Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ A Matter Of Choice ❯ Time to Run ( Chapter 22 )

Time to Run

 

The next day Lynn and Tegan sat at the kitchen table in silence. Neither had slept well and looked as tired as they felt. Their eyes were bloodshot from crying. Tegan sighed, not wanting to speak, but knowing what had to be said.

 

“I have to get away.” She whispered.

 

“I know.” Lynn replied just as quietly.

 

“It has to be today. He might come for me tonight and if he finds me here…” Her voice faded to nothing, she couldn't bring herself to voice what might happen to her if she stayed. It was too much and fresh tears threatened to fall.

 

“Don't worry.” Her aunt soothed aware of her niece's concerns. She also knew that it would be what her husband would have wanted. “He won't. I'll drive you to the airport this afternoon. If you leave too soon after he died you may end up a suspect. Then you'll have another set of troubles to overcome.”

 

“As if I haven't got enough already.” Tegan commented bitterly.

 

“The police might turn up this morning. Somehow I'm going to have to behave like I don't know.” Tegan heard the pain in her aunt's voice and put her own problems to one side for a moment.

 

She took her Aunt's hand, trying to comfort her as Lynn fought back fresh tears.

 

“I hate to ask but is his stuff where I left it.” She questioned, realising what she had to do for both their sakes.

 

Lynn nodded, trying to maintain control of her emotions.

 

“I'll go hide it. It won't look good if they see it when they arrive.”

 

“It might not be today.”

 

“I know, but we still need to get this right.”

 

Tegan did what needed to be done, placing his things safely in a box in a closet, where Lynn could retrieve them should she want to later, heading to her room after. She took everything out of her backpack. It was almost as big as her, she had joked with Stuart, the memory of his smile and laughter tugging at her heart for a moment. Shaking the feeling away before it overwhelmed her she prioritised everything she would need, making sure that only once that had been packed that she took extra clothes but no none essential belongings. She would not be taking any of her treasured possessions with her. No jewellery, no books, nothing that could be stolen. The contents of her bag seemed so soulless, nothing that said anything about who she was, just mere necessity.

 

Everything repacked she hauled the bag off the bed and headed downstairs. She placed it by the back door. She wasn't worried about how it would look. Everyone who knew her had known that she would be leaving for some time, and the police would be able to find nothing suspicious there. It was now a case of waiting. Lynn's idea of going this afternoon was pertinent; she could get a night flight and be rested when she got to her destination, meaning she would be able to carry on travelling when she arrived.

 

She made the two of them breakfast n autopilot though neither was hungry, but they both needed it anyway. They both picked at their food in silence, all words seeming to turn to ashes in their mouths before they were spoken. The time seemed to stretch out forever, the clock almost frozen. The waiting was agony, but then it was always going to be, even if Stuart was still here. They jumped as the doorbell rang. She squeezed Lynn's hand reassuringly and they both took a moment to compose themselves. They both stood, Tegan went to be the one who opened the door, closing down her expression, forcing herself to look as normal as she could. She managed to look surprised to see the police, two officers standing tall on the doorstep.

 

“Oh. Um, what can I do for you?” She tried to sound shocked.

 

“Good morning miss. We are looking for Mrs Lynn Moores.” The male of the pair asked gently.

 

“My aunt. You'd best come in, but I warn you she's a little fragile this morning.” She confided softly.

 

The officers raised their eyebrows at her questioningly as she closed the door behind them.

 

“Well, my uncle didn't come home last night.” She looked away for a moment, rubbing at her arm in a good expression of concern. “He's been out all hours of the night for a while and… well she suspects he's been… well you know.”

 

They nodded sympathetically.

 

“Lynn.” She called, leading the officers into the lounge.

 

Lynn stood and managed to look shocked Tegan noted with pride.

 

“Please sit down, won't you. Can we get you anything, something to drink perhaps?” She invited, hostess to the end.

 

“No thank you. I'm PC Whitman and this is WPC Calor. You had best sit down Mrs Moores.”

 

The three sat Tegan leaning gently against the doorframe, awaiting a cue. Silence fell in the room and it was Lynn who broke it.

 

“It's about Stuart isn't it?” She asked her voice trembling. “He didn't come home last night, and now you're here. Something's happened to him hasn't it?”

 

“Mrs Moores. I'm afraid your husband's body was found a few hours ago.”

 

It was at that moment Lynn lost control and burst into tears. Tegan rushed to her, putting her arms around her. They knew it was coming but it did not make this any easier for either of them. She held her aunt tightly as she had done the night before, the contact a comfort to them both.

 

“No.” Lynn whispered. “No!” Having the officers here brought all her pain out in a rush of emotion.

 

“How?” Tegan asked while focusing on her aunt. If she looked them in the eye she didn't think she could hold the carefully constructed façade together.

 

“We are not sure. We are going to have to take him for a post mortem.” WPC Calor replied. “I'm a family liaison officer and I will be here to guide you through this. It is good that you won't be on your own.”

 

“But Tegan, your trip?” Lynn looked to her niece, concern in her eyes.

 

“I'll leave it a while.” God the two were playing out this scenario for all it was worth and yet the grief was all too real.

 

“Trip?” PC Whitman asked sternly.

 

“I've been planning to go backpacking for the last three months. I'm supposed to leave today.” Tegan explained, not meeting his eyes.

 

“I can't let you stay, he wouldn't have wanted that.” Lynn murmured, her voice breaking with emotion.

 

“Shh!” Tegan said genuinely, her own tears running down her cheeks quietly. It was no act; she just couldn't hold them back.

 

She held Lynn tight, begging her silently not to say anything. She was struggling to keep the façade together. Suddenly her aunt pulled herself up straight wiping away her tears.

 

“No Tegan.” She stated sharply. “You are going. That's what you had planned and he helped you to arrange so you are going.”

 

“But…”

 

“No buts.” Lynn's tone was commanding. “I'll go to my sister's as soon as I have dealt with things here.”

 

“The funeral?” Asking what needed to be asked, feeling a stab of shame that she would not be there at her aunt's side.

 

Lynn sagged. As they got closer to what were real issues it was becoming harder, not easier.

 

“We'll work out something. You've got that fancy laptop, and one of my nephews is a computer whiz. I know he'd rather you were doing what you'd planned to. He spent so much time arranging it all with you.”

 

Tegan nodded, crying quietly, the tightness in her throat robbing her of the ability to speak.

 

“Its not going to be a problem if she goes is it?” She asked the officers.

 

“I shouldn't think so.” The WPC replied smiling softly.

 

“Go on, go sort out your things.”

 

Tegan stood, still crying a little and went to the kitchen. She picked up her passport which had lain on the table since her last conversation with her uncle. She slid it inside one of the pockets of her backpack. Staring at her bag and knowing that this was really it suddenly brought everything to the surface and she broke down. She leant against the worktop sobbing uncontrollably, unable to hold back her cries of grief, the WPC coming in when she heard her. Tegan felt the hand on her shoulder but didn't respond. She genuinely didn't have it in her. She allowed herself to be led to the table, and by some miracle a mug of tea appeared in front of her. Lynn and the other officer joined them and they began to talk about what needed to be done.

 

* * * * *

 

The officers and finally left and the two sat numb, their tears at an end. Yet there was more to come. Somehow time had moved on despite its seemingly crawling pace and it was three in the afternoon. They looked at each other and knew it was time. Tegan got up squeezing Lynn's shoulder as she passed and got her coat. It would be light enough for the summer nights that would soon be here. Still she wouldn't find out where she was going till they got to the airport, it might be cold where she was going. Hence she had packed some sweaters.

 

Putting her jacket on, she closed her eyes and tried not to think about what would be hunting her. Lynn was waiting car keys in hand, the two hugging each other tight. She hated to leave her aunt at a time like this but she was in danger every moment she spent here, and they both knew that this is what Stuart would want - her at a distance from her hunter. She heaved up the bag sighing heavily. This was the last time she would see this house. Smiling tightly at her aunt and they left the house, Tegan loading the bag into the car. She would barely remember the drive to the airport, her mind elsewhere, both preferring the silence.

 

When she got out of the car she felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She took her aunt's hand the two walking into departures their fingers entwined, both desperate for this intimacy, this last connection. Lynn waited as Tegan approached the ticket desk.

 

“What can I do for you?” The attendant asked brightly.

 

“I want a one way ticket for as far away as possible on a plane that leaves in the next few hours.” She managed to stated calmly.

 

The attendant smiled, looking at the bag on her back.

 

“Going backpacking?”

 

“Yeah.” Tegan smiled wryly.

 

“Seeing where the wind takes you?”

 

“Something like that.” Tegan agreed, not letting the bitterness she felt reach her tone.

 

“Let's see what we can find for you.”

 

* * * * *

 

Tegan returned passport and ticket in hand.

 

“All sorted then?” Lynn asked with resignation.

 

“Yeah, I've got to go and check in now, the desk closes in half an hour. The flight is around two and half hours away.”

 

“So this is goodbye.”

 

“You could come and see me off before I go through to departures…” Tegan began, half wishing for the company, but half wishing for solitude.

 

“But there wouldn't be much point would there?” Lynn said stoically.

 

“No.” Tegan agreed looking at the floor. “No point in prolonging it.”

 

Tearfully they wrapped their arms round each other, holding each other tight.

 

“You take care of yourself you hear?” Lynn commanded. “And don't worry about me. Stuart will have made sure that I am provided for. I will make sure what's coming to you gets sent on.”

 

“Thanks. I might not be able to keep in touch, but I'll try.”

 

“I know. I won't worry if I don't here from you, though try and drop me a postcard now and again.” The two released, Tegan smiling as best as she could.

 

Lynn took her face in her hands and kissed her cheek hard. Tegan smiled tightly. There were no more words that they could say. With great effort she turned and walked away. Lynn watching her go until she was almost lost in the crowds at check in. They both fought tears, Tegan unable to go without looking back once more. It would be the last they ever saw of each other.

 

***************************************************************** **********************************

 

Author's Notes:

Okay another short chapter and I know it doesn't go anywhere, but at the end of the day this is real life, I couldn't just not deal with what happens after death, the emotions the numbness. I think skipping it would have been wrong so hell, you got it in the fiction. Still normal service resumed next chapter, more exciting events. The chase is on….