Lavender Hill (8 page)

In the studio, the commercial break finished and Katie reappeared on screen with Jeremy watching her and the rally behind her.

“Katie, we can see the crowd gathered outside Thames House. Have there been any disturbances yet amongst the crowd?” asked Jeremy.

Katie pressed her earphone into her ear so she could hear over the noise of the crowd and Rebecca Hartley.

“No. Jeremy. It’s still peaceful – as before...”

“Well, I don’t think anyone trying to drive through central London would agree that this rally hasn’t caused any problems.” Jeremy laughed towards a camera.

“No, probably not. But they have a right to be heard,” insisted Katie.

“Maybe you should go and join the rally, Katie? You sound like you would fit in with them just fine.” Jeremy laughed mockingly again towards one of the cameras.

Katie looked angrily towards the camera. “You should have more respect towards people that have experienced the Rapture.”

Jeremy turned quickly towards the screen with a look of surprise. His expression then hardened.

“We are a news channel, Ms Sturridge. If you have any reliable sources that can tell us the Rapture is something to do with God and not a natural event, then please, do tell us.”

Katie looked flustered and went quiet for a while. “I didn’t say it was something to do with God, but all the people who’ve experienced the Rapture genuinely feel it’s something real and positive – regardless of where they think it originated from.”

“And how do you know it’s not just all in their minds?”

Katie paused and looked at the camera awkwardly, while cheering and shouting wafted over from the rally.

“Well?” insisted Jeremy aggressively.

Katie thought for a bit more, and then said firmly, “I experienced the Rapture. I don’t know what it was or is, but I experienced it. And like these people here, I believe it was caused by something positive and real.”

Jeremy sat back in his chair and laughed a little. “Well, maybe you should go and join Ms Hartley and her band of religious zealots, Ms Sturridge.”

Katie’s expression hardened and she pointed towards the camera. “You are arrogant and cynical. Whatever the Rapt—”

“We’ve gone to a commercial break, Ms Sturridge. I’m not going to waste my time telling you how unprofessional you’ve been. But to put it simply, you’re fired.”

Katie was about to speak before one of her crew indicated the link to the studio had been cut. She put her hand to her face and stood quietly for a while. She then turned around to look at the crowd outside Thames House. A few tears rolled down her face as she listened to them cheering and shouting.

*****

7:16pm

“You can definitely hear it if you put your ear up against the air vent.”

“Be careful, Jack. You’re going to fall and hurt yourself,” said Amy.

The room Jack and Amy were in looked basic and tidy, like a hotel room. Jack had placed one chair onto another and was trying to reach an air vent placed high on a wall.

He climbed down. “It sounds like cheering and singing with someone speaking through a megaphone as well. It’s what I heard earlier when we were doing the tests and interviews.”

Amy sat down on the bed and waited for Jack to take a seat on one of the chairs. “What do you think all those tests were about?” she asked.

“Well, some of them were personality tests. I’m sure about that because I’ve had to do them before for job interviews.”

“Why would they want to know what personalities we have?”

“I don’t know.”

“What did they ask you in the interview?” said Amy.

“Just what my experience of the Rapture was like, and what I think it means. I had to make up a story, ‘cos they think I’m still living in London.”

“Why don’t you want them to know?”

“I don’t trust them, and I want to find out who this Gabriel Ash is, on my own, when I get back.”

“You think he’s something to do with the Rapture?”

“I’m sure of it. I think we experienced what he experienced when the Rapture occurred, or even that it originated fro—”

The door opened and a smart, serious looking woman entered.

“Hi, I’ve just come down to give you an update. We would like you both to stay overnight. You can have separate rooms. The one next door is free.”

“Do we have a choice?” asked Jack.

“As you were told earlier, we aren’t officially arresting you, but we can request the authority to formally detain you if required.”

“No, then,” said Amy.

The woman looked blankly at Amy and then continued with the same friendly but professional demeanour. “Someone will guard the exit to this section of the building, but you are free to move around as you wish. There is a living room and kitchen area at the other end, and some of the other rooms contain people we’ve also been speaking to. We’ll provide you with any food you want.”

“What do you want with us?” demanded Amy.

The woman smiled. “Someone will come down tomorrow to give you another update. Have a good evening – just tell us if you need anything.” She left the room.

“I’m hungry. Let’s see what food’s in the kitchen,” suggested Jack.

As Jack and Amy walked out of the room, they looked along both sides of the corridor. At one end, a man sat at the exit and he acknowledged them with a measured smile. At the other end, they could see the kitchen. They walked towards it, but as they approached they could hear people talking in the living room. They walked in to find half a dozen people gathered around a television. A young, athletic-looking man glanced towards them as they walked in, which made the others turn around.

“Hi,” said Amy.

“Come in. We’re on the TV,” the young guy said.

Jack and Amy stood behind the group of people and watched the coverage of the rally outside Thames House. A reporter was relating the news that a group of Pointers were being held inside.

“You all Pointers then?” asked Jack.

Yep, yeah, yes came back the responses along with some nods and plenty of smiles.

They watched the news for a few moments before Jack turned to Amy. “Shall we see what food is in the kitchen?”

“You won’t find much,” said the young man. “But they said we could have what we like, so we’re going to order in pizza.”

“That sounds great,” replied Amy.

“One thing they have left is plenty of booze,” said a chubby woman. “So I’m going to have a well deserved glass of wine when the food arrives.”

Jack and Amy took a seat on the floor near the TV and watched the news with the others. They introduced themselves and the other people reciprocated. They discussed the interviews and tests earlier that day, and shared their experiences of the Rapture. Eventually, the food came and they got some drinks from the kitchen. A few hours after meeting the group of people, and during a brief moment when Jack was alone in the kitchen, he realised there was something unusual about the evening. He realised how lost he had become in the moment, in the discussions and interactions. Almost instantly, he had felt comfortable and relaxed in the company of the other Pointers. There was a lot of diversity and individuality in the group, but at some basic level, emotionally and intellectually, he felt an affinity with them. He thought about this for a few moments, smiled to himself, and then went back into the living room.

Over time, the people in the group gradually went to bed. And eventually, Amy turned to Jack and said,

“I’m off now too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jack took a seat on the sofa opposite the TV. The young athletic-looking man walked back into the living room from the kitchen with a beer in his hand and said,

“Everyone’s gone to bed, eh?”

“Yep, everyone’s exhausted.”

The young man sat down on the sofa.

“It’s Jack, isn’t it? I’m Chris by the way, just in case you don’t remember.” He held out his hand.

Jack shook his hand. “Yep, Jack.”

Chris chuckled to himself. “What a crazy day this has been.”

“Yeah, feels like we’re in a movie.”

Chris said, “Your description of the Rapture earlier really resonated for me. Although, I haven’t heard anyone mention the sound yet.”

Jack looked surprised. “You think you know what it is. Why didn’t you say?”

“I suppose I’m being paranoid. I just want to be sure someone isn’t just agreeing with me for the sake of it. Did you hear a sound then?”

“Yes, I’m confident I know what it is.”

Chris laughed. “Well, we’re a bit stuck if neither of us says.”

Jack thought for a moment. “OK, we’ll give each other clues – me first. Did the noise come from an animal, machine or person?”

“Animal – definitely.”

Jack smiled. “OK, I agree. Now your turn.”

“Is it... a flying or walking animal?”

“Walking.”

Chris smiled. “Interesting...”

“Is it a wild animal or domesticated?” asked Jack.

“Domesticated,” replied Chris without any hesitation.

“Right, we’re getting close,” said Jack. “How about after the count of three we’ll say the first letter of the animal?”

“OK.”

“One... two... three.”

“D...” They both laughed.

“This is getting silly,” said Chris with a smile. “Let’s say the name of the animal after three.”

“OK.”

“One... two... three.”

“Dog.” They both laughed again.

“Jack, that’s amazing. You’re the first person I’ve heard say it was a dog.”

“I didn’t realise until I heard a dog barking near my home.”

“Oh, yeah – you’re a local, aren’t you?”

Jack hesitated briefly. “Well, actually, I recently moved to Devon with my family. That’s where I was when I felt the Rapture.”

“Oh, right, it’s nice down that way. I’ve got family over in Cornwall.”

They continued chatting for a while about nothing in particular until Jack realised how tired he felt. He stretched a little before yawning.

“I think I’m going to go to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Chris raised his beer can to him as he got up. Jack then walked back towards the room he was in earlier with Amy. He opened the door slowly, and thinking Amy was asleep, carefully walked over to one of the chairs to collect his overnight bag. Amy turned around in the bed.

“Jack, I’m still awake. Come and speak to me for a while.”

Jack sat on the edge of the bed. “Are you alright? You don’t sound OK?”

“I can’t stop thinking about everything that’s happened – the Rapture, Gabriel Ash, being here. It’s horrible being on my own too.”

“Maybe I can drag a mattress into this room if you want?”

Amy paused. “There’s room for both of us in here.”

Jack was a bit flustered. “Uh, OK – I’ll just get changed.”

Jack put on a t-shirt to wear in bed and then got in next to Amy, who had her back to him. In the dim light of the room he could see the outline of Amy’s body. He felt the warmth coming from it and smelt her perfume. Jack shut his eyes and tried to focus on something else. His mind turned to the conversation with Chris, and he felt annoyed with himself for letting him know he lived in Devon. He had let his guard down after Chris admitted he knew what the sound was from the Rapture, but Chris had been the only person he didn’t feel totally comfortable around.

Amy turned around, and Jack automatically put his arm around her as she faced him. This seemed to encourage Amy to get closer and she laid her head on his chest. After a while, Amy opened her legs a little so Jack could place a leg between them. They lay still, listening to each other’s breathing and feeling the warmth of each other’s bodies. Amy raised her head a little so that their cheeks brushed, and Jack moved his head around so that their lips were nearly touching. They lay still again until they both turned a little more and began to kiss.

*****

8:16am

Jack’s nose twitched a little and his head naturally moved in the direction of the smell. It pulled his mind out of its deep sleep and made his stomach ache. Jack opened his eyes, and thought:
bacon...

He sat up in bed and sniffed the wonderful smell of fried bacon coming from the kitchen. Amy turned around and placed a hand on him.

“Morning,” Jack said.

Amy sniffed the air. “I can smell someone cooking breakfast.”

“Yep, it smells great. Shall we go and eat?”

“I’ll meet you in there. I’ll be a few minutes.”

Jack got dressed and walked down the corridor. Most of the people from the previous evening were in the living room, watching the news and eating their breakfast. They greeted him as he came in, and, while holding her plate up and with her mouth full, the chubby woman said,

“There’s plenty left in the kitchen. Go and help yourself.”

Jack grabbed some breakfast from the kitchen and sat down in the living room to watch the news with the others.

“What’s happening outside?” he asked.

“There’s still a few people from the rally outside, and there’s going to be more later, apparently,” said the chubby woman.

“Any news about what’s gonna happen today?” Jack asked everyone.

Nothing, no, not heard anything, came back the replies.

Jack sat quietly watching the TV. After a while, Amy came in with some breakfast and sat down next to him. Everyone watched the TV in silence, feeling a little strange and apprehensive after the novelty of first arriving had now worn off.

Everyone turned around to look towards the living room door as they heard people talking outside. Eventually, the Tall Man appeared and addressed the group.

“Ladies, gentleman – you’ll be glad to know we are happy for you to leave. We will help those of you that live outside London to get back home.”

“How are we going to avoid the crowds outside when we leave?” asked the chubby woman.

“There are passages that will take you to nearby buildings, so you won’t have to leave through the front door.”

“Underground tunnels,” said someone excitedly.

“Yes,” replied the Tall Man blankly. “Could you all be ready in about twenty minutes, please? We are on a tight schedule.” He then walked off towards the exit.

Everyone finished their breakfast quickly and rushed off to their rooms.

“Where are you going after we’ve left?” asked Amy as she and Jack packed.

“I’m going to quickly go over to my house here and then head back home to Devon. Do you want to come with me?”

“Yes, definitely – we can travel back to Bristol together, so you can pick up your car.”

They both looked around as someone knocked on the door.

“Yes,” said Jack.

The Tall Man entered and closed the door behind him.

“Mr Clarke, I’m afraid we would like you to stay with us for a bit longer.”

“Why?” asked Amy.

“We just want to ask Mr Clarke a few more questions – just routine investigations in relation to the Rapture.”

Jack looked at Amy and then back to the Tall Man.

“Can you ensure she gets back to Bristol OK?”

Amy looked alarmed. “I’m not going to leave you here on your own.”

“You can’t stay here, Ms Stola, and Mr Clarke appreciates he will be expected to remain with us for a little longer.”

“I’ll be OK, Amy.” Jack held out a hand to touch her. “I’ll call you as soon as I’ve left here.”

Amy remained quiet.

“Excellent, could you just stay here while we escort the others away, Mr Clarke.” The Tall Man left the room.

Jack held out his arms and Amy moved in closer to him.

“What do they want with you?” asked Amy.

“I don’t know, but I’m sure it’ll be OK.”

“You’ll contact me as soon as you leave.”

“Yes, course I will.”

They could hear people gathering outside, so Amy collected her things ready to leave. She held Jack one more time before they kissed. The Tall Man looked around the door to indicate it was time to go and Amy walked out while glancing over her shoulder to look at Jack.

Jack walked into the corridor to watch everyone leave. Amy was last and she waved at Jack as she left. The Tall Man ushered everyone out and then stood talking to another agent. After a while, Jack turned around and walked to the living room and sat down. The room felt very empty after the busy and lively events the day before. He switched the TV on and put on the news.

“...it’s clear the Pointers must have vital information about the Rapture...”
said a reporter outside Thames House.

Jack laughed a little to himself and then looked around as the Tall Man entered the room.

“Could you come with us please, Mr Clarke,” he said, with a smile that Jack noticed for the first time never quite reaches his eyes.

*****

12:58pm

“So what are you going to do?” asked Ms Gossip.

“I don’t know. But there’s a lead I’m going to continue investigating,” replied Katie as she stood at her desk collecting her things.

“Did you really feel the Rapture?” asked Ms Giggles.

“Yes,” Katie replied bluntly.

Mary approached the desk. “Katie, can you come over to my office, please.”

Mary walked off and Katie followed. She closed the door behind her as she entered the office.

Mary stood in front of Katie and looked at her for a few moments. “What you did was unprofessional...”

Katie looked awkward and was about to reply, but Mary said, “However, he is cynical and certainly arrogant, so between me and you, well done.” She smiled and held out her hand for Katie to shake.

“Thanks, Mary – thanks.”

“If you need a reference you can ask me, and I wouldn’t worry too much about what’s happened. Jeremy’s got so many enemies in the industry that you’ll probably have plenty of offers.”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Katie walked back into the newsroom. As she approached her desk, she looked up to one of the large screens placed around the office. Jeremy was giving a live broadcast from outside Thames House.

“.
..
the protesters have gathered again in London, without considering the disruption they are causing...”
Jeremy could be heard saying in the background.

“What’s this lead you’re investigating?” asked Ms Gossip innocently as Katie arrived.

“Something I noticed in the data from the Pointers,” replied Katie without much enthusiasm.

“Don’t you think you should tell someone if it’s important?”

Katie looked up at the screen.

“...what do you think you are doing...”
said Jeremy to some protesters as they gathered around him.

Katie looked back to Ms Gossip. “No, I don’t. And maybe you should mind your own business.”

Ms Gossip huffed indignantly and turned to look at the screen, as Jeremy could be heard arguing with the protesters.

“...you’re a bunch of religious zealots who are disrupting the lives of ordinary Londoners...”

“...chuck him in the river...”
shouted someone in the crowd.

This seemed to excite the crowd and they grabbed Jeremy, while laughing and chanting, to throw him in the river.

“...get your hands off me...”
he shouted desperately as the crowd lifted him up.

Katie, and the other reporters who had gathered around the screen, watched open-mouthed as the crowd walked over to the edge of the bridge.

“Surely they’re not going to do it,” said Ms Gossip, while Ms Giggles held her hand tightly over her mouth to smother her laughter.

Everyone watched as the crowd reached the edge of the bridge and then tipped Jeremy over the side. Jeremy’s scream could be heard becoming increasingly distant before it was abruptly stopped by a splash of water. The camera quickly pointed over the side of the bridge to reveal Jeremy floating down the River Thames with a furious red face and shouting abuse at the protesters.

The newsroom went unusually quiet as people looked at each other in shock. Then, spontaneously, everyone began to cheer and clap.

Katie grabbed a bag full of her things and walked towards the exit of the newsroom. Just before leaving, she turned to look at the reporters as they watched Jeremy on the TV. She smiled and then continued out the door.

*****

2:02pm

Jack stood up quickly as he heard the door being opened.

The Tall Man entered. “Mr Clarke, sorry for keeping you waiting so long. As you can appreciate, we have lots to keep us active at the moment.”

“Why am I still being held? When can I go?”

“We would like you to stay with us for a few more days, Mr Clarke. I’ll escort you to your house in Notting Hill so you can collect some things, clothes, etc.”

Jack considered arguing, but then said, “OK, when are we going?”

“We can leave now.”

Jack grabbed his bag and followed the Tall Man through the corridors of the hidden building under Thames House. After riding in an elevator, they walked into a courtyard where a car was waiting for them.

*

Jack observed the street life of London as they drove to his house. It was a bright spring day and people sat outside cafes chatting, doing business, reading newspapers or just people watching. Jack felt home sick for London as he observed its buzz and energy, and he remembered the good times there with Sarah and the kids. These thoughts naturally lead him to start thinking about their move to Devon, and his subsequent experience of the Rapture. As he thought about the Rapture, the sights and sounds of London became smothered by those of the Rapture, and the intense feeling of hope and understanding filled his mind. He suddenly focused on Gabriel Ash and felt the urge to escape from the government agents so he could travel back to Devon.

“I’ll escort you to your home and wait for you inside,” instructed the Tall Man as they approached Jack’s house.

Jack stared ahead without responding.

“Mr Clarke?” asked the Tall Man, and placed a hand on his arm.

Jack jumped out of his trance. “Sorry, yes – OK.”

They left the car and walked towards Jack’s house. As they approached it, his neighbour’s dog walked towards them. The memory of the Rapture was still in Jack’s mind and he began to think about Gabriel Ash’s dog barking, which seemed incredibly intense and real. The neighbour’s dog started to snarl and show its teeth at Jack, and he immediately understood it was reacting to his memories as if they were real. As the dog in Jack’s imagination barked, Jack felt the urge to silently mouth this action towards the neighbour’s dog – sensing that its reaction would distract the Tall Man. Jack silently opened and closed his mouth, and the dog became intensely aggressive as if it was being attacked. It ran towards Jack, which made the Tall Man jump in front of him to grab it.

Jack stood back as the Tall Man fought with the dog. The agent who had been waiting in the car ran towards them and tried to help the Tall Man control the dog. The intensity of the dog’s attack caused the two agents to ignore Jack, and he quietly stepped back away from them. He paused for a moment before turning around to run up the road. Jack ran without looking back and while expecting to be grabbed, but no one followed him. He continued running until he came to a crowded street and then slowed to a normal walking pace. After a while, he looked back to see the two agents appear in the distance behind him but without seeing him in the crowd. He quickly walked into a nearby bookshop and stood behind a bookshelf, carefully watching through the window. As the two agents quickly walked past the bookshop, Jack moved out of sight. He waited a short while before looking outside and then quickly walked in the opposite direction.

Jack jumped onto a bus heading for Waterloo train station. He knew exactly what to do next. Travel to Devon, and make his way to Gabriel Ash’s house.

*****

6:07pm

“He escaped your custody because of a dog,” said Sir Jeffrey, peering over his glasses.

The Tall Man and a collection of other agents sat around a table.

“It was a... uh... very large, and... vicious dog, sir,” replied the Tall Man, looking decidedly less tall.

“I was under the impression you were large and vicious, Agent Jones.”

The Tall Man fidgeted in his seat.

“Well, why was this gentleman so important to this investigation, anyway?” asked Sir Jeffrey.

“He had the highest score in the tests we conducted, sir, and he was lying about the location where he experienced the Rapture. He told Agent Sutton he has another house in Devon.” The Tall Man indicated towards Agent Chris Sutton, the young man who had portrayed himself as a Pointer the previous evening.