“Yes I do!” she replied, smiling.
“So, how about it?” Peter asked.
“I’ll be there!” Amy said, ecstatic.
“See you then!” Peter said before winking at her and leaving the shop once again.

CHAPTER 8: GIVING IN TO TEMPTATION

Peter got out a cigarette as he lay down on his bed. He lay there for several hours, every few minutes he glared at the clock beside him, checking how close it was to 5’o clock. At ten minutes to five, Peter got up from his bed, walked towards it baby, gave him a bit off food and some milk, put him to bed and sat by his door waiting for a knock. At seven minutes past five, there was a knock at the door. Peter went over to open the door where a lovely dressed Amy was waiting for him.
“You look great!” Peter exclaimed, getting an eyeful of her.
“You like it?” Amy asked, seductively.
“You look gorgeous!” Peter answered, grinning, not being able to take his eyes off her. Amy jumped at Peter and started to kiss him and Peter, still kissing her, led her to his bedroom. As they started ripping each others clothes off, Peter started to have sex with her. They were in the bedroom for almost two hours when Peter realised the time, It was ten minutes past seven.
“What’s wrong?” Amy asked.
“I’ve got to go!” Peter said, getting out of his bed and starting to get his clothes on.
“Wouldn’t you rather stay here and have sex with me?” Amy asked, licking her lips.
“I would, but I need to go, I’m late!” Peter said, pulling Amy out of his bed. “Get your clothes on!” Peter exclaimed “And let your self out, I need to go now!” Peter continued before running out of his front door. Amy contemplated getting her clothes back on but instead got back into Peter’s bed, waiting for his return.

CHAPTER 9: REVELATION

Peter jumped into his car, searched his pockets for Susan’s business card to get the address, got the information he needed and began to speed off down the road. He arrived at Susan’s in only ten minutes, jumped out of his car and rang her doorbell. The door opened.
“You are late!” Susan said, in an angry tone.
“Yes, I’m so sorry!” Peter replied. Susan just laughed.
“Don’t worry, I needed more time to get ready!” Susan replied. Peter smiled.
“Your carriage awaits!” Peter said, cheekily, showing her ‘his’ car.
“Ooh, very nice!” Susan said sarcastically.
“Eh, eh, eh! There’s no need to be like that, it gets me from A to B!” Peter said, cheerily.
“I don’t care what car you drive!” Susan said. “I’m only joking!”
“I know you are!” Peter said, opening the passengers seat door for Susan who gladly entered. Peter smiled as he closed her door, and got into the drivers seat.
“Playboy mansion…here we come!” Peter shouted.

“This is it! I’m sorry it’s not very nice!” Peter said as he and Susan got out of the car.
“Don’t worry, I’ve seen worse!” Susan replied. Peter walked to his front door and opened it, Amy heard the door opening and quickly sneaked back into Peter’s bedroom.
“Where’s your baby, then?” Susan asked.
“Umm, he’s with his grandparents!” Peter said, praying that his son would not make a noise in his bedroom.
“So, what’s for dinner? I don’t smell anything!” Susan said.
“Uh, I haven’t made it yet, sorry!” Peter said. “But it is Spaghetti Bolognaise, it doesn’t take long to make!”
“Spaghetti Bolognaise! My favourite!” Susan said, grinning with delight.
“Is it really?” Peter said, trying to seem intrigued.
Peter walked towards the kitchen, grabbed a pot and put it on top of his hob. Peter sighed as he realised he had no idea how to make spaghetti bolognaise, he had never made anything other than toast or something in the microwave.
“Umm, Susan, if I am honest, I have no idea how to make it!” Peter said, embarrassed.
Susan sighed sarcastically as she stood up, walked towards Peter and said “Men, what can you do, eh?”
“Yep, us men are useless!” Peter said before hearing a creaking sound coming from his bedroom. Peter suddenly realised that Amy was still in his bedroom.
“Uhh, would you make a start on dinner, I just need to go to the toilet!” Peter said.
“Too much information! That’s fine, go! Go!” Susan said, as Peter laughed and slowly walked towards his bedroom door, opened it and quickly closed it behind him.
“Amy! What the hell are you doing here?” Peter exclaimed, at the same time trying to be as quiet as possible.
“I thought it would be a nice surprise for when you get home!” Amy replied smiling. “But instead you bring some other woman back!”
“I’m sorry!” Peter said, partly ashamed, partly not bothered.
“If you don’t get rid of her, I will!” Amy said, giving Peter an ultimatum.
“You are a bitch!” Peter said.
“Why thank you!” Amy replied, sarcastically.
“I’ll see what I can do!” Peter said, gutted.
“Oh and if you don’t do it, I will also go to the police and say about how you raped a 15 year old girl!”

“Making up lies! That is pathetic!” Peter said, disgusted at what Amy had just said.
“Maybe it’s not a lie!” Amy said, grinning.
“You are telling me that you are 15!” Peter said, “Ha, I laugh in your face!”
“I’ll prove it!” Amy said, still naked, she reached for her handbag and pulled out her passport and passed it to Peter. “Have a look at that!”
Peter looked at the passport, he looked between the picture and the date of birth several times, it was indeed Amy and she was indeed 15.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me this?” Peter exclaimed.
“You wouldn’t have had sex with me otherwise!” Amy replied, pouting.
“Well we aren’t having sex again!” Peter said, disgusted that he was having sex with a child.
“Why not? You’ve already done it once, you can’t erase the fact that you had sex with an underage girl!” Amy replied, winking.
“Just, leave it, I will get rid of Susan!” Peter said, sighing.
“Susan! Is that her name, then?” Amy asked. “Sounds like a bit of a posh bird!”
“Yes, she’s very posh, she’s a lawyer!” Peter replied, almost proud to tell the whole world that he was dating a lawyer.
“Get rid of her now then!” Amy demanded. Peter’s face was blank as he exited the room, got his mobile phone out and ran towards Susan.

CHAPTER 10: WOMEN, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

“Susan! Susan!” Peter shouted, his phone still in hand.
“What is it? Dinner is almost ready!” Susan replied, smiling as she stirred the bolognaise sauce.
“I’ve just received a phone call from my Mum, the baby has had an accident and has had to go to hospital, I need to go there right away!” Peter said, gasping for breath.
“Oh my goodness, how awful! Is he going to be alright?” Susan asked.
“I don’t know, I just don’t know!” Peter replied, as Susan came in to hug him but at the moment Peter’s baby began to cry.
“What’s that?” Susan asked.
“What?” Peter replied, hearing the cries also.
“It’s a baby!” Susan said, walking away from the kitchen.
“Oh it’s probably next doors, it is always wailing!” Peter said, laughing.
“No, I don’t think it is, it sounds like it’s coming from that room over there!” she replied, pointing to the baby’s bedroom.
“Really?” Peter replied, uneasy.
“But you said that he’s in hospital! Are you lying to me?” Susan asked, getting angry.
“Of course not!” Peter said, shaking.
“Yes you are!” Susan said, walking over to the baby’s bedroom and opening the door where Peter’s baby was sat in his cot, wailing.
“Peter!” Susan shouted. “Why did you lie to me?”
“I don’t know!” Peter replied, scratching his head.
“And making up a lie that he is in hospital, that is sick!” Susan shouted again. “You just wanted to get rid of me, didn’t you?”
“Of course not!” Peter replied.
“Well you’ve actually done a good job because I’m leaving right now! Don’t worry about taking me home, I’m getting a bus and calling social services about the poor treatment of a vulnerable baby boy!” Susan exclaimed, storming out of Peter’s flat.

As Amy heard Peter’s door slam, she jumped out of Peter’s bedroom, still naked and ran up to Peter.
“Well done!” she said, kissing Peter, who quickly pulled away. Peter’s door swung open again. It was Susan.
“I’ve left my handbag!” she exclaimed, before looking up to see Amy, stark naked. As Amy saw Susan, she ran back into Peter’s bedroom.
“That’s why, you had a naked girl in your flat! You sicken me Peter!” Susan said before bursting into tears, grabbing her handbag and slowly walking out of Peter’s flat.
“I’m sorry!” Peter shouted after her before storming into his bedroom and confronting Amy.
“Out!” Peter demanded.
“What?” Amy said, almost upset.
“You heard me! You are getting dressed and then you are out of here!” Peter demanded. Amy was gob smacked as she slowly got up from the bed and began to get dressed. “Come on, quickly now!” Peter demanded before leading her out of his bedroom.
“Now get out of my flat!” Peter exclaimed. “I never want to see you again!”
“Oh you will see me again” Amy said, grinning. “You will be seeing me in court!”

CHAPTER 11: PLAYING GOD

Peter threw himself onto his sofa, rolling himself some weed to smoke. He did several of them before calling it a day and retiring to his bed. In the morning he has to sort out his life.

“Wake up Billy no name!” Peter exclaimed, knocking on the door of his baby son’s bedroom. Wailing could be heard from the room as Peter made his way to the kitchen to make some toast. Peter opened his bread bin, reached for his loaf, grabbed a few slices of bread and put them in the toaster. As he waited for his toast to arrive, Peter grabbed hold of his phone, twiddling it in his hands, searching through his contacts, occasionally stopping on the option of his friend, Jimmy. The toaster blared, Peter jumped up and grabbed the hot toast, cramming both slices in his mouth before making the phone call he was dying to call ever since Amy made her threat.
“Jimmy, hey it’s Peter! Long time no speak” Peter said down the phone. Jimmy replied in his distinctive, husky voice.
“What do you want, Peter?”
“I want you to do a massive favour for me!” Peter asked, taking a deep breath as he said the words.
“And what would that be?” Jimmy replied.
“I’d like you to kill this girl, her name is Chloe and she works at the corner shop near me!” Peter blurted out.
“I’ll do that for you, for a price!” Jimmy demanded.
“How about I give you my car!” Peter replied, smiling.
“Your car? You didn’t have one last time I spoke to you!” Jimmy said, surprised at how far Peter had got on with his life since they last met.
“Well I do now!” Peter said, putting another slice of bread in the toaster.
“Well I’ll come round to yours later and I will check it out, see if it is worth enough, do you still live in the same place?”
“Yes! Same place” Peter replied.
“I’ll be round in about an hour, be ready for me!” Jimmy demanded before hanging up.


CHAPTER 12: IT’S ONLY A KID
Peter sat down on the sofa, twiddling his thumbs, tossing his phone around in his hands and drowning out his son’s cries for attention. Peter’s train of thought stopped when his phone rang. It was Scott. Peter contemplated hanging up on his ‘friend’ but then decided against it as he answered the phone.
“Scott?” Peter said, carefully.
“Where’s my car?” Scott exclaimed, his tone of voice was very harsh.
“I’m sorry, I’m just at work, I’m very busy, I’ll bring it down to yours soon!” Peter said.
“Well you better or you and me are going to fall out” Scott replied before hanging up. Almost immediately after Scott hung up, there was a knock on the door. Peter answered it, expecting to be met with Jimmy but instead it was a tall, brunette haired woman.
“Can I help you?” Peter asked, shocked by this strange woman’s appearance.
“I’m Julie Smith, from social services, can I come in?” she asked.
Peter couldn’t believe his bad luck, with worries about Amy, Scott and Jimmy going through his head, he barely had a chance to think of Susan’s threat of calling social services.
“Well come in” Peter said, reluctantly.
“Do you have a son?” Julie asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes I do” Peter replied, forcing a smile to please her.
“And what is his name?” Julie asked, intrigued to hear the answer, expecting a very stupid name.
“At the moment we call him Billy no name!” Peter replied.
“I see..” Julie replied, jotting several notes down in her notebook.
“You see, when his mum had him, she never gave him a name” Peter said, slightly embarrassed.
“How old is he, 18 months? And you haven’t thought of giving him a name?” Julie asked.
“I have been very busy” Peter replied.
“I see, and where is little, um, Billy no name?” Julie asked, looking around at the disgusting state of Peter’s flat.
“He is in his cot, in his bedroom” Peter said, showing her the way to his bedroom. Peter opened the door to the baby’s bedroom when an awful stench filled the air.
“This room smells disgusting!” Julie said, slowly walking towards the crying baby and picking him up. “It looks like this boy hasn’t had a change of nappy in days!”
“Well he has, I gave him a new nappy today!” Peter lied, trying to receive some lenience from Julie.
“I know you are lying Mr Freeman and that is why I’m taking this baby with me!” Julie exclaimed. Peter tried to pretend he was concerned,
“No! Please” he shouted.
“It’s too late now, I’m taking him right this minute, you will be hearing from us in due course!” Julie exclaimed as she stormed out of Peter’s front door. As Julie walked out of the front door, she was met by Jimmy.
“Alright, love?” Jimmy asked, in his very low tone of voice.
“Yes, thank you!” Julie replied, quickly shuffling towards her car. Jimmy knocked loudly at Peter’s door. Peter held his breath as he opened the door, hoping that it was Jimmy. His prayers were answered as Jimmy let himself in.
“You’ve changed a bit Peter, you have a new hairstyle!” Jimmy laughed, ruffling Peter’s hair.
“Haha, you are just the same as ever” Peter replied.
“Who was that lady out there with your kid, a new girlfriend?” Jimmy asked
“No, that was social services” Peter replied, trying not to seem to embarrassed.
“Sorry man, anyway I’ve been looking at the car, it’s pretty nice” Jimmy said, nodding his head in delight.
“It’s really something” Peter replied.
“It sure is, and I’d be willing to take that off your hands for you” Jimmy said, itching his head.
Peter’s phone rang.
“Ooh, sorry, I just have to get this Jimmy” Peter said, Scott was calling.
“Well while you are on the phone, give me the keys and let me have a look at the car” Jimmy said. Peter agreed and threw Jimmy the keys before walking into his bedroom to take the phone call.

CHAPTER 13: ANNOYING PEOPLE

“Scott” Peter said.
“Yes, it’s Scott, the person who you should be giving a car back to” Scott exclaimed, very angry.
“Yes, I’ve told you I am doing some extra work, I’ll be around in an hour!” Peter said.
“I don’t think that’s good enough” Scott replied, Peter could hear him gritting his teeth over the phone.
“Well it’s the best you are going to get at the moment, it’s out of my hands, if I leave work now, I will get sacked” Peter said, lying yet again.
“Well if you are not here in exactly an hour from this moment…now! Then you and me are going to fall out big time, you got me?” Scott said, hanging up. Peter threw his mobile phone on his bed before walking outside to meet with Jimmy.

“What a beauty” Jimmy said, feeling the leather on the car’s seats.
“I was lucky to get this” Peter replied.
“And you really want to give it to me for the sake of killing someone?” Jimmy asked, puzzled at Peter’s actions.
“Yes I do, I don’t really need a car” Peter replied, nervous.
“Why do you want to kill this girl, anyway?” Jimmy asked, intrigued.
“She ruined my chances with a sexy lawyer!” Peter exclaimed.
“Ouch, she’s almost as bad as Hitler!” Jimmy laughed.
Peter laughed sarcastically.
“You want to come with me then?” Jimmy asked.
“Come with you, where?” Peter asked, puzzled.
“To kill her!” Jimmy replied, grinning, showing his two gold teeth.
“Uhh, that’s not really my scene!” Peter replied, getting slightly scared that Jimmy would pull him into this.
“Go on, it’s fun to watch!” Jimmy said in a sick tone of voice.
“You are sick, Jimmy” Peter replied.
“I’m only joking mate, I’ll tell you when the deed is done” Jimmy said, pulling out a piece of chewing gum from his pocket and chewing very loudly.
“Beep, beep” Jimmy continued, pushing Peter gently out the car.
“I’ll see you around Jimmy” Peter replied.
“See you later alligator!” Jimmy said, speeding off down the road.

As Jimmy sped of down the road, Peter was already regretting his actions. Peter opened the door to his flat and sat down on the sofa and began to smoke some more weed. It had already been ten minutes since Scott had rang but that was the least of Peter’s worries.

Jimmy turned on the radio as he turned the right towards the corner shop where Amy worked. Jimmy began to sing along to the radio as he chewed and waited for a car to leave before he parked right outside of the shop. Jimmy turned of the radio, got out of the car and locked it. Jimmy walked into the corner shop and casually walked down the aisles, catching a brief glimpse of the girl at the till, she was wearing a name badge but he didn’t quite get the name, Jimmy picked up another pack of chewing gum and walked towards the counter. Jimmy took a long hard look at the girl and her nametag which read; Amy.
“Is this all, sir?” Amy asked, giving Jimmy an eyeful
“For now” Jimmy replied, menacingly.
“That will just be 51p please” Amy asked, politely.
“Cheers doll, you are a star” Jimmy said before winking, walking out of the shop, back into the car, putting the radio on and waiting patiently for Amy to finish her shift.

CHAPTER 14: FALLING VICTIM

It had been an hour since Scott had rang, Peter could hear his phone blaring from his bedroom but he forgot all his troubles as he had yet some more weed, the last of it.

“Oh, oh, we’re half way there…oh, oh, we’re living on a prayer!” Jimmy sang, in a very bad voice, along to the radio still waiting for Amy to finish work, he didn’t mind waiting, he was eating all the food Scott had left in the car and laughing at all the items he had found which he thought belonged to Peter.

After smoking everything he had, Peter walked over to his front door and locked it, he wanted to be left alone.

Jimmy’s eyes were peeled on the front door of the shop, a few women came out, not one of them Amy.
“Hurry up!” Jimmy muttered to himself, being impatient.

There was a loud knock at Peter’s door.
“Peter, where the hell is my car?” it was repeated several times. It was Scott. Peter ignored him.
“I will bash this door down if you don’t answer!” Scott exclaimed. Peter gave in and went to open the door.
“Scott!” Peter said.
“What!” Scott replied, annoyed.
“I just came back from work and I found the car stolen and there was a note on my door from Jimmy Matthews!” Peter exclaimed, catching his breath.
“You’ve got my car stolen, well that is just great!” Scott shouted about to punch Peter.
“It was Jimmy- he’s stolen it!”

“Hurry Up!” Jimmy shouted again but at that moment, Amy walked out of the shop. Jimmy got out of his car.
“You okay love?” Jimmy asked.
“Yes, thank you!” Amy replied, smiling and shivering.
“You look a bit cold!” Jimmy said.
“Yeah I am” Amy said.
“Where do you live?” Jimmy asked, trying to be as polite and genuine as possible.
“Other side of town!” Amy replied, chuffed that an older man was talking to her.
“Do you want a lift there? In my car?” Jimmy asked.
“Yeah, okay, thank you very much” Amy said, getting in the passengers seat.
Jimmy smiled as he walked round into the driver’s side and got in.
“This car is a lot like the car this guy has who lives down the street” Amy said.
Jimmy wondered if she was on to him but then decided that she wasn’t, he had already concluded that she wasn’t very smart.
“Oh there are tons of these cars!” Jimmy said, smiling.
“Oh” Amy said.
“So where exactly do you live, then?” Jimmy asked, beginning to drive off.
“Rugged Road” Amy replied, embarrassed.
“Oh alright, we’ll be there before you no it!” Jimmy said, grinning.

CHAPTER 15: A DRUG DEAL IN THE CHAOS

“That bloody Jimmy Matthews causes nothing but trouble for both of us, I told you not to get involved with him again, he kills people you know” Scott exclaimed, running his hand through his brown, bushy hair.
“Does he?” Peter replied, trying to sound surprised.
“He sure does” Scott said, casually.
“What the hell are we going to do?” Peter asked.
“Well you got it stolen, it’s your problem!” Scott said, storming out. “And you better get it back or else!”
As Scott slammed the door shut, Peter paused for a moment before running after him.
“Scott, wait!” Peter exclaimed.
“What?” Scott said aggressively.
“Can I have some more weed?”

“Why are we stopping?” Amy asked, as Jimmy stopped the car by a remote cliff.
“I just need some fresh air, I’ve been inside all day, we’re not far from where you live and I will only be a minute” Jimmy replied as he got out of the car, hoping that Amy would fall for the trap of his charms and follow Jimmy out of the car and she fell for it; hook, line and sinker.
“I need some fresh air as well, I have been working all day” Amy said, sitting by the edge of the cliff.
“What’s your name?” Amy asked, generally intrigued to know the name of her ‘driver’.
“The name is Jack” Jimmy replied, he was used to giving fake names, although he knew after he killed Amy she would obviously not tell anyone his name, he didn’t want to take any chances.
“Well I am Amy” Amy replied.
“Well I know that, it’s on your nametag” Jimmy said, chuckling.
“You are really nice” Amy said, moving in to kiss Jimmy. Jimmy began to kiss her for several seconds before grabbing hold of her and throwing her of the cliff.

“How much do you want? Ten pounds worth?” Scott asked.
“£25 worth please” Peter replied, rifling through his pockets and giving Scott the right amount of money.
“You’re lucky that I’ve got tons with me” Scott said, grinning before producing several packets of cannabis and handing it to Scott. As the deal was made, Peter’s landlord appeared from around the corner and looked on.
“What is going on here?” his landlord shouted, waddling up to Peter and Scott.
“I’ve got to go” Scott said, running off.
“Peter, is that drugs?” Peter’s landlord asked, in disgust.
“It’s none of your business” Peter replied.
“I will not have one of my tenants taking drugs”
“Well tough” Peter said, turning his back on his landlord.
“It’s the end of the month tomorrow anyway, if you don’t have half of your money for the rent, you are out of there anyway!” Peter’s landlord exclaimed before storming back into his flat. Peter ignored the threat and walked back into his flat and into his bedroom to retrieve his mobile phone, he had a text from Jimmy, it read; The deed is done.

CHAPTER 16: KNOCK, KNOCK

Jimmy got back into the car and threw his mobile phone onto the passengers seat. Amy’s handbag was still on it. Jimmy riffled through Amy’s handbag looking for any valuables, he found her mobile phone and over £100 in his wallet, he pocketed it all before grabbing the handbag, getting out of the car again and throwing it over the cliff.

Peter walked into his kitchen to make himself a cup of hot chocolate. He wasn’t keen on coffee or tea, which some people found strange. As the kettle boiled, there was a knock at the door. Peter didn’t like knocks at the door these days, it always seemed to be bad news; the police, social services, angry little men…Peter decided to open the door where a middle aged woman answered.
“Hello, are you Peter Freeman” she asked.
“Yes I am, and you are?” Peter asked, puzzled.
“I am Sarah Heart” she replied. Peter recognised the surname. “I’m your baby’s grandma”
“Excuse me” Peter said, shocked.
“I’m Maria’s mum” she said. “She is dead”
“Well, I’m really sorry to hear about that” Peter said, trying to sound upset.
“No your not, but you should be! Your baby’s mummy has died” Sarah replied, bursting into tears.
“I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to cause offence” Peter said, comforting her.
“Oh I’m sorry too” Sarah replied, wiping away your tears. “You actually seem like a nice boy”

“Come in” Peter said, smiling, showing her the sofa.
“Can I see my grandson?” Sarah asked, looking up at Peter.
Peter decided not to lie, he had lied too much in the past several days, it was time to tell the truth.
“I’m not going to lie to you, he is with social services” Peter said, ashamed.
“Oh my” Sarah replied.
“I’m sorry, I asked for him to go with them, I haven’t been coping very well” Peter said, the lies coming back.
“Well I suppose, it’s better than neglecting the child” Sarah said. “Would you mind if I could have a cup of tea?”
“I don’t have any tea, sorry. I have hot chocolate” Peter said. Sarah laughed. “I’ll have a hot chocolate then” Peter walked over to the kitchen and made Sarah a hot chocolate.

CHAPTER 17: TURN MY LIFE AROUND

“So, what is the baby’s name?” Sarah asked, sipping her hot chocolate.
“I haven’t got a name for him, your daughter messed up all that sort of stuff I think” Peter said, smiling modestly.
“Maria, she was a handful!” Sarah said, remembering her daughter.
“How did she die? If you don’t mind me asking” Peter asked, treading on egg shells.
“She committed suicide, she hung herself” Sarah said, trying not to cry.
“That’s awful, I’m really sorry” Peter said.
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault” Sarah said, grabbing Peter’s hand. Peter smiled graciously.
“How are you and your husband coping?” Peter asked, generally wanting to know the answer.
“I don’t have a husband, he died a few weeks ago, a week before Maria did” Sarah said.
“I’m really sorry, it’s been bad for you recently, hasn’t it?” Peter said, generally feeling sorry for this woman he had only just met.
“Thanks for the hot chocolate, Peter, but I better be getting back home, I just thought you should of known about Maria” Sarah said, standing up. Peter stood up as well.
“Well it was nice to talking to you” Peter said.
“It was nice talking to you as well” Sarah replied before heading towards the door.
“Sarah wait” Peter said sharply.
“Yes?” Sarah asked, looking back.
“Would you do me a big favour?”

“A big favour?” Sarah asked. “What kind of favour?”
“Well I know I’ve only just met you but you are my baby’s grandmother and I was just wondering, because I’m getting evicted from my flat tomorrow, could I stay with you?” Peter asked. Sarah paused before walking towards him.
“Are you serious?” Sarah asked, unsure of what sort of answer she was going to get.
“Yes I am” Peter replied, embarrassed.
“I mean if I could maybe sleep on your sofa for a bit, we could get my baby back from social services and we could look after him together” Peter said.
“Well I don’t know what to say” Sarah said, shocked.
“Please say yes” Peter said. “I’m begging you, I’ve got nowhere else to live”
“Well it’s getting lonely around the house, and I do want to see my grandson so I don’t see why not” Sarah said, chuckling.
“Thank you so much” Peter said, not sure if he should hug her or kiss her.
“I owe you one” Peter said, deciding he should hug her.
“Here is my address” Sarah said, getting a piece of scrap paper and a pen out of her bag and writing her address on it and giving it to Peter.
“Thank you” Peter said, taking it from her.
“Come round whenever, I will be in all day” Sarah said. “I’ll see you later” Sarah walked out, closing the door quietly.

CHAPTER 18: SUDDEN REALISATION

Peter collapsed on his sofa in relief for several moments. Peter then slowly got up of the sofa and walked out of his flat to next door, where his landlord lived and knocked on his door loudly. The door opened.
“Peter, what do you want?” Peter’s landlord asked.
“I don’t have the money for tomorrow so I am moving out” Peter exclaimed.
“Good, but don’t think you don’t still owe me any money” Peter’s landlord replied.
“I know I still owe you money and I will get it to you when I get it” Peter said, smiling before turning his back on his landlord and walking round the corner towards the kebab shop.

“Eh! Eh! What are you doing here?” Peter’s old boss in the kebab shop asked.
“I’ve come to say I’m sorry, Al!” Peter said, calling his boss by his first name for the first time in his life.
“I don’t want your apologies” Al replied, making sure Peter didn’t do anything stupid. “You should have been locked up for what you did to my door!”
“All I can give you is my apologies and the money in my pocket which, I’m sorry, is only £5” Peter said, getting a five pound note in his pocket and passing it to Al.
“Well thank you” Al said, snatching the money off Peter.
“It’s the least I can do” Peter said smiling “I’m moving away from Springhill”
“Oh, are you?” Al asked, frying some chips.
“Yes, tomorrow, so I just want to say, I enjoyed working here” Peter said, smiling, looking round at his old workplace.
“You weren’t a bad worker either, you just were always late and you had a temper on you” Al said.
“Yes and for that I’m sorry” Peter replied, reaching his hand out to shake Al’s hand. Al accepted it. “I’ll see you around” Peter said before walking out of the shop, a very happy man.

Peter’s phone rang, he had almost forgotten that he had ordered a 15 year old girl’s death. Peter answered it, it was indeed his henchman, Jimmy.
“Jimmy” Peter said.
“Well I’ve done it, did you get my text?” Jimmy asked.
“The text was a bit sick, wasn’t it?” Peter said, generally disgusted.
Jimmy laughed, “Just a little joke!”
“If that is your idea of a joke, I don’t like it” Peter said.
“Look, it wasn’t me who wanted this woman dead” Jimmy said, in a quiet tone for once.
“How did you do it?” Peter asked.
“How did I do what?” Jimmy replied sarcastically.
“You know what, now give me a straight answer” Peter demanded.
“I threw her of a cliff” Jimmy said, actually not laughing.
“I feel bad, I mean she was only 15” Peter said.
“15” Jimmy replied, in disbelief.
“Yeah, it’s bad right” Peter said.
“You made me kill a child” Jimmy said, in shock.
“I’m sorry” Peter said.
“Look, I don’t mind killing adults but why the hell didn’t you tell me she was a child?” Jimmy said, trying to hold back regret.
“I didn’t think it was important” Peter said, a tear streaming down his face.
“I’m a child killer” Jimmy said quietly and slowly before hanging up the phone. Peter wiped away several tears before throwing his phone down the gutter, followed by his weed and cigarettes. Peter wanted a new life, with his son, away from everyone else. Peter looked down at the gutter before walking back to his flat, trying not to feel guilty, he had to forget about Jimmy or his new life would be ruined.

“Why the hell did I throw my weed and my fags down the gutter?” Peter shouted to himself, hoping for an answer from somewhere but he knew he wasn’t going to get one- he was talking to himself in an empty flat.
“I need money” Peter said, continuing to talk to himself, a bit quieter now. Peter stood up from the sofa and began to search his flat.

Peter strolled into his room and began to search in his draws, under his bed, under his pillow and in every little square foot of his tiny, boxed shaped bedroom. Peter made his way from his room to his living room after finding a grand total of seventy-four pence in his bedroom.

There was nothing in Peter’s flat- Peter couldn’t turn up to Susan’s with no money- that was out of the question. There were two options; borrow or steal. He had already ordered a girl’s death, what he was going to do next was nothing compared to what he had done before. Peter made a decision and ran out of his flat for what seemed like the 1000th time this week.

CHAPTER 19: LAST TASTE OF SIN

Peter casually entered the corner shop, with no worries. Amy wouldn’t be watching him- she was dead. Peter looked around the store, looking for security cameras- there wasn’t any. Peter was almost alone in the shop apart from one customer at the till with the shop assistant, no other staff seemed to be in the shop. Peter grabbed a load of food and shoved them in his coat, he didn’t even look at what he had got and slowly walked out of the shop. Peter had just stolen food and it was so easy. Peter ran back to his flat- a man on a mission, and restocked his fridge, freezer and cupboards with all the food he had stolen and spent the next hour cleaning his whole flat before grabbing his phone and making a phone call.
“Hello, could I have social services, please?” Peter asked, twiddling the phone cord. Peter was told to wait and was treated to a little song while he waited. Peter wasn’t in to music, he never has been, in school when everyone was enjoying music, Peter was doodling and thinking about girls. One thing Peter had always wanted to do was write cartoons, not to be a computer programmer like he told some people.
The little song stop, a woman’s voice answered.
“Hello, can I help you?” the woman asked in a snooty tone.
“Yes, I am Peter Freeman, you have my son” Peter exclaimed.
“Yes? And what is your sons name?” She asked. Peter could hear her typing information into a computer.
“You see the funny thing is, he doesn’t have a name” Peter said, embarrassed.
“Well how can I help you?” the woman replied, obviously sick to death of Peter.
“Well maybe I could come down and point him out” Peter asked before being sharply cut off my the demanding woman’s voice,
“You just think you can come in and get your child back whenever you want? Without a name? Sir, you sicken me” the woman exclaimed.
“Excuse me, but I have turned my life around for that boy” Peter said.
“Give me a name” the woman asked, angrily.
“I told you I don’t have a name for the boy, he was never given one” Peter said, himself getting angry.
“I’ve heard it all before, mate” the woman said. “Stop wasting my time”
“Do you think I am some sort of paedophile?” Peter asked, quite upset by this statement before remembering that he had sex with a fifteen year old girl.
“Did I say that? Anyway if you don’t have a name for a child, you will have to go through are special department which isn’t open today, the number is 08678905289, it is open 9-3 tomorrow” she said before hanging up. Peter stared, puzzled at the phone before hanging up and quickly jotting the number down on a piece of paper.

Yawning, Peter walked to his bathroom, brushed his teeth, got his shirt off and got into bed, looking forward to what the next day would bring. A new home, a babysitter, less bills and a better chance of getting his life on track. Tuesday 25th November looks set to be one of the best day’s of Peter Freeman’s life.

CHAPTER 20: MOVING OUT

“But when I talked to this woman on the phone yesterday, she said that when I talk to you, you can sort it out!” Peter exclaimed, getting annoyed, twiddling the phone’s cord more as he got more angry.
“I’m sorry” the man a the other end of the phone replied.
“Look it’s not your fault, at least you are nice! Unlike the woman I spoke to yesterday, I’ll sort it out later, thanks for your help” Peter said before slamming the phone down and taking a deep breath. Peter had already packed all his stuff, which wasn’t much, into three cardboard boxes. He had decided he would pick them up as and when he could. Peter grabbed both his sets of keys, grabbed one of the boxes, smiled and walked out of his front door. Peter put the heavy cardboard box down as he closed and locked his front door, a voice could be heard from behind him.
“Peter” the voice said. It was recognisable. It was Peter’s landlord.
“Yes?” Peter asked, not looking back, still locking his door.
“So you are moving out now, then?” he asked.
“Yes, have you found anyone to move in?” Peter asked.
“Not yet, you know, I have been a bit harsh on you, you have lost your job and everything, you seem like a nice lad” Peter’s landlord said, sympathetically.
“I don’t deserve your sympathy, I’ve done some bad stuff, I am way behind on my rent, plus, I need a change of scenery, I have lived here for two years” Peter replied, smiling before walking towards his landlord and shaking his hand. “You haven’t been a bad landlord really”
“Thank you” Peter’s landlord replied before being handed the two sets of keys for the flat.
“Do you mind if I come back to collect a few things tomorrow or something?” Peter asked.
“Of course” Peter’s landlord replied. At that moment a young boy came round the corner, coming to deliver the papers.
“Morning” Peter’s landlord said to the boy who simply smiled before handing him his paper. Peter didn’t receive paper’s, he didn’t like reading. Peter’s landlord stared at the headline and Peter peeked over his shoulder. The headline read;
GIRL. 15. MISSING and there was a picture of Amy.
“Isn’t this awful?” Peter’s landlord said. “I heard about it last night, she worked at the shop around the corner”
“Yeah it’s really awful, I’m sorry mate I will have to go” Peter said, smiling uneasily before turning round to grab his belongings and heading towards the bus stop where he waited only a few minutes for a bus.

As Peter rode the bus, he looked around at several people reading the paper, he tried to read more into it, but couldn’t manage it. It was almost the stop, luckily the bus stopped right outside on Sarah’s road. As Peter got of the bus, Peter couldn’t take his eyes of the house number, or the lack of one, it just read ‘Woodland Grove’. After walking only a few feet in about a minute, Peter finally took his eyes of the paper and looked up to a sign reading ‘Woodland Grove’. Peter smiled before realising that behind the sign stood one of the biggest houses he had ever seen.

CHAPTER 21: OUT WITH THE OLD

“You’re house is marvellous” Peter said as he sat down on Sarah’s beautiful sofa.
“Well, my husband was a rich man” Sarah replied, smiling, delighted that she had some company.
“You’re not kidding” Peter said, in awe of his surroundings which included a grand piano, lots of paintings and some magnificently-crafted sculptures- and this was just the living room.
“Do you want a drink? I got some hot chocolate in” Sarah said, chuckling. Peter laughed back.
“I’ll take that as a yes” Sarah replied before retiring to the kitchen, leaving Peter to marvel at the house that could be called a work of art.

Sarah returned to the living room two minutes later with a cup of hot chocolate for Peter and a cup of coffee for herself.
“So, have you sorted out the baby stuff?” Sarah asked, sipping her coffee as she sat down beside Peter on the long, black sofa.
“No, damn social services! I rang them yesterday and I got this obnoxious little woman who was having a go at me and calling me a paedophile and today I get this man who has no idea what he is doing” Peter exclaimed, laughing, but actually quite annoyed.
“Hey, careful what you say, I’m in social services” Sarah replied, pretending to be insulted, but wasn’t really.
“You are in social services? Why didn’t you say before?” Peter asked, in shock.
“I didn’t think you needed to know” Sarah replied. “I’m sorry”
“Oh it is fine, but can you please get my son back so we can be a proper family here” Peter said. Sarah took a pause before speaking.
“What do you mean by a proper family?”
“Well what I mean is that he has a dad and a grandma who love him dearly and will look after him” Peter said.
“Oh, I see” Sarah said, forcing a smile. “I’ll give one of my friends high up in social services to sort it out now, we should have little Billy no name with us by the end of the day” Sarah said, looking worried as she walked towards her phone.

Sarah yet again returned to the room two minutes later, this time with news for Peter.
“Your baby is coming home” Sarah said, excited.
“Oh thank you, thank you” Peter replied, delighted as he stood up to hug her. “When is he coming then?” Peter asked, moving away from the hug.
“Is an hour good for you?” Sarah asked, grinning.
“That’s great” Peter said.
“Seeing as I have done a favour for you” Sarah said, sitting back down on the sofa, quickly followed by Peter.
“Yes?” Peter asked, intrigued.
“I’d like you to do a favour for me” Sarah said, her lips trembling.
“Are you okay?” Peter asked, coming to her aid.
“Yes I’m fine, well in fact, I’m not fine, I am dying” Sarah said before bursting into tears.

CHAPTER 22: ALMOST LIKE MURDER, BUT NOT.

“Eh, eh, eh, don’t cry!” Peter said, comforting his new ‘landlord’.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’ve put you in this awful situation” Sarah said, still crying but trying to hold back as many tears as possible.
“Don’t be silly, you would of needed to tell me at some point” Peter replied, not quite sure of what to say next.
“No, no, that’s only part of what I wanted to tell you” Sarah said. Peter looked shocked, wondering what sort of life he had brought himself into. If his new landlord was not long for this world, would his new life be jeopardy?
“Oh, what did you want to say?” Peter asked, intrigued but worried for what Sarah might say.
“I’ve done you some favours, I’d like you to do me a massive favour, I’d like you to help me commit suicide” Sarah said. Peter’s heart almost stopped, he could feel the most awful feeling in his stomach he had ever felt.
“Help you commit suicide?” Peter said, gob smacked.
“Please…please!” Sarah pleaded, grabbing onto Peter’s arms.
He had already ordered a murder, in some ways, this is not as bad, Peter had to make a decision and it would always be the same.
“Yes” Peter said as Sarah grabbed him and hugged him before standing up.
“Right, now we’ve got this out the way, let’s get your living arrangements sorted” Sarah said, wiping away the tears as she walked out the room. “Follow me” she said as she walked. In shock, Peter stood up and followed her upstairs.

Sarah showed Peter over twenty different rooms in the house before arriving at Peter’s bedroom which was a massive, wide-spaced room with several paintings and a big, silk sheeted bed.
“This room is brilliant” Peter said, taking it all in.
“Nothings too good for my grandsons daddy” Sarah said, giggling, a completely different picture of what she was several minutes ago.
There was a door which lead to an en-suite bathroom which had a shower and a bath. “Now let’s show you your baby’s room”
Sarah took Peter into a slightly smaller room which in the corner had a crate full of toys and in the center here was a beautiful, brand new baby’s cot.
“Did you buy this for me and the baby?” Peter asked, amazed. “That must of cost thousands of pounds”
“Well not for you” Sarah laughed. “No but honestly, I didn’t, it was for my baby, before I lost it”
“Oh, I’m sorry” Peter said, amazed at the life she has had full of tragedy.
“It’s not your fault, now let’s get a move on, let me show you the kitchen” Sarah said, leading Peter out of the room and down the stairs.
Downstairs, Sarah led him through several corridors to an absolutely massive kitchen, almost as big as his bedroom.
“Wow, look at this place” Peter said, looking round at the sparkling white and silver room.
“I’ve also got a personal chef who comes in at mid-day everyday at stays until 7pm” Sarah said.
“But you only live here, why do you need her?” Peter asked.
“I got her for you” Sarah smiled. Peter was flattered.
“Thank you, that’s such a nice thing you have done for me” Peter said, amazed at the lengths she has gone to accommodate two new people into her house.
“Now do you want to see the swimming pool?” Sarah asked. Peter was in his element now, he never thought that he would live anywhere like this in his entire life and he is getting to do it for free with a free babysitter and all he has to do was help kill his landlord. His mind seemed to pause whenever that thought rushed through his head which didn’t happen often. With usually many worries in his head, a pause seemed weird to him- it was something he had to get used to.

CHAPTER 23: A NEW BABY

The doorbell rang. Sarah’s doorbell was a cute little chime which lasted only a few seconds. Sarah walked towards the front door with Peter following soon. Sarah opened the door where there stood the same woman, Julie, which took Peter’s son, holding the baby
“Hello” Sarah said.
“Hello” Julie replied, passing the baby, who was laughing, to Sarah.
“Thank you very much, we will take care of him” Sarah said, smiling as she closed the door. Peter looked down at the baby, looking at how different he was after being not neglected for just a few days.
“Hello, this is your daddy” Sarah said, shaking her grandson lightly as she pointed to Peter. The baby looked round and smiled at Peter. Peter couldn’t help but raise a smile back.
“Hello” Peter said, amazed that his baby seemed to like him.
“Why don’t you hold him for it? I’ve spent the majority of my life holding a baby” Sarah said, passing the baby over to Peter. “Well it sure seemed like that anyway” she laughed. Peter slowly took his son from Sarah and held him in his arms. For the first time since he ever saw his son, he felt for his Baby.
“Aren’t you a big boy?” Peter said as his baby giggled.
“This little boy needs a name now, doesn’t he?” Sarah said, over-exaggerating all her movements, trying to make her grandson laugh- and succeeding.
“You know, he seems a lot happier since I last saw him” Peter said, looking away from his baby to Sarah.
“Social Services is a good place for a baby to go to for a few days if their parent’s need help” Sarah said, quite biased. “Especially when you are a single parent”
“I think I neglected him” Peter said, confessing.
“Well that’s all behind you now, this seems like one healthy baby now and it’s up from here” Sarah said. Peter smiled. “Now back to a name, we need to decide one now”
“I’ve been thinking of the name Oliver” Peter said. “It was my father’s name”
Peter wasn’t very fond of his father but he felt he had to continue his father’s legacy. Peter’s father left him when he was very young, Peter doesn’t know if he is dead or alive- he didn’t really care.
“That’s a lovely name” Sarah said.
“Would you mind if I called him Oliver?” Peter felt he had to ask.
“Of course you can, it is your baby” Sarah replied, laughing.
“Oliver it is then, Oliver Freeman” Peter said, looking down and smiling at his child.
“All you need now is a middle name” Sarah said. Peter hesitated before asking,
“I’d like you to pick a middle name”
“Me? Well, thank you very much” Sarah said. “If I was to pick a name I would say the name Simon”
“Simon? A nice name” Peter said.
“That was my husband’s name” Sarah replied, smiling a little.
“Oliver Simon Freeman, you are my son” Peter said, delighted of how is life was turning out at this very moment.
“You are a really nice man” Sarah said. Peter smiled a little, it wasn’t very often he was called nice, Amy’s parents wouldn’t think he was a nice person. After thinking about a new life, Peter remembered that he had also got ridden of someone’s life- another child. Peter tried to rid his mind of Amy and on with Oliver.
“Thank you” Peter said as little Oliver yawned. “Awww, are you tired?”
“I think he needs to have a little sleep” Sarah said, taking Oliver off of Peter and taking him upstairs, Peter followed her up into Oliver’s bedroom.

“This is your bedroom” Sarah said as she brought Oliver into his bedroom.
“Could you show me how to put him to bed?” Peter asked, embarrassed.
“Of course” Sarah said as she put Oliver to bed, showing Peter exactly how to do it. “It’s not very hard” Sarah said. “You will get used to it, you will be a fine father when I’m gone”
Peter paused as he remembered what Sarah asked him earlier.
“Do you remember what I asked you to do for me?” Sarah asked, stepping carefully.
“Yes, I do” Peter replied, trying not to look in Sarah’s eyes.
“I’d like you to do it tonight” Sarah asked. Peter’s eyes almost flew out of his eye sockets.
“Tonight?” he asked, shocked.
“Yes, I’d like you to smother me when I am asleep” Sarah said bluntly.
“Look, what do I say?” Peter asked.
“You will tell everyone that I died in my sleep” Sarah replied.
“I’m not sure if I will feel comfortable doing that” Peter said, his hand on his neck.
“You have already said you will do it Peter, don’t let me down” Sarah said as she walked out the room, quickly followed by Peter.
“Okay” Peter said. “Can I stay here after?”
“After I am dead? Of course you can, I have left you the house and all my money” Sarah said. Peter’s face lit up.
“All your money?” Peter said.
“Yes” Sarah replied.
“Don’t you want that to go to family?” Peter asked, trying to be polite, he desperately wanted the money.
“No, I have no family” Sarah said. “It’s sad, but it’s a fact”
“How much will I be getting exactly?” Peter asked, expecting a mediocre amount of money.
“I would think well over a million” Sarah replied, casually. Peter stopped in his tracks.
“A million pounds?” Peter said, not believing what he was hearing.
“Yes, a million pounds, is that not okay?” Sarah asked sarcastically.
“You are honestly leaving me all that money?” Peter asked. “It is in your will?”
“It’s in my new will, written yesterday! The money will be available almost as soon as I am dead” Sarah said, walking downstairs into the kitchen. Peter smiled as he followed her into kitchen, not believing how much his life was about to change.

CHAPTER 24: FAREWELL AND GOOD NIGHT

Night descended on Woodland Grove, Peter was sat watching television on the massive 50 inch television in the living room. Sarah was in another room, he didn’t know where she was. Peter knew it would soon be time to do his deed. As Peter watched the adverts on television, he mentally noted which things he wanted. A new laptop, an iPhone and a brand new pair of trainers were already on the list. Peter began to think that his luck would run out soon but it was not showing any signs of happening. Peter was the happiest he had ever been.
“Peter” Sarah exclaimed as she entered the living room. Peter looked up with a massive smile on his face. “You enjoying the television?” she asked, grinning.
“Yes thank you” Peter replied, a picture of himself smothering Sarah appeared in his mind.
“I’m going to bed now, I know it’s an awful thing to say, but I never want to see your face again, You have been a great friend for the time we have known each other and I want you to enjoy the life you have with your son” Sarah said before smiling and walking up to bed. Peter didn’t know what to say to that, he knew what she was implying, Peter had to smother her but that was the dark side of his new found luck. “Bye” Peter shouted as he sat back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. Peter sighed as he switched the television off and ran after Sarah.
“Sarah” Peter exclaimed.
“I thought I said I didn’t want to see you” Sarah replied, laughing.
“It’s not funny” Peter said. “You are such a lovely person and I owe so much to you, you have changed my life and I thought I would just say thank you, it’s not much but it is all I have”
“You’re a lovely lad” Sarah said before smiling, walking into her bedroom and closing the door behind her. Peter slowly walked across the corridor and down the stairs into the kitchen. Peter began to search through the wine cooler and grabbed a bottle of wine. Peter unscrewed the bottle and poured himself a glass of wine. Peter decided he would have to wait about twenty minutes before he did the deed.

Those twenty minutes were arguably the longest twenty minutes in Peter Freeman’s life, after several glasses of wine and a ham sandwich he made later on, Peter walked upstairs. Peter took one step at a time, not going too slow, not going too fast. Before walking into Sarah’s room, Peter just stood outside of it for several minutes. After deciding he couldn’t wait any longer, Peter opened the door and walked in. Sarah was asleep. She had set aside a pillow for Peter. Peter couldn’t help but raise a smile to the wonderful woman as he walked towards the pillow. Peter held the pillow tightly in his two hands and walked towards Sarah, stood over her, waiting a few seconds and then shoved the pillow in his face. He held the pillow their for about thirty seconds or so, and then pulled the pillow away. It was obvious to him that she was dead. He shed a tear as he stood back and stared at the motionless body before realising by doing that act Peter now had an empire worth over £1 million. Peter was now a millionaire. Peter slowly walked downstairs into the living room where he got hold of the phone and dialled 999.
“Hello, ambulance please, Woodland Grove, thank you” Peter said before hanging up and collapsing in a heap on the sofa.

The ambulance took almost ten minutes to arrive, Peter met with the ambulance driver and the paramedics and explained that Sarah died in her sleep. The paramedics entered the house, walked upstairs and brought the body down in a body bag. Peter looked on as the Ambulance drove away and couldn’t help feeling like a murderer for the second time however the joy overtook the sadness as he got ready to live life as a millionaire.

CHAPTER 25: LIVING THE HIGH LIFE

“So the money is now mine?” Peter asked, twiddling the phone cord in his hand on this beautiful Friday morning. “Yes? That’ great, it’s all good, thank you very much, have a good day” Peter slammed the phone down. He wasn’t angry- far from it. Peter skipped into the kitchen where the cook was waiting for him. “I would like a grilled steak sandwich for lunch please” Peter asked.
“Yes, very good” the cook replied, before ushering Peter out of the kitchen. He was more than happy to as he walked out of the house down to the shops.

Like his old flat, there was a shop right around the corner. Peter entered the shop, a little bit more upmarket from the other corner shop. Peter grabbed a couple of magazines, a sports magazine and a lads mag and threw them into his hand basket as well as a couple of chocolate bars and a couple of packs of chewing gum. Peter made his way down the shop, picking up anything and anything just for the fact that he could and made his way back up to the cash register. Peter passed the shop assistant £100.
“Keep the change” he said.
“Thank you” she shop assistant replied, repeating the phrase several times and grinning as Peter walked out of the shop.

Peter opened the front door to his new home very casually for the first time. Last time he was invited in, this time he walked in. He was met by a woman holding Oliver.
“Hello I am your son’s nanny, Martha” she said, shaking Peter’s hand.
“Thank you so much for coming! Is it alright if you come every day at about the same time?” Peter asked, his eyebrows raised.
“That is fine” Martha replied, very happy that she had a steady job.
“How much do you want an hour?” Peter asked.
“I normally charge £18 an hour” Martha replied.
“How about I give you £22 an hour?” Peter said do a delighted Martha.
“Really?” Martha said, shocked.
“Yes, do you want some more?” Peter asked.
“Please don’t give me anymore, I will get a heart attack” Martha said, giggling.
“Imagine my reaction when I found out I would be a millionaire yesterday” Peter replied, his smile the biggest it had ever been in his life. “How is my little son today, anyway?”
“He is fine sir” Martha replied, looking down at Oliver.
“Please don’t call me sir, call me Peter” Peter insisted.
“Okay Peter” Martha replied as Peter strolled past her into the kitchen where his cook awaited him.
“You’re grilled steak sandwich is ready” Peter’s cook said, presenting Peter with his lunch.
“That is great” Peter said, taking the plate from her. “What can I call you by the way?”
“I am Silvia” she replied, grinning widely.
“Well thank you very much Silvia, make yourself some lunch” Peter said, taking a bite from his sandwich as he made his way to the living room to sit down on the sofa.

To the side of Peter lay a catalogue, Peter smiled to himself as he picked it up and lay it on his lap. After eating his sandwich, Peter put the plate down to one side, got his phone ready and began to search through the catalogue for things he liked. Peter chose an iPhone, a new laptop and several new shirts. Peter now had the ability to buy anything he wanted.
“So it will all arrive within a few days? That is great, no! thank you very much, alright, have a nice day” Peter said before putting the phone down. Peter sat up, picked up his plate and strolled back into the kitchen with a spring in his step.
“Oh, I’ll wash that up” Silvia said, smiling.
“No you won’t, the least I will do is wash up one little plate” Peter said, laughing as he simply put the plate into the dishwasher.
“Where are you going now, Peter?” Silvia asked, intrigued.
“I think I am going to make a few business deals” Peter said, winking before walking out the front door. Along with the massive house and lots of money, Sarah had also left Peter two cars. One was a simple Range Rover and the other was a flash Audi. Sarah had left her set of keys on the table top in the Kitchen, they were now in Peter’s hands as he walked towards the Audi, unlocked the door and sat in the drivers seat. Peter couldn’t help relax in the comfort of the leather bound drivers seat, as Peter put his keys in the ignition, the drivers seat warmed up and Peter’s eyes lit up. Peter reversed down the drive, took a U-Turn and began to drive, in the speed limit, down the road.

CHAPTER 26:

Peter continued down the high-street after splashing out on a new wardrobe, which he was now wearing, and walked into an estate agents. With a grin, which hasn’t seemed to leave his face for several days, Peter walked over to the front desk.
“Hello, I am Stuart, can I help you today?” Asked the man at the desk.
“Yes, I’d just like a chat with you about buying property” Peter replied.
“Right, well you sit down here with me and we will have a little chat” replied a camp Stuart, showing Peter to a separate desk and sitting down with him.

“So, ask away” Stuart said, a notepad at the ready.
“Well I have recently come into a lot of money and I have thought about investing in property” Peter replied.
“The first thing you have to ask yourself is what sort of property would you like? Would you like to own a house, or a block of flats to rent out to people?” Stuart asked.
“That is what I want, I’d like to buy some flats so I can rent them out, all I want is to own an empire” Peter said, slightly embarrassed of letting out his life-long ambition.
“Well there are a few blocks of flats for sale in town alone, that block of flats across the street are for sale right now” Stuart said, hoping to unload them on Peter.
“I want them” Peter said bluntly. He didn’t have much to lose. “How much?”
“Well those ones are £735,000” Stuart said. Peter didn’t think much about the next decision. “Done”
“You won’t regret this, sir” Stuart said with delight as he got hold of his phone. “Mark, yes, you have got a buyer for your flats, he is buying them all, do you want to talk to him?” Stuart asked before passing the phone to Peter.

“Hello, this is Mark Johnson” the man at the other end of the phone said.
“And this is Peter Freeman” Peter replied, confidently.
“So, you want to buy my flats, do you know anything about flats?” Mark asked, a tough business man.
“No, but I’m willing to learn with some staff” Peter said.
“I like you Peter, you seem like a good guy, and I am willing to sell the flats to you” Mark replied.
“Then it’s done, then?” Peter asked.
“I’d like to meet with you to discuss it first” Mark said. Peter was expecting that.
“And I would like meet with you” Peter replied, “See that you are not ripping me off” Peter said, laughing. Mark laughed as well.
“Ever the joker, aren’t you Peter? I’ll meet with you tomorrow for lunch” Mark said. “I’ll meet you at these estate agents at midday tomorrow, that okay with you?”
“That’s fine with me” Peter replied. “See you then”. Peter hung up.
“You like Mr. Johnson?” Stuart asked.
“He seems like an alright man” Peter replied, standing up. “Thanks for your help”
Peter walked out the of the shop with his head up high, never in his life did Peter think he would be making any deals other than drug deals.

CHAPTER 27:

“Good evening Martha” Peter said, walking through his front door, whistling.
“Hello Peter, have you had a good day?” Martha asked.
“Yes, I have had a brilliant day” Peter replied, whistling again.
“A man rang for you” Martha said.
“Oh yeah? Was his name, Mark?” Peter asked, as he hung up his new coat.
“No, his name was Scott, he was asking where his car was?” Martha said, puzzled. Peter wasn’t puzzled, he forgot that he had sold someone else’s car.
“Did he leave his number?” Peter asked.
“Yes he did, he said that he hasn’t been able to call you on his mobile for a few days” Martha replied.
“Oh okay, I’ll give him a ring now” Peter said.
“His number is by the phone” Martha replied, yawning.
“Thank you, and are you tired?” Peter asked.
“Yes I am actually” Martha replied.
“Well why don’t you go home early, I’ll look after little Oliver” Peter said, winking.
“Are you sure?” Martha asked, amazed at Peter’s kindness.
“Sure I’m sure” Peter said. “Get off home, I’ll see you tomorrow”
“Thank you Peter” Martha said, kissing Peter on the cheek.
“Eh, eh, eh, we’ll have less of that” Peter replied, laughing.
“Sorry, but you are such a lovely person” Martha replied, like a giddy little girl.
“Well I get that all the time” Peter replied, gently laughing as he walked towards the phone.
“Bye” Martha said as she got her coat and walked out of the front door.

Peter dialled the number which lay on the table beside him and waited for an answer. He got one.
“Peter” Scott exclaimed.
“How did you get this number?” Peter asked sharply.
“You’re landlord, I mean your old landlord” Scott replied.
“How did he get it?” Peter asked, still puzzled.
“I think you left a number in your old flat” Scott said. “Now, to business, have you got my car from Jimmy, yet?”
“No, I haven’t” Peter said, not worried about what reply he would get.
“Well get it” Scott demanded.
“I’ll do one better, I will buy you a brand new car of your choice” Peter said.
“Yeah right, with what money?” Scott asked, his tone now changed.
“With my new found money” Peter said. “I will buy you a new choice, you can come round with me tomorrow and we will pick you a car”
“You are kidding, will you?” Scott asked, like a little child.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow in my new car and you can pick any car you want” Peter promised.
“Well come round to mine in the morning and we’ll go car shopping” Scott said.
“Will do! See you then” Peter said as he hung up the phone. Oliver began to cry behind him.

“There, there, Oliver, it’s okay” Peter said as he picked up his son and tried to comfort him. As he began to comfort his son, Peter began to realise how much he needed to be comforted. Although he had money, Peter was lonely; very lonely. After several minutes of crying, Oliver stopped and began to fall asleep as Peter took his son to bed.

Peter looked down by his son’s bed where one of his jackets lay. Peter walked towards it and checked through his pocket where he found a card. A business card. Susan’s business card. Peter grasped the card in his hand before slipping it into his pocket, kissing his son on his head and walking downstairs.
“Do you want anything to eat?” Silvia asked, who was at the bottom of the stairs, with a pot in her hands.
“No thank you, I’m just going to meet a friend, could you keep an eye on Oliver?” Peter said.
“Of course I will, have fun, I’m getting dinner started soon” Silvia replied, smiling as she walked back into the kitchen.

Peter jumped into the Audi and made his way out of the drive, taking another glance at Susan’s business card as he made his way down the road. Peter arrived outside Susan’s twenty minutes later. Peter waited for several minutes, trying to figure out what to say, before getting out of his car and knocking on the front door.
“Peter” Susan said as she opened the door, she wasn’t impressed.
“Hello” Peter replied.
“What do you want?” Susan asked, leaning on the door frame.
“I’d like you to be my girlfriend” Peter asked. Susan laughed in his face.
“You are pathetic” Susan said, shaking her head.
“I’ve changed my life around, I want to be with you” Peter said.
“Lots of people want to be with me” Susan said, full of herself. Peter got down on his knees. “What are you doing?”
“I’m getting on my hands and knees to beg for you, I have changed my life around, I promise, I have a new house and lots of money and I’ll tell you what, that car is mine! That Audi is mine!” Peter exclaimed.
“Well I am impressed, but why should I get back together with you?” Susan asked.
“Because I know you still like me” Peter said, trying not to be too full of himself.
“Last time I saw you, you were getting rid of me for a naked girl” Susan said, still disgusted.
“I didn’t know she was there, I promise” Peter said.
“Fine I’ll take you back, but you have to show me your new life” Susan demanded.
Peter got up from the floor. “I’ll do that right now, I’ll show you my new house.
“Now?” Susan said, shocked at Peter’s willingness.
“Yes, come with me” Peter said. Susan locked her front door and followed Peter to his car.
“After you” Peter said, leading Susan into the passengers seat as he got into the drivers seat with a smile on his face.
“What a lovely car” Susan said, looking around at the interior.
“Wait until you see what happens when I turn the engine on” Peter boasted as he put the engine on, to Susan’s delight her seat warmed up.
“Wow” she said, in awe as Peter began to drive off.

CHAPTER 28:

“I’m home” Peter said, leading Susan through the front door.
“Who are you talking to?” Susan asked. “Not another naked girl?”
“No, my cook” Peter laughed.
“And this is really your house” Susan said, looking around at the marvellous building.
“It sure is, and I have a name for my son now, his name is Oliver” Peter said, smiling.
“Can I see him?” Susan asked. Peter simply nodded and led Susan upstairs into Oliver’s room where he was fast asleep.
“He is absolutely gorgeous” Susan said, fussing over the little baby.
“Shh!” Peter said. “He needs sleep”
“I’m sorry” Susan said, walking out of Oliver’s room into the hallway, quickly followed by Peter. “I believe you now, I believe you, you have changed your life around beyond belief, how have you done it?”
“I have inherited a lot of money and this house” Peter said, still not believing what has happened to him.
“Well you are one lucky person” Susan said.
“And I’m not stopping working, just because I’ve got money! In fact I’m probably going to work more than ever, I am buying a block of flats and thinking of buying more” Peter said.
“Stop there” Susan asked. “I believe you, I’m willing to give us another shot”
“Stay here to tonight and have dinner with me” Peter asked.
“Yes I will” Susan replied, smiling.
“Well, let’s see if dinner is ready” Peter said, leading Susan back downstairs.

“Silvia” Peter shouted.
“Yes?” Silvia asked, walking towards Peter who was standing with Susan at the bottom of the stairs.
“Could you make some extra food for Susan, my friend?” Peter asked.
“Of course, I’ve made enough for plenty, it should be ready soon” Silvia said, smiling as she walked back into the kitchen.
“Well, what do you want to do while we wait?” Peter asked, looking into Susan’s eyes. “Do you want to watch a bit of telly?”
“Whatever” Susan replied, looking back into Peter’s eyes as they led her into the living room.
“Shall we see what is on?” Peter asked, slumping onto the sofa, quickly followed by Susan who moved close to Peter.
“No” Susan said.
“No?” Peter replied, puzzled.
“No” Susan said before moving in to kiss Peter.
“Silvia? How long will it be until dinner?” Peter shouted into the kitchen.
“About twenty minutes” Silvia exclaimed.
“Great” Peter said quietly, looking into Susan’s eyes. Susan stood up and held out her hand for Peter who took it and followed Susan upstairs.
“Which room?” she asked.
“This one” Peter replied, grabbing her by his hand and leading her into his bedroom.

CHAPTER 29:

“Dinner is ready” Silvia shouted. Peter and Susan were in bed, relaxing.
“We’ll be down in a second” Peter shouted back downstairs, taking a deep breath. “You are amazing” Peter whispered into Susan’s ears.
“Shall we go for dinner?” Susan asked.
“Yes, we shall” Peter said, getting out of bed and throwing some clothes on as Susan lay in the bed. “Come on, get up” Peter continued, chuckling before pulling her up out of bed and giving her a kiss. She began to get dressed and Peter walked hand in hand with her downstairs.

“What have you been up to?” Silvia asked, eyebrows raised.
Peter and Susan simply looked at each other as they accepted their dinner plates from Silvia.
“This looks delicious” Susan said, looking at the beautiful presented meal which lay in front of her, she didn’t really know what it was, but pretended she did.
“I think we should both raise a toast to money and Silvia” Peter said, raising his glass.
“To money and Silvia” Susan and Peter said together.
“Thank you very much” Silvia replied, smiling modestly. “Is it alright if I go home, now?”
“Of course you can” Peter said, shaking her hand. “Have a good night, see you tomorrow”
Silvia grabbed her coat before walking out of the front door.
“What do you like about me?” Peter asked Susan with a fork full of food in his mouth.
“I think you are a lovely man” Susan replied, smiling, looking into Peter’s eyes. “What do you like about me?”
“Other than the fact that you are a sexy lawyer?” Peter said, laughing.
“I’ve never been so happy” Susan said.
“Well, neither have I, after we eat this, what do you say we have an early night?” Peter asked.
“That would be great” Susan replied, giving Peter a kiss before hurrying to finish her meal.
“There is no need to rush” Peter said, laughing as he took his time to eat his meal and drink his wine. “Take time to enjoy the meal” Peter said, standing up and walking towards the hi-fi system.
“What are you doing?” Susan asked, chewing on her food.
“I’m putting a CD on” Peter said, flipping through Sarah’s old CD collection. “What a load of rubbish music! James Blunt, Will Young…ergh!”
“I like James Blunt” Susan said, shocked that Peter didn’t.
“Well let’s put on a bit of James Blunt!” Peter replied, picking up the CD and putting it into the hi-fi system. The music began to play.
“I absolutely love this song” Susan said, as Peter walked back towards her to sit down.
“What music are you into?” Susan asked, looking up to Peter.
“Me?” Peter said. “Well I’m not really into much music”
“Well I will have to get you into lots of music, won’t I?” Susan said, laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Peter asked, feeling offended.
“You! You make me laugh” Susan replied, still laughing.
“Yes” Peter said spontaneously.
“What?” Susan asked.
“It’s been a dream of mine to be told I make someone laugh, and I have done that” Peter said, delighted.
“You are weird” Susan said. “I like weird”
“Time for bed” Peter said, standing up and running upstairs. Susan stood up slowly before smiling and running after Peter.

CHAPTER 30: FIRST WORDS

An alarm clock blared. It was Susan’s. Susan got up.
“What are you doing up at this time?” Peter muttered, rolling over to notice the time was 5 o’clock in the morning.
“Some people have to get to work” Susan replied as she got dressed.
“How are you going to get to work?” Peter asked, more awake now.
“I’ll get a bus” Susan replied.
“No you won’t” Peter said, alarmed.
“Why not?” Susan replied.
“I’m not having you paying for a bus, I’ll take you to work in my Audi” Peter replied, grinning, his eyes still closed.
“Well, if you insist” Susan replied, delighted.
“I do insist” Peter answered, his eyes now open as he began to get dressed. “Do you want some breakfast?” Peter asked.
“I would love some breakfast” Susan replied.

“Let’s see what we have here” Peter said, strolling into the kitchen. He walked over to the fridge and opened it. “Well we have some bacon and we have some eggs”
“That would be great” Susan replied “I love a good old fashioned fry up!”
“A fry up it is then” Peter replied as he cracked the eggs over the pan and turned on the hob and began to cook the eggs. He then threw on some bacon and began to cook. Susan glanced over at the clock in the kitchen.
“Oh Peter, I’m sorry but there is no time, I need to get to work now” Susan exclaimed, alarmed.
“Oh, oh, oh, sorry, come on, we’ll go now” Peter said, turning the hob off and running towards the front door.
“What about Oliver?” Susan asked. Peter paused, he had almost forgot.
“Damn! His nanny doesn’t turn up until 8!” Peter exclaimed. “You’ll have to go without me”
“What do you mean? Get a bus? I’ve missed the bus” Susan said, like it was Peter’s fault.
“Take the other car” Peter said. “I have two car’s; The Audi and the Range Rover”
“You’re great” Susan said, kissing Peter on the cheek. Peter reached for his set of keys and unhooked the Range Rover’s keys and handed them to Susan.
“Well you take care of the car” Peter said.
“I will do! Bye” Susan said, kissing Peter on the cheek again and walking out the front door.

Peter made his way upstairs to see his son.
“Oliver” Peter said as he slowly opened his son’s bedroom door where a beaming Oliver Freeman met his father. He was trying to get out of his cot.
“Eh, eh, eh, son, stay there” Peter said, walking towards his son who he picked up. Peter began to tickle his son who began to giggle, Peter took Oliver into his own bedroom and fell onto his bed and began to play with his son like he was a puppy. This was the sort of love Peter had always wanted. Peter, Susan and Oliver would be the perfect family with the perfect life. “Daddy” Oliver muttered.
“What was that you said?” Peter asked, alarmed. He had never heard his son talk. Oliver didn’t say anything again. “Oh my god, my son has just said his first words” Peter repeated over and over. “Daddy, his first word was daddy!” Peter kissed his son on the forehead.
“Can you say it again, Oliver?” Peter asked. Oliver answered.
“Daddy” he said, rolling around on Peter’s bed, laughing.
“Come here” Peter said, signalling for his son to crawl over to Peter. Oliver did. Peter began to whisper in his ear.
“Whatever happens, whatever obstacles come in our way, remember your father loves you deeply”
Peter spent the next hour or so before Martha arrived, playing with his son. He fed him, changed him; loved him.

“Good morning” Martha said, rushing through the front door. Peter made his way downstairs with Oliver in his arms. “And how is my favourite little boy today?
“I’m fine thanks” Peter replied, laughing. Martha smiled.
“Are you up to much today then, Peter?” Martha asked, taking Oliver from Peter.
“Yeah, I’m doing a few things but I have some news” Peter said, excited.
“Oh yes?” Martha asked.
“Oliver said his first word earlier” Peter said, blurting it out like it was the best thing to happen since sliced bread.
“Oh that’s wonderful, what was it?” Martha asked.
“Daddy” Peter said, walking towards the front door. “Daddy” he said again, waving his son goodbye and walking out of the front door. Martha looked on in astonishment.

CHAPTER 31: A SHOCK DISCOVERY

Peter arrived outside of Scott’s flat a little after 8:30, got out of his car and knocked on Scott’s front door. There was no answer. Peter knocked on the door again and waited. There was still no answer. Peter checked to see if the door was open- it was. Peter walked in.
“Scott?” Peter said, carefully, looking around the dirty flat. Peter could see no evidence of anyone, he opened a door, it was a bedroom; Scott’s bedroom. On the bed lay Scott’s body and beside it lay several needles, pills and bottles.
“Scott!” Peter exclaimed, running to his aid. Peter checked to see his pulse. There was nothing. Scott was dead. Peter stood up straight and stared at the body, trying to hold back any shock. Peter reached over his body to his phone. Peter began to dial.
“Hello, I’ve found a dead body, yes, it’s a friend of mine” Peter said. “The address is 162 Trenchcove Road, thank you” Peter continued before slowly hanging up the phone. Peter decided he wouldn’t wait in a room with a dead body and decided to wait in Scott’s dirty living room. Looking around, Peter drew similarities with his old way of life. Old newspapers, magazines and dirty dishes littered the room and the smell of drugs was in the air. No way would Peter go back to this life- ever. Smoking, drinking and drug taking is not the new way of life for Peter Freeman. Lots of thoughts rushed through Peter’s head as he waited; at least he didn’t have to fork out for a new car. The police and an ambulance arrived at Scott’s flat, they simply walked through the front door which Peter had stupidly left open.

“Are you Peter?” A policeman asked as medical staff pushed past them towards Scott. “Excuse me, but do I recognise you?”
“Yes, you arrested me the other week” Peter replied, embarrassed.
“What’s happened here, then?” The policeman asked.
“I’d come round, believe it or not, to buy Scott a new car, I owed him one” Peter said.
“Uh-huh, and what happened next?” The policeman asked.
“Well, I knocked on the door to meet him, and there was no answer so I just opened the door and walked in, I looked around and found him dead in his bedroom and then I called you” Peter said bluntly.
“We may need a statement from you later” The policeman replied, smiling and patting Peter on the back. Several medical staff exited Peter’s front door with an occupied body bag. Peter couldn’t help but feel sad as the body was taken out of the flat and into an ambulance. Although Peter wasn’t close friends with Scott, he was a friend and Peter didn’t have many friends. Peter followed the medical staff and the policeman out of Scott’s flat.
“Would you please follow me in your car to the police station?” The policeman asked. Peter complied and got into his car. As the police car began to drive off, Peter followed.

Peter arrived at the police station in less than ten minutes and got out of his car. He parked to the side of the Police car and followed the policeman into the Police station.
“We just need to give this man an interview” The policeman asked the other policeman at the front desk before escorting Peter into an interview room. The interview lasted several hours in which time Peter had to formally identify his relationship to Scott. After all that was done, Peter was free to go and was late for his meeting with Mark. Peter began to speed off towards the estate agents. It was 12:30 when Peter arrived at the estate agents, luckily Mark was still there.

CHAPTER 32: DRESSED TO IMPRESS?

“I’m sorry I’m late” Peter said, running towards the man who he hoped was Mark.
“Are you Peter?” the man asked.
“Yes, I’m Peter Freeman” Peter replied, smiling.
“Well I am Mark Johnson” Mark replied. “There is no need to apologise, us business men are always late, well this one is” Mark said, laughing. Peter was delighted to be referred to as a business man, that had never happened before.
“It’s brilliant to meet you, I can’t wait to discuss this new business venture” Peter said, beginning to even sound like a business man as he shook Mark’s hand.
“So do you want to go and get some lunch?” Mark asked, his eyebrows raised.
“That would be great” Peter replied.
“Great, there is this lovely little café round this corner” Mark replied, leading Peter round the corner to Cobblestone’s Café.

Peter and Mark sat down at a table. A waitress came to take their order.
“Hello, what can I get you two?” the waitress asked, very politely. The café seemed very posh.
“Yes, I would like lobster please” Mark replied, smiling.
“I’ll have the same” Peter said. He had never tried lobster before but had always wanted to.
“And to drink?” the waitress asked.
“I’ll just have a beer” Mark replied, smiling.
“I’ll have the same but make it a small one” Peter said, trying not to copy Mark too much.
“That’s great then” the waitress replied, walking off.
“You into Lobster, then?” Mark asked, impressed by his business partner’s taste for food.
“I love the stuff, have had it ever since I was a child” Peter said. He didn’t like to lie, but if it impressed people, it was a good idea.
“You are a man of good taste” Mark replied, smiling. “Now, down to business”
“Yes sir” Peter said, with a willingness to listen.
“You don’t have to call me sir” Mark replied, massaging his ego.
“Sorry” Peter said, uneasy.
“And there is no need to apologise either, you are like a young me, I was like you always working for the man!” Mark said. “I am not your boss”
“I know your not” Peter said, perking himself up and picking his head up.
“Why do you want to own a block of flats?” Mark asked casually.
“I want to build an empire, and this is where I want to start, I’m 20 years old and have just come into a bit of money” Peter said bluntly.
“How much exactly, if you don’t mind me asking?” Mark asked, generally intrigued.
“A big house, two cars and well over a million pounds”
Mark paused, shocked by the figures. “Wow” he said, simply.
“I know, I still can’t believe it myself” Peter said, trying to hide his delight.
“It could be a risk you know” Mark said “Buying these flats”
“I’m aware of the risks, thank you” Peter said.

For the best part of the next hour Mark talked extensively with Peter about the flats. He talked about how Peter would run the flats, what staff he would need. He told Peter everything he needed and more. Mark agreed to sell the flats and Peter signed on the dotted line. All what was needed now was for Peter’s money to be transferred into Mark’s account and Peter would have his new job.

CHAPTER 33: A MYSTERIOUS LETTER

“Peter” Martha exclaimed as Peter walked through his front door.
“Yes?” Peter asked, his teeth seemed to sparkle as he talked.
“You have received some packages” Martha said, pointing to the packages which lay beside her on a small table.
“Oh great” Peter said, hoping that they were his new laptop, his iPhone and his new shirts. “Where is Oliver?”
“Oliver is in the living room watching a DVD” Martha replied, smiling as she re-arranged her hair.

Peter began to rip his packages open, what he had hoped would arrive; arrived.
“Ooh an iPhone” Martha said, in astonishment. “And, is that a Macbook?”
“Yes, yes” Peter said, amazed that he would ever have these sorts of gadgets.
“I am so jealous” Martha said, pausing.
“Yes?” Peter said. “You looked like you were going to say something”
“Oh yes, yes, sorry” Martha said, acting strange. “A woman called Susan rang, she said she stayed here last night”
“Oh yes, that’s my girlfriend, I’ll have to give her a call” Peter said, grabbing hold of his iPhone. “On my new iPhone” he continued before running upstairs, leaving an annoyed Martha to storm off into the kitchen.

Peter began to call Susan on his new iPhone.
“Susan!” Peter exclaimed.
“Who is this?” Susan replied, trying to recognise the voice she was hearing.
“This is Peter, this is my new mobile phone” Peter answered, excitedly.
“Oh Peter hi!” Susan said, giddy. “I rang your house phone earlier”
“I know, what do you want?” Peter asked, in a polite tone.
“I’m wondering if I can stay at yours tonight” Susan said, slowly.
“Of course you can” Peter said, in a high tone.
“Oh thank you, should I come round?” Susan asked. “I’ve still got the Range Rover, remember?”
“Oh yeah, sure, come round at around 7!” Peter asked.
“Yeah, I will be around, okay, got to get back to work, bye!” Susan said before hanging up. Peter smiled before he ended the call, in awe of his new gadget.

Martha paced up and down to the kitchen, under the eyes of a puzzled Silvia.
“What’s the matter?” Silvia asked. She didn’t talk to Martha much.
“Peter” Martha blurted out, a tear rolling down her face.
“What about him? He is lovely” Silvia replied, smiling as she stirred some stew. Martha paused.
“I know” she said, running her hands through her beautiful, brown hair.
“Are you okay?” Silvia asked, stopping stirring and coming to Martha’s aid.
“I think I am in love with him” Martha said, beginning to cry. “But he’s got a girlfriend”
“Don’t cry, don’t cry” Silvia said, hugging Martha.
“You’re lovely, do you know that?” Martha said, holding Silvia close. At that moment Peter strolled into the kitchen.
“Is everyone alright, I heard some crying” Peter said, sympathetically.
“Yeah, I’m fine” Martha said, brushing away tears and fighting back anymore tears as she moved away from Silvia.
“Well I’m glad you’re okay” Peter said, smiling before making his way into the hallway where he saw a few letters he had missed. Peter opened one. It was an invite to Sarah’s funeral.
“Dear Peter,
The day before Sarah’s tragic death, I was delighted to hear she got in touch with you. You were a rock to her for her last few days from what I have heard and you deserve all of the money she has been given. Sarah was a great friend of mine and I thought you should know, if you didn’t already, that her funeral is taking place at 10am on Saturday November 29th at the church round the corner from her home; your new home. It would be great to meet you and Sarah’s grandson.
Yours sincerely,

James Arthur”

CHAPTER 34: PLAYING WITH FIRE

Peter stood back, shocked at the letter. Although he didn’t know much about Sarah, he had never heard her mention someone called James Arthur. Peter put the letter to one side and made his way upstairs when the home phone rang. Peter turned round and picked up the phone.
“Hello” Peter said, tired.
“Peter, it’s Mark, just rang to tell you that I have received the money” Mark replied, delighted.
“Oh that’s great, thank you very much” Peter replied, relieved.
“No problem, I’ll meet you at the flats tomorrow morning or something? Eh? And hand you over the keys” Mark asked.
“Yeah, that’s fine, about 8 o’clock tomorrow?” Peter asked.
“8 o’clock it is then! I’ll meet you there, good day” Mark replied, hanging up. Peter laughed as he put the phone down. Peter began to make his way back upstairs before pausing and turning back downstairs into the living room to meet with his son.

“Oliver” Peter shouted, running towards his son who was laying in front of the television. Oliver simply turned round and looked up at his father. Oliver was watching a programme which consisted of several talking animals, looking for a magic key. Peter held his son in his hands as Martha appeared at the living room door. Peter looked back at her.
“Hello Martha” Peter said, looking up at her as he cradled his son in his arms.
“You’ve disturbed him” Martha said bluntly, staring daggers at Peter.
“What did you mean?” Peter asked, alarmed.
“He was enjoying watching TV and you have disturbed him” Martha said, a tear rolling down her face.
“Are you okay?” Peter asked.
“No I am not alright” Martha said “What is it you don’t like?”
“What do you mean?” Peter said, standing up, his son still in his arms.
“About me, what don’t you like about me?” Martha asked, crying more. “Am I not thin enough? Old enough?”
“Oh” Peter said, slowly walking towards Martha. “You have a little crush on me, don’t you?”
Martha just looked at the floor, crying.
“Look, if I was a few years younger and single, I would go out with you straight away” Peter said, smiling. Martha looked up, a smile now appearing on her face.
“Really?” she asked, surprised.
“Really” Peter replied “Now, it looks like you need the rest of the day off, I’m in all day so I will look after little Oliver for the rest of the day” Peter continued before smiling and leading Martha to the front entrance.
“Can I have a kiss?” Martha asked. Peter hesitated before moving in to give Martha little kiss on the lips. Martha grinned before walking out of the front door, leaving Peter to sigh and to walk back into the living room.
“Whatever you do kiddo, don’t ever get involved with girls” Peter said to Oliver who looked up, oblivious to what was just said.

Peter spent the next few hours exploring more of his new house, conjuring up ideas for all the different rooms. Peter pondered the thought of creating a big family home. Him, Susan and Oliver. One big happy family. A big bedroom for Oliver when he was older, a play room for him, a games room…maybe even a swimming pool.

CHAPTER 35: TAKING YOUR MIND OF THINGS

“I’m bored” Peter said, like a little kid, as he strolled into the kitchen where Silvia was munching on a biscuit.
“Well, why don’t you watch TV?” Silvia replied, chuckling.
Peter perked up, like he had aged several years in the space of a second, “Ok then” he said before bouncing out of the kitchen and into the living room where Oliver lay down, still watching TV.
“Do you think I can watch something?” Peter asked, sarcastically as he reached for the control and turned it over. Surprisingly, Oliver didn’t mind- he was fast asleep. “What’s on the news, then?”
Peter put the news on where a picture of Amy was staring up at him and the words “MISSING GIRL’S BODY FOUND”. Peter tried to move his eyes away, but couldn’t seem to so grabbed the control and switched of the TV. Peter took a moment to catch his breath before collapsing onto the sofa. What did he have to worry about? How would the police ever find out that Peter was involved? All the logical questions were running through his mind but also other questions like, Will they find Jimmy? Will Jimmy tell all? And Will he lose his perfect life? Also were running through his mind. Peter tried to take his mind of Amy as he woke up his son, gently tapping him.
“How are you Oliver?” Peter asked, with a wide grin. Oliver looked up at Peter before laughing and going back to sleep. Peter began to just stare in awe down at his son before being interrupted by the front door opening. Susan came running in.

“Hey Peter” Susan said, running over to Peter to kiss him, lowering her voice when she realised Oliver was asleep.
“Hi” Peter replied, smiling. “I thought you wouldn’t be back until later?”
“Well, I’d finished all my work so I thought I would make my way up here” Susan answered, giddy. “Hey, have you heard the news?”
“What news?” Peter asked, puzzled.
“That missing girl’s body has been found” Susan exclaimed, shocked. Peter paused, deep in thought. “Are you okay?” Susan asked.
“Yeah, it’s just it is so awful, isn’t it?” Peter said, thinking on his feet for something to say.
“Very awful, it was so close to where you used to live as well” Susan said, shaking her head.
“Come on, let’s ask Silvia for some dinner” Peter said, putting his arm round Susan and leading her into the kitchen.

“Silvia!” Peter said, with authority.
“Yes?” Silvia replied, in a similar tone to Peter.
“Do you have dinner ready for me and Susan?” Peter asked, looking around, trying to look for any trace of food.
“Yes, yes, It will be ready soon” Silvia said, rolling her eyes.
“Okay, that’s great, you’ll call us when it’s ready?” Peter asked, expecting the answer to be yes. It was. Peter led Susan out of the kitchen and into the living room where they sat beside Oliver, trying not to wake him but at the same time, having lots of fun.

After dinner, Peter put Oliver to bed and with Susan, read him a story.
“Night dude” Peter said, kissing his son on the forehead as Susan ruffled his hair. Peter and Susan enjoyed reading him a story, fully aware that he was too young to understand the story. As Peter closed the door, he asked Susan a question.
“Are you tired?” he asked.
“Not really” Susan replied, puzzled before she got a sharp reply.
“Neither am I, now follow me”
Peter held Susan by her hand and led her downstairs and out the front door.
“Where are we going?” Susan asked, as she got into the Audi, as Peter got into the drivers seat.
“We? We are going clubbing” Peter said as he put his seatbelt on, made sure Susan had hers on and began to speed down the drive and into town.

CHAPTER 36: CAT FIGHT!

“Where is this then?” Susan asked, looking around the trendy nightclub, her voice raised to compete with the music and the talking.
“Blur” Peter replied, “It’s awesome” Peter continued, walking towards the bar. “What do you want to drink?”
“Gin and tonic, please” Susan asked.
“Two gin and tonics please” Peter said to the barman.
“Coming up” he replied. As Peter waited for his drinks, he looked around the club at all the people. He began to eye up a few girls, trying not to be seen by Susan. One girl caught his eyes the most though and that girl was Martha. Peter tried to look away, trying not to be seen as he accepted his drinks. If Martha saw him out with Susan, she might go psycho. She seemed to be with several friends.
“Uhh, Susan, do you want to go somewhere else?” Peter asked.
“Don’t be silly” Susan replied, taking her drink from Peter. “We have only just got here and we haven’t even had our drinks”
“Yeah, just ignore me” Peter said, trying to laugh his proposition off.
Susan put her drink down.
“Do you want to dance?” Susan asked. Peter looked around, he couldn’t see Martha anywhere. Maybe she was gone? Peter smiled, put his drink down and began to dance.

“You’re not a bad dancer” Susan said, dancing with Peter.
“What? Did you think I would be?” Peter asked, inquisitively, still looking round for any sites of Martha.
“No, no” Susan replied, laughing. “I love you Peter”
Peter smiled, and didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry” Susan said.
“Why?” Peter asked, stopping dancing.
“Putting you in difficult positions, saying I love you” Susan said, embarrassed.
“Oh your not, don’t worry” Peter replied, kissing Susan. At that moment, Martha came storming over and slapped Susan.
“Ow” Susan exclaimed, throwing her hand to her face.
“Don’t you go near Peter” Martha shouted, staring daggers in Susan’s eyes.
“Who do you think you are?” Susan asked, squaring up to Martha.
“Martha! What do you think you are doing?” Peter exclaimed, running up to Martha and comforting Susan.
“What do you think you are doing, more like?” Martha said, people in the club were now staring at the confrontation.
“Peter! Have you been going out with her?” Susan asked, demanding an answer.
“No! No I haven’t, this is just a silly girl who thinks I’m in love with her” Peter said, shaking his head. Martha began to cry.
“I love you Peter” she said as she hit him.
“Well I don’t love you, Martha, I’m sorry” Peter said, embarrassed.
“Then why did you kiss me?” Martha shouted. Susan stared at Peter.
“For goodness sake, I’m not going to lie to you Susan, I gave her a small kiss on the cheek as she left today because she was upset, she asked me to, it was nothing I swear” Peter said, smiling, hoping for a smile back from Susan. He received one.
“I believe you” Susan said, walking up to hug Peter.
“I don’t believe this” Martha screamed
“Get lost you stupid little girl, I want you out of our life, you are trying to ruin my relationship with Susan, you are sacked” Peter exclaimed. Martha began to cry before storming off out of the club, pushing several people out of the way, followed by a few of her friends.
“Do you want to head home?” Peter asked, smiling.
“No, she shouldn’t ruin our night out, let us at least finish our drinks” Susan said as she began to drink her gin and tonic.

CHAPTER 37: CAN A NIGHT GET ANY WORSE?

“Clubbing? I can‘t believe we just went clubbing!” Susan asked, shocked. “I didn’t think you were the clubbing type”
“Eh, eh, eh, why not?” Peter asked, insulted.
“Well” Susan said, cheekily. Peter hit her gently.
“Ow!” Susan replied, hitting Peter back.
“You hit like a girl” Peter said, laughing as he turned a corner. “I’m sorry about Martha”
“Don’t worry, it wasn’t your fault” Susan said, smiling.
“Well I feel that I am” Peter replied, Susan held his hand.
“Well you are not to blame, like you said, she is a stupid little girl” Susan exclaimed to a smile from Peter. Peter was speeding. He knew it. Susan knew it. They didn’t care. Someone did though and that someone was a policeman who was following Peter down the road, his lights flashing and sirens blaring.
“Peter stop” Susan said, their conversation taking a more sombre tone. Peter pulled over, not believing his luck, his night was going from bad to worse. The police car pulled up right behind Peter and the policeman walked from his car up to Peter’s car window.
“You have been speeding” he said, sighing as he got out his notebook.

“I’m sorry” Peter said. “I’ll pay the fine”
“Maybe I don’t want to give you a fine” the policeman replied, sniggering.
“Well I am speeding, that is what happens, I get a fine and points on my license” Peter replied.
“You’ve got an Audi, I don’t think a fine will make much of a difference, will it not?” the policeman asked as a question which didn’t need to be answered.
“Look, my wealth has nothing to do with it” Peter replied. Susan was looking away, not wanting to get involved.
“Well I think it does, so I’m just thinking of a few other options” the policeman replied in a sarcastic tone.
“Oh and what are they?” Peter asked, being as sarcastic as the policeman.
“Excuse me, are you being sarcastic?” the policeman asked.
“No more so than you” Peter replied, rolling his eyes.
“I’ve made up my mind” the policeman said. Susan crossed her fingers.
“You are coming down to the police station with me” the policeman replied, grinning as he opened Peter’s car door.
“Little lady” the policeman said, talking to Susan who turned round to look at the policeman and Peter.
“Yes?” Susan asked, upset.
“You can drive can’t you? You take this car back home, you may be able to keep it you know!, you may not be seeing lover boy again” the policeman said, closing the car door and leaving a sobbing Susan.
“You bastard” Peter said, spitting at the policeman who smacked Peter in the face.
“Don’t mess with me” the policeman replied, grabbing Peter by the arm and throwing him into the back of the police car.

“Peter Freeman” Peter said at the police desk, taking his valuables out of his pockets and handing them in at the front desk.
“Come on” the policeman said to Peter, grabbing him by his arm and leading him down a corridor.
“Where are you taking me?” Peter asked. “It’s too late for an interview, isn’t it?”
“Yes it is too late and that is why I’m not taking you into an interview room” the policeman replied, grinning.
“Then where are you taking me?” Peter asked, hesitantly.
“You’re staying the night in a police cell” the policeman replied, still grinning while he chewed some gum. He produced a key from his pocket and unlocked a cell door, unlocked Peter’s handcuffs and pushed him in before closing and locking up the cell again.
“You’re an absolute idiot, do you know that?” Peter shouted. “You are scum” he continued before collapsing on his ‘bed’. If you could call it a bed. Peter lay down on the bed, trying to get some sleep with his eyes closed- but he was not asleep. He lay for almost half an hour before hearing voices outside of his cell. Peter soon realised he recognised some of the voices. One of them was the policeman who arrested him earlier.
“We need to put this guy into the cell, he is scum, and take that other guy out, he was only speeding, he shouldn’t even be in a cell” a voice said, which Peter presumed was another policeman. The policeman he knew now began to speak.
“No, I threw him a cell, and he is staying in the cell” the policeman exclaimed.
“I am your commanding sergeant and you will do what I say” the other policeman replied. The voice Peter recognised now began to be heard.
“You are both idiots, just get on with it” he said. Peter’s cell now opened and in front of Peter stood a very familiar face- Jimmy’s.

CHAPTER 38: A LEOPARD DON’T CHANGE ITS SPOTS

“Peter” Jimmy said, in shock.
“Jimmy” Peter said, also in shock.
“What, is he your boyfriend?” the policeman who arrested Peter asked.
“Haha, funny, isn’t it?” Jimmy said, laughing, sarcastically.
“You’re free to go” the other policeman said to Peter. Peter smiled as he stood up, chuffed that he was free to ago, but slightly worried at why Jimmy was in his place. Was he arrested for what they did to Amy? Peter’s question was soon answered when Jimmy spoke again.
“You should be in here Peter, not me” Jimmy exclaimed. Peter chose to ignore Jimmy as he walked out of the cell. Peter walked out of the police station and collapsed outside, crying.

“You alright, mate?” a man who was smoking outside asked. “Do you want a cigarette?” he asked, Peter politely declined the offer.
“You waiting for a taxi?” the man asked.
“No, I’ll have to call one” Peter said, wiping away some tears. “I’m sorry, I don’t normally cry”
“Oh it’s alright” the man replied. “Say, do you want to get a taxi with me?”
A taxi began to pull up.
“Is that one yours, mate?” Peter asked.
“Call me Carl” he replied. “And yes it is”
“Then, go on” Peter said, smiling as he got into the back of the taxi with Carl.
“Alright lads, where are you off?” the taxi driver asked, looking back at Peter and Carl. Carl slowly produced a gun out of his pocket and hit the taxi driver round the head before getting out of the back seat and into the driver’s seat, pushing the body into the drivers seat.
“What are you doing?” Peter exclaimed, not believing what was happening to him. Carl now began to drive off.
“Getting you a free fare” Carl replied, laughing.
“Yes, very funny, isn’t it?” Peter replied, sarcastically.
“No, it is a joke, you are actually going to come out robbing houses with me” Carl said. Carl was a rather small man with long, dark hair.
“Well why the hell did you get me involved?” Peter exclaimed, getting angry as he put his seatbelt on.
“Well I need a little bit of help, don’t I?” Carl replied, still laughing like it was one massive joke.
“Stop the car” Peter demanded. Carl still continued to drive.
“Stop the car” Peter said once more, getting more angry. Peter soon realised that Carl had left his gun in the back seat. Peter decided it was time to take drastic action as he slowly got hold of the gun, held it up and hit Carl round his head. The car, luckily, slowly rolled to a stop. Peter looked out the window, hoping that there was no one around- there wasn’t. Peter paused before getting out of the car and round to the passenger’s seat where Peter grabbed hold of the taxi driver’s body and threw it into the back seat. Peter walked round to the driver’s side and pushed Carl’s body into the passengers seat before starting to drive off.

Peter knew where he was going as he began to drive through the streets towards the canal. Peter took a deep breath before driving into the canal with a massive splash. The car was submerged under the water for several seconds before floating back up to the top. The car was slowly filling up with water, Peter looked around to see if Carl and the taxi driver were still unconscious- they were, he then decided to get out of the drivers seat. He then began to swim towards the canal side and out of the water. Peter took one final look at the car before taking yet another deep breath, looking around to see if he was still alone- he was. Peter then began to run, he didn’t know where he was running, he was just looking for shelter. Peter knew what he was going to have to do, he was going to have to do something that he hoped he would never have to do in his life, especially now that he was a millionaire and that was to sleep rough.

Peter soon found a hut where he took shelter and lay down. It looked like someone had already made it their home. Peter grunted as he lay down and tried to get some sleep. He eventually cried himself asleep.

CHAPTER 39: WORDS OF WISDOM

“Wake up! Wake up!” Peter heard. He was being shaken. Peter slowly opened his eyes to the sight of a shaggy, old man leaning over him. He was shaking Peter.
“Who are you?” Peter exclaimed, half awake as he sat up.
“I’m Sam” the man replied, smiling.
“Arr, I guess I’m in your shelter” Peter said, his eyes now wide open as he began to stretch.
“Were you the guy who drove the car into the canal?” Sam asked bluntly. Peter was shocked but knew he had to admit to it, he couldn’t lie anymore.
“Yes I was” Peter answered, ashamed. “How do you know about it?”
“Well the police asked me for my help” Sam replied. “I’d already seen you here, but I didn’t want to grass you up, I had a feeling it was you”
Peter stood up.
“Well, thanks” Peter said, smiling. “Are they dead?”
“Yes” Sam replied, looking down.
“I’m not a bad man” Peter replied, honest. “I really am not, I just get wrapped up in bad situations, I made up my mind yesterday that I will not get involved with crime at all anymore”
Sam simply nodded, looking into Peter’s eyes.
“You don’t believe me, do you” Peter replied, not really bothered that a tramp was insulting him.
“No I don’t” Sam replied.
“Well your just a smelly old tramp with no money, I have money, I don’t need you, tonight when you are sleeping down here I will be living in my mansion in my warm, comfy bed” Peter snapped. Sam took it in his stead. Peter then realised he was out of order.
“I’m sorry” Peter said, extending his hand out to Sam. Sam didn’t accept it.
“I know you don’t want to shake my hand” Sam replied, shaking his head. Peter looked down at his watch. It was just past 7 o’clock.
“Sam” Peter exclaimed. “I’m sorry, but I have to go, I’ve got a very important meeting” Peter said. He realised he had to go now to meet up with Mark to collect his keys for the flats. Peter began to walk off.
“If there’s one thing I’ll say to you” Sam said. Peter stopped in his tracks and looked back.
“What I would tell you is that you should never trust anyone in life” Sam said. “Good luck”. Peter smiled, before turning back round and running towards the bus stop.

CHAPTER 40: NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

Peter waited about fifteen minutes for a bus. He was waiting just beside the canal side, the car was now out of the water. There were several policemen surveying the area, Peter tried not to look at them but for a lot of the time, while he waited, Peter couldn’t help but look. Just to see what they were doing. When the bus arrived, Peter took one last look at the policemen before stepping on the bus.
“Uh, a return ticket to town please” Peter asked the bus driver.
“That is £2.35 please” the taxi driver replied. Peter smiled as he took his ticket and went to sit down on a seat. The bus was relatively empty, not many people are up at this time. For the first time since the events of last night, Peter had time to think. Last night Peter’s girlfriend got into a scrap with his housekeeper who fancies him, on the way back from the club he was arrested for speeding, his girlfriend was left with his car, she has probably now left him, he was thrown into a cell overnight until he was taken out and replaced by Jimmy for the murder of Amy which Peter was involved with. When he got in a taxi with a complete stranger, he turned out to be a robber and knocked the taxi driver out, asking Peter to go robbing houses with him. Peter declined and ended up hitting that guy, Carl, round the head. He then drove the car, with two bodies in, into the canal where they died. Peter then ran off and slept rough for the night. If that’s not a rough night- I don’t know what is.

Peter arrived in town around twenty minutes after getting on the bus. Peter thanked the bus driver before getting off the bus and heading towards the flats where Mark was already waiting.
“Alright, Peter?” Mark asked. “You’re early”
“So are you” Peter said, actually quite surprised that he wasn’t just on time, but early.
“Ha ha ha, so are you ready to take the helm?” Mark asked, raising his eyebrows.
“I think so” Peter said. Mark smiled as he handed over a big set of keys to Peter.
“There you go” Mark said before winking and saying “See you around”
Peter now owned a big block of flats, but had no idea what to do now.

Peter walked into the office which was at the bottom of the flats. Peter unlocked the door and walked in to see a smart, surprisingly large room which included two desks, two smart computers and two filing cabinets. One of the desks, Peter noticed, had the name ‘Peter Freeman’. He smiled as he noticed that below it lay a list of things for Peter to do, left by Mark. Peter looked at the top of the list which said:

1) Greet new residents who are arriving shortly after you have arrived.

Mark did not ask Peter to go into the office, and was amazed that he presumed Peter would. Peter smiled before the door to the office knocked. Peter walked towards the door, opened it and was greeted by an elderly couple.
“Hello” they said together, reaching out their hands to shake Peter’s.
“Hello” Peter replied, shaking both of their hands. “Forgive me if I don’t do this right, this is my first day here”
“Oh don’t worry, this is our seventh time here, we’ll help you” the woman said, grinning.
“Okay, what are your names please?” Peter asked.
“Mr and Mrs Lea” the woman replied.
“Okay, I’ve got information here that you are in flat seven, let me show you to your flat” Peter said, smiling as he made his way up the flat blocks steps and showed Mr and Mrs Lea into their flat.

As Peter walked back down into the office, he couldn’t help but feel happy about his new job but was thinking of taking a more managerial approach to the new business venture.

Peter took another glance at the list Mark had left him. The next thing on the list was an instruction- for Peter to ring Mark. Peter got out his iPhone and began to ring Mark.
“Mark?” Peter asked, puzzled at why he had to ring him.
“Yes?” Mark replied, in a husky tone.
“You asked me to ring you” Peter said.
“Ah, I see you got the list, I’m impressed” Mark replied.
“I’m not that stupid” Peter said laughing, “So what did you want me to ring you for?”
“Well, I have just been sorting out some interviews for you” Mark said “You will soon receive visits from three different women coming for an interview to be secretary and you sir will be taking the interview”
“Oh, cool, thank you very much, I don’t mind taking the interview at all” Peter replied.
“Good, the first one should be arriving any minute” Mark replied and as he hung up, there was a knock on the office door.

“Hello” a woman said, walking into the office without being invited in.
“Hi” Peter replied, annoyed at the woman’s poor manners. “I guess you are here for the interview”
“Yes” the woman exclaimed “My name is Roxanne”
“Hello Roxanne, would you like to take a seat?” Peter asked reluctantly.

CHAPTER 41: GETTING INTO THE SWING OF THINGS

The interview lasted thirty-five long, tedious minutes. Peter politely said that he would let her know but I think he knew and she knew that they would never speak to each other ever again. Several minutes after Roxanne left the flats, another woman arrived at the door. This woman seemed a lot nicer, a short, blonde haired woman.
“Hello, how are you today?” Peter asked.
“I’m fine thank you, and yourself?” the woman replied, with a smile on her face.
“I’m great thank you very much, now, sit down there and could you start of by telling me your name?” Peter asked, grinning as she sat down.
“Well my name is Becky” she said, seeming quite nervous.
“And why do you think you should get this job?” Peter asked, notebook at the ready.
“Well, my last job was as a secretary but I was made redundant when the firm I was working for went bankrupt” Becky replied, sighing.
“I’m sorry, I know what it is like losing your job” Peter said.
“Yes, it’s tough, this is the third interview I have been to this month, I haven’t heard from the other two” Becky said, fishing for sympathy. Amazingly, Peter didn’t notice. The interview went on for about the same length as Roxanne’s interview, it was an interview full of laughter and she was definitely a big contender for the secretary job in Peter’s opinion. The next woman would have to be quite something if she is to have any chance of getting the job at the desk beside Peter.

Peter began waiting for almost an hour, patiently, for the next applicant when there was a very loud knock on the door. Peter opened the door to a familiar sight- Martha.
“Martha” Peter exclaimed.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Martha said with disgust.
“I own these flats” Peter said, as Martha walked in.
“So, if I get this job, you will be my employer?” Martha asked, quietly delighted, deep down she still fancied Peter.
“There is no if about it, you are not getting this job in a million years, get of my property” Peter exclaimed, trying to close the door, Martha had her foot in the way as Peter looked at her.
“I am not moving from these flats until you give me a fair interview, forget everything you know about me before and treat my interview as a fair one or I will report you” Martha said, grinning. Peter had no choice but to agree as he let Martha into the office.

“So” Peter said reluctantly as he slowly got out his notepad and began to look down on Martha, “What pervious employment do you have?”
“Are you stupid?” Martha exclaimed.
“Ooh, insulting the interviewer, that’s not going to bode well, is it?” Peter said with delight as he quickly pretended to scribble down notes when he was in fact sketching a drawing over Martha being hanged. In school, Peter wasn’t the smartest in the class and didn’t enjoy it, in fact all day Peter would sit down and sketch, he wasn’t a bad sketcher.
“Well” Martha said, ignoring what Peter had just said, and noticing Peter’s sketch but choosing to ignore it. “I have worked for you”
“And did you enjoy working for…me?” Peter asked, looking up at Martha who was staring into his eyes.
“Yes I did” Martha said. The two of them paused for a few moments.
“Look, Martha, I’m sorry it didn’t work out but we are not going to work well, let’s face it, you haven’t got much experience either, the woman I interviewed before you was perfect with bags of experience” Peter said, trying to be kind but instead Martha punched him in the face.
“Get out” Peter demanded, holding his bleeding nose.
“Gladly” Martha replied, spitting on Peter before walking out of the office, leaving Peter in pain and kicking his desk before collapsing onto it, and banging his fists on the table.
“For gods sake” Peter exclaimed before standing up and making his way to the bathroom where he cleaned himself up.

CHAPTER 42: COME ON, WORK WITH ME

After several more hours down in the office, Peter called Becky, to her delight, to tell her that she had got the secretary job before making his way back to his house by taxi. As he was dropped off, he noticed that Susan had left the Audi there. Peter paid the taxi driver before getting out of the taxi and walking into his house where Silvia greeted him.
“Peter, is that you?” Silvia asked, running towards him.
“How did you get in?” Peter asked.
“I’ve got a set of keys, haven’t I?” Silvia replied, smiling.
“Oh yeah, sorry” Peter said, smiling back, not thinking straight.
“Where have you been all night and all day?” Silvia asked. “Me and Susan have been worried sick and I have no idea where Martha has got to!”
“What, Susan is here?” Peter asked, perking up.
“Yes, she has stayed here all night and she hasn’t gone to work today, we’ve been trying to call the police station but they had no idea where you were” Silvia replied, smiling.
“Well the point is that I’m here now” Peter said. “Now, where is Susan?”
“She is upstairs with Oliver” Silvia said as Peter rushed upstairs into Oliver’s room.

“Susan” Peter said, as he opened Oliver’s door to the sight of his girlfriend and his son, well I say girlfriend, at this point Peter had no idea if she was his girlfriend or not. Peter looked straight at Susan, ignoring his child who was in her arms.
“Peter” Susan replied “I’ve been so worried” she said, putting Oliver down before running over to hug Peter. “Now where have you been, I rang the police station and they said that they had let you out”
“Yes, I stayed at a friends last night, I didn’t want to make you upset” Peter said.
“And where were you this morning?” Susan asked, still hugging Peter.
“I’ve started working at the flats I have bought” Peter said, perking up.
“You have bought some flats?” Susan asked, impressed.
“Yes, and I’d like you to work there with me” Peter asked to a stunned Susan.

“Work there with you?” Susan exclaimed.
“Yes, I need some more help” Peter said.
“Look, I’m a lawyer, a solicitor, I work for myself” Susan replied.
“How much do you earn a year?” Peter asked.
“Peter” Susan said, puzzled at why Peter asked.
“How much?” Peter insisted, smiling.
“About £21,000” Susan replied.
“If you work with me, I guarantee you over double that a year, I promise you £50,000” Peter said, holding his hands out, hoping for reciprocation.
“I don’t know, Peter, what would I be doing?” Susan asked.
“Anything you want” Peter replied.
“You mean, I’d be earning lots of money for doing jobs which aren’t worth that much?” Susan asked.
“Yeah! Is that a problem?” Peter asked.
“Yes, it is, I work hard and I want to earn my own money” Susan replied.
“Well, move your office to mine, you won’t have to pay your rent at the place you have now and I guarantee that I will get you more clients” Peter said. “I just want to be with you all day and all night!”
“You are so sweet and that sounds a good idea” Susan said.
“So you’ll do it?” Peter asked.
“Yes” Susan replied before hugging and then kissing Peter.

CHAPTER 43: A SOMBRE DAY

“What day is this?” Peter exclaimed as he woke up, alarmed , Susan was laying next to him.
“It is Saturday 29th November and it is 9.15am” Susan said, smiling as she tried to get some more sleep.
“I need to get up” Peter said.
“Why?” Susan asked.
“I’m going to a funeral” Peter replied.
“Who’s funeral?” Susan asked.
“A friend’s funeral, Sarah’s funeral, the previous owner of this house and you are coming with me” Peter said, sitting up.
“Oh Peter, I’m tired” Susan said, sarcastically. Peter was already up and half-dressed as he prodded Susan.
“Get up you lazy so and so” Peter replied. “It is at 10”
“Oh, I don’t like funerals” Susan said, shuddering.
“Neither do I, but I need to go and I’m not going on my own” Peter said, pulling the covers off of Susan. She sighed before getting up and starting to get dressed. “After the funeral, why don’t we head up to your place and get your stuff moved over to the flats?”
“That sounds great” Susan said, kissing Peter on the forehead before he made his way down the stairs.
“Do you want any breakfast?” Peter asked, shouting behind him.
“Just some toast” Susan replied as she began to get washed.

“We’ve got to go in a few minutes and I have to check on Oliver” Peter said, rushing around to an amused Susan and Silvia.
“I’ll sort out Oliver” Silvia said, smiling. “You better be off”
“Eh! I haven’t finished my toast” Susan said, laughing.
“You can finish it on the way out!” Peter exclaimed, grabbing Susan’s arm and dragging her out of the house.

Peter and Susan arrived at the church around five minutes early. There were very few people in the church, a rather tall, dark haired man approached the two of them.
“You must be Peter” the man said, shaking Peter’s hand.
“That is me” Peter said. “Are you James Arthur?” Peter asked, intrigued.
“That definitely is me” James replied, laughing. He had a very funny laugh. Not ‘haha’ funny but weird funny. “And who is this gorgeous woman” he asked. “Is this your wife?”
“I’m his girlfriend” Susan said, smiling.
“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any embarrassment” James replied, unconsciously running his hand through his little hair.
“No embarrassment here” Peter said, laughing to himself.
“Or here” Susan said, taking this opportunity to shake James’ hand herself.

“How are you finding the old place, then?” James asked, raising his eyebrows.
“The old place?” Peter asked, puzzled, his own eyebrows raised.
“Sarah’s house” James replied, smiling.
“Oh, it is brilliant” Peter said. “May I ask you how you know Sarah?”
“Me? Well I was her first husband” James said, surprised that Peter didn’t know.

“Really? Her first husband? She never mentioned you” Peter said, puzzled.
“Oh, really?” James replied, disappointed that Sarah had never mentioned him.
“Yes I’m sorry, were you two close friends then?” Peter asked.
“Yes, up until we had a little falling out” James said, embarrassed.
“Do you mind if I ask what happened?” Peter asked. Susan rolled her eyes and went to sit down. Peter smiled at her as she walked away from him but he was determined to stay with James and receive an answer.
“Well if you must know, one day she just told me that she didn’t want to be friends with me anymore, she gave no explanation but she had just been to the hospital and I think she received some bad news. I think she found out that she had cancer” James said, sighing, trying not to get too upset.
“Well maybe she wanted to be left alone” Peter said.
“Well you’d think that, wouldn’t you? But she was with her new husband and her new daughter and then they died within weeks of each other” James said, now shedding a tear. “She didn’t even tell me about their deaths, I heard it from a friend of mine, I then decided I had to contact her”
“So what did she say?” Peter asked, generally intrigued.
“She said she wanted to be left alone again and wouldn’t speak to me, several days later I hear from this same friend of mine that she had met you and that you had moved in with her- the next day she died” James said. Peter seemed worried at this point, did James think that he had killed Sarah?

“It was a great shock, when I found out I decided to ring for an ambulance” Peter said, not actually lying.
“It was a massive shock to me as well, believe me” James said, starting to walk down the church. Peter followed him as he continued to talk. “I just wish that I made up with her before she died”
“Do you think it was the cancer?” Peter asked, covering his tracks.
“I don’t know, I really don’t know, I guess we will find out tomorrow” James said, sitting down beside Susan. Peter sat down as well.
“Tomorrow?” Peter said. “What is happening tomorrow?”
“The autopsy results” James replied. Peter was about to reply but decided against it, he was deep in thought. Would the autopsy results show that he had smothered Sarah? Peter didn’t have much time to think as the vicar began to funeral ceremony.
The funeral was a fairly long, emotional service. A short, fat woman gave a speech, she was a friend of Sarah’s. James also gave a speech and James’ speech was the one that Peter decided to listen to. He talked about his marriage and then friendship to Sarah and then he talked about the breakdown of their marriage and then their friendship. Peter learned that Sarah had cheated on James. She ended the marriage and got married to her lover. James wasn’t too upset, he wasn’t that sort of person. They remained friends and James never married again. A part of him, in his opinion, was still married to Sarah even after her death.

“Peter” James said, running up to Peter as he slowly, with Peter, tried to escape the church.
“Yes” Peter said, annoyed that he had to speak to James.
“Thank you for coming” he said, smiling.
“It’s no problem” Peter replied.
“Are you coming to the reception?” James asked.
“Uhh, no, I’ve get to work, I’m very sorry” Peter said, again making his way out of the door with Susan. James stopped him again.
“It was nice to speak to you Peter and I hope to see you around” James said, shaking Peter’s hand again.
“It was nice to meet you as well” Peter replied, winking before he and Susan walked out of the church and made their way home.

“What a weirdo he was!” Susan exclaimed, walking through Peter’s front door, quickly followed by Peter.
“He was a little strange, wasn’t he?” Peter replied, laughing.
“Arr, but that Sarah seemed really nice, didn’t she?” Susan replied.
“She was nice” Peter said, smiling as he remembered the great time he spent with Sarah and then his smile quickly faded away when he remembered her face after he had killed her.
“So” Susan said, clasping her hands together.
“So?” Peter asked, laughing at his girlfriend’s odd behaviour.
“Are we going round to my place?” Susan asked.
“Oh yes” Peter said, grabbing his keys. “Yes we are” he continued as he made his way out of his front door and into his Range Rover.
“Why are we in the range rover?” Susan asked, she was hoping to be in the very smart Audi.
“Well we are picking up your stuff aren’t we? Well we won’t be able to fit anything into a little Audi!”

Peter arrived at Susan’s in about twenty minutes. Well in the speed limit, he would never speed again after what happened last time.
“Shall we go in?” Peter asked, looking over to Susan.
“Let’s” Susan replied, getting out of the car with Peter following suit after he locked his car and followed Susan into her flat.
“Ooh” Peter said, looking around Susan’s flat for the very first time. “Very nice”
“It’s not as nice as your house and I haven’t even seen your flats” Susan replied.
“Well you will be seeing it soon, now come on, let’s get all this stuff out of this pokey little flat and into the car so we can get to your new office” Peter exclaimed as he began to get hold of her laptop.

Peter and Susan were in Susan’s flat for the best part of an hour shifting stuff. Surprisingly, they had got most of what was needed to move- into the car. They didn’t need to bring her desk, Peter had told her that he was going to buy her a new one. As he shifted the last of the stuff into the car Peter had the sudden realisation that he should be working.
“For gods sake” Peter exclaimed.
“What?” Susan asked, stopping what she was doing as she looked up at Peter.
“I know this sounds stupid but I forgot that I have to go to work, I don’t actually know what I’m supposed to be doing but I had to meet with the new secretary” Peter said, slamming the boot of the car down.
“Don’t worry, we’ll go now” Susan said, locking the front door to her flat.
“Well we better get a move on” Peter said, getting in the drivers seat while he waited for Susan to get in the seat beside her.

Peter parked outside of the flats and quickly ran towards the office. The door was unlocked, he must have forgot to unlock it yesterday. As he opened the door he was met with Becky.
“Becky” Peter said, staring at her.
“Oh hello Mr Freeman” she replied, hanging up the phone on her desk.
“I’m sorry I didn’t turn up but you look to be doing a fantastic job” Peter replied, looking around, impressed.
“Well it’s my job” Becky replied, laughing.
“You were lucky to get in, I forgot to lock up last night” Peter said, smiling.
“Oh don’t worry, nothing’s been stolen, at least I don’t think nothing has, and I’ve sorted out all your worries, I’m sure” Becky said. “I’ve let in some new guests, received a few cheques, dealt with some of the resident’s problems and booked some new residents in for Christmas time”
“You are great, I could kiss you” Peter said, delighted.
“Oh no you won’t” Susan said, smiling as she walked into the office, looking around at the marvellous room before noticing Becky, she knew Becky. “Look, at this place, it’s wonderful” Susan said, trying not to look at Becky.
“It sure is, Becky, this is Susan and Susan this is Becky” Peter said.
“Pleasure to meet you” Becky said, walking towards Susan to shake her hand.
“And you” Susan said, grinning.
“Susan will be working in here as well” Peter said, smiling, pointing to an area in the room. “That is where your desk will be, Susan”
Becky didn’t look impressed, Susan however did.
“Oh, that will be great” Susan said, jumping around in delight like a school girl.
“I’m sure we will be the best of friends” Susan said to Becky who smiled back politely.
“I’m sure we will”

Peter glanced down at his watch.
“Uhh, Susan, I’m just going to go into town and I’ll buy you your desk, is that okay?” Peter asked, looking out the flats window.
“That will be great” Susan replied, staring daggers at Becky who was staring daggers back.
“Okay, so I’ll just get your desk, get someone to assemble it here, get your stuff out of the car and then I need to sort out a new housekeeper for back home” Peter said, smiling as he began to walk out the door. “I’ll see you two soon!” he said as he began to skip towards his car. Susan watched Peter go away before turning to look at Becky.
“You’ve got some explaining to do, and it better be good” she exclaimed.

“So you are saying that I can’t have a job, are you Susan?” Becky said, rolling her eyes.
“You said that you had moved to Scotland” Susan replied, staring at Becky.
“Yeah, like I would do what you tell me to do” Becky said, annoyed.
“We agreed” Susan exclaimed, throwing her arms out in front of her.
“Oh no we didn’t” Becky said, making a point “You agreed”
“I gave you £1000 and you said that you would be off and out of my life for good” Susan replied.
“You killed my brother” Becky shouted. Susan went silent.
“It was an accident and you knew it was an accident” Susan exclaimed, holding back tears.
“If it was an accident then why did you try to pay me off? You tried to bribe me to not tell anyone…” Becky said, slamming her hand down on the table.
“I don’t need to listen to this” Susan said, standing up and walking out of the office, leaving Becky in tears.

Around twenty minutes later, Susan, who went for walk, walked back into the office, confidently, ignoring Becky.
“Very mature” Becky said, as she put the phone down.
“I don’t know what you are talking about” Susan said, flicking her hair.
“Trying to ignore me, that is what I am talking about” Becky shouted. Susan went silent yet again, so did Becky.
“Can’t you accept that accidents happen?” Susan asked.
“You crashed that car into that wall and killed my brother, you were drunk” Becky exclaimed, crying. At that moment Peter walked into the office.
“What’s going on here?” He exclaimed, walking over to comfort Becky.
“Nothing, nothing” Susan said, flicking her hair once more.
“I’m fine thanks Peter” Becky said, smiling as she gently pushed Peter away.
“Well, if you are sure” Peter said.
“I’m sure” Becky answered.
“Okay, now Susan” Peter said as Susan looked up, into Peter’s eyes, trying to ignore Becky. “I have got your desk and this guy should be coming round in a few minutes to assemble it, is that okay?”
“Yes” Susan said, taking a deep breath. “That’s fine”
Peter smiled as he walked slowly up towards Susan and kissed her.

Several minutes later, like Peter said, a man walked into the office, ready to assemble the desk for Susan. Peter had left it just outside the office and pointed it out to him. As he began to assemble the desk, Peter noticed the awkward glances between his girlfriend and Becky.
“Susan” Peter said, approaching her. He was interrupted, however, by the sounds of the desk assembly. Susan didn’t hear him. Peter was about to shout his girlfriend’s name again before his phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He picked it up.
“Hello” Peter said, walking out of the office with a finger in his ear.
“Peter, it’s Silvia, I have just rang to tell you that a man is here to see you!” Silvia exclaimed. Peter paused, puzzled.
“He say‘s that his name is James” Silvia said, continuing “He say‘s that he really needs to talk to you face to face”
“I’ll be there in a minute” Peter replied, sighing, before hanging up his mobile and walking back into the office.
“Susan” he shouted above the noise. This time she heard him. “I need to pop home, I’ll be back soon”
Susan smiled, Peter smiled back and as he made his way towards his car, his eyes began to close as the events of the past few days and weeks began to take their toll.

Peter arrived home later than he normally would. He was driving slowly, hoping that the journey would somehow be longer than it actually is. He didn’t want to face James, the freak. The weird guy who was obsessed with his first wife, the wife that left him, cheated on him. He obviously wasn’t much of a catch, Peter could now see why. As Peter got out of the car, he slowly made his way up the drive and opened his front door- James was standing right in front of him. That made Peter jump.
“Woah, James, hi” Peter said, smiling, trying to be polite.
“Hello Peter” James replied. “I’ve been waiting”
“I know you have but can you make it quick because I need to get work” Peter said, smiling.
“It won’t take long, I just want to tell you that I have the received the results of the autopsy” James said. Peter was now worried, he had no idea that this was what James wanted to talk to him about.
“Oh? Did you, so it was the cancer, was it?” Peter asked. Asking that question was rather stupid, even for Peter, he knew that autopsies don’t lie and that it would show that Peter had smothered Sarah to death.
“No” James said bluntly. Peter looked down at the floor. “Now, what we did receive was something very interesting, it said that she had died of natural causes”
Peter looked up, surprised by the results. “Really, I mean, she was only young!”
“I know, I know, that’s why I don’t believe it and I am determined to get to the bottom of it” James exclaimed, winking before making his way out of the house. “I just thought you should know” he said before walking out. Peter took a sigh of relief before collapsing on the floor.

“Peter, was that you going out?” Silvia shouted, from the kitchen before making his way towards the hall way and finding Peter.
“Peter!” Silvia exclaimed, running to Peter’s aid. He was out of it. Way out of it. Silvia checked his pulse before running towards the phone.
“Ambulance please” she exclaimed, shouting down the phone. “Peter Freeman, I have just found him on the floor, he’s breathing but he looks like he needs help and fast”

An ambulance arrived fairly quickly and whisked Peter off to the hospital. Silvia picked up Oliver and got in the ambulance with Peter. They arrived at the hospital within ten minutes and Peter still was not wakened. As they walked into the hospital and Peter was whisked away into a room, Silvia got out her mobile phone after sitting down Oliver on a seat. She searched her phone for Susan’s number. Peter had given it to her, luckily. She rang her.
“Susan” Silvia exclaimed.
“Yes, who is this?” Susan replied.
“This is Silvia, I have just rang you to tell you that Peter is in hospital” Silvia said, solemnly.
“Oh my god” Susan said in shock. “I’ll be there as soon as possible” Susan exclaimed, hanging up the phone. Silvia stared down at her phone before switching it off and putting it into her pocket and looking down at Oliver.
“Don’t worry” she said, to the distressed looking child. “Your daddy is going to be just fine”

“Susan” Becky said, back at the office. Susan’s desk was assembled and the man was gone. Susan ran to grab her bag.
“What?” Susan exclaimed, distressed.
“Where are you going?” Becky asked, smiling.
“Peter is in hospital, I need to go and meet him” Susan replied, a tear running down her face.
“Oh my goodness, should I come with you?” Becky asked, generally shocked and willing to help.
“No!” Susan demanded as she picked up all her things, got out her mobile out again and began to ring for a taxi.

When Susan arrived at the hospital she ran towards the familiar face, Silvia.
“I’m sorry I’ve taken so long, I’m sick of stupid taxi drivers” Susan said, laughing a little. “How is he? What happened?”
“I don’t know but I found him on the floor at home, he must have collapsed and I rang for an ambulance” Silvia said, smiling.
“Thank you, thank you” Susan said, hugging Silvia.
“I’m sure you would have done the same for me” Silvia replied, still hugging Susan.
“Of course I would, of course I would” Susan said, smiling. At that moment a nurse came walking towards the pair of them.
“Are you with Mr Freeman?” the nurse asked.
“Yes we are” Susan replied, smiling as Silvia had her arm round her.
“Well I have some good news” the nurse said. “He is awake and he is ready to see you, we think he has suffered from severe exhaustion”
“Oh my goodness” Susan replied. “Can I go and see him then?”
“Of course” the nurse said, leading Susan to Peter’s room.
“I’ll stay here with Oliver” Silvia said, smiling as she sat back down with Peter’s little boy.

“Susan! Susan” Peter exclaimed, sitting up as Susan entered the room.
“Don’t worry I’m here” Susan replied, smiling as she walked towards him.
“Shall we go home, then?” Peter asked.
“No, you won’t! You are staying here tonight, they say that you have suffered severe exhaustion” Susan demanded.
“I need to get to work, there’s lots to do” Peter said, getting out of bed.
“Get back into bed” Susan demanded. Peter reluctantly got back into bed, sighing.
“What have I become?” Peter asked. Susan looked at him, worried.
“What do you mean?” Susan asked, interested in the answer.
“Ever since I came into all this money, my life hasn’t turned out like I thought it would, I’ve done some bad stuff” Peter exclaimed, starting to cry.
“You big wuss!” Susan exclaimed, stroking Peter’s hair before realising what Peter just said. “What do you mean by bad stuff?”
Peter paused, thinking about his answer. “I’ve not treated you right, I’m not a good boyfriend”
“Of course you are” Susan replied, kissing Peter. “I love you, so much”
“And I love you” Peter said, as Susan looked into his eyes. Peter took a deep breath before saying, “Marry me Susan”
“What?” Susan replied, shocked.
“Marry me” Peter said, grinning.
“I” Susan said “I don’t know what to say”
“Just say yes” Peter asked, getting out of bed and getting on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes” Susan said, hugging Peter.
“I love you so much and our wedding will be the greatest wedding in the history of weddings” Peter exclaimed, delighted.
“I’ll only marry you if you promise to get into that bed right now” Susan replied, laughing.
“Of course” Peter said, getting up, and getting back into bed.
“Do you want me to stay with you?” Susan asked.
“No, there’s no need, go back home, I’ll see you tomorrow” Peter said, smiling before laying back.
“Okay, my soon to be husband” Susan said, grinning as she walked out of the room, blowing her boyfriend a kiss.

“How is he, how is he?” Silvia asked, as Susan arrived in her sight.
“My fiancée is fine” Susan said, grinning like a school girl. “He proposed to me!”
“Oh that is fantastic” Silvia replied, hugging Susan. “I’m so happy for you two”
“Thank you so much” Susan said, looking down at Oliver. “Guess what, Oliver! I’m going to be your mummy!”
Oliver looked up at Susan and smiled like he knew what Susan had said. Susan smiled. “Look, we better head home” Susan said, still smiling as she led Silvia out of the hospital.

“Peter” a nurse said, walking into his room. “There is a man here to visit you”
“Oh, send him in” Peter said, smiling but puzzled to who it was. The man entered Peter’s room- It was Jimmy.
“Jimmy” Peter said, stunned.
“Hello Peter” Jimmy replied, closing the door to Peter’s room as he walked towards him.
“What do you want?” Peter asked, a little scared.
“For you to confess that you ordered that girl’s murder, I have been arrested and I on bail” Jimmy said, shaking his head.
“How did they find out?” Peter asked.
“DNA, innit?” Jimmy replied, annoyed and taking a more caring, quieter tone. “You made me kill a girl”
Peter annoyed what Jimmy had just said. “Then why have you been released?”
“They released me on bail while they find some more evidence” Jimmy said.
“Have you told them about me?” Peter asked.
“No” Jimmy replied. “I don’t know why I haven’t, I’m too nice aren’t I”
“How did you know I was here?” Peter asked.
“I have my sources” Jimmy replied. “Now, on to why I came here”
“And why did you come here?” Peter asked.
“To give you an ultimatum” Jimmy replied, smiling.
“That is a big word for you” Peter said, rolling his eyes.”
“You confess or I will do it for you” Jimmy said. Peter laughed.
“They will have no evidence to say that I did it!” Peter said. “They won’t know that I told you to kill her and I will get away scott free, haha!” Peter continued with delight.
“They will now” Jimmy replied, showing Peter a recorder.
“You’ve just recorded this whole conversation?” Peter asked, shocked, and annoyed.
“Yes, now I have the evidence” Jimmy said, grinning before turning round.
“Wait” Peter exclaimed. Jimmy turned round. “How about I make you a deal?”
“I’m listening” Jimmy said, taking a seat.
“You take the wrap, they haven’t got much evidence so you will only be locked up for a few years” Peter said.
“Oh only a few years? That’s alright isn’t it” Jimmy said sarcastically.
“No! Listen to me” Peter said sharply. “When you get out, I will give you £250,000”
“You’re kidding me!” Jimmy said, laughing. “Where would you get that sort of money?”
“Haven’t you heard, Jimmy?” Peter asked. “I’m filthy, stinking rich, that is why I have moved house! I’ve even got an iPhone and an Audi!”
“Where did you get the money?” Jimmy asked, intrigued.
“Inheritance” Peter replied. Jimmy paused to think.
“If you don’t give me the money when I get out, I will hunt you down and kill you” Jimmy said.
“Fair enough” Peter said “So do we have a deal?”
“Deal” Jimmy replied, shaking Peter’s hand. Before leaving the room, Jimmy looked at Peter and shook his head. Peter took a sigh of relief as he watched Jimmy leave the room.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine thanks Silvia, you get off home” Susan said, smiling.
“Well, if you are sure” Silvia said.
“I’m sure” Susan replied, waving her off. Silvia smiled as she walked out of the house, leaving Susan with Oliver.
“I think we should get you to bed” Susan said, picking up Oliver and taking him upstairs. Susan entered Oliver’s bedroom and put him in his cot.
“You are getting a bit big for this, aren’t you?” Susan said as she stepped back. Oliver looked up at her puzzled. “Well you get to bed” Susan said, kissing him on his forehead before making her out of the room.
“Mummy” Oliver said, shocking Susan. Susan looked bad, smiled and then left the room with a massive grin on her face.

Back at the office, Becky was still working.
“Come in” she said, as she heard footsteps. “Come in” she said again, louder. She heard footsteps again, going away. Becky stood up, she was puzzled. “Hello” she exclaimed walking towards the office entrance where she saw a dark figure running away. Becky slowly walked towards her computer, turned it off and made her way out of the Office, locking the door and checking it twice. She took care as she walked away from the office to her car.

“Morning” A nurse said, walking into Peter’s room, waking him up.
“Oh, morning” Peter replied, wide awake.
“Well you look good this morning” the nurse said, smiling.
“I’m ready to go home” Peter replied, smiling back at her, hoping that she would let him go.
“Well…we’ll give you a quick check over and If everything seems alright, we’ll send you home” The nurse said, with delight.
“Yes, okay, I’m ready for the check over” Peter exclaimed, jumping out of bed.

“Peter, Peter, don’t make me get up yet” Susan said, her eyes still closed as the alarm bell rang. She paused before opening her eyes and realising that Peter was not beside her. She felt the bed with her fingers, checking for an trace of Peter. She had slept the whole night in one side of the bed as if Peter was laying next to her. She sighed, stared at the alarm clock and then went back to sleep.

“Thank you so much” Peter said, smiling and waving to all the hospital staff as he left the hospital. One problem was now sorted out. Things were finally looking up. Peter waited outside the hospital and rang for a taxi and waited patiently and began to play on his phone. It was only about ten minutes until a taxi arrived. Peter got in and enjoyed a nice, long chat with the taxi driver before arriving at his home.
“Thanks a lot mate, it was nice chatting to you” Peter said, winking before closing the taxi door and walking up to the house.
“Honey, I’m home” he said as he entered the house. The house was silent. Peter rolled his eyes as he ran upstairs and into his bedroom where Susan lay- she was still asleep. Peter crept up to her and shouted; “Surprise!”
“Ahh!” Susan shouted, scared out of her life. “Why did you do that?”
Peter laughed, uncontrollably. “Oh, now that was hilarious”
“Hilarious for you maybe” Susan replied, pulling herself together.
“Aren’t you going to say hi? Aren’t you going to ask how I am?” Peter asked, sarcastically.
“I don’t think you deserve it for what you have just done to me” Susan said, trying not to laugh. “I’m only kidding love” Susan said, kissing Peter on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’ve never been better and I am even more better for seeing you” Peter replied, smiling.
“You are so corny!” Susan said.
“I can’t help but be corny, I’m getting married to you” Peter said in delight.
“I know” Susan replied, in an equal measure of delight.
“So when do you want to get married?” Peter asked.
“When? Well I don’t know!” Susan said.
“How about in a few days? It will give you chance to get the wedding dress, the rings, and all the arrangements sorted out!” Peter said. Susan was shocked.
“We can’t possibly, can we?” Susan asked.
“Of course we can” Peter replied.
“Then…yes! Yes of course” Susan said, hugging Peter. Peter stepped back, walking out of the room. “Where are you going?” Susan asked.
“The wedding isn’t going to organise its self, is it?” Peter said, raising his eyebrows as he walked out of the room and downstairs while Susan couldn’t help but smile as she fell back onto the bed.

The front door opened, Silvia walked in, Peter walked towards her.
“Peter!” Silvia said, shocked to see Peter. “You’re back so soon?”
“Of course I am, I’m here, how are you Silvia?” Peter asked.
“Well I’m fine, more to the point, how are you?” Silvia asked.
“I’m better than ever” Peter said. “Just about to make wedding arrangements!”
“Oh yes of course, you are getting married to Susan, congratulations” Silvia said.
“Yes, yes, thank you” Peter said. “Oh I almost forgot, thanks for ringing the ambulance, if it wasn’t for you yesterday I might of ended up a lot worse!”
“It’s no problem, I’m sure you would have done the same for me” Silvia said, smiling.
“Of course! Of course” Peter said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get on with the wedding arrangements!”

Peter was making his way into the living room when his phone rang. It was Becky.
“Becky, how are you?” Peter asked.
“Great, but, where are you?” Becky asked.
“I’m at home” Peter replied.
“Well are you coming down to the office?” Becky asked.
“No! I’m very busy today but I am hiring some new staff later on, Susan should be down later” Peter said, smiling.
“Oh okay” Becky replied, annoyed.
“Are you okay?” Peter asked. “You seem down!”
“Oh, I’m fine, I’m fine” Becky said, perking up. “Yeah that is completely fine, I will see you tomorrow or something?”
“Should be tomorrow!” Peter replied. “Thank you, bye” Peter said before hanging up the phone and collapsing onto the sofa.
“Lots to do! Lots to do” Peter said to himself, laughing when he realised that he was actually talking to himself. He looked at the magazine rack beside him where lots of Sarah’s old magazines were. He searched through the magazines and found a wedding one. He began to search the magazine when he found a perfect venue for his wedding and began to dial the number.
“Hello, Blue River Weddings, how may I help you?” The woman on the other line said.
“Hello, I am Peter Freeman and I want to get married!” Peter replied, sitting back.
“Well, let’s start by me saying to you, congratulations”
“Thank you” Peter replied, smiling.
“I assume you are marrying a woman, we don’t do civil partnerships” The woman said, awkwardly.
Peter laughed. “Yes, yes, I am”
“So what are you thinking off?” she asked.
“You’re venue, I want to go there and I want to go there as soon as possible, how much money do you want?” Peter asked, willing to pay as much as it took.
“As soon as possible would be the day after tomorrow!” The woman said. “And it will cost about £150,000” she continued.
Peter didn’t hesitate when he replied, “That is fantastic, so do you want my card?” Peter asked.
“Uhh…yes please” the woman said with delight as Peter reached for his debit card.

Peter ran upstairs where Susan was doing her teeth and ran up to her and hugged her.
“What was that for?” Susan asked, mumbling as she brushed hard.
“For being a great girlfriend” Peter replied.
“You mean…fiancée!” Susan said with delight.
“Yes! And the day after tomorrow you will be my wife” Peter said.
“You’re joking!” Susan said, spitting out her toothpaste.
“No, I’m not joking, I’ve got the venue and it’s sorted” Peter said.
“I love you” Susan said, very giddy as she jumped up and kissed Peter. “Where is it?” she asked.
“Ahh! It is a surprise” Peter said, kissing her again. “Now, you are coming with me into town right now and we are going to get a massive great ring on your finger and we are going to get a wedding dress and then, if you’re a good girl, you can inform your family”
“I’ll just get ready then” Susan said, skipping back into Peter’s room to get ready as Peter stood and just stared at his fiancée, realising how lucky he was.

“Hurry up!” Peter shouted upstairs as he got his coat on, jumping on the spot with impatience.
“I’m coming now!” Susan replied, walking down the stairs. Peter looked up and was stunned.
“You look…stunning!” Peter said. Susan was wearing a red dress as she made her way downstairs.
“You like it?” Susan asked.
“I love it!” Peter said, not able to take his eyes of her. “I honestly thought you were someone else for a second there! I have never seen such a beautiful woman in all my life!”
“Oh don’t be stupid” Susan said, embarrassed.
“No, no! I promise, you are stunning” Peter said. “All I can say now is, madam, your carriage awaits!”
Susan smiled as Peter opened the front door for her and followed her out and into the Audi.

“I want your biggest, most expensive ring please” Peter said, triumphantly, while he massaged his ego as he entered a jewellers in town with Susan. A man raised his eyebrows and walked towards him.
“What is that?” he asked.
“I want to buy your biggest, most expensive ring for my gorgeous fiancée please” Peter repeated. Susan blushed.
“You can’t possibly do that, I won’t let you!” Susan said.
“Tough, I’m buying it!” Peter replied, grinning.
“Well, the most expensive one is over here” the man said, leading Peter and Susan to a counter at the other end of the shop. Susan stared at the massive, beautiful ring that was gleaming in front of them.
“Wow!” She said as the man put it on her finger. “This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, uh, apart from you Peter” Susan said. Peter laughed.
“How much is it then?” Peter asked.
“£87,000” the man replied. Susan’s jaw dropped. Peter’s didn’t, in fact he smiled.
“That will be perfect” Peter said.
“Come with me and we will sort it out for you” the man said with delight, leading Peter into an office and Susan in complete shock.

“Just put your card in there and you are all set!” the man said, showing Peter a chip and pin machine. Peter put his card in and then his pin code and followed the on-screen instructions. It was several seconds before it made a noise. Like an alarm.
The man sighed.
“What does that mean?” Peter asked.
“It means” The man said, very annoyed. “That you don’t have enough money to carry out the transaction”
“Well that is impossible, I am a millionaire and all my money is in the account, how about I try it again?” Peter asked, getting worried.
“It makes no mistakes” the man replied, looking down on Peter as he stood up from his chair and began to walk away from Peter.
“Don’t walk away from me, I am a millionaire! You will do what I say” Peter exclaimed, to the shock of Susan and several other people in the shop.
“What has happened, Peter?” Susan asked, confused.
“This stupid man has said that we can’t buy it!” Peter said in disgust. The man turned to Susan.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t buy it, I wanted it bought, obviously I did but there was not enough money on the card!” the man exclaimed, throwing his arms out in front of him and shrugging. Susan looked up at Peter who was in complete distress. “Now” the man continued. “If you two don’t leave the shop now and stop making a scene, I may have to call the police!”
“Oh shut up!” Peter shouted, throwing the ring onto the floor.
“Out of my shop NOW!” The man exclaimed.
“We’re going, we’re going” Peter said, leading Susan out of the shop and into the street.
“Where are we going Peter?” Susan asked, worried.
“Home! We are going home and I am going to get my lawyers and everyone to get on his case so fast he won’t even know what has happened!” Peter exclaimed, storming down the street. Reluctantly, Susan followed him.

On the car journey home, Peter didn’t say a word to Susan. Susan, after several minutes, stopped trying to make conversation with Peter. When Peter arrived at his house, he got out the car, slammed the door and walked in where he was greeted by Silvia.
“Hey Peter, how are you?” she asked, smiling. Peter pushed past her and into the living room.
“I’m not in a good mood!” Peter exclaimed as he collapsed on the sofa. Susan followed him into the living room, smiling at Silvia as she walked in.
“Peter, there is no use taking your anger out on us, it is not our fault!” Susan said, sitting beside her. Peter paused before looking at Susan.
“I’m…sorry” Peter said. “It’s just, I want you to have a perfect wedding”
“Awww!” Susan replied, hugging Peter.
“I don’t care what our wedding is like, as long as at the end of it I am married to you, then that is all that matters” Susan said, kissing Peter.
“You’re right, I’m just an idiot!” Peter said, standing up. “Come on, let’s get you a cheaper ring, not much cheaper, and a wedding dress!” Peter took Susan by the hand and pulled her up from the sofa.

Peter arrived back at the jewellers about half an hour later and walked in where the man who was dealing with him approached him.
“I thought I told you to leave the shop” he said, glaring at Peter.
“You did and I did leave and now I am back” Peter said, all high and mighty.
“Well, I’m willing to sort you out if you have the correct amount of money” the man replied, raising his eyebrows.
“Susan” Peter said. Susan stepped forward. “Choose a ring and I will buy it”
Susan smiled and went to look at the rings, several minutes later she showed Peter which one she wanted.
“This one, eh?” Peter asked, looking at the ring.
“Yes” Susan replied. Peter looked at the price, £430.
“Are you sure?” Peter asked.
“Yes I’m sure, thank you Peter” Susan said, delighted. Peter showed the man the ring and he took him over to a counter and asked Peter, like last time, to put his card in the machine and put in his pin code. It didn’t make a sound. Peter had enough money.
“Well, this is more in your price range isn’t it, eh?” the man said, smiling. Peter chose to ignore the man.
“Thanks” Peter said, taking the ring and putting it on Susan’s finger.
“It’s gorgeous, thank you” Susan replied.
“No problem” Peter said, kissing Susan’s hand and winking at the man in the jewellers before walking out.

“Where are we going now?” Susan asked, walking down the high street beside Peter.
“Well to get a wedding dress of course!” Peter said, winking. “Now, show me where it is”
Susan sighed before leading Peter down another street and down into a wedding shop.
“Hello, can I help you?” a woman asked, walking towards Susan and Peter.
“Yes you can” Peter said. “I’d like you to fit this beautiful woman any dress she wants and I will buy it”
“Isn’t he amazing?” Susan said, looking up at Peter before looking at the woman.
“He sounds it!” the woman replied, smiling. “Now, I’ll just show you a few dresses, Sir, would you mind staying here?”
“Yes that’s fine” Peter said before kissing Susan. “Have fun! And remember, anyone you want!”

Peter and Susan came out of the wedding shop about half an hour later with a beautiful, white wedding dress in Susan’s hands.
“Thank you so much Peter, it is gorgeous!” Susan exclaimed, kissing Peter on the cheek.
“I can’t wait to see you it and to see you in it” Peter replied. “Whatever it is like, you will look gorgeous, you always do, now let’s get back home!”

“Peter!” Susan exclaimed, running round the house.
“Yes?” Peter replied, raising his eyebrows as Susan came running up to him.
“Have you got the reception booked?” she asked.
“Reception…reception?” Peter said, shocked.
“Don’t say you have forgot!” Susan said, disappointed. Peter began to smile. “Oh you are an idiot!” Susan said, smiling as she hit him. “Where is the reception being held then?”
“It’s a surprise!” Peter said.
“I need to know where the wedding is being held at least so I can tell all the guests” Susan said. Peter produced the wedding magazine and handed it over to Susan.
“Page 39” Peter said, winking. Susan turned to the page and a massive grin appeared on her face.
“Peter…it’s, it’s, it is amazing” Susan said, in awe at the beautiful looking picture. She paused before proclaiming; “I love you so much Peter”
“I know! Everyone does” Peter replied, joking. “Wait, I need to get a suit don’t I?”
“Yes you do and I think you should get a little one for little Oliver” Susan said, smiling as she imagined the two men her life in little suits.
“Wouldn’t that be cute?” Peter said. “Yes, we’ll have to do that!”
“Well you will have to get a move on, it is the day after tomorrow!” Susan said.
“I’ll get one tomorrow! Now, are you having a hen night?” Peter asked.
“I don’t know…should I?” Susan replied.
“I think it would be great!” Peter said, smiling.
“Then…yes! Yes I will, I can meet up with a few friends who I haven’t seen for a while” Susan said. “I’ll arrange one for tomorrow night! Now, are you having a stag night?”
“I would, If I had some friends to attend” Peter said, looking down, realising that he had a very little amount of friends.
“Oh, don’t be silly, I’m sure you have lots of friends” Susan said, smiling.
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But actually don’t. I have acquaintances, yeah, but no actual friends” Peter said, sighing.
“You poor thing” Susan replied, hugging Peter. “You know, we will have to get out one night and meet up with a few of my friends, there is guy called Ross who I’m sure you would get on great with!”
“Ahh, I don’t know, I don’t socialise much” Peter said, embarrassed.
“Well that’s what you should start doing, you know with me being a Lawyer and you being a big, successful business man, as man and wife we will be among the top social elite!” Susan exclaimed, thinking up ideas for her future together with Peter. Peter simply laughed.
“I don’t think so” Peter replied, brushing off the idea.
“You’d be surprised!” Susan said. “Anyway, I need to start calling my friends and family to notify them about the wedding and my hen night, I’ll just get the phone and sit down in the living room”
“Alright, but before you go, give me a kiss” Peter said. Susan complied by giving him a kiss and an extra surprise of a hug.

“Silvia” Peter said, walking into the kitchen where Silvia was cooking.
“Yes, Peter?” she asked, smiling as she turned to face him.
“Do you want to come to the wedding?” Peter asked.
“Of course! When is it?” she asked.
“The day after tomorrow!” Peter said.
“Really?” Silvia replied, shocked.
“Yes! So are you going?” Peter asked.
“Of course, I will have to get an outfit! Do you mind if I bring my husband with me?” Silvia asked.
“You are married? Ooh, I never knew that! Of course you can bring him” Peter said.
“Thank you and yes we are happily married, a relationship really picks up when you are married but there are also a lot of bad things about a marriage” Silvia said.
“Oh yes?” Peter asked, getting a bit worried.
“Yes! Me and my husband always end up having fights, and your other half always seems to change a bit when you get married, this is my second marriage, If we do get divorced, I’ll never get married again! It’s too much trouble!” Silvia said.
“How do you mean they change?” Peter asked, intrigued.
“It might just be the men, but when me and my current husband were girlfriend and boyfriend, our relationship was more passionate and we had a lot more fun, when we got married we didn’t seem to be, you know, as intimate and he always seemed to be in a bad mood” Silvia said, sighing.
“Well, me and Susan are strong, I’m sure it won’t happen” Peter said, being optimistic.
“I’m sure it won’t” Silvia said. “I wish you the best of luck and I can’t wait until the wedding!”

The next day was very hectic. Susan was out and about very early while Peter had a lie in. After being awake for about ten minutes, at 12:30, Peter decided it was time to get up. Peter got out of bed, got a shower, did his teeth and got dressed before walking into Oliver’s room.
“Get up Oliver!” Peter said, walking into his room as he grabbed his son out of his crib and took him downstairs and into his high chair in the kitchen.
“Morning” Peter said to Silvia.
“You mean afternoon!” Silvia replied, laughing.
“You are joking? I’ve wasted almost half the day of my last day of freedom?” Peter exclaimed.
“Yes!” Silvia replied. Peter jumped out of his chair.
“Oli, we have to go into town and get you and daddy a suit for daddy’s wedding tomorrow” Peter said, picking up Oliver. “I’ll see you later Silvia!”
“Bye Peter” Silvia said, waving Peter and Oliver off before getting back to her cooking.

Peter and Oliver, in his pushchair, entered a tailors. Peter approached the information desk.
“Yes?” a woman asked.
“Hello, me and my son would like a suit for tomorrow. It’s my wedding” Peter said, smiling.
“Certainly” the woman replied, leading Peter and Oliver into a back room full of suits and fabrics and several men who were fitting people.
“Alfie, could you deal with these two?” the woman asked, calling for a man named Alfie. He approached Peter and Oliver.
“What can I do for you?” he asked. The woman walked off.
“Yes, me and my son would like a suit for tomorrow. I am getting married” Peter said, delighted.
“Well, congratulations, and yes we have perfect suits designed for weddings, and lovely ones for little boys” Alfie replied.
“Oh that is great, I don’t really care which suit really, just a suit!” Peter said, laughing.
“Yes, that’s fine, follow me” Alfie said, leading Peter down the exceptionally large room to a closet which was full of little, tiny suits for little, tiny people.
“Here are the kids suit, and this one” Alfie said, reaching for a suit. “Looks perfect for this little one”
Peter got Oliver out of his pushchair and sat him on the floor. To Peter’s amazement, he stood up and began to walk.
“Oliver!” Peter exclaimed, shocked.
“What’s the matter?” Alfie asked.
“My son, he is walking, I’m sorry but I didn’t know he could walk” Peter said. “I’m astonished”
Alfie laughed. “I can’t see how you didn’t know? But anyway, let’s get this suit on”
Alfie began to fit Oliver with the suit while Peter just stared in absolute astonishment at his little son who was walking for what Peter thought was his first time.
“That should be perfect” Alfie said, smiling as he had another satisfied customer. “Do you like that?” he said to Oliver who smiled.
“I think he does” Peter said. “Thank you very much”
“Now, I’ll do you” Alfie said.
“Great” Peter replied, rolling his eyes before picking up Oliver and putting him back in his pushchair.
“Don’t be like that, I’m sure that you will look very sharp in a suit!” Alfie replied. He was obviously homosexual.
“Why, thank you” Peter said.
“This should be a good one” Alfie said, picking one up from off of a rail and handing it to Peter. “If you’d like to go into the dressing room over there and try it on for me?”
“Yes, that’s fine” Peter said, walking over to the dressing room and getting his suit on. It seemed to fit perfectly. He smiled as he walked out of the dressing room.
“That is fine” Peter said.
“Great” Alfie replied. “All together that will be £290”
“Brilliant” Peter said as Alfie lead him and Oliver over to the pay counter. Peter dutifully paid for the suits and walked out of the shop and made his way home.

“Becky” Susan said, walking into the office at the flats where Becky was at her desk.
“You have decided to show your face, have you?” Becky asked, raising her eyebrows sarcastically.
“Yes, and I have come to give you an invite” Susan said.
“An invite? An invite for what?” Becky asked, intrigued.
“Well I am getting married tomorrow and I would like you to come to the wedding and my hen night tonight” Susan said, trying to be nice.
“I see what you are playing at” Becky exclaimed. “You can’t fool me!”
“Of for goodness sake Becky, when I try to be nice, you throw it back in my face!” Susan exclaimed.
“But you are not trying to be nice, your trying to get me to forget the fact that you killed my brother” Becky snarled.
“I didn’t kill him” Susan shouted. Another woman appeared at the front door of the offices, she walked in; it was Martha. Susan turned round, hearing the noise of the door opening.
“Martha! What are you doing here?” Susan asked.
“I want to rent a flat!” Martha replied, smiling.
“That will be great” Becky butted in. “Susan was just leaving”
“Fine, get stuffed!” Susan exclaimed before storming out of the office.
“What is her problem?” Martha asked, innocently.
“She is annoyed that I rejected her offer of an invite to her wedding!” Becky said. “It’s pathetic”
Martha paused. “She’s getting married?” Martha asked, not believing what she was hearing.
“Yeah, to the owner of these flats” Becky said. Martha stormed out, crying.
“Excuse me, aren’t you going to rent a flat?” Becky shouted after her before sighing. “No one ever does, do they?” she said to herself before getting a handful of mints from the plate next to her.

Day quickly turned to night and Peter was getting worried.
“Silvia” Peter said, walking towards her.
“Yes, Peter?” Silvia replied.
“I’m getting married tomorrow” Peter blurted out, strangely.
“Yes I know that, I’m going to the wedding” Silvia replied, intrigued by Peter’s strange observation.
“Sorry, it’s just, it’s a big commitment, isn’t it?” Peter exclaimed.
“It sure is!” Silvia replied. “You know it’s right when you are with a wonderful person, and I think Susan is a wonderful person!”
“She is…she is” Peter said, twiddling his phone in his hands before putting it in his pocket and asking. “Do you mind looking after Oliver for a few hours?”
“Sure” Silvia replied, smiling as she picked up Oliver.
“I’ll pay you extra” Peter said, winking. “I’ve just got a few things to do”
“Alright, see you soon” Silvia said as Peter walked away, out of the front door and into his car.

Susan had decided to hold her hen night at her old flat and as she sat, patiently in the living room, the guests were starting to arrive; the whole two of them.
“Hello Hannah” Susan said, opening her front door and meeting with her friend Hannah for the first time in ages.
“Hi, how are you? Congratulations again on the engagement, I can’t wait to meet the guy, is he hot?” Hannah exclaimed, laughing weirdly.
“Thank you and yes I guess that he is, umm, hot!” Susan replied, awkwardly. “Now come on, go into my living room and we’ll have a long chat” Susan said, smiling. About thirty seconds later, the door bell rang again.
“Ross, it’s great to see you” Susan said, kissing Ross on the cheek.
“It’s great to see you as well Suze!” Ross replied. “I can’t believe the Suze I knew in Uni is all grown up and getting married!”
“I know it is crazy, isn’t it?” Susan said. “Now come in, come in, we have lots to chat about” Susan said, leading Ross into the living room where Hannah was sat, drinking wine.
“Hannah! I haven’t seen you in ages!” Ross said, leaning in to hug Hannah and for some reason Susan seemed jealous.
“Rossy!” Hannah replied giving him a peck on the lips. Susan began to get even more annoyed.
“I’ll just get some food” she said, looking for an excuse to the leave the room.

Peter sat still in his car for several minutes, just looking straight forward into space, not thinking of anything in particular when there was a knock on his window. Peter looked to his right where are parking warden was staring at him. Peter pressed the button beside him to put the window down.
“Yes?” Peter asked.
“Uhh…you can’t park here!” the parking warden replied, being very stern.
“I’m sorry” Peter said, looking back into space.
“Would you care to move it?” the parking warden asked.
“Yeah, yeah, sorry” Peter said, starting to drive off and round a corner where he saw a familiar sight; the canal.

“So…” Hannah said, making conversation. Susan and Ross were sat either side of her. “I thought a hen night was just for women!”
“Well I can’t make it to the wedding tomorrow so I thought I’d come to this” Ross said, his eyes seeming to gleam. Susan smiled politely. “She is a good friend is Susan” Ross continued, shaking Susan’s shoulder.
“So, have you got a girlfriend?” Hannah asked, obviously trying to hit on Ross.
“No” Ross replied. Hannah tried to hide her delight.
“Oh no? Such a shame! I have just broken up with my boyfriend” Hannah said, faking that she was upset about the breakdown of her relationship.
“I’m sorry” Ross replied, smiling sympathetically.
“It was such a shame, I loved him!” Hannah said before quickly adding “But I am quick to move on!”
“Does anybody want some more wine?” Susan asked, grinning stupidly as she held up another bottle of wine.

As Peter stared at the canal, the night he drove into it and the night he slept rough came flooding back into his mind. Peter decided to stop beside the canal and get out. As he walked down the cobbled pathway, not going anywhere in particular, he recognised the place where he slept rough and began to make his way there.

“You seem to be a lot sexier than I remember!” Hannah said, staring at Ross who she had got into a corner. She was obviously drunk. Susan rolled her eyes and looked at how pathetic Hannah was.
“Come on Hannah” Ross said. “You’ve had your fun”
“Not yet” Hannah replied, grabbing Ross, forcing herself upon him and beginning to snog him. Susan looked on in disgust, jealously and upset before Ross pushed her away from himself.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Ross exclaimed.
“Giving you the greatest kiss of your life” Hannah mumbled.
“I don’t know what kind of person you take me for, but I’m not sleazy and I don’t fancy you!” Ross exclaimed, this time more severe. Hannah looked in his eyes before throwing her glass of wine over Ross’ face, and storming out of the flat.
“I’m sorry about her” Susan said, standing up and walking towards Ross.
“Oh it’s not your fault!” Ross said, smiling.
“Look it is, I saw her coming onto you, I should of told her to back off!” Susan said, feeling responsible.
“I can’t see why she doesn’t understand that I don’t want her” Ross said, sighing.
“I know, there is no getting through to some people, is there?” Susan replied, sighing also in almost the same tone Ross had.
“I don’t want her, I don’t, I want you!” Ross said, grinning and staring into Susan’s eyes.

“Excuse me” Peter asked, butting in. The tramp, Sam, he had met before at this very spot had his back to Peter and was mumbling to himself. He turned round.
“Yes?” Sam asked.
“I’m Peter, do you remember me?” Peter replied.
“No” Sam exclaimed, turning away again.
“Peter, I am Peter, remember not too long ago, I slept here, I had” Peter said, hesitating. “I had driven a car into the canal”
Sam turned back round to face Peter again.
“Oh, it’s you, what do you want?” Sam asked bluntly.
“I’d like some advice” Peter asked, smiling. Sam smiled back.
“What do you need?”

“Ross, Ross, I don’t know what to say” Susan said. Ross moved in and kissed her, after several seconds Susan pulled away. “Ross, please”
“I’m sorry” Ross replied.
“I’m getting married tomorrow!” Susan exclaimed. “Please, Ross, I really like you but do you mind if you just leave- now!”
“But Susan” Ross said, getting on his knees.
“Ross, just please leave, I’ll see you later” Susan replied, smiling. Ross reluctantly got to his knees.
“I love you” he said as he walked out of the front door, leaving Susan to collapse on the sofa with a massive sigh.

“I’m getting married tomorrow” Peter said, smiling as he sat down beside Sam.
“Marriage! Ahh, it is a fine thing” Sam replied, taking a deep breath for some weird reason.
“You’ve been married?” Peter asked.
“Oh yes, once, almost twice” Sam said, his hands on his knees, his hands covered by tatty looking, fingerless gloves.
“Tell me about it, I want to know all about it” Peter said, hoping for a tall tale.
“The girl was called Susan” Sam said. Peter butted in.
“Ha, that is funny, the girl I’m getting married to tomorrow is also called Susan” Peter said.
“Is she?” Sam said. “How interesting”
“It’s funny how these things happen, isn’t it?” Peter said, being corny.
“It’s a nice name Susan, she was a nice girl, but when I got a bit, well, down on my luck- she left me” Sam said, sighing, remembering a terrible part of his life. “She left me for some big shot doctor or something like that!”
“I’m sorry” Peter replied.
“It’s not your fault, young fella!” Sam said. “It was mine”
“Oh come on, I was down on my luck at one time of day but I picked myself up and one day you will too!” Peter said, smiling.
“I’ve been homeless for almost seven years now” Sam said.
“Wow, it must have been tough” Peter replied, sympathetically.
“Not that tough, when you are homeless, you realise that a big house and a wife is not all you need” Sam said.
“And what do you need?” Peter asked.
“You need number one- yourself! You don’t need marriage, you can get along just fine on your own” Sam said.
“I’m having second thoughts about the wedding, I’m not sure if marriage is right for me, I used to be a bit of a player, I had tons of one night stands and I cheated on some of my girlfriends, It was stupid I know, but I enjoyed it”
“I wasn’t too popular with the ladies, but the novelty of them will soon wear off, especially when you are older” Sam said, laughing.
“Oh right” Peter said, taking in what he had just heard. “I need to be somewhere now, I’ll see you around, it was nice talking to you” Peter continued, simply nodding before walking out and sighing deeply.

Susan began to stroke her wedding dress, smiling as she looked at it.
“Oh I’m getting married in the morning” she sang to herself, imagining herself in the wedding dress and the groom next to her. She immediately imagined Peter, the person she is getting married to tomorrow but then her mind seemed to wander towards seeing Ross in a suit, standing next to her down the aisle. As the thoughts began to rush through her head a few tears began to roll down her face. She decided it was time to grow up as she brushed away the tears, put her dress down and made her way upstairs to get some sleep.

“Oh I’m getting married in the morning” Peter began to sing to himself as he began to drink from a bottle of wine as he sat in his car, pondering his own decision of getting married in the morning. He sat quiet for almost an hour, taking a swig of wine every few minutes. Peter continued to stare into space before clasping his arms together.
“God, if you are up there” Peter said, a tear rolling down his face. He was beginning to cry more and more often now. “Please just, please, help me, tell me what to do” Peter said, rather quietly before shouting; “Give me a sign!”
His phone began to ring. Peter looked down at his phone which read; Silvia calling. Peter grabbed his phone and cancelled the call before switching the phone off and throwing it down on the passengers seat.

The doorbell rang several times. Susan opened her eyes, got out of bed, put on her dressing down and ran downstairs. “One second!” she exclaimed before opening the door. In front of her stood Ross.
“Ross, please leave me, I’m getting married today” Susan exclaimed.
“To me?” Ross asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Come on, Ross, please, just leave me” Susan asked.
“Okay, but I will be back to see you every day until it gets through to you that I love you” Ross said, smiling before turning round and walking down the street. Susan pondered calling after him but decided against it, she was going to get married to a millionaire, why would she say no?

Peter waltzed through his front door, Silvia ran up to him.
“Peter! Where have you been?” she exclaimed.
“Not now” Peter said, pushing past her.
“I’ve been here all night, I’ve had to look after little Oliver” Silvia said, she was holding Oliver in his arms.
“Did you know he could walk?” Peter asked.
“Of course I did!” Silvia replied. “What has that got to do with anything?”
“Nothing” Peter said.
“What are you doing, Peter? You are meant to be getting married in just over an hour, aren’t you going to get ready?” Silvia asked.
“Aren’t you?” Peter replied, cheekily.
“I am, and will you stop being cheeky, what’s wrong with you?” Silvia asked.
“Nothing, I’m getting married” Peter shouted, running upstairs to get his suit on.
“I’ll get Oliver’s suit on!” Silvia shouted up to Peter as she began to dress Oliver.
“All right!” Peter shouted down, not really bothered. Peter seemed to be having trouble getting his suit on but after about ten minutes, he was ready and as he walked down the stairs, Silvia looked on in awe.
“Peter, you look dashing” Silvia said, getting an eyeful.
“Thanks, now are we ready to get to this wedding or what?” Peter asked, picking up Oliver and heading towards the car.
“I just need to call my husband” Silvia said.
“Chop, chop” Peter said, rolling his eyes as he put Oliver in the baby seat while he got into the drivers seat.

There was another knock on Susan’s door. Susan had her wedding dress on and was sat on her sofa, watching daytime television and eating a box of chocolates.
“Hang on!” Susan shouted, grabbing another chocolate and shoving it in her mouth before walking towards the front door. She opened it and was met by a man in a white suit. “Hello, do I know you?”
“Your limo awaits” the man replied, smiling as he revealed a beautiful, white limo.
“You’re joking? That is mine?” Susan asked, shocked.
“It sure is, for the bride” the man replied, smiling as he led her out the front door. Susan quickly locked the door, took a deep breath and followed the man into the limo.

“You rang him, then?” Peter asked, as Silvia got into the car.
“Yes, he is meeting me there” Silvia replied, smiling.
“I’m sorry Silvia” Peter said, sighing.
“Oh it’s alright, there is no need to be sorry” Silvia said before Peter cut in.
“No there is a need! I was an idiot to you this morning, it’s just that I am a bit nervous” Peter said, sighing again, slightly embarrassed.
“Apology accepted, and there is no need to worry, it is supposed to be the best day of your life, now lets get you married” Silvia said, grinning. Peter nodded before starting the car and reversing out of the drive.

“Can you hurry up?” Susan asked, from the back of the limo.
“I’m going as fast I can!” the limo driver replied. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you there in time”
Susan sighed as she looked down at her phone, checking the time.

“Damn road works!” Peter exclaimed, braking as he came up to road works.
“You see, this is why I don’t drive” Silvia replied.
“Yeah, I wish I didn’t either, I should of just got a taxi for us both or something” Peter said. “Are we going to be late?”
“There’s tons of time, you won’t be late” Silvia replied, hopeful.

Guests were starting to arrive at the beautiful church. The church looked like any other church, a steeple and lovely plate glass windows. Inside, however, the church was very modern with startling portraits, stalls and carpet. A true venue fit for a king. Hannah was already at the church, seeming to have forgotten about the events of the previous night as she sat alone at the front of the church.
“Excuse me” a man said, walking up to Hannah.
“Yeah?” Hannah replied, she was chewing gum.
“Is this wedding of Peter and Susan?” he asked. The man was James Arthur.
“Yeah it is” Hannah said, smiling, very over the top.
“Thank you very much” James replied, sitting directly behind her, taking his hat and coat off and patiently waiting for the bride and groom.

“Where do I go? Where do I go?” Peter exclaimed.
“I don’t know!” Silvia replied.
“I’ve got the directions in my coat pocket, can you get them please?” Peter asked politely. Silvia reached in Peter’s coat pocket and produced a tatty piece of paper. She unfolded the paper and began to read.
“Uhh, I think you go left just up this road” Silvia said. Peter began to speed up and took the left that Silvia said as the church began to come into sight.
“Wow!” Silvia exclaimed. “Is that the church?”
“It certainly is” Peter said proudly. “Only the best for my Susan”

“Thank you so much” Susan said, as she was let out of the limo by the driver.
“Good luck” the limo driver replied.
“Thank you” Susan said, giving him the thumbs up as she made her way into the church.
“There she is” Hannah said, as Susan poked her head around the corner, checking if Peter was there or not- he wasn’t.
“Be quiet!” Susan exclaimed. “Pretend that you haven’t seen me, I’ve got to wait until Peter gets here”
How great! Susan thought, the wedding hasn’t even started and there is already problems. Everyone in the church looked round, Susan tried to hide herself as she ran inside and into a little room in the church where she waited.

“Oh god! We are late” Peter exclaimed as he parked up outside the church and jumped out of his car.
“It’s fine! It’s fine” Silvia replied, getting out of the car also. Peter quickly ran into the church, quickly followed by Silvia and leaving his car unlocked.

Peter began to proudly, but nervously walk down the aisle. Several faces stared at him, many he didn’t know but a couple he did, like James Arthur. Silvia quickly slipped in to sit next to her husband.
“Sorry I’m late” Silvia said.
“It’s alright” Silvia’s husband, Al, replied.
Susan heard the voice of Silvia and realised that Peter arrived. She sighed before walking out of the room and began to walk down the aisle. Many people began to look at Susan in all her beauty and as Peter realised people looking behind him, Peter turned round and was stunned by how beautiful his soon-to-be wife was.
“Wow, Susan, you look great” Peter said, not able to wipe a smile off of his face.
“You like it?” Susan replied, shy.
“Like it? I love it” Peter exclaimed.
A vicar appeared and began to speak. “You are ready?” he asked.
And together the bride groom said; “Yes, we are ready”

Outside another guest was about to arrive. It was Martha she was about to make her way into the church when she spotted Peter’s car. She stood still, staring at the car for several seconds before checking to see if the car was open. She was delighted to find out that the car was unlocked. She was even more delighted to see that the keys were still in the ignition. She casually got into the drivers seat, closed the door, started up the engine and began to drive off.

The wedding ceremony was full of tears, surprises and love. Both Peter and Susan, after doubts, went through with the wedding.
“Mr and Mrs Freeman” Hannah exclaimed, grinning, as the wedding ceremony drew to a close. Peter and Susan made their way down the aisle, hand in the hand and out of the church where confetti was thrown. In true marriage tradition, Susan threw her bouquet of flowers behind her- Hannah caught them.
“Woohoo, who’s the lucky guy then?” she said, looking to her left where James was standing. Peter laughed.
“The reception is happening in the pub just down the road” Peter said, “So if you would like to follow us in you respective cars, or, unlike the lazy Mr and Mrs Freeman, on foot, we would be delighted if you’d join us”
Susan and Peter got into the back of the limo, the limo driver got in the limo and began to make his way down the road, towards the pub. Silvia and her husband, Al got into his car. Hannah got into hers. Several other people got into their cars but James Arthur, however, decided to walk.

“Susan?” Peter asked, having a thought as he poured himself and his wife a glass of champagne.
“Yes?” Susan replied. “My husband!”
“Did you see my car outside the church? I parked directly outside” Peter said, puzzled.
“I’m sure it’ll be there, hey! Don’t worry about that, we’ve got a wedding reception to host” Susan said as the car stopped and the car doors were opened by the limo driver.
“Thank you” Susan said, obviously drunk as she got out of the car with Peter. The other cars began to park beside them as they made their way into the pub.

“Congratulations” the pub landlord said as the bride and groom entered his premises. He presented the buffet, the drinks and the banners in the room.
“Just what I wanted” Peter said. “A normal wedding reception, thanks mate”
“No problem” the pub landlord replied. Susan was very giddy.
“I love it, now let me get to some of those sausages on sticks” she exclaimed, pushing past her new husband, playfully, to the plate of cocktail sausages.
The other guests began to enter. Silvia was the first one to come up to the man and wife.
“Congratulations you two!” she said. “I’m so happy for you both, you are going to be so happy together and I think your relationship will stick”
“So do I” Peter replied, more optimistic than he was before. Susan was less so, her mind drifting again, for about the tenth time today, to Ross. Ross was quite a lot older than Peter and herself, but Susan always seemed to like older men. Her first boyfriend was her school teacher!

“Here they are, the happy couple” Al said, shaking Peter and Susan’s hands.
“I don’t think we’ve met” Peter said. Silvia butted in.
“This is my husband, Al” Silvia said.
“Ah! Of course, I have heard so much about you” Peter replied, shaking his hand again.
“I hope it’s all good” Al said, laughing. “So, how is the bride?”
“I’m great thanks chuck” Susan said, laughing.
“I think she means- drunk” Peter said, smiling before giving his new wife a kiss on the cheek.
“I almost forgot” Al said, handing over a bag to Peter. “Your wedding present”
“Oh thank you” Peter said, flattered, this was the first present that he had received from anyone in years. Peter took the present from out of the bag. It was a coffee machine. “Oh this is fantastic” Peter said, faking enthusiasm, he was very much a hot chocolate man and Susan knew that.
“Thank you” Susan said.
“I hope you like coffee” Silvia said, laughing. “Anyway, we’ll leave you be while we get a bite to eat, come on Al!”
“See you later” Al replied before the two of them rushed to get some food.

“Susan?” Peter asked, leading his wife away from all the noise.
“Yes?” Susan replied.
“Did you see that guy at the wedding? James Arthur! He was there, is he here now?” Peter asked.
Susan looked around. “I don’t think so” and at that moment the door to the pub swung open and there stood a socked James Arthur.
“Is it raining out there?” Hannah asked, chewing on a sausage roll.
“Yes, it is” James replied, not even looking at Hannah as he made his way towards Peter.
“Hello James” Peter said reluctantly. “How did you know about the wedding?”
“Susan!” James replied. “Susan invited me”
Susan looked up at Peter, mouthing the word; Sorry.
“Oh well, the main thing is that you are here” Peter said, smiling.
“We need to talk Peter” James said.
“Yeah sure, later, I guess, but I have just got married” Peter said, worried.
James sat down on a chair beside Peter. “I’m not leaving until you speak to me” he exclaimed, smiling awkwardly.

“James, please, yes, go on say what you want” Peter said. Susan looked puzzled.
“What’s going on?” Susan asked.
“I just need to talk to your…husband” James said, sighing.
“And you have me here, so talk” Peter exclaimed.
“I’d rather we talked in private” James asked, raising his eyebrows, staring at Peter.
Peter sighed before saying; “Fine, yes, we’ll talk outside”
James led Peter outside.

“I know you did it” James said.
“What?” Peter replied, very worried.
“You killed Sarah” James exclaimed, trying not to be too loud. Peter had been found out. It was over, wasn’t it? Was there anything else he could do? Well lying has served him well recently.
“She died in her sleep” Peter replied. “How dare you say that I killed her, the autopsy said that she died in her sleep!”
“Well the first one did but I got another one done and it says she died another way, most likely from being smothered and you were the only person to be in the house with her that night” James exclaimed, fighting back tears. The game was up, Peter had to confess.
“Look, James, she asked me to, she had cancer” Peter said, ashamed.
“I don’t believe you” James replied.
“It’s true, she said if I did it then she would hand over her fortune to me” Peter said, smiling awkwardly.
“I think it was more like you forced her to change her will and then you killed her” James exclaimed.
“I didn’t want it to come to this, what I have told is the truth and you can choose to believe it or not but I am willing to pay you off to keep you quiet” Peter said, smiling.
“I don’t want your money! I want justice and I am going to get it” James said, turning his back on Peter and starting to walk away.
“Don’t you walk away from me” Peter shouted. Getting angry. There was no one around outside. It was quiet. Too quiet.

As James realised Peter was following him; he started to run. Peter began to run after him.
“Please” Peter exclaimed, catching up to him as the fitter, younger person normally would. Peter edged in front of James, staring him hard in the face.
“I’m begging you, if this goes to the police, I will lose my family and my new life, please, I’ll get on my knees if you want” Peter said, falling to his knees. “Look, I’m on my knees” he said, clasping his hands together.
“There is nothing you can possibly give me, I don’t care about money” James said.
Peter reached for his wallet from his pocket and produced his debit card and passed it to James.
“Look! You see that? That is my debit card, the pin number is 4291, you can have it!” Peter said. James pondered the thought of having the money for several moments, before declining, rather rudely, Peter’s proposition.
“No!” James said.
“Fine! Go! You’ve got no evidence on me, I’ve got no need to worry” Peter said, grinning at James before making his way back to the pub for the wedding reception looking very, very worried.

“What was that about?” Susan asked as Peter entered the pub.
“Nothing really, just stuff to do with Sarah” Peter said, smiling. Hannah made his way up to Peter.
“So this is the famous Peter” Hannah said, looking at Peter.
“Yes, it is, he’s amazing isn’t he?” Susan replied, smiling.
“You prefer him to Ross, then?” Hannah asked. “He really wanted you last night, unlike me”
“What is she talking about, Susan?” Peter asked.
“Nothing” Susan replied, smiling stupidly.
“Her friend Ross” Hannah said, butting in. “She was giving her the look all night!”
“Not exactly” Susan said, embarrassed, and worried.
“Weren’t you just talking about him the other day? How me and him should be friends? He sounds like an idiot to me” Peter exclaimed, upset.
“For goodness sake Hannah, couldn’t you see that I ignored him?” Susan asked.
“Susan! Susan! Don’t worry, just leave it, you are my new wife and If you loved this Ross guy, you would have never married me” Peter said, delighted.
“Yeah, you’re right” Susan replied, kissing Peter. Peter smiled before proclaiming to the whole pub.
“Me and my new wife are going to head back to our marital home” Peter proclaimed, grinning.
“Congratulations oh and we will look after Oliver for the night!” Silvia said, clapping as the happy couple walked out of the pub and back into the limo.
“Where would you like to go?” the limo driver asked.
“Home please” Peter replied. The limo began to drive off, driving past the church. Peter looked out of the window as they went past and noticed that his Audi was most definitely gone.

“The car is not there” Peter exclaimed.
“Huh?” Susan replied.
“The Audi is not where it was parked, we need to stop the Limo- it has been stolen” Peter said, annoyed.
“We have just got married, Peter, don’t worry about it” Susan said, sighing.
“But it’s my Audi!”
“Peter!” Susan exclaimed. “Wait until tomorrow”
Peter began to calm down. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it can wait until tomorrow”
“Good, now you’ve calmed down, when we get home we can focus on having a great first day of marriage” Susan said, snuggling up to Peter in the back of the limo and giving him a kiss.
“Do you know how much I love you?” Peter said, looking into Susan’s eyes. “You are everything I’ve ever wanted, before I was a player, lots of one night stands and stuff like that, but never again after meeting you, you are the only one for me!” Peter said, kissing Susan again.
“Awww!” Susan replied, awkwardly, she did not feel quite the same way and even deep down, neither did Peter.

“Here you are” the limo driver said from the front as the car stopped at Peter’s house.
“Here we are” Peter said, looking to Susan before the limo driver got out of his seat and opened the back doors.
“Congratulations once again and I hope you have a happy marriage” the limo driver said, smiling before getting back into the limo and driving off.
“Well, let’s start this marriage off traditionally” Peter said, picking up his new wife and taking her through the front door.
“Okay you can put me down now” Susan said. Peter ignored her.
“Nope! You are coming upstairs” Peter said, holding her tightly as he ran upstairs and into his bedroom with a grin on his face.

“Excuse me” James said, walking up to the main desk at the police station.
“Yes?” a policeman asked, about to deal with James.
“I’d like to report a murder”

The morning came fast and Peter and Susan Freeman awakened to their first day of married life as the alarm clock blared.
“I hate that alarm clock” Peter exclaimed, rolling over.
“Me too actually, we’ll have to get a new one” Susan said before pausing. “Do you know what I just said?”
“You want a new alarm clock?” Peter replied, puzzled.
“No, I said that we need to get one” Susan said, delighted. Peter smiled.
“Do you know how gorgeous you are?” Peter said, staring into Susan’s eyes.
“No, tell me” Susan replied, looking back into Peter’s blue eyes.
“The most gorgeous things my eyes have ever seen” Peter replied, not able to take the grin off of his face.
“You are so corny” Susan said, pushing Peter gently.
“Well you asked me!” Peter exclaimed, laughing. “Anyway, we’ll have to get to work today, we haven’t been for days” Peter continued, getting out of bed.`
“Fine” Susan said, getting out of bed before running into the bathroom and closing the door. From the other side she exclaimed “I’m always first in the bathroom, get used to it!” before laughing. Peter smiled at the other side of the door, delighted he had made the right decision in marrying Susan.

After a little fight about the bathroom and a few slices of burnt toast, Peter and Susan made their way to the flats in the Range Rover and were shocked by what they saw.
“Peter” Becky exclaimed, running up to Peter and Susan. Susan stared blankly at her before looking back at the wreckage that was the flats.
“What the hell has happened?” Peter replied, shocked.
“I’ve just arrived and found it like this! I thought someone would have rung you” Becky said, surprised.
“No one rang me but my phone has been switched off and no one would have any idea of how to contact me” Peter said, sighing.
“Peter, you don’t seem that bothered” Becky replied, intrigued.
“Oh I am, but It’s nothing that insurance can cover!” Peter said, smiling.
“How do you think it happened?” Becky asked.
“Probably someone left a hob on!” Peter said. “Do you think anyone has been hurt?”
“No, in fact there has been no one staying in the flats for the last couple of days” Becky said, disappointed to admit the fact.
“Then I think my hob idea has gone out the window” Peter said.
“You don’t mean someone did it on purpose?” Becky asked.
“That is exactly what I’m thinking, I’m thinking this was arson!” Peter exclaimed, throwing his arms out in front of himself before sighing once more.

Peter’s phone rang. Peter reached for his phone and answered it.
“Hello?” Peter asked.
“This is James” James replied. Peter put his phone down before turning to Susan and Becky.
“Look, guys I’ve got to go, I’ll see you later” Peter said, handing some money to Susan. “You get a taxi wherever you want to go”
“See you later Peter” Susan said as Peter walked away, reaching for his phone again.
“James! What do you want?” he asked as he got into the car.

Susan turned to Becky.
“It was you wasn’t it!” Susan exclaimed.
“How dare you” Becky replied. “How dare you even think that I was involved with it!”
“I bet it is just to get back at me, isn’t it? Well I don’t care! It doesn’t bother me and It doesn’t bother Peter and we can claim it on insurance” Susan said, smug. Becky slapped Susan. Susan paused for several moments before looking up at Becky.
“Assault!” Susan exclaimed. “You are a bitch!”
“Yeah, I’m the bitch!” Becky said, storming off.

“I just thought you should know that I have gone to the police” James said, grinning.
“Is this a joke?” Peter replied, shocked.
“No joke, you should be getting a visit from the police any time now!” James said. “I hope you are sitting comfortably”
“It doesn’t bother me” Peter said. “They’ve got nothing on me!” Peter exclaimed, hanging up his phone and throwing it on the passengers seat beside him before taking a deep breath and swearing under his breath.

Peter made his way back home and began to drive up his drive before spotting the police car. He quickly reversed out of his drive and made his way up the road and down a by-street and parking the car. He took another sigh before getting his phone out.
“Mark” Peter said.
“Oh hello Peter, long time, no speak, how are the flats going for you?” Mark replied.
“Well that is why I have called you Mark because, you see, they have been burnt down” Peter said, reluctantly.
“You are kidding?” Mark replied, in shock.
“No, I’m not, I turned up today and it was burnt down” Peter said, sighing.
“What are you going to do then?” Mark asked.
“I’ll claim it on insurance” Peter replied, perking up. Mark sighed. “What’s the matter?”
“I haven’t got insurance!” Mark said, embarrassed.
“What! Why did you let me buy the flats without telling me you had no insurance?” Peter exclaimed.
“I’m sorry, nothing has ever happened like this before” Mark said, not sure what to say.
“Thanks for nothing!” Peter shouted down the phone before angrily hanging up the phone and throwing it out of the window.

Susan was waiting impatiently outside of the remains of the flats for her taxi. Tapping her feet, whistling and trying to remember song lyrics in her head didn’t seem to stop the boredom setting in. The taxi was very late. When the taxi finally arrived Susan smiled.
“Finally” she said as she opened the door. She looked at the driver and was shocked to see the familiar face. It was Ross.
“Hello Susan” Ross said, smiling.
“Ross, what are you doing in here? I didn’t know you were a taxi driver” Susan said, uneasy.
“Got the job the other day” Ross said, smiling as he turned back to look at Susan.
“Look, I can’t take this taxi, I’m married now” Susan said, forcing a smile.
“Please, look, I won’t make you feel uncomfortable or anything, just let me take you where you want to go” Ross said, smiling. Susan smiled back as she got into the back of the car.

“So Susan, how was the wedding?” Ross asked, trying not to sound jealous, just nice and polite.
“It was beautiful thanks, just a few close friends” Susan replied as she tried to talk over the sound of the radio. Ross noticed she wasn’t enjoying having the radio on so he quickly turned it off.
“I bet that was nice” Ross said. “I hope to get married one day”
The two of them paused. Susan quickly moved the conversation on “So, is being a taxi driver what you want to do in the long run?”
“No! No way, I’ve got my law degree, haven’t I? I’m hoping to get a job soon” Ross replied.
“I love being a lawyer, it’s such a great job and you should never stop trying to get a job in law especially that you have got a degree” Susan said.
“Do you think” Ross said, embarrassed. “You could put in a good word for me with your law friends?”
“I’ll see what I can do” Susan said as Ross made his way up Susan’s drive.
“Thank you” Susan said, passing Ross the money. “Keep the change”
“Thanks” Ross replied before noticing the police car. “Hey, there’s a police car there!”
Susan looked over to the police car. “Oh my god” she said, “Look I’ve got to go, thank you, I’ll see you around” she said as she got out of the car and ran up into the house.

Susan ran into the house to see Silvia talking to a policeman.
“Susan!” Silvia said, turning to Susan. The policeman turned to look at Susan as well.
“Yes? What is it” Susan asked, worried.
“This policeman wants to talk to Peter” Silvia said.
The policeman began to talk. “We would like to take Peter down to the station to ask him a few questions”
“What about?” Susan asked, worried.
“About a murder” the policeman replied, solemnly.
“What! You’ve got to be kidding!” Susan exclaimed looking around.
“Please don’t worry, we just need to ask him some questions, could you please tell me if you know where he is” the policeman asked.
Pulling herself together, Susan turned to the policeman.
“I have no idea, last I saw of him he said he had something to do and then went off in the car” Susan said.
“Okay” the policeman said, smiling. “We’ll come back later”

A car came rushing up the drive as Susan and Silvia followed the policeman out of the front door. It was the Audi.
“Is that Peter?” the policeman asked.
“Well it is his car, but that is not Peter” Susan said, squinting her eyes. “That is Martha!”
“Martha!” Silvia replied, shocked.
“Who’s Martha?” the policeman asked. Martha parked the car and jumped out, running towards Susan.
“Martha! What the hell are you doing here with Peter’s car?” Susan asked. Martha thought about her answer for several moments before answering.
“He let me borrow it, and I have brought it back” Martha said, smiling, lying through her teeth.
“Why don’t I believe you?” Susan asked.
“Because you don’t believe anyone!” Martha said. Susan began to square up to Martha.
“Alright, alright, we’ve had enough of this” the policeman said. “Do you know where Mr Freeman is?” the policeman asked Martha.
“No, I don’t” Martha replied, sighing.
“Okay” the policeman replied, smiling, before getting into his police car and driving off.

“So what do you want?” Susan asked.
“I came to return Peter’s car” Martha replied.
“You stole it, didn’t you?” Susan snarled. Martha sighed.
“Look, I’m sorry, but yes, I did, I was just teaching him a lesson! He treated me like rubbish” Martha exclaimed.
“Rubbish, how?” Susan asked.
“He gives me a kiss and then later on he tells me he hates me!” Martha said, still in shock.
Susan chose to ignore the part about the kiss.
“Well, I’m sorry about that, If you talk to him I’m sure he will apologise” Susan said, smiling. “Do you know that we are married now?”
“Yes, I do” Martha replied, rolling her eyes before reluctantly proclaiming; “Congratulations”
“Thank you” Susan said. “Now, tell me honestly, do you have any idea where he is?”

Peter made his way down a strange, dark, alley. The alley seemed to stink of the distinctive stench of urine and was home to several rats. Not all of them were rodents. Peter walked about half way down the street before stopping to knock on a door. About thirty seconds later, the door opened and a tall, sweaty man with a cigarette in his hand answered.
“You alright, Pete? Long time no see” he said.
“I need some weed please Phil” Peter said to the man who was obviously named Phil.
“Well sure, man, I’ve got tons in! Just wait there one second” he said as he turned round, back into his house to get some weed. He came back about two minutes later with several bags and other drug ‘accessories’ of the stuff for Peter.
“Is that alright for you, Peter?” he asked.
“Yeah, yeah, just anything, I thought I’d stopped but I need it and some rollers and some filters!” Peter exclaimed, sighing. Peter through a £20 note at Phil.
“Cheers man” Phil said. “Anyway, I’ll see you around” he said as he closed the door. Peter stared down at the goods he had just received before raising a little smile as he walked back down to his car and began to smoke it.

It was a familiar sight for residents of the area. Seeing a man in his car, smoking, most of the time drugs. Peter used to do it all the time. And now he has gone back to his old ways. People walked past the car, towards Phil’s house, they all waved at Peter, they all recognised Peter and Peter recognised them. Peter stayed parked in his car, down the alley for the best part of half an hour, smoking his drugs, listening to the radio and basically drowning his sorrows before driving off and heading back home.

Peter made his way up the drive and was shocked by the sight of Martha by his front door. Peter quickly got out of his car and walked towards Martha.
“Martha! What the hell are you doing here?” Peter exclaimed. Susan appeared.
“She’s brought back your car” Susan said, smiling.
“It was you! You stole my car, didn’t you?” Peter shouted, raising his fists.
“What’s that smell?” Martha asked, wafting her hand. Susan smelt it too. The smell of drugs and smoke on Peter’s clothes. Peter stepped back.
“What smell?” Peter asked.
“Anyway, I’ve got to go, I’ll see you later!” Martha said, walking down the drive and out of the street. Peter turned to Susan.
“Where have you been?” Susan asked.
“Out” Peter replied.
“Where?” Susan asked.
“Just out, what is this, the Spanish inquisition?” Peter exclaimed.
“Don’t get cocky with me, Peter, and next time, come up with your own jokes” Susan said, shaking her head. Peter tried to get past Susan.
“Let me through” Peter demanded.
“Look, I can smell it on you, don’t deny it” Susan exclaimed.
“What?” Peter asked, trying to be calm.
“You’ve been smoking drugs, haven’t you?” Susan asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Peter said, forcing Susan out the way as he got into his house.
“Oh and by the way Peter, the police have called round and they want to speak to you about a murder” Susan exclaimed. Peter stopped in his tracks. Susan turned to go inside, pushing Peter through the door. “You’ve got some serious explaining to do”

“Get into the living room now” Susan demanded.
“Where’s Silvia?” Peter asked, as he reluctantly made his way into the living room.
“I’ve asked her to go home” Susan replied.
“And Oliver?” Peter asked.
“He’s in bed” Susan said. “Now quickly get into the living room where we can have a proper chat about recent goings on”
Peter sat down on the sofa, so did Susan although she sat a fair way away from Peter, keeping her distance.
“So why do the police want to talk to you?” Susan asked, calmly.
“Don’t know” Peter replied.
“Let me rephrase that” Susan said. “Why do the police want to speak to you about a murder?”
Susan’s voice boomed out as she uttered the word; ‘murder’.
“You’ve answered your own question there, haven’t you?” Peter replied. “They want to speak to me about a murder!”
“Who’s murder?” Susan demanded, staring daggers into Peter’s eyes. Peter sighed.
“Look” he said, sighing once more “That James Arthur has got this crazy thought into his mind that I killed Sarah”
Susan paused. “Well, that’s well, like you said, crazy”
“I know, right?” Peter said. “I talked to him at the wedding and he said he was going to the police, so I said, fine, there is no proof, so I think they’ll want to talk to me about that”
“Is that it?” Susan asked.
“That’s it” Peter replied, smiling.
“Well that’s a relief, as soon as you get this silly thing over and done with, the better, am I right?” Susan said, grinning. “I’m sorry I came on hard at you, it’s just when I heard the word ‘murder’ I panicked, like anyone would do and I do believe you, that James Arthur seemed like a right weirdo!”
“Yeah he is a weirdo, he seems to be almost stalking me” Peter said, looking worried.
“The police said they would be around later today, so we can wait here until they get back and we’ll try and get the whole silly case over and done with” Susan proclaimed. “Now, do you want a hot chocolate?”
“Yes please” Peter said, delighted at how he wormed his way out of that one. “I’m gagging!”

As Peter received his hot chocolate from his new wife’s beautiful hands, the doorbell rang. It was indeed who they were hoping for- the police.
“Hello officer” Peter said, as he opened the door.
“Are you Peter Freeman?” the policeman asked.
“Yes, that’s me” Peter said, calmly.
“You are under arrest on suspicion of murder” the policeman said, handcuffing Peter. Susan came running out.
“I thought you only wanted to ask him questions!” Susan exclaimed, shocked at the need for handcuffs on someone who was willing to go with the policeman.
“We do, but we need to formally arrest him” the policeman replied.
“It’s alright Susan, I’ll be back soon” Peter said, smiling as he was taken away in the police car. Susan stood at the doorstep as the police car drove off and couldn’t help but cry.

“Peter Freeman” said the interviewer. “We’ve seen a lot of you lately, haven’t we?” he said, with a grin on his face. “I’m DC Parks”
“Afternoon” Peter replied, smiling.
“What is that smell?” DC Park’s asked, smug.
“Can we just get a move on with the interview?” Peter asked.
“Mate, just a bit of advice, don’t tell me how to do my job!” DC Parks exclaimed, smiling again. “Now, a Mr James Arthur has given me some very interesting autopsy results”
“Oh has he now?” Peter replied, rolling his eyes as he sat back in the uncomfortable chair.
“Yes, he also says that you were staying with his ex-wife, Sarah, the night of her death” DC Parks said, his eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, so?” Peter exclaimed.
“So…the autopsy has given us some interesting results” DC Parks said.
“As you have said before, and what do they say?” Peter asked, snapping.
“The autopsy results say that she died while in bed, while she was asleep but it was not of natural causes” DC Parks said, with delight. “I wonder what could have happened?”
“She had cancer” Peter exclaimed.
“Well, from these latest results, there is no mention of her having cancer at all, I think you were told a porky pie” DC Banks said, as he walked round the table, leaning over Peter’s chair. “It’s a bit strange ain’t it, that she died on the only night that you stayed with her! There are no signs of natural causes but she died while she was in her bed…there were no wounds, the only thing I could think of is that she was smothered”
Peter paused and looked up at DC Banks. “And of course, I did that!” Peter said, sarcastically.
“No one is saying that Mr Freeman, we are only implying that” DC Banks said, laughing. “Do you like a good laugh, Peter?”
“When it’s not at my expense, yeah” Peter said, starting to whistle.
“I see you like music as well, you know, in jail, they play music and they get people to do a bit of comedy sometimes, it’s quite good actually” DC Banks said with delight.
“There you go! Implying again that I’m going to jail” Peter said. “You are pathetic”
“I’d love to put you in jail, I really would, but I’m afraid we don’t have much evidence” DC Banks said, sighing. “That is why we are releasing you on bail and you will be appearing in court in the next few days”
Peter stood up as the interview door opened. He walked out.
“Oh and one more thing” DC Banks exclaimed. “When you come to court, don’t forget to kiss your wife and kids goodbye before you leave!”

Susan’s mobile rang, she walked back inside the house, got her phone out of her pocket and answered it.
“Hello” Susan said.
“It’s Ross” said the other side of the phone.
“Ross, why are you calling me?” Susan asked, sounding annoyed, but secretly happy.
“I’m wondering if you want to meet up with me tonight” Ross replied.
Susan thought for a second before replying.
“What do you want to do?” she asked, biting her lip.
“Do you want to come round to mine?” Ross asked.
“Maybe…maybe” Susan replied, playing hard to get.
“I’ll pick you up and everything” Ross said.
“No!” Susan demanded. “I mean, no, that’s fine, I mean, Peter might get a bit annoyed, I’ll come round to yours, is it still the same old place?”
“Still the same old place” Ross replied, seeming delighted.
“Great, so what time should I come round?” Susan asked, hanging on Ross’ every word.
“In about an hour?” Ross asked.
“That would be great!” Susan replied.
“In about an hour it is then, bye” Ross said, as he hung up. Susan shouted out in joy before running upstairs to get ready for her evening with Ross. She flicked through her newly arranged wardrobe for things to wear before setting her eyes upon her beautiful, long, black dress.

About forty minutes later, after getting a shower, her dress on and her make-up on, Susan rushed downstairs and was about to leave the house when the door burst open. It was Peter.
“Peter!” Susan said. “You’re back”
“Yes, they’ve released me on bail, I’ve got to go to court in a few days though” Peter, said sighing. “The DC who interviewed me was a right idiot!”
“Yeah…yeah” Susan said. “You poor thing”
“Where are you off too looking so smart?” Peter asked, getting an eyeful of Susan.
“I’m meeting some friends” Susan replied, forcing a smile.
“You mean you were going to leave the house and leave Oliver on his own” Peter exclaimed, shocked. Susan suddenly realised.
“Oh no, no I would never do that, I guess, I forgot” Susan said, sighing.
“There is no excuse, good job I got here anyway, isn’t it?” Peter snarled. “Now get off to your friends!”
Susan gave Peter a dirty look before storming out of the house, leaving Peter to attend to his son’s crying.

Susan got into the Range Rover and sighed before taking off in the car, towards Ross’ house. Ross didn’t live too far away from Peter’s old flat but it was definitely more classy than Peter’s old flat- for one thing it was a house, although he did share it with several friends. Susan got out of the car and rang the door bell and waited patiently on the doorstep for it to be opened. A weird looking man opened the door.
“Woah! So you are Ross’ new squeeze!” he exclaimed, laughing. Ross pushed past him.
“I’m sorry about him” Ross said, smiling before looking at Susan. “Wow, Susan, you look…stunning!”
“You like it?” Susan asked, perking up.
“Yeah, you look gorgeous” Ross said, inviting him in. Ross’ friend pushed past Ross and Susan.
“I’ll be off now, mate, you two have fun!” he shouted as he waltzed down the road.

“What’s that smell?” Susan asked as she entered the house.
“Oh, it is Lasagne, I have made you dinner” Ross said, his teeth sparkling.
“I love Lasagne, thank you so much” Susan said, hugging Ross.
“Is it ready?” Susan asked.
“It will be soon, why don’t you just sit down on the sofa with me, have a glass of wine and we’ll watch a DVD or something?” Ross asked.
“I’d love that” Susan replied, taking Ross’ hand as he led her to the sofa.

“A crying baby! Great!” Peter exclaimed as he paced down the bottom floor of his house. Thoughts were rushing through his head. Today should have been one of the happiest of his life. The first full day of being a married man. His wife, however, had gone off with a ‘friend’ and he has been left with Daddy duty. If being ignored by his new wife wasn’t enough, Peter had been arrested and his place of work and business was burnt down. And he had no insurance.
“What the hell am I going to do?” Peter cried, falling to his knees on the wooden surface. Peter thought for a moment before rushing to his laptop and turning it on. He waited rather impatiently for several minutes for it to boot up before he jumped on the internet and onto his internet banking. He was shocked to find that there was only just over £1000 left in his account.
“Where the hell has it all gone?” Peter shouted, throwing the laptop to the ground before clasping his hand to his face and breathing heavily.

A bell rung.
“Dinner’s ready!” Ross proclaimed, jumping off the sofa and walking swiftly towards the kitchen. Susan smiled as she watched Ross walk away before getting back to watching the DVD she had been wanting to watch for a long time. Ross returned from the kitchen about three minutes later with two plates of lasagne and a two pairs of knifes and forks.
“Sorry, I’m not too fancy, do you mind if we eat in front of the TV?” Ross asked, waiting for an answer.
“That’s fine! I don’t want to miss this film” Susan said, smiling as she received her plate from Ross. “Thank you very much”
About two minutes later, after a climatic, dramatic scene in the film Ross asked; “How are you finding the lasagne?”
“It is absolutely fantastic” Susan said, pausing before proclaiming; “Like you”

There was a loud knock at Peter’s door. Peter looked up from the cold, wooden floor he was sat on, towards the front door and jumped up.
“Who is it?” Peter shouted. There was no answer. Peter sighed as he walked over to the door and opened it. It was Martha. Almost immediately after seeing her face, Peter tried to close the door but Martha’s foot was in the way.
“We need to talk” Martha exclaimed.
“We don’t need to talk about anything at all- ever” Peter replied, desperately trying to close the door but to no avail.
“Please, you’ll want to hear this, I want to confess” Martha said. Peter stopped trying to close the door as Martha walked in, closing the door behind her.
“Oh?” Peter asked. “What is it?”
“I burnt down the flats” Martha exclaimed. Peter’s eyes seemed to grow as he stared into Martha’s and leaped at her.
“You fucking bitch!” Peter exclaimed. He didn’t normally swear. Especially not that word. He knocked Martha to the floor. Martha screamed.
“I had no bloody insurance” Peter shouted, hitting her again. Martha began to scream louder.
“I’ll kill you!” Peter shouted, getting hold of Martha and slamming her against the wall, knocking her unconscious. Peter stared down at her for a moment before realising what he had done. Peter thought fast and grabbed her body and threw it into the coat closet and turning his back on it. Peter walked out of the house, being a hypocrite as he left his son upstairs, he was still crying as he left.

“You really mean that?” Ross asked, gazing into Susan’s eyes.
“Yes, I really do” Susan replied, moving in to kiss Ross.
“What about Peter?” Ross asked.
“Peter who?” Susan replied, kissing Ross again, knocking her plate on the floor in the progress. Ross pulled away.
“I feel really bad” he said, forcing a smile.
“Don’t” Susan said, kissing Ross yet again.
“I mean, I’ve never met this Peter, I’m sure he’s a nice guy” Ross said, sighing.
“I wouldn’t of married him if he wasn’t nice, would I? But I’ve gone off him and I’ve gone onto you!” Susan exclaimed.
“This is wrong! It’s so wrong!” Ross said, standing up.
“I thought this what you wanted” Susan said, looking confused as she also stood up.
“I don’t know what I want anymore, I really don’t” Ross replied, sighing. “I just want to be away from all the pressures of my life right now and I guess I want to spend it with you”
“Then let’s do it” Susan said.
“You are serious?” Ross replied. “But with what money?”
“I’m a lawyer! And my husband’s a millionaire” Susan replied, laughing. “I think I could get some money”
“You really want to leave a millionaire for me!” Ross exclaimed, shocked.
“Any day, I would leave a millionaire for you any day” Susan said, laughing as she took her new lover’s hand and led him upstairs.

Peter casually walked into the shop at the bottom of his street with a blank expression on his face. The shop assistant smiled at him as he walked in. Peter began to get flashbacks about Amy. The shop assistant seemed to resemble her in almost every single way, well in Peter’s mind she did, anyway. Peter grabbed a few cans of larger and walked over to the shop assistant who picked up on his glum expression.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Peter picked himself up, smiling as he did so.
“Never better” he replied, his smile still on his face.
“That will be £4.99 please” the shop assistant asked, Peter passed her a five pound note. “Thank you very much, have a good night” she said as Peter walked out of the shop. As he walked out, he noticed the the local newspaper and glanced at the headline and the picture beside it, it read; CHILD KILLER TO STAND TRIAL TOMMOROW and beside the headline was a picture of Jimmy, Peter almost fell over as he saw it, before pulling himself together yet again and making his way back up to his house, alone, on this very dark night.

When Peter arrived back at his house, he was shocked to see another visitor at his door, this time it was Becky. Peter sighed before running up towards her.
“Becky?” Peter asked.
“Peter! I’m so glad you are here, I really need to talk to you” Becky exclaimed, starting to cry.
“Well come in, come in” Peter said, smiling as he let her in to his house and led her into the living room.

“Do you want a drink?” Peter asked.
“No, thank you” Becky replied, wiping away tears as she relaxed on the sofa.
“So, what did you want?” Peter wondered, raising his eyebrows as he passed Becky another tissue.
“I’ve been raped!” Becky blurted out before bursting into more tears.
“Oh, I’m, I’m, very sorry” Peter said. “When did this happen?”
“Last night! I haven’t told anyone until tonight!” Becky said, wiping away even more tears.
“So what exactly happened?” Peter asked, sitting back. He wasn’t particularly bothered.
“I got in a taxi last night, from the flats, to get home and the taxi driver raped me!” Becky said. “He seemed so nice as well, I feel so violated!”
“Did you get the taxi driver’s name?” Peter asked, raising his eyebrows, now he was actually quite concerned.
“I didn’t see his second name but I got his first name from a card in his car!” Becky said.
“Oh yes? And what was his name so we can go to the police?” Peter asked, standing up.
“His name was Ross” Becky exclaimed before bursting into tears.

“Come on!” Peter said.
“Where?” Becky asked.
“We’re going to the police to report him!” Peter exclaimed, smiling. He still wasn’t particularly bothered, it was just something to get him out of the house. He didn’t like being alone. He never did. All he wanted was company. Becky smiled as Peter took her hand and led her outside. Peter jumped into the Audi and drove towards the police station, enjoying a conversation about dolphins on the way there.

Peter, still holding Becky’s hand, ran over to the police station front desk. A place he had been near many times in the last few weeks.
“Yes, Peter?” the police officer at the desk asked. He even knew Peter’s name, that shows how popular Peter was with the police.
“This young woman, who is an employee of mine, would like to report a rape!” Peter exclaimed, sighing.
“Yes, I would” Becky said, taking a deep breath. “His name is Ross from Whoosh! Taxis”
“Him again, then?” the police officer said, sighing.
“What? You know him?” Becky asked.
“Yes, he has had a string of other offences, but nothing ever as serious as rape, we will be right on it, miss, could I take your name?” the police officer asked.
“Oh yes, of course, my name is Becky Matthews” Becky said, triumphantly before Peter led her out of the police station and back into his car.

“Thank you so much for this Peter” Becky said, kissing Peter on the cheek.
“No problem” Peter replied.
“Do I still have my job, by the way?” Becky asked.
“We’ll have to see, you’ll still get your money for this month, but next month- I have no idea” Peter said, sighing. He did have an idea, he had the right idea. There was no way that Becky was getting her job back. But being the coward that he was, Peter didn’t have the guts to admit it.

The doorbell rang several times at Ross’ house. Ross sighed as he got out of bed and ran downstairs, leaving Susan upstairs. He couldn’t ignore it. Ross was shocked when he opened the door and was confronted by two police men.
“Ross, you are under arrest for rape!” one of the policemen said with delight, as he handcuffed Ross. Susan heard the commotion from upstairs and quickly got some clothes on and ran downstairs.
“What the hell is going on?” Susan exclaimed.
“Lover boy here is getting arrested for rape!” proclaimed one of the policemen.
“Rape?” Susan said, confused.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry Susan” Ross said, sighing before being led into the back of the police car. Susan collapsed, crying, for the second time that day before pulling herself together and jumping into her car and racing back to Peter’s house.

“Where are we going?” Becky asked. “I thought you were taking me home!”
“I thought, seeing the time you’ve had, you deserved a treat, so I am taking you for dinner” Peter replied, smiling as he turned a corner.
“Ooh, where are you taking me? Some super posh restaurant?” Becky asked, intrigued.
“Yep! I wonder if you have heard of it! It is called McDonalds!” Peter said, laughing as he turned into McDonalds.
“You are an idiot” Becky replied, laughing.
“Well if you don’t want to go” Peter said, pretending to turn the other way.
“No I do, I do, I like McDonalds” Becky smiled.
“Good” Peter replied, parking up and jumping out of the car like a giddy child. “I want a happy meal” he proclaimed to a chucking Becky’s humour.

“Peter” Susan shouted, bursting through her front door of her marital home. There was no answer to her cry. “Peter” she shouted again. There was still no answer. Susan heard a noise. She walked towards the noise and followed it towards the coat closet. She quickly opened the door and was shocked when Martha fell out of it, mumbling very quietly. Susan screamed.
“Martha! Martha are you alright?” Susan asked.
“Get me to a hospital” Martha asked, muttering the words. At that point the lights in the house went out.
“What the hell is happening?” Susan shouted, trying to make her way towards a light switch, she found one and tried to flick it, she did but nothing happened- there was either a power cut or their power was cut off. Susan searched her pocket for her mobile, she used the light on her phone to check if Martha was okay before ringing for an ambulance.
“Don’t worry Martha, it will be alright” Susan said before taking a deep breath and hoping for the best.

“How are you liking your happy meal?” Becky asked, laughing at Peter as he played with his free toy.
“It’s great thanks, and how is your grown up Big Mac?” Peter asked, laughing.
“It’s great cheers” Becky replied.
“So, tell me, what’s up between you and Susan?” Peter asked.
“Oh nothing” Becky said.
“Oh come on, please, I’d prefer if I’d known, I’ve done you a few favours tonight, give me one back” Peter asked.
“Well, me and Susan go a bit back” Becky said, sighing. “And we fell out”
“What happened?” Peter asked.
“I don’t really like to talk about it” Becky said.
“Come on, come on” Peter said, playfully but Becky was deadly serious.
“Honestly Peter, no messing, I really, really don’t want to talk about it, in fact I’d like to go home now” Becky said.
“Are you sure?” Peter asked, puzzled by her odd behaviour.
“Yes, I’m very sure” Becky replied.
“Well okay” Peter said, getting up from his seat, with Becky following suit and following him outside and into the car. The journey back to Becky’s flat was very quiet.
“I’ll see you later, Becky” Peter said, smiling. Becky simply smiled back before closing the car door and walking into her flat.

The ambulance arrived very fast- as always. Well that’s what people like Susan and Peter pay their taxes for. As Susan heard the ambulance coming up the drive, she dragged Martha out of the house. An paramedic ran up to Susan and Martha.
“What happened?” he asked. Susan was about to talk but was interrupted by Martha.
“I banged my head” Martha said, her voice slurred. Susan knew she was telling a white lie, Susan knew that it wasn’t an accident and Susan definitely knew that it was her husband her assault Martha. Susan tried to fight back tears as she got in the ambulance with Martha and realised that her husband was, at the very least, an attempted murderer.

Peter drove up his drive, and got out of the car. The ambulance was gone and so was Susan. Peter walked into his house, which he never locked, and realised the power was out.
“For gods sake!” Peter shouted, yet again, he was talking to himself. He tried to switch the switch on and on but to no avail before feeling his way around the house. He made his way to the banister and made his way upstairs, into his bedroom and into his bed.

“Will she be alright?” Susan asked a nurse, as she waited in the waiting room.
“She will be fine” the nurse replied. “She just needs some rest!”
“Have you contacted her parents?” Susan asked.
“We are trying to” the nurse replied. “Now, are you staying her overnight?”
“I guess, yes” Susan said, smiling.
“Well you look very tired, we will try and find you a bed because you look like you need some sleep” the nurse said, smiling.
“Thank you very much” Susan replied, sighing as she sat back into the uncomfortable waiting room chairs and waited for the nurse to return.

Peter tried to get some sleep in the cold, dark house which was his home. He was restless, moving around, thoughts running through his head and life was only going to get worse. Jimmy is due to go on trial tomorrow, he is having his own trial about Sarah’s death the day after and then he has got the problem of Martha and the very big problem of running out of money. His world was always going to crash down around him. His four murders were all known by at least one person. James Arthur now knew that he had killed Sarah, and now it looked like the police knew about it as well. Jimmy obviously knew about Amy’s death- he did it. And a tramp named Sam knew about his other two murders and then there was the problem of Martha. Tomorrow looked like a brilliant day, and Peter definitely could wait. He could wait forever.

Susan lay in the hospital bed, she too could not get any sleep and this time, when she thought she was actually going to get some sleep- there was a big riot of noise from outside her room. All she could hear was the words ‘attempted’ and ‘suicide’ and ‘need this room’. Susan got out of bed and went towards the door and opened it where she was met by nurses, doctors and a familiar man in bed trolley; it was Ross.
“Sorry to bother you” a nurse said. “But this man needs this room”
“I know that man!” Susan exclaimed. “And he is not coming into this room!”
Ross lifted his head up. “Please, Susan”
“I’m afraid you have to” the nurse said. Susan reluctantly got out of the way and walked towards the waiting room where she collapsed into one of the chairs and tried to get some sleep, shocked by the sight of Ross in hospital. Knowing she couldn’t get any sleep, Susan approached one of the nurses who walked out of the hospital room.
“Excuse me nurse” Susan said. “Why is that man in there?”
“I’m afraid I can’t give you that information” the nurse replied.
“Please, I’m begging you, he is sort of, well, he’s my lover” Susan said, embarrassed.
“Okay, but don’t say that I told you, he was arrested and then in his cell he tried to commit suicide, I’m sorry” the nurse said, raising a little smile before walking off.
“Wait!” Susan exclaimed.
“Yes?” the nurse asked, turning round, towards Susan.
“Can I go and see him?” Susan asked.
“I’ll see what I can do” the nurse replied, smiling as she made her way into Ross’ room.
“Ross, there is a woman here who would like to see you, is that okay, are you feeling up for it?” the nurse asked.
“Yes, thank you, please send her in” Ross replied, smiling. The nurse walked out of the room and nodded to Susan for her to come in to see Ross.

“Susan, thanks for visiting me” Ross said, smiling. Susan sat by his bed.
“Why did you do it, Ross?” Susan asked, sighing.
“Attempt suicide?” Ross asked.
“No, rape a girl!” Susan exclaimed, trying not to get upset.
“Because I’m very stupid” Ross replied.
“Is that the best you can come up with?” Susan asked, laughing. “Your pathetic, I don’t know why I even came here!” Susan was about to walk out but Ross stopped her.
“Susan, please, I’m sorry, just let me explain!” Ross exclaimed. Susan reluctantly went back and sat down on Ross’ bed.
“Explain then!” Susan demanded.

“I’ve been single for a while” Ross said, sighing.
“When did it happen?” Susan butted in.
“Last night” Ross said, embarrassed.
“The night of my wedding?” Susan replied, sighing.
“Yes” Ross replied.
“That very morning, you proclaimed your love for me and said that you will keep trying to be with me” Susan said. “And that is why I don’t understand why you did it”
“I did it because I was frustrated, in my mind, if I couldn’t have you, anyone was worth having a little go at, because I could never, ever, get better than you” Ross said. Susan didn’t know whether to hit him or kiss him.
“I understand and I think everyone should be given a second chance” Susan said, smiling.
“Really?” Ross asked.
“Really” Susan replied before standing up and making her way towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Ross asked.
“I forgive you but I can’t be with you after what you have done, I’m sorry Ross, it is over, I’m married now, the time we have spent together in these last few days were great and I’m glad you are okay, can you understand?” Susan asked. Ross sighed but nodded. “Yeah, yes, I do”
“Get well soon Ross” Susan said, smiling before leaving the room and making her way, yet again, to the waiting room, laid down across several chairs and tried to get some sleep.

The rest of the night seemed to last forever for both Peter and Susan. Peter thought Martha was still in his closet downstairs, while Susan knew that she was actually safe in hospital. An even more interesting story was starting to involve though. Peter knew that Becky was raped by someone named Ross and Susan knew that Ross had raped a girl. If Peter and Susan knew who the other person was, would they react any different?

It was now light at Peter’s house and after a restless night all Peter wanted to do was stay in bed but he had one thing he had to do. Peter quickly jumped out of bed, put on his dressing gown and made his way out of his room and down stairs. Peter simply stared at the coat closet for several minutes before plucking up the courage to open it. Peter was shocked to find that Martha was gone.
“Martha?” Peter said. Checking the closet several times. Peter jumped away and began running around the house shouting her name.
“Martha!” he shouted again, but she was nowhere to be found.

“Did you have a good night?” a nurse asked Susan, who was just waking up.
“Not as bad as I thought it would be thanks” Susan replied, smiling as she sat up.
“Good, now would you like to go and see Martha?” the nurse asked.
“Yeah, sure” Susan replied, smiling as she was led towards Martha’s room.
“Martha” Susan said, as she entered. Her parents were by her side.
“Hi, Susan” Martha replied, smiling. Martha’s dad looked up at Susan.
“Thank you so much for all you have done for my daughter” he said. Martha’s mum butted in.
“Yeah, thanks a bunch” she said.
“Uhh, Mum? Dad?” Martha said. “Would you mind if you left me alone with Susan for a bit?”
“Sure” her Dad replied, leading his wife out of the room, leaving Susan and Martha on their own.

“Thank you” Martha said, grinning.
“It’s okay” Susan replied.
“No it’s not, what you did for me is great, especially when almost the last time we met was when I was so mean to you” Martha said, embarrassed.
“That’s water under the bridge now” Susan proclaimed. “Now, there is something I’d like to say, I know that you didn’t fall”
“No, I did, I did fall” Martha replied.
“There is no use covering for Peter, I know that he hurt you and shoved you into the closet” Susan said, disappointed.
“What? What? You’re crazy” Martha said.
“No, no, It’s not and you know that it’s not” Susan replied and that moment Martha burst into tears.
“I’m so sorry Susan but yes, yes, it was him and I am scared of him, I don’t know what to do” Martha exclaimed, still sobbing.
“Well at first we have to tell the truth, we have to go to the police” Susan proclaimed.
“But he is your husband!” Martha said, shocked.
“And he has done a bad thing, and he must be punished” Susan said.
“No, no, please, just leave it!” Martha pleaded. “You can’t go to the police, he’ll hunt me down, he’s a bad person!”
“Yes, I’ve learnt that the hard way” Susan said, leaving the room.

Peter walked towards the land line and picked it up. He began to ring the electricity company.
“Hello, yeah I’m Peter Freeman and you guys have cut of my electricity!” Peter exclaimed, shaking his head.
“Well the only reason your electricity would be cut off would be either because there was a power cut or you haven’t paid your bills” the man on the other end of the phone replied.
“Eh! Eh! Eh! What’s your name? Tell me your name” Peter demanded.
“My name is Justin” the man replied.
“Okay Justin, tell me straight, what the hell has happened to my power!” Peter exclaimed.
“Well just let me get on the old computer and check your account” Justin replied. Peter waited impatiently for over a minute before Justin continued to talk. “Yeah, just as I thought, you didn’t have enough money in your account!”
“Well that is a lie because I just checked the account yesterday and I have at least £1000 in it!” Peter exclaimed.
“Well, no you don’t, because your bill was £129 and there wasn’t enough to pay for that” Justin replied.
“It’s impossible, as I said, I only checked yesterday. What you are saying is a load of rubbish and I want my electricity back right this second!” Peter demanded, getting slightly annoyed and embarrassed.
“When you get my money, then we might consider getting your power back” Justin replied.
“I don’t need this!” Peter shouted down the phone before hanging up.

“You can go in now” Susan said to Martha’s parents as she walked out of Martha’s room.
“Where are you going?” Martha’s mum asked.
“I’m going to just do a few things then I’m heading home” Susan said, smiling.
“Well okay, thank you again for what you have done for my daughter” Martha’s dad said. Susan waved as she made her way towards Ross’ room.

Susan knocked on Ross’ room before entering. Ross was gone. A nurse stood in the room, making the bed.
“Excuse me” Susan said, smiling.
“Yes?” the nurse replied.
“Could you tell me where Ross has gone?” Susan asked. The nurse paused as she stared at Susan.
“What? No one has told you?” the nurse asked.
“Told me what?” Susan replied, seeming worried.
“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this but Ross died last night” the nurse replied. Susan fell to her feet.
“What!” Susan exclaimed, crying.
“I’m very, very sorry” the nurse replied, trying to comfort her.

Peter paced the house, muttering swear words under his breath when the doorbell rang. Peter stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide as he turned round and made his way towards the front door. Peter opened the door and in front of him stood James Arthur.
“Peter” he said, staring at Peter.
“I’m not in the mood!” Peter exclaimed, turning back into his house.
“Coward!” James shouted. Peter stopped in his tracks, before turning round and punching James in the face. “Ow!” he shouted.
“Shut up!” Peter exclaimed, picking James up. Thinking on his feet, Peter bundled James into the boot of his car before getting into the driver’s seat.
Peter turned on the radio and tried to relax as he drove off.

“Were you his girlfriend?” the nurse asked as she and Susan sat on the hospital bed.
“No” Susan replied. “He was just a very good friend of mine”
“I remember when a friend of mine died young, I was upset for days and days but do you know what made me feel better?” the nurse asked.
“What?” Susan replied.
“I listened to music, my favourite music, it really helps you get through the pain of a friend’s death, well it did for me anyway” the nurse replied, smiling. “It’s going to be okay”
“Thanks” Susan said, wiping away tears as she stood up from the bed. “I better get home!”
“I wish you well” the nurse said, standing up as well. Susan smiled back at the nurse before leaving the hospital room, through the waiting room, out through the many hospital corridors and out of the front entrance of the hospital where she waited for a taxi to take her home.

Peter turned several corners where he saw a familiar sight. The canal. At the top of the hill, Peter contemplated his next move. Drive into the canal again? He couldn’t make up his mind. Peter made his way down the hill and turned left and parked up the car. He got out and walked towards the place where he slept rough that fateful night. He was delighted to see that Sam was there.
“Sam?” Peter said.
“Yes?” Sam said, turning round. “Oh, Peter, how great to see you!”
“Hi, Sam” Peter said, smiling.
“Please, sit down” Sam replied, as Peter sat beside him.
“Lets cut to the chase, you’re the only person I could talk to” Peter said, taking a deep breath. “I’ve got someone in the boot of my car”
“Ooh” Sam said, him too taking a deep breath.
“Yes, ooh, now what should I do?” Peter asked.
“Whatever you do, don’t kill him” Sam exclaimed. “Really don’t, you have got enough on your conscience!”
“What should I do?” Peter demanded.
“There is no use shouting at me!” Sam said, sighing. “I think you should do whatever your heart tells you is right!”
“Thanks for nothing!” Peter shouted, standing up before spitting on Sam. “You dirty little tramp!” he shouted as he walked off and back into his car.

Susan arrived back home and paid the taxi driver as she got out. “Thanks” she said before taking a deep breath and walking up to the house, she walked in. “Peter!” she exclaimed. There was no answer. “Peter!” she said again. She heard Oliver crying. “Oliver!” she shouted before running upstairs and into Oliver’s room. As she entered the room she was overcome by the smell of the baby.
“Has daddy not changed you?” Susan asked, sighing. “It’s alright now, it’s alright, mummy is here!”

Peter drove up to the cliff edge. The very cliff edge where Jimmy through Amy off and got out of the car. Peter made his way to the boot, and opened it to the sight of James screaming.
“Shut up!” Peter demanded as he pulled James out of the car.
“Where are we?” James exclaimed.
“At the top of a cliff” Peter replied.
“And why are we here?” James asked, worried.
“You tell me” Peter replied. “You see, I have a little bit of a conundrum!”
“Oh do you?” James said. “Poor you!”
“Yeah, I don’t know what to do with you!” Peter said, sighing.
“You could let me go!” James pleaded. Peter laughed.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Peter said.
“Yes, I would, now let me go!” James exclaimed. Peter grabbed hold of James.
“You are not going anywhere quite yet!” Peter said. “I’m going to make a deal with you! You drop the charges and I won’t throw you over this cliff edge and I will let you free here!” Peter said. James sighed.
“Fine” he said. Peter let go of him and he ran off. Peter got back into his car and began to drive back home.

Peter made his way up the drive, got out of the car and went through the front door where he was shocked by the sight of Susan holding Oliver.
“Susan!” Peter shouted. “I’m shocked!”
“You have got a lot of explaining to do” Susan replied, raising her eyebrows.

Peter grabbed hold of his son, running up to his bedroom, his son still in hand. Susan followed him.
“I want answers” Susan demanded, following Peter into the room. Pushing past her, Peter closed the door, putting his son down and throwing Susan onto the bed.
“You want answers, eh?” Peter asked. “Well so do I!” Peter exclaimed. Pain in his eyes, Peter stared daggers into Susan’s eyes. She tried not to look at her husband.
“I’m scared, Peter” Susan said.
“Well you should be!” Peter exclaimed, grabbing hold of Susan and holding her down on the bed. “Now first, what the hell has been up between you and Becky?”
Susan was silent.
“Tell me” Peter shouted. It was now dark outside and inside Peter’s bedroom, the lights went out.
“Why have the lights gone out?” Susan asked.
“They have bloody turned them off, haven’t they, I’ve lost all my money” Peter said, starting to cry. Oliver began to cry. “Shut up” Peter screamed. Oliver went quiet.
“Don’t shout at him” Susan demanded.
“Do you want me to shout at you?” Peter asked, staring into her eyes, still.
“You have been” Susan replied. Peter raised his hand, about to hit her.
“If you hit me then I will call the police and have you arrested” Susan said, beginning to shake.
“Wow, I want to go to the police, don’t I?” Peter said. “Actually it would be better than this damn life!”
There was a knock on the door downstairs.
“Someone is knocking” Susan said.
“I know they are!” Peter shouted. Susan looked around before beginning to scream.
“Help” she screamed.
“Quiet” Peter replied, slapping her round the face and pushing her off the bed. “Tell me about you and Becky!”
“We knew each other before” Susan said, beginning to cry.
“How did you know each other?” Peter asked, pushing her down to the ground.
“I went out with her brother” Susan said.
“And then what happened?” Peter demanded an answer.
“One night I was taking him back home in my car, I was drunk and we crashed, he died” Susan said, ashamed.
“So you killed him” Peter said, laughing.
“I’m glad you find it funny” Susan said, crying.
“In fact I find it very funny, murder, it is a very funny thing, isn’t it? You aren’t living in guilt after the event are you?” Peter exclaimed.
“I didn’t kill him! It wasn’t my fault” Susan shouted.
“Of course it was your fault, you were driving” Peter exclaimed. “Now, what happened last night?”
“Nothing happened last night” Susan said.
“Who were you with? Were you with that Ross?” Peter asked, a demand.
Susan paused before saying. “Yes I was!”
“I’ll kill you” Peter shouted, punching Susan in the face. She cried out in pain. Oliver began to cry as well.
“I’ll kill you too” Peter said to his son, staring into his sons eyes. Peter then paused, realising what he had just said.
“I hate you Peter” Susan shouted, crying heavily.
“Be quiet” Peter said, quietly. “I’ve got a confession” Peter sighed before saying anymore, calming down. He was going to mad.
“My life used to be perfect, yeah I smoked, I took drugs and stuff, but I had an alright job, I wasn’t involved in bad stuff” Peter said, continuing. “It is all about bloody women” he exclaimed, his head in his hands. “Remember that girl who was in my old flat?”
“Yes” Susan replied, wiping blood from off of her face.
“I killed her” Peter said bluntly. “I got a friend of mine to kill her, and now he is in jail”
“You sicken me” Susan said, spitting on her husband.
“Oh it gets worse” Peter said, demented as he wiped the spit from of his face. “That ‘women’ was fifteen” he exclaimed. “I killed a girl”
Susan looked worried, jumping back.
“If you lay one more finger on me, I swear I’ll ring the police” Susan exclaimed.
“With what phone?” Peter asked calmly, beginning to smile. “There is more I need to tell, you know”
“And what is this? You have killed more people?” Susan asked, scared for her life.
“Yes” Peter said. “If it wasn’t for me killing someone, I wouldn’t have got this house and all the money”
Susan began to scream out in disgust. “Our relationship was made possible because of blood money?” Susan exclaimed, crying out.
“Not exactly, it’s not as bad as you think, she asked me to help her commit suicide” Peter said. “And on this very bed, I smothered her”
Susan stared at the bed, not believing that a woman had died on the bed she had been sleeping on.
“Life seemed perfect, money, a car, you” Peter said, smiling. “I really thought everything would be alright, but it wasn’t?”
“Why couldn’t it? Why couldn’t you just stop- for me?” Susan asked, moving slowly towards the door.
“Don’t even try it” Peter said, calmly, getting in Susan’s way. “You aren’t going anywhere”
Susan looked up, worried that her life would end today.
“That night, when we went clubbing, I was arrested, well I was let out of the station and I went to get a taxi with this guy” Peter said. Susan nodded, in a weird way, intrigued by the story. “Yeah, and he knocked out the driver, he wanted me to go robbing with him” Peter said. “But I didn’t want to, so, I knocked him out, and drove the car into the canal- killing him and the taxi driver”
Susan looked up in disgust. “It’s funny, isn’t it? To avoid doing a rather small crime in comparison, I did a worse crime, killing two people”
“Help!” Susan screamed again, running towards the door before being pushed back by Peter.
“Let me finish!” Peter demanded, pushing Susan over the bed, she twisted her leg.
“No more murders, I told myself” Peter said. “Then we went to the funeral and met that weirdo James Arthur”
“And you killed him?” Susan asked.
“He killed himself, with a little help from me” Peter said, laughing. “I drove him off a cliff”
“Was that the last murder?” Susan asked.
“So far” Peter replied.
“Not if you had your way though, Peter?” Susan said “Eh?”
“What do you mean?” Peter asked.
“Martha! You tried to kill Martha!” Susan exclaimed.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Peter shouted.
“Don’t play that game with me, Peter! Trust me, I am not in the mood, I found her in the closet last night and I rang for an ambulance, luckily she was alright, and I know it was you!” Susan shouted.
“If it was me, and you know Martha hates me, why didn’t she go to the police?” Peter asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Because she is scared of you!” Susan shouted. “Like loads of people, including me!”
“I’m not the massive big, scary guy that you think I am, do you know that?” Peter said. “Last night, in fact, I did a very nice thing for a person you don’t really like!”
“Who? What? What are you talking about?” Susan exclaimed.
“Last night I found a very distressed Becky on my door step” Peter said.
“And?” Susan asked. “What happened?”
“Well she was very upset, she told me that she had been raped!” Peter replied.
“What?” Susan exclaimed, feeling quite upset for the woman she was so mean to. Susan did kill her brother after all.
“Yes, she came running up to me, crying, saying she was raped, so we went to the police station and reported the guy!” Peter replied.
“You knew the name of the guy?” Susan asked, getting increasingly worried. Was she about to find out that two and two came together and that the person who Ross raped was indeed Becky.
“She told me it was a taxi driver…named Ross” Peter said.
“Oh my god” Susan replied, falling to her knees. “It was Ross!”
“Yeah, I’d guessed that” Peter said. “He’s such a nice guy isn’t he?”
“No, he’s not” Susan said.
“Yeah, he’s much nicer than me!” Peter said.
“Yeah” Susan said, getting angry. “Yeah, I mean you only killed five people and tried to kill another!”
“Alright, one of them was assisted suicide and another one of those I got someone else to do it!” Peter exclaimed.
“Who was it that you got to kill the girl?” Susan asked.
“What? You don’t know? It’s been all over the news!” Peter replied.
“That girl, the girl they found, that was you who ordered her death!” Susan said, surprised. “Well I would say I was surprised, but not after tonight!”
“Yeah, the guys name is called Jimmy” Peter replied. “I promised him one hundred grand when he comes out!”
“But you haven’t got that, have you?” Susan said.
“No” Peter said, reluctantly. “I haven’t”
“What the hell happened to all your money?” Susan asked, quite intrigued of what the answer would be.
Peter stood up straight and paced the bedroom.
“Martha” he said.
“What about her?” Susan asked.
“It was all her fault and that stupid Mark I bought the flats off!” Peter replied.
“And how was it their faults that you lost all your money?” Susan asked.
“Well, when I bought the flats, I thought that they would be insured” Peter said. “They weren’t”
“Well that’s got nothing to do with Martha, that’s all Mark’s fault” Peter replied.
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But no, you know when it burnt down!” Peter said, staring straight into Susan’s eyes. She stared back.
“I loved you” Susan said, going off topic.
“And I love you” Peter replied.
“So tell me, what the hell happened!” Susan demanded.
“Martha burnt it down!” Peter exclaimed.
“You’re kidding me!” Susan replied.
“I wish I was” Peter said. “Plus, it wasn’t making any money”
“Isn’t that basically your fault?” Susan asked.
“No!” Peter shouted. “No, it wasn’t, in fact, if I just kept Martha happy and if it wasn’t for you I would still have my money!”
Susan stared straight into Peter’s eyes before slapping him.
“Bitch!” Peter shouted, moving towards Susan.
“Peter, stay away!” Susan demanded. “Stop scaring me!”
“Oh, I scare you, do I? I wonder if this scare’s you!?” Peter said. squaring up to Susan before turning round and getting hold of Oliver.
“Don’t take Oliver” Susan exclaimed.
“Too late” Peter said, running down stairs with Oliver in his arms. “We are going for a little ride, Oli” Peter continued, walking out of the front door and getting his car and driving off. Peter kept speeding up before closing his eyes, letting go of the accelerator and waiting until he crashed. He knew it was going to happen and it did but his son, unfortunately came out worse than him. Peter was jerked forward and then jerked back. Oliver however, was nowhere to be seen. Peter slowly got out of his car and looked at the road where his son lay. “I just killed a baby” he proclaimed as he stood over his son’s motionless body.