Mandy smiled tearfully as she looked at her two daughters who were now playing the part of ‘mum’ to her. They all called each other chuck, it was one of those little things that over the years had been said countless times and became something of a family joke. Hello chuck, how was your day?’ Had a good day at work chuck? Had a good day at school chuck?  What do you fancy for your dinner chuck? She watched her two children as they busied themselves and she picked up the phone again, this time to speak to her own Mum.

Mandy’s Mum was just as perceptive as her daughter and picked up on the strained tone of voice instantly.

‘What is it Mandy? Is it the kids, are they alright, are they sick love?’

‘They’re fine mum. I can’t explain over the phone but I need you to come round right away and take them to school for me.’

She knew it wasn’t the right time to start asking questions. ‘Five minutes love, just give me five minutes. Leave the door open Okay?’

There were times when having her mum just five minutes away in the next road was a bit of a nuisance as she would pop in without notice or warning. Occasionally, she would call when Dave and Mandy were having a bit of a tiff, and she would walk up the hallway to hear her daughter telling her precious Son in Law, exactly what she thought of him. Her mum always sided with Dave and wouldn’t hear a word said against him. He was the Son that she never had and although she loved her only daughter dearly, Dave was the nicest, most loving Son in Law (as he always told her) that she could ever wish to have.

‘Amanda Jenkinson, (Mandy’s mum always used her maiden name and full title when telling her daughter off) how on earth can you say such a thing. You’re lucky to have that lad. You leave him alone. Do you hear me? Best thing that ever happened to you my girl?’

Dave would always playfully stand behind his Mum in a sheltering sort of way.

‘You just listen to your mum, aren’t I always telling you what a lovely woman she is?’ He would really play to the gallery, with his mock hurt and tone of fear. ‘You don’t know what it’s like Mum,’ as he tugged at his mum in law’s skirt, ‘she beats me. Whenever you or the kids aren’t here to protect me, she beats me and I just have to take it. Even in the summer mum, I have to wear long sleeve shirts, just to hide all the bruises. Oh the pain mum, the humiliation of it all!’

About this time he would slump to the floor and wink at Mandy, who would also now start to smile, as he grovelled along the floor and grasped onto his wife’s shoe, kissing her ankle and protesting loudly, ‘Please Mandy, no more. I can’t take any more,’ as everyone would dissolve into heaps of laughter.

The loud bang on the front door brought her back to the present and she realised that she was still sitting on the telephone stool. She struggled to get to her feet as her legs were still unsteady. She hoped it was her Mum and not Bob Chambers. If the kids saw ‘uncle Bob’, they would know that their mums illness was somewhat contrived. As she opened the door, she was relieved to see her mum standing on the step.

Linda knew the instant she saw her daughter that something serious was amiss. She was deathly white and could hardly talk.

As soon as she saw her mum, she began to sob as quietly as she could. She wanted to protect her girls for as long as possible.

‘It’s Dave Mum. Something’s happened. He’s been kidnapped.’

‘Here you are Mum. Tea and Toast. Hello Nana. Be ready in a minute,’ came the sing song voices from behind as she slumped back down in the telephone chair.

‘Hello my little cherubs,’ said Nana, hoping her voice didn’t crack with emotion, ‘take your mums tea and toast in the lounge and she’ll be with you in a minute. I’ve got the car outside.’

‘Thank you nana chuck,’ said Sophie as she bounced up the hall to get her coat.

‘Dave’s Sergeant, Bob Chambers, phoned just before I spoke to you Mum. He’s on his way round. Take the kids quickly before he gets here and I’ll speak with you properly when you get back. I can’t tell you any more mum, I don’t know fully what’s happened yet.’

‘Right you little horrors, in that car now, or I’ll box your flippin ears,’ and she made a playful grab for her darling grandchildren, hoping that they couldn’t see her tear filled eyes as they gathered their coats and bags still blissfully unaware of Dads predicament, and dashed for the door.

‘I’m telling you Sophie, it’s my turn in the front, even though its Nana’s car, you hear me?’

‘It’s my turn, it’s my turn,’ mimicked Sophie as she reached the car and opened the back door to climb in. ‘Me, me, me, that’s all you think about,’ she said, as she clambered onto the back seat.

Linda smiled at Mandy. ‘If they’re bickering love, they’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. Just give me twenty minutes love.’

As the door closed behind her, Mandy broke down and the flood gates opened. She cried and sobbed in a way that she hadn’t done for a long, long time. She instinctively knew that her hubby was in pain and she wanted to be with him. She didn’t know how long she had been sitting there when the doorbell rang. She opened it to find Bob Chambers on the doorstep and they both smiled weakly at each other.

‘Come in Bob,’ she said. ‘I put the kettle on before, but I can’t think straight. I sat on the telephone chair and my legs wouldn’t work. I just couldn’t get up out of the chair.’

‘So I guess that’s me making the tea and toast then? Hope you don’t mind, I only do burnt.’ said Bob.

He knew she was hurting deeply and he hoped that his efforts at humour were able to lighten the load a little. She wiped away a few more tears and started to collect her thoughts a bit more.

‘Please Bob; don’t try to protect me in any way. I need to know the full details.’

‘I won’t pretend its not serious love. It is. But you know Dave, he’s a strong lad; bags of character and he loves you lot to bits. If any one can come through this in one piece, he can.’

He instantly bit his lip when he said, one piece, as he recalled hearing Dave’s cries over the radio when the gunman shattered his finger. Dave would never be in one piece ever again but he wasn’t about to tell Mandy the full circumstances as it would do her more harm than good at this time. He knew how evil Johnson was and only time would tell whether or not his young friend and colleague would make it through the day.

‘Sit there sweetheart and I’ll sort us out with a big hot cup of tea. Two sugars, is that right?’

Chapter 12

Dave was beginning to get his second wind as his blood sugar levels increased with the food and water and the painkillers began to ease his suffering. He started to think more clearly and tried desperately to figure out some way that he could get out of his predicament. He was still sitting on the floor. He knew better than to eyeball Johnson, but he tried to look around for a weapon or something he could use to overpower his captor. He dismissed his thoughts very quickly. He knew it would be suicide. He wouldn’t be able to launch himself quickly enough off the floor. His legs definitely felt a bit stronger but his left hand was almost useless. He couldn’t open his fist at all because he had bound it quite tight with the bandage earlier in an effort to stem the blood. That meant that in effect, he only had his right hand to grab or strike with. Again, with the damage to his right shoulder as a result of the earlier blast his movements would be slow and painful.

What if I leant hard on the door handle, would it open? He thought to himself. Maybe I could fall out and roll under the lorry, firearms teams might be able to take him out? He knew he was too weak to do any of these things and he was just grasping at straws. Johnson was a madman, of that he was not in doubt but he was still very aware of the circumstances around him and his reactions were sharp. Dave would die before his feet hit the ground. His thoughts were interrupted.