Chapter Twenty-Four: Body Found

Audrey had pleaded with Stephen to lie low. He cannot go back to the street for a while after what he's done. To Carla and to Elaine, Tim's going to be out for his blood and she doesn't trust him not to do anything stupid. That he should just wait for one of the shops to call him back and focus on that. He was thinking about it and he could see how worried she looked. He thus agreed and told her he was expecting a call back anyway so she need not worry.

"I'll get the equity back in the house. Make sure you get it in the will...Okay? So you don't need to do anything else. You will feel better when you got a shop to manage, so please don't do anything stupid" Audrey pleaded to her son later that day during dinner.

"I agreed, okay. But I can go anywhere I want. I'm not afraid of Tim-"

"I know that. Which is why I'm worried. So just leave it. He will only be wanting to protect his mum. I'm surprised he hasn't been here already but if he sees you, he's going to hit you-"

"So? I can fight back-"

"And we all know where that leads. It's like you don't even have any self-awareness anymore. How do you think it's going to look? Everyone is going to hate you, she's got a mark. I'm going to look like I approve of this! You have ruined my reptutation as well as your own! So thank you very much!" Audrey snapped as she gave his hand a quick slap.

He just scoffed as he removed his hand and placed it under the table.

"What reptutation?" Stephen asked her with a scowl.

"Well a year ago. Me and you had good reptuations...Now look at us. The drunken old fool who supports her fraudster of a son and you. The woman beating fraud-"

"I am not a woman beater!"

"Oh sorry. Woman smacker. Is that better? Your grandfather use to enjoy smacking people around. I see you have taken his genes!"

"You always blamed him for your problems. He's the reason you adopted me out you use to say. Now I know you just didn't fancy it, Gail told me how your mother raised her. I got a lucky escape"

"Did you? I see...Well if that's how you feel. I wish I had kept you for many reasons, Stephen. The main one is you would have been too poor to go into business and that might have done you a world of good!"

"Well maybe so. But it's too late...It's too late"

"When you were born. I was so worried about what sort of life you would have. I looked after you for the first month while Malcolm and Joyce were doing up your nursey. I remember having to hide you for that one month, I had to ignore all my friends and my schoolwork for months just to keep you a secret. And my nerves were shattered because of your crying and my dad shouting to shut you up. Lest the neighbours hear you. You were such a dreadful sleeper...If I knew then what I know now, I would have fought harder to keep you. You know that?"

"I'm sorry, okay. My life is a mess"

"What will you do after I'm dead?"

"Mom. I don't want to think about that-"

"Well you're going to have to think about it. I'm worried for the rest of the family. They don't know what I know. I don't know what goes through your mind...Would it be enough if I gave you the house, my businesses and whatever money I have? Enough for you not to try and meddle?" Audrey questioned nervously.

He slammed the fork down suddenly. He generally looked insulted at what she was implying. He doesn't think he would hurt his family but maybe if he lost everything, he might try something. Stephen was shaking his head at her but a part of him was scared because she had a point.

"I'm not Richard. I wouldn't harm the family" Stephen uttered with a small scoff.

"We both know family isn't important to you. Richard...Richard was awful but he was having a mental breakdown. He wanted to die with the family when he drove them into the canal. You don't want that, do you?"

"No"

"Well then. I'm scared for the rest of the family and I can't lie to you about it. Don't hurt them. You will get everything in my will. Not just because I care about them but I do care about you too. I truly do-"

"So much that you think I'm the type to harm them?"

"You can't control yourself, Stephen. You're not right up here, okay? You will get everything. It's the only way I can look after you all when I'm gone. Because I know Gail will be alright and will love me no matter what happens. I don't think you will" Audrey admitted with tears falling down.

Stephen paused for a moment before getting up. She heard him take his jacket, go to the front door and slam it open and shut. Leaving her alone and upset.

...

Stephen didn't return home that night. Audrey waited up but he didn't come home. Her nerves were shattered. She thus got the bus to the street that morning as she wanted comfort from Gail. That's where she would be for most of the next day but she was putting on a front. Gail could see she was exhausted however from worry and thus she was worried.

"Go to bed mam. You are exhausted...Go for a couple hours nap in my room, alright? You can have dinner with us. David can just leave if he doesn't like it, go on" Gail urged gently.

"I don't want to cause trouble"

"You're not. Only one person has done that and it's not you. I don't agree but I'm not falling out with you over my brother"

"He didn't come home last night. I don't know whether Carrie let him stay again or if he's in the streets. I don't know"

"He's not your worry right now. He'll be back again...Just get some rest and I'll make us a lovely warm dinner"

"Okay. Thank you" Audrey spoke.

Giving her daughter a much-needed hug. Gail helping her mother up as she watched her go upstairs and into her bedorom. Getting into bed and trying to get a few hours rest. Gail went towards the radio and turned it on, hoping to get a bit of housework done as it plays. The local station was in the background as she began folding up Max and Lily's clothes to take upstairs...

"An industrial worker has discovered human remains near Sharp Lane Industrial Estate underneath a lot of rubble..."

Gail however didn't take much notice as she muttered something about "how awful" to herself before going upstairs. She didn't hear the part where they spoke about it being a male in his early-30s and that they are checking his dental records. The walls were closing in on Stephen.

...

"Maybe we should introduce some sort of old drinks night. Get some milk stout or cherry brandy in. People love vintage drinks for the novelty of it" Jenny was speaking to Daisy in her usual cheery voice.

A police officer walking in went unnoticed for a few moments. As she was too busy thinking of ideas for the pub. Daisy pointing towards the policeman which made her turn back around as she went back to the bar. The officer removed his hat and that got her worried as that was a sign of somebody having passed away.

"Are you Jennifer Connor?"

"Y-Yeah"

"May I speak to you somewhere private?"

"Erm...Yeah, sure. You got me worried now, officer" Jenny admitted in a shaky tone of voice.

As she opened up the bar hatch to allow the officer inside. Daisy having to hold the fort for a few minutes as Jenny led the officer to the backroom. She just stood there as she waited for him to tell her what was going on. As they couldn't get touch of Teddy (for obvious reasons), Jenny was still on his next-of-kin list from when they were in a relationship. He suggested she should sit down but she just shook her head, she knew it was something awful now. Hat removed and being told to sit down? This wasn't going to be something small.

"Okay, Mrs Connor. Early this morning, we found human remains near one of the industrial estates. We did some dental records due to the decomposition...I'm sorry, Mrs Connor. Leo Thompkins was identified-"

"No...You must have made a mistake. He's in Canada with his dad, Teddy Thompkins. He's in Canada"

"Well that's the trouble. We tried to contact Teddy Thompkins. He never got on any plane to Canada, Mrs Connor"

"No...No" Jenny began to say in confusion as she felt tears falling down.

That didn't sound right. Teddy was going to Canada, Jenny looked back up at the officer as she was in total shock and disbelief.

"You got it wrong. Me and Teddy got a text from Canada from Leo...He was in Canada. Are you saying he came back?" Jenny then asked through her tears.

"He never went"

"How do you he never went? He's not dead. He can't be dead" Jenny cried.

Wiping away her tears as she shook her head in shock. The officer could only say sorry. He just passed her the number for the police station and promised her he would be back to answer any further questions. Daisy watching as the officer came back out. She knew it was serious as she politely began to usher everyone out, saying something important come up. The punters putting down their glasses and whatnot as they walked out nor far behind the officer. Daisy shut the door as soon as the final punter left and locked it quickly. Retreating into the back to find Jenny in messy tears...

"Jenny" Daisy nervously began as she faced her with concern.

"Leo...Leo's been found. He's dead. Leo's dead" Jenny cried.

She felt Daisy wrap her arms around her for comfort. It didn't feel real and Daisy was just as complexed as she was.

"It doesn't make any sense" Daisy spoke in a confused manner as she kept hold of Jenny.

"I know. I don't understand it"

...

Stephen had heard the news too and he was panicking. He spent last night in a hostel. He was planning on going back home but this news made him too scared to go back. And even worse, he had no money for a flight anywhere. Canada or Italy. He thus took the first bus out of Manchester and ended up near a town called St Helen's. With only his mobile phone and a bit of money. He ended up having to keep his head down and trying to figure out what he was going to do. He was scared of getting discovered so he chucked his newest mobile phone away, writing down his mother's number before doing so. So he could at least contact her another way. He wanted to avoid the streets at night and thus went to a night shelter. Giving a false name and avoiding eye contact as he called himself 'Malcolm Roberts', the first names that came to his head. Leo was found and he was in trouble. He got underneath one of the many bunk beds, turning around to face the wall. His wallet tucked underneath his brown jacket as he laid on it. He heard the horror stories of these homeless shelters. How stealing was common place, how people get kicked out for unruly behaviour. The lights went out not long after he had gotten into bed. He could hear some mutterings, some shouting outside and a bit of ugly crying from somebody turned away. He was on edge at every footstep, even more so when he heard somebody climp up the steps before slumping down on the bunk on top of him. His shoes were at the side of the bed and he heard a pair of shoes being chucked from above and his shoes were now scattered apart and now entangled with the shoes of the person above him. He tried to fall asleep again after minutes of silence but his mind was racing with thoughts.

...

TBC