Take a Chance on Me (27 page)

H
arrison stuck
his foot in the door so she could not shut it, and forced his way in, grabbing her firmly by the arm and shoving her into the lounge before she had time to gather her wits and scream.

‘Hello Charlotte,' he hissed after pushing her onto the sofa. ‘How nice to see you again.'

‘What do you want?' she asked angrily. Her arm hurt and she rubbed it tenderly.

‘That's no way to speak to your boyfriend, Charlotte.'

‘You're not…' she began.

Harrison shushed her. ‘Don't, Charlotte. Don't make me angry. Don't make me any angrier than I am. I'm at breaking point. Do you want to know why?' He strode about the room, checking the window to make sure no one had seen him going into the house.

‘I'm going to tell you exactly why I'm at breaking point. I've given you everything you could want or need and you've shamed me. You've abused my love and treated me badly.'

‘I don't want to make you angry,' said Charlie, the seriousness of the situation dawning on her. Harrison had changed. His face looked drawn. He smelt sour as if he had forgotten to wash for a couple of days. Worse still, he was intimidating.

‘Poor, little Charlotte,' he said in silky tones. ‘All alone in the world and sad after her husband left her. Poor “I'm not ready for a relationship” Charlotte. Poor, confused Charlotte. Well boo bloody hoo! You're a fraud, Charlotte. A tease. A liar. A slut!'

Charlie began to tremble. Harrison's tone was menacing. She could smell drink on his breath as he leant towards her and hissed the last word.

‘So, let's look at the facts, shall we? Once upon a time, a nice young man asked a lady out. She fooled him into thinking she was interested in him. She invited him to join him for coffee. She led him on. She took advantage of his good nature, making him believe she liked him. She waited until he was smitten with her and seduced him. Then, she dropped him like a hot coal. You know the story, don't you? You know it because that lady was you. You gave me the come-on and made me love you. You used all your female guile and, like an idiot, I fell for it. Then, when I thought you and I were a perfect item, you told me you didn't want to go out with me. You came up with some cock and bull story that I was too young for you and you didn't feel it was appropriate. I wasn't too young to make love to, was I? However, I listened to you. I was young, yes, but I wanted to be the perfect boyfriend. I would do anything for you. I tried to explain. I tried so hard to convince you.' He rubbed his neck. Spittle had landed on his chin. His eyes rolled.

‘But you were cruel and refused to accept my gifts, or my love. You'd had what you wanted from me. I licked my wounds and tried to make you see sense. Finally, I thought I'd made a breakthrough with you. You opened the door and listened to me. You held me while I cried on your shoulder. You understood, and it was all going to be okay. But no, you told someone at work that I was
stalking
you and I got fired! Yes, I was fired. Don't look surprised.'

‘Harrison, I didn't. Really I didn't.'

‘Well someone did. You must have told someone and they blabbed to the authorities. I was summoned in front of some wanker who tried to talk down to me. They wanted to book me in to see a therapist! Cheeky gits. I didn't need any counselling. I told them what they could do with their counselling. I lost my job, my hopes and my future thanks to you. Well, you and that other stupid cow who complained about me at university. They had to drag that up too. Could I get another job? No! I couldn't. I had to go back home to my dad with my tail between my legs. I didn't tell him I'd been fired. I told him I'd taken some leave to research for a piece that might be published. Silly old fool believed me.' He grinned. His cold, black eyes glittered.

‘But, do you know what? I forgave you, Charlotte. I knew you were different to all the other women I'd met. You were frightened and alone. You'd been through so much pain. Your husband had deserted you and you'd lost your little girl. I understood the loneliness and confusion. I've been through that too when my mother died and left me with my bad-tempered father,' he spat. He paused, consumed by memories.

Charlie wondered if she could escape. She slid to the edge of the sofa.

He noticed her subtle movement and redirected his thoughts. ‘Don't even think about it, Charlotte. Where were we? Oh yes. I was explaining why I forgave you. You see, you'd proved you loved me that night in my car. You can't deny what happened. It was beautiful. Magical. You were my first love. I understood that deep down you loved me. You just needed time to sort out your emotions and heal. I gave you the time. I stayed away.' His lip curled in an ugly fashion.

‘When I thought you'd be ready to start living again, I sent you a lovely email. You sent a rubbish one back. But I didn't harbour a grudge. I guessed you were just feeling low. After all, you're facing middle age now and must be beginning to feel insecure. I know about that. My mother went through a phase at your age. She cried a lot of the time. She used to get moody and shout at me. It's a female thing. I decided you needed someone to care for you. It was time for me to prove I was strong and mature, just like you wanted and needed.'

Charlie shivered.

‘I'm the one person who you can trust,' he continued. His eyes darted around the room. Harrison had mental health issues. Charlie recognised the signs. She was not sure how to deal with it. She decided silence was best.

‘Who do you think sent the video of you on the roller coaster to the studio?'

‘You,' she whispered.

‘Correct. It was me. I watched you. You had no idea I was in the crowd filming you. You didn't see me. You've not noticed me the last few months. I've been around. I've seen you come home to an empty house, bake cakes and watch films on your own. I've listened to you on the radio. I decided to give you a boost. You like working on the radio so much, I decided to help the station when I discovered it needed funding. I was an unseen hand in your quest to raise money. I even bribed those kids behind you to sing along with that ridiculous kazoo. I overheard you planning with that friend of yours in the wheelchair. You were jabbering away about it in the coffee shop at the hospital oblivious to the old guy behind you. That old guy was me. Ha! Bet that's surprised you. You even kindly let me know which song you'd be playing – “Love Rollercoaster”. Very amusing. I figured if people saw an entertaining video of you, they'd be more likely to send in money. I was right. It worked, didn't it? It got thousands of hits.'

Not wanting to annoy him, Charlie nodded in agreement.

‘Yes. Clever old Harrison.' He stopped again. He stared at her with wild eyes. ‘You weren't grateful though, Charlotte. You betrayed me. You met up with a man in a bar, even though you should have waited for me. He wasn't worth it, was he? What an absolute loser.' He chuckled. ‘I bet he didn't see you again after that night. No, of course he didn't. He was a waster. He was a weasel. He blubbed like a little baby when I tied him up. He begged me not to thump him again. He deserved to be splattered across the car park, but I didn't do that to him, even though I wanted to – cretin that he was. I gave him a couple of punches to make him see sense. He whimpered and curled up into a little ball. Do you want to be with a man like that? Well, do you?'

‘No,' said Charlie, wishing the torment would end. She was now late for her radio show. Soon, Mercedes would phone to ask where she was. They would worry that she was not there. They might drive round and save her from this lunatic.

‘So, after that episode, I sent you an amusing gift. I thought it would be funny. You like jokes, don't you? You read them out to patients on the wards. You enjoy a laugh. I sent you the perfect inflatable man to keep you company until you came to your senses. He was more of a man than the fool at the pub and more of a man than that kid who took you diving.'

Charlie breathed in sharply. ‘That was you too? You slashed Liam's diving suits and damaged his car, didn't you?'

‘He asked for it. He was always giving you the come on. He thinks he's some sort of hunk with his perfect body, his perfect teeth and his perfect bloody hair,' he spat, rubbing a hand over his slightly balding head.

‘He was always showing off like some sort of human peacock. Preening himself in front of you. You fell for it. You threw yourself at him at the quarry. You rubbed yourself all over him like a bitch on heat. You tart. It was disgusting. Don't deny it. I watched you both at Dosthill quarry. You sat in his car together after the dive. I was pretending to take wildlife photographs. You didn't notice me. I zoomed my lens in to make sure you weren't doing to him what you did to me. It was a good thing you weren't. He wanted you to. I could tell. Dirty little sod.'

Harrison began to pace about the room. In between words he grumbled incoherently.

‘You told
me
I was too young for you yet you tried to seduce him. He was much younger than me. You hypocrite!' he snarled. ‘Still, I forgave you and tried to help you and your stupid radio station. I was at the hospital coffee shop as usual, when I found out about the charity clothes show. Yes, I hung out there most days. It reminded me of when we first met. Tina had no idea it was me,' he chuckled. ‘She thought I was some old bloke. I took my dad's clothes. They're too large and hang on me, but with a fake beard and wig, no one recognised me. Not even you.' He stopped, waiting for her response. When she gave none he resumed his angry rant.

‘I was horrified you were prepared to let a complete stranger buy clothes you'd been wearing. It was opportune I was there. I couldn't have anyone else buy something my girlfriend had just removed from her naked body. But it was meant to be me, wasn't it? I was supposed to buy it. It was almost like receiving a gift from you.' He smiled. ‘That garment still smells of you. I've held it in bed every night since I bought it. It helps me remember you and how you made me feel.' He stopped, lost in thought.

Charlie made a decision. This has to end.

‘Harrison, I think you need medical help,' she stuttered.

In one swift movement Harrison strode towards her and slapped her hard across her face. She was stunned. Her hand flew up to her face to protect it but too late. He hit her hard again.

‘I've managed perfectly well without your advice, Charlotte,' he said in an icy tone. ‘I don't need help. What is it with you people? First my mother, then my father, then the hospital authorities and now you?' He paced about the room, muttering. Charlie was about to make another attempt to run when he spun around.

‘There was a time when I would've done anything for you. Surely you can see that, now. Who else would be thoughtful enough to send you a brand new mask and snorkel for your dive? I didn't want you to have to use one that someone else had used. Think of all of those germs? That's thoughtful, isn't it? Who would have sent tickets for a show you were desperate to see? I thought we could go together to see
Jersey Boys
. I thought we could share a perfect weekend away. Yet, all the time, I was trying to help you, you were busy behaving like a slut,' he spat, his face wrinkled in disgust. He licked his dry lips, recovered and continued. Charlie sat in fear.

‘How you've tested my patience, Charlotte. But I was prepared to let it all go and then what did you go and do?'

Charlie winced. Her stomach sank.

‘You spent the night at that journalist's house. The entire night,' he said with menace in his voice. ‘If the upstairs light hadn't gone on when it did and if I hadn't watched you undress and go to bed alone, I'd have come in and killed you both. This can't go on. You have to be dealt with.' He stopped to lick his lips again. His eye twitched and he rubbed it.

‘I've come to a decision. You're coming with me where I can keep an eye on you. That way, you'll not be able to parade about flirting or misbehaving. I'm taking you to Wales. I inherited a cottage in the hills a few months ago. My father died, you see. He lived there in isolation. He didn't like people much. Preferred to hide away from the public. After my mother died, he took off there with me in tow. It's in the middle of nowhere. We'll be able to have plenty of time for each other. You'll learn to behave and respect me. You'll see how much I've matured and we'll be deliriously happy.'

Charlie hugged her knees. ‘It won't work, Harrison,' she ventured. ‘People here will try to find me. I have friends who'll want to know what's happened to me.' A
nd Jake
, she thought.
He'll want to know where I am
.

Harrison guessed her thoughts and sniggered. ‘Oh poor deluded Charlotte. I'm afraid I've been one step ahead of you. Your friends won't come looking for you.' He collapsed into Charlie's chair and casually draped one leg over the other. Leaning forward, he smoothed her hair off her face. She recoiled. He smiled and it reminded her of the sharks. His teeth were small, sharp and pointed.

‘No one will look for you. I hacked into your computer while you were out a few weeks ago. I was almost caught by the old bat next door, but I got away with it. Gave her some story about being a journalist. I got into your email account. You should have chosen a better password. I knew you'd have Amy as part of it. It only took five minutes to figure out the rest. Most people use birth dates, so it didn't take much guessing. AmyBlundell311296!' He tutted and wagged his finger at her. ‘Far too obvious,' he said. Charlie let out a stifled sob.

‘Today, I sent an email from your account to City Hospital radio saying you'd been offered a trip of a lifetime by a dear friend and although it was rude to go without saying goodbye, you just had to seize this golden opportunity. I explained you'd enjoyed doing the challenges so much that you'd developed a new lust for life and when this exciting new venture presented itself you couldn't refuse. I said it was all very last minute but you were catching a flight later today and you'd be in contact in a few weeks. By then they won't be able to track you down. They'll soon forget you anyway, especially when the radio goes off air due to lack of funds. With you gone, they're not likely to raise the money are they?'