Chapter two of my completed thriller about a woman with a dark side
CHAPTER TWO
July 1972, and a party was in full swing inside a spacious detached house in Chelmsford, Essex, over spilling onto the terrace and lawns at the rear where the abundance of flowers that aligned the borders had benefited from a succession of afternoon showers and held their heads upwards in proud, colourful array.
The sun wasn't to set for an hour or so, but it promised to be glorious with the blue sky beginning to develop into a hazy yellow, and the sun, like a huge red ball suspended motionless within it.
Barbara Blandford took a deep breath of the fresh evening air and skipped down the half a dozen stone steps that lead from terrace to lawn. A well built girl with a good firm figure, dressed in a short, white chiffon dress, over which was draped a knee length blue silk cloak. Her long, black curly hair bounced vibrantly as she descended the steps and strode onto the lawn. A host of eyes followed her every movement; those of the men, fortified by alcohol reflected desire, while those of many women were laced with envy.
For Barbara Blandford was twenty one, and very beautiful, and this day marked a double celebration. It was her birthday, but also on this very day she had received confirmation of passing out of university with a first class Bachelor of Arts degree.
Out of the many admirers of this lively, intelligent young woman there was one in particular she was bound for as she glided between the groups and cliches, towards the lily pond at the lawn's outer edge.
Mark Tyler had become her close companion during the latter part of her university studies, her confidant and now, ultimately her lover. If friends had their suspicions there was no longer any doubt about it, their togetherness was apparent for all to see as she took his arm and they strode along the edge of the crescent shaped pond towards the cedars that spanned the large garden's boundaries.
Now in comparative isolation she drew the slim young man closer, placing her firm body against his; her left hand stroked his collar length fair hair while their lips met and her right hand reached down to his jeans.
His arms held her tightly and he was only too aware of the swelling below, before he took a sudden step back - 'Not here, not now clot -' he murmured,
'we have an audience.'
'No - no it's okay really,' she rolled her eyes and laughed, the gay laugh that he loved, 'they can't see us, we're secluded by the cedars -'
‘What about your mother, upstairs window, second left,' he muttered, 'no don't turn now, it'll make it
obvious.'
They drew apart slowly, 'She won't mind,' Barbara said with a slight frown.
‘Won't she, we're too far away to make her out Babs, but that's her up there and I've an uneasy feeling her expression won’t be favourable.' He lit a cigarette.
'Come on let's go inside,' Barbara suddenly flashed her irresistible smile, revealing her perfect white teeth, 'I'll take the bull by the horns, go and see if I can get her to join the throng.'
‘That'll be the day,' Mark Tyler thought to himself, Dianne Blandford never participated in any function that he could recall, not that he'd expect her to in this particular instance at any rate, the function was primarily full of their own age group, but notwithstanding that, there was an off-hand manner about the woman, of that he was certain.
He increased his pace to keep astride of Barbara, she was a very fit girl and deceptively quick at times.
' See you in a minute,' she placed her lips on his in full view of the assembly in the dining room, slapping him heartily on the back before ascending the stairs.
Barbara found her mother rearranging some bed sheets in the master bedroom, though something told her the action was simply for show. Her impression was endorsed by the
fact that Dianne Blandford appeared not to heed her daughter's arrival, when she must have been aware of her presence.
'Mother, won't you come downstairs and join the others - please -' Barbara moved nearer taking the older woman's hand, 'this is quite a happy occasion for me.'
'Don't you think I know that love -' Dianne returned the pressure on her daughter's strong young hand; the same height, practically at five foot six, but without the figure, seemingly having lost weight of late - something Barbara attributed directly to her father's interference. Long estranged from mother, he had become a thorn in her side.
Today especially, she thought her mother looked tired. Try to cheer her up, she told herself - 'Please mum, just for a minute -'
'Alright -' their eyes met and Barbara withdrew her hand, mother had something to say, she'd long gotten used to that look.
'What is it?'
'I think you know - Mark - is it serious?'
Barbara drew breath and frowned. 'I think there's a time and place -'
'Exactly dear, a time and a place,' Dianne's features took on a more severe guise, 'don't think you can't be seen, we'll have words on that score later.’
Barbara sighed, 'Mother we're living in the seventies, times change -'
'Not in this house and grounds they don't, remember that!'
The young woman turned away in irritation, her mother's voice had risen; once a rarity, nowadays developing a commonplace tendency.
'There's something else,' Dianne scooped up a sheet she'd let drop to the floor in her displeasure.
'What?' Barbara faced her heatedly.
'Your father called today, he wants a reconciliation.'
So that was it; that was why mother looked so down.
' What/' she frowned, 'you mean father actually asked you -'
' No silly, he wants common ground between the pair of you again, says he regrets going off the way he did.'
'Oh he does, does he -' the words were almost spat out as her daughter became all at once more fiery. Dianne took a step back as the dark eyes flashed. Her daughter seemed to have developed a wildcat streak since Martin had left, 'Well it's a bit late for that now, isn't it?' Barbara added with equal vehemence, after what he's done to you - us?' Her voice quietened, her eyes narrowed, 'I'll never associate with him again and you can tell him that the next time he comes crawling back with his tail between his legs - tell him mother or I will.' She turned away then added as an afterthought, 'What's the matter, the tarty bitch thrown him out?'
' Barbara, really !'
* Downstairs and thirty minutes later Barbara was still seething, and her change in mood was easily noticeable to the revellers. The lovely face seemed as unaffected as ever, but her dark eyes had a venom about them when she was upset and such was the forcefulness they emitted that even the sturdiest male would feel apprehensive in her presence.
'Won't you tell me what's bothering you ?' Mark asked coyly as he drew her away towards a corner, 'You've been daggers ever since you came downstairs - won't your mother join us ?'
'Oh it's not that,' her stance softened a little, 'and yes she will shortly, at least for a few minutes -' she watched as Mark lit another cigarette, nervily it seemed. 'Oh look I'd rather not elaborate, but it's wrong of me to take it out on you.' She embraced him fondly, not concerned about impressions, 'You know what they used to call you in college - the girls I mean?'
'I wouldn't have a clue,' he drew on his cigarette and raising his head, exhaled, 'though I doubt that it was
Robert Redford.'
She laughed, her first display of good humour for some time, 'something similar actually, try Paul Newman.
'Really? His faint, fair brows raised in surprise as he returned a smile, ‘know what they used to call you ?'
Her face soured, though he hadn't detected it, she knew what they called her and it wasn't strictly limited to the boys either -
'Go on -'
'Dark Angel -'
‘That's a surprise,’ she muttered under her breath, doing her best to seem amused. The name had come to stick, and she knew how she'd originally acquired it - courtesy of backbiting by a garrulous ex-boyfriend who'd described her as beautiful but volatile, strangely vindictive and potentially explosive.
'You don't seem surprised,' Mark drew on his cigarette.
' I had an idea it was something like that - come on let's join the others - but first –‘ impulsively she grabbed hold of him and he fervently returned her embrace before they both became aware that the volume of the stereo had dropped, in fact silence had descended.
Turning to face the guests in surprise they were confronted by the stony countenance of Dianne Blandford,
'I've told you my dear, not in this house, 'I simply won't have it,' Dianne was struggling to maintain composure and was visibly shaking, 'by your open defiance you're making an exhibition -'
'Mother please,' Barbara said quietly, though the vehemence was building within, 'this is my evening -our evening, let's have it out later if need be.'
The older woman hitched at the full length polka dot she had put on and contracted her eyes, glaring at Mark who held her gaze defiantly. She seemed on the edge of an outburst which could have sealed the fate of the evening, but summoning all her self control, 'Very well, I'll speak to you both later.'
Dianne Blandford stalked away and as she did so it was fortunate she didn't glance back, for her daughter's eyes had developed a fury that was unsurpassed in Tyler's recollection. He held his breath before guiding her outside, into the grounds, now in twilight and illuminated by soft garden lights.
'Dark Angel - I can see why Babs, I thought you were going to tear the place apart -'
'Don't ever call me that again -'
She was glaring at him in the same threatening manner and he shifted uneasily.
'Okay, okay,' he placed his hands on her shoulders, 'now cool it, I don't know what's bugging you but there's more to this than meets the eye. Do what your mother wants, acquiesce with her - we'll work something out.'
'Right.' Barbara breathed deeply, placing her hands on the brickwork enclosing the terrace and slowly the thunderous look left her eyes.
'I've been a real pain haven't I?’ She glanced back at him with a faint smile, 'I love my mother, I love this house, all this -' she extended her arm towards the floodlit grounds, 'but I have to get away from here - we have to, if we're to stay together - if we don't we'll face insurmountable problems -'
He placed his arm around her wide shoulders, 'Look we've both obtained professional qualifications - promising jobs to go to, so perhaps now is the time to take a chance, rent a flat and in time if it all works out buy a place -' he looked at her, his alert blue eyes scanning her face, 'you know you smoulder sometimes like a volcano about to erupt, it's enough to scare the hell out of anyone, but I'll chance that. We won't have a lot of money at first, that's obvious, but it'll come if we work at it, I'm prepared to risk it, are you - what do you say?'
'Yes.'
'Well that's positive,' he took her hand and lead her inside.
What if you were named as heir to a Will that you knew nothing about and members of your family were being kidnapped and tortured for information they didn't have? What if you went to the police only to find out the Russian Mafia and your own govern
Jeff Martin, his friend, Hawk, and his dachshund dog are captured by Osage Indians. Eventually they escape and find their way home. Due to his unusual shape Adolphus is called a Spirit Dog.
