this is even more "out there" and strange than the other 2 chapters, i guess i lost it a bit! this is dedicated to Lucy who had the first read! ;)
Mitch knew he had to tell Janet he saw them, well…saw Kevin. It wasn't fair to keep it from her, he thought it was best to tell her what he knew and she could do what she liked. "Can I have a word?" she followed him out into the corridor with the same saddened expression that had been on her face for the best part of a year.
"Good holiday?" she asked, looking at her feet.
He could see what it had done to her, the disappearance. The change in her was pretty drastic! The once bubbly and hard-working Janet that always looked after everyone else to the Janet that had trouble concentrating long enough in briefing to understand the case properly, the Janet that needed looking after herself. She was so sad and distant all the time, she looked lost. It was as if she wasn't even the same person anymore. It wasn't just at work, at home most nights she'd just curl up on her bed and switch her mind off, she pretended everything was fine for the girls of course but she wasn't falling anyone. Who knew that one person could have this much of an effect on a person?
"Janet, I need to tell you something. Please, I'm so sorry if I've done the wrong thing here, I was only trying to help. Before I tell you I want you to know that just because I've told you doesn't mean you have to do anything about it if you don't want to. I'm just giving you the information.."
Janet nodded looking slightly confused and impatient. "I saw Kevin in Edinburgh." He told her very matter-of-factly to avoid any confusion.
Her head shot straight up. Kevin meant Rachel right? "Kevin. Kevin as in Kevin?"
Mitch tried to hold in a little snigger, "Kevin as in Kevin. I was at the park with the kids cos we'd been out all morning and he just wandered round the corner. Don't think he saw me, I wasn't that close but it was definitely him. He was obviously heading home from the shops, had a carrier bag and a pint of milk in his hand."
Janet had to take a second to process. "How do you know he was heading home?"
"He went into a house, lovely looking place actually, lovely area, I'm jealous! He had a key so I'm assuming it's his house. I, urm…" he stopped, not really knowing if he should carry on or not, he didn't want to make the situation worse but then she had the right to know didn't she? It might help.
"Go on, you what? Mitch!"
"I wrote down the address and directions from the station for you if you wanted them, I just thought it might help. I dunno, I'm sorry if I did the wrong thing but…"
"No, no. No thank you, so much! Did you see her? Did you see Rach?"
Mitch hadn't seen Janet like this in months! She was so happy and excited, the light was back in her eyes. "No. I didn't see her but she must be there, right? They disappeared same day, same time. Same…same reason to go? And well, they were close weren't they after, you know." He didn't want to mention it, it might spoil her mood.
Her head shot up, "Oh God yeah, well I think so. I didn't talk to her that day so I don't know but to be honest, it's Kev and Rach we're talking about, they can't be a one night thing can they?"
Noticing her mood hadn't changed, he carried on, "Well, you've got the address, knock yourself out, love."
Janet wandered back through to the office and sat at her desk. She did want to see Rachel, desperately. It wasn't the same without her and strangely she was even missing her screwing things up, at least it brought some drama into things to make life more interesting! She at least wanted to tell her she forgave her and that she was sorry. But she did wonder if going to see her was actually a good idea or not. She left without telling anybody where she was going or any way of contacting her so she obviously didn't want anyone to find her. What if she was still pissed off? If she still didn't like her? Janet decided she'd sit on the idea for a while and think about it properly when she had some time, she didn't want to mess it up even further.
Janet knocked on Gill's front door, desperately hoping she was in. There was talk about the lads going out somewhere, Janet had decided against it and thought Gill had to. Now, judging by the fact she was standing freezing cold on the doorstep after knocking several times, maybe she was wrong. She could hear loud music coming from the house so obviously Sammy was in and clearly he wouldn't hear her over the music. Janet gave up and turned around to go home but as she did Sammy walked up the driveway. "Hiya Janet, you alright?"
Now she was confused, "Did you leave your music on or something…" she asked.
He shook his head and then heard it too. They walked back to the house and Sammy let them in. Maybe it was Orla? They went through to the living room to find Gill herself jumping on the sofa singing along very loudly and very out of tune! She hadn't noticed them standing in the doorway and carried on, blissfully unaware that they were both now recording the scene on their phones. Janet scanned the room for alcohol but found nothing.
"HEY HEY YOU YOU I DON'T LIKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND…" she screamed out, now playing air guitar. She looked absolutely ridiculous and neither of them could quite believe it was happening. Sammy just stood there with his mouth wide open, completely astonished whilst Janet could no longer hold in the laughter. She put her phone away so her majesty couldn't see and let out a roar of laughter. Gill opened her eyes and stopped singing. She saw them both in fits in the doorway and switched the music off looking more than embarrassed. She waited awkwardly until they had calmed down a bit. "You interrupted my jam!" she said quietly looking at the floor so they couldn't see her giggling. They then exploded into laughter again, Sammy had to leave the room before he completely lost it! "If anyone ever finds out about this…"
"You'll what, sack me?" Janet laughed.
"You said it not me!"
"Cross my heart. You're endless talents seem wasted in MIT, why weren't you ever a successful rock star, Gill?"
"Sarcastic bitch. Anyway moving on… what did you want?" she asked trying to get off the subject and avoid being humiliated further!
Janet composed herself and sat on the edge of the sofa, "I was wondering if I could ask you a favour?"
"What is it?"
"Well it's really short notice and you don't have to say yes but I was just wondering, I mean I know its soon it's just that…"
"Spit it out for fuck sake!" she cut in impatiently.
"Could I have a week off?"
Gill's eyes widened slightly and she raised her eyebrows, it was unlike Janet to ask for time off! "When?"
"As soon as possible. I was hoping sort of in the next couple of weeks? I know it's really short notice but there's something I need to do."
"And that is…" she regretted it as soon as she said it. It was none of her business and with the state of Janet lately it probably wasn't best to interfere too much. Gill was surprised when she went ahead and told her.
"So Mitch saw him about 5 weeks ago? Why have you waited so long?"
Janet sighed and curled her legs up on the sofa, "I guess I just needed time to think about it properly, make the right choice."
Gill nodded slowly. "Tell you what, I can give you 8 days starting Saturday. If we get anything, which we will, we have enough to cover you. But whatever the outcome I want you to get back to normal when you get back. You can't go on like this Janet, it's really not good for you or the girls. And I want you to report back. I'm genuinely worried about them, I've missed them crazy too! Don't… tell anyone I said that."
"How many secrets are you asking me to keep? My poor little brain can't keep up!"
"Sorry. But just, tell them I say hi, yeah?
"Will do Boss!" she saluted and stood back up, "Thanks Gill, it does mean a lot."
Gill smiled and walked her to the door. As Janet stepped outside she turned back to Gill, "How did you know that song?" Gill stuck her tongue out and shut the door, she was done with the questions!
Told you it was strange! what do you think? :s
