Footsteps in the Dark
Chapter 4 - Unexpected Visitors
Jay stepped out of the taxi and strode over to the doors to the block of unfamiliar flats, he read down the list of flat numbers and pressed the buzzer next to number 21 before waiting patiently for a response.
"Who is it?" Ruth's voice suddenly crackled into life a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"Its Jay." Jay told her "Charlie said you were off ill."
"I'm fine." Ruth replied dully "Its just flu. How did you find out where I live?"
"Staff records." Jay replied simply "I thought I'd come check your ok.."
"Why do you care?" Ruth replied harshly "You made you feelings perfectly clear yesterday."
"I can't just stop caring for you like that ok! Look can I just come in?" Jay asked hopefully Ruth paused for a few minutes "I'm sure you don't want to have this conversation on your doorstep for everyone to here."
"Just a minute." she eventually replied with a sigh. Jay heard some rustling before she spoke again "You can come up, let yourself in."
Jay opened the door which buzzed and headed up to the top floor following the signs for number 21. He reached her door and pushed it open.
"Ruth?" he asked a hint of nerves in his voice
"In here." She replied dully
Jay followed her voice and found Ruth cuddled up on her sofa.
"How are you?" Jay asked concerned as he perched on the edge of one of the cosy looking armchairs
"I'm ok" Ruth lied "Just got Flu."
"Its not like you to be off ill" Jay pointed out
"Well I am human." she replied irritably
Jay eyed her suspiciously. She didn't seem like she had flu but she didn't seem ok, she as much touchier than usual, even for Ruth, her face was much whiter and her hands were shaking.
"I'll make us a cup of coffee" Jay told her she opened her mouth as if she was going to protest "You sit there and I'll be back in a minute." He stood up and she sighed defeated.
He slipped out of the room taking one last look at Ruth who had now pulled her knees up to her chest, Jay had never seen her looking so defenceless and nervous. He headed towards the opened kitchen door but something caught his eye as he passed what he presumed to be Ruth's bedroom. He paused, debating for a moment if he should invade Ruth's privacy by snooping in her bedroom but concern flooded his mind and he decided just to take a quick look.
Jay wasn't prepared for that he saw next. As he pushed the door open his eyes fell on several packs of paracetemol and what appeared to be two half used jars of some sort of anti depressants. His stomach lurched as he spotted that half the packets were empty and that there was a half empty bottle of vodka laying next to them. He snatched up a couple of the packets and headed back onto the sitting room where Ruth was still curled up.
"How many have you taken?" Jay asked holding up several of the empty pill packets he had found on her bed.
"None" Ruth lied immediately opening one eye to glare at him
"Ruth…" Jay sighed
"I Dunno." Ruth shrugged, her head was becoming fuzzy and she blinked as Jay's head swam out of focus.
"Approximately?" Jay asked "Come on Ruth this is serious!"
"I.." Ruth started before her eyes rolled up into their sockets and her body fell limp, she slumped sideways off the sofa onto the carpet underneath.
"Ruth!" he jumped down to her side as her eyelids flickered "Don't do this to me!"