Chapter Seven - Where's Victoria?

Posted on: 23/07/2024

The manager scans the screens with a focused intensity, his fingers flying over the controls as he switches between different camera angles. Each screen flickers to life, showing snippets of the bustling station from varying perspectives. We’re both desperate to find any sign of Victoria or the tall man in the dark jacket and cap who was hot on her heels.
"Come on, come on," the manager mutters under his breath, his voice tinged with frustration and concern. The tension in the room is palpable, each second feeling like an eternity.
Suddenly, one of the monitors catches my eye. "There!" I exclaim, pointing urgently. "Pause it! Reverse a bit!"
The manager swiftly obeys, the video feed rewinding until Victoria's figure reappears on the screen. She’s turning out of the station’s front entrance gates and onto Trafalgar Street. Right behind her, the tall man maintains a measured pace, his eyes fixed on her as he blends into the flow of pedestrians.
“She was outside,” I say, my voice filled with a mix of relief and renewed urgency. “On Trafalgar Street. We need to alert security and we need to move, now!”
The manager nods, already grabbing his radio to alert the security teams stationed around the area. "Security, we have had a visual on Victoria Berkeley. She's heading out onto Trafalgar Street with a potential threat trailing her. All units, converge on the area."
Wasting no time, I dash out of the monitoring room and through the station, my heart pounding in my chest. The maze throngs of commuters blur together as I focus on reaching the front entrance. Each step feels critical, the urgency of the situation driving me faster.
Bursting through the station gates, the cool nighttime air hits me, the sunlight now replaced by the artificial glow of LED streetlights. The city hums with nocturnal life, but my attention is riveted on Trafalgar Street, where Victoria’s form had weaved through the crowds.

…


Miriam peers through the delicate net curtain in her living room, shrouded in darkness to remain unseen by any external observer. Her eyes lock onto the tall figure she had noticed earlier that day, draped in a dark coat that obscured his frame, with a cap pulled low over his features. She had already alerted the authorities about this suspicious individual.
As she observes him striding purposefully down the street, her gaze unwavering, he comes to a halt by the car parked directly outside her residence. A quick glance around to ensure no one was monitoring him, and he swiftly slips into the driver's seat.
Miriam's curiosity piques, her mind racing with questions about this clandestine figure and his mysterious actions.
As she remains fixated on the motionless figure inside the car, Miriam swiftly dials the police once more.
"Is Constable Turner available?" she enquires, a hint of urgency in her voice.
"Evening, Miriam. This is Constable Blake speaking. I've taken over for Constable Turner, as he’s off duty now. How can I assist you?" comes the calm reply.
"It's that same man again, the one I described to your PCSO earlier today. He's back in his car, and it seems like he's settling in for the night. I mentioned to the PCSO that I believe he's observing me," Miriam relays, her concern evident in her tone.
Upon hearing the keyboard clacking, she awaits a response. "We'll dispatch a patrol to your location. You can expect us within the next half an hour," comes the reassuring message to her from the other end.
"Thank you," Miriam replies gratefully, relieved that help was on the way.

…


Sheltered within the obscurity of the external brick porch of house number 44, Victoria wraps herself tighter in her coat, seeking solace from the chill of the night air. A sense of unease lingers as she rummages through her pockets in search of her iPhone, only to come up empty-handed. Suddenly, a recollection surfaces of the man who had bumped into her at the station, inadvertently granting her a chance to elude her pursuer.
With trepidation glinting in her eyes, she now keeps a vigilant watch over him – the man stationed within the parked car. The intertwining of past encounters and present circumstances casts a shadow of apprehension over Victoria as she remains hidden in the shadows, her senses on high alert.
In the stillness of the night, Miriam's sharp gaze catches a flicker of movement, a shadowy figure lingering by her front door. Despite her anticipation, the automatic sensor fails to trigger the porch light, shrouding the area in darkness. A ripple of apprehension courses through her, but she resolves to confront the lurking presence head-on.
Casting one final glance at the man ensconced in the car, Miriam swiftly navigates to the hallway. With a decisive click, she illuminates the porch light, exposing the clandestine visitor to the sudden brightness.
Startled by the unexpected radiance flooding the porch, Victoria's heart quickens with dread, fearing that the man in the car has noticed her surveillance. In a surge of panic, she darts away, propelled by an instinctual urge to distance herself from potential danger.
Noticing the abrupt departure of the mysterious figure from her porch, Miriam hastens back to the dimly lit lounge, where she positions herself behind the shielding veil of the net curtain, her eyes trained on the unfolding scene outside. Peering intently into the night, she discerns the silhouetted figure sprinting down the road, a sense of urgency propelling their movements.
As she continues to observe, her breath caught in anticipation, the sight sends a jolt of alarm through her. The man from the car emerges, his intent clear as he gives chase to the fleeting figure. The tense pursuit plays out under the cloak of darkness, each fleeting shadow bearing its own tale of intrigue and danger. Miriam remains a silent witness, her pulse quickening with each passing moment as the nocturnal drama unravels before her eyes.
As the man rounds the corner at the end of the road, disappearing from sight, heading towards Brighton seafront, the sound of an approaching engine catches Miriam's attention. Her heart races as the police patrol car enters the top end of the street, its headlights piercing the night. The vehicle glides to a halt directly opposite her house, blue lights flashing discreetly but urgently.
Miriam hastens to the door, pulling it open just as two officers step out of the patrol car. She waves them over, her voice low but insistent, "A person hiding in my porch has just run down the road, and the man from the car is chasing them. They turned towards the seafront."
The officers exchange a quick glance, acknowledging Miriam's statement with a nod. "We'll handle it, ma'am," one of them assures her, while his partner speaks into the radio, relaying the latest development.
As one of the police officers dashes down the road in pursuit, Miriam lingers in the doorway, the cold night air brushing against her skin. She watches as he disappears around the corner where she had witnessed the chase unfolding moments ago, whilst the police car u-turns in the road, then speeding up the street, turns out of sight.
Miriam can't shake the unease that settles deep within her after witnessing the chase. She closes the door but leans against it for a moment, trying to steady her racing heart. The usual quiet comfort of her home now feels unsettling, shadows seeming to dance ominously in the dim light.
She makes her way back to the darkened lounge, her eyes instinctively drawn to the net curtain again. Her finger’s part the delicate fabric just enough for her to peer outside, hoping for some sign of a police presence, but the road remains silent and deserted under the glow of the streetlights.
Every creak of her old house, each gust of wind against the windows, makes her jump. Seeking some semblance of peace, she decides to close the curtains and turn on her favourite lamp, its warm glow filling the room with a bit of comfort. However, the light doesn't dispel the tight knot of anxiety in her chest.
Minutes feel like hours as she paces back and forth, casting glances at the clock and the window. Taking a deep breath, she decides to call the police station, hoping for an update that could ease her mind.
"Hello, this is Miriam Webster. I reported a suspicious man earlier. Is there any news on the situation?" she asks, her voice fraught with tension.
"Good evening, Miriam. We’re still investigating the situation. Officers are on the scene, and we'll keep you informed as soon as we have more information," replies Constable Blake.
The reassurance helps, but only slightly. Miriam settles into her armchair, her mind replaying the night's events. Sleep feels like a distant possibility as she remains on high alert, her senses tuned to any sign of movement outside. She knows she won’t find rest until she’s certain that danger no longer lurks in the shadows of her quiet street.

Next Chapter to be published 26/07/2024 - Set the date.