Secrets of the Past (3 page)

Fredric
was so interesting, had never met anyone quite like him. I was mesmerized as he spoke,
I was
in a trance like state
, but then I had never dreamt anything quite like this.

He talked of his business, I suppose too many, a very uninteresting conversation. To me he did not even have to talk, just wanted to gaze at him.

He also mentioned he had one sister
named Ruth and his family
kept horses.

Sounded like, he could be quite rich.

Then he touched my hand, it was warm, got a quiver down my spine, what was the funny feeling I was experiencing. He bent his head and placed my hand in his palm. He then started kissing it, an
d then gazed
up;
his eyes
went deep into the soul.

His glorious smile melted my insides. He had perfect white teeth, his moustache thin.

Then reality hit me.

“May we go now Fredric
, I would like to go home
now
?

I choked, as I pulled my hand to my lap.

He looked a bit taken aback as though it was the fact he had kissed my hand, but it was not, if only he knew.

“Oh, it has been lovely and I
hope we can do this again soon.”

I had to think quickly.

I began
to become anxious
,

He then
smiled, touched my hand,

“Of course, Anna, I will get your coat
.
”

He then called the waiter over.

“I have enjoyed our first meeting Anna, I have a gift for you, and will you accept it?

I replied”

Of course”

He
handed me a little box
,
and told me to open it later
,
in the privacy of my bedroom and then added.

“Next week I am going to an opera in the town of Gravesend, would you
do me the honor of joining me.”

Immediately I said, “
Yes, of course I would love to.”

Blimey I think I would go anywhere with this person
, so cute.

I climbed into the carriage and we started our journey home, it was quite
bumpy and going down Star Hill
so fast, I imagined hurtling to the botto
m and the carriage turning over
but
it was fine, eventually arriving back at my home, he took my hand and
said
he would call by to confirm our date.

As he stood in my doorway he took my hand again, lifting it slowly to his lips, kissing again gently, he then whispered.

“I am so happy meeting you, I hope I will see you again, I can wait as long as it takes as I am infatuated with you already
.
”

I smiled took his face and kissed him smack on the lips,
turned and entered the doorway, without glancing back.

As I reached the top of the stairway, I could see Anastasia sitting in the lounge awaiting my return, with
so many questions. I answered the best I could and she realized I had love in my heart.

She then said come
.

“Sit here Anna, I will make you a hot drink, never seen you so happy, I’m so pleased
.
”

Therefore, I sat on the sofa as she left.

My thoughts were at this time, go home girl, go now, so I opened the locket and the room lit brightly.

I glanced down and I had my own dressing gown on, this was amazing. I breathed out a sigh of relief.

I then felt an object
in my hand, it was the box Fredric
had given me, so I gradually opened it, inside the white satin edged box, lay a silver bracelet, it was very elegant, with a pattern running all around, I placed it on my wrist, it fitted perfectly.

I then wondered how this bracelet could be here, I was no longer in the dress or boots, but the bracelet had stayed in my hand, I was starting to get a bit confused, I was so tired ,so off to bed I went, to dream of this night.

I placed the locket on the windowsill.

I awoke with the sunrays shining through the blinds, as my eyes cleared; it lo
oked like another great day out. I
n the distance, birds were twittering, I was so warm I did not want to move, I snuggled for a while with my duvet tight around my neck, daydreaming of the night before.

Eventually I jumped up, got dressed,
and
I noticed the bracelet,
so started
looking at it carefully, it seemed very old, but thought I would wear it, as it seemed very special, I decided to pop down for a Sunday newspaper.

I
had also
started to have feelings, I have never experienced, felt special, warm inside, hard to explain.

As I turned the corner Eddie was opening his antiques shop, good trade on a Sunday he had told me before, he
mentioned the
sunshine,
and off he
walked chatting to himself as he done no
w and then, the suns warm rays heating my skin as I walked along.

I picked up a newspaper and began reading it, the story about the girl in the river had made front  page headlines, but, before I could read on I heard a tap so I turned around, it was Tracy my friend who worked at the teashop beckoning me to come in.

So I popped
my head in the doorway
, she said, did I want a coffee as she was just brewing, and no customers yet. I held out the newspaper and told her about the day before, she was all ears.

Asked questions I did not have answers to.

I did not tell her, about going back to the
past.
I
t
sounded so ridiculous, better to keep it to myself.

A few minutes had
passed and I noticed a couple of customers, so bid her goodbye and starting to head for the door, still trying to gaze at the newspaper.

Then
I bumped into someone and the newspaper fal
ls to the floor, I was saying

‘Sorry over and over.’

A
s I stood
up,
I come face to face with the girl, the one with the sad face, the one by the river, but this time she had a little smile on her face, trembling a little.

She said, “I must speak to you
its
very important
.
”

I tell her
.
“I only have a minute”

Therefore, we sit in the nearest cubicle. She then tells me her name is Zoë and the body in the river is her friend, she had known her from childhood.

I ask how she ended up in the river and told her she must go to the police and tell them all she knows.

However, she stops me
.

“But I cannot
,
that is why they killed her, because she
k
new
too
much and was t
hreatening to go to the police, they f
ound her, she had
been in hiding.

By this time Zoë is crying, she seemed so afraid.

Her smile had now disappeared.

She starts to apologize
. I tell her not to be so silly, but also that I just saw the body and reported it, as anyone would.
What would she
have
done?

She replied.

“I am so sorry for getting you involved but you were there and I did not know what else to do
”.

“Please d
o not let them get the locket;
I dropped it into your pocket as we passed yesterday”.

She then added,

  
“If they catch me talk
ing to you I will be with Lynn
.
”

I then gathered that was the girl in the river.

I told her I did not want to get involved at all and I would go to the police and tell them everything, she started begging me to hide the locket and not to let them get it as it held a very special secret.

I immediately went into defensive mode, saying

    
“Oh do not be so silly
.
”

Sudden
ly she jumped up touched my arm.

“I must go
now,
please
take care
.
”

She said
it
quickly and almost ran from the shop.

My f
riend Tracy looked over with
an
inquisitive lo
ok.
I knew there would be many questions if I stayed so got up and left and went back home, think
ing is everyone mad around here.
 

I got some
breakfast and sat in my
window, to see what else was going on today in the street.

CHAPTER THREE

As
I looked down, there lay the locket, I examined it in the light, it was rather beautiful, looked like real silver, with a pattern embedded on the front. It was a little like the bracelet, but far heavier.

Obviously, the scruffy man, the one in the street, he must have known the secret.

Which is why he had to have it?

I was tempted to open it but was afraid. I placed it back on the ledge close to the window.

It was a normal day all the gents going for their papers,
many
dogs getting there Sunday wa
lk.

I then notice the scruffy gent who was there the night b
efore with the girl Zoë, glaring
up at me again, standing, across the way.

What is going on, I thought?

I made a hasty retreat and decided to get on with my day, I had enough excitement, and if they wanted the locket, I would willingly give it to them.

I had a bit of washing, ironing to get on with, which kept be busy, filled my day with chores, I had been avoiding.

The next morning I was up with the larks, off to work early, still
the
sun
was
shining
, but w
ith a gentle breeze, as I walked
I saw Zoë again coming towards me.

“Look I am so sorry to have dragged you into all
this, but you really must be on your guard, they know who you are and they want the locket”.

I answered.

“Well, I will give it to
you;
I do not want it anyway
”.

But with her hand placed on mine

“No I cannot take it back they will kill me
.
”

I replied.

“Oh do not be so silly, it’s only a
locket, and they can have it
”.

I looked at my watch and said
.

“Look I have to get to work now, why don’t we meet later and discuss this some more, and I will bring the locket, as it is yours anyway”.

She
replied
,

“No I do not want it; you will never see me again, goodbye and rushed away”.

I arrived at work, just got on with it, but my mind, just wandering with thoughts of these weird people, trying to work out where I come in all of this.

My boss James noticed my strange behavior, and told me to have the afternoon off as he would be going to a meeting, and did not really need me, so without a second thought, I jumped off the chair, grabbed my bag and headed for the d
oor, shouting goodbye, as he
returned to his office.

I was a little hesitant stepping into the street, as every time I did something nasty happened, but off I went.
I made my way home.

   
I decided to have a soak in the bath and listen to some
music;
I had put on my favorite music
.
After
all,
it had been so mad the last few days. The water so warm, I felt relaxed now, began humming, shutting my eyes, but then I heard a thump, then another,
I did not move
a muscle,
but then it went
q
uiet, so I laid back closed my eyes again. I listened, the music still playing softly.

Suddenly the door flew open, I opened my eyes, but
before I could get up
,
someone was there in the doorway, they rushed towards me, I had splashed water in my face, as I shot up, so could not see clearly. I did see a figure rushing at me, but they
wa
s so fast they reached me,
hands on my throat
; repeating
the words