Chapter Twelve

 

The Cambridge Connection

 

Doctor Williams, the lady doctor from across the street, was very suspicious, what with one man in a trance and the other unconscious. For a moment she stood and stared at the two sleeping victims.

“What happened here?” she asked.

“I … um,” Hammy shook his head for a moment, he was lost for words. “Just an accident. That’s it, just an accident.”

“What happened to him?” she asked, pointing to Terry who lay with staring eyes and a fixed grimace on his face.

“It was a sort of ... Well, that one, he’s Oliver. He, er … he hypnotized him, then there was this accident, you see.”

“Why do you have that stupid thing on your head?” she said, beginning to think she had discovered some escapees from the Fulbourn Institute.

“It’s sort of ... It’s part of the experiment. It’s a communication device. That’s why the prof. has one. Yes, that what it is. We can keep in contact, you see.”

She seemed satisfied by the explanation, though Hammy felt worried that the force could overcome her if she stepped outside the zone.

“Can you make another one of these?” he said to the prof., pointing to his PXI.

“Yes, I suppose I could, why?”

Hammy leaned over to Bernard and whispered in his ear. “Get what you want from the lab. And meet me in your car. Don’t take too long, our time is running out in this place.”

The professor left. “How’s Oliver?” Hammy asked of the doctor, just to make conversation.

“He probably has concussion. We should get him to Doddington as quickly as possible. I’ll phone the police and ambulance.”

“Oh, don’t worry yourself about things like that,” Hammy said, trying to keep her in the zone as long as possible. “You tend his injuries and I’ll go call the police.”

“Why didn’t you phone me?” she asked.

“Ah! well it was quicker to walk across the street than look it up in the phone book.”

“Are you American?” she asked.

Hiram never qualified the remark with an answer. “I’ll phone the police for you,” he said and left the cellar. At the top of the stairs he met the professor. “Get everything in the car as quick as you can, Bernie, we’ve got to get out of here.”

“We can’t move it.”

“Why?”

“Well,” the prof. said in a hushed but excited voice, “Terry’s car is in the driveway blocking mine in.”

“Okay, okay, don’t worry. Just hurry up and get everything ready. Don’t start the engine till I get there.”

“Why are we doing this, Hammy? I don’t like it at all.”

“Don’t argue, just do it – and quick. Time is running short.”

Hammy walked calmly down the stairs again and into the cellar. “Help me lay this one on the mattress,” the lady doctor said.

“Sure, just you take it easy, ma’am, I’ll do all the heavy work.” Quickly he pulled Terry onto the double mattress and began riffling his pockets at the same time.”

“What are you doing?” the doctor demanded.

“Oh! nothing. I just have to move his car for the ambulance. I need his keys, you see.” Quickly Hammy located the keys. “I have them. You stay here and look after Oliver and Terry, and I’ll go make way for the ambulance, okay?”

As quick as he could Hiram made an exit and rushed up the stairs. Once outside he could see that the garage door stood open and the professor was already sitting in the driver’s seat. Hammy jumped into Terry’s car and backed it out of the driveway and then he waved the prof. on. Quickly Bernard started the engine and drove out of the garage. Hiram jumped in beside him.

“Now what?” Bernard asked. “Where are we going?”

“Now drive like hell! Let’s get out of here while we can. Drive to that place where your bungalow is, the one near the sea.”

“Heacham.”

“Right, go, go!”

Bernard pulled out of the driveway and turned left. “You know we have very little fuel left. I haven’t had time to refuel.”

“Then we’ll have to gas up now.”

“Gas up?”

“Just find a garage or filling station. You must know of one.”

Bernard laughed. “They will think it is already Halloween, we’re still wearing PXIs.”

“Okay,” Hiram said. “Pull over.”

Bernard pulled the car over to the side of the road. Hammy took off the scarf he was wearing and wrapped it over the prof’s head. They still looked a strange pair but Hammy thought it better if he kept out of sight and let Bernard buy the fuel. They received several strange looks, but no one mentioned the apparatus on their heads.

As soon as possible they were on their way to Norfolk.

“We’ve got to do something constructive,” Hammy said. “We can’t spend the rest of our lives running from this thing.”

“Like what? What is there to do? We don’t know what it is, never mind knowing how to stop it.”

“I don’t know yet, but we have to do something and soon. We can’t spend the rest of our lives running from the laird or wearing this daft thing on our heads. You’re the scientist, think of something.”

“I would rather keep my PXI on, but the battery is only good for about twenty hours. What shall we do then?”

“Did you bring enough bits to build another PXI?” Hammy said with a sigh.

“Yes, but why do you want me to build another one? There is, after all, only two of us.”

“I thought that if we had one for Jock Willox and one for James Goodwall they could help us solve this mystery. They probably know a lot more than they have told us so far.”

“I left the new one at the house,” Bernard said softly.

“Damn, but not to worry. With luck we will be able to get it later. You know, I have a theory.”

The prof’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, good. What is it?”

“I don’t think the laird, or Morag, or whatever it is can search for us. I think it can only follow us. Remember when we came back from Craig I wasn’t wearing one, so it followed us. It can’t control me but it can track me.”

“I think you are right, Hammy. So do you think that when we get to Heacham ‘it’ won’t know where we are and we’ll be able to take off these devices?”

“Yes, it’s easy to test. I’ll take mine off and if I don’t have bad dreams then we are free until someone who is in contact with the laird sees us. I wish I knew how the hypnotism or whatever it is works.”

“Well, I have a suggestion,” Bernard said thoughtfully.

“What is it?”

“John Willoden knows all about this. We should put him in the PXI and question him.”

“Who’s he?”

“He is that doctor of physics I told you about, the one at Cambridge University. I’m sure he knows. I don’t think his amnesia really exists. His name is in that church at Craig.”

Hammy breathed out loudly. “We still need another PXI. He won’t talk to us without one.”

“Well,” Bernard said, “if your theory is correct, we will be able to go back to the house and pick up mark IV. The laird will never know we are there, if your theory is correct that is.”

“He might not, but by now we are probably wanted by the police for assault or something even worse. I would think they would keep an eye on the house, just in case we go back.”

“The laird has beaten us to the punch every time,” Bernard said. “But I don’t think he knows just who he’s up against. From now on we will plan our campaign most carefully, consider all options and have a plan “B” in reserve at all times.”

“I wish I could believe that, prof., but our past record is not very inspiring. How would you suggest that we talk to your professor friend? You realize the moment he sees us he’ll report mentally to the laird.”

“Yes, but that won’t matter, we’ll put a PXI on Willoden and extract the information we want, while he is under our influence. The laird can’t hurt us as long as we are wearing this device. I call “it” the Laird for want of a better word.”

“Bad thinking, prof. All he has to do is make the police or university security come after us. He will know where we are.”

“Very well,” the old man said. “What if we take John Willoden by surprise. He won’t know who we are – we’ll bag him, so to speak.”

Hiram laughed. “Well, I never thought of myself as a carpetbagger, but you’re beginning to think along my lines. That’s what we’ll do, we’ll grab him, PXI him, tie him up and question him. We should be able to carry out the whole operation in less than five minutes.”

“How will we take the PXI off of him?”

Hiram sat silent for a few moments trying to think of a solution. “Give him a shot of something to knock him out or just plain knock him out.”

“That’s it!” Bernard said excitedly. “I have the very solution to the problem. It may take a little longer, but that’s no matter. We’ll use diethyl ether to knock him out. While he’s out we can make all the preparations, tie him up, etcetera. After we have questioned him we’ll use ether again and leave as surreptitiously as we arrived.”

“Sounds good. Where are we going to do all this? I think people may get a little suspicious. I mean, we look like a couple of Martians.”

“We’ll do it in his residence, wherever he lives. It’ll be either university lodgings or perhaps a house near the campus. We’ll break in and wait for him to come home and bam – there you have it.”

“Well,” Hammy said with a sigh, “I guess we are already wanted men, what’s one more crime?”

When the car reached the small village of Heacham, they turned left towards the coast. In only a short time they reached the gravel bank and turned right along it. The sea was just over the rise. Several small wooden bungalows were lined up along the gravel road. None of the buildings looked large enough to live in. Children were playing in the grass field over to the right, away from the sea.

Professor Nightingale parked the car in the small driveway. “I’m sorry, but it’s only a little cottage. Only two rooms and a toilet.”

“Bernie, it’s great, couldn’t be better.”

“Bernard.”

“Right, sorry, Bernard it is.” Hiram climbed from the car. Carefully and slowly he took off the PXI. “I don’t hear anything, I think we’re clear.”

Bernard climbed out and looked at Hammy agog. “I think I am too afraid to take mine off.” He walked to the front door of the cottage and opened it.

The two entered the small dwelling. It was furnished as a day house and had only one table and four chairs. There were no fancy embellishments, no ornaments, everything looked totally utilitarian.

“I love it,” Hammy said, putting his PXI on the table.

“You’ll have to go to the village and get food, there’s nothing here except an empty refrigerator. We don’t even have water.”

“How does the toilet work, then?”

“It’s a camping toilet, works on chemicals.”

“It’ll do,” Hammy said with a sigh. “We must hurry and free ourselves of this monster that’s following us around. There’s no time to waste, we’ll leave for Cambridge tonight. What d’yah think?”

“Tomorrow would be better, Hammy. It will give us time to arrange the things we need. We must have another PXI and some diethyl ether.”

“We’ll get the one from the house on our way. It’ll take too long for you to build one.”

With that Hammy left to collect food and drink from the village. He returned almost immediately. “I don’t have any money,” he said softly.

Bernard put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a couple of ten pound notes. “This should be enough, it’s all I have.” He handed it to Hammy. “We’ll have to go to the bank soon.”

That night passed quietly. Bernard did take off his PXI and he slept all night without incident. Plans for the day were made. To ensure top secrecy they would both wear the PXIs all day with them turned on. They did have time to make better disguises for them. Bernard wore a scarf and hat while Hiram had his bandaged as though he had been in some kind of accident.

First on the agenda was to visit Bernard’s friend the entomologist and to collect some diethyl ether, and then to make a quick stop at the house in March to collect the mark IV PXI. Finally to Cambridge to put pressure on Professor Willoden. Bernard had already phoned the Cambridge operator and obtained John Willoden’s address. As luck would have it he lived in a large private house on the very edge of town, away from the campus.

Bernard’s entomologist friend lived in Peterborough, a mere 30-kilometre detour. Their visit was a success and although they did not get ether they were able to collect a small amount of chloroform that was normally used for killing insects. Both felt rather nervous and apprehensive as they drove into March; there was the fear that the police would be waiting for them at the house.

It all seemed very quiet and there were no police cars outside the house as they drove by. Bernard sat in the driver’s seat; he thought it best as he knew the town well. At the top of the street he turned onto Station Road, then North Street and so back to the house on Norwood Avenue.

“What if there are police in the house waiting for us?” he asked as he stopped the car on the street.

“Run back here, I’ll keep the engine running ready for a quick getaway.”

Both climbed out. Hiram took up the driver’s position and Bernard walked cautiously to the house. As Hiram stared after the prof. a knock came to the window of the car. He looked round – it was Doctor Williams from across the street. His heart began to race – this could be it, the end of the road.

“Excuse me,” she said as he wound the window down a little. “I have Professor Nightingale’s house key. You left in a terrible hurry yesterday. Very rude of you both.”

Hiram wound the window all the way down. “Thank you,” he said and took the key. “Where’s Hardwick and the other guy?”

“Mr Bottomly regained consciousness just after you left. He and the other gentleman were taken to Doddington Hospital. They are both fine, they explained how the accident occurred. You were very lucky. I see that you are still wearing that communication thing on your head. What’s the reason this time?”

“Oh! that, yes. Umm, it’s an ongoing thing.”

The doctor turned and walked away. Hiram switched the engine off and hurried to meet Bernard, who had disappeared round the back of the house.

“You should be in the car ready for a quick getaway,” Bernie said as they met.

“It’s okay, prof. The doc said there’s no problem. She gave me the house key.”

“Oh, good. I have just got the spare from the potting shed.”

Together they entered the house and both felt nervous. It seemed as if a trap was about to be sprung. After the events of yesterday it did not seem natural that all should be well. The living room looked a mess, just as they had left it. Bernard walked to the cellar and turned off the prototype PXI. Quickly they gathered what they thought may be of use then loaded the car and drove away.

“I don’t think it would be a very good idea to spend tonight in that house, Bernard,” Hiram said.

“No, I agree with you. Once we have accomplished our mission, I think the laird will look there for us. As long as he knows nothing about Heacham, we’ll be safe there.”

“Do you know Cambridge well?” Hammy asked.

“Well enough to find Willoden’s house. It’s on Cursden Street. I don’t know where that is but it shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

By three that afternoon they had located the big, old Victorian house, number 712 Cursden Street in the city of Cambridge . The house was set well back off the road and had quite a number of mature oak trees in the front yard. Carefully the car was parked more than 100 metres away from the house in a visitor parking area of a dentist’s.

“Well?” Hammy said, climbing out and locking the door. “How do I look?”

Bernard climbed from the vehicle, flicked the catch and slammed the door. “Very nefarious.” He had the spare PXI in his hand.

“Well, I tell you. I’m not going to remove this PXI until this caper is over.”

Together they walked along the street, trying not to look suspicious. They presented an unusual sight as one had his head bandaged almost entirely and the other was wearing a hat and scarf on a warm summer afternoon. The two walked like escapees from the local Fulbourn House for the mentally maladjusted. Carefully they noted the number on the fence at the head of the driveway.

Hammy and the prof. walked the short drive to the very large Victorian dwelling. The garage was a detached structure with no entrance to the main building. The front door looked like it would not yield to a battle tank. Keeping their eyes peeled for neighbours or even passers-by, Hiram and Bernard worked their way round to the backyard. On the side of the house away from the garage they found a conservatory. Hiram thought that this would be easy to break into, being only glass.

“I’ll smash a window as quietly as I can,” he said in hushed voice.

“Please be quiet,” Bernard whispered. “If we get arrested we are sunk.”

Hammy walked to the glass-paned door and cupping his hands he peeked in, looking for any sign of an alarm system. “Looks good,” he hissed.

“Wait, we can make a better entrance through the French doors.”

Hiram walked to the corner where the prof. was standing. At the back of the house was an extensive lawn with a cement patio and porch. Double sliding glass doors barred the entrance. Hiram approached the doors and cupped his hands to shade the light. He peered into some kind of living room. There was no sign of a burglar alarm or occupants.

Looking from side to side to see if anyone was watching, he gave the door a swift kick near the bottom. Nothing happened, the door resisted his feeble attempt with impunity. He took out his trusty Swiss Army knife, opened it and began working at the lock.

“Hurry,” Bernard said. “I feel very conspicuous out here. You never know who’s watching from another house window.”

“I can’t get the bloody thing to open. Should I smash the glass?”

“Here, let me.” Bernard walked forward, rattled the door, kicked it near the bottom and opened it with the handle. “See,” he said with a smile. “A child could open this type of door.”

“How did you do that?” Hammy asked, walking into the room.

“It’s simple. I have exactly the same model of doors in my house. Not very burglar-proof, not really practical.”

Hammy carefully closed the glass door, took a quick glance at his watch and began looking around the room nosily. “Wonder what time he’ll come home.”

“We should sit quietly, preferably at the front of the house, and wait for him to come home. If someone notices us here they may call the police. Getting arrested would finish us for sure.”

“You’re right,” Hiram agreed and began making his way to the front of the house. “How do we know which door he will come in?”

“We’ll sit at the front and keep an eye on the drive. As soon as we see him coming we’ll be able to prepare.”

Together they walked into the front room that overlooked the driveway. It turned out to be the professor’s office or study, with his desk close to the window. Hiram sat on an office chair well away from the window, but still in a position that gave him a good view of the drive.

“I wish this was all over,” he said. “Just sitting here gives me the creeps.”

“I am very worried, too.”

“What about, Bernard?”

“Well, we haven’t planned this very well. What if he is not alone? What if he brings some students home with him?”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Hammy said, scratching his head. “We’ll just have to make a quick getaway out the back, over the patio and into a neighbour’s backyard.”

“I do hope this works out alright, I’m not as young as I used to be,” Bernard said, finding himself a comfortable seat.

He looked around the room trying to gather what kind of person this Professor Willoden really was. Slowly his eyes settled on a chart on the wall and he began reading it to himself. Suddenly he stopped and jumped to his feet.

The sudden movement startled Hammy. “Sit still, for God’s sake. You scared the pants off me.”

“Sorry, Hammy, but look at that chart. I knew there was a connection but I was too stupid to spot it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Look, that chart, it’s the same as the brass plates in the church. It’s got all the names on it and all in the same order.”

Hammy looked and read a few of the names. “If you say so, prof. I can’t remember any of those names. Except that one, Sir Isaac Newton.”

“Right, that should have told us. Don’t you see? All those names are of scientists from Cambridge.”

“So?”

“So, for some reason this place has been chosen. There is a distinct connection.”

“But what is it?”

Bernard thought for a few moments. “I’m not sure. It reads as a Who’s Who of the scientific world. All these people must have been to Craig, all of them donated to that little church. If we find out why, I’m sure we’ll have the answer to this conundrum.”

“I don’t think so, Bernard. What have all these people got to do with murdered women? Oh, no,” he said, thinking of an idea. “It couldn’t be. Do you think these women have been used for experimentation and that church is in on it? Wow, like a government conspiracy.”

“I hate to say so but yes, it could be something like that. It could be something that simple. But if it is the government doing this, then it will be top secret and well, we will probably vanish, never to be heard of again.”

“But what about the laird, the stop-fire thing and all that? How do they come into it?”

“I don’t know, Hammy, but I think we are getting close. Perhaps it goes back to your original idea of the hallucinogenic substance being given in the water or something. Perhaps that plume seeds the air which in turn rains into the water supplies of the nation.”

“Holy shit!” Hiram said. “That would explain why every one up there is so tight-lipped. The whole area is in on it. That’s how they make their money. The government subsidises them.”

“Quiet, Hammy,” the prof. snapped. “Someone’s coming.”

Hiram ducked then crept to a viewing position. “God, I don’t believe it,” he said. “It’s Terry Hardwick. What the hell’s he doing here? That fool Terry Hardwick’s coming right up to the house and now he’s looking for a way in.”

“What shall we do?” Bernard hissed almost in panic.

“Well, it’ll only be a few seconds till he finds the patio doors aren’t locked. Quick,” Hiram said, making it up as he went along. “Turn that wing chair round. Sit in it with your back to the door. When he comes in he’ll think you’re Willoden. Attract his attention by standing up with your back to him. Then he’ll come in thinking you’re Willoden.”

“I’m afraid, Hammy.”

“Come on, quick.”

Together they turned the heavy chair round and the professor sat in it. Hiram ran back to the entrance door of the room, opened it and stood silently beside the doorframe. It was then that he realized he did not have a weapon of any kind. He grabbed a vase off the corner table.

Hardwick slowly worked his way round the outside of the house and found the patio doors open. Carefully he pushed them aside and extracted his revolver from its hidden holster.

“Professor Willoden,” he called softly. “Are you there?”

All was silent from within the house. Slowly he began making his way deeper into the building, his sharp eyes glancing all around. Suddenly he noticed someone sitting in the chair facing the window in the study. Quietly he raised his weapon and pointed it at the apparently sleeping person.

“Professor Willoden,” he said again. “Are you awake?”

Bernard stood up and ignored the intruder. Cautiously but with his eyes transfixed on the professor’s back, Hardwick walked into the room. With a bang and a crash, Hammy brought the vase down on the man’s head. Hardwick began to turn to face his adversary. Before he completed the turn, Hammy caught him a good one on the side of the head with his fist.

The investigator fell against the bookcase, dislodging several books, which crashed to the floor followed by his body.

“God! I think I broke my fist,” Hiram moaned, shaking his hand up and down. “I’ve never hurt anyone in my life before. Now, in only a couple of days I’ve floored two people with my bare hands.”

“What will we do now?” Bernard gasped excitedly.

“First, let’s get this one out of this room and tie him up. I think he was going to kill Willoden with that pistol of his. Come on, quick.”

Together they dragged the unconscious investigator from the room and down the hall into another room. Hammy ripped the phone off the table and used the cord to tie up his victim. While both men trembled from the excitement and fear, they walked back to the study to take up their original watch positions. Hammy found and retrieved Hardwick’s revolver.

“This may come in handy,” he said and thrust it into his belt.

“I really do not like this, Hammy. I am not a criminal. The strain is too much for my old heart. I feel a little faint.”

“Don’t worry, prof., just hold on. It’ll all be over soon. But if it’s any consolation, I’m scared stiff, too.”

Again the two took up their vigil positions. At length the sun went down; Professor Willoden did not put in an appearance and there was not even the slightest sound from Terry Hardwick.

“I’m very worried about your detective friend,” Bernard said. “He could be dead. Then we would be in very great danger.”

“He’s not dead. Now shut up and watch the driveway.”

Time passed and the sun sank deeper and deeper into the horizon. It was dark in the house, when suddenly they spotted the lights of a vehicle entering the driveway.

“This is it,” the professor said, jumping to his feet. “I’m terrified, Hammy. I really am.”

“Just calm down and take it easy. Keep quiet.”

Things began to go wrong. Hardwick began banging loudly with something. The car stopped, two people got out and both made their way to the front door. One took out a key and unlocked it. The banging attracted their attention.

Trembling with the excitement of the affair, Hiram poured the chloroform into a large swab. Spilling some he then dropped the bottle with a clatter.

“Who’s there?” shouted one of the newcomers.

Trying to be invisible, Hammy squeezed against the wall near the door. Suddenly the light came on. Hammy struck, slapping the swab over the face of his victim. There was a struggle and the second person joined in the affray. At last the first one fell unconscious with the fumes of the inhalant. Struggling with the other person, Hammy pulled the revolver from his belt.

“Hold your ground,” he yelled, “or I’ll blow your bloody head off.”

The fight was over. “Who the hell are you?” the young lad asked, stepping back.

“Shut up and sit over there. Tie him to the chair, George.”

Bernard looked around. “Who’s George?” he asked.

“You are, for God’s sake.”

“I’m Bernard.”

“Oh, bloody hell,” Hiram said. “Shut up and tie him.”

Ripping off a curtain sash, Bernard tied up the young lad. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep still and cause us no trouble.”

As quickly as possible Hiram dragged the unconscious person to a chair and between them they picked him up and placed him on it.

“Well, is this the man?” Hiram asked.

“Yes, this is Professor Willoden. He’s put on a bit of weight, but I still recognize him.”

Hiram put the PXI on the man’s head and turned it on. “All we have to do now is wait for him to wake up.”

“I’ll open the windows, it’s a bit stuffy in here,” Bernard said. “That chloroform will put us all under if we’re not careful.”

Time passed painfully slowly as they waited for John Willoden to regain consciousness. Hardwick kept up the banging. It was a little like being in a lunatic asylum, waiting for someone to throw a fit.

At last the Cambridge professor awakened. His eyes rolled around for a few seconds. Then he focused on Bernard.

“What are you doing here? Where am I?”

“You’ll be alright if you do as you are told,” Hiram said, waving the revolver menacingly. “We want to know about the experiments with the women.”

“Women? What women? Are you all crazy? What’s this all about?”

“It’ll all be over if you tell us about the women,” Hiram said, continuing to wave the revolver in an attempt to be as menacing as possible.

“I feel sick,” Willoden said. “And you, sir, are as mad as a hatter. Now release me and stop all this tomfoolery. At once!”

“Listen, buster,” Hiram growled. “I’ll blow your head off if you don’t spill the beans.”

“What is this, some silly Hollywood film plot?” the professor said indignantly. “And what’s this thing on my head?” He looked at Bernard. “I see we’ve all got one. I know you. You are that crackpot Nightingale. Bernard Nightingale.”

“Let’s go, Hammy,” Bernard said softly. “He’s a stooge, he knows nothing.”

Hiram got up from his chair and walked the two paces to Willoden, and then he pushed the gun to the man’s head. “What’s your connection to St Andrew’s Church at Craig?”

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “You mean the master. He will punish you for this intrusion. He is kind and benevolent and provides.”

“What’s that got to do with the church? Why do you make donations?”

“For knowledge. The master provides knowledge. I pay him back with cash. It is used for the whole area, not just the laird.”

“What about the women?”

“I know nothing about any women. I do not know what you are talking about.”

“Hammy, Hammy,” Bernard interrupted. “There’s another car. It stopped by the road and people are coming this way.”

Hammy looked out the window. “God! you’re right. We’d better get the hell out of here.” Leaning over Willoden he snatched the PXI off the man’s head. “Sorry, but I can’t leave this. Come on, Bernie, run.”

“The master will punish you, Yank,” Willoden yelled after the fleeing pair.

Together they ran out the back of the house, through the patio doors and across the lawn and into the darkness of a neighbour’s garden.

“Come on, Bernard, we’ve got to put as much distance between us and them before they enter the house. The street’s that way.”

Breathlessly, Bernard tried to keep up with Hiram as they made their way through a backyard to a street. Guessing the direction, they hurried along the tree-lined thoroughfare in the hope of finding where the car was parked. After almost five minutes and three wrong turns, they found the parking area and quickly climbed into the vehicle.

“We look like a pair of refugees from the local school of lobotomy,” Bernard said breathlessly. “Please go, let’s get out of this town before it’s too late.”