Chapter 38
Howie Doyle’s flat
9.08 p.m.
The three rain soaked, bedraggled characters had trudged the five-minute walk from the bus stop to Howie’s flat. They turned the corner and Howie instinctively searched his pockets for his house keys.
“Shit! I forgot, I’ve lost them.”
When they reached his flat Howie told them to wait while he climbed the fence leading to his garden to retrieve the spare keys, which he kept hidden around the back.
“I can’t wait to get out of these things,” said Markland, referring to his wet clothes.
“Nor me. Don’t worry, as soon as Howie comes back I’ll drive you home and you can……...”
Jodie stopped mid-sentence.
Markland watched as she looked up and down Howie’s road. She was perplexed about something and muttered beneath her breath.
“What’s the matter?”
“My car, it’s not here. I’d parked it across Howie’s drive. It was the only place I found to park…… and now it’s gone.”
Markland was about to speak, but was interrupted by Howie clambering back over the fence.
“I’ve got them,” he said, jingling his keys and wearing a broad smile. He knew by Jodie’s face that something was wrong. And then he worked out what it was.
“Your car, it was right outside. Where is it?”
“I can’t believe it. Both Markland’s and now mine. Both stolen on the same night. Un-fucking-believable.”
“Yes, it is unbelievable isn’t it,” remarked Markland, in a thoughtful tone whilst rubbing his chin.
“What are you thinking?” asked Howie.
“I’m not sure. Howie, would you be kind enough to let us in, and make us all a nice hot cup of tea.”
Twenty minutes later Howie, Jodie and Markland were wearing dry clothes.
Jodie slouched in a pair of Howie’s jogging bottoms and a sweat shirt, which were far too big for her. Markland and Howie were almost the same height, although Markland had a broader frame. He was just able to squeeze into Howie’s clothes.
Their damp clothes hung over an airer.
“Thanks for the tea,” said Jodie, cupping the hot mug.
“Do you mind if I use your phone to report my car,” asked Markland.
“Sure, be my guest.”
During Markland’s call Jodie pondered over the things that had happened. She became struck by a thought.
“Okay, that’s done. Howie, could you drive Jodie and me home.”
“I can’t. My car’s off the road, busted radiator. Shouldn’t Jodie call the police too?”
Markland didn’t answer, at least not right away.
“What are you thinking?” said Jodie.
“Something occurred to me on the bus, which I initially dismissed.”
“What?” asked Howie.
“I think Markland may be thinking the same thing as me,” said Jodie.
They glanced at one another, with a knowing look.
“The monument Howie. Tell me again, what happened?”
“There’s nothing much to say really. It just isn’t there anymore.”
“Was the bench still there?”
“Yeah, the bench was there, but not the monument, nor my keys.”
“What do you think would explain that?” asked Markland, in a borderline patronising tone.
Howie shook his head.
“I don’t think the monument was ever there.”
Howie frowned. He had no idea what Markland was proposing.
“Nor do I think my car was stolen, nor Jodie’s.”
Markland paused. Howie was desperate for him to continue, but it was Jodie who was the next to speak.
“I think what he’s suggesting is that both our cars are right where we left them, and the monument is safely in the woods.”
Howie frowned. What they said made no sense.
“Let’s take stock of a few things,” said Markland, placing his empty mug on the table.
“If I remember correctly it was a dry evening when we set off, with hardly a cloud in the sky. When we ran from the hill, the rain was coming down like stair rods. Where did that weather come from?”
Howie shook his head.
“Do you remember Markland and me trying to get cash from the ATM? It didn’t seem to recognise our accounts, and when Markland used his phone it didn’t work,” said Jodie
“She’s right. It was as if my number wasn’t recognised. Do you have a mobile phone?”
Howie nodded.
“Try calling Jodie, I bet neither of your phones work.”
Jodie told him her number, and Howie dialled it.
“You’re right, nothing happens, what does this mean?”
Markland paused before he dropped the bombshell.
“I think we’ve crossed over to a parallel world. It’s the hill, it’s working its magic.”
Howie contemplated what Markland told him.
“But if that’s the case, how could you use my landline? You’ve just made a call to the police.”
Markland took half a minute to consider his reply.
“Let’s just say we’ve crossed to a parallel world, and it’s the one to which James Trafford branched off to, had he not cheated on Helena.”
Howie struggled to keep up.
“When did James have the affair?”
“I’m not sure, it was ages ago, years ago.”
Markland asked Jodie and Howie when they bought their phones. Howie bought his earlier in the year, and Jodie’s was a Christmas present from her father. She’d had it just over ten months.
“I’ve not had my phone very long either, and it’s a new number. We’ve arrived in James’ parallel world with phones from our world which mean nothing here.”
Howie nodded. What Markland said almost made sense.
“But that doesn’t explain why my landline phone works.”
“How long have you lived here?” asked Jodie.
“Six years.”
“And have you always had that phone, with the same number?”
Howie nodded again.
“So your landline, and your phone number existed in the world we’ve just crossed over from, before James cheated on his wife.” She paused for reflection, and then continued. “When this new parallel world came into being, your old phone, your flat, everything you had at the time came with it, along with you.”
“So are you suggesting that I may meet myself face to face? Am I likely to walk through my front door any minute now?” asked Howie nervously.
“No, somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t think any of us will bump into ourselves.”
“It would be like a paradox. Just like going back in time and seeing yourself, it just couldn’t happen,” added Markland.
“If what you’re both saying is correct, what the hell do we do now?” asked Howie.
“We should do what we came here to do. Tomorrow, we go to Exeter and we convince James to return to the world to which he belongs.”