There are only ten more chapters to go after this one so there is not a lot of time left to do the two things I've been asking readers to do all through the previous chapters
-
Let Nifty know how much you appreciate being able to access the site free of charge by giving them a donation to help meet the costs of this site. Just click on the donate button and follow the instructions.
-
Write to me to let me know what you think of my story. Good or bad I enjoy seeing readers comments on my story. It is the only pay we get for our stories so that makes your comments mch more valuable to us. Write to me at isuccum@protonmail.ch
Now read on and enjoy.
Started at the Bus Stop Chapter 45
Eventually they all did get a cup of tea from Mavis, along with some biscuits that had not been discovered by the men searching the house. As she served the tea, she spoke to John. "They've helped themselves to all the bread and the cold meats we had in the fridge. They've nearly used up all the milk, along with half a bottle of instant coffee and a lot of sugar, several packets of biscuits, and I'm not sure what else. In my book, it's outright theft!" That Mavis was upset was not in dispute.
"I'm sorry this has upset you so much, Mavis. I can assure you that with permission I am going to take these guys to the cleaners. I've seen this happen time and time again, but I've not been able to get enough evidence to be able to do much. This time we have bucket loads, and I'm going to use it to the best advantage," John reassured Mavis.
Turning to Grace and Elliot, he explained what he knew and what he thought he should do. He also said he was going to work this case, if they gave him the go-ahead, without charging them as he fully expected to be able get his expenses covered through the claim that would be lodged against the others. "They're not going to be able to touch you guys for some time because of their failures, and I'll be getting a judge to subpoena their interviews with you all."
John headed back to his office to get moving on the case. He was really excited to have a solid base on which to build the case.
He had not been gone long when Adam and his three children arrived at the door. Percy had called William and told him what was happening as soon as he picked his phone out of the pile of returned electronics. He did have to put it on charge, but they had not actually begun to look at the phones or computers.
After greeting everyone, William moved over to the pile of CD's and videos and began sorting them, commenting that they might at least have put them back neatly.
"They've trashed the whole house," Percy said. "It's going to take me ages just to get my room right. Mum and Dad's studies are awful, and you should have seen the kitchen."
"Can we help in any way?" Juliet asked.
"I think we need to do our studies ourselves, and I'm sure that Mavis will have just about finished sorting the kitchen out. Thank you for your offer, but I doubt there is much that can be done now. I'm not even going into my office until tomorrow. I've hardly slept since we were woken up yesterday morning," Grace said.
"I think they need some time to talk all of this over, so we will be going shortly. I would offer to get in some food for you for tonight, but I think I might get panned by Mavis if I did. I have taken the rest of the week off, so if there is anything I can do, just give me a call," Adam told them.
"Thank you, Adam. Just giving Percy some comfort and a place to sleep last night was more than we could ask," Grace said.
Throughout the whole time Elliot had just sat slumped in the chair with his face down, staring at the same spot in the carpet. He had not said a word; even when the Chestertons got up to leave, he didn't lift his head or say anything.
When the three of them were alone at last, Elliot looked at his wife and his son. "I'm sorry I got you into this. I'll pack a bag and move out so that you're not put through it again."
"What do you mean, Dad? What have you done?" Percy asked.
"I've been really stupid. I did something that gave another country the power to blackmail me into passing them some sensitive information. I expect that as soon as these guys get their ducks into a row we will be raided again, and this time no lawyer will be able to turn it around," Elliot said.
"Why didn't you tell us? Maybe we could've helped you," Grace said.
"I was too ashamed of what I did. I think they put drugs in my drink, but they've got pictures and video with sound recording. I just couldn't face admitting it to anyone."
"But surely if they've got that sort of stuff, then it clearly was a set-up. If you'd come straight to us about it, I think we would forgive you. But to sell out your own country just to save face, that I'm going to really struggle with," Grace said.
"I'm going to sort out my room," Percy said. He got up and left, unsure of just how he felt about what his father had revealed.
"I'll call you when supper is ready," Grace said as he walked out.
By the time Mavis had got the meal ready, Percy had just about finished putting his room to rights, pleased not to find anything else missing. Their meal was eaten in relative silence; afterwards Percy returned to his room to finish sorting it and to get his uniform ready for school. He had decided that he couldn't stay at home to be torn apart by all the thoughts which were going around in his head. He felt school would at least provide some distraction. Before getting into bed he phoned William and told him he would meet him to walk to school the next morning. They talked for a while before assuring each other of their love. Percy fired up his laptop and found some material to help him get his release before going to sleep
Wednesday dawned before anyone in either of the households was up. Percy was the first up in their home, about an hour after the sun, as he had got more sleep than either of his parents in the last forty-eight hours. He took care of his immediate need and then got out of bed to take care of another pressure. While there, he brushed his teeth and washed up. Back in his room, he pulled on his uniform and headed downstairs to get some breakfast before going to meet up with William and Juliet. He was glad to be getting back to some semblance of normal. At least he had something different to think about, to take his mind off the questions that were plaguing him concerning his father.
As they were walking Percy asked, "What do the others know about this?"
"Nothing really. I told them that there was some sort of emergency with your father and left it at that. They know that there's been some issues with him, so I thought that would keep them from asking too much," William said.
"Thank you. I still don't know exactly what it's all about, so I'd prefer it if we could keep it all to ourselves. All I know is, it was probably what caused the change in my dad, and I don't suppose it's over yet."
"Don't worry. Even though it would make some nice juicy gossip, I'll not be saying anything," Juliet said.
"What would you like us to say? I think we need to have our stories match yours," William said.
"I think let's just stick with there were some problems with my father and we're hoping that they're sorted now," Percy said.
"Okay. That won't keep the nosey parkers happy, but it's all they'll get," William said.
By the time the three got to school, Grace had got up and phoned the school to explain Percy's absence for two days and got the head teacher's agreement to keep what she had told him confidential.
With there being no real story to get their teeth into, Percy's classmates soon dropped the subject. By the end of the day his absence was all but forgotten.
Grace and Elliot returned to their jobs. Grace immediately went to her manager and explained what had happened and why she had been unable to get a message to him. Her boss allowed her to take the two days as leave and made no further mention of it.
On Friday, Elliot returned to his office after lunch and complained that he wasn't feeling well. Half an hour later he collapsed in his office, but as he worked alone in the room he was not discovered for over an hour. When he was found, the paramedics were called and he was rushed to hospital, but it was too late; he passed away before Grace and Percy could get there to see him. An autopsy revealed he had been poisoned. Grace suggested to Percy that it was probably done by the blackmailers to prevent him being forced to reveal who they were.
When they got home from the hospital, Adam and William were waiting for them and invited them to have supper with them. Adam suggested that they might want to stay overnight rather than spending the night in their own home. The kindness and sympathy being shown by Adam and William was enough to break Grace's resolve, and she burst into tears. Adam quickly stepped forward and pulled her into a hug and just held her while she regained control. William pulled Percy into a hug also, as he could see that Percy was not far behind his mother. He gave his boyfriend a squeeze and whispered in his ear, "Go on and cry if you can. It'll be better." Percy did shudder a few times and tears did roll down his cheeks, but he didn't start crying. His emotions were in too much turmoil to allow for it.
Grace and Percy did accept the offer of a meal and a night away from their home. Even though Percy shared a bed with William and they were both naked, they didn't enjoy any release. Percy was too wound up from all that he had been through. William was sensitive enough to know that there is a time and season for everything.
A few days after Eliot's death, uniformed police came, along with C.I.D. inspectors, and asked for permission to look at Elliot's computer and phone in an attempt to find some link that would lead them to his killers. Grace allowed them in and showed them to Elliot's study. Out of earshot of Percy, she told them what Elliot had confessed to her about his sordid affair and the blackmail. These officers were a lot more compassionate and circumspect and quietly set about their task in Elliot's study.
About an hour later they asked to be allowed to take his computer away for analysing and assured Grace that it would be returned, but that they needed an IT expert to work on it. Grace gave them permission. They gave her a receipt, took the computer and left. When Grace went back into the study she saw they had left it as neat and tidy as it had been when they entered.
Elliot's body was released two weeks later. Grace and Percy had agreed that they would have a small service at the funeral parlour's chapel with a private cremation. They didn't think it would be fitting to have something lavish for a traitor to the country. They notified a few friends who had expressed a wish to attend and also informed some of his work colleagues. It was a cold, grey, dismal afternoon when a total of fourteen people sat in the chapel to hear the vicar give a homily extolling the virtues of honest living which he said he was sure described Elliot's life. The vicar had not even visited the family to learn anything of the deceased. He just accepted the fee paid to him through the undertakers and rambled on for a quarter of an hour about someone he had never met. As ridiculous as the service was, it did give Grace and Percy some closure and help them with their grieving. Adam and William had attended solely to be a support for Grace and Percy. Later Percy told William that it had been a comfort just knowing that he was there and that he loved him.
The funeral did allow Percy to get back into his normal life again. Despite everything he did still love his father, and the grieving process would have to work its way. But with his father's body cremated and the ashes scattered, Percy was able to start healing and continue his exploration with his boyfriend. Their love deepened and grew, to the extent that it was almost impossible to hide it from people who knew them. Although they never officially came out at school, it was generally agreed that they must be a couple, and for the most part this was accepted. There were, surprisingly, very few nasty comments made, and no one made a point of avoiding them.
Through it all, Daniel waited patiently. He expressed his sympathy when he learnt that Percy's father had died and this might have helped him to wait. But Percy and William had not forgotten his request.
Three weeks after Elliot's funeral they approached Daniel at school, and the three of them went off to a secluded area where they could talk privately.