A Devil's Bend and a Bunch of Flowers

The blue car screeched around the bend, flew past the cyclist and disappeared up the road at more than enough speed. Dust kicked up off the country road. Dried mud from all those tractors. It pooled in the air in a long stream and followed in a trail blanketing the distance in a kind of haze. The road was narrow. The car passing close made the cyclist wobble, stop, and get off his bike. He looked along the road following the passage of the car until it disappeared over a slight rise in the long straight section just before the sharp bend that was out of sight, but he knew was there. He heard a loud screeching of brakes, a rolling bashing noise ending in a very loud crash. Silence except for a stuttering half-hearted horn that struggled to continuously sound. 

Holding his bike in one hand the cyclist just stared at the small cloud of dust that was appearing above the hump in the road. Gave a kind of that was inevitable shrug, mounted his bike and continued his journey. Turned left after a short distance the sign. “To the village.”  

Terence Pemberton was in his early sixties. A bit shaky due to the onset of arthritis which was why he cycled when he could to keep his limbs moving. Apart from that he was fit for his age. Young looking. Going grey but everyone in their sixties goes grey so no surprises there. He was wearing cycle clips to hold his trousers tight at the bottoms. An old habit that went back years. His jacket was rolled up and held under the sprung catch on the rear carrying rack. Tatty very old straw hat with a red band up top shading from the slowly weakening sun. Returning from working the tills in the supermarket. Used to be a Bank Manager but since being made redundant eight years ago had struggled to find work. But then he liked the work, the interaction with all those people even though many considered it mundane and demeaning for an ex-bank manager. 

He lived in the village with his wife Mary. Been married for forty years. Two children Clare and Toby. Both left home. Clare the youngest twenty-nine and single. Toby, thirty-four and married. Three children already. Toby lived a bit away so grand parenting was difficult although they helped where they could. Mostly they lived a quiet life now that he had a much less stressful job. Got back about five. The usual time. 

Mary said, "Would you like a cup of tea? Dinner is not until about seven. Clare is coming over. She phoned this morning and said she would be here about five-thirty.” 

“Well, in that case, yes please. I’m already looking forward to seeing her. She’s not been for a while has she. Three months ago, was it, the last time she came?” 

“Yes, that would be about right. She’s so busy these days. Hard to find time to do anything.” 

 

They talk. He tells her about his day and all the antics that customers get up to. Had pointed out to a lady that if she bought two 250g packs of pasta instead of one 500g pack she would save a pound. “Do I look like I need to save a pound?” was her only reply. She tells him about her art classes. Shows him the progress on the large oil painting she is creating. It gets to six-thirty and there is no sign of Clare. 

“I wonder where Clare is. Not like her to be late. Hope she’s okay.” 

“I forgot to mention. There was a crash on the way home. Speeding car went past me just before the village turn. I didn’t see what happened. It was at Devil’s bend beyond the brow of the hill. Not sure if anyone else was involved. It was a blue car. Clare’s is red, isn’t it?” 

“Yes, it is, but she comes round that bend, doesn’t she? From the other direction though.” 

“That’s the only way for her to come that avoids the long drive around the estuary. She would come that way. Devil’s bend, down the straight and turn right into village lane.” 

“I’m getting worried Terry. Phone the police. See what happened. Who was involved? You know sergeant Morgan, don’t you? From darts. He will tell you. While you do that, I’ll try her mobile.” 

 

“Hello Pete, it’s Terry.” 

“Hi Terry, what can I do for you?” 

“The crash today at Devil’s corner. Do you know anything about it?” 

“Yes, we were called out just after five. The two constables went. The traffic ones. Not heard a great deal though. Why do you ask?” 

“Clare’s late arriving and she comes that way. I saw, well I didn’t actually see but heard the crash as I turned down to the village. A blue car whizzed by me going extremely fast.” 

“All I know is that a blue car was involved. Went round the corner and rolled a few times hitting a red car that crashed head on into a tree.” 

“Anyone hurt?” 

“Not sure and I don’t know who was involved. How many? Man, woman, I can’t say at the moment. I can try and find out if you want.” 

“Can you please. It’s gone seven now and Clare is never late. At least not this late and she drives a red car.” 

As Terry hung up Mary said, “What did he say? I have tried Clare’s mobile but there is just the voicemail.” 

“He said there were two cars involved. Blue and red but he does not know if there are any casualties but is going to find out and call us back. As soon as he can.” 

“I’m going to try her mobile again." Mary frowns at Terry, "No, just voicemail.” 

“Well, we can’t do anything, we have to just wait for Pete to get back to us.” 

"Now I'm really worried, Terry. What if she’s involved.” 

“There's no point worrying until we know something. We can't do anything. Pete will phone as quickly as he can. I know he will.” Terry is trying to calm Mary, but he knows it will not work. He needs calming as well.  

Twenty minutes later the phone rings. 

“Terry, it's Pete. Right. This is what I’ve found out. The blue car came over the brow in the road going much too fast for the corner. Probably did not know it was there and could not take the bend at that speed. Rolled about three times and hit the red car what seems to be a glancing blow that threw it into a tree. The red car might have been trying to swerve. There was one young man in the blue car who is in hospital with minor injuries. He should be released soon. There’s some questions to answer there. Anyway, there was a young lady in the red car. Her handbag and mobile were on the front passenger seat. I’m very sorry Terry but they are Clare’s. Her driving licence and cards in her purse. Your number on her mobile was called this morning. Also, the car is registered to her. The good news is she is in hospital unconscious but alive. I have not seen her but one of the constable’s said she was going to be alright.” 

“Thank goodness for that. Thanks Pete. Thanks so very much. We will go to the hospital now.” 

 

They arrive and are directed to the main women’s ward where a nurse is working behind a desk. 

“Mr and Mrs Pemberton,” said Terry, “we understand our daughter is here.” 

“Yes, on the left-hand side. You can go in if you want to. I will be there in a moment.” 

Mary said, “There she is Terry. There she is. She looks all right. Doesn’t she? She’s all right, isn’t she? Her eyes are closed.” 

“She’s probably just asleep. If there was a problem the nurse would have said something, I am sure.” 

There are two chairs next to the bed and they sit down. The nurse arrives a moment later. 

“That’s your daughter there isn’t it?” she said indicating a lady in the next bed. 

“No this is her. Definitely,” replied Terry. 

“But that lady came in with your daughter’s handbag and phone. The phone is turned off now. She is out of danger but heavily sedated as a precaution. This lady is recovering from a bump on the head. She was found outside the newsagents on the road to the village just before Devil’s bend. She had bought some flowers. We don’t know who she is. She is only just waking up. She’s going to be all right though.” 

“Well, that’s as maybe but this is Clare. I don’t know that lady.” 

At that moment Clare wakes up. 

“Hello Mum, Dad. How did you know I was here? Someone stole my car. I just went into the shop to buy flowers. Left my handbag in the car and only took in cash from the change I keep for parking. There was a lot there. So, it needed spending. When I came out, I unlocked the car then someone thumped me on the head hard enough to knock me out. Now I’ve got a nasty headache.” 

“We’ve been so worried that you didn’t arrive home. And then the crash... I wonder who that lady is.”