Page 5 of The Tapes
‘Is Faith OK?’ Nicola asks.
‘I think so – but I can’t remember the last time she actually called me.’
That gets a short nod. ‘The girls were a bit freaked out when they got to the house. They were both talking at the same time, trying to tell me they’d found a gun. I thought it was a weird joke, maybe a mistake. Something like that. They took me into the woods – and there was a gun on the ground. I think it was Faith who said we should call the police.’
I consider that for a moment, proud my daughter had the foresight of what to do. When I next look up, the police officer is bounding towards the house with purpose. Nicola spots him as well and opens the back door, waiting in the frame as he stops a pace or two away.
‘The team’s got the gun,’ he says, poking a thumb over his shoulder. ‘They’ll be out in a minute.’
‘Is it real?’ Nicola asks. ‘I didn’t know if it might be an airgun, something like that.’
‘Itlooksreal. I’m sure they’ll test it. You were definitely right to call. Did one of our lot ask you for more details?’
‘Not really.’
There’s an eyeroll that’s not quite complete. The sense that the officer is used to working with people he considers to be idiots. ‘Is the gun yours?’ he asks.
‘No. I wouldn’t know where to get one, even if I wanted one.’
‘Have you ever seen it before?’
‘No.’
He pokes another thumb towards the woods. ‘Is that your land?’
Nicola takes a moment. ‘I don’t actually know who owns it. It might be the council. We get dog walkers out there sometimes who accidentally end up in our garden. I could probably find out… I’ve got the deeds somewhere.’
The officer shakes his head. ‘It might not matter. Either way, you did the right thing by calling 999. We’ll take the gun and someone will be in touch if we have any other questions.’ He waits a moment, then adds, ‘Looks like it might’ve been dug up.’
Nicola puffs out a breath. ‘We do get foxes around here…’
The officer nods, then turns to head back towards the woods, leaving us alone in the kitchen. We wait in a stilted, bemused silence for a few seconds, before Nicola motions upstairs.
‘Do you want a tea? I think they’ll be a while up there.’
There’s something unsaid in the sense that the girls are quiet. I figured Faith was going to grab her things so we could go home. But perhaps my presence was requested only for those few minutes of uncertainty. Now the police have turned up, I am no longer required.
Faith and Shannon are on the same drama course and have been friends since they were little. They’ve always been able to sit in one of their various bedrooms and make hours disappear.
Either way, I’m here now – so I tell Nicola I’ll have a tea, and then take a seat at the kitchen table.
This is a semi-regular occurrence, although itisthe first time there’s been a collection of police officers outside. Nicola setsthe kettle boiling and then leans on the counter, watching the window.
‘How’d a gun get into the woods?’ I ask, which I realise is somewhat rhetorical.
Nicola doesn’t turn from the window. ‘Dunno…’
I watch as Nicola stares through the glass towards whatever’s going on beyond. A few seconds pass.
‘How are the plans for Friday?’ she asks, as I realise I’ve been daydreaming again. It takes a second to remember what she’s talking about.
‘I think everything’s good,’ I reply, though I know I don’t sound certain. ‘I’ve never planned a funeral before.’
‘Mum and Dad both say they’re going,’ Nicola replies. ‘I’ve taken the morning off, so I’ll be there as well.’ I nod along, unsure what to say. ‘Mum’s got Dad eating salads,’ Nicola adds. ‘Reckons it’s about time he sorts himself out.’
She laughs and I know she means well but I can’t bring myself to join in. Dad was in his mid-seventies and never the sort who was desperate to get old for the sake of it. He liked his fry-ups, days in front of the TV, and probably even the general grumpiness he allowed himself once he became a certain age. He had a heart attack last year and, once he got home, I always had the sense he wasn’t entirely delighted about coming through it all.
By the time a police officer knocked on my front door, there was a looming inevitability to losing him, even if it somehow felt sudden too.
