Chapter Twenty-Six: Quick Chat

Stephen was taken to a nearby hospital with his leg and injuries. His leg was bandaged up by the time he woke up again. His age was a concern for the doctors and it was clear he hadn't been on the streets long but three days without any washing has made him difficult to be around for them. A nurse came over nonetheless to check on him. She explained his leg was injured and he was to be kept in overnight due to risk of infection. Stephen however was more worried about being identified, he sat up in bed as he attempted to leave but he felt a sharp pain his leg as he did so.

"Oh...Haven't you got a walking stick or something? I need to leave" Stephen insisted with a groan.

"I don't think you should leave right now, Sir. Your leg could get infected and being back on the streets will make it worse. Can you not wait until morning at least before you go?"

"You can't force me"

"No I can't but look at you, Sir. You can barely move and we don't have walking sticks we can just give out to people. You have suffered a beating and have been stabbed, can you take a minute? There are people here who can help you. And I think the police may want a word, find out who did this to you-"

"No! No police...I just want to go, please. Just let me out" Stephen pleaded in a more desperate tone of voice.

Though it was too late as the police officers came into view. Making Stephen get back into bed in defeat, holding onto his leg as he did so. They didn't know who he was but he was acting shifty. He was on edge however as he just put his head down without glancing over at them again. All thoughts were going through his mind as he he heard one of them get out one of those eletronic notebook.

"Sir, what's your name?" one of them asked however they got no response.

"I'm not under oath to give you my name or any information. I don't want to press charges and I don't want to talk" Stephen replied quickly.

"Sir. If you're worried about your or anybody else's safety. There are people who can protect you or them. Would you like to tell us information about those that stabbed you? The witness already told us there were three lads, are you protecting them?"

"No. I just don't want to press charges"

"Well I'm afraid it's not up to you now. So you don't want to tell us anything about them?"

"No"

"Well that doesn't make sense but we can't force you-"

"It was too dark okay. I never got a proper look at them as I was more concerned for my life. I got stabbed in the leg and fainted quickly afterwards, you can see what they have done to my hands and my face"

"Did you know them?"

"No. They just came out of nowhere but I don't care. All I want is to be left alone, okay"

The policemen looked at one another with a shrug. One of them passed over their number in case he remembers anything or changes his mind about pressing charges. Stephen snatched it, waiting for them to leave. After a few more basic questions, the officers did indeed move on. The nurse giving him an awkward smile before moving on too. Stephen thus attempted to move again as he forced his one good leg out of bed. He grabbed onto his clothes which were put in a bag to one side, he closed the curtain and began to slowly get dressed. His trousers were difficult as he gave out a small yell as he forced them up his injured leg. He opened the curtains again and thus began to get up, limping away despite the nurse's warning. He snatched a walking stick on the way out. Wandering away into the now early Manchester morning.

...

"Sarah. Have you seen your uncle? We really need to see him right now because of Leo. He might be able to help us. The police want to see him as well, do you know where he is? This is killing Jenny, we need all the help we can get to solve this" Daisy explained the following later morning as she caught Sarah outside the factory.

"I don't know where he is, Daisy. But he won't be able to help, will he? He's over that whole thing and has been for a long time" Sarah insisted.

Michael standing awkwardly to the side as he held two cups of coffee. Sarah really didn't think her uncle had any idea. Yes, he liked Jenny but that doesn't mean he knows anything about this in her eyes. He never spoke to her about that kind of stuff anyway. They weren't that personal when it came to things outside of business and family drama.

"What? So he wasn't interested? Me and Jenny just made that up, did we?" Daisy asked with a sarcastic scoff.

"He hasn't spoken Leo's name since he left, Daisy. Not to me anyway...Why would he? He may have been involved then but he hasn't been invested since, why would he? He moved on with Elaine ages ago"

"Oh right. I'll go and speak to her then"

"You do that" Sarah bluntly replied.

She watched as Daisy made her way to the Metcalfe household. Banging on the door as she was desperate for closure for Jenny. Jenny has been sobbing for the last couple of nights. Blaming herself because she cheated on him and the thought of him being so badly injured or decomposed that his body wasn't even fit for her to identify him haunts her. Jenny woke up in cold sweats last night at the thought of him being like that. Elaine opened up the door to find Daisy and she was confused, still clearly shaken up from her own encounter with Stephen.

"Where's your boyfriend? Jenny is going out of her mind with worry" Daisy began as she placed her hand on the side of the door.

"My boyfriend?"

"Stephen. Don't play games with me, Elaine"

"I haven't seen him since" Elaine paused as she looked back down, adding "Well it's been a couple days, I don't know where he is. I'm sorry to hear about Leo but I'm not involved anymore. We aren't together now"

"How do I know you're telling the truth? You could be protecting him"

"Why would I protect a man who did this to my face?" Elaine asked with tears in her eyes as she looked back up.

Daisy could see the small bruise left by his fists now as she looked closer. The young woman suddenly felt awful for going round and shouting the odds. Though she had no idea about this. Stephen's never shown any signs he was that sort of man before, he didn't even fight back with other men as far as the street was concerned. Though now she could see he was violent. Nobody but the odd few who were there even knew about this yet.

"I had no idea. Stephen hit you? But why?" Daisy questioned a lot more softly now. Taking her hand away from the door.

"Because I dared to go to his dad's funeral with his mum without telling him. That's why...God knows what he's like with Audrey behind closed doors. I'm more worried for her than anybody else right now"

"His dad died?"

"A robbery gone wrong. So no, Daisy. I don't know where Stephen is and I would stay away if I were you. Too many questions and you will see his temper yourself, take care" Elaine responded before retreating back inside and closing the door shut.

...

The police were now really looking for Stephen. They have finally made it to 'Grasmere Drive' and spoken to Audrey. That's what she was going through right now as they questioned her about her son's whereabouts. She was keeping quiet and calm but deep down, she was a shivering wreck. He still wasn't a suspect at the moment but his sudden exit was suspicious to them.

"He always enjoys travelling. He use to travel all around the world when he was younger. He enjoys it and he never would have left, officer. Had he known this would happen as he's a good friend of Jenny. But who could have predicted such an awful thing?" Audrey asked rhetorically.

"Well precisely, Mrs Roberts. So you don't know where has has travelled to?"

"No. He could be in London or Newcastle...He likes cities so it's probably a city. He only wanted a break. Poor dear will be so upset when he comes back and learns about this. He even gets upset if we argue, he's a sensitive man"

"People have claimed he had some sort of disagreement with Leo. What can you tell us about that?"

"Oh. Well Leo and Jenny broke up for a short time. He had a kiss with Jenny but he regrets it and thought they finished. Leo found out and punched him but he just took it on the chin. He had no real issue with Leo, officer. He didn't even want to press charges against him. He's gentle"

"So gentle that he recently destroyed parts of Underworld factory?"

"Carla dropped the charges because she knew it was a mistake. You know that officer. Poor man was besides himself with guilt but he...He didn't mean it and hasn't done anything since. So one mistake and you want to label him in a negative way?"

"Nobody is labeling him, Mrs Roberts. We just want the bigger picture, that's all"

"Well the bigger picture is that he loves to travel a lot and he had no idea this would happen during his short break. He's a gentle loving man who has been in business for decades. Kbec was his you know in the 1990s...What a wonderful business that was. A sporting company-"

"Mrs Roberts, stick to the subject please. Do you know anything about your son's relationship with Teddy Thompkins?"

"He didn't really have a relationship with him. He was a friend of Jenny's who he had a few chats with. That's all really"

"Okay. Well if you see him, let him know we want to ask him some questions. Thank you for your time, Mrs Roberts"

Thus the officers began to leave. Briefly walking past the broken photograph of Lewis Archer that was put back up, albeit with his face now hidden behind broken glass. Audrey had a fake smile on all the way as she saw them out. Telling both of them to have a nice day. She watched them drive away before shutting the door, letting tears fall down as her smile faded.

...

Night fell and Stephen hadn't returned. He spent his fourth night out on the streets but this time hid himself better but he felt vile. He hid in a public bathroom in one of the stalls. His age and recently wounded leg made it an awful ordeal. He couldn't sleep but he was out of the night time weather as he leaned against the stall wall. Watching the light flickering on and off. The walking stick put against the side to avoid being seen. He knew the police would be after him for questions and he didn't trust himself not to make a mistake when questioned. Thus, he buckled down for a fourth night alone.

...

TBC