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THE WOODS AT COLLINGTON MANOR by Jeff Jones
Sat quietly in a shadowy corner of the Old Bull inn, Jack Morris glared at
the three young men leaning against the bar as if they owned the place. He
watched as the oldest of the three, Ben Higgins, took out a wad of money from
his jean pocket and called the barmaid over.
"I’ll be there in a minute, Ben; I’m still serving this customer."
The middle aged man currently being served by Jenny glanced nervously at the
three young men. One of them said something to his friends and they all looked
at the man and laughed. Jenny handed the man his change and he hurried away to
his table.
"Right, what can I get you fellas?"
"Three pints of lager, whatever you’re having, Jen and your telephone
number," replied Ben smiling.
Ignoring his last comment, Jenny began pouring the drinks and as she did so,
she noticed the wad of money Ben was nonchalantly thumbing as he leered at the
cleavage her generous blouse opening displayed.
"Feeling flush tonight, Ben?"
"Yeah, I’m doing all right. There’s enough here for me to take you out and
show you a good time."
Jenny felt nauseous at the thought. Ben Higgins and his friend Ryan Harris
had to be the most unattractive men in the village. Neither seemed to ever wash
their hair or change their clothes and they always stank of beer. Still, Ben’s
younger brother, Mitchell was nice, if a little simple and he was easily led.
She poured herself a small white wine and placed Ben’s change on the bar.
"You’ve forgotten something, Jen."
"What’s that then?"
"Your number."
"No, I didn’t forget, I just didn’t give it," she replied, winking at
Mitchell.
Ben turned to look at his younger brother who was beaming at Jenny as she
walked away and cuffed him round the head. "Forget it, a girl like that’s not
going to be interested in you."
"Nor you by the looks of it."
Ben was about to clip his brother again, when he noticed Jack Morris staring
at him. "All right, Jack"
Jack didn’t answer, but just stared back. He was positive that these were the
lads poaching on Collington Manor, how else could they have got their money? To
the best of his knowledge, none of the three had done an honest day’s work in
their lives. He’d nearly caught them once when one of their mobile phones had
gone off, but they’d scarpered just in time.
Ben was about to say something further when his mobile rang. Jack recognised
the ring tone immediately, as it was the same one he had heard in the woods that
night and whilst it wasn’t proof positive, it was enough for him.
While Ben answered his call, Jack sidled out and resolved that if the
thieving little beggars tried anything tonight he’d be ready for them. His
lordship had made it quite clear that the poaching had to stop and although he
never actually said it, he implied that if Jack couldn’t stop them, he’d bring
someone in who could. Jack hurried home to get ready.
********
"I’m going out for a while, Edith, don’t wait up."
"Oh, not tonight, Jack please, it’s too cold."
"I’ll wrap up, don’t worry."
"Ah, but that’s just it, I do worry. You’re going after those poachers aren’t
you?"
"I have to, Edith. There’s no way that I’m going to let those ruffians have
us turfed out of our own home."
"I’m more worried what affect all this stress will have on your heart; you
know what the doctor said. Besides, you don’t even know that they’ll be there
tonight."
"They’ll be there tonight. It’s a full moon and perfect for poaching."
"Then call PC Thomas and let him deal with it."
"You know he won’t come out unless I’ve got evidence. He’s far too busy and
won’t come out just because I say some poachers might turn up."
"You said that they will."
"They will," he snapped. "I’ll be fine, Edith, I promise. I’ll take
the dogs with me, okay?"
Edith frowned. "Okay."
Jack kissed his wife on the cheek. "Atta girl. Molly, Chester."
The two Border Collies bounded over to him from their position in front of
the fire and together the three left the cottage. Edith locked the door after
them and after wiping a tear from her cheek, went back to her knitting.
********
Ben turned the van lights off as he pulled into the secluded hiding spot he
usually left the van in. The vast woods that bordered Collington Manor loomed
before him, a wood that was teeming with lucrative wildlife. Pheasants, rabbits,
deer, they’d caught and sold them all over the last few months and not just from
Collington Manor. The wood was so large that you could easily get lost in there
and the manor’s dozy gamekeeper didn’t stand a chance of finding them. Strange
though the way he’d been staring at them tonight in the pub.
"You two ready, or what?"
"Yeah," replied Ryan.
"Right, leave your mobiles behind; I don’t want them going off like last
time."
"I ain’t leaving my phone here, some thief could come along and nick the van
while we’re gone," said Mitchell.
"We’re the only thieves around here, moron, remember? Besides, who’s going to
nick a crappy old van like this?"
They all laughed and Mitchell and Ryan put their mobiles in the glove
compartment as instructed. Ben tucked his into his jacket pocket after making
sure that it was off.
"How come you’re taking yours?" asked Mitchell.
"Because I am and because I trust myself."
"What about the copper? asked Ryan.
"What about him?"
"What if he comes snooping around?"
"He won’t, I’ve sent him on a wild goose chase right over at Roxton. He won’t
be anywhere near here till we’re long gone. Now come on let’s go. It’s a full
moon and we should be in the money tonight boys."
Silently and unseen, the three lads climbed over the wooden fence and entered
Collington Manor woods.
Rather than take the Land Rover and alert any poachers of his approach, Jack
had decided to walk to where he thought the poachers were gaining access. After
about twenty minutes walk, Jack was close to his destination when something
caught his eye to the left. The dogs had noticed it too and were now sniffing
round whatever it was. Listening carefully for any sound of the poachers, Jack
switched on his torch and quickly walked over to where his dogs were sniffing
excitedly.
"What is it girl, what’ve you found? " Jack gently pulled his dogs away and
shone his torch down to the ground. At his feet lay the lifeless body of a young
vixen with what looked like a crossbow bolt protruding from both sides of its
body. Jack felt its body – it was warm – the poachers were nearby. Jack despised
poachers, but people who just killed animals for fun were a breed apart and made
his blood boil. He could feel his chest tighten with anger and before getting up
he tried to get his breathing under control.
Suddenly, there came the sound of laughter and drunken voices from his right
and before he could stop him, Chester, the youngest of his two dogs sped off in
their direction, barking as it went.
"Chester, come back here now," shouted Jack, but it was too late, the dog was
on a mission. Jack started to follow him.
He could no longer hear the laughter or voices, but Chester’s barking was
more excited now and he was obviously close to his quarry.
Just then there was an awful squeal and Jack knew for sure that Chester had
just been shot with a crossbow. Despite the increasing pain and tightness in his
chest, Jack hurried in the direction from which the squeal of pain had come,
closely attended by Molly and a few seconds later, he burst into a small
clearing. There in front of him lay Chester, with Mitchell Higgins crouching
over him. A few feet to their left stood Ben, holding the crossbow and to the
right stood Ryan.
"You, bastards," said Jack as he strode towards Chester’s body. Molly was
growling and bearing her teeth at the men.
"Calm down, Jack, he attacked me, it was self defence," said Ben.
The pain in Jack’s chest was unbearable now, but that was secondary to his
rage and with a shout he swung a fist into Mitchell’s face instantly drawing
blood from his broken nose. He then turned to face Ben.
"Don’t do anything stupid, Jack," said Ben. Intentionally or not, the
crossbow was pointing at Jack and Ben’s hands were shaking uncontrollably.
Jack made to charge Ben but tripped over the outstretched leg of Mitchell who
was rolling around on the floor screaming and holding his nose. It was too late
though and panicked by the gamekeeper’s anger, Ben had inadvertently squeezed
the trigger and now looked on in horror as the bolt buried itself in Ryan’s
stomach. His friend looked at Ben, then at his stomach, before collapsing to the
floor dead.
Mitchell and Jack were both struggling to their feet now and shocked by the
look of horror on Ben’s face, followed his gaze.
"Ben, what the hell have you done?" screamed Mitchell.
Ben dropped the crossbow and still shaking violently, looked first at his
brother and then at the gamekeeper. "Run," he suddenly shouted before turning
and sprinting off in the direction he thought the van was parked. Mitchell
watched him go and after the briefest of pauses, sprinted after him. Molly could
take no more and caught up in the excitement, hurried after them.
Jack looked at the body of his beloved dog and collapsed to the floor holding
his chest. The pain was intense and his breathing laboured. Crawling to the body
of Chester, he let out one last breath and then it all went dark.
Ben stumbled through the woods, tripping over more than once on an exposed
root. He had been sure he was going the right way but now he wasn’t certain. He
was about to stop and have a rethink, when a searing pain dug into his right
ankle and he knew instantly that he had been caught in one of his own traps. The
pain was excruciating and he screamed in agony. Blood was pumping out at an
alarming rate and Ben knew that he had to get help fast and reached inside his
jacket for his phone, but it wasn’t there. He groaned with horror when he
realised that it must have fallen out when he tripped over. He was just going to
have to wait for help; Mitchell couldn’t be far behind and he could get one of
the phones from the van. He lay back to wait as his life ebbed away.
The blood curdling scream from ahead of him, frightened Mitchell half to
death and he immediately changed direction. He was just about to emerge onto the
road where they had parked, when the gamekeeper’s dog jumped him. The dog was
ferocious in its vengeance for its pup and Mitchell was mauled badly before
Molly suddenly broke off her attack and hurried back into the woods.
He was in touching distance of the van now, but Mitchell didn’t have the
strength to move. Blood was pouring down his neck and Mitchell started to cry
when he realised that the dog had severed an artery there. As he passed out he
thought he heard the sound of an approaching car.
After realising he had been sent on a wild goose chase, PC Thomas had headed
to Collington Manor after receiving a phone call from a distressed Mrs Morris.
One of Jack’s dogs had returned to the cottage alone and had blood round its
mouth.
With some trepidation at what he might find, PC Thomas crossed the fence into
Collington Manor.
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