The Silent Deceivers

Chapter 22

Finding the letter

We tricked Luke into another game of hide and seek. This time he was hiding and we were ‘counting’. We were never actually going to find him but it managed to get him out the way. We moved out of my bedroom into the quite room as we knew no-one would come in so we wouldn’t be disturbed. By the time we’d got there I’d managed to pull myself together.

“What are we going to do?” I asked.

“I don’t know, we need more evidence that’s for sure, and we need to copy and hide the evidence we have.” Roxy said.

“But how are we going to do that? Connor took the bloody hoodie!” I reminded her. 

“We need to get it back!” She thought aloud, “and I know how. You.”

“Me?” I said surprised.

“Yeah, you need to go round his house, find it and then leave, as soon as possible.” Roxy went on. “While you do that, I’ll make a few copies of the tape! Deal?”

“Yeah okay deal but how am I meant too….” I started.

The door swung open and Lisa stood in the door way, once again we were sent to the office. To be quite honest the office was becoming my second bedroom, I was in it way too often for my liking. Roxy and I got up and went to the office where Luke was sitting on Andy’s desk in tears. After explaining that actually we were about to go and find him, we just counted really slowly and if he wanted we would start again. Luke forgave us, and said he going to get ice cream  with Andy so would play again later but Lisa always had to overreact and act tough so we had to be nice to Luke and play with him whenever he wanted to for the next week, no matter what we might be doing. We agreed willingly knowing we owed it to Luke but I still couldn’t see why she always had to play the part of the big bad wolf.   

Finally escaping from the office, Roxy and I went our separate ways, vowing to speak later and to call if any developments were made. I headed out the back door on route to the gang’s meeting place praying Connor would be there. On the way there my mind was whirling like a hurricane, I didn’t know how to tackle the situation. I decided in the end my only option was to apologise, and take things from there. When I walked into the clearing, it was empty, he wasn’t there. Racking my brains for where he might me I decided my next port of call was the weapon sheds and Aden’s cabin.  I headed in the direction of the sheds but stopped short as my phone vibrated. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw that Roxy had texted saying she’d made a copy and hidden it and that she was now back playing hide and seek with Luke. I laughed and pushed my phone back into my pocket, making a mental note to reply later with some news. As I looked up, I saw Aden approaching the sheds from the other direction. He was clutching a Marks and Spencer’s carrier bag in his right hand and his phone was in his left raised to his ear. He looked over his shoulder, then back to ground only to look over his shoulder once again a few seconds later. I was about to call out to him, but I stopped myself; something told me he didn’t want to be seen. I quickly darted behind some nearby trees, and pulled my hood over my head so my blonde hair wouldn’t be visible. I crouched down lower to the floor, thinking somehow that would help me but all it did was give me back ache so I returned to standing. Aden was now in front of the trees. He voice was clear, and I could hear every word that he was saying.

“No, no, I’m here alone, there’s no one around.” Aden spoke into his phone. “Yes I’m sure!”

I smirked.

Ha Ha Ha sucker!

“I’m putting it in the weapon shed. It’s in the M&S carrier bag. It’s green you idiot.” He continued. “Inside the second lantern!” Yes I’ll make sure it’s well hidden. Connor I’m not the idiot here you are for fucks sake. You almost told her. When are you coming to get it? No wait a bit longer say half hour. ”

As he moved towards the weapon shed, his voice became muffled and the words became unclear. He placed the carrier bag on the floor as he unlocked the door. Then looking over his shoulder one last time he went into the shed and shut the door behind him. I stood there watching, waiting for him to reappear and sure enough five minutes later he emerged from the shed, carrier bag gone. He looked around before locking the door and walked around the shed and disappeared the same way he came. Even after I saw him walk down the trail towards the road, I still didn’t dare to breathe. Suddenly there was a rustle in the bushes beside me, my heart leapt to my throat and I jumped in fright. Then I heard the flapping of wings and I looked up to find a woodpigeon flying off deeper into the woods. I breathed a sigh of relief. I came out of my undetected hiding place, I looked around cautiously and after deciding it was safe I walked across to the weapon shed cursing the bloody woodpigeon under my breath. I had to find out what he was hiding. As I reached the she, I looked at the lock, there was no way I was going to be able to pick or force the door open. My mind thought fast, turning like clockwork, trying to find a solution. I looked round at the side of the shed and the light bulb came on. The window. Sticking close the side of the shed like glue, I creeped to the window. From the side on I could see it hadn’t been closed properly. My heart started to beat fast as I tugged the window open fully. I doubted whether I was going to fit through the tiny opening but I had to try. Looking around, searching for movement, praying I wasn’t going to get caught. I hoisted myself up and pulled myself through the window. I landed with a thud on the floor, but I didn’t care. I was in. I stood up and dusted myself off. Pulling the window closed again to make sure I wasn’t found, I began to look for the lanterns. Halfway through neatly searching the shed, which was much bigger than I remembered, panic struck me. Connor was coming in half an hour. I looked at my watch, ten minutes to go. I hurriedly searched the rest of the shed, finding the lanterns in the last place I looked, I pulled open the lantern door and lifted the carrier bag out of it. I shut the door and went to the window. I looked out and as far as I could tell the coast was clear, I pushed the window and sat myself on the table beneath it. Just as I was about to climb back out of the window, something caught my eye. I turned and looked more closely. Hidden behind a chest of drawers was a screwed up piece of paper. Intrigued I jumped down off the table and fished it out. Then I smoothed it out on the table to find it was an envelope. It was an envelope with my name on it. It was an envelope with my name on it in David’s handwriting. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. From outside I heard whistling and it was getting nearer. I quickly stuffed the letter in my pocket, ducked down next to the chest of drawers and held my breath. I waited until the whistling was faint before daring to pop up again, I looked cautiously left and right and breathed a heavy sigh of relief when the coast was clear. I picked up the carrier bag for what I hoped was the last time and for the second time I sat myself on the table and this time pulled myself out of the window, having to a handstand to land it.  Recovering, I regained my balance and then ran over to the window, pushed it shut and legged it across the field towards Oakley.