Chapter 74

Dan and Serena had judged the weather sufficiently good to have a barbecue. Eric would join them as would Derek Frobisher. Phyllis and Peter would be there too. Alex had told everyone in the butchers that they needed sausages for their barbeboo. Grace was wearing an apron Serena had made for her, as she helped with the food.

In a tradition that spanned the worlds the men were making fire as the women organised everything else. Alex was trundling around the garden on his tricycle happily amusing himself. Serena and Phyllis watched the men and wondered whether they should start putting food in the oven. They did want to eat at some time that day.

The doorbell rang and Phyllis headed off to see who was there. She was smiling as she looked into the eyes of the caller. Her chest tightened and she struggled to remain on her feet. She gripped the doorframe and when she managed to find her voice she only said his name "Bertie"

His face was all Phyllis saw at first. Then she saw the gun in his hand. Her dead son was standing in front of her. And he was armed. Bert looked somewhat taken aback too. He regained his equilibrium.

"Don't think about shouting for help."

He had not anticipated his mother opening the door. As he looked at her it was a curious feeling. Recognition, warmth, and then irritation. Of course, she was here with the family she had served for so long. She was dedicated to them and was likely to do something stupid to try to protect them. He hoped he wouldn't have to shoot her.

"Your father is in the garden."

Phyllis made the statement without thinking. Why she had uttered those words she did not know. Bert was stepping forward to enter the house and there was nothing she could do to stop him.

"Is he with Dan? Let's go and see him then."

The small nod had told Bert where his prey was. He followed his mother through the house into the large back garden. His father, Eric and Dan, together with another man, were stood by a smoking grill. He then saw Serena. She was with a little girl. Dan's daughter he guessed. They were slowly realising who he was.

He grabbed his mother by the arm and smiled at the assembled company.

"Yes, its me. What is it they say, "rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated", something like that."

Everyone was frozen as they looked at Bert. Only Derek was in the dark about who he was. The others were looking at a man who was capable of extreme violence and they were very afraid. Serena was the one who spoke. She hoped that she could keep him calm whilst someone somewhere came up with a plan to get them out of this predicament.

"Hello Bertie. Where have you been?"

He liked being the centre of attention and this would give him a chance to talk about himself Serena hoped. He was more than happy to tell them about his fall from the docks, his voyage on the ship and reaching America. That however was not why he was here. He needed to wrap this up.

"I returned, under a new name, to sort out a few things. You seem to have taken care of the OWG so that's one off of the list. The other items are kill Dan and get Serena."

There was some movement now as Peter, Eric and the doctor tried to shield Dan. He was nauseatingly noble pushing them out of the way, prepared to meet his fate. Bert raised the gun but was distracted by movement behind him. Alex was pedalling hard and he rammed his tricycle into Bert's legs.

"The man hurt Phyllis." Alex looked a bit sheepish in case he was going to get into trouble.

The moment had been seized upon. Dan had moved quickly covering the few feet between them and then delivering a wild haymaker to Bert's jaw. It was not a textbook move but it had been effective. Phyllis had snatched up the gun and carried it away. Although Bert was down and incapacitated Eric added a couple of blows himself to make sure. It had been most cathartic.

Peter dashed to the garden shed and returned with a length of rope. He grimly tied his son's hands behind his back.

"Thankfully, this will be the last time Bertie. You will not hurt anyone again."

The police arrived shortly after a phone call had been made. Their sirens were blaring and they swarmed into the house to take the infamous Albert Crawford, aka Rebel A, into custody. Dan spoke to Ryan to tell him what had happened.

"So, the slippery bastard managed to get away."

Phyllis had thought that she had lost her son and she had mourned him. Seeing him in front of her when she opened the door had taken her breath away. Her son was alive, but then her next thought was that his presence meant trouble. She glanced down and saw the gun and her suspicion was confirmed. Oh Bertie, not more violence.

Her own son was dragging her through the house to the garden. She was his hostage. He was pointing a gun at her. A tear trickled down her face as she faced the fact that he would most likely shoot her if he had to. Phyllis could barely look at Dan. She was so appalled at what Bertie was doing.

She saw Peter bravely push himself forward to shield Dan. She saw Dan try to pull him back. Like everyone in the garden she was focused on Dan, Bertie and the gun. The trundling of the wheels of the tricycle hardly registered on Phyllis until he slammed into Bertie's legs. Then things had happened quickly.

Dan leapt forward and knocked the startled Bertie flying. Eric was remarkably spry as he ran over and fell to one knee to add a couple of punches of his own. The doctor joined them to help pin him to the ground. Alex was at first concerned that he might be in trouble and then relishing the action.

Peter was grim faced as he returned from the shed with a length of rope. He spoke briefly to his son before tying his hands behind his back. Having assisted he then stepped back and turned to his wife. They joined hands and looked at Bertie. This grubby, deranged criminal had once been such a clever young boy.

Serena had gone into the house and telephoned the police. Shortly afterwards Dan had called Ryan. He would want to know who had turned up at his door. Phyllis did the only sensible thing she could. She put the kettle on and made tea. The post mortem of the afternoon events took place once they all had a cup in hand.

"Did you see the state of him. A scar on his face and that dirty suit." Dan had spoken but then he looked at Phyllis and Peter. "Sorry."

"Say whatever you like. Coming here with a gun intent on murder. I don't know him anymore." Peter headed towards the barbecue to rescue the smoking sausages.

"Is he okay?" Serena was concerned about the slump of Peter's shoulders and the way he shuffled away.

"He needs to be alone. We are both embarrassed and ashamed that our son should try to bring even more trouble to your family. I'm so sorry." Phyllis alternatively sipped her tea and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

Grace climbed onto Phyllis' lap and snuggled close to her. Tea, handkerchief and child, something had to go. She took a deep breath and stopped crying. She watched Derek make his way to the barbecue to join her husband. He didn't talk to him he just stood at his side with a fork in hand flicking the sausages. He was just letting him know that he was there.

Eric patted Phyllis on the shoulder. That was about as demonstrative as he ever got, so it was a meaningful gesture. All these people who were being threatened by a gun not long ago, were now worried about her and her husband's wellbeing. She was about to start crying again.

Serena was lost in thought. Dan caught her eye and she shook her head.

"What made him think that he could come back here and claim me. As if I would go anywhere with him after all that has happened. Watching him point that gun at you. I thought I was going to see you get shot."

"He's tried to get rid of me a few times, now. Failed every time. There was no way that I was going to die and let him waltz off with you." The big smile almost covered his shock.

Her hands were shaking as she reached for her tea. Eric disappeared into the house and returned with a tray holding glasses and a bottle of brandy. They had all suffered a shock and whilst the tea had helped, they were in need of something stronger.