The Death of an Actor (The Bentley Hill Players Book 3) Page 10

  "I could climb on the roof."

  "And?"

  "No, that's as far as I'd got."

  "Owen?"

  No answer.

  "Owen? Where's Owen?"

  "The silly sod is over there," said Harry, pointing to the end of the path to the front door of Anthony Cohen flat.

  "OWEN!" hissed Jim.

  Owen raised his finger to his lip to indicate that Jim should be quiet. And then, he ran at top speed towards the front door. Unlike the previous time at Lillian's, he didn't divert his course and crashed head first in to the door. The door burst open, and Owen fell in to the hall. He rolled over and lay on his back, looking down the hall. At the far end, tied up with a thick rope and with a gag on her mouth, was Lillian. She was hanging by the back of her jacket from a coat hook. She looked at him with panicked eyes.

  "LIL!" he shouted, and jumped to his feet. He started down the hallway to release Lillian, but was knocked to the floor by a punch that came from the kitchen doorway.

  Anthony Cohen stepped out of the kitchen, and looked back at Zoe, who was half tied up on the kitchen table.

  "Is there a sign outside that say, open, vacancies available? It's like a flamin' tube station in here today!"

  ***

  "Enough!" said Harry. "I'm going to go and talk to him. You lot stay here."

  Without waiting for an answer, Harry walked round to the still open front door. Without listening to what he said, Chris grabbed the crowbar and followed him, peering through windows on the way.

  "OI!" shouted Harry, looking in through the still open door as Anthony stood over the prone body of Owen. "What the hell is going on in here?"

  Lillian wailed, as best she could through a gag.

  "Oh for goodness sake, there's another one. Have you lot got a nest round here or something?"

  "No, we just care about our friends. Let them all go, and everything will be fine."

  "Is that a threat, little man?"

  "Little man? You might have a few inches in height on me, mate, but if you turn sideways I won't be able to see you!"

  "Yeah? Well you're no Miss World yourself!"

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "I don't know...I was never much good at banter."

  "So let them go!"

  "No!"

  "Let them go!"

  "No!"

  "PSST! Harry!" whispered Chris, loudly.

  "WHAT?"

  "Stopped singing Bohemian Rhapsody and rescue them already!"

  Harry turned back to Anthony and looked straight down the barrel of a gun.

  "Whoa, hold on mate, this is going a bit far!"

  "Not yet, it ain't. I'm not going to shoot you."

  He took several steps backwards, towards the end of the hall, keeping the gun pointed at Harry. There was a loud creak and a pop from Harry's left, but he ignored it. The gun was worthy of his full attention. Anthony Cohen unhooked Lillian from the coat rack, and lifted her down one handed.

  "You're stronger than you look..."

  "You're not wrong, mate, you're not wrong."

  He pointed the gun at Lillian's temple.

  "Wait! What are you doing?"

  "Making you leave, mate. You go, now, and never mention this to anyone. I'd take you in and deal with you now, but the inn, as they say, is full. Go, and don't come back. One wrong move, and I'll kill the old bird."

  Lillian wailed through the gag. There was a clattering and a grunt from Harry's left.

  "Go on, go," said Anthony, slowly walking up the hall, stepping over Owen, dragging Lillian with him. "If you don't leave, right now, you're going to get a close up view of what's going to happen. It'll only take a second, and she'll be gone. You wouldn't want that on your conscience, would you?"

  ***

  The remaining Players were listening intently to the conversation, just round the corner of the building. They collectively jumped as Chris appeared, carrying the still-tied-up Zoe in his arms. Her head nestled on his shoulder, she looked exhausted.

  "You got her out, lad! Brilliant!" said Jim.

  "Typical. I knew you'd get her first..." said Sophie.

  "Harry's being brilliant," said Chris. "He's got that bloke distracted, so I just popped the kitchen window open with the crowbar and got in. Zoe was there on the table."

  "You're my hero," said Zoe in a very weak voice.

  Sophie grunted.

  There was a very loud bang from behind them, followed by a scream.

  "LIL!"

  Chapter 19

  Harry stood with his hands pressed to the side of his face, his mouth wide open, in shock. At his feet lay both Lillian and Anthony Cohen, neither one moving. There had been a shot fired, and both of them collapsed to the floor. He had been screaming, but now his mouth was open and no noise was coming out.

  The Players were suddenly beside him, and Jim got down on the ground to tend to Lillian.

  "She's breathing. Here, let me get that gag off..."

  "Of course I'm breathing you soft bugger! He didn't even shoot me! Had the gun right next to me, and missed! The man's a clown! A hopeless drug dealer. He'd never had made it as a butcher. He'd have cut his own fingers off and sold them by mistake as sausages!"

  A banging sound came from down the hall. Chris hopped over Lillian and Anthony and went to investigate. He pulled open the cupboard door, and out fell Tom McLean, trussed up like a turkey. Zoe screamed from behind them, and she charged through to help. Between her and Chris, Tom was soon released. Tom stood on shaky legs, and hugged Zoe tightly with tears streaming down his face.

  He turned to Chris, shook his hand, and said thank you over and over He then hugged Chris. The tears had nearly stopped until he turned to face the Players, when he started blubbering again.

  "I don't know how to thank you all," he stammered between sobs. "You've all been so kind, I just don't know..."

  "Don't worry about it," said Lillian, back on her feet. "You're still an ass," she said as she gently punched his arm.

  A black gloved hand appeared on Jim's shoulder.

  "Please sir, if you could just stand aside..."

  Jim turned to see a policeman wearing goggles and a helmet behind him. Jim stepped out the way, and as if by magic, another fifteen or twenty police appeared behind him. An ambulance arrived a moment later, and Anthony Cohen was loaded in to it and taken away. Another ambulance arrived, and Lillian was taken to hospital to make sure she was OK. Emily went with her to make sure she behaved. Tom refused to go and be checked, which didn't bother Zoe - she was just glad to have her dad back in just about one piece.

  The police questioned several of the Players, and congratulated Harry on calling them earlier. He'd also done well by drawing Anthony Cohen to the front door, but had stood in the way for quite a while before the police marksman could get a shot off to incapacitate the crook.

  "So is he dead?" asked Sophie.

  "No," said the policeman. "But he's going to have a heck of a headache when he comes to. He's wanted in connection with numerous drug offences, and a potential murder..."

  "That poor parrot..." said Tom.

  "No, sir, not a parrot. A mechanic, in fact. He's one of the suspect in the Bernard Holmes murder case. He's also involved in illegal money lending, a gambling ring, and horse doping."

  "I could use a shot of that stuff myself!" said Owen.

  "Speaking of shots," said Harry, "I actually thought he'd killed Lil. How were you guys sure you wouldn't hit her?"

  "Oh, that's easy. We could never have hit her. You were in the way."

  "Owen, you got any gin on you?" asked Harry.

  ***

  The show at Bentley Hill Community Hall was cancelled that night, and as Lillian was kept in for observation it was cancelled the following night too. In any case, no-one felt like performing a show that involved someone getting shot for gambling debts.

  Harry sat in his living room, feet up, mug of coffee in his hand. Chris and Sophie had been r
ound earlier to check that he was OK, and now he could just sit and relax. He'd talked with Jim earlier about the show cancellation, and if he felt like doing any more shows - ever. There was enough drama in real life at the moment for Harry.

  Jim had given Harry a cryptic smile when he'd asked about the future of the Bentley Hill Players. The smile turned in to a grin, and he'd told Harry to watch the local news tonight. So that was just what he was going to do.

  ***

  Sophie took a bite from a slice of pizza, as she and Chris sat looking out the large window at the front of the pizza restaurant on Blackworth marketplace.

  "You know, we're going to have to get a move on to get back down to my place," said Chris. "Jim said to watch the news, and it starts in about ten minutes. Do you think we'll be on it?"

  "Probably. A drug bust and a murder! That's the most excitement we've seen round here in years!"

  "Hey!" called the restaurant owner as he approached their table. "I heard about what happened with you guys and that scumbag. They say he did in Bernie. I'll never get another mechanic that good, but I'm glad to hear you got the guy who did it. Tell you what, next time you come in, all you can eat - free!"

  "Aw cheers mate!" said Chris. "All I can eat. Is that an offer or a challenge?"

  The owner laughed, and patted Chris on the head. He walked back to his position behind the counter, and muttering stupid boy under his breath.

  A phone beeped.

  "That you or me?" said Sophie.

  "Me," said Chris, looking at the screen. "Oh."

  "What?"

  "Nothing."

  "What?"

  "Nothing."

  "Is it her again?"

  "Maybe..."

  "What does it say?"

  "Thank you for saving my life. I don't know how I'll ever repay you. Love, Zoe x"

  Sophie finished her slice of pizza.

  "C'mon, we've got to go. I want to get a cuppa made before it starts..."

  ***

  "You can go home tomorrow!" said the doctor.

  "But what about my cat?" asked Lillian.

  "Mrs Lovelace, you don't have a cat!" said Emily.

  "What have you done with it?"

  "You never had one!"

  "Did you eat it?"

  "NO!"

  "Hmmm. I know your sort. Shush now, let me rest. The news is coming on."

  Lillian lay back in her hospital bed to watch the small TV mounted on the wall, while the doctor and Emily just shrugged.

  ***

  Owen closed the curtains, and put the plastic crown on his head. He scratched himself through his string vest, and straightened the fairy wings he wore on his back. He adjusted his shorts, and made sure his boots were pulled up.

  He lit a candle, poured a large glass of gin, and settled down in front of the TV to watch the news. Just a regular evening at Chez O'Donnell.

  Chapter 20

  "...and here in Blackworth is our own Gavin Foxton. Gavin, what can you tell us?"

  Gavin's smiling face appeared on screen, with the expanse of Blackworth marketplace behind him, the Old Cinema over his shoulder.

  "Well, in a daring rescue, the combined efforts of the local police force and members of both the Bentley Hill Players and the Blackworth Amateur Theatre Stars, local businessman Tom McLean was saved and a wanted criminal was captured. Mr McLean was locked in a cupboard for several hours, and his daughter was also captured by the crazed lunatic. Tom, tell us how you feel."

  The camera panned over, and there stood Tom, smiling.

  "Fantastic. It's like being given a second chance. I'm safe, Zoe's safe, and I've noticed that you quite like calling people loonys. Why is that?"

  "Moving on, here's one of the Bentley Hill Players. Jim Butler, how did you go about rescuing the captives?"

  "Well," said Jim, appearing on the screen. "It was a quite complex plan that involved a fair amount of distraction and subterfuge. And possibly at least one of our members being shot. But alls well that ends well, eh?"

  "Exactly," agreed Gavin Foxton. "And here's Zoe McLean, daughter of Tom McLean. Anything you'd like to say?"

  "Yes, Gavin," said Zoe, popping up between Tom and Jim. "I am so pleased to just be alive today. And I owe it all to Christopher Crumple. He saved my life. Thank you!"

  "And there you have it," said Gavin. "A happy ending to an exciting story."

  "Oh, just one more thing," interjected Tom. "We'd like to announce that a new show, The Lady Dances, A Love Story, is being produced as a joint effort between the Bentley Hill Players and the Blackworth Amateur Theatre Stars. Tickets available soon, the show will be ready in a couple of months time. Bring your friends!"

  Jim smiled and nodded, and Tom shook his hand. They both grinned at the camera, awkwardly holding hands in front of Zoe.

  "This is Gavin Foxton, on Blackworth marketplace. Back to the studio."

  Just as the image faded back to the studio, Zoe could be clearly seen, mouthing I think I love you, and smiling.

  ***

  The news studio was back on screen, and Sophie turned to face Chris. She smiled.

  And punched him. Hard.

  Curtain Call

  Tickets went on sale the following week. The show was an instant sell out.

  Lillian was released from hospital with a clean bill of health after a short delay. The delay was caused as nobody could figure out how old she was, as her birth date was written in Roman numerals.

  Anthony Zimbabwe Cohen was held without bail as he was considered dangerous. He still awaits trial, but his flat has now been fumigated and cleared out. Maybe a new tenant will move in for Lillian to spy on. Maybe it will be a butcher this time.

  Harry threw the remains of the electronic parrot in the dustbin after it started picking up telephone calls from his next door neighbour. Definitely too much information, and she should probably see a doctor, because there's a cream you can put on that.

  Sophie forgave Chris for the way Zoe was acting towards him, which was a bit odd, as he didn't really need forgiving. But Sophie convinced him he did need forgiving, and Chris was glad to get the forgiveness.

  Owen bought himself and Jim matching t-shirts which said AS SEEN ON TV on the front of them. Which was also odd, as Owen hadn't been on TV.

  Zoe wouldn't stop texting Chris. And secretly, Chris liked it.

  Jim and Anne worked hard with Tom to get the new show ready, and...more on those things another time.

  Love you! Zoe x

  From the author...

  Well, looks like you made it to the end. Thank you for coming along for the ride!

  The Bentley Hill Players will of course be back, and it seems that next time not a single thing will go wrong. I mean, Jim and Tom working together – what really could go wrong? Nothing. Nothing at all. You keep telling yourself that.

  And if Tom is in deep with the Players, that means Zoe will be involved too. So Sophie will be happy, no doubt about that.

  To find out more nearer the time, why don't you sign up for the newsletter on my website? Details are on the next page.

  If you haven't already read it, and you'd like to find out what happened at the last show the Bentley Hill Players performed, you might be interested in The Ghost Under the Stairs (Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk), available on Kindle and in paperback. There's a bad guy, a spook, and Emily punching a man on the marketplace. Oh, and a show to put on, too. You'll probably find out how Chris and Sophie ended up together as well.

  And then check out Christmas at Butler Farm! (Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk)

  Right then gang, see you soon! Happy reading!

  Adam

  About the Adam G Newton

  Adam G Newton was born in the East Midlands of England in 1975, and enjoys entertaining people and telling stories. He also enjoys drawing people with big noses.

  He once won money in a competition on the back of a pizza box, and possesses a certificate that proves he knows how to search on Google.
r />   He was once in a theatre group. And a band. At the same time (but on different nights).

  He currently lives in Derbyshire with two teenage children and a dog, and in addition to writing about the Bentley Hill Players, he also writes for a variety of websites.

  You can find him on Twitter:

  @adamgnewton

  And on his own website:

  www.adamgnewton.co.uk

 

 

  Adam G Newton, The Death of an Actor (The Bentley Hill Players Book 3)

 

 

  Thank you for reading books on Archive.BookFrom.Net
Share this book with friends