Chapter 44
Bristol
12.28 a.m.
After a slow arduous journey, during which the traffic had been nose to tail, Jodie, Howie and Markland made their way along Bedminster Down, and towards the city centre.
Markland decided to leave the motorway and opt for the A38, twenty miles before the junction for Bristol to avoid the congestion. The M5 had looked identical to the world they knew, but the rambling A38 was different. Jodie noticed a few of the houses didn’t look quite the same as they meandered through Highbridge. A petrol station, which Markland had called into many times before, was a car washing facility. He’d seen five or six men feverishly working to clean a Mercedes, whilst the owner of the car watched as he sipped hot coffee from a styrofoam cup. Howie hadn’t noticed anything different. He’d spent most of the journey thinking about their encounter with Helena and Dean.
Markland stopped at a set of temporary traffic lights.
“Jodie, whilst we’re here there’s something I’d like to see.”
She said nothing, but didn’t like his tone.
“Where are you taking us?” asked Howie.
“I want to visit my house, just to take a look. Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
“Do you think that’s such a wise thing?” asked Jodie.
“I don’t think it can cause any harm. I’ll just drive past and see if things are different in this world, you know perhaps I’ve different curtains, or whether the house is painted the same colour.”
Jodie couldn’t see a problem. As long as he didn’t get out, and especially as long as he didn’t knock on his door, or let himself in.
“Of course, it all depends if you live in the same house in this world,” said Howie, from the back of the car. His voice sounded flat. The visit to Helena’s house seemed to have affected him. He’d hardly spoken during the journey and when he did, he sounded monotone and emotionless. Jodie was concerned by his change in character, but had kept it to herself. She was sure that Markland had noticed and was likely to be thinking the same thing.
Jodie pulled down the passenger mirror, and caught a glimpse of Howie. She thought how sad he looked. Swapping from one world to another had been surreal enough for her and Markland, and she couldn’t imagine what Howie was going through on his quest to find his best friend.
“I don’t know you very well do I?” asked Jodie.
“I don’t suppose you do. I’m just the caretaker, I go around the place unnoticed.”
“I’ve noticed you. I’ve noticed the way you are with the children. They think you’re great. You’ve always got a smile on your face and you laugh with the school kids. They seem to look up to you. I wish the kids in my class looked up to me in the same way they do to you.”
Howie beamed inwardly. He didn’t receive many compliments, and what Jodie said made him feel good about himself.
Jodie thought about the lengths to which he was going to bring his friend back.
“You’re a good man Howie,” added Jodie, putting the mirror back in place.
Fifteen minutes later the rented car coasted along Markland’s long road. It was a pretty place to live, albeit somewhat unremarkable. Midfield Avenue was lined either side with three and four bedroom detached houses, each with a garage and a driveway. Most had tall hedges, which obscured the gardens.
Markland surveyed the avenue, his head turning from left to right as he took in the surroundings.
“Is it any different?” asked Jodie. Markland shook his head and continued to drive.
The road took a sharp turn to the left and he slowed the car to almost a walking pace.
“My place is just on the bend.”
As he approached his house he saw a police car parked outside. Outside the porch were a couple hugging and one of them was a policeman. As they hugged they turned to an angle which allowed Markland to see their faces.
“What the…...?”
He swallowed dryly, accelerated the car and then stopped five houses further along the road.
“What is it?” asked Howie. Markland didn’t speak.
Jodie looked at his white knuckles gripping the steering wheel.
Jodie and Howie knew something wasn’t right.
Markland unclipped his belt and lifted his hand to open the door.
“What do you think you’re doing?” demanded Jodie, pulling his arm.
“Let go of me.”
“Markland, whatever this is you can’t interfere, this isn't your world.”
Jodie flicked the child lock, preventing him from getting out.
“Whatever’s happening, you must stay here.”
Markland stared at the ceiling of the car.
“Who are those people?” asked Howie.
Markland replaced his hands on the steering wheel and glared through the windscreen at the middle distance. He was shaking.
“The woman is my wife and the policeman was my boss.”
“But you were a detective, that man’s an officer, how could he have been above you in rank?” asked Jodie.
“In my world he’s Detective Superintendent Munroe, and he dislikes me intently.”
Jodie and Howie said nothing, as the enormity of the situation hit them.
“In my world Joan and I are separated. We’re trying to patch things up, and I hope that one day we’ll be together again…….. but in this world she clearly lives at home …… our home.”
”I hate to suggest this, but is it likely she could be having an affair with that policeman?” said Jodie.
“I’ve no idea, but I have to find out. I need to know what’s going on.”
Nobody spoke for a few seconds. The tension in the car was unbearable. Markland was normally a composed and rational man, but in the matter of less than a minute he’d changed.
“Why don’t Howie and I take a stroll past and see if we can hear what they’re saying?”
Markland briefly contemplated Jodie’s suggestion and decided to take her up on her offer.
“There’s a lane which runs along the side of my house. From there you should be within earshot and be able to hear what they’re talking about.”
Jodie and Howie nodded and got out of the car.
“Hold my hand,” said Jodie.
The two of them nonchalantly strolled past Markland’s house, and turned down the lane as Markland suggested. They stopped behind foliage from where they heard voices.
“I’m sure he’ll turn up, it’s probably retirement freaking him out,” suggested the officer.
“But he’s never done anything like this before, it’s been two days, and he’s not even called.”
Jodie strained her eyes as she peered through the bushes, and saw the officer pull Markland’s wife towards him while she sobbed on his shoulder.
“What’s happening?” whispered Howie, who wasn’t able to see what Jodie could.
“He’s comforting her, I think they’re more than friends and he’s more than her local bobby,” said Jodie.
“Are you suggesting Markland’s wife is screwing around?”
Jodie didn’t answer.
“Did you hear what she said, Markland’s missing. She said he’s been gone two days,” said Jodie, in a breathless whisper.
The voices continued and Jodie and Howie listened from the adjacent lane.
“But can’t your people work harder?” sobbed Joan.
“I’m sure we’re doing all we can, especially considering who Markland is,” replied the officer, comforting Joan by warmly embracing her, his hands almost reaching the small of her back.
“That’s above and beyond the call of duty,” whispered Jodie, whilst Howie smirked.
“What did he mean by that? ‘Especially considering who Markland is’,” said Howie.
Joan pulled away and subconsciously straightened her blouse.
“You need to leave, my sister will be here soon.??
?
Munroe took a pace backwards and nodded.
“I’ll call you later.”
“No, please don’t call. You’re not helping. You’re making things harder for me.”
Munroe turned around, paused but didn’t speak. Jodie watched, as he rolled his eyes around his head whilst walking facing away from Joan. He walked to the car and sped away. Joan stood on the doorstep and when the sound of the police car had faded, she went inside.
“Shit, that doesn’t look too promising, Garraway’s wife is having an affair,” said Howie.
Jodie shook her head.
“I know. It seems that way, but that’s not the biggest issue is it?”
Howie wore a puzzled expression.
“Markland’s missing, she said he’s been gone two days,” continued Jodie.
Howie wasn’t latching on.
“Don’t you get it? James was missing whilst he crossed over from our world to the other, and then the other James returned under those strange circumstances. In this world Markland’s also missing. There seems to be a time lag of a few days when someone crosses over to a parallel world.”
“Which means you and I are also missing in this world, and the world from which we’ve come,” said Howie, as the penny dropped.
Jodie nodded.
“And I wouldn’t be surprised that our doubles in this world will soon be in ours,” she added.
Things were becoming complicated and confusing. They hurried back to Markland who was waiting with the engine running.
“She’s having an affair with Munroe isn’t she!” he barked.
Howie and Jodie weren’t sure how to answer.
“I think Munroe’s taking advantage of the circumstances,” said Jodie.
“What circumstances?”
“From what we could hear, it appears you’ve been missing for two days. She’s upset, and he’s comforting her,” said Howie.
“So, in this world Joan and I are together,” pondered Markland.
“Munroe said something about you being retired, he also said that the police were searching for you, it seems you’re an important person in this world,” added Howie.
Markland frowned.
“Munroe told your wife that he’s sure they’re doing all they can, especially considering who Markland is,” said Jodie.
Markland shook with anger. There were too many thoughts running amock in his mind.
“She’s having a bloody affair with my bloody boss,” said Markland, in a low and menacing voice.
“Don’t think of it like that. And don’t forget this isn’t your world, this is one of many, perhaps millions, or even an infinite number of worlds and no world is exactly the same. Besides, I don’t think she’s having an affair, but Munroe appears to be using the situation to his advantage.”
Markland closed his eyes and shuddered at even the remotest idea of his wife being unfaithful to him.
“But like I’ve just explained to Howie, the bigger issue is that you’re missing. You’ve been missing for two days, and it’s my reckoning you’ll be gone for another day or so before you return……”
“But when I return it won’t be me, it will be me from another parallel world,” said Markland, interrupting her flow.
“Sorry for being the least scientific of the three of us, but didn’t the two James’ swap over to each other’s parallel worlds,” said Howie.
Jodie and Markland nodded.
“But you’re already in this world, you’re here a day early.”
They sat quietly, and tried to understand the conundrum which was unfolding in front of them.
“I think we need to concentrate on what we’ve come here to do,” said Markland, breaking the silence.
“We need to get James back to his world, and then we need to work out how we return to ours.”
“And how do we do that?” asked Howie.
Jodie glanced at him and noticed how sunken and hollow his eyes looked since they’d left Exeter.
“I’m not sure, but I think the best place to start is by heading back to Badock’s Wood,” said Markland.
“I guess you’re right, but just now, all I want to do is sleep. I just don’t have the energy,” said Howie.
“He’s got a point; we could all do with some rest. I think we should head back to Howie’s, take on board everything that’s happened and consider our options. It would be wise if we headed to the woods first thing in the morning.” suggested Jodie, after looking at Howie’s worn expression.
Markland nodded and headed the car back to Howie’s flat.