Leah's Story Finding Jake (4 page)

“Come” Gordon Steel was a scruffy but amiable man, he was forgiving of my time keeping, and he
made a quick call to a Richard Green, my mentor to be. The man sauntered into the office and all my
creep senses shot up. He was a grubby looking man only probably forty something but easily
mistaken for older. I caught a wiff of booze on his breath, Great a drunk in charge of me just what I
needed. He shook my hand for rather too long and I felt myself shudder, he made me want to have a
wash. However he was to be in charge so I put on my professional face as he gave me a guided tour
of our floor.

My desk was adjacent to his, rather too close for my comfort but as long as he kept to his side I
would be fine. Later today we were attending court to follow a case Richard had been on all week;
the case was an assault on a black man. The prosecution were trying to prove that the defendant
carried out an act of racial abuse.

I read the notes at my desk; I only had an hour to read them all through. Richard seemed to be
happy to let me get on with it, this I think came from him being a lazy bastard! So far the prosecution
appeared to have the upper hand, our press coverage had been quite biased in my opinion, we
seemed happy to paint the attacker with the racism brush. I decide to do some digging into the
victims background, what I found interested me greatly and I needed to pop out for an hour.

Richard gave me my break at eleven so we could be in court by two; this gave me enough time to
visit a care home where the defendant’s mother was staying. I parked my car at The Manor and
buzzed myself inside, the care workers took my story of being a niece and led me to Mrs Pilkington’s
room. My hunch was based on the fact that the victim worked in the same home as the defendants
mum resided was too much of a coincidence. The police had looked into the link but came up with
no story just used it to confirm that the victim was preselected. Operating on my general feeling that
elderly women were more likely to chat with a single female than a man in uniform I hoped my
interview would bear fruit.

Mrs Pilkington looked tiny; she was upright propped up with cushions, watching This Morning on her
little portable TV. The tiny lady sat on a huge arm chair, my heart pulsed she reminded me of my
Gran.

“Mrs Pilkington? Hello my name is Leah I am trying to help your son Joseph” she opened her eyes at
the sound of his name

 

“My joseph where is he? It has been ages since he visited, do you know him? Is he okay?” I sat
beside her and stroked her hand

 

“He is in trouble Mrs Pilkington, he hurt someone badly and they want to punish him” she snapped
back at me, snatching her hand away I felt really guilty, wondering if maybe this was a bad idea.

“It was someone who cleaned here at the home Jimmy something” the old lady winced and her eyes
filled with fear
“Evil that man is evil he hurt me, he touched me, I told my Joe to tell him to stop but he didn’t, he
took my wedding ring, my Alfie would turn in his grave if he knew” she was getting upset, but I had
all I needed, why had the defence not questioned her properly, I knew this was important so left the
room to call Gordon. My boss was thrilled with my initiative though Richard unimpressed that I had
gone behind his back.

The court was informed of a delay as the defence lawyer immediately came to see the defendant’s
mother. As it turned out Joseph had approached the victim about the theft of the wedding ring, he
promised to not report him if he returned the ring. Jim did as he was asked but made a couple of
very sick comments about touching his mother which made Joseph snap.

Once the court had all the information the case was dropped, Jim was fired and arrested for theft
and abuse of Mrs Pilkington, it conspired she was one of many he had given the same treatment to.

I wrote up the story and it was given page five status, Gordon was thrilled my first day had been a
resounding success. We went out for a few drinks and I couldn’t help but notice Richard sending me
daggers, my new mentor was not happy with me, I didn’t care but part of me knew he would
retaliate in some way. I had dealt with worse so Richard, bring it on, he was one minion for me to
crush on my way to the top! Go Leah.

When I got home, Lucy was back and there was a delicious odour permeating the flat.

 

“Hey working girl I thought I would be last in” I wandered in to the kitchen and Adam was there, in
fact he was cooking.

“Hello Leah, looking smart, I hope you don’t mind me gate crashing you again but hotel rooms are
very lonely places” I smiled to let him know it was fine, he was making chicken stew by the looks of
it, I peered over his shoulder.

“Oh my God that smells like the one your housekeeper used to make” he grinned at me, took a tea
spoon and gave me a taste “oh yes that’s the one how come you know how to make it”

“I watched and learned, it was always my favourite too, I wouldn’t leave home until I had it
mastered, my flat mates never went hungry with me around” blimey sexy and a good chef Natalie
was very lucky. I excused myself to get my slob clothes on, and then came back in time to sit down
for our meal. We had fresh baguette to go with it; I was instantly taken back to sitting in the
Richmond’s kitchen tucking into a bowl by the range.

I opened my eyes and realised they were both staring at me.

“What?” they laughed loudly Lucy said I was making very sexual noises while I was chewing, it was
very off putting, I blushed as did Adam. Changing the subject we exchanged first day at work stories
and mine won.

“That is fantastic work Leah I can’t wait to read about it tomorrow, I knew you would be good at this,
you are like terrier when you are on to something” I was exhausted but pleased with my first day,
tomorrow I may have to deal with a pissed off Richard but I would be ready for him. Adam stayed
until after the news at ten he fitted in like part of the family now, it shocked me how comfortable I
was around him. He left after giving us both a kiss, my cheek burned where his lips touched and my
breath caught in my throat his touch was like fire. Adam appeared to be unaffected but as he
opened the door I did notice he let out a breath so maybe he felt it just a little. Still it meant nothing
after all he was taken and me well I was unattainable so that was that.

The next morning everyone was sheepish when I got to work, I was excited to see my first by line
and picked up a copy of the paper to take to my desk, I could hear Gordon shouting in his office but
ignored it. I turned to page five, there it was my first story, it read well and I was really pleased that
was until I saw the byline Richard Green. I stood to my feet and gasped; the whole office looked up
from their monitors and gave me a sympathetic look, hastily returning to whatever they were doing.
I looked round for the snake

“Dickhead that’s what he is” I was about to march into Gordon’s office when I spotted the so called
person leaving with a smirk on his face. He had just had a rollicking but so what it didn’t mean a
thing the damage was done, you can’t reprint a story with my name on it. So that was it my first
article nobody would know it was mine.

“You prick, why did you do that? Couldn’t stand a female taking the shine off you or something” a
voice interrupted

 

“Fellows in here now” I stormed past Richard and shut the door to my boss’s office, I was about to
say something when he indicated for me to sit down.

“Leah, I can understand how annoyed you are, but this was a printing error only, I know you feel
aggrieved but nothing can fix it now, we need to move forward. I was very impressed by the writing
and look forward to many more articles from you. Please go back to your desk and regroup, take this
on the chin and move on, the same mistake will not happen again.” I left the room mumbling under
my breath but did not want Dickhead to feel he had the upper hand so I made us both a coffee and
returned to my desk.

“So boss what’s for today then” Richard was lost for words, there was my victory frozen in his
expression. The rest of the day I was filing we had no case until Thursday and the files were arriving
first thing tomorrow. The filing kept me busy all day, I did notice Dickhead was busy with his nose in
something, every now and then he looked at me strangely, by the end of the day he looked like the
cat that got the cream. I grabbed my coat to leave saying my goodbyes Richard caught up to me at
the car park.

“Leah I am sorry about your story” I turned to face him with my no care face. “It was a regrettable
incident. You have a talent for reporting, I can be a great help to you if you let me” the creep placed
a gentle hand on my arm; I caught on to his meaning instantly so played along.

“I would really appreciate your help and guidance Richard, you have been in the job so much longer
than me so I am sure you can teach me a lot” he smiled his hand began stroking

“Well for starters you could try being nice to me, fetching me a coffee is a start, then well use your
imagination a man likes simple things in life you should know what a man likes Leah.” My hackles
were raised this piece of shit was asking for more than coffee. I peeled his hand off my arm then
raised my knee into his groin, he doubled over groaning
“Keep your hands to yourself Dick head or I will report you for harassment and by the way make
your own coffee arsehole” I was about to walk away when he spoke again

“You will live to regret this, you won’t report me as then I may share what I know about you Miss
Fellows,” My feet stopped and I turned to glare at him, his face was wearing the biggest grin and I
wanted nothing more than to wipe it off. I forced myself to leave before I did something I would
regret, I got in my trusty Golf and sat there wondering how the hell my job had gone from fantastic
to tragic in less than twenty four hours.

Chapter 6
By the time I got back to the flat I was furious, I didn’t notice Adam’s Mercedes parked in the lot,
stomping into the flat I was shouting

“Do you know what that piece of crap has done? Lucy are you there? I need to vent do we have
Vodka” I was walking into the kitchen when I heard the shower in Lucy’s room. I poured myself a
glass and waited for her in the lounge. I was staring out of the window when I heard her bedroom
door open

“I need to spew Luce I have had the day from hell a few Vodka’s and a night with Robert Pattinson
may be required” I turned to greet her but to my horror it was Adam, wet from a shower with
nothing on but a towel. My jaw dropped as I took in his sculpted torso, his tattoos were perfect big
enough to show but not too big to mar his delicious skin. I realised I was blatantly gawking at him
and managed to close my mouth before I dribbled. In his favour he looked just as surprised to see
me there,

“Sorry Leah, Lucy told me you were going straight to dance so I could crash here for a shower until
she got back, I was expecting to be gone by the time you got home” I was still struggling to maintain
eye contact, it was like his body was a magnet for my eyes. Part of what he said jolted my brain

“Shit dance class, damn damn, stupid Dickhead, bloody hell.” I halted my expletives after catching
his amused expression.

“Let me get dressed and I will join you for a Vodka, give me a minute” he wandered off giving me a
perfect view of his back, that man must work out he was built like a Greek God, boy I hated Natalie
tonight, in fact her and Dickhead should get together a perfect combination to ruin my life.

Adam returned covered up, we sat with a bottle of Vodka on the table and I decided I was going to
vent to him for a change, give Lucy the night off. He listened, bless him, and actually he reacted far
more intensely than I imagined, he was livid.

“The creep, I want to know who this guy is I will come in with you tomorrow you can point him out,”
I laughed at him and then he laughed actually we both got drunk quite rapidly, Adam kept going on
about what he would do to Richard, we had come up with seven ways to kill a creep, we got to
number three; chop off his dick and feed it to him when Lucy turned up.
“Why are you two sat in the dark?” she put the lights on and we both blinked dazzled by the lights
“Hey Leah where was your story I couldn’t find your name on any this morning” I burst out laughing
again, Adam joined n and soon we were verging on hysteria

“For God’s Sake you two what has gotten in to you, I will put some coffee on, looks like you need
some” We giggled again at bossy Lucy but she gave us such a look we tried to sober up. Four coffee’s
later and we were both feeling better, we discussed the day’s events with Lucy who had a far more
rational approach.

“Leah you have dealt with worse than that just make sure you are never alone with him, carry a
Dictaphone in case you get chance to record his threats. Work hard and give him no excuses to have
a go, you will be fine” she made sense and the Dictaphone was a brilliant idea, I had one in my room
somewhere. Adam called a cab and watched the window for its arrival; Lucy went to her room
leaving us alone.

“Thanks for tonight Adam. That was just what I needed” his taxi was there so he turned to leave,
holding both my shoulders he kissed my forehead

“Sorry I couldn’t be Robert Pattinson for you, maybe you will settle for less one day” with that he
was gone, wow that was a bit flirty wasn’t it? Maybe not, who knows I was too drunk to work out
conundrums, I was off to bed. Tomorrow better be a nicer day or I would be an alcoholic by the
weekend.

The next day dawned with a thumping head, and lots of groaning. The shower definitely improved
my mood but not my appearance; I pulled on a trouser suit and went to join Lucy who I could hear
rattling around in the kitchen

“Urgh I don’t think I can face Dickhead today” Lucy had the kettle on ready, toast on a plate and a
bowl of porridge for me. Hangover cures never worked on me but porridge did so I wolfed it down
plain and immediately felt lifted.