Gerry and Robert seemed to be walking a lot further than they had on the way to the public house.

"Are you sure this is the way?" Rob asked knowing that the state Gerry was in that he was more likely to be wrong than right.

"Yeah, yeah the bridge is this way I am sure of it" he bellowed in response.

"It's not you know, Gerry it is dark, cold and we have been walking for miles, this is not the right way. Look over there in the trees can you see people, there must be a camp site, come let's ask them the way" he said already heading off.

"No, I am scared of woods remember!" Gerry felt the fear surround him casing his stomach to heavily drop.

"Oh yes, you wait here Gerry and I will go and make inquiries."

"But Sir, Rob, Robert! What if we get split up that's no good is it."

"Quite right Gerry, umm better come with me then."

"No way José!"

"We can't stay here all night Gerry Standing, I knew you were a stubborn bugger at work but can't you relax a bit on holiday?"

"You don't understand I am scared end of. Look I will stand at the edge of the wood while you go and ask alright?"

"Fine."

Suddenly it dawned on Gerry that this must be the same woods at the back of the Allesbury estate where he and the team got lost earlier. It also dawned on him that the New Forest was huge and that they were in the completely wrong direction.

Before Strickland got a chance to approach the happy campers he heard Gerry grunt as if he was struggling with somebody who was much bigger than him.

"Gerr'off!" He tried struggling for breath as a large beefy body which was dressed in black and wearing a balaclava wrapped his leather gloves around his neck. As Gerry felt himself being levitated deeper into the woods he tried to fight off his phobia, not that he had much time to think about it with fat snake like fingers pressing down on his neck. Gerry Standing thought he was going to die in this forest and that terrified him more than being tortured and killed by a wannabe Mitchel brother.

"Give me yer money" the countrified accent said though tightly gritted teeth which made his whole premise less frightening.

"I would put him down if I were you?" Strickland said breezing up to the man. He had dealt with the likes of Ricky Hanson in the past so this heavy didn't terrify him.

"Or what? You will phone the police?"

"We are the police" Rob spat back.

"Not from round here you ain't."

"Yes, well-"

"Well nothing, say another word and your friend gets it. Now turn out your pockets" he demanded letting go of Gerry's now blue neck. He knee kicked him in the groin to ensure when he fell down to the floor he went down with a tremendous thump.

Knowing better than to mess with the thug that he faced, Strickland turned out his pockets while he watched the man take Gerry's rather light wallet, his chain he wore around his neck and his phone.

"That's all I have" Strickland said surrendering his own wallet. He was so glad he hadn't his phone on him; he must have left that in his car the thought. He was even more relived that he wasn't wearing the priceless watch Hermione got him one Christmas.

"It better be" he said pushing him to the wet ground, causing mud and leaves to stick to Robert's jacket.

"It is I swear" he squealed before he heavy knocked him out cold and scarpered.


It was gone ten the next morning when Sandra woke up after finally getting a few hours rest when she entered the grand spacious drawing room she expected a note from Strickland to say that he had gone to see his daughter, Jack and Gerry to be sat there nursing their hangovers and Brain beginning his inquiries into these deaths. What she saw was Brain doing the newspaper crossword over a cup of tea.

"Morning Sandra."

"Good morning Brian, sleep alright?"

"Like a log" he grinned "and you?"

"On and off, are the motley crew still in bed? I'm guessing Strickland's gone out with Hermione."

"Yeah he probably has, I've not been up long myself so I missed Strickland and as for Jack and Gerry Jack and I left early and he's not up yet so don't expect to see Gerry until late this evening." He said not looking up from his puzzle.

"Good point, well what are you going to today Brian?"

"I thought I might speak to some of the staff who worked here in 1993 some of them still live in the village, and before you get your knickers in a twist Strickland said I could as long as I don't delve too deep by telling them it is a police investigation he said putting his completed crossword to one side.

"Did he when?"

"Last night in the pub, I could see he was upset so I tried my best to change to subject."

"That's very kind of you Brian, right let's not waste any time where do these people live?"

"I knew you were interested in this" he beamed at the thought of him being right.

"Not so much interested Brian, more worried about you and besides seen as the stables are shut I have nothing to do."

Before they could get up and get the ball rolling in thing no official inquiry a phone began to ring.

"Are you going to answer that?"

"It's not mine" Sandra replied looking at the sofa where Brian sat as the ringtone ascended.

"I don't have a mobile" Brian uttered.

"Well it must be one of the boys'" Sandra said reaching down the back of the leather sofa to retrieve it.

She noticed Hermione's name flash up on the caller ID "It's Strickland's" she said before answering.

"Hello, no I've not seen him Hermione; I thought he had gone to meet you."

"What is it?" Brian asked.

"Strickland's not showed up, he's over an hour late" she whispered.

"Maybe he's in traffic?"

"One second, I will see if he is in his room but as Brain says I am sure he is just stuck in traffic."

Sandra ran upstairs and checked his room, it was empty his bag still sat on the bed, it was clear it hadn't been slept in. Sandra began to panic what if something had happened to them on the way back from the pub?

She barged into Gerry's room she really should have knocked but there was no time to be polite. It too looked as if it had been unused his toothbrush lay on the top of his open suitcase.

"Brian! We have a problem!" She said almost tripping as she missed the last two stairs.

"Don't worry Hermione only I don't think your dad and Gerry came home from the pub last night. Don't panic Brain and I will find them and we will ring you." She didn't want the girl to worry but she couldn't let her think her dad had let her down.

"Come on, let's go back to the pub ask if any one saw them, walk around the village, we can speak to your people as we do. And then if we can't find them we panic and alert the police. "

"Have you tried Gerry?"

"What do you think I am doing? Holding the phone up to my ear because I like how it feels?! Of course that's what I'm doing!" She realised she had stepped out of line. "Sorry, I'm panicking I didn't mean to snap, it keeps going to voicemail. We better go and have a look. I'll leave a note for Jack on the way out."


I do hope this chapter is okay, I am afraid I wont be able to update until the weekend as like I said yesterday I am going away until Friday and am at a Doctor Who convention on Saturday! :) So sorry to leave it on a bit of a cliff hanger but I shall work my hardest to have a few updates for Sunday sometime! Gee :) xxx